Priscilla's Escape

by Diane Craver

  Her mother shook her head. “I didn’t see Levi. I called the Fabric and Quilting Friends store to see if you could pick up lunchmeat for me at Weaver’s Bakery. Sarah said you left early. It’s okay because I went and bought the lunchmeat. I thought we’d have potato salad and sandwiches. I have pie for dessert. It will just be the three of us. Anna and Sadie won’t be home until tomorrow.”

  Priscilla was glad her two younger sisters were at Beth’s house. She could talk to her parents without any siblings around. It was nice for her sisters to spend time with Beth’s twins, James and Julia. Sadie had been excited to have a sleepover at Beth’s. At age eleven, it didn’t take much to make Sadie happy. Priscilla bit her lip and envied Sadie for a moment. Her little sister touched everyone with her enthusiasm for life and her sweet nature.

  While her mother put the package of lunchmeat in the refrigerator, Priscilla resumed sitting by the table. She prayed silently. Please, God, help me to say the right words so my parents will approve of my summer job. I feel blessed to have this job where I can experience something new and be near the ocean.

  After her mother sat by her father, she smiled slightly. “From your father’s expression, I am guessing this isn’t about seeing a young Amish man.”

  “Nee, it isn’t. There isn’t anyone I’m interested in dating. I’m not in a hurry to get married like my sisters.” Priscilla grinned at her mother. “I think you deserve a break from planning another daughter’s wedding.”

  Her daed patted her mother’s hand. “Your mother loves preparing for her daughters’ weddings. I’ve never seen her happier than when she was busy for Molly’s and Beth’s.”

  Mamm’s eyebrows shot up quickly. “What about Luke’s wedding? I know Carrie did a lot of it, but I helped. It was fun getting to know Carrie better.”

  “Luke and Violet had a beautiful wedding. Mamm, you did a great job on all the weddings.” Priscilla drew a deep breath and decided to get the discussion over with about the summer job. Her nervous stomach couldn’t take much more stress. “Before you were here, I met with Madison Wittenberg for lunch. She bought one of my paintings. She’s going to stay in her parents’ house on Siesta Key beach. She wants to work there this summer. Her husband will be at the beach house on the weekends with Madison and their daughter. I’ll have my weekends free. I want to go so I can paint the ocean. Madison wants me to watch her daughter while she works. It will be great for me to paint something different. As I told Daed, this can be my running-around time before I get married someday.”

  Surprise flashed in her mother’s blue eyes. “I don’t understand why you would want to go to Florida and stay with a stranger. Maybe Violet and Luke will go to the Outer Banks this summer and you can paint the ocean then.”

  Relief registered on her father’s face and his shoulders relaxed. “That’s a great suggestion. You can go for a week or two with Violet to her parents’ beach house. You should take a break from working at the store.”

  “What about painting the ocean, Daed?” Priscilla asked. “Are you changing your mind about me painting? You said I need to stop painting.”

  Mamm frowned. “Amos, why would you tell her that? Priscilla loves painting, and that is a talent God has given her.”

  “It’s time for her to focus on other things . . . like joining our church and meeting a young man.”

  “I plan to go to church in Pinecraft,” Priscilla said. “Daadi and Mammi have both said how much they enjoyed the church services there.” Her grandparents went to the Amish community during the past winter because of the warmer weather. Her grandfather said his arthritis wasn’t as severe in Sarasota. She’d heard many retirees and older people loved the sunny climate.

  Clenching his jaw, her father shook his head. “The church there is for Mennonites and Amish.”

  She didn’t understand his objection to a church serving both Amish and Mennonites. Although he’d said frequently that an Amish person marrying a Mennonite was wrong, she had no plans to date one. Priscilla gave him a small grin. “But they have church each Sunday instead of every other Sunday. I like that.”

  “How would you get there? How far is Siesta Key from Pinecraft?” Daed asked her.

  “I’ll call a driver to go to Pinecraft. It’s five miles away from Madison’s place. I’ll make sure I attend church.” Priscilla hadn’t thought about him asking how she’d get to church. Maybe he was considering giving his permission for her to go to Sarasota. Her heart felt a surge of hope that she could go to her summer job with her parents’ acceptance.

  As her mother tucked a loose tendril of auburn hair under her kapp, she asked, “How are you planning on getting to Florida? It is farther than you have ever traveled. Are you taking the bus or riding with Madison?”

  “She’s going ahead, but is going to give me money for the bus trip to Pinecraft and money for a driver to the bus station.”

  Daed’s gaze stayed on Priscilla’s face, and a corner of his mouth twitched. “It seems you have talked about this job a lot before mentioning it to us.”

  After giving her a long look, Mamm said, “I’m surprised you want to go by yourself on a bus and to live with someone you barely know. Is there any other reason you want to do this?”

  Before Priscilla answered her mother’s question, Daed said, “I was wondering this too. Is there something you’re hiding from us?”

  What were her parents thinking? What would she be hiding? She had never been anywhere except small towns close by and visits to her grandparents. Even their aunts, uncles, and cousins all lived in Ohio. Hadn’t her parents been young once and wanted to experience something exciting instead of always staying in Fields Corner? She laughed. “I’m not hiding anything. I heard Molly talk how much she enjoyed her honeymoon in Pinecraft. I decided then I’d like to go there sometime. I’ve never gone anywhere outside of Ohio. Then when Madison asked me if I’d like to work for her this summer, I realized it would be an amazing opportunity for me to go.”

  Daed grinned. “Maybe you can go on your honeymoon. That would be more enjoyable to go with your husband. I don’t like you going somewhere where you only know slightly an English woman.”

  “How long does Madison want you to watch her daughter?” Mamm asked. “If it is only a month, your daed and I can talk about it together and pray for guidance.”

  “She needs me for two months, so that isn’t long at all.” Priscilla decided to be honest and tell the required time Madison needed her, so that she could finish writing her book. She wouldn’t mention that Madison was a bestselling author of romantic suspense novels. She felt sure that wouldn’t be an advantage to convince them it was okay to work for a novelist.

  Her mother shrugged and said, “It’s not something I’m crazy about you doing. It isn’t right for a young single woman to live somewhere else. It’s best for you to live with us before you marry. And this situation means you will be living with an English family for two months. That’s longer than I like.”

  Quickly, Daed said, “Exactly. There will be constant temptations with TV, phone, and cars. I don’t like it.” He studied her for a moment. “I don’t understand why you want to do this. How can painting the ocean be worth leaving your family and church community?”

  “I want a challenge,” Priscilla said. “I’ve painted horses, Amish houses and barns, and many country scenes. And Amish people, but never their faces.” She paused for a moment and realized reminding them of Rachel’s rumspringa might help her request. “Rachel Weaver went to Cocoa Beach and stayed with Violet and Carrie. They were both English.”

  Daed’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her. “Ya, that’s true, but Carrie was raised Amish.”

  Mamm nodded. “Your daed’s right. There is no comparison. Violet is Rachel’s cousin and Carrie is her aunt. When I met Madison at the school fundraiser, I noticed she wore an expensive-looking dress and had makeup on. She seems like a fancy English woman.”

  “I remember you said what a nice and pleasan
t woman Madison was when you met her,” Priscilla said. “She won’t corrupt me, and she respects our way of life.” Suddenly, she remembered something. “Judith’s friend Faith Kauffman is a nanny for an English family.”

  Mamm gave her a small smile. “Aren’t you clever reminding me what I said about Madison and how Faith works for a non-Amish family.” Leaning closer to Priscilla, her mother continued, “Just because Madison is nice doesn’t mean she has the same values that we do. She is still worldly. And Faith doesn’t live with the English family. She goes back to her Amish family each day.”

  Realizing there was no point in saying more, Priscilla decided to finish the conversation. “If I take the job, I need to give Sarah notice and let Madison know that I can work for her.”

  Her mother reached across the table to grasp Priscilla’s hand. “We don’t need to decide anything now. Let’s eat supper. I’m hungry.”

  If my parents decide I shouldn’t go to Florida, I don’t know if I can stay here. If my father sticks to what he said about me not painting, I can’t survive months without it. I don’t understand why he disapproves of my painting. He’s never mentioned before that I needed to quit. He used to encourage me to paint and was happy that my paintings raised money for the medical fund and our Amish school. I need a chance to get away from here and all the restrictions of my Plain life.

  Chapter Three

  Amos and Lillian sat on a bench in the backyard. This was a conversation he didn’t want to have in any spot in the house where Priscilla might overhear them. They were far enough away that she shouldn’t hear anything they discussed. If she should come outside to join them by the flower garden, they would see her approaching. It would give them time to stop talking about what to do about her summer job.

  He took Lillian’s hand in his and stared at the flowers. “The garden looks wunderbaar.”

  “Priscilla outdid herself this year with all the colorful flowers she planted. Purple petunias, pink and white impatiens, and red geraniums. She used her own money to buy the flowers. It’s nice sitting here among such beauty. Of course, I wonder now if she spent time on the flower gardens in the front yard and here earlier this spring, hoping to sway us in giving her permission to go to Florida.” Lillian shrugged. “But she does love to do the flower gardens each year. It must fit her artistic personality.”

  “When Levi told me how Priscilla was at Angela’s Restaurant, I couldn’t believe she’d left work to have lunch with an English woman.”

  Lillian turned her head away from the garden to look at him. “The lunch doesn’t bother me, but I don’t like the reason for it. I mean, Molly has lunch with Nicole at the restaurants in Fields Corner, and Beth has lunches with Chloe frequently. It’s nice for them to get out of the house to eat with their English friends. But unfortunately, Priscilla was there for an employment purpose. I don’t think she just wants to paint the ocean. I suspect she’s interested in experiencing English ways.”

  “We can’t allow her to work for an Englisher in Florida. We’ll suggest again that she can go to the beach with Violet and Luke this summer. She can paint the ocean there just as well as in Florida, but I meant it about not painting here. I want her to focus on doing other things with our youth. She has such little involvement with anyone her age except for Hannah. I don’t understand why she isn’t going to the singings often. At her age, I’d expect Priscilla to want to have fun attending youth activities. Instead she’s spending any free time she has painting on her canvases.”

  “Priscilla was better about going a couple years ago. She’s mentioned it’s boring now and the same old thing. I was relieved last month when she went to an activity and met Stephen Hertzler. He works at the same construction company as Jonathan.”

  Amos knew the two younger Hertzler children attended their private school in Fields Corner even though they were in another church district. Lillian enjoyed having Susan, the youngest Hertzler, in her class. He hadn’t realized that an older brother worked with his son-in-law, Jonathan.

  Her blue eyes widened, and she said, “I was thrilled when his mother, Phoebe, talked to me after school. She said how much Stephen liked meeting Priscilla. Apparently, he can’t stop talking about her.”

  “If Priscilla should start seeing him, I’ll go to the bishop of their district and ask about Stephen. We don’t want any surprises like we had with Caleb.” Amos hated how Molly’s first husband, Caleb Ebersol, hadn’t been upfront with her about his colorful past. After his death, Molly had been shocked to learn that he’d lived as an Englisher. He’d worked for Dr. Knupp as a veterinarian’s assistant in another town. Caleb had gotten his GED and a driver’s license. When he’d gotten his girlfriend, Stacy, pregnant, Caleb had proposed to her. After she had a miscarriage, he broke up with her and returned to his previous Amish life and fell in love with Molly.

  “From what Stephen’s younger siblings had said, he has never left home, but that’s a good idea to check.” Lillian continued, “I’m hoping Priscilla will want to see him again. Dating Stephen could help her to be content to stay here.”

  “It won’t happen if she goes to Florida.”

  “I think we both agree she shouldn’t go to Florida to work for Madison.” Lillian paused for a moment. “Priscilla mentioned she had a book that needed to be finished this summer.”

  Suddenly Amos had a thought. “I wonder if Madison being a writer is a reason she wants Priscilla for a nanny. She could be doing research for a book. That might be another reason she chose Siesta Key for her location to write. It’s close to Pinecraft.”

  Lillian blinked. “If Madison is hiring Priscilla because she is Amish, she won’t get much out of her. She’s not one to share about our faith, and she’s shy. Well, Madison hasn’t so far written about the Amish. I heard she writes romantic suspense.”

  “I hope Priscilla will be reasonable when we tell her she’s staying here and not taking the job.”

  “There is a youth gathering this weekend at Violet and Luke’s. They are going to grill hamburgers and hot dogs. And play volleyball. We won’t tell Priscilla yet that we won’t allow her to go to Florida this summer. She loves going to their house, so I think we can get her to go. I’ll make sure Stephen knows about it. I think one reason Priscilla stopped going to the singings is because of her shyness. She’s never been as outgoing as Molly and Beth.”

  Amos stroked his beard. “I guess the store helped her to conquer some of her shyness, because she talked with Madison and got offered a job.”

  “That’s true. Having to talk to the customers in the store has helped Priscilla to overcome some of her shyness. Now if we can get only get her interested in Stephen or some nice Amish young man . . .”

  “I wish she wanted to take the baptism classes,” Amos said. “I wonder if Stephen has yet.”

  “I’d love for her to decide to take the baptism classes, but I don’t think it has to be this summer.”

  “She is going to be twenty soon, and our other girls were much younger when they joined our faith. It worked out fine for them.”

  Lillian nodded. “True, she is old enough, but it’s obvious she isn’t ready. She can take more time. It’s a lifelong decision. We want her to make it on her own, so she won’t regret it later in life.”

  He groaned, recalling how stressful it’d been when Luke waited until age twenty-five to join. “I hope she doesn’t wait as long as Luke did to make his holy baptism.”

  Lillian glanced at the pots of white flowers next to their bench. “I love the heavenly fragrance of the jasmine flowers. Priscilla isn’t like Molly and Beth. She reminds me of the jasmine she planted in these clay pots. Their flowers aren’t just sweet smelling, but also have an exotic fragrance. That’s like Priscilla. She’s unusual and mysterious in some ways. She’s in her own world at times and is quiet. She seems to need more time to commit to our faith, but there is something else I’m concerned about.”

  Amos had a feeling Lillian still wasn’t on board
about Priscilla not painting at home this summer. He could be wrong. His sweet fraa had surprised him many times in the past with her opinions. Even if he didn’t always agree with her, he listened and considered her suggestions.

  “I don’t want us to restrict her painting. She’ll be sure to rebel then.” Lillian squeezed his hand. “Maybe you should explain to her why you object so strongly to her talent.”

  He bit his lower lip. “I can’t. I’ve kept it a secret all these years. I’m not going to reveal any of it to our kinner now.”

  She kissed his cheek. “I know what your dat did was mean and not right, but it might help Priscilla to realize how much you care for her. You’ve always been understanding about her painting until now. Although you haven’t encouraged her any or given her much positive feedback about her pictures, you weren’t abusive like your father was with you. It’s time to share your talent with Priscilla. I think it will be freeing for you.”

  He heard the judgmental tone in her voice. Lillian was correct. He hadn’t hit Priscilla’s fingers hard with a ruler or burned her paintings. Being cruel like his father wasn’t in his character. His daughter’s talent was amazing, but he was afraid it might take her away from their community. That was one of the reasons he’d avoided giving her praise for her work. His father had hated his art when he saw his hidden paintings in the attic. He’d tried to bury the cruel treatment he’d received from his father. After they were married, Lillian had wanted him to paint again, but he never held a paintbrush in his hand again. In his youth, his father had destroyed that creative part in his soul.

  “I became free when God brought you into my life. Telling Priscilla will not serve any purpose.” Amos pulled Lillian into a warm embrace, thankful he’d never hidden the truth about his father from her. He gently brushed his lips against hers. “Maybe someday I can tell Priscilla where her talent came from. Of course, she has surpassed my artistic ability. I might sometime have the courage to tell her how much I loved drawing as a little boy, then later I switched to painting in the attic.”