“Is that what happened in Lancaster County, too?” Leona felt sad for Gloria, caught in the mire of her father’s choices.
Gloria seemed to steel herself. “This is hard for me. . . .”
“Please, don’t feel that ya must—”
“I need to tell you,” Gloria insisted. “You’re the only one who will understand.” She glanced around nervously, then leaned forward, her words coming out in a hushed tone. “I learned most of this from Mom long after we left Colerain . . . but Dad had some underhanded business dealings that eventually caught up with him. It was a terrible time—the worst trial for our family. I still don’t know what to think of it. My father supposedly still owes quite a lot of money to one of the Amish farmers in your church district, and there are other farmers who never went after him for payment on certain items, forgiving him of debts or just overlooking them.”
So this is what Tom was referring to!
She drew a deep breath, determined to reach out to her friend. “You’re not at fault for what he did.”
“He’s my father, though, and it feels like I’m partially to blame.”
“But you’re not,” Leona objected.
Gloria wiped a tear and looked away.
A moment of silence passed. “Do ya ever miss the Amish way of life?” Leona asked.
Gloria grimaced. “I’m not sure how to answer that. I thought I was fine . . . but yesterday, when we were baking together, I thought I might cry. It was just odd.” She sighed. “Your visit has stirred up all sorts of emotions.”
Leona studied her. “You must’ve been terribly distressed when you wrote to me.”
“I was a train wreck that day. It was all I could do to even write what I did.” Tears sprang to Gloria’s eyes. “I needed to see you again, Leona. I had to know if you were still willing to be my friend . . . and if you were still Amish.”
This tugged on Leona’s heartstrings. “It matters that much?”
Nodding, Gloria asked, “Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads, not sure which way to go? It keeps me awake at night—every single night.” She looked down at her shiny bracelet and touched it. “Let’s just put it this way: If I decide to go one direction, I will have sealed my future . . . there’ll be no turning back.”
Leona listened but was confused—Gloria was being too vague. “Wouldn’t that be true no matter which road you take?”
Gloria folded her hands on the table. “You’re right, of course. But sometimes, I don’t even know my own heart.”
Sipping her tea, Leona pondered the misery in her friend’s expression. “The Lord does, though.”
“I’m not sure of anything. . . .”
“Well, here’s something else to consider. You know that I care about you, jah?”
Gloria nodded thoughtfully.
“Can ya imagine how much more He cares—the One who created you and knows your pain, your hurts, your disappointments?”
“People hide their truest selves . . . keep the secret pieces of their heart under wraps,” Gloria said, faltering. “My father does it, obviously, or he wouldn’t jump from one church to another, running away from his wrongdoing when confronted. Running is his escape, I guess you could say. My mother said your bishop told him that he runs out of fear, because he’s afraid to self-examine.”
Trying to hide from God . . .
Leona wanted to remind Gloria of what she’d said earlier: She wasn’t her father. Instead, she sadly observed how torn Gloria seemed to be.
“Oh, goodness, look at the time!” Gloria pushed her small plate aside and took one last sip of tea. “I say we have more walking to do before lunch, especially if we want to eat again so soon.” She laughed, but it didn’t sound very natural. “Why don’t you just take the rest of your pastry in your napkin? Time’s a-wastin’, as the Amish say.”
Leona drank the rest of her tea, seeing through Gloria’s sudden bluster. And just when she thought they were getting somewhere . . . perhaps even to the root of Gloria’s frantic letter.
CHAPTER
22
Gloria gave the impression of wanting to show Leona every nook and cranny of her remaining favorite downtown haunts. So when Gloria wanted to poke her head into yet another gift shop, Leona asked to borrow her phone to call Maggie. “There’s a telephone at her store, and she’ll relay a message to my parents.” And to Tom.
Gloria opened her shoulder bag. “You should’ve said so sooner!”
The truth was, Leona hadn’t wanted to ask and was surprised when Gloria gave her the car keys. Feeling strange about having both the mobile phone and the car keys in her control, Leona opened the car door and stepped inside, where for a moment, she sat and stared at the phone. She leaned against the headrest and thought about Gloria’s shocking statements about her father. Something’s dreadfully wrong.
With only today left to visit, Leona prayed that what she’d shared with Gloria over tea might prove helpful.
Dear Lord, let my words be acceptable to Thee. Help Gloria understand and grasp Thy great love for her.
Leona punched in Maggie’s number and heard the ringing on the line. She hoped her sister-in-law wasn’t swamped with customers at this hour. Another ring, and there was Maggie’s voice, as clear as if she were sitting here in the car.
“Hullo, Maggie. It’s Leona. I wanted to let you know I arrived all right and I’m doing fine.”
“Tom was over here earlier askin’ in a roundabout way.”
Leona perked up, hearing of Tom.
“He brought over a batch of blueberry jam for all of us, and I took the opportunity to assure him you were all right, or we would’ve heard somethin’.”
“Denki, Maggie. Kind of ya.”
“Your young man’s definitely smitten.”
Leona smiled into the phone. “Well, please be sure to tell Dat and Mamma I called—and Tom, too, if you see him. Maybe I’ll be home before ya have a chance.”
There was a pause. “So how are the Gingeriches?”
“Honestly, since you asked, I think they’re a bit ferhoodled.”
“Ach, aren’t we all sometimes?”
Leona nodded. “That’s not the response I expected.”
Now Maggie was laughing. “Let’s just say people are really enjoyin’ the store. It’s been one fleissich day.”
“Busy is gut, though, ain’t so?”
“I’ll be mighty glad when you’re back,” Maggie replied.
“I miss you, too. Da Herr sei mit du.”
“Gott be with ya, too, Leona.”
She wished Maggie a good day and ended the call.
Tom went out of his way to ask about me, she thought, and in that moment, Lancaster County seemed much too far away.
Gloria did her best to dismiss her discussion with Leona at the tearoom, and while browsing in yet another shop, a display of stationery caught her eye. She picked up the pretty set, turning it over and thinking she ought to buy it—Leona would enjoy getting letters from her on this paper. At the thought, she dreaded her friend’s visit coming to a close. And I still haven’t come clean with her!
Glancing out the shop window, she noticed Leona still sitting in the car, apparently finished with her phone call. Quickly, she made her purchase.
“Not many young women come in for stationery anymore,” the clerk said.
“Email and texting are so convenient.” Gloria smiled at her. “But there’s nothing like a card or letter.” She thought of the journals she’d kept after first moving here. Like a long letter to Leona that never got sent.
“Thanks for dropping by,” the cheerful woman said as she counted out Gloria’s change. “And come again.”
“Have a wonderful afternoon.” Gloria exited the shop and walked toward the car. Momentarily, she considered showing Leona the journal stashed away in the back of her closet—a chronicling of those painful months.
Too depressing, she decided.
A light drizzle began falling just before
noon, and Leona wondered aloud if there was more rain in the forecast.
“Let’s find out,” Gloria said, pulling her phone out of her purse at the red light. “Here, check my weather app. It’s at the top of the screen.”
Leona clicked on the app’s radar, which depicted a small weather system moving across the screen. “Looks minor. Ach, this is really something. Like a moving version of what’s in the newspaper.”
“Better not get too attached to it,” Gloria teased as she made the turn onto the street where the diner was located.
Leona smiled. “No chance of that.”
“Oh, you really can’t say that. The modern world can be like sin—at first we’re repulsed by it. Then, after a while, we open our arms to it, welcoming it. It’s as simple as that.”
“Do ya think havin’ a phone is sinful, then? You used to think that . . . remember?”
For a moment, Gloria was silent. When she spoke again, she seemed a bit choked up. “Like I said at the tearoom—there are still many lingering Amish bits and pieces in my heart.”
Leona wondered what it had been like for her friend to say good-bye to a life she’d seemed to love—a life she was forced to leave because of her father’s crooked business dealings. No wonder Joe wouldn’t permit his family to contact any of us back home.
Gloria seemed determined to find a quieter spot at the homey diner, eventually selecting a booth near a window, away from the long counter where a few customers were drinking sodas and eating hot dogs and burgers. “How’s this?” she asked, sliding in opposite Leona and pushing her hair back from her face.
Does she want to continue our talk? With Gloria’s boyfriend joining them, Leona really doubted it.
“You hungry for lunch yet?” Gloria asked.
“That delicious little pastry took the edge off my appetite.” Leona placed her canvas sewing bag on the seat beside her and reached for the menu. “What’s gut to eat here?”
“Everything—and I mean it.” Gloria rummaged in her purse. “I can use my employee discount, so lunch is on me.”
“Let me treat you,” Leona argued, determined.
“You’re my guest, silly. Besides, you’ve come a long way.”
“Still, I’d like to.”
Gloria caught Leona’s eye. “You have no idea how much it’s meant to me, having you here, sharing like this.”
Hearing this warmed Leona’s heart, and she thanked God that she and Gloria were together again, even if only for a while.
The tinkle of utensils on plates and the low hum of people talking were somehow comforting to Leona as she looked over the menu.
“Darren texted me to go ahead and order his usual,” Gloria said. “He’ll be here by the time the food comes.” She laughed. “Although you and I might want to opt for something lighter after those pastries. And . . . Mom’s planning a big meal tonight. I’m really sorry that I couldn’t get off work. I hope you understand.”
“My visit came up so quickly, it can’t be helped,” Leona said, then decided on a half tuna sandwich and a cup of tomato soup.
The friendly waitress took their order, and Leona mentioned to Gloria that hardly anyone seemed to look twice at her Amish attire.
“I noticed that, too, back when we first moved here. But this is a small town, and everyone’s likely aware of the Plain community here.”
“Well, they sure seem more courteous than in some places.” Leona thought of the gawks she’d received while buying peanuts at one of the gas station convenience stores on the trip out.
“Maybe so . . . but everyone also knows everyone else’s business,” Gloria said. Then her attention seemed to focus elsewhere, and she waved to a tall, dark-haired young man who was coming toward them. “Darren’s here. Perfect timing.” She slid over, welcoming her boyfriend with a dazzling smile.
Leona suddenly felt peculiar, yet she tried to be polite. “It’s nice to meet you, Darren,” she said, accepting his firm handshake across the table.
“You too,” he said, smiling. “Gloria’s often talked of you.”
Darren had remarkably intense blue eyes, and he engaged Leona by asking about her trip here and then inquiring about their visit so far.
Leona and Gloria took turns responding until their meals arrived, and then Gloria asked what he had been up to this morning. “Did you get everything accomplished in Coal Hill?”
“I checked on one of our diners southeast of here,” he explained to Leona, adjusting his shirt collar. “We recently hired a new cook.”
While she spooned up her hot tomato soup, Leona tried to gauge things between Gloria and her boyfriend, considering what little romantic experience she’d had herself. Was Darren a good match for Gloria?
After a time, Gloria’s boss, Hampton, walked over to their table and asked if everything was to their liking, patting his son on the back. Gloria introduced Leona, and Hampton also shook her hand more gently than Darren had. “You two girls are in good company,” he said with a grin. “He’s my right arm.”
Gloria inquired about how Hampton’s wife was doing after her fall, and he assured her that it was merely a sprain, not a break.
When Hampton left, the three of them exchanged small talk for a while, and Darren turned to Gloria and adjusted her gold bracelet, sliding it around so that her initials were showing.
“Have you told Leona about us?” he asked Gloria, glancing at Leona and winking.
“Um . . . that’s girl talk,” Gloria replied, looking at Leona as if to say, “Just keep it mum.”
He smiled and reached for his burger and took a bite.
“I stopped by the jewelry store again,” Darren said, wiping his mouth with the paper napkin.
Gloria looked startled. “But . . . I thought we—”
“Just wait—you’ll love what I’m looking at,” Darren interrupted. “I promise.”
“Darren, this bracelet is more than enough.” Gloria sounded almost childlike as she looked down at her wrist. “It’s beautiful.”
Leona agreed but didn’t feel comfortable hopping into the conversation.
Darren slipped his arm around Gloria. “You wear it all the time, right?”
“Most of the time.” Gloria looked at Leona.
“I just want you to be happy with it,” Darren said.
Gloria shrugged. “Of course I am.”
Leona felt uneasy. Gloria was clearly annoyed by Darren’s somewhat dogged attention, although it seemed to her that Gloria was overreacting. Darren certainly seemed pleasant enough.
There must be more to it, Leona thought.
CHAPTER
23
Oh, Leona, I hope you weren’t twiddling your thumbs while Gloria worked,” Jeannie said when she picked her up late that afternoon.
“Not at all. In fact, there were several unexpected blessings,” Leona told her. “A little girl eating with her family watched me crochet for the longest time. Finally, she wandered over with her mother to whisper that she was four years old and named Alana, and she wondered if I’d show her how to make loops. Ach, was she ever sweet. The cutest little thing!”
“I’ll bet she was.” Jeannie nodded, one hand on the steering wheel. “And it was kind of you to take time for her.”
“Then I went for a walk and met a nice couple who stopped me to visit—said it was my Amish clothes that attracted them, since they hoped to join a Mennonite church soon. Right now, they’re in a proving time with the bishop and minister, but the wife said they had Anabaptist roots.”
“Is that right?” Jeannie seemed a bit sheepish now.
“They were so friendly and chatty,” Leona went on. “After that, I returned to the diner, where Gloria introduced me to three of her church friends who’d dropped by to get something to eat.”
“My goodness, you’ve had a busy afternoon.”
“I also met Gloria’s boss, Hampton, and his son, Darren.”
“Ah yes . . . her soon-to-be fiancé. What a terrific catch.” Jea
nnie tittered. “He’s from a great family and has such a sensible head for business, Joe says. Honestly, Joe thinks Darren’s the best thing since Amish fried chicken.”
Leona listened, wondering whether Gloria really was as serious about Darren as her parents seemed to think.
“I’m glad you met him—was it planned?”
“Gloria set it up.”
“No doubt you noticed how crazy Darren is about Gloria.”
“Do ya really think they’ll get married?” Leona asked.
“Well, it’s up to them to set a date, of course, but I expect they’ll become engaged any day now. An autumn wedding would be wonderful—it’s unbearably hot and muggy here in the summer, and I’d like to have Gloria’s wedding outdoors, near one of the lakes.” Jeannie paused a moment, glancing her way. “I thought Gloria might’ve asked you to be her maid of honor.”
“They’re not officially engaged, right?”
“Well, no, not formally.”
Leona recalled that awkward exchange between Gloria and Darren—she assumed he’d been pressing her about an engagement ring, yet Gloria hadn’t exactly seemed enthusiastic. “Has your family spent much time with Darren?”
“Joe took him small game hunting last fall . . . they spent two full days together. Adam decided to go along, too, at the last minute. The three of them had a grand time.”
“Do Jonas and James enjoy hunting, too?” Leona asked, deciding to try to shift the talk to a subject other than Darren. She didn’t feel altogether at ease, discussing him with Jeannie.
“They prefer water sports, but once Darren’s in the family, I have a feeling all five will go off in the woods together hunting, at least once the boys are teens. It’s kind of what the men out here do. Male bonding, you know.”
“My father goes deer hunting with Mahlon every year,” Leona said, trying again.
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