Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

by Annalisa Daughety

  “The Revere Tavern. Michael says it’s a historic place and very romantic.” It had been his idea, which made it even better. The fact that he cared enough about her to plan a special night out meant a lot.

  Lydia Ann grinned. “That sounds like a wonderful night.”

  Caroline nodded. “I think so. I’m usually pretty low-key, but every now and then it’s nice to do something special.” She straightened the row of coffee mugs. “After dinner, we’re going to downtown Lancaster to an art gallery. It should be fun.”

  “When you’re with the right person, anything can be fun.” Lydia Ann laughed.

  Caroline nodded. “I guess you’re right about that.”

  Lydia Ann dusted off her hands. “I’d better go see if the girls are ready. We’re going to walk over to Dat’s store and ride home with him.” She pushed open the back door.

  “Wait a minute,” Caroline called. “How about you? Are you doing anything special this weekend?”

  Lydia Ann turned back and smiled. “Tomorrow I’m supposed to take Mary and Katie back to the farm. After they’ve fed the calves and played with the puppies, Simon and I are going to take them to see the train.”

  Caroline grinned. The steam engine that ran through Strasburg was very popular, especially with children. “Are you going to the train museum?”

  Lydia Ann nodded. “Jah. I think we’re going to ride the train too.” She grinned. “It won’t be as fancy as your night, but it will be fun.”

  “What was it you said? Anything is fun with the right person?” Caroline chuckled.

  Lydia Ann blushed. “That’s right. I hope you have a wonderful evening.” She stuck her head out the back door and called to Mary and Katie. “Girls, it’s time to go. Come on inside.”

  Caroline collected Bandit from the twins and carried him upstairs with her. She loved it when she had plenty of time to get ready for a night out. Especially on a Friday. There was something special about a Friday afternoon when the workweek was over and fun Friday night plans loomed. And tomorrow, she could sleep in.

  Life was good.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Michael walked into the kitchen at the farmhouse.

  Phillip let out a wolf whistle. “Somebody has a hot date tonight.”

  Michael scowled at his brother. “I’m probably not the only one,” he said, adjusting his tie.

  “I think he looks nice,” Mom said, grinning. “I should take a picture.”

  Phillip snickered.

  “It’s not prom or anything,” Michael said, laughing. “I think we can do without turning this into a Kodak moment.”

  “Where are you headed?” Mom asked.

  Michael explained that Caroline wanted to get dressed up for a night out, so he was taking her to a nice dinner and an art gallery.

  “Bring her by here before you go,” Mom pleaded. “Then I can get a nice picture.”

  Phillip jerked his head toward Mom. “Don’t argue with her, Michael. Or she might decide to just show up at the restaurant and take the pictures there.”

  The brothers laughed together.

  “I don’t see why that incident was so funny to you two,” Mom said huffily. “Just because I was out of film on your prom night didn’t mean I wasn’t going to get pictures.”

  Michael and Phillip exchanged glances. The night Mom had tracked them and their dates down at Red Lobster and had them pose for pictures was legendary in the family.

  “The best part is that all our pictures have those poor lobsters in the background. Swimming around the tank with their little claws tied together.” Phillip started laughing again.

  Mom couldn’t hide her smile. “Okay. Maybe it was a little over the top to come to the restaurant.” She shook her head. “Someday you will both understand. I just hated for that moment to go undocumented.” She scowled. “And I told your dad to buy film that week, but he forgot.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re rehashing the great prom-picture debacle,” Dad said, coming into the kitchen. “I never thought I was going to hear the end of it.” He winked. “But I never forgot film again.”

  “That’s because now that we have a digital camera, we don’t need film anymore.” Mom chuckled. She turned to Michael. “But will you bring Caroline by before dinner?” she pleaded. “Please?”

  Michael rolled his eyes. “Of course.” He kissed Mom on the cheek.

  He really had to get his own place soon.

  Caroline brushed on an extra coat of mascara. It had been so long since she’d worn full makeup, she almost didn’t recognize herself.

  She grabbed a mirror so she could check out the back of her hair. It hung in loose curls down her back.

  She bent down to kiss Bandit. “It’s crate time for you, buddy.” She scooped him up and put him inside the crate.

  He looked at her with sad eyes.

  “Extra treats and kisses when I get home, I promise.” She reached her hand through the door and gave him one last pat.

  She looked in the full-length mirror hanging on the back of her closet door. The turquoise sundress fit tightly at the waist, then flared. The hem landed just below her knees. A little higher than she’d worn in awhile, but surely it was like riding a bike. She paired it with strappy silver sandals and grabbed her silver clutch, the one she’d bought two years ago for the ESPY Awards and hadn’t carried since. Perfect.

  The doorbell rang and she headed downstairs. She flung the door open to see Michael clutching a bouquet of gerbera daisies in a variety of colors.

  His smiled grew broader as he checked her out from head to toe. “Wow. You are absolutely beautiful.”

  She beamed. “Thanks.” She took the flowers from him and motioned him inside. “These are so pretty. My favorite, you know.”

  He grinned. “I know.”

  She set the bouquet on the counter and turned to face him. “You look pretty hot yourself,” she said laughing. “Or is it unladylike for me to describe you as ‘hot’?”

  Michael chuckled. “It works for me.” He pulled her to him and planted a kiss on her waiting lips. “But if I’m hot, you’re scorching.” He raised an eyebrow. “I’m just sayin’.”

  She looped her arm through his. “Let’s go.”

  “We have to make a stop before we go to the restaurant, though. Mom wants to take a picture,” he said sheepishly.

  She grinned. “Awesome. That’s so sweet.”

  He furrowed his brow. “I was afraid you’d be annoyed.”

  She shook her head. “Nope. Not at all.” She followed him to the SUV and waited while he opened her door. “It’s nice that you have a family who cares about you so much that they want do document the special moments in your life.”

  He climbed into the car and started the engine. “I guess you’re right.” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Does that mean that tonight is a special moment?”

  She smiled at him. “Every moment with you is special.”

  Simon watched as Lydia Ann, Katie, and Mary walked around the train display on Saturday morning.

  Katie said something and Lydia Ann threw back her head and laughed with her daughters.

  This was more dangerous than he’d expected. Not only had he fallen for Lydia Ann, but Katie and Mary had him wrapped around their little fingers.

  Every moment he spent with the three of them was special. And scary.

  Lydia Ann hadn’t decided yet if she was going to stay in Lancaster County. Which meant that in just a few weeks, the three of them could be hundreds of miles away.

  And he’d be here. Alone.

  He’d gone down this road before, just a few years ago. He’d put his heart on the line only to have it broken. When Sarah had chosen the English lifestyle over a life with him in Lancaster County, it had been so hard on him. On the day she made the choice, he’d told himself he would never be in that situation again—even if it mean a lifetime alone.

  Yet here he was, spending more time with Lydia Ann and her
daughters. And it was too late now. He’d already become attached to them.

  “Let’s ride the train,” Katie exclaimed, tugging on his sleeve. “It’s getting ready to leave.”

  He grinned down at her. “Okay.”

  Lydia Ann came over to where he stood. “How long does the train ride last?” she asked, fiddling with the tie on her kapp.

  “I don’t think the ride takes too long. It pretty much just goes down the track and then comes right back.” He motioned at Katie and Mary. “But they are so excited, I don’t think the destination matters much.”

  Lydia Ann laughed. “It sounds like fun.”

  “Can I sit by the window?” Mary asked as they were boarding.

  Katie jumped up and down. “And me too?”

  Lydia Ann raised her eyebrows and looked at Simon. “Jah. One of you can sit next to Simon, and one can sit next to me,” Lydia Ann said.

  Mary slipped her hand into Simon’s. “I’ll sit with you,” she said.

  He felt his heart melt. “Let’s go.”

  Lydia Ann watched Simon and Mary laughing as they looked out the window.

  He pointed out various landmarks to her and she nodded.

  This man had truly won her over. As much as she’d always said there would never be another man in her life after Levi, she could see now how narrow-minded she’d been. Simon was wonderful with the girls. It made her heart sing to see them laughing and talking with him.

  For so long, she’d felt robbed. Levi had died when Mary and Katie were so small. He’d barely gotten to know them at all. And much of the time, he’d been too weak to spend much time with them. So Lydia Ann had always wondered how it would feel to truly be a family.

  And now, thanks to Simon, she was getting a little taste of it.

  “Mamm,” Katie whispered in Lydia Ann’s ear.

  Lydia Ann looked down at her daughter and smiled. “Jah?”

  “It’s nice to have Mr. Simon with us, isn’t it?”

  “Very nice.”

  Katie snuggled against Lydia Ann. “I am going to miss him very much when we go back home. Aren’t you?” She looked up at Lydia Ann.

  Lydia Ann nodded. “What would you think about staying here?” She’d been wondering how to broach the subject with her girls. Maybe one at a time was best.

  Katie looked at her with wide eyes. “You mean like live here?”

  “Jah. I’ve been away from Dat for a long time. And you like spending time with him and Leah, right?”

  Katie nodded. “But I will miss my friends at school.”

  “I know. I’ll miss my friends too. But we’ll make new friends here.”

  The child smiled. “We already have Mr. Simon. And Miss Caroline.” She smiled. “And Bandit.”

  “So if I decide for us to stay here, you will be happy?”

  Katie smiled. “Jah. And so will Mary.” She leaned against her mother. “She likes it here too.”

  Lydia Ann cast another glance at Mary and Simon, who appeared to be discussing a herd of cattle they’d just spotted out the train window.

  Today had been a tiny glimpse of the happiness that a life in Lancaster County could hold. And it was enough to convince Lydia Ann that even though they’d miss their friends from Charm, it would be worth it.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Caroline poured some extra creamer in her coffee and sat down at her favorite table. The round table had a striped motif, alternating red, blue, green, and yellow. The pair of mismatched chairs was painted a glossy red. Something about the colors automatically cheered her up.

  She expected Lydia Ann any minute. One of her favorite morning rituals had become sitting with Lydia Ann and enjoying a cup of coffee before the store opened for the day.

  Lydia Ann’s friendship surprised her. She’d had friends before. Sally from junior high had shared the same taste in boy bands. That had been enough to sustain a friendship that lasted until they were juniors, when Sally had become joined at the hip with the star football player. And in college, she and her roommate had bonded over the experience of knowing no one else and sharing a bathroom.

  But for the most part, close friendship had been elusive for Caroline.

  Especially once she’d married Lance.

  At that point, she’d never been certain if women wanted to be her friend because they genuinely liked her or because they sought access to the mythical world of professional sports, where the men were handsome and rich.

  Valerie was the perfect example. She’d worked in PR at one of the companies Lance did endorsements for and had almost immediately struck up a friendship with Caroline. After everything that had happened, Caroline couldn’t help but wonder if their whole friendship had been a ruse on Valerie’s part. Caroline would probably never know for sure.

  “Somebody is lost in thought today,” Lydia Ann said.

  Caroline jumped at the sound of her voice. “I didn’t even hear you come in.”

  Lydia Ann smiled and poured herself a cup of coffee. “The girls are with Dat and Leah again today. They’ll be in soon.” She grinned. “Otherwise I might not have been able to sneak up on you.”

  Caroline laughed. “True. They don’t tread lightly.” She took a sip of coffee. “But they sure are cute.”

  Lydia Ann sat down. “They are. We’ve been talking about when we’re leaving, though.” She sighed. “I’ve talked to them about staying here, but I’m not sure what we’re going to do.”

  “Still haven’t figured it out?”

  Lydia Ann shook her head. “I want to make sure I’m staying for the right reason. I don’t want to uproot our lives unless I honestly believe it is the best thing for my family.”

  “That makes sense.” Caroline pushed a stray hair from her face. “I guess we both have big decisions to make.” She put her coffee mug down on the table. “Can I ask you something? And you’ll give me a straight answer? Not sugarcoated?”

  Lydia Ann stirred her coffee. “Sometimes we need that sugarcoating to help an answer go down better.” She smiled.

  “I’m really struggling with the idea of Valerie and Lance’s child.” She shook her head. “Deciding whether or not to raise the baby seems like an impossible decision.”

  Lydia Ann nodded. “It is not going to be easy for you, either way you go.”

  “Your husband died when the girls were young. How hard has it been to raise them alone?”

  Lydia Ann sat quietly for a moment. “I had a lot of help. Levi’s parents were around. And you met Noah, my cousin Emma’s husband. He was Levi’s cousin. Noah and his parents helped out a lot too.”

  “So they had plenty of father figures around?”

  “Jah. Noah stepped in as much as he could. He played with them, especially when they were toddlers. Katie used to be terrified of horses. Noah helped her learn to love them. He’d lift her up to pat the horse on the head.” Lydia Ann smiled at the memory. “But even though I had help, there were hard times.”

  “So it wouldn’t be something you would do by choice?”

  Lydia Ann furrowed her brow. “There have been many times…are still many times…when I have to make decisions alone. It would be better if I were making those decisions with their father.”

  Caroline nodded. “I can see that.” She sighed.

  “Your situation is different, of course.” Lydia Ann took another sip of coffee. “I get the sense that you see this as your duty. And maybe it is.” She met Caroline’s eyes. “But I hope you realize that if you choose this, your life will change forever.”

  “In some ways, my life has already changed forever. I wanted to be a mom for so long. And now I have the chance.”

  Lydia Ann shook her head. “I think the thing to take into consideration isn’t what’s best for you. Because the thing that’s best for you may very well be to raise this baby as your own so you’ll have something to focus on. Something to cling to. But I think the thing you have to consider is what is best for the child.”

 
Caroline fell silent and considered Lydia Ann’s words. Parenthood was about putting the child’s needs above your own. At least that was how it seemed to her. “I think that’s the trouble.”

  Lydia Ann furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”

  “The ideal situation would be to find a couple to adopt this baby. A couple who have no interest in the fact that the father was a superstar. A couple who will love the child and raise it to lead a good life.” She shrugged. “The problem is, I don’t know that such a couple exists.”

  Lydia Ann bit her lip. “I may know the answer.”

  Lydia Ann felt sorry for Caroline. The decision would not be an easy one. Especially considering that Caroline had wanted a child of her own for such a long time.

  And from what Lydia Ann knew of Caroline, she would love the baby with all her might, despite the situation. Not everyone would be able to do that.

  But even so, she could see that if there were a better alternative, Caroline would seriously consider it. “My cousin Emma is considering adoption. She and Noah don’t have any children of their own.”

  Caroline widened her eyes. “That might be a good solution.” She shook her head. “But do you think they would want to take a child under these circumstances?”

  “Emma wouldn’t care about the circumstances involved. She would just see a baby who needs a mother.” Lydia Ann took her cup to the sink and rinsed it out.

  “A baby who needs a mother,” Caroline repeated. “And I’ll bet Emma and Noah wouldn’t have feelings one way or the other about the fact that Lance was a celebrity.”

  Lydia Ann shrugged. “I can’t imagine that they would.”

  “I have another trip to Atlanta scheduled in a couple of weeks,” Caroline said. “I have to tie up some loose ends. While I’m there, I’m supposed to meet with Valerie again and tell her my decision.” She rose from the table. “She begged me to help her with the situation. Otherwise, the baby goes into state foster care.”