“Have you talked to your sisters to get their opinion? They’ve both experienced what it’s like to be pregnant. I’m sure they’d know if what some folks call ‘morning sickness’ could occur at other times of the day.”
“I suppose I could ask them.” Doris fiddled with the napkin beside her plate. “But I’m sure it’s a lingering flu bug.” She forced herself to take another bite of stew and closed her eyes. Wouldn’t it be something if I was actually pregnant? I won’t get my hopes up, but it would truly be a miracle and an answer to prayer.
Akron
Joel leaned back in the recliner and checked his phone messages. There were two from people asking for bids on small jobs, and a message from Elsie saying the will had not been found.
He leaped from the chair and started to pace. This is ridiculous! How long can it take for my sisters to find Dad’s will? There are three of them, after all, plus Aunt Verna and Uncle Lester, if they decided to stick around awhile.
Joel had half a mind to get in the car and go over to his dad’s house and search for the will himself. But he didn’t feel like making the hour’s drive, since Charm was more than sixty miles away. It would take too much time to drive there, search the house for the will, and drive back home. If at all possible, he wanted to hit the hay early tonight. Right now, he had a few jobs lined up, which he needed to get started on early tomorrow and Friday. Fortunately, he’d given a few of his subcontractors part of the money he still owed them, so they’d agreed to do the jobs Joel couldn’t do, such as the wiring and plumbing.
He stopped pacing long enough to grab his cup of coffee and take a drink. If I don’t hear anything from Elsie by the time those two jobs are finished, I may drive over to Millersburg and talk to her in person.
This Sunday, Joel would be taking Kristi on a picnic, and he’d like to tell her the will had been found. With the exception of his relationship with Kristi, it was hard to find much good in his life these days. “ ’Course, there’s also my beautiful Corvette,” he mumbled. “Think I’ll get it out right now and take a short spin.” Looking at his watch, Joel realized he still had enough time to go out and be back in plenty of time for bed. One thing Joel had discovered since he’d gotten the classic car: driving around in it helped him to relax and forget his troubles—if only for a little while.
Millersburg
Elsie had been thinking about Doris and was considering going to Berlin to see how she was, but the day had gotten away from her. She’d rushed about cleaning; had stripped all their beds; and washed sheets, towels, and clothes. Now it was time to get supper on the table.
Her thoughts jumped to Joel, another family member to be concerned about. Dad was right. Joel acts spoiled and only thinks of himself.
Elsie paused in the hall and took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself before going to the kitchen. She still had some laundry to take down from the clothesline, so she asked Mary to get it.
“Sure, Mom, I’ll do it right now.”
On entering the kitchen, Elsie was pleased to see Hope peeling potatoes and putting them into a kettle for boiling. The roast was in the oven, and Elsie had sliced some tomatoes she’d picked from the garden this morning. So far, they’d had no frost, and if the weather held out, they could get tomatoes for a few more weeks. John was home from work and was out in the barn with the boys, so they would eat soon after they came in from doing their chores.
Hope dropped a potato into the kettle and turned to face Elsie. “I miss Grandpa so much.” Tears welled in her eyes.
“I do, too.” Elsie gave her youngest daughter’s shoulder a tender squeeze. “Let’s try to remember all the good times we had with him.”
“I will, but it’s hard knowing both he and Grandma Byler are gone.”
Elsie’s eyes filled with tears as she gave her daughter a hug.
“Hey, are you two all right?” John asked when he stepped in from outside.
Elsie patted her damp eyes. “We miss my daed.”
“We all do.” John moved closer and rubbed Elsie’s back.
She sniffed. “Did you get all the chores done? Where are the boys?”
“They’re feeding the cats. I told ’em to hurry. Oh, and I checked phone messages. There was one from Doris.”
“What did she say?”
“Said she’s felt nauseated off and on all day.” His forehead wrinkled. “She’s been grank for a few days now. Has she seen the doctor?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll give her a call after supper.”
“Might be a good idea.” John sniffed the air. “Dinner smells good. How long till we eat?”
“Fifteen minutes, maybe,” Hope spoke up. “As soon as the potatoes have cooked.”
“I’ll go out and hurry the boys. Then we’ll all wash up.”
Elsie watched out the window as her husband returned to the barn. I wonder what’s going on with Doris. She thought back to when she was expecting. Could my little sister be pregnant?
“I got the clean laundry off the line and brought in.” Mary bounded into the kitchen.
“Danki.” Elsie placed a serving fork on the table for the meat. “After you wash your hands, would you please help your sister set the table?”
“Sure, Mom.” Mary headed down the hall toward the bathroom.
Elsie was sure her oldest daughter missed her grandfather, too, but she seemed to be holding it inside, going about her business as though everything was normal.
Elsie leaned against the counter and closed her eyes. We all need to grieve—even Joel. I hope he feels some remorse for the way he talked to Dad when he was alive.
CHAPTER 10
Akron
What a beautiful day for a picnic.” Kristi sighed as she set her wicker basket on the blanket Joel had spread on the grass. “Fall is my favorite time of the year. Look how pretty the leaves are getting.” Kristi pointed to a grove of sugar maples with leaves of red, orange, and yellow.
Joel stared blankly at them as he took a seat on the blanket beside her. He didn’t seem interested in the beautiful trees. He had been quiet and pensive ever since church let out. Kristi wished she could read his mind.
“Before we start eating, I have something for you.” Joel reached into the pocket of his denim jeans and pulled out a small velveteen box.
Kristi’s heart quickened as he placed it in her hand.
“Go ahead. Open it.” Joel’s sudden smile caused her heart to beat a little faster.
Kristi’s fingers trembled as she untied the ribbon. When she opened the lid, an attractive pair of pink earrings, sparkling in the sun, peeked out at her. She lowered her head, staring intently at them. Although disappointed he hadn’t given her a ring, in one sense Kristi felt relief. She was certain Joel hadn’t spent nearly as much on the earrings as he would on a diamond ring, which meant he hadn’t put himself in financial jeopardy.
“They’re beautiful, Joel. Thank you,” Kristi murmured. “But you didn’t have to get me a gift. It’s not my birthday or anything.”
He smiled. “It’s a token of my affection, and a reminder of how much I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She closed the box and put it inside the picnic basket.
“Aren’t you going to wear them?”
“Not right now. I’ll save them for a special occasion.” She reached for his hand.
He leaned over and gave her a kiss. “Should we eat? I’m hungry.”
“Of course. Should we pray the Amish way before I take out the food?”
“Sure, that’s fine.” Joel bowed his head, and Kristi did the same.
When they finished silent praying, Kristi handed Joel a paper plate and got out the bucket of chicken they’d picked up on the way. They also had bottles of sparkling lemon water, as well as some sliced veggies she had fixed this morning.
As they ate, Kristi noticed how quiet it was. Except for her and Joel, no one was at this end of the park. Sitting there, with no noise except the chatter of a few birds, sh
e almost felt Amish. No cars were in sight, since the parking lot was farther down the path. Everything in their presence was natural and seemed like a gift from God.
Don’t be silly. Kristi chided herself for feeling Amish. You’re living in a fantasy world. She had to admit there was something about the Amish she found enchanting. She didn’t want to idealize them, though. Like people from all walks of life, the Amish had their share of troubles, and none of them were perfect. Still, Kristi admired their values, love for their family, and dedication to a way of life that had been established hundreds of years ago. They worked hard, but their lives were simplified, without all the gadgets the English world seemed to need.
“A nickel for your thoughts.” Joel tweaked Kristi’s nose.
“I was thinking about your Amish heritage and wishing I could incorporate more of their ways into my life.”
Joel’s brows lowered. “Now don’t tell me you’ve decided to start hanging your laundry out to dry or get rid of your computer and TV.”
She swatted his arm playfully. “I may not give them up, but there are other things I’d rather do than watch TV or hang out on the Internet reading posts on social media sites. Truthfully speaking, I believe I could live without either of them.”
“What would you like to do?”
Kristi held up her index finger. “For one thing, I’d like to learn some Pennsylvania Dutch words.” She leaned in closer to him and lowered her voice. “Would you teach me, Joel?”
His nose wrinkled. “What for? The Amish world is no longer part of my life. It’s behind me.”
“No, it’s not. You still have family who remained Amish. When they’re speaking Pennsylvania Dutch, I’d like to understand what they’re saying.”
Joel grunted. “You don’t realize what you’re asking. It would take years for you to learn the language well enough to grasp it.”
Unwilling to give in, Kristi folded her arms. “Could you at least teach me to say a few words?”
“I suppose, but I don’t see much point in it.”
“You might be surprised what a quick learner I am.” She smiled. “Give me a couple of words and tell me their meaning.”
“What? Now?”
“Uh-huh. There’s no time like the present.”
“Okay, here’s an easy one. Jah. It means yes.”
“That’s easy to remember. What else?”
“Gut is for good, and danki for thanks.”
“Jah, gut, danki,” Kristi repeated the words. “Now give me a sentence to learn.”
Joel rolled his eyes. “Okay, but then let’s talk about something else.”
“That’s fine.”
Speaking slowly, Joel pronounced each word clearly. “Geld zwingt die welt.”
“What does it mean?”
“Money rules the world.” He bobbed his head. “And I have to say it’s true.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” Kristi argued. “There are many things we should focus on rather than money—important things like our relationships with people.”
Joel folded his arms. “Humph! Some people I can’t have a relationship with.”
“Are you thinking of anyone in particular?”
“My brother-in-law, for one.” Joel frowned. “John should have stayed out of Elsie’s and my discussion the day of Dad’s funeral. The subject of Dad’s will was between her and me.”
“If you were married and someone talked to your wife the way you did Elsie, wouldn’t you step in and say something?”
Joel shrugged his shoulders. “It all depends on what was being said. If it was something that didn’t pertain to me, I’d keep quiet.” Joel grabbed his bottle of sparkling water and took a drink. “Okay, that’s enough for now. Let’s talk about something else.”
“Have you spoken to any of your family since the funeral?” Kristi asked.
He shook his head. “Got a message from Elsie, though. Said she’d let me know when they found Dad’s will. It’s been over a week since his funeral, and I haven’t heard a thing.”
“They may not have found it yet, and they’re most likely busy with other things.” Kristi repositioned herself on the blanket. “I wish you weren’t putting so much emphasis on getting some of your father’s money. Have you even grieved your loss? Don’t you feel sad that he’s gone?”
Joel set his bottle down and looked right at Kristi. “I’m sorry he died, but there was no love lost between me and my dad. He didn’t give a hoot about me.”
Kristi’s heart went out to Joel. She could see by his pained expression that he was miserable. Harboring ill feelings toward anyone, let alone a parent, could do nothing but tear a person down. If Joel didn’t rise above his anger and forgive his father, he would never be at peace.
She touched his arm. “Have you prayed about this? Have you asked God to help you with your feelings of bitterness?”
Joel’s face flamed like a bonfire being lit. “I don’t need any lectures, Kristi. And I sure don’t need you preaching at me.”
“I wasn’t. I’m only trying to offer my support.”
“Support is fine. I don’t appreciate being preached at, though.” He rubbed his hand against his cheek. “I got enough lectures from my dad to last a lifetime.” Grabbing the empty tub the chicken had been in, Joel tossed it into the wicker basket. “You know what, Kristi? We need to go. I have some things to do at home before I go to work tomorrow.”
All Kristi could do was nod. How could such a pleasant day have turned sour so quickly? Maybe she ought to give Joel some time to mull over the things they’d discussed. Surely after he’d had a chance to analyze his behavior he would realize he was wrong.
Later in the day after Joel dropped Kristi off at her condo, he’d gone home and taken the Corvette out of his shop. Since he’d washed the car the day before, Joel wanted to get a fresh coat of wax on so it would shine even more.
As Joel began working on the hood, he thought about the things Kristi said to him at the park. She’d meant well when she suggested he pray about his bitterness, but Joel didn’t put much stock in prayer. I shouldn’t have gotten so upset with her. She probably thinks I’m mad. I’ll give her a call as soon as I’m done with the car and try to smooth things over.
Joel moved to the back of the car and was almost finished waxing when he heard a car coming up his driveway. As soon as he realized it was Kristi, he panicked. I can’t let her see the Vette. If she sees the car, I’ll have some explaining to do.
Joel reached in his pocket and fumbled with his keys. But he couldn’t get them out quickly enough, let alone get in the car and start it up. Kristi had already seen him.
“What are you doing with Tom’s car?” she asked after she’d parked her car and gotten out. “Is he here? Did you two have something planned for today? Is that why you wanted to leave the park in such a hurry?” Kristi glanced around.
Tom’s car? Why would she think it’s his Corvette? Then Joel remembered Kristi had seen him and Tom together with the car one night several weeks ago. He couldn’t say Tom was here. She might want to talk to him. Then what? Joel needed to come up with some excuse as to why he was waxing the car Kristi thought belonged to Tom, without him being present. Or he could come right out and tell her the truth. Kristi had made it clear she didn’t appreciate being lied to, so maybe it would be best to admit the Corvette was his. First, though, he needed to find out why she was here.
“I’m surprised to see you. Why’d you come by?” he asked, avoiding her question.
“I left my cell phone in your car.”
“Oh, I’ll get it for you right now.” Joel left the chamois on the Corvette’s hood and raced into the garage. When he returned with Kristi’s cell phone, he found her staring at the Vette. “This looks like an expensive car. Tom must be making good money.”
Joel’s face heated. “Actually, the car’s not Tom’s.”
“Oh? Who owns it then?”
“I do.”
Kristi’s postur
e stiffened. “This is your car?”
“Yeah.”
“But I thought…” Her eyes blinked rapidly. “How come you let me believe it was Tom’s?”
Sweat beaded on Joel’s forehead and dripped onto his cheeks. “The thing is…I got the car at an auction back in August, and I paid a hefty price for it.”
“Is that why you took money from our account—to pay for this?” Kristi’s voice quivered as she pointed at the car.
Joel shook his head forcefully. “I used money I’d gotten from a big job for the car—money I’d planned to use to pay my subcontractors.”
Her mouth twisted. “How could you do something like that, Joel?”
“Figured I could make up the money when I got paid for another job I’d bid on.” Joel grimaced. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the second job, which left me in a bind. So in order to pay some of the men who’d worked for me, I borrowed money from our savings account.”
Kristi’s hand shook as she motioned to the Corvette. “So all this time, you’ve had the car and never said a word to me about it?”
Joel’s face tightened as he lowered his head. “Sorry, Kristi. Guess I haven’t been thinking straight lately.”
“You’re right, you haven’t! I can’t believe you would be so deceitful.” She choked on her words. “Don’t you care about anyone but yourself?”
Joel moved toward Kristi and grasped her wrist. “I care about you.”
“Let go of me!” She pulled her arm toward herself, but Joel gripped it tighter.
“No, Kristi, I need you to listen to me.”
“Do you really care, Joel? If you did, you wouldn’t sneak around behind my back and do whatever you pleased.” Kristi’s chin quivered as tears pooled in her eyes. “I looked past you taking money from our account and not telling me about your Amish heritage until your father died, but another deception is too much.”
“What are you saying?”
Kristi turned her head away from him, remaining silent for a few minutes. She sniffled before speaking again. “It…it’s time for us to go our separate ways.”
The Betrayed Fiancée Page 7