The Promise of Palm Grove

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Chapter 5

  Beverly loved having three young guests in the house. The girls in the top attic room were polite, had sunny dispositions, and chatted a mile a minute. When the house seemed especially quiet, Beverly had discovered that if she stood in the middle of the stairwell, she could hear the girls’ voices.

  Snippets of conversation would float downstairs, shared laughter punctuated by teasing, and then accompanied by strains of thoughtful silence. It was all music to her ears.

  It wasn’t that she tried to listen to private conversations, of course. Instead, she simply enjoyed the reminder of another time when she’d felt nothing but hope. A time when her future was so bright that she’d viewed all of her goals and dreams as completely possible.

  The girls had been here four days now, and seemed to have settled into a routine of sorts. They were the last guests to arrive for breakfast but lingered at the table the longest. Then, after a round of discussion—and there was always a lot of discussion—they’d set off to explore Pinecraft and the surrounding city of Sarasota.

  Later, they would return, their hands laden with shopping bags and lots of stories about the things they’d seen. Then, with more chatter and smiles, they would meet Beverly in the living room for informal tea.

  Beverly had a pretty good idea that their devotion to the hour in her living room had much to do with cups of hot tea, and freshly baked lemon bread and sugar cookies. Free food was the best food, especially to girls on a budget.

  But they also seemed to enjoy hearing Beverly’s perspective about Pinecraft, the tourist season, the beach, and their various concerns. In no time, they became fast friends with Wilma and Sadie, too, as well as all of Beverly’s friends who stopped by for tea on occasion.

  There really was something about the bright-eyed girls that brought out the best in everyone at the Orange Blossom Inn.

  As she set out a platter of carefully sliced grapefruit Bundt cake next to the tray of thinly sliced turkey and watercress sandwiches, Beverly wondered what their conversation would be centered upon today.

  Or, perhaps, they had elected to do something else with their afternoon.

  “You sure put out a great spread,” Wilma said as she fixed a plate, piling it high with the desserts. “You’ve got the luckiest guests in the area.”

  “And maybe the luckiest friends as well?” Beverly countered with a meaningful look at Wilma’s plate.

  Wilma had the grace to look embarrassed. “You don’t mind, do you? I mean, I know I’m not one of your guests, but it always looks like you have more than enough.”

  “Of course I don’t mind. I love playing hostess every afternoon. I’m glad that you can stop by so often.”

  “And we like taking you up on your hospitality,” Wilma said just as Sadie entered through the front door. “Sadie, just in time,” she called out, just as if she was the hostess! “Beverly made her cream cheese grapefruit Bundt cake today.”

  Sadie, the oldest one of their group, smiled. “Oh, I know all about the grapefruit Bundt. It’s better than gut, why, it’s wonderful-gut. Why do you think I’m here early?”

  “Help yourself to a plate,” Beverly offered just as she heard a burst of giggles and a trio of footsteps scamper down the stairs.

  Sadie looked toward the wooden stairs and smiled. “Looks like the girls will be joining us again.”

  Beverly winked. “I think so, too.”

  Wilma filled her mug with hot water just as the girls appeared, their faces wreathed in smiles. One of them had a pink nose, too.

  “Good afternoon,” Beverly called out. “Will you be joining us for tea today?”

  “Oh, yes,” Mattie said. “Believe it or not, we plan our afternoons around this.”

  “I believe it,” Wilma quipped. “I do, too.”

  Beverly chuckled. “I host a tea in the hopes that folks will come. I’m glad you do. So, are you having a good day?”

  Sara, the quietest of the trio, nodded. “We thought about going to the beach, but we weren’t up for it. I think all this traveling has gotten the best of us.”

  “We fell right asleep last night in the middle of a conversation,” Mattie said as she heaped her plate almost as high as Wilma’s. “I woke up in the middle of the night with my reading glasses on.”

  “I’ve done that a time or two,” Beverly admitted. “I like to read at night. Sometimes I can’t put my book down. I keep telling myself, just one more page.”

  “And then one more, and one more,” Sadie said with a wink. “I’ve done that a time or two, myself.”

  Beverly lost track of the girls’ conversation as her other guests appeared. Currently, she had all seven of her guest rooms filled, which pleased her a great deal. She liked being busy, and she liked being able to put a little bit of money aside to save for a rainy day.

  Unfortunately, her other guests weren’t quite as outgoing or cheery. One couple was older and seemed to have regretted their decision to come to Pinecraft from the moment they boarded their bus. All they did was grumble about the fact that they weren’t home. Two other couples never came to tea and barely ate any of Beverly’s breakfast. They seemed to have their own plans and agenda.

  The last room was occupied by a mother and daughter who didn’t seem to bring out the best in each other. The daughter, who seemed to be about fifteen or sixteen was a complainer, her mother only less so.

  They, however, liked to linger at their meals and sit in the living room. After struggling to make conversation with them the first day, Beverly now did her best to avoid them.

  But she still felt obligated to make sure the tureens were filled with hot water, the trays were kept plentiful, and everyone’s needs were met to the best of her ability. She circled the living area, chatting with each group, pouring more tea and lemonade, bringing more napkins and spoons, and generally doing everything she could to ensure her guests became repeat visitors.

  She’d just finished her second lap when she spied one of the girls staring intently out the window. There was such a look of worry in her eyes that Beverly took a seat next to her. “Leona, is everything all right with you?”

  “Me? Oh, jah.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to pry, but you look a little melancholy.”

  Leona smiled weakly. “That’s not it at all. I just was thinking about someone.”

  “Your fiancé?” The girls had told Beverly when they arrived that they were in Pinecraft to enjoy one last trip together before Leona said her vows.

  “Nee.”

  Beverly blinked. Leona’s voice was a little sharp. She wondered if she was feeling a little homesick. It certainly wasn’t her business. “Please let me know if you need anything else,” she said, and stood.

  “I’ve got a problem,” Leona blurted.

  Beverly sat back down. “You do?”

  After darting a glance at her friends, who were chatting with the whiny fifteen-year-old, Leona said, “See, I made a friend here.”

  “Yes, that happens a lot.”

  “You don’t understand. The friend I made? It’s a boy.” She shook her head. “I mean, a man. I mean, he’s local. His name is Zack Kaufmann. Any chance you know him?”

  “Yes, I do. All of us in the community know pretty much everyone, at least by sight.”

  “Is he . . . is he a nice man?”

  “He seems to be. His father, Frank, has done some remodeling for me. I’m pretty sure Zack helped him out from time to time.”

  Leona heaved a sigh of relief. “That’s good to know.” After another quick look at her friends, she leaned closer. “Miss Beverly, he and his friends have offered to take us to Siesta Key, to show us how to get on the bus and everything.”

  “That was nice of him. Those buses can be tricky.”

  “I don’t know, though.”

  “Okay. Well, if you don’t want to take them up on their offer, I’ll be happy to show you what to do . . .”

  “That’s not it,” Leona said
, moving a little closer to Beverly. “The thing is, I want to take him up on his offer. I think it would be a lot of fun to spend the day together.”

  “Then, what is wrong?”

  “I’m engaged.”

  Things were starting to come together. “I remember. Are you worried your fiancé will get jealous?”

  “I’m worried that I don’t even want to tell him that I’m going to the beach.”

  “Why not?”

  “Edmund, well . . . he ain’t a man who likes surprises. Or for me to do things he doesn’t approve of.”

  “I see.”

  “He’s good man,” Leona said quickly. “Just, um, a bit controlling.” After darting yet another look at her girlfriends, Leona shared, “I’m not thinking about being unfaithful, of course. But I’m worried that going to the beach with a man will seem disloyal.” She grimaced. “As well as the fact that I want to go with him.”

  “Ah. What do Sara and Mattie think? Do they think your fiancé will get upset if you all go to the beach with your new friend?”

  “Jah.”

  “Any reason why?”

  “They know how Edmund is. They don’t think I should do anything to make him cross at me.” Taking a breath, she added, “They’re excited about the wedding, you see. They’re excited about everything.” She looked like she was about to add something more but jumped to her feet instead. “Danke for the treats. They are mighty gut.”

  “I’m glad you liked them. If you’re done, I’ll take your plate.”

  “Danke,” she whispered before walking over to her friends. Moments later, the three of them darted out the door.

  “Is she okay?” Wilma murmured as she walked over to take the still-full plate out of Beverly’s hands.

  “I’m not sure.”

  Sadie gestured toward the slice of cake that looked hardly touched. “She either didn’t like your cake or decided she wasn’t hungry.”

  Beverly laughed. “Maybe she’s watching her figure. Young girls do that, you know.”

  “Oh, you,” Wilma said. “I wish you wouldn’t say things like that. It makes you sound far older than you are.”

  “Sometimes I feel far older than my years,” she quipped just as her front door opened and a pair of women walked in, their eyes wide. “Hello, may I help you?”

  One walked forward, then stopped and stared at her. “Beverly, look at you! Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes! And you look lovely, too. Just as pretty as a picture.”

  Beverly felt as if her whole body had just frozen. “Jean? Ida?”

  “Of course,” Jean said.

  “What in the world are you two doing here?” She hated to sound so inhospitable, but she was beyond shocked to see Marvin’s sisters.

  “We figured we might as well surprise you, since it was becoming obvious that we weren’t going to receive an invitation anytime soon,” Jean said.

  Then, to Beverly’s shock and amazement, Jean scampered over, tossed down her colorful quilted duffel on the floor, and enveloped her in a fierce hug.

  “Oh, Beverly,” she murmured. “I missed you. Do you have room for two surprise guests?”

  “I’ll make room,” she promised, once she found her voice.

  Though at the moment, she wanted to do nothing more than run upstairs to that attic room and shut the door behind her.

  What in the world were Marvin’s two sisters doing in Pinecraft? And more importantly, why in the world had they sought her out after all this time?

  Chapter 6

  Will you be okay with just hamburgers, French fries, and Jell-O salad for supper, Zack?” his mother asked as she walked into the backyard.

  Zack was watering his mother’s vegetable and flower beds—something his brother Karl was supposed to do but he hardly ever had time for, seeing how he now had a full-time job at the Pinecraft Inn. Almost a year ago Karl had received a promotion and he was now assistant manager of the motel. As far as anyone in the family could tell, this new title meant that he now got to work nights, weekends, holidays, and whenever the manager needed a day off.

  Zack didn’t mind taking care of the yard and house, though. Both of his parents had their hands full with their jobs.

  Things were especially difficult now, seeing as how his sister Violet had recently chosen to leave the order and become active in the Mennonite church. Though she wasn’t shunned or anything like that, there was definitely a new gap between her and the rest of the family. Their parents suddenly didn’t expect as much from her. He also privately thought that maybe Violet didn’t offer to do as much as she should.

  “Hamburgers are fine,” he said as his mother walked to his side. “Anything is fine. You know that.”

  Her turquoise blue dress fluttered in the breeze. When he glanced her way, he noticed that the color complemented her already pretty features, especially her blue eyes—the same color eyes he’d inherited from her.

  “Are you sure? I’ve got a meeting this evening with Effie’s physical therapist, so things are a little out of sorts.”

  “Not out of sorts,” he corrected. “More like how they always are. Busy.”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, she sighed. “I suppose so. Are you sure you don’t mind staying here with Effie? Again?”

  She asked him this at least once a week, and his answer was always the same. “Nope.”

  “You’re sure you don’t have other plans?”

  This question, on the other hand, was new.

  Turning off the hose’s spray nozzle, Zack looked at his mother more carefully. She looked apprehensive; her lips were pursed into a firm line. Come to think of it, she looked a bit more stressed than usual, and she also seemed to be hinting at something, too. But, for the life of him, he couldn’t guess what it was.

  “Mother, maybe you could save us both some time and talk to me about what is really on your mind.”

  “Well . . . Effie mentioned that she met a young woman named Leona today at Yoder’s.”

  “She did. And?”

  “Effie also said that Leona was very nice.”

  “Leona is very nice.”

  “So . . .”

  His mother’s look conveyed all sorts of things. Things he wasn’t ready to discuss with her.

  Things he hadn’t even thought about discussing with Leona.

  Therefore, he decided it was time to nip her matchmaking glow in the bud. “Mamm, if Effie told you all about Leona, I’m sure she told you that I just met her.”

  She nodded. “I know. But—”

  “Leona seems to be a nice girl and all, but she’s only here on vacation.”

  “That’s it?” His mother didn’t even try to look not crestfallen. “Effie made it sound like there was something special between you two.” She looked like she was tempted to add more but hesitated.

  He was glad about that. Zack could only imagine what romantic notion Effie was conjuring up between him and Leona. “There could be if she didn’t live in Ohio,” he allowed, “but she does.”

  “So you aren’t going to see her again?” A line formed between her brows. “Effie told me something different.”

  Lord, save him from meddling little sisters! “Actually, there’s a chance I might see her tomorrow. I told her I’d take her and her girlfriends to Siesta Key.”

  “Oh!” A dimple appeared in her cheek.

  “It doesn’t mean anything. I merely offered to take her because the bus can be so confusing.”

  “Oh, jah. It is confusing, for sure.” Smiling softly, she added, “It also gives you lots of time to spend together. Hours.”

  Zack exhaled as he attempted to find his patience. “Mamm, don’t push.”

  “I’m not pushing.”

  “You are. And you are pushing too much. What is meant to happen will happen. The Lord will take care of it, He always does.” Zack paused. “You and Daed taught me that, remember?”

  “I know. It’s just that you’ve given up so much for us.” Gesturing toward
the garden and the flowers, she said, “I feel like you’ve put your life on hold so the rest of the family can get their needs met.”

  “I’ve never felt that way.”

  “Truly?”

  “Not at all. Stop worrying, please. And tell Daed to stop worrying, too.” His parents were of the same mind on most everything. It was rare for one of them to be worrying about something without the other doing the very same thing.

  She bit her lip, her expression a picture of indecision. “All right, then. I’ll go make you and Effie those hamburgers.”

  “Danke.” Making a shooing motion with his hands, he said, “Now go on in. I’ve got this.”

  When the door closed again, he turned the hose on and faced away from the windows that lined the back of the house. After giving the hose a good yank, he started watering his mother’s pride and joy: her eight grapefruit, orange, and lemon trees.

  And then he at last gave in and contemplated what he really thought about his life.

  His mother hadn’t been far off the mark when she’d said that it seemed like he’d put his life on hold for everyone else.

  It was true; he had.

  When he’d graduated from school at age fourteen, he’d leapt into all of his father’s odd jobs with both feet.

  His daed worked for a big company that specialized in refurbishing vacation properties. Every day, his father was out in Sarasota, Siesta Key, or Longboat Key working. It was a good job, and his father had always enjoyed it because the jobs never lasted beyond a few weeks, he got to be outside a lot, and he didn’t have to worry about paperwork. All he had to do was show up and put his skills to work. He was especially good at removing and installing countertops and kitchen and bathroom hardware. So good that even other contractors asked for him to take a side job here and there because they didn’t know of anyone else who could do the work so quickly and efficiently.

  Zack had stayed by his father’s side for a good year. In that time both he and his daed learned a very important lesson. Loving someone didn’t mean that it was always best to work by their side eight or ten hours a day.

  Instead, he’d slowly begun to pick up the slack around the house. When Violet began dating a Mennonite boy—which had meant lots of arguments with their parents—Zack had taken over some of her chores. When she got a job working in a Christian bookstore, he’d taken over even more of her responsibilities.