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Dear Jesus,
Please don’t let Eli think I’m like the woman from the Bible who bled for 12 years.
In your name,
Amen
Once everything was back inside my purse and out of his sight, I stood up, and Eli grabbed my water bottle. “Can I help you carry this to your door?”
My hands weren’t full to the brim, but I relented. I glanced over my shoulder. The neighborhood watch group was still fully engaged inwhatever it wasthat was going on here.
“Sure, that would be fine.”
He picked up Carter, who looked visibly tired from all the playing, and we walked over to my steps. “I can take it from here,” I said, taking the loop of the water bottle lid by my finger, only then remembering my keys at the bottom of my purse. Judging by Eli’s look, he was remembering the same thing.
“Would you like me to wait until you get inside?” He was smirking but I knew I’d rather him not see me juggling at the top of the steps. “That’s alright. You better go eat lunch before you return to work.”
“Thanks, Katie. I took an extra shift from another clinic that we work with since they are down a tech. I don’t mind since Alaska is very expensive.” He smiled wide, revealing his beautiful white teeth that were perfectlyimperfect,a few crooked but they added to his charm. Charm? I just remembered my date tonight. And the words came up in my throat once more.
“Well, I’d better go get ready for my date tonight.”
Eli’s eyes widened. “Oh,alright.Do you have a boyfriend?” He was suddenlyveryinterested in my love life for having entanglements of his own.
“No. It just happened. I took Dolly to get a checkup and the doctor asked me out.”
“Which vet do you go to?” Now things are getting interesting. I heard one of my neighbors start talking only to be hushed loudly by another who was listening in to our conversation.
“Dr. Wylons… Jr. He just took over his dad’s practice.”
Eli nodded. “That’s where Carter goes. I haven’t met Junior yet.” He crossed his arms, now speaking defiantly.
I nodded along, letting the conversation take its natural course.
“He’s very—eccentric.” I don’t know why I described him that way to Eli, but the damage was done. He visibly lightened, laughing a little.
“Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me. His dad is the nuttiest part of a fruit cake.” He let out a howl at his joke, and now I felt insecure about going on a date with a wacko’s son.
“Well good luck with Carolyn,” I added that in, reminding him that my dating wasn’t really his business anyway, though immediately regretting it.
He nodded, smile fading. “See you around, Katie.”
Eli walked away, Carter peeking over his shoulder at us before vanishing behind the building. I took to the steps, stopping on the first one and slowly rummaging through my purse while hoisting the water bottle between my knees. Feeling the jingle in my fingertips, I reshuffled all my contents and put the oversized water bottle inside my purse, draping it over my arm. We took the stairs one at a time, and I quickened my pace. As I slid the key into my doorknob, a woman called out to me.
“Have fun on your date tonight.” I froze, turning back.
“Thanks, Marge.” I gave her a head nod. If anything, Marge would be a very reliable witness for my 20/20 special.
I shut the door behind us and resisted the urge to slump onto my couch and stay there forever.
Katie’s Biblical Application
“Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because Iwill never marry.” Judges 11:37
I was wrestling with the anguish of Eli being unavailable in my mind while also trying to reserve some hope for my date tonight.Dolly and I both were exhausted from the day's events. I filled her bowl with kibble since she must’ve worked up an appetite.I know I had.I decided to pre-eat so I wouldn’t be ravenous at dinner tonight and could focus less on whether I had spinach in my teeth and more on if I felt something flapping in my nostril.
I took out my leftover macaroni and cheese and reheated it, knowing once it had gone cold, it never returned to its creamy glory, but I just needed something. Dolly had taken a long drink and was at her kibble, sniffing it out when I sat down at the table. Pieces from my jigsaw puzzle stuck to my bowl and arms as I rested them between bites.
“Dear Jesus,
