Read Online The Runaway Pastor's Wife by Diane Moody, Hannah Schmitt - Free Book Online

“Quite a girl.”
    He shuffled back over to the bed and sat back
down. They sat together in silence for several moments. Finally, David spoke.
“I don’t know what to do. I’m at a total loss here. But I do know we can’t tell
the kids. At least not now. They can’t possibly understand this. Who am I
kidding? I don’t even understand this! But with so many of their friends
going through family break-ups right now—no, we’ll just have to tell them she’s
had to leave town for a while. To visit a sick relative or something.”
    “I’ll back you in whatever you decide to do. I
prefer not to tell the kids a half-truth, but God willing, maybe Annie will be
back home in three or four days. I can stay over in the guest room and help out
however you need me. But what will you tell the church? You know how badly the
rumors fly around there.”
    David stood up. “I don’t know. Let’s get through
tonight and take it one day at a time.”
    “Hey Dad? Gran? You up there?” Jeremy yelled
from the bottom of the stairs. “I’m starving! When are we gonna eat?”
    Caroline walked over and hugged her son, her
head barely reaching his shoulder. “I’ll take care of the kids. You come down
when you’re ready.”
    David nodded, his thoughts still searching for
meaning. “Oh Annie. Where are you?”

CHAPTER 6
     
     
    Tulsa , Oklahoma
    Grady Brewster tossed the stack of papers from
his desk into his briefcase and snapped it shut. He would most likely never get
around to working on them, but it never hurt to go through the motions. It had
been an endless day of meetings, and he was exhausted. He walked over to the
glass wall and stood, silently gazing at the panoramic view before him. The
skyline of Tulsa was etched against the amber and violet
streaks of the sunset.
    He stretched his arms and arched his back, then
thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his Dockers. From his office on the
sixty-first floor of the Williams Center , he
watched the massive exodus of cars and buses heading out to the suburbs, too
tired to join them just yet. The quiet ringing of his phone interrupted his
thoughts. He stepped over to his desk and picked up the slim receiver. “This is
Grady.”
    “Grady the Brewmeister? The one and only
Brewster Rooster of the College World Series Champions of 1983? One and the
same?”
    “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Baseball himself!” Grady
grinned as he sat back down. “To what do I owe this high privilege, big guy? I
haven’t heard from you since you made Fortune 500.”
    Grady relaxed in the familiar teasing from his
old college buddy. It was true. He hadn’t heard from Michael for at least a
couple of years. Hard to believe they had once been as close as brothers. In
fact, since parting their ways after graduation, their friendship had suffered
dismally from lack of attention due to the miles and years between them. Only
these intermittent calls had survived through the years.
    He knew Michael suspected jealousy of invading
their friendship. After all, they had both played baseball at Oklahoma State . And
while Grady was extremely competitive, the same doors had not opened for him as
the myriad of offers Michael enjoyed after college. While Michael rode off on
the crest of a wave headed for athletic prestige and national stardom, Grady
had stayed behind struggling in the precarious world of finance.
    I wonder what he wants after all this time?
    “Forget Fortune 500, man,” Michael teased,
interrupted Grady’s thoughts. “It’s been way toolong! You still
up there hobnobbing with the rich and famous? Ever get the itch to move on up
to Wall Street and find some realaction?”
    “Nah, I’m happy right here where I am, Michael.
I’ll leave Wall Street to the demented crazies who crave that sort of life. I
couldn’t be happier anywhere else. Built a new home out south of town, got a
beautiful wife who still thinks I’m hot, and two incredible kids who adore
their father. What else could I ask