The Wonder of Your Love - By Beth Wiseman Page 0,4

what’s wrong with him.”

It was true. The past week she’d been up with him even more than usual. And not just to watch him breathe. He would wail, and Katie Ann wasn’t sure what was wrong, which just added to the fear that he would die before he reached his first birthday. The way Annie did.

“You’re a good mother, Katie Ann, and Jonas is a healthy little bundle.” Martha patted Katie Ann on the knee and returned to her reading. “Babies cry sometimes.”

Katie Ann had never told anyone but Ivan about Annie. It happened so long ago . . .

They were quiet again, and after a few moments Katie Ann glanced at Martha and frowned. “I don’t know why you read that garbage. It has nothing to do with us or our community.”

“I’m not Amish. It’s allowed.” Martha didn’t look up this time.

Katie Ann gently elbowed her. “I think you should be baptized and become one of us.” She’d had this conversation with Martha many times, and the answer was always the same. “You attend worship with us every other Sunday, you love the Lord, and you are always doing for folks in our community.”

Katie Ann thought back almost a year, to when she’d become close to Martha. It was an unlikely friendship—a pregnant Amish woman whose husband had left her . . . and an older Englisch widow who was gruff, outspoken, and set in her ways. But it didn’t take Katie Ann long to realize that beneath Martha’s crotchety temperament was a woman who just wanted to love and be loved—to have a family. And that’s what Katie Ann, Jonas, and Martha had become. Family.

Martha closed the magazine slowly, pressed her lips together, and squinted her eyes as she glared at Katie Ann. “I’ll tell ya again . . . I’m not wearing those clothes of yours, and especially not those prayer coverings. Anything on my head makes my scalp itch. And I am not giving up my television.” She tossed her head back, grunted, and went back to her magazine.

Katie Ann took note of Martha’s red-and-white-striped pants outfit, her mismanaged curls beneath the butterfly clip, and her bright red fingernails, and grinned. Converting would indeed require a large makeover for Martha. But Martha often visited the bishop, and Katie Ann wondered what they talked about.

All of a sudden Martha gasped, slammed the magazine closed, and twisted to face Katie Ann. Her eyes were round as saucers. “Did you meet him?”

“Who?” She leaned her head back against the couch as she yawned.

“Eli Detweiler, Elam’s cousin.”

Katie Ann uncrossed her legs and shifted her weight. “As a matter of fact, yes. Why do you ask?”

Martha pinched her face together until her wrinkles looked like they were all connected. “Is he as handsome as Vera says?”

“What?” Katie Ann turned her head to face her.

Martha cackled. “Vera’s got good taste. That Elam of hers is quite a looker. If she says Eli is handsome, I bet he’s a hunk.”

Katie Ann shrugged. “I didn’t notice.”

“Did she tell you that he’s a single man? Lost his wife seventeen years ago, and—”

Katie Ann bolted from the couch, slammed her hands to her hips, and glared at her friend. “I am in mourning, Martha. My husband has only been gone for a few months. How could you possibly think—”

“Oh, stop it.” Martha stood up. “That scoundrel cheated on you and left you for another woman. I’d get to know that handsome Eli Detweiler while he’s in town.”

Katie Ann blinked back tears, determined that there would be no more crying where Ivan was concerned. “You are being inappropriate, Martha.”

Martha placed her hands on Katie Ann’s arms. “Katie Ann, I couldn’t love you any more if you were my own daughter. It’s your people’s way to marry soon after a spouse dies, and Vera said that Eli is a fine fellow.”

“If he’s such a fine fellow, then why has he been single for the past seventeen years?” She freed herself of Martha’s hold and walked to the fireplace. She poked the glowing embers several times until a spark eased up between the logs.

“Apparently he’s been raising six kids, and the last one just got married. Maybe he was dedicated to his family? An admirable quality, wouldn’tcha say?”

Katie Ann didn’t look up as she gave the fire another poke. “Maybe.”

Martha chuckled. “Or maybe he’s just been waiting for you for the past seventeen years.”

Katie Ann put the fire tool in its holder and faced off with Martha. “Ya. I’m