The Wonder of Your Love - By Beth Wiseman Page 0,18
were so completely opposite of her own that he suddenly seemed safe. Maybe even someone she could be friends with.
“Tomorrow there isn’t worship service, so I thought I would spend the day with Elam, Vera, and the kinner. Monday I was planning to travel to the Great Sand Dunes. Have you heard of them?”
Katie Ann’s heart leaped as she considered the possibility. “Ya. I have. David took Emily there before they were married, and they said it is quite the sight.”
“I can be here with a driver on Monday at nine o’clock. How does that sound? You, me, and Jonas can have a nice lunch somewhere and see some things neither of us has seen before.” He raised a brow. “Always more fun to sightsee with a friend.”
Suddenly she remembered Lucy. “I’m sorry. I forgot that, um . . . the woman you saw earlier . . . she’ll be here Monday morning.”
Eli walked toward the front door. Katie Ann followed, watching him pull his hat and coat from the rack.
“I’m wide open on Tuesday too.”
She took a deep breath and wondered if spending time with Eli would be acceptable. It wasn’t like they were teenagers. And Eli had made it clear that he sought nothing from her but friendship. Before she could answer, Eli spoke.
“I hope that you and the woman named Lucy have a nice conversation.”
It was a strange thing to say, in light of what he had seen, and it was clearly an invitation for Katie Ann to share about Lucy, which was not going to happen. “Danki,” she said smoothly.
He looked at her, waiting.
“I’m sorry about the display earlier. Lucy is someone I knew in Lancaster County, and as you could see, Martha is not fond of her.”
Eli grinned. “I noticed that. I hope I don’t ever get on Martha’s bad side.”
Katie Ann couldn’t help but smile as she propped Jonas up on her shoulder. “It’s not a gut place to be.”
“See you on Tuesday?” Eli adjusted his hat.
Katie Ann bit her bottom lip for a moment. “I would like to see the sand dunes.” Then she shook her head. “But I don’t know, Eli—about Jonas. Maybe I shouldn’t have him out in the weather.”
Eli leaned close and touched Jonas on the cheek. “We will keep this little one bundled up well.”
Jonas puckered with delight at Eli’s touch, but Katie Ann went weak in the knees as Eli’s hand brushed against hers. She wondered if she was making the right choice about going with him. But she just nodded.
ELI FOUGHT THE night chill all the way to his cousin’s house, and by the time he got home everyone had retired for the evening. He went straight to bathe, then propped himself up on the bed. After he adjusted the lantern, he read from the Bible for a while, but eventually his thoughts about Katie Ann won over, and he closed the book. He sighed as he made a mental note to do a little extra reading from the Good Book in the morning. Right now he couldn’t seem to shake the vision of Katie Ann playfully teasing with him about not calling her a grandmother. She didn’t smile a lot, but when she did, it stirred things in Eli that had long been dormant. A thought that was both exhilarating and frightening.
He snuffed the lantern, lay back, and closed his eyes, wishing that things were different. Katie Ann was the first woman since Sarah who had lit a spark inside of him, but she was not anyone he’d ever pursue. Although she was lovely, and Jonas was a cute little boppli. He smiled, thinking about his time holding the child.
Rolling on his side, he knew those days were behind him. All he had to take care of was himself, and it had been a long time coming. But surely it was safe to spend time with Katie Ann. The woman was mourning her husband, and Eli had been deliberate in his use of the word friend in their conversations.
He rolled onto his back, then back onto his side.
So why am I having so much trouble falling asleep?
KATIE ANN FINISHED nursing Jonas, laid him back down, and watched him until he fell asleep. Normally she’d eat a bowl of homemade granola for breakfast, but this morning she’d made herself some scrambled eggs. She couldn’t wait until Jonas was old enough to sit at the table. Lillian often invited her to take dinner with her family, since they