Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio

by Annalisa Daughety

  “Don’t spoil my fun.” Andy looked at her imploringly.

  “Tell you what. How about we all three run past the quilt store? But just so you can say hello. Nothing more.” Her voice was stern.

  “Okay, Mom.” He made a face.

  She glanced at Nick. He was staring into space and being oddly quiet. “What’s gotten into you?”

  No answer.

  “Nick?” she asked.

  Finally, he glanced up. “Did you ask me something?” He looked sheepish.

  “Yeah, we asked you why you’re such a loser.” Andy laughed.

  Kelly watched as they grabbed their backpacks from the Jeep. They’d only be in town for one night and, in typical guy fashion, had packed lightly. The three of them trooped into the front door, and she pointed them in the direction of their room. Was there something “off” with Nick, or was it her imagination? People always said you can trust your instincts, but hers had been wrong so many times, she wasn’t so sure.

  Chapter Thirty

  Emma

  Emma had to admit, it was very nice to be able to spend time with her sister. These past days had been lots of fun. She, Abby, and Lydia Ann had lingered over lunch today, talking and laughing. Even Mary and Katie had joined in the fun, pretending their dolls were named “Emma” and “Abby” and putting on an impromptu puppet-like show.

  “Are you sure you don’t want us to stay?” Emma asked Lydia Ann once they’d arrived back in the quilt shop. “I feel like I keep leaving you to fend for yourself.”

  Lydia Ann’s eyes twinkled. “Go show Abby around. She’s not had a proper tour yet. And you’ve been around Charm long enough by now that you’ll be almost as good of a guide as a local would be.” She gestured to the back of the store. “Mary and Katie are asleep and things are quiet. It will be a good time for me to do a little inventory. I need to place a fabric order soon.”

  “We won’t be gone long,” Abby assured her.

  “Let’s go then. The quicker we leave, the quicker we’ll get back to work.” Emma pushed the door open and let Abby out to the sidewalk.

  They strolled at a slow pace. Emma found herself echoing Noah’s story about the history of Charm as she pointed out the sights to Abby.

  “I’m impressed. If I didn’t know better, I’d guess you were born here.” Abby grinned. “Did Lydia Ann teach you the town history that well?”

  Emma shook her head. “Actually, Levi’s cousin, Noah, was the one who gave me a tour right after I got here.”

  “Noah?” Abby inquired. “I don’t know if I’ve ever met him.”

  Emma recalled Kelly’s reaction to Noah’s good looks. “I’m pretty sure you’d remember if you had.” She started walking toward the Charm View School. “I think he’ll be over at Lydia Ann’s tonight, actually, so you’ll get to meet him. He’s doing some work for her.”

  Abby gave her a sideways glance. “I look forward to meeting him.”

  “This is the school,” Emma said, pointing. “The bookmobile stops here sometimes.” Emma couldn’t remember the exact schedule but wanted to shift the topic from Noah. “You know how I love library books.”

  Abby laughed. “I’ll bet you’re a regular at the bookmobile. The librarian probably knows you by name.”

  Emma bit her lip. She hadn’t planned to tell Abby about her English friend. But maybe just telling about Kelly would be okay. “Actually, I’ve become friends with the girl who works there.” She explained the situation to Abby, careful to leave out Andy and Nick.

  A flash of concern crossed Abby’s face. “Oh? That’s nice that you’ve made a new friend.” The tone of her voice belied her words. “Is she going to be in Charm the entire summer?”

  “Jah. Until she goes back to school in the fall. Let’s head toward the Homestead Restaurant next.” Emma motioned for Abby to follow her. “I ate there the other night. It was good food.” She grinned at Abby. “Not as good as Mamm’s cooking, though. Or yours.”

  Abby’s mouth turned upward in a smile. “Danki.”

  “Next door to the Homestead is Charm General Store. They’ve got a little bit of everything,” she said once they’d arrived at the front of the store. An Amish woman and little girl came out of the store. When they saw Emma and Abby standing in the parking lot, they waved.

  “Everyone is very friendly here,” Abby said, waving back at the pair. She glanced at Emma. “This is a quaint little town, isn’t it?”

  Emma nodded. “I’m really enjoying my time here.”

  “Our next stop is Keim Lumber.” Emma led the way up the huge hill that led to the parking lot. “I know this hill is kind of steep, but it’s the only way you can see the building.” They were both a little out of breath by the time they reached the parking lot. It was full of a mixture of buggies and cars. “Inside of Keim is the Carpenters Café. If we have time while you’re visiting, we’ll eat lunch there.” They made their way toward the entrance. “Keim is where Levi used to work.” Emma started to leave it at that, but it somehow felt dishonest not to mention that she knew one of the current employees. “And where Noah still works.”

  “So, you’ve mentioned Noah’s name several times. Is he a friend of yours, too? Or just a cousin of Levi’s who helps Lydia Ann out?” Abby looked at her quizzically.

  Emma cleared her throat. “Um. Both, I guess.” She toyed with the tie on her kapp. “He’s been a good friend to me since I got here.”

  Abby furrowed her brow but didn’t say anything.

  Emma had a pretty good idea of the thoughts that must be running through her sister’s mind. Not only had she befriended an Englisher, but she’d also befriended a man other than Jacob. And Emma knew her sister well enough to know that those two things together had probably been earthshaking.

  “Emma.” A male voice drawled behind them. Only one person could draw out her name into that many syllables. She turned to see a grinning Andy standing before her. He was slightly out of breath.

  “Are you out for a jog?” she asked. She looked behind him and saw that Kelly and Nick were halfway up the steep hill, making their way slowly toward the Keim parking lot. She waved in their direction.

  “Nope. Just thought I’d try and surprise you. Your cousin told us you were out on a tour. We tried to catch up to you, but you were already almost up the hill.” He noticed Abby for the first time and his eyes lit up. “And who do we have here?”

  “This is my sister Abby.”

  Abby’s startled expression made Emma wish she’d gone ahead and spilled the beans about her other English friends. But how was she supposed to know the two guys would come back to Charm so soon? “And this is Andy,” she said with a flourish of her arm.

  Andy grinned. “Abby, it is so nice to meet you.” He looked again at Emma then back at Abby. “You must be the most beautiful sisters I’ve ever met.” He comically raised his eyebrows. “And believe me, I’ve met a lot of sisters.”

  Emma rolled her eyes. Even though she had only been around him for a short time, she expected such things to come out of his mouth. But one glance over at Abby and she saw the blush beginning to creep up her fair skin. She needed to divert Andy and save her sister from embarrassment. He might comment on her flushed face, which would only serve to embarrass her more. “What brings you to Charm?” she asked sweetly. “I figured you’d had all of the small-town life that you could want for a while.”

  Andy let out a heaving sigh. “Love,” he said dramatically. “Love brings me to Charm.” He pointed at Nick and Kelly. “He’s still trying to woo her back.” He flashed Emma his movie-star grin. “And I came to see this girl I met in a quilt store.” He hung his head. “She’s Amish, I’m not. I guess we’re doomed.” He looked at her, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Sounds like a movie, doesn’t it? Or a book?”

  “Sounds more like a tragedy to me.” Emma raised one eyebrow at him.

  Abby put her hand on Emma’s arm. “We need to get back to the quilt store. Lydia Ann is expecting us
.” Her eyes were pleading.

  Emma nodded. “She’s right. Andy, it was good to see you again. But we need to get back.”

  “I can walk with you.” He fell into stride beside Emma. “It would be no trouble.”

  “That isn’t necessary. We made it fine by ourselves on the way here, and I’m pretty sure we’ll make it fine on the way back.” If she’d learned anything the other day, it was that Andy didn’t need any encouragement.

  They finally reached the spot where Kelly and Nick stood. Emma introduced them to Abby. The more new people she met, the more Abby seemed to withdraw. She barely spoke to Kelly, even though the English girl tried to draw her in to a conversation.

  “We’d better be going. The store is still open and Lydia Ann needs us,” Emma explained. “It was good to see you again, though.”

  They waved to the Englishers and started the short journey back to the quilt store. They walked in silence for a moment, and Emma could practically hear the wheels spinning in Abby’s head.

  “Why are you so familiar with them?” Abby finally asked.

  Emma shrugged. “I told you I was friends with Kelly. Nick is her sort-of boyfriend. And Andy is Nick’s roommate. They came by the store one day, and I ended up eating with them.” She consciously left out the part about two meals in one day. No need to send Abby into a tailspin.

  “Kelly seemed nice,” Abby admitted. “But the men, especially Andy, seemed very forward.” She cast a sideways glance at Emma. “Does he like you or something?”

  “Oh, Abby. I only just met him. We barely know each other.” She was glad the quilt store was busy when they arrived back. She wanted to avoid further questioning. One thing she wouldn’t admit to Abby, of all people, was that she rather enjoyed Andy’s attention.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Abby

  Abby watched the needle flash in and out of the brightly colored fabric. Even though she was now an accomplished quilter, she still enjoyed watching others work. When she was a small child, she’d sit for hours and watch Mammi, often interrupting to ask questions, an eager student. She’d always dreamed of the day that she’d get to teach her own daughters, and hopefully even granddaughters, the art of quilting. “You make such beautiful quilts, Lydia Ann.”

  Lydia Ann looked up from her work and smiled. “Danki. I love to quilt.” She deftly broke off the blue thread. “I’ve always found it so relaxing.” She leaned back in the rocking chair and dropped the fabric on her lap. “Levi always laughed at me and said ‘just give Lydia Ann a needle and thread and she forgets all her problems’. ” She grinned. “He loved to watch me work.”

  Abby grew somber. “I’m so sorry you lost him. I know you’re still adjusting.”

  “I think it will take a lifetime of adjusting to get used to not having him around.” Lydia Ann’s hands stopped working, and she met Abby’s gaze. “But I was blessed to have him be a part of my life for as long as I did.” She motioned toward the hallway. “And just down the hall, tucked into their beds, are two pieces of him I get to hang on to.” She smiled.

  Emma rose from the rocker she’d been in near the window and came to join Abby on the couch. “I guess a love like the one you and Levi shared never fully goes away.”

  Lydia Ann nodded. “Levi was my best friend, but he was also much more. We liked to talk to each other. He was always interested in what I had to say or what I thought about things.” She smiled at the memory. “And he was the first person I wanted to tell things to. Good, bad, or ugly. I mean, don’t get me wrong. We had our moments.” Lydia Ann re-threaded her needle with green thread. “We didn’t always agree on everything, but when we didn’t agree we still got along.” She began working on another block.

  Abby let out a loud sigh, and the other two women looked up at her. “Sorry. That was louder than I intended.” She couldn’t get the image of Emma flirting with an Englisher out of her head. Emma might deny it, but it had been easy to see she was flattered by Andy’s words. And tonight, when Noah had stopped by to measure the windows, Abby was pretty sure she’d seen a spark between him and Emma. Had her sister completely lost her mind?

  Lydia Ann smiled. “Abby, do you have anyone special back home?”

  For a split second, Abby and Emma locked eyes. She could just tell the whole truth right now—that she thought Jacob could be all of the things Lydia Ann had just described. And maybe more. The news might shock Emma. But Emma had certainly participated in shocking behavior of her own today. It might make them even. Instead, she shook her head. “No. Not really.”

  “Well, I hope both of you find a love like the one Levi and I shared.”

  Emma played with the hem of her apron. “That is exactly what I intend to hold out for,” she sighed. “I just hope I can find it.”

  Abby looked sharply at her sister. She couldn’t help herself. “What about Jacob? Don’t you think you could have a nice life with him?” Just saying his name was painful. She’d been telling herself for days that she needed to let him go. But she missed him something awful. And seeing how at ease Emma was with both Andy and Noah…well, maybe that meant she really didn’t have any feelings for Jacob.

  “Sure. I could have a nice life with Jacob.” Emma leaned her head back against the couch and stared at the ceiling.

  Abby sucked in air as if she’d been punched. She’d been hoping to hear Emma say those words for the past year. But now if her matchmaking proved to be a success, she would get no satisfaction from it.

  “But ‘nice’ might not be enough for you, is that it, Emma?” Lydia Ann asked.

  Abby watched the emotions dance across her sister’s face as she tried to formulate her thoughts.

  “That’s exactly the problem.” Emma shook her head. “Plus, I’m still trying to figure out how people make tough decisions. How do you know which path is the right one for you?”

  “I think you pray about the issue, whatever it is. And you talk about it to people who not only know you but try to understand you. But in the end, you have to choose for yourself.” Lydia Ann eyed her over the quilting. “Because the reality is that not making a choice is actually a choice.” She grinned. “Did that make any sense? I’m afraid it’s getting late and I’m beginning to ramble.”

  Emma and Abby chuckled.

  “It made perfect sense to me,” Emma said, stifling a yawn.

  Abby rose from the couch. “Me, too. I think you’re wise beyond your years.”

  Lydia Ann beamed. “I’m glad you think so.” She put her sewing in a little woven basket sitting beside the rocker. “Now, let’s go get some sleep.”

  Abby followed Emma down the hallway. She wanted to ask her sister to elaborate on how she really felt about Jacob, but it might be best to wait until they’d had a good night’s sleep to have any more discussions. Didn’t Mamm always say things always looked clearer in the morning? If she could get her nerve up, Abby might try to test that theory tomorrow.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Emma

  Emma carefully folded the quilt and encased it in plastic. She dropped the receipt in the bag and handed it to the customer. “Thank you for shopping with us, ma’am.” She turned to the next customer and smiled as she looked at the small, framed prints in his hand. “You’ve made a good choice, sir.”

  “Yes, I think I have.” He pulled some cash from his wallet and laid it in Emma’s waiting hand. “My wife will love these.”

  After the last customer left, Emma put the CLOSED sign on the door. Lydia Ann and Abby had already left for the day, so it was up to her to close up shop.

  She set out for Lydia Ann’s house, waving to a couple of familiar people she passed along the way. Charm was a close-knit community, but everyone had accepted Emma with open arms. She was beginning to feel like she belonged here. Just as she passed the school, she heard the clip-clop of hooves behind her. Turning, she shielded her eyes from the late afternoon sun.

  Noah stared down at her from his buggy. “Would you like a r
ide?”

  Emma nodded and climbed in. “Thanks for being my knight in shining armor today and rescuing me from the heat.” She fanned herself with her hands.

  He pulled the buggy onto the road for the short drive to Lydia Ann’s house. “Are you enjoying your sister’s visit?” he asked.

  “Jah. Although she’s only here for two more days. The time has really flown by.” She shook her head. “And I think she is enjoying herself, too, although…” She trailed off. “I think there’s something on her mind. I’ve noticed that she’s a little quieter than normal around me,” she sighed. “She’s fine with Lydia Ann, laughing and chatting. But for some reason, she’s tense when she is around me.”

  “Tense?” He glanced over at her.

  “Abby has always been a little, well, uptight is the word that comes to mind.” She smiled. “But not in a bad way. She just likes to do things a certain way. And she rarely strays from her schedule.”

  “So what about you? Do you stick to a schedule?” Noah grinned.

  “I probably shouldn’t tell you this. But I like to sleep in sometimes. And sometimes I stay up late reading. And I’ve been known to eat dessert first.”

  “Would it help if I said I thought those were all admirable qualities?” he asked.

  She laughed. “Maybe. Anyway, Abby is a little more traditional than I am. And I admire her for it. But these past days, I’ve noticed that there is definitely something different about her. even see it on her face. She’s worrying about something.”

  Noah slowed the horse as they neared Lydia Ann’s house. “Do you think she’s worrying about you?”

  Emma nodded. “I’m afraid so. And it makes me feel awful. I don’t want to cause any strife for anyone. And she met my Englisher friends.” She met his gaze. “That didn’t go over very well.”