Chapter 9 #2
“You are our guest. Katie usually . . .” She’d been so taken aback by her confusing thoughts about Jimmy, she’d completely forgotten about her daughter.
What was wrong with her? “I should go check on Katie.” Hurrying up the stairs, she called out, “Katie, are you in the shower?” She opened the bathroom door and discovered that Katie was doing exactly what she’d said, getting clean.
“Mamm, I can do this by myself!”
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” she said before she closed the door and walked back down the stairs.
“Everything okay?” Nelson asked.
“Jah. She’s fine.” Feeling foolish, she said, “She practically told me to leave.”
Holding up a zucchini, Nelson said, “How about I help you with supper?”
“Thank you.”
They spent the next fifteen minutes slicing and sautéing vegetables, boiling noodles, and warming up meatballs.
“I’m all done!” Katie exclaimed, looking fresh and clean as she stood in the doorway with Blue hanging from her arms. “Blue wants me to cuddle him.”
“Careful with him, Kitty,” Nelson cautioned as he gently rearranged the kitten in her arms. “Blue is still a baby cat. They like to feel secure.”
“This is better?”
“I think so.” He put his head toward her. “Do you hear him purring now?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I think that means he’s happy.”
“I love Blue, Mamm.”
“I know you do, but you need to put him down and help me set the table.”
Katie smiled. “I’m glad that you’re gonna stay awhile longer.”
“Me too. And guess what? I’m being useful too. I’ve even been helping to get supper ready.”
Sheer delight brightened Katie’s sweet face, reminding Jenna that she wasn’t the only one who’d become attached to Nelson. It had been wrong of her to push him away.
Bending down, her daughter let go of Blue and then hurried to the silverware drawer. “We need everything for three,” she said in an important tone.
“That’s right. Get busy and set the table, child.”
“What would you like me to do now?” Nelson asked.
“You’ve done enough. You may sit in the living room.”
“How about I go get the things I brought for you and Katie first?”
“All right.”
When he walked out, Jenna realized that she had a small burst of excitement inside her. She was glad that he was here. Glad that he was sharing a meal with them.
They all enjoyed their dinner, and Nelson insisted on helping her clear the table and wash all the dinner dishes. Now she was making a pot of coffee for the two of them.
Katie was in her room, changing into her pajamas and looking at her books, while Nelson sat at the table, a plate of cookies in front of him.
When Jenna brought over their coffee—both of them liked it black—she said, “You didn’t have to wait for me, you know.”
“I did.” When she lifted an eyebrow, he added, “There’s no way I would ever eat without you.”
She picked up a cookie and took a bite. “Now you may eat too.”
After he took two bites, he said, “You are an incredible cook, Jenna. I’m starting to feel silly for bringing you so many meals and store-bought treats.”
“I enjoy cooking, but I enjoy taking breaks from dishes too. Everything you’ve done for me has been appreciated.”
He grinned at her.
She was worried she liked it too much. Reminding herself that he was English and she was not, she blurted, “When do you date?”
Nelson froze. “Pardon me?”
“Um, I was just thinking about how you’ve spent a lot of time with us, but our conversation is always about Katie and me. I wondered if you are going steady with someone.”
“Going steady?”
She looked away. “I guess you have a better name for it. Do you have a girlfriend, Nelson?”
“No. I’m not dating anyone at the moment.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not all that easy to date in one’s mid-thirties, I guess.” He winked. “All the good ones have already been snatched up.”
“Surely not.”
He laughed. “‘Surely not’ is right. I’m sure there are a lot of very nice women out there, but I’m not interested in dating right now.”
“Because of work?”
“Work does keep me busy,” he agreed. “But, well, there are other things that are important to me. And those things take up a lot of my time.”
Nelson seemed to be speaking very cryptically. Jenna wondered what or whom he was talking about. Perhaps someone in his family was sick? If so, she would hate that she never asked him about it. That she never lifted a finger to try to help.
Why, at the very least, she could pray for the person. Before she cautioned herself not to be so nosy, she asked, “Is it your family that has taken up your time? Is someone sick?”
“My family?”
“Jah.” She waved a hand because he was staring at her like she was speaking Pennsylvania Dutch. “One of your parents? Or, um, your cousin, perhaps?” She did recall that he’d mentioned a cousin who worked closely by his side.
“No.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “No one in my family is sick.”
“Oh. Perhaps one of them is going through a difficult time.” She’d once had an aunt who’d been involved in an accident and couldn’t sleep for months afterward.
Nelson looked flummoxed. Seemed to be debating how to answer. Then he finally shrugged. “There are a lot of reasons I’m not too interested in dating right now, Jenna. But don’t worry about me. I’m not doing anything that I don’t want to do.”
“All right. If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. And I’ll see you next Monday, yes?”
Jenna nodded before she could stop herself.
“Good. And now I better get on my way.”
“All right.”
He was smiling. She was certain that he was meaning something by that. Something important.
But she decided it would be better to leave it alone.
After all, Nelson had been at their house for almost three hours. He was probably eager to go home.