22. Chapter Twenty-two
Though he was reasonably confident Grant wouldn’t return, Ethan was glad Katie spent the rest of the afternoon at the house with his parents. He didn’t think she should be alone after what happened. Mom’s mothering was just what she needed, and Ethan couldn’t help but stick close and keep an eye on her as well.
She still seemed shaken that evening and decided not to go to church. Becca offered to stay with her. Ethan would have liked to himself, but he couldn’t back out of youth group last minute like that. Rationally, he knew Grant would never show up at his parents’ house, but leaving the two of them home alone bothered him. Praying for peace as he followed behind his parents, he tried to focus on what he had to teach the kids tonight, which just so happened to be about trusting God’s protection.
The group was particularly rowdy when he arrived, but he settled them down and went through the usual routine. He fought the way his mind kept trying to wander, but he had a feeling Mrs. Anders sensed his distraction. Still, it was a good night, and when the main service ended, he followed the kids into the auditorium, pausing to talk to a few of the parents. He’d just said goodbye to the last family when Adam joined him.
“Everything all right?” He glanced around the auditorium. “I noticed Becca and Katie weren’t here tonight.”
Ethan sighed. “Grant showed up at Katie’s cottage this afternoon unannounced.”
Adam’s expression went taut, and he tipped his head for Ethan to follow. They walked farther back into the auditorium to a quiet corner where they could speak more privately. Here, Ethan relayed all the details of Grant’s visit.
Adam shook his head, the edge to his voice echoing Ethan’s feelings. “That’s very bold of him to just walk in like that.”
“I know. Katie says he’s a coward, but I’m not so sure.”
“Hopefully, it was a desperate, last-ditch effort, and he wouldn’t dare try again.”
“Hopefully.” Ethan rubbed the ache growing in his neck, probably from the stress. “If he had hurt her, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”
“Probably the same thing I would’ve done if it had been one of my sisters.” Adam shrugged sheepishly. “Or Becca.”
Ethan forced himself to take a deep breath. His blood simmered just thinking back on it.
“I just want to keep her safe, but obviously, I can’t always be there or know what’s happening. I mean, I had just finished sanding when I heard her text. Had it come in any sooner, I would’ve missed it.”
“You know what that tells me? God timed it perfectly. The truth is, you can’t protect her because you’re not in control. God is. He’s the one you have to trust to protect her. Sometimes, like today, He might do it through you, but that might not always be the case.”
Ethan chided himself. How quickly the truth could get pushed to the back of his mind in difficult situations.
“Sorry, too honest?” Adam gave him a wry smile.
Ethan had to laugh. “No, no, I needed the reminder. Ironically, it’s almost exactly what I was trying to teach the kids tonight. I guess I’m the one who needed the lesson.”
Now that several hours had passed, the confrontation with Grant felt like a surreal dream to Katie. She had a long phone call with Drew right after Ethan and his parents left. While talking to him had done some good, he used it as an opportunity to not-so-subtly suggest it might be a good reason to move back to Madison so Grant wouldn’t know exactly where she lived. He may have been right to a certain extent, but she felt safer living next door to the Harts than alone in an apartment in the city.
She sat down with Becca after the phone call to watch TV. That helped her relax after being on edge all afternoon. It dulled some of the horror and allowed her to process the whole event rationally rather than being driven by emotions and fear.
Evelyn and Tom returned home before it got too late, and Ethan arrived about twenty minutes later. She met him in the kitchen as she carried in the bowls she and Becca had used for ice cream. There was an intensity to the way he watched her that said he was searching for any sign she wasn’t all right. She still couldn’t believe he’d gone to her house and confronted Grant all those years ago. No one had ever done anything so heroic for her before.
“How was youth group?”
A brief smile flashed across his face. “It was a good lesson. One I needed just as much as the kids.”
She intended to ask him about it, but he continued, his tone more serious. “Any indication Grant is still around?”
“No. I texted my mom and told her in no uncertain terms what would happen if he had any contact with me or came to the cottage again.”
“Did she respond?”
“Not yet. She’s probably either too angry to respond or scared it will make things worse.”
“Good. Hopefully, they’ll take it seriously.”
“Based on my past years of experience, I think they will.” Her mom and Grant were greedy, but not so greedy that they’d risk serious legal ramifications. Grant had made his move and failed. He was smart enough to know that any further action wasn’t worth what they were trying to gain.
With a tired sigh, Katie glanced at the clock. “I should get home and go to bed.”
“Would you feel more comfortable staying here tonight?”
The offer was tempting, but she shook her head. “I think it would be best if I went home. I don’t want to live my life in fear.”
His eyes softened almost to a smile. “I’ll walk you back.”
After saying goodnight to his parents and Becca, Katie followed Ethan outside. They walked silently along the dark path between the houses, thinking their own thoughts. When they reached the cottage, Katie opened the door. She flipped on the light, and they both stepped into the kitchen. Ethan’s gaze scanned the living room as if making sure Grant wasn’t there before falling on her.
“Call me if you need me or just need to talk. It doesn’t matter if you wake me.”
“Thank you. I will.”
He seemed to struggle with what to say before giving her a smile. “Goodnight.”
She echoed him, and he walked back out. She locked the door behind him and watched until he’d disappeared into the nighttime darkness. Then she turned as O’Malley meowed loudly behind her.
“I’m sorry, buddy. I know it’s late for your supper.”
She fed him and spent a few moments stroking his back as he ate. Finally, she pushed to her feet and walked over to the small entry closet. Behind all the coats and various items she hadn’t sorted through yet, she found what she was looking for: a wooden baseball bat. She wasn’t sure if Grandma had bought it for Christopher as a kid or if she used it for the same purpose Katie intended—protection.