Today, I let her say her piece.
“I’ve been a bad friend. And an even worse future sister-in-law.” The path they were on was the same one that she and Joseph walked bare. It was also the one that Joseph brought her down to give her the birthday present, the hand carved fishing pole made from the branch of their tulip tree, that started their road to engagement. The pole still sat in her room, in the corner. And still smelled just as delightful as it did that day last year.
“I’ve been deceptive and manipulative. Shame on me. But nothing was worse than what I did in New York.”
Rebekah’s heart began to slap against the inside of her chest. The recent memory of Patty, speaking about the goings on in the tar paper shacks by the docks sparked to life in her mind. She never thought about it, but that was, in fact, where she found Katie. Inside one of those shacks...
“What happened?”
Katie looked at her with wide eyes. “I put all of you in danger. You got hurt, a lot, and it was all for my sake. I was incredibly unappreciative and selfish.”
That was a rather responsible answer.
“So it did not have anything to do with the tar-paper shacks on the docks, right?”
“Right.” Katie looked thoughtful. “I still don’t know what was so bad about them. I never did figure it out.”
“Me neither.” Rebekah laughed, a relieved laugh. “Truly I tell you, I wasn’t sure what you were going to say.”
“I understand.” Katie batted her eyes, as though she was fighting back tears. “I don’t like that I made you question me though.”
The Wagler’s farm came into view over the turn in the path. Had they gone the other way, they would have ended up at Joseph’s house. Katie looked at Peter’s house, where he currently did not live, and stopped. “I’m so, so sorry.”
“I’m going to run on ahead,” Thomas shouted from the end of the path. “Don’t worry, Sissy, I see where we are going and I know the rule. I’ll wave at you from the porch.”
Rebekah waved him off. “Save me a seat next to you, okay?”
“Okay, Sissy!”
Rebekah sighed and looked at the Wagler’s farm. They lost their son to Rumspringa. Now, it appears that they’ve lost their adopted son to Katie’s Rumspringa.
“Katie,” Rebekah shifted uncomfortably. “May I be honest?”
“Of course.” Her eyes were downcast and she looked meeker than she’d ever looked before in her two decades of knowing her. Normally spiffy and spry, Katie now looked incredibly sorry.
“I don’t think I’m the one you should be telling this to.”
Katie looked up at Rebekah. “You weren’t the first one I came to with this, Rebekah.”
Knots fell in Rebekah’s gut.
Joseph.
“No, not Joseph.” Katie’s eyes twinkled. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Thank you, Katie. For saying that.” Is that Katie giving me her blessing?
“It was Peter.” Katie twisted her toe in the dirt. “I’ve been going to see him every day since we’ve been back.”
Rebekah was taken aback. “You have?”
“Of course.”
“Is he coming to be baptized today?”
She shrugged. “He never said.”
Rebekah started walking toward the Wagler home. “Well, let’s go see if he’s there!”
“I’m not going.”
Rebekah stopped walking. She turned back. “What?”
“I’m not going.” Katie scanned the horizon. A buggy pulled up along the back road. Rebekah watched as she hid herself behind a tree. “I was so jealous, Rebekah. I thought he’d moved on with Patty and her son, sweet little Noah. I have to get my head on straight. I have been in almost constant prayer. She’s his cousin and yours too. I have felt foolish before, but never like that. Never that foolish.”
“If you were afraid he moved on, doesn’t that tell you that you love him and you should come?”
“I don’t know if he’s coming. What if he sees me there, then rushes in and gets baptized, then...? I don’t know. Maybe he regrets it later.” Katie stepped back out on the trail. The buggy was just Rebekah’s Ma and Pa and brothers. Not Peter. “He has to make this decision for himself. I am taking myself out of the...what do you call it, you were good in math.”
“Equation?”
“That. Yes.”
“Church is starting, Katie,” Rebekah started out of the woods and toward the Wagler’s. “I wish you’d reconsider and come.”
A smile of sorts flickered across Katie’s face. “I’m with you. I’m home and gladly so.” She shifted her weight. “There’s something else, Rebekah.”
Rebekah dipped her head and studied Katie. “Yes?”
