“Please tell her I hope she feels better soon. She can take tomorrow off too. I want her to get completely well.”
“I’ll let her know. Have a gut daag, Naomi.”
“You too.” Naomi shut the door and returned to the kitchen. The day flew by. By the end she was tired, but satisfied not only with the baking she’d gotten done but with the steady stream of sales throughout the afternoon. Still, she wouldn’t want to run the bakery alone every day. Margaret’s absence drove home how much Naomi needed her help.
Naomi tidied the kitchen, the rich smell of fresh baked bread still hanging in the air. She kept one ear out for Zeke’s approach, and ten minutes later she heard the clip-clop of a horse’s hooves outside. She slipped on her navy blue sweater and pulled it closer to her body, then went outside. Squinting in the sunlight, she recognized Chester’s horse and buggy—she’d seen it enough times at her parents’ house in the past couple months. Zeke was tethering the horse to the hitch when she went to him.
“Hello.” He grinned, his hazel eyes bright. “Is Margaret ready?”
Naomi breathed in the cool afternoon air. “That’s what I came to tell you. She’s not here.”
“Oh?”
“She’s ill with the stomach flu. I’m sorry you had to drive all the way out here. I didn’t have a way to let you know.”
He frowned. “That’s too bad. I hope she feels better.”
“Me too.” Naomi crossed her arms over her chest. A few clouds hovered in the sky, but they didn’t block the sunshine. Colorful leaves skittered across the gravel drive. A couple swirled around Zeke’s ankles as the breeze kicked up. “Again, I’m sorry you wasted a trip.”
“Maybe the trip’s not wasted.” He moved closer to her, a twinkle in his eyes.
SINCE HE’D AGREED TO LET MARGARET GUIDE HIM around Paradise, Zeke had prayed about today. He had nothing against Margaret, but it seemed wrong of him to be spending the afternoon with her when he really wanted to be with Naomi. God would want him to keep his word and pick up Margaret today. But it wasn’t fair to her that he would spend the afternoon wishing a different woman sat beside him.
He didn’t need wisdom for the drive. He needed help to figure out what to do about Naomi. He couldn’t ignore his attraction to her. Now another opportunity had presented itself, and he wasn’t about to let her put him off again. Though he could see she was going to try.
“I promise we won’t be gone long.” He moved to stand in front of her. She was only a few inches shorter than he, and he could easily look into her pretty brown eyes, which right now were darting back and forth as she thought about her answer.
“I need to work on Priscilla’s quilt.”
“You could bring it with you.”
“It’s not easy to sew while riding in a buggy.”
“Oh,” he said. “I suppose not. But we won’t be gone long. I promise.”
She turned around and looked at the daadi haus. “I appreciate your offer, but I have too much work to do.”
His shoulders drooped. She was giving him excuses, and they both knew it. Time to be straightforward. “Naomi, please. Take a ride with me.”
She looked at him, uncertainty in her eyes. “But what about Margaret?”
“This isn’t about Margaret.” He took a step closer to her, lest she misunderstand him again. “This is about us. About me getting to know you better.” He heard her breath catch, and she stepped away, her eyes filled with indecision.
“Zeke, I don’t know what to say.”
“Say ya. Just for a little while. Half an hour, that’s all I ask.”
She didn’t answer him right away. As the seconds ticked by, he knew he’d missed his chance.
Then she blew out a long breath. “All right.”
His brow arched. “What?”
“I said all right. But just for a little while. Let me run inside and get my coat.”
He had no idea why she’d changed her mind, but he wasn’t about to question it. She returned, slipping her arms into her navy blue coat as she headed toward him. With a sweeping arc of his arm, he gestured toward the buggy. “Your chariot awaits.”
She laughed. “That’s a funny looking chariot.”
“I hear the bishop in these parts frowns on real chariots,” he quipped. “A buggy will have to do.”
“Gut thing you know how to drive one.” Her lips curved into a smile, and she climbed into the buggy, then slid to the other side of the seat.
He jumped in, pleased that she was playing along. If he’d made that comment to some of the women back home they would have given him a weird look, or worse, not understood he was joking. For some reason most of the women he’d been fixed up with in the past were all very serious. Naomi had a nice sense of humor.
As he picked up the reins he said, “Where should we geh first?”
She steepled her thin fingers under her chin. He stared at her hand for a moment, remembering the soft feel of it. He pulled his gaze away as he yanked back his thoughts. Tread carefully. Don’t scare her off.
After a moment she spoke. “Are you hungry?”
“Are you cooking?”
“Nee, I’m not cooking.” She chuckled. “But there’s a great restaurant in Paradise. We call it the Pantry. It’s been around for a while. You haven’t eaten there yet, have you?”
He shook his head. “Nope. Been getting fattened up by all the great cooking my aenti feeds me.”
“You won’t be disappointed with the food here, I promise. It’s about twenty minutes away.”
“Hmmm.” He smirked. “Then we’ll be gone at least two hours. Sure you can spare the time?” He wiggled his eyebrows, making sure she knew he was teasing.
She opened her mouth, then shut it. Sheepishly she said, “I decided the quilt could wait.”
Zeke smiled. Danki, Lord. “I’m glad you did.”
WHEN ZEKE AND NAOMI ENTERED THE PANTRY, SHE SAW Rose sitting at the table in the back corner of the restaurant, sipping a cup of tea and talking to her aenti Tabby.
“Before we sit down, there’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Sure.”
He followed her as she went to Rose’s table. Rose smiled at her and gave Zeke a welcoming nod.
“Rose, this is Zeke. Chester’s cousin. From Middlefield, Ohio.”
“Nice to meet you,” Zeke said.
“Nice to meet you too. Are you enjoying your time in Paradise?”
Zeke looked at Naomi and grinned. “Very much.”
Against her will, Naomi’s face reddened. Hopefully Rose and her aunt didn’t notice.
Zeke glanced over his shoulder at an empty table behind them. “Why don’t I find us a seat, Naomi?”
As soon as he was gone, Rose’s smile widened. “You’re blushing.”
“It’s a little warm in the restaurant.” Naomi pressed her teeth against her bottom lip.
“I don’t think it’s warm. Do you, Aenti?”
Aenti Tabby shook her head. “Not at all.”
Rose gestured for Naomi to lean toward her. When she did, Rose said, “I approve.”
“It’s not what you think. We’re just having supper.”
“If that’s what you want to call it, fine by me.” Rose sat back. Her gaze went to Zeke, who had found a table. She nodded. “He’s waiting for you.”
“Because he’s hungry.”
“Whatever you say, Naomi.” Rose smiled again, then hid it behind her menu.
Naomi shook her head and joined Zeke at the table.
A few seconds later the waitress, a young Englisch girl wearing several silver bangles, showed up. She pulled a pencil and pad out of the pocket of her apron. “What can I get for you two today?”
Zeke flipped open the menu. He scanned it, then looked at the waitress. “I have no idea. What do you recommend?”
Naomi hid her frown behind her menu as Zeke flashed the waitress a charming smile. Both she and Margaret had been on the receiving end of that same smile. The man could charm
a hungry horse out of its oats. The waitress’s shy smile and pink cheeks testified to that. Now Naomi wished she had stood firm and not gone with him. She already felt like she was betraying Margaret.
The waitress leaned over Zeke’s shoulder and pointed at the menu with the eraser end of her pencil. “If you’re really hungry, I suggest the meat loaf platter. It’s a Pantry specialty.”
“Then that’s what I’ll get.” He shut the menu and handed it to the young woman. Then he looked at Naomi. “Have you decided?”
“I’ll just have a piece of cherry pie. With ice cream.” She looked up to see the waitress still looking at Zeke, even though his eyes were trained on Naomi. When she didn’t respond, Naomi cleared her throat.
“Oh, sorry.” The young woman scribbled on her pad. “Peach pie and whipped cream. Got it.”
“No, I said cherry pie and ice cream. Two scoops.” Suddenly she was craving something sweet, and a lot of it. She handed the waitress the menu.
“I’ll bring your drinks and bread out in a minute,” she said, looking at Zeke again.
When the waitress left, Naomi glanced down at her lap, disappointed with herself. After what happened with David, she worked hard to keep jealous thoughts at bay. She’d been thrilled at Hannah’s marriage. She’d brought Chester and Priscilla together. But in the course of a few days Zeke Lapp, whom she barely knew, made her practically teem with jealousy. Lord, forgive me.
“Naomi? Is something wrong?”
She looked at him, seeing the concern in his eyes. Genuine concern, which broke through her envy like a stone tossed into a still pond. “Nee, there’s nothing wrong. I’m fine. Just ready for that pie.”
“With two scoops.” He smiled. “I like pie too, especially homemade. I usually make black raspberry pie in the summer.”
“You bake too?”
“Ya. Had to learn, living on my own for so long. I’m not a great cook, but what I make is edible. Nothing like your cooking, though. That’s in a class by itself.”
He knew the right thing to say.
“Why have you never married?”
“What?”
Naomi bit her bottom lip. The question had just flown out of her mouth, and she’d do anything to reel it in. Now she understood how awkward Margaret must have felt the other night. “Never mind. It’s none of my business.”
“I don’t mind answering. I’ve got nothing to hide.” He put his hands on the table, palms up.
“Here you go.” The waitress appeared with their sodas and a basket of fresh bread. She looked at Zeke. “Can I get you anything else?”
“Nee.” After the waitress left, he pushed the basket toward Naomi. She shook her head, and he grabbed a slice.
“Where were we?” he said, spooning a healthy amount of thick peanut butter spread on the soft slice. “Oh ya . . . you wanted to know why I never married.”
She waved her hand at him. “I don’t need to know—”
“I think you do.”
He stared at her with such intensity, she couldn’t pull her gaze away.
“The reason I haven’t married is simple. I haven’t found the right woman. God has a special frau in mind for me, and when He’s ready, He’ll bring us together.” He took a bite of the bread, then set the slice on his plate. “You don’t seem surprised,” he said when he finished chewing.
“Of course I’m not. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? Wait on God and His timing?”
“Not everyone does that. Some people marry for the wrong reasons.”
The look on his face told her he was speaking from personal experience. “Did that happen to someone you know?” she asked. She’d already pried once, she might as well pry all the way.
He nodded, looking down at his bread. “My parents. Whatever love they had in their marriage left a long time ago.”
“But they’re still together.”
“Ya, because the church says they have to be.” When she frowned, he waved his hand. “Don’t misunderstand me. I believe that marriage is for life. That’s why it’s so important the woman I marry be the right one.”
“How will you know?”
He looked at her, and his hazel eyes, with their vivid hues of brown, green, and gold, darkened. “I’ll feel it in my heart.” Then he smiled. “So what about you? I’m surprised you haven’t married yet.”
“I guess my reason is the same as yours. I haven’t found the right one.” But her motivations were different. She hadn’t prayed to God for the right mann to come along. Instead she kept herself busy, too busy to think—and sometimes even pray—about much of anything. It had worked after David left, and it continued to work for her now.
The waitress showed up with Zeke’s meat loaf and her pie. They both bowed their heads and said a silent prayer. Naomi watched as he dug into the food with great enthusiasm, much as he had at her house. After he finished chewing a huge bite of gravy-smothered mashed potatoes she asked, “What do you think of the food?”
“Gut.” His gaze met hers. “But not as gut as yours.”
She blushed, unsure whether he was speaking the truth or being polite. While she preferred homemade food, she thought the meals at the Pantry were delicious. She decided he was being his usual charming self and pressed her fork into the flaky crust of her cherry pie.
As they finished their meal, they fell into easy conversation. She made sure to avoid anything personal, and he seemed fine with that. When he polished off his meat loaf supper, he looked at her half-eaten pie. She’d been talking so much she hadn’t paid much attention to it.
“You going to finish that?” he said, a twinkle in his eye.
“Nee.” She pushed the plate forward. “You can have the rest if you want. Although I’m surprised you still have room for it. I don’t know where you put all that food.”
He took the plate from her and started on the pie. “Two stomachs. At least that’s what mei mudder used to say.”
Naomi laughed. “I’m thinking she might be right.”
Zeke finished the pie just as the waitress came over. She pulled out her order pad again. “Can I get you anything else?”
He shook his head. “No thanks, but everything was delicious. Give the cook my compliments.”
The waitress smiled. Her bangles jingled as she peeled their ticket off the pad and placed it on the table. As she’d done since they arrived, she ignored Naomi and looked at Zeke. This time Naomi couldn’t blame her. She was finding him a bit irresistible herself.
“You have a nice evening,” the girl said, giving Zeke one last look.
Naomi reached for the ticket, but he snatched it away. “My treat.”
“At least let me pay for my dessert.”
He shook his head. “Wouldn’t hear of it. Consider it part of my thanks for giving me a tour.”
“You didn’t have much of a tour,” she said, sliding out of the booth. “Just from my haus to the Pantry.”
He stood and took a step toward her. “Maybe we can fix that. Can I pick you up on Monday evening? You can show me around the rest of Paradise.”
She bit her bottom lip. Normally she had her cooking class, but she had postponed her classes until after Priscilla’s wedding. Technically she was free. But there was still so much more to do to help with the wedding—
“If you’re busy, I understand.”
But she could see the disappointment in his eyes. There’s nothing wrong with showing a friend around. And Margaret probably wouldn’t be well enough. Before she could talk herself out if it she said, “All right. I’ll be happy to show you around Paradise.”
He smiled in response, and her pulse jumped.
The trip back home seemed to take only seconds. When she got out of the vehicle, Zeke met her at the other side and walked her to her door. “What time should I pick you up?”
“About six o’clock?” She questioned herself even while she answered him. She shouldn’t be running around Paradise with Zeke. Then she looked at him, taki
ng in his handsome face and mischievous grin. And suddenly she realized—she wouldn’t cancel.
She expected him to leave, but instead he glanced down, shuffling his foot against the gravel, his smile dimming. Then he looked at her again, his expression more serious than she’d ever seen it. “Naomi, I need to be honest with you.”
“All right.” She’d never suspected he’d been dishonest. A sudden, familiar pang of betrayal ran through her. She’d never suspected David would betray her either.
“I like you.” He closed the distance between them. “I mean, I really, really like you.”
Her breath caught in her throat as his words scrambled her brain, making her forget David, forget everything on her mile-long to-do list. He shouldn’t be speaking to her like this. Or looking at her with such genuine care. Yet his words, his tone, reached a part of her that had died three years ago. The strength of the emotion rendered her speechless.
“So when I asked you to take me around Paradise, I was asking you for a date. I just wanted to make that clear.” He gazed into her eyes. “If you don’t want to do that, then let me know now. I’ll walk away and leave you alone.”
Her chest tightened. She’d convinced herself they were friends, but she couldn’t deny a part of her wanted more. Yet to have more she’d have to open herself up again, and she wasn’t sure she could. “I . . . I don’t know . . .”
He leaned toward her. His proximity caused her confusion—along with something more. “At least you didn’t say nee right off the bat. I’ll take that as a gut sign.”
Chapter Seven
“SURE THAT’S STRAIGHT?”
Zeke looked at Chester, then at the row of kitchen cabinets on the wall in front of him. “The level says it is. I wouldn’t eyeball something like that.”
“I know. I didn’t mean it that way.” Chester sighed, then moved to sit on the blue ice chest in the middle of the room.
Zeke turned and looked at his weary cousin. “Tough day at work?”
“Ya. That and worrying about getting the haus built.” He looked up. “Didn’t realize getting married would be this stressful.”
“Cast your cares upon the Lord, and He will sustain you.” Zeke grinned. “You’re not casting enough, cousin.”
An Amish Wedding Page 14
