Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [129]
“Oh man.” Jessie sighed. “But I need the job. You’ve got a deal.”
“I’m going on an interview myself. Tomorrow. My dream job.” They sat in the living room, and Katy explained about Mrs. Beverly and the loss Katy had experienced when the older couple moved to Florida. She found herself talking about the letter and its effect over her. She watched the vulnerability cross Jessie’s face.
Afterward, Jessie sighed. “I could never become like you. I’d have too much to change, too much to give up. I don’t want to lose Erin as a friend. But it seems we’re doomed. She’s not going to be going to parties with me anymore. I’ll have to move on.”
“Perhaps our lifestyle isn’t what God has for you.” Katy thought of Mrs. Beverly and said what she’d never thought she’d say, “But you could still be a Christian in another denomination.”
“That’s what Erin says. We’ll see. I really came over to say that I hadn’t gotten any e-mails from Jake. Wondered if he’d called.”
“No.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe he just needs more time. You sure you don’t want me to call him, give him a little push?”
“Please don’t. It’s just the way it should be.”
As hard as it was for him, Jake didn’t call Katy. Instead after the barbecue, he told the Texas contractor that he was going home to think over the offer. Ben Rawlins had seemed surprised that Jake hadn’t jumped at the opportunity. Even slightly offended, although his southern hospitality kept him from saying so.
Jake had explained that first he had some business to take care of that would determine if he accepted the superintendent position. He explained that although it was a great opportunity, he wanted to be able to give it his all once he accepted. The cross-country move would be life altering, and Jake needed to make sure it was the right move.
That appeased the other man somewhat, and he agreed to wait one week. After that, he’d call his brother-in-law for another name. Jake agreed, and they parted on good terms.
Later along the interstate, Jake mulled over the offer. By the size of the insects that plastered the truck’s windshield and splattered the front grill, the saying that everything was big in Texas seemed true. This job offer was a giant-sized decision, too. It was the type of decision that could affect his entire future. As he weighed his choices, a major portion of the return trip was spent praying.
He also listened to Christian radio stations. At times he broke out into audible laughter, trying to imagine Katy and Jessie conspiring together. That was what made Katy’s e-mail smack of honesty. She couldn’t have faced Jessie without forgiveness. It seemed she had really changed.
Still, he wanted to see her expression when they talked about it. In order to believe her, he needed to see that her guarded expression was gone. It had been shadowing her eyes ever since he’d come back to the Plain City church. He hoped his childhood companion had returned. Because anything less was not enough any longer. He was done chasing a past love. His future companion needed to be a soul mate who would accept him in every way.
He couldn’t take Katy back if she was going to slip back into her judgmental attitude or go through life with the emergency brake on. Yet hope kept him buzzing along Interstate 40. If God could change his own heart, filling it with a love that saw beyond the outer facade, then God could have done a miracle in Katy’s life, too. Maybe even Jessie’s. He breathed another prayer of thankfulness. He wouldn’t be headed home if he didn’t believe God had already performed such a miracle.
Katy relaxed on her sofa, her legs flung over the armrest and her phone cradled against her ear. “It’s going to be a dream job, just like Mrs. Beverly said. She accepted me on the spot. Mrs. Beverly told her Mennonites are hard workers.”
She heard Lil laughing on the other end. “Guess I need to remind my boss about that. I think he senses my lack of interest at the restaurant. I need a better job, too.” She sighed. Katy