Count It All Joy by Ashea S. Goldson Page A

he went off to school. In fact, his village barely had a school, if you could call that raggedy one-room shack with one teacher and a few books a school. When I thought about the living conditions for him over there compared to the kind of home we could give him here, my spirit cried out to rescue him. But I couldn’t do it alone. I blinked away the tears that were welling up in my eyes. Still, I refused to start an argument this morning, so I kept my mouth closed.
    I watched Joshua in his model father role lift Lilah into the air, hug her tightly, and wave good-bye. He kissed me hard on the lips, and I closed my eyes to savor the moment, to pretend that everything that was out of order could be set straight with a kiss. My spirit didn’t rest, however.
    Once he left for work, I took Lilah across the hall to Ms. Johnson, hopped into my pink car, and sped off. I hoped that another busy half day at work would at least occupy my mind.
    Thankfully, it did just that until the dynamics of the workplace changed.
    I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Seger coming out of Dr. Harding’s office.
    They were shaking hands, and I was more than just a little curious about what Seger was doing here at Missionary Bible College. Seger, in all of his dark manliness, towered over Dr. Harding. I took a deep breath before I walked over to them.
    â€œSeger, what are you doing here?” I asked.
    â€œHappy New Year, Sister Alex. It’s good to see you.” Seger gave me a quick hug as I patted the strong muscles in his back.
    â€œHappy New Year to you. I’m surprised to see you here.” I looked back and forth between him and Dr. Harding for an explanation.
    Seger laughed. “I’ll let Dr. Harding explain.”
    â€œBrother Seger has agreed to be our new assistant director of admissions,” Dr. Harding said.
    â€œOh, I see. So he’ll be replacing Brother Jacob?” I avoided eye contact with Seger while I processed the information. I didn’t want Seger to notice my uneasiness, but a million things were running through my mind at once. I kept smiling.
    â€œYes, and I have complete confidence that he will do an excellent job,” Dr. Harding said, patting Seger on the back.
    â€œThank you, sir.” Seger gave us both a big smile.
    â€œWelcome aboard, Seger,” I smiled back. “I’m sure you’ll be very happy here.”
    â€œYes, I’m sure I will.” Seger held his gaze on me a minute too long in my opinion.
    I had to get out of there and figure some things out. Sure, Seger was my missionary buddy, and sure, we shared a common interest in ministry, and even a common bond with the Kenyan orphans, particularly Kiano. But was this friendship thing we were nursing worth the headache I knew I was about to have? As I walked down the hall I couldn’t help but go through a myriad of emotions. I was excited that Seger would be working with me, yet skeptical about what my husband would think when he found out.
    I went back to my desk a little frazzled. Why did Seger have to get a job here of all places? Why couldn’t my life be simple? Why did complication after complication keep arising?
    It just didn’t seem fair.
    Later that evening I made Joshua his favorite dinner and set out caramel-scented candles.
    I brought home a special Dora video for Lilah. Then I bathed in my lavender bath oil and slipped into Joshua’s favorite outfit of mine, a silky, hip-hugging, low-backed black dress. This was the dress that always got me what I wanted. I used my curling iron to do spiral curls, pinned up the back, and only left the few hanging down in the front to frame my face just right. I sprinkled Joshua’s favorite perfume, Obsession, behind my ears, on the inside of my wrists, and on my inner thighs. I looked at myself in the mirror, spun myself around, and despite the slight bulge in the waist area I couldn’t seem to get rid of, I was pleased. I had