Fireproof by Alex Kendrick Page B

had gone certifiably crazy.
    â€œThat’s it,” Caleb said. “Pull it all out,Wayne. You got it. Make it happen.”
    Wayne pointed, waved his hand once more in a final dramatic gesture, then dropped both arms as if worn out by this exhibition.
    â€œGood job, man! You did it.” Caleb gave his driver a high five.
    â€Very nice,” Eric agreed, clapping. “I’m impressed.”
    Terrell sneered and gave the three of them a vacant stare. “Do y’all think I’m stupid? If I check to see if it’s gone, you’ll just laugh at me for even lookin’.”
    â€œNo,” Caleb said. “That cake is gone.”
    â€œVery funny.”
    â€œThink what you want, Terrell. If you don’t believe, you can’t see it. C’mon, guys,” Caleb said to the others. “Let’s get back to work.” He strolled out with Wayne and Eric on his heels. He slapped Wayne on the back. “Way to go, man.”
    Terrell was still shaking his head.
    Just through the door, Caleb paused. He glanced back and saw Terrell venturing a peek beneath the cake lid.
    â€œNo,” Terrell gasped.“No way.”He checked along the counter, in the cupboard, searching everywhere for the missing baked goods.
    Caleb and the others tried to control their snickers from the shadows in the other room, but Terrell caught them as he stomped by.
    â€œWayne?” he said. “Where is it?”
    â€œI can’t tell you, man. You’re not a believer.”
    â€œTell me,Wayne. I mean it. Where’d it go?”
    While the two faced off, Caleb gestured to Simmons, who was hidden around the corner. The lieutenant snuck back through the other doorway and returned the cake to its position beneath the lid.
    â€œIt ain’t funny,Wayne. Where is it?”
    â€œYou want me to bring it back?”
    â€œYes, I do.”
    â€œOkay.”Wayne rolled his hand and bowed. “After you.”
    Terrell led the march back into the other room. As he reached for the lid, Wayne gave it a hard stare and snapped his fingers once.
    â€œDone.”
    â€œYou,” Terrell said, “are a fool.”He lifted the lid and was stunned to find the cake staring up at him. “What? How’d you do that?”
    â€œA magician never reveals his tricks.”
    â€œThat’s right. You just have to believe.” Caleb led his driver away again, leaving Terrell alone with the cake and a head full of questions.
    â€œWayne!” Terrell yelled.
    Wayne kept walking.

CHAPTER 16
    C aleb sat at his bedside, his back against the wall, reading the next entry in The Love Dare . His shift was over, and he was back at the house. The clock read 8:20 a.m., and he could hear the shower running in the master bedroom. Catherine had always cared about looking good for work, but this morning she was really pushing her schedule to its limit.
    The best thing to do? Ignore her mood and just get through this.
    Day 2
    It is difficult to demonstrate love when you feel little to no motivation. But love in its truest sense is not based on feelings, but a determination to show thoughtful actions, even when there seems to be no reward.
    In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.
    Caleb looked up into the early morning daylight and sighed. An act of kindness? What good would that do? As part of his job, he already protected lives and led men into life-threatening situations. What could one little gesture on the home front accomplish?
    Well, best to get this over with.
    He padded into the kitchen and filled the carafe. He was at least capable of making her morning brew. He poured water into the coffeemaker. Added a filter. Ground the beans and scooped them in. Pressed the button.
    Easy enough.
    A few minutes later, he heard Catherine rumbling around in the bedroom. He spread a cloth place mat on the counter, set out the sugar