Read Online Reluctant Runaway by Jill Elizabeth Nelson - Free Book Online Page B

grad school? I’ve already been barred from my internship at the museum. Temporarily, they say.” Brent’s nostrils flared. “But who cares? I just want my wife back. And Adam needs his mommy.”
    Desi eyed the sleeping baby. Brent’s reactions rang true. It was Jo who seemed off. But that was a subject to take up with Max. She met Brent’s gaze. “You see me now, after my mess has been sorted out. When I was in the middle of it, I didn’t know how I’d come out alive. But by the grace of God, here I am. We can trust Him now, too.”
    Brent shook his head. “He’s seemed pretty far away these past months.”
    “Months?” Desi sat forward.
    “Yeah. Karen’s pregnancy was rough, and she missed a lot of work. Good thing she had an understanding supervisor. Then after the baby came, she took a leave of absence. Depression set in, and she … changed. Wouldn’t go to church. Wouldn’t even step out of the house. At least not until the day of the robbery, when she went in to work for a few hours. She came home wiped out and slept the clock around.”
    “I suppose her returning to work the same day as the robbery looks suspicious to the police.”
    “Sure, and exhibiting symptoms of mental instability doesn’t help.”
    Desi frowned. “Postpartum depression isn’t uncommon. You’d think people, especially professionals, would be aware of that these days. Did you get help for her?”
    “Sure. The doc put her on medication. That meant she couldn’t nurse, so she felt like a failure as a mother on top of everything else.”
    Desi got up and stretched out a kink in her back. She tossed the magazine onto the table and took a chair next to Brent. “Max said Karen had some issues before coming to the Lord. Maybe that’s a nosy comment, but.
    “No offense. When we first met, she was messed up, but then she fell in love with Jesus. Got out of a dangerous relationship. Turned her life around. I was so proud of her. Proud to be her husband. Then, a few months ago it was like her faith got—well—twisted. She turned into some brittle person I didn’t even know.”
    “Still conflicted about her heritage.”
    Brent looked up as Jo walked into the room, Max close behind. “How long have you been listening?”
    “Long enough to know you’ve missed an important piece of the puzzle. Not meanin’ to, of course, because you see Karen for herself and not as a half-breed.”
    Jo turned her gaze on Desi. “Even in the twenty-first century, marriages between Native Americans and whites aren’t well received, especially if it’s an Indian man with a white wife. My marriage couldn’t survive the strain. Pete found comfort in meth. I chose divorce to protect Karen from the drugs, but I couldn’t guard her from everything. She grew up torn between two cultures and not accepted by either. The motorcycle gang accepted her. The church accepted her … to a point.”
    Brent surged to his feet. The baby startled and fussed. “What does
that
mean?”
    Jo shook her head. “Not a good presupper subject. Max and I had an interestin’ conversation, but I think we should save more serious talk until after supper.”
    Brent jerked a nod. “I’ll put Adam in his crib.”
    “Great.” Jo’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “The food’ll be ready in about twenty minutes. Time for me to run to the store for milk. I know that’s what you like with your meal.”
    Desi looked from one to the other.
The thought’s kind, but the tone’s subzero. What’s between these two?
    “Des and I’ll get the milk.” Max stepped between her sister and Brent. “I know the way.”
    Jo shrugged. “The car keys are hangin’ on the hook inside the door. I’ll set the table.” She walked away.
    Max’s gaze followed her sister from the room and then locked onto Desi. “Off we go, then. Bye, Brent.”
    He nodded and headed toward the back bedroom.
    “Bring that along.” Max pointed at the glossy periodical Desi had used as a fan.
    Desi