Pumpkin Pie Mystery

by Naomi Miller

  “No, I can't think of anyone. But I can be on the lookout for someone.” Travis replied. “And I can't wait to get home and tell Gwen the good news.”

  Heading towards the walk-in cooler, he stopped, then surprised both of the girls by rushing back over and giving them big hugs.

  “Thank you, both of you, for thinking of Gwen. She's going to be so excited! And I can stop worrying so much about her.”

  Turning towards the cooler again, he quickly made his way inside. Almost immediately, he came out with his arms full of bakery boxes. After putting them in the delivery van, he came back to get two more loads of orders.

  As the girls heard the van pull away, Freida started towards the double doors.

  “Katie, I have another idea. Why don't we make a sign and hang it in the window about looking for full-time help?”

  “That's a gut idea, Freida. Do yo want to work on the sign when you don't have customers?”

  “Nee, I think you should make it. Your lettering is much better than mine. And your artistic ability will make it look much nicer than anything I could do. I still remember how wunderbaar gut the display window looked when you painted it for Christmas.”

  “I think you could do a gut job on the sign. After all, it doesn't need to look fancy or anything.”

  “Nee, you do it.”

  “Allrecht, I'll do it. I'll work on it tonight at home and bring it in tomorrow.”

  Hearing the sound of a bell, Freida hurried back to the front room to wait on another customer.

  * * *

  Travis called out as he walked into the brightly lit house. As usual, Bobby was the first to reach him.

  Travis braced himself for the boy-sized bullet, but Bobby did not plow into his big brother's legs like he had so many other times. He stopped in plenty of time, but he did throw his arms around Travis and hug him tightly so he didn't worry overmuch about the change in behavior.

  “Is everybody home?”

  “You mean Gwen, right?”

  Travis was more than a little surprised at his baby brother's insightfulness, but he probably shouldn't have been. Bobby had heard the fights for himself, the hard words, the slamming doors.

  And he's not exactly a little kid anymore. The sadness that overtook him at that thought was also a surprise. Why should he be sad that his little brother was growing up? Wasn't that what was suppose to happen?

  Unless he goes through the same kind of stuff that Gwen is doing now.

  That thought reminded him that he had two other brothers who would be going through puberty soon too—and they were already into so much trouble, Travis found he didn't even want to think of how that would change once they discovered the joys of spending time with girls.

  For the moment, he held on tightly to his baby brother and tried to enjoy the simple hug.

  “Yes, I mean Gwen. Is she here?”

  “Yeah, she's in her room.”

  The undertone in Bobby's voice told Travis that she probably wasn't in the best of moods. He braced himself to deal with a surly teenager as Bobby ran off to play.

  Moving through the house, Travis set down the basket of goodies Katie had sent with him in the kitchen.

  After another deep breath, he turned down the hall and knocked on his sister's door. He heard the sound of muffled talking behind the door, and then what sounded like someone scrambling around the room.

  He nearly knocked again, wondering what on earth his sister was up to, when the door opened and Gwen stood there looking up at him, breathless and flushed.

  “I heard voices. Is there someone in there with you?”

  “No. I was on the phone.” Gwen waved their cordless extension as she answered.

  Travis was tempted to press her, but decided that it would be better. . . easier. . . and probably smarter to just let it go.

  “So, what did you need, Travis?”

  He cleared his throat before answering. He didn't want to make it too easy on her.

  “You know how Freida down at the bakery is getting married soon?”

  “Yes. She invited me. Isn't that sweet of her?”

  Gwen's smile was wider than he'd seen it in a while and Travis made a mental note; first to thank Freida, and second to ask Katie why such a thing would make his baby sister so excited.

  “And speaking of that, after the wedding, Freida and her new husband will be leaving on a honeymoon trip.”

  “I know. It sounds terribly romantic. I can't wait for my own honeymoon. It feels so far away.” Her voice trailed off a little at the end. Travis used the opportunity to dive into what he really wanted to talk to her about.

  “Right. Well, anyway, while Freida is away on her honeymoon, Katie needs some help down at the bakery.”

  That got her attention. She turned to him with eyes as big as he had ever seen them.

  “Does she want me to be that help or does she want me to find her someone?”

  “She wants you to be the help; well, at least part of the help.”

  “Oh Travis! Do you mean it? Really?”

  “I mean it. They asked me this afternoon to talk to you about it.”

  “When do they want me to start?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Really, that soon?”

  “Yes, that soon. Katie needs time to train you before Freida leaves so she wants you to start as soon as possible.”

  Gwen threw herself at Travis, hugging him fiercely. “Just tell me when and I'll be there.”

  “Katie said right after school would be best.”

  He didn't tell her that Katie had only said that because she had been agreeing with him. Initially, she had said an hour after school let out would be early enough, but Travis liked the idea better of Gwen going straight to the bakery from school.

  “That sounds great. I'll do that.”

  She turned away and started going through the piles of clothes that were strewn across almost every surface in her room.

  “Oh, wow! I can hardly wait.”

  Travis watched for another minute before deciding that he would never understand why everything about women. . . and girls. . . was so complicated and impossible to understand.

  Shaking his head a little, he turned and went down the hall to the large family room where everyone else would be.

  — SEVEN —

  Katie arrived a little earlier than usual at the bakery on Wednesday. After placing the sign asking for help in the front window of the bakery, she watched for Travis to arrive while she mixed up dough for the day's bread loaves. He had been very certain his schweschder would say yes to the job, but Katie would not count those chickens before she had a firm answer from him.

  While she worked she also thought about her other worries. On the one hand, she was excited about working with Gwen. She was an exceptional young woman. She was polite and intelligent. She would be a gut addition to the bakery staff, even on a temporary basis.

  On the other hand, if her bruder's suspicions were correct and she was getting into trouble, Katie worried that her working at the bakery could be a very bad idea.

  Katie needed someone she could depend on in Freida's absence; someone who would kumme in to work on time, someone who could keep their mind on the job at hand, someone who could keep orders straight and keep customers froh; someone who would be an asset to them all.

  Who could that person be?

  Gott will send us the person we need.

  She was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of the bell over the front door as Freida came in. The sweet sound of her freind singing put a smile on Katie's face—despite her worries over Gwen . . . and Gwen's bruder.

  “Is our new employee here yet?” Freida nearly sung out the words and Katie shook her head in answer.

  “She will be in school this morning, Freida. Travis said he would make certain she came to the bakery straight after school.”

  Freida made a little “hmm” sound in the back of her throat before speaking. “Well, I don't
know about you, but I am excited about it.”

  Katie decided that now would be a better time to voice her concerns to Freida—before Travis arrived for the day. “Aren't you the least bit worried about what Travis said?”

  “What, that his schweschder has been getting into trouble lately and does not want to talk to him about what she is doing with her time?”

  When Katie nodded, Freida went on. “Nee, I am not worried. She is a teenager. You have bruders and schweschders. How often do they tell your mamm and dat everything they are doing when they are not at home, especially during their rumschpringe?”

  It was odd for Katie to think of her own bruders and schweschders getting into trouble, but she had to admit that Freida had a point.

  “So, you think it will be all right?”

  “Jah, I do. I think she will do a gut job. And who knows. . .” She shrugged and then went on. “Perhaps this will help with the rest of it too. Giving her responsibility can only be a gut thing, jah?”

  “Jah.” That was certainly true. Responsibility usually helped teenagers to grow up and act more responsibly.

  “I hope Mrs. Simpkins is all right with this.”

  “She trusts you, Katie. She will be fine with it. How could she not be? You will need extra help. Even if you hire someone else to help you when I am away, they will not know the job as I do. Having Gwen to help too could only be a gut thing, jah?”

  “I hope you are right.”

  “I am. Do not worry so much, Katie.”

  Freida went out to start setting up the front area and Katie kept working with the dough, still more than a little concerned that she was making a mistake.

  Before she could worry about it too much however, the back door opened and Travis walked in with Gwen in tow.

  “Gut morning Travis. . . Gwen. . .” Katie swallowed before speaking again. “I thought you would be in school this morning.”

  “Oh, yeah. Class starts at eight thirty. Travis said I could come in with him early today. I won't get in the way. I just want to watch. . . if that's okay.”

  Katie felt her worries begin to fade away. The young woman standing in front of her was more excited than Katie had ever seen her.

  “Of course you can watch. I have only just begun with the dough for the day so it might not be interesting for some time, but I will be glad of your company at least.”

  A moment later, she added, “Or, if you like, you could go out and watch Freida set up the front area.”

  “Why don't you do that, Gwen. Katie will have lots of batches of everything to make so you can always watch later.”

  Gwen nodded and pushed her way through the swinging doors. A moment later Gwen could be heard talking with Freida. Both voices were filled with excitement.

  “Well, that is going to make Freida's day.”

  “Thank you, Katie.”

  “You—”

  Travis interrupted Katie before she could finish, putting a hand over hers as he spoke. “No, Katie. Really. Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.”

  He stopped, running a hand through his hair before going on. “I have been so worried about her—for awhile now. I think this is just what she needs right now.”

  “You sound as if I am saving her life, Travis.”

  “You never know, Katie. You just might be.”

  Katie shrugged off his comment, heat rushing into her cheeks at the very suggestion.

  “I just want you to know that I appreciate what you are doing.”

  “I am happy to help out, Travis. It is the least I can do.” A moment later, she added, “Not to mention, I really do need the help.”

  “Yeah, there is that.” Travis sighed. “Well, I guess I need to get the morning deliveries loaded into the van and get our new employee on her way to school.”

  * * *

  Freida looked up at the tinkle of bells over the door, happy to see a new customer.

  “Welcome to the Sweet Shop.” She sang out, watching the young woman as she walked across the room quickly. “What can we help you with today?”

  “Umm, a job?”

  “You are looking for a job?”

  The young woman looked at Freida a bit strangely before answering.

  “Yes, the young woman over at the coffee shop said you were looking for someone to help out.”

  “Jah, we are. Do you live in town?”

  “I just rented a room from Mrs. Mueller.”

  Freida nodded her head smartly, knowing Mrs. Mueller would not have rented a room to just anyone off the street. She would have checked the young woman out.

  “I'll just go get Katie. Have yourself a seat.” With that, she turned and pushed through the swinging doors.

  “Katie, there is a young woman here about a job.”

  “A woman? Is it someone we do not know?”

  “Jah, but she is renting a room from Mrs. Mueller. You know how she is about people she does not know. If she rented that young girl her room. . .” She shrugged and then went on. “I do not think we have anything to worry about.”

  “Jah, you are probably right, Freida.”

  “At least kumme and talk to her, Katie.”

  “All right, Freida, I will talk to her.” She walked to the sink, flipping on the water and scrubbing the flour off her hands.

  Less than a minute later, she was walking through the swinging doors and into the front area of the bakery.

  — EIGHT —

  Katie looked over the young woman who was perched right on the edge of her seat, her back to the front door of the bakery. She stood up so quickly when she saw Katie, she almost knocked the chair to the floor.

  She turned to look at the chair and then turned back to Katie with a smile that was somewhere between apology and anxiety, holding out a hand in front of her.

  Katie took it, more than a little surprised at the feel of the young woman's hand. Her skin was soft to the touch, but her grip was surprisingly strong.

  “Why don't we sit down?”

  When they had both settled into their chairs, Katie took another look at the young woman. She was dressed neatly, but her clothes looked finely made, not at all what the typical teenager in their small town would wear.

  Of course, she is a stranger to our town. Perhaps she is only trying to make a gut impression.

  “Why don't we start with introductions. . . I am Katie Chupp. And you are?”

  “My name is Bella Stanton.”

  Katie waited for her to go on, but she only sat there, looking at Katie expectantly.

  “Bella, where are you from? What brings you to our town?”

  She looked down before answering, and when she did speak, her voice was very quiet. “I was just looking for a change.”

  “Well, I can understand that.

  “How old are you?”

  “I am nineteen. I have graduated from high school. I meant to start college this fall, but it. . .” She stumbled over her words for several seconds before going on. “It just didn't work out.”

  She looked as if she wanted to take back some of what she had said, but obviously she could not so she sat there quietly, waiting for Katie to speak.

  “Well, that happens. Sometimes we make plans, but Gott has other plans for us. If we follow His plans, things have a way of working out.”

  The young girl nodded, but didn't speak.

  “Do you have any experience working in a bakery?”

  “No, not really.”

  Before Katie could say anything, she added, “But I have had several summer jobs where I worked with the public so I could probably take care of customers with very little training. I wouldn't need to know how to bake for that, right?”

  Katie nodded, oddly impressed that the young woman would get so excited about just the possibility of getting the job.

  Let's hope she is as enthusiastic when she discovers the job could very well be temporary.

  It was almost with reluctance that Katie asked a question sh
e was hoping would shed the greatest light on whether or not it was a gut idea to hire the young woman.

  “Freida tells me that you're renting a room from Mrs. Mueller?”

  Bella's face lit up, which took Katie completely by surprise. Mrs. Mueller had her gut qualities—or at least Katie hoped so—but rarely did any of the people in the community light up when asked about the town busybody.

  “Oh, yes. She is just the most wonderful lady. She and I talked for a long time. She said I was just the sort of person she had been looking for to rent out her spare room.”

  Something about the way she said the words, coupled with the brilliant smile on her face, told Katie she was being completely honest, and not just telling Katie what she wanted to hear. And somehow Katie knew it was a sign of sorts.

  Throwing caution to the wind, she decided to trust that this was Gott's way of telling Katie to take the chance.

  “I should tell you that Mrs. Simpkins, the Sweet Shop's owner, is away on vacation right now so I cannot guarantee that she will make the job permanent.”

  When Bella said nothing, just nodded enthusiastically, Katie went on.

  “All right then, at least until Mrs. Simpkins returns, we would love to have your help.”

  Bella jumped out of her seat again, sending the chair wobbling in place as she pumped Katie's hand.

  “Oh, thank you, Miss Chupp.”

  The title surprised Katie, especially since the plain community only used those sorts of titles when dealing with Englischers.

  “Just Katie, please.”

  “Okay, then. Katie, thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me. And I will work very hard. You'll see. I promise.”

  “I will hold you to that, I'm afraid. We will have a very busy week coming up, with the holiday and Freida's wedding and Mrs. Simpkins still away.”

  “When do you want me to start?”

  “You could start right now if you want. The afternoon rush will begin soon, so I will ask Freida to show you the basics of how things go, how to work the cash register, that sort of thing—and then when the rush begins you can help as much as you are comfortable with.”

  The young woman nodded along with every word Katie said, looking a little more naerfich with each word.