Light shone through the large picture window in the living room as she pulled into the driveway at the side of her century-old brick house. She punched the button on the garage-door opener. While the door slowly rose, Juliane prepared herself to find Elise still surrounded by a mess of luggage while she watched TV. She had complained of jet lag last night, so Juliane wouldn’t be surprised to find her sister still in bed.
I will not be angry. I will not be upset. The mantra rolled across her mind as she traipsed through the breezeway that her uncle had added between the garage and the house. With her uncle’s help, she had also remodeled the old house and made it her own. She didn’t want her sister to come in and make it a pigsty.
Opening the back door, Juliane took a deep breath and prepared for the worst. Instead, wonderful smells greeted her as she stepped into the kitchen.
Elise turned from the counter where she was preparing some kind of salad. “Hi, Jules. You’re home sooner than I expected.”
“Dad and I got out of the store as soon as it closed today.” Hanging up her coat on the hook just inside the door, Juliane gazed around the kitchen. “What are you doing?”
“Fixing supper.” Elise returned to her salad. “I thought it would be ready when you got here, but I wasn’t expecting you so soon.”
Juliane couldn’t contain her shock. “You…you’re cooking?”
Grinning, Elise continued to work. “You sound surprised.”
“But you hate cooking.”
“That’s before I took the time to learn how.”
“But Mom tried to teach us how to cook. You were never interested.”
“I know, but while I was sailing around the world, I learned. They have the most fabulous cooking classes on the ships these days for the passengers who are interested. So when I had free time that coincided with the cooking demonstrations, I took advantage.”
“Wow! I’m impressed.”
“Wait till you taste it.”
“How soon will it be ready?”
“In about fifteen minutes.” Elise glanced over her shoulder. “You have time to get out of that suit and into some comfy clothes.”
Smiling, Juliane shook her head. “I can’t get over it. This is a treat. I’ll change and be right back, so I can help you.”
Elise waved her away. “Relax. I’ve got it all under control.”
More surprises greeted Juliane as she walked through the living room. Not a single piece of luggage remained. The room was absolutely spotless—not a speck of dust anywhere. Elise had cleaned? As Juliane headed to her bedroom, she felt a surge of guilt for her mean-spirited assumptions earlier. Elise had surprised her, just as Lukas had surprised her.
After she changed into a pair of black corduroy pants and a gray sweater, she joined Elise. “So what are you feeding me?”
“Have a seat, and you’ll find out.”
Juliane turned toward the round oak table and Windsor chairs in the kitchen corner. “Are you sure you don’t want my help?”
“Yes. You worked all day. Now it’s your time to relax.” Elise opened the oven and pulled out a roasting pan.
Dumbfounded, Juliane sat at the table as Elise filled two plates with steaming food. Last night she’d been joking when she’d asked Elise what she’d done with her sister. Now Juliane was tempted to believe that some stranger occupied the kitchen. What other changes in her sister would she discover?
Juliane stared in amazement as Elise approached the table. “You made Cornish hen?”
“Yeah, with wild rice stuffing, braised carrots and green beans.” She set the plates on the table, then turned back to the counter. “I’ve also got a little side salad, too.”
“Do you want me to give thanks?” Juliane asked as Elise slipped into a chair.
“Sure, or maybe you should taste it first.” Elise chuckled.
“If it tastes as good as it smells, I’m sure I’ll be thankful.” Juliane bowed her head and said a short prayer, then started eating. “Elise, this is too good. I think I’ll let you cook every night.”
“Thanks. I’ll do the cooking until I start my classes.”
“What day is that?”
“Next Wednesday.” Elise set her fork on her plate. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. That guy…Lukas…he called before you got home. He said something about going to visit his grandfather and wanted to know whether you could meet afterward to work on that banquet stuff.”
“Did he say I should call him?”
“Yeah, but no need. I invited him to come over.” Elise grinned. “I want to meet this guy you have no interest in.”
Juliane almost choked on her bite of Cornish hen. She tried to be calm. If she protested Elise would surely think something was going on. “So what time did he say he’d get here?”
“He thought around eight o’clock because that’s when his grandfather starts watching his favorite TV shows.” Elise smiled smugly. “So you have plenty of time to get yourself ready for his visit.”
“And just exactly what is that supposed to mean?”
Elise shrugged, still smiling. “Whatever you’d like.”
Juliane lowered her gaze and tackled her food. There was no point in discussing this with Elise. She’d made up her mind that Juliane had some kind of romantic interest in Lukas so it was pointless to argue. They ate in silence for several minutes.
She wouldn’t think about Lukas. Instead, guilt over the way she’d neglected to keep in touch with her sister percolated in Juliane’s mind. She should have known about Elise’s newfound love of cooking. She should know why Elise had decided to stop the cruising life and go back to school. Could they be close, something they hadn’t been since they were little kids?
When Juliane finished eating, she picked up her plate and headed to the sink. “Thanks, Elise. The food was terrific.”
“You’re welcome.” Elise joined her and started putting plates in the dishwasher.
While they worked together, Juliane had dozens of questions swirling around in her mind. She might as well start with an easy one. “Did you manage to get some rest today after all the cleaning and cooking?”
Elise laughed. “So you noticed, huh?”
“I did.”
“Yeah, I slept in till about eleven—eight o’clock Pacific time. My body will eventually get used the Eastern time zone.”
“You do look more rested today than yesterday, but you still look like you’ve lost too much weight.”
“Don’t worry about my weight. If I keep cooking like this, I’ll gain it back in no time.”
“Well, it isn’t fair. Why is it that the people who don’t need to lose weight are the ones who have no trouble doing it?”
“Are you still worrying about your weight?” Elise poured dishwasher soap into the little cup, then pressed the buttons to turn the machine on.
“Not really.” Wanting to avoid Elise’s pointed gaze, Juliane lowered her head and started washing the roaster pan. She hadn’t worried about her weight since Elise had left town. A few inches taller than their mother, Juliane had always wondered why she’d inherited their mother’s genes for shortness and their father’s genes for the tendency to carry extra weight. Elise, on the other hand, had inherited their mother’s slimness and their father’s height.
“Good, because you shouldn’t. You have nice curves. You’re not built like a stick. Look at me.”
Juliane looked up to see Elise holding her arms out from her sides. Laughter bubbled up inside Juliane until she couldn’t control it. “We’re both dissatisfied with how we look. We are pathetic.”
Elise put an arm around Juliane’s shoulders and nodded. “I think you’re right. We are. But don’t think about that now. You’d better get ready for your visitor.” Elise waggled her eyebrows.
“Quit teasing me.”
“Who’s teasing?”
“You’re trying to make this into something it isn’t.” Juliane was tempted to tell Elise that she was more likely to
be Lukas’s type than Juliane, but the words caught in her throat. Probably because she was sure they were true. She and Lukas had been spending a lot of time together, but she knew that would change once he met Elise.
The headlights of Lukas’s car illuminated the big white snowflakes that fell like confetti as he drove through an older neighborhood in Kellerville. Creeping along the snow-covered street, he finally spotted the address that Juliane’s sister had given him. He maneuvered his car into the driveway of the redbrick house with the white trim. It seemed to suit Juliane.
Getting out of his car, he took in the wide porch with the white balustrade running across the front. Unable to see the walk for the snow, he tromped through the yard and onto the porch.
Lukas took a deep breath as he rang the doorbell. Stomping the snow from his shoes, he waited for someone to answer the door. Ever since he’d talked to Juliane’s sister, he’d been thinking about this opportunity to see Juliane again. He couldn’t help thinking about her. At the oddest moments at home, at work or even when he was visiting with his grandfather, thoughts of her would pop into this mind.
He had to admit that his eagerness to see her even outweighed his concern about meeting her sister—another person who might judge him because of his past. He took some comfort in the fact that Juliane hadn’t told anyone about his past, but sisters sometimes told each other things that they didn’t tell anyone else. Either way, he wanted to make a good impression, wanted all of Juliane’s family to approve of him.
As he stood there worrying about his fascination with Juliane, she answered the door. “Come in, and get out of the cold. I had no idea that the snow had already accumulated so much. The wind seems to be picking up, too.”
“It has. The roads are getting slick.” Unexpectedly nervous, he stomped his feet again, even though he’d already dislodged all the snow.
Shaking off the imaginary snow gave him a moment to gather his thoughts and his courage. He didn’t know why he suddenly needed courage to talk with Juliane. With little difficulty, he’d told her about his life two weeks ago, then again when they’d eaten at her cousin’s café. Why did he run off at the mouth whenever they were alone together? Pushing his muddled thoughts aside, he proceeded into the living room, bringing a gust of frigid air with him.
As Juliane closed the door behind him, a tall, very slim young woman stepped forward. “Hi, I’m Elise, Juliane’s sister. I’m the one who talked to you on the phone.”
“Nice to meet you, Elise. Thanks for inviting me over.” As Lukas glanced from Elise to Juliane, their differences struck him. If he’d passed them on the street, he’d never have guessed they were sisters. Juliane resembled her cousins more than Elise.
“Is Ferd doing well tonight?” Juliane’s question shook him from his thoughts.
“As ornery as ever.”
“So he must be okay?”
Smiling, Lukas nodded. “He’s finally getting used to his hearing aids and agreed to come to church with me on Sunday.”
“I’m glad to hear things are going well for him.” Juliane held out a hand. “Let me take your coat.”
“Sure.” Stepping farther into the room, Lukas shrugged out of his coat. When she took it, their hands accidentally touched. His heart picked up speed, and he didn’t miss the look in Juliane’s eyes before she turned away. Had she felt the spark, too, or was that his imagination?
As Juliane left, he tried not to think about it. He turned his focus on the room with its shining hardwood floor covered with a colorful area rug. He took in the landscape painting of a covered bridge hanging on the wall above the couch. He liked Juliane’s taste. There he was again—thinking about her. Did everything push his thoughts in her direction?
“I hope you guys don’t mind my listening in on your meeting.” Elise made herself at home on one end of the couch.
“No problem.”
Juliane returned to the room. “What’s no problem?”
“For me to join in your meeting.”
“That’s fine.” A little frown puckering her brow, Juliane motioned for him to sit in the nearby chair while she sat on the opposite end of the couch from Elise.
As Lukas sat on the chair near Juliane, he wondered what had caused her frown. Was she still reluctant to meet with him, reminiscent of that night after the first choir practice? What had changed since their last meeting? Or was Elise’s presence a problem? He couldn’t believe he was letting all this speculation clutter his mind.
He had to quit making conjectures and asking himself all these questions for which he had no answers. “So where do we start? What kind of entertainment do you usually have at this banquet?”
Biting her bottom lip, Juliane glanced at Elise, as if her sister could tell them what to do. “Good question.”
“Don’t look at me.” Elise shrugged, drawing her knees to her chest and hugging her legs. “I haven’t been around for six years. I’m only observing.”
“What did they do last year?” Lukas asked.
Juliane shook her head. “I don’t have a clue. I don’t know why Val put me in charge of this. I was busy coordinating the servers in the kitchen last year.”
“I know why she asked you.” Elise chuckled. “She knows you can’t say no.”
“That’s not true.”
Elise shook her head. “When was the last time you said no to someone who asked you to do something?”
Juliane let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders sagging. “Okay, I guess you’re right.”
Lukas took in the exchange. He’d thought that he and Juliane had become friends. Was Juliane’s inability to say no the only reason she’d agreed to work with him? Was that why she’d helped him with his grandfather?
Sitting forward in the chair, Lukas wondered about the wisdom of interjecting himself into this conversation. He cleared his throat. “Elise, did I hear that you used to sing on a cruise ship?”
Elise nodded. “That’s what I did for nearly six years.”
“There you go.” Lukas held out a hand toward Elise. “Our entertainment.”
“I’ll be glad to help, but I can’t be the entire entertainment. What would I sing—secular or religious?”
“Whatever we come up with that works, as far as I’m concerned,” Juliane said.
Elise steepled her hands in front of her mouth for a moment, then lowered them. “How about…they used to do this thing on the ship sometimes where they played a game like that old TV show The Newlywed Game. They separate the husbands and wives and ask them questions about each other. They got points if their answers were the same. Do you think people would enjoy that?”
“You mean like have couples who attend the banquet participate? Only we wouldn’t have newlyweds.”
“Yeah, it works just as well with people who’ve been married for years.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun.” Juliane grabbed a pen and a tablet from the drawer in the end table that sported a chunky ceramic lamp. “I’ll make a list of ideas.”
“Brainstorming. No idea is too crazy to consider.” Lukas settled back in his chair. Maybe this was going to work out after all. The tension he’d sensed earlier between the sisters seemed to have eased.
Juliane giggled. “I just thought of something…oh, no…on second thought, maybe not.”
“Come on. What were you thinking?” Lukas would love to read her mind…or maybe he wouldn’t. He didn’t want to find out that she still didn’t like him much and was only doing this to please her cousin or because she thought it was her Christian duty.
Shaking her head, Juliane pressed her lips together, then burst out laughing. “I’m so sorry. Forget I said anything.”
“We should put all ideas on the table.”
“Not this.” Juliane vigorously shook her head.
“Come on, Juliane. Tell us.” Elise eased her feet back onto the floor.
“Jasper Cornett does these really corny impressions.”
“Write it on the list.” Lukas
leaned over and tapped the tablet Juliane had on the table in front of her. “Just because we write it down, doesn’t mean we have to use it.”
Juliane quickly scribbled her ideas on the page. “Okay, are you satisfied?”
An hour passed as they filled the tablet page with ideas. “We’ve got a good start.” He glanced over at Elise. “You have any other ideas?”
“Fresh out, but I’ve got cookies I made this afternoon. Anyone up for cookies and hot chocolate?”
“That sounds great,” Lukas replied.
Elise hopped up from the couch. “You two can keep working while I get the snacks.”
“You made cookies, too?” Juliane asked.
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Oh, I won’t.”
Lukas wasn’t sure, but he thought he caught some kind of underlying meaning in the exchange between the sisters as Elise left. He wasn’t sure what to make of the relationship between the two women. While Elise busied herself in the kitchen, Lukas and Juliane continued to toss around entertainment ideas.
A few minutes later, Elise reappeared carrying a plate of chocolate-chip cookies and a large red teapot. She set them on the dark oak coffee table in front of the couch. “I’ll be back in a minute with the mugs.”
After Elise returned, she filled the mugs with the hot chocolate and put a few miniature marshmallows on top. “All right. Enjoy.”
“Thanks.” Lukas grabbed one of the mugs. Steam swirled out of the top, and the heat from the hot chocolate radiated through the mug and warmed his hands. He glanced over at Juliane. Looking at her warmed his heart in much the same way, but he didn’t have much hope that he warmed hers, even if the spark he’d seen in her eyes wasn’t his imagination.
Despite their outwardly friendly interaction, he still sensed that she was keeping her distance. She was only going to let him get so close. That was probably a good thing. At least that’s what he tried to tell himself. He took a gulp of hot chocolate, then glanced at Elise. “This is great.”
Juliane picked up the plate and held it out to him. “Have a cookie. In fact, have several. I don’t want these things around to tempt me after tonight.”
Hometown Promise Page 9