The Wonder of Your Love - By Beth Wiseman Page 0,88
endure another intervention from his daughters. Wondering what it would be this time, he recalled the girls’ many attempts to cheer him up over the past month. There had been several conversations about Katie Ann. His daughters were convinced he should travel to Canaan and tell her how he felt.
But it was Jake who convinced him otherwise. “If she wanted to be with you, Daed, wouldn’t she be?” he’d said.
As he got closer, he hesitated for a moment. Jake was sitting on the porch. All of his children were here, and by their expressions, Eli knew this wasn’t just a social call or a planned visit to boost his spirits.
KATIE ANN ADDED another pot holder to her pile. Her days were long, spent tending to Jonas and working on her handmade items. Turning out lap quilts, pot holders, and knitted items kept her hands busy, if not always her mind. So often her thoughts would drift to Eli, but in her effort to guard her heart, she focused on being a good mother to Jonas and on more tangible goals that had nothing to do with Eli.
Vera paid a visit to Katie Ann every time she heard from him. Katie Ann looked forward to hearing what Eli was doing and how he was, although that same evening she would usually cry herself to sleep. The past two weeks had been better, though, because someone else’s love life was the focus of everyone’s attention. Martha and Arnold were getting married the first of May.
She smiled as Jonas pulled himself up in the playpen; she couldn’t believe he was seven months old already. An April breeze filled the house with the scent of spring, and Katie Ann was looking forward to Martha coming for supper, the way she always did on Saturday night. Katie Ann had said repeatedly that Martha should bring Arnold, but Martha always said this night was reserved for just the girls, which now included Danielle. The teenager was always pleasant, but a bit guarded. Martha said she was just the opposite at home, always rambling on about something. But apparently “Amish folks” made Danielle nervous.
Danielle had finally talked to Martha about her mother, a troubled woman with a drinking problem. Evidently that was not the first time her mother had hit her, but it was the worst. Katie Ann couldn’t believe they had not heard one word from the woman since the day she left Danielle there.
And Danielle was a handful for Martha. Twice Martha had awakened during the night to find that Danielle wasn’t home. She’d gone for a walk—or so she said. Then there was the loud music, the need for a cell phone, arguments about clothes. And Danielle still didn’t have a job, something Martha insisted upon when she agreed to let her stay.
“Where’s my baby?” Martha said when she arrived later that afternoon. She handed Katie Ann the casserole dish she was carrying before she marched to the playpen, leaned down, and smothered Jonas with kisses. “Oh, and by the way, I didn’t cook that. There was a woman in Monte Vista selling tamales out of a little shack. There was a long line, so I figured they must be good.”
Jonas raised his arms, always excited to see Granny, as Martha was now calling herself.
Katie Ann nodded. She’d never had tamales before, but she knew there was a big Latino influence in the area, and she was eager to try something new. “Where’s Danielle?” she asked as she peeled back the foil and breathed in the scent of pork and spicy seasonings.
Martha stood up, put her hands on her hips, and huffed. “You know that girl is as smart as a whip. Graduated from high school early before she ended up on my doorstep. But I’m not always sure her choices are as smart. She seemed to think that going to the movies with Angie was more important than our girls’ night out.”
“Who is Angie?”
“A girl she met in town when I sent her shopping for me. And Angie has a car.” Martha rolled her eyes. “I wish she could get friendly with some of the Amish young people around here. I’d feel a lot better. Her new friend’s nose is pierced, for goodness’ sake.” Martha threw her hands in the air. “What kind of girl pierces her nose?” She plopped down on the couch. “And I’ve told Danielle that she needs a job before we kill each other.”