Katie's Way by Marta Perry Page A

up the large black umbrella that lived in a milk can next to the door. The milk can was a silent invitation to anyone who came in with a wet umbrella that here was the spot for it—not dripping on the floor.
    She hadn’t had much use for umbrellas since she’d opened. Until yesterday, May had been fairly dry, which meant that everyone would welcome today’s steady, gentle rainfall.
    She glanced at Rhoda, who leaned on the counter, staring gloomily out at the rain.
    â€œI’m going to bring flyers around to some of the stores. Take care of things until I get back, ja? Then you can have a lunch break.”
    Rhoda’s lower lip came out. “Why do you bother to stay open on such a rainy day? No one will be out shopping anyway.”
    â€œYou have someplace very important to go, do you?” Katie raised her eyebrows.
    â€œNo place to go and nothing to do here, for sure. If I was home—”
    â€œIf you were home, you’d be helping Mammi with the ironing today. Would you rather do that?”
    Katie couldn’t help the slight exasperation in her voice. Had she been this annoying when she was a teenager? Dealing with Rhoda was sometimes like coping with a tired two-year-old.
    Rhoda didn’t dignify that question with an answer. Well, there wasn’t anything she could say that would make Katie change her mind anyway. As long as Rhoda was here, she had to pull her weight in the shop.
    â€œKeep the store open. And be pleasant if anyone comes in.”
    â€œNo one will,” Rhoda muttered, determined to get in the last word as Katie went out the door.
    The patter of the rain on her umbrella was better than the discontent in Rhoda’s voice. Becky had not come in to work at Caleb’s today, which was probably the main issue, but Rhoda could hardly expect to have a friend in every day.
    At least she shouldn’t expect to have that. Maybe Rhoda was missing her pesky little sisters more than she wanted to admit. Katie felt that way at times, that was certain-sure.
    Mamm’s most recent letter had been full of chatter about the things she and Louise were making for Louise’s marriage. About the plans they had started already, even though the wedding was not until November. The letter had not said a word about Rhoda coming home.
    Katie pressed her lips together. She should be ashamed of herself, thinking of that. Rhoda was her little sister, and she was always welcome.
    She reached the corner and stepped back to avoid being splashed by a car that took the turn too fast, sending up a spray of water. Rhoda actually had a point about customers. No one seemed to be out on Main Street today.
    Funny, that people would let the weather keep them inside, because the day wasn’t really all that unpleasant. The air was warm, and the rain had settled down to a gentle drizzle. The tulips in pots along the sidewalk seemed to lift their heads in welcome.
    Katie knew what she was doing. She was using Rhoda, the rain, and anything else she could come up with to avoid thinking about Caleb’s words. And more important, about her reaction to them.
    She’d seen the pain in his face when he’d talked about his past, and she’d longed to comfort him. The words about forgiving and forgetting had just seemed to say themselves.
    And then he’d turned her own words back on her, and it was as if Caleb had shone a bright light onto her very soul, showing the dark things that dwelt there.
    Caleb didn’t know about Eli and Jessica. How could he?
    Anyway, she had forgiven them. She’d prayed about it and she’d forgiven.
    As for forgetting ... well, maybe she of all people should have known better than to suggest that Caleb could forget. Caleb couldn’t forget the pain of that betrayal any more than she could.
    Katie had reached the bookstore that was her destination and paused in the doorway, shaking out the umbrella and ordering her thoughts carefully before