The Atonement Read Online Free Page B

living
together for who knows how long was making this just that much more
complicated, not to mention Jim’s sudden development of religious
convictions.
    “Is that so?”
    “Yeah. I think it’s exactly what he needs.
It’s what I’ve been praying about for a long time and I thank God
He heard my prayer. Now if I could get one more person to come to
down to church…”
    “Allen…”
    “No pressure. Just thought I’d suggest.”
    “Maybe one day. Do you want something to eat?
It’s going to be late by the time you get back to your mom’s.”
    “I don’t know. I have some reading that I
have to finish when I get home.”
    “So I’ll make something quick. How about eggs
and rice with sausage?”
    “O.K. Sounds good.”
    “Just give me ten minutes.”
    Just then, Darius started to cry.
    “Oh, no!”
    “Don’t worry, I’ll check on him,” said Allen
before he started off to Darius’s room.
    “Thanks.”
    Callie rushed around the kitchen gathering
the items she needed for the dinner. As she was preparing the
sausages she could see Allen coming back into the living room with
little Darius who had since quieted down. Allen was rocking him
back and forth gently and talking to him.
    “Is he okay?”
    “He’s fine. Our conversation probably woke
him up. He was probably wondering, ‘who’s making all that noise
when I’m trying to sleep?’ Right, Darius? Well don’t worry little
man, next time I’ll keep it down. Hey, would you like to hear a
story? Maybe this will help you get back to sleep. I got a good
one, too. It’s called, The Snowy Day.”
    Allen grabbed one of the books from the
coffee table and took Darius with him to the recliner and began to
read him the story. For the first time tonight, Darius seemed calm
and content. Callie’s heart melted as she watched them together.
All of a sudden her protective instincts kicked in. There was no
way that she could allow anyone to destroy the domestic bliss she
had worked so hard to build. Callie knew what she had to do. She
was determined to see Jim as soon as possible - tomorrow morning to
be exact.

 
     
    Three
     
     
    “ So what would you
recommend?” asked Tamiko as she and Davis looked over their menus.
They had just been to see a Christian film called, “The Last
Apostle” and Tamiko had practically begged him to have dinner with
her at La Rosita, a little Latin restaurant that was next door to
the theatre.
    “I was going to have the pork chops, with
beans and rice, but that might not be to your taste. I know you
like to eat healthy and everything.”
    “But it’s not like I’m a fitness fanatic or
something. I’ve eaten pork before. Besides, it sounds good. I’m
willing to give it a try.”
    “You sure?”
    “Yes. I trust your judgment,” she beamed.
    Davis smiled back, but he couldn’t help but
feel uncomfortable. Every time they went out, she would always ask
him what he wanted and then end up ordering the same thing. At
first, he thought it was because they had the same tastes, but
after a while he’d observed that she was doing this just to copy
him, which was becoming annoying. It just seemed like game, like he
thought this whole night was turning out to be.
    When Tamiko invited him on this outing, she
told him that Tim and Allen would be coming with them, however,
both of them were conspicuously absent when he showed up to meet
her at the theatre. In all fairness, he knew Allen wouldn’t show.
Allen had told him earlier in the day at work that he’d have to
stop by the hospital to see Jim and then he had school afterward.
Tim on the other hand, just bailed on them. Tamiko said she texted
him to see what was up, but he hadn’t answered and now Davis was
starting to wonder if Tamiko had something to do with it. He knew
she and Tim could be like peanut butter and jelly sometimes, and
Tim would do almost anything she asked him to. Davis wasn’t
thrilled about having to entertain the possibility that he’d