Lydia's Hope

by Marta Perry

  The tension in the car seemed to ease. “Good.” Seth moved his hands on the steering wheel and took the turn that would lead them to the interstate highway. “I saw you had some damage from yesterday’s storm.”

  “Ja. Just the one big tree down. Could have been worse, I guess.” Still, his heart ached at the thought of Lydia’s loss.

  All the more reason why he had to make things right with Chloe.

  Seth took interstates all the way to the city, making Adam’s stomach churn each time a truck roared past them. Still, Seth said it was faster that way. He made one stop for gas and coffee, and then they were on their way again.

  It was late morning when they reached the city. Seth wove his way expertly through the congested streets, ignoring the din that seemed to pound on Adam’s skull.

  After what seemed an endless onslaught of cars, trucks, people, and noise, Seth turned into a quieter area, and in a few minutes he pulled into the parking lot behind an imposing building.

  “This is where Chloe works?” he asked. “Maybe she won’t like being interrupted.”

  Seth drew into a parking space and turned off the ignition. “Let’s face it, she won’t be exactly happy to see either of us anywhere. But trust me, this is better than taking on the grandmother. You’d be lucky to get a word out before she’d be calling the police.”

  Adam got out, frowning at Seth’s comment. “The woman doesn’t like the Amish, I know. But surely she wants her granddaughter to hear the truth.”

  “I doubt it.” Seth’s face was bleak for a moment, and Adam wasn’t sure what he was thinking. “As far as I can tell, she blames the Amish for taking her daughter away, maybe even for Diane’s death. She’d do anything in her power to keep Chloe and Lydia apart.” Seth jerked a nod in the direction of the brick building. “Let’s go.”

  They joined several people heading up the sidewalk. Adam caught more than a few curious glances and saw people nudging each other at the sight of him. In Pleasant Valley, being Plain didn’t cause comment. Here, people looked at him as if he were something on display in the museum.

  It didn’t matter. If they wanted to gawk, let them. He was here for Lydia and Chloe, no one else.

  * * *

  Chloe realized she’d been reading the same page of a report on the latest fund-raising efforts of the museum for at least fifteen minutes. It might as well be written in Greek for all the information she was retaining.

  She shoved it aside impatiently and rubbed the tension at the back of her neck. That tight throb, which had begun over the weekend, was threatening to become permanent.

  Her grandmother, of course, had been delighted to see Chloe come back to Philadelphia disenchanted with her experience among the Amish. Her “I told you so” refrain had become harder and harder to take. Chloe had found herself biting back a defense of Lydia and her family a dozen times, at least.

  Chloe knew perfectly well what was at the bottom of that instinct. She’d had plenty of time to think on the long trip back to Philadelphia, and she’d begun to realize she’d been unfair. She’d been thrown off-balance by reading Diane’s journal, and she’d reacted by letting the prejudices she’d grown up with come to the fore. If Lydia hadn’t shown her the journal entry, what might her reaction have been to her visit?

  The knot in her neck was tight enough to hold back a bulldozer. Lydia had been right to show her, of course, but that had colored all her responses. She’d berated Adam, but she feared her anger had really been toward her father, Eli Weaver. If . . .

  Enough. She leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling for inspiration. What was she going to do now? That was the important question. Cut Lydia out of her life the way her grandmother had cut Diane out, because she didn’t approve of the way she lived?

  A tap on the door interrupted that futile line of questioning, and the door opened before she could respond. Seth. And Adam. For an instant she was speechless.

  She stood slowly, fingers pressed on the desktop. Maybe she wasn’t entirely surprised to see Seth again. Somehow she’d had the feeling that he wouldn’t disappear from her life so easily.

  But Adam—of all the people who might have come looking for her, Adam Beachy was the last she’d expect. Lydia had implied that he never traveled far away from Pleasant Valley. For him to come all the way to Philadelphia to see her . . . well, it had to be a measure of his love for Lydia, and she was impressed whether she wanted to be or not. Her small, cluttered office felt crowded with the two large men in it.

  She found her voice. “What are you doing here?”

  “Adam has something he wants to say to you.” Seth nudged Adam.

  Adam swept off his straw hat and stood, turning it in big, work-roughened hands. “Lydia is hurting at the way you left,” he said. “If I was the cause of trouble between you, I have come to tell you I’m sorry.”

  Chloe hadn’t expected it, and she wasn’t ready for an apology. She shook her head. “I don’t—” She stopped. “I don’t think it was your fault. It just wasn’t working out. I just . . . I couldn’t accept . . .”

  She wasn’t usually this inarticulate. What was wrong with her? She took a deep breath, preparing to start again, but Adam beat her to it.

  “I know. You feel as if your mother was led into an unhappy life by Eli. Or maybe by the Amish. You didn’t like seeing your sister living that same life.”

  That was the most Adam had ever said to her. She’d had him pegged as stern, unforgiving, and maybe not too bright, but he’d certainly just cut to the heart of her difficulty.

  “Can you blame me?” She met his gaze, surprised to see such understanding there. “When I read what our mother had written, I could see that she was trapped in a life she didn’t want. And now Lydia is doing the same.”

  “Lydia isn’t trapped,” Seth said, looking as if he couldn’t be silent any longer. “Lydia chose her life and her husband. She’s happy with what she has.”

  “I know she is.” Little though she wanted to admit it, Chloe knew his words were true. “But if our mother had lived long enough to leave, Lydia would have a completely different life.”

  Adam winced, and she realized she’d been speaking of a Lydia who would never have loved him.

  “This came yesterday for Lydia.” Adam held an envelope out to her, his arm stiff. “It’s the answer from your mother’s friend out in Ohio. I thought Lydia should send it to you, but she feared it was too late.”

  Chloe found she was staring at the envelope as if it were a snake. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know anything else about her mother. Everything she learned seemed to bring someone grief.

  “Adam came clear from Pleasant Valley to bring it to you,” Seth said, leaning toward her as if willing her to listen to him. “Please don’t back away from the truth now. Read it.”

  She took the envelope, turning away from them to open it.

  Not one letter, she found. Two. Quickly she scanned the answer Lydia had received from Diane’s friend. Then, her throat tight, she unfolded the letter Diane had written.

  Halfway down the page, and the print was swimming in front of her tear-filled eyes. Her mother had written this, and a month later she’d been gone. She hadn’t known, of course, how short a time she had. Still, she’d been happy. Content. The letter was that of a mature woman who’d gone through a great deal and emerged stronger and happier at the end.

  Chloe folded the letter gently and slipped it back into the envelope. She’d wanted to know if her mother found what she’d been looking for. Now, at last, she had the answer.

  * * *

  Lydia paced across the living room and back again, trying not to look out the windows. It was full dark now, and Adam was still not back. What had possessed him to go off that way? What if something had happened to him in the city? He wasn’t used to a place like that—how would he even find Chloe?

  She glanced at the clock he’d made for her, ticking steadily, unperturbed by her worries. She ought to get some
sleep. She’d have to be up early.

  Sound reasoning, but she knew perfectly well she wouldn’t go to sleep in that bed alone, wondering where Adam was. If she was going to be awake anyway, she may as well stay down here.

  Lydia forced herself to sit down in the rocker. She picked up a pair of David’s pants from the mending basket, trying to decide if the rip in the knee could be fixed.

  She smoothed the fabric in her hands, picturing him running full-tilt during recess and rending the fabric. The grass stain around the tear seemed to confirm that guess. She reached for the thread and stopped abruptly, mending forgotten.

  That was a car turning in the lane, wasn’t it? Headlights reflected from the windows as she hurried to look. A car—no, two cars, pulling up to the back door.

  She ran for the door, heart thumping painfully against her ribs. If something had happened to Adam—

  She bolted out onto the porch in time to see Adam climb out of Seth’s car, giving Seth a smile and a wave. But that wasn’t all. Chloe got out of the second car, stretching a little as if she was tired from the drive.

  Lydia went to meet them, her thoughts spinning out of control. What on earth . . . ?

  “You don’t mind that I came back, do you, Lydia?” Chloe looked a little uncertain, and she glanced at Adam, of all people, as if for support.

  “Chloe read the letter,” Adam said. “She wants to try again.”

  Lydia opened her arms to her sister, her throat choked with tears. “I’m so glad,” she murmured. “So glad you came back.”

  Her heart was full as she held her little sister in her arms. She looked at Adam over Chloe’s shoulder. “You did this, ja?”

  He shrugged, smiling. “Let’s go inside. Chloe is maybe tired and hungry.”

  “Ja, for sure.”

  Chloe shook her head. “Just tired. But very glad to be here. Thanks to Adam.” She glanced at him, smiled, and walked into the house.

  Lydia reached out to touch Adam’s sleeve, needing to be sure he was really there. “I was so worried about you. I couldn’t believe you would go all the way to Philadelphia for Chloe.”

  “For you,” Adam said softly. He drew her against him. “I know you said you had all that you wanted, but I know, too, that you need your sister.” He dropped a kiss on her temple. “Amish, Englisch, Chloe is still family. Things had to be made right between you. That was my job.”

  Lydia looked up at him, her heart full. Thanks to Adam, her hope had been fulfilled. “I love you, Adam Beachy.”

  “I love you, Lydia Beachy.” He snuggled her close against him. “Komm. Let’s go in and make your sister comfortable.”

  They walked into their home. Once, it had been filled with her parents’ love, Lydia thought. Now it was filled with hers and Adam’s.

  EPILOGUE

  T he apple trees were full of small green apples, promising a good harvest. Lydia walked arm-in-arm with her sister back toward the yard. Another picnic was in full swing, but this time there would be no quarrel to mar the pleasure.

  “I love coming here,” Chloe said. “It’s so peaceful.”

  The boys came running to her across the grass. “Aunt Chloe, schnell. Play catch with us,” Daniel said, tugging at her hand.

  “Ja, let’s play,” David said, clutching the other hand and attempting to pull her.

  Chloe grabbed them both for a quick hug. “All right, in a minute. But you go find the foam ball and bat I brought, so your little cousins can play, too.”

  “I’ll get it.” Daniel raced off, with David following as always.

  “What were you saying about peaceful?” Lydia asked, teasing.

  “I love being an aunt,” Chloe said, her eyes lit with affection as she watched the boys. “I always wanted a big family, and now I have it.” She clasped Lydia’s hand. “Thank you for finding me.”

  Lydia squeezed her fingers. “Thank you for coming back. It has only been a month since we met, but it feels like a lifetime.”

  She hesitated, knowing she should ask but not wanting to make Chloe unhappy. “Are things any better with your grandmother?”

  Chloe shrugged. “Not really. She’s not complaining as much about my visits here, though, so that’s an improvement.”

  “I’m sorry.” Lydia truly was. After all, the woman was her grandmother, too, and she regretted that she’d never get to know her.

  “I know. I wish she could unbend a little, but I don’t think she will. She doesn’t seem to care that she has two other granddaughters.”

  Lydia suspected she’d never understand what drove the woman. “Speaking of Susanna, did I mention that I saw her again last week? I took in another clock for her shop.”

  Susanna had succeeded in selling the first clock for what seemed an astonishing amount of money. Adam’s business with clocks seemed to grow every day.

  “How is she? Any news about her mother?” Chloe asked the obvious question. It wasn’t that she didn’t care about Susanna’s adoptive mother. Of course she did, for Susanna’s sake, at least.

  “There seems to be nothing new. At least I’m getting to know Susanna through the clocks. I pray that will make it easier for her to accept us when the time comes to tell her.”

  Chloe nodded, but her gaze seemed directed toward something of interest in the backyard. Lydia smiled. Chloe was watching Seth, who was playing horseshoes with her brothers.

  “You’ve been seeing a bit of Seth, ja?” she asked.

  “Once in a while, when he’s in the city.” Her tone was carefully neutral.

  “He likes you.” Lydia pointed out the obvious. “Maybe . . .”

  “Don’t start matchmaking,” Chloe said quickly.

  “Why not? I just want to see you happy. And Seth is a fine man.”

  “He is.” Chloe’s expression softened. “But I think he’s still struggling to figure out where he belongs. And I’m not so sure of that myself.”

  “I see.” Lydia tried to repress a chuckle. “Maybe,” she said, “you could both figure that out together, ain’t so?”

  Color came up in Chloe’s cheeks. “Don’t matchmake,” she said again, and then smiled at the sight of a flock of small children running toward her, with Daniel and David in the lead carrying the ball and bat.

  “It looks as if I’m wanted,” she said. “We’ll talk again later.”

  Lydia was standing and watching the ensuing game when Adam came up behind her. She was not at all surprised that Seth had found some reason to stop playing horseshoes and join Chloe in playing with the children.

  Adam slid his arm around her unobtrusively. “Did you tell her?” he whispered in her ear.

  “Not yet.” She smiled, capturing his hand with hers and moving it to her abdomen, which was no longer as flat as it once was. “I want to hug the information to ourselves for just a little bit longer.”

  “Your maam will guess, if she hasn’t already,” Adam said.

  “I’m sure. She said something to me just this afternoon about how happy I’m looking. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if she went home and started putting together the pieces for a baby quilt.”

  “It will be gut to have another little one.” Adam rested his cheek against her hair, an unusual gesture for him when there were people around. “Maybe, this time, I’ll get to make a dollhouse.”

  “Maybe,” she said, sure he knew that a baby girl was her secret hope. “Boy or girl, a new baby will bring us so much happiness.”

  He nodded, and she could feel the movement, just as she could feel the beating of his heart and hear the sound of his breath. She had been so blessed.

  Only one small flaw remained in her life. Susanna. But one day they’d be able to tell her. Until then, Lydia would cling to the hope that they would be a complete family again.

  RECIPES

  Apple Walnut Cake

  This recipe has been an autumn favorite of my family’s for as long as I can remember. It’s a good keeper, as it stays moist for days.

&
nbsp; 4 cups pared, chopped apples

  2 cups sugar

  2 eggs

  1/2 cup vegetable oil

  2 teaspoons vanilla

  2 cups flour

  2 teaspoons baking soda

  2 teaspoons cinnamon

  1 teaspoon salt

  1 cup chopped walnuts

  Preheat oven to 350ºF.

  Combine the apples and sugar in a bowl and set aside. Beat the eggs in the oil and vanilla in a large bowl. In a third bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir the flour mixture and the apple mixture alternately into the oil and vanilla. Add the walnuts and stir. Pour the batter into a 13 x 9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray.

  Bake for one hour. Good served warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

  Apple Dumplings

  A big hit at the county fair!

  6 baking apples

  2/3 cup milk

  1 large egg

  21/2 cups sifted flour

  21/2 teaspoons baking powder

  dash of salt

  1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon cinnamon

  6 teaspoons butter

  Preheat oven to 425ºF.

  Peel, core, and cut the apples into quarters.

  Mix the milk and egg together in a bowl. Gradually stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir until the mixture forms a soft dough. Turn out onto a floured board and knead lightly a few times. Roll out the dough with a floured rolling pin into a 24 x 16-inch oblong and cut it into six 8-inch squares. Divide the apple pieces among the squares. Sprinkle the apples with the cinnamon-sugar mixture, reserving about a tablespoon for later, and dot each with a teaspoon of butter. Bring the corners of the dough up to enclose the apples and pinch to seal. Place the dumplings in a large baking pan, not touching.

  Bake at 425º for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to 350º and continue baking for another 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the tops with the rest of the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Serve warm with cream, whipped cream, or ice cream.

  Homemade Chunky Applesauce

  We enjoy applesauce made fresh and served warm, so there’s usually a bag or basket of McIntosh apples on my countertop year-round.