Love, Honor, and Betray by Roby, Lawson (ebook reader ink txt) 📕

“That really saddens me to hear that, Matt, but I’m glad you realize that not everyone can be trusted. Not even people youshould be able to trust no matter what.”

“I realize that now, Mom, because I never would have thought anything bad about Mr. Rush. None of the kids would have.” Matthewwalked into the master bedroom and set her luggage down. Then he pulled his iPod Touch from the lower front pocket of hisMitchell Prep Football hoodie and read a text someone had just sent him. He scrolled through it and then cracked up laughing.“Elijah is too loony,” he said and quickly texted a response to his friend.

Charlotte pulled off her jacket and kicked off her shoes.

Matthew read another text and laughed out loud again. “I’ll be back, Mom,” he said.

Charlotte shook her head and smiled. She wondered what these kids would do if they couldn’t text each other a zillion timesper day. It was all they seemed to do anymore, and they couldn’t seem to live without it.

But Charlotte’s smile vanished when she saw Curtina walking into the room.

“Mommy!” she said, all bright-eyed and happy.

Charlotte stared at her in a not-so-pleasant way and hoped it was enough to make her leave. There was no such luck, though.

“Mommy!” Curtina repeated. This time she walked right in front of Charlotte and reached her hands up.

Charlotte gazed down at her with folded arms and spoke in a harsh but low volume. “If you think I’m picking you up, you’vegot another think coming. Now, get out of here and go back to your room where you belong.”

Curtina’s smile disappeared, but she didn’t move.

So, Charlotte took her little hand, forcefully escorted her across the room and then right out of it. Curtina burst into tears,but Charlotte quickly closed the door in her face. Curtina stood outside, weeping, but it wasn’t long before Charlotte heardMatthew.

“What’s wrong, Curtina? It’s okay. Stop crying. You can come in my room,” he said. Charlotte knew he must have picked herup because all of a sudden she didn’t hear anything.

Good. She was finally gone. Although, Charlotte was glad Curtis hadn’t caught that little brat bawling because she could onlyimagine the crazy fit he would have thrown. Actually, she wondered where he was since she still hadn’t seen him yet. Ironicallyenough, she heard his voice barely ten minutes later, and it sounded as if he was talking on the phone. She couldn’t tellwho he was chatting with but knew it had to be someone from the church because he was raving over how spectacular the lightingsystem was going to be in the new building. At first, she’d wondered if maybe he’d been gone, but now she knew he’d obviouslybeen downstairs in his study all along but just hadn’t bothered coming out to say anything to her.

Curtis walked into the room as he ended his call. Then he looked at her. “So did you have a good time?”

“Yes. Actually, a great time.”

“Good for you. Lots of sun and spa treatments every day?”

“Lots.”

“Good.” He picked up one of his many Bibles from the dresser and headed back out of the bedroom.

Charlotte watched him and knew she didn’t have the right to expect any excitement from him, not with what she’d been doingwith Michael all weekend down in Florida, but it felt strange seeing how nonchalant he was about her arrival back home. Heacted as though it was no major deal at all, and she’d be lying if she said her feelings weren’t hurt at least a little. Heseemed to have a whole new attitude, much different than the one he’d possessed only a few days ago, and she wondered why.She didn’t want to think the worst, that he’d washed his hands of the situation and no longer cared about their marriage,but she couldn’t help feeling a bit concerned. She couldn’t help wondering if maybe Curtis had found someone else to be with,the same as she had. He wouldn’t do that, though. Maybe years ago he might have, but the new Curtis had promised her he wouldbe faithful to her until the end. And she believed him. It was true that she was committing adultery again, but not Curtis. No, Curtis truly did want to live a respectable and decent life, and he wasserious about being a good father and husband. He was committed to both God and his ministry, and regardless of how bad thingshad gotten between them, he wouldn’t take up with another woman. He’d said he wouldn’t, and Charlotte knew she was silly forthinking otherwise. She knew she’d gotten herself all worked up over nothing.

Chapter 23

Curtis sat reading the book of Romans, chapter seven to be exact, and hated that he was starting to identify with Paul allover again. He’d known talking to Sharon was wrong, but for some reason he’d called her a second time this afternoon and hadchatted with her for another two hours. When he’d hung up from her this morning, he’d told himself that he wouldn’t make communicatingwith her a habit, but the more he’d played with Curtina and tried to busy himself with reading and watching CNN, it hadn’tbeen long before Curtina had gotten sleepy and Curtis had put her down for a nap. He’d taken her into her bedroom and dialedSharon’s number immediately following.

Now he wanted to call her a third time but hesitated for two reasons. First, Charlotte was back in town, and he didn’t wantto take the chance on her hearing his conversation. Sure, he was downstairs and on a totally different level of the house;however, he still didn’t want to be careless. But it was his second reason that was most important and the one that affectedhim greatly: the Scripture he’d just finished reading. He sometimes studied the King James version of the Bible, but tonighthe focused on the New Living Translation. Romans, chapter seven, verses fourteen through seventeen: “The law is good, then.The trouble is not with the law but with me,