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"No," argued Adam, reaching out to dry her face with the palm of his hand, "for us, time will stand still. Listen, you can almost hear it now. All over the world, in every home, clocks have stopped their vigil over seconds and minutes, because if the sun should come over the horizon once more, we must part. But, a word from you, and those clocks will come back to life. What do you say, Charlie-girl?"

"'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven,'" quoted Charlie, thoughtfully. "There is a time to say 'good-bye,' and a time to say 'hello.' I will wait for the 'hello.'"

"There," said Adam, quietly, "my watch has just started up again. It's all your fault, Charlie."

"I wouldn't hold you back," she whispered, "not for all the money in the world. The sooner you go, the sooner you will come back to me."

"That's my girl," smiled Adam, lovingly.

All too soon, it was time to start the hike back to Twin Yucca. As they crossed the remaining expanse of desert, the sky slowly began to melt it's dark hue.

"Are you coming to the airport, to see me off?" asked Adam, as they neared the small town.

"What if I fall apart, and start crying in front of the reporters and fans?" asked Charlie, hesitantly.

"Oh, no," Adam refuted confidently, "not my Charlie. She wouldn't do that. My Charlie would remember that I love her, and that God is watching out for us, and remain brave in the presence of others."

"I fear you have too much confidence in 'your Charlie,'" she sighed.

"Never!" exclaimed Adam, lovingly. "Why, didn't you know, that through Christ, she can do anything!" [Philippians 4:13]

Charlie smiled bravely, and wiped away another tear.

Before long, they were on the edge of Twin Yucca.

"Kevin," asked Adam, "would you take Charlie home for me? I doubt anyone on her street is awake at this hour, but I'd rather play it safe."

Kevin nodded his willingness, and waited for the couple to part.

"Say you'll come to the airport," he asked her, once more.

"I'll come," Charlie replied, courageously.

"We take off at ten a.m.," he reminded her.

"I'll be there," she affirmed.

Adam smiled gratefully, and began the walk home with Bill.

Providentially, no one on Charlie's street had noticed her coming or going that night. When Kevin unlocked the front door, and both went inside, they found Vera asleep on the couch, her knitting resting on the floor by her feet, where it had dropped when she dozed off.

"Grandma?" Charlie said gently, nudging the old woman's arm. "Have you been here all night?"

Vera woke up and groggily blinked at Charlie.

"Pumpkin, are you back already?" she asked in surprise.

"What do you mean, 'already'?" laughed Charlie. "It's nearly six o' clock!"

"I don't know why, but I got it into my head to wait up for you," chuckled the woman. "Do you two want breakfast?"

"Yes, thank you," replied Kevin, stretching out and taking Vera's vacant knitting chair in the corner of the room.

"Did you have a good time?" inquired Vera, as Charlie followed her into the kitchen.

"I had a wonderful time!" exclaimed the teenager, sitting down on a kitchen chair to untie her boots. "We hiked out to Harrison's Ravine, and sat on a big flat rock and talked the night away!"

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