Love, Honor, and Betray Roby, Lawson (best contemporary novels .TXT) 📖

broker, and even with the economy being in such dire straits right now, I still love whatI do, and people are steadily beginning to warm back up to the stock market.”

“Well, at least you have your work to focus on. I don’t even have that.”

“No? I just assumed you held some position at your church.”

“I sit on the elder board, but with the exception of that, I don’t have a daily, full-time position. Until now, though, Ididn’t mind that because not having a career has allowed me the opportunity to be there for my son the way he’s needed meto be, and to also travel with Curtis when he did frequent speaking engagements. But now, Matthew is seventeen and gettingready to be a senior next year, so it’s not like he really needs me the way he used to.”

“Sounds like you’re experiencing empty-nest blues a whole year early.”

“Yeah, I guess I am.”

“Well, you knew Sybil and I only had the one child, and she’s now a sophomore at Yale.”

“That’s great, Michael. Good for her. Matthew is gearing up for an Ivy League school as well. Curtis practically has him enrolledand already living on campus at Harvard, but if Matthew had it his way, he’d probably go to one of the top football schools.He’s very good at football, but he’ll never disappoint his father, though.”

“I have to say I tend to agree with your husband on the Harvard tip. If you have a child who gets exceptional grades and youcan afford to send him or her to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, then you definitelyshould. They may not lead in sports, but they do turn out some of the smartest young men and women in America. Most of whomgo on to earn well into the six figures with their first job.”

“True. And I think Matthew understands that, so that’s why he doesn’t complain.”

Michael stroked Charlotte’s hair some more, and she finally closed her eyes. She was so relaxed and relieved of tension.

“So, hey. You know I wanna see you again, right?”

Charlotte wasn’t sure how she should answer, but before she could, his phone rang. Michael reached over on the floor and pulledit out of his pants pocket. “Hello?” he said, covering his face with his free hand and laying his head back on the pillow.He seemed irritated, and Charlotte knew it was Sybil. She knew because he had the same look of annoyance he’d had a full decadeago, whenever he heard from her.

“What is it? No. No. I don’t know what time I’ll be home. I have a lot to finish up here at the office. I didn’t answer myoffice phone because I don’t want to be distracted by any business calls. I’m working on something for a client that requiresmy full concentration. I already told you. I don’t know what time I’ll be home exactly, but I’ll see you when I get there.Good-bye, Sybil. Because I need to get back to work. Geez,” he said and hung up the phone.

Charlotte watched his body language and facial expressions and wondered why he didn’t just tell her the truth. But then itwasn’t like she was rearing to tell Curtis about the man she’d slept with two nights ago or about Michael. She hadn’t voluntarilytold him about Aaron either, so who was she to judge anyone?

“So when can I see you again?” he said.

Charlotte thought about Matthew and Curtis. “I don’t know.”

“I really want to see you again as soon as possible, and I’ll do whatever I have to to make it happen. My friend is over inChina working for the next three months, so his house is all mine the whole time he’s gone.”

“Really? So who else have you brought here?”

“I won’t lie. Last year, I was seeing someone, and I did bring her here a few times. But I swear, I haven’t done that since.The only reason I have a key is because my friend—Gerald is his name—wanted me to check on the place from time to time. Sowhen?”

“Well, aren’t we persistent?” Charlotte said, teasing him.

“I am. And on purpose, too,” he said, easing on top of her. “I’m persistent about a lot of things, and I work very hard forwhatever it is I want.”

“Is that right?”

Michael kissed her. “It is. I guarantee it.”

“Then, in that case, do what you will to me. Do whatever you want.”

Chapter 16

Curtis didn’t know what was wrong with him. Last night, before dropping off to sleep in one of the guest bedrooms, the oneclosest to Curtina, he’d told himself he was finished arguing with Charlotte and was prepared to move on without her if needbe. But now, here he was sitting in his office on a Wednesday evening, preparing for Bible study, trying to call Charlottefor the third time. He was almost ashamed of himself because of the way he basically had been kissing her behind, and he didn’tlike it. He felt like a wimp. Though what kept him making one attempt after another was the love he still had for his wife,regardless of how terribly she was treating him. He’d had the same thoughts only days ago, and he was still trying to hangon. He was still hoping for some sort of miracle.

Curtis read Scripture and jotted down some notes. Bible study would be starting in a couple of hours, but before then he hada meeting with Anise, Charlotte’s cousin, the one she still wasn’t on the best terms with. Anise hadn’t gotten past the ideathat Charlotte had slept with her husband when Anise had still been married to him, although the good news was that, as oflate, she at least chatted with Charlotte whenever they were in the same room—something she hadn’t started doing regularlyuntil maybe a year ago.

As he continued outlining the lesson he was about to teach, he heard a knock at his door.

“Come in.”

“Hey, I know I’m a little early, so just let me know if you want me to come back in an