“Everything. Penny works here. Michael is a guest.”
“So? People meet everywhere. It’s obviously mutual, too. It’s not as if she’s been entering his room uninvited.” When she took a breath to speak, he raised a palm. “And don’t start telling me how scandalous hand-holding is. I’m not an idiot, and you’re not that sheltered. You run an inn. I’m sure you’ve seen and heard your fair share of amorous situations.”
Beverly couldn’t help but smile at that. Yes, the thin walls had sometimes given her a surprise or two.
After taking a fortifying sip of tea, she grabbed a jar of shortbread cookies and sat down at the table. Since this conversation wasn’t likely to end anytime soon, she needed cookies. Lots of cookies.
Still eyeing her, Eric shook his head again. “Their hand-holding isn’t what’s bothering you. What is it?”
“I don’t know.” Then, knowing she was a liar, she corrected herself. “I mean, I do know. Michael is going to leave when he’s healed, Eric.”
“And?”
“And he’ll likely move on.”
“You don’t know that. Men don’t always do that.”
“I know,” she said quietly. With a sigh, she said, “The truth is that when I saw them together, Penny so trusting and Michael’s future so different from hers, something inside of me snapped. I felt like the jilted bride again. All I could feel was how hurt I’d been when my fiancé cheated on me.”
Surprise lit his eyes. “That’s what happened to you?”
Was it more embarrassing to admit being jilted or to admit it to Eric? “Yes.”
He came over and sat across from her. “Not all men are like that,” he said quietly.
She scanned his face, noticing the concern in his eyes, the faint stubble on his cheeks. She pretended she didn’t notice how handsome he was. “I know.”
“And what happened wasn’t your fault.”
His voice was so suddenly gentle, so surprisingly, well, kind, it enabled her to lift her chin and meet his gaze. “You don’t know everything that happened, Eric.”
“I know you. I know myself. And I’ve been around enough to know people. Who knows why this guy decided to cheat on you?” He shrugged. “He was most likely just a jerk.”
“He fell in love with my best friend.”
To her bemusement, he shrugged again. “All right. Who knows why this guy decided to cheat on you with your best friend? All I do know is that most men don’t become engaged and then start looking for additional relationships. Excuse me, but this guy was a . . . a piece of work.”
Almost against her will, she smiled. “A piece of work?”
He smiled softly as he dipped into her jar and pulled out a cookie. “Obviously, I’m watching my mouth around you. He was worse than that.”
“He was.” It felt good to be so open and honest. It felt good to not take the high road, to finally admit that she’d held herself at least partially responsible for Marvin straying. Reaching for a cookie of her own, she said, “I’ll go speak to Penny tomorrow morning.”
“Want me to come with you?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to refuse, but he’d shown a lot of insight, and if Penny had told him what happened, that meant she trusted him. And there was a mighty good chance that Penny didn’t exactly trust Beverly at the moment. “Jah,” she said. “I’d really appreciate it if you would come with me tomorrow.”
His gaze warmed, letting her know that he was glad about that. “What time?”
“We better go early. Seven?”
“I’ll be ready,” he said. “Now, pour me a cup of that soothing tea and grab me a plate for the cookies.”
Getting up from her chair, she did as he asked, feeling a little bit disappointed that he didn’t want to enjoy his snack in her company. “So, are you going to have them in your room?”
“No way. These aren’t for me.”
“Who are they for?”
“Michael Knoxx.” He grinned. “I thought I’d take them up to his room for you.”
“Wait a minute. That’s not necessary—”
He cut her off neatly. “Let me, Bev. He’s probably ready for a break from all the women around here. And I could use a bit of his company, too.”
She knew what he meant, but she didn’t entirely appreciate the way it made her sound. “Eric, this afternoon’s little rant aside, I usually do well with all my guests, both men and women. It’s not like I go around causing scenes all day.”
“I know. That’s why I think a little break from the world might do you a bit of good, too. You have a lot on your plate.”
“I’m all right,” she said, because admitting that she wasn’t would be a very bad thing.
Pressing a light hand to her shoulder, he murmured, “Relax for a bit, Bev. I’ve got this.”
And because she believed him, she decided to take his advice. She added more hot water to her mug, grabbed a couple more cookies, and did just that.
CHAPTER 20
Penny had already gotten dressed, cleaned her room, and made her bed before she remembered that she didn’t have a job to go to anymore. Suddenly, she was alone all over again. Feeling darker than she could remember feeling in a very long time, she sat down on the side of her double bed and wondered how she was ever going to be brave enough to leave her bedroom today.
When she’d arrived home earlier than normal yesterday evening, a jumble of emotions had crossed her parents’ features when they’d stood up to greet her: surprise, followed by curiosity, and then concern.
“Why, Penny, you have been crying!” her mother had exclaimed.
Her father had gotten to his feet. “What on earth has happened? Did you run into trouble on the way home?”
As upset as she’d been she knew his worry about her being attacked was very real. “Nee, Daed. Nothing like that.”
“Are you hurt?” her mother had added.
Their questions and the caring looks they’d treated her to were such a welcome change, it had only made the tears fall again. She’d missed her parents.
But how could she tell them what she’d done? She’d practically thrown herself at Michael. And though he’d defended her, it hadn’t really made a difference. He was the guest, she was the employee. Worse, she’d somehow taken advantage of both him and Beverly.
“I had a tough day at work,” she’d finally said.
“What happened?”
“We had a mis . . . a misunderstanding.” When her bottom lip started to tremble, she’d decided to get her terrible news over with. “I’m pretty sure I was fired today.”
Inhaling, she’d steeled herself against the expected barrage of I told you sos and recriminations. But instead of looking pleased by the event, her father had looked thunderous.
“They fired you for a misunderstanding?”
“Um, it was just Beverly got upset with me. But . . . jah.”
“What did she say happened?”
There was no way she was going to share her shameful behavior with them. “I don’t want to talk about it.” But she’d braced herself for more questions.
Then, instead of nagging her or ignoring her pain, her mother had placed her arm around her shoulders. “Have you eaten lunch or supper?”
“Nee.”
“Then come sit down in the kitchen and we’ll talk. I’ll make you a sandwich.”
“Mamm, I don’t want to tell you what happened.”
“Why ever not?”
She’d glanced at her mamm who was dressed neat as a pin. As usual. Her light-blue dress had looked as crisp and clean as it had that morning. Her blond hair was still carefully smoothed under her white kapp. For Penny’s whole life, her mother had been the picture of modesty and grace.
How could Penny reveal what she’d done?
“You’re going to think less of me.”
To her surprise, it was her father who’d answered. “No matter what happened, we’re not going to think less of you.”
“Daed—”
“I promise,” he’d said, emotion thick in his voice. “Please, trust us.”
She hadn’t wanted to.
But she had been more afraid of being alone with her thoughts than telling her parents everything. And so she had. She’d told them about the inn and her responsibilities and the friendship that had been growing between her and Michael. Through it all, she’d also waited to be chastised for her actions. But instead of looking angry, her father had merely looked thoughtful. And her mother had looked bemused.
“Hand-holding, hmm?” she’d murmured pulling out two slices of bread.
Penny had been sure every inch of her skin was now beet red. Too embarrassed to even glance at her father, she’d answered her mother directly. “I promise, Mamm. That was all it was.”
“I’m sure of that, dear,” Mamm had replied.
Penny had gaped. “You’re not disappointed in me?”
“Penny, I might not have liked you working and being out on your own, but I surely don’t think you’ve turned into the girl of loose morals Beverly Overholt is making you out to be.” She’d fanned her heated cheeks. “Goodness!”
“Your mother is right, Penny,” her father had said, his deep voice clear and precise. “I know you, and I know how we’ve raised you. You have done nothing to be ashamed about.”
Her parents’ support had felt so good. It was if they were finally mending their broken past and building something new. “I don’t know what to do now.”
Her mother had stopped slicing roast beef for her sandwich and gave her another long look. “It seems to me that you’re simply going to have to be patient. It’s out of your hands.”
“You mean it’s in the Lord’s?” For some reason, Penny had been disappointed. She knew everything was ultimately in the Lord’s hands, but at the moment that had felt like a bit of an excuse.
“Of course everything is in Got’s capable hands, but that wasn’t what I meant.” She’d gone back to fixing Penny’s sandwich. “It seems to me that either your boss will come to her senses on her own or she’ll get some prodding from Mr. Michael Knoxx.”
Penny had been bowled over. “You think he’ll say something?”
“From what you told me? I do.”
“We know you, daughter, and we know that you would never be such gut friends with anyone who didn’t deserve your friendship,” her father said. Looking mildly uncomfortable, he’d added, “Besides, once you told me about Michael and the Knoxx Family, I did a little bit of asking around.” Looking her in the eye, he’d said, “I couldn’t find a single person who didn’t think this man was a good one. I’m sure he was anxious to defend your honor. And his.”
PENNY HAD KEPT THAT conversation and advice close to her heart all night long, hugging it to her as she’d fallen into a restless slumber.
But now, in the bright light of day, all of her optimism felt misplaced. It was a lot to ask Michael to stand up for her, and even sillier to imagine that Beverly would change her mind about Penny’s behavior. All she had to do was let it be known that she needed another worker and any number of girls would probably be at her doorstep in minutes.
But what could she do now? She had no other job offers, and if she applied at another bed-and-breakfast, they’d soon find out that she was fired from the Orange Blossom Inn.
She was stuck.
It was going to be a hard adjustment to go back to spending her days helping her mother around the house. But the hardest adjustment would be making peace with the fact that this was her future.
A knock on the front door interrupted her thoughts. She stilled, half listening for voices, trying to recall who might be stopping by this early in the morning. Unfortunately, the guest’s voice was muted.
Moments later, her father rapped his knuckles on her bedroom door. “Penny?”
“Jah, Daed?”
“Maydel, Daughter, there are some people here to see ya.”
He sounded hesitant and perhaps careful, as if he wasn’t sure how to deliver the news.
Crossing the room, she opened her door. “Who is it?”
“It’s, ah, Beverly Overholt and a man.”
“Really?” Never, ever would she have thought that Miss Beverly would come to her house looking for her.
“Really.” Everything in her father’s manner and tone indicated that he wasn’t particularly thrilled about this news, either. “Do you want me to ask them to leave? I will, you know. I’d be happy to do that.”
After last night’s conversation, his heavy-handed ways didn’t upset her. Instead, she counted it a blessing that her father cared enough to want to shield her from further unpleasantness.
“Nee, Daed. I’m certain that Miss Beverly has only come over to officially fire me. Since I got the job on my own, I think I should get fired on my own, too.”
Eyeing her steadily, he rubbed his beard. “I’m not so sure about her wanting to fire you, child. Beverly looks a bit shamefaced, if you want to know the truth.”
“Really?”
“Come out and see for yourself,” he said in a gentle way.
She nodded. “I suppose I had better.”
After giving her another encouraging smile, her father turned and walked to the living room, where Beverly and Eric were sitting uncomfortably side by side on the couch. Her mother was standing in front of them, her arms crossed over her chest, her dark coral dress practically matching the flush in her cheeks. Obviously, her mother was still upset. She hadn’t even offered them coffee or some of her banana bread.
When Beverly caught sight of Penny, she smiled in relief. “Hi, Penny. I’m so glad you are home. I wasn’t sure if you would be here or not.”
Penny couldn’t imagine where Beverly thought she might be instead. But rather than sharing those thoughts, she simply nodded. “Gut matin, Miss Beverly, Mr. Eric.”
Eric’s smile looked far more genuine and relaxed as he leaned back on her parents’ couch. Today he had on a white short-sleeved cotton shirt with buttons down the front, jeans, and some black flipflops. He looked as if he were ready to settle there for the next hour. “Gut matin to you, too, Penny.”
Penny couldn’t help herself from grinning at his awful pronunciation of Pennsylvania Dutch.
As if reading her mind, he chuckled. “I’m hopeless, aren’t I?”
“Not quite hopeless . . .”
“But definitely not good.” He wrinkled his nose. “No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to get my tongue around these German-sounding words.”
She couldn’t deny the truth in his words. “I’m sorry to say you might be right about that. It’s gut you weren’t born Amish,” she teased.
“Penny,” her mother interrupted, “Eric and Beverly said that they came over to speak with you about an important matter.”
“Of course.” Right then and there, she felt the seriousness of the moment hit her full-force. “I’m sorry. Miss Beverly, how may I help you?”
“Penny, if you don’t mind, I wanted to talk to you about yesterday.”
A lump formed in her throat. Glancing at her parents, she bit her lip. “I thought that was probably the reason.”
Her mother waved her over. “Come sit down, Penny.”
Feeling like she was back in school, she did as her mother asked.
As soon as she sat, her father clasped his hands behind his back and glared at Beverly. “I’m mighty interested in hearing what you seem to think happened.”
Penny couldn’t have been more shocked if her father had announced that he wanted to take her to Disney World. He really was on her side! However, she’d meant what she’d said earlier. She needed to have this conversation on her own, if for no other reason than to prove to herself that she really had grown up and was becoming more independent. “Daed, Mamm, may I speak to Beverly and Eric on my own?”
“Are you sure that is what you want to do?” her father asked.
She wasn’t. But she knew it was the right thing, and that was what
counted. “Jah. I think it would be best.”
Her father nodded, but her mother acquiesced with far greater reluctance. However, to her credit, her mamm merely gave her a quiet, searching look, then followed her father out to the back patio.
When it was just the three of them, Beverly looked more relaxed. Eric looked bemused. And Penny? She felt even more unsure about what to do or say. She really hoped Beverly would say her piece and then leave. Then Penny could spend the rest of the day moping around the house and planning the rest of her life.
Miss Beverly cleared her throat. “Penny, there’s no easy way to say this.”
“Yes?” She inhaled, preparing herself for the worst.
“I made a terrible mistake yesterday.”
All the air in her lungs flew out in a rush. Penny knew she was gaping, but she couldn’t help herself. “I’m sorry?”
“When I walked into Michael’s room, I completely misunderstood what was happening.” Twin spots of color appeared on her cheeks. “Furthermore, I completely overreacted. I knew that you and Michael had become friends, that there was nothing untoward happening between the two of you.” She bit her bottom lip. “I’m ashamed to say that I let some things in my past color what I saw. I hope you will forgive me.”
Penny glanced at Eric. When he met her gaze, he nodded in an encouraging way, letting her know that he was on her side. Perhaps another day she would wonder why and how she came to trust him so easily. But at that moment, she was simply grateful for his support.
“You are not here to fire me?”
Beverly’s green eyes darkened with obvious remorse. “Nee, Penny. I am here to ask your forgiveness.”
“Of course I forgive you,” she blurted. How could Miss Beverly even imagine that Penny wouldn’t?
But instead of looking eased, Miss Beverly still seemed hesitant. “If I promise to not accuse you of such things again . . . Will . . . will you come back to work?”
“Jah, if that is what you would like me to do.”
“That is what I would love for you to do.” She smiled brightly. “While you haven’t been working at the inn very long, you’ve already shown a lot of initiative and promise. You’re dependable, have a great disposition, and a calm way about you.”
The Proposal at Siesta Key Page 16