by Beth Wiseman
He set the box on the couch. “Anything else?” He looked at Esther as he folded his arms across his big belly.
“Nee, I suppose not.” She chewed her bottom lip, eyeing the mysterious find again. “Maybe the package contains important papers?”
“No.” Gus walked to the door, which was still open. He stepped aside, motioning for Esther to step over the threshold.
“You’re welcome,” she said coolly as she shot him a fake smile.
“Oh. Yeah. Thanks.” He looked around Esther. “One of the limos is gone. I saw the kid take off in it early this morning.”
Esther had noticed a car missing. “I figured it was Jayce. He doesn’t seem to enjoy the meetings the rest of them have in our dining room. It’s a beautiful day for a drive, although I’d choose a buggy over a car. Jayce carted Evelyn to eat in one of our buggies not long after he arrived.”
“I’m sure that’s who he’s with now. Or maybe the other gal that has the hots for him. Your new girl, Rose Petal.”
Esther slapped her hands to her hips. “I told you not to call her that. And what makes you think she fancies Jayce?” She liked the boy a lot, but he’d be leaving soon and she didn’t want to see either girl get hurt.
Gus laughed, his belly jiggling. “That kid actually asked me for my thoughts about women. Can you believe that?”
“In all seriousness, nee, I can’t.” She tried to envision Jayce questioning Gus about anything to do with females or relationships.
“Well, it ain’t the new gal he’s after. Said she talks too much.”
Esther grinned. “The maedel does have a lot to say.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if those two—the Schrock girl and Jayce—end up together.” Gus grunted. “He probably hasn’t thought about everything he’d have to give up to be with an Amish girl. But he ain’t like all those others.” He waved an arm in the direction of the inn. “I had the misfortune to have to take him back and forth to the movie shoots in my truck. I think he’d prefer to live on a farm somewhere out here, and the kid probably has the money to do it.” Gus laughed. “He’d probably change his mind in the summer months. Took me a while to get used to no air conditioning when I first moved in here.”
“It would be nice if he stayed on, but a relationship with Evelyn would be a bit more complicated.” Esther’s wheels were already turning. A little matchmaking side project might be the distraction she and Lizzie needed to get their minds off what was in the box. Or provide some much-needed relief from hosting the film crew. She recalled Lizzie’s ridiculous attempt to make the couple feel romantic by loading up the buggy with vanilla. Esther and Lizzie worked better as a team when a situation warranted their skills. “Evelyn is a lovely girl. And we like Jayce a lot.”
Gus scratched his head. “You just said it would be complicated, but that hasn’t ever stopped you and your crazy sister from trying to get couples together.”
“Ya, I know.” She smiled. “We like a gut love story. But only once have we ever successfully matched up a non-Amish person with someone here in our community. Most of the time, outsiders don’t want to make the changes that would be necessary.”
“I didn’t say he’d ever convert to your religious stuff. I just said he don’t fit in with the rest of them, and he’s mentioned how he wished he could stay.”
“Hmm . . .” Esther tapped a finger to her chin. She was surprised that Gus talked about Jayce as if he might actually like him. Conversations with Gus about others almost always included negativity. The boy must have grown on him a little too.
Her grumpy renter smiled. “Go get ’em, Esther.” He shook a fist in the air. “Go get wacky Lizzie, and you two go do your thing. Might not be bad to have the kid around.”
Esther’s mouth was still hanging open after he closed the door. Gus didn’t like anyone, but he clearly liked Jayce, which was completely unexpected considering the huge differences in their lifestyles and demeanors.
As she walked back to the house, she was a tiny bit excited to talk to Lizzie about the possibility of Jayce and Evelyn becoming a couple. It seemed like a long shot. But seeing the way Gus had acted today left her hopeful that all things were possible. And she knew that to be true. Through Christ who strengthens us.
Esther had been working on Gus, trying to teach him to be polite and civil to folks. The man had a long way to go, but today was proof of Esther’s and the Lord’s efforts. Gus was coming around.
As she walked up the porch steps, she thought about Evelyn and Jayce. The more she pondered, the easier it was to see them together. She hoped they were enjoying each other’s company today, but she also said a quick prayer that no one would get hurt. She also prayed that she and Lizzie would follow the Lord’s lead when it came to Jayce and Evelyn.
After she found Lizzie in the bedroom folding towels on the bed, she told her everything Gus had said. “It would be exciting if he stayed on, don’t you think?”
Lizzie shrugged. “Ya, he’s a nice kid. But he’s not Amish, and that changes things up a little.”
Esther blinked in surprise. Lizzie was the one always jumping on the romantic bandwagon, even if the odds of the couple getting together were slim.
Lizzie picked up the towels. “I’m going to take these upstairs while the movie people are still in the dining room.” She frowned. “They eat a lot more when Rose isn’t cooking.”
Esther sighed. “I know.”
Lizzie walked out, leaving Esther to wonder if maybe her sister was madder about the box than she’d let on. Then Esther walked to the window, closed her eyes, and prayed again that Evelyn and Jayce were having a good day, whatever they were doing.
* * *
Jayce couldn’t believe how wigged out Evelyn was. They’d barely rounded the corner when she started trembling and squeezing his hand. It was fairly dark with only the dimly lit running lights on the boat and a small light attached to Adam’s hat. He’d swapped out his Amish straw hat before they left. Twice Adam had asked if they wanted to go back, and Evelyn shook her head both times.
At some point Jayce’s arm had found its way around Evelyn, and he held her snug against him. “You okay?” he whispered. She nodded but was quiet.
Adam rattled on with a constant stream of information about the caverns, how they were discovered, how deep the water was, and a bunch of other details Jayce wasn’t retaining. He was sure Evelyn wasn’t processing the information, either, as her eyes jetted back and forth, especially near low ceilings. Adam kept his focus on maneuvering the boat while he talked.
“I got you,” Jayce said as he pulled Evelyn even closer. “Nothing’s going to happen on my watch.”
Adam pointed out various water creatures, then paused. “Evelyn, you okay? Jayce?”
Jayce looked up to see they were at a dead end. He’d been so worried about Evelyn and the way she was trembling, he hadn’t had time to panic. Until now.
* * *
Evelyn knew what happened at this juncture. They were at the halfway point. The guides always turned off the lights so visitors could see how truly dark it was in the cave. She was pretty sure, under the circumstances, Adam wouldn’t suggest that. And he didn’t.
As they started back, Evelyn realized she’d held her breath half the time, snuggled into the safety of Jayce’s arms, and hadn’t asked him once how he was doing.
“Is this as awful as you thought it would be?” She stayed close to him, the feel of his arm around her a memory she’d carry home with her and cherish later.
He flinched. “It’s not something I’d want to do all the time, but I’ll do it tomorrow and show my dad I can. But . . .” He got close to her ear and whispered, “I know you were nervous. I could feel it. Somehow, that kept me distracted. I wanted to be sure you were okay.” His lips brushed her earlobe on the way to her cheek where he kissed her softly, sending a rush of emotion flooding over her.
As he stared into her eyes, she realized she’d never wanted a man to kiss her more tha
n at this very moment. She eased out of his embrace and faced him. “I’m glad we did this.”
“I’m glad it’s half over.” Jayce smiled as he cupped her cheek.
It was coming—the kiss—and she didn’t want it to be in front of Adam. Her eyes drifted in his direction. Adam cleared his throat.
“We omitted one part of the tour,” Adam said as he winked at Evelyn. “But I think you two did so well, you might want to experience the lights-out part.”
Jayce stiffened as he lowered his hand. “Uh, lights out? For how long?”
“However long we want,” Evelyn said softly as she brought his hand back to her cheek, holding it there while her eyes found his and held his gaze.
“I think I’m ready,” Jayce said as a slow smile swept across his face.
Then everything went black, and even though Evelyn couldn’t see the look in Jayce’s eyes, she knew what he looked like right now. She felt it through his touch and the overwhelming emotion that came through in his kiss. He was slow and thoughtful at first, gradually becoming more exploratory, almost as if he was speaking to her with his mouth. And she was answering with all her heart. His closeness seemed comfortable and familiar, yet new and exciting at the same time, sending her stomach into a wild swirl. The kiss seemed to go on forever, and Evelyn had no desire for it to end.
When the lights finally came back on, she wiggled free, but Jayce and Adam laughed. “Caught!” Adam said.
Evelyn covered her face with her hands at first but eventually laughed along with them.
When they got back to the boat ramp, Adam began to tie up the boat. “Evelyn, you did really gut,” he said before he straightened and turned to Jayce. “And you seemed to do okay too.” He paused, grinning. “Better than okay.”
Evelyn took a deep breath. “I counted eight,” she said as she squeezed her eyes closed.
“I wondered if you saw them.” Adam took his hat off, then wiped a sleeve across his moist forehead. “I wasn’t about to point them out.”
“Eight what?” Jayce glanced back and forth between them.
“Ach, you must not have seen them.” Adam counted on his fingers. “There were eight bats. Two of them were low hanging when we were all the way in the back. I was waiting for Evelyn to come unhinged, but you had her.” He paused. “And I guess she had you too.”
Evelyn latched onto Jayce’s hand when he offered to help her out of the boat. “You thought I was trembling like that because I was afraid I might see a bat?”
“Um, yeah.”
She laughed. “I just assumed you saw them too.”
Adam waved. “I’ve got to go check on things inside. Just make the hike up whenever you’re ready.”
“Danki, Adam. Danki so much.” Evelyn might have hugged him if he wasn’t on the other side of Jayce.
“Yeah, thanks a lot.” Jayce extended his hand to Adam.
After Adam was out of earshot, Jayce smiled. “I need to take back something I said.”
“Uh-oh. What’s that? Were you not truthful? Was it worse than you said?” She felt horrible that she hadn’t done more to help him with the experience, but he hadn’t seemed to need it.
“Earlier, when I said I wouldn’t want to do this every day . . .” He cupped her cheeks in his hands. “I think I would enjoy doing this every day.”
He kissed her, and the ground shifted beneath her. Not a bat or any other winged creature could have pulled her out of the moment as she kissed him back with all the passion and emotion she could feel coming from him.
“Just like in the dark, that was a much better kiss than the first one I offered you,” she said, grinning.
“I don’t know. Let’s see.” He leaned in again, but when she heard footsteps, Evelyn knew a guide with a group was coming, so they separated and started the trek back up to daylight.
“Wow,” Jayce said when they emerged from the cave. “I’m proud of us, but I’m even more proud of you. I had no idea you saw bats. Maybe butterflies won’t seem so scary now.”
She smiled as he opened her car door. “It all goes back to the fluttering,” she said as she wagged a finger at him.
Before they left the parking lot, Jayce looked at her for a long time, then refocused on the road. “I enjoyed today, and that’s not something I thought I’d be saying.”
Evelyn had enjoyed certain aspects of their day, too, but she just nodded. Her thoughts were flying all over the place.
He glanced her way. “You know, we don’t dress alike, and our lifestyles aren’t anywhere close to the same, but are we really so different?”
Evelyn knew people who had gotten involved with outsiders, and it usually didn’t go well. She was tempted to tell him, “Oh, Jayce, you have no idea how truly different we are.” She calculated a list in her mind—the electricity issue, driving a car, detachment from outsiders as much as possible, an eighth-grade education on her end, the clothing . . . She could have gone on, but those were not the important things. Jayce had a good relationship with God. He was still finding his way, but so was she. And the fact that they could have healthy discussions about it meant more to Evelyn than the tangible differences. For her, that understanding of each other was more important than all the passion in the world. She’d loved her heavenly Father her entire life. She’d only met Jayce recently, but she smiled as she reconsidered her earlier thought.
“Nee, I guess we’re not really so different,” she said.
He wouldn’t be here much longer. She would feel a sense of loss when he was gone, but she planned to soak up every moment she could with Jayce before that time came. She’d worry about the aftermath later.
Nineteen
That night as they readied for slumber, Esther broached the idea of Jayce and Evelyn as a couple to Lizzie, listing the ways she and Lizzie might be able to encourage them.
“Remember when we arranged a private dinner for Marianne and Paul? We both saw how smitten they were. They would stare at each other all through worship service and the meals afterward, but they were both so incredibly shy. They just needed a gentle push.” She tapped a finger to her chin.
“But Jayce and Evelyn are already spending time together. This isn’t the same. And he isn’t Amish,” Lizzie replied.
Esther looked over at Lizzie, who was quietly tucked under the covers, her eyes open but staring at the ceiling. Esther was sitting up combing her wet hair. It had gotten so thin over the years. She remembered being Evelyn’s age and having thick tresses of hair. “But Jayce will be leaving soon.”
Lizzie remained unusually quiet.
“Are you hearing me?” Esther asked as she fluffed her pillows.
“Ya, I’m hearing you. But I don’t think those two need a push from us. They’re well on their way to an unhappy ending.”
The negative statement was so unlike Lizzie, the eternal optimist, especially when it came to matters of the heart. “I know it seems that way since Jayce will be leaving, but sometimes we’ve intervened, and things worked out well. Just like with Naomi and Amos. We offered him a job so he would stay long enough for him and Naomi to realize they belonged together.” She paused, searching her sister’s expression, but Lizzie just kept staring at the ceiling as shadows danced overhead from the dimly lit lanterns.
When Lizzie didn’t respond, Esther nudged her. “What’s wrong with you? You haven’t been yourself all day. Are you feeling unwell?”
“Ya, I guess you could say that.” Lizzie pinched her lips together. She’d already removed her dentures.
“What’s wrong? Are your teeth bothering you again?”
“Nee.”
Esther sighed. “Then what is it?”
Lizzie slowly looked at Esther, pushing her lip into a pout. “I did a bad thing.”
“Ach, Lizzie, what did you do?” She let out another heavy sigh as Lizzie whispered something unintelligible. “What? I didn’t hear you.”
“I opened the box.” Lizzie turned her eyes back to the ceiling.
Lizzie’s eyes jumped back to Esther. “Aren’t you going to yell at me?”
“I probably should.” She waited.
“I unwrapped it, looked inside, then wrapped it in packing tape again.”
Esther clutched the sheet with both fists as she sat perfectly still. “I didn’t even notice the tape wasn’t aged anymore like I did when Naomi first gave it to us.” She paused. “Shame on you for doing that. Now, what was in it? I asked Gus if it contained important papers, and he said no.”
Lizzie closed her eyes and shook her head. “Nee, it wasn’t papers.”
“Don’t make me keep guessing.” Esther relaxed her grip on the sheet. “Just tell me.”
Lizzie didn’t sit up, but she turned to Esther. “An urn.”
“A what?” Esther tried to read Lizzie’s expression. Her sister looked tormented. “You mean, like an urn that—”
“Ya, with a person’s ashes in it.” Her eyes widened. “Why would Gus have someone’s ashes? And didn’t he miss them the past decade or so?”
No one in Esther’s community believed in cremation. She wasn’t sure if that was true for Amish all over the country, but it didn’t really matter. Gus wasn’t Amish. “That explains the grave expression on his face when I handed him the box—like he knew what was inside.”
“I think maybe I’ve been cursed for opening it.” Lizzie refocused on the dancing shadows as her bottom lip trembled.
“Ach, you’re not cursed.” Their people were superstitious, but this situation didn’t seem to warrant that type of concern.
“Ya, I am.” Lizzie spoke with strong authority. “Gus hates me, and I opened his box with a dead person in it. Those two things are a potent combination.” She held up a finger, moving it around until it was in the light so Esther could see. “I haven’t broken a fingernail in years. This one is ripped back below the quick.”