Life with Brody: A Findmysoulmate.Org Book

By K. F. Johnson

After seven years of marriage, it appears that April and Steve’s love has grown cold. Ever since April accepted Christ, their relationship hasn’t been the same. Now she’s worried that Steve is having an affair. Tired of being in a loveless marriage, April makes a decision that could lead to real trouble and, even worse yet, end her marriage.

In an effort to satisfy her curiosity and find out the truth once and for all, April creates a profile on the dating web site, findmysoulmate.org. Three months earlier, Steve had mentioned the site while contemplating aloud if he and April would still match, especially after his wife’s commitment to God. But when April receives a message from Bob357, she is propelled down an uncertain path where, with help from a rescue dog and God, she discovers the truth about herself and her husband, forever changing the course of their lives and marriage.

In this inspirational tale, a Christian wife desperate to learn whether her husband still loves her creates a dating site profile that leads her to make amazing discoveries about herself, her husband, and her marriage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973673668

K. F. Johnson

Kathy started life in Sioux City, Iowa as the youngest child in a military family. Travel and new experiences were common events in her childhood.  She was raised mostly in the United States.  At the age of 17, she graduated high school and joined the Armyl.  As an adult, her faith and sense of adventure has guided her in many directions.  Eventually leading her to Idaho in her mid 30s where she met her husband, Greg. Greg is a source of love, support and laughter. Greg says they have half a herd of kids and a herd and a half of grandkids. Kathy has many interests and hobbies. She loves being outdoors, making specialty birthday cakes, homemade candies and breads, sewing and photography.  Her photography includes the beautiful mountain scenes surrounding her as well as family portraits and weddings.  Their love of animals has resulted in having two dogs, two cats and a bird that are all rescues. A running joke is that everyone in the house is a rescue, people included.

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Copyright © 2019 K. F. Johnson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7367-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7368-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7366-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019914053

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/09/2019

Contents

Acknowledgements

Prologue

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Epilogue

About the Author

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my friends, Cheryl Mallory, Kim Johnson and Beth MacGregor, for advice on medical and physical therapy points. Thank you to Maleah McCulley and Janet Bly for editing help. My friend Tina, thank you for being there through thick and thin. For the support of all my children, you have inspired and encouraged me. And to my husband, Greg. Thank you for believing in me from the very beginning. I am blessed.

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Prologue

I was sitting with my feet up on the couch, watching TV with my husband, Steve, who was kicked back in his recliner. One of those findmysoulmate.org commercials came on, and Steve casually said, "I wonder if we signed up, if they would make us a match."

I don’t know, I replied. And gave it no more thought.

Three months later, I sat there at my computer contemplating my decision. I was about to hit send on my profile. I can’t tell you why I was doing it. It felt like our love had gone cold. That statement Steve made kept rolling through my head.

Are we really compatible? Is that why we seem to just exist together?

We used to be partners. Not anymore. Everything seemed so different. For the past several months, longer to be honest, we seemed more like roommates. We were supposed to be ‘helpmeets’ for life. That’s God’s plan. But we weren’t living it. I couldn’t get him to go to church with me. People wondered where my husband was. I hated going alone, but I knew that I would hate not going even more. So, why would I fill out that profile? Simple. I was curious. It was cheating, and I knew it. I was curious, true, but this curiosity could lead to real trouble and possibly end my marriage. What was I thinking?

… send…

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1

I t had been two weeks since I set up my account on that dating site, and I hadn’t checked my profile. I didn’t want to see it. What if someone replied? What if no one replied? Maybe I should delete it. That would be the best thing, right? Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll go in and delete it. That’s all.

Wow, forty-five replies! I looked at their pictures—my age range and good looking. They were doing things that looked fun to me. I’d love to go boating, hiking, snorkeling, or horseback riding. Well, maybe not snorkeling; I’m too far from the ocean. Oh, look, this guy said he likes picnics after church. What a nice smile. I won’t delete anyone yet. It won’t hurt to look. Wouldn’t it be funny if Steve put his name in here, and I saw him? I wonder if that’s why he mentioned it.

By the time I checked through all forty-five replies, I had found some interesting men. I deleted all but five. Steve wasn’t one of them. Did that mean he signed up, but we weren’t compatible? Did he just make a comment, wondering aloud, not really intending to do it? So like him.

He always talked about stuff he never did. How many times had he said he would fix the faucet or the door, and it didn’t get done? He said for a week he was going to mow the lawn, and guess who actually did it? Yep, me. Like always. He always told me he was going to do something for me or with me, but it never happened. I’m not important to him anymore. Maybe I never was.

Oh God, what should I do? Well, that was a stupid question. I should get off here and not entertain this idea at all. But I was so tired of being in a loveless marriage. I was lonely and alone, even when he was in the room with me. What harm would it be if I just responded to these five? Seriously, I could stop at any time. I didn’t have to meet them; it wasn’t like that. What was the harm in having a friend? I should be allowed friends too. Seemed like all I did was work and come home. I went to the grocery store and to church, but that was it. Steve goes fishing with his buddies. They get together to watch sports. The irony is that I like football too. I often sit home and watch the games after he leaves, but he never talks to me about them. He never asked me if I want to go with him. That would be nice. I would love that.

I tried talking to him about football once. It did me no good. He said, Seriously, April, do you even understand the game? How rude was that? It couldn’t have hurt worse if he’d slapped me in the face. So what if I don’t understand all the rules? I may not know the difference between a nickel back and a halfback, but I am willing to learn. Why can’t he teach me? We talked about all kinds of things when we dated. That seems like a lifetime ago.

Our seven-year anniversary is next month. Is this the seven-year itch? I wish I knew. Is he as unhappy as I am?

I was afraid to ask such a loaded question. A yes or a no could start a fight, and I don’t like conflict. This is so hard. I want a better marriage, but I don’t know how to go about it. God help me.

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I DECIDED TO TALK TO Steve. When I got home from work, I made one of his favorite dinners: hamburger steaks, mashed potatoes, gravy, and French-style green beans. I had everything ready and waiting at six o’clock, our regular dinnertime. Guess what? Yep, no show! I waited until six thirty before I decided to eat alone.

Steve arrived at seven thirty-five with no phone call and no explanation. Hey, babe. Sorry I’m late. What smells so good?’’ I recited the menu for him as he washed up at the sink. Sounds good, he replied as he dished up. I’m starving and tired. Crazy day."

He ate his supper with little conversation, told me thanks with a kiss on the top of my head, hit the shower, and went to bed. I wondered if he was having an affair. Could that be it? Could he be cheating on me? Oh, God, no! I couldn’t handle that. I’m so stupid.

I bet that is it. That is why he mentioned the dating website. He wanted me to look for someone else because he already had someone. I thought I was going to be sick. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but what was I supposed to think? Should I check his phone? That would be too sneaky. I refused to do that or be that kind of person.

I’ll try again tomorrow night. That’s it. I can’t give up on him. Not yet. I love him. I do. Maybe we are too comfortable together. It was like we don’t have to talk anymore. How sad is that?

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SECOND TRY AT A SECOND chance. I had on a cute little blue dress that I wore to work. I hoped to capture his eye as well. I made another of Steve’s favorite dinners. Tonight was oven-fried chicken and baked potatoes with corn and biscuits. He came home right on time.

Hey, April, he said. What smells so good?

Winner, winner chicken dinner, I replied, doing the Vanna White wave toward the food, with all the fixings.

Oh. There was disappointment in his voice. I had chicken for lunch. Some of us went out to discuss plans about the new section.

Deflated, I said, I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Did you have a good day?

Yeah, he said. We got the new section to this complex figured out, and it’s all a go.

Well, that’s good. I gathered my courage and asked, You have any plans this weekend? Maybe we could do something together.

We sat down, and I silently said a prayer while Steve waited to dish up. An improvement, I thought. He used to plow right through.

He picked up the thread of conversation. Sorry, babe, the guys and I are going to the lake to camp and fish.

I was hurt, but I tried to sound casual. Sounds like fun. I hoped he would invite me along.

Yeah, it should be. I’ll leave early Friday and get back Sunday afternoon, before dinner. I’ll be hungry, I’m sure. And tired too, most likely. Camping is fun, but it wears on you.

I wondered, Do the other guys bring their wives? I braved myself to ask him. Who’s all going this weekend?

You know, the usual crowd.

What did that mean? I didn’t know who the usual crowd was, but it didn’t include me. I was done with this conversation. We finished our meal in silence, and I struggled to control my emotions and get my food down.

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IT’S FRIDAY NIGHT, AND I am home alone again. I am so tired of this. I’m not his wife; I’m his housekeeper and cook. I kept wondering if our lives would be different if we had kids. But right now, I’m glad we don’t. I’d hate to drag kids through a divorce. Wow! Am I really thinking divorce?

I decided to spend time on the computer. I balanced the checkbook, paid bills, and worked on research for my job. Then I visited the dating site. What’s the harm? It’s not like I’m in a real marriage any way.

Bob three-five-seven sent me a message. Mr. Picnic after Church reached out to me. How nice is that?

A251, this is Bob357. I wanted to introduce myself and get to know a little more about you. Then we could go from there. How does that sound? I’m thirty-seven years old. I’m a professional, and I’ve been at the same job for over a decade. That makes me either stable or boring. I enjoy hiking, camping, and fishing. I love the outdoors. I go to church every Sunday and on Wednesday night, work permitting. My relationship with my Savior is very important to me, and I don’t want to be involved with anyone who doesn’t know Jesus too. Are you a Christian?

Bob357, this is A251. Yes, I do love Jesus. I also go to church twice a week. I grew up in a Christian home but never came to Jesus myself until a few years ago. I agree; it’s not good to be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t share your faith. The Bible tells us not to be unequally yoked. I’m twenty-eight years old. I haven’t hiked in forever, so I don’t know if I would enjoy that anymore. But I’ve never gone camping. I am used to my creature comforts! I would love to learn to fish though. I like to eat fish, so that’s the next logical step, right? I am also a professional. I’ve been in the same job, same company since graduating college. So if stable and reliable are boring, that makes two of us! I would like to get a dog. Do you like animals? I’m sorry to be jumping subjects on you. I’m just throwing thoughts out. Talk to you later.

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2

I got up early, ate breakfast, and showered before I checked around the house. Where could I put a dog bed? Where would I put the food dish? So many things to consider when adding a new household member. I dressed comfortably and casually, and I headed out the door.

At ten o’clock, I was outside the animal shelter, excited and waiting for the doors to open. It had been a long time since I was excited about anything.

I introduced myself to the woman behind the counter. She was a short, plump, middle-aged woman with a sweet smile. I am looking for a dog, I chattered nervously. I haven’t had a pet in years. Not since I was a kid in my parents’ house. I’m hoping you have a dog that can put up with a newbie.

The lady smiled at me with humor in her eyes, Well, April, that’s what we do here. We put people and animals together to make good forever homes. Let me show you what we have.

Great. Doesn’t matter to me, large or small. I want one that will fit my work schedule and personality. I do have a big fenced backyard, but I work five days a week, so it would have to be okay being alone during the day. I’m sure I can get a dog door installed.

She took me to a big kennel area. She dragged her right hand across the fence covering the dog run. These are the puppies, but I don’t think that would be a good idea for you. You need a more mature dog, already housebroke.

Sounds good, I said.

Okay. She pointed to her left. This section has older dogs. They will have some training, but you would still need to walk them and work with them. Any dog is going to take time and attention.

I understand. I was thinking of nice morning walks, bike rides, that kind of stuff. I pointed to a medium-sized black and white dog. Tell me about this one.

This is Mickey. She looked over his kennel cover sheet. He’s a border collie mix. He would love the active stuff you mentioned. Border collies are a working breed, so activity is good.

We moved down to the next kennel. This one here is Brody, she said, indicating a long-haired dog with