Free Sweetest Desires (A Sweetest Day Romance) by Beverly Taylor Page B

she stared at her little man, contemplating asking her question. “CJ, do you sometimes wish I’d be quiet too?”
    “Huh?” he responded with the crust halfway between his lips.
    “When you tell Bethany to be quiet, do you sometimes wish you could say that to me also?”
    His expression went blank. “No, ma’am.”
    “Yes, he does, Mommy, because he told me so,” Bethany chimed in.
    CJ sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes at his si ster. “See, I told you she talks too much. Why don’t you shut—” he glanced at his mother. “I mean, be quiet.” He frowned hard, bringing his brows together.
    “Bethany, sweetheart, go watch TV in the den. I want to talk to CJ alone.”
    “But I haven’t finished eating my pizza.”
    “Take your pizza with you, but don’t make a mess.”
    She stuck out her tongue at CJ, then lifted her plate and left.
    “Aw, why does she get to watch TV with her pizza?” CJ complained.
    Don’t worry about her for now. I want to know what’s going on with you.”
    “Nothing’s going on with me. Nothing.”
    “Now, CJ, that’s not completely true. I got a call from your teacher today. She wants to talk with me about you tomorrow. And after talking with Ms. Washington yesterday, I think there must be something serious going on with you.”
    “Nothing’s the matter, Mom, I promise.”
    “Then why are two people telling me the same thing about you?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe they don’t like me.”
    “Why would they not like you, CJ? You’re a lovable little boy.”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Is it your daddy and me?”
    “No,” he answered almost immediately.
    Katharine knew better. She took in a light breath and released it gently. “CJ, your dad has been under a lot of pressure, and sometimes it makes him angry and he’ll say things he doesn’t mean. But it has nothing to do with you or your sister. He loves you both more than anything.”
    CJ squirmed in his chair, picking at the toppings on his pizza. “Can I take my pizza in the den and watch TV with Bethany?”
    Katharine closed her eyes for a moment and nodded, understanding his need to escape from this conversation.
    He rushed out of the room.
    Before Katharine could compose her thoughts, she heard Bethany shouting, “Mommy!”
    Katharine rushed into the den to find Bethany sitting on the floor, crying. CJ slouched on the sofa, as if in authority, with the remote in hand, channel surfing.
    “What’s the problem?” Katharine asked, looking between the two.
    “CJ changed the channel,” Bethany sniffed. “I was watching The Berenstain Bears.”
    Katharine’s hands went to her hips. “Okay, that’s enough for tonight, you two. Let’s get ready for homework and bed.”
    “Mommy, CJ needs to pray. He’s been acting really mean.”
    “And what about you?” CJ snapped. “You need to pray too.”
    “We all need to pray,” Katharine said matter-of-factly, taking the remote from CJ and hitting the off button. All of them knelt and bowed their heads, and Katharine led a family prayer. Afterwards, she scooted them off to do homework, allowing CJ to lie across his parents’ bed to do his.
    Two hours later, after baths and tucking the children in their beds, she returned to her room. The silence brought tears to her eyes. She dropped to her knees, clutched her hands together, and began to talk to God again, this time on a more personal note.
    “Oh, Lord. Oh, God. Oh, Jesus. Make him stop. Make her leave him alone. Make him happy with me again. My heart desires to please him. I’m committed to my marriage. It’s hard work, Lord, but you have made us one and satan’s trying to destroy what you’ve put together. I respect and reverence my hu sband for being the head of his home, but he has obligations too. Please lead and guide us. Help us to avoid arguments and to keep our marriage holy. Help us to teach our children to be devout and responsible Christians.”
    Feeling no comfort, she moaned in despair until