The Wonder of Your Love - By Beth Wiseman Page 0,79
she said you’ve become very close with Katie Ann.” She glanced around the room at her sisters. “And we were just wondering if you are going to end up moving to Canaan.”
Eli was smiling on the inside, even though he tried to stifle his joy in front of his girls. They did need him. He should have known they would be afraid that he would leave them to move to Colorado.
“No worries, mei dochders. I’m not going anywhere.” Although the moment he said it, his heart sank. Confusing. He glanced at each of his girls. Also confusing. Each one of them was frowning. “What is wrong with all of you?”
Frieda and Karen sat down too, and Karen spoke up. “We were just hoping you’d found true love.” She batted her eyes a few times, and Eli wasn’t sure what to say. “We want you to be happy, Daed. We thought maybe Katie Ann was the one.”
“You want me to move?” Eli recalled how he’d raised each and every one of them. Now they didn’t need him anymore?
“Of course we don’t want you to move, but we don’t want you staying, either . . . because of us.” Karen reached over and touched his hand. “We all have husbands to take care of us now.”
The statement hurt, but he forced a smile.
Maureen, the newest bride and still filled with romance, spoke next. “Do you love her, Daed?”
It was a conversation no Amish man should be having with his grown daughters, but he answered truthfully. “I love her very much.”
“Yay!” Maureen jumped up and down, and all his girls laughed and clapped.
“We’re so happy for you, Daed,” Ida Mae said. “We didn’t think you would really travel the world like you planned.”
“I did,” Eli mumbled, even though traveling didn’t hold the allure it once did.
“Do you think Katie Ann and her son would consider moving here to Middlefield?” Maureen brought her hands to her chest.
Katie Ann had been through so much, and she seemed settled and happy in her new world. Eli envisioned a life with Katie Ann, surrounded by the mountains, sunshine most days, and—the baby. He would be Jonas’s father if Katie Ann would have him. With his children’s blessings all around him, he couldn’t help but get excited about the possibility of being with Katie Ann and Jonas in Colorado. “I think we would be best to live in Canaan.”
“We would miss you so much, Daed,” Karen said. “But you’ve given to each and every one of us, over and over again. We will support any decision you make.”
“Danki, girls.” Eli narrowed his brows. “And what does your bruder think about this?”
“Jake agrees with us,” Hannah said.
Eli rubbed his chin and wondered how hard it would be to be away from his children—and his grandchildren. Could he really do that?
But could he really live without Katie Ann?
MARTHA KNOCKED ON Arnold’s front door.
“Why don’t you use the key I gave you?” Arnold lifted one eyebrow as he stepped back so Martha could enter.
“Easier to knock.” Truth was, it felt odd to walk into Arnold’s home unannounced. Rumors were flying that Arnold was going to propose. He’d been caught browsing among the rings at a jewelry store in Monte Vista. Vera told Martha she’d seen him when she was on her way to the post office, and from that point, everyone in the Amish community seemed to know. And that was okay. Martha didn’t mind being the center of attention. But she wondered how Danielle fit into this scenario. Poor girl didn’t have any parents, and her ex-boyfriend was certainly a thug. She couldn’t turn her out on the street. While she couldn’t say she was bonding with the girl, she did feel protective of her.
“How is it going with Danielle?” Arnold sat down on the couch while Martha sat down in Arnold’s recliner. She loved the way he always insisted she sit in his favorite chair.
“Funny you should mention that.” Martha squared her jaw and leaned her head forward a bit. “Do you know I think that girl could sleep fourteen hours a day if I didn’t get her up? And, Arnold, you know I like my junk food, but she survives on it. She ate all my Fritos before I even had a one. And sodas . . . she’ll drink them back-to-back all day long.” Martha took a breath. “And she’s a slob. Throws her clothes everywhere, leaves plates and food in her room, and her clothing .