people come and share their testimonies. You’d probably be a good one since your background is very different from the way the kids are being raised.”
Kenzie drew back, her stomach fluttering. “I’m not a speaker.”
Lori squealed and clapped her hands. “Oh, Kenz, you’d be great. Some of the things you’ve told me, about living on the farm and doing everything by hand, would fascinate the kids, I bet.”
Kenzie gave Lori a frown she hoped would silence her outspoken friend. “Kids who have cell phones and computer games and cars won’t find churning butter or riding in a buggy or sewing your own clothes fascinating.” She offered Brother Jase an apologetic grimace. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I’d have anything of value to tell the kids.”
His forehead pinched into furrows, his green-blue eyes narrowing beneath his thick red-brown eyebrows. “Every person’s journey to faith in Jesus holds value. I agree with Lori that the kids would find the contrast between your upbringing and theirs interesting. Would you at least consider sharing your testimony? I’ll give you plenty of time to think about it—no pressure—but please don’t say no right away. All right?”
When he looked at her that way, as if she held the key to something precious and vital, she understood Lori’s attraction to the man. But his intensity also made her uncomfortable. She lowered her gaze to her napkin. “I’ll think about it.”
“And pray about it,” he said.
She jerked her head up and met his gaze again. His smile invited her to smile back. She nodded. “Yes. Of course.”
“Good.” He angled himself onto one hip and reached into his back pocket. “Since y’all wouldn’t let me pay for your lunch, at least let me leave the tip for the server. Then I should let you two go. I can’t believe we’ve sat here and talked for almost two hours.”
“What’s your rush?” Lori sat forward, lacing her fingers together. “There’s no service at church tonight, so we don’t have to hurry off.”
Kenzie pointed to the group of people milling near the checkout counter. “I think we need to leave. We’re done eating, and there’s a lot of people waiting for a table.”
Lori glanced over and made a face. “Oh. Well, all right.” Then she brightened. “But maybe we could go someplace else and talk. You said you wanted to know more about Kenzie’s background. Could we go to your apartment, Kenz, and hang out for a while? You could show Jase your loom.”
Kenzie forced a laugh. “I doubt Brother Jase is interested in my loom.”
Brother Jase chuckled, too. “I wouldn’t mind seeing it someday, but for now, I think I should head on home.” He stood and dropped a five-dollar bill on the table.
Lori sat gazing up at Brother Jase. Kenzie gave her a little bump with her elbow, and with a sigh, Lori got out of the booth. Kenzie climbed out after her. The three of them walked out together, and Brother Jase escorted them to Lori’s little green Chevy.
He stopped next to the car’s hood and bounced a smile from Kenzie to Lori. “Thanks again for including me today, ladies. I enjoyed the company.”
Lori giggled. “I did, too.” She hit the unlock button on her key fob, and Brother Jase reached forward and opened the door. She giggled again and slid behind the wheel. “Such a gentleman. Thank you.”
Brother Jase looked at Kenzie across the top of the vehicle. She quickly opened the passenger door and got in. He leaned down and peered past Lori at her. “Be sure and give some thought and prayer to sharing your testimony with the youth, Kenzie. Bye now. It was very nice meeting you.”
Kenzie snapped her seat belt in place. “You, too. Happy Easter.”
He closed Lori’s door, waved, and trotted off.
Lori started her car’s engine, but she sat staring out her window in the direction Brother Jase had gone. Kenzie waited several seconds, then tapped her friend on the arm. Lori gave a start and looked at her.
“Ready to go?”
Lori’s gaze didn’t shift. “Kenzie, do you believe in love at first sight?”
Some people might laugh at a question like that, but Kenzie took it seriously. Grossmammi had told her she’d known from the moment her daed introduced her to Grossdaadi that she wanted to be his wife. Storybooks often had heroes and heroines falling in love right away. Although Kenzie had never experienced an immediate attraction to anyone, she couldn’t deny its reality. “Yes, I think it’s possible.”