Page 21 of Unforgotten

“You can tell him yourself.”

Bethanne felt her cheeks burn. “Mamm, please don’t make me do that.”

“All I’m making you do is be the woman I raised you to be. Don’t disappoint me.”

As Bethanne opened her mouth to protest, her mother headed down the hall.

Still in the doorway, thinking over their conversation, Bethanne felt ashamed. Her mother was right. Bethanne hadn’t been raised to treat people rudely. She was going to have to go see him.

Bethanne reached for her kapp, intending to take it off and smooth her hair underneath. But that brought back memories of primping for meetings with Peter. As if to make a point to herself, she left her hair and kapp alone. She also bypassed the bathroom. She didn’t want to glance at her unkempt appearance and be tempted to improve it.

Walking down the stairs, Bethanne mentally rolled her eyes at her foolishness.For sure and for certain you’re going to show him, she thought sarcastically.You’re going to look like you just rolled out of bed.

He’d likely leave their house, glad to never have a reason to step foot inside it again.

“You have much to learn about pride,” she whispered to herself.

When she reached the base of the stairs, she squared her shoulders and walked into the living room, where Jay and her mother were sitting across from each other and chatting like old friends. Her mother was speaking, but when Jay noticed Bethanne, he turned his head to watch her approach.

He stood up. “Hey.”

Practically feeling her mother’s watchful gaze, she looked Jay in the eye. “Hi.”

“Bethanne, would you care for a cup of coffee?” Mamm asked.

“Nee. Danke.” She needed to stay firm, because a hot cup of fresh coffee did sound pretty good.

“I’ll leave you two alone, then.”

Bethanne knew her mother was disappointed by her lackluster attitude. Jay’s expression was carefully controlled. Revealing nothing. But a new tension lay between them. Or maybe it was the same tension that was always present but now there was the added layer of disappointment.

Jay sat back down, practically daring her to say what she’d come to say.

She wasn’t one to go back on her promise to her mother. Sitting down across from him, she said, “How are you today?”

“I’m well. Danke.” He sipped his coffee.

She noticed it was only half-drunk. “How is work?”

“It’s fine, thank you.”

She folded her hands in her lap. Relaxed when he took another sip of coffee.

“I heard rain’s in the forecast,” he said.

“Jah. Perhaps it will cool things off.”

“I suppose.

Looking down at her hands, she wondered how much longer this visit had to last. Another five minutes? Ten?

He cleared his throat. “Bethanne, if you have something on your mind, I’d like to hear it.”

“Fine.” Taking a fortifying breath, she blurted, “I don’t know how to say this without sounding blunt, so I’m sorry for it. But the fact of the matter is that I don’t wish you to call on me again.”

He looked unfazed by her rudeness. “Why?”

“You know why. There’s too much history between us. Too much to get over. Too much to ignore.”

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