The Hearts We Mend by Kathryn Springer

Author:Kathryn Springer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2015-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Jack couldn’t put his finger on it, but something had changed after Evie raided Bert’s garden.

He still didn’t know why she’d been studying the vacant lot across the street so intently. A steady stream of neighbors had made it impossible to talk. Andy’s wife, Serena, had stopped by to ask about the washing machine and accepted his invitation to stay for supper. Josh had shown up a few minutes later with his geometry textbook.

There were times—like tonight—Jack was tempted to turn off the lights and pretend he wasn’t home. Because Banister Falls wasn’t home. He hadn’t planned to stay more than a month, and it had already turned into three.

And depending on what happened, Jack would have to make a decision before school started. Take Lily back to Milwaukee or fill out the enrollment forms for Banister Falls Elementary.

When you don’t know what to do, do the next thing is what Coop would say.

Now that Josh had figured out the difference between a polygon and an equilateral triangle, Jack’s “next thing” was drying the dishes collecting on the towel that Evie had spread out over the counter.

Jack hadn’t expected her to stay this long.

The rest of the guests had left right after he’d served dessert—ice cream sandwiches from the freezer case at Truitt’s—and Lily was in her bedroom, unpacking the rest of her things.

He hunted for a dry towel and realized the one he’d been looking for was knotted around Evie’s slender waist. The humidity in the room had put a glow in her cheeks, and a few strands of silver-blonde hair had escaped the confines of the yellow barrette she’d borrowed from Lily.

“I still can’t believe Bert grew all this on a balcony about the size of a postage stamp.” Evie rinsed out the salad bowl and handed it to him.

“I have one too, but I haven’t done anything with it.”

“Why not?” Evie flicked a glance at him. “You have so much free time on your hands.”

It took Jack a moment to realize she was teasing him. His heart broke loose from its moorings and bumped against his rib cage.

If Evie was starting to feel comfortable with him, Jack didn’t want to do anything to ruin that. Like telling her that he enjoyed spending his not-so-free free time with her.

“I sit out there in the evening and have a cup of coffee.”

Not quite an invitation.

“That sounds nice.”

Not quite an acceptance.

Jack released a quiet breath. Took two mugs out of the dish drainer, his hand suddenly as unsteady as his pulse.

A door slammed, followed by the heavy tread of footsteps on the staircase. Jack glanced at the clock. “Josh’s dad. He works third shift at the factory.”

“He was home this evening?” Evie frowned. “Why didn’t he help Josh with his homework?”

“He was probably catching a few hours of sleep before he punched in.”

“What about his mom?”

“She doesn’t live with them.

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