The Ebb Tide

by Beverly Lewis

  She asked more about his summer work, hoping she wasn’t keeping him.

  “Right now, I’m working on an article that will be published on the research center’s website.” Kevin went on to talk a little more about that, as well as his hope to someday attend Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, for graduate studies in biological oceanography. The exuberance in his voice was evident.

  Eventually, he paused to ask, “Are you on your own, then, on weekends?”

  She nodded. “Don’t laugh—it might seem like an easy job with two whole days off each week. I’m sure not used to that back home on the farm.”

  “So did you pack a lunch today?”

  “I did. But not one as big as the basket of five loaves and two fishes.”

  “My favorite Bible story as a kid.” Kevin ran his hand through his thick hair. “Say, what if I pick up something and join you back here in a sec?”

  “Sure,” she said, her stomach doing a little flip.

  “Can I get you a soda, a root beer float?” he asked.

  “Denki, nothing for me.”

  Kevin stood up, brushing off the sand. “Don’t go anywhere!”

  She laughed softly, and he was gone. Then, settling back onto her beach towel, she told herself to relax. You’ve made a new friend, that’s all.

  One with connections to the People, yet who was wholly English!

  21

  Sallie couldn’t believe how quickly Kevin returned with his lunch. And he took a moment to bow his head in prayer before taking his first bite, which impressed her.

  Remarkably, they fell right back into the earlier comfortable cadence of exchange, time evaporating into sea mist. She shared with him her scuttled plan to see Australia. “It’s okay, really,” she assured him. “I’m at the ocean now, still pinchin’ myself.”

  “Well, this place is beautiful. Every beach is unique in its way,” Kevin replied, telling of several he’d especially enjoyed during his own travels, including a trip to the Castille Dive Center on the island of Corsica. Kevin also shared that he and others from his church youth group had gone on a summer mission trip to Nicaragua during his early teens, where he scuba dived at night off the remote Corn Islands. “The reef was just a short boat ride, so that was handy . . . and the place was practically deserted.”

  “I’ve never met anyone who’s gone scuba diving,” she said.

  “Quite honestly, it can become pretty addictive.”

  She asked him more questions regarding his travels, soaking up his responses like a sponge. “You must have had some long flights to get to some of these places. I’d like to think I could board an airplane,” Sallie said. “But as you know, it’s not as if I’ll be able to fly anywhere once I’m baptized. Cape May is probably as far as I’ll ever get.” She tried not to sound as forlorn as she felt.

  He looked at her sympathetically. “You mean forever?”

  “Jah,” she said softly.

  Kevin looked out to the sea for a moment, as if sadly considering this. “Well then, it’s terrific that you’re having such a wunnerbaar-gut time here.” He reached for his notebook. “Be sure to get down to the old bunker at Cape Point and the lighthouse while you’re here. They’re fascinating.”

  “Denki, Kevin.” She was tickled that he’d sprinkled in a bit of Deitsch and felt a sudden wave of disappointment as she recognized their conversation was coming to an end.

  “It was great talking with you, Sallie.” He glanced at his watch. “And I’d like to continue, but I need to enter this data.” He tapped his notebook.

  “Of course,” she assured him. “Your work’s important.”

  His eyes met hers. “Would you like to . . .” He paused.

  She studied him. “Like to what?”

  “Uh, go for a walk on the promenade—our boardwalk—next Saturday? We could have lunch, too, if you’d like.”

  Is he asking me out? It was the last thing Sallie had expected.

  He didn’t wait for her answer. “I could meet you at the Original Fudge Kitchen, say around ten o’clock—if it’s not too far out of your way.” He pointed in the right direction, adding that the well-known candy shop was located near Ocean Putt Golf. “You can’t miss it.” He smiled at her. “They have the best saltwater taffy around.”

  She opened her mouth, fully expecting to say, “I probably shouldn’t,” but the words wouldn’t come out. “Sounds delicious.”

  “And here’s some trivia for you—the first saltwater taffy in the world was produced right here at the Jersey Shore in the 1870s. How about that?”

  Unable to keep her smile in check, she nodded and agreed to meet him. “Okay. I’ll look forward to it.”

  “I’ll see you then, Sallie.” He got up to leave, sand trickling off his trunks. Grinning, he left with his notebook tucked beneath his arm.

  And, if she wasn’t mistaken, he was whistling.

  Sallie sat there, focusing her attention on the families walking along the beach, some children holding their parents’ hands, others more independent.

  Sighing, she could not believe how easily she’d gotten caught up in conversation with Kevin.

  I’ll go with him just once, she promised herself.

  Later, when the day grew insufferably hot and humid, Sallie spotted some Amish girls walking in the surf. They looked to be teens and carried their sandals in one hand, lifting their dresses above midcalf with the other, two of the girls wading out farther than the others. All of them were talking in Deitsch, clearly enjoying themselves.

  Like me.

  Sallie wondered where they were from—it was hard to know since they weren’t wearing their Kapps. Their black dresses looked similar to some Amishwomen’s Sallie had seen in Pennsylvania’s Big Valley.

  Laughing and splashing a bit, they took their time wading all the way down the beach.

  So I’m not the only Plain person here, Sallie thought as she gathered up her things and returned the umbrella to the rental shed. But I am the only one in a swimsuit, however conservative. Then, heading toward the beach entrance, she looked back, reluctant to leave behind the spot where she’d talked with Kevin. More than an hour had passed, yet it had seemed like only a few minutes.

  Back at the house, Autumn and her father were swimming laps, making quick underwater flip turns at the far end of the lap pool, then swimming back. Impressed, Sallie stood there and watched, recalling Autumn’s remarks about being a mermaid in her dreams. She could see why. The girl swims like a fish!

  Since father and daughter were intent on racing each other, Sallie decided not to make herself known, instead heading back to her cottage to shower. And after changing clothes, she sat down to read in the living area, finding it hard to keep her attention on the page as she happily recalled the various things—and places—she and Kevin Kreider seemed to have in common.

  Pure coincidence, surely. She got up to pour a glass of apple juice in the kitchen. How much should I tell Frannie about him when she calls?

  Sallie relished sitting on the small deck, the serene setting perfect for praying or pondering after supper that evening. Praying was far better, she’d come to discover. Pondering often reverted to fretting, which was pointless, yet she sometimes felt helpless not to do it all the same.

  She glanced at her watch and pictured the wooden phone shack, an island unto itself, bordered as it was by thousands of rustling corn stalks.

  Back inside, Sallie settled into a book about the area and discovered a chapter on East Coast tidal patterns. The ebb and flow of the water was ever changing due to the seasons, weather, or the moon’s position and proximity. She attempted to process all she was learning, hungry for more.

  The phone rang, startling her. “Hullo,” she answered.

  “Hi, Sallie. It’s Frannie. Mamm heard your phone message earlier and said you’d called. What’s going on?”

  “I wanted to hear your voice, for one. I miss ya.”

  “Are ya havin’ a gut time?�
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  “Ach, if only you could see this place. Actually, that’s one of the reasons I called.”

  “Oh?”

  “Would ya like to come visit over a weekend?” Sallie asked. “It’s all right with the Logans, and you could stay in the cottage with me. There’s a nice big bed, two baths, and a kitchen and sitting area, kind of like a modernized Dawdi Haus. And there’s a cute little fishpond beside the deck.”

  “Sounds mighty tempting.”

  Sallie told her about the Logans’ lovely vacation home, as well. “But it’s truly impossible to describe the ocean.”

  “Well, I don’t know when I could get away . . . whether Mamm can do without me for a few days.”

  “Maybe Cousin Essie might chip in and help some?”

  “Ach, she has her own chores, ya know. But I could ask. We’re also movin’ in two weeks, so it’d have to be after that. If I can come at all.”

  “Just drop me a note or call—you have the cottage phone number. Monique says you’re welcome any weekend, and Autumn’s hoping you can come. Actually, she brought up the idea first.”

  “What a cutie.” Frannie asked about the nanny duties and what sorts of things she’d enjoyed thus far.

  Sallie filled her in, particularly mentioning the wonderful Salt Marsh Safari. “There was so much to see and do. And there were even crabs in what they called a touch tank.”

  “You actually touched ’em?”

  “Oh jah, and there was a very helpful naturalist on board named Kevin Kreider. When I saw him again at the beach, he told me he has Amish relatives who live not far from us. Imagine that! He even knows some Deitsch.”

  “Wait—you met who where?”

  Sallie hesitated at the tone in Frannie’s voice. “I think you might be reading too much into this.”

  “Well, you’d better backtrack a bit,” Frannie said. “You saw this fella again at the beach?”

  “I was there to swim, and he happened to recognize me, so we started to talk. Kevin’s just friendly. He’s that way with everyone.”

  “Sounds like I can’t let you out of my sight even for a week!”

  Sallie stifled a laugh, then added, “I guess I shouldn’t have told ya. Now you’ll fret.”

  “Oh, I won’t worry ’bout you—it’s Kevin Kreider I don’t know.”

  “He’s a fine Mennonite fella. In fact, I’m sure Dat knows some of his Amish Miller cousins. Kevin told me ’bout some of his childhood visits, in fact.”

  “So . . . you two talked quite a lot.”

  Sallie wasn’t going to admit that. She stared at the pendant lights over the kitchen island. “Like I said . . . Kevin’s merely friendly.” Abruptly, she changed the subject, mentioning how nice it was to receive a letter from Mamm so quickly. “Please tell her I appreciate it and that I plan to take Autumn to the library soon for some books that might help her understand her new role.”

  “You may have your work cut out for ya,” Frannie said before pausing momentarily. “Well, Dat and Mamm will be wonderin’ what’s happened to me if I don’t get back soon.”

  “Tell them I love them dearly . . . and I love you, too, Frannie.”

  “I will. To be honest, it gets real lonely here before bedtime. I miss you, Sallie.” She sighed. “Thanks for your letter—and the perty pictures you took. I’m in the process of writing a response.”

  “I’ll watch for it.”

  They said good-bye and hung up.

  Mamm would be worried that I’m living in the lap of luxury, if she knew. And worried even more if Frannie mentions Kevin!

  22

  Monday of the following week, Sallie was left in charge of baby Connor while Monique drove Autumn to the nature center camp. Before going, Monique kissed her son’s tiny forehead as Sallie cuddled him while standing at the patio door. Sallie waved to Autumn as she and her mother walked out to the SUV.

  “Have a nice time,” Sallie called.

  Along with caring for Connor, she gathered up the laundry and put the first load in the washer. There was plenty to do with a fussy little one in the house.

  Shortly after noon, Autumn arrived home with her mother, talking a blue streak about the day camp and all the exhibits she’d viewed. “There are lots of display cases in the lobby with pretty seashells, some I’ve never seen. And there’s a tarantula, too!”

  Sallie gave an exaggerated shiver at that, and Autumn giggled.

  “Oh, and I wish you could see the big mirror framed with seashells, in the upstairs waiting area,” Autumn said. “You wouldn’t believe it!”

  Sallie loved her enthusiasm and was delighted to see her so happy.

  That afternoon, Sallie and Autumn took the historic trolley tour past the beautiful Queen Victoria Bed-and-Breakfast and other stately Victorian-era homes. Sallie could scarcely believe the variety in all the meticulously kept homes, many surrounded by colorful gardens. Cousin Essie would love to see these!

  Back in the cottage that evening, Sallie heard the phone ringing.

  It was Frannie calling, and right away Sallie detected the anxiety in her voice. “Mamm wonders if I shouldn’t come right away next weekend to see ya, Sallie.”

  “Sure, that’s fine. Is something the matter?”

  “Oh, Sallie . . . Perry’s had a bad accident. He was out ridin’ on the hay wagon with a load that shifted and knocked him to the ground.” Frannie paused. “The wagon ran right over him.”

  Sallie gasped.

  “His rib cage and his right leg are broken. Jesse and I just visited him at the hospital.”

  “This is just awful,” Sallie groaned.

  “He seems to be in a lot of pain even with the medicine. I can’t imagine what he’s goin’ through.” Frannie sniffled. “I thought you’d want to know.”

  “Must be a miracle he survived.” Sallie recalled one of the neighbor’s sons dying in a similar farming accident a couple years ago. Her mind flitted back to what her sister had first said when she called. “So Mamm wants ya to come see me right away?”

  “Well, I let it slip that you’d made friends with an Englischer fella there.”

  I should’ve known, Sallie thought, mentally kicking herself again. “Jah, but Mamm needn’t worry. I have nothin’ to hide.”

  “Maybe that’ll soothe her, then.” Frannie was quiet for a moment. “I’m sorry, Sallie. I shouldn’t have spilled the beans.”

  Sallie pondered further what may have caused Mamm to leap to conclusions. Perhaps she’s worried because she knows I haven’t really shown much interest in the fellas back home. . . .

  Sallie thought of Perry again, and all the pain he must be enduring, though surely never complaining. He wasn’t one to focus on himself. “Do ya think Perry would appreciate a get-well card from me?”

  “Funny. Cousin Essie suggested I mention it to ya.”

  “What’s the hospital’s address? Do ya know offhand?”

  Frannie recited it immediately, as if she’d had it ready for just this purpose.

  “Thanks. I’ll send him a card.”

  “And I’ll call to let you know when I’m comin’. I probably will wait till after the move if I can calm Mamm down. Don’t want to leave at such a busy time.”

  “Whenever ya come, it’ll be so gut to have you here.”

  “Now that Mamm’s all for it, I won’t have to plead.”

  “I s’pect she thinks you can save me from ruin.”

  Frannie giggled. “All I can do is try.”

  This brought a round of laughter.

  After she hung up, Sallie considered Perry’s accident again. How long will he be laid up, unable to help his father farm?

  A lump in her throat made it hard to swallow, and Sallie went out to the deck over the koi pond to try to quiet her thoughts enough to pray. Her family felt too far away right now.

  O Lord and heavenly Father, please be near to Perry Zook, my poor, injured friend.

  Before going to bed that night, Sallie jotted down a number
of places she wanted to show Frannie, if her sister could get away. The thought that Mamm was ready to send Frannie without delay was rather surprising. Dear Mamm, who’s typically slow to react and steady as a rock . . .

  Sallie read another page in her devotional—the best way to get her mind off Frannie’s troubling call. Sallie had been looking forward to seeing Kevin Kreider again, but after talking with her sister, she second-guessed it. It would seem like a date, at least to my family.

  Sallie set her book aside, suddenly very tired. What with Perry suffering in the hospital and in such a painful condition, she felt a little guilty at the prospect of a pleasant outing with another young man. A man who was not Amish.

  What’s to fret about?

  Tuesday morning, while the day was very still, Sallie shuffled to the living area in her slippers to locate her colorful cardstock and a pen, then opened the door and went outdoors. She was conscious of robins in nearby trees while she made a cheery card for Perry.

  As she penned her best words for a quick recovery, she imagined the corn in her father’s field nearly knee-high. The perfect rows would run right up to the edge of the field lanes, where their eight-mule team crossed from the barn to the field and back again each day. At times, the glossy leaves of the corn almost seemed to sparkle in the sunlight, Sallie recalled, a sudden catch in her throat.

  Am I homesick?

  She addressed and sealed the envelope to be mailed right away. Perry would surely be glad to hear from her.

  After the light meal she made for Autumn, Monique, and herself, Sallie took Autumn to the library on the trolley. With some help from the genial children’s librarian, Sallie located two wonderful storybooks that were pertinent to Mamm’s letter. Autumn seemed delighted to sit with Sallie while reading the first one aloud on a comfortable sofa, but she was in a big hurry to read the next book, so things didn’t work out the way Sallie had hoped. She had so wanted to discuss the story of the young girl adjusting to having a new baby sister.