Page 120 of Not So Very Sensible

“Good to know.”

For a moment, the world faded, and there was nothing except Ellie and Ethan. Her smile, the light in her eyes, everything about her drawing him like a moth to a flame. But he didn’t care if he was burned. The old him needed to be burned away. All the old practices and mindsets needed to be cast off and his attention focused on what God wanted. Just like Mrs. Bennett had said.

He squeezed Ellie’s hand, then lifted it to his lips, pressing his mouth there. “Thank you for letting me come today.”

Her smile tilted. “I don’t recall having much of a choice.”

“You could have kicked me out.”

“I could have as soon as cut off my own arm,” she admitted quietly.

“I’m glad you have both arms,” he said.

“Me too.”

“What are you two talking about so seriously there?” Katie asked.

“Oh hush, child. Leave them be. It’s good to see your sister happy,” Mrs. Bennett said.

And judging from the kiss Ellie gave him when it was time for him to go, she was very happy indeed.

Epilogue

It was funny how quickly life could change. One minute Ellie was nearly reconciled to her life’s purpose being to love and care for her sisters’ future children as their unwed aunt. The next minute God surprised her in the most wonderful way by giving her a man who loved her, along with a potential future together in Canberra. She’d been called back for another interview, and the company was considering only herself and one other candidate. Regardless of the outcome, she could trust God to direct her path. He’d proved faithful in the past, and He would prove faithful in the future.

Ellie’s phone buzzed, and she drew it from her pocket. She smiled at the message Ethan had left. Which ended with a kiss emoji she knew was a symbol for what he wished to do.

He was so good to her.

The door to The Silver Teapot opened, and she glanced at Annabelle. It was near closing time. “I’ll get this.”

Then she saw who it was. Her heart fisted and she straightened. “Can I help you?”

“Elinor.”

“What do you want, Jason?”

He exhaled. “Is your sister around?”

“No. And even if she was, I wouldn’t fetch her to speak to you.”

His nose wrinkled. “You don’t like me very much, do you?”

“To be honest, no. I think you’re a user. And you’re selfish. And I’m glad you broke up with my sister. She’s with a much better man now.”

Katie and Chris had hit it off and were messaging most nights, talking the others. On his return from Goulburn, Chris had stopped in again, and this time met their father, which soon saw the two men swapping police stories—names changed, of course—for hours.

Chris had proved himself to be a most unassuming man, and his recent closure of a cold case had Katie talking about little else for days. She’d finally decided to enrol in the police academy, with a view to working in logistics. She had begun a training regimen that involved waking up early every morning to go running so she could reach the exercise benchmarks all cadets had to pass to be considered for entry. Katie was fitter and stronger than Ellie ever remembered her being.

Jason’s shoulders slumped. “Are you saying there’s no hope for me?”

“Why should there be? You dumped her, called her somebody you used to know, like she was nothing to you. Do you know how much that hurt her?”

He bit his lip. “I’m sorry.”

She studied him. “Why are you back?”

“I—I heard that you and Ethan had gotten back together, and—” His mouth clamped, like he’d suddenly realised he’d said too much.