20. Chapter Twenty
Wednesday morning, Katie made sure O’Malley had enough food to last until tomorrow and hurried over to the Harts’. Ethan and his dad were hooking up the trailer, and Becca and Evelyn joined them a moment later.
Evelyn handed Katie two containers. “I made snacks for the road.”
The bottom container warmed Katie’s hands and smelled distinctly of blueberries—most likely muffins—and she was willing to bet the top container held cookies of some kind. “Thank you.”
“Drive safe,” Evelyn told them as they gathered around the truck, and Ethan assured her they would.
With quick goodbyes, they climbed in—Katie in the front passenger seat so she could give Ethan directions. They stopped briefly at the coffee shop in town before setting out toward Elling. It was hard to believe nearly three weeks had passed since Katie had last come this way. Three weeks since losing Grandma. Pressure built in her chest at that thought, but she breathed through it and focused on the day ahead.
Whether Ethan sensed her melancholy or just wanted to start a conversation, he brought up a memory, and they soon talked and laughed as always. Halfway into the trip, the conversation shifted to her sewing. Now that she would have all her supplies, she wanted to move forward with turning it into a business. The only problem was that she needed a business name.
“Do you have any ideas?” Becca asked.
Katie shook her head. “My mind has been frustratingly blank whenever I try to come up with something. I guess I’m not as creative with names as I am with clothes.”
They threw suggestions back and forth. Becca had a few creative ideas, but they laughed at some of them. Though a couple had potential, none of them grabbed Katie. It would be hard to change a business name once she started, which created a lot of pressure to get it right. Though Ethan had remained silent through the exchange, he suddenly spoke up.
“What about The Ruby Thread?” He glanced at her. “Your grandma taught you how to sew, right? So it could be a tribute to her, plus red is your favorite color. And you can’t sew without thread.”
She repeated it in her mind. It was just the sort of catchy yet cozy name she’d been looking for, and the thought and meaning behind it left warm feelings in her chest.
“Wow, that sounds perfect.”
He shared a smile with her.
Becca reached over to smack her hand against his shoulder. “Who knew you could come up with a creative business name, Mr. Hart Woodwork.”
“Hey, my business doesn’t need a creative business name. Simple and practical is all I need.”
Still smiling, Katie considered the name, imagining what it might look like on a website or a business card. Suddenly, all of her business dreams seemed so much more tangible. It took it from a hobby to a brand she could build upon. She looked over at Ethan again. What would she ever do without him?
Katie winced as the buildings of Elling flashed by. No one even knew she was back in town, yet she still felt unwelcome. It did help to have Ethan and Becca here with her. At least she had allies this time. She directed Ethan through town to the small apartment complex on the east side, where he backed the trailer into a parking spot. She and Becca waited in the truck while he unhooked it and parked beside it. Grabbing their bags, Katie led the way up to her second-floor apartment.
The small two-bedroom wasn’t spacious by any means. After spending the last couple of weeks at the cottage, the bare, drab walls jumped out at her like they never had before. She didn’t have a single piece of artwork or picture on the walls, and the only color came from a couple of throw blankets and pillows on the couch. She hadn’t built much of a life for herself in the last four years. She’d returned to Wisconsin with only what she could fit in her car. Since then, she had acquired little to make the apartment feel like a home.
She glanced at Ethan and Becca. What must they think to see how she’d been living? She’d seen dorm rooms cozier than this. “Kind of bleak, isn’t it?”
Becca shrugged. “It’s serviceable.” She gave Katie an understanding smile. “But it’s not the cottage.”
“No, it’s not.” She already missed it.
But there wasn’t time to think about that. They had to have this entire place cleared out by tomorrow.
Ethan set his bag down and returned to the truck to retrieve the boxes they’d brought. They packed the kitchen first, leaving out what they thought they might need later. Then they gathered in the sewing room, which Katie knew would take the longest. At least this room looked like she had a life.
Halfway through packing her supplies, Katie reached into a black garbage bag from the closet and lifted out a dress. An ugly tear slashed down the front of the Bohemian-style bodice. She winced at the damage.
“What happened?”
Katie looked up, not realizing both Ethan and Becca were watching her. She dropped the dress back into the bag with a sigh. “It’s one of the dresses I stocked in the consignment shop where I worked. After everything happened, Amanda, my old boss, did this to all the items I had there and threw them in the dumpster. I’m lucky she even told me where to find them.”
Ethan’s jaw clenched, and Becca looked mildly horrified. When he spoke again, Ethan sounded like he had to put effort into keeping his voice neutral.
“Did you report it to anyone? She destroyed your property.”
Katie shook her head. Even now, just thinking about it made her tired. “I didn’t want to cause any more trouble.”
“You should be paid for damages.”
“I’d need to get a lawyer or something to make that happen. Legal fees would be more than what she would owe me. I’m just glad I’m leaving and can put it all behind me.”
Ethan exchanged a glance with Becca. They both looked like they wanted to go to war on her behalf. While it had devastated her when it happened, and she appreciated their concern for her, she’d had time to move past it.
“It’s all right. I just want to leave Elling and forget about all of this.”
Ethan nodded at the bag. “Can any of it be salvaged?”
“I hope so. I guess that’s the good thing about upcycled clothing. Patches and embroidery can fix almost anything.” Somehow, she’d find a way to use the damage to add character to the piece.
They continued working, and by evening, they had packed most of the apartment. Standing in the living room, Ethan surveyed what was left.
“We should get your bed and other furniture loaded so we can pack around it.” He gestured at the couch. “Think the three of us can manage this?”
Becca gave it a determined look. “I think so.”
“Otherwise, let me text Drew. Maybe he can help for a bit and at least get the furniture out.” Katie grabbed her phone. She hadn’t heard from him all day, even after she’d texted him they’d arrived in Elling. Though she thought they’d been on the same page when he’d left Two Lakes, he had said little about her plans. She couldn’t help feeling like he wasn’t happy with her.
It took a few minutes for him to answer her text, and the response was short.
Sorry, I’m busy tonight.
Though it was impossible to tell the tone of a text, in light of their recent conversations, it seemed a bit cold. She frowned at the message and tried to force away the discomfort it left in the pit of her stomach. She could just be reading too much into it, though he’d never mentioned any plans he’d made. Part of her had been hoping he’d show up without her having to ask. He must know an extra guy would have made clearing the apartment much easier.
Was he upset about her moving? Or was he not keen on hanging out with Ethan and Becca? She thought he’d gotten along with them the night they’d had supper, but he never had an interest in talking about them or her relationship with them.
She shook her head to herself. She shouldn’t jump to conclusions without talking to him about it. Especially based on a couple of phone calls and a text that lacked the ability to convey true emotion. For all she knew, he was stressed at work and that’s why he acted distant and disinterested. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Swallowing down disappointment and putting on a smile, she turned back to Ethan and Becca. “I guess he can’t make it. But we can manage.”
Ethan watched her closely. Not wanting him to pick up on her disappointment, she walked over to the couch and removed the pillows.
Katie woke the next morning on one of the cots they had brought for sleeping. She glanced over at Becca, who had shared the bedroom with her. Still sleeping. After how hard they worked yesterday, Katie should probably still be sleeping too. They’d cleared out nearly the entire apartment. Between the three of them, they’d managed to get the couch and other furniture down without incident. All they had left this morning were a few remaining boxes and clean-up. They planned to be on their way back home after lunch.
Slipping out of her sleeping bag, Katie grabbed her clothes and quietly left the room. The door across the hall to the sewing room, where Ethan had slept, stood open, and his cot was packed up. After changing and brushing her teeth in the bathroom, Katie entered the living room. Ethan sat on the floor, resting against the wall, his Bible open in his lap. The sight produced a feeling of warmth and happiness. Despite what he’d told her things were like after she left, he clearly took his faith seriously now.
They traded smiles and good mornings, and Katie motioned to the floor. “Mind if I join you?”
“Not at all.”
She slid down against the wall perpendicular to him. “Where are you reading this morning?”
“Daniel.”
“Ephesians.” She opened her Bible app on her phone. They both read for a time. It was nice to sit and read with someone like this. Did Drew read before work in the mornings? She wasn’t sure of his daily routine. She contemplated texting him but didn’t want to interrupt him if he was reading. Likely, he was getting ready for work already.
Twenty minutes later, Becca joined them and sat down next to Katie. They talked briefly before digging into the leftover muffins and getting to work. Ethan offered to take the rest of the boxes down while Katie and Becca worked on cleaning the apartment.
Once he joined in, the chores went quickly, and before Katie knew it, they finished. The apartment was empty and clean. She stood in the door for one last look on their way out, but the only pleasant memories she had here were the rare occasions she’d invited Drew and acquaintances from church over. She found nothing bittersweet about leaving. No, she was glad to put this chapter behind her.
After giving her keys to her landlord, they all climbed into the truck. Katie directed Ethan toward the center of town, where they would get lunch at a diner she liked before heading home. Parking on a side street, they walked to the restaurant, the scent of fried food drawing them inside. They sat down at a small linoleum-topped table by the windows, Ethan claiming the seat next to Katie, as usual.
He browsed the menu. “What’s your favorite?”
“They make great BLTs and grilled chicken salad.” Katie wasn’t sure which to pick. She didn’t see herself ever returning to Elling, so this was her last chance to enjoy the diner.
“What about the burgers?”
“They’re good too. There’s one with a fried egg on it. I only tried it once, but I liked it.”
Ethan flipped to the page with the burgers. In the end, Katie and Becca chose the BLT, while Ethan ordered the hamburger Katie suggested.
As soon as they received the food, Ethan prayed, and they dug in.
Reaching for her soda, Katie glanced up, and her attention caught on two slim blondes who had just walked in. Her stomach dropped. “Oh, no.”
Ethan straightened, looking around. “What’s wrong?”
“Amanda and her sister just walked in.”
Katie ducked her head and put her hand to her forehead to hide her face. What had she been thinking coming here to eat? It was Amanda’s favorite place to get lunch.
She chanced a peek and found Amanda peering at her with a venomous look. If only she would believe Katie had nothing to do with her husband’s actions.
Ethan shifted beside her and draped his arm over the back of her chair. The movement caught Amanda’s attention. He said nothing, just stared her down. Amanda’s perfectly plucked brows rose before she spun away in a huff. She and her sister ordered their food, blatantly ignoring them, and then marched out of the diner with their noses in the air. Only then did Ethan let his arm slide away from her chair, and Katie could take a deep breath. She looked gratefully at him.
“Thank you.”