The Promise of Palm Grove

by Shelley Shepard Gray

He loved his family. Helping out when he could was the right thing to do. But at the moment, he wished doing the right thing wasn’t so hard.

  “HEY,” DANNY SAID as he walked into Effie’s room. After scanning the room and pausing for a moment on her, he leaned back against the wall next to the open door. “You mad at me?”

  “Nee.”

  “A little bit?”

  “Nee.”

  “Then why are you crying?”

  “Because I didn’t ask for my legs to get some disease. And I never asked for my brother to give up everything in order to take care of me.”

  “I think everyone knows that.”

  Now Effie felt like she’d not only been a lot of trouble, but a whiny brat, too. Swiping at her eyes with the side of a fist, she sat up on the bed. “Danny, am I really the reason Zack doesn’t have a girlfriend?”

  “I don’t think he’s ever had a serious girlfriend because, until recently, no girl has ever interested him.”

  “He really likes Leona.”

  Danny nodded. “I think so. But that isn’t why I came in here to talk to you.” He sighed. “I’m sorry about what you overheard, but the problem isn’t you. It’s your brother. He’s the type of guy who really likes being needed, but he’s also the type of person who doesn’t seem to mind being in a rut. For some reason, he likes putting himself second.” He rolled his eyes. “Or third. Or fourth. I was kind of trying to encourage him to start taking chances.”

  “Do you think it worked?”

  “I don’t know. But I do know that I’d feel really bad if I hurt your feelings. You’re a sweet girl, Effie.”

  “Danke, Danny. I’m fine. And I think you did the right thing. Zack doesn’t do much for himself.”

  Her brother’s best friend stared hard at her for another long moment, then at last nodded. “Gut.”

  When he walked out, Effie examined her legs and thought about everything that had been happening lately.

  It seemed that Zack wasn’t the only person in the family in a rut. She’d been in one, too. It was time to reach out a little more, to not assume that she couldn’t change her life, or change the way people viewed her.

  Effie vowed to have a talk with her mother when she got home. She was going to remind her that she was twelve and more than old enough to have her fair share of chores and responsibilities. It was time for her to start standing on her own two feet. She should be able to do that—she had some really good braces on her legs, after all.

  Chapter 19

  I hereby proclaim today ‘Do Nothing in Pinecraft Day,’” Mattie called out from her bed. “I’m exhausted.”

  Turning over onto her side, Leona gazed through the sheer curtains that covered the window. When she noticed that raindrops were steadily sprinkling the glass, she said, “Since it’s raining, I think that’s a wonderful-gut idea.”

  “We’ll need to find lunch, though,” Sara said, “since we slept through breakfast. I’m starving.”

  “You should’ve eaten last night,” Mattie chided.

  “You were eating pizza at almost midnight. That was a recipe for a stomach ache.”

  “Not for me,” Mattie muttered. “I thought it tasted great, and I’m not hungry.”

  Leona flipped over on her back and closed her eyes, happy to let her girlfriends’ bickering float over her.

  They’d been in Pinecraft now for over a week. They only had five more days, then they were going to have to pack up, get on the bus, and leave sunny Florida.

  The idea of leaving felt almost painful, and the truth was that she didn’t want to go. She didn’t want to leave this inn, or the happy times she’d shared with Sara and Mattie.

  Most of all, she didn’t want to leave Zachary Kaufmann. Opening her palm, she stared at his phone number before making a fist again. So far, neither Sara nor Mattie had spied Zack’s writing on her hand. That was good, because it had been written in a permanent marker and was likely to be there for a while.

  Kind of like Zack’s impression on her heart, she realized, somewhat dreamily. Even if she tried to get rid of him, it was going to take a lot of work to erase him from her life.

  “Leona, you’re ignoring us,” Mattie said. “Are you seriously trying to get back to sleep?”

  “Nee.”

  “I know what Leona’s doing,” Sara said to Mattie. “She’s thinking about Zack.”

  Leona couldn’t deny it, though she didn’t particularly want to talk about just how often Zack occupied her mind, either. “I’m not thinking about anything,” she lied.

  “Come on, Le. We all know that you’re thinking about a certain brown-haired, blue-eyed man with mighty appealing dimples. What are you going to do about him?” Sara asked.

  Leona stretched before propping herself up on her elbows. “I don’t know.”

  “Has he acted like he doesn’t want you to leave?”

  “He hasn’t said as much, but I wouldn’t expect him to. It’s not like there’s anything I could do about it even if he asked me to stay here every hour,” she admitted. “No matter what happens in Pinecraft, we’re going to be getting on that bus in just a couple of days.”

  “Well, I don’t want to. And Danny doesn’t want me to go, either,” Mattie said. Preening a bit, she added, “Unlike his friend Zack, he hasn’t been shy about telling me his feelings.”

  “Oh, brother,” Sara groaned.

  Leona grinned. “I’m glad about that. You deserve to be happy, Mattie.”

  “You do, too.”

  “I am happy.”

  “You don’t look all that happy. Actually, you look pretty tired,” Sara quipped. “I’ve never seen you so eager to laze about, Leona.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with being lazy,” Leona protested. “And I’m happy enough. For sure. I just happen to be a lot more sleepy.” She was also content to sit quietly and recall every moment she’d spent in Zack’s company. The way he’d made her laugh. The way his attention made her feel like she was the only girl in the world.

  Mattie merely smiled. “You look smitten, that’s what you look like.”

  “Takes one to know one,” Leona retorted.

  Two raps at their door interrupted their laughter. “Girls, excuse me, but I think I need to talk to you.”

  “That’s Miss Beverly’s voice,” Sara whispered. “Just a minute,” she called out as all three of them grabbed their robes and threw them on over their T-shirts and pajama bottoms.

  When they were all decent, Sara opened the door. “Is anything wrong?” she asked. “Were we too loud?”

  “Loud? Oh, goodness, no,” Miss Beverly said as she stepped just inside the door. “But, uh, I’ve just returned from meeting this morning’s Pioneer Trails bus.”

  “Yes?” Mattie asked, her puzzled tone pretty much conveying the other girls’ feelings.

  Looking like she was preparing for battle, Beverly turned to Leona. “Dear, it seems you have a visitor.”

  “We aren’t expecting anyone,” Leona said.

  “I don’t know if you’re expecting him or not, but this man, ah, sure seems intent on seeing you, Leona. It’s put me in a little bit of a quandary. I have an extra room, but I’m not sure if you want him here. And it might be a bit awkward . . .” Her voice drifted off as she looked over her shoulder toward the stairwell, almost as if she were afraid the visitor was behind her.

  A horrible, dark feeling of foreboding hit Leona hard. “Did he happen to tell you his name?”

  Miss Beverly rocked back on her heels. “He did. His name is Edmund. Do you know him?”

  “Jah. He is the man I told you about. My, uh, former fiancé.”

  Mattie groaned as she started scurrying around the room, gathering her clothes. “I canna even believe that my bruder is here. He has a lot of nerve showing up unannounced.”

  Beverly’s look of bemusement turned to confusion. “I didn’t know he was your fiancé.” “

  “Edmund is my former fiancé,” Leona bit out. “
We recently broke up.” Inwardly, she winced. She hated how flighty and uncaring she sounded, but another part of her felt more than justified in not sharing anything else. She already had her family, Edmund, her girlfriends, and the Lord to hold her accountable. At the moment, trying to appease Miss Beverly as well felt like too much.

  The innkeeper shook her head in confusion. “Your former fiancé is also Mattie’s brother. Boy, talk about an uncomfortable situation.”

  “You don’t know the half of it,” Sara muttered.

  “All I do know is that he came off the bus looking for the inn and seemed mighty happy to follow me here once I told him that I managed it.” She bit her lip. “Girls, I’m sorry if you didn’t want to see him, but I really didn’t feel like I had much choice.”

  Mattie replied to that one. “No, of course, you didn’t. We’ll take care of Edmund.”

  “I don’t know how.” Leona, who had been standing, walked to her twin bed and sat down. “I can’t even believe he came here. Mattie, Edmund doesn’t even like going to the Walmart in Millersburg because he thinks it’s too far. He always goes to Graber’s in Sugarcreek.”

  Mattie shrugged. “Graber’s is a gut store. The best around. Everyone knows that. But you’re right, Le. My brother, well, he ain’t the best traveler. He’s kind of a homebody.”

  Beverly’s expression cleared. Obviously, she was beginning to understand a whole lot more about Leona and Edmund’s relationship. “Well, since Edmund isn’t the greatest of travelers, I think I had better get down there and make sure he’s all right. I would hate for him to think that I forgot about him.” After a pause, she added, “Girls, Edmund does need a place to stay. Do you want me to offer him the small room that just became available this morning?”

  Edmund sleeping downstairs? Leona couldn’t think of anything worse. “Nee,” she blurted, just as the other two girls practically shouted the same thing. Well, at least they were in agreement about that.

  “Tell him I’ll be down in ten minutes,” Mattie said as she walked to their small closet. “He won’t like waiting, but that’s okay.”

  Eyes dancing, Miss Beverly nodded. “I’ll do that. Girls, you all look pretty sleepy. Would you like me to make you a fresh pot of coffee?”

  “Oh, yes, please,” Sara said. “We’re going to need gallons of coffee to get through this morning.”

  “That and a lot of prayer,” Leona murmured after Beverly closed the door behind her. “I cannot even believe Edmund is here.” She felt both irritated and betrayed.

  “My brother just keeps getting more and more difficult,” Mattie called from inside the closet. “Don’t you worry, Leona. I’m going to take care of this.”

  Grabbing a pretty pink dress from a hook on the wall, Leona shook her head. “It’s all right, Mattie. I need to talk to him. I don’t know why he thought he needed to come to Pinecraft, but I intend to find out myself.”

  “We better hurry, then,” Sara said. “I need kaffi and lots of it. And then I need some food. And if I know your brother, Mattie, Edmund is going to be in a bad mood if we three keep him waiting for much longer.”

  As Leona darted into the bathroom, she knew that Sara was exactly right. Edmund never had liked waiting.

  But as she hurried to put on her fresh dress, she decided that she was only hurrying for Sara’s sake.

  As far as she was concerned, Edmund could wait all day for them. She was through putting his wants ahead of her own.

  “NEVER THOUGHT OF calling a family meeting this early in the morning, Zack,” Violet said as she walked out onto their parents’ back patio with a carafe of hot coffee in her hands.

  Looking at Karl, Effie, and their parents, Zack shrugged. “Not my fault that everyone’s schedule is so busy. This was the only time everyone could meet.”

  Before Violet could dispute that, their mother started passing out cereal bowls. “We’re on a time crunch, kinner. Pour some cereal and milk and start eating while Zack shares what’s on his mind.”

  Immediately, Karl poured some cereal into his bowl and Effie’s, added milk, then stared hard at Zack. “Anytime now, little brother.”

  “Well, it’s like this. I think there’s something special happening between Leona and me.”

  Effie clapped her hands. “I knew it! Every time I’ve seen you talk to her, you’ve looked really happy. And she has, too.”

  Violet put down her spoon. “I’m happy for you, too, Zack. I really am. But why did we all have to be together to hear this?”

  “Because she’s only going to be here for a few more days. And since that’s the case, I want to be able to see her.”

  His father frowned. “I’m still not following you. You are far too old to be asking for permission to date.”

  “I know that.” He took a deep breath and said a quick prayer to the Lord to help him find the right words to keep from hurting Effie’s feelings. “What I’m trying to say is that I need more time to see her. Time to myself.”

  Effie looked down into her cereal bowl. “You mean time without me.”

  “I love being with you, Effie. But—”

  “But you would like to have some time to yourself,” his mother said quietly.

  “And with Leona, jah?” Karl added with a small smile.

  “Jah.” That was exactly right. He wanted to spend time with Leona. She was becoming important to him.

  She was already important to him.

  Zack knew that even if she wasn’t ready to start a new relationship now, he would be willing to wait. He’d waited this long to find someone that he was willing to risk everything for. He knew waiting another few months would be nothing to him.

  As long as they both knew that they were going to eventually be together.

  He didn’t really care whether their relationship was in Ohio or Florida, either. If she didn’t want to leave her family and only wanted to live near them, he now realized they could all work together to make that possible. He was starting to realize that he didn’t always have to be the one to shoulder his sister’s needs.

  After waiting a few seconds, and not hearing anyone argue with him, he said, “I’m sorry.”

  But instead of accepting his apology, Violet, Karl, and even Effie started chuckling. Why, even his parents looked amused.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You are, Zack!” Violet exclaimed. “For months, we’ve all been trying to hint that you didn’t have to do everything.”

  “Even I’ve been telling that to ya,” Effie said.

  “I brought this up to you just a few days ago, son,” his mother chided. “Don’t you remember?”

  “I remember.”

  Grabbing the cereal box, his father poured a second helping into his bowl. “All we need to do is make some changes to our schedules. It’s gut that you brought us all together, Zack. In a minute, I’ll get out my calendar and see what I can do.”

  “And, Mamm and Daed, this means that you are going to have to remember that I’m still a part of the family,” Violet said quietly.

  Looking hurt, Mamm curved her hands around her mug. “I’ve never forgotten, daughter.”

  “Then let me help out. I know you’re disappointed that I didn’t want to be baptized Amish. I understand that you aren’t pleased that Henry is Mennonite. But he’s a gut man, and wonderful-gut boyfriend. Please stop acting like I don’t want to be with all of you or do my part.”

  Mamm and Daed stared at her in shock before their mother jumped to her feet and gave Violet a hug. “I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t realize you felt that we’d shut you out. You know we love you.”

  “I love you all, too.” Smiling at her sister, Violet said, “So, that means I’m going to get to spend more time with Effie now, right? She’s my baby sister, too, you know.”

  “And mine,” Karl added. “Look, I know I’m busy, but that doesn’t mean I’m too busy to pick up Effie once or twice a week. Or help her with her physical therapy. I can also help around the
house. Even I can run a cloth over furniture or wash dishes or help in the garden. I can do that.”

  “Danke,” Daed said.

  “I’m going to talk to the principal at school, too,” Mamm said. “I’m going to ask to get off ninety minutes earlier every day. It shouldn’t be a problem since I’m only supposed to help run copies and such.”

  Zack sighed. “Thanks, Mamm. Danke, everyone. I’m really glad we talked.”

  “Wait a minute,” Effie blurted. “I haven’t said my part yet.”

  “And what do you have to say, little sister?” Karl teased.

  “Well, I just want to point out to everyone that I am twelve years old. I don’t have to be watched over like I’m a small child.”

  “That is true, but it’s your legs I worry about,” Mamm reminded her. “Plus, sometimes you get too tired.”

  “If I get tired, I’ll sit down. Or I’ll trip,” she said with a shrug. “It won’t be the end of the world. I’m going to have this disease the rest of my life. I need to manage it, and the physical therapists say I’m doing pretty gut with it, too. You need to let me be more independent.”

  Their father pursed his lips. “Watch your mouth, Effie. You are sounding a bit too full of yourself.”

  To Zack’s surprise, it was Violet who became the voice of reason. “Boy, I seem to remember being told the very same thing when I was twelve,” she murmured before looking her parents in the eye. “And when I was that age, I looked after Effie.”

  Effie looked triumphant. “See? I am old enough.”

  “Give us a little bit of time to get used to that idea, Effie, but I do see your point,” their father said. “We’ll start giving you more freedom. But for the present, we need to think about Zachary. It’s time we let him have a bit of freedom of his own.”

  “I don’t know if freedom is what I’m looking for,” Zack protested.

  Violet chuckled. “I don’t think you need more freedom at all.”

  Their mother turned to her in surprise. “But, Violet, we just agreed to step in for Zack.”

  “Oh, I’m not disputing that,” Violet replied with a mischievous look. “I’m simply pointing out that Zachariah isn’t really looking for ‘freedom.’ Instead, I think he’s going to be looking for a certain brown-eyed, blond-haired girl.”