Read Online Love Lifted Me by Sara Evans - Free Book Online

to teach? It’s a lot of work to prep for teaching, Max. And what will you teach? Your undergrad was in history but that was a long time ago.”
    â€œI’ll only have coaching responsibilities, but I’ll need some certifications, which is why—” Here came the hard part. “I need to decide and get moving on this. Two-a-days start in August. I know I can do this, babe. I can help those kids, make a difference.”
    â€œWhat about me and Asa?”
    â€œI was thinking you’d come with me.” He treaded tenderly.
    â€œAnd the Blue Umbrella? Southern Life is coming next week. They expect their feature business to still be open when the issue hits the stands.”
    â€œMore good points, more good points.” Max rose off his knee and paced in a small circle, thinking. He’d been so focused on figuring out his heart he didn’t have time to ponder solutions for Jade. “Okay, how about Lillabeth? She’s been running the shop. Doing a great job. We can hire her to be manager. Hire part-time help for when she’s in school. Worse comes to worse, Mom could run the shop for a while.” Max’s spirit sparked. Something divine was happening in his heart.
    â€œWorse comes to worse?” Oooh, bad choice of words, Max . He knew that tone and inflection. “The Blue Umbrella is not a hobby. I’ve worked hard to build that business. Your mom doesn’t know how to run a vintage shop.”
    â€œShe’s raised millions of dollars for charity, Jade. I think she can run the Blue for a few months.” He reared back when the steel glint in her eyes flared hot. “Babe, you’re a great businesswoman. What you’ve done with the Blue Umbrella deserves every respect, but I’m just saying between Mom and Lillabeth, the Blue Umbrella would be fine.”
    â€œLet’s say we do this crazy thing. For one season? Then what? I thought the purpose was to hire someone to build a program. Not to keep having a new coach every year.”
    â€œYes, that’s the intent. I’d have the option to leave, and they’d have the option to fire me but, yeah, the idea is to be permanent. Listen, we don’t have to pack up the house. We’ll rent a place out there while we see if we like it. Get new furniture. That’ll be fun. A bit of a splurge. Shopping, you like shopping, right?”
    She snort-laughed. “Don’t use lawyer tricks on me. Yes, I like shopping but this is uprooting. Max, you’re talking moving permanently to Texas. Are you seriously considering leaving the law?”
    â€œDo you think you could learn to love being a coach’s wife?”
    â€œAnd the Blue?”
    â€œMove it to Colby. I bet there’s fun vintage in Texas. Or sell it. Stay home with Asa.”
    She rocked out of her chair and stared out over the lawn, arms folded, saying nothing for several weighty seconds. Max stopped pacing and stood alongside her.
    â€œI remember when you brought me here right before we were married,” she said, low and slow. “Before you’d gone on the bachelor trip. When you told me this house was mine, I couldn’t believe it. Somehow all the stars aligned to make my dreams come true. My amazing fiancé just gifted me with a sprawling Victorian home with hand-carved moldings and imported marble floors. It was too much for a poor girl from Prairie City.” She looked up at him. “Was I right? Too much for a poor girl like me? The dream was only a façade?”
    â€œThe façade is believing those things make us happy, make us a couple.” Max took her arms and gently turned her to him. “This right here, Jade, you and me discussing our lives, our future, is what makes us a couple. Building a life together, building our marriage around each other and who God’s called us to be. That’s the dream. Not living in buildings, running mad after careers and calling it a