The Ebb Tide

by Beverly Lewis

  “You understand me like no one else,” Frannie said suddenly, reaching for Sallie’s hand. “Sisters are close in ways other relationships aren’t. ’Least that’s what I believe.”

  Sallie agreed.

  “That specialness spills over into other relationships,” Frannie added. “You and Mamm will become even closer after I’m married and gone from home, I expect.”

  “You really think so?” Sallie was surprised she’d admit this.

  “Oh, I’m ever so sure.”

  “But I can’t possibly make up for you not bein’ around.”

  Frannie grinned. “I should hope not!”

  Sallie laughed.

  “Once you’re safely married, as well,” Frannie said, “I s’pose Mamm will look forward to both our visits, jah?”

  Married to someone like Perry, thought Sallie, and she brought up the topic of Perry’s mishap, and their recent correspondence.

  “I’d say he’s over the moon ’bout you, Sallie.”

  Sallie shrugged it off. “He’s a gut fella, that’s for sure.”

  “Jah.” Frannie didn’t comment on Sallie’s reticence. “Jesse suggested the four of us could start double-dating as soon as you return home.”

  “At least I’d see you more,” Sallie said slowly.

  Frannie went silent, surely reading between the lines.

  Sallie stared up at the blue sky, and for the first time since she left Paradise Township, she felt a twinge of sadness.

  35

  Sallie and Frannie spent most of Sunday morning at the beach, “enjoying almighty God’s handiwork,” as Frannie described it. She insisted she simply must soak up every bit of ocean mist and sunshine before the long ride home that afternoon.

  “I think you’re nearly as fond of this town as I am,” Sallie said as they sat on their beach towels, sipping sweet lemonade.

  “Oh jah,” Frannie said. “But I’d be lyin’ if I didn’t say my heart’s back in Paradise.”

  With Jesse, Sallie thought, glad for her sister, yet also knowing how much she would miss her once she married. “That’s sweet, Frannie.”

  “And true,” Frannie said, closing her eyes and smiling into the sunshine. “But I’ll never forget this time with you! You seem ever so happy here.”

  Sallie didn’t deny it, and she realized that in another month, she, too, would be heading home again. The days here are slipping away.

  The Logans had invited Sallie and Frannie for lunch after the family returned from church, so Sallie suggested they walk back to the cottage to shower.

  “It’ll be nice for you to get better acquainted,” Sallie said, glancing both ways as they crossed the busy road. “Autumn’s lookin’ forward to it, too.”

  As they neared the Logans’, they encountered church families carrying their Bibles. Since the church where Kevin was worshiping this summer was the only one close by, these people must attend the very same one. Sallie smiled to herself and thought of mentioning it to Frannie but decided against it.

  “Ach, it won’t be easy leavin’. If I’d known how fast the time would go, I might’ve planned to stay another day,” Frannie said. “But Mamm really needs me home for tomorrow—even prepaid the driver and got special permission for me to travel today.”

  Sallie adjusted the beach tote on her shoulder. “Any chance you could visit again?”

  “Not with all of the vegetables comin’ on. Besides, Cousin Essie needs help, too.”

  Sallie had guessed as much. “Well, I won’t hold my breath, but if you can get away, just let me know.”

  Someone in a familiar-looking car waved at them from the street. Turning, she looked more closely as the car pulled up to the curb and slowed to a stop.

  Is that Kevin? She stopped walking. “Just a minute, Frannie.”

  “What is it?”

  Sallie’s heart skipped a beat as Kevin practically leaped out of his car, dressed in black pants and a pressed white short-sleeved shirt.

  “I knew that was you, Sallie,” he said, his smile big and bright.

  Impossible to miss our Plain garb, Sallie thought wryly.

  “This must be your sister.” Kevin offered Frannie a cordial handshake. “Sallie’s talked a lot about you, Frannie.”

  “Ach, I forgot my manners,” Sallie said, introducing Frannie to Kevin and vice versa.

  Frannie stole a couple of glances at Sallie as Kevin remarked on what a beautiful Lord’s Day it was to be outdoors. Ever so conscious of Frannie’s measured responses, Sallie wished she might wither up and disappear.

  The three of them exchanged a few casual remarks before Kevin turned to Frannie and said, “It was very nice to meet you. Sallie’s been eager for your visit.”

  Frannie nodded. “All of us miss her back home.” She gave Sallie a strange little smile. “We can scarcely wait for her to return.”

  Dearest Frannie, Sallie thought, perspiration breaking out on her arms.

  “I hope you enjoyed your visit here,” Kevin said.

  Frannie nodded. “It’s just beautiful.”

  “Well, I should join my aunt and uncle for lunch,” he said. “I’ll see you next weekend, Sallie,” he added with a smile.

  Sallie realized she was holding her breath as Kevin returned to his car and drove away.

  She and Frannie began to walk again, silently at first, Sallie expecting the worst.

  “I can see why you like him,” Frannie said at last. “If I wasn’t Amish, I’d think he was right handsome.”

  Sallie nodded.

  “He’s a college student, didn’t ya say?”

  “Studying marine biology.”

  Frannie met her gaze. “So then, I shouldn’t worry that you’re fallin’ for him.”

  Sallie shook away her anxieties. “Why would ya say that?” She wished this hadn’t happened now, during the final hours of Frannie’s visit.

  “Mamm said you wrote something ’bout your first day here bein’ your best ever.”

  Sallie remembered. “Well, I hadn’t met Kevin yet, so it had nothin’ to do with him.”

  “Still, she’s plumb worried you’ll want to stay put here.”

  Admittedly, Sallie had felt that way at times, but she knew it wasn’t really an option. “She said that?”

  Frannie nodded.

  “Goodness.”

  “Mamm doesn’t say much, but I can see the concern on her face. She’s worried that the family you’re workin’ for, and everything in Cape May, will increase your desire for the world,” Frannie said, swinging her arms. “She isn’t talking only ’bout travel, ya know. And now that I’ve actually met your new friend . . .”

  “You must think he’ll push me toward goin’ fancy.”

  Frannie agreed as they hurried up the Logans’ short driveway and around toward the guest cottage. “I’d say he has more of a chance of that than the Logans or anyone else you’ve met here.”

  Sallie unlocked the door, and they deposited the beach tote just inside the front door. As they stepped into the kitchen, Sallie touched Frannie’s arm. “Ach, ya must tell Mamm not to worry . . . please.”

  Frannie grimaced. Then, looking right at Sallie, she asked, “Then why are there fancy clothes in your closet?”

  Sallie groaned.

  “I wasn’t exactly snoopin’.” Frannie tilted her head, a concerned look on her pretty face.

  Sallie leaned her head into her hands at the sink. “Ooh, I didn’t want anything to spoil our visit.”

  Now Frannie’s arm was around her. “Nothing can spoil it. But can ya at least explain to me? I’ve just met an English fella who’s obviously head over heels for ya . . . and those new clothes. What am I s’posed to think?”

  “Nothin’ to stew over,” Sallie stated firmly, wanting to quiet her worries.

  Frannie sighed, then softly she whispered, “Don’t ya see . . . you might be playin’ with fire? I can’t help thinkin’ about Jesse’s cousin Abe in New Holland. His bishop put the shun on him just
last week because he left the church after bein’ baptized. Ach, Dat said it would’ve been better if he’d never taken the holy vow.”

  “Frannie, I’m not Abe—please trust me.”

  Smoothing her long dress, Frannie kept her head lowered. Finally, she said, “I suppose if dressin’ like the English is the worst thing ya do before joinin’ church . . .”

  Sallie caught her sister’s eye and saw that endearing concern she’d seen so often through the years. “Denki, Frannie.”

  They reached for each other and held on tight.

  Sallie could see Autumn waiting for them at the patio door as she and Frannie made their way to the main house for lunch. “Looks like someone’s excited to see ya again,” Sallie told Frannie.

  Autumn opened the door and was quick to give Frannie a hug, doing the same to Sallie, welcoming them inside. “I still can’t believe how much you look alike,” she said, smiling back and forth at them.

  Sallie reintroduced Frannie to Monique and noticed the dining room table set with pretty plates and shiny silverware, as well as a new centerpiece of yellow, orange, and white Gerbera daisies. In honor of Frannie’s visit?

  When they all sat down, Len said the table grace and then shared about the morning’s sermon on the blessing of being meek. “The meek shall inherit the earth.”

  Sallie glanced at Frannie, who smiled back, her open expression indicating that their earlier conflict was in the past. At least I hope so, Sallie thought.

  The egg drop soup appetizer was delicious, as was the rest of the Chinese fare Len had picked up on the way home from church.

  Across the table, Monique looked less tired this Lord’s Day, and because Autumn hadn’t asked to sleep over at the cottage since that first plea, Sallie assumed Connor was sleeping more soundly most nights.

  “I really liked my Sunday school lesson today,” Autumn said, determinedly trying to use chopsticks to eat her almond chicken and rice mixture.

  “Tell us,” Monique said as she passed the cream cheese wontons to Frannie.

  Autumn proceeded to share the Bible story about Samuel anointing young David as king. “Our teacher said there’s always a place for us kids in God’s kingdom.” Autumn smiled up at her mother.

  Monique sprinkled soy sauce on her white rice. “I love that story, too.”

  “God reaches out to us at any age.” Len recounted his own father’s experience as a boy. “Your grandpa Logan opened his heart to the Lord Jesus when he was just six years old.”

  Very few Amish talked openly of having a personal relationship with Christ, yet Sallie relished the conversation. She spoke up, as well, sharing that their mother’s cousin Essie had also felt a strong stirring in her heart as a young girl.

  The discussion took a slow turn toward the weather and upcoming plans for Sallie to take Autumn to the Cape May County Park and Zoo sometime that week. Then Connor began to cry, and Len excused himself from the table, going to the nursery. He reappeared and carried Connor to the living area, where he walked back and forth with his tiny son, talking to him quietly, trying to comfort him.

  After a time, Frannie thoughtfully offered to hold Connor so Len could finish eating. Len said he didn’t mind walking Connor, but Frannie was so persistent that Len gave in.

  Frannie held the baby face out, her hand against his little tummy. She swayed him gently, whispering to him and keeping him content while the rest of them ate.

  Yet as she walked past Autumn, Connor began to whimper. It almost looked like he was reaching for her—though how could that be when he was three months old? “Maybe he wants his sister to hold him,” Frannie suggested, stepping closer to Autumn.

  “I’m not finished eating,” Autumn said, reaching for another cream cheese puff.

  Seeing Len’s disappointment, Sallie’s heart fell. We’re all aware of Autumn’s struggle. . . .

  Later, when Frannie was packing up her things back in the cottage, Sallie brought up Autumn’s response. “She’s still holding something inside,” she admitted.

  “Mamm told me ’bout your letter askin’ for advice.” Frannie placed her few clothing items into the small suitcase. “Wish I knew how to help.”

  Sallie sighed. A breakthrough can’t come soon enough. . . .

  When it was time to say good-bye at the curb, Sallie hugged her sister, whispering again, “Don’t worry ’bout me, jah?”

  Frannie nodded, her eyes filling with tears. Sallie kept her emotions in check as her sister waved through the window till the van was out of sight.

  She hurried back to the walk-in closet in the cottage, remembering how dismayed Frannie had been about the fancy skirt and top.

  She’s disappointed in me, thought Sallie, viewing them from her sister’s perspective and feeling guilty. What was I thinking?

  Still, there was something within her that refused to dismiss her foolishness out of hand, and a new resolve took hold.

  Sallie changed into the floral skirt and pale blue top once more, feeling the soft fabric against her shins as she walked about the cottage, her arms bare, an enticing sense of freedom filling her.

  Going to the dresser mirror, she studied herself. The Sallie that returned her gaze looked more serious than she would have expected.

  Then, as quickly as she’d tried them on, she undressed and returned the clothes to the closet, recalling her final words to Frannie: “Don’t worry ’bout me. . . .”

  36

  The following Wednesday morning, Sallie, Autumn, and Rhiannon rode with Monique to the zoo. Little Connor was being looked after by Evie at the house so Monique could attend a garden club brunch downtown after dropping off Sallie and the girls.

  At the main entrance, Autumn and Rhiannon scrambled to get a map of the free zoo and put their ponytailed heads together to find the most direct route to see the twin baby snow leopards. “They’ll be so cute,” Rhiannon said, tracing the route on the map with her finger.

  “There’s a birds-of-prey show in one hour in the courtyard right over there, too,” Sallie said, pointing in that direction.

  “I love birds!” Autumn hugged Rhiannon.

  “No duh!” Rhiannon teased good-naturedly. She turned to Sallie. “May we feed the giraffes and other animals?”

  “There’s a coin-operated dispenser for pellet food. But only for the ducks and farmyard animals.”

  “Mommy gave me a bunch of quarters,” Autumn said, tapping her tiny over-the-shoulder purse, which matched her coral sundress and hairband. “I wish Mom was here.”

  “She can’t be everywhere, right?” Rhiannon encouraged her, putting her arm around Autumn.

  “I just wish she could have come today, though, instead of going to the garden club brunch.”

  Rhiannon glanced at Sallie and shrugged, then reached for Autumn’s hand, which made Sallie miss Frannie all the more.

  ———

  The cuddly-looking snow leopard cubs were in play mode when Sallie and the girls arrived at the viewing area, playing with anything they could find, including their mother’s long tail and each other’s ears. After a short while, the cubs nuzzled their mother and began to nurse.

  Autumn was spellbound, saying not a word, while Rhiannon pointed out one thing after another—a complete switch of the twosome’s usual manner.

  “See how their mother licks their fur to clean them,” Sallie said.

  “She sure takes good care of them,” Rhiannon said, leaning next to Autumn, who was still quiet, her arms on the fence, chin resting on her hands. “I wonder if she was surprised to get two babies at once.”

  Autumn remained silent, yet after they’d observed the cubs for a full twenty minutes, she still did not want to leave.

  What’s going through her mind? Sallie wondered.

  Eventually, Rhiannon coaxed Autumn to go to the birds-of-prey show. “You’re bird crazy, remember?” she said.

  Sallie noticed Autumn glance back at the mother snow leopard and her babies. “Can we see them again be
fore we leave?” Autumn asked.

  Sallie waited for Rhiannon to speak up. “There’s a zillion more animals to see,” Rhiannon said. “Let’s go!”

  Autumn looked dejected, but Sallie didn’t call attention to it, just kept walking, keeping up with Rhiannon, who was apparently the leader now.

  The birds-of-prey show featured owls, hawks, falcons, harriers, kites, and even toucans, which was a bit of a surprise. When the toucan whistled into the trainer’s microphone, it seemed to get Autumn’s attention, and Sallie noticed she even cracked a smile.

  On the way to see the giraffes, Rhiannon’s favorite animal, Autumn asked to get her face painted. “Let’s do it together,” she suggested, acting more like herself. “You too, Miss Sallie. All three of us.”

  “Ach, ain’t for me, but you girls can. I’ll watch.”

  Designs on my face are the last thing I need! she thought, curious when Autumn chose to have her right cheek painted with the face of a baby snow leopard. Rhiannon, however, asked for a dolphin juggling two hearts.

  Amazed at how swiftly the face painters worked, Sallie wondered if Autumn might want to make a drawing of the snow leopard cubs. The frisky twins were all she talked about while the young woman painted her face.

  “I could watch those cubs all day,” Autumn told the painter.

  The effervescent woman laughed. “I certainly envy their energy!”

  “Even with two babies, the mother has time for both of them,” Autumn said, holding very still, eyes closed. “She doesn’t look like they’re wearing her out.”

  “You’re right,” the face painter agreed.

  Sallie held her breath, wondering what more Autumn might say now.

  But Autumn was quiet from then on, until she saw her face in the large mirror provided nearby. “I like it,” she said, beaming. “Now we can get our pictures taken, Rhiannon.”