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

it off with Charlene and love only her, Abby, for the rest of his life. Her heart softened. We’re both wrong, John. Isn’t what we’ve built worth another try? But before she could find the courage to voice the words, the feeling vanished. I must be crazy. We’re too far gone for second chances . . .
    Nothing is impossible with God, My child.
    Abby closed her eyes. That time she was sure the silent voice in her heart belonged to the Lord. We tried. You know we did . . . But even You would grant me an out in this situation . . . Your word says so, doesn’t it?
    I hate divorce, daughter . . . Nothing is impossible with—
    It’s too late . . . Her eyes opened. “Listen, I just want to get through this.”
    He was still watching her, but his sadness had changed to determination. “We can file in February. We’ve waited this long. Let’s get through Christmas.”
    The image of John and Charlene taunted her. “Ho ho ho,” she whispered.
    “What?” John’s voice rose a notch.
    She cocked her head. “Let’s just say I’m not in the mood for the holidays.”
    John gritted his teeth. “I swear, Abby, all you ever think about is yourself. It’s Christmas, remember? That used to mean something to you.”
    Don’t do this to me, John. Don’t pretend like it matters when it doesn’t . Images came to mind of her and John wandering the hallways of their house in recent years . . . silent, tense, loveless. “Yeah, back when I used to mean something to you.”
    They stood planted there, face to angry face, the chasm between them growing with each breath. Abby broke the silence first. “Don’t make me the bad guy. I don’t want to ruin their Christmas, either.” She gestured at herself. “I’m just trying to be realistic.”
    “Selfish, you mean?” He was struggling to keep his voice down.
    “No, realistic!” Her words were little more than a hiss. “I hate pretending!”
    The muscles in John’s jaw flinched. “You think I like it? I’m not talking about us here, Abby. I’m talking about the kids. We’ll tell them after the holidays, and that settles it.”
    He started walking and Abby wanted to scream. “Wait!”
    John stopped and after a beat, turned back to her. “What?”
    She exhaled, struggling to control the emotions that rocked her heart. She couldn’t imagine another moment trapped in a house with John while he was in love with another woman . . . and through Christmas?
    Then it occurred to her that the holidays were apt to be busy, anyway. Her shoulders slumped. Oh, what did it matter? Maybe John was right. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt if the kids had less time to get used to the idea. Maybe she could survive waiting for their sake. As long as the divorce came quickly after that. “Okay . . . fine. After Christmas.” She hesitated. “But keep your hands off Charlene in public, will you? At least until after we’ve told the kids.”
    John’s eyes widened and his anger became indignation. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Come on . . .” Her mouth hung open. Why did he insist on lying to her? What was the point? “It means I have no intention of looking the other way while you run around with your girlfriend just so we can give the kids a happy Christmas.”
    John took a step toward her, his expression growing hard as flint. “You know, I’m sick of you blaming this on Charlene. Our decision to divorce is separate from my friendship with her. It’s because you’ve changed . . . we’ve both changed.” He sighed and stared into the moonlit sky, and she wondered if he were searching for answers—as she’d done so many times. She watched his jaw work and knew he was trying to control his temper. “We’re not the same people we were, Abby.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me it’s not about Charlene. No matter how much we’ve changed we could’ve worked it out; we had an obligation to work it out. But when you took up with Charlene, it was time to get out.” She