A Reunion in Pinecraft

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Graham’s blue eyes widened. “Hold on now. I haven’t been flinging with anyone.”

  “Yet,” Sherry said, feeling angrier by the second. Actually, that anger was a good thing. Far better than sinking to the floor in embarrassment.

  “See?” Toby interjected. “This is exactly why I came along. I knew you girls would need some support.”

  “For what?” Sharon asked. “Graham just embarrassed both me and my little sister in front of you.”

  “What he did and said was nee reflection on you,” Toby said quickly. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”

  “You know what? Let’s just stop this conversation before it gets any worse.”

  “Sharon, I promise that I’m sorry.”

  Sharon frowned. “Why does that matter right now?”

  “Because I want you to believe me. I never meant to hurt anyone.”

  “Graham, all I need you to do is promise that you’ll keep your distance for the rest of this trip.”

  Graham flinched. “Neither of you will accept my apology?”

  Sharon got to her feet. “Why would you expect us to?”

  “Because it’s the right thing to do.”

  Sherry hated that he didn’t sound more upset with himself. “Graham, I believe you got us confused. I can even understand how that might have happened. But not telling me when I got here? And admitting what you did to Toby before telling either one of us? That was pretty low.”

  “I didn’t mean to upset you both. Toby is right. This is my fault. Not either of yours.”

  Sharon looked at him with a sad expression. “This might be a shock, but I didn’t remember your name either. So I would have understood that you got us mixed up.”

  “And now?”

  “Now? Now I have nee idea what to think. I’m angry. I just need a break.”

  “I’m going up to my room,” Sherry said, standing as well. “Do you want to come with me, Sharon?”

  “Nee. I’m going to the front porch,” she said over her shoulder as she started around the house.

  Just as she was about to encourage Sharon to come inside after all, Sherry noticed Toby was following her sister, and she went into the house alone. As she closed the back door behind her, she noticed Graham was sitting with his head resting in his hands. He looked despondent and so very alone. Sherry knew she should be glad he was suffering the consequences of his behavior.

  So why did she suddenly feel kind of sorry for him?

  CHAPTER 11

  “SHARON, WAIT!” TOBY CALLED OUT AS SHE WALKED along the side of the inn. The narrow flagstone pathway led from the patio to the broad front porch.

  Sharon was so mad and confused she didn’t want to stop. But she did. After all, it certainly wasn’t Toby’s fault that his friend had made such a mess of things.

  “Danke,” he said, scanning her face in the dim light. “Are you okay?”

  Since it was obvious that she wasn’t, she didn’t even attempt to hide her sarcasm. “I’m great. Wunderbaar.”

  Frustration flickered through his expression. “Let me rephrase that. Are you really disappointed?”

  She realized then that Toby thought she was mourning the loss of a man she didn’t really know, the loss of a relationship she’d only had a taste of—not enough to even know how it could be.

  That realization was all she needed to know she’d been reacting to the situation, yes, but not feeling pain in her heart.

  The difference was notable and significant.

  Exhaling deeply, she took a second to gather her thoughts. Then, as they walked to the porch together, she tried her best to convey how she felt in a way that would allow her and Toby both to come to terms with what had happened.

  “I’m disappointed Sherry wrote to a man for six months, cast a whole lot of hopes on a grand reunion that might blossom into a relationship, only to get her heart stomped on,” she said. “I’m disappointed to learn that while Graham remembered what I looked like, he still found me somehow forgettable, believing Sherry’s personality in those letters was mine. But I forgot his name, too, so that makes me disappointed with myself.”

  She paused, half waiting for Toby to nod and turn around. Or worse, give her a simple platitude that meant nothing to either of them. But instead he simply stared at her in that surprisingly patient way of his. She realized he was waiting for her to tell him everything. Even if it made them both uncomfortable.

  When was the last time someone had given her permission to be so open and honest? She knew that answer.

  Years. Maybe never.

  She sat down on one of the porch’s rocking chairs, and then, looking up into his dark-brown eyes with only moonlight to illuminate them, she took another fortifying breath and decided to be even more honest. “I’m embarrassed too.”

  “Why?” he asked, his tone gentle.

  She was completely at a loss. “Why? Because it’s, uh, it’s been a while since I’ve taken a chance like this. You see, I found out my former boyfriend had cheated on me, and it hurt.”

  “I’m sure it did.”

  “It hurt enough that I didn’t want to put myself at risk again. But Sherry was so excited about all the possibilities with the man who turned out to be Graham, and that made me want to try to trust again.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that. Although he never admitted it, I could sense Graham’s excitement about seeing the author of those letters again, and it made me want to take a chance too.”

  “Why was it hard? Have you been hurt too?”

  “Not like you. I just . . . well, I get uncomfortable around girls. I never know what to say, so I always joke around. Then they don’t take me seriously. But Graham’s hope for this trip made me a little hopeful too. I didn’t expect to fall in love or anything, but I was hoping I could do a little bit better in the relationship department.”

  “I don’t think you have any problems in that area.”

  “Nee? Well, that’s gut to know.”

  Sharon found herself smiling at Toby. “I don’t know what’s going to happen now, but I’m glad we’ve become friends.”

  “Me too.”

  When he sat down in the rocking chair next to hers, she tensed. “Toby, I appreciate you sitting with me and such, but I should warn you I’m not very gut company right now.”

  But instead of backing off, he chuckled. The sound was low and deep in his throat. “Sharon, I neither want nor need you to be gut company. I only want you to be yourself.”

  She ran a hand over her face. “I don’t know if what I’m being at the moment is me either. I’m not usually so emotional.”

  The corners of his lips curved up. “I’m kinda liking this emotional side of you.”

  Dropping her hand, she stared at him. “Why?”

  “Because, until very recently, you kind of intimidated me.”

  She scanned his face, looking for signs he was teasing her.

  But his eyes were clear, his expression earnest.

  While she gaped at him, he held out a hand. “Come on. Let’s go for a walk.”

  Not sure where the discussion was leading her or what destination Toby had in mind, Sharon realized she could either refuse or allow herself to be surprised.

  Put that way, there was no choice. She linked her fingers with his and let him pull her up. After another moment of awkwardness, she relaxed and picked up her pace to match his long-legged stride. She might not have any idea what was in store for them, but she did know she trusted Toby. That counted for a lot.

  Hand in hand, they walked down Bahia Vista, turned the corner on Magnolia, and ended up on the walking path in one of Pinecraft’s public parks she’d visited before. It was fairly dark out, though by the light of the streetlamps she could see a few people walking in the distance. But overall, it was quiet and the area was theirs.

  “Isn’t this something?” Toby asked as they slowed down.

  She was confused. “What are you referring to? The park
?”

  “Jah. But I mean something else too.” Dropping her hand, he gestured toward the scene around them. “I mean, look at it around here. Just a couple of hours ago, you couldn’t have paid me to return here.”

  Looking around, Sharon didn’t notice anything different—just the small pond, the walking path, the grassy area where groups of teenagers played impromptu kickball games. “Why does it seem different to you now?” she asked.

  “Before, it was too crowded, too hot. Too many people, too much noise, too much of, well, everything. But now that it’s clearer it seems a whole lot nicer to me.”

  “Because you don’t care for crowds.”

  Toby laughed. “I don’t. You’re right. But what I’m trying to say—and not very well—is that maybe I needed to give this place some time, to see it for what it is.”

  “Is that what you’re thinking about our experiences here? And about how Graham has been treating everyone?”

  “Maybe. Maybe he wasn’t wrong and we weren’t right. Maybe he was simply fumbling around, trying to figure out who was a gut fit for him . . . and, like me and this park, he changed his mind.”

  Feeling rather impressed with him, Sharon blinked. “Wow, Toby. And here I thought you were all about having fun.”

  “I am.” Grinning, he reached for her hand again and led her to a bench. “But just like I keep saying there’s more to you than most realize, I’m thinking maybe there’s more to me than you realize.” When she seated herself next to him, he stared at her. “Now, of course, the question is what you want to do about it.”

  A little buzz went through her as his words settled deep inside her. That was the question now, wasn’t it?

  What did she want to do? Or rather, what was she willing to do?

  CHAPTER 12

  “I’M BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH GUT FRIENDS,” SHERRY SAID to Vera and Carla. “Danke for listening to me fret and moan about everything. Sharon seemed to want to be alone, so we haven’t even had a chance to talk about this yet.”

  “Fret away. You have reason.”

  “You can fret even more if you want to,” Carla offered. “I don’t mind.”

  Sherry thought about that, and shook her head. “Nee thanks. I’m done feeling sorry for myself.”

  “Gut,” Vera said. “Especially since you and Sharon don’t have anything to feel bad about. I think this was all just a mix-up. Graham got confused and then was brave enough to confess it.”

  “And I let myself get carried away by my dreams. I should have realized people don’t fall in love through letters.”

  “And perhaps that nee romance is perfect,” Vera said. “My Stefan and I have had our fair share of misunderstandings. No relationship is perfect, especially not at the beginning.”

  “Point taken.” Just as Sherry was about to suggest they get ready for bed, they heard someone approach their attic door.

  “Sherry, can we talk?” Graham called through the door.

  She answered from inside. “It’s late.”

  “I know. But I’m not going to be able to sleep unless we talk. Please, will you give me a couple of minutes?”

  Heart pounding, she turned to Vera and Carla. “What should I do?”

  “Give him a chance, Sherry,” Carla coaxed. “He sounds pretty upset.”

  “I am upset.” Graham raised his voice a little. “Sherry, please?”

  She couldn’t believe it, but she was starting to waver. Was it because she felt sorry for him . . . or because he was the man she really wanted? Lord, what should I do? she asked silently. I want Graham in my life, but I don’t want him for the wrong reason.

  “Come on, Sherry. Please?” Graham pleaded.

  She looked at her girlfriends, then back at the door. What to do? What to do?

  But then she remembered that familiar verse from the book of Luke. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

  What more did she need to know?

  “Go talk with him,” Vera said. “He sounds miserable.”

  Feeling much better, she turned and opened the door.

  “Danke,” he said.

  Sherry almost smiled when she saw he looked as miserable as he sounded. His shirt was rumpled and untucked, and his hair was sticking up in all directions. Obviously, he’d been running his fingers through it. “Oh, Graham.”

  He blinked, changing some of the desperation she’d spied into relief. “Where can we talk?”

  As Vera and Carla giggled, she stepped into the hallway and closed the door firmly behind her. “Not in here. Let’s go downstairs. I bet there’s no one in the small alcove by the dining room this time of night.”

  While he led the way down the stairs, she cautioned herself to forgive, yes, but also to stay strong. She was going to listen to him, offer forgiveness, but then politely tell him she’d talk to him tomorrow before finally going to bed.

  But when they got to the small room, Graham turned to her and blurted, “Sherry, since I’ve already made such a mess of things, I’m just going to tell you something straight out.”

  “I’m listening.”

  Still staring at her intently, he said, “I really like you. You, not your sister. You, not the girl I was writing to but didn’t really know.”

  She loved what he was saying. Of course she did! But she was also afraid. “What if you change your mind again?”

  “I’m not going to.”

  Examining his expression, she looked for signs he was keeping his true feelings from her. But everything about him—from the intensity of his gaze to his firm stance—illustrated he was being completely open and honest. “You sound so certain.”

  “I am, Sherry.” He waved one hand in the air. “You see, this was why I had to tell you and Sharon the truth—and not only because Toby made me realize it was the right thing to do. I realized my feelings for you are real, and I wasn’t going to change my mind.” He paused. “Distance isn’t going to make me forget you,” he added, his words practically tumbling over each other. “I like you and it was killing me that I had that secret between us.”

  His words were sweet. Really sweet. But where did that leave them? “What happens next?”

  “That’s up to you, of course. But I know what I’m thinking.” Before she could utter anything, he reached for her hands. “How about this? I like how you know your mind. I like how you want to stay busy and like to do things and not sit around and wait. I like how you like kinner, and I like how you like to organize things too.”

  As she gaped at him, he added, “I also happen to like your freckles. And since I’m laying it all out there . . .”

  “Jah?”

  “I think you look really nice in that bathing suit.”

  She felt her cheeks heat again. But this time it wasn’t from embarrassment. It was from happiness. She thought of playing it cool. Of pretending she wasn’t glad to hear what he said. But that wasn’t who she was. She studied their linked hands, how they looked together. Thought about how they felt together.

  “That was quite a speech, Graham,” she said at last.

  “Does that mean you don’t want to throw something at me anymore?”

  “Nee. I mean, not at the moment.”

  “Well, then. Maybe you’ll give me a chance? After all, we’re going to be here for another week. Maybe we could try simply being together? You know, as Graham and Sherry.”

  As Graham and Sherry. Just the two of them, with no more confusion or misunderstanding twisting everything into knots. “That is quite the opportunity. I’d hate to waste it.”

  His eyes lit up and he smiled. Rubbing his thumb over her knuckles, he said, “Danke, Sherry. You have made me mighty happy.”

  Funny, making him happy had made her mighty happy too.

  CHAPTER 13

  THE SEVEN OF THEM SPENT THEIR LAST EVENING IN Pinecraft Park. Before they left the inn, Beverly helped them pack a picnic basket with sandwiches, salads, chips, and thick chocolate brownies.

  After enjoying th
eir leisurely meal, Matthew played a game of basketball with a couple of guys he’d met, and Carla and Vera lay on a quilt and chatted.

  Sharon and Toby were near the swings, talking with each other. Each looked more than a little captivated by the other. Sherry was fairly sure her sister was going to be writing a few letters of her own when they got back home. And she smiled whenever she remembered Sharon bravely wearing her swimsuit without her dress the last few times they’d visited the beach.

  As for herself? Well, she hadn’t wanted to spend a moment away from Graham. When he asked her to take a walk so they could be alone, she’d jumped at the chance. After just a couple of minutes, Graham practically pulled her down one of the residential streets that lined the park.

  “This is better,” he said.

  Sherry laughed. “If you wanted us to be alone, this is the wrong place.”

  Stepping a little closer, he said, “I guess I didn’t want to avoid people as much as I wanted to do everything I possibly could just one more time.”

  “I’ve felt the same way. It’s going to be so hard to leave here tomorrow.”

  “It is.”

  Taking a chance, she added, “It’s going to be harder to leave you.”

  “I’ve been thinking the same thing about you.” After taking a couple more steps, he said, “Sherry, I don’t want to lose you again.”

  She knew what he meant. They’d spent too many days at the beginning of this vacation walking on eggshells around each other, trying to figure out what was real and what they thought the other thought. “You won’t. We’ll write letters.”

  “We can do that.” Graham paused. “I mean, if that’s what you want.”

  “What choice do we have?” Just then, a dark thought filled her. “You don’t want to stop writing to each other, do you?”

  He halted abruptly. “After everything we’ve been through? Absolutely not. Of course not! But I also want to see you every day. I want to court you like my brothers courted their girls, coming to your haus every evening and sitting with you on your front porch.”