“ Can anyone still doubt there ’ s an epidemic of divorce , even within the church and , sadly , rampant even among so-called Christian leaders ?”
and happy couple . By the time he gave up trying to sleep , however , he had convinced himself that he had never loved her , that the marriage was a mistake , and that he felt something for Ashley he had never felt for any other woman , including — and especially — his wife .
Jaw set and mind whirling , Christopher strode to the window and gazed into the darkness . Was that Ashley sitting on the low concrete wall in the courtyard below ? Christopher freshened up and dressed quickly . He took the stairs to the ground floor and exited through a side door .
“ Ashley , are you all right ?” She nodded and dabbed at her face . “ I just have to get over this .”
“ Anything I can do ?”
She shook her head . “ It ’ s not going to be easy working with you .”
“ Why not ?”
She took a deep , quavering breath and fought for composure . She still hadn ’ t looked at him . “ I ’ m in love with you , Christopher .”
He reached for her , and she came to him . They embraced and kissed , and he told her he loved her too . He led her back into the hotel the way he ’ d come , avoiding the lobby and the elevators . They trudged up the stairs to her room . He left there two hours later , in time to prepare for the day .
Christopher and Ashley shared a delicious , bleary-eyed secret for the rest of the convention . They spent most of every night together , and there was no more talk of how things would have to change when they traveled back home to reality .
“ Can anyone still doubt there ’ s an epidemic of divorce , even within the church and , sadly , rampant even among so-called Christian leaders ?”
Neither was prepared for the vehement reactions from their spouses and extended families . The anger , the confusion , the accusations drove them closer to each other . Within six months both divorces were final , and Christopher and Ashley were married . A year later , while Ashley was pregnant with her first child , Christopher announced he had made a terrible mistake . He wanted his wife and family back , and he set upon such an impractical and obnoxious approach that he lost both his new wife and his job . In the process , he permanently alienated himself from his former wife as well .
Surely Not Them !
I recently reminisced with several old friends .
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