The Wonder of Your Love - By Beth Wiseman Page 0,37
Ann elbowed her gently. “But how do you know you’ll feel bad tomorrow night?”
“Because I feel bad now.” Martha let out a heavy sigh. “Meatloaf is not my favorite. Gives me gas.” She turned to Katie Ann. “You know that, and I don’t know why you still make it.”
Katie Ann cradled Jonas as she followed Martha to the door. She waited until she pulled her coat on to give her a sideways hug so she didn’t squash Jonas. “I love you, Martha. And I know everything is going to be fine.”
“I love you too. I guess all we can do is pray.”
Katie Ann watched Martha leave, knowing that praying wasn’t all she would do. First thing in the morning, there was something else she was going to do. Whether Martha liked it or not.
Eight
KATIE ANN VISITED LILLIAN WEDNESDAY MORNING and told her the news about Martha.
“Can you watch Jonas for a few minutes while I go to the barn and make a phone call?” she asked. She felt inside her apron pocket to make sure she’d brought the number.
“Of course. And you’re doing the right thing.”
“I’ll be right back.” She buttoned her long black coat and stepped outside, expecting a burst of cool air, but just in the hour since she’d been at Lillian’s, the sun had peeked over the mountains and tricked their part of the world into thinking it was warmer than it really was.
She traipsed across the snow to the barn, knowing Martha would be furious with her.
“Hello, Dash,” she said quietly, pleased to see the cat curled atop the quilt. He opened his green eyes and squinted in her direction. She moved slowly, picking up the empty container she’d left on her prior visit. “You must like scrapple after all, no?” She stood up, surprised Dash hadn’t held to his name and sprinted around the corner. She squatted down and eased a bit closer. The cat’s ears went back, and his tail took the shape of a bottle brush. “It’s all right, boy.”
She leaned closer, earning a small hiss from her new friend, and noticed Dash’s protruding belly. “Oh my. I guess I will have to call you Mrs. Dash.” Katie Ann reached out her hand. “When are you due, little mama?”
Mrs. Dash made her escape faster than in the past, disappearing around the corner. Katie Ann suddenly wondered if there was a Mr. Dash anywhere.
It’s hard to raise kinner on your own, girl.
She made her way to the phone on Samuel’s workbench and dialed Arnold’s number. He answered on the second ring.
“Hello, Arnold. This is Katie Ann Stoltzfus calling.”
“Is Martha all right?” he asked at once.
Katie Ann could hear the concern in his voice. “Ya, she’s fine, Arnold.” She paused. “But . . . she’s . . . well, she’s going to be having some surgery soon, and I thought you would want to know.”
“I’ll come right now. Thank you, Katie Ann.”
“Wait . . . I mean, maybe you should wait until the week after Thanksgiving.”
Katie Ann smiled at Arnold’s reaction. She’d prayed hard about whether or not to tell him, despite Martha’s wishes, but she felt called to let him know. She knew he still loved Martha.
“She’s having the surgery the week after Thanksgiving. I can call you when I know the details.”
“What’s wrong with my Martha, Katie Ann? How serious is it?”
Katie Ann took a deep breath and blinked back tears. “I think it’s serious. She has a tumor in her stomach that has to be removed.”
“Oh no. Oh no.”
Katie Ann could hear the elderly man’s voice breaking up.
“But let’s don’t worry too much just yet. You know Martha. She’s as tough as they come, and I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“Please call me the minute the surgery is scheduled. Are you sure I shouldn’t come now to be with her?”
“No.” Katie Ann brought a hand to her chest. “Actually, Martha doesn’t even know I’m calling you. She would be very angry with me. I don’t think she wants to worry you.”
“I’ve begged her to let me come visit her, or for her to come here. Surely that woman knows how much I love her.”
Katie Ann wasn’t sure if it was her place to comment, but she’d been as curious as Martha about why Arnold hadn’t moved back here. “I think, Arnold, that since you made a decision to stay in Georgia . . . well . . .”
“I had to stay. At least for a while. It’s a long story. But I