worse around here. Lately, all I seem to be doing is cleaning and cooking, and none of it very well.â As soon as he heard his words, he ached to take them right back. Could anyone sound more pathetic?
And, well, he sounded like a liar, too, since heâd just noticed that one of the saucepans from last nightâs supper was still on the stove. Inside, the leftover beans no one had wanted had hardened like glue. Hoping she didnât notice it, he hastily picked it up and placed it in the sink.
Eyes following the pan, she murmured, âEven with only five people in the haus , Iâm sure thereâs a lot to do.â
âThere is, and to make things worse, I fear Iâm a terrible housekeeper, Elizabeth,â he admitted. He gazed at her face, hoping she would either kid about his ineptitude or say that so far, the house didnât look too bad.
But instead, she looked at him in such a steady way that he felt she could see into his soul. After a couple of seconds, she sighed. âWhat is going on, Randall?â
âNothing. We simply need some help.â Suddenly noticing how the countertops had crumbs from the morningâs toast, he attempted to brush them onto a rag.
âRandall, please stop.â
âIâm only trying to clean up for you.â
âThatâs why Iâm here, jah ?â
âNot today though.â
Her lips curved up. âI promise, Iâm not bothered by toast crumbs or dirty pots and pans. Donât clean right now, please? Your jumping around is making me nervous.â She gestured to the other stools. âNow, come sit down and tell me what youâd like me to do while Iâm here.â
âCook supper. Clean. And then thereâs also Kaylene.â
Elizabeth started to lean against the counter, but then gazed at the wood and Formica top, and seemed to think the better of it. âWhat about Kaylene?â
âWell, sheâs at an impressionable age, you know. And sheâs missing Junior. You remember how close they were.â
âHe didnât want her to live with him?â
âHe offered, but she didnât want to leave. And to be honest, I donât think I can let her go, Elizabeth. She needs to stay here. This is her home. Our home. I need to make things work for her. Iâm really worried about Kay.â
Her gaze was searching. âSo you agreed to me being here because of Kaylene ?â
He was tempted to shake his head. To tell her that of course it wasnât just about Kay. It wasnât even just about having a dirty house. It was because of everything. His siblings, the house, the changes. Him. Her.
But of course he couldnât say anything like that, because his life hadnât changed. Besides, she needed money, too. âItâs everything.â
âAnd there wasnât any other woman in Sugarcreek who you thought could assist your family?â
âIâm sure there are other women who could help us out, but not so many that Kaylene trusts.â He ached to say more. But he feared that nothing could come of bringing up old wounds. âIs being hereâand being around meâgoing to be a problem, Elizabeth? I know we didnât end things on a good note.â
âRandall, we didnât end things. You did. You told me that you didnât want to see me anymore. That we couldnât work things out.â
Heâd been lying, however. He had wanted to see her. But he had also wanted to do the right thing for his family. Duty had prevailed.
She looked at him a moment longer, then with a sigh, hopped off the stool. After opening up a couple of cabinets, she pulled out a mug. Then, to his embarrassment, she walked to the stove, grabbed the teakettle, and carried it to the sink.
âI can make you tea, Elizabeth.â
â Nee. I would like to do it, I think.â After vigorously scrubbing last nightâs pan, she took off the top of the kettle,
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