Page 38 of Unforgiven

“I don’t mind.” He waved a hand toward the pair of doors down the small hallway. “Bathroom’s down there if you want to wash up.”

“Danke.”

When she disappeared from view, he breathed a sigh of relief. He needed a moment to try to figure out what to say to her. And to prepare himself for what she’d come to tell him.

Then he remembered the Scripture verse from Proverbs: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. He figured the good Lord had a point there.

“Seth, your bathroom is so pretty,” Melonie said when she returned to the kitchen.

He laughed as he carried their plates to the table. “I don’t think bathrooms can be called that.”

“I think they can. I like all the tile.”

Two of the walls in the small bathroom were covered floor to ceiling with tiles in various shades of blue. “Thanks. A guy I met in prison learned to tile there. He gave me a deal.”

She got the milk out of the refrigerator and poured two glasses. “Have Mamm and Daed seen your haus?”

“You know they haven’t.”

“Maybe they should,” she said as she sat down.

“Let us give thanks.” He bowed his head and silently prayed while she did the same. Then he asked, “So what did you want to talk to me about?”

“Do you think I like Lott so much because he’s here?”

“Like, he’s the best choice because you don’t have a lot of other men to choose from?”

“Jah.”

Chewing, he thought about that. “I’m not sure.”

“That’s unhelpful.”

“I reckon so, but it’s the truth. I haven’t seen the two of you together, and I don’t know what’s in your heart. But I feel like I should remind you that you’re still young, Mel. There’s no hurry, is there?”

“I don’t know.”

“Mel, you’re only seventeen. Trust me. There’s no hurry. You don’t need to rush into any relationship.”

“So I should take my time with Lott?”

He nodded. “Talk to him. Ask him questions. Let him ask you things and see what he thinks about your answers. Pray about it. Talk to God about what you want.” Seth felt like rolling his eyes. As far as he was concerned, he was the last person in Crittenden County who should be giving relationship advice.

“What should I do about Mamm and Daed?”

This was trickier. “Our parents are good people. They love you.”

“And . . .”

“And I know you want to respect their wishes, but they’re not always right.” Then he thought of Tabitha and how scared she was of Leon. “And . . . they can’t live your life with you. Only you will do that.”

Melonie stared at him for a long moment. She took another bite of her sandwich and washed it down with a sip of milk, then finally spoke. “I like that idea.”

“Good.”

She held his gaze. “I want to come over more, Seth. I like it here. I like you here.”

He chuckled. “Do you think I’m different here?”

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