Katie Mae rolled her eyes. “Yes. I’m supposed to do light housework, but half the time I’m watching the grandchildren. They are a handful.”
A small smile lifted the corners of Eli’s mouth. “I’m sure you handle them just fine.” He hesitated a moment, as if weighing his next words. “I imagine it was a little chaotic over there today.”
“Oh, dear, yes. Thank goodness Tiffany wasn’t killed in that horrible plane crash. Mrs. Christopher is beside herself. Her mother didn’t even know she was on the plane until the sheriff showed up at her door to tell her about the crash.”
“How horrible,” Anna said.
Eli made the introductions between the women, then turned to his mother. “So, Father’s still out working in the barn? It’s getting late.”
“He and Samuel are checking on Red.” Katie Mae’s voice grew quiet. “He’s getting old.”
“I brought Red, an Irish setter, home when he was a puppy.” A faraway look settled in his eyes. “Must have been more than twelve years ago.”
“Why don’t you show Anna the extra room upstairs?” Mariam motioned to her daughter. “I’ll go discuss the arrangements with your father.”
* * *
Katie Mae led Anna up the wooden stairs to a bedroom down a short hallway. “Can I get you anything?”
Anna glanced around the tidy room. The furnishings were sparse but clean. A beautiful quilt in shades of blue and green covered the bed. A lone calendar was tacked to the wall. “This is fine. Thank you.”
“The bathroom is at the end of the hallway. I will put some clean linens on the chair.” The young woman’s blue gown rustled around her ankles, revealing black laced boots. “If you’d like, I’ll make you some tea and a little something to eat.”
“Thank you.”
Katie Mae paused at the door, and curiosity lit her face. “Is my brother courting you?”
Anna shook her head. “Oh, no. We just met today.”
The young woman frowned. “Too bad.” She shrugged. “He could use someone in his life. He’s too tied up in his job... Well, your tea will be downstairs.” She turned on her heel and disappeared, leaving Anna mildly amused by the question.
Anna flopped down on the bed and closed her eyes. She nearly groaned when she remembered she’d have to retrieve her suitcase from her car. She had packed for a week, knowing she’d have to take care of her brother’s apartment in Apple Creek and other details.
“Are the accommodations okay?”
Anna sat up and adjusted the hem of her shirt. Eli leaned on the door frame, a strange look on his face. He had shed his suit coat and rolled his white shirt sleeves to his elbows. Realizing she was staring, she dropped her gaze.
“Oh, man, you’re a lifesaver.” She stood, relieved to see her suitcase at his feet.
“I try.” He stepped into the room, brushing past her, and set the case on the trunk at the foot of the bed. She was keenly aware of him sharing the small space. “I still had your car keys from this morning.” Eli tossed them on the dresser. “I’ll let you get settled.” He turned to leave.
“Wait.”
He paused in the doorway and glanced over his shoulder.
“I appreciate all you’ve done for me today.” She held up her palms. “Including this room. But tomorrow I’ll go to the motel, because I really don’t think I could stay at my brother’s place. It would just be too hard.” She bit her lower lip.
“One day at a time.” The kindness in his eyes warmed her heart.
She tilted her head, studying him. “You grew up here? You’re Amish?” She blurted out the questions on the tip of her tongue. She had no right to be intrusive, but she couldn’t help herself.
Smiling, he pivoted on his heel. Dark whiskers colored his square jaw. “There is nothing to tell. I was born into the Amish community, but I am not Amish. I left before I was baptized.”
Anna narrowed her eyes. “And your parents are okay with that? I thought if you left, you were shunned for life or something.”
Eli stepped back and leaned against the windowsill. He undid the knot of his tie. Pulling one end, he unlaced it from his collar, then he ran the silky material through his fingers. “They tolerate the occasional visit, but I’m careful not to overstay my welcome. I don’t want to cause them any trouble.” He looked like he wanted to say more but didn’t. “My parents were disappointed I didn’t choose to stay. All Amish parents dream of their children accepting their way of life.”
“But it wasn’t for you?”
He folded the tie accordion style and gripped it in one hand. He looked up and met her gaze. “It’s complicated.” He crossed the room and adjusted the brightness on the lamp. “Do you have everything you need? There should be a flashlight in the drawer, too.”
Unable to hide her amusement, she shrugged.
“A few less modern conveniences than you’re used to?”
“How’d you guess?” She arched an eyebrow.
“The light is fueled by a propane tank in the nightstand.”
Anna jerked her head back, marveling at the ingenuity.
“Are these accommodations okay with you? I didn’t want to offend my mother when she extended the invitation. I think you’ll find it far more comfortable than the Apple Creek Motel.” He stuffed his hands into his pocket and crossed his ankles.
“It’s fine. Thanks. Really, you’ve been too kind.”
He pulled out his cell phone. “You won’t get reception here, either. If there’s someone you need to contact at home, a boyfriend, maybe, we can go to the neighbors. I don’t mind driving you.” Was there a glint of expectation in his eyes, or was she imagining it?
“No. There’s no one.” A pain stabbed her heart and she sat back down on the edge of the bed. Then realizing how pathetic she sounded, she added, “I’ll update work next week.”
“I’m sorry about your brother,” Eli said. “It’s hard to lose someone close to you.” He spoke the words as if from experience, but she figured she had pried enough already tonight.
“I can’t believe he’s gone.” She ran her hands up and down her arms. “I dread going to his apartment. It’s going to be hard to pack away his things.” Once again tears burned the backs of her eyes. “My brother had called me a few times recently, but I never called him back.” Her voice cracked.
Eli left his perch at the windowsill and sat next to her on the bed, pulling her hand into his. “Take it one day at a time.”
Their eyes locked. An emotional connection sparked between them. The walls of the bedroom seemed to close in on her, and she closed her eyes to stop the swaying. Exhaustion was catching up with her.
“I avoided my brother’s calls because I couldn’t deal with him and the demands of my job. He seemed so different after the war. Paranoid. I used to tell him he reminded me of Mel Gibson in Conspiracy Theory.” She ran a shaky hand over her mouth. “Remember that movie?” She bowed her head. “I’m so ashamed. I spent my life helping the students at school but I couldn’t take five minutes to answer a call from my brother.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. You didn’t know.” He squeezed her hand.
Her mouth twisted in skepticism. “But if I hadn’t avoided him, I would have known something was wrong. Now I’ll never have another chance to talk to him. To tell him I love him.”
Bowing