A Place of His Own by Kathleen Fuller Page A

Moving in slow motion, he picked up a piece of bacon and brought it to his mouth, then chewed with exaggerated movements. “Is that better?”
    She giggled. “Much.” Finally. This was the Josiah she remembered. Playful. Funny. Not sullen and somber. She held out the almost-empty platter of pancakes to him. “Do you want any more?”
    â€œBest not.” He patted his flat stomach. “I’ve eaten more than enough.”
    Clearly it was a compliment on her cooking, and she took it. Rising from her chair, she started clearing the table. She was surprised and pleased when he helped out. After putting the dishes in the sink, she turned around and looked at him. “Rachel was going to come today, but she and Hannah are helping Mamm repair a few of the boys’ pants. They go through clothes like you wouldn’t believe. I thought I’d work in the living room today. That shouldn’t take that long. Unless the bathroom needs cleaning first? After seeing the kitchen, I can only imagine what it looks li—”
    â€œAmanda.”
    The soft way he said her name made her shut her mouth.
    He glanced down at his feet, then shifted from one to the other before looking up, all traces of his earlier playfulness gone. “I know I’ve said this before, and I really, really appreciate your help, but you can’t keep doing this.”
    She tilted her head. “And as I’ve said before, I don’t mind. I have Mamm ’s blessing, and as long as my chores are done at home, it’s no problem to give you a hand.”
    He shook his head. “You’re not understanding me. I don’t want you to help me.” His gaze hardened. “I don’t want you here.”
    Leaning against the sink, she crossed her arms over her chest, hurt. “Why not?”
    â€œDoes it matter why?”
    â€œ Ya , Josiah, it does. You can’t just say you don’t want me here and then not explain.”
    He threaded his fingers through his hair. “Okay, you want an explanation, here it is. I came back to Paradise for one reason—to fix this house up enough so that it will sell. Once I’ve done that, I’m putting it on the market. And when it sells, I’m taking the money and going to Ohio.”
    â€œYou’re not staying?”
    â€œ Nee . I never planned to. So as you can see, there’s no point in your being here.”
    â€œBut our friendship—”
    â€œLook, Amanda. After I’m gone, we’ll never see each other again. That’s the way it has to be. That’s the way I want it to be. I’ll pay you for the food you brought yesterday and this morning, but after that I don’t want you to bother coming over here.”
    Awareness dawned, and she felt like a fool. He had a girlfriend waiting for him in Ohio. How could she be so stupid? He was already spoken for, and it wouldn’t do for him to be spending so much time with another woman, even though they were only friends.
    Meeting his gaze, she realized that her mother had been right all along. Nothing was the same between them. Too much time had passed, and too much distance had separated them. Josiah seemed like a stranger to her because he truly was. And he seemed content to keep things that way.
    â€œI understand,” she said, turning her back to him. She blinked back tears, unwilling to let him see her mourn as he pounded the last nail in the coffin of their friendship. “I’ll finish up the dishes,” she said, distressed at the thickness in her voice. “Then the boys and I will geh . You don’t have to worry, Josiah. We won’t bother you again.”
    Silence surrounded her, and she knew he hadn’t moved. After a long moment, she heard him walk out the kitchen door. Only then did she let the tears fall.
    â€œMr. Josiah!”
    Clenching his jaw, Josiah stalked past Andrew and Thomas, ignoring their calling out his name. Bile