by Amy Clipston
Jasper backed away from the counter and let her have the room. With quick, efficient movements she took care of the lady’s trio of meats. She never looked at Jasper.
In fact, she seemed to be pretending he no longer stood in her space. “I’ll be in the office,” he said to no one in particular.
“Good to meet you,” Raymond called after him. “I hope your father gets out of the hospital soon. Esther Marie told me about his health scare.”
“Thank you.” Jasper hoped so too. Father would get well and everything would go back to normal. He would farm and Esther Marie would be at the store.
And they’d go back to crossing paths only once a week instead of every five minutes.
That’s what he wanted.
Wasn’t it?
Chapter 9
A five-thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle of Niagara Falls would be easier to figure out than one man. Esther Marie gritted her teeth, ducked her head, and cleaned up the counter. She returned the meats to their proper spots in the refrigerated cases. At this rate she would simply take the pie she’d made the night before back home and let the kids eat it after supper. Jasper didn’t deserve it. He didn’t act like a man interested in anything more than embarrassing her in front of a friend.
As usual Raymond waited with the air of a man who had all day—maybe all summer—to wait. She’d never known anyone with so much patience. His brief appearance in the life of the store had been about Christine and her quest to experience life outside the tight-knit Kootenai community. Esther Marie played a tiny part in their short-lived relationship. She passed notes between them like a girl caught in a schoolyard romance.
Christine had gone back to Kootenai and Raymond moved away. So imagine her surprise when he showed up one day to bring her a sack of books to read. Some were biographies of famous people who stuttered. Others were books about minimizing the speech defect. A few were just for fun. Raymond said everyone needed books as a way to escape their lives, even if only for a few hundred pages.
Esther Marie had never been a big reader, but Raymond’s urging had propelled her into worlds she now enjoyed. She forced herself to look up and meet Raymond’s gaze. “S-S-S-orry about all that-t-t-t.”
“About what?” Raymond handed her the book and smiled. “I’m not in that big of a rush.”
“About J-J-J-as-per.”
Raymond took the package of double-fudge brownies she offered him. “He seems like he’s wound really tight. But it also seems like he really cares.”
“Cares?” Esther Marie’s voice squeaked in indignation. A person didn’t show he cared by being surly and rude. “I d-d-d-on’t think s-s-s-so.”
“He does care about you.” Raymond grinned and pushed his sunglasses farther back on his head. “He seemed jealous, actually. As a guy I recognize jealousy when I see it. I get really jealous when Tonya talks to other guys at parties. Or anywhere, for that matter.”
“B-B-B-ut she’s your g-g-g-girlfriend.”
“Maybe Jasper would like to be your boyfriend.”
“F-F-F-Funny way of sh-sh-owing it.”
“Guys are like that.” Raymond added the carton of ice cream she offered him to the small handheld basket in his other hand. “We don’t like mushy stuff and talking about our feelings. It’s worse than a root canal.”
“No fun for g-g-g-irls either.”
“Do you like him?”
“I s-s-s-uppose.”
Raymond laughed a deep belly laugh. “You look like you just drank a glass of sour milk.”
“He-e-e is h-h-h-ard to underst-st-st-and. He runs ho-t-t-t and c-c-c-old. If he li-li-li-kes me, why d-d-d-oesn’t he as-k-k-k me to take a buggy ride?”
“Girls make it sound like that’s so easy. It’s hard. You never know if you’re going to be rejected. It stinks. He just hasn’t gotten up the courage yet. Maybe if you started.”
“G-G-G-irls don’t st-st-st-art-t-t-t.”
“Sometimes they do. Tonya did.” He saluted and blew her a breezy kiss. “It’s always good seeing you, Esther Marie. Take care of yourself. Don’t let tradition stand in your way. If you want to know what’s on Jasper’s mind, ask him. I wasted a whole lot of time not seeing that Tonya is the only woman for me. Life is short. Go for the gusto.”
Esther Marie nodded and waved until he turned around and headed for the registers up front. Go for the gusto. That didn’t sound like something a Plain woman did.
She scrubbed the countertops, washed down the slicers, rinsed the washcloths, and swept the floors. No new customers materialized. She sighed so hard, the wisp of hair loose on her forehead jumped.
“F-F-F-ine.” She keyed the radio and asked Rachel to cover the deli for her.
Rachel took no time in speed walking to the deli. If Lucy hadn’t made a rule against it, she would’ve run. “What’s up?”
Nothing that could be shared with Miss Diarrhea of the Mouth. Sweet as she was, Rachel could not keep a secret. “I just need a quick break.”
“Ah. No problem. Take your time.”
From her knowing look, Rachel thought this was a potty break. No reason to set her straight.
Before she lost her courage, Esther Marie marched down the hall, rapped on the office door, and proceeded to open it before Jasper had a chance to respond.
“I d-d-d-on’t unders-s-s-stand . . .”
The office was empty.
* * *
First that man in front of her house. Now Raymond Old Fox. Jasper strode to the front of the store. He needed a breath of fresh air. He needed his team of horses and his field of corn. He needed to dig in the dirt and plant something.
Cara looked up from sacking groceries for an elderly couple who yelled at each other about the canned goods’ prices. Not because they were angry but because neither appeared to own a hearing aid. “Are you leaving?”
“I’m cleaning up the displays on the porch if anyone needs me.”
“I’ll tell Esther Marie.”
“No need.”
He pushed through the door and managed to shut it quietly. No point in taking his frustration out on the building. The porch needed sweeping. A sign trumpeting produce prices was crooked. He straightened it.
He’d been silly to think a smart, tenderhearted girl like Esther Marie would not have suitors.
He grabbed the broom and swept out leaves, dirt, and a variety of bugs into the grass.
His blood pressure returned to normal. His brain refrained from exploding. He breathed. Raymond Old Fox knew better than to court Esther Marie. He’d learned his lesson with Christine. He was a kind man.
The stranger at Esther Marie’s house was an unknown factor. But Jasper still had a chance. Filled with resolve born of the certainty that if he didn’t act now he would lose the chance forever, Jasper marched back into the store. Looking neither left nor right, he strode into his office, scooped up the bag of jelly beans, and made his way to the deli.
Rachel stood behind the counter tearing up lettuce for the packaged salads.
“Where’s Esther Marie?”
“She needed a break.”
“Why, was something wrong?” Or did she go somewhere with Raymond Old Fox?
“I couldn’t really say. It was of a personal nature.” Her face suddenly red, Rachel wiped her hands on a dish towel. “Could you cover for a minute while I run to the bathroom? It’ll only take a few seconds. Too much coffee—”
“Of course. No problem.”
She dashed past him before he could push through the deli gate. He waited until she was out of sight to rummage through the items underneath the counter. Esther Marie’s canvas bag and lunch cooler sat next to a box of plastic wrap. With a deep breath and a quick prayer, he nestled the jelly beans on top of her bag.
“What are you doing? Where’s Rachel?”
Jasper jumped and backed away from the counter at the sound of Esther Marie’s inquiry. His calf banged against a huge box of napkins. He teetered and righted himself. “You real
ly need to tidy up around here.” He pushed through the swinging gate and swept past her. “Rachel went to the bathroom. I’ll let you take it from here.”
He could feel her puzzled gaze boring into his back all the way down the aisle.
What happened next would be up to her.
Please, Gott, let one thing lead to another.
Let this be the start of the precious friendship I’ve always wanted with Esther Marie. Show me what to do next.
Let there be a next.
Chapter 10
One step forward, two steps backward. Was it like that with all men or just Jasper? Wiping her forehead with her sleeve, Esther Marie stifled a groan. She stuck the mop she’d been using on the deli floor into a bucket and swished it around. The AC unit in the store couldn’t keep up with the humidity in the air. Dark, nasty clouds hid the mountains when she had arrived at work. The only way to get relief would be a good, soaking rain.
And a word face-to-face with Jasper.
Four days had gone by since she found Jasper’s lovely gift of jelly beans on her bag in the deli. Finally, a signal, a sign, a move that said Jasper, too, wanted to go for that gusto. He liked her. He’d finally found a way to express it. She waited until he was talking to a farmer in the produce section about buying his corn on the cob to set her offering of apple pie on his desk in return.
The next day the empty, clean pan appeared on top of her lunch cooler with a thank-you note signed “J.” The following day an entire bag of jelly beans in every flavor imaginable found its way into her cooler with a note that said “sweets for the sweet.” In response she made snickerdoodles and left a package of four on his lunch bag. No note. Instead she waited for him to come looking for her.
But he didn’t. Whenever their paths crossed, Jasper smiled, ducked his head, and squeezed past her with a muttered hello. Like a young boy too shy for his own britches.
There had been no more outbursts, no intruding on her work, and no bossing anyone around. He simply took care of the paperwork, tallied the receipts, and made the deposits. He continued to bring in produce from the farm as his family and friends harvested it. Fresh corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, radishes, and leaf lettuce. He smiled at the customers and the employees alike with a hearty “good morning.” Esther Marie had to look up to make sure it wasn’t Fergie himself, back from his hospital stay.
So why the deflated feeling? The sense of anticipation fizzled. She found herself peering out the window before she went to bed, sure she’d heard horse hooves. Nothing.
Her dream of a buggy ride did not materialize. Not just any buggy ride, but one with Jasper. She should be happy that he obviously recognized that she could run the store on her own. That should make her happy. Instead, the feeling that life had passed her by shrouded the deli while she worked.
Time to get over him and move on. That’s what her mother would say if Esther Marie told her, which she did not. It would only lead to more supper guests. What would Raymond say? Go for the gusto. Time to up your game. That’s what Raymond would say.
How? In this case of two awkward, mismatched Plain people, what would that mean? Esther Marie puzzled over that conundrum as she sprayed the cooler doors with glass cleaner and wiped them down until they sparkled. It had been a busy day, but business was winding down.
“Hey, did you see the sky out there?” Rachel trudged by pushing a bucket on wheels with a mop stuck in it. “It’s dark as night. It looks like it’s about to rain cats and dogs.”
“Ach, nee, B-B-B-art and Darcie are br-r-r-ringing Fergie b-b-b-back to the house this after-r-r-r-n-n-n-oon. They’ll be c-c-c-c-caught in it.”
“Mr. Daugherty says they’re forecasting a gully washer with high winds and hail.”
“In that case, we should close up early.” A stack of folders and a clipboard in one arm, Jasper strode toward them. He had a pencil behind one ear and a distracted look on his face. “If the weather is that bad, nobody will be shopping for groceries, anyway. We’ll put a sign on the door, Closed Due to Weather.”
“You sh-sh-should leave n-n-n-ow.” No matter how many times Esther Marie reminded herself to breathe, to picture the words, to relax, she still couldn’t make them come out smoothly. Raymond’s book was full of good ideas, but nothing really changed for her. It was beyond frustrating. To talk to Jasper like a normal woman would be so sweet. Maybe then he would do more than give her jelly beans.
Gott, why? Why can’t You take this thorn from my side? “S-S-S-o you c-c-can be there when F-F-F-Fergie g-g-g-gets home.”
“That’s okay. I should be the one to stay behind and close up.” He hugged the files to his chest. “Rachel, tell the other girls to pack up and go. You don’t want to be caught in the wind and rain on your bicycles.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Rachel tossed a sympathetic smile at Esther Marie and sped away.
“You go too.” Jasper cocked his head toward the back. “I have to finish this paperwork, and then I’ll lock up.”
“I’m r-r-r-r-running out of the h-h-h-ams. I n-n-n-need to order m-m-m-more.” She would leave when he did. She didn’t mind getting wet, and folks liked to exaggerate these summer storms. They didn’t strike often and they came and went in a flash. Winter snowstorms were far more exciting. “D-D-D-o your paperwork. I’ll lock th-th-the d-d-d-oor after the g-g-girls.”
He didn’t argue. Instead he wandered in the direction of the office. “I’ll turn on the radio.”
Fergie kept a small battery-operated radio in his office for occasions such as this.
Esther Marie rushed to the front and helped Rachel and Cara close out their registers. She made up the sign as Jasper suggested. By the time she held the door for the girls, she could barely keep it from smacking the outside wall. A menacing layer of roiling black clouds hovered overhead. Rain splattered big fat drops on her face. The girls had to battle the fierce wind to unlock their bikes. None of them tried to ride away but instead began to push them.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Esther Marie yelled into the wind. “You could stay until it blows over.”
“Nee, we live close.” Rachel bent into the wind. “Don’t wait too long or you’ll be stuck here for hours.”
Sally was already across the parking lot. She also lived close by. Much closer than Esther Marie. She wrestled the door shut, locked it, and turned to lean against it. “Whew.” Raindrops slapped against the glass in a steady splat, splat. She jumped. “Silly girl.”
She’d better hurry or she would be stuck here. She scurried back to the deli and rustled through the folders she kept on the back counter. She also needed to order more ice cream. The hot weather had customers buying double and triple what they normally would.
She also needed condiments. She scratched her nose and considered the list in front of her. Spicy mustard, Dijon mustard, yellow mustard, and jalapeño mustard.
The lights went out.
Esther Marie froze. Seven o’clock on a summer evening and it was pitch black in the store. “Ach.” She closed her eyes for a few seconds to give them a chance to adjust. When she opened them, familiar outlines reappeared.
Moving with care, she edged toward the back drawers. Did she have a flashlight tucked in one of them? Maybe. Plain folks lived without electricity at home, but she had never experienced this darkness in the store. Goose bumps scurried up her arms. She shivered and rubbed them.
“Esther Marie?”
The bright beam of a flashlight danced across the countertops and hit her right in the eyes. She clapped her hands to her face. “Don’t sh-sh-sh-ine that in my f-f-f-face.”
“Sorry.” The light shifted to her chest. “What do we do now? All this frozen food and meat and the produce in the produce room. Everything will spoil!”
Esther Marie slid her hand along the counter, allowing it to guide her closer to Jasper. “We have t-t-t-time. L-L-L-eave the freez-z-z-zer doors shut. The c-c-c-cases will hold their t-t-t-temperature for a f-f-f
-f-ew hours.”
If the electricity stayed off overnight, they would have problems with spoilage.
“It seems like we should do something.” The light bounced up and down as Jasper talked. Esther Marie had the urge to touch his hand, to soothe his shaking. She moved closer. It bounced away. “We could lose a mountain of produce if it gets too warm in the produce room.”
“We have k-k-kerosene l-l-l-anterns on the hardw-w-ware aisle.” She pushed through the swinging doors. “C-c-c-candles up front by the c-c-c-ook-b-b-b-ooks.”
“Gut idea. We can shed light on the situation.”
As her eyes adjusted Esther Marie could see the outline of his face but not his expression. He sounded nervous yet pleased somehow.
They were alone in the store. It took a second for that thought to sink in. She and Jasper were alone together for the very first time. In the dark. Heat trailed across her face, down her neck, and finally along her spine. Now her hands shook. “L-L-Lead the w-w-w-way.”
He kept the flashlight trained on the floor in front of them. Esther Marie stayed close. She wasn’t afraid of the dark, but she had no desire to trip and break her neck either. The hardware aisle proved to be a bust. They were sold out of lanterns.
“I guess people knew this was coming.”
People who watched the TV meteorologist’s reports and listened to the radio, two things neither of them did. From there, they traipsed to the front. The candle supply had a dent in it, but several remained.
Using her apron as a catchall, Esther Marie collected them. “W-w-w-we can use s-s-s-some j-j-j-ars from the canning section—”
“Look.”
She followed Jasper’s gaze to the floor-to-ceiling windows that ran along the front of the store on either side of the double glass doors. Rain fell in sheets. Lightning strikes came so close together at times they seemed to light the sky from corner to corner. The continuous rolling thunder sounded like a train coming closer and closer. The trees that lined the far edges of the parking lot bent so low they were in danger of breaking. A ping-ping-ping against the glass deepened until it burst into a bang-bang-bang. Hail threatened to break the windows.
