Abundantly Blessed

by Rachael Eliker

  Abundantly Blessed

  Blessings of Love, Volume 4

  Rachael Eliker

  Published by Rachael Eliker, 2019.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  ABUNDANTLY BLESSED

  First edition. October 10, 2019.

  Copyright © 2019 Rachael Eliker.

  Written by Rachael Eliker.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  READ THE COMPLETE BLESSINGS OF LOVE SERIES

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  THE BLESSINGS OF LOVE SERIES

  TEASER CHAPTER FROM TWICE BLESSED

  OTHER WORKS BY THE AUTHOR

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  CONNECT

  SOCIAL MEDIA

  For my family, who truly remind me how blessed I am.

  READ THE COMPLETE BLESSINGS OF LOVE SERIES

  Brushstrokes and Blessings by Danielle Thorne

  Blessed by the Fake Boyfriend by Lacy Anderson

  Bless His Heart by Jessica L. Elliott

  Abundantly Blessed by Rachael Eliker

  Twice Blessed by J. J. DiBenedetto

  Backward Blessings by Rachel A. Andersen

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  CHAPTER ONE

  “You ask her,” Katie heard whispered behind her back.

  “No. You.”

  Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the Stanleys had taken a seat in the corner booth at the Home Again Café, hiding their prying eyes behind open menus. The second Katie met their gaze, they looked down, pretending to decide what they were going to get, but as they were a pair of Katie’s regular Thursday morning crowd, she knew their eating habits varied less than geese flying south in the fall. Lester Stanley always had two fried eggs with a side of wheat toast and black coffee, while his wife, Delores, liked to indulge her sweet tooth with a short stack of blueberry pancakes smothered in maple syrup and a cup of coffee that was more sugar and cream than anything else. Katie even had the total of their bill memorized.

  Finishing up her order with another table, Katie dropped off the ticket at the kitchen.

  “I imagine the Stanleys would like their regular,” Katie told Sharon, the owner and cook for the Home Again Café.

  “You’re not going to even ask them?” Sharon questioned, not bothering to look at the order as she poured pancake batter onto the griddle and added blueberries.

  “As a formality, I will. I just want to give you a chance to get ahead since the morning crowd looks like it’s finally slowing down.”

  “Appreciate it,” Sharon said, cracking a pair of eggs onto the griddle.

  Taking the coffee with her, Katie strolled to the Stanleys’ table with a pleasant smile on her face. Whatever they were gossiping about would come up in conversation whether she tried to avoid it or not. Blessings, Kansas was small enough that speculating about others was often a favorite pastime of its residents since not much else exciting beyond the occasional threat of a tornado or broken-down semi-truck bringing a stranger to town ever happened.

  “Coffee?” Katie asked, holding a freshly brewed pot of decaf.

  “That would be lovely, dear,” Mrs. Stanley said, pushing both their mugs toward the end of the table.

  As Katie delicately poured, making sure not to splash, Mrs. Stanley tore open two packets of sweetener and a creamer. Mr. Stanley asked, “How’s planning for your Thanksgiving luncheon going?”

  She released a sigh of relief that she’d been anxiously holding in her lungs. That’s what they wanted to ask her about? It was benign compared to what some other patrons were bold enough to ask. The number of times she was questioned about her dating life was astounding. A proud smile spread across Katie’s face. She’d volunteered to head up an event to provide a traditional Thanksgiving meal to those in town who might not otherwise have a place to go. Once she’d gotten the go ahead from Sharon to use the café, she’d dove right into the project to make sure it was a success.

  “Things are really coming together,” Katie answered. “Sharon has been so kind letting me use the café for people who could use somewhere to go on Thanksgiving. Plus, the community has really stepped up with the donations. Now it’s just a matter of being organized the day-of to make sure I can get all the cooking done in time. I don’t suppose anyone would enjoy raw turkey with their mashed potatoes and stuffing.”

  The Stanleys chuckled. “Well, we’re looking forward to it,” Mrs. Stanley said, gently patting Katie’s hand. “It’s been far too long since we’ve had a proper Thanksgiving meal. I haven’t been able to muster the energy to do all that work for the two of us.”

  Biting her lip, Katie felt a flutter of nervousness. “I hope this one lives up to your expectations.”

  “As long as you have some of that famous pumpkin apple streusel pie, you won’t have any complaints from me,” Mr. Stanley said.

  “The Taste of Home pie? I promise there’ll be more than enough to go around,” Katie said. “I’ll be baking round the clock the day before to make sure I get everything done.”

  “Just don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Mrs. Stanley said. “No one expects you to be able to pull it off all on your own.”

  “Right,” Katie agreed, keeping the gnawing worry to herself that doing it all might be exactly what happened. With such a close knit, family-oriented town as Blessings, everyone she’d asked to volunteer already had commitments with their own families. Even Sharon had to bow out since she’d be with her husband’s side of the family for the weekend.

  Pushing her smile wider to disguise her concern, Katie reassured, “Don’t you worry. One way or another, I promise a delicious, hearty, home cooked meal for everyone who’s signed up.”

  Mr. Stanley’s blue-gray eyes twinkled, and a wry smile tugged at his mouth. “And what about the Blessings Harvest Festival? I suspect you have young men lined up down the street, ready to ask you to the ball.”

  Katie dropped her head back and giggled. That’s what they were whispering about earlier. Planting her hand on her hip, she asked, “How did I know that was going to come up?”

  Sharon rang the bell for the Stanleys’ food. Hoping that if there was an interruption in their conversation, the Stanleys might drop it, Katie went to get it.

  Setting down their plates of food, there was no such luck.

  “So, does that mean you have someone special?” Mrs. Stanley asked, her face alight.

  “Not exactly,” Katie answered. “I’ve been too busy with planning the Thanksgiving meal here to worry about the ball.”

  Mrs. Stanley frowned and shook her head. “You shouldn’t miss out on the joy of being young and sociable because you’re helping others.”

  “Life’s all about balance,” Mr. Stanley said.

  The Stanleys’ interrogation unleashed a torrent of emotions in Katie. She appreciated their concern and encouragement that she should enjoy life to the fullest, but in truth, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to go. It seemed like most of her efforts to find a date were met with dead ends. People she’d known all her life were marrying at a rapid pace—some even had a baby or two already, while she was still unattached. The eligible bachelors in town didn’t hold her interest, and apparently, she hadn’t caught anyone’s eye either. She nev
er dreamed at twenty-two, she’d feel like an old maid.

  “It sure is. I suppose if someone asks, I’ll certainly consider it,” Katie reassured.

  Mr. Stanley snapped and pointed a finger at Katie, wagging his hand. Katie could tell by the look in his eye that an idea was brewing in his head. “Say, why don’t you go with Kyle?”

  Startled at the thought, Katie nearly sloshed hot coffee on herself. “Kyle? As in—”

  “Our neighbor,” Mr. Stanley said without a hint he was joking.

  Chewing the inside of her cheek so she didn’t laugh—or cry—Katie asked, “How old do you think I am, Mr. Stanley?”

  Confused, Mr. Stanley looked over at his wife, whose shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter. “I dunno. Eighteen? I figured you for a senior in high school.”

  “If I was still in high school, I’d be there right now, not serving you delicious food straight from Sharon,” Katie teased.

  “Kyle would undoubtedly love to take her so he could brag to all his friends,” Mrs. Stanley said to her husband, patting a napkin under her eyes to catch the tears that threatened to fall after laughing so heartily, “but I don’t think we should subject our dear Katie to that kind of humiliation. Kyle is only sixteen.”

  “How old are you, then?” Mr. Stanley asked.

  “Twenty-two since this September,” Katie answered, pushing her glossy brunette ponytail behind her shoulder. “I’ve been a full-blown adult for the past year.”

  “I see,” Mr. Stanley said sheepishly while his cheeks pinkened adorably. Not to be deterred, his eyes brightened, and he sat up, shaking his finger at Katie as he came up with a new ploy. “How about the Graysons’ boy?”

  Mrs. Stanley dropped her head into her hands and shook her head while Katie glanced at her wristwatch. “Oh, would you look at the time?”

  Leaving before Mr. Stanley could rack his brain for another person to accompany Katie to the Harvest Festival Ball, Katie visited the rest of the tables, topping off coffees and making sure everyone was comfortable. She made sure to swing by Logan, one of the sweetest boys she knew, to make sure his enormous cinnamon roll was as good as he’d hoped. When the bell on the door tinkled, Katie glanced over to see Charlotte breeze through the door.

  “Katie!” she squealed.

  The entire dining area turned to look at Katie’s best friend, though Charlotte didn’t seem to notice.

  “Hey, Charlotte,” Katie said while she stacked clean glasses back onto the shelf. “What are you doing here this morning? Don’t you have any appointments at the salon?”

  “Nah. I had one grumpy guy earlier, but no one else is scheduled to come in for two more hours, so I thought I’d come get a bite to eat. Besides, do I have to have a reason to come see you?”

  Turning around, Katie studied her friend. Charlotte looked innocent enough, but Katie arched an eyebrow. “If I hadn’t known you since kindergarten, I might be fooled, but I can tell you’re up to something.”

  Charlotte’s mouth dropped open, and she faked hurt. “I can’t believe you’d accuse me of being conniving. That’s a knife in the back right there.”

  Setting down the last two glasses, Katie apologized. “I suppose that was unfair. Sorry. Judging by your expression, it looked like you were up to something.”

  “Not up to something. Just happy.”

  “About?” Katie asked, restocking the pastries in the front display.

  “The Harvest Festival Ball.”

  Katie couldn’t hold back a groan. “Please don’t tell me you’re going to try and set me up with someone.”

  “No. Why would I?” Charlotte asked, her face screwed up with confusion.

  Peeking over at the Stanleys, she saw they were focused on their meal. Satisfied they wouldn’t overhear, Katie whispered, “Mr. Stanley suggested I go with Kyle.”

  “Kyle? As in their neighbor kid? The one who sometimes helps at my parents’ corn maze?” Charlotte questioned.

  “Yeah.”

  Charlotte tried to stop herself, but laughter sputtered out of her. “Isn’t he like, twelve?”

  “Sixteen, I’m told.”

  “Oh, Katie. I’m sorry. That must’ve been horrifying.”

  “It’ll make a good story, I guess. But seriously, why is everyone so concerned about whether or not I’m going with someone? Can’t I be happily unattached? Maybe I’ll go by myself. It’s the twenty-first century, after all.”

  Charlotte shrugged. “Meddling and knowing everyone else’s business kind of comes with living here.”

  “I know.” Katie sighed. “So, if you’re not offering dating advice, what about the Harvest Festival Ball is making you so giddy?”

  Charlotte looked like she was about to explode, shaking her hands and squealing in her seat. When she couldn’t take it any longer, she said in a stage whisper, “Harvey asked me to go with him. Finally.”

  Katie nearly dropped the salt and pepper shakers she was holding. “You’re kidding me! How’d he work up the courage? He’s the quietest, shyest guy I think I’ve ever met.”

  “Yeah,” Charlotte said starry-eyed. “I’ve been dropping hints like crazy that I wanted him to ask, and last night after I cut his hair, I thought he was going to pass out because it turns out, he’s been trying to ask me to go with him for a month. He had to work up the courage is all.”

  “Well, I’m happy for you. You deserve it.”

  Charlotte pulled out her wallet and put a five-dollar bill on the counter before helping herself to two large apple-stuffed fritters from the display. “So do you. You know, finding a date would put an end to everybody’s matchmaking pretty quickly.”

  “Easier said than done,” Katie countered. “I’m fairly positive there is no one in the whole of Blessings that I can think of who’d make a suitable date.”

  Katie heard the front door bell ding again, and she did a double take as a man she’d hardly seen in four years strolled in. Revealing a pair of dimples, he grinned at her as their eyes met.

  “Hello, Katie. Long time, no see.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  The gray cloud that had been hanging over Will since he’d gotten into town last night dissipated the instant his gaze landed on Katie Holloway. Blessings was the last place on earth he wanted to be in the middle of an otherwise pleasant October, but seeing his sister’s best friend for the first time in a long time made the trip back home much more bearable.

  “Will Ryan? Is that you?” Katie asked with a smirk.

  Charlotte interrupted and reached over, fussing with her brother’s wavy hair. “You wouldn’t have recognized him before I fixed the mop on his head this morning. Whoever he’s going to up in Des Moines doesn’t know the first thing about blending men’s haircuts.”

  Will jerked his head away and smoothed his hair back as best he could. “You should know better than anyone how hard it is to find a decent person to cut hair when you move.”

  “No, I wouldn’t know. I’ve had the same hairstylist for the past ten years because I’m not the one who uprooted themselves and moved states away just to escape small town life,” Charlotte countered, her tone drenched with sass. “I’d bet my favorite pair of clippers you’ve been going to some cheap, strip mall stylist, judging by the state of your hair before I got my hands on you.”

  Will heartily rolled his eyes, hoping the heat creeping up his neck wasn’t as apparent as it felt. He and Charlotte might not be children anymore, but she still knew how to be the annoying little sister. Sneaking a peek at Katie, who was now a grown woman compared to the last time he’d seen her, he caught the reserved smile tugging at her lips. Noticing that small gesture from her, Will’s entire face felt like it was erupting with a blush.

  Folding her arms above the crisp white apron tied around her waist, Katie asked, “So you’re the grumpy customer Charlotte had to deal with this morning?”

  “I tipped her well enough that she shouldn’t be complaining about me at all,” Will answered.

&nbs
p; “No arguments there. Will landed a fantastic job at a graphics design firm, and if they do one thing right, they sure seem to be paying him well,” Charlotte said around a mouthful of fritter. Scooting the other over to Will, she gestured for him to eat. “Here. Have one. If you’ve forgotten how delicious the food is here, this’ll jog your memory.”

  “I haven’t forgotten,” Will said. Sliding the plate in front of him, he grabbed the pastry and took an enormous bite, groaning with satisfaction.

  “But I bet it’s been a while since you’ve had some good home cookin’,” Charlotte said, elbowing her brother in the ribs. “You’re getting too thin living life as a bachelor.”

  Katie watched with amusement as Will practically inhaled another mouthful. “That’s how I feel every time I eat anything from the pastry case, too.”

  Running his hand across his mouth while studying the pastry, Will asked, “How do you not stuff yourself with these every morning?”

  “Because then I’d have to stuff myself into my jeans,” Katie answered, eliciting a laugh from the siblings.

  “Right,” Will said before he finished off his breakfast.

  Katie grabbed a fresh sponge and a spray bottle of cleaner and began wiping down the front counter since the morning rush had finally ebbed. “What brings you back to Blessings anyway? From what Charlotte’s told me, she made it sound like you were never going to set foot here again.”

  “I would’ve gladly stayed away if I didn’t have to come back,” Will said flatly. His admission seemed to rub Katie the wrong way, and he could see the hurt in her deep brown eyes, immediately making him regret his choice of words. “I mean, Blessings is a fine enough town, but if it weren’t for my family, I don’t think I’d ever bother to visit.”

  His fumbling correction didn’t make Katie any happier. She glowered at him before turning her attention to a stubborn sticky spot where someone had sloshed syrup off their plate. “Blessings might not be for everyone, but I think it’s one of those rare jewels that people severely underappreciate.”