A Joyful Heart by Cecily Wolfe

Author:Cecily Wolfe [Wolfe, Cecily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: christian romance
Publisher: Cecily Wolfe
Published: 2023-10-20T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Jenny knew she had gone overboard, and after praying about it, too.

But Mark could just cross off some of the tasks on the list, and she could do whatever was left over.

Instead, he took the napkin off the table and looked at it with a tight smile, his jaw hardening.

Didn’t he realize that she couldn’t just help Kristal with story times, although she knew how much planning and creativity went into each session.

“Yeah, okay. I might have to leave early today, so I’m glad you’re willing to take on so much, at least for now.”

He let the napkin fall to the table and looked behind him.

“Have you seen our waitress? I’d like to get back and finish the September schedules before I have to go for the day.”

When he pulled his hand back just as she reached for it, she knew she had to apologize.

“I’m sorry, I guess I’m just . . .”

“Ambitious? Eager? Excited? I know, and I love that about you. I’ll find other ways to stay busy and look good when it comes to whatever criteria Pat is considering.”

Before Jenny could respond, her mind struggling to register everything he just said, the waitress appeared with their check and Mark took out his wallet.

When she lifted her purse from her lap he shook his head without looking at her and she set it back down.

They usually paid for their own food or drinks when they went out together, but she was too stunned by his words to consider what it meant.

That he was insisting on paying, although she could see that he was upset with her.

No, it wasn’t upset.

Disappointed?

Defeated.

“Why do you have to leave early?”

She waited until they were alone again and Mark stood up, holding his hand out to allow her to walk ahead of him.

But she didn’t want to.

Jenny wanted to walk beside him, but he didn’t budge until she stepped forward.

“It’s personal, but I plan to have it handled soon. I appreciate your help at work until then.”

“Seriously, Mark? Why won’t you tell me? I can help more than just at work if you let me.”

She grabbed his elbow and he stopped as they headed into the parking lot.

“This is hard enough, all of it, without you hassling me, too, Jenny.”

Hassling?

Anger threatened to override her concern, but she wasn’t going to let her frustration dictate her response.

Not when so much was at stake.

“That’s not my intention. Listen, I’ll mind my own business, but I’ll probably remind you that I’m here if you need to talk every once in a while. If you get mad about that, too bad.”

Finally, Mark smiled, and Jenny remembered what he had said earlier.

That he loved the qualities about her that were causing even more strife between them.

Heat rushed to her cheeks and she wondered why in the world she suddenly felt shy, as if she couldn’t look at him.

They were friends, that was all, and if he was holding her hand or smiling at her, that was nothing unusual.

Besides,

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