“Maybe not,” Luann’s husband, Philip, put in, “but this chicken is finger-lickin’ good.” He swiped his tongue over his fingers and grinned at Luann’s mother, who gave him a wide smile in return.
“Not to change the subject or anything,” Luann said, “but Meredith’s birthday is coming up in two weeks, so I think it would be nice if we did something special to celebrate.”
“That’s a good idea.” Nina, who was fourteen, nodded her head. “That will let Meredith know how much we love her.”
“I don’t think Meredith will be up to a big party,” Grandma said. “Maybe a nice, small family gathering is all that she needs.”
“Just a little celebration among us,” Luann agreed. “I can make her favorite cake and decorate it the way I used to when she was little. I’ll even make it a three-tiered cake and use the pretty glass cake dish you used for my birthday when I was growing up,” she added, looking at her mother.
“That all sounds good to me—especially the cake,” Philip said with a wink.
“Let’s make it a surprise, though, because if we tell Meredith we want to have a get-together for her birthday, she’ll probably say not to bother or that she doesn’t feel like celebrating this year,” Luann said. “We’ll tell Laurie and Alma about it, of course. Maybe Alma can take Meredith someplace that afternoon, and while they’re gone, I’ll go over to Meredith’s house and get things ready. I’ll make sure to tell Alma not to bring Meredith home until six o’clock. By then, we’ll all be there, ready to surprise Meredith when they get back.”
“What about our horses and buggies?” Stanley asked as he pulled the fried coating from his piece of chicken and ate that first. “Won’t Meredith see ’em out in the yard and know we’re there?”
“We can put the horses in the barn and hide the buggies around back,” Philip responded.
Stanley grinned. “That’s a good idea, Dad.”
“I think so, too, and I’m gonna make Meredith a pretty birthday card with birds on it.” Arlene grinned. “Meredith likes feeding the birds in her yard.”
“Should we invite Luke’s folks, as well as Meredith’s friend Dorine and her family, too?” Luann asked Philip.
He nodded. “I think they’d feel left out if we didn’t.”
“All right then, I’ll start working out the details tomorrow morning.” Luann looked at her mother. “Would you like to help me plan things, Mom?”
A big smile formed on the elderly woman’s face. “Of course I would.”
Darby
“This is really a nice place,” Susan said as she and Anne entered the restaurant. Several of Grandma and Grandpa’s closest friends had already arrived, and they’d been taken to the banquet room, where tables had been set up with a few anniversary decorations. The cake had been safely delivered; the guests were all there; all they needed now was Grandma and Grandpa.
While everyone visited, Susan kept checking her watch. Forty minutes later, when they still hadn’t arrived, Susan turned to Anne and said, “Grandma and Grandpa should have been here by now. Think I’d better give them a call.”
“That’s a good idea,” Anne agreed. “Maybe we shouldn’t order our meals until they get here.”
Susan pulled out her cell phone and called Grandma’s cell number. All she got was her voice mail. She left a message, then dialed the home number, but only got the answering machine there. The later it got, the more she worried. Now where could they be? The weather’s not bad or anything. It just doesn’t make sense.
“Do you think they forgot?” Susan asked Anne.
Anne shrugged. “They could have, I guess. Either that or they got lost, which would make no sense since the restaurant isn’t all that far from their home.” She motioned to one of the tables where several elderly couples sat. “It’s getting late, and I’m sure everyone’s hungry, so I think we should go ahead and let these good people order their meals. If Grandpa and Grandma haven’t arrived by the time everyone’s done eating, we’ll head for home and hope that they’re there.”
“Okay,” Susan agreed. “I pray that Grandma and Grandpa are all right.
Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
“I don’t see any sign of Susan or Anne,” Norma Bailey said to her husband, Henry, when they entered the Italian restaurant where they were supposed to meet their granddaughters.
“They probably got waylaid at the hospital,” Henry said. “You know how that can be when things get busy.”
Norma nodded as she took her seat at the table their hostess had shown them. “I think I’ll give the girls a call and let them know we’re here.” She reached into her purse for her cell phone. “Oh, oh.”
“What’s wrong?”
“No cell phone. I must have left it at home.”
Henry frowned. “Never did have much use for those little gadgets. They’re so small, no wonder you forgot it. Probably wouldn’t have seen it if it’d been right under your nose.”
She laughed and elbowed his arm. “Are you saying my eyesight is failing?”
“No, I’m saying most of those cell phones are way too small.” He glanced at his watch. “Do you think maybe the reason the girls aren’t here is because we have the wrong night?”
“I suppose that’s possible, but I’m almost certain they said they’d meet us here tonight.” Norma glanced across the room. “Say, isn’t that Mary and Ben Hagen, the new couple from church?”
Henry’s gaze followed hers. “I believe it is.”
“Maybe we should ask them to join us.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “What about Susan and Anne?”
“What about them?”
“Won’t they be upset when they get here and see that we’ve invited someone to join our little party?”
Norma shook her head. “Our granddaughters are both very social. I’m sure they won’t mind a few extra people at our table. Besides, we should make the Hagens feel welcome, so why don’t you go over there and invite them to join us?”
Henry’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why me? It was your idea, Norma.”
She clicked her tongue. “All right then, I’ll invite them.”
A few minutes later, Norma returned with Mary and Ben. They all ordered their meals and got busy talking. When the couple mentioned that their twenty-seven-year-old grandson, Brian, who was single, would be visiting during the summer, Norma perked right up, saying they’d have to make sure that he met Susan, who was close to his age.
When their meal was over, the Baileys decided to go home. Susan and Anne were obviously not coming.
When they entered their house sometime later, Norma was surprised to discover their granddaughters sitting in the kitchen with an anniversary cake.
“Where have you been?” Susan asked, jumping up from the table. “We’ve been crazy with worry about you.”
“That’s right,” Anne agreed. “How come you didn’t meet us at the restaurant?”
Henry’s eyebrows pulled together. “What do you mean? We were there. Where were you two girls?”
“We were there with some of your good friends waiting for you.” Susan tipped her head and looked at Henry with a peculiar expression. “What restaurant did you and Grandma go to?”
“Pica’s Italian Restaurant in Upper Darby. Isn’t that where we were supposed to meet?”
“No, it was Keya Graves, the seafood and steakhouse here in Darby.” Susan looked at Anne, and they both burst out laughing. When they finally quit, Susan explained that she’d tried to call but had only gotten voice mail and that they’d ended up eating at the restaurant with Grandma and Grandpa’s friends and had brought the cake home.
Norma chuckled and then told the girls how they’d met Mary and Ben and eaten supper with them.
Henry pointed to the cake. “Well, we may not have celebrated our anniversary dinner with you two, but we can sure eat this tasty-looking cake right now.”
“Good idea.” Susan jumped up and got out the plates, forks, and napkins, then cu
t the cake.
“This tastes just like the buttermilk cake we had on our wedding day.” Norma smiled at the girls after she’d taken her first bite.
“It is,” Anne said. “We found a bakery that makes vintage cakes, and couldn’t believe it when we described your wedding cake and were told that they could make one just like it.”
As they ate, they visited and laughed some more about the crazy evening and how it had turned out. Although not together, at least they’d all had a good meal.
“It’s good to see you laughing,” Norma said, patting Susan’s arm. “You’ve been much too serious lately—probably due to all the stresses at work and worrying about your John Doe patient.”
Susan smiled as she started clearing the dishes. “You’re right, and this has been a fun evening, even if you didn’t get to celebrate your anniversary with all your closest friends.”
“We celebrated with our family,” Norma said, “and that’s what’s important. But I’m sure we’re going to be in for a lot of ribbing when we see some of those friends at church on Sunday.”
“Especially when they find out we went to the wrong restaurant.” Henry released a noisy yawn and stood. “Guess I’d better head for bed.”
“Me, too,” Norma agreed, rising to her feet. “It’s been a long day and, I might add, an exciting evening.”
“Before you leave the kitchen, there’s something I wanted to say,” Anne spoke up as she got the sponge to wipe a few crumbs off the table.
“What’s that?” Henry asked, turning around.
“I wanted to remind you that Susan and I will be going to Lancaster County on Saturday, and you’re more than welcome to join us.”
“That’s nice of you,” Norma said, “but your grandpa and I already have plans.”
He looked at her and quirked an eyebrow. “We do?”
She nodded. “We’re getting together with Mary and Ben, remember?” She placed her hand on Susan’s shoulder. “You two should go and have fun. If your grandpa and I went along, we’d only slow you down.”
“I don’t think so, Grandma,” Susan said, giving Norma a hug. “But if you’ve made other plans, we understand.”
“Well, good night then.” Norma was glad Henry hadn’t mentioned anything about Mary and Ben’s grandson, because that would probably put Susan on the defensive. Norma had tried playing matchmaker with both Susan and Anne a few times, and it hadn’t been well received.
Maybe I won’t have to play matchmaker, she told herself. I’ll just keep praying that God will bring the right men into my granddaughters’ lives. After all, He knows better than I do who Susan and Anne both need, and if it’s meant to happen, it will be in His time.
CHAPTER 8
Bird-in-Hand
This day is turning out to be so much fun,” Anne said to Susan as they pulled into the parking lot at the farmers’ market on Saturday afternoon.
“Oh, I know,” Susan agreed. “The homemade rootbeer and soft pretzel we had at that roadside stand awhile ago were sure good. I’m glad we bought a gallon of rootbeer to take home so Grandma and Grandpa can enjoy it, too.”
“Yes, and it’s a good thing you thought to bring the cooler along.” Anne parked the car and turned off the ignition. “Maybe we’ll find some other tasty morsels inside the market.”
Susan chuckled. “If we eat anything else, we’ll probably be too full for supper.”
“I don’t care if I am,” Anne said. “I’ve waited a long time for this trip, and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it—including the food. By the way, Susan, did I mention how much I like that cute pink blouse you’re wearing today?”
“Glad you like it. On a whim, I stopped at the clothing store near the hospital the other day and found this on the bargain table.” Susan held the market door open. “Now let’s go see what we can find to eat!”
When they entered the building, Susan inhaled deeply, enjoying the delicious aromas coming from the various food vendors. At a booth near the door stood a man making fried corn fritters. The smell of coffee brewing was in the air, as well as the sweet aroma of baked goods coming from the stand across the aisle. From where she stood, Susan could see they had whoopie pies, apple fritters, homemade bread, cookies, and an assortment of delicious-looking pies. It would be hard to get past that booth without taking something home for dessert.
Susan glanced in one direction and then another, unable to take everything in. All the seats were filled in the eating area, and she noticed several people enjoying sandwiches and hot dogs.
“Let’s start over here,” Anne suggested, pointing to her right.
As they walked up and down the aisles, they stopped to sample some pickled vegetables, then moved on to taste a few homemade pretzels and chips with several dipping sauces.
“Look at this,” Susan exclaimed as they approached a stand with unique wooden art. “Imagine taking an old shutter and turning it into something that beautiful.”
“The artist must be very talented.” Anne ran her hand over the smooth piece of shutter that had a deer scene carved into the wood. “I wonder if Grandpa would like something like this to hang on the living-room wall.”
“I think he might. We’ll get it for him before we leave,” Susan said. “It’ll make a nice belated anniversary gift to surprise him with.”
“I’m thirsty now,” Anne said as they continued browsing. She pointed to a vendor selling freshly squeezed lemonade. “Let’s get something to drink.”
Susan followed Anne over to the stand, and as they stood drinking their lemonade, she noticed a young, blond-haired Amish woman across the aisle selling faceless Amish dolls. “I think I’ll go over there and see how much those dolls cost,” she told Anne.
“Seriously? Are you thinking of buying one?”
Susan nodded. “I’ve always been fascinated with the Amish culture, and a doll like that would look cute on my bed.”
“I’m fascinated, too, but I think I may buy a quilted wall hanging or table runner to give Grandma,” Anne said. “We might find something else for Grandpa before we’re done, as well.”
Susan smiled. “Since the party we planned for them didn’t work out, the least we can do is get each of them something nice.”
“I think so, too,” Anne agreed.
“I wonder if Grandpa would like one of those straw hats they’re selling over there?” Susan pointed in the direction of the hats. “He could wear it when he’s working in the yard, and it’ll keep the sun off his head.”
“That’s a good idea. Let’s get that for Grandpa, too,” Anne said with a nod.
When they approached the stand where the Amish dolls were being sold, the young woman looked up at them and smiled. “Can I help you with something?”
“Yes, I’d like to know the price of your faceless dolls,” Susan said.
“The smaller ones are thirty dollars, and the larger dolls are forty dollars.”
“I think I’d like one of the larger dolls.” Susan looked at Anne. “Should I get one with blond, brown, or auburn hair?”
Anne touched Susan’s straight bob. “Well, since you’re a brunette, why don’t you get a doll with brown hair?”
Susan pursed her lips as she studied the dolls on display. “Come to think of it, I may get a boy doll and a girl doll—both with blond hair like Eddie’s.”
A crease formed across Anne’s nose as she frowned. “This is our day off, and you’re not supposed to be thinking about your patients.”
“I know, but seeing the color of these dolls’ hair made me think of him, that’s all.” She picked up one of the girl dolls and studied the detail of its clothes—a dark blue dress, white apron, and a little white cap. On the back of its cloth body was a tag that read: Handmade by Laurie King.
Susan smiled at the Amish woman. “Is your name Laurie? Did you make these dolls?”
“Jah. I mean, yes,” Laurie replied. “I enjoy sewing, and I’ve been making dolls like these since I was fifteen.”
“You don’t look much more than that now,” Anne interjected.
A pink blush erupted on the young woman’s cheeks. “I’m nineteen,” she said, dropping her gaze to the dolls.
“You do a nice job of sewing, and as soon as I make up my mind, I’m definitely going to buy at least one.”
“It feels good to be here at the market,” Meredith said as she and Alma walked past Groff’s candy stand, where delectable-looking fudge, peanut brittle, nuts, and dried fruits beckoned people. “I just wish we’d gotten here a bit sooner, because everything will close down in an hour or so.”
“I know, but I think we still have plenty of time to see what we want.” Alma made a sweeping gesture of the booths nearby. “Even though there are bigger farmers’ markets in the area, I like coming here because it’s close to my home, and it’s a much smaller market than some.”
“That’s true,” Meredith agreed. “The Green Dragon and Roots Markets are a lot larger, but it’s really hard to see everything; although I have enjoyed visiting those markets many times before.”
They strolled past several other stands, and as they approached Sue’s Sandwich Shoppe, Meredith halted. “Should we get some subs to take home for supper? That way we won’t have to cook anything tonight.”
“Uh … I’m not really in the mood for a sub sandwich.”
“How about some other kind of sandwich or a pretzel dog?”
Alma shook her head. “You need a more substantial meal than that.” She slipped her arm around Meredith’s waist. “I’ll fix us a hearty meal as soon as we get home.”
Meredith didn’t argue. If there was one thing she’d learned about Alma, it was that once she’d made her mind up about something, there was no changing it. And the truth was, her home-cooked meals were delicious, so Meredith figured whatever Alma fixed would be a treat.
“If you’re really hungry and can’t wait for supper, why don’t we snack on a few samples?” Alma suggested.
“Okay.” Meredith led the way to her dad’s stand, where he sold kettle corn. They visited with him awhile and tasted a few of the little cups he had setting out for people to try.
The HOPE of SPRING Page 6