Read Online Contingency (Covenant of Trust) by Paula Wiseman - Free Book Online

cradle. He gave up on me. Did Ann not hear what she said? Chuck had the affair. Chuck walked away from the marriage. But of course, Ann sided with her only son.
    Bobbi eased down to the floor, then snatched the nearest stack of papers and slung them across the room. She always gave in and smoothed things over. Not this time. She was right, he was wrong and she wasn’t going to give him an inch. She could picture Chuck, this very minute, laying out his points, preparing to maneuver her into a corner emotionally so she’d let it all go. Never again.
    *******
    Chuck found a parking spot and pulled his golf bag out of the trunk without glancing toward Gavin and Phil. He wiped his sweaty palms on his slacks and then swung the bag up to his shoulder. His marriage, his future, his life hinged on this meeting. He could not screw this up. Joining the others, Chuck shook Phil’s hand, but then he broke one of his own first rules of negotiation. He couldn’t look Gavin in the eye.
    “I’ll get us a cart.” Phil abandoned him and walked into the clubhouse.
    Gavin held out his hand. “This is going to be a long afternoon if you won’t face me. I’m your brother, you know.”
    Chuck shook hands with his brother-in-law. “I, uh, I wasn’t sure you’d see it that way.”
    “I’ll be real straight with you.” He took a step closer and leveled a finger. “What you did was disgusting.”
    Chuck flinched. This isn’t a meeting. It’s a set-up, a chance for Gavin and Phil to team up against me.
    “You callously hurt people I care deeply for and you trashed vows that I heard you make before God to your wife.” After that last jab, he dropped his hand, and his tone softened. “The only way any good can ever come from this, though, is for me to love you as my brother, and do everything in my power to help you.”
    Chuck dropped his eyes. He’s going to be a tough sell, but sounds like he wants to get us back together. “I’ve never felt so helpless ... I ... I’m afraid I’ve ruined my life.” He kicked at piece of gravel on the sidewalk.
    “Let me give you some hope, then. Bobbi wants to talk to you tomorrow afternoon.”
    “Phil convinced her?” ThankGodthankGodthankGod.
    “No, she told Rita last night to see to it that I passed the message along to you.”
    Yes! A chance to talk to his wife. He and Bobbi could work this out if they just had some time and space.
    “Gentlemen, we are all set.” Phil rejoined them and swung his bag up to his shoulder. “Just let me go after Chuck, so I can see how these holes are supposed to be played.” He grinned and wrote their names on the scorecard.
    On the first green, watching Phil line up his putt, Gavin said, “Chuck, Phil mentioned to you about going before the church, didn’t he?”
    “I need to get things settled with Bobbi, first. It’s between us.”
    “It is, and we can’t make you do anything, but you can’t serve in any capacity until you deal with it publicly. This wasn’t just Phil’s idea. All the deacons and Cooper agree.”
    “I can’t face these people and admit this. I’ll look like the biggest hypocrite in the world.”
    “You’re a hypocrite if you don’t.” Phil dropped his putter back in his bag. “All of us are broken, fallen, with nothing except what God gives us in Christ. This is not for the church to shame and humiliate you. It’s a chance for us as your family to come alongside and stand with you while you go through the restoration process.”
    “In the twenty-some years I’ve been in church, I don’t recall anybody making a public confession. You can’t tell me I’m the first guy who did anything wrong.”
    “I give everybody the same counsel,” Phil said.
    “You think that might say something about your advice?”
    “Do it Sunday night then,” Phil offered. “There will be fewer people there, and a more relaxed atmosphere.”
    “Have you told anyone yet?” Gavin asked.
    “I told my boss this morning. He gave me