Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [107]
She had already relented that the computer was necessary for his future as a businessman. He was right that the church allowed its members to use the computer for business purposes but strongly discouraged its use as a social outlet. They frowned upon browsing the Internet just for the sake of entertainment for the same reasons they discouraged owning televisions.
“Let me show you the site; then you can decide.”
The light shining through the kitchen window assured her they would not be alone in the house. “I guess.”
Inside the house, there was an awkward moment when Ann acted surprised to see Katy. It grew even more awkward when Jake explained, “Katy needs to use my computer.”
Ann glanced at the clock. “I guess it’s not too late.”
Katy felt the other woman’s disapproval. “We can do it another time,” she protested.
But Jake grabbed her hand and started leading her toward the stairway. “It won’t take long.”
“You want to come with us?” Katy threw over her shoulder.
“Sure. Let me just get Minnie situated. I’ll be right up.”
“Chicken,” Jake whispered.
At the top of the steps, they turned right, and he opened his bedroom door and motioned her inside. She forced her gaze to his desk rather than across the room to his nightstand.
Behind them, Ann called up the stairwell, “I’ll bring cookies.”
“Is she nervous about us being up here alone? Or is she mad at me?”
“Just playing the chaperone.”
Katy nodded, hoping that was true while Jake slipped into the chair and booted up his computer. While he was fiddling with his mouse, she couldn’t resist the urge any longer and glanced over at his nightstand. To her glee, the photograph was gone.
“What did you do with it?” she asked.
He knew what she meant and quickly replied, “I took it out of the frame and stuck it in my high school yearbook.”
“What about praying for them?”
“Funny. After our spat, I realized it had become such a habit to pray for Erin that I didn’t need the photo to remind me.”
“Of course you can pray for Jessie, too.” She couldn’t be that controlling. Could she?
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Thanks. Here’s the site I was telling you about.” He pushed back from the desk. “You sit down.”
Feeling a tad nervous, for she hadn’t used a computer since high school, which made it a couple of years now, she took his chair and stared at the unfamiliar screen.
“You just type your ad”—he hovered behind her and pointed at a blank space—“there.”
“I see. But I’m still considering if I really want to do this.” She brought up a new argument. “By using the computer, it’s pretty certain anyone who replies to the ad will be an outsider.”
“The church bulletin board hasn’t helped you,” he reminded.
“I know. I just hate using the Internet.”
“If you get work with an outsider, you can always quit if you get a better position.”
She worried her lip. “Oh fine.” She started typing, surprised when her keyboard ability returned easily:
Need housecleaning jov,
“Oops.” She backspaced and typed again:
job, one or two days a week. Experienced with references.
She paused and glanced over her shoulder. “Now what?” He rested his hands on her shoulders. “You need to type in my e-mail address.”
“You have e-mail?” she snapped, instantly regretting her judgmental tone when she felt his hands tense in frustration. “Never mind. Give it to me.” She typed it into the appropriate space. “Guess you’re now my agent.”
He gently kneaded her shoulders and whispered, “That and anything else you allow me to be.”
His patience struck her. He was waiting for her to express her trust, her love. He was also waiting for her to initiate their next kiss. He could have stolen one earlier when they were stargazing, but he hadn’t. For years, Jake had carried the knowledge that Katy wanted to marry him—she had blurted it out to Lil at age ten—but now he had become the uncertain one.
She grinned. “I like that.” Katy filled