Chapter 19 #2
He’d be even gladder to see Katie, she bet, but she’d take it. “Well, here I am. And if you like, we could even make you a cup of tea.”
“I’m usually more of a coffee man, if that’s okay.”
“Whatever you wish. Are you hungry?”
“I could eat.”
“Sweet or savoury? We have some pies that have won awards during Pie Time in the Highlands.”
“Then a steak pie would be great. And a flat white.”
“Coming right up.” She bustled back to the kitchen, where Katie was working. “You’ll never guess who is here.”
Her sister’s eyes widened for a moment, then she shook her head. “If it’s Jason, then I don’t want—”
“It’s not Jason,” she hastened to reassure. “It’s Chris Brandon. Remember? The detective who solves cold cases.”
“Oh!”
“Well, how about you go out and talk to him while I get his pie and coffee order sorted.”
“Do I look okay?”
“You look great. Go. He’s on his way to Goulburn, so you might as well make the most of the time he’s here and ask all the questions you can. I’m sure he’d love to answer them.”
She smiled to herself as her sister hurried out, taking her time with warming the pie and making sure the flat white was perfect. There was no point rushing something like this.
And sure enough, when she peered through the glass of the wooden door, she could see Katie and Chris having an animated conversation, smiling at each other. Well, well, well. Chris was a much better option than one snake-in-the-grass Jason Willoughby.
She made Katie her favourite tea and went out to their table, depositing their drinks and his food on the table.
“I wasn’t expecting a drink,” Katie said.
“I figured your throat had gone dry from asking Chris so many questions about the work he does.”
Chris laughed. “Hey. It’s okay. I’ve enjoyed connecting again.”
“You should get his phone number,” Ellie said. “You know, so you can keep asking questions.” She winked at Chris.
His forehead wrinkled. “I, um, pardon me for asking, but I thought you were with that Jason fellow.”
Katie’s face fell, and Ellie wanted to intervene but sensed that Katie actually needed to speak for herself. She placed a hand on Katie’s shoulder. “Tell him.”
Katie shrugged, then in a small voice admitted that Jason had dumped her.
Ellie watched as Chris’ face ran through a gamut of emotions. Then he nodded. “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve to be treated that way.”
“Thank you,” Katie murmured, gifting him a smile.
Ellie nodded. “Exactly. She deserves to be treated kindly by someone who can encourage her to step into the purposes that God may have for her. Who knows? Maybe that will have something to do with police research one day.” She smirked at him. “Know anyone who can do that?”
He coughed. “I know someone who could try.”
She patted him on the back, then winked at her sister and left them to it, moving to clear another table. Maybe she’d be the maiden aunt to her sisters’ children, but she could be the matchmaking maiden aunt too. She grinned. There was no need to let EJ have all the matchmaking fun.
Frustration grew as Ellie refused to call.
After the bust of last weekend’s non-visit to the Southern Highlands because his dad had needed him for yet another campaign event, he’d tried Charlene’s tactic, and after Francine had coughed up the name, finally managed to find the correct landscaping company.
Yet even after that magical moment of hearing her voice—a moment that had buoyed his hopes sky-high—she still hadn’t answered his call.
Now another week had slid by and he was tired of waiting, tired of feeling like his life was in limbo.
He’d be facing Charlene again tonight at youth group, and he really didn’t want to have to tell her that he was still stuck in this no-man’s-land of zero answers.
Not when they were supposed to be heading down to Wattle Vale tomorrow to see if they could find this mysterious café and connect with Ellie once and for all.
He found the number he’d called last week. It was his lunch break, he was outside, the pigeons were cooing in the plaza and swooping for crumbs. He dialled, then waited. Lord, help me find her, please.
“Hello, you’ve reached Wellings Landscaping and Associates. This is Jackson.”
He withheld a sigh. “Uh, I was hoping to speak with Ellie.”
“She’s not in today.”
“Oh.” Disappointment shafted deep. “Could you, uh, tell me when she’s in?”
“Who is this?”
“Um, a friend.”
“Do you have a name?”
“Ethan. Ethan Ferris.”
“Wait, you’re the dude who called her last week, right? She said she didn’t want to talk to you, asked me to put your number in the bin.”
“What? Oh please. It’s all a big misunderstanding. You’ve got to believe me.”
“No, I don’t.” And the call ended.
Wow. Okay.
He immediately dialled the number again, and it was instantly answered by the same dude. “This is Jackson.”
“I really need to find Ellie. This is Ethan Ferris, by the way, and—”
“Mate, how many times do I need to tell you? She’s not interested in talking to you. And even if you did manage to find her at the café, then you need to know her dad is an ex-cop, and he takes harassment really seriously, so it’s best if you leave her alone.”
He drew in a deep breath. “I’ll take my chances. Her dad’s an ex-cop, you say?”
“Man.” And the call ended again.
Whether he’d meant to or not—it definitely sounded unintentional—Jackson had just given him a very helpful lead. Now he remembered Ellie mentioning something like this at the Hydro Grand. How many other café owners in the Southern Highlands were former policemen?
Two minutes later, he was looking at an online article of a nice-looking couple, the dad a bit fat, the mother round too, beaming out the front of a café he’d passed not so long ago. The one on Wattle Vale’s main street. The Silver Teapot.
He swallowed, and read about John and Elizabeth Bennett and their four daughters, most with Jane Austen–inspired names: Olivia, Emma-Jane, Elinor, and Catherine. Ellie and Katie.
His heart clenched. Finally, finally, he knew where to look.
And while Ellie might be reluctant to talk with him, if he didn’t try to speak with her, he’d always regret it. So he messaged Charlene, even though he’d see her tonight, and texted: “Feel like having a cupcake tomorrow?”
She texted back. “It’s finally happening?”
He exhaled, heart beating in anticipation. “Yep. We’re definitely on.”