Simple Choices Read Free

not saying folks in Harmony aren’t wary of strangers, but most of them truly believe God has blessed this place with special protection.”
    “And so He has,” Sweetie said. She sat up in her chair and stared at me. Her ever-present bun had fallen to the side of her head, making me think of Princess Leia in
Star Wars
. Of course, Sweetie would need another bun on the other side, hair coloring to cover her gray, and a lot of plastic surgery to come close to looking like Carrie Fisher. She yanked at the T-shirt under her cutoff overalls, trying to adjust it so it wouldn’t tug so tightly at her neck. “Anyways,” she croaked loudly, “we need to stop talkin’ ‘bout all this bad stuff and start thinkin’ ‘bout your weddin’. I got almost everything ready, but I need to go over it with you. There’s a few decisions left that you gotta make.”
    I sighed, let go of Sam’s hand, and settled back comfortably in my rocking chair. “Let’s talk about it later, okay? I’m really tired, and I need to go home and unpack. Besides, I’m sure Snickle is ready to get home, too.”
    As if on cue, a plaintive
meow
came from around the corner. Snickle, my cat, and Buddy, Sam’s dog, trotted up to us. Snickle greeted me by rubbing up against my leg while Buddy jumped up in my lap, almost spilling my tea. Snickle and Buddy had become great friends, and I had to wonder if Snickle really would be happier at our house. Staying with Sweetie and Sam while I was in Wichita may have changed his perspective as to what home really looked like. I wasn’t too concerned though. After the wedding, we’d be living here anyway, so I guess in the long run, being with me for two weeks wouldn’t ruin him. As if reading my mind, Sweetie piped up.
    “Are you gonna drag that poor cat back to your place again? Why don’t you just leave him be? He loves it here, and you’re over every day anyway. Wouldn’t that be easier on you both?”
    Sweetie, who had sworn up and down that she hated cats, was crazy about Snickle. And he was nuts about her, too. Frankly, he spent more time hanging around her than he did me. Persnickety feline.
    “You’re probably right,” I said, stroking Buddy. “If you don’t mind, I think I will leave him here. With my parents and my grandfather coming, it might be best.”
    Snickle ran over to Sweetie and nuzzled her leg as if thanking her for allowing him to stay with his good doggy pal. Sweetie chuckled and bent down to stroke the calico cat that had become her friend. “You know, we tried keepin’ him inside since he ain’t got no claws to defend himself with, but he kept slippin’ out. Funny thing is, Buddy keeps him in line. If Snickle starts to wander too far, Buddy barks and barks. Then he starts rounding this silly cat up and pushin’ him home. I ain’t never seen nothin’ like it before.” Snickle jumped up in Sweetie’s lap, turned around once, and lay down. He didn’t even look my way.
    “Guess I know where I stand,” I said with a smile.
    “If it makes any difference,
I
like you,” Sam said laughing.
    “That’s good, ’cause in a couple of weeks, you won’t be able to get rid of me.”
    “You decided what to do with your house yet?” Sweetie asked.
    “No. I can’t sell it; it’s been in the family too long.” My father and his brother had been raised in that house. And Benjamin, my uncle, had left it to me when he passed away. I’d thought about renting it out, but that didn’t feel right either. “Guess I’ll let it sit until God gives me some direction.”
    “Good idea,” Sweetie said. “Ain’t smart to get ahead of the Lord. You’ll know what to do when the time comes.”
    We sat quietly sipping tea until the sun began to set behind us. Rosy fingers of light reached out and touched the wispy clouds that floated over our heads. There was something about the skies over Harmony at sunrise and sunset. Stroked with God’s paintbrush, they were a sight to behold. As I