A Chance to Remember
Page 8
He explained the rules about phones, and while she looked confused, she nodded. “Then I guess you’ll have to get on a plane and go see her.”
The confidence in her eyes made him chuckle. “Why are you pushing me to contact her again?”
“Because you want to. Because she wants you to.”
“I seriously doubt that.”
“I don’t. I saw the way she looked at you.” Meghan batted her eyelashes at him.
That made him laugh out loud. Cevilla had never been the flirtatious type, a quality he’d always liked about her. Among many. “Sweetheart, there’s nothing between me and Cevilla other than friendship. And that friendship existed more in the past than it does now. We had a short reunion, and while I’m glad we did, that’s all there is to it.”
Meghan’s face fell. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” He picked up his spoon. “I better tackle this oatmeal before—” The phone in his pocket buzzed. He set down the spoon, and when he took out his phone, he looked at the number on the screen and froze. He might be old, but he was still sharp, and he had seen this number only moments before. He looked at the card next to his plate, and then back to the one on his phone. His palms grew damp. Cevilla.
“Grandfather, aren’t you going to answer it?”
He swallowed and nodded. He slid his finger across the screen and put the phone up to his ear. “Hello?”
“Hello, Richard.”
Meghan could tell by the shocked and excited look on her grandfather’s face that Cevilla was on the line. That, and because he kept the volume turned up on his phone, she could hear the woman’s strong, familiar voice. Meghan grinned and popped up from her chair. She knew Grandfather and Cevilla had something between them, despite his protests. They were so sweet. And cute. And if she hadn’t been so self-absorbed with her own problems, she could have encouraged them more. Then her grandfather wouldn’t have spent the past week brooding.
“Hi, Cevilla.” His voice was low and shy. Adorable. She went to him and took the phone from his hand.
“Hey—”
“Hi, Cevilla,” Meghan said.
“Hello, Meghan,” Cevilla answered, surprise in her voice. “You sound well.”
“I’m very well, thank you. I’m putting you on speaker.”
“What—”
Meghan laid the phone on the table and hit the speaker button. “Now we can both hear you.” She sat back down and gave Grandfather a smile. He didn’t look pleased, and she was definitely crossing a line, but she was going to make sure he didn’t do anything to mess this up.
He leaned over and yelled into the phone. “You have to excuse my granddaughter, Cevilla.” He lifted his chastising gaze to her. “She can be a bit impulsive.”
“Fine with me.” Cevilla’s voice rang loud and clear now. No surprise. No hesitation. Meghan really liked her.
“I can call you back when we have a little privacy.” He gave her another annoyed look.
“You don’t have to yell into the phone, Grandfather. Just speak normally. She’ll be able to hear you just fine.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my hearing,” Cevilla said.
Meghan balked. “I didn’t mean that—”
“And I don’t mind who listens in. Let me get to the point, Richard.”
Meghan saw her grandfather sit up straight.
“Time is short, and life is shorter,” Cevilla continued. “I enjoyed your visit here very much. It’s nice to spend time with a gentleman my age. We have a lot in common, and we also have a lot more catching up to do. Consider this your standing invitation to visit me anytime here in Birch Creek.”
Richard nodded and didn’t say anything.
“Grandfather, she can’t see you.”
“Oh, that’s right.” His eyes darted. “Well, uh, Cevilla.” He cleared his throat. “I must say, this is unexpected.”
Meghan nudged him gently with her toe. “Tell her yes,” she said in a loud whisper, knowing that even with his hearing aids he wouldn’t be able to hear her.
“Listen to your granddaughter.” Cevilla’s voice rang through the speaker. “She’s a smart one.”
Meghan smiled. “Thank you, Cevilla.”
Her grandfather looked bewildered. “I, uh . . .” Then his hand went to his throat, straightening an imaginary tie, a habit he couldn’t shake after decades of wearing three-piece suits. “I’d be happy to come visit you, Cevilla.”
“I’m free next week,” she said.
Both Meghan and Richard laughed. “I’ll make his reservation right now,” Meghan said. Then she stood and picked up the phone. She turned off the speaker and handed it to him. “I’ll leave you two alone now.”
He nodded, looking up at her with a serene smile on his face. Thank you, he mouthed.
She kissed him on the cheek, and then left to finish getting ready for her interview. She sighed as she went up the stairs to her bedroom. Her mother probably wouldn’t approve of a relationship between Grandfather and Cevilla because she wouldn’t be able to control it. She would never be able to influence Cevilla. But Grandfather wouldn’t have to worry about that. Meghan would deal with Mother when the time came. Grandfather and Cevilla deserved their happiness.
EPILOGUE
Three months later
Cevilla and Richard stood outside the small house next door to hers. It was almost finished, thanks to Richard’s insistence on micromanaging every detail. It was a small house, just enough for two people and made in the Amish style. “I approve,” she said, turning to him.
“Is it Amish looking enough?”
She smiled. Richard had decided to move to Birch Creek after his second visit to the community, made shortly after her phone call to him. He’d been back to LA only once, and that was to announce his move in person to Sharon and Meghan. Meghan had been happy for him. Sharon, not so much. But Richard was confident she would come around.
“It’s lovely, and very Amish,” she said.
“Only from the outside.”
Cevilla looked at the house again. Richard was now her neighbor, or at least he would be when the house was completed and his furniture came from California. He’d been staying with Noah and Ivy all this time since it would be improper to stay with her. Over the past three months their relationship had deepened, and she knew he loved her as much as she loved him. But one thing was keeping them from marriage. He wasn’t ready to become Amish. His honesty had touched her, and she didn’t want him to join her faith unless God was leading him to.
“I’m pleased with it,” he said. “It has basic amenities.”
“You mean a fancy air conditioner.”
“Among other things.” He grinned down at her. “Hi, neighbor,” he said softly.
“Hi back, neighbor,” she said.
He took her hand, and they strolled back to her house. She had made a light lunch for them, placing covered plates on the back patio so they could enjoy the fall weather. After they sat down and said a silent prayer, she felt him take her hand again.
“I love you, Cevilla.” His gaze didn’t move from hers. “I wish things could be different, and they might be in the future. But I want you to know that I love you very much.”
She squeezed his hand, fighting back tears. Only Richard Johnson could bring out her mushy side. “I love you too. And I’m willing to wait as long as you need me to, and as long as God leads.”
“He’s led me to you,” Richard said. “I’m ready for him to do the rest.”
“He will,” she said, confident. God had brought Richard back into her life after all these years. He was faithful and had filled a void in her she hadn’t been aware of until Richard had arrived. Cevilla had always put her trust in God.
And I always will.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.Cevilla had always believed that love had passed her by, until her reunion with Richard. Have you ever thought that you missed out on something, only to have a second chance at it later in your life?
2.Instead of turning to God when she was hurt, Meghan pulled away and questioned his constancy. What advice would you have given to help her?
3.Richard had followed his heart, and God’s leading, when it came to Cevilla. Is there a time when you did the same thing?
4.Richard has a big decision to make in the future. If you were faced with the same option to convert to the Amish faith, what would you do? What things would you consider when making your choice?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you to the wonderful team at HCCP for their expertise and support, especially my wonderful editors Becky Monds and Jean Bloom. And thank you, dear reader, for joining Cevilla and Richard on their reunion journey. There’s more in store for these two in the future.
Read more from the Amish Reunion collection!
Available as an e-book
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield.
Visit her online at KathleenFuller.com
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Twitter: @TheKatJam