The Wonder of Your Love (A Land of Canaan Novel) (21 page)

Katie Ann patted Emily on the shoulder and whispered, “Everything will be fine. You know how Martha gets.”

Emily nodded, but Katie Ann was as worried as the rest of them.

“Katie Ann?” David poked his head into the kitchen, grinning from ear to ear. “You have a phone call.”

“A call? Who could be calling me?”

Everyone in the room turned to David, and Lillian spoke up. “David, who is it?”

His smile broadened. “It’s Eli.”

Katie Ann couldn’t even look at the women around her, and the heat in her face was evidence of how red her cheeks must be. She tucked her chin as she moved toward the door.

“You go, girl!” Martha’s voice boomed above the whispers in the kitchen, and Katie Ann kept her eyes down.

As she walked into the barn, the men began to scatter. Elam, Samuel, David, Jacob, and Levi all moved toward the door.

“I’m sorry. You don’t have to leave.”

“Sure we do,” Levi said as he winked at her.

Katie Ann took a deep breath and watched as Samuel closed the barn door behind them. She wished she had thought to bundle up before she ran out the door. With chattering teeth, she said, “Hello.”

“Happy Thanksgiving.”

Her heart came alive at the sound of his voice. “And happy Thanksgiving to you.” She put a hand to her chest, hoping to calm her rapid pulse, but it was no use. It hadn’t even been forty-eight hours since he left her house, since the kiss, but her lips still tingled at the memory of his touch.

“I had to get away from the crowd for a few minutes. My girls have taken over my kitchen, which is fine. My son and sons-in-law have taken over my living room, which is fine. And my grandchildren are in my bedroom playing board games. That, too . . . is fine. But . . .” He chuckled. “I needed a few minutes of quiet. And I thought about you. Are you having a good day with everyone?”

“
Ya, ya
. We all ate too much, as expected.” She held her breath for a moment, wondering if their conversation would be filled with small talk, in light of all the deep conversations they’d had over the past couple of weeks.

“I’m not going to keep you from family, but I didn’t want the day to go by without wishing you a happy Thanksgiving.

And you hug Jonas from me.”

Katie Ann was glowing from the inside out, and she didn’t even notice the cold anymore. “I will. And you give my blessings to your family as well.”

It was quiet for a moment.

“Katie Ann, I’m feeling a little bad about . . .”

She heard him take a deep breath.

“. . . about the way I kissed you Tuesday night.”

“It wasn’t like it was the first time.” Katie Ann slapped a hand across her mouth, not believing what she’d said. She squeezed her eyes closed in horror and waited for Eli’s response.

He laughed. “Uh, true. I was just thinking that maybe I somehow took advantage, and—”

“Eli, I’m a grown woman. You didn’t take advantage of me.”

“Well then, if it’s okay with you, I’m not going to feel bad anymore. I’m highly attracted to my new best friend, and I had a weak moment.”

“You had
two
weak moments.” She squeezed her eyes shut again, but she couldn’t stop smiling at how playful they were being with each other and how natural it felt.

Eli’s familiar laughter warmed her heart. “
Ya
, I did. And trust me, I think about both. Often.”

Katie Ann wanted to tell Eli that she thought about him too, but there was no way she was going to put her heart out there to a man she couldn’t have. She thought about the way he always referred to her as his best friend. She liked that title. It was safe, but she wasn’t sure what to say.

“Katie Ann, I’ll let you go. Don’t forget to hug Jonas for me.”

“I won’t. And
danki
for calling.”

She waited for him to hang up, but she could hear him breathing. “Eli?”

“Ya.”

“Is there something else?”

“No. Not really.”

Katie Ann waited.

“Okay, I’m hanging up now.” Eli laughed. “Talk to you soon.”

I hope so
. “All right. Bye, Eli.” And this time she hung up. She glanced around the barn for Mrs. Dash, but decided there was too much activity today for her to make an appearance.

Her cheeks warmed when she exited the barn and saw the men standing right outside, all shivering. She knew they had to have heard at least part of her conversation. But when she looked toward the house and saw all the women peering out the window at her, she knew what she was walking into.

IT WAS NEARING
dark when the last of Eli’s kin left. What a grand day it had been, and he felt like sharing the details with someone. Not just anyone. Katie Ann. As he kicked back in his recliner, he adjusted the lantern on the table beside him so he could see better. He searched his pile of papers and mail on the table until he came across a tablet of paper and a pen.

Dear Katie Ann,

He stopped and wondered if the details of his day would be of interest to her. After only a few moments of deliberation, he decided that they just might.

It’s Thanksgiving evening, and everyone has gone home. It’s quiet in the house. Just the way I like it (I’m chuckling here), but I wish you were here for me to tell you about our day. My oldest grandchild, Leah, sang to everyone in the living room after the meal, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything so beautiful. She sang “Jesus Loves Me” and “For God So Loved Us.” Do you remember me telling you about Leah? She’s Jake and Laura Jane’s oldest, my first grandchild. And also today, little Luke fell and bumped his head. It was a touching moment when his twin brother, Ben, touched his head and started to cry, as if he’d felt the pain. Seems like twins are always extra close. Luke and Ben are identical. Did I tell you that?

Sometimes, when it’s quiet like this, I’ll put out a small radio I have hidden in my bedroom and listen to country gospel music. Sometimes I turn it on really softly in the background when I pray.
Mei kinner
all know I have it, and I suspect that one or two of them might have a radio as well, but our bishop has a habit of showing up unexpectedly, so I keep it hidden in a drawer in my nightstand. I’m such a rule-breaker, no?

Eli stretched his socked feet out on the recliner and leaned his head back for a moment. He closed his eyes and let his last visit with Katie Ann play out in his mind for the hundredth time. When he’d relived the moment several times, he resumed his writing.

I hope that when you receive this, it will put a smile on your face. You need to smile more. It’s healthy. Or so I’m told (chuckling again). Either way, I love it when you smile.

Eli reminded himself not to come on too strong. He knew he should pray for Katie Ann to find a wonderful man to take care of her and Jonas, but he just wasn’t sure he liked that idea. Actually, he was sure he didn’t like that idea.
I’m a selfish man
. He scratched his forehead.

What are your plans for Christmas? Will you celebrate First Christmas at Lillian and Samuel’s
haus
, or will you go somewhere else?
Mei dochders
will take over
mei haus
again for First Christmas, then on Second Christmas we usually spend the day visiting friends and shut-ins. We always visit Annie Hostetler and her husband, John. Annie has Alzheimer’s, and they don’t get out much. That disease scares me. And we always end the day by having pie at Miller’s Pantry. Best pie in the world, I think.

I’ll close for now. I hope to hear back from you. Sending blessings to you and Jonas.

Best friends, in His name,
Eli

He put the letter on the table, planning to mail it first thing in the morning. His fire was dwindling, and as he got up and threw another log on it, he thought about the fires he’d tended at Katie Ann’s house and the time they’d spent talking while sitting on her couch. He shook his head and knew that he was going to have to clear his mind. It was fine to think about her. Just not all the time.

When he got cozy in his chair again, he thought about the next trip he’d be taking after Christmas. But he clearly needed to focus on something else besides Katie Ann.

O
N
T
UESDAY MORNING
Katie Ann helped Martha pack her suitcase to take to the hospital the next day. She worried her friend wouldn’t bring what she needed, plus she was hoping Martha would take the quilt she’d brought back for her from Alamosa. She recalled her trip with Eli to the neighboring town, and she wondered what he was doing today. She hadn’t talked to him since he called on Thanksgiving Day. Not that she expected to.

“Martha, I don’t think you’re going to need all those hair accessories at the hospital.” Katie Ann watched as Martha loaded up a huge blow dryer, large pink curlers, several kinds of hair product, and of course . . . the butterfly clip.

“That’s easy for you to say. It doesn’t matter how your hair looks because it’s always covered up by that prayer
kapp
.” Martha grabbed Katie Ann’s arm and pulled her to the bed. She eased her down on the pink and white comforter that Katie Ann had gotten her for her birthday last year. “Now, honey. Listen to me. I know you’re scared about my trip to the hospital, but you’ve shown me the way to the Lord.” She sat taller and raised her chin. “I’m not afraid to go.”

As Martha dabbed at her eyes, Katie Ann knew that wasn’t true, so she took a deep breath and tried to be strong for her friend. “You’re not going anywhere yet. Everything is going to go fine, and you’ll be home recovering in no time.”

“I don’t think so.”

Martha lowered her head, but Katie Ann saw a tear trickle down her cheek. She looked up and swiped at the tear.

“I’ve never been knocked out. I know that’s hard to believe at my age, but I just know I’m not going to wake up.”

“Of course you’ll wake up.” Katie Ann was surprised to learn that this was Martha’s biggest fear. Katie Ann was much more concerned about the surgery itself, and she planned to talk to the doctors as soon as she and Martha arrived at the hospital, something she should have already done. Had she not been so preoccupied with Eli . . .

“Where’s that quilt you gave me, that lovely spread with the Lord’s Word all over it?”

Katie Ann pointed to a chair across the room. “There it is.”

Martha walked to the chair and picked up the small quilt. “We’ll just carry it in, since it won’t fit in my suitcase.”

Katie Ann was thinking it might fit if there weren’t so many hair supplies, but she didn’t say anything. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Arnold would be arriving later in the afternoon.

Martha pushed the quilt toward Katie Ann. “You make sure I’m covered in this when they wheel me into surgery.”

Katie Ann remembered when David had his kidney transplant. She was pretty sure they wouldn’t allow the quilt to go into surgery with Martha, but she didn’t say anything. At least Martha could sleep beneath it before and after.

“Let’s pray for a while.” Martha slowly eased down onto her knees and propped her elbows on the bed, folding her hands in front of her. Katie Ann slid down beside her. “And let’s don’t do it silently like you people usually do. Can you please pray aloud?”

Katie Ann blinked back tears. “Of course.”

“Don’t cry.” Martha reached over and grabbed onto Katie Ann’s hand. “Have I told you how much I love you?” Martha smiled. “Like you are my own daughter.”

And no matter how hard she tried, Katie Ann couldn’t keep the tears from spilling down her cheeks as she answered. “And I couldn’t love you any more if you were my own mother.”

K
ATIE
A
NN GRABBED
her mail from the box at the end of her driveway on her way home from Martha’s. She tucked it into her apron and went to Lillian’s to pick up Jonas, who was sleeping soundly in a playpen in the living room. It wasn’t until after she was home and had Jonas in his own bed that she saw the letter from Eli.

She wanted to enjoy every word, so she bathed, made coffee, got a fire going, and curled up on the couch. She was surprised that she hadn’t heard from Arnold, but hopefully he had a safe trip and they would see him at the hospital tomorrow. She peeled the envelope open and read. Smiling, she could almost hear him chuckling as he wrote, and she felt a part of his life as he detailed memorable moments from his day. She couldn’t wait to write him back.