Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [103]
CHAPTER 30
Katy drove blindly, the tears streaming down her face, her car headed for the Rosedale Bible College. She had to find Megan. She couldn’t face Lil yet. She had to do something to make the pain go away.
At the college, Katy hurried straight to Megan’s room. The door was unlocked, but the room was empty. Katy let herself in. Impatiently, she studied the posters on the wall. The one over Megan’s twin bed had bare hands stretched up, most likely toward God. It read: He is able. Swiping her cheeks, she wished it were that simple. She climbed into Megan’s bed and curled up in a ball. Nothing was simple any longer.
“Katy? Katy!”
Katy felt something shaking her shoulder. Slowly she came out of her stupor, feeling as if she’d slept for one hundred years, but when she took in her surroundings, her memory returned along with her sense of Jake’s betrayal. She met Megan’s gaze. “It’s over.”
Megan plunked on the edge of the bed. “What? Did something happen at the doddy house?”
“No.” Her voice trembled. “It’s Jake.”
“What happened?”
“He loves Jessie.”
Megan’s usually serene face furrowed around her blond brow. “Who’s that?” Then before Katy could reply, Megan’s eyes narrowed. “That girl from OSU?”
“Yes.”
Megan looked aghast. “He told you that?”
“No. But he has her photo on his nightstand. On top of his Bible.”
“I don’t believe it. Wait a minute. Why were you in his room?”
Katy knew that Megan was only questioning her so that she would know how to help. “I was cleaning their house. And it’s true. Jessie has her arm around Erin, like she’s wiggled her way right into the family. Don’t you see? He keeps her picture on his nightstand. He has feelings for her. Yet he had the nerve to tell me he loves me. He’s such a rat, chasing me and acting like it’s me he wants.”
Megan sat in quiet thoughtfulness. Then she asked, “You love him, don’t you?”
Katy nodded and looked at the floor.
Megan stood. She began to pace. “Then you’re going to talk to him about this. And you’re going to ask him why he has Jessie’s picture on his nightstand. Maybe there’s some simple explanation. The last time you guys broke up, you never talked it out. It tore you up afterward. You have to confront him and listen to his explanation.”
“So he can squirm out of it?” Katy demanded angrily.
“Something’s not right about this. I feel like you’re missing some of the pertinent facts.”
“Believe me, I discovered more than I wanted. Now her picture is etched in my memory. Tramp.” Katy clenched her jaw and gripped the bed covering, allowing her jealousy to consume her.
Megan pulled up a chair and sat facing Katy. “Just because she’s an outsider doesn’t make her promiscuous.”
Katy’s mouth flew open. She’d thought of all people, Megan would understand. “You didn’t see her.”
Megan leaned forward, imploring, “But you can’t just accuse him and ruin your relationship without knowing for sure that he loves her. Sometimes things just aren’t the way they look.”
“Yeah? Well, it’s too late for that.” Katy felt her face heat. “I left him a note.”
Megan moaned. “You didn’t.”
Katy stared at the green comforter. “I was so angry that he betrayed me again. He told me he didn’t like her that way.”
Megan patted Katy’s knee. “But there has to be an explanation. You said Erin was in the photo. You want me to tell you what I honestly think?”
Looking up into Megan’s gaze, Katy replied, “Of course. That’s why I’m here.”
Megan’s pink cheeks indicated that she knew Katy came because she needed a caring shoulder more than someone who would lecture her, yet she was going to do it anyway. “I think you’ve never forgiven him. That you’ll never be able to move forward in your relationship until you quit judging him for what he’s done in the past. You live in fear because you can’t control the situation, and you don’t want to get hurt.”
“Of course I don’t want to get hurt!” Katy cried in her own defense.
“It’s not your job