Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

by Annalisa Daughety

  The door burst open and Dr. Meadows entered. “Good afternoon, Simon.”

  “Dr. Meadows.” Simon nodded. The last time he’d seen Dr. Meadows, it had been for a sprained ankle. He had a feeling that whatever ailed him this time might be more difficult to treat.

  “What brings you here today?” The doctor sat down on his rolling stool and looked expectantly at Simon.

  Simon cleared his throat. “It’s probably nothing.” He sighed. “But I’ve been having a couple of unusual symptoms. First, I’ve been having a weird numbness in my leg. But it isn’t like the normal kind you get when your foot falls asleep. It’s more painful than that. Sometimes it feels like a knife or something.”

  Dr. Meadows drew his brows together and made some notes on the chart. “Go on,” he encouraged.

  “And the other thing is, it doesn’t matter how many hours I sleep at night, I’m still tired.” He shook his head. “I just can’t figure it out. I’ve tried taking extra vitamins. I’ve even started trying to get some extra sleep. But nothing seems to help.”

  Dr. Meadows looked seriously at Simon. “I’d like to refer you to another doctor.”

  “Another doctor? Why?”

  “I’d like for you to see a neurologist. Just to check everything out.”

  “What could it be, Doctor?”

  Dr. Meadows folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the counter. “Your symptoms are consistent with something called multiple sclerosis. But you need to have a few tests run to be sure.”

  Simon’s heart pounded. He’d hoped there would be an easy answer. And it didn’t sound like he was going to get one. “If it is…multiple sclerosis… Is that—I mean, can it be fatal?”

  Dr. Meadows sighed. “MS is one of those things that affects people in different ways. You could have an episode now and never again. Or they could be years apart. Or it could end up becoming debilitating.” He patted Simon on the back. “Don’t worry, though. I’ll set you up to see the neurologist, and after that, you should know more about what to expect.”

  Once he had his next appointment scheduled, Simon stood in front of the medical clinic. He tried to keep his breathing even. Getting a ride with Michael had seemed like a great idea, especially since they were going in the same direction. But now he wished he’d come alone…because he knew Michael would ask what the doctor had said.

  Multiple sclerosis.

  Just the words sounded scary. He paced the length of the sidewalk.

  Michael pulled his vehicle next to the sidewalk and rolled down the passenger window. “Sorry I’m late. Hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

  Simon climbed into the vehicle and fastened his seat belt. “I just got finished. Thanks for the ride.”

  Michael weaved through traffic. “Is everything okay?”

  Simon looked out the window, watching the familiar sights pass by. But now he looked at them with new eyes—the eyes of someone who might have a serious illness. It was amazing how just that possibility could change the world. “He’s sending me to another doctor, to run some tests.” He glanced over at Michael. “So no news yet.”

  Michael seemed to accept that answer. “Well, just let me know when your next appointment is. I’d be glad to drive you.”

  Simon nodded. “Thanks.” Except that he knew he needed to face the next appointment alone.

  “It’s so nice to see you again,” Jenny said to Michael once they were seated at the restaurant.

  He smiled stiffly. Ever since they’d left the office, he’d been uncomfortable. And being in a restaurant where they had spent so much time together in the past made him even more uneasy. “I’m glad you’re doing well,” he said. He picked up a menu, hoping their food would come quickly once the order was placed.

  She reached over and tugged the menu from his hand. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not too happy to be here?”

  He sighed. “It isn’t that. It’s just that this seems weird.” He motioned between them. “It’s been years.”

  “Yes. Years. And yet here we are, back in our old hometown.” She grinned. “Both single.”

  He bit his lip. This would be a good opportunity to tell her that he was dating someone. But he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Besides, a huge part of the reason they’d broken up in the first place was because of her unreasonable jealousy. So finding out that he was happily dating someone now probably wouldn’t sit well with her. “Let’s just order; then we can talk.” He gave her a half smile. “I have a lot of work to do at the office before I leave.” And he had to leave a little early today anyway so he could get Caroline to the airport on time. At the thought of her going back to Atlanta, his stomach tightened. What if she never came back?

  Once they’d placed their orders, Jenny leaned toward him. “Do you want to know a secret?”

  He looked into her familiar eyes. “What’s that?”

  “I’m the reason you got the job at the magazine. Mr. Sinclair had someone else he wanted to make an offer to. Someone with more social-media experience.” She took a dainty sip of water. “But I told him I could vouch for you. That you were a great writer and photographer.” She giggled. “You were pretty good at other stuff too, but I kept that to myself.”

  Michael raked his fingers through his hair. He wished she hadn’t told him that. “Thanks for giving me a good reference. I think I’ve proven to Mr. Sinclair that I’m a good fit for the position.” He decided it would be best to leave her reference to their former relationship alone. No need to dredge up the past.

  The waitress set down an appetizer of spinach dip and pita chips in the center of the table. “Your food will be out soon,” she said with a smile.

  “Remember when all we could afford was appetizers?” Jenny asked. “Back in college, we’d get all dressed up and go out for appetizers and water.” She laughed. “Those were the days, huh?”

  He scooped some dip onto a chip. “They were. I’m glad they’re past us.”

  At her crestfallen face, he wished he’d chosen his words better. “I don’t mean anything by that. Just that those were some tough years.” And best forgotten.

  She met his eyes. “Michael,” she began, reaching for his hand, “there’s something you should know.”

  He didn’t like the turn this conversation was taking. “What?”

  “I’m still in love with you. I guess I never stopped.” She gripped his hand tightly. “I know I messed up all those years ago. I was stupid. I should’ve gone with you to DC. We’d still be together now.”

  Michael’s eyes widened in shock. “I don’t know what to say, Jenny. Our splitting up was mutual. We gave it our best shot.” He shook his head, thinking of the way she’d make accusations if he so much as mentioned another woman. Once she even went so far as to show up unannounced at his DC office because she was certain he had a secret girlfriend at work. Of course, he didn’t. For some reason, trust had never come easily for Jenny, and being in a long-distance relationship had nearly pushed her over the edge. “But you know we weren’t compatible enough to make a real go of it.” He pulled his hand away from hers. “Don’t you remember how much we fought, especially that last year?”

  She leaned closer to him. “Surely you aren’t going to tell me that you haven’t thought about me over the years.”

  Michael closed his eyes for a moment, hoping God would give him the right words. “We had a special thing once. But I don’t see us getting back together.” Even if he didn’t have an interest in Caroline, he never would’ve struck things up with Jenny again. He was a firm believer in learning from the past. And while he and Jenny had had a good relationship their senior year of high school, by the time they’d left college and entered the “real world,” the relationship had run its course.

  His phone buzzed on the table. Before he could grab it, Jenny picked it up.

  “Who’s Caroline?” she asked.

  He pried the phone from her hand. He’d have to call Caroline back. This was
certainly not the right time. “She’s the woman I’m seeing.”

  Jenny’s gaze turned icy. “Is it serious?”

  He sighed. “I knew this wasn’t a good idea.”

  “No, it’s fine. I’m happy for you. In fact, you’re right, I’m sure.” She forced a smile. “We’re better off as friends.”

  Michael looked at her suspiciously. She’d gone from “I still love you” to “Let’s be friends” a little too quickly for his liking.

  “I’m serious, Michael.” She grinned. “Just ignore what I said earlier. I don’t know what I was thinking. I guess seeing you again has just been a shock.”

  He regarded her for a long moment. “No problem.”

  “So, tell me about this Caroline. When are you going to bring her by the magazine to meet your coworkers?”

  “She stays pretty busy. She just opened a bookstore near Bird-in-Hand.”

  The waitress set their plates on the table.

  “This looks delicious.” He smiled at Jenny. “Good choice of restaurant.”

  “I remembered that it used to be your favorite. We had some great times here.”

  They ate in silence for a moment.

  “How are your parents?” Jenny asked. “And Phillip?”

  “All doing well.”

  “I run into Phillip from time to time.” She took a sip of water. “I felt bad for him when Amanda decided to move to Philly. I thought for sure he’d put a ring on her finger before she got the chance.” She shook her head. “But he didn’t.” She chuckled. “Maybe you Landis boys are more alike than you think.”

  “Phillip’s fine. He enjoys his work.” But something about her comment struck him. Maybe part of his brother’s bitterness did have something to do with Amanda. Michael made a mental note to talk to Phillip about it. Of course, there was a good chance Phillip wouldn’t take kindly to his interference. But he could at least try.

  After they finished lunch, Michael and Jenny walked back to the office in downtown Lancaster. Despite the early morning rain, it had turned out to be a beautiful day.

  “This was fun,” Jenny said outside the office building. “We’ll have to do it again soon.” She turned to go inside and then abruptly turned back to face him. “This Caroline person is a lucky girl.” Jenny gave him a smile and then was gone.

  Michael pulled his phone out of his pocket to check his voice mail. He was the lucky one. Women like Caroline didn’t come along every day. And he was going to try his best not to screw it up.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “Are you okay?” Caroline asked.

  Michael had been quiet ever since he’d picked her up from the bookstore.

  “Just a long day at work, I guess.” He grinned. “I finally pulled all the pictures off my camera, though. I got some great ones at Gettysburg and of your store opening.”

  She nodded. “I’m sure they’re all good ones. But feel free to delete the ones of me.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll put them in my own personal folder. They won’t go on Facebook or Twitter or anywhere else.”

  “They’d better not.” She could only imagine. She’d seen the pictures from Gettysburg. With her hair pulled back into a ponytail instead of long and blond, she looked like her old self. If those got out to the public, it would be a disaster.

  “You worry too much.” Michael reached over and patted her denim-clad leg. “You ready for this trip?”

  She sighed and leaned her head against the leather seat. “Not really. I just want to get it over with.”

  “Are you going to visit her?”

  No need to clarify who “her” was. “Yes. I think it’s the right thing to do. Not the easiest thing, but the right thing.” Caroline had spent the better part of the day pondering what she would say to Valerie when they came face-to-face. But she still hadn’t come up with the right words.

  Michael pulled into a space at the airport.

  “You could’ve just dropped me off,” she said.

  He reached over and took her hand. “I could have. But I’m not going to.” He leaned over and gently kissed her mouth. “I’m going to miss you so much,” he breathed.

  “I’ll miss you too.” She traced the back of her hand over his jaw. “But I have to go, or I’m going to miss my flight.”

  Michael grabbed her small suitcase from the backseat. “This is all you’re taking?” he asked as they headed toward the building.

  She shrugged. “I didn’t bring much with me.” She grinned. “I only planned to be gone for a week, remember? I’ll come back with a much bigger suitcase. And then you won’t have to see me wearing the same outfits over and over.”

  He chuckled. “No complaints from me about your outfits. I happen to think that you always look beautiful.”

  “Then I guess I shouldn’t bring that little sundress I had in mind to try and impress you with, right?” she asked, an innocent grin on her face.

  “Well, I mean, of course I’d love to see you in a sundress.” He laughed. “But you don’t have to worry about impressing me.”

  Once she was checked in for her flight, she met him at the big board that displayed the departing and arriving planes. “Time to go,” she said.

  He pulled her to him in a hug.

  She loved how it felt to have her head against his chest. So warm. So safe. For a minute she wished he were going with her back to Atlanta.

  But she knew the demons that waited on her there were hers and hers alone.

  Lydia Ann brought two steaming mugs of coffee over to the brightly painted table where Leah sat. “Here you go,” Lydia Ann said.

  Leah took the mug and set it down in front of her. “Danki.” She smiled. “I hope you didn’t mind my coming to help today.”

  Lydia Ann shook her head. “I’m glad for the help. Things have been pretty busy this week, so I’m sure today will be more of the same.” Lydia Ann was surprised at just how much she enjoyed Leah’s company. When she’d agreed to come to Lancaster County to visit Dat, it hadn’t occurred to her that she might actually develop a relationship with Leah. But now that she was here, she was surprised at how close she and Leah had become. They had a lot in common. Not that she would ever replace Lydia Ann’s own mamm or anything, but it was nice to have a motherly figure around.

  “Katie and Mary sure seem to have made themselves at home here,” Leah observed, pointing to the children’s area where the little girls were reading to Bandit.

  “Jah. They’ve taken to Caroline. I think her background as a teacher has helped.” Lydia Ann pulled out a letter from Abby. She’d hoped to have time to read it this morning before things got busy.

  “Is everything okay with your family back home?” Leah asked, motioning at the letter.

  Lydia Ann nodded. “This is from my cousin Abby in Shipshewana. Emma’s sister.”

  “I’ve heard you and Jeremiah speak of Abby.”

  “She and her husband, Jacob, are expecting their second child. They already have a little girl, Clara.” She met Leah’s understanding gaze. “She wrote to tell me that she thinks Emma and Noah are going to pursue adoption. Another couple in their district adopted a few months ago.”

  Leah set her mug on the table. “And Emma and Noah have no children of their own?”

  Lydia Ann shook her head. “They’re going on three years of marriage. Emma would never say so, but I can tell it saddens her that they don’t have children. And they would be wonderful parents.”

  “You never know what the good Lord has in store,” Leah said with a smile.

  Lydia Ann nodded. “That’s exactly right. Just a few months ago, I wasn’t even considering a visit to Lancaster County.”

  Leah smiled. “But we’re so glad you did.” She took a sip of coffee. “Have you given any more thought to making a permanent move?”

  Lydia Ann bit her lip. “I haven’t made any decisions yet.” She smiled at Leah. “But I’m thinking about it.”

  “I know things are differen
t here than what you’re used to. Moving to a new place is always an adjustment. But you fit in so well with everyone here.” She smiled. “And Katie and Mary have made friends of their own with the Staltz girls next door.”

  Lydia Ann returned her smile. She’d been nervous when Leah introduced her to her sons and daughters-in-law, but she’d been pleasantly surprised to find that she got along well with them. She’d been around them a few times at the house and at church and could tell it wouldn’t take much effort to become real friends. “Everyone has made me feel so welcome.”

  The bookstore’s front door opened, and two women came inside.

  “I’ll go see if I can help them,” Lydia Ann said. “Will you tell Katie and Mary to take Bandit outside to play?”

  Lydia Ann walked toward the women with a smile. She knew she could be happy in Lancaster County. There seemed to be a lot for her in Pennsylvania. But she knew that part of her hesitation had to do with Simon.

  There was no denying how much she enjoyed his company. And that alone might be enough reason for her to return to Charm at the end of the summer.

  Chapter Thirty

  Caroline had tossed and turned all night. There had been a time when the immaculate Atlanta mansion was her favorite place in the world. But last night she’d missed the sweet sound of Bandit’s breathing. She’d missed the clip-clop sound of the horses and buggies that passed outside her window. And she’d missed knowing that Michael was just a few miles away at his parents’ farmhouse.

  She stumbled into the giant bathroom and flipped on the light. The deep whirlpool tub beckoned her. If she could move this tub into her place in Lancaster County, life might be perfect.

  Caroline filled the tub with hot water and added her favorite bubble bath to the mix. She sank into the hot bubbles and tried to relax. Today would be a test. There was no way around it. She was meeting with Robyn first to go over messages. Then the lawyer was supposed to stop by—and a couple of Lance’s former teammates.