The Forever Husband. Kathryn Alexander

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СКАЧАТЬ “Right, well, while they are gone, they think I need someone to help out around the house.”

      “Like a housekeeper? Like some of the families on TV have?” Beth asked.

      “No,” Hope answered, suddenly feeling thankful that her life wasn’t as mixed up as some of the sitcoms she’d seen. “No, they asked your father to move in while they’re away. So…Dad will be living there. With us. Temporarily.”

      The girls’ faces lit up like fireworks. Just the response Hope had feared.

      “Yeah! Dad’s coming home! When?” Beth squealed. Cassie was a little more reserved, smiling broadly, but not asking any questions.

      “He’s moving some of his clothes and belongings from his apartment—”

      “I never did like that apartment he had over the office, anyway,” Cassie remarked. “I’d rather have him at Grandma’s with us.”

      “Me, too!” Beth chimed in.

      “But, remember, it’s only for a short period of time,” Hope reminded. “Just a couple of weeks or less.”

      “Or more,” Beth replied.

      “No,” Hope stated firmly, and gathered Beth into her arms. “This is just for a little while.”

      “But this is exactly what we were praying for, isn’t it, Cassie? Ever since Dad left—”

      “Beth, honey, Dad and I aren’t getting back together. We’re just going to be staying in the same house for a while,” Hope explained as a sudden pang of loneliness hit her. How she wished it did mean more. She and Eric had known many happy years together.

      Beth still sounded optimistic. “Maybe he’ll start going to church again. Wouldn’t that be good? He could teach Sunday School like he used to do. I know the kids miss him. And he could be trusted again.”

      “You mean a ‘trustee,’” Cassie corrected.

      A flash of humor crossed Hope’s face. Then it was gone. Maybe Beth was right. Hope had stopped trusting him. Lord knows, Eric had given her enough reason to do so.

      “Girls, this is exactly what I was afraid of. Don’t get excited over this. Nothing has changed between your father and me.”

      “But prayer changes things,” Cassie said with sincerity. “You said so yourself.”

      “Yes, it can change things,” Hope responded, “but God doesn’t answer every prayer with a ‘yes.’”

      “But some of them, He does,” Beth argued.

      Some of them, He does. Hope couldn’t argue with that. She’d seen many prayers answered in her lifetime, one of the greatest being Cassie’s complete recovery from serious injuries she’d sustained at a pool two summers ago. The girl had regained her ability to walk again and returned to a normal life, although it had taken time and therapy. Too much of both, according to Eric. And that was only part of what had driven him away from the Lord, from church and from his family.

      But through it all, he had never blamed Hope. Not for anything. Sometimes she wondered if she’d have felt less guilty if he had.

      “Hi, girls. How ya doin’?”

      Eric’s voice sounded pleasant, almost soothing as he greeted the children. Hope glanced up from fluffing Cassie’s pillow to see him enter the room with a smile. A nice smile. The kind she could almost believe was meant for her.

      “Ready for some chicken? I’m starving,” Beth said as she picked up her pink jacket and ran to give her big sister a hug.

      “’Bye, Beth. Save some of that food for me!” Cassie called as Beth headed toward the door.

      Eric kissed Cassie and mussed up her hair a little before he walked away. “I’ll see you again tomorrow, sweetie.” Then he looked directly at Hope. “I’d be glad to stay here if you’re tired. You could use a good night’s rest at home, you know.”

      Home. Exactly where was that? It used to be wherever Eric was. She shook her head. “Thanks, anyway, but I’m fine tonight. Maybe some other time.”

      Eric nodded in reluctant agreement. “Then, we’ll see you in the morning,” he responded quietly.

      Hope saw a flicker of uncertainty, almost a ten-derness, in Eric’s gaze before he took Beth’s hand and turned to go. His dark brown hair was cut short and silky straight in complete contrast to the blond curls of the little girl who gazed up at him as they walked away. Eric hadn’t changed his clothes since she’d seen him earlier. His gray slacks and white shirt were slightly rumpled, and his dark blue tie was loosened but still present. He had that weary look about him that Hope wanted to soothe away with the right words or a soft touch. She lowered her clear blue gaze to the pillow she still held in her hands. She missed him. Deeply. She didn’t want to, but she did.

      “Mom, ready for me to read to you?”

      She returned her gaze and attention to her brighteyed daughter. “Of course, I am, hon. Just let me move these cushions around and turn this cot into a bed.” Hope picked up the extra folded blanket she had brought from home so she could make herself comfortable on the makeshift bed. Nights of unsettled sleep sometimes brought an achiness into Hope’s shoulders that she couldn’t quite overcome, and she knew she would miss Grace’s occasional backrubs. They’d been almost as good as the ones Eric had given over the years. No, on second thought, Hope considered as she remembered her husband’s strong, warm touch, they weren’t that good.

      “Cassie, hon,” she said, wanting to think of something else—anything else—but Eric, “I think it’s time for you to read.”

      As Eric led Beth through the maze of hospital corridors and out to the parking lot, he was thoughtful. He wanted to help Hope in whatever ways she would allow, and he knew there might not be many. He’d avoided her for too long, but only in an attempt to protect his own heart. Maybe she wouldn’t forgive him. Maybe he was too late. And maybe asking his parents to go away on an unscheduled vacation wouldn’t prove to be the perfect solution he hoped it might be. He guessed the next two weeks would give him the answers he needed.

       Chapter Two

      “C’mon, Carrie Elizabeth. We’re gonna be late,” Hope said, grabbing the car keys early the next morning. She had returned to the house to pick Beth up for school. “Let’s go.”

      “If you’re in a hurry to leave, I can take her to school,” Eric offered as he entered the kitchen. Streams of sunshine through the window lit up the room. “I have a few extra minutes this morning.”

      “You’re sure?” she asked hesitantly. Having Eric walk through a doorway at any moment was something she had to get used to. And, could, too easily.

      “I’m sure,” he answered, reaching for Beth as she ran into the room directly toward her father. “‘Mornin’, babe.”

      “Dad! You really are still СКАЧАТЬ