Read Online Wishing on Willows: A Novel by Katie Ganshert - Free Book Online
Authors: Katie Ganshert
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to.”
Piano music filled the sanctuary. The familiar melody pricked his ears. He looked up from the book and found Robin Price sitting behind the piano, bathed in light in the center of the stage, radiating so much warmth and peace Ian wanted to take some for himself. With closed eyes, she leaned toward the microphone and started to sing, her voice every bit as captivating as her music.
The congregation rose to their feet and joined, but Ian couldn’t stand. He stayed seated, and like a deep massage against all-too-tender muscles, the lyrics dug into his knotted-up soul, reminding him of a truth that had become entirely too slippery. God’s grace was big enough. For him. And for Cheryl.
When the service ended, he found himself outside in the late-morning brightness, shaking hands with half the congregation, the most recent being a gray-haired string bean of a man named Brian O’Malley and a barrel-chested gentleman named Darrell Maddocks. Apparently, Mayor Ford enjoyed introducing people.
“We hear you’ve got some plans for our town,” Darrell said after taking back his meaty paw. “Chuck mentioned something about meeting soon to discuss the specifics. Brian and I are both council members.”
Ian looked to the mayor. “Oh?”
A man tried to squeeze his way between O’Malley and another group congregating nearby, but Mayor Ford called out to him. “Evan, it’s been a while. How’s farm life treating you? And that pretty young wife of yours?”
The man—Evan—stopped his maneuvering. Mayor Ford had him cornered. “Doing great. She’s getting our little one right now.”
“Enjoy these days while you can. They slip by so quickly.”
“I can believe it.”
“I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine, Ian McKay. Ian, this is Evan Price. Excellent mechanic. You ever have any car troubles while you’re here, Evan can fix it right up.”
Ian doubted his car would give him any problems, but he shook Evan’s hand anyway.
“Ian’s in town on business,” the mayor said. “His father owns McKay Development and Construction.”
Evan seemed to study him from the corner of his eye. “A developer, huh?”
The niggling familiarity plaguing Ian upon their introduction clicked into place. Price. The same last name as Robin’s. “Are you by any chance related to the owner of Willow Tree?”
Evan opened his mouth to answer, but before any words could escape, a flash of brown hair and a small body sporting an electric-blue cast catapulted itself into the man’s arms. He absorbed the brunt of the impact with a grunt and tossed the small boy into the air. Evan tickled his ribs and the boy squirmed and laughed.
Ian pulled his gaze away from the father-son duo and spotted Robin quickly approaching, wearing the same frazzled expression she’d worn outside Sybil’s yesterday morning. “Caleb, you cannot run off like that.” She caught sight of Ian and stopped.
“Robin, excellent.” Mayor Ford folded his hands. “Allow me to introduce a new friend of mine, Ian McKay. Ian, this is Robin Price and her son, Caleb.”
“We’ve already met,” Robin said. “He came to my café last night.”
The mayor’s eyes widened. “Already? Well, you sure get right to work, don’t you?”
Ian cleared his throat and shook his head, but it was too late. Robin glanced around the small gathering, her smile confused. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.” Her words came out soft as she turned to Mayor Ford, whose bald head had gone vermillion.
“I assumed … I thought …” His bumbling did not help the situation.
She looked at Ian. “Get right to work on what?”
“I was hoping to talk with you about this later, Mrs. Price.” He glanced at Caleb, who was now leaning against his mother, his uninjured arm wrapped around her leg. “Did something happen to your son? I could’ve sworn he wasn’t wearing a cast yesterday.”
Her attention flitted to the boy, then back to Ian, her eyelids
Piano music filled the sanctuary. The familiar melody pricked his ears. He looked up from the book and found Robin Price sitting behind the piano, bathed in light in the center of the stage, radiating so much warmth and peace Ian wanted to take some for himself. With closed eyes, she leaned toward the microphone and started to sing, her voice every bit as captivating as her music.
The congregation rose to their feet and joined, but Ian couldn’t stand. He stayed seated, and like a deep massage against all-too-tender muscles, the lyrics dug into his knotted-up soul, reminding him of a truth that had become entirely too slippery. God’s grace was big enough. For him. And for Cheryl.
When the service ended, he found himself outside in the late-morning brightness, shaking hands with half the congregation, the most recent being a gray-haired string bean of a man named Brian O’Malley and a barrel-chested gentleman named Darrell Maddocks. Apparently, Mayor Ford enjoyed introducing people.
“We hear you’ve got some plans for our town,” Darrell said after taking back his meaty paw. “Chuck mentioned something about meeting soon to discuss the specifics. Brian and I are both council members.”
Ian looked to the mayor. “Oh?”
A man tried to squeeze his way between O’Malley and another group congregating nearby, but Mayor Ford called out to him. “Evan, it’s been a while. How’s farm life treating you? And that pretty young wife of yours?”
The man—Evan—stopped his maneuvering. Mayor Ford had him cornered. “Doing great. She’s getting our little one right now.”
“Enjoy these days while you can. They slip by so quickly.”
“I can believe it.”
“I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine, Ian McKay. Ian, this is Evan Price. Excellent mechanic. You ever have any car troubles while you’re here, Evan can fix it right up.”
Ian doubted his car would give him any problems, but he shook Evan’s hand anyway.
“Ian’s in town on business,” the mayor said. “His father owns McKay Development and Construction.”
Evan seemed to study him from the corner of his eye. “A developer, huh?”
The niggling familiarity plaguing Ian upon their introduction clicked into place. Price. The same last name as Robin’s. “Are you by any chance related to the owner of Willow Tree?”
Evan opened his mouth to answer, but before any words could escape, a flash of brown hair and a small body sporting an electric-blue cast catapulted itself into the man’s arms. He absorbed the brunt of the impact with a grunt and tossed the small boy into the air. Evan tickled his ribs and the boy squirmed and laughed.
Ian pulled his gaze away from the father-son duo and spotted Robin quickly approaching, wearing the same frazzled expression she’d worn outside Sybil’s yesterday morning. “Caleb, you cannot run off like that.” She caught sight of Ian and stopped.
“Robin, excellent.” Mayor Ford folded his hands. “Allow me to introduce a new friend of mine, Ian McKay. Ian, this is Robin Price and her son, Caleb.”
“We’ve already met,” Robin said. “He came to my café last night.”
The mayor’s eyes widened. “Already? Well, you sure get right to work, don’t you?”
Ian cleared his throat and shook his head, but it was too late. Robin glanced around the small gathering, her smile confused. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.” Her words came out soft as she turned to Mayor Ford, whose bald head had gone vermillion.
“I assumed … I thought …” His bumbling did not help the situation.
She looked at Ian. “Get right to work on what?”
“I was hoping to talk with you about this later, Mrs. Price.” He glanced at Caleb, who was now leaning against his mother, his uninjured arm wrapped around her leg. “Did something happen to your son? I could’ve sworn he wasn’t wearing a cast yesterday.”
Her attention flitted to the boy, then back to Ian, her eyelids
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