Dear John by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Author:Kim Vogel Sawyer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-07-19T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

Philip could hardly believe how quickly the month had flown by. With summer in full swing John had started wearing knee-length walking shorts and sandals in place of the jeans and tennis shoes. Eileen teasingly called him Spanky after the Little Rascals character, and John always responded with a laughing protest—“Oh, Eileen, I am John!”

The two of them were now in the housekeeping center with another client, Bobby, doing cleanup after a session of cooking. Everyone else had left for the day. The mumble of their voices kept Philip company as he paid bills at his desk. He heard Eileen say, “Okay, John, now back to work,” and he smiled, certain that right now John was wrapping Eileen in one of his famous hugs.

John knew the routine of New Beginnings so well that Philip was positive he’d be great in a work placement. But Marin remained stubbornly determined to keep him sheltered. In fact, it seemed deeper than stubbornness. There was a real fear. Fear was not of God, and Philip wanted the opportunity to tell her that.

Each day of the past week he’d tried to get a moment alone with her to approach the subject, but she’d managed to sidestep him. She wouldn’t be able to do it tonight, though. This was the last day of his stipulated one-month period, so the issue must be faced, and Marin would face it if he had to tie her to a chair and make her listen.

He finished writing a check to pay the utilities bill, scowling a bit as he realized how low his bank account was getting. Before worry could set in, he reminded himself of last night’s Bible reading. Philip had sought comfort in the Psalms, and in chapter 32 he’d found it: “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”

Nothing had changed. His bank account held only enough funds for another two weeks of full operation. But the psalm promised deliverance. Already he’d found a measure of deliverance. He and Eileen had brainstormed ways to keep providing some services within the confines of his lesser income. Even if he had to use other agencies, his clients would be all right. But he feared he would have to cut two employees because his income would no longer cover their salaries.

“John, the dishes are dry so stack them on the shelf, please. Bobby, use some cleanser on that sink and scrub, scrub, scrub!”

Philip turned an ear toward the housekeeping center, listening as Eileen gave directions. Her gravelly yet warm voice carried over the partition. He smiled, envisioning the scene in the mini-kitchen. Eileen was wonderful with the clients. If he had to drop someone from the payroll, she would be at the bottom of the list.

He slapped his checkbook closed, slipped the check and bill into an envelope, then opened his drawer to dig for a book of stamps.

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