Obsession Read Free Page B

should,” said Toni, coming up behind them. “But I'm afraid you'd have to wait even longer for a wedding with Melissa than with me.”
    Brad turned and took the plates and forks from Toni, shaking his head. “I just can't win around here, can I?” He sighed loudly. “OK, OK. No more discussions about weddings. Let's eat this stuff before it gets cold.”
    They sat down around the old oak table that had been in their kitchen for as long as Toni could remember, then joined hands and bowed their heads.
    “Thank you, Father,” Brad prayed, “for your loving care and your provision for us. We ask you to bless this food, in Jesus' name. Amen.”
    Melissa grabbed the carton containing the almond chicken, while Toni and Brad pretended to fight each other over the sweet and sour pork. “Oh no, please, go ahead,” Brad said, his voice dripping with martyrdom. “I'll wait. After all, I'm very good at waiting, you know.”
    Toni ignored him and scooped the food onto her plate, then passed the carton to Brad. “I saved you a little,” she said, “just because you're soooo patient.”
    They continued to tease each other as they ate, keeping the conversation light and the mood playful. By the time they were finished, Toni was beginning to feel her strength returning.
    “That was great,” she said, reaching over to lay her hand on Brad's arm. “Thanks.”
    Brad smiled and winked at her. “You're welcome… as always.”
    “Yeah, thanks,” Melissa added. “You're all right, Bro. I don't care what anybody says.”
    Brad raised his eyebrows. “Oh yeah? And just what do they say about me, anyway?”
    “I'll never tell,” said Melissa, standing up and beginning to clear the table. “I've been sworn to secrecy.”
    “Oh, great,” said Brad, getting up to help her. “Not only do my proposals get turned down around here, I can't even defend myself because no one will tell me what ‘they’ are saying about me.”
    Toni watched her fiancé and her little sister working and joking around together, and she wondered how she and Melissa would have ever made it through all of this without Brad. She knew what a vulnerable time this was for Melissa, who was the same age now that Toni had been when they had lost their mother. Melissa, of course, didn't remember Marilyn Matthews, although she had certainly cried for her when she died. But Toni remembered her, and their father's death only intensified those painful memories.
    “So, Melissa,” she said, trying to refocus her thoughts, “have you thought about what you might want to do this summer? I know school just got out yesterday, but we probably should talk about your plans soon.”
    Melissa hesitated as she placed the almost empty food cartons in the refrigerator, then came and rejoined Toni at the table. “Actually, I have thought about it. To tell you the truth, I really wasn't looking forward to almost three months with nothing to do, especially now that… Well, you know, I won't have Dad to go fishing with or…” She stopped, and Toni knew she was fighting hard to maintain hercomposure. Then she took a deep breath and continued. “When I was at Carrie's last night, her mom's friend stopped by. You know, Beth Johnson, the receptionist at the dentist's office? She's looking for someone to take care of her little boy, Tyler, for the summer. He's almost seven. They just live two streets over from us, and she works Monday through Friday from eight to five. Mrs. Johnson's mother has been watching Tyler after school but would rather not be tied down all day during the summer, so they need someone as soon as possible. Anyway, she was wondering if Carrie could do it, but the Johnsons have a cat, and Carrie's allergic. So I thought, maybe…”
    Toni pursed her lips. “Full time? Are you sure you want to make that much of a commitment? I know you're great with kids and you've done some babysitting in the evenings for a few people, but all day, five days a week? That's a