Reeling in Love by Kathleen Fuller

Author:Kathleen Fuller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2020-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

Ira looked at the wrecked spread of food in front of him. Seeing the pickle juice spilled on the quilt, he grabbed the jar and screwed the lid back on. He could smell the fried chicken, and the coleslaw looked delicious. Although the cobbler had a big dip where Nina had fallen on it, it still looked scrumptious with its brown crust and peach filling bursting through.

But he couldn’t concentrate on food, which was unusual for him. He jumped to his feet and, bewildered, looked in the direction where Nina had disappeared. Why had she run off like that? And why had she brought such a fancy picnic—even if her grandmother wanted her to? Usually they each brought a sandwich and maybe an apple or a bag of chips. But this was a full spread, complete with a wicker picnic basket.

“I hope I didn’t ruin things with you and yer maedel,” Margaret said, walking toward him.

“She’s not mei maedel.” He glanced at the woods again. Should he go after her?

“Oh, I didn’t realize. I figured with you two having a standing fishing date on Saturdays—”

“They’re not dates,” he said with a frown, still trying to figure out if he should go find Nina.

“Okay.” Margaret pressed her lips together and then spread her hands toward the picnic. “Did you forget a special occasion, then? Because this looks like more than a friendly picnic to me.”

Ira shot an annoyed look at her. “Nee, no special occasion.” At least he didn’t think so. Had he forgotten something important? He couldn’t imagine what they had to celebrate that required delicious-looking food—all his favorites.

Margaret shook her head. “She looked really upset, Ira.”

He couldn’t deny that. “I know.” What he didn’t know was why. None of this made sense.

She moved to stand in front of him, craning her neck to look him in the eye. “Why aren’t you checking on her?”

Ira rubbed the back of his neck. “I was thinking I’d let her cool off for a little while.”

His cousin’s eyes widened. “Don’t you want to know why she’s upset?”

“Of course I do.”

“I’m confused.” She frowned as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Still bewildered, he said, “You and me both.”

Margaret tilted her head as she looked at him for another moment or two. Then she pointed to the woods. “Geh find her, Ira. I’ll clean up here and take everything back to yer haus.”

Her words yanked him out of his fog. She was right. He had to find out once and for all what was going on with Nina. “All right,” he said, grabbing Nina’s fishing pole and then turning to her. He glanced at the picnic again. “Sorry to leave you alone like this.”

She smiled. “Hey, I’m a big maedel. Well, not that big,” she said with a chuckle. “But I can manage alone. I might even do a little fishing after I clean up.”

But Ira was already heading for the woods, only half hearing her. “I’ll meet you back at the haus,” he said over his shoulder.

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