23. Chapter Twenty-three
Katie didn’t sleep well that night. Every sound jolted her awake, especially when O’Malley tore around the cottage after midnight. The commotion set her heart racing before she realized what was happening. But she couldn’t be mad at him. Once he’d expended his energy, he returned to snuggle with her.
When the sun finally rose, she took her Bible and a cup of coffee to the dock, needing the serenity. Slipping off her sandals, she sat down and dangled her legs over the edge to swish her toes in the lake. With the weather consistently warm lately, the water was mild despite the chill of the morning. She just sat and enjoyed the scenery for a while before opening her Bible.
The sun shone warmly when she got up and returned to the cottage. Inside, she paused at the door. She’d been leaving it open to let in fresh air through the screen door. Today, however, she shut and bolted the deadlock. She hated needing to do that but wouldn’t risk anyone just walking in unannounced. Not again.
After breakfast, she entered the sewing room to resume organizing. She couldn’t help once again reliving what had happened yesterday. She rubbed her wrist, too quick to imagine the sensation of it locked in a tight grip. But she drew a deep breath and shook her head to force the memories out of her mind. She wouldn’t let them color her whole day or give Grant that hold over her.
She’d been working for about an hour when a knock tapped the front door. Her heart lurched toward her throat. She froze for a moment before shaking herself loose. Panic wouldn’t help anything. She picked up her phone, opened Ethan’s contact just in case, and stepped cautiously out of the sewing room. She’d left the baseball bat by the stairway. The first sign of trouble, she’d dash for it and call Ethan.
But even though a semi-sheer curtain hung across the window, she could see enough of the familiar silhouette on the other side of the door to breathe a sigh of relief. Slipping her phone back into her pocket, she unlocked the door and opened it. A hint of apology rested on Ethan’s face as if he knew he’d startled her.
“I should have texted before I came.”
She shook her head, willing her heart rate to return to normal. “No, it’s fine.”
She stepped back to let him in, and he entered the kitchen.
“How are you this morning?”
“Honestly, a bit paranoid. I don’t believe Grant will show up again, but I still feel jumpy.”
“Understandable. I don’t want to interrupt your day, but I thought I’d bring these over.” He held up two barrel bolt locks. “If you want, I’ll put them on your screen doors. They won’t keep an intruder out, but they will stop someone from walking in without you knowing.”
A thankful smile rose to Katie’s lips. How did he always seem to anticipate precisely what she needed? “I would really appreciate that.”
He matched her smile and opened one of the locks. Pulling a drill from his tool belt, he turned to the screen door.
“Any word from your mom?”
“Nothing.” Katie chose to see that as a good thing and that maybe she and Grant had finally dropped the matter. “I keep hoping she’s as shocked by what Grant did as I am, but that’s probably too much to hope for. If it didn’t faze her when he broke my wrist, then it’s doubtful yesterday did.”
Ethan spun back to her, his eyes wide. “He broke your wrist?”
Katie had forgotten she’d never mentioned that in their conversations. She rubbed her fingers over it, and phantom pain darted up her arm. “Right after we moved. He got sick of me begging my mom to send me back here.”
Ethan’s gaze had fixed on her wrist, his jaw clenching. When he dragged his eyes back to her face, they held a riot of intense emotions—anger, pain, regret. “I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. It was a long time ago, and she didn’t want him to carry any of the guilt he had been feeling about her leaving. “Well, I’m here now, and thanks to you, I didn’t have to endure a repeat yesterday.”
It didn’t erase the emotions on Ethan’s face, but he nodded and refocused on attaching the lock. A couple of minutes of heavy silence stretched out between them. At last, he spoke in a tone that said he was trying to lighten the mood.
“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about. I don’t know if you remember my cousin, Abby. She’s quite a bit younger than us, but we always had fun with her brothers, Bradley and Garrett, when they visited.”
Though it had been a long time since Katie recalled those visits, one particular memory stood out. “I remember. She had that cute stuffed animal—the mama cat with the three little kittens. I loved it so much that I went home and begged my mom for one until Grant yelled at me to shut up about the stupid toy. I never dared to bring it up again.”
His jaw twitched with a wince. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to dredge up another bad memory.”
She dismissed the apology. “No, it’s fine. I’m the one who brought it up. But yes, I remember Abby.”
“Well, she’s getting married in a couple of weeks, and the whole family is invited. I wondered if you’d want to go since I have an unfilled plus one. I already made sure a last-minute guest wouldn’t be a problem. It would be like old times when you went to Miss Lisa’s wedding with us.”
“That’s right! I forgot about that.” Miss Lisa had been her favorite sixth-grade teacher. She laughed, another distinct memory popping to mind. “You were horsing around and knocked over the punch bowl.”
He hung his head and then shook it. “See, I was hoping you wouldn’t remember that particular detail. So maybe this won’t be just like old times.”
Katie grinned. She welcomed any attempt to recapture the cherished moments of her childhood. “I’d love to go.”
She was glad to see the smile return to his face. “Good.”
“What kind of wedding is it?”
“A barn wedding and outdoor reception. Very country and casual.”
Katie thought about her current selection of clothing. She had one elegant red dress she’d bought to wear to a wedding she’d attended with Drew, but that wouldn’t fit the vibe of this one. “I’ll have to go shopping. I don’t have a wardrobe particularly catered to special occasions.”
Ethan finished with the inside lock and grabbed the second one. “We could go down to Wausau. They have Target, Kohl’s, and various other stores. And a TJ Maxx, of course. Megan practically lives there and Hobby Lobby.”
Katie followed him into the porch, where he prepared to put the lock on the red screen door. “I’d probably go to a thrift shop.”
“Of course, what was I thinking? You’re going to make something for yourself.”
“Naturally.”
“Well, there are also a couple of thrift shops.”
“Perfect, but you don’t have to take me. I can check the shop here in town first, and if they don’t have anything, I can find my way around Wausau with my phone. I’m sure the last thing you want to do is stand around while I look through dresses.”
But Ethan wasn’t dissuaded by the prospect. “Ah, it’ll be fun. We’ll make a day of it. I’ve been craving a Red Robin burger anyway.”
Katie couldn’t argue with that. “When were you thinking?”
“I don’t have plans tomorrow. Are you free in the morning?”
“I’m pretty much always free these days. It’s been really nice.”
“How about I pick you up around nine?”
“That will work.”
Getting out and doing something would help dispel the remnants of paranoia left by Grant. She had a feeling Ethan thought the same thing.
After installing the locks, Ethan took his leave despite an internal desire to linger. Katie surely had work to do, and he had plenty of projects waiting for him in the shop. He should try to get a lot done today since they’d be gone most of the day tomorrow.
On his way past the house, he found Mom weeding one of her flower gardens. She looked up at him.
“Over at Katie’s?”
“Yeah, I went over there quick to put locks on her screen doors.”
“Good idea. How is she this morning?”
“A little jumpy but handling it well, I think.” Bending down to pet Rosie, who rolled over for a belly rub, he reflected on their conversation and plans. “I invited her to Abby’s wedding. We’re going to Wausau tomorrow so she can find something to make an outfit for herself.”
“Oh good, I was hoping she’d say yes.” Mom paused, giving him a long look. “Just so you know, I think you and Katie belong together.”
Ethan heaved a sigh. “You and Becca have been talking, haven’t you?”
“I’m your mother. I’m not blind. I don’t need her to tell me what’s going on.”
“Well, that’s the thing. Nothing is going on.”
“Mm.” Clearly, she wasn’t convinced.
“Really, Mom. She’s in a relationship. I’m not going to be the guy who gets between them. I’m her friend. That’s how it’s always been, and I’m content with that.”
A shadow of concern overtook her expression. Ethan had seen it often over the last several months, though typically directed at Becca. The last thing she needed was to be fretting about him too.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be fine.”
“I always worry.”
“I know. Just pray about it.”
“I already am.”
He thanked her and headed for the shop to lose himself in work, Rosie following. Eventually, his heart would accept that Katie was his friend and nothing more. He just needed to guard it and his feelings until then and be the friend Katie needed. It might not be easy, but if that was what God intended, he trusted he’d get there eventually.