Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio

by Annalisa Daughety

  He grinned. “I never would’ve thought of that. Good idea.” He took a bite of his sandwich. “How have you been doing?”

  “The store is keeping me busy.” She stared down at her burger. “But I’m starting to grow a little sad.”

  His brown eyes were full of concern. “What are you sad about?” he asked.

  “My time in Charm is growing short. I have to go back to my teaching job and my family.”

  “Everyone is going to miss you around here.” He took a sip of water. “I suppose I should really say that I’m going to miss you.” He grinned. “I mean, you know about books and about fishing.” He paused. “And you always make people feel at ease. I’ve watched you in the store and in line at the café.” His eyes met hers. “You’re like no girl I’ve ever met before.”

  She felt fluttery inside. “I’m going to miss you, too.”

  He finished his lunch and closed his lunch pail. “I hope you will keep in touch with me, even after you’ve returned to Shipshewana.” He grinned. “You know, I have some relatives in Indiana. Maybe this will be the year I should go for a visit.”

  She smiled. “I think that would be a good idea.”

  “Are you ready to go check on the twins?” He rose from the bench.

  “Jah. Let’s go.”

  They climbed into the buggy and headed toward Susanna’s house. “Do you spend much time with your aunt Susanna and uncle Ben?” she asked.

  He nodded. “I try to visit them when I can. I think it helps them cope with losing Levi.” He stopped in front of the house and they climbed down from the buggy.

  His uncle opened the door and stepped outside. “You just missed lunch.” He called to them from the porch.

  “We’ve already eaten, but we wanted to stop by and check on Mary and Katie. Do you know how they’re doing?”

  “Susanna and Lydia Ann have taken them to the doctor. I think they’re pretty sick.”

  “Well, if you see Lydia Ann, tell her we came to check in on them,” Emma said.

  “Will do,” Ben said. “Good-bye.”

  Noah and Emma climbed back into the buggy.

  “I hope they’re okay,” Noah said once they were on the way back to the store.

  Emma nodded. “You know, it’s probably just a summer cold or something.” She tried to sound encouraging. “And you know, kids recuperate so quickly that they’ll probably be right as rain by tonight.”

  “I hope you’re right. What were their symptoms?” He pulled in front of the quilt store.

  “I think fever. Maybe a sore throat.” She shrugged. “Lydia Ann didn’t give me many details because she was busy being a nurse.”

  “I’ll check back by this afternoon.” He grinned. “To see how they are and to see how you survived an entire day at the store alone.”

  “This could be the kind of day that requires a root beer float later.”

  He met her eyes. “Days that end with root beer floats are good ones in my book.”

  She laughed and climbed down from the buggy. She thought about Noah’s declaration of how he would miss her. His words meant a lot. And she might not be ready to admit it to anyone else, but she would likely be leaving a little piece of her heart in Charm.

  The jangling bell interrupted her whirling thoughts, and Lydia Ann hurried inside.

  “How are the girls?” she asked.

  Lydia Ann shook her head. “Can you believe it? They have chicken pox.”

  Emma’s eyes widened. “Chicken pox? Oh, no.”

  “Have you had them? Please, please tell me you’ve had them.”

  Emma sank onto the wooden stool behind the counter. “I… I don’t believe so.”

  Lydia Ann groaned. “The good news is that they caught it before they even have any spots. But the bad news is that they’ll probably be contagious for ten days.”

  The door opened again, and Kelly walked up to the counter. She looked from Lydia Ann to Emma. “Have I come at a bad time?” she asked.

  “We just learned Katie and Mary have chicken pox,” Lydia Ann explained.

  Kelly made a face. “Oh, no. Poor little things. I remember having them. It was miserable.”

  “Well, I’ve never had them,” Emma said quietly. She looked at Lydia Ann. “I guess this means my trip is being cut short.”

  Lydia Ann sighed. “I’m not sure what to do. I could see if Susanna and Ben have enough room for you.”

  “Um, I have an idea.” Kelly held her arms out in a dramatic way. “You could stay with me.” She grinned at Emma. “You can even choose your own room at the inn.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t do that. I know your aunt needs the revenue for those rooms,” Emma said. Although, the thought was tempting. It would be kind of fun to stay in the fancy bed-and-breakfast.

  “Don’t think a thing about it. We always have at least one room empty. And if not, you and I could share one of the rooms that has twin beds.” Kelly grinned.

  “But I’d have to have a ride to work every day.” Emma enjoyed the convenience of being able to walk to work from Lydia Ann’s house. But the One Charming Inn was farther out. It really wouldn’t be feasible to walk to work and back each day.

  Kelly waved a hand in the air. “Don’t be silly. I have to come through town on my way to the bookmobile. It won’t be any trouble to bring you by here.”

  “I’ll bet Noah would give you a ride, too, if you needed him to,” Lydia Ann piped up.

  “I’ll go look around so you can discuss it.” Kelly smiled at them and left the counter.

  Emma locked eyes with Lydia Ann. “I’m sorry I can’t stay at your house to help with the girls.”

  Lydia Ann shook her head. “We don’t want you to come down with it, too.” She flashed a tired grin. “Then I’d have three itchy patients. And I don’t want that.”

  “I understand. Would you mind I stayed with Kelly?”

  Lydia Ann shrugged. “Well…I’d feel better if you were staying with Ben and Susanna, but you are old enough to make your own decisions now.”

  Emma looked down. “I won’t stay there if you don’t think it’s appropriate.”

  “Irene Abbott runs a respectable inn,” Lydia Ann said, “and you have my blessing to stay there. But if you’re ever uncomfortable, just know you’ll have a place with Levi’s mamm and dat.”

  Emma nodded and smiled her thanks. “I have always wanted to stay at a bed-and-breakfast. Thank you, Lydia Ann.”

  Kelly came back over to the counter where they stood. “Have you decided?”

  Emma couldn’t help but be excited. “I’m going to stay with you.”

  “Yay.” Kelly grinned. “We’ll have fun.”

  “I think I’d better go and pack your things for you, Emma. I don’t even want you to step foot back in the house until we’re sure they’re no longer contagious,” Lydia Ann said.

  “How long will it take to pack her things?” Kelly asked.

  “Maybe ten minutes.”

  “Do you want me to drive you home? Then I can just load her suitcase in my SUV.”

  “That would be wonderful,” said Lydia Ann.

  “Emma, I’ll come by and pick you up after work. Okay?”

  “I’ll see you then.” Emma looked at Lydia Ann. “Don’t worry about the store. I can handle it on my own while you’re home with the girls.” She smiled. “Please tell them I hope they feel better soon.”

  “Okay. I’ll at least get Susanna to stay with the girls for a few minutes each day so I can come by and see how you’re doing.”

  “I’ll be glad to see you each day, but if you can’t make it, I’ll understand,” Emma said.

  Lydia Ann nodded. “I’ll try my best.”

  “Good-bye,” Emma called to them as they left the counter.

  Kelly and Lydia Ann waved to her as they walked out the door.

  Emma watched them leave and couldn’t help but wonder what was in store for her over the next couple of weeks. She remembered the nervous feeling she�
��d had when she’d first gotten to Charm. Those same pangs were back again as she was leaving the familiarity of Lydia Ann’s house and stepping into the unknown. She was scared and excited all at the same time.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Kelly

  Kelly poured lemonade into two glasses and carried them outside to the porch.

  “Here you go,” she said, handing Emma a glass.

  “Danki.” Emma took a sip and stared out into the countryside.

  Kelly sank into the rocker next to Emma’s and kicked off her flip-flops. “Are you enjoying your stay?” She glanced over at Emma. “Is it weird for you to be here surrounded by electricity and technology and all?”

  “I’m enjoying my stay very much. And it was a little odd at first, but I’m starting to sort of ignore it.”

  Kelly grinned. “I’m trying to learn how to ignore it, too, at least the technology part.”

  “What do you mean?” Emma furrowed her brow.

  “I’m trying to leave my cell phone in my car while I’m at work or in a store,” Kelly explained. “And if I’m relaxing here on the grounds, I try and leave it inside my room.” She laughed. “I know those may sound like small things to you, but that’s a big step for me.”

  “So no more constant connection?”

  Kelly shrugged. “I guess I’m trying to have more real connections. Like the two of us having a real, face-to-face conversation is way better than if we just texted.” She grinned. “Of course, once you’re back in Shipshewana, I guess texting would be convenient.”

  Emma’s brown eyes grew sad. “I’ll be back in Indiana very soon. I’m really excited about seeing my family, but I’m going to miss Charm.”

  “I know what you mean. I’ll be in classes before you know it.” She glanced at Emma. “So, what’s been your favorite part of the summer? And I’ll make it easier. You can’t say meeting me.” Kelly laughed.

  “I probably should say spending time with my cousin and all.” Emma flashed a mischievous grin. “But I’d have to say meeting Noah. Or Andy. But for very different reasons.”

  “I don’t know that you could find two guys who are more opposite than they are.” Kelly conjured a mental picture of both men. “But I’ve got to hand it to you. They’re both hotties.” She grinned. “Noah would turn bright red if he knew I called him a hottie, wouldn’t he? And Andy would just think that was a given for him.”

  Emma giggled. “Maybe I’ll tell Noah what you think. He’s going to help out in the quilt store tomorrow.”

  “You sure can count on him to step in when you need him to.” She shook her head. “He gives me hope that there are still good guys out there, you know?” Kelly said, taking a sip of lemonade. She glanced over at Emma. “Are you hungry? Aunt Irene said there are some leftover sandwiches in the fridge. Is that okay with you?”

  Emma nodded. “That sounds good to me.”

  They went into the kitchen and Kelly pulled out a tray of sandwich halves. She placed it on the counter. “Would you like to eat outside? We can go down to the picnic table.”

  “Sure. It’s a beautiful evening.”

  Kelly put two plates on the counter. “Help yourself. Do you want chips with the sandwich?

  Emma nodded.

  Kelly grabbed two small bags of chips from a basket. Aunt Irene always kept a snack basket out, in case guests got hungry between meals. They carried their plates and glasses of lemonade out to the picnic table in the backyard.

  Once they were seated, Emma bowed her head. Once she was finished praying, she looked up. “This looks delicious.”

  Kelly nodded. “Can I ask you a question?”

  Emma gave a tiny smile and nodded. “Sure.”

  “How do you know what to say to God? The last time I tried to pray, I just felt silly.”

  Emma’s brown eyes were thoughtful. “I can understand why, if you only pray once in a while, it might feel that way.” She pointed at her white head covering. “This kapp is to help remind me to constantly pray. When you begin to talk to God often throughout the day, not just before a meal, or when you need help with something, I think it gets easier.”

  “So it’s okay to feel that way at first? I just never know what I’m supposed to say. What if I don’t use the right words?”

  Emma shook her head. “The words you use and the words I use might be different. But each of us has a different relationship with Him, so He understands.” She smiled.

  Kelly nodded. “I guess you’re right. I’ve never thought about it like that before.” Kelly took a bite of her sandwich. She was beginning to gain a new perspective about so many things. The drifting feeling she’d had when she first came to town was beginning to go away as she finally began to find an anchor for her life.

  Chapter Forty

  Emma

  Emma watched as Kelly flipped through her stuffed closet, looking for items to get rid of. “You sure have a lot of clothes.” She walked over to the closet door and looked at the shoe rack. “And shoes. Do you really wear all of these?”

  Kelly grinned. “I guess you could say that I have a shoe problem. When I’m sad, buying shoes always makes me feel better.”

  “From the looks of this, you must’ve been sad a lot,” Emma said.

  “Well, I’ve had some of those for a long time. But I haven’t bought a single pair of shoes this summer.” Her green eyes sparkled. “That is a record for me.”

  Emma pulled a pair of pink heels off of the shoe rack. “Pinkis my favorite color.” Abby always said she shouldn’t play favorites with colors, but she couldn’t help it. Her favorite quilt in her bedroom at home had splashes of pink throughout.

  “Do you want to try them on?” Kelly asked, grinning.

  “Really?” Emma walked back over to the bed and sat down. She removed her white tennis shoes and slipped the pink sandals onto her feet. She stood up and wobbled across the room. The sandals pinched her feet with each step, and she finally collapsed back on the bed. “I don’t know how you can wear these for more than a few minutes.” She grinned. “Abby would’ve sprained her ankle just taking a walk around the room in these. Maybe just looking at them.”

  “Oh, but they look cute on you,” Kelly said. “And you walk pretty well in them. A little shaky, but if you practiced you’d be fine.” She smiled. “And I guess you kind of get used to the pain.”

  Emma removed the sandals and put them back on the shoe rack. “I’ve always wanted a pair of pink shoes. I saw a pair in a magazine once.” She looked sheepish. “But maybe I’d do better with some flat ones. Or some flip-flops.”

  Kelly emerged from the closet with a stack of clothes and began stuffing the items into a box.

  “I think I’m going to go to bed.” Emma rose from the bed. “Tomorrow is going to be another long day.”

  “Okay. Hey, do you want to have lunch tomorrow? We could go back to the Homestead.”

  Emma bit her lip. “Actually, I’m meeting Noah for lunch. But you could eat with us if you want to.”

  Kelly laughed. “I wouldn’t think of it. I know your time with him is nearly up. I just hope he’ll be able to get by without you once you’re back in Indiana.”

  Emma blushed. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.” She walked across the hall to the bedroom she was staying in. She was looking forward to her time with Noah tomorrow. As her departure date crept nearer, time with him was precious.

  Emma blinked against the bright sunlight as she stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Thanks for getting me a sandwich.” She grinned at Noah.

  “You’re welcome.” His brown eyes twinkled. “How about we have a picnic today?” He held up a quilt. “I came prepared.”

  She laughed. “A picnic sounds fun. Where should we go?”

  “Let’s walk down to the schoolyard.”

  They set off on the short walk. “Have you heard from Lydia Ann lately?” he asked.

  “The girls are starting to feel a little better. I think they’re over the fever at leas
t. But they’re still spotty.”

  “So you’re still staying at the bed-and-breakfast?”

  She nodded. “Jah.” She helped him spread the quilt onto a grassy spot underneath a large tree.

  They sat down and began to unwrap their food.

  “How do you like it at the inn?” he asked, a curious look on his face. “Do you feel comfortable there?”

  “It was a little hard to get used to at first, but Kelly’s aunt is a wonderful hostess. Both of them have done everything they could to make sure I’m happy.” She pulled out the chicken sandwich Noah had gotten for her and took a bite.

  “It’s nice that they were able to take you in.” He met her gaze. “I would’ve been very sad if your trip had been cut short. In fact, I might’ve tried to convince you to get the chicken pox just so you could stay.”

  She laughed. “I would’ve wanted to stay, but I don’t know about purposefully catching a disease to do so.” She grinned at him. “But it’s nice to know I’m wanted here.”

  His eyes grew serious. “Emma, I hope you know what you’ve come to mean to me. And I know you still have some decisions to make. But no matter where you end up, I hope you know there’s someone in Charm thinking about you.”

  Emma stared into his eyes. No one had ever said such sweet things to her. She searched for the right words. “Noah,” she began. Before she could finish her thought, she was interrupted by a loud voice.

  “Hello.” An Englisher walked toward them. “I’m sorry to bother you while you’re eating, but I was wondering if you could help me.”

  Noah jumped up. “What’s the matter?”

  The young man pointed in the direction where he’d come from. “We had a flat tire. I went to change it, but there isn’t a spare.” He wiped his brow with his arm. “It’s a rental car and I didn’t even think to look to make sure the spare was included.” He sighed. “My wife and baby are in the car. I was wondering if you could tell me where I can get a tire.”

  “I can tell you, but you’re going to need a ride,” Noah said. “It isn’t a far walk, but you’d have a hard time walking back, carrying a tire. I can give you a ride.”