Like Sheep Gone Astray Read Online Free Page A

theme for their new restaurant venture.” Anthony tried to keep his voice light and airy.
    “The Hendricks Group? I was talking about my meeting tomorrow with Reginald Savant!” Terri snarled. “This is the most important account I've had in my career and you're not even paying attention! If I can secure the design plans for this hotel deal, do you know what that will mean for us? For
me?
”
    “Baby, I—”
    “Don't
baby
me,” Terri hurled, pushing his offered hand aside. “
Somebody
in this marriage needs to be taking their career seriously! Am I wrong?”
    Anthony searched for words, surprised that she was giving him a chance to respond. ' Her arms were crossed, her eyes glued on his profile, waiting. But as had become the custom over the past few months, nothing but a sigh spoke for him.
What's wrong with me?
It seemed like six lifetimes and not six months ago when he was applauded for his quick speech in important business meetings and deals. He'd had an answer for everyone and everything back then. But these days he could barely look his wife in the eyes.
    “Well?” The window was rapidly closing.
    Anthony concentrated on the road before him, thankful that the traffic lights were becoming fewer and the houses more spaced out. They would be on their street soon.
    “Do you really think God is going to tell a man to leave a great job?” Terri was just starting. “Seriously, it's one thing to feel the need to preach, but does that mean sacrificing everything you ever worked for? You were a commanding businessman, a wonderful black-man success story! You were an ebony king with power! And what are you now? It makes more sense to me that God would want you to be a mover and a shaker in this world and not an old broke country preacher!” Her hands were clutched together so tightly that her knuckles were white.
    “Terri! You just don't understand!” Anthony felt the steam leaving him before he even got started. “God does want me to be a mover and a shaker, but not in the way you think.” He hoped Terri hadn't caught the question mark in his voice as they rounded a sharp corner. He thought again about the letter and fell silent.
    Terri glared at Anthony and threw up her hands. “You're hopeless. You have lost your mind. What am I supposed to do while you try out this preaching thing? Did you ever even think about me?” she demanded, her eyes narrow slits. “You only think about yourself!”
    “Terri, baby, this isn't about me or you. This is about what God wants.” Anthony did his best to sound confident, but his own concerns nagged his conscience.
    They were pulling into their driveway. Anthony stared at the massive pillars along the porch of their home, the two-car garage, and the elaborate marble fountain that Terri had insisted on when she'd picked out the house in a real-estate brochure six months before. She had wanted their residence to resemble a contemporary Mediterranean palace. At the time he had been excited to entertain business partners and clients in the extravagant and ornate estate. Now he just simply wanted a house to come home to.
    He sat a moment in the car as Terri slammed her door shut and listened as her high heels punched the landscaped walkway. When she disappeared through the front door, he lowered his head into his hands and rubbed his temples.
I've got to get my Bible out of her bag before she does,
he reminded himself.
I can't take any chances.
    “Sunday dinner just ain't what it used to be.” Anthony looked down at his frozen dinner entree. For a quick second, he envisioned his Great-Aunt Rosa sitting in one of her high-backed cherrywood chairs, laughing in that loud, husky voice of hers, then gulping down her famous stewed tomatoes.
    He could picture his mother and older cousin Patrice-with-the-big-out-of-date-afro seated next to her, arguing over whose turn it was to check on the children, making sure they weren't tearing up the basement or the backyard. And then there