The Middlefield Family Collection

by Kathleen Fuller

  “But he’s our only kinn.” A tear slipped down her cheek, followed by several more. “You always wanted a house full of kinner. I couldn’t give that to you. I’d hoped—I’d prayed—that at least we would have grosskinner.”

  “And we still might. But if we don’t, then that’s God’s will.” Lukas wiped her tears away with his thumb. “Lieb, that woman in there, she’s Sawyer’s familye. She has a grosskinn she’s never known.”

  “Then she should understand how we feel.” Anna tore away from Lukas’s embrace and went back to the doorway. Cora and Sawyer had lowered their voices. She couldn’t hear what they were talking about.

  Lukas’s hands covered her shoulders. She leaned against him. He was hurting too. But as she’d done in the past, she put herself first. After years of marriage, she should have learned by now. “I’m sorry.”

  “I understand.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “I don’t want to lose him either. But we have to pray that Sawyer allows God to lead him. And we have to support whatever decision he makes.”

  She nodded. Lukas was right, of course. They had to abide by God’s will. And Sawyer’s decision.

  Yet if he chose to go with Cora, how could she say goodbye to her only son?

  CHAPTER 19

  “I don’t want your money.”

  Sawyer stood up to leave. This was one cold-blooded woman. She could go from compassionate to icy before he had a chance to blink. Even the way she sat made the simple handcrafted chair at the kitchen table seem like a throne.

  He tried to reconcile the regal woman in front of him with his down-to-earth mother. He couldn’t remember his mother ever dressing fancy or wearing a lot of jewelry. She was simple and plain, at least by Yankee standards. But not Cora. There was nothing plain or simple about this woman.

  She twisted a huge emerald ring around her thin middle finger. Blue veins showed beneath her smooth, nearly transparent skin. “This isn’t just about money, Sawyer.” She wrinkled her nose a bit. “Why on earth your mother chose that name—”

  “There is nothing wrong with my name. You’ve been here less than a full day and you’ve criticized everything.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I can see why my mother ran away.”

  “I wasn’t the reason your mother ran.” Her gaze flicked away.

  She was lying. But he wouldn’t call her on it. He just wanted her to leave. “Like I said, you wasted your time coming here. I don’t want to go to New York.”

  “You’ve never been there.”

  “And I don’t plan on going.” He unfolded his arms. “You can’t offer me anything that would change my mind. I have a good life here.”

  “I can see that.” She sniffed. “Of course it makes perfect sense that you would choose poverty and hardship over comfort and security.”

  “Sarcasm doesn’t flatter you.”

  The left side of her mouth lifted up in a half smile, half smirk. “You have a lot of your mother in you. Especially the stubbornness.”

  Her smart phone interrupted her train of thought. She tapped the screen. “Kenneth. No, now isn’t a good time. Yes, everything is under control. I will keep you posted.” She clicked off without saying good-bye.

  “Who’s Kenneth?”

  “Kenneth Hamilton. My attorney.”

  “What did he want?”

  Cora leaned back in the chair. “So you are curious.”

  Sawyer paused. “Who wouldn’t be?” He grimaced. “You’re doing this on purpose. Dangling little hints here and there like a carrot in front of a horse.”

  To his surprise, she smiled. “You’re very intelligent. A quality you inherited from my side of the family, I might add.”

  “Your legacy is important to you, isn’t it?”

  She gave him a pointed gaze. “Yes. And it should be important to you too.” She gestured to the chair beside her. “I wish you’d sit down. I’m getting a cramp in my neck having to look up at you.”

  He hesitated, then sat at the opposite end of the table. “Satisfied?”

  She folded her hands together. The stones in her rings glinted in the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window.

  “Sawyer, you’re accusing me of playing a game and not being honest with you. Here is some truth for you—you are the heir to a very large fortune, and first in line to run a multinational corporation. Your intelligence, your instincts for people . . . I’m more convinced than ever that this is your destiny.”

  Sawyer didn’t say anything as he let her words sink in. Finally, he spoke. “Was my mother your initial heir?”

  Cora nodded. “She was.”

  “What about my father? What was his role in your plans for world domination?”

  She looked away, but not before he saw the sharpness in her eyes. When she faced him again, it was still there. “Easley Industries is a family company.”

  “Yet my mother didn’t want anything to do with it.”

  “She had other . . . interests.”

  Sawyer pushed away from the table. “So do I. I don’t care about your company or your inheritance. I’m sure there are lots of more qualified people who can take over your business interests.”

  The full force of her gaze bored into him. “Don’t be foolish, Sawyer.”

  “I’m not foolish.” He laid his hands flat on the table, resisting the urge to clench them. “I just don’t want the same things you do. I don’t know how I can say that any clearer.”

  Cora pressed her lips together. When she finally spoke, her voice was tight. “If that’s how you feel.”

  Sawyer blinked. She was giving up that easily?

  “That’s how I feel.”

  She stood. Lifted her chin in that imperious way of hers.

  “Then there’s nothing more for us to say.”

  He stared at her. “I guess not.”

  Cora picked up her phone. “I will call a taxi at once to take me to the airport.” She walked out of the kitchen.

  Now he was confused. And, unbelievably, a little guilty. All this trouble, all this cajoling and upsetting his parents, and she was calling it quits? It didn’t make any sense.

  He’d wanted her gone. Now he was getting his wish. The tension should be draining out of him, not increasing.

  Anna and Lukas appeared.

  “Where is she going?”

  Sawyer turned and looked at Anna. He could see the strain in her eyes. “Home. Back to New York.”

  “Are . . . are you going with her?”

  He shook his head. “No. I’m not. I doubt we’ll see her again.”

  “But she’s your grossmudder.”

  He shoved his hands in his pockets. Pain radiated through him. He brushed his hand against his forearm and felt the familiar cigarette scar beneath the fabric of his shirt. If she had all this money, all this power, why didn’t she find him earlier? Why did he have to endure that foster home?

  Why did she suddenly care?

  She wanted an heir, that’s why. Nothing more.

  Without a word of explanation to either Anna or Lukas, he stalked out of the house, slamming the door behind him. He revved the truck and peeled out of the driveway, his thoughts a blur.

  Before Sawyer knew it, he had zipped right past the workshop. He muttered an oath as he turned around in the neighbor’s drive. There was no place else to go; he might as well go to work, even though he had the morning off. Throwing himself into his job might get Cora and her will out of his mind.

  Yeah. Right.

  But when he stopped at the rear of the driveway behind the workshop and threw the gear stick into park, he couldn’t make himself go inside. He left the engine running and sat there with his head in his hands.

  He was fourteen years old again, confused, hurt, and lost.

  Laura heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. She waited for the customer to come inside. When no one came, she left the office and walked outside. She heard the hum of a familiar engine.

  Sawyer was here. Bu
t why was he sitting in his truck in the driveway?

  She rounded the workshop and saw the truck idling. As she neared, she could see him resting his head on his hands. She twisted one of the strings on her kapp. Slowly she approached the driver’s side. Knocked gently on the window.

  Sawyer’s head shot up. He turned to her, glaring. She stepped back. She’d never seen him lose his temper before.

  His shoulders slumped as he turned off the motor. He opened the door and jumped out. “I’m sorry.”

  “You’re sorry? I’m the one who startled you.”

  “Yeah, but . . .” He leaned against the truck. The chilly wind picked up, ruffling his thick black hair. It brushed against the collar of his shirt. She realized she hadn’t put on her jacket. Her thin, dark blue sweater did little to protect her against the cold.

  “It’s cold out here.” He stepped toward her. “Let’s go inside.”

  She nodded and they headed for the shop. He didn’t try to make conversation with her, which heightened her alarm. Normally she couldn’t get him to stop talking.

  When they entered the shop, he walked past her, leaned his hands on one of the work tables, and ducked his head. Since the day she met Sawyer Thompson, Laura had wanted nothing but for him to leave her alone. To stop prying, to stop acting like he understood her. To let her be. Now that he was doing just that, she couldn’t stand it. She could see he was suffering. And despite knowing she shouldn’t, she went to him. “Are you okay?”

  He lifted up his head. Stared at the sawdust on the table.

  “Nee. I’m not.”

  She rarely heard him speak Dietsch. On instinct she reached out to touch him. Then she drew back. She had no right to be this close to him. But when she started to move away, he turned and faced her.

  “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Don’t go off and hide in the office.” He looked down at her. “Stay here. With me.” His voice shook. “I need you.”

  “Sawyer, I . . .”

  He shook his head and ran his hands over his face. “I don’t know why I said that. Never mind. Forget I said anything.”

  But she couldn’t forget it. “Sawyer, talk to me. What happened?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Ya, it does.” She took a breath and said the one true thing on her mind. “It matters to me.”

  The more he told Laura about his conversation with Cora, the more Sawyer felt like a fool. Like a fourteen-year-old fool. He should be over this. His grandmother’s appearance shouldn’t affect him, not this intensely. “I must sound stupid.”

  “Nee. You don’t.”

  “It’s just that she had her chance, you know? When my parents died. Before they died.” He sat on one of the wooden stools by the work table. “Why show up now?”

  “You said she just found you. Maybe that’s the reason.”

  “The woman has more money than Fort Knox.”

  “Fort what?”

  “Never mind. She’s rich. Very rich.” He looked at Laura. While he still felt dumb, he also felt relief at being able to talk about this. She was the only person who could be objective. “She could have found me if she really wanted to.”

  Mark entered her thoughts. “Not everyone is easy to find.”

  “Except when you have endless resources.” His thick eyebrows knotted. “Whatever. I don’t care. She and her stinky perfume and fancy jewelry can hop on the next plane to New York. Or private jet.” He let out a bitter chuckle. “Can’t imagine her flying coach.”

  Laura frowned. “Sawyer, sometimes I don’t understand you.”

  He lifted his gaze. “You understand me better than you think.”

  His typical confidence returned in that one statement, and the tone of his voice sent a flow of warmth through her. He continued to look at her, the chestnut color of his eyes turning a darker brown. Her breath caught. Mark had never looked at her like that.

  “Laura.” He leaned forward. Her pulse quickened as he brushed his finger against the top of her cheek, touching one of her scars.

  She drew back. “What are you doing?”

  “You had some sawdust there.” His eyes widened and he jumped off the stool. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  Laura placed her hand where his finger had touched. Felt the raised bump. She shut her eyes. How could he bear to look at her, much less touch the ugly scars on her face?

  “I—I’ve got to go.”

  She opened her eyes to see him rushing out of the work shop. “Sawyer!”

  He didn’t come back.

  Laura started after him, but her way was blocked by Tobias coming in the doorway. She heard Sawyer’s truck start up.

  “Where is Sawyer going?”

  Tobias shrugged. “I don’t know. He brushed right past me. Didn’t say a word. I’m surprised he’s even here.” He looked at Laura. “Did something happen while I was gone?”

  Laura paused. Tobias was part of Sawyer’s family. She probably ought to tell him what happened. He’d find out anyway. But instead, she felt compelled to go after Sawyer. “Can I take my lunch break early?”

  “Sure. Looks like we’re not gonna be busy today.”

  “Danki.” She ran out of the workshop and onto the driveway, and turned just in time to see Sawyer’s truck barreling toward her.

  CHAPTER 20

  Sawyer slammed on the brakes. His body pitched forward as the truck screeched to a halt within inches of Laura’s body. He threw the truck in park and leaped out of the vehicle. “Are you all right?”

  Laura didn’t move, her blue eyes round with fear.

  His stomach dropped. He grabbed her shoulders, fighting the urge to shake them. But she wasn’t responding. “Laura?”

  “What happened?” Tobias hurried up beside him. “Is she okay?”

  Laura slowly nodded. “I’m fine.”

  Sawyer expelled a long breath. “Thank God. I nearly hit you.”

  “You did what?” Tobias moved closer to Laura. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Ya.” She looked at Tobias, then at Sawyer. “I’m okay.

  “Y’all stop fussing. You didn’t hit me.”

  “I could have.” Without thinking he squeezed her shoulders tighter.

  “But you didn’t.” She glanced down at his hand.

  He pulled away. “This day keeps getting better and better.”

  “Anyone want to tell me what’s going on? And where’s Lukas? He hasn’t missed a day of work since he had chicken pox when he was a kinn.”

  Sawyer looked at his uncle, his head pounding. How could he sum up the events of the past two days in a sentence or two?

  “I reckon Lukas is still at home,” Laura said. “He’s taking care of something with Anna.”

  “She’s not sick, is she?”

  Laura shook her head. “Everything’s okay. I’m sure he’ll explain it to you later. Is it still okay if we geh eat now?”

  Tobias’s gaze darted between Laura and Sawyer. He looked at his nephew. “That’s how you pick a maedel up for lunch?”

  “Uh, sorry. Wasn’t thinking clearly.”

  “I can tell.” Tobias waved them off. “Geh on. Be back in an hour.”

  “We will.” Laura looked at Sawyer. “Ready?”

  “For what?”

  “Lunch. Remember you promised you’d take me to get one of those sandwiches you like so much.”

  “Right.” He glanced to see where Tobias was, but his uncle had already gone inside. Sawyer leaned against the truck.

  “Laura, I’m so sorry.”

  “You can tell me on the way there.”

  “To Middlefield Cheese? You’re serious. I thought you were covering for me.” He wasn’t hungry. But he didn’t want to be alone either. After nearly running over Laura, he didn’t need to be left to his own devices. At least not now.

  “I didn’t want to lie to Tobias.” Laura moved closer to Sawyer. “We don’t have
to geh eat. We can just geh for a drive. Or a walk. Whatever you want.”

  This was a new side of Laura. He thought for sure she’d be mad at him for touching her. Which he’d been an idiot to do in the first place. He knew how sensitive she was about the scars, even though she didn’t let on. But the look of fear in her eyes as he’d brushed the sawdust off her cheek convinced him that she wasn’t over the trauma. Although her confidence seemed to grow with each day, there were some wounds that took a long time to heal.

  He thought about the pond behind Johnny’s house. In the past few years it was his fishing hole, but the pond held more meaning than that. When he was hiding in the barn, he would pick up clothes and other items there from Johnny and Mary Beth. It was their drop spot, meeting spot, and eventually where they hung out with their friends. But over time, as Mary Beth spent more time with Christopher and Johnny with his job, he’d gone there alone. To fish. To think.

  He turned to her.

  “I know exactly where I’d like to go.”

  Emma was preparing lunch when she heard a knock at the door. She set aside the bowl of chicken salad and answered the back door. “Clara,” she said. “I’m surprised to see you.”

  Clara twisted her fingers together. “Can I come in?”

  “Of course. You don’t have to ask.” She wasn’t used to Clara being so subdued. In the past she would have barged in, making some demand or another. Emma closed the door.

  Clara’s smile was uneasy. “Can we talk?”

  “Ya.” Emma led Clara to the couch. Her sister perched on the edge of it. “Nothing’s wrong, is it?”

  “Nee.” Clara shook her head, looking away. She glanced back at Emma. “I . . . well, I wanted to know . . .”

  “Know what?”

  She took a deep breath. “Do you need help with the wedding?”

  Emma’s eyes widened. Despite the improvement in their relationship, her sister still didn’t care for Adam. She never had, not since he had left Middlefield.

  “I thought you might be surprised,” Clara said.

  Emma nodded. “I know how you feel about Adam.” When Clara didn’t say anything, Emma added, “But I could use the help.” She sighed. “I don’t really know what I’m doing. Grossmammi’s helping, of course, but neither of us is as organized as you.”