Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [42]
So maybe he wasn’t breaking up with her? Unless he was baiting her so he could dangle the third date. She hated to end the call until she knew exactly where they stood. “I made the mistake of asking Tammy what kind of discipline I should administer. She got all white-knuckled and said I should just tell her when they misbehaved, and she’d deal with it.”
“By rewarding them?”
“Exactly. Now my hands are really tied. I asked her if she’s looking for another nanny. She said the agencies were too expensive. She was thinking of arranging her schedule differently and asked if I could babysit two days a week, on the days I come anyway. She’s a pro at getting her way.”
“That’s not something you want then?”
“Hardly. I told her I’d think about it. If I hadn’t stalled, I’d have ended up manipulated into a yes on the spot, and—” She dropped the phone cord, twirled her ponytail, and sighed.
“Guess you need to practice all the ways to say no. There’s a lot of country songs on that subject.”
She remembered his car radio, although he’d only turned it to classical music on their date. “You like country music?”
“I listen to it sometimes. Anyway, don’t practice your no on me, okay?”
“If you’re a gentleman, I won’t have to.”
Later that night, Vernon Yoder found Marie asleep on the sofa. He leaned over her and lightly shook her shoulder. “Wake up, honey.”
“What? I’b just sleeby. How was your meeding?”
“Mennonite Mutual will cover the fire, and we’ve decided to rebuild, and while we’re at it, to add those Sunday school rooms we’ve been needing.”
She sniffled. “Zounds like work.”
He grabbed a tissue and handed it to her, easing onto the couch beside her. “We’re forming a committee so the elders don’t get bogged down.”
Dabbing her nose, she asked, “Who’s on the gammittee?”
“Maybe your lovely daughter.”
Marie jerked to a sitting position. “Why Gaty?”
“First they tried to get someone from the hostess committee. Lil’s mom is feeling low right now, so then Lil’s name came up. We called her from the meeting. She said she couldn’t because she works nights, but she suggested Katy. For some reason, the elders thought she was a good candidate. We tried calling, but the phone was busy.”
“Dabe Miller called; then I vell asleeb.”
“I didn’t want her on the committee.”
“Why not?”
“Because Jake Byler will be the project superintendent. They called him, and he’s already agreed.”
“Oh no.”
“Talking to David, huh? I guess that’s a good sign.”
“Dey sounded habby.”
“We’ll just have to keep praying about it. You have sick eyes, honey. Let’s go to bed.”
Later that week, Katy caught lingering whiffs of a smoky odor as she hurried past a yellow ribbon that fenced off the charred disaster. She shouldered the door to the meetinghouse. Low laughter floated to her from the sanctuary, where the building committee was scheduled to meet. She had never served on any committees before and wasn’t sure what to expect. She figured she was here as Lil’s proxy, but that seemed fair since the elders had asked Lil first.
Curious to see who else would serve on the committee, she stepped through the open double doors that separated the foyer from the sanctuary and made her way down the gray-carpeted center aisle. Dark-stained pews flanked her on either side. She had almost reached the front of the room when her steps faltered.
Her shoulders drooped in utter disbelief. Not Jake again? As if on cue, he turned, meeting her stricken gaze with his own contrite one, the ever-so-charming grin that infuriated her these days. She forced her attention to the elder presiding over the meeting. Her dad had told her he was thankful he wasn’t chosen for the position. Instead Megan’s dad had received the honor. “Hi Mr. Weaver.”
“Hi Katy.” He stepped into the aisle and took her hand, but when he saw the large Band-Aid, he treated it with care. “What happened?”
“A few blisters from the fire. But it’s healing.”
“I’m sorry. We miss seeing you since Megan’s away at school.”
“I miss you guys, too.” Trying hard