14. Chapter Fourteen
Ethan pulled his truck up to the workshop the next morning and walked to the house. Hearing dishes, he entered the kitchen, where Mom unloaded the dishwasher.
“Morning, Mom.”
She looked up from her work. “Good morning. I missed you at breakfast.”
“Since Katie’s at the cottage, I figured I’d give you and Dad a quiet morning.”
“Quiet is nice,” she conceded. “But I still like it when everyone is together for meals. It seems incomplete when it’s just me, your dad, and Becca.”
Ethan understood the feeling. He never liked eating alone at the cabin but didn’t want to take advantage of his parents’ generosity. “Hopefully, we’ll have many more family meals in the future. Ones that include Katie.”
“Amen to that,” Mom agreed, proving he wasn’t the only one who had thoroughly enjoyed having Katie around the past few days.
Dad walked into the kitchen, trailed by Rosie, and they traded morning greetings. After refilling his coffee mug, he turned to Ethan. “What are your plans today?”
“I have to drop off those two benches at Rob’s. Katie’s going with me to pick up some groceries. I’ll probably switch out that leaky bathroom faucet for her when we get back.”
He caught his mom flash him a look—something hinting at a smile—that he wasn’t exactly sure how he should interpret. Before he could decide, Dad motioned to the door.
“Do you need help loading the benches?”
“Yeah, that’s what I came in to ask. Thanks.”
Letting Mom keep whatever thoughts she had, he and Dad headed out to the shop. Ethan lowered the tailgate on the way inside to the corner where he kept his completed creations. Besides the two benches, he had several wall shelves, two cupboards, a rocking chair, and a few other smaller items waiting for new homes. If Rob or another shop didn’t decide to take them, he hoped to sell them at various craft shows this summer.
They carried one bench out and had just gone back for the second when Katie walked in behind them.
“So this is your workshop?” Despite the late night, her eyes shone bright this morning, and there was no sign of the tears he’d seen when she opened the door to him and Becca.
She peered at the workbenches and equipment he had set up. Most of it technically belonged to Dad, but he was working on building his collection.
“For now. Ideally, I want to build my own shop at some point. It depends on where I am in a few years. Until then, I’m thankful Dad lets me use everything.”
Dad clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re welcome to it as long as you want. I enjoy tinkering on projects, but you’re the one putting it to good use.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
They carried the second bench out, and then Ethan and Katie climbed into the truck. As they pulled onto the road and headed toward town, she shifted in her seat to look at him.
“Thanks for coming over last night. I really needed that.”
Ethan fiddled with the volume on the radio so it wouldn’t interrupt the conversation and sent her a smile. “I had a feeling. I wasn’t sure if you would want the intrusion, but Becca thought it was a good idea.”
“I’ll always be happy with such intrusions, especially when they involve snacks and laughter.”
“I’ll remember that.”
She stared out her window for a moment before turning to him again. “So, after you and Becca left, I let the cat in.”
“Did you?” Honestly, that didn’t surprise him. The two had taken an instant liking to each other.
“Yeah, I think I need a pet. Grandma always had a cat while I was growing up.”
“I remember. Her name was Lily, right?” The big gray long-hair had been just about as sweet as the orange tabby. He remembered the day he and Joel helped Grandma Ruby bury the cat. The loss had come only a couple of years after Katie left. He’d felt so bad for Ruby and angry she would be alone. A companion would be good for Katie.
“Yes. I don’t know why I never got one before now. I guess it just felt hard, but this seems right. And if he’s going to end up at the shelter, I might as well be the one to give him a good home so he won’t have to sit there for who knows how long.”
“I think Grandma Ruby would support that decision.”
“I’ll have to pick up food and litter. I found some of Grandma’s cat stuff in the garage I can use, including a cat tree that’s still in decent shape. Would you mind helping me carry it in when we get back?”
“Not at all.”
She reached into her purse, glancing briefly at her phone. “I called the vet already to get him checked out and make sure he doesn’t have a microchip.”
“The vet in town?”
“Yes.”
“When is that?”
“Next Wednesday.”
That meant she planned to stay for at least another week. Hopefully, his words to his mom would prove true.
“Is there still a thrift store in town?”
The upbeat and excited ring to her voice this morning brought a smile to Ethan’s face. He didn’t think he’d heard it like this since she arrived. “Yeah, it’s not very big, but they’re usually well stocked.”
“Would you mind if I stopped in there quick? I’m not sure how long I’ll stay, but I could use a few things, especially for working around the cottage.”
“Sure, no problem. If you want, I can drop you off there and run to the hardware store to get a faucet.”
She sent him a look, one brow raised. “Just make sure you get a receipt so I can pay you back.”
“Really? You’re going to make me do that? Can’t just let me pay for it?”
“It’s my cottage. I’ll pay for repairs. The fact that I can is mind-boggling, considering I was nearly penniless a week ago.”
Ethan thought about that for a moment. Maybe he shouldn’t ask, but it was one topic she never mentioned. “How long have you been out of work?”
He regretted the question as soon as the mood changed. She sighed, and he was about to say never mind when she spoke.
“About two months.” She ducked her head as if embarrassed. “I’ve never had a particularly well-paying job, so I didn’t have much for savings when things happened.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” He quickly added, “You don’t have to.”
“It’s all right.” She sounded tired and just over the whole thing. “I worked at a little boutique and consignment shop owned by this couple in Elling. They come from two very influential families. Well, he made a move on me. I emphatically turned him down, but his wife found out and accused me of trying to steal her man. She fired me and has been telling everyone who will listen how horrible I am, that I’m a home-wrecker and husband-stealer, and that I can’t be trusted. If she has her way, I won’t be able to find a job anywhere in town. Even if I do, I’m sure half the population will be looking at me crooked from now on.”
Ethan took a deep breath as he stopped at the intersection to turn onto the highway. He couldn’t stand a cheater, but the man’s wife didn’t have to take it out on Katie. “Sounds like she needs to redirect her anger at her cheating husband, not you.”
“Well, to do that, she’d need to accept that he is a cheater. I don’t blame her for being upset her world is coming apart; I just wish she wasn’t trying to destroy mine along with it. Having your name dragged through the mud is hard when you know you’re innocent.”
“Do you have any friends who can back you up?”
Katie shook her head, shoulders sagging. “Not in Elling. I attend church with Drew and his parents in Madison, so most people I know are there. Even then, it’s not like I’m close to anyone besides Drew. Turns out I’m not very good at making friends.”
“Maybe you just haven’t met enough of the right people. You never had trouble making friends with all of us.”
He caught her smile from the corner of his eye. At least he’d accomplished that.
“I think that’s more because you’re all the type who were willing to take in a sad and lonely waif like me.”
He looked over at her now, matching her smile. “It wasn’t a hard thing to do.”
Once they got to town, Ethan dropped Katie off at the thrift store before delivering the benches and heading to the hardware store to get what he needed. When he returned, he browsed while she finished shopping, and they both went to get groceries.
On their way back home, Ethan made a quick decision and pulled off Main Street, parking at the corner. “I know we can’t stay long because of the groceries, but we did say you needed to stop at The Ice Shack while you were here.”
She grinned, dimples coming out in full force. They exited the truck and walked up to the ice cream shop with its colorful red and white awning. He pulled the door open and gestured inside. “After you.”
He followed her and watched her take in the shop. As far as he could remember, it hadn’t changed much since they were kids. It still had the same black-and-white checkerboard floor and red-and-white serving counter, which gave the place a fun retro vibe. The black metal tables were new but not that exciting. Even so, her face lit up like a kid seeing it for the first time.
He leaned toward her as they approached the glass-domed ice cream case. “You might not let me pay for your faucet, but I will pay for the ice cream.”
She gave him a playful smirk. “Okay, fine, if you insist.”
“I absolutely do.”
The display case contained nearly two dozen ice cream flavors, ranging from the usual favorites like mint chocolate chip to more creative combinations like orange cranberry. Ethan found himself more interested in watching Katie’s face as she tried to decide what to choose than figuring out which one he had a taste for today.
After a minute or two, she glanced up at him. “This is as hard as it was as a kid. There are so many flavors. More than I remember.”
“Yeah, they like to cycle through their more unique ones. It’s always fun to stop in and see what’s new.”
She debated for another minute before making up her mind. “Okay, this is probably a boring choice, but I have to go with the blue moon. It was my favorite as a kid. I’ll get more adventurous next time.”
Ethan turned to the kid waiting on them behind the counter. “A scoop of blue moon for each of us, please.”
In short order, they had their cups of ice cream and carried them back out to his truck. After the first bite, Katie sighed contentedly. “It’s just as good as I remember. There’s nothing like blue moon.”
Ethan agreed. It would always hold a special place in his heart because of the memories. It was the same flavor they’d been eating in the photograph. “No, there isn’t.”
As soon as he finished his, he started the truck and pulled away from the shop. Back home, they stopped at the cabin first, and she helped him carry his groceries in and put away the refrigerated items. Then, they headed over to the cottage. When they arrived, the cat lounged on one of the wicker chairs on the porch in the sun.
“I let him out for a bit this morning and then put him in the porch when I left so he wouldn’t disappear on me now that I’ve decided to keep him,” Katie said as they carried in her groceries.
The cat followed them and sniffed the bag of cat food Ethan set on the floor.
Katie scooped him up and scratched his ears. “I think I’ll call him O’Malley.”
“O’Malley?”
“Yeah, you know, like in The Aristocats.”
Ethan struggled to place the name.
“You remember The Aristocats, don’t you? I adored that movie as a kid.”
Though the memories were fuzzy after all this time, he was pretty sure he knew which one she was talking about. “I may have a vague recollection. I think you and my sisters enjoyed it more than Joel and I did.”
“Probably.”
Another childhood favorite film popped to mind—one he had no trouble recollecting. “Now, The Rescuers Down Under. That was prime entertainment.”
“Oh, I loved The Rescuers! We must have watched those movies dozens of times in your basement den.”
“Good times.”
“They were. Have Joel’s kids seen any of these movies?”
“I don’t know, but if not, we’ll have to rectify that travesty.”
He went back out for the rest of the groceries while she put them away, and then he got to work on the bathroom faucet. Once he’d finished with that, he helped her carry the cat tree in from the garage. They had to rearrange things in the living room to make room for it, but O’Malley promptly came to check it out as soon as they finished.
“Anything else you need help with?”
“I don’t think so.” Katie looked around the room, her expression sinking. “I’m not sure what to do while I’m here. I don’t even know how long I’ll stay. If I am here for a while, it seems there should be a point where I make the cottage my own, but I don’t know what to do about all of Grandma’s things. I don’t think I could bear getting rid of anything.”
“Just take it slow. You don’t have to get rid of anything. You can always get a storage locker until you’re ready to make those decisions.”
A smile broke out again. “You’re right. Thanks. For everything. For the ice cream, fixing the sink, last night, all of it. I haven’t had anyone willing to sacrifice so much time and effort for me. Not since I left.”
Not even her boyfriend? He didn’t ask, of course, but it stuck in his mind. “It’s no sacrifice. I’m happy to do it. It’s been good to have you back.” He paused, scanning the room to see if there was anything else he could do as an excuse to stay, but the cottage seemed to be well in order. “Anyway, I should grab something for lunch and get some work done.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to take up all your time.”
Not that he would have minded, but he headed toward the door just the same. Before letting himself out, he turned to her again. “Just in case you wanted to come, church is at seven tonight. I won’t be in the service because I teach the young teen youth group on Wednesdays, but the rest of my family will be.”
She grinned. “You teach youth group?”
“I do. Is that a surprise?”
“No, actually. You seem suited for it.”
“Is that a compliment, or…”
She laughed now, and he wished he had a good reason to continue the conversation over lunch. “What I mean is, you seem like you’d be good at it, and I’m sure you are.”
“It’s a challenge sometimes and always entertaining, but I enjoy it. I hope I can help at least some kids avoid the same mistakes I made, especially as they’re getting ready for high school. I’ve got the thirteen- to fifteen-year-olds. Mrs. Anders assists me.”
“I can see that.”
“If you’d like to come, I can pick you up. I usually drive separately in case I stay late making sure all the kids get home. But you can ride back with my parents if that happens.”
“All right. I think I will.”