Ever Faithful. Carolyne Aarsen

that’s all it ever was. A crush. To Paul I was just a pesky little girl who followed him and wrote notes to him.” She looked up at him, willing him to believe her. “I’ve never meant anything to him, and in the past few years, I’ve realized that he’s not the kind of man I want as my husband. He’s had more girlfriends than you have even dreamed of, and he’s lived a life that is far beyond what I seek in a husband.” She smiled as she reached up to touch his smooth cheek. “Our relationship is built on a communal faith in God. Something I think my parents missed out on.” Her heart constricted as she thought of her mother. Her broken vows had created a heartache that Amy would never wish on any child. “You wait and see, Tim Enders. I’ll be a good and faithful wife to you. I will.” Ignoring the pain in her shoulder, she pulled Tim’s head down, sealing her vow with a kiss.

      Chapter Three

      Paul paused in the doorway of the kitchen. He had been on his way outside, but the sight of his mother at the sink stopped him. The morning sun shone on her short gray hair, neatly combed. The sleeves of her cream-colored jersey were pushed past her elbows and black stirrup pants cinched bare feet.

      “Why don’t you grab a towel and pitch in?” she said when she caught his reflection in the window in front of her.

      “I haven’t done dishes in years. When are you going to get a dishwasher?” Paul yawned as he ambled into the kitchen. He leaned over to plant a kiss on his mother’s cheek. He grimaced at the dishes piled high on the counter, hooked a stool with his foot and dropped onto it. “I thought we did all the dishes last night.”

      Elizabeth shrugged, rinsed off a cup and set it on the drain tray. “I found these downstairs in the spare room.”

      “Well it wasn’t us. Dad, Derk and I were playing pool with Amy’s fiancé most of the time.” Paul rolled up the sleeves of his flannel shirt and tugged the dish towel off his mother’s shoulder.

      “And what did you think of Amy’s Tim?”

      “Seems okay,” Paul replied, keeping his tone non committal. “I have a hard time seeing him living on the ranch like he says he will.”

      Elizabeth frowned. “Why?”

      “C’mon, Mom. Did you see what he wore last night?” Paul stuffed the tea towel in a glass and twisted it. “Looked like he was auditioning for a spot on a soap opera.”

      “Actually he was dressed a lot like you.”

      “This is the way to dress,” he said. “Old, faded jeans.” He tugged on the front of his shirt. “Old faded shirt. When in the country…”

      “And it was their engagement party. Of course he’d be dressed nicely.”

      Paul heard the tone of censure in his mother’s voice and it made him feel like a sulky teenager. But he pressed on. “That may be, but I still can’t imagine him living at Danyluks’.”

      “He talks about doing it, so your imagination doesn’t count for much.” Elizabeth eased another batch of dishes in the sink.

      “I hope he likes driving.” Paul commented as he pulled another dish off the tray. He wondered why he cared how Tim felt about Amy and the ranch. I could never stop being a big brother, he thought, smiling. “When are they getting married?”

      “Amy hasn’t mentioned a specific date, although I think Tim would like it to be soon.” Elizabeth glanced at him over her shoulder. “She wants to get some money together and get the house fixed up before they move in. She also wants to get a trailer on the yard for Rick and Judd.”

      “That would be a good idea. I can’t imagine four people living in that house.” Paul shrugged. “Doesn’t sound like she’s in any rush, though.”

      “I think she’d like to get married soon, but her pride is preventing that. Pride and a lot of work. Rick’s a big help, but she still takes on most of the responsibility herself. I just wish she’d quit her job.”

      “She still working at that accountant’s office?”

      “She worked full-time up until four years ago—when Judd started getting worse. Now she just works part-time at the grocery store and tries to run the ranch on her days off.”

      “What’s wrong with Judd?”

      Elizabeth shrugged rinsing the cup in her hand. “He’s become much quieter. He used to be so stubborn and ornery, but not lately. Amy’s been pushing him to go to a doctor, but he refuses.”

      “I’m surprised Amy still manages to keep up her relationship with Tim.”

      “She and Tim spend many dates at home with Judd, keeping him entertained.” Elizabeth set the last of the cups on the drain tray and dried her hands.

      “Doesn’t sound like such a bad way to spend a night.” Paul rolled down his sleeves as he thought of all the running around he and Stacy did when they found time to spend together. Supper out, the theater, opera, the occasional movie. An evening at home sounded appealing. “But you haven’t told me yet what you think of Amy’s Tim,” Paul teased as he finished drying the cups.

      Elizabeth shrugged. “I like him very much. He’s a sincere Christian, he has a good job and is well liked in the community. He’s tall, good looking…”

      “Sounds like you’re talking about Dad’s prize bull.”

      “Don’t be flip,” Elizabeth admonished. “He’s worked at the bank for the past two years, so hasn’t really been around that long.”

      “Long enough to make a move on Amy and propose to her.”

      “Paul,” she warned.

      He lifted his hands in mock surrender. “Sorry. I didn’t know he meant that much to you, as well.”

      Elizabeth shot him a level look. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re jealous.”

      Paul looked back at her, holding her gaze. “I guess I just have to get used to the idea that little Amy Danyluk is old enough to get married.”

      “She hasn’t been ‘little Amy Danyluk’ for a long time now.”

      “She hasn’t been chasing me around for a while, either.”

      “Aha, you are jealous,” his mother cried, laughing at him.

      Paul flicked the towel at her in reply. “I’ll be able to dance at her wedding, Mom.”

      Elizabeth, her face suddenly thoughtful, drained the sink and rinsed the soap suds out.

      “Where are you?” Paul asked, setting a stack of plates in the cupboard.

      “Being a mother. Thinking about weddings.” She looked up at Paul, her expression hopeful. “I guess I’m wondering if Dad and I will ever throw an engagement party for you.”

      Paul sighed and leaned back against the counter, wrapping and unwrapping the damp towel around his hands. “Maybe. Someday,” he said with a noncommittal shrug.

      “You’ve been saying that for the past three girlfriends.” Elizabeth rescued the towel and hung it on the rack by the stove.

      Paul blew out his breath and crossed his arms. He thought her lack of questions last night was due to a change in tactics, but he should have known she would corner him sooner or later. “I don’t think marriage always has to come up when two people are dating.”

      “Then why are they dating?”

      “Companionship, friendship…” The words sounded lame to him.

      “Friends and companions you go fishing with. Girlfriends you kiss when you think your mother isn’t looking.” Elizabeth tapped him on the chest as she passed him.

      Paul had to remind himself that he was almost thirty and hadn’t needed to answer to his mother for