Katy's Homecoming (4 page)

She dug in the refrigerator for the pork chops she’d asked Dad to bring up from the deep freeze the night before, then selected several potatoes from the bin right inside the cellar door. Dad wanted potatoes with every meal, but Katy hated going into the mildew-scented, spiderweb-filled cellar. So he’d put the bin at the top of the stairs for her. Katy appreciated his thoughtfulness.

She hummed while she peeled the potatoes, her eyes peeking out the window when a flock of birds swooped
through the yard or her horse, Shadow, galloped along the fence. She smiled as Shadow tapped the ground with one hoof, shaking her flowing black mane. Katy hoped Shadow’s baby looked just like its mama. Dad had mated Shadow last summer, and the mare’s stomach bulged with the foal that would arrive sometime in late spring. As soon as the colt was old enough, Katy intended to buggy-break it and sell it. Since Shadow was her horse, Dad had promised she could have the money from the sale.

Although Katy hadn’t shared her intentions yet with Dad, she wanted to put the money into a fund for college just in case the deacons approved her going on beyond high school. Now that Dad would have Mrs. Graber, Katy didn’t need to worry about him being lonely when she went away for good.

A car rolled into the yard, and Katy recognized Caleb Penner’s sedan. He was late today—Dad had been milking for close to an hour already. When Caleb hopped out of his car, she instinctively leaned away from the window so he wouldn’t see her and wave. Why he thought she wanted him waving to her, she couldn’t guess, but if he saw her, he always waved. She didn’t want to greet him, and she avoided the milking barn when he was there working with Dad. She’d never met anyone who irritated her as much as Caleb.

She finished peeling the potatoes, put them on to boil, then began mixing flour and seasonings to dredge the pork chops. Just as she was dunking the first thick chop in the flour mixture, someone tapped on the door. Her hands sticky, she called,“It’s open!”

The screen door squeaked, and Annika Gehring peeked around the corner. Since only a mile’s distance separated
their farms, Katy and Annika often walked to see one another. But with Katy attending high school in Salina, she and Annika hadn’t had as much time together the past months. They had argued more than once about Katy’s desire to go to school — Annika thought it was weird to continue school when Katy didn’t have to — but even so, Katy missed seeing Annika every day. They’d been close friends since they were little girls.

She smiled. “Hi, Annika! Come on in.”

“Let me take my shoes off first.” Annika disappeared from view, and Katy heard scuffling noises. Annika’s voice carried from around the corner. “It’s still muddy in places from last week’s melting snow, so my shoes are icky. I don’t want to track mud across your floor.”

Annika entered the kitchen, sliding a little bit as her socks met the smooth linoleum. She plopped a tinfoil-covered aluminum pan on the counter before crossing to the stove and peeking at what Katy was doing. “Mmm, pork chops.” Annika smacked her lips. “Mom never fixes pork chops — Dad doesn’t like them. The only pork we ever have is sausage.”

Katy knew a hint when she heard one. Should she ask Annika to stay for supper? But her days with only her and Dad at the table would end soon. She decided to be selfish and not share her time with him. “The next time I fix them, I’ll make sure I have extra.” She hoped Annika wouldn’t count the pork chops in the pan and wonder why two people needed four big chops. “Then you can join us.”

Annika sighed. “Sounds good.” She pointed to the container she’d brought in. “Mom sent over some apple
turnovers. She wanted Mrs. Graber to try them in case she might want some for the wedding dinner.” She looked around. “Is she here?”

“Not tonight.” Katy carefully lowered the pork chops into the frying pan. They started to sizzle.

“I’m kind of surprised.” Annika shifted aside as Katy reached to give the potatoes a stir with a long wooden spoon. “Isn’t she pretty much here every night?”

Katy shrugged. “A lot, but not always.” She headed to the cabinet to take down a can of peas. She dug in the drawer for the hand-operated can opener and clamped it onto the can. “I guess that’ll change soon enough, though. Only two more weeks.”
Two weeks from today, and I’ll have a stepmother.
Her heart gave a little leap.
And then I’ll have a date with Bryce.
Both events had the potential to bring permanent change into her life.

“Mom said your dad and Mrs. Graber are going to take a quick trip right after their wedding, back to Meschke to load up her remaining belongings.”

Katy nodded. Everyone in Schellberg always knew everyone else’s business. Sometimes it was comforting to live in such a close-knit community, where everybody knew her name and her family. But sometimes she wished they didn’t know everything — like how her mother had left Katy, Dad, and the Mennonite faith. Katy didn’t like living in Kathleen Jost Lambright’s shadow. Maybe now that Dad was remarrying, people would forget about Katy’s mom.
They might forget, but I won’t.

“Since you’re going to be here by yourself, maybe I can come over and stay the nights while they’re gone.” Annika pulled out a small saucepan and held it out for
Katy to dump in the peas. “Wouldn’t it be fun, having the whole house to ourselves?”

Katy put the pan of peas on the stove and adjusted the flame underneath it. “It would be fun, but …” She offered a sorry look she didn’t really feel. “Dad made arrangements for me to stay in Salina with Shelby and her family.”

Annika’s lips pinched together. Katy knew Annika was jealous of Shelby — Annika wanted Katy to herself. But Katy refused to give up her Salina friends. If she didn’t have Shelby, Trisha, and Cora, she’d be totally alone at the school.
Except for Bryce
…

Katy hurried on before Annika could argue. “Dad’ll take me to meet the bus on Friday, then he and Mrs. Graber will leave for Meschke. I’ll just go home with Shelby after school on Friday and stay until Monday. Then I’ll be back Monday after school, like always.”

“Except it won’t be like always,” Annika pointed out. “Because Mrs. Graber. I mean —” She giggled.
“Mrs. Lambright
will be here too. For good.”

And after that weekend, Katy would know what it was like to have a date with a worldly boy.
To be like all the other teenage girls in the school…
She mused,“That won’t be the only thing that’s changed.” She hadn’t really intended to say the thought out loud, but Annika perked up.

“What else is changing?”

The smell of scorched meat reached Katy’s nose. She turned the pork chops quickly, grateful for the distraction. As much as she wished she could tell
someone,
Katy didn’t dare tell Annika about homecoming. Annika would tell her mother, who would tell someone else, and eventually everyone from town would know. And they’d all disapprove
She searched for something that would make sense without giving away her plans.

“If I have a stepmother, she’ll be doing a lot of the cooking and stuff that I’ve always done. I’ll have a lot more free time.”

Annika nodded, making the ribbons from her cap bounce. “I’m glad too. Maybe we’ll get to spend more evenings together.”

“I’ll still have homework,” Katy said, adjusting the flame under the pork chops since they were almost done. “But if I don’t have to cook and clean up every night, we ought to have more time. Unless …” She sent Annika a sidelong glance, trying not to frown. “You end up spending more time with Caleb.” If Annika was with Caleb, Katy would stay far, far away.

Annika sighed, lowering her head. She picked up the wooden spoon and slowly circled it through the pan of simmering peas. “I don’t know if I’ll be spending time with Caleb or not. I’d like to, but he’s so shy.”

Katy almost laughed. Caleb,
shy?

“He just won’t ask to keep company with me. And of course I can’t ask him …”

Even though Katy didn’t like Caleb, she did care about Annika. She hated to see her friend so sad. “Well, he’s over here every day, helping out in the milking barn. So if you’re around more, he’ll see you more, and maybe he’ll get enough nerve to, you know, ask to spend time with you.”

Annika looked up, her eyes hopeful. “You think so?”

“Sure. The more you’re together, the closer you’re sure to grow.” Katy thought about being in class with Bryce,
going to forensics tournaments with Bryce, and attending homecoming with Bryce. Would they grow closer too? Should she even hope for such a thing, knowing Bryce wasn’t Mennonite?

“I’d like that more than anything.”

Caleb’s mother had once told Katy that Caleb had a crush on her. If Caleb started paying more attention to Annika, Katy wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore. She said,“Me too.”

Annika gave Katy a quick hug. “You’re a good friend, Katy.” She scurried toward the door. “But you need to get your supper finished, so I’ll get out of your way. I’ll come back … tomorrow after school?”

Katy turned off the fire underneath the skillet and both pans. “That’d be fine. Mrs. Graber might be here tomorrow and need my help, but I can still talk to you while we work.”

“Or I’ll help too, and we can finish early. Then maybe we can be … I don’t know … hanging out in the barn or something when Caleb arrives.” Annika’s cheeks flushed pink.

Katy stifled a groan. Deliberately go where Caleb would be? But maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, playing matchmaker for Annika and Caleb. At least Caleb wouldn’t be pestering her anymore. Forcing a smile, Katy shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”

Annika left, and Katy drained the potatoes so she could mash them. Not until she was mounding the steaming, buttery potatoes into a serving bowl did she stop to think about something. Now that Shelby had a boyfriend, she spent more time with Jayden than with her girlfriends.
If Annika and Caleb started courting, Annika probably wouldn’t be around Katy much anymore. With Dad getting married, he’d be focusing on his new wife instead of his daughter. A sad thought pinched her chest. Every person important to her seemed to be drifting away from her. Except one.
Bryce.

The back door slammed. Dad clomped into the kitchen. He sniffed the air. “Mmm, Katy-girl, it smells good in here. Is supper ready?”

“I just need to make the gravy,” Katy said. “Maybe five more minutes?”

“Good! I’ll go up and change, and then we can eat.” Dad headed around the corner. He called over his shoulder,“By the way, if it’s not too late, you can go to the forensics meet this weekend if you want to. Rosemary said a couple of ladies have volunteered to help her and Gramma Ruthie, so they won’t need you on Saturday.”

Katy stared after her dad with her mouth hanging open. If she went to the tournament, she’d have another day with Bryce. Dad didn’t know it, but he was playing matchmaker too.

As they had for as far back as she could remember, Katy and Dad sat in the living room at the end of the day, and Dad read from the Bible. Katy loved their nightly reading time. The beauty of the old-world language in the Bible combined with the security of the routine always drew the day to a pleasant conclusion.

Dad opened his worn Bible and began reading from the fortieth chapter of Psalms. Katy closed her eyes and listened, Dad’s deep voice as comforting as a lullaby. “‘I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart …’”

Katy’s heart gave a jolt. Her eyes flew open. She knew the laws of her church fellowship. Dancing was not allowed. Going to the dance with Bryce would bring her delight, but was it against God’s will for her? She heard Dad’s voice in her head:
I trust you, Katy.

Dad continued to read, and Katy rarely interrupted, but she couldn’t keep her plans a secret for one more minute. She blurted,“Dad?”

Dad lifted his head, his brows pulled into a slight frown. “I’m not finished, Katy-girl.”

“I know, but …” She swallowed. “I need to talk to you about something.”

“Can’t it wait?”

She shook her head.

Dad kept his finger on the spot where he’d left off reading. “All right then. What is it?”

“Mr. Nuss told you there was something special at school the weekend you and Mrs. Graber will be gone. You should know what it is.” Katy explained homecoming. She told her dad how she’d been chosen as the sophomore attendant and what an honor it was. “And there’s a dance after the game. A boy from my forensics class — he’s a very nice boy, Dad. He comes to the morning Bible study group at school too. His name is Bryce …” Her mouth felt dry. She swallowed again. “He — Bryce — asked if I wanted to go to the game and the dance with him.”

Katy watched her father’s face. Dad’s scowl didn’t deepen, but the crease in his forehead didn’t relax either. For a long while he sat looking at her but saying nothing. Katy held her breath until she thought her chest might explode. When would he speak?

Finally Dad cleared his throat. “Are you asking my permission to go to these things, Katy, or are you just telling me about it?”

Katy emptied her lungs with a whoosh. She bit down on her lower lip and thought for a moment. “I — I wanted you to know everything that was happening. You said I could do whatever the Nusses did, and I know Shelby is going to homecoming.” Tears pricked her eyes. She wanted so
badly to go with Bryce, to be with her Salina friends. “But I didn’t want to hide it from you.”

Dad slowly closed the Bible and laid it on the sofa cushion beside him. He still didn’t smile. “I appreciate your telling me. Hiding things is never a good idea, because it leads to distrust.”

Katy nodded miserably. She’d worked hard to regain Dad’s trust after leaving school without permission with Jewel earlier in the year. Hearing him say he trusted her had been a gift. She didn’t want to betray it. But, oh, how she wanted to go to homecoming with Bryce.

Dad smoothed his hand over the Bible cover. “There are many Scriptures in this book that I could quote right now. And if I started quoting them, I believe you could finish most of them. You’ve been taught well, and you know right from wrong.”

Dad fell silent for a few moments, and Katy fidgeted under his serious gaze. Would he just hurry up and tell her she couldn’t go and be done with it?