“I don’t know how to skate at all,” Libby stated. “And I still don’t even know what I was doing out on the ice to begin with.”
“The spectators all witnessed you giving a skating lesson, and your student accidentally tripped you,” Logan said.
“That’s what Bethany told me, but I just don’t know what to make of that.”
Logan looked between Libby and Jonas.
“Who’s Bethany?”
“Ach, she’s mei best friend. We’ve been friends all our lives. In fact, our mamm’s used to put us in the same cradle together.”
“That’s a good sign,” Logan said. “That means that your long-term memory seems to be intact. It means you remember from back as far as early childhood.”
Libby shook her head. “I don’t remember mei own familye.”
And you don’t remember me, Jonas grumbled under his breath.
CHAPTER 6
Bethany hurried to make a pot of coffee for Libby’s homecoming. Did she still like coffee? She had to admit there was a lot she didn’t know about her life-long friend anymore. The past few days had been taxing, to say the least, and she wasn’t certain if the two of them would even get along under the same roof for too long. But for Libby’s sake, she was willing to give it a try.
Looking out the kitchen window, Bethany shivered at the heavy snow that fell in thick clumps, and had already formed a white shadow on the windowsill and along the branches of the maple tree closest to the house. The wind whistled through the cracks of the windows that were in need of replacing.
It was one of a long list of repairs that Benjamin had already compiled to make once they were married. He’d begun a few of the items, but said he would have more time to complete the many small things once he was living on the property. But until then, they would get things done as he had the time after long days of working her father’s farmland. His intention was to continue working for her father, and in return, they would receive a portion of his land each year in addition to a fair wage.
For now, the whistling wind was a comforting distraction to calm her anxiety and impatience in waiting for Adam to bring Libby. On a plate, she arranged fresh banana muffins, warm from the oven, and slathered butter over the tops, then, rearranged the table to make it special for the first girl-talk she and Libby would have since her accident.
Muffled clip-clops and the grinding of buggy wheels against the gravel drive alerted her that they had pulled into the long, narrow path that led to her home. Bethany fidgeted, worrying how her friend would act, what her mood would be like, and how her speech would be away from the hospital and the prying eyes of her family. She was already strange to be around when they had been together at the hospital, and things were even more strained when her mother was with them.
Bethany hoped Libby would be more relaxed now that she was free from the disconnected, sterile environment of the Englisch world. It did worry her that Libby still insisted she was an Englischer herself. She hoped that the slow environment of the farm and getting back to the bakery would jar Libby’s memory back to what it was.
A sudden knock at the door startled Bethany out of her reverie. How long had she been standing at the window lost in thought? She knew it took a horse five long minutes to pull a buggy up the narrow driveway in the snow, so it had to have been at least that long. She cleared her throat, determined not to be too anxious about Libby’s stay with her. After all, they’d been friends all their lives, and Bethany was one of the few people she remembered. It was Bethany that Libby remembered the most, even compared to her own mother.
Bethany crossed the kitchen and opened the back door, greeting her friend as normally as she could possibly manage under the circumstances.
“Gudemariye,” Bethany said as cheerfully as possible.
By the expression on Libby’s face, she’d say she was a little too cheerful.
Libby dropped her suitcase at the door and crossed to the table, picking up a muffin and mumbling the words real food before stuffing it into her mouth. She turned around and faced Bethany, who stood with the door still wide open, her mouth agape.
“Close the door or you’ll let that blizzard in here,” Libby barked, spraying muffin crumbs from her mouth when she spoke.
Bethany shivered and closed the door with an automated shove, while Adam moved out of the way, looking equally stunned by his sister’s behavior.
Bethany turned to Adam. “Won’t you stay and have a muffin and some kaffi with us?”
Adam purposely let his gaze trail to his sister.
“Nee,” he said, smiling. “You two have fun. I’ll bring mamm over tomorrow to see her.”
Bethany shot him a pleading look to stay while Libby plopped down in a chair at the table near them, oblivious to anything but the muffins and coffee, which she continued to stuff into her mouth as if she hadn’t eaten in weeks.
Bethany and Adam stood there for some minutes, watching Libby devour one muffin after another, each not really believing what they were seeing with their own eyes.
Finally, Adam picked up her suitcase and asked where he could put it.
“First door on the right, at the top of the stairs,” Bethany instructed.
Meanwhile, Bethany brought another plate of muffins to the table. She barely had time to set the plate down, and Libby was reaching for another one. Adam had returned by this time and had witnessed his sister’s terrible manners. Bethany could tell by his expression he wanted to reprimand her, but his look softened, letting her know he’d changed his mind. She couldn’t help but feel as forlorn as Adam looked. What was she to do with poor Libby until she was back to her old self again?
What if she never came back?
The thought put a shiver down Bethany’s spine. She pushed back the thought, realizing it was going to take a lot of prayer and patience just to get through each day, let alone to wait for Libby to return to normal.
Adam excused himself and walked toward the door after Libby ignored his farewell to her. Bethany followed him and let him out into the whirlwind of snow.
“Gut luck,” he whispered before walking out. “I think you’re going to need it.”
CHAPTER 7
“He is quite handsome—for an Amish mann,” Libby agreed. “But it doesn’t change the fact he’s Amish and I’m an Englischer.”
You are not!
Bethany held her tongue, fearing if she argued with Libby it would slow her healing process. It was frustrating to hear her speak of Jonas as being Amish in the sense that meant something was wrong with him.
“How do you know you’re an Englischer?”
“Ach, there can be no other explanation for the fact that those people are not mei familye.”
“But, Libby, I know they’re you’re familye. We grew up together. We’ve been friends since we were born. You’ve been like a schweschder to me.”
Libby tied her apron around her narrow waist and leaned against the stainless steel counter of the bakery.
“I know we’ve known each other since birth, and that is why I trust you, but you calling me Libby makes no sense to me. And even though I know mei mamm, I don’t know her as a mudder. Does that make sense to you?”
Bethany sighed as she placed four large baking sheets on the counter. “I suppose I would be pretty scared if I was in your head right now. But you know you don’t have any business dating an Englischer. What would your daed say if he knew? You know how strict he is.”
“That’s the problem. I have no idea how he would react. All I know is that Logan is very handsome—I agree, not as handsome as Jonas—that Amish mann, but I have to see if what I believe in mei own mind is right. Dating an Englischer just makes more sense to me right now. Please understand, and don’t judge me. Be a supportive friend just like you’ve always been, and let me find my own way in all of this.”
Bethany tried to put herself in Libby’s situation, wondering how she would react in the same circumstances. Though she didn’t agree wit
h her friend, she needed to let her live her own life, free from judgment from her best friend. After all, Libby depended on her to see her through this difficult time in her life.
“I can do that much for you,” Bethany relented. “I give you my word. I won’t try to make you see things my way, and I won’t give you any advice unless you ask me for it.”
Libby threw her arms around Bethany.
“Danki. I promise you I’ll be careful. Besides, the Amish one will be tagging along the entire time. And it isn’t really even a date with Logan—it’s more like research. He said he wants to observe my skills on the ice. No matter how much I told him I can’t skate, he’s convinced I can, based on some study he’s doing in school. That is why he wants Jonas to help me on the ice. He said something about it proving that my subconscious mind knows how to skate even if I can’t remember. I’m not sure I understand that, but I’m not going to question him if he wants to spend so much time with me.”
Bethany dropped whoopie pie batter onto the baking sheets while Libby began a fresh batch of dough for afternoon bread. “It sounds very interesting. But I have to say, as your friend, it seems as if his interest is strictly medical, not romantic.”
Libby smiled dreamily. “That doesn’t mean I can’t change his mind.”
“Won’t that be awkward with Jonas right there the whole time?”
Libby rolled her eyes. “That’s his problem, not mine. I don’t know him, so I don’t owe him anything other than what he will be paid for the skating lessons. I can tell he’s interested in me, but I am not interested in dating an Amish mann.”
“Ach, Libby, you can’t really know what you want until your memory returns, and it wouldn’t be fair to either of them for you to date one of them until you are well.”
Libby pursed her lips. “Please stop calling me Libby. It sounds foreign to me. I’ve told you several times mei name is Liberty.”
Bethany shook her head, struggling to concentrate on dropping batter onto the baking sheets.
“Liberty sounds foreign to me!”
“Ach, it does to me too, Bethany, but not as much as Libby does.”
Bethany scrunched up her face. “Are you really going to force me to call you Liberty?”
“Nee, I suppose not. Perhaps Libby could be short for Liberty, but only for you. I think everyone else should have to call me Liberty.”
Bethany blew out a sigh of relief. “Danki.”
“Jah, I suppose it’s the least I can do for you since you took me into your home and kept me on at the bakery even though I didn’t remember working here. It’s amazing I still know how to bake.”
“The doctors said you needed to stick to your normal routines as much as possible to give you the best chance of bringing your memory back. I have to admit, though it does seem sort of random the things you seem to be blocking out. It’s almost as if…”
Libby stopped mixing and stared at her friend nervously. “As if what?”
Bethany paused before placing the whoopie pies into the oven. “As if most of your memory loss is centered around your return to Willow Creek.”
Libby shrugged. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
“Perhaps something happened in Nappanee that has you blocking out everything since you took that trip.”
Libby waved a hand at Bethany, hoping she’d leave her alone. She didn’t like the direction the conversation was taking. If something did go wrong with her trip to Nappanee, she wasn’t ready to face it, and she figured her mind was protecting her for some reason or another. That is, if that was the case.
“Then why don’t I remember mei familye?”
“You said yourself that you remember them, but the memories are not strong enough for you to feel comfortable around them. But you have me wondering if that was just a convenient way of getting your daed to let you move in with me. He’s been forbidding it ever since I got the haus, and you’ve been asking him just as long.”
Libby glared at her. “Now what are you trying to say?”
“It just seems strange to me that you remember everyone except…”
Bethany stopped herself before she exposed Jonas’ true identity to Libby. She was caught between loyalty to her friend and loyalty to her word. She’d given Jonas her word, and it was not going to be easy to keep it if Libby continued to question everything she said.
“Remember who?” Libby asked.
CHAPTER 8
“He’s here!” Libby squealed as she looked out the window at the dark grey sedan traveling slowly down the lane toward the house.
Bethany worried that Libby sounded a little too anxious for her meeting with Logan—especially since she claimed it was not supposed to be a date. It didn’t even seem to matter to Libby that Jonas had steered his buggy in right behind Logan.
“Will you stall him? I’m not ready yet.”
Her sense of urgency irritated Bethany, especially since, in her opinion, Libby looked plenty ready to go.
“What could you possibly have left to do?”
Libby smiled mischievously. “You’ll see.”
That doesn’t worry me at all, Bethany thought sarcastically.
While Libby flitted off to the upstairs bathroom, Bethany opened the door to Jonas and an Englischer she could only assume was Logan.
“Welcome,” she said as they entered. “It’s gut to see you again, Jonas.”
Bethany didn’t think Libby was going to be too happy to see Jonas, and she wasn’t certain how she felt about it either—especially since the tension was even too much for her. How did Libby manage to get herself two dates for the same day? She might be claiming that neither of these men were her date, but from the looks on both of their faces and the amount of tension between the two men, they each thought they had a date with Libby, and each wanted it to be exclusive. Bethany had to wonder what would become of such a date.
Excusing herself from the awkward tension between the two men, Bethany was all too happy to check on Libby’s progress. They were making her feel uncomfortable in her own home, and she didn’t like it very much.
At the top of the stairs, Bethany knocked lightly on Libby’s door and waited for an invitation into the room. She opened the door, and was shocked to see Libby looking so much like an Englischer.
“What are you wearing?”
Libby shrugged. “Just a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.”
Bethany closed the space between them, but could not seem to close the gape of her mouth.
“Those pants are so tight, it looks like you’ve painted your legs blue!”
Libby smiled. “They look that gut?”
Bethany shook her head wildly. “Nee, they don’t look proper at all. What would your mudder say?”
Libby leered at her. “I no longer have a mudder!”
“Ach, Libby you should not talk that way about your mudder. She loves you.”
Libby brushed out her long, flaxen hair, and then hung it down her back in loose tendrils. “That may be true, but for now, I am free from the strict rules of the Ordnung.”
Bethany narrowed her eyes at Libby. If she didn’t know better, she’d think the girl was faking.
“Surely you will be putting your hair up in your kapp,” she advised Libby.
She smoothed a hand down the back of her hair and smiled at herself in the mirror. “Nee, I like it this way. Besides, it isn’t as if you haven’t used your hair to catch the attention of a mann.”
Bethany rolled her eyes. “Jah, I did let mei hair down only for a minute for Benjamin, who is about to be mei husband, but I would never wear it that way in public.”
Libby powdered her face and studied her appearance longer than she ought to be without being accused of vanity.
“Where did you get all this stuff—the clothes, the makeup?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Wait…I got it when I was in Nappanee. Mei cousin, Mary, has begun her rumspringa, and she took me shopping. It was a lot of fun.”
Bethany lowered herself onto the bed and watched Libby admiring herself in the mirror. “You remembered something new?”
“Jah.”
“Ach, perhaps that should prove to you that you’re not an Englischer after all.”
Libby shook her head. “That doesn’t prove anything except that I went shopping with a cousin.”
“Don’t you see, Libby, you said yourself your cousin began her rumspringa, so perhaps you got a taste of that rebellion while you were there. It’s a clue.”
“The only clues to be found will be for the mann waiting downstairs for me.”
“Correction, Libby. Menner!”
Libby gasped. “The Amish one is here too?”
Bethany jumped up impatiently and crossed to the frosty window and looked out at the snow. “I wish you’d stop saying that like it’s a dirty word.”
“I have mixed feelings about Jonas, that’s all.”
“Why do you suppose that is?”
“I don’t know, but it’s almost as if he reminds me of someone.”
Bethany turned back and watched Libby paint her lips with a light pink lip gloss.
“He’s from Nappanee,” Bethany offered boldly, hoping to get a reaction out of her. “Perhaps you’ve met him before and you don’t remember.”
“I think I would have remembered him if I’d met him.”
Bethany raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”
“Because he’s very handsome.”
“What about Logan?” Bethany teased.
“They’re both gut looking, jah?”
Bethany was uncomfortable with Libby’s question. “They’re all the same to me now, and it makes no difference because I only have eyes for one mann, and that’s Benjamin.”
“Ach, Bethany, you’re impossible.”
Funny, but I was just thinking the same thing about you, Libby.
CHAPTER 9
“I must insist you bind up your hair and change into some clothing that is approved within the rules of the Ordnung.” Jonas reprimanded calmly.
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