Page 107 of Not So Very Sensible

She smiled to herself as her sister hurried out, taking her time with warming the pie and making sure the flat white was perfect. There was no point rushing something like this.

And sure enough, when she peered through the glass of the wooden door, she could see Katie and Chris having an animated conversation, smiling at each other. Well, well, well. Chris was a much better option than one snake-in-the-grass Jason Willoughby.

She made Katie her favourite tea and went out to their table, depositing their drinks and his food on the table.

“I wasn’t expecting a drink,” Katie said.

“I figured your throat had gone dry from asking Chris so many questions about the work he does.”

Chris laughed. “Hey. It’s okay. I’ve enjoyed connecting again.”

“You should get his phone number,” Ellie said. “You know, so you can keep asking questions.” She winked at Chris.

His forehead wrinkled. “I, um, pardon me for asking, but I thought you were with that Jason fellow.”

Katie’s face fell, and Ellie wanted to intervene but sensed that Katie actually needed to speak for herself. She placed a hand on Katie’s shoulder. “Tell him.”

Katie shrugged, then in a small voice admitted that Jason had dumped her.

Ellie watched as Chris’ face ran through a gamut of emotions. Then he nodded. “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve to be treated that way.”

“Thank you,” Katie murmured, gifting him a smile.

Ellie nodded. “Exactly. She deserves to be treated kindly by someone who can encourage her to step into the purposes that God may have for her. Who knows? Maybe that will have something to do with police research one day.” She smirked at him. “Know anyone who can do that?”

He coughed. “I know someone who could try.”

She patted him on the back, then winked at her sister and left them to it, moving to clear another table. Maybe she’d be the maiden aunt to her sisters’ children, but she could be the matchmaking maiden aunt too. She grinned. There was no need to let EJ have all the matchmaking fun.

Frustration grew as Ellie refused to call. After the bust of last weekend’s non-visit to the Southern Highlands because his dad had needed him for yet another campaign event, he’d tried Charlene’s tactic, and after Francine had coughed up the name, finally managed to find the correct landscaping company. Yet even after that magical moment of hearing her voice—a moment that had buoyed his hopes sky-high—she still hadn’t answered his call. Now another week had slid by and he was tired of waiting, tired of feeling like his life was in limbo. He’d be facing Charlene again tonight at youth group, and he really didn’t want to have to tell her that he was still stuck in this no-man’s-land of zero answers. Not when they were supposed to be heading down to Wattle Vale tomorrow to see if they could find this mysterious café and connect with Ellie once and for all.

He found the number he’d called last week. It was his lunch break, he was outside, the pigeons were cooing in the plaza and swooping for crumbs. He dialled, then waited. Lord, help me find her, please.

“Hello, you’ve reached Wellings Landscaping and Associates. This is Jackson.”

He withheld a sigh. “Uh, I was hoping to speak with Ellie.”

“She’s not in today.”

“Oh.” Disappointment shafted deep. “Could you, uh, tell me when she’s in?”

“Who is this?”

“Um, a friend.”

“Do you have a name?”

“Ethan. Ethan Ferris.”

“Wait, you’re the dude who called her last week, right? She said she didn’t want to talk to you, asked me to put your number in the bin.”

“What? Oh please. It’s all a big misunderstanding. You’ve got to believe me.”

“No, I don’t.” And the call ended.

Wow. Okay.

He immediately dialled the number again, and it was instantly answered by the same dude. “This is Jackson.”