Tapestry of Trust by Mary Annslee Urban Read Free Book Online Page B

different colleges.” He shrugged, taking care to temper his tone. “Well, let’s just say distance and immaturity helped contribute to poor choices.” He pulled in a breath, shook his head, not fully believing he was having this conversation with Brenda. “Yes. I did let Isabelle down.”As she did him, but he was willing to forgive and forget.
    Brenda jumped to her feet and marched toward the doorway. “Send her flowers.”
    “Flowers?” He echoed, liking the idea.
    Before he even got the word out, Brenda, quick as a cockroach, scrambled back into the room and plopped a votive candle on his desk. Pulling a match from a matchbox, she struck it on the sole of her shoe and lit the wick. “Here. This will help you relax. Blue lavender. Close your eyes. But don’t knock it over or you might burn the place down.” She coughed into her hand and then patted his desk. “Of course then your girlfriend problems will seem like nothing.”
    Charlie laughed, and Brenda scooted out the door. “Thank you. And please keep this confidential.”
    Brenda halted, whirled back, her hand gripping the doorframe. She frowned at him. “Ever since you and Erica broke up, gossip has been in short supply. But I won’t tell. I kinda like you better now.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder toward the hallway and lowered her voice. “And if Princess Erica found out you had eyes for someone else, she’d find a way to ruin your chances.”
    His sentiments exactly. “Thank you.”
    Her eyes widened. “By the way, now that you and Miss My-Daddy’s-the-Boss are really kaput, what about your job?”
    Good question. Charlie shrugged. “So far so good. Her dad likes my work.”
    “For now.”
    Charlie nodded. He had to agree. Three weeks until graduation and for now he had a job. He thanked the Lord for that. “I’m getting my resume together just in case.”
    “Good plan. “And about this little conversation we’re having...” Brenda shot him an obliging glance and touched her fingers to her lips. “My lips are sealed.”
    “Thank you.” Charlie inhaled and got a nose full of lavender. He sneezed. “This is supposed to relax me?”
    Brenda rolled her eyes. “Yes. Sit back, shut your mouth, and close your eyes. I’m going to mosey over to the next hall and watch Miss Erica mope.” Her lips quirked into a crooked smile, and Charlie chuckled. “Gotta do something to brighten my day.”
    Settling back in his chair, he heeded Brenda’s advice, adding a prayer to the mix. He needed guidance. He needed peace. He needed to talk to Isabelle.
     
    ****
     
    Half an hour later, Brenda poked her head back in his office. “By the way, your mother called earlier.”
    “My mother?”
    “She said it was urgent but not emergent.”
    Charlie scratched his head. Urgent but not emergent? “OK. Thanks, Brenda.” He dialed his mother’s number and turned on the speakerphone.
    On the third ring she answered.
    “Hey, Mom.”
    “Hello, dear. Hope you’re having a good day.”
    “Let’s say it’s getting better. So what’s emergent but not urgent?” He bit back a chuckle at her analogy.
    Silence followed by a wistful sigh. “Charlie, I’m worried about you.”
    Charlie straightened. “Why?”
    “Well, I spoke to Erica a little while ago.”
    Erica. He slumped back in the chair.
    “She told me you aren’t working very hard to resolve the issues between you two.”
    And this she thought was urgent? Charlie swallowed a sigh. “Erica’s correct.” Dropping his gaze, he thumbed through the open file in front of him.
    “Are you serious?”
    He picked up a pen and pulled a couple of documents from the file. “I don’t know why you’re surprised. We broke up months ago. I don’t plan on making that mistake again.”
    “Son, do you realize what you’re giving up? A prestigious position. Financial security. Not to mention Erica is beautiful and…”
    Writing swiftly, Charlie jotted notes on a page, adding an occasional, “Uh