Page 61 of Running Home to You
“He’s a good Christian,” Beth said. “God sends you a man like that and you turn away. For what? Explain that to me.”
“I don’t know why I have to say yes to marrying someone I don’t completely love.”
“You will take a husband.” Ray narrowed his brow. “Do you understand me?”
Kate finally looked at him. “What does that mean?”
“You know what I’m saying,” he said. “A husband and children are God’s plan. Yet you work so hard to turn away from it. Maybe we’ve let you run too far. It’s my fault.”
“It’s not anyone’s fault. It’s my choice. I wasn’t born to just serve a husband.”
“Does this have something to do with our talk in the truck?” Ray asked.
Kate shrank back. “No. No, of course not.”
“Then why did you say no to him?”
“Because I don’t want it! Doesn’t that count for something? Are you going to force me into a marriage I don’t want?”
“I will if I have to,” Ray said. “Especially when you’re not thinking clearly. When something’s taken hold of your mind.”
She scoffed. “What’s taken hold? Independent thought?”
Beth slapped her so hard that her vision flashed white. Her eyes prickled as she clutched her cheek. Kate slowly rotated her head back to bear the cross of her mother’s glare. Beth’s thin lips stitched into a line, her jaw went taut, her gaze empty. A look like that almost convinced Kate of what she always suspected. Her mother truly didn’t like her. Another slap. Same cheek. And Kate, while a woman, while stronger now, didn’t think to move. She didn’t bring her head up this time. Didn’t dare give her a third chance to strike her.
“You will fix this with Blake,” Ray said. “I’ll call him myself. You’ll tell him you made a mistake.”
“No, I won’t,” she said. Standing up for herself wouldn’t end well, but she wouldn’t go back on her decision. Not even if it meant a thousand more backhands.
“Then you won’t go back to school,” Beth said. “No more softball. No law school.”
“You can’t keep me from there!” Kate shouted. “I have a scholarship. I have my own life. And it’s mine to choose!”
“This is my house.” Ray launched up, chair legs scraping the floorboards. He hovered with an indignation she’d never witnessed. Kate shuddered. Ray had never touched the girls, but she now fearedhe might make an exception. “We’ve called Pastor Nolan and the elders. They’ve agreed to meet with us tonight. We’ll discuss it with them.”
Kate bolted before they could stop her and charged for the back door.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Beth asked.
“Taking care of the chickens.” Kate breathed shallowly, shaking but standing, wounded but walking on her own accord. The door slammed shut behind her as she crossed the snowy field and plotted an escape.
Before winter break, Abby and Kate had hatched a plan to set up Isla and Luca. It’d been in the works for months. Kate brought up Isla every so often while she interned in Luca’s office, relayed his reactions to Abby, who would come up with something for Kate to mention next. It was a childish game, but an innocent distraction from their own complicated relationship. After deciding that Luca’s flicker whenever Kate mentioned Isla and his frequent inquiries about her indicated his interest, they put a final plan into action. Kate invited Luca to speak to the Pre-Law Society and asked Isla to do the same.
Abby couldn’t resist showing up for the big reveal. When Isla asked why she was going to the meeting, Abby claimed she needed to get a book from Kate. A suspicious excuse, but it didn’t matter. The minute Isla spotted Luca, her world stopped.
Luca grinned so big that Abby did too, even though it wasn’t for her. While Isla scolded them later, she accepted Luca’s embrace and held on for much longer than necessary. It reminded Abby of the hugs she shared with Kate. The ones after they returned to each other, clutching on like they’d been lost.
Despite having no affiliation with the Pre-Law Society, Abby stuck around. She observed from the back as Kate introduced the guest speakers, moderated the conversation, updated the club on logistics.Every so often her gaze drifted to Abby, and she would adorably stutter, blush, and clear her throat before continuing.
“I can’t believe you stayed.” Kate joined her when it ended.
“I couldn’t miss that.” Abby nodded at Isla and Luca, who spoke closely, as if the students in the room didn’t exist.
Kate nudged her shoulder. “Between these two, and Mick and Haley, I think we’re officially matchmakers.”
“Let’s do me next.” Abby chuckled.
Kate didn’t smile. “I don’t think I could stand that.”
