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

Isaac.
    “Oh!” She closed her gaping mouth. “You surprised me.”
    “Sorry. Didn’t mean to.” He grinned. He was always smiling at her. That must be part
     of the flirting Chrystal was talking about.
    “I was getting ready to geh to your table,” Katherine said. “I didn’t intend to make you wait.”
    “ Nee , that’s all right. Actually, I can’t stay.”
    But she barely heard his words. A few steps away, Johnny Mullet was approaching. She
     looked at Isaac. “What?”
    “I wanted to ask you something,” he said.
    Johnny came up beside him. He crossed his arms over hischest, his lips tilted in a rare frown. He stared at Isaac. “Am I interrupting something?”
    Katherine opened her mouth to speak, but Isaac interjected, “ Ya . You are.” His grin had changed into a straight line.
    Johnny looked at Katherine. “I need to talk to you.”
    She couldn’t speak. There she was, closer to Johnny than she had been in months, ever
     since that embarrassing volleyball game last year, and she couldn’t breathe, much
     less think or say anything coherent. Both men stared at her, as if waiting for her
     to choose which one to talk to first.
    Finally she found her voice. “Johnny,” she said, then cleared the bullfrog out of
     her throat. “This is Isaac, uh—”
    “Troyer.” He held out his hand. Johnny paused, then shook it.
    “I won’t keep you,” Isaac said, turning to Katherine. “I know you’re busy today. I
     wondered if you would geh to the singing with me this Sunday evening?”
    Katherine’s eyes widened. So did Johnny’s, right before they narrowed at Isaac.
    “Uh . . .”
    He smiled again. “Think about it. I’ll be back tomorrow.” He looked at Johnny. “She
     makes the best coffee in town.”
    “But I don’t make the coffee—” The words died on Katherine’s lips as Isaac walked
     away. Whistling.
    Johnny looked at her. “You’re not considering going, are you?”
    His question suddenly annoyed her. “Why should you care if I did?”
    He swallowed. His gaze dashed around the room, lighting on the kitchen pass-through,
     the clock, the door—anyplace except on her. But he didn’t answer her question. Instead
     he said, “Um, can I talk to you for a minute? In private?”
    She nodded.
    He led her down the hallway toward the restrooms, away from the rest of the customers.
     He touched her arm, then withdrew it quickly, as if he’d made a mistake.
    She didn’t care. The warmth of that brief touch seeped through her skin. And for all
     of her rational thoughts, all of her praying that Johnny wouldn’t have this effect
     on her, she thought she’d faint right there.
    He looked down at her, his chocolate-colored eyes meeting hers. “I, um, wondered if
     you could come over tomorrow.”
    Her heart almost flipped out of her chest.
    “As a favor. I mean, I have a favor to ask.”
    “Anything.” The word burst from her mouth like the juice from a ripe tomato. She sounded
     too eager. Too desperate. Isaac completely forgotten, she tried to act casual, leaning
     against the wall, putting her hand on her waist. She missed, and her hand slid down
     her dress. She recovered and said, “Sure.”
    “What time would be gut for you? To come over?”
    “I’m off tomorrow, so anytime.” Her voice trembled. This couldn’t be happening. Johnny
     wanted her to come over? Could he have changed his mind after all these years?
    “How about morning? The earlier, the better?”
    “Six?”
    He grinned. “Maybe not that early. Eight will do.”
    “Oh ya . That makes more sense.”
    “Okay. Great.” He gave her the address, then started backing away, wiping his hands
     against the front of his pants. “Um, I’ll see you tomorrow. At eight.”
    “ Ya . Eight.”
    The corner of his mouth lifted into a half smile. He nodded, then spun around and
     walked away.
    “See you tomorrow!” she blurted out. He—and nearly everyone else in the restaurant—turned
     around.
    He lifted his