Chapter 18
The week that followed the debacle that was the concert was one of the most challenging of Ellie’s memory.
As soon as they’d arrived home from Sydney—after a car ride during which Katie had sobbed in the backseat the entire way—Katie had been met by Mum, who had quickly joined her in bemoaning men who couldn’t keep their word.
She assured Katie that she was better off without him.
Katie had taken to her bed, refusing to help at The Silver Teapot.
And while it was good that they had Monday off, it meant that Ellie had to juggle her own work schedule again to cover Katie’s shifts.
Not that anyone would want to see Katie with her red nose and eyes and tears she couldn’t seem to stop.
When she wasn’t crying, she was watching yet more of that true crime show, doubtless imagining what it would’ve been like for a certain man to receive a similar fate as some of the victims on the murder show.
And to be honest, Ellie was inclined to agree.
What kind of man dismissed a woman with a line like “somebody I used to know”?
How insulting. Katie didn’t deserve a dismissive song lyric.
The utter callousness of Jason’s actions defied explanation.
Yet despite the suffering her sister was experiencing, Ellie was grateful that Jason’s true character had been exposed.
A man like that did not deserve her sister.
Regardless of Katie’s impetuosity, she was also sweet and good and inclined to see the best in people.
She wasn’t as cynical as Ellie knew she could be.
She, Emma-Jane, and Liv had discussed matters via the sister chat, with Annabelle joining them for the first time, as they sipped mugs of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows.
“Because you’re our cousin and pretty much like another sister,” Emma-Jane had said.
Ellie had nodded. “And since this is affecting you as well, by your taking some of Katie’s shifts, it would be good to have your input.”
“It’s just so terrible,” Liv had said. “Do you think she might appreciate coming here?”
“I think she’s better off at home,” Ellie said.
“This is familiar, and to be honest, there’s only so long that she should probably be left to lick her wounds.
It’s sad, but it’s also a good thing, isn’t it?
Imagine if they’d continued on and gotten married and we’d found out about his playboy tendencies after. ”
“That would be awful.”
Annabelle nodded. “I think sometimes when God says no, it’s because He’s saving us for a yes down the track that will be a blessing in our future.”
“I like that,” Emma-Jane said.
Her cousin’s words struck deep in Ellie’s heart. Maybe that was why God had said no to a relationship with Ethan. Because God had a bigger blessing for her. Even if thoughts of Ethan still sometimes traipsed through her dreams at night.
“So, what’s going on with you?” Liv asked Annabelle. “Last I heard, you’d met some man on EJ’s app.”
Annabelle shrugged. “I thought I had. Turned out I was wrong.”
“What?” Emma-Jane frowned. “Was it a mismatch—is that what happened?”
“No, we connected and had a few nice chats, and he said he wanted to come see me. But then he just stopped messaging one day.” Annabelle shot Ellie a wry glance.
“To be honest, it’s not the first time that’s happened.
But I didn’t figure you needed to hear about my woes with everything else that’s been happening lately. ”
“So, no more word about your Ethan?” Liv asked.
Ellie shook her head. “He was never my Ethan. Apparently he was always this Lucinda woman’s Ethan. And I’m reconciled to that now. I figure that if God doesn’t want me with him, then He’s got something better.”
“That’s the spirit.” Liv nodded approvingly. “Remember when I was so set on getting a job at Wattle Vale Secondary College, then I didn’t get it? God did have something better for me. Which is what will happen for you and Annabelle and Katie.”
“In Jesus’ name.”
“Amen!” they all said, then laughed.
Ellie smiled. It was good to finally laugh after a week of tiptoeing around other people’s big feelings. Katie couldn’t understand why the sun kept shining or why others might want to smile. That was half the reason why she didn’t want to appear at the café.
“I don’t want to be around people who are celebrating,” she’d snapped.
“But you not showing up means we have to ask Annabelle to cover your shifts, and that’s not fair on her.”
“She doesn’t have to,” Katie said stubbornly.
But allowing for sadness without letting it slip into selfishness was a delicate game to play.
“Well, I’ll be praying for you all,” Liv said.
“Keep us posted about the wedding planning.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I’m trying to figure out how we can do this. Georgina said she’s due to finish her studies by Easter but won’t graduate until July. So I’m not sure when we should hold the ceremony.”
“Hold it after Easter. That’s late March, anyway, isn’t it?” EJ said, glancing at her phone.
“But what does it mean about the café?” Liv grimaced. “It’s half the reason I haven’t wanted to discuss this with Mum. I think she’ll make everything harder than it needs to be.”
“She’ll be happy to have it whenever suits you and to close the shop. If you’re not careful, they’ll probably want to stay awhile too.”
“I can always stay here to look after things,” Annabelle said.
“What? No, I want you here too.”
“Really?”
“Of course. You and Abbey are our cousins, and it’d be great to have you. And your parents too, of course.”
“I think Abbey is pretty focused on her architecture studies, and Mum and Dad are busy with the farm, so I’m not sure if they can get away.”
“Well, we can always ask. And Great-Aunt Marion, if she’s well enough still.”
“I think Aunty Marion would love that,” Emma-Jane said. “But I’m not sure that she’d be well enough to travel. Maybe we could Zoom the ceremony to her somehow. Leave it with me.”
“Gosh, I love being able to leave things with EJ.”
“Don’t we all?” Ellie grinned. “Leaving things with EJ is the next best thing to leaving things with God.”
This drew a protest from EJ and laughter from the others, which soon saw Katie schlep into the room, her blanket wrapped around her shoulders, demanding to know what all the fuss was about.
“What are you doing? Why are you having a conversation without me?”
“Hey, we thought you were asleep,” Ellie soothed.
“How are you, Katie?” Liv asked.
Katie shrugged. Her hair was greasy, she had spots on her face, and her T-shirt was stained. The revenge haircut Ellie had finally managed to get around to having was not for Katie. Goodbye blue hair streak, hello magenta.
“Honey, make sure you’re getting enough sleep, okay?”
“I am.”
Ellie exchanged looks with Annabelle. There had been a number of times when she’d found Katie on her phone rather than asleep, as she claimed. And scrolling to see what Jason Willoughby was up to was no good for her mental health.
Liv yawned. “Okay, sorry I’ve gotta go. But I’ll be praying for you all, especially you, Katie.”
“Thanks,” Katie mumbled. Then EJ also said goodbye, and the computer screen went dark.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were on a video call?” Katie accused.
“We thought you were asleep,” Ellie reminded her.
“Well, I wasn’t.”
“Are you feeling up to doing a shift tomorrow?” Ellie asked. “Or are we going to be relying on Annabelle again?”
Katie glanced at Annabelle, her look contrite. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey, it’s okay. I know this week has been hard. And I’m happy to do whatever helps you.”
Katie hugged her, and Annabelle patted her on the back and eyed Ellie. Well, this was progress. It was good to see her sister was no longer just thinking about herself.
“How about you do the second shift, after morning tea?” Ellie suggested.
“You know we’re usually a bit quieter first thing in the morning, so Annabelle can decide whether she’d like to do that or have the day off.
Which she would fully deserve.” Especially considering how many shifts she had covered this week.
“I’m okay with that. What do you think, Katie?” Annabelle asked softly.
Katie sighed. “I suppose I should do something. I think I’m getting bedsores from lying in bed too much.”
“I’ve heard that can happen,” Ellie said gravely. “You should watch out for consumption.”
Katie frowned as Annabelle covered a smile with her hand. “Is that even a thing these days?”
“If it is, you don’t want to die of it.”
Annabelle chuckled, and Katie finally realised Ellie was teasing, as she shook her head. “I don’t know why you’re making fun of me. I deserve your sympathy, remember?”
“Of course you do,” Annabelle soothed.
But Ellie had had enough. “Katie, you know we are all sorry for you. But I don’t think any of us are sorry this has happened.”
“What?”
“Well, surely it was better for you to find this out now than for you to get into a long-term relationship and have to deal with his unfaithfulness down the track.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying this. You don’t know how I feel.”
“I do know how you feel,” she snapped. “You’re not the only one sitting here who has had her heart broken.” She pointed a finger at Annabelle. “Annabelle has. I have. But you don’t see either of us lying around giving up on life because a stupid man has given up on us, do you?”
“Ellie,” Annabelle murmured.
Katie’s eyes filled with tears. “But you don’t know what it feels like to be rejected.”
“What do you know of my heart? What do you know of anything but your own suffering? Of course I know! Did you not hear me just now? I was crushed when Ethan ghosted me. But do you see me crying about it? No. The world doesn’t stop just because our relationship ends.”
“You’re so unfeeling. How was I supposed to know you felt this way?”
“Because not all of us go around crying our eyes out every time something painful happens.”
Her sister gulped, as yet more tears slipped down her cheeks.