Pound Foolish (Windy City Neighbors Book 4) by Neta Jackson, Dave Jackson

we can go out and celebrate?”
         “If you want. Doesn’t exactly feel like time to celebrate yet.”
         “Don’t worry. It will.”
         As Nicole got up to go to the bedroom and blow her nose, the kids sidled back into the living room, sucking on juice box straws, ever alert to family drama. “Is Mommy okay?” Becky asked, watching her mother disappear.
         “Sure, sure . . . So where were you guys this afternoon?” he asked.
         “We went to the zoo.”
         “But there weren’t any elephants. They all died,” added Nathan.
         “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Who—”
         Just then, Nicole returned from their bedroom, and Greg decided it wasn’t the right time to ask who’d brought them home from the zoo in that black car.
     

Chapter 10
     
     
    Greg would have taken his wife and kids anywhere for dinner—anywhere within reason, that is—but when he asked, Nicole just shrugged and said, “You choose.” The kids voted for McDonald’s, but Greg vetoed that and finally took the family to the Olive Garden in the Lincolnwood Town Center.
         Nicole never said the words, but her demeanor throughout the meal kept asking, What’s to celebrate? If he let his feelings catch up to him, he knew he had the same question, but he refused to give in to it. He kept telling himself he was exercising faith . . . but what was the difference between faith and human optimism? He had to remain upbeat. If he let himself get depressed or anxious, he wouldn’t make a good impression when he talked to prospective employers. Still, uncertainty danced at the edges of what he hoped was faith. Was this the fulfillment of God’s plan for him? Was God going to prosper him or not?
         Nicole’s mood irritated him. It wasn’t fair. He needed her now, especially now, but she felt like a rubber crutch. Worse than that, she was . . . she was . . . The memory of that black Town Car easing on up the street came back unbidden. What was she doing riding in Lincoln Paddock’s sleek Town Car this afternoon? Had Paddock taken his wife and kids to the zoo? That wasn’t right. He’d have to get to the bottom of this.
         He waited until the children were tucked in bed and Nicole was in their bathroom brushing her teeth before bringing it up. “The kids said you went to the zoo this afternoon. How’d that go?”
         Nicole spit out a mouthful of suds and glanced in the mirror at him leaning against the doorjamb. “It was okay. I think they liked it.”
         “So which zoo did you go to?”
         “Lincoln Park.” She turned on the hot water.
         “Of course, Lincoln Park. That’s why Lincoln Paddock drove you home.” He knew as he spoke that his words were swathed in sarcasm.
         Nicole didn’t respond but held a steaming washcloth up to her face.
         Her silence goaded him. “So, did he take you down there too?”
         She removed the washcloth and stared at him in the mirror, her face red from the steam . . . or was it from being found out? “Yes, he did. He promised the kids last week,” she said matter-of-factly. “He dropped by today to see if we could go. Nathan’s been wanting to take a picture of the polar bears for his nature project, you know. Seemed like the perfect opportunity.” She put the reheated washcloth back over her face and began scrubbing away any remaining makeup.
         Greg backed away from the bathroom, sat down on the edge of the bed, and took off his shoes. Something didn’t feel right about another man—someone they barely knew—taking his family on an afternoon outing. And he might not have found out about it if he’d come home at his usual time. Nicole hadn’t coached the kids to not tell, but they might’ve forgotten. And she hadn’t phoned to ask him about the trip . . . or even tell him.
         “So, you find this playboy Paddock to be an interesting