by Tricia Goyer
For a moment he pushed aside what he was going to say. Noah squeezed her hand. “Is something wrong? Did”—he sucked in a breath—“Did something happened to your dat?”
“Oh no, nothing like that. And…” She gazed up at him. Her eyes were large, round, and so innocent. So hopeful. “I thought something was wrong. You, well, you didn’t even speak to me yesterday afternoon. I wanted to explain. I was up all night trying to figure out how to tell you…I still don’t know how, or if I should.”
“Tell me what?” Noah kept his voice soft. Then he waited as her eyes searched his. He knew what she was doing. She was weighing to see if he could be trusted. If she could lay out her heart. He wanted to fill the silence with his apology, but something inside stirred, urging him to wait.
“I’m sorry I didn’t take time to explain about Thomas,” she finally said. “I should probably be flattered by his attention, but…” She bit her lip, trying to figure out her words. “But he’s not someone I want for more than a friend, no matter what my mother thinks.”
Noah wanted to pull her closer. He wanted to kiss her, but he also knew better than to do that. Now was not the time. This was not the place…or at least not yet.
Resisting the urge, he dropped her hand and crossed his arms over his chest, taking in her words. “I see.”
Lovina attempted to brush stray strands of hair off her face, but as soon as she removed her hand they fluttered back to her temples and cheek. “Thomas asked me to lunch yesterday, and I wanted to use that time to explain to him that I wasn’t…well, that I wasn’t interested in spending more time with him.”
“And he understands that now?” Noah kept his tone serious, even though his dancing heart was anything but. He forced himself to hide his smile, enjoying the way she squirmed.
“Ja.” She nodded. Lovina must have noticed the humor in his gaze because one eyebrow cocked. “He understands that, but I could change my mind.”
“Change your mind?” Noah scoffed. “And what has he offered you in comparison to me? Thomas Chupp took you to the beach and he took you to lunch.” Noah tapped his boot on the concrete floor. “I made your concrete look pretty.” Then he swept his arm toward the windows. “And look at that sunshine.”
“Ja.” Lovina tapped her chin. “Sunshine was the deciding factor to be certain. I’d rather spend time with a man who gives me beams of golden light.” Then she hesitated, as if suddenly worried that she was reading too much into the playful conversation. “Because of our, uh, work relationship, of course.”
“Is that what you think this is?” He motioned to the box. “The contractor in me does enjoy fixing up your old building…but the man inside loves being in your presence more and more each day. And he just had to buy you this.”
She didn’t reply, but from the look in his eyes she didn’t need to. She smiled. “So, can I open it?”
He kneeled beside the box, the coolness of the concrete seeping through his homemade pants. “Of course.”
Maybe he should have found a way to wrap it. Instead, he watched with excitement as Lovina opened the top of the box.
She sucked in a breath and pulled out a vintage Pyrex mixing bowl. It was turquoise blue with a simple pattern on the side. He’d seen it at an estate sale the previous night, and Noah knew he had to have it.
“It’s—it’s just like the one in that photo I tore out of the magazine. That wonderful cupboard I loved so much was decorated with these bowls.”
“Yes, well, take it as an apology. I’m so sorry I ignored you like that. I didn’t like the fact that some other Amish bachelor was trying to spend time with my girl.”
“Your girl?” Lovina laughed, and the sound was music to his ears.
“If you don’t mind,” Noah said.
Her eyelashes fluttered and she glanced back down at the bowl. “I don’t mind. Not one bit.”
Noah’s chest filled with warmth and heat. He thought again about kissing her—on the cheek at least. But she kept her attention fixed on the bowl. She examined it as if she were holding a priceless diamond. Maybe to Lovina this was. Maybe the fact that he understood, supported her, was the most valuable gift she’d ever received. He hoped so.
“This is the perfect gift,” she said with a heavy sigh.
His heart bounced a little in his chest, knowing that she’d soon be even more surprised. “I’m glad you think so because I have twenty-four more of them coming—to be used to decorate the shop.”
Lovina gasped. “Twenty-four more?”
He nodded toward the back area of the warehouse, where he kept all the items they weren’t using and the things he hadn’t managed to sell yet. “I’m going to build you a cabinet, just like the one in the picture. I came upon an estate sale, and I couldn’t resist. I didn’t know those bowls were so collectible.”
“Noah Yoder, goodness knows I’m not paying you for your work as it is, and then you go and use the little money you’ve earned to buy me bowls.” She sighed, pretending to be exasperated, but he could tell from her expression that she was thrilled. “This is the most amazing gift. I can’t wait to show my sisters and Mem. She used to have one like this, but one of us broke it years ago…”
As she placed the bowl back into the box her expression changed. She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Speaking of years ago, there is something I want to—need to—ask. I mean, if we are going to consider more than a friendship…”
The lightness he’d felt in his chest moments before sunk like a lead balloon. “Yes, of course. Ask…” His words trailed off. He was going to say, “Ask anything,” but from the look on her face he already knew what the question would be.
“Speaking of years ago—”
“Knock, knock!” A voice called out from the other side of the front door, and then came a gentle knock. “Anybody here?” It was a woman’s voice, one Noah didn’t recognize.
Lovina’s lips sealed close, and she hurried to the door, opening it. An Amish man and woman stood there. From the woman’s kapp Noah guessed they were from Pennsylvania.
“Can I help you?” Lovina asked. From her puzzled expression it was clear she didn’t know them either.
“We’re Leon and Marsha Kurth from Lancaster. We haven’t met, but I feel as though we have,” the man started.
“We heard about the pie shop in The Budget. This is our first time down south. We came a bit before the buses arrive to fix up our new place,” Marsha jumped in. “We just bought it last week.” She looked around and her eyes grew wide. “This place is even more beautiful and spacious than I envisioned. And please tell me you’re going to have pecan pie on the menu. It’s my favorite. Do you mind taking a minute to give us a tour of what’s going to be where? Are you going to put the tables by those windows? Oh, look! Diners will have a perfect view of the buses coming in.”
“I don’t mind…” Lovina looked toward Noah, their gazes meeting. Her mixed emotions were clean on her face. She liked sharing her dream, but it meant their conversation would have to wait for another time. “I’d love to show you, and I have to introduce you to Noah Yoder, who’s done all the work with the help of his nephew and a few other young men.”
Leon removed his hat and scratched his head. “Noah Yoder. That name sounds familiar. Are you a scribe in The Budget?”
“No, sir. I’m not.” Noah’s gut tightened down as if being cinched by a rope. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to check on the young men who are painting around back.”
“Are you from Illinois?” The man’s brow furrowed. “I know I know that name for some reason.”
Marsha gave Leon’s arm a playful tap. “Do you know how many Noah Yoders there must be?” she chuckled.
Ignoring his wife’s comment, Leon stepped toward Noah. “Oh, you’re going to give the outside a makeover too?”
Noah shrugged, feeling the man’s gaze on him. The man was searching his mind’s archives, trying to figure out where he’d heard that name. Noah could see it in
his eyes.
“Just a coat of paint. It’s nice meeting you both. I’ll probably see you around.” He hurried out before they asked any more questions, and before they could follow. He also hoped that Leon would not remember why his name sounded so familiar. Five years ago there had been numerous reports in The Budget about his accident. And he had no doubt many an Amish preacher had used his example in their sermons too. If ever there’d been an example of how following the ways of the world could lead to destruction, he was it.
He just hoped that he had a chance to tell Lovina before someone connected him with the accident. And—even though it seemed impossible—he dared to hope that maybe a bit of the good he was doing now with the guys would help to redeem his deeds.
As Noah strode around the back of the building to check on the progress of the painting, one of his mem’s old sayings came to mind: “The trouble with experience is you never have it until after you need it.” He’d make a different choice now because of that experience. He supposed he could be grateful for that. Grateful for wisdom and a second chance. Noah just hoped Lovina would understand, and that her thoughts of who he was now wouldn’t be darkened because of who he was then.
Pecan Pie
One 9-inch unbaked pie crust
3 large eggs, beaten
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
⅓ cup butter, melted
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup chopped pecans
1 cup pecan halves
vanilla ice cream (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°. Mix eggs, sugar, butter, salt, corn syrup, and vanilla in a bowl. Stir in chopped pecans. Pour into pie crust, reserving ¼ cup of filling. Top with pecan halves. Pour reserved filling over the top of the crust. Bake 60-70 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.
Twenty-Two
The dearest things of life are most near at hand.
AMISH PROVERB
Lovina looked at her warehouse, amazed at the pipes and wires running through the walls. They’d hired a professional plumber and electrician, and the warehouse had been a hive of activity. It had been a couple of weeks since Noah had talked about their relationship growing beyond their friendship, but not much had changed. With the goal of opening the pie shop before the November buses rolled in, remodeling work consumed their lives. They had short moments to chat and share pie-related dreams of their future, but they hadn’t found a good time to talk more about his past. Would there ever be a good time? It must be something truly horrible if he put off telling her. But what? She knew if she asked Mem she could find out. But she didn’t want to hear it that way. She wanted to hear it from him—whatever “it” was.
Noah’s booted footsteps echoed from the back office where he and the guys had just installed the new window air conditioning unit. She turned and watched him approach. He had an intense look on his face. Frustration? Resolution? Excitement? Maybe a bit of all three. “Lovina, they were supposed deliver the rest of the kitchen equipment today. But they called and it won’t be here until tomorrow.”
Her eyes widened. “But does that put us behind? Do you think we can still open in time?” The muscles in her neck tightened, and she rubbed at them with fingers that were already sore from ripping open boxes and sorting through the boxes of restaurant supplies. Plates, mugs, glasses, linens, pie plates—who knew they’d need so much stuff! She didn’t want to get tense, but they’d been working so hard. One missed deadline could hinder the rest of their plans.
Her stomach knotted too as she looked at Noah, wondering if there were other things he was hiding from her. More personal things. Perhaps the tension wasn’t only because of the pie shop, but it was easier to blame it on that.
Noah reached a hand and stroked her face. “You look worried.”
She wiped at the place he was touching her. “Do I have dirt there? Or paint?”
“No.” The word was just a whisper. “You look beautiful, that’s all.”
She turned her head toward him, taking in the warm look on his face, his smile. All her tension seemed to melt under his gaze.
She’d never been told she was beautiful before, and she almost didn’t believe him. But something in her heart told to believe the tender look that she saw in his gaze.
She lifted her hand to point out the area above the window. “If we put a shelf up there—”
“You didn’t hear me, did you?”
“What?” Her cheeks warmed, and she looked to her feet. “Ja, of course I did.”
His thumb gently stroked her wrist. “What did I say?”
“I’m…I’m…” She tried to repeat the word, but it wouldn’t come out.
“You. Are. Beautiful.” He spoke each word with conviction, and the words soaked into her soul. Tears rimmed her eyes, and she hoped she didn’t look like a fool.
She dropped her eyes to their joined hands. “Thank you. I like hearing that.”
“I hope so.” His voice became solemn. “You’d better get used to me saying it. Because I intend to say it…often.”
He turned her hand over and kissed her palm. His lips were warm and soft and a chill traveled up her arm and then raced down her spine. She thought back to that first time she’d seen him. It was the same day she saw this place. God had so much in store for her. So much planned for her. More than she could have imagined. She didn’t know what to say…but she didn’t need to say anything. A slow smile broke across her face.
Noah grinned. “You have been working very hard. And I have an idea. Why don’t we skip work for the rest of the day and go to the beach?”
“To the beach?”
He chuckled. “By the way that you say that you’d think I was asking you to go to the moon.”
“Sometimes it seems like going to the moon. My mind has just been so focused on this place. On getting everything just right.”
“Well.” He winked. “Maybe we should change that.”
“Yes, Noah, I’d like that very much.”
Twenty minutes later, they were riding their bikes down Bahia Vista Street to Tuttle Avenue. They parked their bikes there and took the #16 bus to the beach. There were a few other ladies in kapps on the bus—women Lovina didn’t recognize. She’d noticed more and more tourists showing up every day. Most came down with hired drivers. A few Mennonite families flew on commercial flights. The colder it got up north the quicker they came. They still had three weeks before the first Pioneer Trails bus would arrive. Three weeks to finish getting everything ready.
Lovina sucked in a breath as all the things that needed to get done in the next three weeks filled her mind.
Noah turned from where he was looking out the window to face her. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes! Noah, I need to start working on the pies. Grace and I made a list a while ago, but there is so much to do. We need to start baking the shells. Those will freeze, but we need to start buying all the rest of the ingredients. And I need to figure out the food budget too.”
Noah leaned close until his nose nearly touched hers. “Lovina, this is our afternoon off, remember? Can you just try to relax and enjoy it?”
She blew out a frustrated breath. “How can I? How will I be able to relax when there is so much to do?”
He took her hand in his and squeezed. “Well, I have a bit of wisdom to share that might help. My mem used to always say, ‘The dearest things of life are most near at hand.’ ” He winked. “And today, Lovina, that is me.”
She smiled at the gentle way he was leading her back to the present. Back to him. “Ja, well, my mem used to say, ‘Half done is far from done.’ ”
He laughed. “That’s a good one too, but why don’t we focus on my mem’s advice for today?”
She leaned against his shoulder, peering out the window and watching the cars pass. He smelled of wood shavings, sunshine, and bacon, most likely from breakfast. It was a homey, familiar smell. “I
think I can do that. I’ll try.”
They arrived at the beach twenty minutes later. She took off her flip-flops as she walked on the sand. It was warm under her feet. Her hand easily slid into Noah’s and she couldn’t help but think back to the last time she was here. She had been with Thomas. Back then, she’d wanted nothing more than to leave, and now…well, she was looking forward to a beautiful day with Noah by her side.
Seagulls swooped and danced overhead. The ocean breeze was intoxicating. She’d always thought that her favorite aroma was pie cooking. It still was, but the ocean breeze was coming in a close second. Why hadn’t she noticed it before? Why did today seem perfect—everything about it?
They walked hand in hand, strolling by those wearing bathing suits, shorts, and T-shirts. A woman strode by in a dark blue summer dress with a beach towel tucked under her arm. A man jogged up to her and wrapped his arm around her, and she was happy to see him. Then, without warning, he snatched the towel from her and she chased after him. They laughed as she chased him into the water. He tossed the towel to the dry sand and they splashed each other. Soon they were both soaking wet.
Lovina laughed, and then looked to Noah. He was watching her instead of them.
“What? What are you looking at?”
“Oh.” He sighed. “I just like to see you smile. That’s all.”
He spread out a blanket, and they sat side by side. She wished he would say something. Wished he’d use this time to tell her the truth—whatever he’d worked so hard to keep hidden from her. She didn’t want to ruin the moment, but all the things she’d imagined over the last few weeks were coming to a boiling point in her mind.
What was it about his past that bothered him so? Bothered Mem?
Instead, he talked about his parents coming down for Christmas. “I told my mem all about you, Lovina. She said she can’t wait to meet the woman who’s captured my heart.” He ran his fingers through the sand and then focused on her. “My mem even asked about the future…our future. She wanted to know—”
