‘til summer is over.”
“ Just so you'll understand, I’ll explain to you that I asked you to dance the second time because you so obviously enjoyed it, and because you kept your word, for once. I was starting to enjoy your company – until you ruined it with your pathetic, disgusting act. You were like a dog in heat, and it’s not at all attractive.”
He pushed her unceremoniously off his knee into a heap at his feet, and went back to the driver’s seat. Tasha just sat where he'd left her, choking with rage and humiliation.
“ Whore? Whore !” she muttered in confusion and horror. “ Dog in heat? ” How dare he call her those names and strike her person?
A steely resolve settled in her stomach. No, no, no! She wouldn‘t be leaving . She was going to make Gary Taylor pay – in Spades!
CHAPTER THREE
Gary’s fist fell heavily against the typewriter. He just couldn’t seem to find the flow! He couldn’t break through, and tap into what he knew God had for him. It was so frustrating to be at an impasse spiritually, just when he had so much to contend with! Namely, Tasha.
Deep inside, he knew that his attitude toward her was a good part of the reason for his desert season. He hadn’t known he was capable of being so harsh and unyielding. It certainly hadn’t done any good, it had just made her that much more contentious and prickly. Rebellion was boiling just under the surface, all the time.
“ God, how can I put up with her all summer? “ he wondered tiredly. “ She’s absolutely impossible. What are you asking me to do, Lord? What am I missing here? There’s something very wrong, and I can't figure out what to do about it. ” he admitted.
He went into his bedroom, and put in a tape of the sweetest music he knew – worship. He flopped onto his bed, and let the headphones pour the healing sounds into his ears. Immediately, he began to relax and unwind, and shake off his frustrations.
Thinking of Tasha, he began to chuckle. That girl could cause more trouble than any ten people he knew put together, and she was spoiled absolutely rotten. But Gary enjoyed bringing out the battle lights in her eyes. Most of the time.
That day in the van, when they’d driven up the coast, she’d pushed him too far. But for the most part, she just amused him.
Deb needed her here. It was going to be a lonely summer for her, without Doug. If for no other reason, he had to try to get along with Tasha for Deb’s sake. Their warfare had both Deb and Ruth a little on edge, and he regretted that. He knew Tasha could care less how much their animosity upset the household, but he did. Something was going to have to change. It obviously was going to have to be him .
He sighed, got up, and went back to his typewriter. The flow of words began, and he typed as fast as he could, sketching an outline. He knew now that the flow would come, just looking at Tasha on Sunday morning. He was going to talk about the death that comes with self-inflicted isolation, the defenses people erect to keep others from coming too close, touching too deeply.
Carefully examining his own heart, Gary had a new revelation that these defenses are very real and potent, indeed.
Tasha listened obediently to Gary preach, with a bored, sullen expression on her face. She wasn’t giving him one iota of satisfaction. She knew he was preaching specifically to her and about her, and it just wasn’t going to do him a lick of good!
She glanced down at her long, burgundy nails and yawned, admiring the way they matched her lovely velvet suit of the same color. She was glad she’d worn her hair down and
“ Just so you'll understand, I’ll explain to you that I asked you to dance the second time because you so obviously enjoyed it, and because you kept your word, for once. I was starting to enjoy your company – until you ruined it with your pathetic, disgusting act. You were like a dog in heat, and it’s not at all attractive.”
He pushed her unceremoniously off his knee into a heap at his feet, and went back to the driver’s seat. Tasha just sat where he'd left her, choking with rage and humiliation.
“ Whore? Whore !” she muttered in confusion and horror. “ Dog in heat? ” How dare he call her those names and strike her person?
A steely resolve settled in her stomach. No, no, no! She wouldn‘t be leaving . She was going to make Gary Taylor pay – in Spades!
CHAPTER THREE
Gary’s fist fell heavily against the typewriter. He just couldn’t seem to find the flow! He couldn’t break through, and tap into what he knew God had for him. It was so frustrating to be at an impasse spiritually, just when he had so much to contend with! Namely, Tasha.
Deep inside, he knew that his attitude toward her was a good part of the reason for his desert season. He hadn’t known he was capable of being so harsh and unyielding. It certainly hadn’t done any good, it had just made her that much more contentious and prickly. Rebellion was boiling just under the surface, all the time.
“ God, how can I put up with her all summer? “ he wondered tiredly. “ She’s absolutely impossible. What are you asking me to do, Lord? What am I missing here? There’s something very wrong, and I can't figure out what to do about it. ” he admitted.
He went into his bedroom, and put in a tape of the sweetest music he knew – worship. He flopped onto his bed, and let the headphones pour the healing sounds into his ears. Immediately, he began to relax and unwind, and shake off his frustrations.
Thinking of Tasha, he began to chuckle. That girl could cause more trouble than any ten people he knew put together, and she was spoiled absolutely rotten. But Gary enjoyed bringing out the battle lights in her eyes. Most of the time.
That day in the van, when they’d driven up the coast, she’d pushed him too far. But for the most part, she just amused him.
Deb needed her here. It was going to be a lonely summer for her, without Doug. If for no other reason, he had to try to get along with Tasha for Deb’s sake. Their warfare had both Deb and Ruth a little on edge, and he regretted that. He knew Tasha could care less how much their animosity upset the household, but he did. Something was going to have to change. It obviously was going to have to be him .
He sighed, got up, and went back to his typewriter. The flow of words began, and he typed as fast as he could, sketching an outline. He knew now that the flow would come, just looking at Tasha on Sunday morning. He was going to talk about the death that comes with self-inflicted isolation, the defenses people erect to keep others from coming too close, touching too deeply.
Carefully examining his own heart, Gary had a new revelation that these defenses are very real and potent, indeed.
Tasha listened obediently to Gary preach, with a bored, sullen expression on her face. She wasn’t giving him one iota of satisfaction. She knew he was preaching specifically to her and about her, and it just wasn’t going to do him a lick of good!
She glanced down at her long, burgundy nails and yawned, admiring the way they matched her lovely velvet suit of the same color. She was glad she’d worn her hair down and
Similar Books
