She was a little surprised by his question. Usually, she went about her day, and he went about his, and there was very little interaction or conversation until they shared their meals. “Umm … I guess I was going to start in the chicken coop, collecting the eggs for breakfast. Then, I thought I might pick some strawberries while I was out.”
“Would you like some help?” Mark asked politely, tilting his head and calmly waiting for her to reply.
Layla pursed her lips. Mark had never offered to help with her chores before, not even during her first days on the farm. Something was different about him this morning. His words and actions were so far removed from his usual curt manner that she marveled at the transformation. She stammered, “Y-yes, I would like some help. Thank you.”
Mark picked up two small woven baskets, handing one to her. “I’ll handle the chicken coop. I know it’s not your favorite thing, so I’ll take over that duty this morning. How many eggs do you think you’ll need?”
Layla’s mouth opened in wonder. She didn’t realize that Mark knew she disliked popping into the chicken coop each morning. Perhaps she had mentioned it once or twice, or maybe he had even seen her dashing in and out early one morning. She was impressed that he had noticed this about her. “If you gather a dozen, we’ll have more than enough. I might even find a way to use the eggs later in the day.”
“All right, then,” Mark said, adjusting his long brown shirt sleeves. They were rolled to his elbows, and he took a moment to push them up further. “I’ll meet you over in the strawberry patch in a few minutes.”
As Layla followed Mark out of the house, she puzzled over this transformation that had occurred practically overnight. She knew that Mark had a soft side, but typically only Heath got to revel in it. Mark was a loving and kind father to his son, but he seemed to prefer to be distant and brusque in all other areas, including his interactions with Layla.
She knelt, and her hands moved quickly over the strawberry vines, plucking the ripe fruit and depositing it in the basket. Though she wasn’t sure what she planned to do with the sweet fruit, it seemed as good an idea as any to have some on-hand.
Mark’s heavy footsteps sounded behind Layla, and she wondered how he was able to get in and out of the chicken coop so speedily. “That was fast,” Layla commented, turning her head to greet Mark.
The corners of his mouth lifted. Layla’s heart filled with joy as she realized that this was the nearest he had ever come to smiling in her presence. And even though it wasn’t a full smile, it was just for her. “I actually don’t mind visiting the chickens,” Mark said. “It’s best to get in there really early in the morning like this.” He gestured around them as the sun was doing its best to peek through the clouds, and the dawn was still thick around them. “It also helps if you show no fear,” he snickered, crouching in the dirt beside Layla.
“I try, I really do,” Layla admitted. She turned back toward the strawberries to keep at her work. “I try to be calm and take the eggs without disturbing the hens, but I always feel like such an intruder.”
Mark chuckled once more. His hands made quick work of the strawberries as he expertly pulled them from the vines and put them into the basket with the ones Layla had already collected. “You’ll get over that with time, I think,” Mark said. They continued to work quietly for a few moments before Mark asked, “What are your plans for the day?”
Layla thought for a moment. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to walk into town.”
“I don’t mind,” Mark said. “Are you planning to just head to church, like usual, or are you thinking about making other stops?”
Layla eyed Mark quizzically. Her disappearance had troubled him so just a few days before, so she rather liked that they had a chance to discuss her plans now. “I would like to take Heath to church. He loves all the singing. It doesn’t matter if the congregation or choir is singing a hymn; he babbles right along with it all.” Layla looked at Mark thoughtfully. Though he was listening intently, his nimble fingers were still doing their work. Her words caught in her throat. “After church, I was thinking about stopping in to see my father. Do you think that’s a bad idea?”
Mark shook his head. “I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all. I think it’s natural for you to worry about your father, and I think it shows a great deal of love and generosity that you should wish to check on him.”
Face brightening as relief washed over her, she asked, hoping that Mark’s goodwill would continue, “So, you won’t mind if Heath and I spend most of the day out?”
“I don’t mind,” Mark said evenly. “But I guess that means we will all have to eat a hearty breakfast so we can be prepared for the long day ahead of us.”
Layla released a breath, relieved by Mark’s calm reaction to her plans. She wondered about his true nature. He was always so good and patient with Heath, and she thought was rather lovely to see him display some of that warmth now, as well … with her.
“Now,” Mark asked, glancing at the nearly full basket of strawberries, “What do you plan to do with these berries?”
“I’m not sure,” Layla confessed. “I just know it’s always a good idea to have some fresh fruit on hand.”
“I agree,” Mark replied. “I was thinking we could have griddle cakes this morning. I know you usually make eggs for breakfast, and I like that,” Mark said quickly, “But let’s try something new.”
“That sounds fine,” Layla replied with a little bit of hesitation. “I don’t know how to make griddle cakes, but I’m sure—”
“I’ll show you. They’re pretty easy, and I mastered the recipe when …” He fidgeted. Looking up at the gray clouds hovering overhead, he took a deep breath. “Let’s just say that I’m pretty good at making breakfast foods, and I know Heath likes them, too.”
Layla agreed, tipping her head as she thought about Mark and this change in his demeanor. Today, he was being so kind and almost loving. A small smile played on her lips as she imagined her husband cooking. She grabbed the basket of berries and stood smoothly.
On their way to the house, Layla moved a step closer to Mark. His warm presence made her feel confident and ready to take on the day. While she held the basket of berries loosely in one hand, the fingers of her other hand itched to clasp Mark’s.
As she struggled to decide whether to take his hand, Romans 13:8 popped into her head. ‘Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.’ Her hand twitched at the thought. It would be so pleasant to show Mark that her feelings were evolving for him by taking his hand, but she also worried that even though he was being perfectly polite and agreeable today, he might not reciprocate those sentiments. With a calming breath, she forced her hands to join in steadying the basket of berries.
Layla blew a piece of hair out of her eyes and shrugged her shoulders, deciding she wasn’t ready to initiate holding Mark’s hand just yet. Hopefully, that would come. In the meantime, she prayed that Mark’s good mood would last and that this positive start to the day would serve as a harbinger of good things to come.
Chapter Seventeen
The entire way into town, Layla felt as though a great strain had been lifted off her shoulders. While she was still stressed about the situation with her father, the morning with Mark had been downright pleasant. As promised, he showed her how to make griddle cakes, and she was delighted to see the way Heath responded, grasping one in each hand and flapping them wildly in the air before taking bites out of each. Mark had even lingered over breakfast, spending time with Layla and Heath, talking over the fun they’d had at the fair the day before. Layla stole glances at Mark in between bites and caught him looking at her a couple of times too.
