Dragging his fingers through his thinning gray hair, Andy nodded. “I appreciate the fact that there is a greenhouse in the area that can provide me with flowers pretty much all year. I also like that it’s Amish-owned, because they are easy to work with. I’ve never been dissatisfied with the quality of their flowers and plants.” He motioned to the back of the store. “Welp, I’d better get busy and help my wife with making the arrangements. Karen wouldn’t appreciate it if she got stuck with all the work while I stayed out here yakking all day. Let me know if you need anything,” Andy called as he ambled toward the back room.
Sara looked around the shop again. Since she had been so busy, she hadn’t noticed how few poinsettias were actually left in the store until Mr. Roberts mentioned it. She was glad she bought the beautiful one yesterday, because right now only a couple of small ones remained.
A few minutes later, a tall Amish man entered the store. He was slender and had a full beard that was gray, which was in sharp contrast to his mostly light blond hair. With only a few wrinkles on his face, Sara figured he might be in his late forties, but the beard made him appear older.
“May I help you?” she asked when he stepped up to the counter.
He nodded. “Came in to buy a bouquet of flowers for my wife’s birthday.” His blue eyes twinkled under the lights in the store. “I’ve been doin’ that on her birthday every year since we got married, and sometimes I get Mattie flowers for no occasion at all.”
“I’m sure she appreciates your thoughtfulness.” Sara opened the cooler to show him what was available. “These are the bouquets that have already been made up. Do you see anything your wife might like?”
His forehead wrinkled as he rubbed one hand down the side of his black trousers. “Don’t think so. What else have you got?”
Sara glanced toward the back room. “I’ll go get one of the owners and see if they can make something up that would be more to your wife’s liking.”
“Okay.” The man reached under his straw hat and scratched the side of his head. “Are you new here? Don’t recall seeing you before.”
“Today’s my first day on the job,” Sara explained. “And I am new to the area. Now, if you don’t mind waiting, I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t mind a bit.”
Sara hurried to the back room, and was pleased when Karen said she would be right out.
Sara returned to her place behind the counter in time to see Ezekiel King enter the store.
“Sure didn’t expect to see you here.” Ezekiel gave Sara a wide smile. “I’m guessin’ because you’re behind the counter that you’re not one of the customers.”
“You’re right. I started working here this morning,” she responded. “What brings you into the flower shop, Ezekiel?”
“Came to deliver some poinsettias.”
“Oh, so you’re the delivery they’ve been waiting for.”
“Yep. This florist and a couple others in Lancaster County buy their Christmas flowers from our greenhouse.” Ezekiel glanced at the Amish man who stood waiting in front of the counter. “Hey, Mr. Fisher. How are you?”
The other man shuffled his feet. “Do I know you?”
“Not personally, but I met you once when I stopped by your bulk-food store in Gordonville. My folks have a greenhouse here in Strasburg.”
“I see.” Mr. Fisher’s attention turned to Karen Roberts when she came out of the back room. As he explained to her what he wanted for his wife’s bouquet, Ezekiel continued his conversation with Sara.
“I’m glad you were able to find a job so quickly. Michelle’s been lookin’ for a month now and hasn’t found a single waitressing position.”
Hearing Michelle’s name caused Sara to think about how Michelle responded last evening when they’d both given Sara’s grandparents a poinsettia. After seeing the look of disappointment on Michelle’s face, and then watching her run out of the room, Sara realized the reason for the young woman’s disappointment. I probably would have felt the same way if I’d given Grandpa and Grandma the smaller plant. But she should have gotten past it, instead of staying in her room all evening and ignoring Grandma when she knocked on her bedroom door, wanting to talk. It just showed Michelle’s immaturity.
“Did you hear what I said?”
Sara jerked her head. “What was that, Ezekiel?”
“I asked if you would hold the door while I bring in the poinsettias.”
“Oh yes. Certainly.”
Before they reached the door, a thunderous crash sounded outside on the street. Watching through the glass doors, Sara saw that a car had been rear-ended. Both drivers appeared to be okay, as they got out of their vehicles. But soon, a shouting match ensued.
Sara looked at Ezekiel with raised eyebrows and motioned to the angry man. “I wonder why he’s so mad. Look at all the dents already on the side of his car. That’s worse than the new one he’s pointing to on the front fender of the other’s man vehicle.”
The taller man, dressed in a gray business suit, stood shaking his head as he pointed to the spot on his car that had suffered the damage. It was easy to put two and two together on what had happened. Apparently, the well-tailored man had made a quick stop and the other guy couldn’t brake quickly enough.
“I wonder how long this will take.” Sara continued to watch.
Ezekiel shrugged his shoulders and pointed to the police car pulling up. Quickly, the officer directed both guys to move their vehicles off the road.
“Guess it’s safe to go out now,” Ezekiel commented. “A little excitement—the kind we don’t need. But at least no horse and buggy was involved. That happens all too often.”
As Sara held the door, she watched while Ezekiel unloaded a box full of poinsettias from his driver’s van. Most of them were the traditional red, but a few were an off-white, while a couple of others had a pinkish hue. It would be fun to place them around the store among the other displays. Meanwhile, she heard Mr. Fisher say he had some errands to run and would be back later to pick up his wife’s bouquet.
Sara didn’t know Mattie Fisher, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit envious of the woman. Being married to a man who brought flowers on her birthday every year must make Mrs. Fisher feel very special. It wasn’t only the idea of getting a pretty bouquet Sara envied; it was the thought of having a man care about her so much that he’d go to extra lengths to make her birthday special.
Not like Dean, who was so into his work and recreational sports that he sometimes forgot Mama’s birthday and even their wedding anniversary. Sara bit her bottom lip until she tasted blood. I wish I knew what my real father was like. Of course, if he didn’t care enough to marry Mama when she was pregnant, then he probably wouldn’t have been a good husband either.
Chapter 10
Clarks Summit
Brad headed down the hall toward the cafeteria. All was quiet except for the rhythmic sound of his footsteps on the polished floor. It was hard to believe today was the last day of November, and also the last day of classes for this week. In just a few short weeks, he would be leaving the seminary for a much-needed Christmas break. It would be good to take some time away from his studies and all the pressures he faced in order to finish his masters of divinity degree. There was so much to learn before he could apply for a church. Sometimes, his head felt like it was spinning. Expository preaching, Christian leadership, and biblical counseling were all classes he was expected to take. Although Brad was eager to shepherd a flock of his own, the idea frightened him a bit. What if he wasn’t up to the task? Would the congregation relate to him, and he to them? If it was a small church, how much responsibility would be placed upon him?
Brad remembered one church he and his parents had attended when he was boy. It had been small and without enough willing people to do all the jobs. That meant poor overworked Pastor Jenkins was responsible not only for preaching and shepherding the flock but also directing the music, hauling neighborhood children to Sunday school in his van,
and taking care of a good deal of the janitorial duties.
As Brad sat at one of the lunch tables inside the cafeteria and took out the sandwich he’d packed this morning, his thoughts drifted toward home. Except for a lingering cough, Mom’s bout with the flu was behind her. Fortunately, Brad’s father didn’t get sick and was able to take time off work to care for Mom during the worst of her illness. Apparently Dad’s immune system was stronger than hers.
Brad looked forward to being with his parents for Christmas, but he was also eager to spend part of his holiday break in Lancaster County. It would be good to see everyone he knew there again. Many of the folks he’d worked for, like Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, were almost like family and made him feel as if he had a second home.
“Mind if I sit here?” Holding a tray full of food in one hand, Elliot Whittier looked down at Brad.
“Be my guest.” Brad motioned to the empty chair across from him.
“I see you brought your own lunch,” his friend commented as he took a seat.
“Yeah. It’s cheaper than buying a hot meal every day.” Brad unwrapped his tuna fish sandwich, then thumped his stomach. “It’ll fill the empty hole, I guess.”
“Today it looks as if the kitchen staff is working in slow motion.” Elliot chuckled. “Guess they’re in need of some time off too.” He shook some ketchup on his hamburger. “So how are you liking it here?”
“It’s okay. Just a lot harder than I thought it would be.”
Elliot nodded and licked a blob of ketchup off his finger. “I know what you mean. There’s a lot more to becoming a minister than meets the eye.”
“That’s for sure.”
“With all the studying I have to do, it’s putting a crimp on my social life.” Elliot’s brows furrowed as he took a bite of his burger. “I’m worried my girlfriend, Mindy, might break up with me if I don’t find the time to take her out pretty soon. At the rate things are going, we may never get married.”
Brad reached for his bottle of water. “Didn’t realize you were engaged.”
“We’re not officially. I’m waiting until I complete seminary to propose to her.” Elliot tipped his head, looking curiously at Brad. “Think you’ll ever get married? I mean, having a wife is not criteria for pastoring a church, but it would sure make it easier to share the burden with a good helpmate at your side.”
Brad shrugged his shoulders. “If I found the right woman, I would consider marriage. But that’s not a concern for me at this point, since I currently have no girlfriend. And to be honest, I don’t know where I’d find the time to date anyone right now.” He smiled. “So for now, it’s best that I concentrate on my studies and keep my nose in the books.”
Strasburg
Despite the chill seeping into the buggy, Michelle’s face felt like she’d been in the sun too long. She was heading down the road toward the Kings’ place, ready to give Ezekiel her answer. After praying about it these last few days, Michelle had made her decision about whether to join the Amish church or not. She hoped it was the right one, because many doubts still swam around her head about the future.
From past experience, it seemed that so far, every decision she’d made in her life turned out to be wrong. Yet through it all, she’d persevered. Giving up was not in her nature. When Michelle left Lancaster County after leaving a note for the Lapps admitting she had pretended to be Sara, she’d been tempted to give up. But after reading some scripture, she had fallen under conviction and felt as if God had given her a sense of purpose. She certainly hadn’t expected that part of the purpose would be returning to Strasburg with Ezekiel to face Willis and Mary Ruth. And the last thing Michelle ever expected was to be living in their home again by invitation.
“Your owners are such good people.” Michelle spoke out loud as she shook the reins a bit to get Peanuts to go faster. The mare whinnied as though in agreement.
One thing about taking a ride in the buggy, it gave her mind something else to focus on while moving along at a slower pace. Michelle kept rehearsing what she wanted to say to Ezekiel about her decision.
She rolled her shoulders to release some tension. Michelle hoped Ezekiel was at home or in the greenhouse, for if she didn’t speak to him today, she might lose her nerve.
Ezekiel was heading to the house to get the ham sandwich Mom had put in the refrigerator for him, when a nickering horse pulling a buggy trotted into the yard. He recognized Mary Ruth’s mare, and was pleased when he saw Michelle in the driver’s seat of the buggy.
Ezekiel’s gaze rested on her, picturing his girl being Amish. Michelle adjusted so naturally to driving a horse and buggy. He felt sure she could become Amish if she chose to. But I shouldn’t get my hopes up, Ezekiel chided himself. He wondered if she’d come here to give him her answer about taking classes to join the church.
Ezekiel turned away from the house and hurried over to the hitching rail near their barn. After Michelle got the horse stopped, he secured Peanuts to the rail. Then he went around to the driver’s side to help Michelle out, but by the time he got there, she’d already stepped down.
“I’m glad to see you.” Ezekiel resisted the urge to pull her into his arms. With customers coming and going from the greenhouse and family members taking turns up at the house to eat their lunch, hugging Michelle in broad daylight wouldn’t be appropriate.
“I’m glad to see you too.” She looked up at him, then glanced off to the left when two fluffy cats darted out of the barn.
“Would you like to come inside and have lunch with me? We can share my ham sandwich.”
Michelle shook her head. “I ate at the Lapps’ before Willis and Mary Ruth took off with his horse and buggy for town. They had several errands to run.”
“Okay, well, at least come inside out of the cold. We can talk while I eat my lunch.”
With only a slight hesitation, Michelle began walking toward the house. Once inside, she took off her jacket and hung it over the back of a chair at the kitchen table. “Is anyone else here right now?” she questioned.
“You mean, any of my family?”
“Yeah.”
Ezekiel shook his head. “It’s my turn for lunch, while everyone else works in the greenhouse. When I get back to work, Mom and Amy will come up and eat.”
“Something smells really good in here.” Tipping her head back, she sniffed. “There’s a hint of cinnamon in the air.”
“Mom baked homemade sticky buns this morning. Would you like one with something hot to drink?”
“No thanks. Since you’re busy today, I won’t take up much of your time.” Michelle took a seat at the table. “I’m here to give you my answer about joining the Amish church.”
Ezekiel’s hands felt clammy, and he resisted the urge to pace. “I’m glad you’ve reached a decision.” He sat down in the chair beside her, rubbing both palms against his pants legs. “Can I just say something before you give me your answer?”
“Of course.”
“No matter what you have decided, it won’t make any difference in the way I feel about you.” Ezekiel swiped his tongue across his parched lips. “Even if we can’t be together as boyfriend and girlfriend, I’d like to still be your friend.” He leaned back in his chair.
She gave him a dimpled smile. “Is that all you wanted to say?”
“Jah.”
“Okay, now it’s my turn.” Michelle touched her pink cheeks and exhaled. “After much thought and prayer, I’ve come to the conclusion that I do want to join the Amish church. So if you’ll promise to help me through the transition, I’ll take the necessary classes with you.”
“I’m so glad.” Ezekiel glanced around to be sure none of his family had come into the house. Then he leaned closer to Michelle and gave her a quick, but meaningful kiss. “You won’t regret it, I promise. We will do this together, and I’ll support you in every way.”
Michelle gave the side of his face a gentle stroke with her thumb. “Danki.”
He felt an unexpect
ed release of tension throughout his body. “You’re welcome.”
They sat smiling at each other, until Michelle pushed back her chair and stood. “I need to let you eat so you can get back to work. Besides, I promised to do a few chores for Willis and Mary Ruth while they’re shopping in town. So I’d better be on my way.”
“Okay. I’ll see you on Sunday. Oh, and don’t forget to get there early. Our first class will begin thirty minutes before the church service starts.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be there in plenty of time.”
After Michelle headed out the door, Ezekiel got up and watched out the window until her horse and buggy were out of sight. Then he closed his eyes and sent up a heartfelt prayer. Thank You, Lord, for giving Michelle the desire and courage to pursue an Amish way of life. I also want to thank You for giving me hope that I might have a lifelong future with her.
Ezekiel turned from the window and went to the refrigerator. He felt ever so thankful she had agreed to take classes in readiness for church membership. Once they’d both gotten baptized and became members, Ezekiel would be free to ask Michelle to marry him.
Since no one else was home and Sara didn’t have to go to work until the afternoon, she decided to go back to the basement and look at the old jar filled with paper notes again. She was eager to find out what some of the others might say. Maybe something in one of them would give her a clue as to who the author of those notes might be.
Slipping on a sweater and holding the battery-operated lantern, Sara made her way down the creaky wooden steps, holding tightly with the other hand to the shaky handrail. As her feet touched the cement floor, the shelf where the laundry soap, bleach, and stain removers were kept came into view. A pile of old rags lay on another shelf, along with a box of matches and several rolls of paper towels.
The groan of a shifting wooden beam, and an unidentifiable scratching noise, set shivers up her spine. Sure hope I don’t encounter any mice down here.
Sara held the light in front of her, shining it to the right, to the left, down on the floor, and up toward the ceiling. She didn’t like dark, damp places, but her desire to find what other messages were in that old jar took precedence over her fears.
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