Wanted(37)
The homey bit of information brought forth inviting visions of the way he’d always envisioned his life being. Of security and comfort at home. Of his house being more than it was now—a shell of a place. “Mary and Hannah enjoy sitting with you, Katie. You’ve done much to help them.”
“I like being with them.”
“They can tell. You are so…so chatty.” Jonathan closed his eyes as he felt his cheeks burn yet again. Chatty? For goodness’ sake!
But to his great surprise, Katie acted as if he’d just given her the greatest of compliments. She laughed. “I know I’m too chatty! Henry has told me more than once that I am too talkative by half. It’s a failing of mine, to be sure.”
“We don’t think so.” Jonathan felt the blood rush to his face once more. Would she notice that he’d included himself in the compliment?
Hesitantly, Katie ventured, “To be honest, I miss my family.”
Like glass breaking, the tender moment was shattered. “I’m sorry—but it’s only for a short time that you will be here.” Somehow he knew the place was going to seem even emptier than it had felt before Katie, with her bright blue eyes and winsome demeanor claiming every corner.
She blinked. “No, that isn’t what I meant at all. I was going to say that I miss the way my family gathers together in the evenings. We read or quilt or knit. It’s a very pleasant time.”
Jonathan didn’t know if he could sit with her in the same room for hours on end. With nothing to occupy himself except for the distraction of her smile and the girls. “I’ve never been much for reading anything besides The Budget.”
“We could do other things.” Eagerly she looked around. “We have puzzles at the inn. I could bring over one of those. Once Henry and I completed a two-thousand-piece jigsaw. It took us weeks!”
Just the image of sitting next to her, putting pieces together side by side made his throat feel dry. “I don’t have—”
“Or any kind of game?”
He could see he was not about to get out of her suggestion so easily. “I’ll do some thinking about that.”
To his surprise, Katie chuckled. Intrigued, he asked, “What is so funny?”
“You are! Of course you are going to have to think about things, Jonathan. You do everything slow. As slow as molasses.”
That sounded mighty critical. Stung, he said, “There’s nothing wrong with takin’ my time.”
“There’s nothing wrong with walking backward, either,” she said with another chuckle. “I’m just surprised that you never want to shake things up a bit.”
“My life has been shook enough, Katie.”
All merriment fled from her face. “Oh! Jonathan, wait! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Surely you know I was only joking?”
Embarrassment made his tone sharp. “My feelings are not hurt.” And how could he even imagine telling her if they were? She’d probably laugh even more!
“So, please stay for a bit. We have much to discuss…to plan for the service.”
“We’ve already planned most everything, jah? Eli and Henry will help me prepare the outside so there will be plenty of room for all the buggies and horses. They’re also going to help with a path to the basement door. You said you had the menu in hand.”
“I do, but I’m still worried.”
“Many hands will make quick work of it all.” To his surprise, he found himself speaking gently with her, like he would to Mary.
Like Mary, she responded to his encouragement. Sitting up a little straighter, she nodded. “You’re right, Jonathan. Many hands will help. Yesterday afternoon the girls and I swept the basement well and washed the walls. Things already look better.”
“The wagon with the oak benches will come tomorrow. Several men are going to help me unload them and carry them inside. Then, together, we’ll wipe down everything until it shines.”
She frowned. “It’s too bad it’s winter. I always enjoy the services when they are in a barn and we get to eat outside.”
Almost naturally, he sought to calm her fears. “This will be nice, as well, Katie. Don’t worry so. Plus, everyone knows our circumstances and will not judge too harshly if everything is not as perfect as it could be. You can’t help that Winnie is gone and the Barrs had to cancel.”
Her blue eyes sparkled. “I’ll try to remember that. Um, how is Ruth, by the way? Did she recover from surgery all right?”
“I stopped at McClusky’s for some supplies and heard the latest. Ruth did fine and now she is hoping for a lot of ice cream.”