A Reunion in Pinecraft

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  “Matthew works third shift at the brickyard in Sugarcreek,” Graham told her, explaining why his friend had no tan at all.

  “So if you ever need someone to hang out with while everyone else is out in the sun, I’m your man,” Matthew said with a grin.

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Now I, on the other hand, already have a gut base tan,” Toby said, holding out a lightly tanned forearm.

  “He works construction,” Graham explained.

  “That means if you ever need something built, I’m the guy to talk to,” he said, winking at her.

  His flirty comment was so fun, she giggled. “Careful, Toby, I may just take you up on that.”

  “I promise, you calling on me wouldn’t be a hardship.”

  She giggled again, liking how lighthearted he was. As she picked up her cup, she glanced Graham’s way and was startled to see he was frowning at Toby as though he’d just done something wrong.

  Toby must have felt the tension, because he looked at Graham, raised his eyebrows, then smirked. “You got a problem, Graham?”

  After a pause, Graham shook his head. “Nee.”

  “Gut.”

  As Matthew coughed, Graham’s expression hardened. Luckily Vera stood up at one end of the table and diffused the burst of tension that had just risen.

  Holding up a printed pamphlet, she said, “I’ve got the schedule of the SCAT, the Sarasota County Area Transit system, and a bus for Siesta Key leaves in fifteen minutes. Can we make it?”

  “I can,” Sharon said. She stood up and walked to her girlfriend’s side. She needed some distance between her and Graham before she began imagining there was something romantic between them.

  That would be a huge mistake.

  CHAPTER 5

  THOUGH THE SUN WAS SHINING AND SHE WAS EXCITED to be going to the beach, Sherry felt a little uneasy. She was beginning to feel as though something wasn’t quite right between her and Graham. Oh, he’d been friendly. He’d also acted pleased to see her again when she arrived on Saturday. But something in his letters to her was missing now.

  At first, she thought he was simply a little shy. Then she thought he was one of those rare people who communicated far better in letters than in person. Finally, she began to wonder if maybe his letters hadn’t been all that warm or special after all. Maybe they’d simply been . . . letters. Friendly, to be sure, but not filled with hope for a future relationship as she’d imagined.

  It was really too bad that she hadn’t brought the letters with her. Then she could compare them to the man she was coming to know.

  If she ever really got to know Graham, that is, since right now he seemed to be avoiding her.

  As the SCAT bus made another stop, Sherry watched Graham and Sharon—and fretted. They were sitting together in front while she was sitting in the last row.

  “If you sigh again, people around us are going to think you have some kind of lung ailment,” Carla whispered. She was sitting next to Sherry, by the window. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing. I’m fine.”

  “Sherry, please, don’t play this game. I know something is bugging you. Tell me. You know I won’t give up until you tell me what has you so upset.”

  Knowing Carla wasn’t joking—she would nag until Sherry finally told her what was on her mind—Sherry looked down the aisle. After making sure Toby, Matthew, and Vera weren’t in hearing distance, she whispered, “I don’t think Graham likes me anymore.”

  Carla’s eyebrows rose. “What makes you say that?”

  “A lot of things.”

  “Such as?”

  “First of all, look who he’s sitting next to. It’s Sharon, not me.”

  Carla shrugged. “Don’t go making a problem where there ain’t one. You can see how crowded this bus is. We all had to take seats wherever we could find them.”

  Shaking her head impatiently, Sherry said, “It’s more than that. Graham hardly looks at me. And when I mention something he wrote in one of his letters, he gets this weird expression on his face. It’s strange. Almost like he’s embarrassed that we wrote to each other for months.”

  “I’m sure he’s not embarrassed. After all, if it hadn’t been for you two writing to each other, none of us would be here now.”

  “Oh, I know that. But he’s different, Carla.” As she noticed Graham cocking his head, evidently to be sure he heard something Sharon said, frustration and jealousy churned in her stomach. “He’s distancing himself. I know it.”

  “I haven’t noticed him doing that.”

  “I have. And wouldn’t I notice it more than you?”

  “Not necessarily. We just got here,” she said in her matter-of-fact way.

  Continuing to stare at Graham and her sister, Sherry mumbled, “This is just terrible. I really . . . I thought I knew him.” To her embarrassment, she heard her voice tremble. “I had such high hopes too.”

  Carla pursed her lips as the bus stopped again. Two English teenagers got off, and an older couple climbed aboard and took their seats. When the bus pulled forward, she said, “Sherry, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I think you’ve put too much hope in those letters. Jah, you’ve been writing to each other for months. Jah, you probably also shared some things. But that doesn’t mean you had a relationship. Be honest, now. You don’t actually know Graham.”

  Sherry wanted to argue with her. She wished she could pull out one of those letters and prove to Carla that she hadn’t been wrong to expect that she and Graham would be a couple when they reunited in Pinecraft.

  But of course, she didn’t have the letters with her. She wouldn’t embarrass either of them by sharing their private correspondence anyway.

  As the bus sped along the long causeway that led to Siesta Key, Sherry began to wonder if she had, in fact, put way too much emphasis on mere letters. Sure, they’d been lovely. The novelty of having a handsome pen pal was exciting too. But they weren’t the same as having a real conversation with someone face-to-face—or, in Graham’s case, avoiding that conversation.

  Unable to help herself, she sighed again.

  Carla groaned. “Sherry, you are driving me crazy.”

  “I’m sorry my pain is causing you to be uncomfortable.”

  “Your moping around is going to spoil a perfectly nice vacation,” she said loud enough for the man sitting across the aisle to look at them in alarm.

  “Hush, Carla.”

  “I’ll hush if you promise to stop acting like this meeting in Pinecraft was supposed to result in a marriage proposal. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself and on Graham too. Why don’t you just try to relax and enjoy our vacation? It’s not going to be the end of the world if you and Graham don’t get together. Or if you meet someone else you like better.”

  As the words sank in, Sherry was finally able to look away from Graham and Sharon. “Do you think that’s possible?”

  “Of course it is. We’re only twenty! Let’s just have fun. I mean, even if we go home with only tans and some gut memories, that’s going to be more than enough.”

  “Jah. You’re right.” She felt self-conscious now that she was admitting to herself that she had actually dreamed about Graham and their practically running into each other’s arms in the bus parking lot. She chuckled softly. “Danke. You gave me some perfect advice.”

  “You’re not mad at me for bursting your bubble?”

  “Not at all. You are exactly right. Here we are, under the beautiful Florida sun, and I don’t have to work for two weeks. I need to definitely start looking on the positive side of things.”

  “Gut job,” Carla said as the bus pulled into the middle of a large parking lot next to the beach. “And just in time, too, because we’ve arrived.”

  “Danke again, Carla.”

  “Nee problem,” she replied. “That’s what friends are for.”

  “Indeed.”

  As everyone got to their feet, Sherry gazed out at the beautiful white sa
nd and turquoise water that was so famous.

  Now, this place, at least, wasn’t destined for disappointment. She was fairly sure Siesta Key was going to surpass her greatest expectations.

  CHAPTER 6

  GRAHAM’S FIRST IMPRESSION OF SIESTA KEY WAS THAT it was beautiful—right on the expansive Gulf of Mexico and no doubt one of the most stunning places on God’s earth. The beach was wide and uncluttered and went on for miles. A person could walk for a solid hour without having to turn around. The fine sand looked almost pure white and felt like sugar slipping between his fingers and toes.

  And the water! It was clear as glass, greenish-blue, and felt just two shades cooler than bath water. Boats and ships and other watercraft bobbed in the distance.

  The only structures in sight were a snack shack and evenly spaced lifeguard shacks. All were built out of wood and painted primary colors. Their bright red, blue, and yellow forms dotted the landscape and made him smile. Feeling fanciful, Graham decided those buildings illustrated how absolutely picture-worthy and charming the small island was. Graham felt the builders had done a very fine job.

  When they first arrived, Sherry, Carla, and Matthew had led the way. Even though none of them had been to the area before, they had definite ideas about where to set up camp. He, on the other hand, couldn’t imagine any spot he wouldn’t want to be.

  He, Sharon, Vera, and Toby followed the trio and stood to one side while they debated. Graham was amused at how Sharon seemed more than happy to let her little sister take the lead. That was so different from the dynamics with his brothers at home. There was a definite pecking order there. His older brother, Robert, wanted to lead Graham and their younger brother, Caleb, all the time and no matter how old they got.

  Once the perfect spot had been selected, Graham followed the rest of the group and laid his towel on the outskirts of their claim. He never liked to be confined and wanted to have room to spread out. Plus, he knew he would want to get up and walk around a lot, especially since it was so hot. He had no desire to disrupt everyone else’s relaxation, stepping around them or getting sand in their food or drinks.

  He couldn’t help but notice Sharon picked the same sort of spot on the opposite side of their group. He wondered if she did that because she, too, wanted room to move around.

  But now, from the way she seemed to be trying to look everywhere but at him, he suspected her reasoning had to do with creating distance she didn’t have on the bus.

  Their talk had been a little stilted, as though she wished she were sitting with someone else. That surprised him after their conversation on the porch Saturday night and this morning at breakfast. He thought she’d warmed up to him a bit.

  Or maybe she, too, was aware of the strange connection that was happening between them? A connection she thought her sister wouldn’t like? He hadn’t been thrilled when Toby flirted with her earlier, but he didn’t think she . . .

  He didn’t know what to think. And he didn’t know what to do. He’d written to the wrong sister and hadn’t even been brave enough to come right out and tell either of them. Instead, he was mooning over Sharon and avoiding Sherry.

  He was fairly sure this wasn’t going to end well, and it would be all his fault.

  Just as he decided to let the Lord take care of his problems and exhaled, he saw Sherry pull off her dress to reveal a one-piece bathing suit.

  Realizing his face was probably turning a deep red, he jumped to his feet.

  “What are you doing?” Toby asked, brushing the sand he’d kicked up off his left arm.

  “I’m going for a walk.”

  “Already? We just got here.”

  “Yeah, well, I like walking.”

  Turning away, he resolutely kept his gaze straight ahead as he raced away. He had no desire to encourage any further connection to Sherry, and he couldn’t get away fast enough.

  After a couple of minutes, Toby caught up to him.

  “Something wrong?” Graham asked.

  “Nah. All of a sudden I just decided I felt like walking too.”

  Graham doubted that. Toby worked construction in Millersburg. The guy was active all day, every day. All he’d been talking about from the time they’d planned this trip was how great it would be to sit around and do nothing.

  But if he knew anything about Toby, it was that he’d share what was on his mind when he felt the time was right. After they passed another lifeguard shack, Graham said, “The sand and surf feel great on bare feet. Ain’t so?”

  “Jah.”

  Another couple of minutes of silence passed before Toby said, “Hey, Graham? I need to ask you something.”

  “Sure. What is it?”

  After Toby looked at the waves for a couple of beats, he turned back to Graham. “Well, I need to know this. Which one of the Kramer sisters do you like?”

  He was so caught off guard, Graham stopped and stared. He and Toby had been best friends from the time they were seven or eight years old. They’d discussed all kinds of things and had even gotten each other through their rumspringa when both of them had done some pretty foolish things.

  But they’d never discussed women. At least, not like this. He’d never told Toby much about his correspondence with Sherry, or even Sherry herself. Good thing, since it turned out Sherry wasn’t Sharon.

  This made him uncomfortable, though he knew it was mainly because he didn’t know how to confess what a mess he’d made with both women.

  Feeling as though he needed to be walking to continue the conversation, he moved on. “Why are you asking?”

  “Because you’re making me pretty confused.” Pulling up his sunglasses, revealing serious eyes, Toby added, “Maybe you could take a stab at clearing the air.”

  Ruthlessly, Graham picked up his pace. “I’m not dating either woman. You know that.”

  “I do know that.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “Well, Sherry acts as though your letter writing has been a little more significant than you led me to believe. And when her bus arrived, she seemed like she could be expecting a relationship with you.” He paused, then raised one eyebrow. “But on the other hand, it seems to me that you like Sharon as well. A lot. Do you?”

  Did he? A lot? He didn’t know.

  And that was terrible. It was also embarrassing. No. Beyond embarrassing. The last thing he wanted was to be seen as a man who played with women’s hearts.

  In a poor effort to evade the question, he blurted, “For the last time, I ain’t with either woman.” Hopefully Toby would get the hint and drop the subject.

  Unfortunately, he didn’t. Sounding progressively irritated, Toby said, “You know why I’m asking. Don’t act like you don’t know.”

  Graham glanced at his best friend again, forcing himself to wrap his mind around the fact that Toby was feeling tentative about a girl. Most likely about Sharon.

  The fact was, if Sharon was a woman who was much sought after, Toby was very likely her male counterpart. Blessed with dark-brown eyes, matching hair, and a perpetual tan, he stood out among many of the fair-skinned, fair-haired Amish men. Added to his list of attributes were his quiet, almost old-fashioned demeanor and his size. The man was easily two hundred and fifty pounds and over six feet tall. Yet because he worked construction, specializing in roofs and trusses, he had a grace to him that belied his size. Women all over Holmes County flirted with him. More than a few had let it be known they would love to be courted by him.

  In addition, Graham didn’t know one person who wasn’t fond of the guy. Toby was loyal and friendly. He didn’t deserve Graham’s attitude.

  “You’re right,” he said at last. “Sherry is the one I’ve been writing to, but—”

  “Wait. Why don’t you sound very glad about that?”

  “Probably because I, uh, hadn’t realized some things about her when we started corresponding.”

  Toby raised his eyebrows. “What did you discover?”

  Graham wished h
e could blurt out his case of mistaken identity, but he was sure there was no way to admit such a thing without being unkind to both girls. “Um, first off, I hadn’t realized how young she is.”

  “How old is she?”

  “Twenty. I heard her tell someone she’s twenty.”

  “Why is that a concern for you? Twenty ain’t too young at all. She’s more than old enough to be courting.”

  “That is true. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t think she was older. I thought she was twenty-two or twenty-three.”

  Toby scoffed. “You make that sound like a huge difference. It ain’t.”

  Graham sighed. “You’re right. It ain’t.”

  “What else is the problem?”

  Graham knew he needed to be more forthcoming. Looking off into the distance, he said, “Sherry’s sister has been a surprise to me. I find Sharon easy to talk to. And, well, I don’t think it’s happenstance that she’s here too. I’m wondering if maybe the Lord meant for me to meet Sharon through Sherry. So, um, that’s why I’ve been talking to her as well.”

  Toby’s expression turned chilly. “I find that excuse hard to believe.”

  Graham did as well. But that didn’t mean he could back down. “You shouldn’t find it hard to believe at all. After all, it’s true. It’s not an excuse.”

  “Graham, have you heard what you’re saying to me?”

  He had and he was embarrassed about it. But what was he supposed to do? Hating this situation he’d put himself in, he blurted again. “Toby, I haven’t been trying to court two women at the same time. It’s all just turned out that way.”

  “But you are. And if I’m noticing, everyone else is too.”

  “I feel certain everything will be resolved soon. Don’t forget, it’s only been a couple of days.”

  “I’m not forgetting that I’ve seen both women studying you with questions in their eyes. It ain’t right.”

  Graham felt trapped. “You mean it ain’t right for you. Don’t you think you’re sounding an awful lot like a moony teenage boy? I mean, who notices how much time other people spend together? Maybe the problem lies with you, Toby.”