Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [84]
After church, Megan had flitted in with her cheery countenance, joining Katy and Lil for Sunday lunch. Their blond friend had chatted about her summer missions options, then flown off to spend the afternoon with her folks before heading back to Rosedale College.
Now Katy lined up her dominoes. Across the table, Lil did the same. As they played, they could look out the kitchen window and watch the steady rain turn the ground into tiny rivulets.
“I didn’t see Jake at church, did you?” Lil asked.
“No, but I saw his mom. He probably stayed home with his grandma.” Just remembering something he’d mentioned at the basketball game, she added, “He has to bid some blueprints this afternoon.” They exchanged a disapproving look, for even Lil knew they shouldn’t work on Sundays. “Last night he asked me if I’d like to work for his mom, watching Minnie.”
Lil’s gaze softened with fondness at the mention of her grandmother. “Mom and I have watched her before. She’s a handful, but I love her.”
“I’d like to try it and see how it goes. It will be a challenge, but I’ve always loved her.”
“You going to clean their place, too?”
“I don’t know. I’ll do whatever Ann wants. If it works out, the extra income should help us scrape by. Think Megan will ever settle down with a job?”
Lil matched a yellow domino to another yellow domino. “Hard to tell. Jobs can be disappointing. I need to find something better. Nobody ever sees me back in the kitchen, and the restaurant’s not big enough to move to a higher position. No prestige. No extra money. Dead-end job.” She glanced out at the rain. “I should drive into Plain City and buy a newspaper.”
Trailing her friend’s gaze to the dreary weather and back, Katy offered, “I’ll go with you, if you’d like.”
“Okay. Let’s finish this game first. Maybe the rain will ease up by then.” They both glanced out the window again, sharing skepticism. Several plays passed without conversing as Katy thought about Lil not liking her job. Her friend had high expectations and the grit to fulfill them. Maybe that was part of her own despair. She didn’t have any goals. Just then a shiny black car turned into the Millers’ driveway.
“Oh great,” Katy said sarcastically. The image of David’s bruised face flashed across her mind. Who needed goals when it was hard just to survive each day’s handouts? “David won’t be coming here.”
They both leaned toward the window and watched, but the car disappeared in front of Ivan and Elizabeth’s house.
Lil looked over with amusement. “Did you see him today?” Katy rapped her dominos on the table in disgust. “Yes! How could they? What does fighting solve? Do they think I’m going to throw myself into the winner’s arms?”
“I wonder who started it? Jake’s been real jealous, but I never heard of him fighting before.”
“Probably David. He was quietly furious the other night when we talked. It shocked me.” She told Lil about his cutting remark.
“Whoa! Maybe we need to sic Megan on them. Remind them of their Anabaptist upbringing.”
“They both know better. It’s humiliating. And Jake is going to get an earful the next time I see him, too. When I asked him what happened, he said he’d been in a pillow fight.”
Lil giggled. Then she asked, “Is it really humiliating? Or is it a little gratifying?” She slid another ivory rectangle into place. “I’d like that kind of embarrassment—having two guys fight over me.” Involuntarily, she waved a domino. “Maybe the blond waiter and that one guy from culinary school that who wouldn’t give me the time of day. Yeah, that’d be something. I’d want the waiter to win. The other guy was smug.”
“Two things to keep in mind. First, you may be saying good-bye to your blond waiter if you find another job. And second, they aren’t really available if they aren’t Mennonite men, are they?”
Glancing up, Lil said, “Oh, there’s the Katy I remember. Thought we weren’t going to get preachy. Especially since you have it all with your dark, smoldering beauty.” Lil shook her head. “Pass.”
“Don’t forget my lovely