Free The Road to Mercy by Kathy Harris Page B

deep inside himself to mean it. “I’m not in a good mood today.”
    “I can tell. I’ve never seen you like this. You’re always the positive one.”
    “Beth’s problems are getting to me,” Josh said, his voice matching his mood. “I don’t want to bore you with my worries.”
    “Like I haven’t shared mine with you.” Danny shook his head. “Get it off your chest. I’m listening.”
    Josh leaned back into his chair. He might as well talk. His hamburger was tasteless. “It’s hard, isn’t it?”
    “What do you mean?” Danny salted his eggs.
    “Living your faith through the difficult times. It’s hard.”
    “We’re only human.” His driver looked up. “Is your wife worse than what you’ve told me?”
    “No. Just not better.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “I just wish Beth didn’t have to take the painkillers.”
    “So it’s the drugs you’re concerned about?”
    Josh nodded. “The baby may be fine right now, but I’m worried about the long-term effects.” He measured his words. “And I’m just not sure Beth cares one way or the other.”
    “Of course she does.” Danny stirred two packets of sugar into his coffee. “My mom took morphine after her surgery. She wasn’t thinking straight for a while,” Danny said. “She got through it, and Beth will too.”
    “But will the baby?”
    “I’m no expert, but I have to believe the doctors are doing what’s right for both Beth and the baby. You have to trust them,as hard as that may be. Dad and I have had to do that in Mom’s situation.”
    “How is she?” Josh was ready to change the conversation.
    Danny took a sip of coffee. “Actually, she had a good visit with her doctor yesterday.”
    “That’s great, man.”
    “My dad’s cautiously optimistic—”
    Dishes crashed to the floor just beyond where Josh was sitting. He turned to see a young waitress on the verge of tears. Scattered shards of glass lay at her feet.
    Ryan Majors, who was seated nearby, jumped up to assist her. “Let me help you, sweetheart.”
    “No, thanks,” she told him. “I can do it.”
    “It’s not a bother.” Ryan bent to gather the broken cups and plates, piling them, along with soiled utensils, onto a plate that had remained intact.
    The young woman seemed to be more upset about Ryan’s intervention than about her mishap. Had Ryan provoked her discomfort?
    “So what’s a beautiful girl like you doing working in a coffee shop?” Ryan asked, appraising every curve of the young girl’s figure.
    The young blonde blushed deeper. “I’m working for college money.” She stiffened and turned, clutching an armload of dishes to her breasts, and then walked quickly to the back of the dining room.
    “Are there any other hot dishes in the kitchen?” Ryan called after her.
    The waitress ignored him, disappearing behind the swinging metal door.
    A smile lingered on Ryan’s face until he saw Josh watching him. Ryan nodded and returned to his seat.
    “That was embarrassing,” Josh said to Danny. “Everyone in the room saw it. It looks bad for all of us.”
    Danny just shook his head. “Anyone who would cheat on his wife would cheat on his friends.”
    “I hope you’re not right about that,” Josh hoped he hadn’t made a mistake putting Ryan in charge of thousands of dollars of merchandise money.
    When he finished eating, Josh glanced at the digital display on his cell phone. 2:40 p.m. He had enough time to grab a bottle of water from the cooler in the front of the bus before a courtesy car from the local radio station picked him up for a midafternoon interview.
    As Josh approached the black Prevost coach, Mitch opened the airlock door and stepped off. The band and crew had begun to gather to leave for the venue and the afternoon sound check. Josh would meet them there after his interview.
    He nodded silently to Mitch and then stepped up into the driver’s compartment landing. The privacy curtain between it and the front lounge was drawn, and