“Is she Amish?”
“Oh, yes. Of course.”
“What’s she like?”
There was the rub. “Confusing.”
Brent roared with laughter, loud enough that the other men turned their way. “They’re all confusing. Some days I never know where I stand with Tricia.”
Jonathan was becoming mighty glad to have a friend in Brent. He had never realized that all men had trouble figuring out their wives’ likes and dislikes. “Yes, but I thought after Sarah…” His words drifted off. It sounded uncaring and petty to bring Sarah into the conversation.
“I’ve only been married once, but I tell you, my Tricia keeps me on my toes. I never know what I’m doing right or wrong. Just yesterday she yelled at me because I was helping the kids with their homework.”
“Whatever for?”
“She said I was doing it wrong. But last week she got mad at me because I never offered to help. Women.”
“Jah. Women. I fear I’m mainly doin’ everything wrong.”
Instead of offering advice, Brent chuckled, then patted Jonathan on the shoulder. “Good luck with that,” he said before getting up to go to his office.
“Danke.”
He used the momentary patch of silence to do some thinking. What had happened, anyway? He’d been so sure he had done the right thing when he’d asked Katie to be his wife.
He was not so blind as to see that she had had special feelings for him for quite a while. But instead of acting all overjoyed, she’d just looked worried and spooked.
Yes, spooked was the word. She acted like he had just found out something about her that was horrible.
It had not been the reaction he’d hoped for.
This was when he missed his father something awful. He wished there was someone who he could reveal all of his hurts and frustrations to. Who would listen to him without rancor and give him direction.
As Jonathan ate the last of the chocolate chip cookie, he suddenly smiled.
Well, of course. Someone had always been there for him—Jesus, his Lord and Savior. He’d given Jonathan Winnie when he’d needed help the most. He’d given Jonathan good friends like Brent. Now, He’d brought Katie into his life.
Dear Lord, he silently prayed, thank you for all the blessings you have given me. Thank you for providing me with a great many people and friends. Please help me continue to follow Your will—and to remember to spend quiet moments to give thanks to your guidance and patience. Amen.
Feeling lighter in step than he had in years, Jonathan stood up and went back to work. Perhaps things were going to work out, after all.
Chapter 17
Feeling restless in the quiet of Jonathan’s home, Katie hitched up her buggy and drove to the inn. The quiet rolling hills and pristine countryside were a sight to behold. The crisp, fresh air invigorated her senses and stung her cheeks.
But not even the terribly beautiful surroundings could stop her from thinking about Brandon.
For so long, she’d blocked out all thoughts of him. She’d also pushed aside all memories of her time with him, sure that her behavior had been so wrong, it was wrong to even recall any of the good times she’d shared with her English friends.
Her recent visit to Brandon had changed all that. His need to see her again, his obvious pleasure to renew their friendship encouraged Katie to recall many moments they’d spent together. It hadn’t been all bad, after all. In fact, when she’d looked into his eyes, she recalled the many good times she’d shared with Holly and Brandon.
She remembered the many reasons they’d become friends. It hadn’t been all false on her part. On the contrary, most of what they’d shared had been real and genuine, indeed. It had been a mistake to push them away—to not even give Holly or Brandon a chance to make their own opinions about her lifestyle. She should have stayed after telling them about herself. She shouldn’t have just expected scorn and anger.
Because she loved her brother, Henry, so much, Katie knew just how much Holly loved Brandon. And because she now understood just how sick Brandon was, Katie knew it was time to reach out to Holly. Holly was going to need all of the friends she could get in the coming weeks. No longer would Katie push someone away because she wished she’d behaved better toward them.
After parking her buggy and playing with Roman for a bit, she said hello to her mother and Anna. But then, still feeling restless, Katie knew what she had to do. With purpose, she walked to the reception desk, pulled out the note Holly had given her, then, before she lost her nerve, Katie picked up the phone and dialed. The phone rang two times before Holly’s familiar voice answered. “Hello?”