When his cell phone rang, Liam pulled it from his back pocket and held it to his ear.
“Hey boss,” Steve said. “You on your way in? We got a call for a new job this morning. We’re expected on the site in two hours to give an estimate. Sounds like a big one.”
The news of a job lifted Liam’s spirits. “I’m on my way.”
He hung up the phone and looked back toward the quilting shop one last time before hopping into his truck and driving away.
Chapter 5
Liam’s heart did a flip-flop against his chest wall when Steve showed him the name of the shop owner that was requesting an estimate. How could he go to his mother’s shop and mingle with his family when they probably didn’t have any desire to talk to him since he’d forsaken them? There were two Yoder’s Construction companies in the area; why had his mother chosen his? Was it the name she trusted, or had she known it was his company when she’d made the call? The other Yoder Construction was closer to them as it was in Goshen, but the majority of their work was building houses from start to finish, while Liam and his crew did mostly repair and reconstructive work out of South Bend. He’d always hoped he could build houses, but things just hadn’t turned out that way.
“Why don’t you take this one, Steve? I have a possible job on the other side of town to check on. It’s another small one, but at least it’s honest work.”
Liam was suddenly grateful that he’d taken the call about the other job on the way back to his office. Though he had first intended on sending Steve to get the estimate for the smaller job across town, his only focus now was delaying an awkward reunion with his family. Getting the estimate for his mother had changed everything.
“Are you sure, Boss? This is a pretty big job and I don’t want to give the wrong figures.”
Liam patted his friend on the back. “You have to learn sometime, Steve. Besides, I trust you to bring all the particulars back to the office so we can go over it before giving the shop owner a final estimate.”
Liam wasn’t sure how he would handle the job if they took it, but he also couldn’t leave his family to work with another contractor that might not do the job as well as he would. He cringed at the thought of someone taking advantage of his mother and charging her too much for less than perfect work. His own skills were by no means perfected, but he knew his mother and what would make her happy—at least he used to.
****
Liam paced the length of his office until he heard Steve’s truck pull into the parking lot. What had taken the man so long to get the estimate from his mother? Had she told Steve she was his mamm? Steve had known he’d grown up Amish, but Liam had never told any of the guys he worked with about his past. It had never come up, and Liam never felt comfortable sharing anything so private with any of them. As far as they knew, he was their boss, and that was good enough for them. Aside from a few of the guys sharing that their wives nagged them to come home early all the time, none of them ever openly shared anything too personal about their lives, and that was how Liam preferred it.
Steve entered the office and put his clipboard down on Liam’s desk with a huff.
“Whoever sold that woman the property ought to be ashamed of himself. The plumbing and electrical all needs to be updated and up to code. The ceiling has holes and rotted tiles from a leak somewhere. And the walls are rotted and crumbling. The place looks like there was a fire.”
If memory served him, Liam recalled a fire that had consumed several of the shops in the downtown district a couple of years back, but nearly all of them had been renovated since then. The outside sign looked outdated—probably belonging to the previous owner. But if he knew his mamm as much he thought he did, she would have taken it literally as a sign she was meant to have the shop—no matter what condition it was in. Had she planned to hire him from the time she’d signed the papers of ownership on the place? His mother was too smart to be sold a dilapidated property—unless she had other plans for it. Plans that involved him.
****
Nellie was a little more than disappointed that her own son had sent one of his employees to take the assessment of her repairs. The mann had told her he would need to take them back to the office to consult with his boss before giving a full estimate. She’d hoped to finally see her son face-to-face, but it seemed Gott had other plans for her today.
After being pointed out all the faults the shop held, she was confident it would be enough to keep Liam and his crew around long enough for her to repair her relationship with him while he repaired her shop. She prayed he wasn’t avoiding her by not coming to give the estimate, but perhaps it was not something he did on a regular basis. After all, her son was the boss—of his own company. Nellie couldn’t be more proud, unless he chose to return to the Amish ways. But that was a prayer for another day.
****
Lydia watched her mamm’s face fall when the young mann walked into the shop wearing a blue shirt with the name Yoder Construction embroidered on the pocket. She wondered if her mamm knew it was Liam’s company, and she’d hoped he would show up. Unsure of her mamm’s source of disappointment, she didn’t dare bring up her bruder in case her mamm didn’t know about him just yet. She would soon enough, and they would deal with it then—together—as a familye.
****
Lucy balanced the plate of cookies in one hand and a pitcher of iced tea in the other, three paper cups tucked under her arm as she entered Nellie’s quilt shop.
Nellie looked up as the door squeaked open and her neighbor entered.
Lucy smiled. “I thought you might want some refreshment. It’s such a warm day today.”
Nellie approached the young girl and took the tea and cups from her, setting them down on a table she’d brought from the farm. “Danki. This place is going to need more work than I originally thought. It seems it needs more than just a thorough cleaning.”
Lucy looked around. “I was lucky mei daed had my shop cleaned and fixed before he gave it to me for my eighteenth birthday. I think he decided I might as well have something to fall back on since it wasn’t likely I’d be taking a husband. He was right because here I am seven years later, and still without a husband.”
Nellie felt sorry for Lucy. She knew that she was sweet on her only son, and it broke her heart that the two of them weren’t giving her any grandkinner.
“Don’t give up hope, dear Lucy. You never know what Gott has waiting for you just around the corner. You’re still young. You shouldn’t give up hope. He could bless you when least you expect it.”
Lucy hoped the woman was right. Was it too late to hope that Liam would come back to her?
Chapter 6
“But Boss,” Steve protested. “Don’t you think you should let Henry go do the smaller job so you can come with me and rest of the guys to the big job? I know you’re the boss, but this will be our biggest job this year.”
Liam shook his head. “I can finish painting the house in three days, tops. Those first few days at the quilt shop will be spent assessing, measuring, and making a list of all the supplies needed. By the time I finish at the other place, you’ll be ready to start this one. I have faith in you. Besides, Henry has more experience than I do with this stuff. But I’ll expect a full report at the end of each day.”
Steve tipped his cap toward Liam. “You’re the boss.”
Liam managed a half-smile. “That’s what they tell me.”
He knew he would eventually have to show up at his mother’s quilt shop to do the job she’d hired his company to do, but a few days would give him enough time to prepare for their first meeting after so many years apart. It wouldn’t be easy seeing her again, and Liam hoped she wouldn’t fire him and his men when she discovered who it was she’d actually hired.
Liam grabbed a cup of coffee for the road and headed toward the paint job, while his crew went the opposite direction to his mother’s quilt shop. His heart ached to see his family again, but he just wasn’t ready yet. He hadn’t realized
just how much he’d missed them until he’d seen them quite by accident that first day outside of the quilt shop.
Liam had actually been on his way into the bakery next door to the quilt shop that first morning when he’d happened upon his mother and sister. After hearing from Steve about a pastry he’d purchased at the bakery that tasted like Christmas, he knew he had to check it out. He’d only known of one person in his life that could make the sort of pastry his employee had described, and he’d had to see for himself if what he suspected was true. When he happened upon his mother and sister that morning instead, thoughts of Lucy Graber and her pastries had left his mind—until now.
Liam couldn’t be sure what it was that triggered the memory of Lucy, but perhaps it was the roses that bordered the porch of the house he was about to paint. He used to pick roses from his mother’s garden and bring them to Lucy when they would steal away late after dark to spend a few moments together when they were young. She’d always allowed the sweetest little giggle to escape her lips whenever he would bring her roses. Then her cheeks would flame from the embarrassment. Liam had thought she was the prettiest girl he’d ever seen. But Lucy was surely married by now with several kinner; he was certain of it. There was no sense in going to the bakery only to be disappointed when he wasn’t certain he would find her there. But if he’d known she was possibly working just a few miles from where he’d been living, he’d have gone to see her long before this.
Liam’s biggest problem now was how to handle the meeting with his mother and sister while his employees stood by and watched. He hadn’t told any of them of his past, with the exception of Steve, who’d gone to school with him. But the two of them had buried that secret a long time ago. He hoped his employees wouldn’t think any differently of him if they were to find out his secret. After all, everyone has a past. If any of them would be accepting, Henry would be the most understanding. After spending several years in jail for stealing building supplies from his former employer, he was grateful for Liam’s ability to overlook his past. Given the older man’s past history, he was lucky to have a job, and he was very much aware of that fact. Liam had been the only construction company to give the man a chance, and he was glad he had. Not only was Henry a hard worker, he taught Liam things that improved his skills as a contractor.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Liam considered holding a meeting with his staff as he prepped the house for painting. He’d spent the past hour scraping chips of old paint from the backside of the house, and now he was ready to begin painting. The wood siding was weather-worn, but luckily, the back was the only side that had begun to chip and peel.
If I held a meeting, what would I say to them? Maybe it would be better if I just wing it. If they’re caught off guard, they may let it go and not say anything in front of my familye. But there’s always the chance either my mamm or my schweschder will not even speak to me.
Chapter 7
Nellie continued to scrub the floors of her new quilt shop while the menner from her son’s company took measurements and wrote things on clipboards. So far her plan to spend time with Liam had backfired on her. She was more than disappointed when he didn’t show up with the others, but her ears perked up when she overheard one of the menner say that Liam was at another job for the next few days. By the end of the week, she would be reunited with her son.
In some ways, she was grateful for the extra time, hoping that when he did show up he wouldn’t take his menner and leave since they’d already begun the job for her. Nellie felt the timing was to her advantage, and so she determined to be patient for her long-awaited meeting with her only son. She wondered how her dochder would react when she finally came face-to-face with the twin bruder she felt had betrayed his familye. Nellie was ready to forgive him for acting like a foolish child and welcome him back into their lives. But would Lydia feel the same way?
“Lydia, would you mind helping me bring in the boxes from the buggy?”
Lydia was happy to get some fresh air. All the dust being stirred up from the workers was making her cough. With the exception of one of the menner called Steve, Lydia wasn’t interested in being around any of them. She’d caught Steve glancing in her direction more than once, and she hoped her mamm hadn’t noticed. Normally Lydia would never even consider flirting with an Englischer, but he had started it, and she wasn’t opposed to the idea. Her cousin, Miriam, had dated an Englischer, and it had worked out wonderfully for the two of them. Jonathon had taken the baptismal classes and received the baptism, and in the end, Miriam and Jonathon had been married by the Bishop, and are now expecting their first boppli.
Lydia shied away from Steve’s frequent glances, fearful that he would be able to pick up on her intimate thoughts. If her mamm knew she’d been thinking such things, she would be scolded for sure and for certain.
With her own bruder as an Englischer, Lydia wasn’t exactly sure where her thoughts stood on the matter. But the idea of dating an Englischer seemed a little more rebellious than she was willing to be for the time-being. Since she hadn’t taken the baptism, she wouldn’t be shunned for such an action. Lydia wasn’t altogether satisfied with her decision not to take the baptism, but it had made sense at the time her bruder had left. Truth be told, there were times when she’d second-guessed her lack of commitment to the community, but she wanted to keep her options open as long as was possible. Did her bruder know something she didn’t? Had being an Englischer made him happy? He seemed to be doing alright for himself, but there would be no real way of knowing the truth unless she spoke to him. But the first question that she would have for Liam would be to ask why he hadn’t looked back after he’d left.
Chapter 8
Lucy couldn’t help but stare out of the bakery window when several menner showed up at Nellie’s quilting shop next door. They all wore the same blue shirts with the same logo on the pocket that she’d seen the handsome blond stranger wearing. She hadn’t seen him loitering across the street yet this morning, and wondered if he would show up. She’d known Liam was interested in construction when he’d left the community, but was it really possible the handsome stranger was him? They’d had a heated discussion about his desire to have his own company just before he’d left. She’d begged him to stay, but he was determined to stand on his own—away from the community.
Lucy looked for the handsome mann she thought to be her Liam, but he was not with the others when they’d arrived. Part of her wished he would come around again so she could settle the dispute in her mind once and for all, but her heart dreaded the possibility of being broken all over again. Most days, she was able to keep thoughts of Liam out of her mind, but every so often, a memory of him would find its way into her thoughts. Since she’d seen the handsome stranger hanging out across the street from the bakery the past few days, her mind had become consumed with thoughts of Liam again.
A loud crash interrupted her thoughts. How long had she been standing at the window staring out at nothing? The noise had come from the quilt shop next door. With no customers in the bakery, Lucy decided to rush over there to see if everyone was alright.
****
Liam wiped the paint from his hands before answering his cell phone. It was the third time it had rung, and he knew that meant it was one of his men. He hadn’t wanted to answer it because he feared they would ask him to stop by the quilt shop, and he wasn’t ready for that just yet.
Holding the phone to his ear with two fingers, Liam anticipated the request from the other end.
“Boss, we need you over here right away. Part of the ceiling collapsed.”
Liam’s heart lurched forward against his ribcage. “Was anyone hurt?”
Steve coughed. “The owner and her daughter were outside when it happened. I was the only one inside, but I was in the back near the circuit breaker at the time. How soon can you be here?”
Liam looked at the half-painted home he’d been working on most of the day. “If no one was hurt, rope off the area and ask the own
er to stay clear until you can be sure there won’t be more damage. I’m in the middle of painting, and it would take me at least an hour of cleanup and travel to get there. You can handle this without me. Give my apologies to the owner and explain that I’m in the middle of a job I can’t leave right now. I’ll be sure to go over with you first thing tomorrow morning.”
Steve agreed, but Liam could tell he wasn’t buying the excuse he was trying to convince him of. Liam couldn’t prevent the ceiling from caving in any more than his employees could. But it was his responsibility to ensure the safety of this crew and his family. Guilt consumed him as he continued to paint the small house. He knew he would have to give the paint job to one of the other guys so he could see to the safety of his mother’s quilt shop.
****
Lucy overheard one of the workers calling his boss, which she assumed was Liam. From the worker’s end of the conversation, she concluded that the boss had no intention of seeing to the crisis that had unfolded at the quilt shop. Had Liam’s exposure to the outside world compromised his integrity? The Liam she had grown to love in her teen years would never have turned his back on his family. But he did, in fact, do that very thing when he became old enough to do so. Was he still so bitter even now that his familye still meant nothing to him?
Lucy comforted Nellie, who seemed distraught at the company owner’s refusal to see the importance of the immediate danger that the collapsed ceiling posed.
“He doesn’t seem like a respectable business owner,” Lucy offered.
The Quilter's Son: Book One: Liam's Choice Page 2