“So what exactly are you going to do?”

Kevin had spent the last half hour sharing with Matt Zay everything that was going on with Precision. After Kevin told Matt about losing his biggest client, his old friend from his old church wanted to know how Kevin planned on supporting his family. “I was hoping to come work for you,” Kevin joked.

Matt worked with foster kids, and both of them knew that it was a tough job that didn’t pay well. “I’ll take you anytime.”

“I’m trying everything I can. Every day I contact about ten people I’ve worked with. But—the timing really bites, you know. Things start to shut down near the middle of December. I only have a good week left before things are going to get too tight.”

Before the slack in the noose gives and I can’t breathe.

Matt sipped his coffee and crossed a leg. “Have you tried the publisher you used to work for?”

“Autumn House? Not yet.”

“How’d you leave things with them?”

“They had to get a restraining order against me, but you know—other than that, all things were good. No—everything was fine. I could see going back there too. Who knows? There’ve been times the last few years with Precision that I thought, ‘Man, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone else worry about paying the bills and the benefits and all that?’ But I’ve invested everything in the company. And I mean everything.”

“You’re like the third guy I’ve talked to in the last month who’s looking for a job.”

Kevin shook his head. “I’m looking to save mine. There’s a difference.”

“Yeah, guess you’re right. With the twins coming, it’s smart to be prepared.”

He couldn’t help but laugh at Matt’s comment. Matt was a good guy with an optimistic heart and an encouraging attitude. They’d lost touch since Kevin and Jenny switched churches after Gregory was born.

“I would have been more prepared if I’d had a clue they weren’t going to re-sign with us,” Kevin said. “But it just seems each year gets busier and busier.”

“Yeah, well, maybe that’s prepared you well. Since you’re about ready to become extremely busy.”

“What if I grew my hair long and my beard out and I became Mr. Mom? Remember that movie?”

“Does that include nursing?”

“I can give it a try.”

It was good to laugh and to be able to tell Matt some of what he was dealing with. Most of the conversations he had recently were short and sweet—conversations about working together and doing business and developing projects and ideas. Most of the people he spoke with sounded enthusiastic, but they were merely blowing smoke. Matt didn’t have to. He could simply listen and ask Kevin how he felt and not make any promises, or fill him with false hope.

It felt good to have someone he could confide in without the need of any kind of response. Sometimes simply sharing what was happening was enough to give him some peace of mind.