Fireproof by Alex Kendrick

got up from her seat to come hug her from behind and rest her cheek on Catherine’s hair.
    â€œIt’s gonna be okay, sweetie,”Tasha said. “It’s gonna be all right.”
    â€œOh, girl. Oh, girl,” Deidra said.
    Catherine was covering her eyes with her left hand. She could feel her chin quivering with emotion. The tears flowed freely now, spilling onto the white tablecloth and splattering on chunks of torn bread.
    This wasn’t her. This wasn’t the professional, put-together woman she wanted to be.
    She couldn’t help it, though. She was coming apart.
    â€œYou’ll get through this,” Ashley said.
    â€œWe’re here for you,” Robin said. “You’ll be happy again. Don’t worry.”
    â€œHe’s not good enough for you.”
    Deidra massaged her shoulders. “We got your back. Whatever you need, whatever you need . . .”
    HE DIDN’T NEED this anymore. Caleb Holt knew that beyond a shadow of doubt. He folded his arms, his eyes hard and unblinking.
    â€œSo,” Simmons said, “you think it’s past the point of no return?”
    No return?
    That sounded like surrender, like giving up. But who was Caleb fooling? Marriage wasn’t a game, some contest in which all the spoils went to the victor. This was supposed to be a joint venture, right? A partnership. And his partner wanted nothing to do with him.
    â€œMichael.” He looked up and gave Simmons a flinty stare. “I don’t have a reason to return.”

CHAPTER 9
    S ixteen-year-old Bethany Dawson braked her silver Kia at a stoplight in downtown Albany, turned up the volume on a Third Day song, then fidgeted with her hair in the rearview mirror. She liked her new highlights and hoped they made her look older. With her thin, high voice, she was tired of being mistaken for someone years younger. Not to mention, her squeaky tones gave people the impression she was ditzy.
    Like, how ridiculous. She wasn’t even blonde, okay?
    But Kelsey was. Slouched in the passenger seat, Kelsey was scrolling through names on her cell phone.
    A maroon sports car pulled alongside, and Bethany glanced through her open window to see two guys she knew from high school. Both good-looking. Both seniors. Their flirtatious smiles made her feel awkward and confident, all at the same time.
    â€œBethany,” Kyle called over.
    â€œHey, Kyle. Hey, Ross.”
    â€œWhat’s goin’ on?” Ross said, his arm draped over the steering wheel.
    â€œWhat’re y’all doing?” Bethany said.
    â€œWe’re heading down to the Pizza Barn to meet some friends.” Kyle gave her a confident smile. “You wanna come?”
    She turned to Kelsey for a reaction, hoping the sparkle in her eyes wasn’t too obvious.
    Kelsey’s eyes were sparkling, too. “Sure,” she said.
    â€œHey,” Kyle said, “we’ll race you there. And if you win, we’ll buy.”
    The girls were all over that.
    Kyle leaned back in his seat, staring straight ahead. The road was clear for blocks, and sunshine was just beginning to break through the clouds over the central water tower. “Ready. Set—”
    Punching the gas, Bethany caught the boys off guard.
    Behind her, she heard Kyle’s frantic yells: “Go, go, go!”
    Free pizza? The attention of two upperclassmen? Even in her Kia, Bethany told herself this was one race she just had to win.
    CALEB MADE SURE the crew was attentive to every detail as they washed the truck on the pad outside the bay. The radio was playing that new tune from Third Day—a band he especially liked, considering their Georgia roots. He loved the South, the traditions that had made it resilient, and the focus on family. Not to mention the good weather. You couldn’t pay him to trade Albany’s sticky-hot days of August for the bone-brittle chill of upstate New York or Wisconsin.
    No, sir. No thank you, ma’am.