Chapter One
Abbey
Martin turned the key in the ignition of her blue Ford Focus. Nothing, not even
a grind or wheeze sounded with each exasperating attempt. She clutched the top
of the steering wheel and rested her head against her hands for what seemed an
eternity. Where was a man when you needed one?
Abbey’s
head popped up, sending a cascade of auburn wisps fluttering to frame her oval face.
Her
roommate, Monica, had the day off. Maybe she could borrow Monica's car. The
last thing she wanted was to be late for today’s meeting. After six years with
Abbot & Ellingsworth Institute of Technology, she
finally had the chance to advance up the corporate ladder, providing her boss.
Unless,
her boss, Gary Hartman, stood in her way. Although Abbey knew she shouldn’t
hate anybody, she couldn’t help feeling enraged by Gary’s ability to turn
things around in his favor and make others look incompetent.
Grabbing
her briefcase and purse, Abbey hurried back upstairs to their apartment.
“Monica,” she yelled as soon as she opened the door.
Monica’s
long blonde hair swayed gently as she peeked around the kitchen doorway. “Hey,
you’re back. Don’t tell me they shortened your work day.”
Abbey
sighed, ignoring her roommates teasing. “My car won’t start. Can I borrow
yours?”
“Sure,
my keys are in my purse. Help yourself.” Monica disappeared back into the kitchen.
“Are you sure you don’t want something for breakfast? That toast you ate won’t
hold you 'til lunch. I’m almost done making breakfast for Eric and me. There’s
enough to share.”
“Thanks,
but I’m too nervous to eat. Where’s Eric?” Abbey looked around the living room
of their two-bedroom apartment for Monica’s son. The hunter green and navy
plaid sofa sleeper where Eric slept was already made up. Usually Eric was
sitting there watching TV until it was time for him to go out and wait for his
school bus to come.
“I’m
here.” The seven-year-old leaned his upper torso out of the bathroom, tooth
brush still in his mouth.
That
brought a smile to Abbey’s lips. Retrieving Monica’s keys, she stopped just a
moment to kiss Eric’s head before she headed back out the door, hollering over
her shoulder as she left, “I may be late tonight.”
"Abbey,"
Monica shouted.
Halfway
down the first flight of stairs, Abbey stopped and turned at the sound of her
name reverberating off the walls.
Monica
bent over the banister. “If it’s not too much trouble would you mind stopping
on your way home, and picking up some more milk? We’re out.”
“Okay.”
Abbey turned and began her descent again when she thought of something. “Hey, I
almost forgot to ask you to call the garage and see if they can look at my car
today. I would, but I’ll be in meetings all day.”
“Will
do. Good luck.” Monica smiled and went back into their apartment.
“I’ll
need it along with a lot of prayer,” Abbey mumbled to herself. She left their
two-story apartment building and hurried to Monica’s red Neon. It started fine
and she zipped out of the parking lot and into traffic—which was moving at a
turtle’s pace.
“Of all
the mornings for traffic to be backed up.” She was tempted to park in a parking
lot and walk instead. It would be faster. As if echoing her thoughts, a jogger
passed her vehicle like it was standing still.
Right
now she needed peace and was too stressed by further delays to pray and ask for
help. Normally, she put on a praise tape and sang. Today she didn’t feel like
it. Something was up at work, but what—she didn’t know. They'd kept the
contents of today’s meeting under wraps for some reason, but Gary had told her
she would also find out about her promotion at the onset of the meeting.
Irritation
clouded her mood every time she thought about her boss. She should have gotten
a promotion six months ago, but Gary didn’t think she was a 'team player.’ The
only kind of player Gary was interested in was one
Abbey
Martin turned the key in the ignition of her blue Ford Focus. Nothing, not even
a grind or wheeze sounded with each exasperating attempt. She clutched the top
of the steering wheel and rested her head against her hands for what seemed an
eternity. Where was a man when you needed one?
Abbey’s
head popped up, sending a cascade of auburn wisps fluttering to frame her oval face.
Her
roommate, Monica, had the day off. Maybe she could borrow Monica's car. The
last thing she wanted was to be late for today’s meeting. After six years with
Abbot & Ellingsworth Institute of Technology, she
finally had the chance to advance up the corporate ladder, providing her boss.
Unless,
her boss, Gary Hartman, stood in her way. Although Abbey knew she shouldn’t
hate anybody, she couldn’t help feeling enraged by Gary’s ability to turn
things around in his favor and make others look incompetent.
Grabbing
her briefcase and purse, Abbey hurried back upstairs to their apartment.
“Monica,” she yelled as soon as she opened the door.
Monica’s
long blonde hair swayed gently as she peeked around the kitchen doorway. “Hey,
you’re back. Don’t tell me they shortened your work day.”
Abbey
sighed, ignoring her roommates teasing. “My car won’t start. Can I borrow
yours?”
“Sure,
my keys are in my purse. Help yourself.” Monica disappeared back into the kitchen.
“Are you sure you don’t want something for breakfast? That toast you ate won’t
hold you 'til lunch. I’m almost done making breakfast for Eric and me. There’s
enough to share.”
“Thanks,
but I’m too nervous to eat. Where’s Eric?” Abbey looked around the living room
of their two-bedroom apartment for Monica’s son. The hunter green and navy
plaid sofa sleeper where Eric slept was already made up. Usually Eric was
sitting there watching TV until it was time for him to go out and wait for his
school bus to come.
“I’m
here.” The seven-year-old leaned his upper torso out of the bathroom, tooth
brush still in his mouth.
That
brought a smile to Abbey’s lips. Retrieving Monica’s keys, she stopped just a
moment to kiss Eric’s head before she headed back out the door, hollering over
her shoulder as she left, “I may be late tonight.”
"Abbey,"
Monica shouted.
Halfway
down the first flight of stairs, Abbey stopped and turned at the sound of her
name reverberating off the walls.
Monica
bent over the banister. “If it’s not too much trouble would you mind stopping
on your way home, and picking up some more milk? We’re out.”
“Okay.”
Abbey turned and began her descent again when she thought of something. “Hey, I
almost forgot to ask you to call the garage and see if they can look at my car
today. I would, but I’ll be in meetings all day.”
“Will
do. Good luck.” Monica smiled and went back into their apartment.
“I’ll
need it along with a lot of prayer,” Abbey mumbled to herself. She left their
two-story apartment building and hurried to Monica’s red Neon. It started fine
and she zipped out of the parking lot and into traffic—which was moving at a
turtle’s pace.
“Of all
the mornings for traffic to be backed up.” She was tempted to park in a parking
lot and walk instead. It would be faster. As if echoing her thoughts, a jogger
passed her vehicle like it was standing still.
Right
now she needed peace and was too stressed by further delays to pray and ask for
help. Normally, she put on a praise tape and sang. Today she didn’t feel like
it. Something was up at work, but what—she didn’t know. They'd kept the
contents of today’s meeting under wraps for some reason, but Gary had told her
she would also find out about her promotion at the onset of the meeting.
Irritation
clouded her mood every time she thought about her boss. She should have gotten
a promotion six months ago, but Gary didn’t think she was a 'team player.’ The
only kind of player Gary was interested in was one
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