Just Dessert by Heather Gray

Author:Heather Gray [Gray, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Astraea Press, LLC
Published: 2013-10-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The next morning came, and Grady was on the Fitzgerald's front porch almost two hours ahead of his typical schedule. When he finally heard movement within, he tapped lightly at the door. Mary greeted him with a glare that would have dried up a well. Trying not to react, Grady said, "Get us some coffee, and come sit out here on the porch with me. You can yell at me out here."

When Mary slammed the door in his face, albeit quietly, Grady knew he was in for it. She was a sight to behold when she was angry. Mary had filled out some in the weeks since her Pa's death. She was still slender, but her color was better and she no longer looked like she wouldn't be able to stand against a strong wind. Her sable hair was always pulled back, but she didn't wear it quite as tightly bound as she used to, and sometimes his fingers itched to reach out and tug a strand loose. Who was he kidding? She was worth a second look even when she wasn't angry, maybe especially when she wasn't.

A short time later Mary came out with two cups of coffee. Grady waited until she was seated to take a drink of his. If he hadn't been sure of her feelings before, he certainly was now. The coffee was strong and bitter, void of the usual four spoons of sugar Grady liked in his. When Mary sat there drinking her coffee, he said "It's hard to stay mad when there's such a beautiful sunrise to look at."

"I should be working, not loafing out here with you," Mary said shortly.

"You're mad," Grady said, accusation creeping into his voice despite his best efforts to keep it out. The morning got frosty in a hurry when Mary next peered his way. Still, she didn't say anything. "Would it make you feel better to yell at me?"

In a soft voice conveying a world of devastation and hurt, Mary asked, "Why'd you go and do it?"

"Which part exactly?" Did she mean taking the kids to church? Telling them about Jesus? Praying in their presence at mealtimes? Grady wished he knew precisely what had her so angry at him.

"Jesus isn't going to help them, you know." The venom in Mary's voice was palpable. "He never once helped us when we needed Him most. You're lying to them and fooling them into believing they have someone on their side that is never actually going to be there for them."

Relieved they were getting to the root of the problem, Grady took a deep breath and said, "I respectfully disagree. I believe Jesus will be there for them whenever they need Him and even when they don't think they need Him."

"Jesus is nothing more than a nursery rhyme. You are setting them up for a terrible disappointment, and I'm the one who will be left to pick up the pieces when that happens."

"Mary, have you said any of this to

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.