“All right. Take care, Mandy, and tell everyone, including Luana and Makaio, I said hello.”
“I will. Bye, Ellen.” Mandy hung up the phone and sat slumped in her chair. As much as she loved it here on Kauai, she would miss her friends and family back home. It was hard to tell her best friend the sad news and even harder to ask Ellen to keep all this information a secret for some days ahead. Mandy would call her folks tomorrow and let them know the new plan. She dreaded hurting her parents, but it couldn’t be helped. This would be a big adjustment for several people in her life. But Mandy felt confident she was supposed to be on this island, so she would take one day at a time and trust God to guide her and Ken.
Middlebury
Ellen hung up the phone, leaned over, and bent into the pain. She couldn’t imagine Mandy and Ken selling their beautiful bed-and-breakfast, much less making what could very well be their permanent home in Hawaii.
Ellen tried to soak it all in as the tears ran down her cheeks. When the B&B sold, she would probably be without a job, because the thought of working here without her friend, Mandy, was not pleasant. She never imagined this would happen. Just thinking about this change brought an ache to her heart. Why do I have to lose one of my best friends? We had such a good thing here. Why, Lord?
Ellen wept for several minutes and then forced herself to sit up. It isn’t right for me to be thinking only of myself. I could tell from talking to Mandy that she felt sad about selling the bed-and-breakfast. She and Ken are making a sacrifice to stay on Kauai and keep his parents’ organic farm running. The least I can do is offer them my full support.
Ellen reached for a tissue, dried her eyes, and blew her nose. Then another thought popped into her head. Will I have to show the B&B to prospective owners, or will the Realtor Ken and Mandy hire do that? And if that’s the case, how’s it going to work if there are guests here?
There were so many things to think about; it was hard not to feel overwhelmed. Ellen knew, however, that the best antidote for stress was prayer. So she bowed her head and closed her eyes. Heavenly Father, You know what is best for Mandy and Ken, as well as Ken’s mother and brother. I want to seek Your will in my life, so help me keep a positive attitude and remember to trust You in all things. Perhaps there is something better for me than working here at the Pleasant View Bed-and-Breakfast. Help me to be open to the plans You have for my life. Please watch over my dear friends in Hawaii, as they serve and trust You for their future.
When Ellen opened her eyes, a sense of peace settled over her like being covered with a warm quilt. She didn’t know what the future held for any of them, but felt confident that through it all, the Lord would be their guide.
CHAPTER 5
I still can’t believe Mandy and Ken are selling this place,” Sadie said Friday evening as she and Ellen put on their aprons, in preparation for baking.
“I know. The Realtor they contacted is coming by tomorrow morning to do a walk-through, which will help her figure out how much they can ask for the B&B.” Ellen sniffed. “I’m trying to keep a good attitude, but I struggle not to cry every time I think about it. Everything went along so well, and now this.”
“I don’t understand why they couldn’t keep the B&B and let you run the business like you’re already doing.” Sadie’s chin jutted out. “A lot of people own a business in one state when they live in another. Besides, they might move back here someday. And if they sold the bed-and-breakfast, they’d have to start over.”
“Mandy and Ken will need the money from this place when it sells to help out with their expenses staying on the island.” Ellen pressed her palms against her chest. “I don’t think they have any plans of coming back.”
“I wonder if they’ll come home for visits.”
“Mandy said they would, but with a business to run, it will be difficult for them to get away very often.”
“Maybe we could take another cruise and go see them sometime.” Sadie’s round face offered Ellen a hopeful-looking smile. “It’s something to think about and maybe start planning for now.”
“Guess we’ll have to wait and see how it goes.” Ellen gestured to the baking pans sitting on the counter. “In the meantime, we’d better start mixing, or the harvest loaf will never get done.”
At ten o’clock on Saturday morning, a dark blue car pulled up the driveway of the Pleasant View Bed-and-Breakfast. It was Ken and Mandy’s Realtor, and Ellen wished she didn’t have to answer the door. The woman had phoned the night before, saying she’d be coming by this morning to do a walk-through of the B&B. While this was necessary in order to put the place on the market, Ellen dreaded the process. It was one more reminder that Mandy and Ken weren’t coming back. Nothing would be the same without them.
If whoever buys the B&B lets me keep working for them, maybe I won’t feel so bad, Ellen thought as she made her way to the front door. At least I’ll still be doing the kind of work I enjoy, and in familiar surroundings.
Ellen put a smile on her face and opened the front door just as the woman stepped onto the porch.
“Good morning, I’m Polly Stapleton.”
“Please come in. I’m Ellen Lambright.” She opened the door wider and stepped aside.
Polly paused in the entrance until the door was shut. “I didn’t realize this place was run by Amish. I’m sure the business does nicely in our tourist area.”
“Ken and Mandy are English, but I am Amish.”
“Oh, I see.” Polly looked about the room.
“During tourist season the B&B does a good business.” Ellen put her best friend’s interest ahead of her feelings. She wouldn’t say anything to detract from the sale of the home.
“The bed-and-breakfast is in a good location and quite easy to find.” Polly looked at the floors. “Is this wood flooring throughout most of the house?”
“Yes. Ken and Mandy had the kitchen floor sanded and finished after they moved in.” Ellen watched the Realtor write down the information.
“I understand there are six bedrooms in this house.” Polly turned to face Ellen. “How many of them are actually used for guests?”
“Five. There are three bedrooms down, and three upstairs. The owners have their own room and bath on one end of the house, and the other two downstairs rooms are for guests. Each of the rooms has its own bathroom,” Ellen added. She gestured to the living room. “Would you like to look in there first, or do you want to start with the bedrooms?”
“Let’s start with the kitchen, then work our way through the rest of the house.”
“Please excuse the disarray. I cleaned out the utensil drawer earlier and haven’t quite finished the project,” Ellen commented.
“No problem.” Polly placed her expensive-looking leather purse on the side table.
Ellen led the way, her heart sinking. This walk-through made selling the bed-and-breakfast official, and her resolve to keep a positive attitude was weakening.
That evening, when Sadie showed up, Ellen’s burden felt heavier. She tried to put on a happy face, but her friend saw right through it.
“Okay, what’s wrong?” Sadie placed her hands on Ellen’s shoulders. “I can see by the lines in your face and your slumped posture that you’re upset about something.”
“The real estate agent Mandy and Ken hired to sell the B&B was here this morning.” Ellen sank into a chair at the kitchen table. “She’ll put the place on the market within the next few days, and then it’s just a matter of time before someone buys it.” A deep sigh escaped her lips. “If I had enough money I’d purchase the B&B myself, but there’s no way I could come up with a decent down payment, let alone make monthly payments. Even if I could afford to buy this home, it wouldn’t be the same without our friend, Mandy.”
“I understand the feeling. I’m not dealing well with this either.” Sadie took a seat beside Ellen. “It’s hard to accept change, isn’t it?”
“Jah.” Ellen’s throat constricted. “It’s difficult to trust God for
my future.”
Sadie rapped her knuckles against the table. “A few years from now we might both be married. Then we’ll be focused on raising a family and feeling hopeful about our children’s futures.”
“Maybe so. Although right now, neither of us has a boyfriend, so marriage seems a long ways off—much less raising a family.”
Sadie clasped her hands under her chin. “You may not have a steady beau now, but there’s one young man who I believe would like to be your suitor.”
“Who would that be?”
“Ezra Bontrager.”
Ellen swatted the air. “Oh, not that again. If Ezra is looking for a woman to court, I’m sure it would be someone younger than me.” She pushed her chair aside and stood. “Now let’s get busy planning tomorrow’s breakfast for the two guests that checked in this afternoon.”
“All right, I’ll change the topic for now.” Sadie stood up and repositioned her kapp.
“What do you mean ‘for now’?” Ellen’s brows drew inward.
“Until Ezra is around here again, talking sweetly to you.” Sadie giggled.
“Okay, you’ve had your fun.” Ellen smiled and poked her friend’s arm.
The phone rang, and Ellen picked up the receiver. “Pleasant View Bed-and-Breakfast.” Since the computer wasn’t on, she glanced at the guest reservation book lying next to the phone. Not fully trusting the computer’s scheduling program, she used the book as a backup. “Yes, Mrs. Adams, the date you requested is confirmed. I have two rooms reserved for you and your family, and will look forward to seeing you next month.”
When Ellen hung up the phone she looked over at Sadie and groaned. “What’s going to happen if the B&B sells quickly? What if the new owners decide not to accommodate any of the guests that have reservations? They’ll need time to settle in, won’t they? What if they make all kinds of changes around here?”
“There, there, try to relax.” Sadie patted Ellen’s back. “You druwwle about things that may never happen. I’m sure whoever buys the bed-and-breakfast will be happy to have guests coming right away, because without people booking rooms, there would be no income.”
Ellen moved her head slowly up and down. “You’re right, Sadie. I do have a tendency to worry about things. I need to remember what Psalm 55:22 says: ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.’ ” She smiled. “If necessary, I’ll quote that verse every day to remind myself not to worry, but cast my burdens on the Lord.”
Kapaa
“Are you sure you don’t want something more to eat for lunch?” Mandy placed her hand on Ken’s arm as they sat at the table on his mother’s lanai. “You hardly ate a thing.”
“The heat of the day’s taken away my appetite,” he replied. “I’m good with the fruit salad you served.” Ken rose from his chair. “Besides, I want to check on those raised beds I built and see if I need to make any adjustments.”
“That’s fine, but could I say something first?”
“Sure. What’s on your mind?” Ken sat back down.
“Since the B&B will be going on the market soon, I think it would be good if I go back to Middlebury and box up some things to be sent here. Most of our clothes are still there, as well as many personal items. I’d like to make plane reservations right away. Can you manage without my help for a week or two?”
“Yes, I’ll manage. And you’re right—we do need the rest of our clothes, not to mention anything else we don’t want to sell with the B&B.” Ken leaned over and kissed Mandy’s forehead. “I wonder sometimes how I ever got along before I met you. The fact that you’re willing to leave your family and friends on the mainland and relocate here to help mine speaks volumes.”
She patted his arm. “My place is with you, Ken. Wherever you are is where I want to be.” Remembering her wedding vows, Mandy whispered, “My sacred promise is to stay by your side as your faithful wife, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, through good times and bad. I further promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always to be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”
Ken drew Mandy into his arms. “I thank the Lord for bringing you into my life. Had you and Ellen not become stranded on this island, I would never have experienced the joy of knowing you, my beautiful wife.”
Mandy gazed into her husband’s vibrant blue eyes. “I am thankful God brought you into my life as well. And I am confident that wherever we go and whatever we do, with you by my side and God at the center of our lives, we will find peace and happiness.”
CHAPTER 6
Middlebury
It’s so good to see you.” As soon as Mandy entered the bed-and-breakfast, Ellen gave her a welcoming hug. “It seems like you’ve been gone forever.”
“I know.” Mandy swallowed hard, hoping tears wouldn’t let loose and she’d be unable to stop crying. Being back in Middlebury, in the home she and Ken had bought soon after their marriage, was bittersweet. As much as she loved Hawaii, it was hard to think about leaving her family and friends once again.
The prospect of selling the B&B was also difficult. Their lovely home had been on the market for two weeks, and so far they’d received no offers. At least with Ellen running things, the business would stay open for guests while it was for sale. Mandy hoped when a buyer came along that the people would continue using the home as a bed-and-breakfast.
“How long can you stay before you have to go back to Hawaii?” Ellen asked, following Mandy into the living room, after she’d taken off her coat.
“My return flight is in two weeks, so that should give me enough time to go through everything, get it boxed up, and sent off to Kauai.” Mandy blew out a noisy breath. “It could be a while before either Ken or I will be able to come back for another visit, so I’ll want to spend some time with my family and other friends while I’m here too.” She moved close to the fireplace, rubbing her hands. “Brr … I’ve been enjoying the warmth of Hawaii long enough to forget how cold it can be here this time of the year.”
Ellen nodded. “I assume you’ve already seen your folks?”
“Oh, yes. They hired a driver and met me at the airport in South Bend.” Yawning, Mandy took a seat on the couch, and Ellen joined her. “Sorry. I’m kind of tired.”
“Well, you did just fly over the ocean and several states. You’ll have to get used to the time change too.”
“You’re right about that. It took me a week to adapt to Hawaii time, and now I’m back here and will need to readjust.” Mandy yawned again, although she wasn’t sure it was only the trip making her tired. All the extra work she’d been doing to help Ken and his mother was enough to exhaust anyone. They all worked on the farm from sunup to sunset. And now she had much to do here, which would also be tiring.
Mandy looked around. “The place looks nice. You’re doing a great job keeping it spotless.”
“You know me. I like to make sure everything is in its place.” Ellen smiled.
“You’ve always been more organized than me.” Mandy lifted her hands and let them fall. “I’m sorry to put you through all this, Ellen. Having the Realtor come by and having to make sure everything looks good so she can show the B&B to potential buyers can’t be easy.”
“It’s okay. I’m doing it for my best friend, so don’t give it another thought.” Ellen gave Mandy another hug. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“Same here.”
“Sadie suggested the two of us plan another cruise to Hawaii so we can visit you on Kauai.” Ellen stared down at her hands, resting in her lap. “I’m not sure when that would be, though. She has her job at the hardware store, and I’m working here right now, so it would be hard for either of us to take a trip anytime soon.”
“I understand.” Mandy reached over and clasped Ellen’s hand. “You’re my best friend, and no matter how many miles separate us, I�
��ll never forget you. We must keep in touch through letters and phone calls. It will help us know how to pray for each other.”
“If I’m still working here, or someplace else where there’s a computer, we could email each other.”
“True. I hadn’t thought of that. Now aren’t you glad Ken taught us both some basic computer skills?”
“Jah, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get really good at it. I’m still leery of pushing a wrong key.” Ellen glanced toward the window. “Did you hear a horse whinny outside?”
Mandy tipped her head. “I think so.”
Ezra could almost hear his knees knock together as he stood on the front porch of the Pleasant View Bed-and-Breakfast. Whenever he was in the same room with Ellen, he felt like a schoolboy with a crush on the teacher. Only Ellen wasn’t his teacher. She was his boss’s daughter, and a beautiful woman two years older than him. Every time he looked at her pretty blue eyes or shiny golden blond hair peeking out from under her kapp, his mouth went dry. Ezra was certain Ellen didn’t realize his interest in her went beyond friendship, nor did Ellen’s father. Ezra certainly would never have admitted it to anyone either. He’d be embarrassed if Ellen knew how he felt, and even more so if he asked to court her, and she turned him down.
He’d known Ellen since they were in school together, but because she was two years older, he’d never imagined them being anything but casual friends. It’s best I admire her from a distance and not let on for now, at least. If Ellen ever gives an indication of liking me, though, I might take the chance.
Ezra remembered how one day when they were youngsters playing in the schoolyard, he’d gotten a splinter in his thumb and Ellen had removed it. Back then, they saw each other in church, but other than school and church, they’d never made contact. When Ezra became older and saw Ellen at a young people’s event, he’d watch her and wish he had the nerve to talk to Ellen or ask her out. But he was too scared to approach the young woman and face rejection.
The Hawaiian Discovery Page 4