Today's Reading
Two minutes later, she opened the door again and stepped out onto the porch. In her free hand was a beautiful red woven basket with a dishcloth covering the contents. “Here. This is for you.”
He took it from her and held it with both hands. “Tell me about this.”
She blinked. “Well, inside is a loaf of fresh bread and a jar of strawberry jam.” Looking unsure again, she added, “I hope you like both?”
“Homemade bread and jam? Of course I do. Don't you remember how my little sister, Melonie, was always teasing me about my breakfast of jam and toast?”
Something in her eyes faded. “Sometimes I forget that I was once your teacher.”
“I can't seem to forget it.” He smiled. “You were a good teacher.”
Tabitha looked even more uncomfortable. “I don't know about that.”
Hearing the self-deprecating way she spoke about herself hurt him. Almost as much as realizing that she didn't like being reminded of their long acquaintance. Feeling more uneasy, he studied her face. “Do you not want me to mention it?”
“Of course not. It's just... well, those days seem like a lifetime ago.”
“I reckon that's because my classroom days did happen a lifetime ago. I was young then.”
“I was too.”
He hated that he'd brought those bad memories to the surface again. “So, tell me about this jam and bread. Did you make them both?”
“I did. The bread yesterday and the jam back in June.” Looking at the basket again, she winced. “It's really not much, is it? I mean, not compared to everything you've done for me,” she continued in a rush. "I should've thanked you before too. I'm—”
“It's fine,” he blurted. No way was he going to let her apologize for being wary around him. She looked so alone, so in need of kindness, Seth wished he could pull her into his arms and tell her that everything was eventually going to be okay. That he would make sure her life got better, someway or somehow.
But of course, holding a fine woman like her was only going to happen in his dreams.
Instead, he inclined his head. “Your gift is appreciated. I'll enjoy both. Let me give you back your basket, though. It's too fine to pass on.”
“No, the basket is for you as well. I have lots of baskets.” She bit her bottom lip. “Too many.”
Encouraged that they were still conversing, he kept his voice soft. “Is that right? Where did you get them?”
“Nowhere. I mean, I make baskets.”
He couldn't have been more surprised. “And the red?”
“It's red from berries. I stained the wood.”
She knew how to color wood from berries. She knew how to weave beautiful, finely woven baskets—and fill them with homemade bread and jam. Any one of those things was something to be proud of. Altogether? It was rather awe-inspiring. At least to a man like him.
“You are full of surprises today, Tabitha Yoder.” He didn't expect her to comment on that. Seth supposed he'd muttered the phrase to himself mainly because he felt it needed to be said. Yet again he thought about what a shame it was that such an amazing woman was hiding in the shadows.
She met his gaze. Her brown eyes pinned him down. Making him feel that for a split second they had a connection. For a second, Seth was sure she was about to smile. But then she turned and went back inside. The door shut with a heavy thunk, and the click of a deadbolt followed. She was in her safe place again.
But she'd come outside today and spoken to him. They'd had a conversation.
Unable to help himself, Seth grinned as he turned around to take her basket to his truck. Yeah, Tabitha was unsure and skittish, and chatting with her took the patience of a saint. But he didn't care. As far as he was concerned, their conversation had been perfect. After all this time, she'd trusted him enough to step outside her door. She'd blessed him with that trust.
As he returned to the woodpile to finish stacking the wood, he decided that maybe he wouldn't wait so long to stop by again.
Maybe he wouldn't wait very long at all.
...
