The Wonder of Your Love - By Beth Wiseman Page 0,76
rubbed his forehead, then locked eyes with her. “It just wasn’t as much fun as I’d always pictured it.”
“I’ll be taking a trip soon.”
His ears perked up. “Really? Where?”
“Lancaster County. I have to handle some things for Ivan. A lawyer has sent me several letters.”
“What about Jonas?” Eli narrowed his brows as he glanced toward the playpen. “Will you take him?”
Katie Ann shook her head. “Ya. He’s not even five months old yet. I couldn’t bear to leave him.”
Eli squeezed her hand. “Do you want me to go with you, so you and Jonas don’t have to travel alone?”
While she was touched, she also knew that she needed to do this on her own, find some closure with Ivan. She shook her head. “No. I’ve traveled by plane before. But danki.”
“When will you go?”
“I’m waiting until after Arnold gets here. I’ll feel better leaving Martha.” She raised her brows. “You’ll never believe what is going on at Martha’s house.” Katie Ann told Eli about Danielle and how Martha found her living upstairs.
“And she’s still there?” Eli sounded as shocked as Katie Ann had been when she found out Martha was letting the teenager stay with her.
She laughed. “Ya, she is. And I’m not sure who is having a harder time of it. Martha is a bit”—she paused—“set in her ways. And Danielle is . . . how should I say this, since I don’t know the girl well?” She sighed. “She’s a bit . . . messy. Martha said she leaves plates in her room upstairs, throws her clothes down on the bathroom floor, and never offers to help clean anything up. And . . .” Katie Ann grinned. “Martha threatened to wash her mouth out with soap if she didn’t clean up her language.”
“Where are the girl’s parents?”
“Danielle says her parents are dead, that she graduated school early while living in foster care, and that her boyfriend is the one who beat her up.”
Eli shook his head. “That’s terrible. How long will Martha let her stay there?”
“I don’t know. Martha has a huge heart, so I suspect it could be awhile.”
MARTHA PUT HER hands on her hips and eyed Danielle as she stepped out of the dressing room. They were in a store Martha had never heard of. “You are out of your mind if you think I’m going to buy you that.”
“Why? What’s wrong with it?” Danielle faced off with her, mirroring Martha’s stance.
Martha started to tell her that she looked like someone who should be standing on a street corner, but she decided a more tactful approach would be better. “You look like a tramp.”
“What?” Danielle shifted her weight, which Martha was impressed with given the skintight pink leggings. “This is what everyone wears.”
Martha pointed at the two inches of skin showing between Danielle’s sprayed-on pants and matching pink crop top. “And that is not going to fly.” She glanced around at the sales staff, most of whom were dressed similarly to Danielle, and shook her head.
“But I like this.”
“I told you that if you were going to live with me, you have to get a job. What kind of reputable company would hire you dressed like that?”
“Well, I wouldn’t be caught dead in what you’re wearing.”
Martha gasped, looking down at her red-and-white-checked pants outfit. One thing Martha knew for sure—she was a snappy dresser. She was at a loss for words.
“And why do you always wear that dumb butterfly clip in your hair?”
Martha’s eyes rounded with rage as she reached up and touched the precious clip that she’d had since she was married to Herbert many moons ago. “This clip, my dear, will never go out of style.”
“Whatever.”
If that girl said whatever one more time, Martha thought she might snap. “I think we’d better try another store.”
“Whatever.”
Danielle marched back into the dressing room and slammed the door. Martha leaned her head back and looked up. I have no idea what You want me to do with this girl, Lord, but help me keep my cool.
Martha raised her chin, then glared at the clerk to her left. She shook her head, amazed that her mother would let her out of the house dressed like that. A few minutes later Danielle popped out of the dressing room. But instead of returning to the jeans and T-shirt that she’d had on, she tried on another outfit.
“What about this one?” Danielle raised her brows and stood taller, which only caused the tiny blue blouse to show even more of her