Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

by Annalisa Daughety

  “So she’s staying another day?”

  Simon almost teased his friend about the gleeful tone that had taken over his voice, but he thought better of it. “She’s staying at least another day.”

  The bells jingled on the door and Lydia Ann looked up from her perch behind the counter. She grinned broadly at Emma’s excited expression. “Good afternoon, cousin. Did you get some good news?”

  Emma laughed. “We passed a bookstore on our way here. It’s just a few stores down. I thought we might stop in before we go back to your dat’s house.”

  “I see.” Lydia Ann chuckled. “You and your books.”

  Noah piped up. “This is a wonderful store.”

  Dat looked up from where he was stocking the front shelf. “Let me give you the tour.” He grinned. “We’ll start in the back. Follow me.”

  Noah and Dat sauntered off, Dat pointing out merchandise as they went.

  “How has today been?” Emma asked, once the men were out of earshot.

  Lydia Ann shrugged. “Better than I expected. Dat and I haven’t had a whole lot to say to each other, but we’ve also stayed pretty busy today.” She thought of Simon. “And I met one of his friends. The man knew all about me already.”

  “See? I told you your dat hadn’t forgotten about you.” Emma smiled. “Give him some time. I’ll bet your relationship with him will be back to normal before you know it.”

  Lydia Ann nodded. “I hope you’re right. He’s always been a man of few words. And it seems like after time passed without us seeing each other, he doesn’t know what to say to me anymore.”

  Emma patted Lydia Ann on the back. “You know that old saying about time healing wounds? I think it might be true. It’s almost as if you’re starting over from scratch, getting to know him again. But what a blessing it is for you and your girls.”

  “I guess you’re right,” Lydia Ann admitted. She couldn’t expect things to be just like they used to be. And she and Dat had warmed up to one another as the day had passed, even laughing together about memories of Lydia Ann’s childhood.

  Noah and Dat returned from their tour.

  “Are you ready to go?” Noah asked. He grinned in Emma’s direction. “We don’t want the bookstore to close.”

  Ten minutes later, Noah stopped the buggy outside an old house that had a sign in front declaring it a bookstore.

  “What a pretty place,” Emma observed.

  They walked past the lone vehicle in the parking lot.

  Emma stopped in her tracks. “Look,” she said softly, pointing to the driver’s side window.

  Lydia Ann peered into the window. A young woman sat hunched over the steering wheel. Loud sobs racked her body.

  “Do you think we should check on her?” Lydia Ann asked.

  Emma nodded. “I do.” She turned to Noah. “You go on inside. She might not feel comfortable if we’re all staring at her.”

  He smiled. “Of course. I’ll be inside if you need me.”

  Emma rapped softly on the window.

  The woman looked up, a surprised expression on her face. She opened the door. “Y–yes?” she stammered.

  “Are you okay?” Lydia Ann asked.

  The woman stared at her blankly for a long moment.

  “Are you okay?” Lydia Ann repeated. She cast a worried glance at Emma.

  The Englisher’s blond hair fell over her face, and she pushed it away. Her tearstained cheeks were pale. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be okay again,” she whispered.

  “Are you hurt?” Emma asked. “Do we need to call someone?”

  At Emma’s words, the woman began to cry again softly. “That’s just it. There’s no one to call.” She caught Lydia Ann’s gaze, her brown eyes shiny with tears. “I’m all alone.”

  “Surely there’s someone,” Emma said. “Your parents? A friend?”

  The woman closed her eyes. “My parents are dead. And I don’t have any friends. At least not any that live near here.”

  Lydia Ann leaned into the vehicle. “Please tell us how we can help you.”

  The woman gave them a small smile. “You’re so kind.” She wiped her eyes. “And I seem to have forgotten my manners. I’m Caroline Jennings.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Caroline tried to pull herself together. Of all the embarrassing situations… The two Amish women peered at her as if she had horns.

  “I’m Emma,” said the one with dark hair. She motioned toward the blond. “And this is my cousin, Lydia Ann.” She smiled broadly. “Now I’m going to go see if I can find you some water inside.”

  Caroline watched her walk away then looked back at Lydia Ann. “You don’t have to stay out here with me,” she murmured. “Til be fine.”

  Lydia Ann gave her a comforting smile. “I don’t mind staying with you. Maybe I can help.”

  “I just made a big decision today and realized that I didn’t have anyone to consult about it.”

  Lydia Ann furrowed her smooth brow. Her blue eyes were kind. “Do you want to tell me about it?” She motioned at the wraparound porch. Two white wicker chairs sat in front of a large window. “How about we go have a seat?”

  Caroline nodded. She climbed out of her vehicle and followed the Amish woman to the porch. “I guess you figured out that I’m not from around here,” Caroline said once they were seated.

  Lydia Ann smiled. “If it makes you feel any better, neither am I.”

  Caroline listened as Lydia Ann explained about the tornado and her spur-of-the-moment trip to visit her father.

  “Wow. I saw that on TV,” Caroline explained. “My mama and I visited Charm last year.” She managed a tiny smile. “That’s one reason I came to Lancaster County—because Mama had always wanted to visit.” She shrugged. “I guess I figured I could see the place for her.”

  Lydia Ann placed her hand on Caroline’s arm. “I’m so sorry. Losing a parent is truly awful.”

  Caroline could see the empathy in the woman’s eyes. For the first time in a long time, she felt like someone understood her. The irony that it was an Amish woman wasn’t lost on her. She’d never thought of the Amish as having anything in common with her. “Thanks. It has been a tough year for me. I lost my mama and my husband within a few months of each other.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure how to recover.”

  Lydia Ann nodded. “My husband lost his battle with cancer when our twin daughters were only a year old.” She gave Caroline a tiny smile. “They’re six now, but I still miss him.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear it.” Caroline couldn’t help but think of the difference in their situations. Lydia Ann and her husband had obviously been in love. But the more Caroline learned about her own husband, the more she realized that the love she’d thought existed had been little more than an elaborate PR stunt.

  “Well, the Lord knows what He’s doing,” Lydia Ann said matter-of-factly. “He will see us through the trying times.”

  Caroline admired her faith. “I guess you’re right.”

  Lydia Ann nodded. “Truly.” She sat quietly for a moment. “What kind of decision did you make today?”

  “I decided to stay in Lancaster County.” She laughed. “Can you believe that? The only people I know here is the family whose guesthouse I’ve been staying in. And I’ve been paying them to let me stay there.”

  “Staying here doesn’t sound like such a bad decision,” Lydia Ann said gently.

  “That’s not exactly the crazy part,” Caroline said.

  The bookshop door burst open. “Here’s a bottle of water for you,” Emma said, handing Caroline the cold drink. “Lottie is so nice, she got it out of her own refrigerator.”

  “Thanks.” Caroline smiled. She turned back to Lydia Ann. “I just agreed to rent this place.” She motioned at the house. “I’m going to live in the upstairs part and run the bookstore.”

  “Well, that sounds like a wonderful plan,” Lydia Ann said sweetly.

  Caroline wrinkled her forehead. “It would be
if I knew anything about running a store.” She let out a chuckle. “I don’t even know how to work a cash register.”

  “Lydia Ann does,” Emma said. “She’s been running a quilt store for years.”

  Lydia Ann nodded. “It’s not too bad once you get the hang of it.”

  Caroline blinked. “How long did you say you’d be in the area?” Lydia Ann could be the answer to her problems. Well, at least one problem.

  “About another month or so.”

  “I don’t guess you’d want a job, would you?” Caroline asked hopefully.

  Lydia Ann and Emma exchanged glances.

  “I hadn’t planned on it, but you know, that might not be a bad idea.” Lydia Ann bit her lip. “Emma and Noah leave in a couple of days.”

  Emma nodded. “And you’re so close to your dat’s store, you could walk there from here.”

  “True.” Lydia Ann furrowed her brow. “But I’m not sure what the girls would do.”

  “You’re welcome to bring them with you. There’s a big yard in the back and also a children’s area in the store.” Caroline smiled. “I was a kindergarten teacher, so the thought of having children around makes me happy.”

  Lydia Ann nodded her head. “Well then, I guess you’ve found some help.”

  “I can’t thank you enough,” Caroline said. She couldn’t believe her luck. All of a sudden she didn’t feel quite so alone. She glanced over at the Amish women. “Emma, it was so nice to meet you. Lydia Ann, can you be here on Thursday?”

  Lydia Ann nodded. “See you then.”

  Caroline drove past Kitchen Kettle Village. Normally the quaint shops and restaurants caught her eye, but today she barely noticed them. Meeting Lydia Ann had calmed her down some, but she still wished she could discuss her decision with someone. For a second she considered calling Michael. She had the receipt with his number in her pocket. But he was at his first day on a new job and she didn’t want to bother him. There was no one else to consult with. Except for her lawyer. Or her accountant. But they would only want to talk about the financial ramifications of her decision.

  She finally decided to go back to the farmhouse. Maybe she could help Mrs. Landis in the kitchen. There had been a time when baking brought her great joy. But once she married Lance, he preferred dining out or hiring a cook. He’d said the country-style dishes she made were too unhealthy for an athlete.

  Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into a spot at the guesthouse.

  “Hello there,” Phillip called as she got out of her car.

  She waved a greeting.

  “I hear you’re staying another night.” He sauntered over to where she stood.

  She nodded. “Your mom talked me into it.”

  “She can be very persuasive when she wants to be.”

  He chuckled. “Have you told Michael the news yet? I think he was looking for you this morning.”

  “No. I haven’t seen him.” She motioned toward his SUV. “But it looks like he’s home from his first day on the job.”

  “Looks that way.” Phillip adjusted the baseball hat on his head. “I’d better finish up. Sounds like we’re having some kind of feast tonight.” He grinned and walked back to the barn.

  Caroline grabbed her bag and went to the guest entrance. She couldn’t figure out the vibe between Michael and Phillip. There seemed to be underlying tension. Most of the time when she’d been around them at the same time, they’d just ignored one another. Their behavior didn’t fit into the otherwise closely knit family. Even their grandmother and uncles came over for breakfast sometimes.

  She poked her head into the kitchen. Mrs. Landis was bustling around and didn’t even look up when the door opened. “Is there anything I can do to help?” Caroline asked.

  Mrs. Landis’s mouth broke into a big smile. “Oh, I can’t let the guest of honor help cook her own dinner.”

  Caroline wrinkled her forehead. “Of course you can. I love to cook and never get the chance.” She held up her bag. “Just let me put this upstairs and I’ll be right back down.” She went upstairs to the room she’d started thinking of as “hers” and tossed her things onto the bed. A quick glance in the mirror showed her that her long blond hair desperately needed a ponytail. She peered closer and saw tiny dark roots. Ugh. She needed a touch-up too. Being blond might not be all it was cracked up to be.

  “Here’s an apron.” Mrs. Landis tossed a gingham-printed fabric in her direction when Caroline returned to the kitchen. “It was my mother-in-law’s.”

  Caroline grinned. She adored things with a history. She quickly tied the apron strings behind her back. “Okay. What’s my job?”

  Mrs. Landis held out the recipe written in Caroline’s handwriting. “How about you whip up your grandma’s biscuits? We’re having fried chicken and mashed potatoes.” She smiled. “And Mrs. Zook made homemade apple cobbler for dessert.”

  “Yum.” Caroline took the recipe and then washed her hands in the deep sink. “It’s a good thing this is my last night here or I might have had to take up running again.”

  Mrs. Landis chuckled.

  “Mom, have you seen my blue…” The door burst open, and a shirtless Michael trailed off and turned a deep shade of red at the sight of Caroline.

  She averted her eyes, but not before she caught sight of six-pack abs. Clearly he didn’t need to take up running, despite his mother’s cooking.”

  “Your blue shirt?” Mrs. Landis laughed. “Check the dryer.”

  He quickly exited from where he came.

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him look that embarrassed,” Mrs. Landis said, still chuckling. “I think it’s safe to say that you’ve got him a little rattled.”

  Caroline blushed. So his mother had picked up on their blossoming friendship. She’d hoped that had gone unnoticed. “He seems like a great guy.”

  “I like to think so.” Mrs. Landis dropped a chicken leg into the sizzling grease. “Of course, I’m not blind to his faults, either.” She grinned. “That’s the beauty of motherhood. You learn to love the good and the bad about your kids.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “So…” Mrs. Landis glanced at her. “You don’t have children of your own?”

  If it had been anyone else, Caroline would’ve felt like the question was prying. But coming from Mrs. Landis, it seemed to be sincere. “No kids. Not even a pet.”

  “I’m sure your time will come.” She smiled kindly. “If that’s the kind of life you want.”

  Caroline wondered if she’d ever considered the kind of life she wanted. She’d sort of fallen into the life she had without really planning for it. “Oh, I do. I’d like nothing more than to be a mother. Someday.” Lance had been the holdout where kids were concerned. It was never the right time. Either he was busy with the season, busy with the off-season, or working on endorsement deals. He always had an excuse as to why they should wait. And she hadn’t argued, just gone along with his plans. Maybe it was for the best. With the current state of her life, she couldn’t imagine trying to raise a child.

  The door opened again and Michael walked in, a sheepish grin on his face. “Sorry about before.” He thumbed his blue polo shirt. “I didn’t realize anyone else would be in the kitchen.”

  Caroline laughed. “I insisted that your mom let me help her. I hate the thought of anyone going to trouble on my account.”

  He shook his head. “That’s just crazy. We have to eat whether you’re here or not.” His green eyes twinkled. “But I’m glad you decided to stay one more night. I understand that you tried to run off this morning without even saying good-bye to me.”

  “I would’ve called.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “That’s easy to say now.”

  “Seriously. I would’ve. Besides, I have your number now. And on that fancy notepaper, even.”

  Michael chuckled. “Yeah, a gas station receipt was my only option. Either that or a McDonald’s napkin.” He winked. “I figured real paper was classier even if it was a litt
le crumpled.”

  “Well, you’re nothing if not classy,” Mrs. Landis chimed in. “And if you’re going to stand here and distract my star biscuit-maker, why don’t you make yourself useful?” She took out an apron and tossed it at him. “Tie this on first, though. We don’t want you to have to go around shirtless anymore.”

  He pulled on a tattered “Kiss the Cook” apron and shot his mother a look.

  Mrs. Landis chuckled. “Sorry, son. That’s your dad’s apron and the only one that will fit you.”

  “Whatever,” he mumbled. “What’s my job?” She handed him a box of tea bags. “How about you make another pitcher of tea?”

  Caroline enjoyed the easy back-and-forth between Michael and his mom. And she had to admit, he looked kind of cute in his apron.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lydia Ann sat on the porch and watched Mary and Katie dance around the yard.

  “They sure have a lot of energy,” Leah said. “It’s hard for me to remember when my kids were that young.”

  Lydia Ann nodded. “They certainly keep me busy.”

  “How many children do you have?” Emma asked. “I don’t think Lydia Ann ever told me.”

  That was true. Lydia Ann didn’t talk about Leah much. So of course she hadn’t thought to tell Emma many details about her.

  “I have two boys.” Leah smoothed her skirt. “They live near Strasburg with their families.” She smiled in Lydia Ann’s direction. “You’ll meet them on Sunday. Since it’s an off week from church, they’re bringing their families here for a visit. I think you’ll get along very well with my daughters-in-law, especially Becky,” Leah said. “She is about your age and works in a quilt shop in Strasburg. She’s married to my youngest son, Joseph, and they have a little boy who is just a year younger than Mary and Katie.” Her eyes twinkled as she spoke of her family.

  “It sounds like we will have a wonderful-gut time,” Lydia Ann said. “I know Mary and Katie will be happy to meet a new friend.” She felt Emma’s eyes on her. “And so will I.”