Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [87]
“Thanks for going with me. It was pretty intimidating. How did you ever have the nerve to go by yourself?”
“I didn’t. Jake went with me. Here, let me show you about texting.”
“No thanks. I only bought this for practical purposes.”
“That’s why you need to learn how to text. Watch, I’ll text Jake and tell him your new number.”
“No. Wait. I’m not ready for that yet.”
“What good’s a phone if you don’t use it?”
“Oh fine,” Katy relented.
Moments later she got a reply from Jake. CAN U COME TO DINNR FRI NITE TO C HOW GRAM DOES?
Lil showed her how to reply: YES.
I’LL CALL W D TAILS.
Amazed, Katy wondered how she could have feared something so convenient and practical.
Jake’s familial home was a typical Plain City farm. It consisted of a two-story house, barn, silo, and more than forty acres of flat, tilled cornfields. Large ash and buckeyes shaded the house, and Katy recalled her first kiss happened under the huge weeping willow by the circle drive. She had been sixteen years old. Trying not to think about it, she stepped up onto the front porch that cooled the Bylers’ guests in the summer and sheltered them in winter.
As soon as she touched the bell, Jake opened the door. His hair was still damp from the shower, and his face clean-shaven. For a moment he just grinned at her, looking rakish with his one black eye.
She flashed him a timid smile. “This feels strange.”
“Not to me. You belong here.” He took her hand and drew her inside. “With me.”
She wet her lips, choosing to ignore his remark. “Where is everybody?”
“In the kitchen. Come on.”
Ann Byler’s kitchen reflected her cheery disposition. She celebrated sunshine, welcoming it through rows of windows dressed in perky yellow valances. The window and ledge above the sink displayed a collection of stained-glass sun catchers. An antique cupboard held a sun chime. Its soft jingle had always intrigued Katy. In the summer, Ann grew sunflowers in her garden, and in the winter, silk ones decorated the table.
Rocking in a corner stream of late-afternoon light, Jake’s grandmother bowed her head over a lap-sized hoop. She didn’t look up when Katy moved closer to observe her project, watching the old hands work a needle up and down through taut material. To her pleasant surprise, the stitching was small and even. The old woman’s hands were steady, and the tips of her fingers that weren’t covered with thimbles were dry and cracked from the continuous push of the needle. Sympathy curled inside Katy’s heart. She would bring Minnie some of her healing hand ointment.
“Mom loves to quilt pillow shams,” Ann said, then returned to her stove.
“I sell them for her on eBay.” Jake winked and moved to give Minnie a side hug. When he saw Katy’s confusion, he explained, “An Internet store. On the computer.”
Katy touched Minnie’s arm. “That’s very good stitching.”
The older woman looked up then focused on Jake. “Who have you brought home, Jacob?”
“This is Katy Yoder.”
“Oh. I taught her in Sunday school, you know. Such a lovely girl.”
Katy beamed that Minnie remembered her, but sadly Minnie thought Jake was his grandfather, his namesake. “I loved your stories about David and Goliath. The way you marched around the room with a pretend slingshot.”
Minnie giggled then covered her mouth, whispering between her fingers. “I should have been a movie actress.”
Shocked, Katy replied, “I’m glad you were a Sunday school teacher instead.”
“Dinner’s ready,” Ann called.
“Are you hungry, Gram?” Jake asked.
“No, I need to finish this while there’s still light.”
“We’re having meat loaf.”
“Well that does sound good. Maybe I will.” He helped her stand, and then she walked to the kitchen table, confused.
“In the dining room. Since Katy’s visiting.”
“Who’s Katy?”
Katy’s heart sank.
Giving Katy a sympathetic look, Jake guided Grandma Minnie by the elbow to her place in the dining room. “What a pretty table.” She stopped mid-step