by Tricia Goyer
Noah went downstairs and walked through the house, making a note of anything someone might be interested in. He smiled as he considered how excited he was to find original bathroom fixtures. Very rarely did people leave behind light fixtures, because they knew those had worth. They just had no idea how the little things that were often overlooked could add up.
When Noah got to the kitchen he paused. The kitchen was both long and wide, and in the center was a counter long enough for four or five women to work side by side. Through the windows in the back of the house, Noah could see a lawn and a few tall trees. Beyond that was a private beach. The sound of ocean waves could be heard, bringing life to this place. Yet it wasn’t the view that got him excited.
He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and gave Rick a call, pushing the number with his thumb. Back in Illinois, many people had cell phones that they used for business. They kept them hidden most of the time unless they needed to make a business call. But no one seemed to think twice about phones down here.
On the other end of the line Rick answered the call. “Hello?”
“Hey, do you know that long counter in the kitchen? Is that going too?”
“Yup. You know how designers are these days—everything is open concept. Not only are the center cabinets and counter going, but the wall between the kitchen and dining room too. That way guests can also see the waves roll in while they’re dining.”
“How much would you charge to deliver that counter to my uncle’s place? It’s too big to fit in my truck.”
“Is that in Pinecraft?” Rick asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s not too far off my trek home. Tell you what. If you can get your guys to load it and unload it, I can deliver it for free.”
“That sounds like a deal to me. Will you be by later?”
“Yup, before you leave tonight. I’m guessing it’ll take you that long to strip the place.”
“Sounds like a plan, Rick.”
“See you then.”
“See you then,” Noah responded, looking around. They had a big day ahead of them, and Noah hoped the hours would go quickly. He also hoped that Lovina’s dat hadn’t said no—otherwise he’d have to explain to his uncle why they had a long cabinet and countertop combination in his yard.
Noah was just wondering if he should get in touch with Lovina when he heard Mose call up the stairs.
“Hey, Gerald, come here. I want to show you something.”
Next came the creak of the floorboards overhead and the sound of Gerald’s booted feet coming down the stairs. Then came a large bang, and a man’s shout filled the air. Noah jumped, his heart pounding. Without question he immediately knew that Gerald had been the victim of yet another prank.
Laughter echoed from the family room area, and Noah rushed that direction. Gerald was sprawled on the floor at the bottom of the stairs. Atlee and Mose were doubled over with laughter in the entryway. Noah rushed over. Thankfully the look on Gerald’s face was one of confusion more than pain.
“I can’t believe you fell for that,” Mose gasped. “It’s the oldest trick in the book.”
“Hey.” Noah rushed forward, checking to make sure Gerald was all right. “Are both of you responsible for this, or do I only need to whip up on one of you?”
The teens looked at each other, and then Atlee piped up. “We both did it, but it was nothing big. We only loosened the board on the bottom step so he wouldn’t fall far.”
More laughter bubbled out of Mose. “Man, you should have seen the look on your face!”
Gerald picked himself up off the floor. “Yeah, well, I’d have to say it’s not nearly as ugly as your face is all the time.”
“Hey!” Mose lunged forward. Even though Gerald was two inches taller, Noah guessed that if they did really fight Mose would win. Blond, thin, with a baby face, Mose looked innocent, but there was an inner pit bull in him that begged to be set loose.
“Hey now, hey now.” Noah stepped between them, stretching out his hands. “This is not the place for that. Neither the fighting or the pranks. This is someone else’s house.”
“Yeah, and we’re doing all this work to line someone else’s pockets,” Mose muttered under his breath. He ran his fingers through his hair and leaned against the wall.
“Is that what you think?” Noah took off his hat and tossed it to the floor. “That I brought you down here so I could make you work like mules? And that I’m getting rich on this? Do you know how much it cost to get you three down here? Do you know how much it costs to keep you fed?” Noah lowered his voice, but Mose’s disrespectful words played over in his mind.
Noah bent over, picked up his hat, dusted it off, and placed it on his head. “Listen, I know this hasn’t turned out like any of us thought, but I’m doing my best. And if you’d rather I just pay your tickets back to Illinois so you can sit in the county jail, let me know. Because that’s where you’d be right now if you weren’t here.” Noah halted his words and the roar of the ocean waves out back seemed even louder than before.
They stood there quiet, each one in his own thoughts, and then Atlee approached the staircase. He pulled the hammer from his hammer loop. “Gerald, can you run to Daniel’s truck and get some nails from the tool chest in back? Then we can fix this step—make it better than before.”
Gerald turned and headed to the truck without another word. Mose kneeled down and straightened the boards. Even though they didn’t say it, Noah knew that was their way of making amends. They were offering an apology by fixing what they’d messed up.
“I made this list of the items we can salvage downstairs, if you want to get started.” Noah handed his notebook to Mose. “I’m going to go check out the back sunroom and back deck. Rick mentioned last night there were some old metal yard pieces they wanted to get rid of too.”
Noah strode to the back of the house, the blood still pumping through his veins. He went straight to the back deck, sat at the top step, and placed his face in his hands, sending up a silent prayer for wisdom.
“Seems like you’ve decided to skip all the fun parts of parenting and go straight to the teen years,” a voice said.
Noah glanced up and noticed Daniel sitting on an old lawn chair on the back porch.
“I’m not their dad.”
Daniel pushed his glasses farther up his nose, peering down. “No, but from what you told me, according to the courts it’s close enough.”
“I just wish they’d take ownership of their lives. Wish they’d realize that not everything is a game.”
“Yeah, well. If most us could figure that out sooner we’d all be better off.” Daniel threaded his fingers together and then placed them behind his head, leaning back against the wall. He sighed. “Sometimes we try to save people only to have things get worse for a while. And oftentimes I think God allows things to happen so they’ll see—we’ll see—that His hand is doing the saving, not ours.”
Noah focused on Daniel more closely, searching the man’s eyes. In the two months since Daniel had been driving for him they’d talked about many things, but God wasn’t one of them. Yet from the kindness and peaceful attitude Daniel displayed Noah had guessed the man’s relationship with God was strong.
“Do you think I’m getting in God’s way by trying to help them out? Is that what you’re saying?” Noah asked.
“I don’t think you’re getting in the way of God. Just the opposite. God asks us to reach out and help those who need help, need grace. How are folks supposed to know about God’s love if we don’t show ’em what it’s like?” Daniel put his hand back on his lap, resting elbows on knees. “But I also think God often has different plans to reach people than we have. Sometimes they need to face hard times—really hard times—before they’re ready to turn to Him.” Daniel shrugged. “Of course you can’t blame us for trying. We do our best. You’re doing your best, Noah. But just don’t be surprised if things get worse before they get better.”
Noah stood,
knowing he needed to get back to work. Knowing he needed to check on the guys to make sure they were doing what they should. “I wish I could see the future—see what it’s going to take to bring them around.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“The good news is that God knows. He’s already beat you to it.” Daniel smirked. “And it’s not like it’s fair odds either, since God has that all-knowing, all-seeing thing going on.”
Noah thought a moment more about Daniel’s words, and while he liked the idea that Lovina’s pie shop would play into God’s plans, there were no guarantees. In his opinion that would make things easy, but maybe Daniel was right. Maybe the harder stuff, not the easy stuff, would be what finally broke through to the guys. He just hated to think what that would look like.
Daniel rose from the chair and mumbled something about having a box of glazed donuts in the truck, and hoping that would sweeten up the guys’ attitudes. Noah nodded, but he didn’t move. And instead he watched the sea green waves rolling out and crashing back in.
“If you have better plans, I’m open to them,” he said in a low voice, as if speaking to the waves. But instead he was speaking to the Wave-Maker. The One who designed the whole universe and all the systems in it. “I’ll try not to get in the way.”
Noah hadn’t really talked out loud to God before, not like this, but in a way it just seemed right. God had them in Pinecraft for a reason. And when the time was right, God would show what that reason was.
He also hated to see the guys hurt, but Noah knew that pain was how he’d learned some of the most important lessons in his life. He wouldn’t pray for hard stuff to come in their lives, but he was starting to reason that if hard stuff did come, it would be for God’s greater plan.
Noah rose and moved back into the house, hearing the creaking sound of century-old wood being removed with a crow bar. He walked in the kitchen, placing two hands on the long counter, and then he closed his eyes and pictured the warehouse space.
His own good plan would be Lovina’s dat agreeing to the purchase of the warehouse. Maybe, soon, they’d be working there, but until then he had to stay focused. It wasn’t time to turn his attention to the warehouse, not yet…or to the pretty Amish woman who hoped to make it hers.
Dippy Eggs
Break eggs one at a time into the same heated skillet you fried bacon in. Do not stir or turn eggs. Spoon bacon grease over eggs as they cook for about 3 to 4 minutes.
Glazed Donuts
2 cups mashed potatoes
½ cup butter
½ cup margarine
1 cup sugar
1 quart whole milk, scalded
3 packages dry yeast
¾ cup lukewarm water
3 cups flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon salt
Combine mashed potatoes, butter, margarine, and sugar. Add scalded milk. Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water. When yeast has begun to work, add to mashed potato mixture. Add half the flour and let set until it sponges. Add eggs and salt, then add remainder of flour and mix well. Let set until double in bulk. Roll out and cut out donuts. Let set again until double in bulk. Fry in hot shortening at 375° until golden brown.
Thirteen
The grand essentials of happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
AMISH PROVERB
Lovina’s heart pounded as she rode her bike away from the center of Pinecraft. The pounding wasn’t from exertion. Her legs were used to the exertion. Excitement urged her on.
She’d visited the bank no less than a dozen times in the last two months, but this time she had a greater purpose than all the times before. She had to get to the bank, and she had to talk to Jason. Then she had to get home before her outing with Thomas Chupp, even though that was the last thing she wanted to spend her time on today. There was so much to think about. There were so many plans to make!
Two minutes later Lovina parked her bicycle in front of the bank and hurried in. “Is Jason Schlabach in?”
The man behind the desk shook his head. “I’m sorry. He had a meeting across town. But I’ll tell him you stopped by.”
Lovina’s heart fell. Her hands dropped to her side. “That’s all right. I can stop by later.” She turned to leave the building. She knew she could talk to Jason another time, but she wished she could do it now.
“Lovina!” the man called after her and she turned.
“Your father called this morning. I believe Jason has plans to meet him after lunch.”
She felt like jumping up and down with excitement, but instead she simply nodded. “Danke. Thank you. That’s wonderful.”
On the way back home she rode slowly by the warehouse. She also eyed Roy Yoder’s house, hoping to see Noah. She thought about stopping to tell him her father’s decision, but she decided now wasn’t the right time. There was an order to everything, her grandmother always told her. And when one got out of turn, one usually ended up at the end of the line.
No, she’d wait for Dat to meet with Jason. Only then would she talk to Noah. The last thing she wanted to do was jump out of place.
By the time she got back to her house Thomas was waiting. He sat in the back seat of a blue car. A driver she didn’t recognize sat behind the wheel. Lovina parked her bike and hurried to the car. Thomas exited, walked around, and opened the door for her.
“I’m so sorry I kept you waiting.” She looked up to him as she slid into the seat. Instead of seeing anger on his face, she noticed a warm smile.
“Don’t think anything of it, please. I was early. I was just so eager to start our day.”
They chatted in the backseat on the way to the beach. Lovina shared what it was like growing up with four sisters, and Thomas talked about growing up with twin older brothers and all the pranks they’d play on neighbors and teachers.
By the time they reached the beach Lovina felt comfortable with Thomas, but that didn’t make things easier. The driver pulled over to let them out, stating he’d be back in four hours.
Four hours? Lovina held in a sigh. It was going to be a very long day.
Lovina walked across the parking lot with Thomas by her side, but her mind was far from this place. Trying to carry on pleasant conversation with him was the last thing on her mind.
The large beach was packed with people, even though it was September. People came this time of year to avoid the winter crowds, which she always found humorous.
As soon as they walked from the parking lot to the beach, they entered an area with pine trees, picnic tables, and playground equipment. Lovina noticed eyes upon them as they walked—she in her Amish dress and kapp and he in his homemade clothes.
She was used to that. Her whole life it had been the same. Back in Walnut Creek busloads of Englischers would come to get away from their fast-paced lives and spend time with the Plain people. Here in Sarasota, she and her sisters couldn’t go to the beach without people staring.
Lovina smiled even now thinking of the surprised looks on the Englischers’ faces when her younger sisters took off their dresses to reveal modest swimming suits underneath. They even gawked when Faith and Hope played a game of volleyball with other Amish youth or asked if they could join in with Englischers—as if all Amish did was sit and quilt or cook, never having any fun.
As they walked along, looking for the perfect spot on the beach, Thomas chatted about his family’s drive down to Sarasota and their flat tire in the middle of nowhere.
“Our driver was old, and he couldn’t change it himself.” Thomas chuckled. “But my uncle and I figured it out, which surprised him. I don’t think he realized that buggies have wheels too.”
She laughed at that, and when they found a sandy spot away from the crowds, she took off her flip-flops and let her toes wiggle into the sand. White sandy beach stretched as far as she could see. Noticing her bare feet, Thomas paused, took off his sturdy black shoes and socks, and rolled up his pants.
Lovina
glanced at the sky. The sun was rising higher, and she wondered what time Dat and Jason were meeting. Dat had told her last night that since the building was “For Sale by Owner” and she was paying with cash and offering a good price, he guessed the deal could move very quickly. But how long did “quickly” mean?
The sand was warm under her feet, and Lovina chided herself, telling herself to enjoy the present. Thomas spread a blanket for her and she settled in, noticing how the sun shined on his dark hair. He smiled at her and she smiled back, but although he was handsome, she didn’t have the same feelings as when Noah was by her side.
There you go, she chided herself. You have the attention of Noah Yoder for one day and then think you have the right to be choosy.
She knew she shouldn’t get her heart set on either of the two men. Lovina had a feeling that Thomas’s invitation was only a chance for him to have something to do, a distraction from a quiet village. And as for Noah Yoder, one always had to be extra nice to a person who might offer you a job, right?
“I wish you could be here in season,” she said as Thomas settled down beside her. “The village smells so good. All the orange trees are ripe with fruit, the temperatures are cooler, and there are people everywhere.”
Thomas shielded his eyes and scanned the waves hitting the shore. “My dat’s been before, and he’s told me about the shuffleboard and volleyball games.”
“And there is music and singing on Birky Street in the evenings. They line up chairs and near fill the streets.”
“It sounds like I’ll have to visit again in a few months.” He scooted next to her, closer than she thought he ought. “Which won’t be a problem since Dat and Mem put an offer on the house. It looks like they’ll be staying. Will you be around?”
Instead of looking at Thomas she looked to the water, focusing on the seagulls that floated over the waves looking for their lunch. “Ja, I hope to be here for a while. I can’t imagine returning to Ohio without Mem and Dat.” She thought about telling him about the warehouse and the pie shop. She considered telling him that Dat had finally agreed to her dream, but something felt wrong about that. Thomas might be interested, but Noah would be thrilled. She smiled even now considering how much fun he was going to have entering the warehouse and looking through all the items left behind.