by Beth Wiseman
“No, Janie,” he said. “I’m sorry this happened to you.” He longed to touch her arm and hug her the way she’d hugged him last night, but he couldn’t disobey her father. He didn’t want to make things more difficult for her, but the thought of not having her in his life was so painful it stole his breath.
“I have to go,” she said, her voice hitching on the last word.
Before he could respond, Janie rushed out of the break room and into the staff restroom, the door lock clicking behind her.
Jonathan leaned his back against the wall and squeezed his eyes shut. His life had changed dramatically within the past twelve hours. He’d gone from realizing he was in love and wanting to start a new life in Pennsylvania to losing that love before he even had a chance to share his feelings with her. Disappointment, anger, and guilt warred within him. If only he could convince her father that he loved her.
Pushing off the wall, he ambled through the store and tried to think of a way to convince Janie’s father his feelings for her were pure, and that he would love Janie and take care of her for the rest of his life.
Janie sat alone in the break room and tried to eat her lunch. Her turkey sandwich tasted like sand as she slowly chewed it. She wasn’t hungry even though she couldn’t stomach her breakfast either. Last night, she’d tossed and turned all night long and cried until she was convinced she had no tears left to shed. The thought of losing Jonathan’s friendship had cut her to the core, and the anguish on his face when she told him the news had jammed the knife even further into her heart.
Janie had tried to talk to her mother last night, begging her to convince Dat to change his mind about Jonathan. Despite Janie’s best efforts, Mamm had refused, explaining she couldn’t go against his decisions. Janie knew she was out of options. There was nothing she could do except try to avoid Jonathan and pray her heart would someday heal.
The door opened, and Eva entered the break room. She tilted her head in question.
“What are you doing in here?” Eva asked as she crossed the room and opened the refrigerator. “Is it too cold to eat outside?”
“I decided to eat in here.”
“Where’s Jonathan?” Eva retrieved her lunch bag and sat down across from Janie. “Don’t you two eat together every day? Is he out on a buggy run?”
“No.” Janie studied her half-eaten sandwich. “I can’t eat with him anymore.”
“You can’t eat with him?” Eva pulled out her sandwich. “I don’t understand.”
Janie met her friend’s curious eyes and shared her father’s reaction to the news that she had told Craig the truth about the other driver.
“So now I can’t see him.” Janie cleared her throat in hopes of dissolving the lump that swelled there.
Eva gave a sympathetic frown. “Janie, I am so sorry. Just give your dat time to calm down and maybe he’ll change his mind.”
“He won’t.” Janie heaved a deep sigh. “I don’t regret helping Jonathan. I couldn’t keep the truth to myself, but I couldn’t lie to mei dat either. I thought Jonathan and I might someday be more than freinden, but now I just have to find a way to get over my broken heart.” Tears flooded her eyes, but she willed them not to fall. She’d already cried too much since last night.
“Don’t give up hope, Janie.” Eva leaned across the table and touched Janie’s hand. “Jonathan obviously cares about you, and I have a feeling he won’t let you go so easily. Maybe he can find a way to show your dat you belong together.”
“I doubt it,” Janie muttered as more heartache drowned her.
Craig came out of his office one afternoon in late October as Janie straightened the T-shirt display and Eva arranged the shelves of cloth dolls.
“Could one of you possibly lock up tonight?” Craig asked. “I meant to ask you earlier in the week, but I forgot. Bianca and I are having a Halloween party tonight, and she needs me to run a few errands.” He rested his elbow on the counter. “I’m sorry this is last minute, but the party is a big deal to Bianca. She loves Halloween and invites all her friends.”
Eva grimaced. “I’m sorry, but I can’t stay tonight. I promised mei mamm and dat we’d go see mei cousin Esther’s new boppli tonight.”
Janie shrugged and looked at Eva. “I can stay.”
“Are you sure?” Craig asked with concern. “Are you comfortable locking up alone?”
“Ya.” Janie nodded with emphasis. “I helped Eva lock up last week, and she showed me what to do. I have my own set of keys. I’ll just call my parents and my driver. It’s no problem.”
“And you remember how to make the deposit?” Eva asked. “Can your driver take you by the bank?”
“Oh ya.” Janie waved off the question. “It’s not a problem at all.”
“Thank you so much, Janie.” Craig smiled with relief. “You just saved me from getting in trouble with Bianca. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
The remainder of the afternoon flew by as Janie and Eva helped customers and restocked shelves.
After Eva left for the day, Janie vacuumed, dusted a few shelves, and then closed out the register, pushing the stacks of bills into the zippered bank bag for the nightly deposit. She put the bank bag into her tote bag, put on her sweater, and then gathered her purse, tote bag, and lunch bag before turning off the lights and walking to the front door. The keys jingled as she pulled them out of her apron pocket. She flipped the electronic Open sign to Closed, made sure the front door was still locked, and then stood there, listening.
An eerie feeling prickled Janie’s spine as she looked out at the deserted parking lot. Only a little moonlight and a couple of lampposts from neighboring businesses illuminated the grounds outside the shop. She couldn’t stop the feeling that someone was watching her. She tried to push the ridiculous thought away. Of course there’s no one there.
Janie moved to the side door to wait for her driver. She looked toward the stable and saw a light burning inside. She wondered if one of the buggy drivers had forgotten to turn off the lights before leaving. Had Jonathan been the last one to close up tonight? Her heart kicked at the thought of his handsome face. Oh, how she’d missed him the past two weeks.
Janie had tried her best to avoid him, but he seemed to appear when she least expected it. She ran into him in the break room one afternoon last week, and although he offered her a kind greeting and smile, she quickly excused herself. The following morning he arrived at the store at the same moment she did, and they shared an awkward greeting before parting ways like two mere acquaintances.
When Janie walked past the stable a few days later, she saw him talking to two pretty Englisher girls, who giggled and smiled at him. She gritted her teeth at the sight, and something that felt a whole lot like jealousy bubbled up inside of her. Jonathan looked over at her and gave her a cordial smile and wave, and she hurried past the stable toward the store. She’d tried to put on a brave face, but every time she saw Jonathan, her heart seemed to shatter a little more.
Now as Janie stood gazing out over the dark parking lot at the side of the building, she longed for the warmth of Jonathan’s protective hand to calm her nerves. She’d never been afraid of the dark, but something felt wrong tonight—she just couldn’t put her finger on what was amiss. When she saw headlights reflecting off the side of the stable, she looked up at a clock over the door that read seven fifteen. Frank, her driver, was early, but Frank was often early.
Janie stepped outside, and the cold October air seeped in through her dress, sending goose bumps up her arms. She longed for a warmer sweater. The door clicked shut behind her.
As Janie pushed the key into the lock and turned it, she thought she heard footsteps. The hair on the back of her neck stood as she turned around. She had to be hearing things. The headlights were gone and there was no van in sight. The driver of the vehicle must have been turning around in the parking lot. Frank wasn’t there.
Janie heard the sound again. Her hands shook and her mouth dried. Perhaps it was an ani
mal, maybe a stray cat. She’d seen a mother cat and kittens near the stable the other day.
“Hello?” Janie’s voice shook. “Is someone there?” she tried to shout, but her voice was thin, and her hands trembled as she gripped the strap of her bag. “Hello?”
Suddenly, out of the darkness, a man rounded the corner of the building and came at her. Janie’s heart hammered as her eyes focused. Under the dim light mounted over the door, she could see he was dressed in black from head to toe, with a black knit cap over his dark hair. His face and lips were covered with sores and blemishes, and when he flashed a menacing smile, he was missing a few teeth. He pointed something metal at her, and it gleamed in the light above her.
Janie gasped as her eyes focused on the metal object.
A gun.
Icy fear slithered up her back, and panic tightened her throat.
“Give me the money,” he said, stepping closer to her. He smelled like sweat and onions, and she willed herself not to gag.
Her mind raced with confusion and terror. Was she dreaming?
“Don’t play dumb with me! I saw you put the money bag in there through the window,” the man bellowed, training the gun on her tote bag. “You have two choices. You either give it to me willingly or I will take it by force. What’s it gonna be?”
The gun clicked, and Janie stood frozen with fear. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came. A tear trickled down her cheek.
This is it. I’m going to die.
Jonathan rubbed Bucky’s neck. “Want some fresh water, bu?”
Bucky nodded his head in response.
“All right, then.” He walked toward the back of the stable to get a bucket of water.
Jonathan had told Craig he was going to stay late tonight to fix the stall doors, but the truth was he had to stay busy in a lame attempt to keep his mind off Janie. He’d nearly gone crazy with regret and heartache since she’d stopped talking to him. Seeing her at work every day was sweet torture. Staying busy was the only thing that kept him sane.
As Jonathan approached the sink near the stable door, he thought he heard a voice outside. He cracked the door open and listened. It sounded as if he’d heard a man’s voice, but it was after seven o’clock. Everyone should’ve gone home by now. He stepped into the doorway, looked toward the store, and was surprised to find two figures standing by the side entrance to the store.
Suddenly the scene came into focus. A tall man was standing in front of Janie and had a gun pointed at her face.
Jonathan’s stomach plummeted, and adrenaline surged through him. He spun, grabbed a two-by-four piece of wood, and dashed toward the store.
As Jonathan approached, the man spun and trained the gun on him. Jonathan swung the piece of wood, knocking the gun from the man’s hand. The gun flew through the air and skidded across the parking lot. The thief’s eyes widened and he lunged for Jonathan as Janie screamed. Jonathan held the piece of wood up, preparing to hit the man with it.
Bright beams of light danced around the parking lot and blinded Jonathan for a split second. When his eyes focused again, he saw a white van speeding toward them.
The man spun to face the van and then sprinted across the parking lot toward the road. Jonathan blew out a puff of air and dropped the piece of wood with a clatter, his hands shaking.
“Jonathan!” Janie cried before rushing over and throwing herself into his arms. “Danki.” Her voice was shaking. “I thought he was going to kill me. Thank you so much.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on to him.
He rubbed her back and tried to will himself to stop shaking. “I’m just glad I was here,” he whispered.
“What happened?” Frank, Janie’s driver, had rushed from his van.
Without letting go of Janie, Jonathan explained.
“We need to call the police and give them a description,” Frank said. “We can use my phone.”
Janie looked up at Jonathan. “Will you stay with me?” Her eyes pleaded with him to say yes.
He stared into her blue eyes and found fear mixed with relief. “Of course I will.”
Nearly two hours later, Janie sat in the backseat and held Jonathan’s hand as Frank’s van steered down her street. Her mind kept replaying the scene at the store, and she shuddered at the memory of the man’s face. She’d never been so terrified in her life. She couldn’t stop wondering what would’ve happened if Jonathan hadn’t been working late in the stable. Would the man have shot her just to get the money?
She squeezed Jonathan’s hand and looked up into his brown eyes. He gave her an encouraging smile, and her eyes misted over again. She loved him deeply.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered.
“I’ve missed you too,” he echoed, his finger gently pushing an errant lock of her hair back from her face.
“Thank you so much for saving me.”
Jonathan smiled. “I think that’s the hundredth time you’ve thanked me. You don’t have to keep saying that.”
Janie leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes while still holding his hand. Warmth and security replaced her earlier panic and fear. She didn’t want to ever let go of Jonathan.
The van came to a stop at the back door of her house, and her parents rushed out, followed by Marie.
“Janie!” Mamm hollered as Janie climbed out of the van. “We got Frank’s message that a man tried to rob you. Are you hurt?” Her eyes were wild with worry.
“Are you all right?” Dat asked, looking equally concerned.
Marie’s eyes were red as if she’d been crying. “What happened?”
Janie took a shaky breath and then felt Jonathan’s calming hand on her shoulder. She glanced up at him.
“Do you want me to tell them?” he asked.
Janie nodded, knowing she’d start to cry if she spoke.
Jonathan slowly explained what happened while her family gaped as they listened. “The man ran when Frank drove up. It was perfect timing.”
Frank shook his head and scowled. “I’m just so sorry I didn’t come early tonight.” He turned to Janie. “I’m so sorry.”
Janie opened her mouth to say it wasn’t his fault when her mother interrupted.
“Ach! Jonathan,” Mamm said, tears glistening in her eyes, “you saved mei dochder.” She hugged him. “Danki. That man could have killed her.”
“I’m so froh you were there,” Marie said, her voice thick. “I don’t want to think about what could have happened.”
Dat approached Jonathan and shook his hand, then gently slapped his shoulder. “Danki, Jonathan. I can’t thank you enough.”
A tear trickled down Janie’s cheek. She sniffed and tried to hold back her emotions.
“Timothy,” Jonathan began, his voice trembling, “I love your dochder. I’ve decided to sell mei haus in Maryland and move here. I’m going to talk to mei onkel and cousin about going into business with them. I want to make a life here, and I would be honored if I could date Janie.” He turned toward her. “I would do anything in my power to take care of her and keep her safe.”
Janie’s eyes widened. For the second time tonight, she was speechless.
Jonathan looked back at her father. “I know I’m quite a bit older than Janie, but age doesn’t mean anything to me. My grandparents are nine years apart, and they’ve built a wonderful life together. They both told me their ages never mattered. What mattered to them was how they felt about each other.” He paused as if to gather his thoughts. “All I know is I care about Janie, and I would be honored to have your blessing.”
To Janie’s surprise, her father smiled. He turned toward her mother, and she nodded. Janie gasped with surprise.
“Jonathan, you have our blessing,” Dat said. “Come back tomorrow for supper and we’ll talk more. I think we all need some sleep after this stressful night.”
For the second time tonight, Janie wondered if she were dreaming. Renewed hope and happiness blossomed inside of her.
Jonathan nodded. “Danki so much, Timothy.”
Dat’s smile suddenly faded as he looked back and forth between Janie and Jonathan, and worry shoved away Janie’s happiness. She held her breath in anticipation of what her father was going to say.
“I owe you both an apology,” he began. “I never should have told Janie to keep the truth about the accident from Craig. Telling the truth is always the right thing to do, and I was completely wrong. I’m sorry it took something like this for me to realize my mistake.” His focus settled on Jonathan. “I also was wrong to instruct her to stay away from you, Jonathan. I’m grateful you’ve come into Janie’s life. You’re a blessing.”
“Danki, Dat.” Tears clouded Janie’s vision as she gave her father a quick hug.
“Let’s go inside,” Dat said to Janie.
“Would you give me just a minute?” she asked.
“Five minutes.”
Her parents and Marie said good night to Jonathan and Frank and then headed into the house. Frank climbed into the van and left Janie and Jonathan standing together on the rock driveway.
Jonathan cupped Janie’s cheek with his hand and smiled down at her. “I meant what I said to your father. I love you and I want to build a life with you.”
Janie’s heart thudded as warmth flooded her body. “Ich liebe dich, Jonathan.”
He leaned down and his lips brushed hers, sending electric pulses singing through her veins. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his lips against hers.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jonathan whispered, his breath warm against her cheek.
Janie opened her eyes and nodded. “Danki again for saving me.”
Jonathan shook his head and smiled. “Janie, you’ve saved me, so we’re even. When I came here, I’d given up on love. You showed me I could love again.”
As he kissed her again, Janie silently thanked God for sending Jonathan to her.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS