by Marta Perry
“But you were all right? Nobody else tried to bother you?”
Rhoda wiped away another tear. “A car stopped, and I was scared, but it was two of the Englisch girls from the party. They said the boy came back and bragged about leaving me up there, so they told him off and came after me.” She sniffled. “They were really nice, and they tried to make me feel better. But all I could think was how disappointed Daadi would be.”
“I know,” Katie said softly. Somehow that had always been the case with her, too. The fear of seeing disapproval instead of love in Daadi’s eyes had kept her from doing some foolish things, too.
“But it was the middle of the night when I got home, even so. And Mamm cried and said how I’d embarrassed the family, and Daadi was disappointed, and Louise kept lecturing me . . .” Rhoda’s voice trailed off, and she put both hands over her face, surrendering to tears.
Katie pulled Rhoda into her arms, her own tears spilling over. Poor, foolish Rhoda. Of course she’d done wrong, but surely she didn’t deserve being made to feel like an outcast.
“It’s over now,” she said, holding her close. “Over and done with, and it will soon be forgotten. We all do foolish things, ja? Even Mamm, even Louise, even me.”
Rhoda looked up at her through swollen eyes. “Not Louise.”
“Ja, Louise,” Katie said firmly. “She’s just being a different kind of foolish. Now, you dry your eyes and finish your cocoa. You made a mistake, but you learned from it. That’s all any of us can do, ain’t so?”
Rhoda blew her nose and nodded.
“Gut.” She patted her sister’s cheek. “Now let’s forget it, as if it never happened.”
Forget. That was good advice for herself, too, if only she could take it.
Katie spent much of the next day trying to avoid Caleb. At the moment he was in the cellar, mopping the floor, so she had sent Rhoda down to help him, saying she’d watch both shops.
Not that he had made things difficult for her. His attitude toward her seemed the same as ever. No one watching him could guess that just yesterday they had been smooching in a wet basement.
Fine. That was how she wanted it. If they could both forget it had happened, she’d be happy. The trouble was that she couldn’t forget.
Annoyed with herself, she set one of the boxes from the basement onto the counter and pulled off the packing tape that sealed it. There was a perfectly logical reason why she’d been . . . well, maybe vulnerable was the best word. Yes, she’d been vulnerable to Caleb’s kiss because she still felt adrift after learning of Eli and Jessica’s expected baby.
That wasn’t a very admirable way to feel, but it was better than thinking she’d begun to care for Caleb. She couldn’t.
She jerked her thoughts away from that particular treadmill, knowing she’d just go round and round on it. Much better to focus on the work at hand. Mamm had packed this box, judging by her printing on the outside, and Katie couldn’t think what it contained.
The bell on Caleb’s shop door jangled, and she stepped away from the counter to see who it was. Not a customer who needed attention—it was Becky and Naomi. Seeing her, they walked through the archway to her side.
“Naomi, how nice to see you. And Becky.”
“Not such a nice weekend for you, ain’t so?” Naomi came to clasp her hands. “What a thing to happen so soon after you moved in. Did you lose much?”
“Not as bad as it would have been if Rhoda and I hadn’t gotten home when we did. A box of thread got soaked, and some fabric will have to be washed to see it if can be saved. Mostly it was just the mess.”
“And Caleb tells us that you and Rhoda were already moving his materials out of danger when he got here. That was ser gut of you.”
“It was nothing,” she said quickly. “He did the same. We helped each other.” She could only hope she wasn’t blushing.
“Is Rhoda here?” Becky asked, looking around hopefully.
“Down in the basement, helping your onkel Caleb with the last of the cleanup.”
“I will go and help, too.”
Naomi watched her granddaughter head for the stairs, lips curving in an indulgent smile. “She means she and Rhoda will visit together until their chatter drives Caleb out of there, I think.”
“Probably.” Katie returned to her box. “It is nice of you to stop and see how we’re doing.”
“Not chust that.” Naomi took off her bonnet, smoothing her graying hair back. “I will help, too. Are these things to be unpacked?”
“Ja, but . . .” Katie wasn’t sure spending time with Caleb’s mother was the best way to forget about that kiss. “You don’t need to help. I think half the town has been in at some time today to see if we needed anything. Some of the other shops had a little water, I hear, but none as bad as we did.”
“Ja, I saw Bishop Mose out in the backyard with Sam Troy-er’s crew. They will make sure the cellar doesn’t flood again. But I want to help you.” Naomi pressed her hands against the counter, looking down at them for a moment. “It has been too long since I have done for others. Too long since I realized that God still has work for me here, even though my George has gone ahead of me.”
It felt as if she had squeezed Katie’s heart with her words. “You have been grieving. Lonely. Everyone understands that.”
“Others are grieving, too. Others miss him.” Naomi shook her head. “I cannot use that to excuse myself. George would be ashamed of me.”
Katie put her hand over Naomi’s. “I never knew him, but I am sure he loved you too much ever to be ashamed of you.”
Naomi’s eyes shone with tears, and she squeezed Katie’s hand. “Denke, Katie, for understanding.” She shook her head, as if to shake off her sorrow. “Now, let us get to work. Until you got me started on quilting again, I had forgotten that work is a cure for many ills.”
“Or at least it makes us forget them for a while,” Katie said, thinking how often that had been true for her. She glanced at the pieces she’d cut for the Lancaster Rose quilt. The challenge of making it might be a cure for her, too.
She caught Naomi’s gaze on her face and managed a smile. “Well, this is a box that my mamm packed, and I have no idea what’s in it. I should have unpacked it long ago, instead of leaving it in the basement.”
“At least no harm was done.” Naomi’s words were practical. “Let’s see what it is.” She pulled off tissue paper. “Ach, another quilt. Sunshine and Shadows, one of my favorite patterns. This should be out for sale.”
Katie couldn’t find an answer. All she could do was stare at the quilt that had been unearthed, her stomach twisting in rebellion.
“Katie?” Naomi’s voice was filled with concern. “What is wrong?”
She shook her head, trying to think through the shock of seeing the quilt. “I . . . I didn’t know this was here. I thought it had been left at home.”
“It means something to you,” Naomi said gently.
“Ja.” She cleared her throat. She didn’t have to say anything. She didn’t.
But Naomi was looking at her with caring and concern, and the need to unburden herself was suddenly too strong to resist. “I made this . . . I made it for my wedding.”
Naomi was silent for a moment, probably filling in all the things she didn’t say. “I’m sorry, Katie. What happened to him? Did he die?”
“No.” She would not let herself think that her situation might be easier if he had. That would be evil. “Eli and I . . . we had intended to wed since we were hardly more than children. I never imagined a future without him. We had set the date. Our families were planning the wedding. And then he came to me and said that he couldn’t marry me. That he loved someone else.”
She felt as if she hadn’t breathed in a long time, and she sucked in a breath.
“I am so sorry.” Naomi’s hand tightened on hers. “Who was it? Someone you knew?”
“Jessica. My best friend.” She felt her lips twist on the words. “I never dreamed of such a th
ing. Maybe I was blind, not to see it coming.”
“They must have been very careful. Very ashamed, too, if no one else knew about it.”
Oddly enough, that had never occurred to her.
“If they were really ashamed—” Katie stopped before she could say something really mean-spirited. “Well, I would not want Eli to marry me if he loved someone else, after all.”
“No, you wouldn’t, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t hard to forgive.”
“I forgive. Really.” She shook her head. “But I can’t forget. It still hurts. And now ...”
“Now this quilt has surfaced to remind you.” Naomi put her hand on it.
“Not just that.” Katie tried to swallow the lump in her throat. “My mother has written that Eli and Jessica are expecting their first baby. She thinks I should be happy for them. I know that I should, but I can’t. I must be a terrible person.”
“Just a normal person, I think.” Naomi’s voice was soft and comforting. “You said that I should not be ashamed of my reaction to George’s passing. And I think that you should not be ashamed of your reaction to this hurt. We must chust each go on and do the best we can, ain’t so?”
Katie searched Naomi’s face, finding nothing there but caring and sympathy. This conversation had started with her comforting Naomi and ended with Naomi comforting her. Oddly enough, the words eased her heart.
“Ja,” she said finally. “I’ll try.”
“Gut.” Naomi patted the quilt. “Maybe you should start by selling this. What do you think?”
Her heart hurt, but she nodded. “Ja. I think that would be best.”
CHAPTER TEN
The cleanup was finally done to his satisfaction, but Caleb took a few extra minutes in the cellar to measure for shelves. He would build those for Katie, and he certainly wouldn’t take any money for them. The very idea was ferhoodled.
Katie’s trying to insist on paying him—well, that was just an example of her way of doing things. Independent. Determined to stand on her own two feet.
He wasn’t going to cooperate with her on this one. She would have her shelves, just like his. He and William would see to that.
Caleb stood for a moment, looking around the cellar. Was he ever going to come down here without reliving the moment when he’d kissed her? Maybe not. But that didn’t mean he had to dwell on it.
Since what had happened with Mattie Weaver, he’d steered clear of getting too close to anyone, at first because it was just too painful. Eventually . . . well, he’d realized it was safer that way, safer not to let anyone in, especially not another woman.
Besides, most of the community thought the worst of him for what had happened with Mattie. He couldn’t entangle someone else in that gossip, even if he found a woman he wanted.
He started up the stairs. Funny. From the moment Katie Miller had rented the shop, he’d thought that having a woman sharing the space would cause problems. He sure hadn’t figured on this kind of problem.
Caleb went through to his shop. Everything was quiet and in order, the front door locked, the shade down. Becky had taken care of that before she left. She’d done some rearranging, too, he noticed. He studied the way she’d grouped some of the pieces, putting a small table between two rockers, as if they invited a person to sit down. Nice, that was. Better than the way he’d lined pieces up in rows.
All was quiet on Katie’s side, as well. Looked as if he wouldn’t be talking to her again today, and maybe that was best. Give the memory of those moments in the cellar a chance to fade for both of them.
He pulled the back door shut behind him and stepped onto the porch. The crew Bishop Mose had brought in must have finished for the day. They’d left an open trench, and were probably planning to lay pipe in it tomorrow. Katie’s mare would have to stay in the stable until that was finished.
The bishop stood by the plastic tape that blocked off the area, gesturing as he talked to Katie, who stood next to him. He must be explaining the work, judging by the gestures. Katie nodded, and the breeze that had come up after the rain lifted a loose strand of her hair. She smoothed it back into place with her hand. For an instant Caleb’s palm tingled, as if he had done it, feeling the silky texture of her hair against his fingers.
It would definitely be better if he’d been able to avoid seeing her for a few days. With most women in the community he felt that there was an invisible barrier in place between them. They knew about him, about Mattie. Whether they still blamed him or not, the knowledge was in their eyes when they looked at him.
Katie was different. Of course, she’d been told what most folks believed, but it didn’t seem to affect her. Maybe that was why . . .
He snapped that thought off before it could go any further. Sure, there was plenty to admire about Katie. He liked the obvious pleasure she took in running her shop and the interest she showed in every person who walked through her door. That interest was genuine, and people could tell. He’d never succeed in talking to folks that easily, even if it did lead to more sales.
He’d been standing here too long, and they’d be wondering about him. He couldn’t just leave without stopping to talk. He started toward them, the ground still soggy under his feet.
“Caleb, gut. What do you think of the work so far?” Bishop Mose gestured toward the trench.
“I can’t say I know much about it.” He studied the trench in preference to looking at Katie and maybe having the bishop’s wise eyes detecting his feelings. “It seems like it would keep the water from pooling close to the building, though.”
“Ja, that’s the idea. I was just explaining to Katie.” Bishop Mose shook his head. “I wouldn’t have had this happen for the world. If there’s anything that was damaged, you chust tell me, and I’ll make it gut.”
“No need for that,” Katie said quickly. “It was the push I needed to get the rest of my boxes sorted, that’s all. And everyone has been so helpful.”
There was something—a quick flash of what might have been sorrow—in her eyes. Then it was gone, and Katie was smiling.
“Ja, for me as well,” Caleb said. “Nothing was damaged. When I got here, Katie and Rhoda were already moving my things up on the shelves.”
He paused, but maybe saying it in front of the bishop would seal the plan so Katie would stop arguing. “William and I will build shelves on Katie’s side of the cellar. I’ve got some pine boards in the attic that will work fine for that.”
“I’ll pay—” Katie began, of course.
“Indeed you will not,” Bishop Mose said. “The responsibility is mine, and I will pay to have shelves put in.”
“Nobody will pay,” Caleb said, exasperated. “The wood is free, and so is our work. It’s a simple thing to do for a neighbor.”
Bishop Mose studied Caleb’s face for a moment, and it wondered him what the bishop was thinking.
Then Bishop Mose nodded. “Gut. That’s settled, then. And we’ll all be plenty busy these next couple of weeks if Lisa Macklin’s idea goes well.”
“Lisa Macklin?” Caleb knew the Englisch woman, of course, just like he knew all the merchants in Pleasant Valley. But what was the bishop talking about?
“Ja, the idea to have special sale days the beginning of June. Didn’t she stop by to see you two yet?”
Caleb shook his head, but Katie nodded. “I knew a little about it,” she said. “Lisa asked if I would go in on an ad she was planning. I said I would, as long as Bishop Mose didn’t object, and he said it was all right.”
“Ja, I told Mrs. Macklin I thought it was a fine idea, so long as she didn’t use the word Amish to advertise. I’ve seen enough of that in places like Lancaster County, where they get a lot of tourists. And you can be sure that any shop that puts Amish in its name isn’t run by Amish folks.”
“I’ve seen that, too,” Caleb said, thinking of the trip he’d made to visit Daad’s distant cousins in Lancaster after Mattie left.
“Well, that’s not going to happen here
,” Bishop Mose said, his tone brisk. “But like Mrs. Macklin says, we all need people to buy things from us if we’re going to stay in business.”
“Ja, that’s what I think.” Katie’s face grew animated. “Lisa says that advertising the special sale days in those tourist papers they put out in Lewisburg and Mifflinburg will bring shoppers in. And if they like what they see, maybe they’ll return.”
“We can all use that.” Bishop Mose nudged Caleb with his elbow. “Don’t you agree?”
“I guess so.” He managed a smile. “I’m not so gut a salesperson as you two are, I think.”
Bishop Mose chuckled, turning toward the lane. “That little niece of yours is coming right along, though. I asked her about the nice display she made in your window, and she said Katie gave her the idea.”
“Ja?” He’d have to go and look at his own window. “I guess I hadn’t noticed that, but she has been keeping the place sparkling, and she even rearranged pieces so the shop looks more homey and friendly.”
Maybe that idea of Becky’s had come from Katie, as well. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
“I didn’t tell her what to do,” Katie said quickly. She walked alongside the bishop, but her gaze flickered to Caleb. “She was watching me arrange a display in my window, and we talked about what makes an appealing one. The idea for Caleb’s window was hers.”
“Gut for her.” Bishop Mose’s eyes twinkled. “Our Caleb needs someone to freshen up that shop of his.”
Maybe so, maybe not, but Caleb wasn’t going to discourage Becky from taking an interest. “I’m glad to see Becky so excited about the shop.”
“Gut, gut.” Bishop Mose lifted his hand in good-bye. “I will stop by tomorrow to see how the work is going.” He went on out the lane.
“I must be on my way, too.” Caleb headed for the stable, only to find that Katie was beside him.