by Amy Clipston
“Gut.” Ellen followed her sister out from behind the stand.
“The money box is on the second shelf.” Rosalyn pointed to the coolers. “More pies are there in case you sell some.”
“It’s been busy.” Ellen tilted her head. “I thought Mandy was going to help too.”
Katie Ann shrugged. “I haven’t seen her.”
“She’s probably too busy with Ephraim.” Rosalyn rolled her eyes. “They never seem to have time for anyone else lately.”
Katie Ann tried to hide her surprise at the statement. So she wasn’t the only one who had noticed how Mandy and Ephraim were behaving.
“We’d better start weeding.” Ellen pointed behind Katie Ann. “I think you have your first customer. There’s a car now.”
“Oh. I’d better get ready.” Katie Ann scooted behind the stand and waved good-bye to Rosalyn and Ellen as they started up the driveway.
The gray sedan stopped in front of the stand, and three women dressed in jeans and T-shirts climbed out.
“Look, Charlotte,” one of the women said. “I told you this was an Amish bake stand.”
“You were right, Lois,” Charlotte said.
“How are you?” Katie Ann sat down on a stool behind the counter.
“We’re fine, sweetie,” the third woman said. “What are you selling?”
Katie Ann gestured toward the shelves of baked goods. “We have cookies—chocolate chip, peanut butter, macadamia nut, oatmeal raisin, butter, and sugar. We also have shoo-fly, apple, lemon meringue, pecan, and sweet potato pies. All the proceeds from this stand are for the Bird-in-Hand Shelter for the homeless.”
“Really?” Lois said. “That’s really neat.” She looked at the other women. “Let’s get some goodies to take home.”
Ten minutes later, each of the women had left with three trays of cookies and two pies, and Katie Ann unloaded the coolers to refill the shelves.
Chris approached the stand as she set the last shoo-fly pie on a shelf.
“How’s business?” He rocked back on his heels, lifting his straw hat and raking his hand through his thick, dark hair.
“Business is gut. Three tourists just cleaned off the shelves.” Katie Ann pointed to the storage shelf behind her. “I had to unload the coolers. It’s a gut thing Clara picked up more baking supplies.”
“That’s fantastic.” Chris tapped the counter. “I’m glad the stand is working out.”
“It’s perfect.” Katie Ann perched on the stool. “We’ve already raised nearly two hundred dollars for the Bird-in-Hand Shelter, all in a few weeks.”
“Wow. What a blessing.”
He smiled at her, and her heart fluttered. The past month had been a whirlwind since they’d started dating. She’d had supper with his parents, and she’d also met his brother and sister-in-law. She’d enjoyed spending time with Chris at Emma’s house as well as at her house and at his. But something was still missing—her best friend.
Katie Ann still hadn’t had the opportunity to share her excitement about Chris with Mandy. Every time she’d tried to talk to her, Mandy had been distracted or Ephraim had interrupted them. Just as Clara said, Mandy was busy with Ephraim. Sorrow coursed through her, squeezing her heart and tightening her throat.
But Katie Ann pushed it away as she looked up at Chris’s warm brown eyes. She couldn’t allow her sadness over her best friend to ruin her time with her boyfriend.
He cocked his head to the side and seemed to assess her. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything is fine.” Katie Ann brightened. “How is your day going?”
“Gut.” He nodded. “I’m working with the guys on a few projects for Emma. Are we still going to ride home together this afternoon?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” Happiness zipped through her as he smiled, and his dimple made yet another grand appearance.
“Gut.” Chris picked up a stack of chocolate chip cookies wrapped in plastic wrap. “How much for these?”
“Two dollars.” She leaned forward on the counter.
“That’s a fair price.” He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. “I’d like to purchase these, please.”
“Danki, sir.” She gave a little laugh as she took the money from him. Their fingers brushed, sending heat to the places their skin touched.
She put the cash in the money box. Chris opened the plastic wrap and held up a cookie, offering it to her.
“No, danki.” She shook her head. “They’re for you.”
“All right.” He shrugged, took a bite, chewed, and swallowed with a sigh of appreciation. “So good. Well, I need to get back to the barn. Wayne and I are repairing the horse’s stall, and then we’re going to fix the fence at the back of her pasture.” He winked at her and started up the driveway. “See you later. Sell lots of baked goods.”
“I’ll try.” As Katie Ann watched him walk away, she was so grateful for her boyfriend.
“Hi, Emma!” Katie Ann stepped into Emma’s kitchen the following Sunday and held up a Pyrex portable dish and three frozen loaves of bread. “I made lasagna for supper tonight. I also picked up some garlic bread. I hope everyone brings their appetites.”
Emma clapped her hands. “Oh, that’s wunderbaar. I think everyone will love it.” She looked up at the clock on the wall. “You’re early.”
“Ya, I asked mei dat to bring me over now. I want to finish preparing the food and spend some time with you before everyone else gets here.” Katie Ann set the dish on the counter. “Would it be all right if I preheated the oven?”
“Of course.” Emma laughed. “You know you don’t have to ask permission to use my oven.”
“Danki.” Katie Ann flipped the dial to the appropriate temperature and then turned to Emma. “I’ll put the lasagna in as soon as the oven timer buzzes.” She felt something brush her leg, and she looked down as Hank circled around and rubbed her legs. “Hi, Hank. How are you?”
The cat sat back on his haunches and blinked up at her.
“It’s nice to see you too.” Katie Ann laughed. “He looks like he’s in a gut mood.”
“He’s always in a gut mood. Aren’t you, Hank?” Emma leaned down and rubbed his ear. The cat responded by tilting his head and closing his eyes as he purred. “He’s such a lovable guy.”
Katie Ann smiled. She was thankful Hank had chosen Emma as his companion on Christmas Eve.
“How’s Chris doing?” Emma asked as she turned her attention back to Katie Ann.
“Oh, he’s fine.” Katie Ann’s cheeks heated. She was taken by surprise at the direct question. “He should be here in a little bit.”
“You two seem froh.” Emma leaned back on the counter. “I’ve noticed how you both smile as you talk together. You remind me of Henry and me when we first dated.”
“You think so?” Katie Ann couldn’t stop a smile now.
“Ya, you do. Henry always knew how to make me smile, even on the worst of days. I remember the day we found out mei dat had had a heart attack. He had collapsed, and we got him to the hospital as quickly as we could.” Emma got a faraway look in her eyes as she gazed across the room. “I was certain I would lose mei dat, and I was distraught. Henry came to the hospital with me, and he held my hand and kept talking to me. He told me gegisch jokes and rubbed my back while we waited for news from the doctor.”
Katie Ann gasped. “Was your dat okay?”
“Ya.” Emma nodded. “He had to take it easy, and he had to change his diet, but he made a full recovery. It was a miracle.”
“Oh, gut.” Katie Ann breathed a sigh of relief.
“Henry was a tremendous help to my family and me. He took care of mei dat’s chores, and he made sure mei mamm and I had what we needed. He was such a gut man.” Emma leaned forward. “You know, Chris reminds me of him.”
“Really?” Katie Ann heard the thread of hopefulness in her voice.
“Ya. Chris is so kind and thoughtful.” Emma pointed toward the windows. “He an
d Wayne repaired my horse’s stall last week, and now they’re working on the pasture fence. They said they’ll paint it after they have all the broken pickets and rails replaced. That’s something Henry would have done for an older neighbor when we were younger.”
Pride filled Katie Ann’s chest. “Ya, Chris is a gut man.”
“I’m so froh you found him.” Emma touched Katie Ann’s cheek. “I think he’ll make you very happy.” She tilted her head as her expression filled with concern. “How are things with Mandy and Ephraim?”
Katie Ann shrugged. “Ephraim and I are okay. I guess. We haven’t really talked.”
“Why not?”
“I suppose I don’t know what to say.” Katie Ann’s throat felt as though it were thickening. “We used to talk about nearly everything, but these days I don’t know what to say to him. It’s as if he’s changed.”
“Has he changed? Or have you both changed?”
Katie Ann contemplated Emma’s question, but the answer escaped her. “I don’t know.”
“Have you truly tried to talk to him?”
Katie Ann shook her head as shame nipped at her. “I guess not.”
“What about Mandy?”
“I’m going to try to talk to her today, to ask her if she wants to come over to bake or sew one day this week.”
“That’s a great idea.” Emma turned toward the cabinets. “Let’s find pans for your bread so we’ll be ready to put it in the oven when it’s time.”
As Katie Ann turned her attention to the food, she had a new thought. If she could fix her relationship with Mandy, maybe she could also improve her relationship with her brother.
“The lasagna was fantastic.” Chris leaned over and bumped his shoulder against Katie Ann’s as they sat at Emma’s table.
“Danki.” She smiled up at him as she inhaled his familiar scent—moist earth mixed with sandalwood and soap. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“You had me in mind when you made it, right?” His gorgeous eyes sparkled with mischief. “You knew I’d like this.”
“Ya.” She laughed. “You like food, and you seem satisfied with whatever I make, so of course you were on my mind when I put it together.”
“It was appeditlich. You’re a great cook.” He touched her hand, and she relished the feel of his warm skin against hers.
“Danki.” Katie Ann stood and gathered their plates, along with Wayne’s and Clara’s. She carried them to the counter.
“Dinner was great.” Mandy sidled up to her and set a pile of utensils next to the dishes. “Danki for cooking.”
“I’m so glad you liked it.” As Katie Ann looked at Mandy, a surge of confidence bubbled up inside her. “Could I talk to you later?”
“Ya, of course.” Mandy’s smile faded. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” Katie Ann shook her head. “I just want to talk.”
“I look forward to it.” Mandy’s smile was back, but it seemed to wobble. Was she nervous?
“Okay,” Clara said as she approached them with the remainder of the dishes. “I’ll start washing. Who wants to dry?”
“I’ll dry,” Mandy offered, taking dish towels from one of the cabinet drawers.
When the dishes were done—although they’d soon have to wash coffee mugs and dessert dishes—Katie Ann stepped over to the counter, where Mandy sorted utensils into a drawer. “Do you have a minute to talk now?”
Mandy looked up at her and nodded. “Ya, that would be gut.” She dropped the last of the knives into the drawer. “Do you want to go outside on the porch?”
“Ya, that would be perfect.” Katie Ann turned to Emma, who was arranging a plate of cookies. “We’re going to step outside for a minute.”
“Gut.” Emma gave her an encouraging smile.
As Katie Ann walked toward the mudroom, she caught Chris’s gaze. He gave her a nod and a thumbs-up, which ignited a tiny flame of hope deep in her chest. He had suggested she try to talk to Mandy again, inspiring her to give her best friend another chance. She followed Mandy out to the porch, where they both stood at the railing. The sweet smell of moist earth filled the warm May evening air.
“What do you want to talk about?” Mandy asked.
“I was wondering if we could make plans to get together—just the two of us.” Katie Ann leaned back on the railing. “We haven’t really talked in a while, and I’ve missed you.”
Mandy’s expression warmed. “I’ve missed you too.”
“You have?” The question slipped past Katie Ann’s lips without any forethought.
“Of course I have.” Mandy gave a little laugh. “You’re my best freind. Why wouldn’t I miss you?”
Relief spilled over Katie Ann. Maybe she hadn’t lost Mandy’s friendship! “I’m glad to hear it. I was thinking maybe we could get together for a sisters’ day. We can bake some things to sell at the bake stand or we can sew. Whatever you’d like to do would be great.”
“Okay.” Mandy touched her chin. “Maybe we can plan for Tuesday? We can get together at your haus, and then Ephraim can bring us over here to work in the garden and at the stand.”
“That sounds gut.”
The back door opened, and Ephraim appeared in the doorway. “Mandy. Are you coming back in? We’re having kaffi and dessert. Clara made her amazing sugar kichlin.”
Mandy’s expression brightened. “I’ll be right there.”
Ephraim nodded at Katie Ann and then disappeared inside the house.
“We’ll have a gut time on Tuesday,” Mandy said. Then she hurried after him.
Would they? Katie wondered if Mandy could stay away from Ephraim long enough to have even one meaningful conversation with her.
CHAPTER 6
Katie Ann turned the pages of her mother’s favorite cookbook with anticipation. This afternoon she and Mandy would bake items to sell at the stand, and they would finally talk. She’d been so excited last night that she’d had difficulty falling asleep.
She looked up at the clock and then walked to the windows that faced the driveway.
Mamm stepped into the kitchen. “She should be here any minute.”
“I know.” Katie Ann looked over her shoulder at her mother. “I’m just eager to get started. We haven’t really talked for so long.”
“I’m sure you two will have a great time.” Mamm picked up a bag of material from the counter. “I’ll be in the sewing room if you need me.”
Katie Ann returned to the counter and flipped through the cookbook, taking in the possible recipes they could make for the stand. She perused the variety of cookies, and when she settled on one, she mentally checked off the ingredients. She moved around in the pantry and gathered what they’d need. She was taking a mixing bowl from a lower cabinet when she heard the storm door open and click shut.
“Hi!” Mandy called as she stepped into the kitchen. She set a bag on the table.
“Wie geht’s?” Katie Ann pointed to the cookbook. “Are you ready to get started? I checked, and I have all the ingredients to make chocolate crinkle kichlin. Doesn’t that sound gut?”
“Ya.” Mandy jammed her thumb toward the door. “I need to go tell Ephraim something, but I’ll help you in a minute when I get back.” She started toward the mudroom.
“What?” Katie Ann crossed the kitchen, her blood pressure ticking up higher with each step.
Mandy turned around. “I said I need to go tell Ephraim something.” Her forehead puckered. “Why do you look so confused? I’ll be right back.”
“I’m not confused. I’m upset.” Katie Ann’s voice rose. Her breath scorched a hole in her chest, and she tasted rancid jealousy. “You came here to spend time with me, not talk to mei bruder.”
“I just have to tell him something. It will only take a few minutes.”
“But you’re here to see me.” Katie Ann jammed her finger in her chest. “Today is supposed to be my day. You can talk to him later when we’re on our way to Emma’s.”
Mandy blinked a
s she studied Katie Ann. “Why are you acting this way?”
“Because I’m tired of being the third wheel.” Katie Ann could hear the tremor in her voice as her body vibrated with a mixture of heartache and fury. “You’ve ignored me for months now, and I’ve had it. I’m done trying to gain your attention.”
“Ignored you?” Mandy shook her head. “When have I ever ignored you?”
Katie Ann gave a sarcastic laugh. “Are you kidding me?”
“No.” Mandy shook her head. “Tell me when I ignored you.”
“Too many times to list.” Katie Ann gestured widely as anger swirled in her chest like wasps. “Countless times during the past couple of months I’ve tried to talk to you, and you’ve either ignored me or walked away because Ephraim called you or interrupted us. Ever since you started dating mei bruder, you’ve completely forgotten about me.”
“I’d never forget you, Katie Ann. You’re my best freind.” Mandy’s cornflower-blue eyes sparkled with tears. “We’ve been freinden since we were kinner. Just because I’ve fallen in love with your bruder doesn’t mean you don’t matter to me.”
“That’s not how it feels.” Katie Ann pointed at her, her hands trembling. “I’ve been trying to talk to you about Chris for more than a month. I wanted to tell you about how he and I were getting to know each other, and about how he asked me to be his girlfriend. But every time I tried to tell you, you walked away. I’ve worked so hard to try to save our relationship, and you haven’t tried at all. You act like I’m not worth the effort.”
“What are you talking about?” Mandy’s eyes narrowed to slits. “That’s not true.”
“Ya, it is. I tried to tell you one day while I was weeding the garden about a month ago. As soon as I started talking, Ephraim called you and you left. You promised we’d talk later, and we never did.”
Mandy shook her head. “I don’t remember that.”
“Really?” Katie Ann jammed her hands on her hips as a violent volcano erupted inside her, unpredictable and severe as her fury boiled over. “I tried a few other times, and each time you had to go talk to Ephraim. We used to talk about everything, Mandy. Do you remember that? Before you started dating Ephraim, we’d tell each other our secrets, but that changed when you started dating him. It’s like you can’t be his girlfriend and my best freind at the same time. You have to do one or the other.”