“Great.”
“Fantastic. I want you to head toward Gettysburg as soon as you get the chance. Tour around, take some pictures. Post them online. Check out some of the restaurants and shops.” He peered at Michael. “Does that sound okay?”
Michael nodded. “Sure.” He hadn’t been to Gettysburg in years. It was an easy day trip from Lancaster. An idea began to form in his mind. He didn’t often mix business with pleasure, but this seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Lydia Ann gave one final look around the store. “I think it’s perfect,” she declared.
Caroline smiled. “I think so too.” She gave the glass counter one last swipe with a cloth. “We’re ready. Come Monday, we’ll be in business.”
Lydia Ann looked forward to having customers. It was one of the things she missed about her own shop. She’d been in business for so many years that she’d gotten to know her customers well, especially those from the local area. In many ways, her customers had become her friends. She hoped Caroline would have the same experience. “We sure will.”
“I’m more excited than nervous,” Caroline said. “Except that I keep worrying we won’t have any customers. So I’m going to try to keep busy this weekend to keep my mind off opening day.” She grinned.
“Do you at least have big plans for tonight?” Lydia Ann asked.
Caroline smiled. “Michael and I are supposed to go to Lititz. The downtown area looks so neat. We’re going to have dinner and just walk around, looking at the shops and sights.”
“Sounds like a wonderful time.” Caroline had confided in her earlier in the week that she’d gone to dinner with Michael. That dinner must have gone well if they already had another date planned.
The shop door opened and Michael strode inside. “Afternoon, ladies,” he said, grinning. “Looks like you’re ready for the big day.”
Caroline narrowed her eyes at him. “We aren’t supposed to leave for a couple of hours. What are you doing here?”
Michael burst out laughing. “I can always count on you to get to the point,” he said. “Actually, I came to invite both of you on a little outing.”
“An outing to where?” Lydia Ann asked.
“I need to visit Gettysburg for work,” he explained. “I need to get some photos of the tour route as well as some of the historic buildings in town. My boss also wants me to visit some of the little shops and eat at a restaurant or two.” He grinned. “Tough job, but someone has to do it. And I thought it would be more fun if I had company.” He shrugged. “It’s only a couple of hours from Lancaster, so we could easily leave tomorrow morning and be back in the late afternoon.”
Caroline wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know. I’d have to get someone to take care of Bandit. I really can’t leave him in his crate for that long.”
“I know two little girls who’d love to keep him for the day,” Lydia Ann said, imagining the squeals of excitement she would be met with when she told Katie and Mary the news.
Michael grinned. “Okay, that’s settled.” He turned to Lydia Ann. “And how about you?”
Although she wouldn’t mind visiting a new town, she didn’t want to be a third wheel. “I’m not sure.”
“Simon is going to be awfully disappointed if you say no.”
She jerked her head up. “Simon?”
Michael nodded. “I asked him earlier. He didn’t want to be a third wheel.” He shook his head. “But he mentioned that you might like to go too since you aren’t from around here.” He grinned. “No pressure, but his happiness depends on whether you say yes or no.”
She couldn’t stop her smile. “His happiness? Isn’t that a little dramatic?”
Michael shook his head. “If he doesn’t go, he’s going to work an extra shift at the farm. And tomorrow is the day the cow stalls get cleaned out.”
She burst out laughing. “Okay, okay, I’ll go. I don’t want him to have to spend his day cleaning up after the cows. Besides, I know Dat and Leah will be happy to have the girls to themselves for a whole day.”
“I’ll tell Simon the good news.” Michael grinned at her then turned to Caroline. “And I’ll see you in”—he glanced at his watch—“an hour and a half.” With a final wave, he left the store.
“Gettysburg,” Caroline said. “I’ve always wanted to go there.” She grinned at Lydia Ann. “I’m glad you and Simon are going.”
Lydia Ann nodded. Her emotions were at war. On the one hand, she was excited about visiting a historic place and even about getting to know Simon a little bit better. But on the other hand, just hearing her name linked with Simon’s that way made her feel like a traitor. She remembered Emma’s plea that she keep an open mind about things.
Perhaps her cousin was right.
Simon and his mother climbed into their family buggy at the Landis farm on Friday afternoon.
“Did you have a good day?” Mamm asked once they were settled.
Simon nodded. “It was a good day. It wasn’t too hot outside, and Phillip and I were able to get a lot of work done out in the back pasture. There’s a fence there that needs mending. We made good progress.” As much as Phillip and Michael didn’t seem to get along, Simon had always had a good working relationship with Phillip. They weren’t exactly friends the way he and Michael were, but they worked well together.
“That’s nice.”
“Michael asked me to go with him to Gettysburg tomorrow,” Simon said as he drove the buggy past another dairy farm.
Mamm looked over at him. “Are you going?”
He nodded. “I’d like to go, unless you have something you need me to do.” Once he’d learned that Lydia Ann had agreed to go, he’d started really looking forward to the outing.
“I think that sounds nice. I know you and Michael haven’t spent much time together since he’s been away.”
Simon knew that spending time with Michael wasn’t exactly the draw to go on the trip. “There are others going too,” he explained. “I think you’ve met Caroline—she was a guest at the farmhouse earlier in the summer.”
“Jah, I met Caroline. She seems like such a nice girl,” Mamm said. “I understand she and Michael have formed a good friendship.”
Simon nodded. “They have grown close. Did Mrs. Landis tell you that Caroline is reopening Lottie Harris’s bookstore on Monday? Jeremiah Bellar’s daughter, Lydia Ann, is helping her get the shop up and running.”
Mamm glanced at him. “Is Jeremiah’s daughter going to Gettysburg with you tomorrow?”
The woman never missed anything. He nodded. “She is going. Since she’s not from around here, it seemed like a nice idea to show her around a little.”
He caught the tiny smile on Mamm’s face. Thankfully she didn’t ask him any more questions. But as he put up the horse and buggy for the night, he couldn’t help but wonder how tomorrow would go.
A twinge in his hand pulled his thoughts away from Lydia Ann. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was starting to get worried. He vowed to push his worries from his mind until next week. The Good Book plainly said that worrying did no good.
And as a man who loved the Lord, he strove to follow those words with all his might.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Caroline dabbed on a last touch of lipstick and stepped back to look at herself in the mirror. Not bad. She leaned closer. Except for those dark circles underneath the eyes. She fished through her makeup bag for some concealer. She knew Michael well enough to know that he would notice them. He probably already had, earlier in the afternoon, but been too polite to point them out in front of Lydia Ann. But once they were alone, he’d want to know why she wasn’t getting enough sleep.
Just when things had been going so well, the calls had started. Robyn was frantic. There were loose ends that needed to be tied up back in Atlanta—things Caroline would have to handle in person. Yet she knew that once she went back, her cover would be blown. And she wasn’t quite ready for tha
t yet. Especially not now, with the bookstore about to open. To make matters worse, the messages from Valerie’s lawyer were becoming more urgent. She said she desperately needed to speak to Caroline…in person.
Caroline finally got the under-eye circles covered, as much as possible without looking like a clown. She knelt down to Bandit, who’d begrudgingly gone into his crate after he’d chewed up a paperback. “I’ll be back very soon, sweet boy,” she cooed.
The puppy turned his face in the other direction, letting her know in no uncertain terms how he felt about being locked up.
She grabbed her purse and headed downstairs. Tonight she’d decided to dress up a little in a green shirtdress and wedge sandals. She’d decided to wear her hair long and loose, even though she still thought the color was a bit much.
Michael rapped on the door right on time.
“Hey there,” she said, smiling.
He let out a low whistle. “I am a lucky man.”
She did a little pirouette. “Thank you kindly. You sure know how to boost a girl’s ego.”
He gave her a quick side hug. “Anytime.” He inhaled deeply. “And you smell good too.”
She laughed. “You’re not so bad yourself.” And it was true. She liked that he didn’t smell like cologne. Just good old-fashioned soap. Her granddaddy would’ve said that was the mark of a real man, because real men didn’t wear perfume. His feelings about men’s cologne had come out one Christmas when Mee-Maw bestowed a bottle of Old Spice upon him.
Michael was definitely a real man. She appreciated that he made no effort to hide it when he thought she looked pretty. He wasn’t a game player. And it looked like he’d decided to dress up a bit tonight as well. His khakis were freshly pressed, and his green polo was the same color as his eyes.
“You have a good day?” he asked as he helped her into the car.
She waited until he came around to the driver’s side. “Good day.” She nodded. “We’re ready for Monday. I’m so thankful for Lydia Ann, though. She’s been a real lifesaver.” The more time she spent with the Amish woman, the more respect Caroline had for her. Despite everything Lydia Ann had endured, she’d continually relied on her faith to see her through.
“I think the opening will be great. I plan to swing by around lunchtime and take some pictures.”
Caroline furrowed her brow. “What if no one shows up?”
He reached over and patted her knee. “Don’t worry. You’ve had good advertising. And I think people are going to be excited about an activity for their kids.” He grinned. “Do you need me to stay for the reading and do animal voices or anything?” He chuckled. “It’s one of my many talents.”
She shook her head. “You’re a man full of surprises, aren’t you? But I don’t want to scare the kids.”
“Ouch. Don’t you know my ego can’t take a bruising?”
She laughed. “I’m pretty sure I never have to worry about your ego.”
They passed through a residential area before turning onto a main highway. “How long does it take to get to Lititz?”
“Fifteen more minutes, maybe twenty depending on traffic.”
She leaned her head against the seat. The warmth of the late afternoon sun coupled with the whirr of the SUV’s wheels on the pavement lulled her into silence. Her eyelids were so heavy, she had to fight to keep them awake. Those sleepless nights had caught up with her.
“Take a nap,” he said softly. “I’ll wake you when we get there.”
She couldn’t fight it any longer. Sleep washed over her, but not before she recognized the growing feeling inside. She felt safe with him. Completely safe.
Michael glanced over at the sleeping girl in the passenger seat. He’d been reeling ever since her revelation earlier in the week. Lance DeMarco sounded like a real piece of work. Rest his soul, of course.
From what Caroline had told him, she suspected that the marriage had been a sham from the beginning. A PR stunt to give Lance added appeal. The public loved a fairy tale, and what could be better than a dreamy baseball player falling in love with a beautiful girl who came from a poor but proud background? It turned his stomach to think of how she must’ve felt when she realized the marriage was all a show. He’d watched the TV stories and seen the magazines when the news about Lance’s affairs had surfaced. In fact, he’d even seen Caroline. At the time, he’d wondered what kind of man would cheat on a woman like that. She’d kept her head up, no matter whether the cameras caught her putting gas in her vehicle or leaving the supermarket.
And just in the short weeks since she’d first come to Lancaster County, he could see a marked change in her. Her smiles came more easily. She’d started to relax. He hoped he had something to do with that.
Michael parallel parked on the historic main street in Lititz. He glanced over at Caroline. She was still sound asleep. He’d noticed the dark circles underneath her eyes and hated to wake her, but he felt like a weirdo just watching her sleep. He wished he were brave enough to lean over and wake her with a kiss—except that he wanted her to be fully awake for their first kiss. He shook her gently. “Wake up, sleepyhead,” he said softly.
She turned her face toward him and smiled through closed eyes. “Five more minutes?” she murmured.
He chuckled. “Am I seeing a glimpse of you as a little girl trying to sleep in for school?”
She sat up and stifled a yawn. “My mama used to say that I was the biggest sleepyhead she knew.”
He got out of the car and went around to the passenger side. He opened her door and held out his hand.
Caroline took it and hopped down from the SUV. “Thanks.”
“So. The million-dollar question. Do you want to eat first or walk around first?”
“Let’s walk around for a bit,” Caroline said.
Michael wondered how she’d react if he grabbed her hand. Only one way to find out. He reached over and took her hand, hoping she wouldn’t recoil.
She didn’t. “Nicely done,” she said. “Who knew you were such a smooth operator?”
He laughed and gave her hand a squeeze. “Baby steps. I promise.”
They walked down the street and stopped to peek into the window of a gourmet food store.
“Look at those adorable aprons!” Caroline exclaimed. “They’re so cute.”
Michael grinned at her exuberance. “I didn’t realize you were such a traditional kind of woman.”
She cut her eyes at him. “I’ll have you know that I happen to be a great cook. And I am a traditional kind of woman.” She grinned. “Just with a little bit of an edge.”
He laughed. “An edge, huh?” He squeezed her hand as they continued down the street. “Tell me more about your life in Atlanta. There have to be some good parts, right?”
She sighed. “Yeah. There are a few things I miss. I don’t think I ever told you that I work with a charity.”
“Oh yeah? What do you do?”
“We work to give kids a place to go after school. There are so many kids who don’t really have much of a home life. We’ve opened centers in certain areas of the city, and they’re fully staffed. There are tutors to help with homework, coaches who help with organized sports…and each center has cooks on staff so that the kids can take a bag supper with them when they leave.”
“Wow. That sounds like an awesome program.”
She nodded. “You’d be surprised at the number of children who don’t have enough to eat. For some of them, the meals they get at school are their only meals of the day. This is a way to make sure that they have a safe environment as well as some resources to help the ones in need.”
Caroline spoke with such passion. Michael knew that if he ever had to look back and pinpoint the moment when he knew his feelings for her were strong, this would be it. “I’ll bet you were really involved.”
She nodded. “Especially the last couple of years. Once I stopped traveling with Lance, it gave me more time to devote to my work.” She shrugged. “After we married, I
found that I really missed teaching. So this gave me a way to still work with kids even though I wasn’t in the classroom.”
Hand in hand, they crossed to the other side of the street.
“Look.” Caroline pointed at a historical marker. “It’s the oldest pretzel factory in the United States.”
Michael dropped her hand and pulled out his camera. “That’s awesome. I’m going to have to get a picture for the magazine.”
Caroline scooted out of the way. “Just don’t get me,” she said.
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’m aiming the lens at that gigantic statue of a pretzel.” He snapped a couple of shots of the pretzel with the historical marker in the background. “Perfect.”
“Too bad they’re already closed for the day. I’ll bet they taste yummy.”
He nodded. “It’s been years since I was here, but they certainly do.” He motioned down the street. “You getting hungry?”
“You must be reading my mind.”
They stopped in front of a little Italian restaurant.
“This okay?” he asked.
Caroline nodded. “Better than okay.”
He hated to drop her hand, but they couldn’t fit through the door at the same time. He opened the door. “After you,” he gestured.
She walked past him, granting him a still-sleepy smile.
Once they’d ordered, he leaned forward. “So what gives? Are you not sleeping well? Is Bandit keeping you up?”
Caroline laughed. “I can’t blame Bandit. He’s actually a good sleeper as long as he’s not in his crate.” She smiled.
“Then what’s the problem? If it’s the mattress, I think it’s under warranty. We can take it back.”
She furrowed her brow. “It isn’t the mattress.” She sighed. “It’s just…” She trailed off, an uncertain look on her face.
Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Page 12
