The Price of Trust Read Online Free PDF Page B

see them young folk take you under their wing like they did. That Kelly Martin is something else, isn't she? She's always been so friendly, and that Todd almost worships the ground she walks on. They were made for each other. I tell you, I'm surprised he hasn't popped the question yet," Sue said dreamily. "I just love weddings, and we haven't had one in the church in so long. I kind of miss them." She sighed.
    "Sue, I do believe that you're an incurable romantic." Carly laughed, sipping her coffee.
    "Well, it's so rewarding to see two young people that really love each other get married and serve the Lord together. I just think that they have what it takes to make it last a lifetime like marriages are supposed to. Sam," Sue turned to him, abruptly changing the subject, "Are you going to give Carly any days off? Or are you just going to work her like an ole mule?"
    Sam looked thoughtfully at Carly, rubbing his chin. "You know, we haven't really discussed the days off, have we, Red?"
    "I don't really need any. I've already got Sundays off, and we close so early in the evening, I'm fine. Really. Don't worry about it," Carly answered, not wanting any more days off.
    She would need the money if she had to leave again. She was saving as much as she could now, but her little horde of bills didn't seem to be growing any bigger.
    "Oh, but surely you'd like to see the town and meet new friends," Sue suggested, putting an arm around her shoulders. "You know, there are some pretty good yard sales I've seen this morning already. Do you like yard sales?" she asked hopefully.
    "Yes, I do," Carly answered. She had to like yard sales. That was the only place she could get "new" clothes that she could afford. She didn't even go into clothing stores anymore. She remembered how Ian would take her shopping anywhere she wanted and he would buy her loads of clothes, shoes, jackets, purses. Anything she wanted, he would buy for her. At first, Carly thought that was wonderful, until she started noticing that if he bought her something, it wasn't really for her. It was really for him. He would tell her what she could or couldn't wear, who she could or couldn't talk to; it was like he owned her. She wouldn't have minded it so much if he would have given her just a little freedom. But if she went out without him knowing where she went, or with whom, he'd get so angry that she'd be scared out of her wits. But that was only in the beginning of their relationship. Things had gotten progressively worse.
    "Well, what do you think?" Sue asked excitedly, squeezing her arm.
    Carly had been so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn't heard a word they had said.
    "I'm sorry, what did you say?" she stammered.
    "You don't have to take a full day off, just a half day, and you could go with me to a few yard sales this morning, we could have lunch, and afterwards, I'll bring you back here. What do you think? Doesn't that sound like fun?" Sue looked so excited that Carly couldn't resist.
    "If it's okay with Sam, but if he needs me this morning, I'll stay here. I don't mind." Carly added with a hopeful glance at Sam.
    "Oh you girls with your shopping." He laughed as Sue flung her arms around his neck and kissed him. "How can I say no now? I shouldn't need much help this morning. It's Thursday, and people don't usually come in until afternoon anyway. Y'all go on and have fun," he said shooing them out of the office.
    "Thank you, dear. We'll be back around one. Love you!" Sue called to Sam as Carly went upstairs for her money.
    She looked at her small roll of bills. She didn't trust banks anymore. She'd made that mistake the first time she'd run away from Ian. Now, she kept all her money with her, tucked away in a safe place, feeling that it was safer this way. She took a couple of bills out, put them in her pocket, and stashed the rest away.
     
    Carly and Sue passed an enjoyable morning together. They were getting pretty close, and Carly thought of Sue as a dear friend.