Starting from Scratch

by Kate Lloyd

  “But you have more wisdom, certainly. What does Reuben know about running a business?”

  “It was Marta’s idea.”

  I knew better than to make a negative comment, but I asked, “What kind of business?”

  Dat tugged his beard. “We still don’t know.”

  “So how’s it going living with Marta?”

  “I’m doing my best to keep out of her way,” Mamm said. “I’m grateful to see our grandchildren, for sure, and I try not to interfere in the way she does things.”

  At that moment, Marta opened the door without knocking. She wore a shamrock-green dress and black apron, and her kapp appeared newly pressed. “Eva, what a pleasant surprise. I hope you’ll all join us for the noon meal.”

  She normally didn’t include my parents?

  “Sure, that would be nice. I’m starving.” I should have grabbed a snack earlier when visiting Amos, but seeing Jake with Brandy had soured my appetite.

  “Gut. I’ll set another place at the table.” Marta whisked out of the room and left the door open.

  Mamm hesitated. “Are ya going to visit Amos later?”

  “I already did.”

  “Then you know what the poor man’s going through. Not to mention their unusual houseguest.”

  “Brandy? Yah, I met her. Quite a shock. I must be the last person in the county who didn’t know. I wish you would have told me, Mamm.”

  When we went into the main house for the noon meal, I was surprised to find Reuben sitting at the head of the kitchen table instead of Dat.

  I turned to Dat, and he shrugged. “Marta’s idea.”

  “Are you sure it’s okay, Dat?” Reuben pushed his chair away from the table and stood. “I don’t feel right about this. You should sit here.”

  “You’re the head of the house now, son.” Dat waved Reuben’s concerns away. I’d never heard of such a thing, but I wouldn’t interfere.

  “I insist you sit here,” Reuben said. I was pleased with his action as he helped relocate Dat to the head of the table, which meant the three children also stood.

  “Come sit beside me.” I patted the long bench on my side of the table, and Nancy and Mary Lou scooted in next to me. My eight-year-old nephew, Jesse, chose to sit next to Reuben, which was natural. Marta perched across the table from me.

  Dat commenced the silent prayer, and we all bowed our heads. A minute later, he cleared his throat in his usual guttural way, indicating he was through.

  Had I even prayed?

  Suddenly, my mind was inundated with prayer requests when I hadn’t even thought to thank God for my many gifts and triumphs. I was living by myself and able to sleep through the night—for the most part. I was running the café—as best I could. What would I pray for first and foremost?

  Mamm worked her lower lip as she stared at the bountiful noon meal—an array of cold cuts and cheeses, pickled beets, salads, applesauce, and chocolate pie. All of Reuben’s favorites. Marta knew how to treat her man right. No wonder she had my brother wrapped around her little finger.

  I sighed as I envisioned myself keeping a husband happy. Why was I worrying about a scenario that might never happen?

  During the meal, Marta was uncharacteristically chatty. She asked me about the café and what my duties were, and then she flattered me with compliments about my many new accomplishments.

  “I hear you’re thinking of starting a new business,” I said.

  Reuben narrowed his eyes. “Just thinking about it.” He forked into the pickled beets. “Nothing’s decided yet.”

  Marta spoke to me in a subdued voice. “If we open a business, we’ll be needing to hire someone like you.”

  “That would be wunderbaar,” Mamm said, her first words since sitting down at the table.

  “But I have a job. I can’t just up and quit without advance warning.” I dabbed the corners of my mouth. “Anyway, I don’t wish to quit. I’m doing fine at my job, and I like my little cabin.”

  “You’d desert your own family?” Marta’s brows met in the center. I smiled in return. No use starting a confrontation with my sister-in-law. “We’d find a place for you to sleep,” she said. “Our dochders have been asking for you, haven’t you, girls? Wouldn’t it be fun to have your aendi living here?”

  “Yah, yah! ” Each niece took an elbow and agreed. Nancy laid her head against my arm while Mary Lou gazed up at me with doe eyes. These charming girls might be the closest I ever came to children of my own.

  Wheels in my head started gyrating. What if I were fired from the nursery? I had yet to meet the owner and his wife. If Beatrice unleashed complaints about me and told them I couldn’t cook, I might find myself with nowhere to live.

  TWENTY-THREE

  As I steered the buggy back to the nursery, I allowed Autumn to set a leisurely pace. My mind played a raucous game of badminton as I swung my racket aimlessly in the back of my mind.

  A pickup tailgated me, so I pulled off to the side of the road to allow it to pass. The vehicle moved alongside of me, and I saw Stephen eyeing me through the window, past Beatrice. Her head pushed back against her headrest, she stared out the windshield.

  Stephen pulled ahead on a wide strip, stopped his pickup, and jumped out. He came over to me. “How are you and Autumn doing?” He tugged a clean handkerchief out of his jeans pocket, reached over, and dabbed away a tear rolling down my cheek. I jerked. How humiliating. I never cried in public and hadn’t known I was.

  “Are you okay, Evie?”

  “Yah, I was just visiting my parents…” I rubbed both cheeks. “I’m fine.”

  “I saw Autumn going so slowly I thought you might have some kind of trouble or she’d picked up a pebble.”

  “Is she limping?”

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  “I feel so silly.” I forced the corners of my mouth to curve up. “I must have been daydreaming.”

  “Not a good habit with cars on the road. You really should pay more attention.”

  “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” I wondered if he’d let me borrow Autumn and the buggy ever again.

  He must have heard anxiety grating in my voice. “Don’t worry about it, Evie.” He leaned closer. “Do you need help getting back to the nursery?”

  “No. I’m fine.” Obviously, I wasn’t, but I straightened my back and gathered the reins, causing Autumn’s head to jerk.

  “Ruth said you stopped by to see Amos.”

  “Yah, so sad. Poor man. And poor Ruth. My heart goes out to her.”

  “Beatrice was terribly upset when she saw Amos. She told Ruth she’ll be praying for his recovery.” He glanced over to his pickup. “And we also saw Jake. And met Brandy.” He paused. “That must have been awfully hard on you.”

  “Jake and Brandy claim the baby isn’t his.”

  “I’ve walked in your shoes, Evie. I’ve played the fool before.” Meaning he thought I was a fool? “Seems we all have been taken advantage of at some time.” He rubbed his palms together. “Let’s just get you back to the nursery in one piece, and we can talk more there.”

  “Wait. There is something I should have told you earlier. I found an Englischer in the café last night.”

  His features hardened. “Why didn’t you call me right away? Or call the police?” His voice turned gruff. “Did you recognize him?”

  “No. He said his name was Ralph, and that he used to work at the nursery. Ach, I should have called you, but he seemed harmless.”

  “What gave him the right to break into the café?”

  “He didn’t actually break in. He had a key.”

  “But he was stealing food, was he not?” Stephen gave his head a shake. “So now we know who’s been coming into the café. I’ll have the locks changed tomorrow. If he’d just come in and asked for a meal, we would’ve given it to him, but the man has a big drinking problem. He used to work for us… Never mind. I’ll fill you in later as to why he was fired.” He surveyed my face. “Do you think you�
�re able to drive home?”

  “Yah, Autumn and I will be fine. I’m so sorry about Ralph last night.”

  “No big deal. The man has problems.”

  I was fully alert now. The mare stood nibbling on grass and weeds at the side of the road. “Come on, girl.” She grabbed a last mouthful of grass and raised her head, ready to proceed forward.

  “I’m going to follow you.”

  “That’s not necessary.”

  He gave me a stern look, but his voice was filled with compassion. “I want to make sure you get back safely, even if it takes us a few more minutes.”

  He cared for me beyond my being the café’s manager?

  When I reached the nursery, Autumn gathered momentum, aiming us toward the barn. I noticed Stephen veering toward the main house to let Beatrice out. Gut. The last thing I wanted was for her to hear him scolding me—not that I didn’t deserve a verbal lashing for daydreaming while driving the buggy.

  Minutes later, as I watered and fed the mare, Stephen entered the barn. “I called the locksmith. He answered even though it’s Sunday. He said he’ll stop by first thing in the morning. I’ll give you new keys when the locks are swapped out. In a while I’ll go home and get my sleeping bag and then spend the night in the café in case Ralph comes back.” His no-nonsense expression reminded me of Dat when he was trying to drive home a point. “Please don’t go in there alone.”

  “May I ask what Ralph did to get himself fired?”

  “Besides being late almost every day? Glenn suspected he was stealing money from the till in the retail shop. One day, one of his employees saw Ralph’s hand in the register. Glenn gave him a choice: He could quit, or Glenn would call the police and file charges. I thought that was generous of Glenn, don’t you?”

  “Yah. Stealing from your employer is like biting the hand that feeds you.”

  “I’m sure you never would, Eva. Glenn said you came with the highest of recommendations. Your former boss was disappointed to see you go.”

  I heaved a sigh of relief, but I still felt under Stephen’s microscope. I wouldn’t ask to borrow Autumn again until the owners got home. If Glenn didn’t fire me then.

  “I wonder where Ralph lives.” Stephen scanned the wooded area behind the rows of mature trees at the rear of the nursery.

  “He told me he lives with a relative. He must have arrived on foot.”

  “Most likely staying with a well-meaning family member who’s only enabling his alcoholism.” He glanced at me for an instant. “That could have been me if I hadn’t come to my senses.”

  TWENTY-FOUR

  That evening, as the sun lowered itself into a mattress of gloomy, gray clouds, I replayed the day in my head. I reminded myself visiting Amos was not a mistake. Our community relied upon one another’s generosity, even if it meant my meeting up with Brandy.

  “Your replacement carrying his child?” Olivia might say, jabbing me with her elbow.

  My thoughts jumbled into one another until they were like a squiggly ball of tangled yarn after a couple of cats had batted it about. Alongside these chaotic thoughts galloped the memories of my parents sequestered in the little daadi haus as if they had no choice. No matter what Dat said, his working on the farm was what had kept him fit and healthy. He wasn’t a man who enjoyed sitting around reading magazines and twiddling his thumbs. And what was going on with Reuben and Marta?

  None of my business, I told myself. If I’d been paying more attention a couple of hours ago, Stephen wouldn’t have seen me dillydallying in the buggy. I wondered how many tears I’d shed without even noticing. Pathetic.

  A gentle rapping on the cabin’s front door brought me out of my musings. In my befuddled state of mind, I was tempted not to answer.

  “Evie?” I recognized Mark’s voice.

  “Just a moment.” I glanced at myself in the mirror and cringed. Maybe looking bedraggled would be a blessing and discourage his attentions. I wished I were attracted to him.

  I turned the knob and opened the door. He was carrying a box of See’s chocolates. “I thought I’d come by to see if you’re up for a buggy ride.” He handed me his gift.

  “Denki.” I set it on the counter.

  Mark looked so vulnerable and nervous that I couldn’t help but smile to try to lessen his uneasiness.

  “I just got home…” I covered my yawning mouth.

  “Do ya have time to chat?”

  I wanted to crawl into bed, but I couldn’t voice my thoughts.

  “Have ya had a bad day?” he said.

  “A long one. And stressful.”

  “Have ya had your supper yet? I could take you to a restaurant somewhere close by.”

  “Yoo-hoo,” Beatrice called from the back porch. “Remember, Evie, I’m planning to teach you how to make my chicken scaloppini. And you have tomorrow’s soup to think about.” She gave me an exaggerated wink I assumed was for my eyes only, as Mark had his back to her.

  He shook his head in slow motion. “Tell her you’re coming with me. You can cook with her tomorrow.”

  By the time I formulated an answer, Beatrice was only yards away.

  “I’m sorry, Mark,” I said. “I’d better stay here. I have lots to do.”

  “On the Lord’s day of rest?”

  “Maybe Sadie will go to the singing with you.”

  “Why on earth would you suggest her?”

  “Just a thought.”

  “You know my mind better than I do?” He folded his arms across his chest. “If you have no interest in me, come out and say it.”

  Beatrice glided over to us. “Mark, would you like to stay for supper? I have plenty on hand.”

  Stephen trotted down the steps from the main house. “Does that invitation include me?”

  “Of course. I already asked you.”

  “What are you doing here?” Mark asked him.

  Stephen chuckled. “I could ask you the same question, although I think I know the answer.”

  Mark blushed, and then he shot Stephen a fierce glare.

  “Stephen is planning to spend the night at the café,” I told Mark. “A former employee with a key was in there stealing food last night. A man named Ralph.”

  “Ach.” Mark nodded. “I remember him.”

  “I’m glad Stephen is staying,” Beatrice said, “what with a vagrant sneaking into the café. Stephen told me all about it.”

  “I’d better go check the refrigerator to make sure there’s enough food for tomorrow,” I said. “I should have done it yesterday.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Stephen said. “Unless you’re leaving with Mark.”

  I took in Mark’s youthful features and saw a mixture of disappointment and indignation. “No, maybe another time.” I hoped some pretty young woman would catch his fancy at the singing.

  Stephen’s cell phone chimed. He stepped away to answer. I listened to the ebb and flow of his tense voice. He finally returned. “That was Wayne.” He stuffed the phone in his pocket. “There’s a dead dog by the side of the road a few miles from here.”

  Beatrice crossed herself. “Mio Dio. Not our Heath, I pray.”

  “I’d better go check it out.” Stephen dug his keys out of his jeans pocket. “I told Wayne I’d meet him to identify the animal.”

  “I want to come too,” I said. “Sorry, Beatrice. I’ll be right back.” I had no appetite anyway. I scrambled after Stephen and ducked into the passenger side of his pickup. I buckled myself in as if I’d ridden in it a hundred times.

  He started the engine. “Are you sure you want to come? Could be grisly.”

  “Yah.” I was surprising myself. I didn’t even like dogs, but I felt compelled to help.

  Ten minutes later we neared Wayne’s squad car at the side of the road. Wayne and another man stood speaking near the black outline of the dead animal. My heart sank, and my throat closed.

  Stephen jolted to a halt behind Wayne’s squad car and leaped out, only to return minutes later. He got back
into the pickup and closed the door. “Poor beast was some kind of a Lab mix, but not our Heath.”

  Wayne sauntered over to the pickup, and Stephen lowered his window. “I need to tell you that another one of Bill Hastings’s sheep was killed early this morning.”

  “Maybe I should drive back that way.” Stephen jimmied his key into the ignition.

  “Listen, Stephen, do us all a favor and let the police handle it. No telling what that man will do. I remember him from high school. Always a bully.” Wayne’s face was grim. “Please don’t go back.”

  “Okay. I have troubles enough at the nursery. Eva found someone in the café last night.”

  Wayne’s gaze scrutinized mine. “You did, Eva?”

  “Yes. A disheveled fellow who said his name was Ralph.”

  “Remember that guy Glenn fired last year?” Stephen asked, and Wayne nodded.

  “But Glenn never pressed charges, which makes it hard for me to do anything.” Wayne rested his elbow on the window ledge. “He’s a lush, but he seems harmless enough.”

  “You know who that must be?” Stephen slapped his forehead. “Ralph’s last name is Hastings. He’s Bill Hastings’s brother.”

  “Yep, I was just thinking the same thing.” Wayne spoke directly to me. “I’ll keep an eye open and alert the rest of the crew. If he comes back, please call 9-1-1, Eva. If it’s the same Ralph I know, he’s never been violent, but you can’t tell what a man will do when he’s down on his luck and has had too much to drink.”

  “Yah, I’ll be careful.”

  “I’ll stay with her if she needs to go inside the café,” Stephen said.

  “Denki.” I knew I’d be safe with him.

  We entered the nursery’s parking lot and rolled over to the main house. I was surprised to see Mark’s horse and buggy still there.

  “Beatrice must be feeding him supper.” Stephen set the parking brake. “Looks as though you’ve found yourself a serious suitor, Evie.”

  I let out a weary sigh. My day had been like a roller coaster swerving off its tracks, and apparently the ride wasn’t over yet. The back door opened, and Missy bounded out, followed by Minnie. As I exited the pickup, Minnie yapped and circled my feet, but Missy raced past us toward the café.