25. Chapter Twenty-five
Katie had just finished her daily devotions on Monday morning when Drew called. They hadn’t talked over the weekend except by text since he’d been busy with surgery and an extended family get-together.
“Any more texts from Christopher?” he asked after they exchanged greetings.
“No, just the one text.” She’d sent him a screenshot after she and Ethan had gotten home on Friday. “I’m just glad he hasn’t tried to call me or leave any messages. I’m sure they’d be just as bad.”
There was a brief pause. “I still think you should move back here. I know you’d be closer to them, but getting the authorities involved would be much easier with you here. Besides, I assume you’ll need a job sooner rather than later. Are you intending to stay up there so long you’d get one there?”
Katie didn’t answer immediately. She hated talking about her living situation since it was always a source of friction between them. “I wasn’t thinking about a job right now since I’ve just started working on The Ruby Thread.”
“Katie, it’s a hobby. You’ll never be able to make a real living off it.”
She sucked in a breath, her muscles going rigid. Had he really just dismissed her dreams and all the work she was putting into them? “You don’t know that.”
A sigh came over the phone. “I’m just looking at it realistically. You’re finally in a place where you can get yourself in a good financial position. If you keep relying on your grandma’s money in hopes your plans will take off, you’ll end up back where you were before she died. I want to make sure you’re in a stable position for your own well-being.”
Irritation still prickled inside her even as she tried to appreciate that he was looking out for her. Surely, he could show a little support for her dreams. It might be a long shot, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t try. Most dreams involved risk, and it was a risk she was willing to take.
“Maybe I’ll never be able to afford vacations or a luxurious lifestyle, but if I’m happy, doing what I love, and can pay my bills, then that’s all I’m asking for.”
Drew’s voice turned apologetic. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be harsh. I know you’re trying to build a successful business.”
She still wasn’t sure he understood or supported her dreams, but she let the matter drop. There was no point in arguing about it right now. She changed the subject to the weekend and his time with his family. Once they’d discussed it and the surgery, she hesitated over another topic she needed to bring up. Now that she’d had time to think about it, it would no doubt cause as much friction as her plans for the future.
“I wanted to let you know that Ethan invited me to a family wedding with them. His cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks.”
She hated the noticeable pause and tension on the other end. “You’re going as his plus one?”
Katie closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, trying to keep annoyance from bleeding into her tone. “As his friend. I just thought it would be fun to go. With all of them. It’s not the first time they’ve taken me to a wedding.”
If only Drew had gotten along with Ethan and been able to accept him as a friend. She hated the underlying jealousy and wasn’t sure what to do about it. Of course, she could have said no to the wedding, but she wanted to go. It hadn’t seemed like an issue when she’d accepted the invitation.
When Drew didn’t respond, she asked, “Do you want me not to go?”
“I won’t tell you what you can and can’t do.”
“But you’d prefer I didn’t.”
Drew’s tone had taken on an almost suspicious quality now. “It just seems weird, the amount of time you spend with him and his family.”
The irritation spiked again. “It wouldn’t be weird if you knew the extent of my relationship and past with them. Now that Grandma is gone, they are my family. The only family I have. I love them dearly.”
Another heavy sigh came through the phone. “Listen, I don’t want to argue about this. Let’s forget it.”
Katie released her own long breath. She didn’t like that the issue remained unresolved, but she agreed to let it go. They wrapped up the conversation and said goodbye, though the tension remained. Hoping to ignore it until it went away, she turned her focus to her sewing room. The yellow dress for the wedding caught her eye. She should get to work on it, but she wasn’t in a creative mood at the moment, especially with the wedding being the source of contention.
Leaving it on the table, she organized instead. She nearly had things the way she wanted them, but there were a few things she had to do yet.
Around lunchtime, she stood at the edge of the room and eyed the table and desk she wanted to move. She might have been able to slide them herself, but the desk was pretty heavy. And what if one of the legs on Grandma’s antique table broke if she tried? She pulled out her phone but stopped when she brought up Ethan’s contact. Drew would hate her calling him whenever she needed help around the cottage. And she hated it was now a thing. She deeply appreciated everything Ethan had done for her and his willingness to help, but Drew wouldn’t like that appreciation either. Why did things have to get complicated? And why was it starting to feel like she might have to choose between Ethan and Drew? That was not a choice she wanted to have to make.
Still frowning at her phone, she tapped the screen to call Ethan. She needed help, and he was her established go-to person. Who else would she call? All he had to do was walk over.
The phone rang twice before he answered. A slight note of concern tinged his voice. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine.” At least as far as it pertained to her situation with Christopher and Grant. “I just had a quick favor to ask. Would you mind helping me move a few things in the sewing room when you can? I don’t want to slide Grandma’s table and break something. I don’t need it done right now. We can do it later when you’re done working.”
“Sure, no problem.”
“Thanks.”
They hung up, and Katie went back to analyzing the space.
Not fifteen minutes later, Ethan showed up. “I’m taking a break for lunch, so I thought I’d run over.”
Katie smiled but apparently failed to hide her lingering frustrations.
His brows dipped. “You sure everything is all right?”
She nodded, attempting a more convincing smile. “Yes, I’m fine. It’s just a personal thing. Nothing to do with Christopher or Grant.”
She might talk to Becca about it, but discussing the tension between her and Drew with one of the sources of that tension would be a betrayal. No matter how irritated she might be, she wasn’t about to do that. In this instance, it didn’t matter that Ethan was her best friend.
He just nodded and didn’t press for answers. Katie led the way to the sewing room, and they rearranged the furniture how she wanted it. The new arrangement left the main inside wall empty.
“I was thinking of getting shelves to put here for all of my fabric and clothing pieces.”
Ethan eyed the wall. “What kind of shelves were you thinking?”
“Probably some of those heavy-duty plastic ones. I’ll have to measure and see how many I can fit.”
He scrutinized the space more closely for a moment before turning to her. “Otherwise, I could build some. That way, I can make them exactly how you want and fit them to the wall. You’d get a lot more usable space that way.”
She hesitated. He always did so much for her, and she could practically feel Drew’s displeasure from two hundred miles away. “I’m sure you have much better things to do with your time.”
“It wouldn’t take that long. Shelves are easy, and it would save you money.”
Katie mulled it over. Customized shelves would be nice. She needed all the storage space she could get. “All right, but only if it doesn’t take away from your projects. I know you need to work on your inventory for that big craft show next month.”
“I’ll work on them on the side. I’ll have plenty of time for everything else.” He glanced toward the open closet door where she’d hung all her completed items. “Speaking of the craft show, are you going to set up?”
“I wasn’t sure when Megan first mentioned it, but that’s the plan. I don’t think I’ll have a lot, but she said I can share a space with her and test the waters.”
“Your stuff will be a big hit. I know it will.”
Katie smiled despite her mood. His belief in her and her success was the exact opposite of Drew’s skepticism. “Thanks, that means a lot.”
Again, his brow furrowed. She should be more careful about the emotion she allowed to seep into her voice. He regarded her for a moment before studying the wall again.
“I’ll come back later and take measurements. In the meantime, maybe you can decide whether you want open shelves or cubbies.”
She nodded. “Good idea. I’ll do that.”
He turned as if to go but paused. “By the way, Mrs. Anders won’t be able to do youth group on Wednesday night. Would you like to be my assistant this week? I can find someone else if not.”
Katie’s smile came more easily than before. The thought of teaching youth group with him sounded fun. She’d always been curious about what he was like as a teacher. “I’d love to.”