Read Online Letters to Katie by Kathleen Fuller - Free Book Online Page A

a near panic attack.
    He leaned back in the chair, his ravenous appetite suddenly gone. What was he going
     to do? He barely had money to cover the check and possibly a few groceries.
    The business plan was no problem. He’d been working on it for months, ever since he’d
     gotten the idea for Mullet’s HorseFarm. But what about the house? The dinner? Once again, his dream was swirling the
     drain, and he was powerless to stop it.
    A waitress came up to him. Yankee, with thick black hair in a ponytail, and the typical
     waitress uniform—plain blouse and a skirt that reached to midcalf. She looked at his
     nearly full plate.
    “Was there something wrong with your meal?”
    “No.” Johnny’s mind still whirred.
    She glanced at his plate again. “Are you sure?”
    He nodded. “Can I get a box to geh ?” He’d eat it later, if his appetite ever came back.
    “Sure. Anything else?”
    “Got a miracle on the menu?”
    The girl gave him a puzzled expression. “What?”
    “Just the box.”
    He rubbed the back of his neck and tried to think. Maybe he could get the house in
     decent shape by day after tomorrow. But making a meal was an entirely different story.
     And it would have to be delicious, one that would make Wagner sign on the dotted line.
    He couldn’t ask Mary Beth to help. Or his mother. His parents were leaving in the
     morning for Pine Craft, an Amish settlement in Sarasota, Florida, for a long overdue
     vacation.
    Mary Yoder’s delivered. He might have to be satisfied with that—if he could figure
     out a way to pay for it.
    He looked up, searching for his waitress to ask for a takeout menu. At least he could
     get an idea of the cost of the meal. Then he saw Katherine delivering a tray of drinks
     to an older couple across the room.
    His heart thumped in his chest as he turned his back on her. He closed his eyes, but
     her face swam before him. She was so sweet. And so pretty. And one of the best cooks
     in Middlefield. Which would impress the Wagners.
    He stilled. No. He couldn’t ask her. He didn’t want to encourage her, not now. Not
     yet.
    While he was still arguing with himself, Johnny stood and headed toward her. His heart
     pounded in his chest. This was a stupid idea. Absolutely idiotic. But when it came
     to cooking and sewing and all those other girly things, no one was better than his
     Katie.

    Katherine avoided looking in Johnny’s direction as she carried the tray of drinks
     toward her own table. Johnny and his Yankee friend were Chrystal’s customers, not
     hers. And even though she knew Isaac was waiting for her to get his order, she had
     to make sure her current table was pleased not only with the food but also the service.
    “Here’s your tea.” She misjudged the distance and set the glass down a little harder
     than she intended. Droplets shot out of the glass. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
    The man waved her off, but the woman glared at her. Katherine’s face heated. Why couldn’t
     she get it together? Even without looking at Johnny, she could sense his presence.
     Why did forgetting about Johnny Mullet have to be so hard?
    “Miss?”
    Katherine looked down at the table. Her hand was still on the glass. She released
     it.
    The woman picked up her napkin and set it in her lap. “I’ve heard good things about
     this restaurant.” She narrowed her gaze at Katherine. “So far I’m disappointed.”
    “Don’t mind her,” the man said, giving Katherine a friendly smile. “My wife gets cranky
     when she’s hungry.”
    “I do not .”
    “Thanks for proving my point.”
    Katherine relaxed a little and even managed a smile. “I’m truly sorry,” she said.
     “I promise to take gut care of you for the rest of your meal.”
    The woman’s expression softened a little bit. “I appreciate the apology.”
    Katherine nodded and turned to walk back to the kitchen, determined to make up for
     the mistakes she’d made with the couple. Instead she slammed right into