Sarasota Dreams

by Mayne, Debby

  “Why did you wait a whole year?”

  “I didn’t want to be in too big of a hurry, and I wanted to make sure everything was just right for us.”

  “Why did the Lord let me continue being so stubborn?”

  “I don’t know,” Abe replied.

  “So what now?”

  He let go of her and shoved his hands in his pockets. “The very thing that attracted me to you also scared me. It still scares me. Sometimes you’re not easy to approach.”

  Mary laughed. “So I’ve heard.”

  “I wanted everything to be perfect—” Abe glanced around then settled his gaze on her. “But nothing we do can ever be perfect, so …”

  The look in Abe’s eyes melted Mary’s heart. When he gently took her hand and tenderly kissed the back of it, her knees turned to jelly. She grabbed hold of Abe’s shoulders to keep from falling.

  Concern again flickered across his face. “Let’s go inside.”

  “No,” she said as she steadied herself. “I like how this is going. I wanna stay and see what happens next.”

  Abe’s laughter was delightful—a sound she knew she’d never get tired of hearing. “Mary Penner, you are so full of surprises.”

  She jammed the fist of her free hand on her hip and widened her eyes. “So are you, Abe Glick.” Then she gestured for him to continue. “Okay, keep going.”

  He again kissed the back of her hand, never taking his gaze off hers. “Mary, how would you like to live on a farm?”

  Mary contorted her mouth and narrowed her eyes. “All depends on what farm we’re talking about.”

  “This farm. With me.”

  “Hmm.” She tapped her chin with her index finger.

  Abe placed his hands on her shoulders, his face inches from hers. “Mary Penner, will you make me the happiest man in Florida and be my wife?” She offered him a teasing look. “Just Florida?”

  He grinned as he lifted his arms and gestured wide. “If you say yes, I’ll be the happiest man in the world!”

  She forced herself not to smile or jump up and down with joy. Instead, she leveled him with as stern a look as she could manage. “What took you so long to ask? Of course I’ll be your wife.”

  “Abe? Mary?”

  They glanced up toward the voice. “Grandpa!” Mary gave Abe a quick wink then ran over to her grandfather. “You’ll never guess what just happened!”

  Grandpa smiled. “Oh, I think I can.”

  Abe joined them. “I’m sorry, Mr. Penner, I should have spoken to you about this first. With your permission, I would like to marry your granddaughter.”

  “I’m speaking for Sarah and myself,” Grandpa said as he hugged Abe. “You have our full blessing.” He turned around to face Mary. “But now we need to get back to town. We have work to do.”

  Abe waited until Grandpa turned his back before he leaned over for a kiss. “I love you, Mary. You’ve just made me a very happy man.”

  “I love you, too, Abe.” Mary couldn’t believe how easily those words rolled off her tongue.

  As the car rolled away from the farm, Mary looked around and thought about how this would soon be her home. Grandpa winked at her and squeezed her hand. The joy between them was so powerful, neither of them had to say a word.

  Note to the Readers:

  Shades of the Past is set in the Pinecraft community of Sarasota, Florida, a beach town south of Tampa Bay. Most of the Pinecraft homes are rented by Mennonite and Amish families who have decided to settle in Florida to enjoy the mild winters and white sandy beaches. The houses are small, but they are wired for electricity, which many of the inhabitants enjoy, even if they come from a sect that doesn’t typically use electricity.

  With Sarasota being a busy beach town, it’s difficult to care for large animals, so instead of the traditional horse-and-buggy transportation, most of the Mennonite and Amish residents get around on adult-sized tricycles called bikes or three-wheelers—some motorized and some pedal powered. They attach baskets and boxes to haul larger loads for errands and short trips around the neighborhood, and they use city buses and independent drivers for longer distances.

  Some visitors may have a difficult time telling the difference between Amish and the most conservative Mennonites. Most of the Amish women wear kapps with strings, while Mennonite women have a wider variety of head coverings, including crocheted pieces. Mennonite men may have mustaches, while Amish men are likely to only have beards.

  Sarasota hosts a variety of Mennonite and Amish orders from other areas, creating a blend of old and new traditions that have evolved during the years. The language tends to be more contemporary than that of some Conservative Mennonite groups.

  A few Mennonite and Amish farms still thrive on the outskirts of Sarasota. On most Saturdays, Pinecraft hosts a farmer’s market, and roadside stands dot the area on weekdays, with local citrus being the most common produce available.

  TRUSTING HER HEART

  Dedication

  In loving memory of my mother-in-law, Bobbie Mayne, who exemplified Christian love every day of her life.

  This book is dedicated to Mary Crawford, a kind, generous, and sweet-spirited friend of the Mayne family.

  Chapter 1

  Mary Penner Glick’s gaze darted to something behind Shelley, and a grin twitched the corners of her lips. “Guess who’s walking in the door now.”

  Shelley Burkholder spun around as Jeremiah Yoder scanned the near-empty restaurant. The breakfast crowd at the small diner had dwindled, and the lunch crowd hadn’t arrived yet. Her pulse quickened at the sight of Jeremiah, but she froze in place.

  “Want me to seat him and take his order?” Mary offered.

  “No, that’s not necessary. You need to run along. I’m sure Abe doesn’t want to be kept waiting.”

  The sound of Mary’s laughter rang as she firmly placed her hand on Shelley’s shoulder. “I miss working here, so it’s my pleasure. Take a minute to gather your thoughts, and I’ll make sure everyone is taken care of.”

  Ever since Peter had surprised Shelley with an announcement that he was engaged to someone else, she knew better than to let any man have even a sliver of her heart. Besides the hurt, the emotional investment took more time and energy than she had, so she saw this as a sign from God that she had no business falling in love anyway.

  “Shelley, would you mind getting another pot of coffee brewing?” Joseph Penner called out, interrupting her thoughts.

  “Sure, Mr. Penner.” She scurried toward the beverage station.

  Mary joined her as she poured the water into the coffeemaker well. “I just put Jeremiah’s order in. Want me to stick around and deliver it when it’s done, or can you handle him?” She reached up and adjusted her kapp, making Shelley smile. Mary had always had a difficult time keeping her kapp on her head.

  “No, no, run along. You’ve already done more than you should around here.”

  “If you’re sure …” Mary took a step toward the door. “I’ll check on you later to see how things go with Jeremiah.”

  Shelley forced a smile. “Stop worrying about me. I’ll be fine. Jeremiah is the least of my concerns.”

  With a teasing glance, Mary chuckled. “Okay, if you say so.”

  Shelley waited until Mary left the restaurant before sighing. If Jeremiah hadn’t been such a rebel, she might be flattered by his advances, which had started right after Mary and her husband, Abe, got married. But Jeremiah had left the Conservative Mennonite church once, and she wasn’t sure he wouldn’t do it again. Her childhood crush on Jeremiah Yoder was part of her past and needed to stay that way—out of her present and future—if she wanted a peaceful life. Between her mother’s recent mood dips and trying to help out with her younger brother, William, who had Down syndrome and a penchant for running away when he was upset, Shelley had little time for matters of the heart. Perhaps the Lord wanted her to stay single. It certainly seemed that way.

  “Shelley, your order is up.” Mr. Penner smil
ed. “Want me to bring it over to him?”

  She inhaled deeply, squared her shoulders, and forced a smile. “I’ll do it.”

  As she took the plate from the pass-through counter, Shelley said a silent prayer for the strength to face Jeremiah. If she hadn’t been so attracted to him, waiting on him wouldn’t be so difficult. And if he hadn’t stayed away from the church for so long, none of this would matter. When he’d made it clear that he was interested in her, fear of losing her heart to the wrong man had forced her to erect a shield of protection.

  Shelley carried the plate filled with eggs, ham, and biscuits over to the table where Jeremiah sat alone. “Here you go. Anything else I can get for you?”

  He took a sip of his orange juice, set it on the table, and smiled at her, his light-brown eyes sparkling as they crinkled at the corners. “Some coffee would be good. Can you join me?”

  “Neh.” She hadn’t meant the word to come out so quickly and with such sharpness. “I mean, I can’t sit down while I’m working.”

  “Don’t you get a break?”

  “Ya, but I already took it.”

  His lips formed a straight line as he nodded. “I understand. Maybe some other time.”

  “Maybe.” She took a step back before adding, “I’ll get your coffee. Want cream with that?”

  “Yes, please.” The gleam in his eye made her tummy flutter.

  She went to the beverage station and poured some coffee into a carafe, but the cream pitcher was empty. Shelley scurried toward the kitchen to get some cream, happy for a chance to gather her thoughts. Jeremiah’s politeness would be stifling if she didn’t know him well. He’d always been such a tease for as long as she’d known him, from back before they’d even started school. They both grew up in the Pinecraft community of Sarasota, a neighborhood of small houses rented by Conservative Mennonite and Amish families. Jeremiah had left the church right after high school and decided not to come back after getting a taste of the outside world. From what she’d seen and heard, he’d completely turned his back on his faith during that time. And now he wanted to come back. Shelley wished she could be so sure of his intentions, but it happened too fast … and at a bad time for Shelley. She didn’t think she could face more heartbreak so soon after Peter announced he was marrying someone else.

  On her way to Jeremiah’s table she grabbed a cup from the beverage station, and then she filled it with coffee at Jeremiah’s table and set the carafe down next to it. “Let me know if you need anything else, okay?”

  He nodded but didn’t say another word.

  Jeremiah watched Shelley as she directed customers to tables after they walked into the family-owned restaurant lined with booths on each side and rows of laminate-topped tables in the middle of the floor. There was very little decor in the dining area to pull his attention away from Shelley. She appeared self-conscious when he talked to her, but her grace and assuredness returned the instant she turned her back on him. No matter what he said or did to show how much he cared for her, she appeared to keep an emotional distance.

  As she glided around with ease in her midcalf-length full skirt, he couldn’t help but notice her graceful, fluid movement. The crocheted kapp perched atop her braided chestnut-brown bun showed off her long, elegant neckline, which was devoid of any jewelry. Yes, he was physically attracted to her, but Jeremiah knew her heart was right with God. That alone compelled him to be near her, particularly at this time of his life as he prayed for forgiveness and mercy.

  One of the many people who hadn’t accepted Jeremiah when he first came back was Shelley, but she was the one he really wanted to be happy. When Jeremiah first went to Abe to ask for help in coming back to the church, he’d been surprised at the quick acceptance from Abe and a few of the other church members. Shelley seemed pleased at how he’d helped Abe protect Mary from a man who’d tried to harm her, but now she acted like he’d somehow hurt her.

  Abe told him it would take some time to win her over, but to Jeremiah it seemed as though that may never happen. He’d been working with some of the other hands tearing down Abe’s old barn to prevent another accident when Abe approached him and said to go pick up some things in town, since Jeremiah still had transportation. He’d traded in the shiny sports car he’d used to impress girls for a barely functional automobile that wouldn’t impress anyone. And he’d donated his stylish clothes to a charity thrift store and embraced the plain wardrobe filled with neutral-tone trousers and shirts.

  As Jeremiah was about to get into his car, Abe advised him to stop off at Penner’s Restaurant for breakfast before returning, since they’d be working until sundown. What he suspected Abe wanted was for him to have some face time with Shelley. Now he wondered at the wisdom. Perhaps he needed to make himself scarce for a while, so she wouldn’t get annoyed with him.

  He stared down at his nearly empty plate. Ever since he’d started working on Abe’s farm, his appetite had practically doubled.

  “Can I get you something else?”

  The sound of Shelley’s sweet voice caught his attention. He slowly looked up and met her blue-eyed gaze to see her studying him with concern. He shook his head. “This is already more food than I’m used to.”

  Shelley nodded as she glanced at his plate. “Ya, I can imagine. How are you able to be away from the farm so long?”

  Jeremiah had to stifle a smile. This was the most she’d chatted with him since Abe and Mary’s wedding. “Abe told me to have a big breakfast while I’m in town picking up supplies.”

  “You still drive your car?”

  “Yes.”

  The look of disapproval on her face told him more than words possibly could.

  “So if you ever need a lift somewhere, just call me.”

  She shook her head. “I rarely have a need to ride in a car.”

  He held up both hands. “I’m just offering rides when you need them.”

  Shelley’s long, dark eyelashes fluttered for a moment as she closed her eyes and then opened them, meeting his gaze. She smiled. “Thank you, Jeremiah. Let me know when you’re ready for your bill. I have to go see about my other”—she glanced over her shoulder before turning back—“my other customer.”

  The other customer happened to be one of Shelley’s regulars—Blake, a truck driver who stopped off at Penner’s whenever he was in town. The first time she and Mary had seen Blake, they were frightened by the man’s oversized arms and the multiple tattoos he didn’t bother hiding. But he was polite and expressed his appreciation for what he called “good home-cooked food like Mama used to make, rest her soul.” And he’d left a tip bigger than his bill.

  “Hi there, Shelley. What’s the lunch special today?”

  “Meatloaf, but it’s not ready yet. It should be done in just a few minutes.”

  “Okay, then I’ll wait.” He closed the menu, folded his arms, and leaned back in his booth. “Who’s that guy staring at you?”

  “Oh, that’s just Jeremiah. He’s an old classmate.” Shelley tried to act nonchalant, but she didn’t think she did a good job of pulling it off.

  “Old classmate, huh?” Blake’s laughter was deep and resonant. “Looks to me like he carries a torch for you.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Want me to make him jealous?”

  Shelley hopped back from the table. “Neh, that wouldn’t be good.”

  “Don’t worry, honey, I’m not gonna hurt you. I might look tough, but that’s just a front. In the line of work I do, I gotta have an image.”

  “I know that,” Shelley said with a forced smile. “Would you like something to drink while you wait for lunch?”

  “Yeah, I’ll have some sweet tea.”

  As Shelley turned toward the beverage station, she caught Jeremiah glaring at her. Blake was right. He was clearly jealous! The look on his face was one she’d never seen on him before, but she recognized it from studying other people.

  Jeremiah quickly shoved his plate away, took another swig of coffee, stood, and reached into his ba
ck pocket for his wallet. As soon as she delivered Blake’s tea, she brought Jeremiah his bill. Shelley wasn’t short at five-foot-seven, but Jeremiah’s broad six-foot frame made her feel small. He handed her a ten-dollar bill and said, “Keep the change.”

  “Thank you.”

  He started toward the door but stopped and spun back around to face her. “When do you generally take a break?”

  “It varies. Most of the time right after the breakfast crowd dwindles, but I still don’t like to take too long.”

  “I’ll remember that.” With a nod, he left.

  As soon as the lunch special was ready, Shelley served Blake and waited on customers as they trickled into the restaurant. Shortly after eleven they were fully staffed, so Shelley didn’t have to cover the whole dining room by herself. By noon the place was packed and stayed that way for a solid hour and a half. After Mary had gotten married and moved out to the Glick farm with Abe, Mr. Penner had hired another waitress, Jocelyn. Shelley liked the girl, but she was a bit silly—even for an outsider. Mr. Penner told Jocelyn she wasn’t allowed to dress in clothes that showed too much skin, so she wore short skirts over pants and tank tops over T-shirts. It took more convincing to get her to tone down her makeup, but after Mrs. Penner talked to her, Jocelyn instantly gave up her thick eyeliner and bloodred lipstick. Shelley didn’t know what Mrs. Penner had said to Jocelyn, but it obviously worked.

  “So what’s kickin’?” Jocelyn asked once business slowed down.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Anything new happenin’ in your life?”

  Shelley slowly shook her head. “No, not much that I can think of. Everything pretty much stays the same for me.” Even if something were happening, Shelley couldn’t imagine sharing it with someone like Jocelyn.