by Amy Clipston
Jeff swallowed a sigh. “We were never officially dating, but we’re still gut freinden.”
She seemed to study him. “How do you figure that if you don’t see each other much?”
“We’re both busy.” He cleared his throat and gestured toward his workbench. “Speaking of being busy, I have some work to do.”
Sara Ann opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a group of four English women chatting loudly as they stood just outside Jeff’s booth. When they made eye contact with him, he smiled and nodded.
“Good morning,” he said. “Welcome to the Bird-in-Hand market.” Please come interrupt us. Please save me from this awkward conversation!
“Good morning, son,” one of the older women said. Then she turned to her companion and muttered a little too loudly, “Isn’t he a handsome young thing?”
“He is,” she answered, also loud enough for him to hear.
Jeff felt his cheeks heat, but he continued to smile.
“How are you?” Sara Ann asked the women.
“We’re fine,” one of the other women said.
“Oh look, girls,” the fourth said to her companions. “There’s a bake shop. Let’s get some whoopie pies.”
“You’ll have to come to my quilt shop when you leave the bakery,” Sara Ann said. “It’s right across the aisle.”
Sara Ann headed for her booth, and the women started for the Bake Shop. As Jeff watched them, three boys who looked to be around fourteen years old ran into the aisle, nearly knocking into one of the women. As they ran past Jeff, he opened his mouth to warn them, but they were so fast they disappeared around the next corner before he could get out the words. That was all he needed—a customer injured right outside his booth.
Jeff switched on the burnishing machine and began cutting pieces of leather for key chains. Although all his displays were full and he already had extra key chains, the work helped keep his mind off Christiana. At least, that’s what he told himself. Thoughts of her lingered in the back of his mind, haunting him throughout his days and during his dreams at night.
The smell of burning leather filled his lungs, and he relished the familiarity of the scent. This was solace. This was his time to continue praying, asking God to heal his battered soul and bring Christiana back to him.
Please, God. Please convince Freeman I’m gut enough for his dochder. Please bring my precious Christy back into my life.
“Excuse me,” a woman’s voice said.
Jeff looked up as a couple about his parents’ age stepped into his booth. “Good morning. How may I help you?” He stood.
“We’d like to get a few of your alphabet trains for our grandchildren. Our daughter just had twins a couple of months ago,” the woman said as the man beamed beside her.
“What a blessing.” Jeff pointed to the shelf with the trains. “What are their names?”
* * *
“Your baked goods smell divine,” said one of the English women who had come into the Bake Shop. After taking in nearly everything Christiana had to offer, she’d finally brought an armful of sampler boxes with cookies to the counter to pay for them. Her friends were still looking.
“Thank you.” Christiana began to ring up her items.
“Are you baking cookies back there?” The woman pointed to the oven at the back of the booth.
“Yes, I am,” Christiana said. “Snickerdoodles.”
“They smell divine too.” Christiana sensed she was about to say something else. “Say, we saw that handsome young man who runs the booth next door.”
“Oh?” Christiana’s pulse danced as she recalled Jeff’s warm smile this morning.
Oh, how she missed his friendship! She’d found herself itching to pack a big lunch and invite him to join her at the picnic table. She longed to stop by his booth and chat whenever her booth was quiet. She wanted to ask him to give her a ride home.
But she couldn’t disobey her father. She couldn’t risk losing her booth and the chance to at least see Jeff at the market. So, instead, she relished the few times she was able to see him from afar, wave to him, and memorize his handsome face, attractive smile, and adorable curls.
If only things were different.
“He’s quite the looker.” The woman’s further comment slammed Christiana back to the present.
“He doesn’t have a beard, and that means he’s single, right?” the woman behind her added.
“Ya, that’s true.” Christiana kept her eyes focused on the cash register to avoid their goofy grins. Most Englishers were courteous, but these women’s comments were so inappropriate. They looked old enough to be Jeff’s mother!
“What’s his name?” a third woman asked.
Oh, how Christiana wished she could change the subject! “His name is Jeff.”
“Well, if you don’t have a boyfriend . . . ,” the first woman said, and the other three cackled.
Christiana pushed the ribbons from her prayer covering over her shoulders and tried to ignore her flaming cheeks. Then she gave the first woman her total.
“Do you smell that?” One of the ladies turned around and sniffed the air. “It smells like something’s burning.”
“Oh, that’s just Jeff’s burnishing machine.” Christiana waved off the comment as she gave the first woman her change. “It smells like that all the time.”
“Are you sure?” The woman pointed to the booth exit. “Because I see smoke.”
Christiana gasped as she saw smoke in the aisle.
“Jeff!” she screamed as she took off running. “Jeff!”
Her heart pounded against her rib cage as she slid out of her booth and skidded to a halt in front of his. She coughed and coughed, covering her mouth with one hand and fanning the smoke billowing out of his booth with the other. She couldn’t see a thing.
“Jeff! Jeff!” she called as icy fear slithered up her spine. “Jeff! Are you there?” Her eyes burned as the smoke swirled around her.
“I’m going to call nine-one-one,” she heard someone yell. Christiana turned to see her customers following the crowd heading for the exit.
A fire alarm blared and sprinklers hissed above her, sending cool raindrops spraying down over her prayer covering and face.
“Christiana!” Salina ran up to her and grabbed her arm. “Let’s go! We need to get out of here now!”
“No!” Christiana shook her head as her breath came in short bursts. “Jeff could be in there!” She took a step toward his booth, and Salina pulled her back.
“No! We have to get out!” Salina gave Christiana’s arm a tug, and Christiana stumbled. “Let’s go!”
“I have to find Jeff. I can’t leave without him.” Christiana’s voice broke as she coughed, and hot tears streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto her apron and dress.
“Come on.” Salina pulled Christiana and then stopped when a coughing fit overtook her.
“Go, Salina!” Christiana gave her a nudge. “Get out. I’ll come as soon as I find Jeff.”
“What are you waiting for?” Sara Ann appeared behind Salina. “Let’s go! We need to get out of here before the fire spreads.”
“Go with Sara Ann,” Christiana told Salina. “I’ll be out. I promise.”
Salina hesitated, her eyes narrowing. “I won’t leave without you.”
“You need to get out.” Sara Ann started to cough as she walked backward and joined another crowd of customers rushing for the doors, pulling Salina with her.
Voices yelled out, ordering everyone to evacuate as knots of people pushed by.
Christiana hugged her arms to her chest and held back another cough as the smoke cleared just a little. She peeked into the booth, searching for Jeff, but he was nowhere in sight.
Where was he? Was he hurt?
Her body shook as tears stung her eyes. Fear wrapped its fingers around her throat and squeezed as air scraped out of her lungs.
She couldn’t lose him!
“Jeff! Jeff!” Her voice sounded too high
.
“Christiana!” Jeff appeared beside her, holding a fire extinguisher. “Get out of here!”
“Jeff!” She reached for his arm as a sob escaped her throat. “I thought something had happened to you.”
“Go!” He nodded toward the exit. “I’ll be fine. Please go.”
Christiana spun and rushed out of the market. She weaved through the crowd to the back of the parking lot where her cousins stood huddled together.
“Christiana!” Leanna ran over to her. “Where were you? We were worried sick.”
“I was looking for Jeff,” Christiana began as a fire engine steered into the parking lot with sirens blasting.
“Did you find him?” Salina asked.
“Ya.” Christiana covered her mouth and coughed. “He was getting a fire extinguisher.”
“The fire was in his booth?” Leanna asked.
“Ya.” Dread filled her. If Jeff had caused the fire, surely that would be the end of his business. She’d never see him again. She leaned against Leanna as more tears filled her eyes.
“Hey.” Salina looped her arm over her wet shoulders. “He’ll be fine.” She pointed toward the back door. “Look! There he is! He’s talking to Kent.” She put one arm around Christiana’s waist. “See? He’s okay. We all made it out just fine.”
Christiana sniffed. “But if the fire was his fault, he’ll have to close his booth, and I’ll never see him again.”
“Be positive, Christiana,” Bethany said. “Have faith that God will work it out.”
Jeff was still with Kent. Jeff nodded and pushed his hands through his curls as they both listened to a firefighter. Then Kent gave Jeff a pat on the back before Jeff descended the steps into the parking lot.
Jeff scanned the parking lot, and when his gaze landed on Christiana, her breath caught. He started toward her, and she hugged her arms across her chest.
“He’s coming over here,” Salina said.
“How about we give them some privacy?” Leanna said. “Come on, Salina and Bethany. Let’s go sit at that picnic table.”
“Everything will be fine,” Salina whispered. She gave Christiana’s arm a squeeze as she followed her cousins to the picnic area.
Christiana wiped her eyes with the back of her hand as Jeff approached her.
“Are you okay, Christy?” he asked. “Do the medics need to check on you?”
She shook her head and squeezed her arms more tightly around her. They were both wet, but she was shivering even under the hot August sun.
“Can we go for a walk?” he said.
“Ya.” She followed him to the row of trees that separated the parking lot from the park.
When they reached the trees, he turned to her. “Why didn’t you leave the market right away?” His dark eyes seemed to search hers.
“I saw the smoke pouring out of your booth, and I couldn’t tell if you were in there. I thought you might be injured, and—” A sob choked off her words. She covered her face with her hands as all the emotions she’d pent up since her father’s edict about Jeff came flowing out in shuddering waves.
“Hey. It’s okay.” He rubbed her arm.
“No, it’s not,” she managed to say. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” His face clouded with a deep frown. “You have no idea how much.” His voice was hoarse, and she knew it wasn’t just from the smoke he’d inhaled. “I miss you every second of every day.”
He opened his arms to her, and she stepped inside them.
Resting her head on his damp shoulder, she breathed in the scent of wood, leather, and soap despite the odor of burning wood that clung to his clothes. Her eyes filled once again, and then the tears spilled over. He rubbed her back, and she felt safe and secure surrounded by his warmth.
If only she could stay in his arms forever.
“I’m here,” he muttered into her prayer covering. “I’m not going anywhere.” His voice sent a tremor through her entire body.
She closed her eyes as her tears subsided. “I’m so thankful you’re okay.”
“I’m thankful you’re okay too.”
She took a step back as she pulled a tissue from her apron pocket and wiped away her tears. “Did the fire start in your booth?”
“I don’t know, but I hope not. I thought I saw flames . . .” His expression changed. “Listen, the fire marshal will investigate, and thanks to the sprinklers in the ceiling and what I was able to do with the extinguisher, the fire didn’t spread too far. I think most of the damage was contained to my booth. Everyone else’s stock should be all right, depending on any smoke damage, of course. I hope Sara Ann’s quilts are all right.”
He blew out a deep breath and looked back toward the market. “This could be my fault. I converted to a power inverter a few weeks ago, and it hasn’t given me any problems. But I don’t think I turned off the burnishing machine when a couple of customers came in not long before—”
“Wait a minute.” She held up her hand. “You converted to a power inverter?”
“Ya.” He nodded.
“Why?” She took a step toward him as her pulse fluttered.
“Why do you think?” He cupped her face in his hands. “I did it for you. I was going to wait a while and then ask your dat to reconsider his decision about me.”
He moved his thumbs down her cheeks, sending a thrill zinging over her skin. “Ich liebe dich, Christy, and I want to be with you. I’ve learned so much from you. You’ve taught me to believe in myself and to have patience with others and myself. You’ve shown me how to forgive and that love is worth the risk of getting hurt. You’re the reason I was able to move past what Ella did and get on with my life.
“But it’s more than that. I love you more than I ever loved Ella. I’m certain you’re my future. You’re the one God has chosen for me, and I’ll do anything to prove to your dat that I have no intentions of leaving the church and that I’m devoted to our Amish ways.”
“I love you too,” she whispered as his precious words wrapped around her heart. “And I’ve learned from you too. You’ve shown me that being stubborn and judgmental didn’t allow me to give you the chance you deserved. We all make mistakes, and we all need grace. I believe you’re the one God intends for me. I’m praying mei dat will see how much you mean to me and that our relationship is meant to be.”
He brushed his lips across hers, sending her stomach into a wild swirl. She closed her eyes and savored the sensation of his warm mouth on hers.
“I’m sorry this happened.” He shook his head. “This is all a big mess, and it’s my fault. If I hadn’t brought my burnishing machine to the market, your dat wouldn’t have forbidden you from seeing me. Worse, maybe we wouldn’t have had a fire just now.”
“Shh.” Christiana touched his shoulder. “None of it is your fault. We’ll find a way forward.”
“Do you think I should visit your dat?”
Christiana nodded. “Ya, I do. I asked mei mamm to talk with him, and she agreed. But I don’t know if she’s had the opportunity. Let me find out if the time is right. I’ll talk to her, and then I’ll let you know.”
“Sounds gut.” He squeezed her hand. “I have to go talk to Kent again as well as the fire marshal, if he’s arrived. I’ll talk to you later.”
Christiana’s heart took on wings as she returned to her cousins. As soon as she got home, she was going to check with her mother to see if her prayers had been answered.
26
“Christiana!” Mamm announced as she stepped into the kitchen. “You’re home early.”
Phoebe set a bowl of chicken salad on the table in front of Dat and then glanced at the clock. “It’s only noon. Is everything all right? You look kind of . . . wrinkled?”
Christiana set her tote bag on the floor and started washing her hands. “I’m fine, but we had a fire at the market. Everyone is okay, though. I just got wet when the sprinklers in the ceiling kicked on.”
“A fire?” Dat asked. “What happened
?”
“We’re not sure yet, but the fire marshal is investigating. The market is closed until the investigation is complete and some repairs are done, so I’ll be home until then.” She grabbed four glasses from the cabinet.
“Are you all right?” Dat asked as she set the glasses on the table. It occurred to her that he wasn’t usually home this time of day on a Thursday, but maybe she just didn’t remember he was taking the day off.
“I’m fine. It was a small fire contained to one booth. Everyone got out of the market safely. No one was hurt.”
“What a blessing.” Mamm set a bag of chips in the center of the table as Phoebe placed a basket of rolls there.
“Sit down and we’ll eat,” Dat said.
Christiana took her usual seat across from Phoebe and bowed her head in prayer.
Lord, please bless this food. Please bless my words as I talk to Mamm about Jeff later today. Please keep Jeff strong during the fire investigation. And please soften Dat’s heart toward Jeff so we can be together.
After the prayers, they all began to build their chicken salad sandwiches.
Phoebe scrunched her nose as she picked up the pitcher of water she’d brought to the table. “Phew, Christiana. You smell like smoke. You should go change.”
Dat turned his gaze toward Christiana. “Where did you say the fire started?”
Christiana chewed a bite of her sandwich and stared at her father. She was glad he was home. Now was her chance to tell him Jeff no longer used electricity at the market. But would that news start an argument at the table? Was she mentally prepared for that? Despite the comfort Jeff had given her, her nerves were still raw after experiencing the fire.
“Christiana?” Dat’s expression filled with concern. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Christiana swallowed and lifted her glass of water. “The fire started near my booth.”
“Your booth?” Dat’s voice rose. “What do you mean?”
“It might have started in Jeff’s booth. We’re not sure.” Christiana held her breath, waiting for the explosion.
“Ach no!” Mamm said.
“Is Jeff all right?” Phoebe asked.