Page 91 of Not So Very Sensible

He shook his head. “Definitely without. I told Dad I’m not doing appearances with her. We’re over. And it’ll only be a matter of time before people realise it when they don’t see us together.”

“So tricky. But then, she made this mess in the first place, right?”

“Exactly. So I don’t feel too sorry for her.” His nose wrinkled. “That sounds callous, when her mum is dying.”

“Poor thing. But still, that’s no excuse for lying.” She studied him. “You just need to remember whose son you really are, and that He has good plans for you.” She pointed to the ceiling.

He nodded. Talking with Charlene was a great reminder to keep the main thing the main thing: that he was God’s child, and His heavenly Father could be trusted in all things.

Including finding Ellie.

Chapter 17

Sydney on a Saturday night was a whole different world than Wattle Vale. Ellie watched the ferries trundle across the harbour from Emma-Jane’s little balcony as the sun set beyond the Opera House. She drew in a salt-laden breath of air. Released. Glanced at Katie, seated nearby, wrapped in a faux mink blanket, eyes closed.

“This is good, right?”

“So good,” Katie murmured, before opening her eyes and giving Ellie a small smile. “Thanks for making this happen.”

“Hey, thank Emma-Jane. She’s the one who has opened up her flat and given up her time alone with Jordan.”

She sighed. “I don’t deserve this. I’ve been so selfish.”

“Mm, it’s easy to get caught up in our own world sometimes. And you know we love you.”

“At least some people do.”

“Some people,” meaning some other people did not. Like Jason Willoughby. Who still hadn’t made any effort to connect. It was like he’d dropped off the planet.

“Look, if God wants you with Jason, don’t you think He’ll make a way?”

Katie’s bottom lip trembled. “And if He doesn’t?”

“Then He’s obviously got someone better for you.”

“But I don’t want someone better.”

“Katie, since the man is ghosting you, then yes, you definitely do. You can trust God, okay? He’s got good plans for you.”

Which may or may not include a husband in her future. Which was definitely not something she would say to Katie today, but was something Ellie was slowly starting to think about herself. What if there was no guy for her? Was that the end of the world? Could God be trusted if Ellie were not to have a husband or a family? If God had good plans for her, then why did she try and narrow God’s good plans down to this one thing: having a husband and a family?

Maybe God had something else in mind for her. He might want her to get a job far away or be a missionary, and a husband and a family would just get in the way of that. Maybe there was something even more astounding, something she’d never dreamed of, just like that verse about how God could do exceedingly abundantly above all she could ask or imagine. Why did people always shrink down God’s plans to look a certain way? Like Christians needed a standard blueprint for their lives to be considered “successful.” God was bigger than that. Bigger than her hopes. Bigger than her dreams. And while she might feel this eddying swirl of disappointment, still the promises of God were enough to keep her head above water, like a life vest while she bobbed around the sea.

None of this was something she could share with Katie just yet. Or even Emma-Jane, who might not appreciate her matchmaker app being regarded as a tool to fuel a narrow vision of what a Christian’s life should look like. Still, faith called out each night before she went to sleep, begging her to trust God, and if no man was God’s plan for her future, then she’d pray to be okay with that.

The door behind them opened, and Emma-Jane joined them. “So, are you two ready for some fun?”

Katie shook her head. “I just want to stay in.”

Emma-Jane glanced at Ellie and shrugged. “Look, Katie, I know you’re feeling sad, but hey, a bit of distraction might be good for you. We could go to the movies, or eat whatever food you wanted, or see a concert, or go dancing—”

“I know I’m lame, but all I want to do is watch that true crime show on Netflix,” Katie murmured.

“That doesn’t make you lame,” Emma-Jane said, ruffling Katie’s hair.

Even if it did make her a little dark. But then Katie had always liked her gothic whodunnits, and this series with its focus on solving historical mysteries seemed to tick all of Katie’s boxes.

“Well, in that case, we could order in Thai and watch it with you. We do have the concert tomorrow afternoon after church.”