by Amy Clipston
Lloyd guided the horse back down the driveway toward the main road. During the ride, Marie and Rebecca discussed the boys they hoped to see at the youth gathering. Ellie chimed in now and again, giving her thoughts on the boys they liked while Lloyd mostly shot Ellie sideways glances with rolled eyes.
When they arrived at the farm hosting the event, Ellie climbed down from the buggy and Rebecca and Marie jumped out after her. The sisters immediately started toward the volleyball courts, where the majority of the youth were already gathered.
Ellie lingered behind while Lloyd took care of the horse. She’d hoped to get some time to talk to him alone.
Rebecca stopped walking and looked back at Ellie. “Aren’t you coming with us?”
Ellie hesitated, and Rebecca gave her a knowing smile. She winked, then ambled on.
Ellie swallowed a gasp. How did Rebecca know she liked Lloyd? Had she been too obvious with her feelings even though she’d tried to keep them to herself? Panic surged through her. Did all their friends know she liked Lloyd?
“Ellie,” Lloyd said, interrupting her thoughts as he appeared behind her.
She spun toward him and hoped her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. “Ya?”
He gestured toward the volleyball courts. “Do you want to play volleyball this time?” His easy smile relieved her worry.
Ellie shrugged. “I don’t know. Do you?”
Lloyd shook his head. “Not really, but we could sit near the volleyball courts and talk.”
“I’d like that.” Ellie was glad he wanted to spend time with her, and a smile teased the corner of her mouth as she followed him toward the makeshift courts.
When they reached a flat patch of lush green grass, he pointed down.
“Would you like to sit here?” he asked.
“Ya.” She sat on the ground and smoothed the skirt of her green dress over her legs. “It’s a schee night, ya?”
Lloyd sank down beside her. “It sure is.” He stared off toward the volleyball games, where the young men and women bounced the ball over the nets as they laughed and shouted.
Ellie searched his expression. She hoped she wasn’t holding him back from enjoying the games with other friends and he’d been too polite to go off without her. “You can go if you want. You don’t have to sit here with me.”
He glanced at her. “No, I really don’t want to play. I was just thinking back to when I used to play with mei freinden when I was younger.”
Ellie shook her head and grinned. “You talk like you’re forty.”
He gave a bark of laughter. “You’re funny, Ellie.”
“Ya?” Her smile widened. “I will take that as a compliment.”
“I meant it as a compliment.” He studied her for a moment. “Do you remember any of the jokes your bruder used to tell?”
“Of course I do.” She picked a blade of grass from her dress. “I remember the last one he told me. It was the morning of the accident.”
“What was it?” Lloyd rested his elbow on his bent knee.
“Seth came into the kitchen that morning and said, ‘Hey, Squirt! What nails do carpenters hate to hit?’ I played along and said, ‘I don’t know, Seth. What nails do carpenters hate to hit?’” She paused. “Do you know what the answer is?”
Lloyd shrugged. “No, I can’t say that I do.”
“Fingernails!” she announced, then laughed.
He groaned and then laughed too. “That sounds like Seth, all right.” He rocked back on his hands.
“He was still chuckling about that when he left for work.” Her eyes misted as she recalled the details of the morning. “That was the last time I saw him alive. I still remember the warm sound of his laugh. I dream about him some nights. A couple of times I’ve woken up in the middle of the night and thought I heard him laughing.” She turned toward Lloyd and found him studying her. “You’re the only person I’ve ever told that to.”
“Really?” He looked surprised.
She nodded. “I hadn’t told anyone the last joke he shared with me. And I hadn’t told anyone about the dreams.” She knew now that she longed to share all her secrets with Lloyd.
“I’m honored that you told me.” His expression was full of empathy. “I miss Seth’s jokes.”
“I remember another one,” she blurted out. “What did the green grape say to the purple grape?”
Lloyd grinned. “I don’t know.”
“Breathe, stupid!” A belly laugh bubbled up from her toes, and some of the pent-up sadness evaporated from deep in her soul.
Lloyd laughed, too, and for a moment she wondered if he was laughing at the joke or at her ridiculous reaction to such a corny joke. But somehow she knew Lloyd was laughing with her, not at her.
“I miss those jokes,” Ellie admitted with a sigh. “I miss our talks too. Seth and I used to talk about everything. I never had to worry about what he might say or think if I shared my feelings with him.”
“He was a gut listener.” He leaned back on his hands again and was quiet for a moment. “Tell me about your new job.”
“I really like it. The shop is so schee. Have you ever been in it?” she asked as she pulled at a dandelion.
He shook his head. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in it, but I have checked out the window display. Gene does great work.”
“He does. It’s beautiful. It stays busy there too.”
“How many days are you working?”
“Two.” She tossed the dandelion. “I work Mondays and Fridays. You’ll have to stop by.”
He nodded. “Maybe I will sometime. You can give me a tour.”
Ellie’s stomach quivered with the possibility. “That would be nice.” She hoped he would.
When Lloyd smiled over at her, she knew she was falling in love with him. She also hoped he wouldn’t break her heart continuing to think of her only as Seth’s little sister.
Chapter Six
Lloyd stepped out of the hardware store and glanced down at the bag he gripped in his hand. Although he had bought everything listed on the crumpled paper he’d jammed into his trouser pocket, he was certain he’d forgotten something. He was distracted, and the trip to the hardware store wasn’t in the forefront of his mind. Instead, he was thinking of Ellie’s radiant smile. She’d been on his mind ever since he’d dropped her off at her house last night.
He’d spent the entire time at the youth gathering talking to her, and he hadn’t regretted a single moment. In fact, it was the most fun he’d had at a youth gathering in years. He’d hung on every word of their conversation. They’d talked about Seth and shared some of their favorite memories of him. Then they talked about friends, her new job, and his work on the farm. The hours had flown by, and too soon it was time for him to take her home.
This morning Lloyd had awoken thinking about her, and he couldn’t wait to see her again. He made a quick list for the hardware store during breakfast, called for a driver, and after his morning chores were complete, headed to town.
Now standing in front of the hardware store, Lloyd glanced down the block and spotted the sign for Bird-in-Hand Gifts and Treasures. If he were honest with himself, he would admit why he’d truly come to town. The reason lay only half a block away. Ellie had told him she worked on Mondays, and he was eager to see her again.
Lloyd walked up the block and went inside the shop. He stood by the door and watched Ellie while she helped a customer at the cash register. She was beautiful clad in a dusty-rose-colored dress. She smiled, and her face seemed to glow as she spoke with the woman. After wrapping up the items and placing them into a bag, she took the customer’s money and thanked her for coming in. Then she looked toward the front of the store and gasped when she saw him.
“Lloyd!” She rushed over to him. “I’m so surprised to see you here.”
He lifted the bag from the hardware store. “I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I’d stop by to see you. You said I should see the shop sometime.”
“I�
��m so glad you came by today.” She motioned for him to follow her toward the front window display. “Since no customers are here, I can give you a quick tour.”
Lloyd followed her around the store as she explained the theme of each display. He stood close to her and breathed in the scent of her shampoo, some kind of flower mixed with cinnamon. She explained Gene’s process for creating the elaborate metal ornaments, pointing out which items were the most popular with the tourists.
When they reached the back of the shop, Ellie gestured toward the Amish items. “This is where we keep the Amish gifts. Gene’s niece, Phoebe, would like to add more unique, locally made items to the collection.”
Lloyd’s shoulders stiffened. He didn’t want to discuss selling his birds again, and he hoped she wouldn’t pressure him. He didn’t want that subject to ruin the mood. She paused for a quick moment, and he was thankful when she didn’t mention the birds.
“Would you like to meet Gene?” she offered.
“Sure,” he said.
“He’s in the workshop, which is in the back.” She led him to a doorway.
“Hi, Gene,” she said as they stepped into the large shop cluttered with tools. “This is my friend Lloyd Blank.”
“Hi, Lloyd.” Gene stood and shook Lloyd’s hand. “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” Lloyd gestured back toward the showroom. “You have a really nice store and your metal work is just amazing.”
“Thank you.” Gene glanced at his watch.
Lloyd looked at the clock on the wall and an idea sprang into his head. “It’s almost noon. Could I possibly take Ellie out for lunch?”
Ellie looked surprised, and she gave him a questioning look.
“I promise I won’t have her out too long,” Lloyd continued. “We’ll just go across the street to the Bird-in-Hand Restaurant and get something quick.”
Gene smiled at Ellie. “That sounds like a great idea. I’ll run the front until you get back. You can take your time too.”
“Thank you,” Ellie said. “I just need to grab my purse from the break room.”
Lloyd said good-bye to Gene and headed to the front door. He examined a few decorative metal dishes until Ellie emerged with a black purse dangling from her shoulder. They walked together to the Bird-in-Hand Restaurant, where they were seated at a booth.
“Gene is nice, isn’t he?” Ellie asked after the waitress had taken their orders.
“Ya, he is.” Lloyd ran his fingers down the condensation on his glass of water. “The shop is really schee, just like you said it was.”
She tilted her head and her light-green eyes twinkled with anticipation. “You know, you could talk to him about your birds if you want to. I’ve already told him about them, and I know he’d love to find out more.”
Lloyd shook his head, but instead of being frustrated with her as he expected to be, he was flattered. She was determined for him to sell his birds, but it felt like a compliment instead of harassment. “I’m really not interested in selling them, but danki for offering to help. They’re sort of a stress reliever for me. Designing and making the birds helps me clear my head after a long day of farm work. While I’m whittling, I sometimes pray or just think about my day and what I have to do the following day. It helps me unwind.”
Her expression became bemused. “I just don’t understand why you don’t want to sell them. You have so many of them, and they just stay in your shop where no one can enjoy them. God gave you that talent, and he wants us to share our talents with others to celebrate his glory. Why do you want to hide that talent when there are so many people who could cherish those birds?”
He contemplated her words as he continued to run his fingers over the glass. Although he understood her point, his father’s admonition echoed loud and clear in his mind. “Selling them would be prideful. If I charged money for them, then I would be bragging about my talent.”
Ellie shook her head. “I disagree.”
He had to change the subject. “I can see why you like working for Gene. It really is a nice store. It didn’t seem like it was too busy this morning, though.”
“No, it really hasn’t been busy today.” Ellie smiled, and he was certain it lit up the room. “I’m glad you stopped by on a day when it wasn’t. I’m not certain I could’ve left to have lunch with you if there had been a store full of customers.”
The waitress appeared with their lunch orders. She placed a turkey sandwich in front of Ellie and an Angus burger in front of Lloyd. After a silent prayer, Lloyd lifted a fry.
“Ellie, I’ve been wondering something,” he began.
“What’s that?” She took a bite of the sandwich and then blotted her mouth with her napkin.
“I was a little surprised when you told me you took this job. You hadn’t worked outside of the home much, except for helping out at Lizzie Ann King’s vegetable stand, right?” He bit into the juicy burger.
“Ya, that’s right.” She examined her plate as if avoiding his stare. “I felt it was time for me to do something to help out.”
“Is everything all right at home?” he asked as worry filled him. “Are you and your mamm financially okay without Seth?”
“We’re doing okay.” Ellie’s smile faded. “My uncles have taken care of the mortgage since mei dat passed away, but Seth managed everything else.” She met his gaze, and he saw a hint of sadness in her beautiful eyes. “I feel a responsibility to do my part since I’m the only one left to take care of Mamm. It’s not like mei onkels can do any more than they are.”
Lloyd placed the burger on his plate. “I understand. Since I’m the only bu, I’ll inherit the dairy farm. I feel a lot of pressure to make sure the farm is run well and the family is financially stable. If mei schweschdere don’t marry, I’ll have to take care of them too.”
“I never realized how much pressure Seth was under until he was gone.” Ellie’s eyes shimmered with tears, and he hoped she wouldn’t cry. “Now that he’s gone, I need to try to take care of Mamm just as well as he did.”
She wiped away a stray tear, and he started to reach for her hand. He stopped with his hand in the air, not wanting to be too forward. He quickly pulled his hand back and lifted the burger.
“I’m certain you’re a wonderful support to your mamm, Ellie. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
Ellie nodded and her smile returned. “Danki.” She lifted her sandwich. “This is appeditlich. Thank you so much for lunch.”
“Gern gschehne,” he said, grateful to see her smile again. “Thank you for the company.”
They spent the rest of lunch discussing their plans for the week. After they were finished eating, Lloyd paid the check and they walked back to the store. When they reached the door, Lloyd held out his hand.
“Danki for joining me at lunch,” he said as she shook it. “I’m sure I’ll see you at your farm this week.”
“Wunderbaar. I look forward to it.” She smiled as she said good-bye and stepped inside.
Lloyd knew there was a spring in his step as he walked down the sidewalk to meet his driver. He felt a strong connection growing between Ellie and him, and once more, he couldn’t wait to see her again.
Ellie hummed softly as she swept the front porch and thought about Lloyd. During the last three weeks, they had fallen into a comfortable pattern. Lloyd came to the Lapp farm twice every week to help with chores. They spent time together while he was there sharing a snack or a meal. They visited at church on Sundays after the service and at youth gatherings. Lloyd even stopped by to see her at the shop again a couple of times, including the Saturday she subbed for Phoebe when she was sick.
Ellie felt their friendship growing as they learned more about each other. She couldn’t squelch the notion that his feelings for her were growing, but she was afraid to truly believe that he might like her as more than a friend. She hoped someday he would see that she cared for him. Until then, she allowed herself to enjoy his company and looked forward to the days when he visited
the farm.
Now on this Tuesday afternoon she swiped her hand across her forehead as the mid-July sun beat down. She heard the clip-clop of a horse approaching on the rock driveway, and her heart felt like it turned over in her chest when she saw it was Lloyd. She’d hoped he would come to help with chores today, and she was thankful that God answered her unspoken prayer.
She waved as he climbed down from the buggy.
“Ellie,” he called as he walked to the porch. “Wie geht’s?”
“I’m doing great.” She leaned against the broom. “Are you here to help with chores?”
“That’s one of the reasons I came over.” He climbed the porch steps. His dark blue shirt complemented his bright eyes. “I also have something for you.”
“You do?” Ellie propped the broom against the railing as curiosity consumed her.
Lloyd reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out something hidden in his hand. “I made this in memory of Seth, and I want you to have it.” He opened his hand and held it out.
Ellie opened her own hand, and Lloyd placed a carved bird in it. His fingers brushed hers, lingering for a long moment. She enjoyed the warmth of his skin against hers. She examined the carving, a beautiful, delicate dove.
“Lloyd,” she whispered, her voice strangled with emotion. “It’s the most schee bird I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s a dove.” His voice was equally soft and sentimental.
“It’s perfect. Danki so much.” She nodded, and her eyes stung with threatening tears. “I’ll treasure it.”
“I know you will.”
She looked up into his eyes and something between them sparked. They studied each other, and her breath caught in her throat. Did he feel the same overwhelming force pulling them to each other? Did he care for her the same way she cared for him?
“I better get to work.” Lloyd took two steps back. “I’ll see you later.”
Ellie held the dove close to her chest. It was the most meaningful and beautiful gift she’d ever received. She would cherish it forever.
