Free Emerald Fire (Christian Romance) (The Jewel Series) by Hallee Bridgeman

box.
    “Maxi …”
    A paperweight and a stress ball followed. “No. I’m not listening to anymore. I admire Barry’s ability to have worked at being faithful to that – that woman he was married to. I don’t know what will happen in my future or his future. I just know that he is one of my best friends and I have always enjoyed spending time with him. I realize that you’ve never understood my relationship with men and that you condemn it in your mind, but I can watch a football game with a widower and not end up like our mother!”
    Robin’s eyes widened. “Is that what you think this is about?”
    “What else is there?”
    Robin teetered her way out of the chair and put a hand on her lower back. “Maxi, I’m concerned about you. Not because our mother was a drug addict who moved from dealer to pusher and hauled us with her. I’m concerned because Barry has been pulling away from God, and I’m worried about his anger right now.”
    All of the steam left Maxine and her hands stilled. “His anger?”
    “His anger. He’s spent weeks pushing everyone aside. He won’t even talk with Tony or pray with Tony about it. He is full of anger about Jacqueline’s pregnancy, his marriage, her death. I’m worried that he’s going to go through some all out rebellion and take you with him.” Her eyes filled with tears and she dashed them away with jerky movements.
    Maxine rushed forward and took Robin’s hand. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
    “Maxi, I know you believe in God. But I also know that you go to church to please me and Sarah. I know that. I know you don’t have the zest I have. But I also know that you will. One day, the Holy Spirit is going to knock you in the head with a two by four and you’ll not be able to deny it. But starting a relationship with a man who is so angry will pull you away from God.”
    Maxine couldn’t fathom why Robin was so upset. It didn’t make sense to her. She put her hands on either side of Robin’s belly. “You have so much going on right now that worrying about whether I will start a relationship with Barry Anderson should be at the bottom of the list.” She pulled her close and hugged her. “I love you. And I so appreciate how much you love me. Did you know that?”
    “I know you do.” She pulled back and looked deeply into Maxine’s eyes. “But, please. Keep this conversation in mind as you go forward from this day.”
    To make Robin feel better, she smiled. “Of course.” Gesturing back to the desk, she said, “Let’s get that meal eaten. I’d hate to face Casey’s wrath if we sent back plates with just one bite out of each burger.”
    “After work tonight, can you help me run an errand?”
    “Sure.” Maxine sat back down in her chair and picked up her hamburger. “Where are we going?” She took a big bite of the delicious sandwich.
    “I have a box of Bibles and hymnals I need to take to Craig at the prison. Tony usually goes with me, but he’s not free tonight, and they need them for a worship service Craig’s leading tomorrow.”
    Craig Bartlett was Robin’s biological father who was currently serving the remainder of a 20 year sentence for a double homicide committed decades in the past. One of the lives he had taken had been their mother.
    Maxine nodded and swallowed. “Glad to help,” she said.
    Robin put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Thank you.”
     

CHAPTER 7

    BARRY didn’t know what to expect when he walked into his offices after court on Monday afternoon. He felt a very real uncertainty about how people would treat him. Almost all of the staff had attended the funeral, and those who hadn’t attended had most certainly heard about his outburst by now. So if he felt a bit of trepidation as he stepped off the elevator, certainly some justification for that feeling existed.
    The receptionist’s face flushed and she stammered as she bid him good afternoon. He thought she would actually thank God outright when the