“I see.” Her gaze dropped to her hands in her lap. “Well, that makes sense.” She pulled off her riding gloves and tucked them in her waistband.
The waitress came and told them about the specials. Carter chose the beef stew and smiled when Ellie did too. They both ordered lemonade as well. Carter wanted to tease her about her choices, but now was not the time.
Ellie glanced at him. “So when will they start the road improvements? Will they have things ready before the trains stop coming in?”
This was not the conversation he wanted to have with her, but it was his own fault. He’d started them down this path. Might as well finish it. Maybe a lighter topic would break down some of the walls between them. “I think they’d like to. Given that first snows could come soon after that, I think the mayor would probably want to have the road work finished by then.”
Ellie arched an eyebrow, a small smile appearing on her lips. “Snow in August?”
Some of the tension left Carter’s shoulders at that smile. “Well, probably not, but I’ve seen it snow every month of the year here. August isn’t as likely, but September wouldn’t be that surprising. Usually, it holds off until Octoberthough. I don’t want to scare you from choosing to live here.”
“It’s a bit late for that.” Ellie glanced out the window. “Father signed the papers on the Hennessy house before he left. They move out tomorrow, and we’re set to move in some time after the Fourth of July. Mrs. Ashbury insisted on having the staff clean the place from top to bottom those few days in between.”
“I’m glad you and your father are staying.” The words were out before Carter could stop them. Well, so what? Hewasglad.
Ellie turned back to him, pinning him with her unflinching stare. “Why?”
Carter cringed. “I suppose I deserve that after what I said, but honestly Ellie, I was just trying to relieve you of embarrassment. Mrs. Ashbury loves to put people together and then take credit for it once they’re married. I felt bad that she’d put you on the spot.” That sounded contrived even to his own ears. He needed to own up to hurting her. Not make excuses.
Her gaze didn’t leave his face. “She’d put you on the spot as well.”
“Yes, but as you might have noticed by now, I don’t embarrass easily. Although I will say I was a little uncomfortable that night.”
She arched one brow. “Well, of course you were. She was trying to put you with a woman who was completely unsuitable. Someone far beneath your standards.”
Carter folded his hands on the table.Lord, Lord...help me.“I wish I’d never said that to you, Ellie.” His voice cracked on her name. “It was not only unkind, but unnecessary.I should have shut up and apologized to you on the spot.” He shook his head, and now it was his turn to look out the window. Far easier than meeting the anger—and doubt and pain—in her eyes.
The waitress brought their food and drinks, giving Carter a little bit of a reprieve. Unfortunately, once the food was deposited, she hurried away and there was nothing to do but face the music.
He looked Ellie in the eye. “I want to be your friend.”
She didn’t look up from her plate. “But I’m not suitable to be your wife. Not that I want to be, by the way.”
He picked up his spoon and dredged it through the thick stew. “I was haughty and using my pride to make me feel better about...” How could he say it without hurting her feelings?
“The fact that we don’t agree when it comes to God?” This time she raised both eyebrows and crossed her arms over her waist.Shedidn’t have any trouble spitting it out. “Which in your mind, makes me less of a person, doesn’t it?”
Oh, Father, such hurt in her eyes. And I put it there. Forgive me.
The only way he could make this right was to be totally honest with her. She deserved that from him. “No. No. I don’t feel that way. Honestly, Ellie, I’ve been attracted to you since we first met. I just know there’d never be any peace between us if we didn’t believe the same thing about God. It wouldn’t be any good ...wewouldn’t be any good together. We’d always be opposed. I mean look at us now.”
She held his gaze a moment and then nodded and glanced down, but not before he noticed the shimmer in her eyes. “Yes, I believe you’re right.”
For a long while neither spoke, nor did they eat. They just sat looking out the window.
Carter tried again. “I really would like to be your friend, Ellie.”
He stared at her until she met his gaze. She was truly the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. He was so tempted to put aside all that had been said and offer her everything he could give her.
But even as he thought these things, even as the temptation built almost to a point he couldn’t resist, a still, small voice reminded him that this wasn’t the way.
Without a word, she pushed back from the table and got to her feet. She took money from her pocket and placed it on the table. “I don’t hold anything against you, Carter. You are acting purely on your beliefs, and I must respect that. However, I don’t see how we can be friends.”
She walked across the room and out the door. Carter gripped the table to keep from running after her. Instead, he sat glued to his chair ...
His heart shattered.
Eleanor walked over to the watch shop. Thank goodness it was just down the street from the café. Running into Carter had almost caused her to forget to pick up Father’s watch now that it was repaired.
