The Heart's Shelter by Amy Clipston

Author:Amy Clipston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2024-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Later that afternoon, Kira rinsed her paintbrush in the sink in Omar’s kitchen. She and Jayden had talked about their families while they worked their way around the pasture, meeting up with where Shane painted.

Kira had enjoyed listening while Jayden had shared stories about his older brothers’ adventures when they were children. He also talked about his mother, sharing how she never seemed to lose her temper, even when Jayden and his brothers came home covered in mud or drenched from falling into a creek while fishing. Kira had soaked up the stories, trying her best to memorize the details about Jayden’s precious family.

When it was her turn, she also discussed her best memories of her sisters and told him about her parents. Soon they were done painting, and the time seemed to fly by too quickly.

After her brush was clean, she moved on to rinse the remainder of the brushes while the men loaded up the supplies in Ben’s buggy and the women picked up around the house.

“I really appreciate all of your hard work today,” Omar said behind her. “This has really been a treat, and mei haus and property haven’t looked this gut in years.”

“We enjoyed our time here,” Jayden said.

Kira twisted and found Jayden standing in the doorway of the kitchen while he spoke to Omar. She turned and finished washing the brushes and wrapped them in paper towels.

“Danki for cleaning those,” Jayden said, close to her ear.

She jumped with a start, spinning toward him. Then she pressed her hand to her chest while working to catch her breath.

His eyes crinkled at the corners, and his lips quirked. “I’m sorry for startling you.”

“The way you’re working to hide your grin tells me that you’re really not.”

He laughed and held his hands up, palms facing her. “You caught me. No, I’m really not.”

She shook her head and then handed him the paintbrushes. “I suppose these are yours?”

“Ya, they are.”

She gathered up her tote bag from the counter and then looked over at Omar. “I enjoyed meeting you.”

“Danki for all of your help today.” Omar shook her hand.

“Gern gschehne.” She turned toward Jayden. “Would you walk me out?”

His face brightened. “I’d love to.” He nodded at Omar. “I’ll see you at church.”

“Give my regards to your dat and your bruders, Jayden,” the older man said.

“I will. Danki, Omar.” Then Jayden pushed open the storm door and held it for Kira. “After you.”

Kira moved to the porch and looked out to where their friends were gathered around the buggies, which had already been hitched to their horses. Disappointment rained down on her. The day had gone by too quickly.

“I hope you have a gut week,” Jayden told her as he came to stand beside her. “Maybe I’ll see you at a youth gathering sometime soon.”

Kira smiled at him. “I would really like that.”

“I would too.”

Silence fell between them, and she had the sudden urge to tell him that she’d like to see him sometime, and she longed to invite him over for supper so that they could talk on her aunt’s porch in private after the meal.

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