The Protective One

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Then she made herself stare hard at her reflection. “Ten days,” she said to her reflection. “Only ten more days. Then you leave.”

  They were going to the county fair in ten days. His boss’s son was showing a calf, and they’d invited her and Alan to go to the fair with them, and Alan couldn’t possibly say no to his boss’s request.

  When he told her the news, she’d known then that this was her chance to escape.

  Looking at herself in the mirror, she hardened her voice. “When you get to that fair, you’re going to blend in with the crowd and find some help. And when you do, you’re going to do whatever it takes to never be near Alan again.”

  Tears filled her eyes, but she swiped them away and made herself continue to look in the mrrior. “One day you are going to look in the mirror and like what you see. You’re going to like it so much, you’re going to have a hard time remembering days like this. Because soon, they’re going to be just a memory.”

  With her words ringing in her ears, Marta walked back down the stairs and joined Elaine in the kitchen.

  Looking up from where she was wiping at a corner on the baseboard, Elaine smiled at her. “You look better. Do you feel better, honey?”

  “Yes, I do. I mean, a little,” she said, realizing that she actually did. She had a plan now. And a date when she would make it happen.

  Elaine shook her head. “I feel so sorry for you.”

  “Don’t. Things will get better.”

  “Forgive me for saying this, but he isn’t going to change, Marta.”

  “I know.” But she had. And that was enough.

  TWENTY−FIVE

  “About that time, Marie’s jilted date came forward. After they exchanged a couple of words, none of which were all that nice, we ushered her out of there.”

  THURSDAY

  Elizabeth Anne supposed some days were like this. She was in hour five of her eight-hour day at Sew and Tell, and she was bored to death. Even Lark had given up thinking of tasks for her to do and had retreated to her office.

  E.A. hoped she was reading a book behind the closed door so she would leave E.A. alone. She would love that. There was nothing worse than standing around, being bored—all while someone was critically watching her every move.

  She looked at the clock and grimaced. Only seven minutes had passed since the last time she checked. If only Marta had shown up for her lesson!

  Instead, she’d called and mumbled something about not feeling well. Then, she’d hung up before E.A. even had a chance to say that she hoped she felt better.

  Because of that, the day had dragged something awful. She always looked forward to her lessons with Marta—maybe more than the woman herself did.

  Finally giving up her position behind the counter, she walked over to examine the bolts of fabric. Kendra’s birthday was coming up. Maybe she’d make her something special?

  Fingering an especially pretty periwinkle bolt, she thought about making Kendra a fetching apron and matching dishcloths. Something silly and bright that she would hate to dirty but would still use when no one else was around. Kendra was like that—publicly practical but secretly one of the girliest-girls she’d ever met.

  She’d just pulled out a pale yellow gingham and was wondering how it would look as a ruffle on the edge of the apron when the door opened.

  A customer at last!

  She hurried over to the man who had entered, her steps slowing as she got a good look at him. He was prematurely gray with light blue eyes and a ruddy tan—she supposed he could be handsome if his expression wasn’t so cold. In his expensive-looking suit and tie, he also looked out of place. Not too many English men frequented the sewing shop. But no matter. “May I help you?” she asked as she got closer.

  He didn’t smile. “I’m looking for Marta.”

  Elizabeth Anne felt a shiver run down her spine. She spoke carefully. “I’m sorry, but no one named Marta works here. Perhaps I can help you?” She knew it was a sorry attempt at evading his question, but he was scary-looking.

  He scanned the area, looking just beyond her. “She isn’t a teacher here. She’s a student.” His eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me that you don’t know her.”

  “Yes, I know Marta.” Though she was starting to feel pretty scared, she said, “Who are you?”

  “Husband.”

  “Ah.” She folded her hands tightly in front of her. Boy, she hated the thought of sweet Marta going home to this man every night.

  “Where is she? I thought she had a lesson scheduled today.”

  Remembering the backpack that was still hidden in one of the cupboards, E.A. said slowly, “Marta called the shop this morning and said she wasn’t feeling well, so she couldn’t be here for her class.”

  “She told you that?”

  “Jah. I mean, yes. She called me soon after we opened today.”

  “Does she do that often?”

  “Do what?” E.A. knew what he was asking, but she didn’t like how he was speaking to her or how suspicious he was of Marta.

  “Cancel at the last minute.”

  He was looking at her so intently, E.A. replied immediately. “No. This was the first time. I’m sorry, but why are you asking me all these questions?”

  “That shouldn’t matter to you.”

  Well, now it was official. There was something mighty bad going on with her student. E.A. suddenly didn’t want anything more to do with him.

  But because she had no choice, she simply stood there and looked silently back at him. Waiting but not offering any more information.

  He didn’t seem to know what to do next.

  When the bell on the front door rang to announce another customer, he looked just as startled as she did.

  “Elizabeth Anne! We brought you sustenance,” Katie called out as she walked inside, followed by Marie and Kendra.

  “Come here and see what Marie made,” Kendra said. “Butterscotch brownies.”

  “Such a surprise they are, too. Why, they’re almost edible,” Katie added.

  Stifling a giggle, E.A. looked over at them. “You all, hush. I’m with a customer.”

  “Oh! Sorry!” Marie said.

  Marta’s husband looked at her girlfriends and then back at her. He seemed to relax. “Looks like you’re going to have a good lunch. That’s nice.”

  “Yes. It’s, um, very nice of them.”

  “I’ll let you go then.” He turned and walked out, pausing in front of Marie and tilting his head in her direction. “Ladies, have a good day.”

  “Yes, you, too,” Marie said with a smile.

  He smiled back before exiting the shop. E.A. stood and watched him walk away, thinking the man was much like a chameleon.

  “Hey, isn’t he the man we saw in the restaurant?” Kendra asked.

  “Yep. He’s my English sewing student’s husband.” He is also very scary, she added silently to herself.

  “What was he doing in here? Did he want to buy her a gift certificate or something?”

  “Nee.” She was tempted to share how he was checking up on his wife, but it didn’t feel right. She felt like she would be betraying Marta—after all, it wasn’t like Marta had confided in her much at all. “He only came in to ask a question.”

  Katie wrinkled her nose. “That’s all? Boy, you’ve surprised me. You looked so tense when we came in.”

  “Did I?” She shrugged. “Huh.” Happy to concentrate on much happier things, she said, “I canna believe that you all brought me lunch! It’s the best surprise.”

  “We came with ulterior motives, of course,” Kendra teased.

  “Uh-oh. What do you want?”

  “Information about you and Will,” Katie said.

  “There’s nothing to tell.”

  “Oh, yes there is,” Marie said. “Will told John that he went calling on you the other night and walked into the middle of a David visit.”

  She slapped a hand over her eyes. “Don’t remind me. It was awful.”
<
br />   “All of it?”

  “David’s visit with his parents? Jah.” Suddenly remembering the whole cat conversation, she grinned. “Though I do have quite a story to share. But first, let me see if I can take my lunch now.”

  Just as she approached Lark’s door, her manager stepped out. “Are those your girlfriends?”

  “Jah. They brought me lunch.”

  Lark glanced at the clock on the wall. “It will be a late one.”

  “I guess so. Is it okay if I take my break now?”

  “I can do better than that,” she replied. “If you’d like to clock out now, it’s fine with me. It couldn’t be slower in here if it tried.”

  “Thanks so much. I’ll go do that.”

  “Have a good time,” Lark said. “After the day we’ve had, you deserve it.”

  Thinking about the conversation she’d just shared with Marta’s husband, E.A. was inclined to agree.

  In no time at all she’d signed out and had picked up her purse. Since Lark had already told them she was getting ready to leave, they were standing near the door.

  “Come on,” Marie said. “Let’s go have a picnic at the park.”

  “Bye, Lark,” she said. “See you tomorrow.”

  As Lark waved her off with a faint smile, E.A. was reminded again of how blessed she was to have her friends.

  Thinking of Marta again, she hoped the lady had a group of close friends, too.

  For some reason, she was pretty sure Marta would need them.

  TWENTY−SIX

  “Andy left with us, too. His date wasn’t real pleased, but we later discovered she liked someone else anyway.”

  Now that another week had passed, E.A. wouldn’t exactly say her parents loved the idea of her never being with David, but she did know that they were trying to make peace with it. David wasn’t making things easier for them, however. Acting like a lover spurned, he’d begun making up tales about E.A. and telling those lies to anyone who would listen, which included his parents and hers.

  Luckily for E.A., her parents weren’t fooled by David’s stories for a minute. They knew she had never drunk alcohol, would never try to encourage her sister, Annie, to do anything bad, and she certainly wasn’t planning to move to another state.

  “I’m beginning to hope David wants to move,” her father had said last night. “I am real tired of him showing up at our doorstep with so many grievances against you.”

  “I told Faith on Wednesday that she should worry about her son instead of my daughter,” Mamm proclaimed. “Enough is enough.”

  It was beyond strange.

  At least she now had her parents and Annie on her side.

  Annie had just wandered in, announcing she needed a break from studying for a test. Annie was a senior in high school. Like E.A., she’d done well in school. Unlike E.A., she had big plans for after high school. She wanted to go to college and study foreign languages and eventually do mission work.

  But though she was driven and full of plans, she was still just a seventeen-year-old girl with stars in her eyes about her older sister’s love life.

  Plopping down on E.A.’s bed, she said, “When will you see Will again?”

  E.A. had been halfheartedly reading a book in the chair by her window. Since she hadn’t been able to think about much besides Will anyway, she set her book down. “Not until late tomorrow night or maybe even Saturday.”

  Will had suggested that they attend the county fair with John and Marie. It was still a little bit up in the air—Will hadn’t wanted to make any definite plans until he got his first week under his belt. But she hoped it would work out. It would be wonderful to spend the whole day together and do nothing but wander among the tents and arenas.

  Annie frowned. “I wish he wasn’t working nights.”

  “Me, too. But we’ll get used to it.” She was determined to help Will be successful in his new position.

  “I guess you will. I mean, it isn’t like you’ve got a lot of choice.” She paused. “Hey, E.A.?”

  “Hmm?”

  “If you marry Will, is he going to be Mennonite?”

  E.A. blinked, a little startled by the change of topics, but she didn’t mind too much. She’d been thinking about such things, too. “No one has spoken of marriage, Annie.”

  “But when you do?”

  Annie was speaking like her future with Will was a foregone conclusion. Hearing that gave her a little rush of happiness. It felt good to think that she and Will would one day head to the altar. “If we do eventually get married, I’m sure I’ll be his Amish wife.”

  “Really? Don’t you think that’s going to be hard?”

  “A little, but it’s not like it’s going to be all that different.”

  “You won’t get to drive.”

  “I know. But I don’t like driving all that much anyway.”

  “You won’t have electricity, either. Or your computer … that’s going to be hard to give up.”

  “I know. But I can always go to the library and use their computers if I need one.” She smiled at Annie. “Or use yours.”

  Annie nodded slowly. “At least you have a lot of Amish friends.”

  “That’s true. I do. I’ve even gone to church with them quite a few times over the years. I like Will’s church district a lot.” Of course, it didn’t hurt that Katie, Harley, Logan, and Tricia were already in it. She would have to give up a few creature comforts, but she would be in good company.

  And then, of course, there was Will. He would make anything easier. That was the type of man he was, after all. So caring. So considerate.

  Annie rolled on her side and sighed. “I’m so glad you broke up with David so you could start seeing Will Kurtz.”

  “It wasn’t exactly like that,” she tried to explain. “I just started realizing that David and I weren’t a good match. Things with Will just happened at the right time.” She smiled. “I guess the Lord had a plan in mind.”

  “I’m glad of that. David would’ve driven us all crazy. He is so full of himself.”

  E.A. couldn’t resist chuckling. “Jah. He sure is.” Especially lately.

  “I like you better with Will. He really is so cute.” Annie sat up and hugged one of the pillows from E.A.’s bed. “And nice.”

  “I agree. He’s wonderful.” He really was all of those things: handsome, kind, caring. Sometimes she could hardly believe that after all these years she now saw him in such a different way. Now, well … she loved him.

  “You must really love him,” Annie said, as if reading her mind.

  “Annie, this is getting pretty personal.”

  “I know.” She paused, then blurted, “But do you?”

  “Jah.” There was no reason to deny it.

  “Has he told you the words yet?”

  “No. But I haven’t said I loved Will yet, either. So don’t you tell him first.”

  “Don’t worry. I won’t.”

  “Danke.”

  Just as she was about to suggest they head down to the kitchen and get some ice cream, Annie blurted, “E.A., when do you think you’ll tell him?”

  “I don’t know. The right time, I guess.” And probably after Will said those words first. She looked at her sister curiously. “I don’t mind talking to you about Will, but what’s with all the questions?”

  She shrugged. “I guess I was thinking that you’re about to make a lot of changes. And your changes will make our life different here, too.”

  E.A. sat down on the side of the bed. “I don’t think it’s going to be that different.”

  “You’ll be married to Will.”

  “I think we both knew that we each would marry someday,” she said gently. “Who knows? You might even meet a special man when you’re studying all kinds of things in college.”

  Annie giggled. “I can’t even think about falling in love right now. I’ve got too much to do.” She shifted, facing E.A. more fully. “I guess I’m just realizing that one day you won’t be
living next door. I always thought you’d be near Mamm and Daed.”

  Even thinking about marrying David, moving in with his parents and living next door to her parents, sounded awful.

  Boy, had she ever really considered that?

  “I think I needed something different,” she said carefully. “Perhaps David did, too. Change is good, you know.”

  Annie got to her feet. “I think so, too.”

  “You want to go downstairs and get some ice cream?”

  “Yep. Maybe we can find a movie on and watch it—you know, since you aren’t Amish yet.”

  As they walked down the hall together, E.A. grinned. Yes, things in her life were certainly changing, but not everything.

  She was glad about that.

  * * *

  Two nights ago, when Will had stopped by E.A.’s house after another shift, she’d been close to tears. Though at first she tried to tell him that nothing was wrong, he’d been persistent. Eventually, she’d revealed that David had tried to walk her home from work. And, when she’d told him to leave her alone, he’d spouted off a lot of innuendos about her and Will.

  “Things have finally gotten better with me and my parents,” she’d said. “Will, what if they hear some of the stories he’s made up? They’re going to be so disappointed in me.”

  He’d shaken his head. “They won’t be disappointed because they aren’t true.”

  “He can be convincing, though.”

  David was also a liar. Reaching for her hands, he bent down slightly to look her in the eyes. “E.A., we haven’t done anything wrong. You haven’t done anything to be ashamed of. Not one thing.”

  “But—”

  “Listen to me. Even if we had taken things further than a few stolen kisses, that wouldn’t have been his business. He has no right to be talking about you.” He paused. “Do you understand?”

  She slowly nodded. “I guess so.”

  “No, I know I’m right. Don’t worry about him anymore. He can’t hurt you. He canna hurt us.”

  At last, she’d relaxed enough to smile again. He’d ended up joining her, Annie, and her parents in the kitchen for apple crisp and homemade vanilla ice cream. They’d chatted about his job and Mr. Schmidt’s garden full of tomatoes and Annie’s classes. By the time he’d left her, E.A. was back to her usual self … but inside, he was fuming.