Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

by Annalisa Daughety

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Caroline sat on the plush footstool in the children’s section of the bookstore. About ten kids ranging in age from four to ten sat around her, enthralled by the story. She held up the book so they could see the pictures.

  “I see a bunny,” one little girl called out.

  Caroline smiled. “That’s right.” She pointed to the bunny so everyone would see it. She finished the final page. “The end,” she said. She stood and placed the book back on the shelf. “Feel free to play in the toy box,” she said, grinning.

  Lydia Ann motioned for her to come over to the register.

  Caroline hurried over. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Is everything okay?” Caroline peered at her friend.

  Lydia Ann’s odd expression answered the question. Silently she handed a magazine to Caroline.

  Caroline glanced down. “This is Michael’s publication, isn’t it? Is his article about Gettysburg in here?” She’d been avoiding his calls for days—ever since their conversation on the bridge. By now he’d probably accepted the job offer and was making plans to move back to DC.

  “Jah,” Lydia Ann said quietly. “But I don’t think you’re going to like it very much.”

  Caroline quickly flipped to the center spread that depicted their Gettysburg trip. “These pictures are beautiful.” She flipped the page and her eyes widened. The largest picture on the page showed Caroline, her head thrown back in laughter, standing in front of a historical marker. She quickly scanned the print underneath the picture. Caroline DeMarco, widow of Atlanta Braves pitcher Lance DeMarco, paid a visit to Gettysburg recently. Since her husband’s death, Ms. DeMarco has relocated to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where she’s opened a bookstore. Caroline dropped the magazine onto the desk. “How could he?” She gripped the counter tightly. “I don’t understand.”

  Lydia Ann pulled a chair over and gently led Caroline to it. “Sit here.”

  Caroline sank onto the seat and pressed her temples with her fingers. “My head feels like it’s about to explode.”

  “Let me get you some aspirin.” Lydia Ann hurried off.

  Caroline sat numbly. She’d put her trust in the wrong man. Again.

  “Here.” Lydia Ann handed Caroline a small white pill.

  Caroline popped it into her mouth.

  “Drink this.” Lydia Ann held a bottle of water to Caroline’s mouth.

  Caroline obliged.

  “Do you want to go upstairs and lay down?” Lydia Ann motioned around the busy shop. “I can close up when the last customer leaves.” She jerked her chin toward the wall clock. “It’s almost five.”

  Caroline fought to retain control. She wanted to scream, to throw things. Her life here was so quiet. She’d actually thought she was going to successfully begin again without Lance’s life hanging over her. Especially since she’d done what Jenny wanted. She’d told Michael to accept the job in DC. Was putting the photo in his article his way of retaliating?

  She shook her head. “No. If I go upstairs, I’ll only worry. At least the shop will keep me busy.” The shock of betrayal left Caroline with an all-too-familiar numbness. After everything she’d gone through with Lance, she’d wound up devoid of feeling. There were days she wished she could actually feel pain just so she’d know she was still alive. And over the past weeks in Lancaster County, she’d known she was healing because her feelings came back. She’d come through the fog of grief over her mama’s death and the sadness over the revelations of her marriage and had actually started to feel like a whole person again. But now, with this unexpected disloyalty, her body had gone back into its protective shell. Caroline felt nothing but numbness.

  The minutes seemed to tick past. Caroline fingered her cell phone. Maybe she should call Michael and see what he had to say for himself.

  Before she could place the call, an unfamiliar woman with glossy dark hair strode into the shop. “I’d like to have a few words with Mrs. DeMarco, please,” she said.

  Caroline stood rooted to the spot next to the coffee bar. She peered out from behind a column and watched the determined woman plop her notebook and purse on the counter.

  “Is there something I can help you with instead?” Lydia Ann asked sweetly.

  The woman sighed loudly. “No. I need Mrs. DeMarco. I have a video crew outside. I’d like to get a statement from her in time for tonight’s news.”

  Before Lydia Ann could respond, the front door burst open.

  Michael.

  “Where is she?” he asked, scooting the reporter out of the way. “I need to talk to Caroline right now.”

  The reporter looked him over with a gleam in her eye. “Do you know Mrs. DeMarco? Would you mind answering a few questions about her stay in Lancaster County?”

  He glowered at her. “I’m sorry. You won’t be getting a statement from me or from Caroline. And there certainly won’t be a story about her on tonight’s news. Please leave.”

  The woman narrowed her eyes. “Sir, I hate to tell you this, but there are already several reporters in the area. This will be on the news tonight all over the country.” She tossed her glossy hair. “We’ll just wait outside for Mrs. DeMarco to emerge.” Her high heels clicked against the hardwood floor as she left the store.

  “Please, Lydia Ann. I need to talk to her.” Michael’s voice was heavy with emotion. “I need to explain. It wasn’t me. I guess Jenny somehow found out the truth. She was the last one to proof the article before it went to print.”

  Lydia Ann shook her head. “I think it would be best if you leave too. Give her some time.”

  A dejected expression crossed Michael’s face. “I messed up, big-time. I never should have left those pictures on my computer where Jenny could get to them. Please tell Caroline I’m sorry. And that…” He paused. “And that I’ll do anything I can to make it up to her.”

  Caroline listened from behind the column. She wanted to go after him but stayed where she was. This wasn’t the time or place to speak to him. They needed to talk in private. She’d been stupid not to tell him about Jenny and her threats in the first place, but she’d wanted to handle it on her own.

  Lydia Ann ushered Michael to the door. She peered outside. “There are a lot of people out there. I think you’ve done enough.” She practically pushed Michael out the door and locked the dead bolt behind her.

  “I can’t thank you enough,” said Caroline, stepping out from where she’d been hiding. “Are there really a lot of people outside?”

  “Looks like vans from all the local news stations. Plus an assortment of gawkers.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I know how much you’d hoped to keep your privacy.” She met Caroline’s gaze. “When will you speak to Michael? He looks pretty upset.”

  Caroline nodded. “As soon as I can. Not now, though.” She sighed. “And I don’t think I’ll be able to leave here for a few days. Which is a problem.” She glanced at Lydia Ann. “You know I’m supposed to fly back to Atlanta tonight. I guess that’s not going to happen.” The trip to Atlanta had been planned for a few weeks. She’d arranged to visit Valerie and intended to tell her that although she didn’t think adopting the baby herself was the best idea, she knew of a couple who would make wonderful parents. But now it looked like that visit would have to wait.

  “Unless…,” Lydia Ann trailed off. “Unless we do something a bit crazy.”

  Caroline’s life already seemed to be steeped in crazy. So maybe a little more wouldn’t hurt.

  Lydia Ann put her hands on her hips and faced Caroline. “I’ll be fine. I’ve actually driven a car before.” She grinned. “The wildest thing Levi and I did during our rumspringa was learn to drive. He had an English friend who let us borrow his car.” She chuckled at the memory. “We drove all the way to Canton and back.” It had been a wonderful day. They’d laughed so much.

  Caroline sank onto her bed and put her head in her hands. “I can’t believe this is happening.” She looked up at Lydia Ann with a tearstained
face. “I mean, I knew I was probably treading on thin ice when Jenny came to see me. But I honestly believed that she would keep it to herself if I did what she asked.” She shook her head. “I guess it goes to show that I’m a real dummy, trusting a person who would try to blackmail me in the first place.”

  Lydia Ann sat down next to her. “Don’t blame yourself. Encouraging Michael to take that job had nothing to do with Jenny’s learning your identity and everything to do with you believing he was better off in doing so.”

  “I was just trying to do the right thing. He shouldn’t give up his dreams for me.” She sighed. “And now everything is all messed up. My cover is blown. Michael is upset. I’m like a walking disaster.”

  “Let’s think about this. I have no doubt that you and Michael can work this out. But it will be easier to do that if there aren’t reporters lurking around.” She met Caroline’s gaze. “You’ve heard people around here. They say we look enough alike to be sisters.” She smiled. “Except for our eye color.”

  “And our clothes,” Caroline finished, repeating what Michael had said weeks ago when he’d first seen them together.

  “So…if I put on your clothes and sunglasses and go get in your car”—Lydia Ann shrugged—“they’ll assume I’m you.” She grinned. “And you will have time to find Michael, talk to him, and still make your flight.”

  “No. I can’t let you do that.”

  Lydia Ann wrinkled her brow. “I’ll drive your car to a crowded parking lot. Target will work.” Target was located in a busy shopping center with a huge parking lot and a special area for buggy parking. Lydia Ann had gone there with Leah a couple of times to pick up prescriptions and household items.

  “Once I’m gone, you can take the girls, go over to Dat’s store, and call a cab from there. Then tell Dat to pick me up in the buggy parking area at Target.” She held up a hand and waved away Caroline’s protests. “I’ll take my regular clothes in my bag and then run in and change in the bathroom.” She pointed at the front of the bookstore. “They’ll be waiting for you to come out of the store. Not an Amish woman.”

  Caroline shook her head. “No. I won’t let you put yourself out that way.” Her face was grim. “Maybe it doesn’t even matter. I can just let them follow me to the airport. My cover is blown now anyway.”

  “My way would give you a little more time before you have to face the cameras, though,” Lydia Ann pointed out. The truth of the matter was, she had a feeling that Michael was waiting nearby. Maybe even at Dat’s store. She felt strongly that Michael and Caroline needed to clear the air immediately. She knew that if they were just open with each other, they could work things out. And if she were being honest with herself, she knew part of the reason she wanted Michael and Caroline to work out so badly was because she and Simon hadn’t. At least one of them deserved to be happy.

  She’d tried to put Simon out of her mind since their talk the other day. But at a time like this, it was hard. Lydia Ann would’ve liked nothing more than to know that at the end of this stressful day, Simon would be waiting to cheer her up. But he’d made his feelings clear. Or his non-feelings, as the case may be.

  “You know, I think I might have a way to handle this situation and keep us both happy,” Lydia Ann said with a smile.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Michael sat on a bale of hay. “She won’t even speak to me,” he said. “I’ve called her cell. I’ve gone to the store.” He shook his head. “She doesn’t want to see me at all.”

  Simon looked at his friend. “Give her some time. You know how badly she wanted to keep her identity a secret.” He drew his brows together. “How did it get into the magazine, anyway?”

  Michael rolled his eyes. “Jenny. That’s the only logical explanation. I’ve tried to get in touch with her, but she’s also avoiding me.” He shook his head. “She was so angry at me when she found out I wasn’t going to take the job in DC. I’m afraid this is her way of getting back at me.”

  Simon shook his head. Relationships sure were a lot of trouble. He’d been trying to convince himself that he was better off alone…except that he missed Lydia Ann. So much that he’d considered telling her about his diagnosis. But that wouldn’t be fair to her. She deserved a healthy man. She’d been through enough sickness to last a lifetime. His thoughts chased each other like a dog chasing its tail. He knew his decision was the right one, but the doubts were creeping in. “How did Jenny figure out who Caroline really is?”

  Michael shrugged. “Jenny always has her nose in a magazine. And I can’t tell you how many times she’s called everyone in the office over to her computer to look at the latest celebrity scoop online.” He rubbed his jaw. “I guess she saw one of the pictures on my computer and put two and two together.”

  A vehicle outside came to a screeching halt.

  Simon exchanged a glance with Michael, and they both ran outside.

  Phillip jumped out of his old pickup truck. “It’s Caroline,” he said, out of breath. “She’s been in an accident. I saw her car.” He shook his head. “The ambulance was just getting there.”

  Michael took off toward his SUV, a panicked expression on his face.

  “No,” Phillip called. “Get in my truck. You’re not in any shape to drive.”

  For a moment, Michael wavered. He took a step toward his own vehicle and then turned around. “Thanks,” he murmured to Phillip. He glanced at Simon. “Simon, please go tell Mom and Dad. And I know Lydia Ann will want to know.” He met Simon’s eyes. “Will you find her and share the news?”

  Simon nodded. “I’ll say a prayer.” He watched as Michael climbed into Phillip’s truck and the two of them drove away.

  Michael wondered for a minute if he were going to be sick to his stomach. He closed his eyes and willed himself to stay calm.

  “Try not to worry,” Phillip said. “It will only make things worse.”

  Michael rubbed his temples. “It’s my fault. She trusted me with her life. And I was careless.” He quickly brought Phillip up to speed about Caroline’s past. “She didn’t want me to take pictures of her in the first place. And then the other day, I left them up on my computer while I talked to my boss. Jenny was in my cubicle. I guess she went through them.” He shook his head. “I just never dreamed Jenny would recognize Caroline.”

  “Lance DeMarco? Wow.” Phillip stopped at a red light. “He was a great baseball player.”

  “Whatever. That’s not important anymore,” Michael snapped.

  Phillip was silent for a moment. “Look, I don’t blame you for being upset. But this isn’t your fault.”

  “Easy for you to say,” Michael mumbled.

  Phillip cast a sideways glance at Michael. “I know how much you care about her. It’s been obvious from the beginning. And one lesson I’ve learned over the years is that you should fight for what you love.” He sighed. “I haven’t always done that. Most of my biggest regrets…no, all of my biggest regrets are because I didn’t fight for what was most important to me.”

  Michael looked over at his brother. He actually sounded like a real person, not the grouchy, irritable bear he’d been all summer. “It isn’t too late for you, you know.”

  Phillip grimaced. “I wish that were true.”

  “What is so bad that it can’t be fixed? I mean, the woman who is probably the love of your life wasn’t just in a car accident. Seems to me like that would put everything in perspective.”

  “Always gotta be about you somehow, doesn’t it?” Phillip flipped on his blinker to switch lanes. “Maybe the things that have passed me by can’t be fixed. Maybe it’s been too long.” He sighed. “Do you think I wanted to stay here forever and work on the farm? Do you think I wanted Amanda to leave for Philly without me?” He shook his head. “Dad isn’t in the best health. But that’s something you wouldn’t know about. Mom and Dad haven’t told you that, ever since his back surgery, he can barely get around. Just like they didn’t tell you that we almost lost the farm a few years ago
.”

  Michael sat, stunned. “I don’t understand.”

  “Why do you think they started operating the house as a B&B? Times were tough. We had a couple of really bad years. But they didn’t want you to worry. So I did the worrying for the both of us. And when the opportunity came for Amanda to move to the city, there was no way I could go. No way I could leave Dad in the lurch like that. Once Simon started full-time, I took over a lot of the day-to-day operations. And the business side. I’ve made my peace with it now, but if you’d have shown your face around here a couple of years ago, I probably would’ve punched it.”

  Things fell into place for Michael. The bitterness Phillip held toward him. The forced cheerfulness he’d sometimes detected from his mother. Everyone had tried to protect him so he could go off and live his dream. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. If I had, I would’ve come home straightaway and pitched in.”

  “What good would it have done? I’m glad you didn’t know.” Phillip stopped the car at another red light. “I’m proud of you, little brother. Even if I don’t show it,” he said, his voice softer.

  Michael stared. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

  “I guess it’s just been hard for me. I’m the one who stayed here and worked hard to make sure we kept the farm. And you come back for a few measly months and everyone acts like you’re a prince or something.”

  “It isn’t like that, and you know it.”

  “It sure seemed that way to me.” Phillip glanced at his brother. “At least at first.”

  “And now?”

  Phillip shrugged. “I had a long talk with Dad last week. He actually thanked me for everything I’ve done. Said that he didn’t know what they would’ve done without me these past years. And as we talked, I realized that my life isn’t so bad after all. I’m proud of our farm. And I’ve visited the city enough to know that even if I had followed Amanda there, I would’ve been miserable.” He sighed. “Now I’ve met someone I think I can actually have a life with. Someone who doesn’t mind living on a dairy farm.” He grinned. “I’m sorry if I’ve been difficult to deal with.”