Katie's Forever Promise (11 page)

Before she could decide what needed doing, Norman stuck his head in the kitchen opening, a puzzled look on his face. “Is something wrong?”

“
Nee
,” Katie tried to smile. “I was just talking with Mabel.”

“Well…then,” Norman continued, “why doesn't Mabel join us for ice cream and cherry pie? That is, if there's enough.”

Mabel looked at Katie with triumph.

Katie fumbled for the right words. “
Yah
, I guess there's enough. There's a whole pie and a half gallon of ice cream left from last night. We made plenty of extra knowing you'd be coming.”

Norman looked quite pleased. “Then I'll go back to waiting in the living room.”

When Norman disappeared, Mabel turned to Katie. “See there? He likes me!”

Katie pulled out the cherry pie and set it on the counter. If she did what she felt like doing, she'd throw the whole thing in Mabel's face. Instead she commanded, “At least help with the ice cream.”

“Glad to.” Mabel was clearly gloating. If Norman swooned over Mabel once they arrived in the living room, Katie decided she would throw the pie after all—but in his face. Katie cut the pie and slid three pieces onto plates. Mabel was busy scooping out ice cream and scurrying around for bowls and spoons. Without a sideways glance at Mabel, Katie strode into the living room carrying two plates.

“Here!” She handed Norman his pie, and set the other plate on the footstool in front of the couch next to Norman. She sat down beside him. Mabel could get her own pie. Norman glanced at Katie out of the corner of his eye. His irritation regarding her display of temper was obviously showing, but she couldn't seem to help herself. Recent events were bringing out a nasty side of her that she hated to acknowledge. She was acting worse than she ever had back in the days when she was known to everyone as “Emma Raber's odd daughter.” Now she had a well thought of boy bringing her home, and she couldn't even control her temper.

And to make things worse, Mabel appeared all smiles, the bowls in her hands brimming with pecan ice cream. She acted like she'd made it! And Katie had been the one who had toiled over the ice cream maker last night, preparing this treat for Norman. Mabel hadn't touched the handle once. Yet there she was, beaming as if she'd done everything. And clearly Norman, smiling ear to ear, didn't seem to know the difference or care.

“That looks delicious, Mabel,” he said as he accepted his bowl.

“Fresh from last night,” Mabel chirped, disappearing into the kitchen for her piece of pie. Now it looked to Norman like Mabel
was doing all the serving, which would no doubt score extra points for Mabel in Norman's book, Katie thought. How had she gotten herself into this situation? Outfoxed by her temper and a teenager! Katie was truly irritated now.

“You're not eating,” Norman commented, looking sideways at her.

“She wasn't feeling too well earlier in the day,” Mabel offered, appearing like a ghost in front of them. She
was
a ghost, Katie thought. A haunting ghost she couldn't get rid of.

“Is this true?” Norman asked, concern evident.

“I…well…I did have a little headache after church,” she stammered. “But it was nothing serious.”

“You didn't say anything on the way home.” Norman was still looking at her.

Mabel gave another chirpy little laugh. “Katie's a secretive sort of girl. You have to dig things out of her.”

“I am not,” Katie snapped. She'd said it much too loud, displaying her anger again.

Norman looked puzzled for a moment before shrugging. “I hope you'll be okay. And I hope you don't hide things from those around you and from
Da Hah
. That is not something our people believe in.”

“She has her moments,” Mabel offered. “Most of the time Katie's honest around the family.”

Norman looked like he might ask another question, but he smiled instead. “This is quite
gut
ice cream. Did you make it, Katie?”

“
Yah
,” Katie managed to get out.

They sat in silence as the clock ticked loudly on the wall. Mabel's spoon clicked in her bowl. She jumped up. “I'd better get to bed so I can get my sleep. Lots of work ahead of us tomorrow.”

In a flash Mabel was gone up the stairs, her footsteps lingering in the stairwell.

Norman's eyes lingered for a moment on the closed door. “Jesse has raised his children well, I see. Industrious, all of them.”

Katie didn't say anything until Norman's gaze jerked her out of her daze. She stumbled over the words. “
Yah
. Jesse's a
gut daett
. I have no complaints with how Mabel helps around the house.”

Norman smiled. “I think Jesse has also had a
gut
effect on you. At least that's what
Daett
told me. Before your
mamm
married Jesse, you used to attend the Mennonite youth gatherings, didn't you?”

“I used to, but I don't anymore,” Katie said much too quickly.

Norman didn't seem to notice though. He settled back into the couch with a sigh. He pushed his empty pie plate onto the coffee table. Any further questions about her former days seemed forgotten at the moment. Mabel had put him in a mellow mood, Katie noticed. He was more relaxed than he had been all evening, especially on the drive home.

“Do you want more ice cream?” Katie asked as she picked up his bowl.

“
Nee
.” Norman smiled. “I had enough—and plenty.”

Katie took the plates into the kitchen and set them on the counter. She returned to the living room. Norman was looking at Jesse's copy of
The Budget
, flipping through the pages.

“Anything interesting?” Katie asked, attempting a sweet smile.

“Not really. Just the usual. Do you think this week's news will make it in?”

He had to mean Ben's
kafuffle
, Katie thought. “I hope not.”

“Me too.” Norman appeared vexed, the level of his voice rising. “The community doesn't need the added shame. It's going to carry far enough the way it is. I mean, what Amish community has had
such a scandal ever? Ben should be thoroughly ashamed of himself. In fact, he should leave and never come back. He should move to some other community where they don't know him.”

“I heard he's moving in with his grandparents,” Katie offered.

“That's not nearly far enough.” Norman grunted. “He'll still be around. And what if another attack comes, and his grandparents get hurt? I say Ben should leave for good.”

“But surely there won't be another attack?” Katie said, hoping her concern didn't show through.

“The police want Ben to testify, I heard,” Norman said. “I guess Ben can identify the man who shot him. It's going around that he heard the shooter's voice before he blacked out. If Ben testifies again, that will be another scandal we'll have to live down.”

“Maybe he has no choice?” Katie said, realizing she sounded like she was defending Ben.

Norman stared at her. “No choice? We all have choices, Katie.”

She might as well go on. It wasn't right that Norman was being so hard on Ben. “They might be able to make Ben talk. I don't know…somehow…by their
Englisha
laws.”

Norman didn't appear too happy. “No one can make anyone talk, Katie. Not when it's not right. Our forefathers withstood fire and torture rather than betray the faith or each other. The least we can do is stand up for some principles in this peaceful land we live in.”

He was right of course. Katie gave Norman a quick smile. Apparently it hadn't occurred to him yet that she'd defended Ben. Well, even the worst people needed a little defending. Wasn't that also the belief of their people?

“How's school going?” Norman asked, changing the subject.

“Okay, I guess. Maybe it's too soon to tell.”

“A little overwhelming perhaps?”

“No, well,
yah
, perhaps. It is after all, only my first year.”

“You're doing okay though. At least from what I heard.
Daett
said he's getting very
gut
reports from the parents.”

“Did your
daett
take a big risk then by hiring me?” The words burst out, and Katie looked away. Where was this insecurity coming from? School was going fine. She already knew that.

Norman smiled. “It's
gut
to see that you're a little nervous about the subject. Pride and overconfidence are deadly sins.”

He hadn't answered her question, so it must be true. She wouldn't ask again. At least she must have passed the test of meeting Enos Kuntz's high standards despite the risk.

Norman continued without looking at her. “I thought for the longest time you were a little full of yourself, Katie. Especially after you came back from your trip overseas and gave all those talks at the sewings.
Mamm
used to come home with the stories. She retold them to us around the supper table. But
Daett
told me you came from humble roots which had given you a
gut
heart—and a deep and religious one. That's a rare combination in a girl, Katie.”

“Thank you,” Katie choked out, trying to catch her breath. Norman had been thinking this about her?

“Well, I'd better be going.” Norman was on his feet now and moving toward the door. “Thanks for the
gut
evening. And for the food. Tell Mabel I enjoyed her company also. Maybe we'll have her join us again next Sunday night. That is, if you'll let me come back again?” Norman paused with his hand on the door. He didn't really look like he expected her to say
nee
so he must be much more confident of himself than he let on.

“
Yah
…” Katie replied.

Norman smiled. “And I hope you can make plans to be with my family this Thanksgiving day.
Mamm
and
Daett
would both love that. And so would I.”

“I…sure…why not?” Katie clasped her hands in front of her. So Norman was serious about their relationship. That was a
gut
sign.

He was gone in an instant, softly closing the door behind him.

Through the window, Katie watched his form move across the lawn in the darkness dimly broken by the lantern light spilling out the window. Out by the hitching post he untied Bonnie and climbed into the buggy. He drove away, and as the lights went down the lane Katie turned to walk to the stair door. It had been a
gut
evening, she told herself. And a proper one too. So why was she seized with a great desire for something…someone…who had been banished from her life once and for all? Truth be told, she wanted Ben's arms wrapped around her shoulders and holding her tight. She wanted them…him…badly. Catching herself, Katie turned her thoughts away as she opened the door. How could her heart so betray her after she'd spent the evening with a decent man like Norman? She must not think of Ben like that again, Katie resolved as she walked up the stairs in the dark with care.

Chapter Eleven

Katie leaned against the schoolhouse windowsill and watched the buggies discharge their young occupants. As usual, most of them made a dash for the ball field to get in precious playing time before she rang the bell. They were all
gut
children, and just as energetic with their schoolwork as they were playing softball. Katie knew she should be happy with her lot, and yet she felt dreary for no
gut
reason.

On their second date, Norman had seemed a little more confident. The evening spent with him last night had been okay. At least Mabel had the decency to keep herself scarce when they'd arrived home this time. Other than a cheerful smile to Norman, she hadn't said anything or hung around before dashing up the stairs. And Norman didn't mention his interest in eating pie and ice cream with Mabel present. Perhaps his interest was now centering totally on Katie like it should be.

Ben had seemed a distant thought all week. That was after she'd cried herself to sleep thinking about him after Norman left that
first Sunday night. She didn't want Ben back—
nee
, not after what he'd done. That wasn't the issue. Her heart hadn't sunk that low. But the good memories were still painful, even with the healing
Da Hah
had done. Perhaps dating again was stirring her wounds that needed further healing. She would make it through this with
Da Hah
's help.

Katie caught sight of Norman's buggy racing into the schoolyard. His sister usually dropped off their youngest brother, Abram, but this morning it looked like Norman was driving. At least a black hat filled part of the buggy's windshield. Was Norman going to stop and talk to her? If so, what could he want that would have him driving so much faster than usual? Or maybe he was driving because his sister was busy this morning? In that case, Norman would just give her a quick wave before turning to leave. Katie opened the window and leaned out. A few of the children in the playground turned her way, smiling and waving. She gave them a little wave back, her eyes still watching Norman's buggy.