“I’d like to help make breakfast, all right?”
“Good luck with Mom on that. I think she has coffee brewing . . . sure smells like it. But wait for me, okay?”
Leona smiled. “I’ll do that.”
Gloria gathered up some clean clothes. “Feel free to stay in here, if you want to look around more,” she said, still trying to absorb the fact that she and Leona were together at last.
———
Leona was surprised at Gloria’s hospitality. The room seemed ornate, though, very different from her friend’s former bedroom back in Colerain.
Looking at the bookshelves, Leona noticed the book of limericks she’d given Gloria, as well as a few devotional books from those days. Does she still read these?
Then on the bureau, Leona spotted something that looked familiar—a small pink net sachet with potpourri like the kind Maggie sold in her store. Leona raised it to smell the scent, which had faded. Then, looking more closely, she saw a tag: With love, JS.
She pondered this. Then it came to her. “I know those initials,” she murmured. “My cousin’s.” She found it quite touching that Gloria had kept something of her Amish life.
Even so, Leona was deeply aware now of the enormous challenge before her, her hope that Gloria would give up all of this to return to a simpler life in Lancaster County. More obstacles than I’d expected.
She headed back to the spare room and located her Bible in the suitcase, then went to sit in the comfortable chair in the corner near a little fake tree, a writing desk nearby. She found her bookmark and began to read chapter thirteen of Hebrews. When she came to verse five, she read it aloud. “. . . Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Leona continued reading, and when she’d finished, she rose and looked out the window, then back at the cheerfully decorated guestroom, getting acclimated to the new environment. Silently, she knelt and asked the Lord God for strength to see this visit through for His glory and honor.
When the knock came at her door, Leona was ready to have breakfast with her friend.
“Mom had to rush off to work, but she put a roast in the Crock-Pot and left a note,” Gloria said at the kitchen counter. “One of her clients requested an extra cleaning; they must have company coming.” She explained that her mother was always glad for any extra hours. “It’ll be just us for breakfast, since Adam’s also at work and Jonas and James are in school.”
Leona felt a spark of nerves at the thought of seeing Adam again. He’d seemed friendly enough last night, but they hadn’t really talked.
Gloria pushed her mom’s smiley-face-laden note across the counter. “Do you want eggs and toast for breakfast? I can heat some water in the microwave if you’d rather have tea than coffee.” She opened the refrigerator and removed a container of eggs. “Or I can rustle up something more hearty and Amish style, if you’d like.”
“Don’t go to any trouble.” Leona eyed the microwave but insisted on cooking up some fried eggs and bacon on the stove, and Gloria seemed fine with that. Unless she’s just being polite, thought Leona as her friend went to set the table.
Once they’d eaten their fill, Gloria suggested they take a drive. “I want you to see where I work, for one.”
“If ya want to, sure.” Leona was not thrilled about the idea of getting back into the car, but Gloria seemed awfully restless. Why?
CHAPTER
19
Gloria could hardly wait to show Leona their town nestled amidst mountains, rivers, forests, and lakes. First, she drove around the large, mostly Amish neighborhood, explaining that her father had rented the house when they moved here. She pointed out several Amish ministers’ homes, especially the bishop’s, slowing as they drove past the oversized black mailbox and two purple martin birdhouses nearby. Two Dawdi Hauses had been built onto the tall main house. Just like back in Colerain . . .
“Does it seem strange to still live under the noses of all these Amish farmers?” asked Leona.
“Sometimes, to be honest.”
“Not to be nosy,” Leona said, “but does it cause any tension for your family?”
Gloria wasn’t ready for this, so she steered the discussion into safer waters. “By the way, I want to show you the one-room schoolhouse up ahead. I used to walk there to chat with the teacher and to see Jonas and James home afterward.”
“Do ya think they miss it?”
Again, Gloria felt tense. “It’s been more than two and a half years since we left the Amish. We’ve moved on—all of us.”
“I think I might’ve enjoyed teaching school,” Leona said wistfully.
“Why didn’t you?” Gloria glanced her way. “You’re so good with kids.”
“Well, as you know, most of the other girls my age had higher grades.”
“I doubt any of them have a better heart than yours.”
Leona ducked her head. “Ain’t necessary to say that, ya know.”
“Still, it’s true. You came all the way out here to visit with the likes of me.”
Turning to look at her, Leona paused as if deciding what to say next. “I can’t help but wonder if ya miss bein’ Plain, Gloria.”
Gloria bit her lip. She forced humor into her voice and smiled wryly. “Have you looked at this car? What’s not to like about getting somewhere fast?”
Leona laughed, but her eyes looked pained.
Gloria instantly felt regretful. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay. I can imagine how easy the Englisch life must be.”
“But I was flippant.”
“No, you were honest,” Leona said softly; nevertheless, she seemed much more subdued than when they had set out.
Not entirely honest. Gloria did miss her Amish years, the warm fellowship of the womenfolk at work frolics and all the homemade food. She also missed grooming the road horses and riding in the enclosed carriages, the peaceful sound of the clip-clop-clip keeping time with her heart.
———
Leona found it curious that Gloria was so eager to drive downtown next. They pulled into a parking space on the square busy with shoppers.
“The antique shops and boutiques are very popular with both the locals and the out-of-towners,” Gloria explained as they got out of the car. She pointed out the courthouse and its grounds, where crape myrtle shrubs were coming into bloom. “These are my favorite, since they blossom till fall. Do I sound like a tour guide yet?”
Leona laughed.
They stopped at the old Missouri-Pacific Railroad Depot, which now served as a museum and displayed many interesting historical artifacts.
Later, by the time they drove to the diner where Gloria worked, Leona felt all in, dismayed by the gulf that separated her and Gloria. Their lives had changed in every way imaginable, and their conversation seemed to come to a halt whenever Leona bumped up against their past. A couple of times, Gloria visibly shrank back, her expression troubled.
Leona wasn’t sure how long this could continue. Would it only end when one of them broached the subject of why Gloria had broken her silence, contacting Leona after all these years?
Music blared as Leona stepped inside the diner—she’d never been in such a loud place. She looked at Gloria, taken aback.
“It’s just the oldies. C’mon, you might enjoy it.”
Leona put on a brave face and followed.
The diner was filled with smiling customers, many of them Plain folk sitting in booths along a wall of windows or at the long, narrow counter where black stools trimmed with aluminum swiveled on chrome pedestals.
At least here no one gawked at her Amish dress and Kapp the way some Lancaster County tourists did upon first entering Maggie’s shop.
She trailed Gloria past the counter and back into the kitchen.
“Is Hampton around?” Gloria asked one of the cooks dressed in white, including a tall chef’s hat.
He motioned toward his right. “Check back in the office,
but I think he may have slipped out early to go to the ER. His wife fell and hurt her foot. Might be broken.”
After getting more details and expressing concern, Gloria waved Leona on toward a small room, its door ajar. “Nope, he’s gone all right.” She sighed.
“Is Hampton your boss?” Leona asked as they headed back out to the car.
“He’s nearly like a father to me. Such a kindhearted soul.” Gloria sat behind the steering wheel, leaning both wrists on it. “He’s become my go-to person . . . but nothing like you.”
It occurred to Leona that, despite the distance and the passage of time, she had remained alive in Gloria’s imagination, just as Gloria had in hers.
Even with all the changes, we’re still friends, Leona realized.
“Hampton Brockett’s actually almost old enough to be my grandfather,” Gloria was quick to clarify. “He’s established several successful diners in a few of the surrounding towns. And he and his wife have a son, Darren, born late in their marriage.”
Smiling, Gloria went on to say she wanted Leona to meet Darren while she was here. “Would you feel awkward having lunch with him and me tomorrow?”
Leona was taken aback. “Well, if he’s a gut friend of yours.”
Gloria blushed. “We’ve been dating a short while, but Darren wants to move too quickly to suit me.”
Too quickly? Leona wondered what exactly Gloria meant by that.
“Darren’s nice, but there are issues we don’t see eye to eye on—or we could, but . . .” Gloria turned the key in the ignition and backed out of the parking spot. “Listen to me babbling,” she murmured. “Let’s go home and bake some shoofly pie. Want to?”
Leona agreed, though she felt glum after hearing of Gloria’s serious beau. This is definitely a big setback—the biggest complication yet. How on earth am I going to get her to think about going home to Colerain?
“Do ya remember the ingredients?” Leona teased Gloria as they each tied on one of Jeannie’s half aprons.
“How could I forget?” Gloria went to the pantry and brought out the flour, brown sugar, salt, and shortening for the crumbs, then went to the freezer to remove a frozen piecrust, which made Leona gasp. That brought a smile to Gloria’s face, though, and she was quick to apologize.
“Remember when you were so determined to make the perfect piecrust?”
“Do I ever!” Gloria laughed again.
They assembled the dry ingredients and cut shortening into the flour mixture with a pastry blender. Then Gloria preheated the electric oven.
“I don’t know when Mom or I last made this,” Gloria admitted, a sad look in her eyes. “Mom isn’t one for baking anymore. In fact, did I tell you that she never liked baking bread?”
Leona stared at her. “Ach, but your Mamm’s bread was the best. I can’t believe it.”
Gloria shrugged. “I was as surprised as you are to hear it, but it’s true.”
Leona turned her attention back to beating the eggs and then the syrup with an electric mixer, no less!
Working together, they soon had the pie ready to slide into the hot oven. Gloria set the timer on the appliance, saying she wondered what her mother had done with the old wind-up one.
“Ach, we still use ours,” Leona said. “And Mamma bought a day clock with a second hand.”
“Goodness—she’s got her recipes down to the second?”
This brought peals of laughter from both of them, and Leona was truly relieved at how much less tense things were now that they were working together in the kitchen. One as modern as the day is long. But a return to old times nonetheless!
Leona was glad to see Jeannie return, coming in through the garage door.
“Something smells fantastic,” she said as she hung her car keys on a peg near the bulletin board.
“It’s shoofly pie—the wet bottom kind, of course.” Leona was curious what she’d say.
Jeannie went over to the cooling rack and leaned down to take a sniff. “You two really are something. You could open a bakery!”
“It was my idea.” Gloria grinned. “Of course Leona was happy to help.”
Jeannie moved around the island to greet Leona as she had yesterday. “Do you mind if I give you another hug, my dear?”
Gloria laughed. “Go ahead, Mom—she’s our same wonderful Leona.”
Leona embraced Jeannie, too, but she was still having to get used to all her makeup and the silver hoop earrings, partially hidden under shoulder-length blond hair. Gloria’s mother’s appearance was as altered as her daughter’s—the trim black leggings and long flowing red top. Such strange cleaning clothes, she thought.
“Come into the living room and tell me what you did today,” Jeannie said, going to the sectional and patting the cushion next to her. She continued to talk, saying how sorry she was about missing breakfast with them. “I hope you saw my note.”
“Mom,” Gloria said, patting her chest, “relax. It’s just us. Okay?”
Jeannie leaned her head back for a moment, sighed, and then folded her hands on her lap. “All right . . . I’m better now. It was a hectic day. Evelyn Russell wanted all of her light fixtures polished along with the special spring-cleaning. Her sister and hubby are coming for a week’s visit.”
“She’s known to be a perfectionist,” Gloria explained to Leona.
Jeannie agreed with a raise of her eyebrows. “The woman keeps me on my toes.”
“When will Dad be home?” Gloria asked.
“In time for supper, as always.”
“You have a real nice town here,” Leona said, noticing how distant Gloria seemed sitting over in the farthest corner of the sectional, hugging a brightly patterned throw pillow.
“I guess we’re drawn to small communities,” Jeannie said, exchanging glances with Gloria. “Aren’t we, honey?”
Gloria merely smiled.
“My parents send their greetings, by the way,” Leona said, realizing as soon as she’d said it that she should have waited till the whole family was together, perhaps at the supper table.
Jeannie’s smile was as warm and endearing as ever. “Be sure to tell Pete and Millie hello from all of us.”
“I will. Denki.”
Jeannie rose suddenly. “If you girls just want to relax before supper, feel free. I need to check on my roast in the Crock-Pot.” And she headed off toward the kitchen.
Gloria got up, too, and said Leona should make herself at home. “I need to freshen up a bit,” she added, exiting the room.
Leona wandered to the fireplace mantel, which displayed a colorful glass egg and a framed picture of Joe and Jeannie posing cheek to cheek. How had this family moved so thoroughly into the fancy world so quickly, and with so little effort?
Then, of all things, she spied a statuette of a horse-drawn buggy on one side of the mantel. Interesting, she thought. Someone has at least one fond memory of Plain life. . . .
Leona left the room to wash her face. Glancing in the extra large bathroom mirror, she saw that her hair bun was still secured beneath her Kapp. Was seeing her prayer covering convicting to either Jeannie or Gloria? Did they miss putting up their hair each morning and wearing the sacred symbol of devotion and modesty?
She returned to the living room just as Adam came in from work, looking altogether grimy. “I picked up the boys from school, Mom,” he called.
“Hullo, Leona,” Jonas and James said before dashing downstairs with their matching navy blue backpacks.
Adam chuckled. “They’re still full of energy, as you can see.” He offered a smile. “Was your first full day here lots of fun?”
“It’s sure different than Lancaster County.”
He sniffed the air. “Did someone do some baking?”
“Gloria and I couldn’t resist.”
“The house smells like it used to.” He looked away briefly, then shrugged. “Like when we were Amish.”
Leona hardly knew what to say as Adam excused himself to take a shower.
———
While Leona waited for Gloria to return to the living room, her mind spun with all the changes in the Gingeriches’ life—Gloria’s English boyfriend; Adam, who seemed like a stranger now . . . and Jeannie. Even Jonas and James looked like any two Yankee boys she might see at market.
It was beyond her how their former bishop here had permitted them to live in such a modern house, one with electric, too. That aside, how had things gone so wrong that they slipped away from the Amish church?
To think I once yearned to belong to this family. It had been a childish, if not naïve fancy. In spite of that, Leona still wished for her sisterly friendship with Gloria to continue. Above all else, she wanted Gloria to open her heart and share her pain, whatever it was. But it was apparent something was holding her back.
CHAPTER
20
Seeing Leona sitting there alone in the living room, Gloria wondered again how she felt spending time in their modern house. How much better would this visit be for her if we were still Plain?
Later, in the kitchen, Leona asked if she could set the table, but Mom refused the help even when Gloria offered. Mom looked cute, if not quaint, in her gray work apron, something she must have unearthed from the back of a drawer.
“You haven’t seen Leona in a long time,” her mother said. “I’ll cook; you visit!”
Gloria also noticed that the Our Daily Bread Promise Box was centered on the table—it had been missing for at least a year. The family Bible was also set to the left of her father’s placemat. Seeing it again was sobering. Was Leona’s impression of them so important that Mom had resurrected a few remnants of their previously pious life?
Maybe Leona’s visit is good for us. . . .
A few minutes later, Adam emerged from the basement, and Gloria had to smile. “Well, don’t you clean up nice.” He’d washed his hair and put on his best blue shirt and khakis. She suggested that he and Leona join her in the living room, where Leona sat in the chair nearest the sectional and Gloria sat where her mother had been sitting before, moving the magazine back to the barnwood coffee table. Adam took a spot on the floor in front of the TV, as though blocking it from Leona’s sight.
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