A Place at Our Table by Amy Clipston

Author:Amy Clipston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2017-09-21T04:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

“I’m going to talk to Nathan and make him understand what he did tonight was reckless and completely unacceptable.” Dat’s voice echoed from the mudroom. His tone held a hard edge of irritation that sent a shiver down Kayla’s spine as she busied herself with filling one side of the sink with hot, sudsy water, and the other side with rinse water.

“I want to be there when you talk to him,” Mamm sounded determined. “I have a few things to say to him myself.”

“Fine. I’ll call him down and insist he talk to us now. It can’t wait until morning.”

Kayla glanced over her shoulder as her parents walked through the kitchen. Frustration radiated off them. They would give Nathan an emotional castigation, and as much as she longed to chime in and help them get Nathan’s attention, she had to stay out of it. She was his sister and not his parent, but she couldn’t stop herself from worrying about his safety.

Her heart had lodged in her throat when she looked out the window earlier and saw the fire truck. Even though she thought her own family was safe in their beds, she’d thought the worst—about Jamie. The memories of the night Simeon died came rushing back to her like a suffocating tidal wave. She would never forget that icy, hollow feeling that overcame her when Brody delivered the news.

“Nathan Paul! Your mamm and I want to speak with you. Come down now.” Dat’s voice cut through her harrowing memories. Besides, Brody wouldn’t come here if anything happened to Jamie. He’d be at the Riehl home.

She cringed at both her father’s stern tone and his using her brother’s full name. After a few moments, she heard Nathan coming down the stairs. She turned her attention to washing the dishes.

“Do you need help?”

Kayla jumped at Eva’s question. “I didn’t hear you come back.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Eva sidled up to her and started drying the dishes.

“Is Junior okay?” Kayla finished rinsing the last plate and put it in the drain board.

“Ya. He is fast asleep.” Eva gave Kayla a sideways glance. “I didn’t know if Jamie was still here.”

“He’s been gone for a few minutes.” Kayla lifted a mug.

“Why did you go to that call tonight?” Dat’s voice boomed from the family room. “You could have been hurt or killed. Why would you risk your life after your mamm and I told you that you can’t volunteer right now?”

Eva sucked in a breath. “Your daed is upset,” she whispered.

“I know.” Kayla finished washing the mug and dropped it into the rinse water.

“I want an answer, Nathan,” Dat barked. “Why would you sneak out late at night to help at a fire when you haven’t had any training? We didn’t know you were gone. What if you’d been hurt on your way to the scene? We would’ve had no idea where to even begin to look for you.”

A few moments of painful silence passed as Kayla rushed to finish washing the mugs.

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