Читать книгу The Amish Widow's New Love - Liz Tolsma - Страница 16

Chapter Four

Naomi lifted her face to the sun and breathed in the scent of warming earth. Mamm, about to make an oatmeal pie, had found herself out of brown sugar. With Joseph down for a nap and the weather this warm and beautiful, Naomi offered to walk to the bulk food store. What she didn’t tell Mamm was how perfect the timing was. She and Elam had a meeting with Sylvia to pick up the information Simon had put together for the auction.

She hadn’t found the courage yet to tell her parents she was working with Elam. Forcing the words through her lips shouldn’t be this hard. But she held back. They would not approve of her spending time with him, though they had no basis for worry. She would never let him worm his way into her life again. Once this auction was over, she would steer clear of him for the rest of her life. She would have to tell them sooner or later. Nothing stayed secret for very long here. But she would hold off as long as she could.

A slight breeze tugged at her dress. She shouldn’t enjoy this taste of freedom as much as she did, but every now and again, it was nice to not be Naomi the widow, Naomi the mother of a child with special needs, Naomi the bakery employee, but just Naomi. As a small blue car whizzed by, she jumped to the side of the road.

In a few days, the early daffodils would be in full bloom. Tulips’ leaves peeked above the ground. The buds lining the tree’s twigs were about to burst open. Spring.

Amid the back-and-forth calls of the cardinals in the trees came the clip-clop of a horse’s hooves. Which of her neighbors was out and about? She turned and groaned. Nein. Not him.

Elam held the horse’s reins in one hand and waved at her, a smile deepening the creases around his mouth. “Gut morgan, Naomi. I’m glad I found you.” He slowed Prancer, his shiny black buggy horse, to keep pace with her. “I stopped at your house to pick you up, and your mamm told me you had left already. She said you were on your way to the store, but she didn’t know about the meeting.”

Naomi sucked in her breath. “You told Mamm about it? You had no right to do that.”

He pushed back his straw hat. “How was I supposed to know you didn’t tell her?”

“Well, I mean, you should have, it’s just that...” She sighed. Elam was right. She shouldn’t have kept that information from her parents. But when she got home, she would have to see the double disappointment on their faces. “Fine. You weren’t at fault. But I didn’t ask for a ride.”

“I know you didn’t, but I thought it might be nice.”

She kept walking.

“Naomi.”

The clicking of the horse’s hooves behind her halted. Elam’s footsteps approached. “Come on. You can’t stop talking to me forever.”

“Ja, I can.”

“See, you already spoke three words.”

Despite herself, the corners of her mouth turned up. He always did have this way of making her smile, of keeping her from being too serious. That’s one of the things she loved about him. Had loved. Didn’t love anymore. But he did have a point. She stopped. “Fine. You win this time. It would be silly of me to walk when you’re going that way.”

Once they were both settled in the closed buggy, Elam clicked to the horse, and they trotted off. Several times, she caught him glancing at her from the corner of his eyes. Finally, she had to say something. “What do you keep looking at?”

“Can we agree to be civil to each other? At least while we work on the auction.”

“I’m always polite.”

“Glad to hear that.” His words were clipped and short. Had she offended him? How, by being cordial?

She didn’t have time to mull over the thought as they arrived at the bakery. They slipped around to the back, went up the stairs and knocked on the door. Sylvia answered, a few salt-and-pepper hairs escaping from under her kapp. “Ach, how gut to see both of you. I was just dozing off, so forgive how I look. Let me put the kettle on for some tea.”

Even though Elam entered, Naomi stood firm in the doorway. “We’re sorry to disturb you. Please, go back to your nap. You must be exhausted.”

Sylvia waved her in. “Nonsense. The place is too quiet without Simon. I just sat down with my sewing to give my old bones a rest, and I can’t keep my eyes open.”

“How is he doing?” Naomi brushed shoulders with Elam as she entered, a shiver racing through her. Once inside, she stood a few feet away from him.

“Grumbling that the hospital meals aren’t as good as mine and that the nurses don’t let him sleep. In other words, he’s much like his old self.” A twinkle sparkled in Sylvia’s blue eyes. “Another few days there, and then he’ll be my problem. Now, Simon had something he wanted me to give the two of you. Sit at the table, and I’ll be right back.”

She hustled out of the room as Elam and Naomi took their seats, Sylvia’s basket of needles and thread on the table, small scissors and a pair of pants beside it. Naomi shifted her feet. “We shouldn’t be bothering her.”

“She told us to come. We won’t stay long, just enough to get Simon’s notes. I do have another surprise for you, though.” He winked, and her cheeks burned. Why did her insides flutter when he played so coy with her? Daniel had been gone only a little over a year.

Naomi rose, drew an old, stained mug from the cabinet and set about making tea. Even if they wouldn’t stay to enjoy it, Sylvia would benefit from a cup.

Before the kettle whistled, Sylvia lumbered in, a large cardboard box in her hands. “Oh dear, I didn’t realize how heavy this was.” She plunked it on the table, worn from many family and community meals.

Elam stood and peered inside. “What is all this?”

“Everything Simon says you’ll need to finish the preparations for the auction. You’ll find his contacts for the auction house, the list of donated items and whatever else you might have to have. I don’t know exactly the full contents. He always handled every little detail, so you might have quite a job on your hands figuring out what is what and what you need to do.”

Naomi brought over the steaming cup of tea. The sweet fragrance of chamomile was homey. Her muscles, tense since Elam had driven up behind her, relaxed. She set the mug in front of Sylvia. “Elam will get it straight. Don’t you or Simon worry about a thing. Enjoy your tea, and we’ll leave you in peace.”

“You’ve only just come.”

“And now we must go. We have Aaron’s old wheelchair, the one he used before he got the motorized version, so if your husband needs it, let us know.”

“Denki. You really are too good to an old woman like me. And you, too, Elam, for doing this.”

“I’m grateful to Simon for giving me a chance to get back into the district’s good graces.”

They said their goodbyes, Elam carried the box out and Naomi started down the driveway so she could get to the grocery store.

“Hey, where are you going?” Elam made his way around the Englisch in their usual long line for baked goods.

“I told you. Mamm needs brown sugar.”

“But I’m going to take you to see a surprise. Have you already forgotten?”

In the same way the women ogled the new baby in church, the Englisch watched Elam and Naomi. She squirmed under the intense scrutiny. This is why she didn’t really want to speak with the papers. She didn’t want to be any more of a spectacle to the Englisch.

With no other choice, she marched to where Elam waited with his buggy. When she got close enough, she hissed at him. “In the future, please refrain from shouting at me in public. Or anytime at all. I have to be on my way. Joseph will wake from his nap and be ready to eat.”

“I won’t keep you long, I promise. When we’re finished, I’ll run you to the store and then home. You’ll be back sooner than you would have been had you walked everywhere.”

Maybe if she gave him what he wanted, she could be rid of him faster.

Probably not.

With a sigh, she climbed into the buggy.

* * *

After a short ride from the bakery, Elam reined Prancer to a halt near a tree on the far side of the parking lot in front of the large, rectangular red-and-silver metal pole barn used for auctions. Most of the time, the Englisch used it to sell their produce.

Naomi hadn’t cracked a smile since they left the Herschbergers’. And she pulled her frown down farther as they sat in the buggy and stared at the building. What could he do to get her to grin? “What do you think of my surprise?”

“I’m supposed to be surprised?”

“You didn’t think I’d bring you here, did you?”

“As far as surprises go, it’s about as good as an unplanned root canal.”

A hearty chuckle burst from Elam, and even Naomi gave a soft laugh. Ach, so much more like it. “Point taken. Next time I surprise you with something, it will be better. I promise.”

“Why are we here?”

“Because my mind has been whirring since Simon asked us to finish the plans for the auction. I have so many ideas, but I need your help.” He jumped from the buggy.

Naomi climbed down before he could assist her. “There’s not much to do. We set up the bakery items over there, the plants and such here, the tools there and everything else inside. Like it’s always been done.”

“That’s fine, as far as it goes, but we have to think bigger and grander if we want to raise more money. Like maybe having one of those shaved ice trucks I’ve seen at the county fairs. If it’s a hot, sunny day, that should bring in an extra boost of cash.”

“I’m not sure. Shouldn’t we limit our offerings to Amish-produced items? Isn’t that why the Englisch come? They can get shaved ice everywhere.”

“But it would be a big seller. We have to continue to add new offerings and change things around, or we won’t get repeat customers from year to year.”

She shook her head and pulled her eyebrows into a deep V. “While it’s fine to search for ways to improve the auction and increase proceeds, those who come are looking for a uniquely Amish experience. They wouldn’t appreciate seeing a vendor they could find at any county fair. We’ve always done things the same way, and it’s always worked. Have you changed so much you don’t remember?”

He huffed. Naomi was the most stubborn woman he’d ever met. Time hadn’t changed that. “Can’t you see how gut this will be for the auction?”

“And slowly, you’ll take away everything Amish about it until it’s like any other craft fair. I think including a silent auction for those who don’t like to bid with others watching is a much better idea.”

“And I think I’m going to find out how we go about getting a shaved ice truck.”

“Whatever you want to do is fine with me.” She waved as if dismissing him. “You have my blessing. Can we go now?”

He deflated a little. “I thought you’d be more excited.”

“This is your project, not mine.”

“Why won’t you help me?”

She faced him, red blooming on her cheeks. “Why not? You’re kidding me. You really don’t know the answer to that question? Let me tick off the reasons for you. My brother and his permanent disability. Your leaving me. My humiliation in the district when you took off. Isn’t that enough?”

He stepped back. “It was an accident, Naomi, nothing more than that. I never set out to harm your brother. Or you.” Maybe putting this together with her wasn’t the best idea in the world. But like it or not, they were stuck on the project. “I was young and foolish. And scared. And you turned your back to me, refused to even listen to me. But as we work together, you’ll see I’ve grown up. Give me the chance to show you that I’m not the same man who left three years ago.” His heart banged in his chest.

She paced in small circles, her focus on the gravel at her feet. “I’m sorry to have gotten so angry with you.” She kicked at a stone with her bare feet.

“Can we put aside our differences long enough to make this work? Neither of us wants to go to Sylvia or Simon and tell them we can’t do it.”

“You’re right.”

“Does that mean you’ll partner with me?”

“Partner, no. Give you a helping hand from time to time, fine. I give up, because you’ll pester me until I agree.”

The way she said it was almost like he was a bully. “I don’t want to pressure you.”

“I said fine. I’ll make sure the quilts come in and get organized, along with the donated items. And arrange the bakery sales. What else?”

He sighed. One major obstacle overcame. They spent the next few minutes reviewing a list of items that needed to be taken care of, one he’d written up last night while the gas lamp hissed overhead. With the box from Simon, the list was sure to grow.

“Is that enough for now? I don’t want to overwhelm you since you have Joseph to look after and your job.”

“That will be gut. I’ll let you know when I have this finished.”

“One more thing. The papers. You never answered me if you would go to the press and share Joseph’s story with them. It’s sure to bring in many more tourists. The story is moving and should compel the Englisch to come and buy our products. Raise more money.”

Naomi rubbed her prayer kapp string between her fingers. “There are so many needs in the district right now. Like Simon. He’ll need help, too. And your daed.”

“All the more reason to sell as much as we can. What harm will it do? We’ll tell them no pictures. No Englischer will even know it’s you.”

“They won’t?”

“If the paper wants the story, they’ll have to publish it anonymously.”

“They’d do that?”

“I believe they would.”

She scrunched up her forehead. “Can I give you my answer in a few days? I have to think.”

“Sure. But don’t wait too long. We’ll need time for the interviews and for people to make their plans.” A streak of lightning and a quick crack of thunder brought Elam’s attention to the sky. When had the thick, black clouds rolled in? A gust of wind pulled his straw hat from his head and sent it skittering across the parking lot. He gave chase to it, several more bolts of lightning brightening the now-dusky afternoon.

He and Naomi raced for the buggy. She fell behind.

“Ah.” Her cry cut through the rolling thunder. “Elam.”

He turned. She’d fallen, her bare shin scratched and bloodied. The first fat drops of water fell to the gravel. He hurried and helped her up. While they ran, he kept a hold of her, the rain pelting them. They finally reached the buggy, the fierce wind buffeting it, and it swayed side to side. Now soaked to the skin, they climbed aboard.

Naomi shivered, and he pulled her to himself. They used to be close like this.

A streak of light. A deafening crack. The ground shook.

Kaboom.

Naomi shrieked.

The tree they were next to split in half and crashed to the earth, missing the buggy to each side.

She trembled in his arms.

He held her close and whispered against her cheek. “Hush now. We’re safe.”

But would his heart ever be?