“So you’ll come?” he asked.
“If you’d let me hang up this darn telephone.”
Rollin smiled, setting the earpiece back on the hook, and his gaze wandered back out to the parking lot, to the pretty woman in the buggy wearing blue. At least he had two people on his team.
Hopping up onto the bench of the buggy, he couldn’t take his eyes off Katie.
“What?” she asked, a twinge of pink creeping up her cheeks.
“You are beautiful.”
“I’m not.”
“I’m not trying to flatter you, Katie. You are a beautiful woman.”
She looked at her lap, twisting her fingers in her skirt. “Thank you.”
They sat in awkward silence for a moment. He’d told her the truth—he thought she was beautiful. Still there was so much more he wanted to say.
But the words escaped him.
“I need to go to the police station,” he said instead.
Music filled the street from the fair, and children squealed as they rode the large merry-go-round in the center of town. The air was filled with the smells of cotton candy and roasted hot dogs and buttery corn.
People roamed the streets as they visited the different booths. The police would be distracted this weekend, their focus on town instead of in the country at places like the Bowman farm.
Two blocks off the main street, Rollin parked the buggy in front of a tiny brick building that housed local law enforcement. When he began to tie Prince to the hitching post, Katie stopped him.
“I need to use the buggy while you’re inside.”
“Where are you going?”
She flicked the reins. “I have to pick up some pies.”
*
On her drive back to Sugarcreek, Celeste stopped to phone Olivia. Her friend told her Salvatore was gone when she arrived at the house that morning, and Celeste could only assume he was joining Antonio and the others down here. Salvatore wouldn’t want to do the dirty work preparing whatever they had planned, but he’d want to oversee the action.
She asked Olivia if Salvatore inquired about her yesterday. Olivia tried to sidestep her question, saying she’d only seen Salvatore once and it was brief. But any other husband would have hunted down their housekeeper right away, asked where his wife was.
A good husband wouldn’t have even asked. He would have demanded she tell him what happened to his wife.
At one time, Salvatore would have cared if she left. Back when she was full of fire and passion for life. She’d been taught to turn the other cheek growing up no matter what happened, to take whatever was dealt to her and absorb the pain. Even when some Englishers threw rocks at her on her way home from school, bruising her arms, her parents didn’t fight for her, and she’d despised them for it.
It wasn’t about persecution. It was about passivity. The other children hurt her again and again, and her parents never stopped them. They told her to forgive them, but she couldn’t forgive. She wanted revenge instead.
She rebelled against the passivity as a teenager and in her younger days in Cleveland. She was passionate and driven, determined never to let anyone throw rocks at her again. Her friends in the city would never even know about her past or accuse her of being passive. And perhaps that was what she admired most about Salvatore when she met him. He didn’t let anyone speak against him or anyone in his family. People were afraid of him.
She’d been angry at her parents for ignoring those who’d hurt her as a child, but now she had done the same thing. Instead of standing for what was right, she’d turned the other cheek and allowed herself and her children to be battered. Instead of protecting her children, she watched the abuse as a bystander. And how they’d suffered because of her. Because of what she’d allowed. No matter what Salvatore did or said, she should have protected the children entrusted to her.
She drove past the driveway where she’d taken Rollin and Katie yesterday, and about a half-mile from the drive, she pulled off the road, shaded behind the tall stalks of a cornfield. Even though her belly was full of sausage and muffins from breakfast, her head still pounded. She couldn’t falter tonight because she was tired or weak. Focus was what she needed, and in order to focus, she needed sleep.
After she cracked her window, she collapsed back in her seat and covered her face with her satin cloche. She could sleep all day if she wanted. No one except maybe an Amish farmer would bother her here, and all he would do was ask her to move on.
She’d wait until the bright sun set this evening to ensure Salvatore had arrived. Then, for a few minutes, all the living members of her family would be within a mile of each other. It would be the closest they’d ever come to having a reunion. For just today, she’d pretend that her husband loved her and her children delighted in seeing her. She’d pretend her grandson adored her and her sister appreciated the woman she’d become. She’d even pretend that she respected herself as a woman and as a mother.
Her eyes closed, and as Celeste began to drift off, she shifted on the seat.
She was finished standing on the sidelines, allowing Salvatore Cardano to ruin her family. Tonight she would visit him and remind him of the fire that once burned within her.
*
Low clouds blocked the sun as Rollin stopped the buggy beside the forest that hid the Bowmans’ farm and tried to hand Katie the reins. She stared at them for a moment but didn’t take them, so he set them back in his lap. He and Katie were alone again, and he feared it would be their last time together.
Katie crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes focused on her lap. “I should have told you the truth.”
He shook his head. “Katie—”
“When you first arrived, I should have told you who I was instead of hiding it from you.”
“You didn’t have a good reason to trust me.”
“But I shouldn’t have lied to you.”
He brushed his fingers against her lips, gently hushing her. In her eyes, he saw her apology.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “Not at the basement at Mangiamo’s nor in the Yoders’ barn.”
“I said I didn’t care what happened to you.”
He smiled. “You did mention that.”
“It was another lie.”
He reached for her hand and drew her closer to him. “I know.”
“I’ve cared about you for a long time.”
He shook his head. “I don’t deserve it.”
“Back when I was a kid, I used to follow you and Liz around.”
He squeezed her fingers. “Here I thought you really wanted me to eat your tea and cookies.”
“A ruse,” she laughed. “And a terrible one, at that.”
“You were so young back then. I barely talked to you or even noticed you.”
“You shouldn’t have noticed me.”
“But now…” This time she inched closer, and desire burned within him. “You are a strong woman, Katie. And brave.”
“Not so brave.”
“Did Henry’s father love you like he should have?”
“Henry’s father—” she started.
He reached up, sliding off her cap so he could feel the soft tendrils of her hair again in his fingers. “You don’t have to tell me now.”
Tears wet her eyes. Tonight he may go down with the Cardanos, fighting until the end. He didn’t need to know who Henry’s father was, but he couldn’t leave until he told her what was in his mind.
“I spent most of my life following in Liz’s footsteps,” she said.
He cupped her face in his hands. “When I look at you, I don’t see Elizabeth.”
Her voice trembled when she spoke. “Who do you see?”
“I see Nicola Cardano, all grown up. And I see Katie Lehman, a woman full of love and beauty and grace.”
“You will always love Liz.”
“I was crazy about Liz,” he said, weighing his words as he spoke. He wanted Katie to understand the difference between his p
ast and who he was today. How much he had changed. “We were so young and made plenty of mistakes.”
“You have regrets?” she asked.
“The regrets haunt me,” he said. “I never got to tell your sister how sorry I was.”
“Thank you, Rollin.” She paused. “Thank you for telling me.”
“I don’t want to be with Liz,” he said, his heart swelling with the truth of his words. “I want to be with you.”
She leaned into him, and his lips touched hers, savoring the softness of them. Tasting the sweetness.
He pulled her closer to him, kissing her again, and she rested her head on his shoulder, her cheek touching his. He didn’t want to let go. He wanted to stay here forever with Katie Lehman in his arms.
In the hills beyond, he heard the blasted motor of the airplane, poking its nose over the trees. The moment she pulled away from him, he knew she was right on one other matter. Progress wasn’t always a good thing.
The plane flew low over the buggy top and landed in the field behind them.
“Another guest for the party,” he said wryly. “Your brother will be busy entertaining today.”
“Poor Antonio.”
“Your brother isn’t as poor as you think.” He searched her eyes. “I want you to go home, Katie.”
“I am going home.”
He took her hand again, wanting her to understand. “I don’t want you anywhere near this barn tonight.”
“I’ll pray for you tonight.”
“Please pray hard.”
He handed her the reins again, and this time she took them, but as he climbed out of the cart, she reached for him one last time. Stopping him.
“Henry’s father is a good man.”
His chest clenched. “He’s still alive?”
“When you come back, I will tell you about him.”
He squeezed her hand. “I will come back.”
CHAPTER 29
Tremors shot through Katie’s body, all the way down to her bare toes. Never had she imagined Rollin’s kiss would feel like this—and she’d imagined often what it would be like to feel his lips on hers. She pressed her fingers to her mouth as she watched him vanish into the trees. Then she leaned back against the leather seat and giggled.
Her very first kiss.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady the lightness in her head as she lifted the reins and clicked her tongue. Prince trotted forward. She would go back home like she’d promised Rollin, long before dark, but first she had a job to do.
The drive up to the Bowmans’ house was lined with pine trees and tall wildflowers. The propeller on the airplane had quieted, and if she didn’t know for certain there were people on the grounds, she would think the property was still vacant.
The airplane was in the field to the left of the house, and she saw two large men in suits standing under the forebay along the barn. She prayed that Rollin was correct, that her father wasn’t in Sugarcreek, but if he was, she prayed he wouldn’t recognize her.
The men at the barn eyed her plain attire, but they didn’t make any move to question or deter her. She walked to the back of the buggy and lifted a box off the floor. Holding it close to her chest, she walked toward the house.
Eligio Ricci, her father’s driver and bodyguard, answered the door. She held her breath as he glowered at her and her brown box.
“I’m Katie,” she said lightly. “Irene sent me.”
“Who?”
“Irene Woodman. The woman catering your wedding.”
Irritated, he nodded toward the barn. “She already delivered the food.”
“I know.” Katie opened the edge of the box, and the man sniffed the baked apples and cinnamon in the pie. “But you didn’t order any pies or cakes, and Irene said she couldn’t imagine a wedding without a few schnitz pies. She said you don’t have to pay her a cent. Just enjoy your special day.”
Eligio’s eyes clouded, and it was obvious that didn’t care a lick about weddings or cakes. But he pointed toward the barn. “It goes in there.”
“Oh, good.” She picked up her skirt, turning. “I’ll put them with the rest of the food.”
With the box in her hands, she breezed toward the men at the door.
“Don’t you just love weddings,” she said.
She didn’t wait for their response. She walked right past them, into the dusty main floor of the barn.
To the left was a small platform with a podium. The buffet table was set up at the back of the chairs on her right. Irene had spread plates across the table for meats, cheese, and fruit. The bread was on the table, and she assumed the rest of the food was being cooled outside in the springhouse, waiting for all the men to arrive.
She set the pie on the table and edged one of the ceramic platters at an angle to match the others. And then she began situating another platter. There were two men hidden in the shadows of the loft, arguing, and her fingers froze on the platter. Her father was here.
Dropping her hands to her sides, she backed toward the wide door. She’d wanted to see Antonio before tonight, but she never wanted to see her father again.
Turning, she could feel the sunshine on her face as it radiated through the open door. Rollin didn’t want her here, and her father certainly wouldn’t want her here. Prince would take her home to Henry, and she would spend the rest of the evening on her knees.
Footsteps pounded behind her as she moved forward, but before she stepped outside, she heard her father’s voice.
“Stop,” he ordered. And she stopped.
She didn’t turn around nor did she take another step, but her heart trembled. What would her father do if he recognized her?
“Who are you?” he demanded. His hand was on her arm, turning her toward him. She felt the hiccup rising in her throat and she swallowed hard.
“Katie,” she said with her head bowed. “Katie Lehman.”
She didn’t look up at him, but she could feel his rising fury without seeing his face. He poked her leg with his walking stick like she was some sort of animal.
“Why are you here?”
She kept her mouth closed for a moment to fight off another hiccup. Then she pointed at the buffet table. “I’m delivering the rest of the food.”
“This is a private meeting.”
“Wedding,” Antonio mumbled. “It’s a wedding.”
At her brother’s voice, she dared to look over and meet his eye. “I love weddings,” she said.
Antonio stared at her, blinking as he recognized her face. A curse word ripped through his lips.
Her father’s voice hardened. “What is it?”
Her brother looked away from her face, and she bowed her head again.
“I just remembered something,” Antonio said.
“What did you remember?” he demanded, but her brother didn’t respond.
She stepped forward, speaking quietly. “I was bringing the pies for dessert.”
“The pies,” Antonio said with a nod.
“Get her out of here.”
Antonio gave her a small push out the barn door, toward her buggy.
In the fresh air, she could breathe again. Away from the oppression of her father’s presence. She could smell the wildflowers out here and feel the warm breeze on her face. Her father had allowed his thirst for power to overtake him, and he was blinded by his own deception.
In the years away from the Cardano house, she’d forgotten how broken she’d been. How broken all of them had been. Without Liz and Antonio to protect her, she might never have survived her childhood.
Antonio followed her to the back of the buggy, hidden from the eyes in the barn, and her hiccups slowly subsided. Long ago, she’d glimpsed the seeds of kindness inside her brother’s soul. Seeds that could sprout if he’d let them.
“What are you doing here?” he whispered.
“I live here,” she replied. “And I live in peace, Antonio. Without the fear.”
He nodded back toward the barn
. “He can’t know you’re still alive.”
“He doesn’t even recognize me.” It was an answer to her prayer, but it still hurt.
She reached for another box in the back of the buggy and tried to hand it to Antonio, but he didn’t take it.
“How did you know I was here, Katie?”
Her face warmed as she tried to think of a truthful answer that wouldn’t indict Rollin, but a lie tumbled out of her mouth instead. “I didn’t know until I saw you in the barn.”
Antonio paused as he seemed to contemplate her answer, and her gaze traveled to the forest beside them. Was Rollin near the barn yet? She couldn’t tell Antonio what was going to happen tonight, but she could remind him that he had the option to leave. Today. Just like she had done. He could flee from this mess and become the man God created him to be instead of a man molded by Salvatore and the other members of their union.
“How’s Henry?” he finally asked.
“He’s well.” She managed a smile as she tried to hand him the pie again. This time he took it. “He reminds me a bit of you.”
“Poor kid.”
She stepped out and glanced back at the men by the barn. They were facing the house, but she knew they were watching them. She moved back under the cover of the buggy.
“You don’t have to stay here, Antonio,” she whispered to him. “You can come with me right now.”
His laugh was low. Gruff. “And become Amish?”
“You can become whatever it is that you want to be. You can help people instead of hurt them.”
His arm swept toward the barn. “This is what I want to do with my life.”
She ignored his words. He was a man now, able to choose for himself the vision for his life, but he was so much better than this. He’d always been determined, but when he was younger, Antonio stood up for others. As an adult, he could continue fighting for those who needed help.
“Tell your men you need to go to town.” She was tugging on his arm now. “We will find you a car and you can drive far, far away.”
“Nikki,” he said slowly, like he was searching for his words. “It’s been a long time since you left.”
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