Feeling tentative, he said, “Are you talking about Melody or Katie?”
“Melody, of course. You know your mother and I have always liked Katie Steury.”
Harley looked up at him in surprise before crouching on one knee to refasten the cap on the tire.
Some might say that his father would think the opposite. Katie’s sister had been disruptive and had left as a teenager, and her mother had become something of a recluse. On the other hand, Melody Miller’s family seemed like they could have been on an Amish calendar at one of the town’s gift shops, their lives seemed so perfect.
“I’m surprised to hear you say that.”
“I don’t know why. The girl not only broke your heart, but she also never seemed to appreciate you.” He grunted. “Or what she had. She always wanted something more.” Looking embarrassed to have said so much, he shook his head. “I mean, that was always my impression.”
“It was a gut impression. The right one,” Harley said slowly as he began pumping air into the front tire. “I had thought that her confidence and spirit might complement mine, but now I have to say that I should’ve known better.”
“If you can say that, why are you going over to her house?”
After checking to make sure the tire was properly filled and capping it, Harley got to his feet. “I don’t want to make things worse between our families.”
“Worse?”
“Melody can hold a grudge. And, she can, at times, be a touch vindictive.” More than a touch. “And you know how her parents can be . . . it is hard to tell them no.”
Still looking aggrieved, Daed said, “I see.”
“I’m not planning to take on a job for them, though. I really can’t. You are right, I don’t have time or the inclination. But I didn’t want to say that in the middle of the hardware store.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “All right. I canna say that I agree, but I do understand.”
For most of his life, Harley had always simply nodded when his father said things like that. Explanation hadn’t been expected or appreciated. But now, given the way his father had started the conversation—and after his recent conversations with Kyle—Harley felt like he should try to give a little bit more.
“Daed, lately, I’ve started thinking that Katie and me might have a future together. Do you think that’s odd? All we ever used to do was bicker.”
His father looked thoughtful. “A couple of years ago, I might have said marriage between you and Katie would be a terrible idea, but now I’m thinking it might be exactly right.”
“Really?”
Looking over at the garden on the side of the house that he’d just weeded, Daed murmured, “You and Katie have always kind of been like those raspberry bushes that your mother keeps in pots. They are thorny and often seem more trouble than they’re worth. But they also provide the sweetest fruit.”
The effort was a little prickly and painful but worthwhile in the end. “I like that analogy.”
“Me, too. I reckon some people always want the easy way in life. They want things to go quickly, be painless, simple. They think if there is anything unpleasant involved, it must not be worth going after.” He sighed. “But in my experience, it seems that the opposite is true. Anything worth having takes time, patience, and a little bit of struggle.”
Thinking of his construction business, Harley said, “I can see that. I’ve always felt that way about work. I just never thought about applying those same principles when it came to relationships.”
“Your mother and I have had a long and gut life together. But I would be lying if I said that it was always easy.”
Harley laughed. “Mamm might disagree.”
“Nee, your mother would say that I’ve been a source of great fortitude her entire life.”
His mother might frown at that descriptor. “I won’t tell her you said that.”
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t.” Pulling his hat farther down on his forehead, he said, “Well now. I better let you get on your way. But, ah, Harley?”
“Jah, Daed?”
“Back to those raspberries. Don’t forget that the bushes do yield wonderful-gut fruit, but the berries are mighty delicate. They bruise easily and they spoil if not taken care of and left on a hot counter. I have a feeling Katie might be a bit like that, too. Your relationship with her might never be so sturdy that you want to risk bruising her.”
Harley swallowed. Even the thought of causing Katie pain made him feel physically ill. “I don’t want that.”
“Gut.” He raised a hand good-bye and then turned back to the garden.
Harley was tempted to call out to tell him that he appreciated his advice and that he was glad they’d talked, but he held back.
It was enough that they’d said what they did.
Getting on his bicycle, he rode quickly, hoping to be headed back toward his house before too much time passed.
• • •
All three Millers were waiting for him when he arrived at their older one-story ranch. When he entered their home, slightly sweaty from his four-mile bike ride, Melody and her parents greeted him like a returning long-lost relative.
“You’re here!” Joan Miller called out. “We didn’t hear your buggy come up the drive.”
He doubted that was the truth. He’d seen Melody watching him from their front window when he parked his bike.
“I rode my bicycle here.” Realizing that his shirt was a little damp, he said, “That’s why I’m a little sweaty.”
“We surely don’t mind.” She gestured to their parlor, which had a plate of sandwiches, cookies, and a pitcher of lemonade and two pretty glasses set out. “Come sit down and Melody will fetch you a nice glass of lemonade.”
Feeling more awkward by the minute, he glanced at Melody. She’d never liked him to come over courting straight from work. She used to say if he cared enough to see her, he should care enough to shower before he did so.
Now, though, she was smiling at him very sweetly, almost as if she was pleased that he’d shown up a little rumpled. It truly made no sense.
“Harley, please do sit down,” she said. “You must be ready to relax.”
He held his straw hat in his hands and finally did just that. “Danke.”
When Melody handed him a full-to-the brim glass, he sipped carefully. It would be just his luck to spill some all over himself or their furniture. Realizing that Mr. Miller wasn’t in sight, he said, “Is your father waiting on me in a different room? I don’t want to keep him waiting.”
“Daed? Oh, he’s not home yet.”
He was confused. “Is he running late?” He hoped not too late. He was really ready to get out of there.
“I don’t know,” Melody replied in a bored tone. “Mamm, do you?”
“He should be home within the hour. Don’t worry about Axel, Harley. It will give you and Melody plenty of time to catch up.”
He did not want to sit in their parlor for an hour and catch up. “Perhaps you two would care to show me the kitchen and explain what you need done? It’s been my experience that the women have a better idea than the men what is needed.”
Joan primly folded her hands on her lap. “I couldn’t possibly do that, Harley.”
“Oh?”
“I promised Axel that we would wait. He knows best, you see.”
It took effort not to roll his eyes. He couldn’t think of a single woman he knew who would think her husband knew his way around a kitchen better than she did. Especially not his own mother.
He glanced at Melody. She looked almost as uneasy as he felt. “Well. Perhaps—”
“That will give you plenty of time to have some of the delicious sandwiches and cookies Melody made for you,” her mother interrupted.
Delicious sandwiches? If Will or Katie were here, he would have grinned. Joan Miller was laying on everything as thick as peanut butter.
Melody popped back onto her feet. “So, would you like one?”
“A sandwich?”
“Jah, Harley.”
For some reason, he felt like she wasn’t actually offering him a sandwich but instead a relationship. There was no way he was going back there. “Nee, danke.”
“But I made them for you.”
“I appreciate it, but I ain’t hungry.” Nor was he willing to do anything that she might perceive as encouragement.
Melody glanced over at her mother, who fluttered her hands. “I think I’ll leave you two alone,” Joan said.
After she rushed out, Harley eyed Melody curiously. “What is going on? Do you even need your kitchen remodeled?”
“Of course we do.” Her voice hardened. “Why? Do you think all of us are lying to you?”
“I’m not sure. It’s just that . . .” His voice drifted off, because how, exactly, could he tell her that back when he’d been so taken with her, Joan and Axel Miller had barely acted like he was worth a glass of water? Not once had they presented him with such a meal when he arrived. “It’s only that I am surprised to see that you went to so much trouble for someone to do a job for you.”
“Come now, Harley. You know you are much more than a prospective job to my family.”
His former self would have kept quiet. No, his former self would have eaten a sandwich and the cookies no matter what, because he wouldn’t have wanted to make waves.
But his father’s words still rang in his ears. His heart was making itself known to him as well. It was reminding him that there was another woman in his life now, and that woman never played games.
He was also discovering that he liked speaking his mind, even when it wasn’t easy. “Nee, Melody, I don’t know what I am to either you or your family. I loved you and I was courting you in earnest.”
“You also allowed some of your friends to speak badly about me.”
“I was never responsible for anyone else’s opinions, Melody.” He barely refrained from adding that he had almost lost a good friend in Katie because he’d been so determined to keep Melody.
Realizing that he needed to finally hear what happened, he said, “Perhaps you’d like to tell me what happened with you and Samuel.”
“There’s not a whole lot to share. I thought we were a good match, and I thought Sam did, too. But after a time, things fell apart.” She bit her lip and then gazed up at him with big, doe-like eyes. “And Samuel, well he wasn’t all that easy to get along with.”
His protective instincts rose up. Concern for her made some of his irritation with the visit fade. Sam Brenneman had always been impatient and easy to anger. “What happened? Did he hurt you?”
“He hurt my feelings, of course!” Running a hand down her apron, she continued. “But I suppose that pain was also a blessing, because his difficulties showed me how poorly I’d treated you.”
“I see.”
“Jah.” She nodded. “It was as if I’d needed to be with Sam in order for me to see just how much you meant to me, Harley. I want you back.”
She wanted him back. Now, after she got another man out of her system.
He stood up and picked up his hat from the cushion beside him. “I think it would be best for me to leave. Please tell your father that I am sorry, but I really am too busy for this job.”
“But . . .” She jumped to her feet. “You can’t do that, Harley.”
This time, he didn’t even try to hold back a smile. “Jah, Melody. I can.”
He walked out, ignoring Melody’s glare.
Ignoring her mother’s cry of dismay as he strode by the living room, where she’d been obviously trying to spy on the two of them.
After he threw open the front door, Harley allowed himself to stand on the porch for a moment and breathe deep. Exhaling, he looked up. And then he noticed the sky was bedazzled in layers of pink, orange, and gold. It was beautiful, transforming the night sky into something worth remembering.
And it had been right there. If he’d stayed inside the Millers’ house, he would have missed it. “Danke, Got,” he whispered.
This spectacular sunset was a good reminder that often something special was just in sight, if one was willing to look around.
Exactly like Katie. She’d been there in his world all along, coloring it with beauty and sparks.
All he’d had to do was allow himself to see her. And when he did?
Everything in his world was better, brighter.
Unique. Right.
TWENTY
“He gave us five minutes to get off his land. We had to run like the wind to get off in time.”
Will nodded. “It was hard, but to be fair, I canna really blame Mr. Schlabach for saying what he did. After all, we had been trespassing.”
Marie threw a marshmallow at his chest. “Shut up, Will. He’d been really mean, and you know it.”
“I can never decide whether to get roasted chicken, chicken pot pie, or a salad,” Elizabeth Anne complained as she scanned the restaurant’s lengthy menu for what had to be the third time.
Katie smiled at Kendra before taking a sip of her iced tea. “Oh, we know.”
“You say the same thing every time we come to Der Dutchman,” Kendra murmured under her breath. “Every. Single. Time.”
“Come on, I’m not that bad.”
“Yes. You are,” Kendra said succinctly before breaking into a smile. “But I don’t mind. It’s rather comforting to know that some things never change.”
E.A. rolled her eyes as she sat back in her chair. “Like you don’t always get the soup and salad bar.”
“I do, it’s true. However, I don’t sit and fret about my decision for a full twenty minutes every visit,” Kendra pointed out. “That’s the difference.”
Katie lifted her napkin to her mouth so E.A. wouldn’t see her smile.
But Elizabeth Anne must have sensed something because she turned to her with a hopeful expression. “Katie, help me out.”
In the past, she would have had no problem speaking her mind. But now? Well, she was learning the benefits of holding her tongue. “Ermm . . . well . . .”
E.A. narrowed her eyes. “Really? That’s all you have to say?”
Luckily Katie was saved by the appearance of their server.
“Are you girls ready for me to take your order?” a Mennonite lady old enough to be their mother wearing a light blue dress asked.
Kendra arched a brow. “I’ve been ready. But what about you, Elizabeth? Would you like time to examine the menu a fourth time?”
“Oh you.” Turning to the waitress, E.A. smiled brightly. “I’m ready. I’ll have . . .” She paused, bit her bottom lip, then finally uttered, “The roasted chicken, please. With whipped potatoes and vegetables. And water.”
The server turned to Kendra. “And for you ladies?”
“The salad bar,” Kendra said.
Katie grinned. “I’ll have the meat loaf sandwich and an iced tea.”
“You get a side. Fries or the salad bar?”
“Can I have both?”
• • •
After the server left, Katie blew out a burst of air. “Boy, I’m sure glad that’s over with. I’m starving.”
Kendra giggled. “I bet. When did you last eat? Two hours ago?”
“I’m sure it’s been at least three.” It was a standard joke among her girlfriends that she had a difficult time putting on weight. It drove them all crazy when she ordered sandwiches and fries while they had to be far more careful about their diet.
“At least this time you have a good excuse for a gut appetite,” E.A. said. “You’ve been working so hard on your house.”
“I have, but really it’s been Harley who’s been working so hard. He and Kyle.” Thinking over the last two days, she added, “They arrive at seven on the dot and barely take thirty minutes for breaks.”
“You know, I’ve always just known Harley did remodeling work, but I never really thought too much about it,” E.A. said. “It was fun to see him in action the other day.”
Katie smiled. “I’ve found myself thinking that, too. He’s mighty talented.”
She’d always been so occupied with her family and her mother’s problems and the house that she had never dated much. Her social life had been the Eight.
But now that she did have more time for herself, she couldn’t help but appreciate the irony that the man she was becoming attracted to had been there by her side all along.
With a wink in Kendra’s direction, E.A. said, “So, I’ve been wondering, just how strong is Harley?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Have you seen his muscles? He is awfully brawny.”
“So handsome, too,” Kendra added.
“He is that.”
E. A. lowered her voice. “So, you must tell us, Katie. Has our Harley ever gotten so hot doing all that construction that he’s taken his shirt off?”
“Elizabeth Anne!” Katie covered her face with one hand. “I canna believe you!”
“Is that a no?” E.A. was somehow looking disappointed, but her sparkling eyes gave it away.
“Nee, it’s an ‘I don’t think about Harley like that’ answer.” At least she didn’t think about him like that very often.
E.A. didn’t look perturbed by her outburst in the slightest. “Really?” she asked, just as if they were speaking about the weather. “I would.”
Kendra choked on her tea. “You would think about Harley if you were Katie . . . or you already do?”
“It’s not a ‘do’ at all. It’s more of an ‘I would’ . . . if I had a special relationship with Harley the way that Katie here does. If I did, then I imagine I’d be thinking all sorts of things about him.”
“E.A., there isn’t anything going on between us.”
“All right. If that’s the way you want to go, so be it. But I hope you realize that you’re only fooling yourself, not us.”
“Are you ladies hungry?” the server asked as she set down a loaded tray next to their table.
“Jah,” E.A. said. “It all looks wunderbaar.”
“I’ll be right back,” Kendra said. “The salad bar calls.”
“I’ll go get my salad with you. Start though, E.A. Don’t wait for us.”
The Loyal One Page 13