A Time to Dance/A Time to Embrace Read Free Page A

back in time, even an hour back to the moments before the final touchdown when John’s long-ago dreams all were coming true.
    All but one.
    Five minutes later, John came through the door and saw her there. Abby thought of Charlene, her arms around John after the game. Do I hug him like she did? Do I nod politely?
    There was an uncomfortable silence while he held her gaze.
    “Abby . . .” He spoke softly, but every word was coated in exhilaration. “We did it!” His eyes sparkled with an electricity that would take days, weeks to diffuse, and it beckoned her in a way she was powerless to resist. As sure as gravity, they came together, and Abby circled her arm around his neck, burying her head against his shoulder.
    “I can’t believe it! State champs!” She savored the comforting feel of his heart thudding inside his chest, and it occurred to her that months had passed since they’d hugged this way.
    “I know.” He pulled back, his eyes as full of life and hope and promise as they’d been two decades earlier.
    There was a smudge of mud on his cheek, and she erased it gently with her thumb. “Best in the state, you and Kade. Amazing.”
    He drew her to him again and they stayed that way, their bodies close, swaying slightly. His arms securely around her waist, hers holding on more tightly than usual.
    Every moment was steeped in a desperate finality.
    John pulled away first, and Abby hugged herself to ward off the sudden chill. “Could you believe that last touchdown?” He grabbed his gym bag from the bench and grinned at her. “Kade was something else . . .”
    Abby smiled back. “Beautiful.”
    John stared out at the field as if he were watching a replay in his mind. “I’ve pictured this day ever since Kade first learned to throw.”
    They started walking toward the stadium steps, their feet keeping time in a familiar rhythm. John swung the bag up onto his shoulder. “Abby, about this weekend . . .”
    The rock in her stomach grew. “What?”
    He studied the ground. “I don’t feel right about it . . . what I mean is, the kids . . .” His eyes found hers as they kept walking. “I don’t care what the counselors say; we can’t tell them now.” His forehead was creased with concern. “Not after tonight. They’ll be celebrating right through Christmas, Abby. They have a right to that.”
    Abby felt her shoulders tense as a burst of nervous tension spewed into her veins. “They have a right to know the truth.”
    His eyelids were heavy with sorrow. “We’ll tell them soon enough.” His steps slowed and he stared hard at her, begging her to understand. “Come on, Abby. This is the happiest day in Kade’s life. And before you know it, Christmas’ll be here. Can’t it wait?”
    She stopped walking and stared at her husband, one hand on her hip. “What are we supposed to do, John? Pretend forever?”
    His jawline hardened but he said nothing.
    Stop, daughter. A kind word turns away anger.
    Abby heard the still, small voice somewhere in the distant corners of her soul, but she shook her head. John had brought this on, after all. Why cover for him now?
    “What good does waiting do?” She crossed her arms and huffed. “We should’ve told them last month.” She hesitated. “You can’t be the good guy forever, John.” Don’t say it, Abby . . . “Even if you are state champs.”
    “Here we go.” John removed his Marion High baseball cap and dug his fingers through his damp, dark hair. “What do you want, Abby? A fight? Right here on the fifty-yard line?”
    She thought of a dozen quick comebacks but held her tongue. “I’m just saying we should have told them by now. For goodness sake, John, we’re filing in January. They won’t know what hit them if we don’t say something soon.”
    His face twisted, and she thought he might cry. He looked like a little boy who’d lost his best friend, and for a crazy instant she wanted to take him in her arms and beg him to stay, beg him to break