Katy stood staring after him. Bryce and Caleb looked a lot alike. They both had red hair, although Caleb’s was more red than blond and Bryce’s more blond than red; they were nearly the same height and build; and both had a spattering of freckles. But while Caleb made Katy want to run the opposite direction, she had no desire to run away from Bryce. She liked Bryce. He wasn’t Mennonite, but he was nice. She wished he’d have talked to her a little longer.
Someone tapped her arm, and reluctantly she shifted her attention away from Bryce. Shelby stood grinning at her. “Did you look in the trophy case when you got to school this morning?”
Katy shook her head. She’d been in a hurry to get to the home ec room before the Bible study began. Her pulse sped up. “Is it there?”
“It’s there.” Shelby tugged her down the hall. “C’mon. The warning bell will ring in a few minutes, but we’ve got time for a peek.”
The girls trotted to the front foyer, and Shelby led Katy to the case holding debate trophies. Right in front, on a low shelf, sat the trophy she helped win. She pressed her nose to the glass and let out a giggle. “Oh, look! There’s my name.” Right next to Bryce’s. She liked the way their names looked together.
“Yep. Totally cool.” Shelby rested her shoulder against the glass and shook her head. “It would scare me to death to get up in front of judges and argue like you did. But your first time out, you get a trophy. It’s gotta feel good.”
“Well…” Katy ducked her head, pushing down the feeling of pride that tried to rise. “I didn’t get it all on my own. Paul, Marlys, and Bryce helped.”
“I suppose that’s true. But, still, you had to do your part or you guys wouldn’t have won.” Shelby made a face. “My dad wants me to do debate at least one year. He says it helps prepare you for the future.”
Katy tore her gaze away from the trophy to look at Shelby. “Really? How?”
“He says no matter what job a person gets, there are always times you have to present yourself to others. You have to be confident enough to speak your mind. So he’s encouraging me to do debate next year.”
Katy couldn’t help but smile. “That would be great, Shelby. If the deacons and my dad let me come back next year, then maybe we could be partners.” Unless I can be partners with Bryce…Would she really choose Bryce over Shelby?
“If I could be your partner, it might be okay.” Shelby didn’t look certain. “I don’t know for sure if I’ll do it. I’m still thinking about it.”
“But your dad really thinks it’s a good thing to learn to…to speak your mind?”
“Well, sure. Otherwise people run right over the top of you.” Shelby pushed her streaky blonde hair behind her ears. “I mean, we’re Christians, so we aren’t supposed to be mean and pushy about it, but if we never speak up, how will people know what we believe? Dad preaches a lot about speaking the truth in love. It takes courage to do that.”
Thoughts bounced around in Katy’s brain. She grabbed Shelby’s wrist. “Shelby, do you think it’s ever okay to do something, well, sort of sneaky, if the reason for it is good?”
Shelby frowned. “Sneaky? Like a surprise or something?”
“Not a surprise really. Just to keep something bad from happening.”
Shelby shrugged. “I don’t know how stopping something bad from happening could be wrong. I mean, take Jewel. She wants to go back to her mom really badly. But the social worker and my folks know it wouldn’t be best for her, so they keep her living with us. She doesn’t always like it, but it’s really for her good.”
Katy nodded eagerly. “So doing something that’s for someone’s good, even if they might not see it that way, really is right.”
“I guess so.” Shelby grinned. “What’re you doing anyway? You don’t have a foster kid living with you.”
And if she had her way, Katy wouldn’t have a stepmother living with her either. “Oh, nothing really. I just wondered what you thought.” She hadn’t been completely truthful. Her conscience pricked again. She could tell Shelby about her plan to keep Dad from marrying Mrs. Graber. Shelby wasn’t as critical as Annika. She’d surely understand.
Katy opened her mouth, but Shelby said, “Oh, before I forget, would you pray for Bridget’s family? Her dad lost his job, and he needs another one fast or they’ll lose their house. Bridget is pretty worried about it.”
Katy nodded. “Of course I will. And can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure,” Shelby said, but the buzzer rang, signaling the start of first hour. “But later, huh? We better get to class.” Shelby headed for the hallway, and Katy walked alongside her. The opportunity to share slipped away, and by the end of first hour Katy decided that was okay. The fewer people who knew her plan, the better.
Chapter Ten
The final week of first semester flew by, and Katy could hardly believe Christmas was just around the corner. Although the weather had been cold, they still hadn’t gotten any snow. Katy felt a little selfish, but she prayed for snow for Christmas. Somehow it just didn’t feel right to celebrate that special holiday unless the ground held a covering of white.
The first Saturday of her break, Dad woke her at five o’clock in the morning to go out to the barn and help with the milking. Katy hadn’t fully appreciated Caleb’s presence, but she begrudgingly changed her mind as she tugged on coveralls, stumbled into the milking room, and set to work. Her fingers were clumsy after her long break from helping with the milking. Dad didn’t get after her, even though his cows shuffled through much more quickly than the ones on her side of the room.
She yawned while she worked and wished she could go back up to bed, but after they finished milking she’d need to fix breakfast then get ready for her and Dad’s trip to the Salina mall. When they got home again, she had housecleaning to do. But at least no homework! Two whole weeks without homework. That gave her a reason to smile.
When the last cow ambled out to the pasture, Dad shut off the machines and grinned at Katy. “I’ll feed them while you’re cooking breakfast. Waffles sound good to me.”
Katy’s stomach growled. She scrambled out of her coveralls and reached up to put them on their hook. “To me too.” And waffles were easy—that made it even better.
“Then after we eat, we can relax a little bit before we head for Salina. The mall doesn’t open until nine o’clock, so we don’t need to be in a big rush.”
Katy yawned again. “So maybe I can take a nap before we leave?”
Dad laughed. “A short one maybe. But hurry on into the house now and get those waffles started. I’m hungry.”
Two hours later, Dad and Katy climbed into Dad’s pickup and set off down the road. Katy searched the sky for signs of snow. The sky was the same color as the old galvanized tub that sat beside the back steps and held the flowers Katy planted in the summertime. Solid gray. She sighed and looked at Dad. “Do you think we’ll have snow for Christmas?”
Dad glanced at the sky too, then shrugged. “Hard to say, Katy-girl. You know how quickly the weather changes around here. I know the farmers are hoping for snow—ground needs the moisture.”
“I’m praying for snow,” she said, and Dad sent an approving smile in her direction. She knew he thought her prayers were for the farmers rather than herself, but she didn’t correct him. She liked seeing him smile.
He slowed the truck and turned onto the road that led to Schellberg instead of driving straight to the highway. Katy frowned. “Aren’t we going to the mall?”
“Sure we are.”
“But the mall’s that way.” She pointed east.
“I know, but we need to trade vehicles at Grampa’s place and pick up Mrs. Graber.”
Katy’s mouth fell open. “Mrs. Graber is coming too?”
“Didn’t I tell you that?”
“No. You just said we’d be going.”
Dad scratched his chin. “I thought I did. It must have slipped my mind. I’m sorry, Katy-girl.” He sounded sincere. “She wants to do s
ome last-minute shopping too, and she isn’t as familiar with Salina as we are. So she asked to go along. Is that all right with you?”
Katy had looked forward to a day with Dad. But how could she gracefully refuse? And hadn’t she been hoping for the chance to be extra nice to the woman so Dad could see she didn’t need a mother’s influence? She tossed her cap ribbons over her shoulders. “Sure it’s all right. She hasn’t come out as much since the weather turned cold. It’ll be nice to see her.”
Dad’s eyebrows shot up like Katy had surprised him, but then he smiled. “Well, good!” Dad reached across the seat and squeezed Katy’s shoulder. Even through her coat, she felt the warmth of his hand. “I know she’s looking forward to some time with us too.”
A funny feeling wiggled through Katy’s stomach. This pretending wasn’t easy. “Then let’s go.”
The minute Katy and Dad hopped out of the truck, Mrs. Graber stepped onto the porch. She wore a dark green wool coat that made her eyes look as green as clover. She smiled and waved. “You’re right on time, Samuel!” Her smile shifted to Katy. “Hello, Kathleen. I imagine you’re happy to be on break.”
Apparently, Dad discussed Katy’s schedule with Mrs. Graber. Katy felt her lips quiver with her smile. “Yes. It’s nice to have some time off. But I’ll be ready to go back too.”
“Oh, yes, you’re an eager learner. That’s a good thing.”
How weird that this woman knew so much about her. Katy didn’t know what to say, so she hunched deeper into her coat and turned to Dad. “Whose car are we taking? Grampa Ben’s?”
“No, we’re taking mine,” Mrs. Graber answered. She dropped a ring of keys into Dad’s hand. “But your dad is going to drive us. I don’t care to drive in unfamiliar cities.”
Katy followed Dad and Mrs. Graber to her four-door sedan. She couldn’t resist diving on the opening Mrs. Graber had provided. “I bet you’ll be really happy to be back in Meschke then, where you know all the streets and feel completely at ease.”
“I am very at home in Meschke,” Mrs. Graber replied, seemingly unoffended by Katy’s comment. “But since Schellberg isn’t any bigger, I don’t feel ill-at-ease here, either.” She laughed lightly. “Salina, however, is different!”
Dad opened the front passenger door and gestured for Mrs. Graber to get in. He slammed the door and then glanced at Katy. “Hop in, Katy-girl—it’s cold out here.”
He didn’t seem perturbed. Apparently, her tone had met with his approval. But he hadn’t opened her door, the way he did for Mrs. Graber. Stifling a growl, Katy climbed in behind Mrs. Graber. Dad slid behind the wheel, adjusted the seat and the mirrors, and started the motor. He shot a quick look at Katy. “Buckle up, Katy-girl.” As soon as she snapped in, he pulled out of the yard and aimed the car for the highway.
He looked awfully comfortable driving Mrs. Graber’s car. Katy wondered if he’d driven it some other time already. The two grown-ups chatted, apparently forgetting Katy sat in the backseat. She folded her arms over her chest and glared at the little white cap on Mrs. Graber’s head. Her excitement for the shopping venture faded fast as Mrs. Graber and Dad laughed and talked like old friends. Why had she even bothered to come if they weren’t going to include her?
Don’t pout, she reminded herself. Be nice. Remember your plan.
Katy waited for a break in the conversation then tapped Mrs. Graber on the shoulder. “Mrs. Graber, who are you shopping for today?”
Mrs. Graber shifted slightly to smile into the backseat. “I have almost all of my gift-buying done, but I need some fabric to sew kitchen curtains for my daughter. She and her husband just moved into a bigger house, and she doesn’t like the curtains in the kitchen. So I said I’d make some for her.”
Katy knew very little about Mrs. Graber’s family. Gramma Ruthie had mentioned Mrs. Graber had three children, all grown, but that’s all Katy knew. “Does she live in Meschke?”
Mrs. Graber shook her head. For a moment, sadness sagged her face. “No. She moved to Iowa when she got married two years ago.” Then she smiled. “But my oldest son lives in Meschke, on our family farm, and my younger son is nearby in Meade. We’ll all be together for Christmas too.”
“So you’re going to Meschke for Christmas?” Katy asked. She hoped she didn’t sound too eager to get rid of the woman.
“Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”
Dad inserted, “But she’ll be back in mid-January.” He glanced at her. “Right?”
Mrs. Graber turned to smile at Dad’s profile. “Yes. I promised the fellowship ladies I’d help finish that quilt for the relief sale.”
“And after that?” Katy knew she probably shouldn’t ask, but she couldn’t stop herself.
Mrs. Graber kept her face aimed at Dad. “After that…we’ll see.”
Katy quickly looked out the window. The “we’ll see” sounded like a hint to Dad. Her thoughts raced. If Mrs. Graber left before Christmas and didn’t come back until mid-January, she’d have three weeks to show Dad how unnecessary the woman was. Her skin tingled in anticipation. She could do a lot of convincing in three weeks.
Dad turned into the mall parking lot. The lot was crowded, and he had to park at the far end away from the main entrance. The wind stung Katy’s cheeks as she trotted toward the mall. She walked as close to Dad’s side as possible, allowing his larger bulk to block some of the wind. Mrs. Graber walked on his other side, close enough that her elbow and Dad’s pressed against each other. Katy tried not to stare.
Inside, Dad shrugged out of his coat and draped it over his arm. “So where to first?” Instead of looking at Katy, he looked at Mrs. Graber.
Katy unbuttoned her coat and purposely bumped Dad’s arm with her elbow. “Can we go to the craft store first? I want to look for some of those plaques decorated with inspirational sayings or Bible verses.”
Dad tucked his arm closer to his side. “Is that all right with you, Rosemary?”
Since when had this shopping day become Mrs. Graber’s day? Irritation prickled through Katy’s middle, and she bit the end of her tongue to keep from complaining.
“Just fine. I enjoy browsing craft stores.”
Dad took hold of Mrs. Graber’s elbow and guided her down the tiled walkway toward the craft store. Katy tried to walk alongside him, but other shoppers bustling through the wide hall forced her to drop behind. When they reached the craft store, Dad paused and gestured Katy to catch up.
“I’m not sure which section you need. Lead the way.”
Temptation to loop her arm through Dad’s elbow and keep him close billowed like a storm cloud. For as long as she could remember, she’d taken second place to the cows. Now she was being forced to take third place—behind the cows and Mrs. Graber. Katy wanted to grit her teeth and tell Dad how unfair he was being—instead, she flashed a quick grin and darted around the two adults. “Come with me.” The display of wooden and tin plaques was pretty picked over, but Katy found two she liked. She held both at arm’s length, trying to decide.
“What do you think, Dad? Which one would Annika like best?”
Dad shook his head and held up his hands. “I wouldn’t know, Katy.”
Mrs. Graber stepped forward and carefully examined both plaques. “Isn’t Annika the girl whose sister in getting married in January?”
Katy nodded. “Yes. Taryn is marrying her beau.”
“Well, then, she’s probably feeling a little left out with all the attention on her sister. So I think the one that says You are loved.”
Katy liked that one best too. The flowing script reminded her of the fancy calligraphy Annika liked to do, and the saying could mean Annika was loved by God, her family, and Katy. But even so, for one brief second, Katy considered putting it back just because Mrs. Graber had selected it. Quickly, before she could change her mind, she put the other one on the shelf.
“Okay. That’s for Annika. All I have left is Gramma Ruthie.”
Dad began walking toward the row of checkout counter
s at the front of the store. Katy fell into step behind Dad, and Mrs. Graber stayed beside her. Between dodging shopping carts and other shoppers, they made slow progress. Mrs. Graber asked, “What did you have in mind for your grandma?”
The past two years, she’d made aprons for Gramma Ruthie. She didn’t want to do that again. “Maybe some placemats and matching napkins…” Katy mused aloud. “She has people over for meals so often, I thought she might like some new ones.”
“That’s a fine idea, Kathleen. So you need to go to the fabric store too.”
“I’ll probably get fabric at my aunt Rebecca’s shop in Schellberg,” Katy said.
“Ah, yes.” Mrs. Graber nodded wisely. “You work for her sometimes, don’t you? And she pays you with store credit instead of an hourly wage.”
Was there anything Mrs. Graber didn’t already know? Katy felt as though someone had peeled back her skin and showed this woman her insides.
Mrs. Graber went on. “She has a nice shop, but I couldn’t find anything heavy enough for curtains.”
Just then, they passed the sewing section of the craft store. A bold purple fabric—what Aunt Rebecca called a tone-on-tone—caught Katy’s eye. She came to a stop and called, “Dad! Dad, wait a minute!”
Dad turned back, nearly bumping into another shopper. After excusing himself, he bustled to Katy’s side. “What?”
“Look at this. Isn’t it pretty?” Katy held the loose end of the bolt out. The light caught the fabric, bringing the large checked purple-on-purple pattern into view. Katy had never seen a prettier fabric. Oh, why couldn’t Aunt Rebecca have this fabric in her store?
Dad shrugged. “I suppose. It’s awfully purple.”
“I really, really like it.” Katy smoothed her hand over the fabric. Her favorite flowers in the summertime were pansies. The fabric’s rich color closely matched their velvety purple petals. Somewhere in the back of her mind she carried a memory of her mother planting pansies along the east side of the house. Or at least she thought she did. The memories were so fuzzy, sometimes it was hard to know if they were real or imagined. She smoothed the fabric again.
Katy's Debate (Katy Lambright Series, The) Page 7
