Sarasota Dreams

by Mayne, Debby

Mary glanced across the dining room and spotted Abe and Jeremiah sitting in her station. She felt as though her world was imploding. She wasn’t ready for these two very different pieces of her life to meet.

  Shelley gently touched Mary’s arm. “Is there anything I can do?”

  “I don’t know,” Mary admitted. “I never expected to see anyone from …” Her chin quivered, and she sniffled and glanced down.

  “You don’t have to say anything,” Shelley said. “I just want you to know I’m praying for you.”

  “Thank you,” Mary said. She forced a shaky smile. “Isn’t it amazing how we seem to be taking turns needing the other one to hold us up?”

  Shelley nodded. “That does seem to be the case. I’m glad we have each other.”

  Mary noticed Shelley’s eyes refocusing on something behind her, so she glanced over her shoulder and saw Grandpa approaching. “Did you call the police?”

  “Ya.” Grandpa looked frustrated. “They said unless there was a blatant threat, they can’t really do much. They’ll let the patrol officers know, and they’ll come out when they get a chance.” He cleared his throat. “Something about this not being a high priority.”

  With as much confidence as she could muster, Mary lifted her head. “I’m sure we’ll be just fine. I’m not going to let some mean man from my past make me afraid.”

  “Would you like to go on home?” Grandpa asked from behind her.

  “No, we’re too busy. I’ll work until the crowd settles.”

  “Let me know if I need to do anything, okay? I’ll keep a close eye on you.” Grandpa paused before he gestured toward the dining room. “Oh, one more thing you need to know. Abe’s here with Jeremiah.”

  “Yes, I know,” Mary said.

  “You okay with that?”

  She smiled to ease the angst she saw on Grandpa’s face. “Yes, I am just fine.”

  “You’re a strong woman, Mary,” Shelley said.

  An expression of pride replaced the one of worry on Grandpa. “That’s because she’s my granddaughter.”

  Mary and Shelley both laughed. “I don’t know about my personal strength, but I’m fortified with friends and knowing the Lord is with me, no matter what.”

  “Ya.” Grandpa patted her and Shelley on the shoulders. “Now I gotta go see how we’re doing on the breads.”

  Mary stared at the door to the dining room then took a deep breath. “Time to go face the lions.”

  “You go see what Abe and Jeremiah want. I’ll try to deal with that strange man,” Shelley said.

  After Shelley disappeared into the dining room, Mary went toward Abe and Jeremiah’s table. She lifted her order pad and pencil. “Have you decided what you want?”

  Abe glared at Jeremiah, who cleared his throat. “Um … Mary, I want to …” He tossed a helpless look in Abe’s direction, but Abe looked away. Mary couldn’t help but notice Jeremiah’s discomfort.

  “You want to what?” she asked.

  “Look, Mary, I’m really sorry about those things I said to you that weren’t respectful. I was just being … well, I was being a jerk.”

  Mary blinked then turned toward Abe, who nodded. “He means it,” Abe said softly.

  From the first time they’d met, Jeremiah had never been nice to her. When he’d shouted those comments from the car, Mary was shocked at how crude he could be.

  “Please, Mary. I want us to be friends,” Jeremiah continued. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to make it all up to you, but I’d at least like a fresh start.”

  The swirl of thoughts in Mary’s head nearly made her dizzy. Too much was happening too fast.

  Abe glanced up, and his eyes widened. He pointed to something behind Mary. She spun around and found herself face-to-face with Jimbo. Her mouth instantly went dry.

  “I told the old man I wanted to talk to you, and I’m not taking no for an answer,” Jimbo said as he placed his face inches from hers. “You have something of mine that I want.”

  Fear welled inside Mary’s chest. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Jimbo. I don’t have anything of yours.”

  His eyes narrowed, and a smirk covered his lips. “I was there. I saw my dad give you that box.”

  The box. Mary’s mind went back to that day when Big Jim had broken the news and given her the bus ticket and box. Jimbo had been with him.

  “What’s in that box is not yours,” Mary said.

  “Oh, but I believe it is. My father gave you something that’s rightfully mine. He’s gone now, and now I’ve come to claim it.”

  Mary was more surprised than frightened. “That box—”

  Jimbo didn’t give her a chance to finish her statement before grabbing her by the arm so tight she let out a yelp. “You’re giving me whatever was in that box my father gave you, and I’m not leaving until I have it.”

  Before Mary had a chance to react, both Abe and Jeremiah stood. One of the chairs crashed to the floor, sending a startling collective gasp over the guests in the restaurant.

  Next thing she knew, Abe was on one side of Jimbo, and Jeremiah was on the other. Abe’s large frame towered over Jimbo, and with stocky Jeremiah on the other side, he looked terrified. They each took one of his arms and lifted him off the floor. Mary stood with her mouth gaping open as they walked Jimbo to the door, where they nearly slammed into a pair of uniformed police officers.

  Chapter 12

  We got a call to stop by here,” one of the officers said. “We were a few streets over. Do you need some assistance?”

  Jeremiah looked at Abe and nodded. “Yes, sir, this man threatened one of the women who works here,” Abe said.

  The officers exchanged a glance before one of them spoke up. “We understood this wasn’t a physical threat.”

  “There wasn’t a physical threat when Mr. Penner called, but that has changed. This man grabbed Miss Penner right before you arrived.”

  The officers both nodded then stepped forward to take over with Jimbo. Abe’s muscles were still tight, but he let go. Jimbo kicked one of the officers and tried to flee, but Abe was quick. He caught Jimbo and returned him to the police officers within seconds.

  “Sir, you just made one big mistake.”

  Joseph had made his way over to them by now. “I didn’t think we’d see you any time soon,” he said to the officers. “Thanks for coming when you did.”

  One of the officers grinned. “You’ve been good to us, and we were in the neighborhood.”

  The men followed the officers outside where they handcuffed Jimbo, read him his rights, and put him in the back of the police cruiser. Joseph, Jeremiah, and Abe each told the officers what had happened. After the officers left, Abe patted Jeremiah on the back. “Thanks for helping out.”

  “Yes, I want to thank you, too.” Mary’s soft voice came from behind. Abe and Jeremiah turned to face her, and she looked directly at Jeremiah. “I want you to know that I accept your apology, and I want to apologize to you, too.”

  Jeremiah smiled and kicked at the ground with his toe. “Thank you, Mary, but you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who should do all the apologizing. If I hadn’t acted so selfish, we could have been friends.” He extracted his hand from his pocket and extended it.

  She smiled, took his hand, then turned and met Abe’s gaze as Jeremiah let go and stepped back. “Abe, I’m sorry I was so abrupt with you last night,” Mary said. “I’ve been … well, out of sorts lately. Can we be friends, too?”

  Abe hesitated but eventually nodded. “Ya. I think that’s a very good idea, Mary. We can be friends.” He felt as though a piece of his heart had been chipped away. He still wanted much more than friendship with Mary, but he’d settle for what she was willing to offer.

  “Well, I better get back inside and tend to my customers,” Mary said.

  Joseph wedged himself between Abe and Jeremiah and put his arms around them. “You fellas want something to eat? My treat.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Penner. We need t
o get back to the farm. Jeremiah is starting today.”

  Mary had been back in the restaurant for nearly an hour when someone from the police department called Grandpa. After he got off the phone, he motioned for Mary to join him in the small office beside the kitchen.

  “They have a statement. Apparently Jimbo was very talkative, and they have some information they said you might want to hear.”

  “Any idea what it is?”

  He shook his head. “Neh, but I don’t think we’ll need to worry about him coming around here anytime soon. He’s in jail now, and if he even steps foot on the restaurant property when he gets out, he’s going back to jail.”

  “I wonder why he wanted that box from my mother.”

  Grandpa cupped her chin. “I’m sure he must have thought it was something it wasn’t. I can’t imagine a Yankee man wanting a Mennonite woman’s kapp. The officer who called asked if we wanted to go to the police station or if it would be better for someone to come here.”

  “I hope you said they should come here.”

  “Ya. It’s much easier since they have the cars.” He pulled her into a hug. “I want to be there with you when they tell you whatever that evil man said.”

  Her throat swelled with love for Grandpa. “Thank you.”

  The crowd had died down, so when the police officer arrived to see Mary, they were able to sit at an isolated booth in the corner where no one else could hear. Shelley said she’d seat people as far away as possible for as long as she could. Grandpa brought some mugs and a pot of coffee to the table, and the three of them sat down—the officer, Grandpa, and Mary.

  “I’m not sure how much of this is true or how much he made up, but we backed some of it up by calling the police station in Ohio,” the officer began. “James McCollum Jr. gave us a statement that we thought would interest you.”

  “James McCollum Jr.?” Grandpa said.

  Mary nodded. “Jimbo.”

  “Oh.” Grandpa turned back to the officer. “Please continue.”

  “Apparently his father, James McCollum Sr., and your mother were in a relationship. He’d agreed to be involved in a drug sting, and apparently your mother got caught in the crossfire when it fell apart.” He paused for a moment when she gasped. “You okay?”

  Mary stared at the officer who told her a completely different story from what she’d always believed. She had no idea her mother was in a personal relationship with Big Jim, and she’d thought her mother had been killed because she was an informant. “Please continue.”

  “James Jr. said he was in the office when his father presented you with the bus ticket and a box. After you left, he asked his father what was in the box, and he was told it was something of great value, but he never said what it was, except it was rightfully his.” The officer shifted in his seat. “You wouldn’t by any chance still have that box, would you?”

  Grandpa’s head whipped around to face Mary. “You don’t have to—”

  She covered his hand with hers. “No, that’s okay.” Then she looked at the officer. “Yes, I do have the box, and Big Jim was right. It is the most valuable possession I own.”

  The officer looked extremely uncomfortable as he fidgeted with a sugar packet. Finally he looked at her. “I’ve been asked to take a look at it if you do so I can let them know what was in it. They think it might be a clue in a case against a drug ring.”

  Mary grinned. “I doubt that, but I’ll be glad to show you what was in it.”

  Grandpa stood. “Why don’t the two of you go on to the house now while we’re slow here?”

  The officer and Mary left the restaurant and rode in silence. As they pulled up in front of the house, Mary looked around at the place she now called home. It was hard to imagine what her life would have been like if things had been different.

  Grandma greeted them at the door, her eyebrows knit in concern. “Come on in. Would you like something to eat, Officer?”

  “No, thank you, ma’am. I just want to take a look at the box and let them know what I see.”

  Mary led the way, with the officer and Grandma bringing up the rear. She knew her grandmother was there to protect her from whatever she might have to deal with.

  When they got to her room, Mary pointed to the dresser. “There’s the box.” She moved her finger to the right, where the kapp lay on top of the note. “And that’s what was in it.”

  He crossed the room and lifted the box. After he turned it upside down and thoroughly inspected it, he focused his attention on the kapp and note. “Mind if I read this?” he asked.

  Mary’s breath caught in her throat. As difficult as it was, she nodded. “That’s fine.” She had to turn away to keep from breaking down.

  The room grew quiet as the officer read the letter. When he finished, he returned the paper to her dresser and gently placed the kapp back on top of it. “Ms. Penner,” he said softly. “I am so sorry about all this. I’ll let them know it was only a couple of personal items and nothing of interest that would affect the drug ring case.”

  Mary had to fight the tears as she nodded her thanks. Grandma put her arm around Mary and pulled her close.

  The ride back to the restaurant was as silent as the ride to the house. But when they pulled up at the curb, the officer turned to Mary and handed her a card. “Take care of yourself, Ms. Penner. If anyone ever tries to bother you again, call me.”

  “I will,” she said as she opened her door. “Thank you for being so understanding.”

  Mary walked back into the restaurant and into Grandpa’s arms. “Do you feel like working, Granddaughter? If you need—”

  “I need to work. This is where I belong.”

  He let go and gestured toward the kitchen. “Then go get your apron on and get to work.”

  Mary did as he said. It was already early afternoon, so most of the lunch crowd had left. A few people lingered, and occasionally a group would enter for a late lunch or dessert. Mary was glad for the distraction of work.

  She’d finally finished serving the last person on her shift, hung up her apron, and started talking to Shelley when she heard loud voices in the dining room. “I wonder what that’s all about?” Shelley asked.

  Mary rolled her eyes. “No telling, but after today I think I can handle anything.”

  Grandpa rushed into the kitchen. “There’s been an accident on the Glick farm!”

  Her ears rang. With all the turmoil of the day, she’d managed to push Abe to the back of her mind.

  Grandpa motioned wildly. “I tried to call Abe’s cell phone, and he didn’t answer. We need to go see about him.”

  Mary nodded as her heart raced. “I’m coming with you.”

  One of Grandpa’s regular Yankee customers, Phillip, offered to drive them to the farm. On the way, Grandpa kept asking, “Can’t you go faster?”

  Mary was glad Phillip remained steady. “No, sir. I’m going the speed limit.”

  When they pulled onto the road leading to Abe’s house, they saw the ambulance. Mary’s heart raced even faster. Grandpa took her hand and bowed his head. Lord, I pray for Your mercy on Abe.

  Phillip pulled the car to a stop beside the ambulance. Mary hopped out and ran to see if Abe was in it.

  “Mary,” she heard from behind. When she turned around and saw Abe standing there, her knees started to give way. Abe reached out to steady her. “Are you okay?”

  She gulped and nodded. “What happened? I thought you were hurt.”

  “Neh, it was Jonathan Polk’s son. He came to help out for a few days, and I hadn’t given him the safety talk yet. He went to the old barn and tried to move something. One of the rafters fell down on him, but it looks like he’ll be fine. They’re taking him to the hospital for x-rays, but they don’t think anything is broken.”

  Abe started to let go of Mary, but she pulled him closer. “Please don’t let go. I was so worried something terrible had happened to you, and it scared me, so when Grandpa said he was coming out to check on you, I w
anted to come with him, and now I’m—”

  “Whoa, Mary, slow down.” Abe held her at arm’s length and looked in her eyes. “So you were worried about me, huh?”

  She nodded and opened her mouth, but nothing would come out.

  Abe broke into a grin. “This might sound strange, but I’m glad to know you were worried about me.”

  Mary pulled back and scowled. “What? You like to worry me?”

  “Now that’s my Mary. Feisty and direct.”

  “Why would you want to worry me?”

  He caught her off balance as he pulled her back to his chest. “I don’t want to worry you, but I’m happy you care enough to check on me.”

  Mary finally sighed as she thought about how her mother’s pride created regrets that could never be overcome. She couldn’t make the same mistakes. “Abe?” She looked up into his eyes.

  As their gazes locked, her knees went all wobbly again. He steadied her.

  “Now I’m worried about you,” he whispered. “Would you like to come inside and get something to drink? I’m thinking the heat might be getting to you.”

  “No, Abe, it’s not the heat,” she whispered. “It’s you.”

  A grin continued to play at the corners of Abe’s lips, but his eyes showed concern. “Are you sure, Mary? I don’t want you to get sick.”

  She closed her eyes and prayed that she wouldn’t regret what she was about to say. Then she sucked in a breath and blurted, “Abe Glick, I love you. I’ve shut you out for so long, I don’t know why you even bothered with me.”

  “You have been a bother,” Abe teased. His expression quickly became serious. “But I see something in you, Mary—something that let me know that beneath your shield is a loving, spirited woman.”

  “So what now?” she asked.

  Abe glanced around then took her by the hand. “There are too many people here. Let’s go find a private spot so I can show you what now.”

  Mary’s heart raced as she followed Abe to the back of his house. As soon as they were out of sight, he spun her around to face him.

  “I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember—even when we were kids,” he said. “I wanted to protect you from everything that might ever hurt you. When I went away to college, thoughts of you helped me through the most difficult times, so the first thing I wanted to do when I returned and saw you again was to make you love me, too.”