Read Online Just to See You Smile by Sally John - Free Book Online Page A

disrespectful, that wasn’t about to stop her from speaking freely.
    He let the music drift into his consciousness. Loud and upbeat as it was, it wasn’t what usually emanated from the weight room. The words were about Jesus… Hmm. They were…worshipful.
    Joel set the bar in its rack and listened for a moment.
    The memories came then. They were why his church attendance was sporadic, why his worship remained…measured.
    He understood that he was in a right relationship with God because some years ago he had put his trust in His Son, Jesus. That choice had brought him purpose and hope and sanity. His slate was wiped clean.
    But he didn’t know what to do with the memories. And so, he avoided them.
    Now he sat up and shook them off.

Eight
    Alec parked his car in the garage and sat. It was only 2:30 in the afternoon, but he was home, three hours ahead of schedule. He had been driving around the countryside since noon.
    He should go catch Peter at the church office, talk to him. This was a spiritual matter, wasn’t it? All of life was a spiritual matter. This didn’t feel like a spiritual matter. It felt like an unforeseen beating by an invisible assailant. His head felt as if he’d been wearing a football helmet and someone had grabbed it and jerked him to the ground. His ribs ached as if they’d been kicked while he was down. Red flags should be floating in the air, calling it against someone, penalizing someone .
    He made his way across the backyard and walked heavily through the porch and the kitchen door. “Anne!” he called out.
    Friday afternoon. What was her schedule? His mind wouldn’t focus. “Anne!” he shouted loudly. She was never home. There was PTA, room mother stuff, basketball practice, now Val’s extra needs, the pharmacy job—
    â€œAlec! What’s wrong?” She ran to him and threw her arms around him. “Why are you home?”
    They held each other for a long time.
    â€œAlec?” She undid his tie. “What happened? Who died?”
    â€œNobody died. Let’s sit down.” They went around the breakfast bar and settled onto the couch. “That promotion I expected?” He blew out a breath. “Didn’t get it.”
    â€œOh, honey.” She hugged him and kissed his cheek. “What happened?”
    He slouched against the back of the couch. “I went in this morning as a corporate trainer, expecting nothing this first day of the month. Maybe in two weeks I expect to be named manager, make the change at the end of the month. Start out January with a little raise, a little different day-to-day challenge. Just a natural progression. It’s what happens to men with my seniority, my reviews, my goals, my company, and above all, with my ability to play their game. I come home, still a corporate trainer for the remainder of December. For the remainder of the entire next year . Maybe until I turn 65.”
    â€œDidn’t your boss get promoted to VP?”
    â€œFrank got his promotion, all right, his new office, his raise.”
    â€œWhat about his current position? Who gets that?”
    â€œThey’re bringing someone in from plant management. Someone they want to put out to pasture until he has the good sense to retire. That’s just between Frank and me and you, by the way. As if that helps.”
    â€œThen this is a demotion for this man? Why would he take a backward move to Rockville?”
    Alec shook his head. “Who knows? Who cares? And to top it all off, there will be no bonuses this year.”
    She rubbed his shoulder. “We kind of expected that though, didn’t we?”
    â€œBut we expected a raise, too!” His wife snuggled against him, and he put an arm around her. “I’m glad you’re home, sweetheart.”
    â€œOrdinarily I’d still be at the pharmacy, but it was empty this afternoon. Lia sent me home. God’s timing,