Just to See You Smile Read Online Free Page B

the lobby? On the other hand, we have this.” She untied her robe and held it open. “A fetching wife in a fetching new, ruby red silk—extremely silk-like anyway—nightgown. The French would call it a negligé. ”
    His back to her, he stood at the closet, attaching his slacks to a clothes hanger.
    â€œAlec!”
    He glanced over his shoulder. “Fetching.”
    â€œI thought so, too. Okay, Alexander,” she teased, “what gives here? Normally you would not have let me read this late. Normally you would be kissing me by now. Passionately , I might add.”
    He slowly shut the closet door and rested his forehead against it.
    Struck with the realization that nothing about his actions was normal, she swallowed her bantering tone. “What’s wrong?”
    He blew out a loud breath and turned, leaning against the door, holding out an arm. “Come here, fetching wife of mine.” She stepped into his embrace, and he buried his face in her hair. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to tell you.”
    And then she knew. “It’s Kevin.”
    He straightened, placed his hands around her face, and whispered, “He’s leaving Val.”
    The world stood still for just a heartbeat, and then it spun again, but Anne knew it was off-kilter, knew that from this moment on it would always be so.
    â€œNo!” she wailed. “No! They said—”
    Alec pressed her head against his chest. “Oh, Annie. I’m sorry. Shh.”
    â€œThey can’t!” She pushed herself from him, crossed the small room, and sank onto the turned-down bed.
    â€œSweetheart, it’s not as if it’s a surprise.”
    â€œThey’re seeing a counselor!” Suddenly chilled to the bone, she wrapped the robe tightly around her.
    â€œThe counselor agreed that a trial separation could—”
    â€œHow can a Christian counselor tell them to separate ?” Her voice rose, and the tears started flowing. “ They’re Christians! This isn’t supposed to happen!”
    â€œAnnie.” He sat beside her, enfolding her in his arms again. “You know it happens to Christians.”
    â€œDoes Val know?”
    â€œYes.”
    The sobs erupted. “Then why didn’t she tell me? I should be with her. Why now? Why this weekend? We’re in Chicago! On a church council retreat—”
    â€œShh.” He stroked her hair. “Kevin said they… They had a discussion late last night. It was their first calm one. And they reached this decision. He’s…”
    She felt Alec’s intake of breath.
    â€œHe’s moving out on Sunday. Val didn’t want to ruin your weekend. Instead,” his tone grew sarcastic, “she let me do it.”
    â€œAlec, that’s not fair.”
    He sighed and tightened his arms around her. “No, it’s not fair. I don’t know what to do with this gut-wrenching emotion. And I hated passing it on to you.”
    They held each other, absorbing the pain they felt for their friends. Friends who, like them, were 30-something and had three children. Who, like them, lived in Valley Oaks, attended Community Church, car pooled, and volunteered whenever necessary for anything related to the elementary, middle, and high schools. Three kids, three schools.
    Finally, Anne whispered, “I can’t imagine their hurt. What can they be doing right this very minute? They don’t have anyone to hug them.” She burst into fresh sobs, envisioning Val and Kevin hugging opposite sides of a king-sized bed.
    Alec tightened his hold around her until her tears slowed.
    She fumbled with a tissue from the robe pocket. “What else did he say? How is she?”
    â€œWell, apparently she’s all for this. You know Val. She’s strong, stronger in her faith than he is. She’ll get through it.”
    â€œI thought they were making progress.”
    â€œKevin says no way.