“I do love ice cream. It almost makes me wish I had a reason to enjoy a steady supply of it.”
She liked ice cream? That was an easy enough way to make her smile. And, well, she was doing so much for him—it was the least he could do in return, right? “I’ll bring you home some tomorrow, if you’d like.”
To his pleasure, Katie blushed. “Oh. Well, thank you.”
“Any special flavor you like?”
“Strawberry?”
“I like strawberry, too.” Just as he was about to close his eyes in frustration—he sounded terribly young and foolish—Katie smiled. He felt her regard to his toes. Perhaps Katie and he might one day have a future, after all.
Reaching into a large basket, she pulled out the latest edition of The Budget. “Would you like to read for a bit? We don’t have to talk anymore if you’d rather not.”
At that moment, Jonathan trusted his eyes to focus on the paper instead of his tongue to say the right words. “I…yes. I’d like to sit here and read with you. If only for a bit.”
“Only for a bit is fine with me.”
As the glow from the kerosene lamps mixed with the glow from the fire, the room became illuminated in warmth. A sense of calmness filtered through the air, mixing with the apple-scented candle and igniting his senses.
Finally Jonathan was able to admit to himself that this was the scene he’d always pictured in his mind, the type of moment he’d always wished he and Sarah had had more of.
After years of wishing for companionship, years of resigning himself to a lifetime of being alone, Katie Brenneman was showing him that there was still time to find love again.
She was someone he could trust his heart to. And that knowledge was incredible, indeed.
Chapter 10
I won’t go away.
Katie bolted upright in bed and scanned the room, searching in the dim light for Holly. She’d heard the words so clearly, for a moment she’d been sure Holly was in the room with her. Her pulse beat rapidly, every muscle felt on alert. Taking deep breaths, Katie willed herself to settle down.
She also realized she’d come to the inevitable truth. It was time to meet Holly. Avoiding her wasn’t working—all avoidance did was foster feelings of guilt and sleepless nights.
Surely, anything was better than receiving her notes from Henry and Anna and being faced with their questions.
But of course, she was alone. Katie shivered. In spite of the cold weather, her body was covered in sweat. With a grimace, she pulled at the neckline of her nightgown. It felt too snug and confining. Damp.
Little by little, as the chilly air met her skin, the dampness dissipated. She looked at the clock near her bed, its plain white face illuminated by the moonlight. Barely could she make out the numbers. Two a.m., or near that. Too early to get up. Four a.m. would arrive soon enough.
With a force of will, Katie lay back down again. But though she closed her eyes and breathed deeply, sleep was far away.
All that seemed to enter her mind were the awful words. Holly’s sentences were as completely puzzling as they were frightening. “I won’t go away”?
Why would Holly write such a thing? They’d hadn’t seen each other in almost a year. What could be so important now? The only thing Holly could be speaking of was Brandon, and Katie knew it would be terribly foolish to ever see him again.
Sleep was surely never to come. After lighting a candle, she pulled out her memory box. The little teddy bear with the golden eyes stared back at her when she lifted the lid.
Gingerly, she held it in her hands, stroking the soft fur. Remembering how she’d felt when Brandon had placed it in her hands. Even now, she was reluctant to part with it. Such sweet moments were rarities.
“It’s for you,” Brandon had whispered. “It’s just a silly toy, but it reminded me of you.”
She’d sat there, mesmerized. “How did such a thing make you think of me?”
His expression teasing, Brandon had tapped the bear’s head. “First, it’s very cute. Like you.” He’d leaned closer. “There there’s its eyes.”
She’d been completely confused. So terribly naive. “Mine are blue, Brandon. This bear’s eyes are brown.”
He’d laughed. “But they’re almost as pretty. And they have a look of wonder in them. Just like you do, Kate. I love your sweetness. I like you so much.”
She’d closed her eyes then. Every sense had been aware of him. He always smelled like cologne. His feelings had always been so open toward her. So caring, as if she was special.
“Oh.” She’d looked around the room for something to comment on, for something to say so she wouldn’t sound so tongue-tied, but nothing else held her attention. Holly had left them to talk on the phone to one of her friends. That meant the two of them had been alone, with only the television to act as a chaperone.