He looked up at her from the cushioned wicker couch and forced a smile. “Did you want something? Because if you did, I probably can’t do it.” Ken couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of his tone, but felt bad the minute he said it. “Sorry, Mandy. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”
“Apology accepted.” She took a seat in the chair beside him, then reached over and took hold of his hand. “Feel this, Ken. Our baby is quite active this morning.” She placed his hand on her stomach.
Ken drew in a sharp breath, and tears stung the back of his eyes as he felt movement beneath the surface of his wife’s belly. His son or daughter was inside Mandy’s womb and would make an appearance soon. Ken could either sit around feeling sorry for himself or figure out a way to take care of his wife and child and become the best dad he could be. He needed to count his blessings and be thankful God spared his life.
The sun beat down on Rob’s head. Even through his ball cap he felt the intensity of this warm afternoon. Fall weather in Hawaii is sure different from what I dealt with on the mainland. I wouldn’t go back there for anything, though.
He glanced at the lanai, where Ken sat. He appeared to be watching him. Rob felt bad Mandy’s husband was laid up and couldn’t do certain things around the place. It had to be hard for Ken to sit and watch while others did most of the work. Rob gave Ken a brief wave, then bent to pick up another pile of branches he’d trimmed this morning. He was about to haul them across the yard, when Ellen came out of the house. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of her in a plain, but pretty lavender dress. I wonder how she’d look in a Hawaiian mu-mu.
“I brought some lemonade,” she called, placing a tray on the picnic table.
“Sounds good. I could use a break.” Rob put the branches on a pile and joined Ellen at the table.
“The yard looks nice,” she commented as they took seats on the same bench.
“Thanks. What have you been up to today?”
She handed him a glass of lemonade. “I spent most of the morning helping Vickie decorate the B&B for Thanksgiving.”
Rob reached under his cap and rubbed his forehead. “Oh, yeah. Guess that’s coming up in a few weeks.”
“Will you spend Thanksgiving or Christmas with your family?” Ellen drank from her glass.
He shook his head. “I told you before—they live on the mainland.”
“I remember, but I thought some of your relatives might fly to Kauai to spend the holidays with you, or that you might go home for a few weeks.”
“Nope.” Rob drank the rest of his lemonade and set the glass back on the tray. “I have no desire to go home.”
Rob figured from Ellen’s slight grimace that she probably wondered why he didn’t want to be with his family—especially during the holidays. Well, she wouldn’t understand how things were, and he wasn’t about to tell her.
“How long has it been since you’ve seen your family?” Ellen asked.
“A couple of years.”
“How come?”
“It’s complicated, and I’d rather not talk about it.” Rob poured himself more lemonade and glanced over at her. “Why don’t you tell me more about your family?”
“I’ve told you a little bit. What else would you like to know?” Ellen shifted on the bench.
“How many siblings do you have?
“Three younger sisters.”
“No brothers, huh?”
She shook her head. “What about you? How many siblings do you have?”
“Two brothers and two sisters.” Rob was quick to change the subject. “What does your family normally do for Thanksgiving?”
Ellen smiled. “We always have a big get-together with some of my aunts and uncles. This year, though, I’ll be celebrating the holiday with Mandy, Ken, and Vickie.” She scooted a little closer and offered him a cookie from the plate she’d also brought out. “I made chocolate-chip cookies last evening.”
Rob reached for one. “They look good. Thanks, Ellen.”
“You’re welcome.” She picked up a cookie and took a bite.
His heart beat a little faster as he gazed into her beautiful blue eyes. Oh, boy, I’d better watch it. I’m falling for this girl.
CHAPTER 32
When Rob entered the B&B to see if any inside work needed to be done, he discovered Ellen knelt beside a cardboard box in the living room, pulling off the tape that held the flaps together.
“Hey, is there anything I can do to help?” He went down on his knees beside her.
She looked up at him and smiled. “I found this box of fall decorations that I missed five days ago, and I discovered there are some Christmas things in here too. So, if you’re not busy with something else, maybe you could help me separate things.”
“Sure, I can do that.” Rob pushed his bangs back off his forehead. “You have my undivided attention.”
“All right then. Why don’t we take everything out of the box and put them in two piles? The Christmas items over there, and the fall decorations over here.”
“Sounds easy enough.” Rob reached into the box at the same time as Ellen. When their hands touched, he clasped her fingers and gave them a squeeze. “This is a lot more fun than takin’ care of squawking chickens, huh?”
Her cheeks colored slightly as she nodded. “Working here brings me such pleasure, like it did at the B&B Mandy and Ken used to own in Middlebury. I enjoy seeing to the needs of others.”
“It shows, and you do it well. Mandy’s lucky to have a good friend like you.”
The pink that had erupted on Ellen’s cheeks deepened. “I feel fortunate too. Mandy’s a good friend. We’ve known each other since we were children.”
Wish I’d known you when you were a girl. Things might be different for me now. Rob bit the inside of his cheek to keep from voicing his thoughts. He delighted in the sound of her voice.
They took turns pulling items from the box and placing them in piles on the throw rug. Ellen seemed to be fixated on the shiny globes she pulled out and held up to the light.
“Look at all these pretty tree ornaments.” Ellen showed Rob one with a beautiful snow scene painted on the front. “I’d hate to see any get broken.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful with them.” Digging deeper into the box, Rob felt something bristle against his fingers. “Well, look what I found.” He lifted a bundle of synthetic mistletoe. “You know what this means?” Before Ellen could respond, he held it over her head, leaned close and gave her a kiss. He would have kissed Ellen longer, but when Mandy came in, he quickly pulled away.
Wide-eyed, she stopped in front of them and cleared her throat. “Am I interrupting something?” Mandy’s tone was cautious.
“Umm … no. I was just helping Ellen sort through some decorations.” Rob clambered to his feet. “Guess I’ll go find Vickie and see what else she has for me to do before I head back to Taavi’s place.”
“Vickie’s not here right now,” Mandy said. “She went to the grocery store.”
“Oh, okay. Guess I’ll head out now then.” Rob turned to go, but when Ellen called out to him, he turned back around.
“When you see Taavi, would you let him know that you’re both invited here for Thanksgiving dinner? This morning, Vickie mentioned asking you to join us.”
“Sounds good. I have no other plans, so I’ll be here for the meal. I’m not sure about Taavi, but I’ll extend the invitation.” Rob gave a wave and headed for the door. The thought of a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal made his mouth water. Of course, spending the day with Ellen made it even more enticing.
After Rob closed the door behind him, Ellen looked up at Mandy, who stood staring down at her with a disapproving expression. “What’s wrong? You look umgerennt.”
“I am upset. You seem to be acting careless around Rob, and why did you let him kiss you?”
Ellen’s face tightened. “I am not being careless, and I didn’t let Rob kiss me. It sort of happened when he held a piece of mistleto
e over my head.”
“I didn’t see you pull away from him. It looked to me like you enjoyed the kiss.”
Ellen couldn’t deny her feelings, but she wasn’t about to admit how she felt when Rob’s lips touched hers. It was difficult to admit that her attraction to him grew. She might even be falling in love with Rob. But this didn’t change the fact that she’d be going home in a few months, or that he was English and she was Amish. They were obviously not meant to be together, so she needed to set her feelings aside—however hard that would be as long as she remained on Kauai. But she’d already agreed to stay and help. Plus, she wanted to hold Mandy and Ken’s precious baby. So while she was here, she would try not to let her feelings for Rob get in the way of good sense.
Mandy took a seat in the rocking chair and placed her hands across her stomach. “I’m sure the last thing you want from me is a lecture, but I’m concerned about you, Ellen.”
“What are you concerned about?” Ellen took a seat on the couch.
“I’ve seen the way you and Rob look at each other whenever you’re together, and it spells trouble.” Mandy leaned back in the rocker. “It’s obvious that you’re falling for Rob, and you know the old saying: ‘If you play with fire, you’re bound to get burned.’ ”
Ellen’s knuckles turned white when she clasped her hands together. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“You’re Amish and have joined the church. If you and Rob were to pursue a relationship, and you left the church, your parents would be hurt.”
“Yes, I know. I don’t need the reminder.” Ellen rolled her shoulders to release some of the tension she felt. “You fell in love with and married an English man. And now, you’re living in Hawaii.”
“My situation is different. I was not a church member when I married Ken.”
“You’re right, but Rob and I have made no commitment to each other, so you have nothing to worry about.”
Mandy got the rocking chair moving. “I hope you can keep it that way. As much as I would love having you stay here permanently, if you gave up the Amish way of life to marry an outsider, you’d most likely have regrets.”
“Do you have regrets?” Ellen blinked rapidly.
“I’m not sorry I married Ken, but I wish we could live near both of our families. It was hard on my folks when I chose not to join the Amish church.” Mandy stopped rocking and came over to sit on the couch beside Ellen. “Please promise you’ll give what I’ve said some serious thought before you make any decisions that could affect the rest of your life.”
Ellen slowly nodded. “Danki for caring enough to express your thoughts.”
“You’re welcome.” Mandy stood. “Now I’d better see if my husband needs anything.” She offered Ellen a brief smile and left to find Ken.
Ellen leaned against the sofa cushions and rubbed a finger over her lips where Rob had kissed her moments ago. Could she give up the Amish life she’d always known to become English if her relationship with Rob became serious? She couldn’t expect him to become Amish. While she’d heard of a few people who had given up their modern, English world to join the Plain faith, it had been a difficult transition. Some gave up and went back to their old way of life.
Ellen touched her hot cheeks and drew in a deep breath. I am being silly for thinking about this. Rob has not said anything about loving me or suggested I leave the Amish church. Mandy’s lecture had confused Ellen. The only way she could put these thoughts out of her head was to get busy working again.
She knelt beside the box and began sorting things again. When her gaze came to rest on the mistletoe Rob had dropped back into the box, a shiver ran down her spine. She couldn’t deny that she’d enjoyed his kiss. But since it was the first real kiss she’d received from a man, she had nothing to compare it with.
CHAPTER 33
Middlebury
Thanksgiving was always a busy time in the Lambrights’ home, and this year was no exception. Visiting relatives were in the living room sitting by the toasty fire and talking to Nathan. Nora and her three daughters had been bustling around the kitchen all morning. Soon the turkey would be done, and it would be time to gather around the table. At least the house was filled with people, which would help take Nora’s mind off Ellen’s absence.
“Do you know what Ellen’s doing today?” Lenore asked as she picked up a stack of plates to take them out to the dining-room table.
Nora grabbed some utensils from the counter, then turned to face her daughter. “I spoke with her yesterday, and she said they’d be having dinner at the B&B, and had invited Rob, the young man who works for them, as well as Ken’s friend Taavi.” She opened the oven to check on the turkey. The delicious aroma permeated the kitchen. “Ellen also mentioned that they don’t have any guests at the bed-and-breakfast right now.”
“Sounds like my granddaughter will have a nice Thanksgiving there in Hawaii.” Nora’s mother said as she entered the kitchen.
Nora smiled. “I hope so, Mama.”
Darla took some glasses down from the cupboard, while Ruby got out the silverware. “Did Ellen say how Mandy and Ken are doing?” Ruby asked.
“Jah. Ken’s injuries are healing, and Mandy’s due to have her boppli on January tenth. Originally, they thought it would be February, but Mandy miscalculated.”
“Will Ellen be staying on Kauai until after the baby arrives?” Darla questioned.
Nora nodded. “And did you hear that Mandy’s folks are planning to go there?”
“Oh, really?” Grandma’s silver-gray brows lifted. “To Kauai?”
“Jah. They’ve made arrangements to go to California on the train, and then they’ll get on a cruise ship that will take them to Kauai. Once Mandy’s folks arrive, Ellen plans to fly home.” Nora could hardly wait for that.
Kapaa
Mandy sat on the couch beside Ken, strumming her ukulele and enjoying the tantalizing aromas floating in from the kitchen. Even though she couldn’t be with her family in Middlebury today, she felt content. It would be a few hours before their company arrived for the meal, so this was a good time to sit and relax. Beforehand, she’d helped Vickie prep the potatoes and make a tropical fruit salad. Ellen made the stuffing for the bird, along with her favorite dinner rolls.
Ken seemed at peace today, as he placed his hand on Mandy’s stomach. “Our little fella—if it is a boy—is sure active today.”
She smiled. “Yes, and I’ll bet he will take after his father—strong and brave.”
Ken’s brows drew together. “I may have been those things once, but not anymore. Since the shark attack, I’ve felt like a weakling and a coward.”
“You’re not a coward. And you’ll regain your strength. It’s just gonna take time. Even if your physical abilities are limited, you can still do things to help around here.” She placed her hand over his. “When Luana called last week to see how things were going here, she said how pleased she and Makaio are that we are the ones who took this place over for them. They worked hard establishing their business, and we don’t want to let them down.”
Ken moved his head slowly up and down. “You’re right, Mandy, and despite my limitations, I’ll do my best to help you and Mom in any way I can.”
“Everything tastes great.” Taavi’s gaze went from Vickie, to Mandy, and then Ellen. “Mahalo, ladies. You did a terrific job with this meal.”
“Ellen did most of it,” Vickie said. “She’s an excellent cook and will make some lucky man a fine wife.”
Ellen’s face warmed. “I appreciate the compliment, but you and Mandy were a big help preparing this delicious Thanksgiving meal.”
“I didn’t do as much as you and Vickie.” Mandy gave her stomach a few taps. “This little one has been sapping my energy, and I’m not up to doing much.”
“It’s not a problem.” Vickie smiled at Mandy. “You need to rest whenever you can.”
“Your mother-in-law is right,” Ellen put in. “Even after the baby comes you’ll need to take
it easy.”
“Since my folks are coming in January, and plan to stay several weeks, I’ll have plenty of help.”
Ellen wished she could stay longer, but her family missed her, and she needed to return home after Mandy’s parents arrived. She glanced across the table at Rob and swallowed the piece of turkey she’d put in her mouth. He looked at her, too, and her heart skipped a beat. Did Rob realize their time was running out? He must never know the way I’ve come to feel about him. Once I leave this island, whatever may have been between us, will be a thing of the past.
Ellen blotted her lips with a napkin and focused on finishing her food. Wishing for the impossible only saddened her. Once she was back home and found a new job, she could put Rob and all the fun times they’d had together out of her mind.
When the meal was over, everyone helped clear the table. Then the women went to the kitchen to do the dishes and put the leftovers away. Rob joined Taavi and Ken in the living room to watch TV and visit. Rob’s mind wasn’t on the conversation, however. All he could think about was Ellen and wishing he could spend some time alone with her today. Since she’d be going back to Indiana sometime in January, they didn’t have much time left to be together. I wonder what she would say if I asked her to stay. Could I put the past behind me and begin a relationship with Ellen? Would she turn me away if I told her about my past?
Taavi bumped Rob’s arm. “Hey, wake up. Did you hear the question Ken asked you?”
Rob jerked his head. “Uh … no, sorry, I did not.” He looked at Ken. “What was it you asked?”
“I wondered if you play any musical instruments.”
“Not really. I’ve fooled around with a harmonica a bit, but never got the hang of it. Someone told me once that playing a mouth harp isn’t hard. All you need to do is blow and suck.” He slapped his hand against his knee. “So I gave it a try, but it didn’t help. Guess I’m not cut out to play an instrument.”
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