Page 462 of Conveniently Wed
She endured her sisters’ happy chatter. Her fork circled the plate, and she played with the dessert, unable to pull herself from the smothering pain.
“Katie?”
Pa’s voice snapped her to attention.
“I’ll walk you back to the house. The days are getting shorter again, and it’s almost dark.”
She nodded and rose from the chair, doing her best to summon a smile as she kissed each sister on the cheek, then turned to Ma. “Thanks for dessert.”
Ma’s eyes shifted to the untouched pie and back to Katie. Without words, she pulled her into a hug, her embrace awkward yet sincere. “Come visit again soon. The kids and Pa miss you. I miss you.”
Her stumbling attempt at showing she cared soothed the raw edge of Katie’s hurting heart. She tried to smile through the gathering tears and nodded. “I will.”
She’d forced her tears back into submission by the time she and Pa walked in silence through the orchard. The pungent smell of ripened fruit bit into the air. The moon crested in the waning light of a clear sky. The first star of the evening pierced the darkening horizon.
She remembered another walk in this very orchard, a first kiss, a warm embrace. Liquid warmth stole across her heart and settled in her soul. If only she could turn back the hands of time and change some of her decisions.
“What is it, Katie girl?” Pa asked.
She sighed. The time had come. She had to face this. “I don’t know where to begin.” She stopped walking and turned toward him. “I need God. I’ve made such a mess of my life.”
A grin brightened his lined face and he pulled her into a hug. “I have been praying for this moment.” He clutched her tightly as a chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve been praying. We all need God, but it’s getting to the point of acknowledging that fact that’s so difficult.” Pa kept his arm around her shoulder as they walked on. “Let me tell you a little about the God I’ve come to know…”
30
Katie woke the following day with a lightness in her soul she couldn’t explain. She slipped from her bed and swung open the curtains. The early morning light streamed in, and she welcomed it with a smile. Somehow, the weight of her troubles lifted as if she no longer carried them, and, although her circumstances were the same, nothing was the same. The constant despair that had nipped at her mind was gone, and joy bubbled inside her.
She should dress and go in search of Delilah. She couldn’t wait to tell her.
Katie rushed from room to room in excitement. Where was that lady? And then, it came to her. Thursday morning was Delilah’s bread-baking day. Katie picked up her skirt and ran to the summer kitchen.
Delilah’s large frame was bent toward the oven as she slid the well-formed rounds of dough in.
“Delilah.”
Delilah whirled around with her hand to her chest. “Land sakes, child. You scared me good. Why you up so early?”
“I have something wonderful to tell you. We now share the same Father.”
Delilah’s face brightened as if the sun shone right on it. “Well, I be jiggered. Praise be to Jesus.” She lifted her arms to the heavens, then opened them to Katie.
She stepped into the warm embrace. The smell of bread dough and lavender soap filled her senses as Delilah held her in her fleshy arms. After a moment, she pulled back. “We’re going to have a special dinner tonight. And you tell that husband of yours to show up. Don’t you be taking no for an answer either.” She raised her eyes heavenward. “Let the miracles begin.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sweet Jesus can bring healing to your marriage. Yes, He can.” She squeezed Katie’s shoulders. “And it starts with that boy joining us for supper.”
A new hope flared in Katie’s chest. “I’ll go find him straight away.”
She couldn’t explain the boldness, but she wasn’t afraid to approach Josiah when she found him in the barn. “Supper is at six today, and I’d like you to join us.”
His brows shot up, and she stifled a grin. “See you then.” She turned and sauntered away with her head held high and a bounce in her step.
With extra care, she readied herself, requesting for the first time in many months that Ruby spend time on her hair. She needed more than the usual knot she did herself at the nape of her neck.
As Ruby fussed with Katie’s rich, thick tresses she huffed. “You’ll have to forgive me. I’m hopelessly out of practice.”
“You’ll do fine. Anything will be better than the way I’ve been looking as of late.” She laughed as joy bubbled in her soul. She felt so alive.
