The Trustworthy One

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  “I don’t need anything yet. Thank you for checking on me.”

  “No reason to thank me for trying to help.” He paused. “I also wondered how you are doing, now that you’ve had Naomi home with you for a while.”

  She leaned against the counter. “I’ll be better when I discover how she did on her first day at shool.”

  “You look nervous. Are you really that worried about school?”

  “I can’t help it. Starting a new school has to be difficult. And then there’s the fact that she’s not an Englischer. Kids like everyone to be the same, you know.”

  “Kane told me he was going to look out for her today.” Nate’s voice warmed. “I bet he sat with her at lunch and made sure she got through the lines okay in the cafeteria.”

  “She didn’t have to buy anything. I fear I might have packed too much in her cooler.”

  “Wait, are you telling me that you sent your sister to school with a cooler of food?”

  “Jah. Naomi told me there was no way she was going to be able to eat it all, but she’s the type of girl who likes to eat often. I wanted to make sure she had enough food for snacks.”

  “Um, how big was this cooler?”

  When she approximated its size with her hands, he raised his eyebrows. His silence was worse than making fun of her. “Uh-oh. What did I do wrong?”

  Nate’s lips twitched. “You didn’t do anything wrong, exactly. But…”

  “But what?”

  His voice softened. “Kendra, where did you think she was going to put that cooler when she was at school?”

  To be honest, she hadn’t even thought about that. “In her locker?”

  “No high school locker is going to be big enough to hold a giant cooler, Kendra.”

  She supposed he was right. “Oh. Well, then she could have carried it with her. It wasn’t too heavy.” Of course, now that she thought about it, she realized that cooler hadn’t been exactly light, either.

  “You expected Naomi to carry a giant cooler to all of her classes?”

  Just as she nodded, Kendra started to think about how she would have felt as the new girl carrying a giant cooler from class to class. She winced. “Naomi wouldn’t have wanted to do that, would she?”

  “Would you? I mean, she probably had a purse and schoolbooks, too.”

  Kendra had given her a bunch of school supplies, as well. And Naomi didn’t know where any of her classes were.

  She closed her eyes, imagining her little sister wandering around the big school with her hands full. Ugh. Why hadn’t she just given her five dollars? She could have grabbed whatever she wanted. “I’m starting to realize that I should have worried about how Naomi would be feeling on her first day of school as much as I did about her not going hungry. I really hope she’s not mad at me.”

  He smiled at her. “I’m sure she’s not mad because you were trying to help. I bet she appreciated your thoughtfulness.”

  “Nate, Naomi tried to leave that cooler, but I made sure she took it out the door with her. I gave her no choice! I sent her off with ten sharpened pencils, too.”

  “Just in case she didn’t know how to sharpen one of them?” he teased.

  He was right. She’d been ridiculous. “She’s sixteen, not six. Ugh. I bet she hates me.”

  “You know that isn’t true.”

  “Okay, I just made her lug around a giant food cooler on her first day of school.”

  “At least you suggested I call Kane. He was glad for the heads-up and said he was going to try to find her before school. I bet he probably helped her stash it somewhere.”

  That was true. At least she’d asked Nate to have Kane look out for her. “He did come to the house right after she left.” She sighed as she looked at the clock. “She said she was going to stop by here on the way home. Hopefully she won’t be in tears.”

  Nate reached for her hand and gave it a little squeeze. “Kendra, you need to calm down, jah? You’re imagining all sorts of things that we know just ain’t true. Naomi isn’t going to hate you for trying to do something nice for her. She’s not going to cry because she took a cooler to school for her lunch.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. She’s a resourceful girl and a junior in high school. I’m sure she figured out how to find her classes and eat her lunch.”

  He was right. Naomi might not have had the childhood that she had, but she’d had her share of hardships. And even if she hadn’t, she was a sweet girl. She wasn’t the type to yell at Kendra for attempting to help her.

  “There it is,” he murmured.

  “Hmm?”

  “That smile.” He reached out and ran a finger along her cheek. “I’ve been hoping to see it for a good five minutes. I’m glad it’s back.”

  He’d been waiting on her to smile? Right then, she noticed that she’d even leaned into his touch. What was happening? She took a step away.

  His eyes widened, then he dropped his hand to his side. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

  “You didn’t. I… well, never mind.”

  “Of course.” He took a step back. “Is it all right if I stop by later? You know, just to see how Naomi’s first day was?”

  She stopped herself from only nodding. Nate deserved more from her. “I’d like that.”

  He tipped his hat. “I’ll see you then, Kendra.”

  Just as he left, an older Amish woman walking with a cane came in.

  Kendra approached her with a friendly smile. “Wilcom,” she said in Pennsylvania Dutch. “Please let me know if I can help you at all.”

  SEVENTEEN

  “I used to love swimming at his house,” Logan said.

  “I used to love everything about that house,” E.A. said.

  MONDAY AFTERNOON

  “So, how about you let me pick you up tomorrow morning at your house?” Kane asked as he pulled into the parking lot a few spaces down from Tried and True.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind?”

  “I wouldn’t ask if I did.”

  Naomi wasn’t going to argue. It had been such a relief to have him by her side today. And she really liked being around him. “In that case, thanks. I’d really appreciate it.” She reached for the door handle. She knew Kane had to get back to school soon for practice.

  Resting an arm on the back of the bench seat, he turned toward her. “Hey, wait a minute. If I pick you up, are you going to bring lunch again?”

  “I honestly don’t know if you’re joking or not.”

  “Of course I’m not. Your sister’s fried chicken is amazing. I wouldn’t joke about that.”

  “Then of course I’ll bring you lunch.” She’d make it herself if it would make him happy. It was the least she could do.

  He grinned. “Hey, that was easy. I was sure you were going to make me beg.”

  She was really starting to have a big crush on him.

  “Bringing you middawk isn’t hard. Plus, I owe you. I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through today without you.”

  His gaze warmed. “I have a feeling you would’ve done just fine.” He shook his head. “I still can’t believe the crazy classes you’re taking.”

  She shrugged. “We’re all good at something. You’re the one who might have a college scout coming to watch you play.”

  His eyes lit up, but seconds later he looked wary. “Don’t say anything to anyone, okay? I don’t want to jinx it.”

  “I won’t. Now, I really better go so you aren’t late.” She opened the door and hopped out, then was surprised to see he’d gotten out, too, and was reaching for the cooler in the cab. “Thanks.”

  “See you tomorrow at seven fifteen.”

  “I’ll be ready. Thanks again.” Wanting a minute before she walked to her sister’s shop, she stood on the sidewalk until he drove out of sight. Then, when she realized she was actually feeling a little giddy, she reminded herself that Kane Law was just a friend. That was all.


  But wouldn’t it be something if she were wrong?

  Still thinking about Kane and what it would be like if he were her boyfriend, she walked into the shop.

  And was practically tackled by her sister.

  “Oh, Naomi!” Kendra cried out. “I am so sorry about this morning. Are you all right?”

  Putting her things down on a nearby display case, Naomi hugged Kendra back before pulling away. “I’m fine. At least I think I am. What’s wrong?”

  “I feel terrible about sending you off to school with that cooler and all those pencils. And you let me do it.”

  Naomi grinned. “Kendra, the things you worry about.”

  “Come on, tell me true. Was it awful, lugging that cooler around?”

  “Well, it would’ve been if I’d had to do that. But Kane Law picked me up and let me store it in his Jeep. And he helped me eat all the food.”

  “He did? And that was okay with you?”

  That was her sister, always ready to fight her battles. “It was more than okay. He’s really nice. But, ah, Kendra, how did you know he would help me so much today?”

  She looked taken aback by the question. “I didn’t know if he would or wouldn’t. I was just worried about you walking around by yourself. I only asked Nate to ask Kane to look out for you if he could.”

  So Kane had done so much for her on his own. Not because he had to, but because he’d wanted to. That was a pretty significant difference.

  Feeling lighter than air, she said, “You are the best shveshtah, Kendra.”

  “Hardly that.”

  Looking around the shop, she said, “Now you have to tell me all about your day. How was it?”

  Kendra smiled brightly. “I had customers! And some of them even bought things.”

  “Really? Start from the beginning. Tell me everything.”

  Just as Kendra was about to speak, the door opened and a group of ladies walked in. “I guess we’ll have to chat later, jah?”

  Naomi nodded as she picked up her things and took them to the back room, determined to be of as much help as possible to Kendra.

  * * *

  It was late by the time Kane got home. Football practice had been grueling, especially since he’d barely made it out to the field on time. His coach had noticed. No, everyone there had noticed, and Kane had to put up with the consequences. Being on time for practice meant getting on the field ten minutes early.

  He had to do extra repetitions of just about every play, all while listening to the coach talking about how “some people” didn’t seem to think Thursday night’s game was important.

  When he walked in the door, all he wanted to do was take a shower, grab something to eat, and fall into bed. He couldn’t care less about homework. There was a pretty good chance he wasn’t going to be able to stay up long enough to do it anyway.

  His father met him in the kitchen after Kane showered and threw his practice uniform in the washing machine.

  “Hard practice, huh?”

  “Yep.” Kane walked to the refrigerator and grabbed the plate his mom had left for him. “I didn’t think it was ever going to end.”

  “Coach was in a mood, hmm?”

  “Yeah, but it was my fault, too.” He looked at the plate of lasagna and broccoli and considered heating it up in the microwave. Deciding it would be too much trouble, he grabbed a fork and started eating.

  Dad raised his eyebrows but didn’t comment on his cold supper. “Why do you say that?”

  After swallowing another bite, Kane said, “I dropped off Naomi Troyer at her sister’s shop after school. It made me late, which made the coach mad. I had to run two extra miles.” He’d hated every minute of it, too.

  “Kane, that’s not like you.”

  “I know.” But what was really weird was that he had known it wasn’t a good idea to drop Naomi off and he still had. “She needed the ride, though. You know, today was her first day there. She needed someone looking out for her.”

  His father nodded, watching as Kane shoveled another monster bite of lasagna into his mouth. “You know, son, I actually knew about your practice because Coach Emerson called me.”

  He put his fork down. “Really? Daed, I promise, I wasn’t that late. I just wasn’t early. And I didn’t give him any back talk, either.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t.” He paused. “Actually, he didn’t call me to tattle on you. He called to tell me about the scout coming to Thursday’s game.”

  So the rumor was true. Carefully tamping down his excitement, he said carefully, “Why did he call you?”

  “Because you’re one of two players the scout is coming to see, son.” He smiled. “Coach Emerson sounded like you have a real good chance of getting a scholarship. That’s exciting, isn’t it?”

  It was. But it was also so far from his expectations, that he wasn’t sure how to act about it. “Yeah.” Feeling awkward, he said, “Are you happy about the scholarship?”

  His daed placed the glass of water he’d just picked up back on the table. “Me? It’s not me they’re looking at, Kane. This is your good news.”

  “I know, but…” His voice drifted off.

  “But?”

  “Well, it’s just that it would be great if you were glad about a college scholarship.”

  “Of course I would be glad. Both your mother and I would be real happy. It’s a wonderful thing. But it’s only wonderful if playing football in college is what you want.” He studied Kane a moment longer, then said, “There’s something else going on here, isn’t there?”

  Kane looked down at his plate. He didn’t want to bring up his brother, but he was starting to think he didn’t have a choice. “Kind of.”

  “Son, just spit it out.”

  “It’s just that Andrew was so perfect. But he’s gone. I know that you wish he was here…” Kane couldn’t say the last of it, that he was afraid his parents wished he’d been the one who died.

  “Kane.” His father’s voice was hoarse. “Is that how your mother and I have made you feel? Like Andrew was perfect and you aren’t?”

  “Nee. It’s just true. He was good at school, good at a lot of things.” Kane was sure that if Andrew had gotten to live, he would have done a great many things to make his parents proud. But instead, they only had him.

  Still looking shell-shocked, his daed continued. “You’re exactly who we want you to be, son. I promise that there’s never been a day when we wished for anything other than that you would be happy.”

  There was a lump in his throat. Realizing that there was no way he was going to be able to eat another bite, he got up to rinse off his plate.

  “If you don’t want to play football in college you don’t have to, Kane. We don’t want you to be anything but yourself. That’s enough.”

  “No, I want to play football. And I’m really excited about the scout, too.” Finally allowing himself to dream, he said, “It would be really cool if he liked what he sees on the field.”

  “If you’re excited, then your mother and I are, too.” He took Kane’s plate, dried it, and then put it carefully away. “Oh, before I forget, your mom wanted me to ask if you needed some money for lunch.”

  “No, Naomi’s bringing me lunch.”

  “She is?”

  Kane grinned. “Daed, you should’ve seen the cooler her sister fixed up for her today. It was huge. The food was really good, too. Naomi shared it with me.”

  “And she’s going to bring you more tomorrow? That’s nice.”

  “I think it’s because I’m picking her up.”

  “You are? Hmm.”

  Kane shrugged. “Her house is on the way.” It wasn’t really, but what else could he say?

  “I see.” His father’s expression warmed. “If you’re picking her up, you better get on to sleep, then. See you in the morning.”

  “Night, Daed.” As Kane walked down the hall to his room, he felt like everything in his world had just changed. He wasn’t sure what was going to happe
n next, but he felt optimistic.

  And if the last thing he thought about before going to sleep was Naomi and not college scouts, he figured that was okay. It wasn’t like anyone else needed to know about that.

  EIGHTEEN

  “The first thing we did when we got inside after, you know, I stopped staring at everything, was head up to Andy’s room.

  “ ‘No offense,’ he said, ‘but we need to wash your clothes.’ He handed me a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt. ‘Go in the bathroom and change and then bring your dress down to the kitchen.’

  “ ‘How come the kitchen?’ I asked.

  “ ‘Because the laundry room is right next to it,’ Andy replied, just like I should have known.”

  FRIDAY

  Naomi thought she’d never seen her sister look so doubtful. “Are you sure you want to continue to take all that to school?” Kendra asked for the second time. “The cooler is almost overflowing.”

  “Kane had a game last night. I’m sure he’s going to be starving.” Plus, there was the visit from the college scout. Naomi wasn’t really sure what a college scout’s visit entailed, but she was pretty sure it meant that Kane had probably played harder than he usually did.

  “I hope he likes his brownies.”

  Feeling a little guilty, Naomi looked over at the pan on the counter. She’d made brownies last night and then had neatly put half of them in the cooler for Kane. “Are you upset I’m giving so much of our food to him?”

  “Of course not. We have plenty of food, darling.” Kendra only ever called her “darling” when she was worried about her.

  “I guess I did get a little carried away. I’ll bring everything he doesn’t eat home. I promise.”

  “You mean ‘we don’t eat,’ yes?”

  “Jah, Kendra.” She barely refrained from rolling her eyes.

  Her sister’s voice turned hesitant. “Naomi, I don’t really know Kane, but try not to expect too much of him, okay? He might get busy and not have so much time for you in a couple of weeks.”

  “I know. And don’t worry. I’m not pretending he and I are going to become a couple. He’s just being nice.” She was being honest, too. She didn’t have any big dreams about Kane wanting to pick her up from school and eat lunch with her every day. But she would take his attention now.