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your age?” She kept the light teasing tone, not wanting to upset him.
    He nodded. “It’s not uncommon in the UK to live at home until you’re married, unless you need to move for work like Ann and Emma did. After graduating from uni, I got a job about fifteen miles from home, so moved back. I live over the garage, pay rent, and get Mum’s home cooking.” He grinned. “She even does my laundry occasionally. But I’m a free agent to come and go as I please. We don’t have miles of real estate like you guys do here.” He glanced over at the others. “They do make a good pair.”
    She sighed, watching Rob top up Pip’s glass. “Yeah, they do. He seems to know what she needs before she does.” The conversation had gone full circle. “Do you believe God has someone special set aside for everyone?”
    “Yes I do. It may take a life time to find them. It may not even be marriage, just a best friend who’s always on the other end of the phone or something. But yeah. It says in Genesis that it wasn’t good for man to be alone, so God provided a helper.” He studied her face, his hand touching hers briefly. “Pip getting married won’t spoil your friendship. It might change it slightly, but it won’t end. I don’t believe for a moment you’ll be alone for long when she moves out.”
    Jo sat and watched his face bathed in the hot sunshine. Would he be prepared to give it all up for her? She shook her head. Stupid idea. She didn’t even know if he were interested in her, never mind anything else. Long distance relationships never worked. Especially when the distance was twelve thousand miles.
     
    ****
     
    The next two days seemed to fly. John hadn’t seen Jo again since Sunday as his planned day trips meant leaving early and getting back late. But the days seemed empty without a cheery comment or smile from her, and he often found himself thinking about Jo and praying for her. In particular he prayed that God would provide that special someone she craved so badly.
    He hardly dared pray what was really on his mind. The more he thought about her, the faster his heart raced and the thought of speaking to her, left him tongue tied in case she found him boring. But if he could choose any woman to spend the rest of his life with, it would be Jo. Even though they hadn’t known each other long. But there was so much else to consider. So many other lives revolved around and touched the two of them.
    But he knew that God knew his inmost thoughts and desires, even the ones he couldn’t voice.
    Wednesday evening he looked through his meager selection of clothes and wondered for the tenth time why he hadn’t gone clothes shopping properly, instead of grabbing the first things he saw. His new white shirt was creased and his old jeans had seen better days. He tucked in his shirt, then picked up the cologne. Dorrie had given it to him for his birthday and he honestly wasn’t sure why he’d packed it. It was one of the few original things he had left as it had been in his rucksack.
    He slid into his jacket, not sure he’d need it in this heat, but he wanted to look as smart as he could. He was meeting Jo outside the restaurant at eight. Yes, he knew there were going to be a lot of others there, but part of him wished it was just Jo. A large part of him.
    He wanted to spend time with her. Just her.
    Not that that was fair to either of them, but that’s what he wanted.
    The table in the restaurant overlooked the harbor, with the bridge in the background. Lights reflected from it onto the water, and John made a mental note to take some photos before they left. The conversation was lively, but he found his gaze constantly drawn across the table to Jo.
    Christmas music played in the background. Fairy lights hung above her head, lighting her hair in a halo. She looked like an angel.
    The way she moved her hands, ate, the way her smile lit her eyes all warmed him, yet she kept to herself, reserved, as if something bothered