Count It All Joy by Ashea S. Goldson Page B

to tell him about Seger in the right atmosphere, when he was happy and secure.
    When he came in he kissed me quickly and kissed Lilah who ran into his arms. He then immediately settled in at his desk with his briefcase and his computer. He looked deep in thought when I approached him.
    â€œSweetheart, I’m sorry, but I’ve got some serious work to do, if you don’t mind.” Joshua took my hand and kissed my palm.
    I watched Lilah skip back and forth to her room, dragging two of her dolls behind her.
    â€œI know. I was just hoping we could spend some real time together this evening.” I kissed him on the neck. I secretly hoped he didn’t misconstrue what I said, but I knew he probably had.
    â€œOh, don’t worry. We’re going to spend some time together, believe me.” Joshua patted me on the bottom.
    I became sick to my stomach at the thought that he was only thinking about conception. I stepped back away from him. “No, I mean, time to talk.”
    â€œOh, okay.” Joshua put his arms around my waist and laid his head on my stomach. “As soon as I look over these numbers you can have me all to yourself.”
    â€œPromise?”
    â€œPromise.”
    So after dinner, and after I put Lilah to bed, I put on soft music, lit a few candles, and pampered my husband. When the mood was right, and I had him all wrapped up in my arms, I told him about my day, and I told him about Seger. That was when his mood changed instantly, and he slipped from my arms as easily as he had come into them, blew out all the candles, and laid down Joshua’s law. He said that I could no longer be friends with Seger, and that he didn’t even want me working at the college anymore. He didn’t even want me mentioning Seger’s name.
    And I had never heard it put down so sternly, the “you are my wife and you will do as I say” speech. I took it all in although I was rebelling in my heart. Under my breath I swore I’d be friends with Seger whether he liked it or not.
    Since the next morning was Saturday, and since Saturday was typically when I went down to the gym to see my sister, I woke up early, showered, and dressed in my least fashionable workout clothes. I didn’t care what I looked like because I was still upset about the confrontation Joshua and I had the night before. Feeling defiant, I headed out the door before Joshua even woke up. I put a baseball cap on my head and kept it moving as I drove over to the Push It Fitness Center anxious to talk to Taylor. I walked past the front desk, waving at Jasmine, the bubbly receptionist, and went straight into Taylor’s office.
    It was half decorated in turquoise blue and red with all contemporary furniture. One wall was only partially painted. Taylor sat behind her desk in her wheelchair, wearing a white and blue workout outfit and matching headband. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and when she looked up, I could tell she was surprised to see me.
    â€œHi, girl,” Taylor smiled.
    I plopped down in one of her red vinyl chairs. “Hey, the renovations are really coming along.”
    â€œYeah, I guess so,” she said.
    â€œI like it.” I looked around the room, nodding my head. “It’s really beginning to look like you and Keith in here and not like the old management.”
    â€œThanks. It’ll be really nice by the time of the grand opening.”
    â€œOh, yes.” I clapped my hands. “I can’t wait to get all the Giving Life girls out here. It’s going to be a lot of work, though.”
    â€œWe’re used to it,” Taylor said. “So what’s up?”
    I spit it out. “Joshua wants me to quit my job.”
    Taylor pushed her neck all the way back. “Quit?”
    â€œYeah, quit.”
    â€œAre you crazy? You’ve already gone down to part-time.” She rolled her eyes. “What else does he want?”
    â€œI don’t know. I