by Amy Clipston
“And one more thing,” Mamm said, lowering her voice. “Don’t ever tell your dat you were out there alone with Chris at night. He would be very upset with both of you.”
“It was my fault,” Emily said. “Chris didn’t ask me to come out there. I went all on my own.”
“I know that, and I believe you, but you know how protective he is of you and your schweschdere.”
“Okay,” Emily said.
“Danki.” Mamm stood. “The quilt will be schee, Emily. I’m certain Chris will love it. Please just remember what I said earlier about protecting your heart. You have a tendency to think of others before you think of yourself. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Mamm headed for the door. “Gut nacht.”
“Gut nacht.”
A prickle of doubt skittered through Emily’s thoughts as Mamm headed for the stairs. Would Chris break her heart? Emily stared down at the quilt and said a silent prayer, asking God to help Chris realize how important he was to Emily, and to make the quilt a balm to his broken spirit.
CHAPTER 10
“GO ON TO LUNCH,” CHRIS TOLD ONKEL HANK AND LEROY as he sat on his stool in the work area. “I can handle things here.”
“Why don’t you come eat with my family and me?” Leroy suggested as he stood up from the stool beside Chris.
“No danki. You and Onkel Hank hardly ever get a break. I can wait until you get back.”
“I’m certain we’ll have enough food for you,” Leroy pressed. “You really should come with me.”
“I don’t mind,” Chris insisted. “I have some work I want to finish up anyway. We were completely out of the horse key chains, and I want to finish at least six of them today. The work hasn’t been going as quickly as I’d hoped.” He glanced over toward the display of items for sale and spotted a coin purse. He was tired of making key chains and doorknob hangers and was eager to create something with more detail.
“Leroy, would you show me how to make coin purses when you get back from lunch?”
Leroy grabbed his straw hat from the peg on the wall and shoved it onto his head. “Ya. That sounds like a great idea. I think you’re ready for something more challenging.”
“Danki.” Chris sat up a little straighter, just as he had when Onkel Hank told him Leroy was pleased with his work. He was grateful to have someone compliment his abilities.
Leroy hesitated. “I’d really like you to join me for lunch. Are you certain you don’t want to?”
Chris raised an eyebrow. What was going on with Leroy and his determination to have Chris share his lunch? “Really, I’m fine. I promise you I won’t starve before you get back.”
Leroy hesitated for a moment and then gave him a curt nod. “Fine, then.”
Onkel Hank stood by the shop door, holding his straw hat. “Do you want me to bring you something to eat?”
“No, it’s okay.” Chris waved off the offer. “You two just get out of here already.”
Onkel Hank chuckled. “You remind me of your mamm sometimes. She always shooed me away when we were kinner. Sometimes she acted like she was the older sibling instead of one of the younger ones.”
Chris grinned. “Really?”
“Absolutely.” Onkel Hank gestured for Leroy to follow him. “Let’s go before Christopher loses his patience with us.”
“Take your time,” Chris called before the bell over the door chimed.
Chris turned his attention to the horse-shaped key chain he was creating and chuckled to himself. He’d never been told he reminded someone of his mother. He frowned, wondering how Mamm was doing and if she worried about him.
Did Dat even care Chris was gone?
He pushed the troubling thought away and concentrated on the key chain. When the bell above the door suddenly chimed, Chris jumped up and moved to the front of the store, where a middle-aged woman with bright red hair stood in front of one of the round displays. She was clad in jeans and a red jacket with a camera slung around her neck.
“May I help you?” Chris approached her.
“Hi there,” she said, grinning. “I was just driving by and saw your store. I was looking for some cute souvenirs for my grandkids back home. Do you have anything with a horse and buggy on it?”
“I don’t think so, but let me look.” Chris perused the displays and then held up one of the horse key chains he’d created earlier in the day. “I don’t see anything with a horse and buggy on it, but we have these horse key chains.”
“Hmm.” The woman held the key chain and turned it over in her hand. “It’s not exactly what I’m looking for, but it will work.” She pointed toward the displays. “I’m going to look around for a bit.”
“Okay. Let me know if you have any questions.” Chris moved behind the counter and saw Emily’s ledger. He opened it and flipped through the pages, taking in her neat penmanship and precise calculations. He imagined her poring over the numbers, maybe even chewing on the end of her pencil while she worked. He couldn’t wait to see her again. Their short conversation yesterday wasn’t enough to quench his eagerness to spend time with her.
Chris looked out the window. She’d told him last night she’d see him today, but she still hadn’t come by. Perhaps she had some chores to do at the house before she could help out at the shop. Or maybe Rachel had needed Emily to work on wedding plans today.
Maybe she’s not as eager to see you as you are to see her.
Chris closed the book and tried to ignore that negative voice that always choked back his hopes and dreams.
“I think I’m done.” The woman appeared in front of him and placed three horse key chains, two horse doorknob hangers, and a dog collar and leash on the counter.
“Great,” he said with surprise before ringing up her merchandise and taking her money. He handed her the change and stuffed the items into a paper bag. “I hope you’ll come see us again.”
“I will.” She started for the door and then stopped and faced him once again. “You have a really nice store here.”
“Thanks.” Chris crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m actually just an employee, but I’ll let the owners know.”
“Definitely tell them. You might also want to consider making some horse and buggy souvenirs. Tourists like me love that stuff.” She pushed the door open and waved. “Have a nice day.”
“You too.” Chris returned to his key chain project. The woman’s suggestion echoed in his mind while he worked. He glanced over at the display of coin purses and wallets. Could he somehow incorporate a horse and buggy design on one of the leather items they already sold? If so, would Onkel Hank and Leroy think it was a stupid idea?
He filed the idea away and concentrated on the key chain again. He was adding the ring to the finished product when the bell above the door chimed again.
Chris stepped out of the work area and stopped. Emily stood by the front door. She held a large picnic basket, and she was frowning at him. Although she apparently was annoyed at something, he couldn’t help but think she looked cute.
“Hi, Em.” Chris fought back the grin threatening to appear. “Is something wrong?”
“Ya, something is wrong.” Emily dropped the basket on the counter with a loud thunk. “I want to know why you turned down mei dat’s lunch invitation. I took the time to make you a nice lunch, but you didn’t have the decency to show up to eat. That meant I had to pack everything up and carry it down here to you.”
“You made me lunch?” He was stunned.
“Ya, I made you lunch. I planned it all last night.” She jammed her hands on her small waist as she glared up at him. “Mei dat said you kept insisting you had work to do. You know, you do have to eat sometime.”
“I’m sorry for ruining your plans. I didn’t realize the invitation was actually from you.”
“It’s fine,” she said, suddenly calm. She pointed toward the large worktable. “Do you think we can make room to eat back there?”
“Sure.” He reached for the basket. “Let me carry t
his for you, and you can make room.”
Emily entered the work area and moved the tools and projects to the far end of the table before unpacking containers, bread, plates, utensils, napkins, and two bottles of water.
“I hope you like chicken salad,” she said. “I made it earlier this morning, but then I realized you might not like mayo. Some people don’t like mayo.”
“It’s fine. It’s wunderbaar, actually.” Chris sat on a stool beside her. They had sat on these same stools only two nights ago when he poured out his soul to her. Their friendship had blossomed tremendously since then. It was as if he’d known her for years instead of only a week.
Emily raised her eyebrows as she opened the container of chicken salad and stuck a spoon in it. “Why are you looking at me that way?”
“How am I looking at you?”
“You look stunned, like someone just told you you’ve inherited a thriving farm.” She chuckled a little. “It’s just lunch, Chris.”
“It’s more than just lunch to me.” He rested his hands on the table. “No one has ever done anything like this for me.”
Her smile faded, and her intelligent eyes looked earnest. “Maybe if you let people in, you’d see how many people want to do things for you and help you.”
Chris gaped as her words soaked through him.
“Are you ready to eat?”
“Ya.”
She bowed her head, and he joined her. After the silent prayer, they made chicken salad sandwiches. She pulled out a bag of potato chips and shook a pile out onto his plate.
“So how is the day going so far?” Emily asked before biting into her sandwich.
“It’s gone well.” Chris told her about the projects he was working on and shared what the customer had bought earlier. “I asked your dat to show me how to make a coin purse later today. I think I’m ready for something a bit more detailed.”
Emily picked up two of the key chains from the pile beside her. “Did you make these?”
“Ya.” He wiped his chin with a napkin.
“You definitely need something more challenging, then.”
“Why?” he asked before taking another bite of his sandwich.
“Because these are fantastic.” She turned a key chain over in her hand. “You can handle the more difficult projects already. You’ve picked up leatherworking quickly.”
Her words sent euphoria expanding inside of him. Why did her simple compliment mean the world to him?
She gave him a small smile. “You’re doing it again.”
He lifted his water bottle. “Doing what?”
“Looking at me as though I just gave you the world.”
Chris gave her a half-shrug. “No, not really.”
Emily smiled broadly now. “You can’t fool me, Chris.”
“Fine, Emily.” He sighed, knowing he was caught. “I appreciate your compliments. I can’t remember the last time someone told me I was gut at anything, so it’s nice to hear I’ve done something right for once.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened.
The shock and pity in her eyes were almost too much to bear. Why had he admitted that out loud? Now he looked like even more of a failure. He fought the urge to hide under the workbench. He needed to redirect the conversation—fast.
“Danki for lunch. It’s wonderful. You make a fantastic chicken salad.”
Emily blinked. Chris held his breath, awaiting a snappy comment about how he had obviously dodged the uncomfortable discussion of his low self-esteem.
To his surprise, she beamed. “I’m glad you like it. I made brownies for dessert.” She pulled out a flat container. “I hope you like chocolate.”
The tension in his shoulders released. “Who doesn’t like chocolate?” He took a brownie from the container. “This is fantastic. Danki.”
“Gern gschehne.” She bit into a brownie and then placed it on her plate. “What’s your favorite kind of cake?”
He shrugged. “I haven’t met a cake I didn’t like.” He bit into the brownie and closed his eyes, enjoying the warm, sweet flavor as it melted in his mouth.
“I’m serious. What would you choose for your birthday cake?”
Chris’s eyes snapped open. “My birthday cake?”
She nodded, and something unreadable flashed in her eyes. Why was she asking about his birthday?
“I don’t know. I guess I like chocolate cake the best. What’s your favorite birthday cake?”
“When’s your birthday?” she asked, ignoring his question.
He set the brownie on his plate and wiped his hands on a napkin. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“I like chocolate cake too,” she said quickly. “So when is your birthday?”
“It’s in a few weeks.”
“But what date is it?” Her eyes gleamed with excitement, which sent an unexpected warmth surging through him.
“October fourteenth.”
“And you’ll be twenty-five?”
Chris shook his head. “Twenty-four. And when is your birthday?”
“January twenty-second. I’ll be twenty-one,” she said simply before breaking a brownie in half. “Rachel wants to have sisters’ day tomorrow since we have to start on the dresses right away. Veronica is going to come over to help us sew. I’ll have to show you the material Rachel picked for the dresses. It’s a schee shade of purple. It’s sort of a plum color. It looks great with Rachel’s dark hair. Purple has always been her favorite color.”
Chris finished eating his brownie as Emily shared the details of the wedding plans. He relaxed, enjoying both the sound of her sweet voice and the ease of the conversation.
“Jason, Mike, and John are going to come over for supper tomorrow night,” she said. “You’ll have to join us.”
“Oh no. You don’t need to feel obligated to invite me to come over.” Chris recalled how awkward it was on Sunday when Emily’s family celebrated Rachel’s engagement and Veronica’s pregnancy. He was out of place, like a voyeur invading their special occasion.
“Why would you think I felt obligated to invite you?” She looked perplexed.
“I’m not family, so I don’t want to intrude.”
“Aren’t we freinden?”
“Ya, of course we are.”
“Then you need to come. It’s time you started socializing more. Supper is at five.” Emily’s lips formed a thin line, indicating the conversation was over and she’d made up her mind. She snapped the top onto the chicken salad container.
Emily began to detail the menu for tomorrow night’s meal, but Chris’s thoughts spun. He could join her family for supper tomorrow night, but the invitation was still cloaked in doubt. He took in her astute, bright blue eyes and her excitement as she shifted to discussing her plans with her sisters. Chris longed for the closeness Emily cherished with her family. And deep down, he ached to feel that closeness with her.
“WHY DIDN’T YOU COME HOME FOR LUNCH TODAY? ” AENTI Tillie met Chris at the back door later that evening, after he finished taking care of the animals.
“Emily brought me lunch at the shop.” Chris hung his straw hat on the peg on the wall and smiled to himself as he contemplated his afternoon.
After lunch, Emily had gone home to take care of the dishes. She returned later to work on the books, and Chris spent the afternoon learning how to create coin purses. He not only enjoyed having a more challenging leather project but relished working with Emily nearby.
“Emily brought you lunch?” Aenti Tillie’s eyebrows rose.
“Ya.” Chris pushed his hair off his forehead and breathed in the aroma of his aunt’s good cooking, making his stomach rumble. The kitchen table was set with a platter of goulash and bowls of carrots, mashed potatoes, and noodles. He stepped into the kitchen, and his stomach gurgled with the promise of food.
The back door clicked shut and Onkel Hank came up behind him.
“Oh. I didn’t realize you ate with Emily.” After a few moments, Aenti Tillie’s face c
louded. “You haven’t called your mamm.”
Chris’s pleasant mood vanished. Several seconds ticked by as Aenti Tillie waited for him to respond, her brow creasing as she looked at him. He could feel the weight of Onkel Hank’s eyes observing him from behind. Had his aunt and uncle planned this? Would they kick Chris out if he didn’t say he’d call his mother right away?
“No,” Chris finally said. “I haven’t.”
Onkel Hank moved past him to the sink, where he began washing his hands.
“She left a message on our voice mail today.” Aenti Tillie rested a hand on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. “So I called her back.”
“How is she?” Chris felt the hitch in his voice. Why was he so emotional when it came to his family members? He doubted they were equally emotional about him. Even his mother was probably glad by now that he had eliminated so much of the tension in her home.
“She’s doing all right.” Aenti Tillie frowned. “She misses you. She said she’d love to hear from you.”
Chris’s stomach cramped. His mind reeled with the memory of the grief in his mamm’s eyes when she finally stopped begging him to stay. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she said good-bye and told him she loved him. He took a deep breath in an attempt to release his burning grief and guilt, and then he glowered.
“Did she mention if mei dat misses me too?” His tone was hard and laced with acrimony.
Aenti Tillie blanched as if the words had hit her in the face, and Chris immediately regretted taking his rancor out on her. She was only a witness to his family’s turmoil, and after all, Chris’s mother was Hank’s sister. He tried to apologize, but she cut him off.
“You need to call her,” Aenti Tillie said, keeping her tone even despite his disrespect. “She needs to hear from you.”
“I know.” Chris still couldn’t imagine himself using the phone. Stubbornness and pride kept him from walking out to the phone shanty and picking up the receiver.
“Everything smells appeditlich, mei liewe.” Onkel Hank kissed Aenti Tillie on the cheek. “Let’s eat.” He gave Chris a sympathetic nod as he sat down at the head of the table. “Wash up. You worked hard today in the harness shop and the barn. Let’s enjoy this meal together.”