Blossom Street Brides (Blossom Street #10)(3)

“I … I don’t know.” Tears welled in Elisa’s eyes.

Apparently, this was something far worse than an overdue library book or a failed test. Disregarding what Elisa had claimed she needed, Lauren brewed her a single cup of coffee, making sure it was extra-strong. She added three cubes of sugar and stirred until it had dissolved before delivering it to her friend.

Elisa held on to the cup with both hands as though it was all that was keeping her from falling off the edge of a ten-story building. “Do you remember Dietrich?”

“Of course.” Katie had recently brought the farmer’s son home during spring break. His family was from the Walla Walla area in the southeast corner of the state. Dietrich’s family farm was one of the largest producers of sweet onions in the country.

“I didn’t like him the minute I met him.”

Actually, Elisa had disapproved of the young man even before she’d met Dietrich. Because he was a senior and three years older than Katie, Elisa was convinced he was too old for her daughter, which was ridiculous. Garry was three years older than Elisa. That was simply an excuse, Lauren suspected, because Elisa didn’t want her daughter getting into a serious relationship.

“Did Katie and Dietrich break up?” Lauren asked, although that wouldn’t make sense. That news would have relieved Elisa.

“I wish,” she snorted. Then, as if realizing she was holding a mug of hot coffee in her hands, she sipped it. After one taste, she grimaced. “I can’t believe this is happening. It’s a nightmare.” Squeezing her eyes shut, she shook her head and then covered her mouth with her hand.

“Katie isn’t …”

Elisa nodded. “My daughter is pregnant. She’s only nineteen. She’s a baby herself, and now she insists that she loves Dietrich and wants to marry him. Tell me, Lauren, do you honestly see Katie married …”

“Ah …” Lauren hardly knew what to say.

“It’s ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. She’s far too young.”

Lauren sat down next to her friend. “What did you tell her?” Lauren asked, concerned. There’d been a lot of shouting going on.

“What else? I insisted she come home immediately. There are ways of dealing with situations like this. I never thought I’d say this, but I can’t allow my daughter to go through with this pregnancy. A baby now would ruin her life. We’ve got to think about her future.”

“Isn’t this Katie’s decision?” Lauren asked gently.

Elisa’s eyes snapped with anger. “Not you, too.”

“Me?”

“That’s what Katie said, and she insists she’s going to have this baby. She’s convinced she’s in love with that … that farmer.”

Now didn’t seem a good time to remind Elisa that at age twenty-two Dietrich was an adult and, from what Lauren had seen, a responsible, kindhearted one.

“He took advantage of Katie,” Elisa insisted, straightening now.

“Is that what Katie said?”

“Oh, no, she wouldn’t admit to anything like that. Instead, she defended him and insisted they were equally responsible.”

Personally, Lauren felt that this was a matter between Katie and Dietrich and that Elisa would be well advised to let them decide how best to deal with the situation.

“I insisted Katie come home right away, but she refused.” Elisa took another taste of the coffee and made a gulping sound as though it was difficult to swallow.

“I wish I knew what to say,” Lauren confessed. She felt at a loss and wasn’t certain she had anything of value to contribute.

“This is history repeating itself,” Elisa whispered, and wiped away a tear that had spilled out from the corner of her eye. “Garry and I … I was pregnant at nineteen, too.”

Naturally, Lauren realized Elisa and Garry had married young. They must have, in order to have a daughter in college. Identical twin boys had followed three years later. Tim and Tom were high school sophomores and played varsity on the high school soccer and baseball teams. Lauren had attended their games with Elisa and Garry. Because of their connection, Todd had done a human-interest story on the boys that played on the local evening news.

“It turned out fine between you and Garry,” Lauren reminded Elisa.

“Well, yes, but my family always liked Garry. I agree we were young and foolish. Dad wasn’t happy with me—Mom, either, for that matter—but Dad took Garry under his wing, taught him the business. Dad saw to it that when it came time for him and Mom to retire, Garry and I were capable of taking over the store.” Elisa hung her head. “I can’t imagine what my parents will say when they hear about this.” Right away she straightened. “They will never know. I’ll make sure of that. If Katie won’t come to me, then she gives me no other option but to go to her.”

Lauren resisted the urge to advise her friend not to act on impulse.

“I’m booking a flight right this minute.” With a look of determination, Elisa reached for her cell.

“Do you want me to contact Garry?” Lauren asked.

Elisa looked aghast. “Why would you do that?”

“To cover for you while you’re away.”

“Oh.” Elisa set down her phone and exhaled a long, slow breath. She brushed the hair off her forehead while she thought matters through. “I’d better wait and talk to him about this. I swear, if he knew before me I’ll shoot the man for keeping it a secret.”