Page 57 of Safe With You

“Oh, yeah, the cashier just thought we were dating.” She waved it off but noticed Ethan didn’t crack a joke like she’d been expecting. That was strange. Maybe her face was redder than she thought, and he didn’t want to embarrass her.

She brushed the strange reaction away once they were out the door.

Since they had time yet before lunch, they visited Hobby Lobby next. She hadn’t intended to buy anything, but she found a set of colorful twinkle lights that were on sale and would add a cozy glow to the cottage and a cute wind chime for the porch. Ethan bought a pretty frame for his mom and a mug for Becca, which Katie thought was sweet. By the time they had finished, her stomach had begun to growl with the thought of a good burger.

On their way to Red Robin, she took in the forested slope of one of the highest points in Wisconsin. “It’s been so long since I’ve been up to Rib Mountain. I think the last time was Joel’s birthday. The time we all went out to eat and then up to the tower.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right. So, you’ve never been to the quarry, have you?”

“No.”

“We’ll have to talk to Becca and see if Joel can come with us. He’s the one who took us there the first time. He’d just been there with some buddies and wanted to show us. Along the way, he took us on what he thought was a shortcut. We ended up so lost we found private property signs. It took us over an hour to find our way back. By the time we actually reached the quarry, we were all so tired we didn’t think we’d make it back to the parking lot. Megan swore she’d never do it again.”

Katie laughed, imagining the four traipsing up and down the hill. Joel had probably gotten an earful along the way. “Sounds like a good time, even if it was a misadventure. I wish I could have been there.”

“Me too.” He wore a wistful smile. “It became a good spiritual illustration of what happens when we take shortcuts and make our own path instead of staying on God’s path. Makes a good story for youth group, much to Joel’s chagrin.”

She laughed again.

Once seated at the restaurant, they ordered their favorites. It had been a long time since Katie had eaten at Red Robin since Drew usually took her to more upscale restaurants for their dates, but cheeseburgers and onion rings were more her style. She asked Ethan about the upcoming wedding, and he gave her what details he knew about how Abby had met her fiancé.

Katie had almost finished her burger when her phone dinged from her purse. The generic, default tone didn’t belong to anyone she knew. Curious, she pulled the phone out. The notification showed a number instead of a name and, below it, a text that was too long to fit in the preview. She frowned and opened it.

Only a few words in, an upwelling of dread pressed in on her full stomach. The text contained some of the vilest language she’d ever had the misfortune of reading, and it claimed she’d get what she deserved for keeping all the money and cottage for herself. She swallowed hard as she finished, unsure whether to be angry, scared, or both. Whichever it was, the turmoil must have played out on her face.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

She met Ethan’s concerned gaze. “It’s a text, I assume from Christopher.” He wasn’t in her contacts, but no one else would have sent her such a disgusting text. Something like that was beneath Grant. “He must have gotten my number from Mom.”

She handed the phone to Ethan to read. While the text didn’t contain anything directly threatening, she felt better sharing it with another person, just in case. His brows drew together as he read.

“It definitely sounds like Christopher.” A troubled look remained on his face as he handed the phone back.

She glanced at the text again, cringing at the words. “It’s like they’re all taking turns trying to pressure or guilt me into giving up the cottage and splitting Grandma’s money.” She should have anticipated her brother would still try to have his say. “Sometimes I wonder if I should just give them the money. Maybe then they’d be satisfied and leave me alone.”

“I can’t tell you what to do, but your grandma purposely left it for you. She wanted you to have it, not them. She would love to see you using it for a fresh start.”

Katie nodded. She wasn’t seriously considering it; she was just getting really tired of the situation. A part of her had hoped it was over after the last confrontation with Grant. She should have known better. Christopher was too dramatic and immature to let it go quietly.

Chapter Twenty-five

Katie had just finished her daily devotions on Monday morning when Drew called. They hadn’t talked over the weekend except by text since he’d been busy with surgery and an extended family get-together.

“Any more texts from Christopher?” he asked after they exchanged greetings.

“No, just the one text.” She’d sent him a screenshot after she and Ethan had gotten home on Friday. “I’m just glad he hasn’t tried to call me or leave any messages. I’m sure they’d be just as bad.”

There was a brief pause. “I still think you should move back here. I know you’d be closer to them, but getting the authorities involved would be much easier with you here. Besides, I assume you’ll need a job sooner rather than later. Are you intending to stay up there so long you’d get one there?”

Katie didn’t answer immediately. She hated talking about her living situation since it was always a source of friction between them. “I wasn’t thinking about a job right now since I’ve just started working on The Ruby Thread.”

“Katie, it’s a hobby. You’ll never be able to make a real living off it.”

She sucked in a breath, her muscles going rigid. Had he really just dismissed her dreams and all the work she was putting into them? “You don’t know that.”

A sigh came over the phone. “I’m just looking at it realistically. You’re finally in a place where you can get yourself in a good financial position. If you keep relying on your grandma’s money in hopes your plans will take off, you’ll end up back where you were before she died. I want to make sure you’re in a stable position for your own well-being.”

Irritation still prickled inside her even as she tried to appreciate that he was looking out for her. Surely, he could show a little support for her dreams. It might be a long shot, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t try. Most dreams involved risk, and it was a risk she was willing to take.

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