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far that hasn’t been in God’s plan for me. I doubt He would intend for me to marry an American woman and leave the mission behind.”
    “Perhaps He intends for the American woman to stay here and help with the mission.”
    Mateo stared at her as the suggestion sank into his head and his heart. Maria had a point; by deciding a relationship with Kayla wasn’t possible because she currently lived in America, he was limiting God. Mateo wouldn’t make that mistake. Instead, he would quit trying to talk himself out of being attracted to Kayla, since that wasn’t working well anyway, and just build whatever kind of relationship with her God allowed. If it was just a friendship, so be it. If God intended for them to have a romantic relationship, he would figure it out when the time came.
    For now, Kayla and Claudia stood by the entrance waiting for Maria and him to catch up. He shoved aside thoughts of relationships and future possibilities. Getting the materials and tools for the renovation was more important right now.
     
     
     
     

4
     
    Kayla chipped away at the loose plaster on the kitchen wall, her thoughts drifting back to the trip across the city the previous morning. Maria had made a wonderful tour guide, providing information and trivia as only a local could, but what stood out in Kayla’s mind was Claudia. The girl was desperate for mothering, which had become painfully obvious as she stuck to Kayla’s side. After they returned to the mission and Claudia went to play with some other children, Mateo had explained the girl and her older brother were most likely orphans, although they denied being on their own. That children so young would have to care for and raise themselves broke her heart.
    Footsteps crunched across the plaster littering the tile floor, and Kayla glanced over her shoulder. Instead of one of the teens tasked with cleaning up debris, she found Mateo approaching. He carried two bottles of water, so she straightened and faced him, glad for the excuse to take a break. Scraping plaster was dusty, tedious work.
    She pulled down the mask protecting her lungs from the dust, and smiled. “Hey, Mateo, you want to help?”
    “Sure, but first you look like you could use a rest.” He held out a bottle of water. “Here, this is for you.”
    “Thank you.” Kayla twisted off the cap and took a long drink. “There’s a lot more loose plaster in here than I expected. I keep waiting for the moment I find a secure spot, but so far it’s all coming down.”
    “Is that a problem?” Mateo asked and took a sip of his water.
    “No, it just means more work to finish the walls once the old plaster is off, unless we scrape all of it off. The wall behind it appears to be in good shape.” Kayla leaned against the section of wall she’d already cleared and studied the man before her. It seemed as though every time she turned around, he was there, but she couldn’t figure out why. Paul and Angie didn’t appear to have any shadows, although Eduardo had spent quite a bit of time with Paul, learning as much as he could about plumbing. Kayla decided the only way to find out about Mateo’s attentiveness was to ask. “Can I ask you something?”
    “Of course.” Mateo’s gaze focused on her, making it hard to concentrate. He had beautiful brown eyes framed with thick, black lashes.
    She shoved the thought away. Now was not the time for her to notice something like that. “Um, this is a little awkward to ask, but you always seem to be nearby, especially when I’m over here. Is there a reason for that, or is it just the way things work out?”
    He combed his fingers through his dark hair, his gaze shifting to the debris on the floor. “There is a reason, but I don’t want to worry you.”
    A stab of anxiety struck, and a prayer for safety flew from Kayla’s heart straight to heaven. “OK, saying that makes me worry. Is there something I should know?”
    “This is a dangerous neighborhood, Kayla.” Mateo