Seeds of Hope

by Barbara Cameron

  The city was old and beautiful and valued its history. His grandfather’s farm had been in the family for many generations and had its own history. Both were so different. Yet both were very much a part of him.

  He drove to the stately building that housed the law firm where he’d be interviewing and found a parking spot. Like many buildings in this city, it had a sense of history, and its expensive wood paneling, brass railings, and thick carpets were all intended to impress. He’d dressed to impress, too, in his most subdued, navy pin-striped suit and burgundy silk tie. Impressions were everything.

  William Renfrow IV, just a decade older than Mark, headed the family firm now that his father had retired. Mark had faced him many times in the courtroom, socialized with him at the country club, and partnered with him in doubles matches on the tennis courts.

  A portrait of William Renfrow III hung on one wall. It portrayed him when he was perhaps twenty years older than his son, but there was no mistaking the aura of confidence, wealth, and success both men wore as visibly as their custom-made clothing.

  Mark’s origins had been less privileged, but he’d quickly learned how to fit in with fellow students at college in order to pursue his dream.

  His heritage was a simple farm in an Amish community, and he’d never been ashamed of it. He hadn’t wanted to shut that part of himself off the way his father had, but he’d had to adapt to a totally different mentality and lifestyle, even within the Englisch world. In some ways, this legal world made you become someone who sought for legal knowledge, were paid well, and yet were so often disrespected.

  Well, he’d never needed approval so any disrespect didn’t bother him. And he knew he’d helped enough clients that he felt comfortable about what he did. Even though Abraham had been resistant, he’d done good there and with Saul.

  He waited while Renfrow scanned his resume. The ball was in the other man’s court. In many ways, this was all a game.

  “You’ve tried some interesting cases,” Renfrow said when he took off his reading glasses and set them on his massive mahogany desk. “Of course, I have some concerns about the murder case in the news.”

  Mark had been prepared for that question. He just hadn’t expected it to come up so quickly in the interview.

  “I feel confident my former client will be found innocent of the last charges,” he said calmly.

  “You can understand why we here at Renfrow and Renfrow have to protect our reputation. Our reputation must remain spotless.”

  “Absolutely.” Mark felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. “My reputation is extremely important to me as well. I feel so strongly that my former client is innocent, I am paying a private investigator out of my own pocket to look into the matter.”

  “I hadn’t heard anything about that.”

  “Investigations are best conducted privately whether they’re by a private investigator or the police.”

  “Indeed.”

  The rest of the interview followed a predictable path. Renfrow asked about the all-important billable hours—the way a firm made income—and what Mark’s goals were for the future.

  They exchanged handshakes when the interview was over. It was perhaps telling that he hadn’t been offered a tour of the firm.

  He walked out of the building and into the sunshine outside. Well, he’d given it his best shot. Time would tell if he’d be asked back for a second interview with the partners of the firm.

  But he didn’t see a future with Renfrow and Renfrow.

  He checked his watch. It was early for lunch, but he’d eaten little before hitting the road. Pulling out his cell phone, he texted Lani and asked if she had time to meet him for lunch. She’d told him to let her know the next time he was in town, so he’d texted her last night.

  “I can meet you in half an hour,” she texted back and named the restaurant where they’d often eaten, not far from his old firm.

  The restaurant‘s location near the courthouse and many law firms made it a favorite spot for lunch and dinner. Mark and Lani had often combined work and a quick meal here, or ordered it for delivery when they couldn’t find the time away from the office. Since it was such a pretty day, he chose the patio and was waiting at a table when she rushed up a few minutes late.

  “Sorry, got stopped on the way out of the office.” She hugged him hard. “It’s so good to see you! And you look so much better than you did last time I saw you.”

  “You always liked this suit.”

  She laughed. “It’s not that. You’re tanned and you don’t look stressed. Even after an interview. How did it go?”

  He was saved from responding when a server approached their table. “Mr. Byler, it’s good to see you!” she said, smiling. “We haven’t seen you in ages.”

  “Been out of town,” he replied. “I’ll have an iced tea, please.”

  Lani gave her order and when the server walked away, she turned to him. “Okay, spill. How did it go?”

  “I don’t see them hiring me. William brought up the murder case. It’s obvious he’s concerned about negative publicity that might attach to the Renfrow and Renfrow name.”

  “Well, I never did like him.” She sighed. “You know what they say, when one door closes, another opens. You just wait, you’re going to get a much better job than that.”

  “You can’t get a better firm than Renfrow and Renfrow.”

  Their food was served and he closed his eyes and bent his head. He opened his eyes to find Lani staring at him, her fork halfway to her mouth.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled. “You didn’t use to do that.”

  “My grandfather’s influence.”

  “I think it’s lovely. I forget to do it. Thank God, I mean.”

  They ate and he told her about the other interview he had lined up for the afternoon.

  “Mark? Is that really you?”

  He looked up. “Tiffany.” Somehow he hadn’t thought the day could get worse. He’d been wrong.

  “You’re looking good.”

  “That’s what I was just telling him,” Lani said.

  Tiffany didn’t take her eyes off him to acknowledge Lani. “So what are you doing back in town?” She gave him an appraising look.

  “Taking care of a little business.”

  “I see.”

  Their server set drinks down on the table. “Miss? Will you be joining the table?”

  “No, I’m meeting a friend.” Tiffany didn’t even look at the server. “I’m meeting Reece. Oh, here he is now.”

  Reece was a partner in Mark’s old firm. “Hey, Mark, didn’t know you were back in town.” He turned to Tiffany. “Did you get us a table? I have a two o’clock appointment with a client.” He turned back to Mark. “Give me a call, we’ll have lunch and catch up.”

  “Will do.” He watched the man walk away. “Won’t do,” he said to Lani.

  She looked miserable. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know they were seeing each other.”

  “Doesn’t matter,” he said, and discovered he really meant it. “Finish eating. I know you have to get back to the office.”

  “So tell me how the job search is going. What other firms have you applied to?”

  “You mean which ones haven’t I applied to?”

  Lani ignored her favorite chicken Caesar salad and touched his hand. “I’m so sorry. I’m sure something will turn up soon.”

  “Eat,” he urged. “So how’s the kid? Still enjoying school?”

  The time passed too quickly as they talked and ate. All too soon, he was signaling the server for the bill.

  “Time for you to get back to work. I’ll give you a call next time I’m coming into town.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be real soon and we’ll be celebrating a job offer.” She gave him another hard hug and left.

  He pretended he didn’t see the sparkle of tears in her eyes.

  The server brought the leather folder with the bill. He tucked his credit card inside and handed it back to her.

>   Reece hurried past just moments after Lani left.

  “It seems we’ve been abandoned.” Tiffany stood before the table.

  “Yes, well, I’m afraid I have to run, too.”

  “So, are you back to work?”

  “I’ve been keeping busy handling some interesting cases lately,” he said.

  “I didn’t realize you were back at the firm. Reece didn’t say anything.”

  “I’m not working there.” The server brought the folder. He pocketed his card, signed the bill, careful to add a tip, and stood. “Listen, Tiffany, it’s been good to see you, but I really have to go.”

  “No hard feelings?”

  “No, no, of course not.”

  “Good.” She walked away.

  “No feelings whatsoever,” he murmured when she was out of earshot.

  He walked to his car and sat there for a few minutes, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. Then, after a glance at his watch, he headed for the other interview.

  It went much the same way as the interview at Renfrow and Renfrow. The head of the firm even used nearly the same dialogue—the firm’s reputation had to remain aboveboard.

  Mark sighed. Wasn’t someone considered innocent until proven guilty? Maurice certainly wasn’t being regarded that way by Mark’s peers and he, as his former attorney, was being slandered by association.

  It was so disillusioning.

  His plan had been to drive back to Paradise today, but he needed to think and be alone.

  He started the car and headed to his condo. Lani had a key and had been picking up his mail and forwarding it, keeping an eye on things. He let himself in and found nothing had changed since the last time he’d been here. Walking over to the glass doors leading out to a terrace, he walked outside and sat in one of the wrought iron chairs. He had an amazing view of the skyline from here, a far cry from the fields of his grandfather’s farm.

  His gaze fell on the big pots where he grew flowers and ornamental bushes. Last summer he’d had a few tomato plants, some lettuce and peppers. He was good at growing things, and he’d enjoyed spending a little time with his hands in the rich earth and watering them and nurturing them. He’d had Lani and her daughter over for dinner twice, and they’d enjoyed carrying home a basket of ripe tomatoes and some peppers.

  The pots were empty now. He hadn’t been here to plant anything.

  His thoughts went to the place where he’d been spending his time harvesting the crops his grandfather and some of his friends had planted.

  And they went, inevitably, to Miriam. He wondered if she thought about their kiss. If she was upset with him about it.

  And he wondered what she was doing right now. He checked his watch. It was about time for school to be over. He pictured her standing in the doorway of the little school house she loved, watching her scholars, as she called them, chattering as they gathered their sweaters and lunch boxes and headed home.

  She’d enjoy some quiet time and wouldn’t be able to leave until everything was in order. He’d visited that school house once after she got the job, seeing it as a milestone as much as his own college graduation which she’d attended with his grandfather. All the desks had been lined up with such precision, the blackboard was washed clean, nothing was out of place. She’d been so thrilled to be given the job, so eager to teach. It was the place she’d seemed to be born to be.

  He remembered what his grandfather said about God having a plan for everyone. He could clearly see that plan for Miriam, had thought he’d seen one for himself even if he didn’t give Him credit for it enough.

  He was trained to always be thinking, planning, even plotting his course and that of the clients he served. Maybe that was why he didn’t give God enough credit.

  Now he sat here in this place and tried to calm his thoughts, open his mind to guidance from above. Shadows lengthened and he felt a little chilly as a cool breeze swept through the terrace, ruffling the leaves on the ornamental bushes and carrying the scent of some fall blooms from another terrace.

  Still he sat, waiting.

  Twenty-Six

  Miriam couldn’t help noticing Mark’s car wasn’t parked in front of John’s farmhouse the next morning as she and her bruders and schweschders walked to schul.

  He’d told her he had interviews in Philadelphia. She’d thought he’d drive home afterward. But he hadn’t. Had he gotten a job? He was so qualified, maybe they’d asked him to start right away. She wished she knew how such things worked. All she had to go by was her own experience. The men in charge of hiring for the schul had approached her for the position of teacher and she had started two weeks later. But that was because the last teacher had died and they needed another teacher for the fall.

  She continued walking on to the schul and went about her day trying not to think about him. But every time she got a spare moment, she wondered what he was doing. Was he sitting at a new desk? Seeing old friends?

  Seeing his former fiancée?

  She couldn’t think of that.

  Whatever God planned for Mark, it didn’t look like it included her. It was time to deal with that truth once and for all.

  She had to make sure that they didn’t ever put themselves in a situation where they were alone like the other day. It had secretly thrilled her to know he was attracted to her. She couldn’t deny that. But it couldn’t go further.

  Lovina came by after lunch again to help some of the slower readers. After the scholars left for home, the two of them shared some hot tea Lovina had brought in a thermos.

  “Have you heard how Mark’s interview went?” Lovina asked as they settled down at Miriam’s desk.

  “Nee.”

  Lovina opened a plastic container of cookies and offered them to her. Miriam wasn’t really hungry, but she took one out of kindness.

  “So how can I help you plan the Christmas play?” Lovina asked as she chose a cookie for herself.

  Miriam got out a pad of paper and a pencil. “I made out a list of roles for the kinner. Several of the kinner are shy so I want to give them roles that help them build confidence. These kinner I’ve circled are good at memorization, so some of the longer parts would be gut for them. And this is the list of hymns they’ll sing.”

  “You’ve done a lot of planning.”

  “I know it seems early, but time passes so quickly.”

  Except for today, she thought. The day had seemed to drag so. She wanted to know what had happened at Mark’s interview.

  “Are you allrecht?”

  “Hmm? Oh, ya, sorry.”

  “Abraham can build anything you need for the play. The doctor may be taking his cast off next week.”

  “That’s gut news.”

  “I’ll make the punch and cookies. And you know Fannie Mae will want to be asked to bring her spice cake. I’ll ask the other mudders and give you a list of what they can bring for refreshments.”

  Miriam wrote the details down in her careful, precise script.

  Mark would probably be long gone by the time Christmas came. Oh, he might come back to spend the holiday with his grandfather as he sometimes did, but with a new job he wouldn’t get much time off.

  “—the rest of it.”

  She jerked back to attention. “Rest of it?”

  “I think we should put this off until tomorrow,” Lovina said. “You’re looking tired.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep well last night.”

  Lovina patted her hand. “Try to get to bed early tonight.” She looked closer at her. “I hope you’re not coming down with something.”

  Miriam didn’t tell her friend that she had gone to bed early last night, only to lay awake most of the night thinking about Mark. She wasn’t coming down with something. She was lovesick.

  A few minutes later they were rolling down the road. Lovina chattered about hosting church services that weekend and Miriam was trying hard not to look to see if Mark’s car was parked at John’s.

  “Oh look!” Lo
vina exclaimed. “Mark’s back!”

  And so he was. He was just pulling into the driveway.

  “Let’s see how things went!” Lovina exclaimed. Without waiting for Miriam to reply, she turned into the drive.

  So much for her plans to avoid him. Miriam smiled weakly as Mark walked over to the buggy.

  “Well, it seems we were passing at just the right moment,” Lovina said brightly. “We were just wondering how your interviews went.”

  “Fine. Now I wait to be called for a second interview.”

  Was it her imagination, or did he seem less confident than he had the other day? Why didn’t he meet her eyes?

  “I’m sure you’ll hear from them soon,” Lovina said. “Maybe you’ll get more than one job offer.”

  “That would be nice.”

  “We’ll pray for you, won’t we, Miriam?”

  “Of course.” She tried for an encouraging smile.

  “Thank you.”

  “Well, I’d better get home and see about supper.” Lovina said. “Gut-n-owed.”

  “You, too,” he said as he stepped away from the buggy.

  Miriam watched him walk back to his car to retrieve his briefcase, and her heart ached at the sight of his slumped shoulders and slow steps.

  They got back on the road and Lovina resumed chattering about how she needed to redd up the house and get together the supplies for the light meal that would be served on Sunday.

  Miriam thanked her for the ride when Lovina stopped in front of her house.

  “I’ll see you Sunday.”

  “Ya, see you then.”

  She went inside. Her mudder was singing as she stood at the stove. Katie sat in her high chair chewing on a zwieback.

  “Hi, Mamm, I’m home.” She set her lunch box down on a kitchen counter, hung her sweater on a hook by the back door, and leaned down to kiss Katie.

  Sarah turned and smiled at her. “Did you have a gut day?”

  “Ya, Lovina and I did some planning for the Christmas play, which is why I’m a little late. I’ll be right down to help you.”

  “Take your time.”

  She heard her mudder singing as she climbed the stairs to her room carrying her book bag. It was tempting to sink down on the bed. She was tired, but not from work. Nee, she knew it was from feeling a little blue.