16

Anna sat on the bed in her bedroom, pressed the switch, and waited for Chad’s laptop to boot up. He’d signed her up for some Internet courses and helped her download the resources, then he’d put everything onto his laptop so she could take it home to study and do her homework. She couldn’t type proficiently while sitting on the bed with the computer, but she certainly could read, as long as she kept the laptop on top of a book so the blanket did not insulate it and make it overheat. He’d also shown her how to adjust some of the options to get more life out of the battery.

He wasn’t very handy with tools and every time he tried to build something he hurt himself, but he was very good at computers.

The screen came up to enter his password, so she typed it in and watched as everything continued to load without the noises like the computers at the office.

She’d been very careful to turn off the sounds. Her mama had found out that she had borrowed Chad’s laptop to help her with some courses, but they both agreed that her papa should not know that she had a computer in their home.

Part of her felt bad doing this, but she’d experienced a tremendous relief that her mama knew she was taking the courses and approved. At least her mama understood that in order to remain a viable business they had to keep up with modern technology. Of course, Chad had laughed when she’d told him. He’d said everything they used was at least ten years out of date, with the exception of his new accounting program. It wasn’t even the latest version, due to the age of their computers. She’d noticed that Chad’s laptop did run differently, and much quicker, than her computer at the office, which she found amazing for something so small.

While she waited for the icon to come onto the screen to open the program she needed to do her assignment, Anna stood and walked to the window.

From her bedroom, she had a perfect view of the portion of Chad’s backyard that contained his chicken coop, or rather, the chicken hotel. Inside the fenced area, his two chickens strutted proudly. Since it was now June, she’d told him to leave the chickens in the coop permanently, except when he had to hose it out. Tonight was to be the first night he was going to leave them in the coop. It also meant he would no longer need to go home at lunchtime to take the chickens out of their box in the kitchen and put them outside.

She couldn’t help smiling. He’d been so convinced it was still too cool in the mornings, but it wasn’t, really. With the chickens spending the night in their warm nests, they would be fine in the cool of the morning.

Because of the quiet of the evening, she heard the hum of Chad’s car as he came home from his shopping trip. Usually he took her mama with him when he went grocery shopping because it was easier to carry all the groceries home in his car, rather than making two or three trips with their wagon. Mutta had often said to Pape that they should get a car because the groceries seemed to be getting heavier over the years, but he would not hear of such a thing. So now, with her papa’s permission, Chad always took her mama to the grocery store in his car when he went, even if she only needed a few items, like tonight.

Personally, she thought her mama had fun being in the car, but tonight she really hadn’t needed anything.

At the sound of the door, Sarah scurried to the kitchen to help mama, so Anna stayed in her bedroom with Chad’s computer.

She was almost ready to return to her desk to read her new lesson when Chad’s back door squeaked open.

Remaining at the window, she watched him. It was at this time he’d always taken his chickens into the house. Of course, today he would be leaving them outside, as per her instructions.

Knowing Chad, and the way he liked to talk to the chickens, he had come to wish them goodnight. She couldn’t believe the conversations he had with them, and sometimes, they seemed to answer back.

Tonight, just like every previous night, as he approached the coop, the chickens scurried to the gate. Also just like all the previous nights, when he opened the door to the coop he squatted down, petted them, and called them both by name. In response, they both clucked back to him, and if it wasn’t her imagination, both sounded happy to see him, which was absurd.

To her complete shock, he backed up, and the chickens exited their enclosure. He closed the door and latched it, then walked toward the house, with the two chickens following right behind him. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at them, as if they were pet dogs. “Race you inside!” he called out and broke into a slow jog.

The two chickens stretched out their necks, extended their wings, and ran frantically behind him—as though they really feared he would leave them—all the way into the open back door.

The door closed, and all was silent.

She didn’t know why he had taken the chickens into the house, so she waited for him to come back outside.

He didn’t.

Anna sighed. She thought she’d been very clear in telling him to leave them outside all night. She couldn’t believe that he’d misunderstood.

Tomorrow she would be sure to repeat her instructions. But for now, she needed to complete her homework.

Yet, as hard as she tried, even knowing she had a time limit to e-mail back her replies to the questions, she couldn’t concentrate.

Chad had taken his chickens into the house. In June.

There was only one way to get back all her concentration and turn it to her homework—she needed to solve the problem that distracted her.

She closed the laptop and moved it to the side of her dresser where her papa wouldn’t see it if he walked past her bedroom and looked inside the door. She really wanted to cover it, but after all Chad’s warnings about not letting it overheat, she didn’t want to do so unless she turned it off.

Once assured it was out of sight from someone walking past her door, she hurried outside and knocked on Chad’s door.

He answered with a book tucked under one arm and a chicken tucked under the other.

Anna extended one hand toward the chicken whom she was pretty sure was Waddles.

She paused at her own thoughts, exasperated with herself for being able to tell them apart and for thinking of the chicken by name.

“Waut dast dü? What are you doing?” she asked, waving one hand in the air toward Waddles. “I have told you to put them outside. That is why you have built them such a lavish chicken coop. To put them outside. Yet here you are, bringing them into the house with you again.”

He grinned, and his eyes twinkled.

Something in Anna’s chest felt strange. She gulped, then looked at the chicken instead of him.

“I was going to finish my book, and it’s become a habit to have them sitting in my lap at night. It felt wrong sitting down to read without them. I brought them back in so I can finish my book. Besides, they like it. Want to come in?” He grinned wider. “I just put the kettle on to make a pot of tea.”

She backed up a step. Even though they spent much time without anyone else present when they were at the office, this was different. This was his home, and she would not go into his home unescorted. She certainly could not sit and drink tea with him in his living room, like she would with one of her friends.

“I cannot come into your house. Besides, I was going to start my homework, but I became distracted watching you take your chickens into the house.”

His smile dropped. “You saw us?”

“Ja. My bedroom window is in the back of the house. From the kitchen, I can see your whole yard, but from my bedroom, I can only see the corner with the chicken coop.”

His cheeks darkened. “Oh.”

“It is best to put the chickens into the coop overnight by now.”

“Well . . . maybe tomorrow . . .” As he spoke, he hugged Waddles a little closer. Waddles cooed and settled into his arm even more.

Anna sighed. “It is warm enough now to put them out. They are protected, and they will be comfortable in the hay.” Yet, even as she spoke, she knew she was fighting a losing battle. From the way he was hugging the one chicken—plus the other had now appeared and was leaning against his ankle—she could see he had no intention of putting them outside for the night. However, within a few weeks the heat of the summer would be upon them, and soon they would definitely be outside all night. If he didn’t feel the chickens were safe from predators, she could almost see him taking a sleeping bag and staying in the chicken hotel with them. It was certainly cozy enough.

She turned around. “I must get back to my homework. I will see you tomorrow morning at the usual time.”

Chad watched her walk across the grass and then disappear back into her own house just as the kettle whistled.

Since he could no longer see her, he backed up and closed the door, but he was in no hurry to get back to the kitchen. He’d really wanted her to stay.

He lowered Waddles to the floor, then walked into the kitchen and started making his tea.

He couldn’t believe it. Here he was, making himself a pot of tea for the evening. Not popping open a beer. Nor did he have the television blasting with the latest ball game or newest episode of NCIS. He’d had Matt ship the television, but with no cable, he hadn’t bothered to hook it up. Nicely packed, it was in the basement, covered by some spare sheets.

Instead, he was making tea for himself. Then he was going to settle into a soft chair and read a book with his chickens.

His friends wouldn’t have believed it. Six months ago, he wouldn’t have believed it, yet here he was, and the whole routine felt natural and comfortable—except he did wonder about the latest squabble between Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Tony DiNozzo.

After dropping the teabag into the teapot, he stared blankly at it without putting on the lid.

More than anything, he couldn’t believe how disappointed he felt that Anna had turned down his invitation. Not that she’d ever come into the house before, but this time, she’d seemed adamant. The words had no sooner left his mouth inviting her in when she’d stepped backward and done a quick retreat.

If that didn’t give him a hint, then he was a slow learner.

Yet, she didn’t dislike him. In fact, he thought she did like him, quite a bit. However, she was truly a product of her culture, and despite the fact that she wanted to leave it for greener grass, she was still faithful to her values and the ways she had been raised.

Instead of making him feel rejected, it made him admire her. It didn’t mean he was conceited or full of his own ego to know that, in general, ladies liked him. He’d never had difficulty attracting a lady’s attention, once he set his mind to it. Even Brittany, despite the bad turns in their relationship, had been attracted to him when he turned on the charm.

But Anna wasn’t falling for it. Quite the opposite: whenever he turned it on, she turned and ran. Just like today.

He sighed and put the lid on the teapot.

He’d never felt this way about a woman before. Not even Brittany. He’d thought he’d been in love with her, but the more he got to know her, the more everything fell apart. It wasn’t a relationship to last until a fiftieth wedding anniversary. He wanted a good, happy marriage like his parents had.

Come to think of it, they hadn’t approved of him moving in with Brittany, although they hadn’t said anything specific, because in today’s society, living together before marriage was pretty ordinary. But then, so many of the couples he knew who lived together never got married, even though they stayed together.

It made him think. They loved each other enough to live together but not enough to actually get married.

If he hadn’t moved in with Brittany, it was very likely he wouldn’t be where he was right now.

But he couldn’t complain. For the first time in years, he felt content, when he could push aside the pending issues.

He truly could live like this.

Chad closed his eyes to try to see into the future. Of course, he couldn’t, but he could see what he wanted, and that was to have Anna, here, with him, living together in the order in which God wanted it. It meant a courtship, not too long, of course, and then marriage, followed by children and the classic storybook happily ever after.

He opened his eyes and walked to the kitchen window, where he could see Anna’s parents’ house next door. He hadn’t known her long in terms of months, but he spent more time with Anna in a week than he had with Brittany in a month, or more. He knew her both at work and at play. Attending Bible study meetings with her, he knew her values. Talking with her every day on the way to and from work, where they were in the middle of both worlds, he knew her heart. He didn’t believe in love at first sight, but his first sight had been at Christmas—she’d been the voice and face of an angel then, and she certainly was that now. If he could believe in signs, this one flashed in bright neon.

He hadn’t paid attention then, but he was paying attention now. And the sign was telling him Anna was the woman he’d prayed for, whom God had put in his path. Even though he hadn’t prayed for years and he’d only started praying again recently, God had been listening after all. A recent Bible study meeting had talked about God’s timing and how God’s timing was seldom the same as a person’s, and when the timing was right, God would make it clear.

If this was what God was telling him now, Chad was convinced.

Now if only he could figure out how to convince Anna.