“Oh. I cut it years ago when I was mending some fencing.” He ran his other thumb across his hand, just like she had done.
“It must have been some cut.” Feeling terribly girlish, she amended her words. “I mean, it’s almost an inch long.”
He looked at his hand as if he was looking at that scar for the first time. “I guess it was. It healed, though, and I’m right as rain.” For a moment, their eyes met, and his expression gentled—almost like he cared about her. Then, just as suddenly, he stood up. “I…I am going to wash up now.”
Stunned, Katie watched him pick up his plate, set it near the counter, then walk away. Leaving her alone.
As she looked around the suddenly silent kitchen, Katie thought that perhaps her parents had been right. Perhaps her stay here would be a thankless one, indeed. The girls were not eager to get to know her. The house was empty and far too quiet. Winnie would be gone soon.
And Jonathan…Jonathan seemed wary around her. Watchful. Almost bashful?
Chapter 6
Brandon was sitting up in bed half watching television when Holly arrived at the hospital that afternoon. Pausing at the door, tears pricked her eyes. For once, Brandon looked almost like his usual self. It had been a rough week—there’d been a few times when neither the doctors nor the nurses thought he would last to the next day.
There were times when she wasn’t sure she’d be able to make it, especially since all the news was now increasingly dire. Holly was finding it hard to stay positive.
But of course, that was what he needed. “Hey, you,” she said when she finally walked through the doorway. “How does it feel to sit up in bed for a change?”
With effort, he turned her way. “Pretty good. So, are you ever going to actually come in? I’ve been watching you stand there for five minutes.”
“Sorry. My mind was wandering, I guess,” she murmured, walking toward him. After squeezing his shoulder, she pulled up her usual chair and sat down next to him. “So…are you feeling a little better?”
“Yeah. I think those new drugs are helping with the pain.”
His words told her everything she needed to know. He wasn’t healing. A miracle wasn’t about to take place. His prognosis wasn’t going to change. He just wasn’t feeling as bad as he usually did. “Oh. Good.”
Brandon motioned to the remote control on the bedside table. “Turn off the TV, would you? I want to ask you about something.”
“Anything,” she said as soon as the screen went black.
“Did…did you ever get ahold of Katie? Did you find her?”
“No.” Regret consumed her as she watched his expression fall. Oh, she’d give just about anything to have different news for him. “I wrote Katie a note and asked her to meet me on Sunday but she didn’t show up.” She’d waited three hours. As each minute passed, Holly’s anger had intensified. It was just so unfair. Here Brandon was hoping to see Katie one last time before he died—and Katie couldn’t even trouble herself to give Holly a few minutes of her time.
“Oh.” With a sigh, his eyes drifted shut.
If Katie was standing in front of her at that minute, Holly knew she would have reached out and shaken her, hard. “I’ll try again, Brandon.”
For a long moment, the only sounds in the room were the plethora of machines that monitored his vital signs. At last, he spoke. “Why do you think she didn’t show?”
“I don’t know.” When he tried to grip the electronic control to lower the head of the bed, she stood up and pushed the button herself, helping to adjust the pillows under his head as he shifted. “Maybe she didn’t get the note. I had to leave it at the general store, you know. I’ll go over there this afternoon and check.”
“You don’t have time. You’ve got work. I know you’ve got your job, Holl…” His words were slurring. Either the pain medicine was really kicking in or his body couldn’t wait to rest.
“Sure I do.” Reaching out, she clasped his hand. “I’ll find her, Brandon. I’m going to find her and bring her to you. I promise.”
His eyes still closed, he almost smiled. Almost.
Holly sat back down and watched her brother sleep. It was time to face the painful truth. They were almost out of time. No matter what—no matter what it cost to her pride or her feelings—she had to get hold of Katie.
Life was very different at Jonathan’s home, Katie realized as she walked down the hall to the girls’ bedroom one morning just days after Winnie had left with a smile and a wave before boarding her bus.