Page 112 of Not So Very Sensible

“I’m Ethan.”

“I know.”

He bet she did. He finished picking up the broken pieces and swept what he could into a small dustpan, then tipped it into a garbage bag, then straightened.

“You.”

He waited as Mrs. Bennett eyed him for what felt like half a lifetime.

Then she nodded. “Very well then. You can come through. Girls, you need to get back onto the floor, we have customers to deal with.”

Katie and Annabelle quickly scurried away as the front door opened and more customers poured in.

“I could come back later,” he offered. “I didn’t know it would be so busy.”

“If you come back later, I think you’ll find my daughter will have found something else to do. Better to finally speak to her rather than leave this hanging. It’s been left hanging for too long.”

“Amen,” he murmured, as he collected his parcel and followed her to the door.

She paused. “You’re a Christian?”

He nodded. “And I’m working as a youth group leader in my church.”

“Which church is that?”

He told her, then her eyes widened. “I believe that’s the church my daughter EJ attends in Sydney.”

“EJ? EJ Bennett?”

She nodded. “She designed Dream Match, the Christian dating app for singles.”

“Huh. I think I’ve met her a time or two. I didn’t know we attended the same church.”

“Small world.”

She pushed open the door, and he followed, then immediately paused as Mrs. Bennett had come to a standstill. She was talking to someone, and he peered to see a man working in the kitchen. This must be the father, the former policeman.

“Look, John, this is Ethan Ferris. He’s been cleaning up Ellie’s mess.”

Ethan went to shake his hand, then realised it was still dirty. “Sorry, sir, I should probably clean my hands.”

The man nodded, then gestured to a hand-washing station, which he used as quickly as possible before drying and then finally shaking his hand. He needed to make a better impression than whatever it was that Ellie had said so far. “I’m sorry for dropping in unannounced, but I’ve been desperate to talk with Ellie for weeks now. And I think I startled her by showing up without any warning.”

“She’s mentioned you.”

He swallowed. “I’m going to guess it wasn’t all good.”

The man shook his head. “You upset my daughter, and it takes a lot to upset that one. Ellie has always been the calm one in the family, so you’ve got some explaining to do.”

He quickly explained, but even though he needed to clarify things with her parents, the person he really wanted to talk to was somewhere else. Still, he’d like her parents on his side.

John whistled. “Your father is a real piece of work.”

“Absolutely. But sir, if it’s all the same to you, I’d really like to know where Ellie is. I want to talk to her. See if there’s a chance she can forgive me.”

He jerked a thumb towards the back door. “She skedaddled as soon as she heard your voice. She’s likely in the back garden, but if not, then she’s probably gone back home.”

His heart crumpled. “I don’t want her to feel like she has to run away from me.”