“I see.” The word courting seemed a bit old-fashioned to Brad, and he was on the verge of posing another question, when the Lapps’ son, Ivan, entered the barn with his sons, Benjamin and Peter. Well, at least I found out the reason Michelle did what she did, even though it wasn’t right. Because of her deceit, the Lapps were hurt, and most of all, Sara. Brad looked out the barn doors toward the house. I need to reach out to her in support.
With the exception of Michelle’s presence, Sara couldn’t recall a better Christmas. Even though there was no tree, adorning ornaments, twinkling lights, or other decorations in her grandparents’ cozy home, it didn’t deter the spirit and festivity of the day. Except for Brad’s Christmas cactus and the two poinsettias she and Michelle had given to her grandparents, one would think it was a normal family gathering. Nonetheless, Sara felt the overwhelming joy of this holiday celebration. Last week, when she’d brought the chicken potpie home for supper, she’d felt the same joy, seeing the twinkle in Grandma’s eyes as she thanked Sara for her thoughtfulness.
This morning had started with a hearty breakfast. Afterward, preparation for the family meal began. Even before that, Grandma had put the ham in the oven for a slow bake. The aroma of the meat as it slowly warmed up made Sara’s mouth water in anticipation.
Grandpa and Grandma had insisted Sara and Michelle should not give them any Christmas presents. Grandma said just having them both here was gift enough, and Grandpa agreed. So Sara and Michelle said they didn’t want any gifts either.
Michelle wore another new outfit—a teal green dress with a black apron she had made, while Sara donned a pretty satin red blouse and black skirt. She wore a simple heart-shaped necklace, but decided to leave her earrings out for today.
Now as Sara sat at her grandparents’ extended dining-room table, she tried to keep her focus on the playful banter going on between Grandpa and Uncle Ivan. The love and respect they felt for one another was obvious, even with their kidding and poking fun at each other’s corny jokes. Every now and then Sara glanced at Brad, and each time she did, she noticed him staring at her. Sara wished she could get in his head and know what he was thinking. Did he find out something more about Michelle? If so, would he share it with her?
Before they’d sat down to her grandmother’s delicious ham dinner, Brad had sought Sara out and asked if he could take her to lunch again—tomorrow if she was free. She’d agreed to go—partly because he was good looking and charming, but mostly because she wanted to talk more about Michelle. Sara hadn’t mentioned it when she and Brad ate lunch at Isaac’s restaurant the other day, but she hoped that Brad might persuade Michelle to move out of their house. Giving the pretender the cold shoulder sure hadn’t worked.
Sara looked to her left, where Michelle sat, giving Ezekiel a dose of her cow eyes. Throughout most of the meal, their conversation had been to each other. Michelle was obviously smitten with him. A person would have to be blind not to notice her love-sick actions. Could she be using her relationship with Ezekiel to find favor with Grandma and Grandpa?
I wouldn’t put anything past her, Sara thought. Everything about today would be perfect if Michelle weren’t here. Sara forked a piece of succulent ham into her mouth. She’s not even part of the family, and yet here she sits at our table, sharing Christmas dinner as though she too is Grandma and Grandpa’s granddaughter.
Sara wondered how long she would have to endure this ongoing trial with Michelle. And how did this current test benefit her anyway? Sara felt sure she was in the right and Michelle was in the wrong. Sara thought she’d forgiven the imposter, but deep down, she hadn’t.
Sara’s only hope was for Michelle to either find a job and move out on her own or marry Ezekiel and settle into a home with him. Sara needed a chance to be with her grandparents without Michelle always around. Michelle needed to make a life of her own. The whole idea that the pretender was even living here was ridiculous. As far as Sara was concerned, Grandma and Grandpa’s generosity went too far. She didn’t want to see them get hurt again. But if Michelle was up to no good, there might not be anything she could do to stop it.
Chapter 17
Thanks for agreeing to meet me for lunch today, even though we just saw each other yesterday,” Brad said when he and Sara took seats at Strasburg Pizza the day after Christmas.
She nodded. “I’m glad I could. Things are slow at the flower shop today, so there was no problem with me going out for lunch.”
“What kind of pizza do you like? Or would you rather have a cold or hot sub sandwich?”
“I only have an hour lunch, so I’d better choose something that can be made up quickly.” Sara perused the menu. “Maybe I’ll go with a readymade pizza slice topped with veggies.”
Looking down at his menu and back at her, he asked, “Is that all you want to eat?”
“Yes.” Placing both hands against her stomach, she laughed. “Think I ate enough yesterday to fill me for a week.”
He grinned. “Same here. That grandma of yours is some cook. The ham was sure delicious. I can still remember the juiciness of it.”
A muscle jumped in Sara’s cheek as she flicked her gaze upward. “For your information, Mr. Fuller, Michelle and I helped with the meal.”
“I kinda figured you did.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Sorry about that. It was all great.”
“Never mind, it’s okay.” Sara changed the subject. “It feels sort of funny working the day after Christmas. I used to work at a dentist’s office in New Jersey, and my boss always closed the day after Christmas, to give everyone two days off.”
“Did you mind going to work today?” Brad asked.
“No, not really. I am a little tired, but I like working here, so it wasn’t too hard to come in.”
“I understand.” He heaved a sigh. “It will be hard for me to get back into the swing of things once I head back to school. I’ll have to get my brain into study mode again.”
“Do you really plan to become a minister?”
Brad nodded. “It’s been a dream of mine for a long time. I’m looking forward to the day I get to pastor a church full-time.”
“I see.” Sara looked around the pizza shop. “Sure is busy in here for the day after Christmas.”
“Yeah. I suspect a lot of the restaurants have plenty of customers today. This is a hectic day for the stores, with customers returning gifts and hitting all the after-holiday bargains.”
“I never got into doing that.” Sara shook her head. “I don’t mind a good sale, but it’s the crowds I can’t deal with.”
“I’m with you on that.”
A commotion at a nearby table caused Sara and Brad to look in that direction.
“I didn’t order a pizza!” The man yelled when the waitress brought his order. “You were supposed to bring me a steak sub and fries. I have to be back at work in twenty minutes, so now I’ll have to take my lunch to go. That is, if you can get it to me in time.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” the young waitress apologized. The poor thing looked as if she was on the verge of tears. “It’s my first day on the job. I’ll get the right order for you, and it will be on the house.”
“Well, that’s more like it.” The guy leaned back in his chair.
Sara looked back at Brad and whispered, “That man seems a bit frazzled.”
“Bet he works in a store”—Brad winked—“and is dealing with Christmas returns.”
Sara giggled. “He must be having a bad day.”
A waiter came, interrupting their conversation. Sara ordered a slice of vegetarian pizza, along with a small tossed green salad, and a glass of water.
“I’ll have the same as her.” Brad smiled up at the waiter. “Only, make that two slices of pizza instead of one.”
The young man nodded. “Do you want water too?”
“Nope. Think I’ll go with an orange soda.”
“Okay. I’ll return with your drinks shortly.”
When their waiter moved away from the table, Brad l
eaned closer to Sara and said, “When Ezekiel arrived at your grandparents’ yesterday, I went to the barn with him while he put his horse away.”
Sara tipped her head with a quizzical expression.
“I asked Ezekiel some questions about Michelle.” Brad paused to collect his thoughts. “He explained Michelle’s reasons for pretending she was you.”
“Oh? And what would those be?”
Brad repeated everything Ezekiel had told him.
Sara’s forehead wrinkled. “She’s not the only person with problems from the past. And certainly, not everyone goes around lying to get what they want or uses their own misfortune to gain something from someone. At least, I never would. I believe Michelle’s reason for impersonating me goes deeper than having an unhappy childhood and needing a place to live.” She blew out a quick breath. “I truly believe Michelle is after something.”
“What do you think she wants?”
Before Sara could respond, their waiter was back with the water and soda. “Your pizza should be out shortly.” He looked at Sara. “Would you like your salad before the pizza comes out?”
She shook her head. “It’s fine if you bring them at the same time.”
“Okay.” He hurried from the table.
“Now, back to my question … What do you think Michelle wants?” Brad asked.
“For one thing, she’s vying for my grandparents’ love and attention. I think she would like them to care more about her than they do me.”
Brad was about to refute that statement, when Sara spoke again. “I also think Michelle may be hoping for something—like an inheritance when they die someday. She probably wants to join the Amish faith to get in their good graces.”
With elbows on the table, Brad clasped his fingers together. “For their sake, as well as yours and Ezekiel’s, I hope that’s not true. Ezekiel is obviously in love with Michelle, and he believes her intentions are good.”
“I’d like to think so, but I have a knack for reading people.” Sara lifted her chin. “In my opinion, Michelle is not to be trusted, so I’m keeping an eye on her.”
Their meal came then, so Brad decided to drop the subject and talk about something else. His intuition told him that Sara had some deep issues of her own to resolve, but he wouldn’t bring that up now. Maybe some other time, if he gained her confidence, he could delve into Sara’s personal life. One thing was for sure: he’d like to know where she stood spiritually.
“I have a favor to ask,” Sara said when she and Brad finished their lunch.
He looked at her intently. “What is it?”
She wiped some crumbs off her slacks and set her napkin aside. “Since you knew Michelle from the time you worked for my grandparents, I was wondering if you could persuade her to move out of their house.”
His brows furrowed. “Why would I do that?”
“Because she has no right to be there.”
“She might not have the right, but Willis and Mary Ruth must want Michelle there, or they wouldn’t have invited her to stay in their home.”
Sara poked her tongue along the inside of her cheek. “You’re on her side, aren’t you?”
He shook his head. “I’m not taking anyone’s side. I just think this is something you should discuss with your grandparents, not me, an outsider.”
“You’re not really an outsider. You’re Michelle’s friend, and Grandma and Grandpa’s too.”
“True, but unless they ask for my opinion, I won’t voice my thoughts, let alone tell them what to do.”
“Okay, no problem. I’ll take it up with Michelle myself.” With a huff, Sara pushed her chair aside and stood. “I need to get back to the flower shop so Mr. and Mrs. Roberts can take their lunch break.”
Brad jumped up. “As soon as I pay the bill I’ll give you a lift.”
“Don’t bother. The shop’s not that far. I’ll walk.” Without giving him a chance to respond, Sara rushed to the front of the restaurant and slipped out the door.
“Christmas went well, don’t you think?” Willis asked when he came into the kitchen for lunch.
Mary Ruth nodded and placed a loaf of bread on the table. “It’s sure quiet around here today, with Sara working at the flower shop and Michelle out looking for a job.”
Willis chuckled as he took a seat at the table. “You like lots of action around you, jah?”
“Not necessarily action, but it is nice to have someone to talk to.”
He pointed to himself. “Don’t you enjoy talking to me?”
“Course I do, but you spend a good deal of the day doing chores and taking care of the hogs. And when you’re here in the house, you find a newspaper or magazine to read. I feel kind of left out at times.”
Willis got up and came around to the side of the table where Mary Ruth stood. “I’ll try to do better in that regard.” He gave her a hug. “After all, neither of the girls will be livin’ here forever, so I may as well start spending more time with you now.”
She smiled up at him. “You’re such a good husband. What would I ever do without you?”
He tweaked the end of her nose playfully. “I hope when the good Lord decides to take us, we both leave this earth together.”
She flapped her hand. “Go on now, and sit yourself back down. Let’s have no talk of death or dying. I’m sure you’re hungerich, and so am I, so let’s eat ourselves full.”
When Michelle arrived back at the Lapps’, her spirits soared. She’d been hired as a waitress at one of the busiest restaurants in Ronks. Amish and English folks both liked to eat there, and while she was waiting to be interviewed at one of the back tables, she’d noticed how a constant flow of customers kept the other waitresses on their toes. Michelle would be working five days a week, with Mondays and some Saturdays off. It was a good thing she’d kept the comfortable shoes she’d worn while working at the restaurant in Harrisburg.
I’m not sure Sara will like it with me having Mondays off too, but, oh well … She’ll just have to get used to it. Michelle would miss spending her days with Mary Ruth and Willis, but it would be nice to have money she could contribute to their expenses. With a steady paycheck and tip money, she also hoped to open a savings account at the local bank. Of course, her first paycheck would be used to pay back the money she’d taken from their coffee can of emergency cash when she’d run off to Harrisburg in October.
“Sure wish I could undo the past,” she murmured as she unhitched Peanuts and led her into the barn.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Michelle looked down at Rascal, pawing at her leg, and shook her finger. “Not now, pup. I need to put Mary Ruth’s horse in her stall.”
Woof! The dog’s tail wagged so fast it looked like a blur.
“Go in the yard. I’ll play fetch-the-ball when I’m done here.”
Rascal let out a pathetic whine, then slunk out of the barn.
Michelle shook her head. That mutt always wants my attention. Poor thing. I haven’t spent much time with Rascal lately. I’ll have to pay him more attention on my days off, and Sunday afternoons too.
Peanuts nickered softly as she led the mare into her stall for a thorough rubdown. When Michelle was done, she left the stall and started for the barn doors. “Okay, now it’s Rascal’s turn. I’m sure he’s ready to play.”
Michelle had no more than stepped outside, when Sara’s car came up the driveway. The next thing she knew, Rascal, barking wildly, raced toward the vehicle. Normally, he wasn’t prone to car chasing, but for some reason, he was today.
“Sara, stop!” Michelle clapped her hands and hollered, “Come here, Rascal. Get away from that car!”
As though seeing it in slow motion, Michelle watched in horror as Sara’s car hit Rascal, knocking the poor pooch to the cold, snow-covered ground.
Chapter 18
Sara’s hands shook so badly, she could hardly open her car door. In the six years she’d been driving, she had never been involved in an accident or hit an animal. Sara had seen Rasc
al running toward her car, but the driveway was slippery, and when she turned the wheel to avoid hitting the dog, he’d gotten in the way.
Her heart pounded, and her legs felt like two sticks of rubber as she made her way to Rascal’s lifeless form. She knelt on the snow-packed ground beside him, hoping to see the extent of his injuries.
“You hit my dog! Oh no … Oh no … Rascal!” A shrill voice seemed to come out of nowhere.
Sara looked up through a film of tears and saw Michelle running toward her. “I—I didn’t do it on purpose. The ice … The snow … The dog …”
Michelle dropped down beside Rascal, calling his name over and over while stroking his head. The poor dog did not respond. “No, no. He can’t be dead,” she wailed. “He’s the only dog I’ve ever owned.” Her voice shook with raw emotion. “He’s not even a year old yet.”
“M–maybe he’s not dead. He could just be unconscious.” Even as the words came out of her mouth, Sara feared they weren’t true. So far, Rascal had not made a sound—not even a whimper—or so much as moved a muscle. Even if the dog was still alive, he’d most likely been seriously injured.
While Michelle remained in the snow, stroking her dog’s head, Sara clambered to her feet. “I’ll go get Grandpa. He will know what to do.”
Michelle didn’t even look up.
As she started for the house, Sara glanced back. She almost wished she hadn’t. It was a pitiful, heart-wrenching sight to see Michelle bent over her beloved pet. Even worse was when she put her ear to the dog’s body to see if there was a heartbeat. “Oh please, God,” Sara murmured, looking up toward the sky. “Don’t let her dog be dead.”
Being in shock herself, and moving on a slippery surface, Sara hurried on. She found her grandmother in the kitchen, putting a meatloaf in the oven.
“Oh Sara, I didn’t realize you were home.” Grandma closed the oven door and turned from the stove. “How was your day at the flower shop? Was business slower than usual now that Christmas is over?”
With so many questions being thrown at her at once, Sara could hardly speak. Her day at work and how many customers came in didn’t matter at all. Sara’s only concern was the poor dog lying on the cold ground next to her front tire—not to mention Michelle’s reaction to what had happened to her dog.
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