The Ex Files Read Online Free PDF Page B

manager. Her voice was muffled, but Kendall still heard the words.
    With her hands, Kendall tried to press the wrinkles from her sweat suit.
    “You have keys, right?” This time it was Pastor Ford’s voice.
    “Yes.”
    Kendall wiggled her fingers through her hair, wiped her eyes, and with a breath, opened the door just as she heard keys jiggling on the other side.
    “Pastor Ford, I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you,” Kendall said. “I was…in my bathroom.”
    She was sorry about her words before the lie had left her lips. If there was one person who could tell a lie from the truth, it was Pastor Ford.
    “I’m glad you’re okay.” Pastor Ford sauntered inside.
    Kendall nodded at her manager, then closed her office door. “Pastor, do you have an appointment this morning?”
    “My standing Saturday-morning massage, but today, I’m going to get a pedicure and…” Her voice trailed off as her eyes wandered to the comforter only half hidden beneath the couch.
    Kendall cringed. She should have taken more time to hide the signs that showed that she preferred sleeping here rather than at home alone.
    “I came a bit early,” Pastor Ford continued as if she’d never stopped speaking. She sat on the sofa and pushed the comforter out of her way. “I wanted to have a couple of minutes with you. Do you have time?”
    No, was what Kendall wanted to scream. But she’d never say that to her pastor. She nodded and forced her lips into a large grin.
    Pastor Ford motioned for Kendall to join her. “I haven’t seen you in church in the last few weeks.”
    Kendall was relieved that her pastor was too busy to keep better tabs. It had been far more than a few weeks. It was difficult to attend services under the watchful eyes of church folks who would wonder—aloud and silently—where was her husband.
    “I know.” Kendall bowed her head. “I’m sorry.”
    Pastor Ford waved her hand. “Don’t apologize to me. I’m not the one who expects you to be there.”
    “I’ve just been busy.”
    “Too busy for God, huh?”
    It was the love she had for her pastor that held her back from saying what she thought about God right now. “Work, and other stuff, sometimes gets in the way.”
    Pastor Ford covered Kendall’s hands with her own. “I know this has been a tough time.”
    Kendall put strength into her eyes and attitude inside her voice. “The only thing that’s been tough, Pastor, is my club’s expansion—I didn’t expect all the hours. But I’ll do better. With getting to church—and everything.”
    Pastor Ford’s eyes moved to the comforter again. Without looking at Kendall, she said, “I saw Anthony yesterday. He told me your divorce”—her eyes met Kendall’s—“was final.”
    “Yes,” Kendall said with her biggest smile. “At least that’s one thing off my plate. Now I’ll have more time—”
    “Kendall, why are you pretending?” She held up her hand. “And before you deny anything…” Pastor Ford picked up the pillow, then tossed it onto the couch. “This can’t be easy; it wouldn’t be for anyone. But you’ve got to reach out. I’m here, God’s here.”
    You, maybe I could trust. But, God? “I’m not pretending, Pastor. The only thing that’s wrong is I haven’t done a good job of balancing my life. But I’ll work on that. In fact, I’ll be in church tomorrow,” Kendall said, standing.
    Pastor Ford raised a single eyebrow and motioned for Kendall to sit back down. “I’ll be glad to see you in church. But, I came by to tell you that I want to see you in my office on Thursday, at seven.”
    “For what?”
    “I’ll explain on Thursday.” Before Kendall could tell her that she needed more than that, Pastor Ford said, “Just be there, Kendall.” This time it was the pastor who stood, signaling the meeting’s end.
    Kendall was filled with a million nos, but she didn’t have the strength to battle the look on her pastor’s face—the way her brown eyes were soft with her