by Amy Clipston
“Wow.” Jeff was certain he wore a goofy grin. “This is so nice, but I can get my own kaffi and donut.”
“I know, but you paid for lunch on Tuesday. And you made it clear that you wouldn’t let me pay the next time.” She held out the cup and chocolate donut. “I thought I’d thank you with your usual morning meal. And you’re going to love the flavor of kaffi Bethany made today.” She grinned. “It was sort of my idea.”
“Okay.” He sipped the coffee, and his eyes widened. “Macadamia nut?”
“Uh-huh.” She folded her hands as if saying a prayer. “Do you like it?”
“I love it. You suggested it?” He took another sip.
“I did.” She bit her lower lip and shrugged, her adorable expression sheepish. “I thought you might enjoy it.”
“Danki.” He sipped more coffee and then took a bite of the chocolate donut. “This is the perfect breakfast. Where’s your kaffi?”
“In my booth.” She nodded toward the Bake Shop. “Are you ready for the crowds today?”
“I think so.” He set the cup on his worktable. “How about you?”
“I brought Phoebe in to help me today. She offered to run the booth while we eat lunch.” She held up her hand. “That’s if you want to eat together at the picnic tables. If it’s too busy and you don’t want to take a break, we can skip lunch today.”
“I’d love to take a break—even if it’s a short one.” He couldn’t allow an opportunity to spend time with her go by.
“Gut.” She spoke as she backed away. “I’d better go. Phoebe and I are still stocking shelves.”
“Danki again for the breakfast surprise.”
“Gern gschehne.” She tossed the words over her shoulder.
“Christy,” he called, and she spun toward him, grinning. “May I give you and Phoebe a ride home?”
She pressed her lips together and hugged her arms to her chest. “I’m sorry, but not today.”
“Why not?” He took a step toward her as an alarm pinged in his mind.
“Well . . . mei dat doesn’t want me to accept rides from any men before he’s met them. I’m so sorry.”
“Oh no.” Guilt overtook him as he walked toward her. “Did I get you into trouble last week when I gave you a ride home?”
She shook her head. “Not really, but he warned me not to do it again.” She paused. “I’m so embarrassed.” She pressed her fingers to her forehead.
“Don’t be.”
“He’s really strict, and I have to obey his rules.”
“I understand. I won’t pressure you.”
“Danki.” She looked up, and her eyes met his. “I’ll see you at lunch.”
“Make lots of sales,” he called after her as she headed to her booth.
Jeff smiled as he realized how much his fear of rejection had diminished. He imagined the day he’d ask Christiana’s father if he could date her, and he had a feeling that day would come soon.
17
Jeff walked into Christiana’s booth at lunchtime a week later. “I have a surprise for you, Christy. I’ve closed my booth for lunch, and I’d love to take you out today. Do you have time?”
Christiana smiled as she thought of how their friendship had grown just in the past week. They’d had lunch together every day at the market the week before. They talked and laughed. She couldn’t wait to see where this relationship might lead.
“Ya, I have time. Phoebe is with me again every day this week because of the Fourth of July crowds. She’ll be back from her lunch break in a minute. Where are we going to eat?” Her heart fluttered as she retrieved her purse.
“I thought we could go to that diner next door. Their service is pretty quick, so we won’t be gone long.”
“Great.”
When Phoebe returned, they walked across the parking lot to the diner, where they sat in a booth by the window.
“How is Nick?” she asked after they ordered their food.
“He’s gut.” Jeff gave a little smile. “He and Kathy are excited about their wedding. They’re planning it for around Thanksgiving.”
“Oh, how exciting.” Her smile faded as she studied his eyes. “Are you still okay with that?”
“Of course I am.” He smiled. “Nick and Kathy are going to live in the daadihaus on Kathy’s father’s farm until they can build a haus.” He shrugged. “It will be strange to not have Nick around every day, but I’m sure I’ll see him.” He took a drink of water and then looked at his glass. “I offered him mei haus, but he said no.”
“Why would you give away your haus?”
“Because I live in it alone, and he’s getting married. He needs the room more than I do.”
Christiana tilted her head as she studied his face. “But don’t you think you’ll get married someday?”
“I hope so, but his wedding is in only a few months. He needs a haus now. I could move back in with my parents and figure out where I’m going to live when the time is right.” He took another drink of water.
Christiana’s heart sank a little. Jeff obviously didn’t see himself getting married anytime soon. Did that mean he wasn’t interested in being more than her friend? She took a deep breath and tried to ignore a pang of disappointment.
“What did Nick say when you offered him your haus? I mean, besides no,” she asked.
Jeff gave her a sheepish smile. “He told me to stop being so negative. He said I’ll meet someone and that I’ll need the haus eventually.” He picked up his BLT and took a bite.
“Oh.” She rubbed at an imaginary itch on her nose. “Do you believe that?” She picked at her club sandwich.
“I’m starting to.” He smiled, and her shoulders relaxed slightly.
They spent the rest of lunch talking about the hot July weather and their customers at the market. When their sandwiches had disappeared, they shared a warm brownie smothered in vanilla ice cream. Soon it was time to walk back to the marketplace.
“Danki for lunch,” Christiana said as they headed toward their booths. “But next time I’m going to pay.”
“No, I don’t think so.” Jeff grinned. “It’s my job to pay.”
“We’ll see about that.” She gave his shoulder a playful swat. “Go sell a lot of wallets and journal covers.”
“And you go sell your baked goods. But do save me some macadamia nut kichlin.”
Christiana took in his handsome profile and adorable curly hair. She loved the idea of being more than his friend. She’d have to wait to see if he’d ask her father for permission, but he might always want to be only friends. She had to be prepared for that.
* * *
Jeff sat on a stool in Christiana’s booth Saturday morning and glanced at the wind-up clock on one of her shelves. He’d arrived early to put his plan into action. He’d wanted to do something special to show her how much he cared for her, and he’d racked his brain for a creative idea.
Then it hit him late last night. He’d surprise her this morning with more than just coffee and a donut. He set his alarm an hour earlier than usual, and then today he quickly took care of his morning chores before heading for the market.
Daisy the market cat hopped up on the stool next to him and rubbed her head against his arm. “Gude mariye, Daisy. Wie geht’s?”
The cat meowed and blinked up at him. He found the bowls and dry food Christiana kept for Daisy and gave her food and water before returning to the stool.
A few minutes later, he heard the wheels from Christiana’s baker’s racks scraping across the oak floors. He stood and walked to the entrance just as she stepped inside.
“Jeff.” Her eyes widened, and a smile lit up her beautiful face. “What are you doing here so early?”
“I have a cup of kaffi for you.” He handed it to her.
“Danki.” She took a long drink. “It’s appeditlich.”
“It’s hazelnut flavored. I added a lot of creamer and sweetener, just the way you like it.” He slipped his hands into his pockets.
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She glanced down at Daisy. “I see you gave Daisy her breakfast.” She bent down and rubbed the cat’s head. Then she looked up at Jeff. “Are you okay?”
“Ya.” He rubbed his chin. “I was just wondering if we could go for a walk before we get ready for customers. Today’s the Fourth, so we won’t have much time.”
“Go for a walk?” She lifted an eyebrow.
“Ya.” He shrugged. “We could walk around the park once or twice and just talk before our day gets started.”
“Oh.” Her smile was back. “That sounds nice.” She glanced at the clock. “I think we have about thirty minutes to spare. We’d better go now. Phoebe went to the Coffee Corner. I’ll leave her a note.”
His pulse took on wings as they walked to the nearby park and started down the path.
“Did you have a nice evening last night?” she asked as they walked side by side.
“I did.” He nodded. “Lewis came by to say hello.”
“Oh?” She looked over at him. “Did you have a gut visit?”
“We did. He’s been dating one of our old freinden from youth group, and they’ve been getting serious. He’s thinking about proposing to her.”
“Wow. So your best freind is talking about getting engaged, just like your bruder did.”
“Ya.” Jeff chuckled. “I asked Lewis if there was something in the water making everyone want to get married.”
She laughed. “Do you think he’s going to talk to his girlfriend’s dat soon?”
“I think so. The first time he told me what he was thinking, I suggested it might be too soon. He said he didn’t think so, but he’s been mulling it over ever since. Last night he asked for my opinion.” Jeff snorted. “Both mei bruder and my best freind ask for my advice about their futures as if I have some special insight. When I tried to get married, it fell apart. What do I know about planning a future?”
To his surprise, Christiana stopped walking.
He spun to face her. “Was iss letz?”
Christiana’s expression clouded. “I see why your bruder thinks you’re too negative.”
Jeff felt his lips press into a flat line as worry coursed through him. “Are you angry with me?”
“No, but I’m frustrated with you.” Christiana pointed her coffee cup at him. “You have no faith in yourself. You still blame yourself for what Ella did to you, but it wasn’t your fault. Ella changed her mind. You’re a kind and wunderbaar man who deserves happiness. Don’t let her choice ruin the rest of your life.”
He stilled as her encouraging and caring words sent a strange sensation twirling through him. Her kindness soothed his broken heart.
And she thinks I’m wunderbaar?
“Let’s walk before we run out of time,” she said. She started down the path again, and he trailed after her.
They were silent for a beat as they walked along, and his thoughts spun with possibilities.
“What do you see in your future?” he asked.
“My future?” She seemed stunned by the question.
“Ya. What do you want?”
“Well, I’d like to fall in love and get married someday.” She looked straight ahead as she spoke. “I’d like to have a haus and kinner. And I’d like to keep selling my baked goods somehow. I wouldn’t be able to go to market until the kinner grew up, like Leanna can now because Chester is older. But maybe if I could get my husband to build me a stand, I could sell them certain days of the week.” She suddenly stopped, and her cheeks turned red. “I guess I’m rambling. I’m sorry.”
He smiled as he took in her adorable expression. “You’re not rambling. It’s interesting to hear what you want in your future.” Will I be a part of it? Do I want that? More excitement overcame him. Was this a message from God?
“What about you?” Her question invaded his thoughts. “What do you want?”
He took a deep breath. “I’d love to fill mei haus with a family.” Saying the words out loud broke down the wall he’d built around his heart. It was as if he’d suddenly been set free of the grief Ella had caused in his life.
“I’m certain you will someday.” Her smile was nearly as bright as the morning sun.
“I hope so.”
“Don’t give up. God has the perfect plan for all of us.” She nodded toward the market. “But first, we’d better hurry. We need to get back and finish setting up.”
They swiftly returned to the market, the cheerful potted flowers greeting them as they approached the heavy front doors made of glass. They stepped into the building over the worn, creaky oak floors as the aromas of lunch meat, coffee, and candy filled Jeff’s senses.
He smiled at Christiana as they walked to her booth together.
“This was the perfect way to start my morning,” she said. “Danki for the kaffi and the walk.”
“I’m so grateful you joined me.” Without thinking, he reached up and touched her cheek, taking in her smattering of freckles. “You’re so schee.”
She sucked in a breath as her eyes widened.
“If Phoebe is willing to manage the crowds by herself for a little while, would you please have lunch with me today?”
“Ya.” Her voice sounded hoarse. “I’d love to.”
“Gut.” He let his arm drop to his side. “Have a gut morning.”
As he walked to his booth, he felt as if he were walking on air. He was falling for Christiana, and unless it was his imagination, she seemed to like him as more than a friend. He just hoped she wouldn’t change her mind about him the way Ella had. How would he live through another heartbreak?
* * *
“Okay, Christiana.” Bethany leaned over the arm of the rocking chair on Leanna’s parents’ porch and tapped her cousin’s arm. “Tell us everything about Jeff. We know you had lunch with him again this week, and we saw you walking into the market with him yesterday morning. What’s the deal?”
Christiana grinned as she gripped her glass of iced tea.
It was Sunday afternoon, and the sun was bright as the warm aroma of moist earth filled her senses. Since Leanna’s parents had hosted church today, Christiana and her family were spending the rest of the day with her mother’s side of the family. Leanna and Chester had moved in with her parents after Marlin died so they could help support her and their grandson.
Christiana always enjoyed her visits with her mother’s family. She and her cousins would find a place to talk while their mothers visited in the kitchen, their fathers talked in the barn, and Phoebe visited with their younger cousins by the pasture fence. They laughed and chatted as the hours slipped by too quickly.
“Well, Christiana?” Leanna’s light-brown eyebrows careened toward her hairline. “What’s going on between you and Jeff?”
Christiana settled back in her rocking chair and pushed it into motion with her toe. “We had lunch together all three days at the market, and early yesterday morning he was waiting at my booth with a cup of kaffi for me. We went for a walk in the park and talked before the market opened.”
“What did you talk about?” Salina asked.
“Everything.” Christiana looked down at her lap and smiled.
“What’s everything?” Bethany swatted her arm. “Come on. Stop teasing us.”
Christiana mentally debated how much to share. By now her cousins all knew about Ella, but she’d never betray Jeff’s trust by sharing his most intimate feelings.
“He shared that his best freind is talking about getting engaged, and then we talked about our hopes and dreams. It was nice.” Christiana sighed.
“Really?” Leanna’s expression brightened. “Sounds like it’s getting serious.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Christiana’s smile faded. “I mean, he does seem attentive and froh to spend time with me, but I can’t be sure he wants to date me.”
“Why would he have lunch with you every day and take you on a walk if he didn’t want to date you?” Salina asked.
“Exactly,” Bethany said, jumping
in.
“He’s had his heart broken. Maybe he just needs a freind.” Christiana fingered the hem of her apron.
“I disagree,” Leanna said. “He wouldn’t be so eager to see you if he only wanted to be your freind. He seems to seek you out. I’ve noticed he’s completely focused on you when you’re together.”
“Would you go out with him if he asked you?” Salina asked.
“Ya, I would, but he has to get mei dat’s permission first.”
“Are you worried about that?” Salina asked.
“You know I am.” Christiana sighed. “Your dat is our bishop, but he’s not nearly as strict as mei dat is. Mei dat says he’ll know who the right man is for Phoebe and for me. Assuming Jeff asks, what if he says no to him?”
Salina shook her head. “I don’t think your dat would say no.”
“So let’s just assume he gets your dat’s permission,” Bethany began, “and then he asks you to be his girlfriend. Would you say ya?”
“Of course I would. I care about him. I think he’s a gut man. I just don’t know if he’s ready for another relationship yet.” Christiana sipped her iced tea as her thoughts moved to how her lungs had seized when he touched her cheek. She’d felt as if lightning had struck her. She’d never felt such a strong attraction to her former boyfriends. Did that mean Jeff was the one God intended for her? If so, why did doubt plague her? She was so confused.
“You might want to take it slow if you think he’s hesitant,” Salina said. “You won’t want to appear too eager and scare him away.”
“I agree,” Leanna said. “You don’t want him to break your heart if he’s not ready for another relationship.”
“Ya, that’s true.” Bethany smiled. “Concentrate on being his freind for now. Get to know him better. But if he is ready, then I think you should go for it. See where the Lord leads you and Jeff together.” Then she turned to Salina. “What about you and Josiah Yoder?”
“Ya.” Leanna nudged Salina’s arm. “I saw you and Josiah talking after church earlier today.”
Salina shrugged and picked at the hem of her apron. “He’s nice. We’ve always been gut freinden.”