Two Steps Forward by Sharon Garlough Brown

Author:Sharon Garlough Brown [Brown, Sharon Garlough]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978083089871
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2015-07-29T04:00:00+00:00

“Where’d all these cookies come from?” Brian asked. It looked like a cyclone had swept through the kitchen, scattering flour and sugar in its wake. The sink was piled high with dirty bowls and measuring spoons. A couple dozen snickerdoodles were on the cooling rack where she’d left them.

“I took Christmas cookies to your dad’s office,” she said, observing Kevin’s quizzical expression, “and these are leftover. Help yourself.”

Brian grabbed a fistful and disappeared to the basement. Kevin slowly removed his coat and hung it on a peg. The bruises were even more colorful today. She would be shocked if his nose wasn’t broken.

He sat down on a stool at the counter. “Want some milk and cookies?” she asked.

“Okay.”

She poured him a glass of milk and arranged some cookies on a plate. How long had it been since he’d sat there with a snack she had prepared for him? Usually the boys took what they wanted somewhere else.

“Thanks,” he said.

“You’re welcome.”

She stood at the sink and began running hot water. There was something strangely satisfying about rinsing out cookie batter from mixing bowls. Kevin probably didn’t remember helping her stir ingredients when he was little or licking the beaters after she deliberately left behind some extra batter with chocolate chips for him. Nowadays people were probably too worried about salmonella or something to let kids lick beaters.

She opened the dishwasher and began loading. “Everything’s okay, Kev. I was able to get what I needed. We’ll work it out.”

“Dad knows you know?”

“One of the secretaries was talking about it right in front of us. So yeah, he knows I know.”

Sounds of video game gunfire emerged from the basement. Good. For once she was grateful for Call of Duty or whatever game would no doubt occupy Brian for as long as she let him play.

“You okay?” she asked.

Kevin shrugged. “Are we gonna have to move?”

“I’m not sure what’s gonna happen.”

“I don’t want to move.”

“I know.” Now that the adrenaline rush of victory had subsided, her anger and hatred of Tom rose again like bile in her throat. Maybe she should call Dawn to see if she had any immediate counseling appointments available. Or Hannah, to ask her to pray. She was just about to reach for her phone when the garage door rumbled open. Kevin looked like he wasn’t sure whether to stay frozen in place or bolt up the stairs. Before he could make his decision, Tom stormed in.

“Satisfied with yourself?” he snarled. “How dare you stroll into my office and try to make a fool out of me!”

“How dare I? How dare YOU! I was just delivering Christmas cookies like I do every year.”

“Yeah, right.” He motioned in Kevin’s direction, with a sweeping arm movement. “What a cozy scene this is, you little snitch, sitting there with your milk and cookies! I suppose you helped your mommy plot the whole thing, didn’t you?”

“You leave Kevin out of this. You’re the one who should be apologizing! When were you going to tell me about Cleveland?”

“Sometime before the moving trucks arrived.

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.