Read Online Behind Her Smile by Rosemary Hines - Free Book Online Page A

taking advantage of a young lady, or like a father who had no control over his own daughter.”
    Michelle nodded.
    “It’s just so unlike Madison,” he added.
    They both sat silently for a minute. Then Steve took a deep breath and placed his hand on Michelle’s. “We’ll get through this, babe,” he said. Then he asked, “Isn’t Caleb’s game at eight-thirty tomorrow morning?”
    “Yeah.”
    “We’d better get to bed.”
    Michelle pushed her chair out and stood up. “Yep.”
    As he followed her out of the kitchen, he thought about how simple their lives were when it was just the two of them. A night like this would have ended very differently, he mused as his eyes grazed the curves of his wife’s body. When they slipped under the covers in bed, he wrapped his arm around her and drew her close, and they fell asleep breathing in rhythm with each other.

CHAPTER SIX
     
    Sunday morning, Michelle knocked on Madison’s bedroom door to make sure she was up for church. After no response, she pushed open the door to find their daughter sound asleep. “Wake up, honey,” she said, gently nudging Maddie’s shoulder.
    “Huh?” came a muffled reply from the pillow.
    “It’s past time to get up for church. Did you forget to set your alarm?”
    Madison opened her eyes, glanced at the clock on the nightstand, and moaned. “I’m really tired. Think I’ll skip it today.”
    Michelle sat down beside her. “Are you feeling okay?”
    “Yeah. Just tired. I was up late last night.”
    “If you’re not sick, I think you should get up and go. You can always take a nap this afternoon,” Michelle suggested.
    Maddie shot her an aggravated look. “It’s not like I don’t go every Sunday. Can’t I just skip this one time?”
    Just then, Steve peeked in through the open door. “Everything okay in here? Caleb’s asking about pancakes for breakfast, but it’s getting pretty late.”
    Madison pushed herself up into a sitting position. “I was just telling Mom I’m really tired and would like to skip church today. Is that okay?”
    Steve’s eyes met Michelle’s. She gave a slight shake of her head to indicate her disapproval.
    “I’m kind of tired, too, Maddie. But I think it’s worth the effort to get up for church. You’ve missed Thursday night youth group twice this month. Don’t you want to stay connected there with everyone?”
    She fell back onto her pillow. “Not really. Youth group’s not that fun now that Luke is gone.”
    “What about your other friends?” he asked. “Most of them are still going. Like Lucy,” he added.
    “It’s just not the same.” She pulled her covers back up to her chin.
    Steve glanced down at his watch and then back at Michelle. She shrugged her shoulders and waited for his response. “Alright. But this can’t become a habit.”
    “It won’t, Daddy. I promise,” Madison replied, as she closed her eyes and snuggled down deeper into the bed.
    Michelle shook her head as they walked out of the room. She really wanted to talk to Steve, but there wasn’t time. If they didn’t hurry and get some breakfast for Caleb, they’d all be late.
    “Can we have pancakes?” Caleb asked, as they entered the kitchen.
    “Sorry, sport, but we’re running a little late this morning. Here’s some cereal,” Steve said, grabbing the box from the counter and pouring it into a bowl.
    Michelle retrieved the milk and added it to Caleb’s cereal. “Eat up, honey.”
    “Where’s the Mad Hatter?” he asked.
    “Don’t call your sister that,” Steve warned.
    “Why not? She’s always mad at me for something,” Caleb replied nonchalantly, as he plunged his spoon into his cereal and began eating.
    Michelle raised her eyebrows at Steve, and he nodded. “I’ll talk to her about it,” he promised their son.
    “So where is she? She’s going to make us late again, isn’t she?” he asked.
    “Madison is staying home this morning,” Michelle added. 
    “Why?”
    “She didn’t sleep