Chapter 39
Coshocton
Bill, Russ, and Tom started walking toward the cabin after doing some morning scouting. “That’s some deer you got a picture of there.” Tom thumped Bill’s back as they stood looking at the digital camera.
“Yep. I came across this windfall to sit up against, and it seemed like a good spot, since the tree stand is no longer an option.” Bill grinned at the photo of the six-point buck he’d taken earlier today, from the new area he’d found to hunt. He’d remembered to take his camera along when he left the cabin this morning. “I watched that deer for a good fifteen minutes as he rubbed his antlers on a tree.” Bill leaned slightly forward. “Sure hope I see him again Monday morning. But if not, at least I got a good picture.”
“Tom and I haven’t seen a thing after traipsin’ through the woods all morning,” Russ chimed in. “I was hoping to see a deer after we got here yesterday. Now here it is Saturday, and still no luck. I hope that bear you saw on Thanksgiving didn’t chase them out of the area. Too bad you didn’t get the bear’s picture.”
“Didn’t have my camera with me.” Bill gestured to Russ and Tom’s orange hunting coats and hats. “Maybe you two should have worn all camouflage today.” He pointed to his own clothing. “The buck never saw me this morning, and I was only a few yards away from him. That’s why my orange hat and vest are hanging here on the porch. Really don’t need them till Monday morning.”
“I didn’t have a choice, since I forgot my camo jacket.” Tom grunted. “Think I shoulda stayed home this weekend.” He plunged both hands into his jacket pockets. “The only thing I’ve gotten so far is a chill seepin’ all the way into my bones. Sure hope this isn’t an indication of how Monday morning will be.”
Russ blew out a breath so strong it rattled his lips. “You should have brought some hand warmers like Bill and I did.”
“That’s right, and we dressed warm enough.” Bill gestured to the cabin as it came into view. “Maybe you should stay inside the rest of the day. You can sit by the fire, drink a cup of coffee, and eat some of the friendship bread I brought to give you fellas. There’s also a few pumpkin whoopie pie cookies left.”
Tom shook his head vigorously. “And miss the chance of getting a glimpse of a big buck, should one come along? No way! I can drink coffee and try out the bread and cookies when we all go inside, but then I’m heading back out.”
Bill chuckled and thumped Tom’s shoulder. “Now that’s the spirit, my friend.”
“It is a bit disappointing about the tree stand, though.” Russ looked out toward the woods. “I always liked hunting from up there.”
“Don’t worry,” Bill assured him. “We’ll find another, healthier tree, and build an even bigger stand. Maybe one large enough for all of us to be up there together, and we’ll put a roof on it, to keep us dry when it rains or snows.” Just talking about the plans for a new tree stand gave Bill a sense of anticipation.
“Yeah, I like the idea already.” Tom bobbed his head.
“I have a lot of good memories from up there in the old tree stand, but this morning, before I went scouting, I went over to the oak tree and took a good look at things.” Bill’s forehead wrinkled. “It’s a good thing, too, because I discovered some wood dust around the base of the trunk, and that can only mean one thing—carpenter ants.”
Grunting, Russ shook his head. “Oh, boy, that’s not good.”
“Don’t know how I missed it yesterday.” Bill grimaced. “And if I hadn’t gone over to take a look this morning, I may not have noticed it today, either. Guess it must have happened for a reason, though.”
He thought about some of the Bible verses Heidi had written on the back of the recipes cards she’d given him and her other cooking students and wondered if God’s hand might have been in the situation that spared his life. It was something to ponder all right.
“Building a new tree stand sounds like something we could all work on this coming year.” Tom rubbed his hands together, grinning enthusiastically. “I’ll bet Andy will be interested in hearing about this, too.”
“I agree. It’s something we can look forward to.” Bill gave a small slap to Tom’s back. “Well, let’s go inside for a while so we can warm up a bit.” He opened the cabin door. “I’ll put some fresh coffee on and we can chow down on the rest of the bread and pumpkin whoopies I brought along. You guys are gonna like ’em.” While the desserts Bill had brought to share with his friends were not particularly “health foods,” they weren’t full of artificial ingredients, like some store-bought treats were. Bill had remembered to bring some cut-up veggies for snacks and meals, and he’d made a big tossed green salad to go with their supper tonight.
“Sounds good to me.” Tom thumped his belly. “And I can hardly wait to see what you’ve got planned for lunch. Your cooking’s sure improved since you started those classes.”
Bill couldn’t argue with that. He wished he could continue to learn from Heidi beyond the six classes. But at least he would have the recipes she’d taught them, along with a notebook Heidi gave everyone with helpful tips for the kitchen.
Canton
Kendra stared at her reflection in the bedroom mirror. She wasn’t sure what restaurant Brent would be taking her to but hoped she was dressed appropriately. Kendra had chosen a rust-colored skirt and creamy white blouse, which brought out the color of her auburn hair. Dressing up wasn’t really her thing, but she wanted to look nice for her date this evening.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Kendra turned toward the door. “Come in.”
Mom poked her head inside. “Well, don’t you look nice? Are you going somewhere?”
“Yeah. I have a date with Brent Mason. You said you’d watch Heidi for me, remember?”
“Oh, oh.” Mom touched her parted lips. “Sorry, I forgot.”
Kendra could hardly believe her mother had forgotten so quickly. It had only been twenty-four hours since she had told her Brent called, and she’d asked if she would watch the baby. “Brent should be here in the next thirty minutes, so are we good?”
Mom shook her head. “Sorry, Kendra, but your dad’s boss is having a get-together this evening, and it wouldn’t look good if he went without me.”
Kendra frowned. “How long have you known about this?”
“Your dad told me this morning.” Mom glanced at the baby, sleeping in her crib. “I would suggest that you ask one of your sisters, but they’ve both gone to the roller-skating party the church youth group is having tonight.”
“That’s just great.” Kendra clenched her teeth. “I wish you had told me about your plans sooner. I would have cancelled my date with Brent.” She glanced at the clock on her nightstand. “It’s too late now. He’s probably on his way here already.”
Mom sighed. “Guess I’d better stay home then and watch Heidi.” She turned toward the door. “I’ll give your dad the news.”
“No, that’s okay. Your place is with Dad, and you need to keep him happy. When Brent gets here, I’ll tell him I’m not able to go out to dinner after all.” Kendra figured if Mom gave up her plans this evening to watch the baby, Dad would be upset—probably more with Kendra than Mom, of course. Even though he’d allowed her to move back home, he’d never really accepted the situation and wasn’t as attentive to his granddaughter as Kendra would like him to be. The last thing she wanted was to be the cause of more irritation for him. Hopefully, someday her father would wake up and realize what he had right here before him. Until, and unless, that time ever came, Kendra would continue to try and keep the peace.
Mom turned back around. “Say, I have an idea. Why don’t you take the baby with you this evening?”
Kendra pinched the bridge of her nose. “That’s not a good idea. Heidi might get fussy, and it would be hard for Brent and me to visit if I have to take care of her while I eat and carry on a conversation. Besides, he’s expecting this to be a date, not an evening of watching me keep the baby entertained.”
“If you feed her now, before he gets here, she’ll probably sleep most of the evening.”
“I’d rather not chance it.” Kendra shook her head. “Go on now, and have a good time with Dad. With any luck, Brent will ask me out again some other time.”
“Okay.” Adopting a slumped posture, Mom opened Kendra’s bedroom door and shuffled out of the room.
Mom obviously felt bad, but that didn’t solve Kendra’s problem. Raising her hands, she lifted her head toward the ceiling. “How come nothing ever works out for me?”
Chapter 40
The doorbell rang. With regret, Kendra went to answer it, knowing it must be Brent. Sure enough, she found him on the porch, holding a bouquet of red carnations, mixed with pretty feathery-looking greens. He’d obviously gotten them from a florist, since carnations weren’t blooming in anyone’s yard this time of the year. Grinning, he handed it to her. “These flowers are for you. Hope you like them, and sorry I’m a bit late.”
Kendra blinked. Was this guy for real? In all the time she’d been seeing Max, he’d never given her flowers—or much else, for that matter. And her ex-boyfriend had never apologized for being late. “Thanks, Brent. They’re beautiful. Carnations are one of my favorite flowers.”
“Glad you like ’em.” He eyed her with a curious expression—one she couldn’t quite read. Did he think she wasn’t dressed appropriately for their date? “You about ready to go?”
She drew a quick breath. “I hate to tell you this, but I won’t be able to go out with you tonight after all.”
Brent’s brows furrowed as he tipped his head to one side. “How come?”
She explained about her mother not being able to babysit after all and that both of her sisters had gone out for the evening. “So I have no one to watch little Heidi.”
“Not a problem.” He leaned closer, his hand on one knee. “You can either bring the baby along, or we can get takeout and eat here.”
Now why didn’t I think of that? Kendra inhaled quietly. “You wouldn’t mind eating here?”
“Nope. Not a bit.”
She pressed a palm to her chest. This guy is really something. Nothing like Max, that’s for sure. She smiled and stepped aside. “Come on in, Brent, and thanks for being flexible.”
“No problem. Now that I think about it, eating here would probably be better anyways, because it’ll be easier for us to visit in your house than it would be in a crowded, noisy restaurant.”
She gave a nod. “Good point.” I’m glad Brent’s so agreeable.
Brent followed her into the living room. After she took his jacket and hung it up, he found a seat on the couch. Glancing over at Heidi, lying in the portable crib, he smiled. “She’s a cute little thing. You’re lucky to have her.”
Kendra leaned over the crib and stroked her daughter’s soft cheek. “I know. I feel very blessed.”
He got up and stood next to her, staring down at the child. “Someday I’d like to have a house filled with kids.”
She turned to face him, lips parted slightly. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Well, maybe not a whole houseful, but two or three, that’s for sure. Do you want more children, Kendra?”
A warm flush crept across her cheeks. “Yeah, I guess so. Not till I fall in love and get married, though. I made one mistake with Max; I’m not gonna make another.”
“I understand.” Brent pulled out his cell phone. “What should we order? Are you up for pizza?”
“Sure. I can eat pizza most any time.” Kendra glanced at her skirt and blouse. “Even if I am overdressed for it.”
“You look really nice.” Brent stared at Kendra so hard it made her toes curl.
“Thank you.” Could this be the beginning of a new relationship? she wondered. If so, am I ready for it?
After they had the pizza, and little Heidi was fed and lay sleeping in her crib again, Kendra and Brent relaxed in front of the TV. Neither one of them watched it, though, as they chatted about their current lives, as well as the days they’d attended the same high school. Kendra felt as comfortable with Brent as she did wearing a cozy flannel nightgown and her fuzzy bedroom slippers. She’d never felt this way with Max. She’d always been on edge, for fear she’d say or do something to rile him. Thinking back on it now, she wondered how she could have given herself to a guy like Max. He was hot-headed and demanding, always making her feel guilty if she didn’t do things his way. Some of her desire to be with him could have been rebellion, and part of it was a need to feel as though someone truly cared about her. Of course, she realized that Max had never truly cared, but when he held her in his arms and whispered words of love, Kendra had weakened and let her emotions and physical desires take over.
Kendra took a quick breath to steady her nerves and admitted to Brent the feelings she’d had for him back in high school. “You didn’t even know I existed, of course. But I can’t blame you. I was only in tenth grade when you were a senior.”
“This may surprise you, but I do remember you from our school days.” Brent’s eyes looked so sincere, it made Kendra’s heart do a little flip-flop. “You were that cute little redheaded sophomore I saw standing on the sidelines, cheering our team at the football games. In fact, after one of those games, during half-time, because I was looking at you instead of what the coach was saying, I ended up swallowing my gum.”
Kendra giggled. “Really? I had no idea. And by the way, would you care for a piece of gum now?” She reached into the pocket of her skirt, and pulled out a package.
Raising his brows, Brent took it from her. “Spearmint huh? This is my favorite flavor of gum.”
Kendra smiled. “I know. It’s the kind I like best, too.” She didn’t tell him that she’d saved one of his old gum wrappers. He might think she was weird or had acted like some silly schoolgirl who’d never gotten over the crush she’d had on him. Her breathing slowed, as the memory took over. Well, maybe I haven’t gotten over that crush. If I had, then why’s my heart racing right now?
Walnut Creek
Heidi sighed contently as she snuggled on the couch beside Lyle, rubbing her bare foot along their dog’s silky back. How nice it was to relax for a while before bed and enjoy this quiet time with her husband. Between his busy schedule with auctions and chores, as well as her work around the house, and the time spent preparing for her cooking classes, they didn’t get as much time together as she’d like. But then, keeping busy was important for both of them.
“Just think,” Heidi commented, “in a few more weeks we’ll officially become foster parents. Are you as excited as I am, Lyle?”
“Sure am. I’m also anxious to find out whether we get a buwe or maedel.“
“Either a boy or a girl is fine with me. My only concern is whether he or she will like it here. It’s quite likely they have never met an Amish person before and certainly won’t have lived in an Amish home. What if the child doesn’t like it here? What if …”
Lyle placed his fingers gently against Heidi’s lips. “Now don’t start fretting about things that may never occur. The child may adjust to our way of living with no trouble at all.”
“I know. I need to trust the Lord in all things and wait to see what happens.” She kissed his fingers. “The best part of all in the joy of waking every day is that it gives us a chance to begin anew. So even if things aren’t as we want them to be the day before, we’re given another chance to make things right,” Heidi quoted from a recent message given by one of their ministers.
“So true,” he agreed, “and with tomorrow being Sunday, we’ll have the opportunity to worship God with other believers and begin our new week.”
Canton
Todd stood in front of his bedroom mirror and straightened his tie. He couldn’t believe he was going to church this morning, but it was time for him to turn over a new leaf. At first he had looked in the paper at the different churches he could attend here in town. But in the end, he’d decided to go back to Lisa’s church in Dover,
where he’d been before. Since Todd had already gone there once and met the minister, he felt semicomfortable about attending there again. Even if Lisa didn’t like him showing up at her church today, maybe if he explained his reasons for being there, she would understand.
As Todd put on his overcoat, his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and swiped it on with his thumb.
‘Hello, Son. It’s your mom.”
“Hi, Mom.” Todd tapped his foot, glancing at his watch. He didn’t have much time to get to church, so he’d have to make this brief.
“How was your Thanksgiving? Did you have a nice time with … I think you said her name was Lilia?”
“No, her name is Lisa, but I’m not seeing her anymore, and I ended up having Thanksgiving by myself, in a restaurant of all things.” Todd braced himself. Here it comes; Mom’s gonna have more questions.
“Oh, Todd, what happened with you and Lilia—I mean, Lisa?”
“It’s complicated, and I don’t have time to go into it right now.”
“You know, you could have flown home, instead of being there by yourself.”
“Mom, I have to go. Church service starts soon, and I’ll be late if I don’t leave now.”
“Church service? Where are you going to church?”
“I’ll tell you later. Say hi to Dad for me. Bye for now, Mom.” Rushing out the door, Todd quickly hung up and stuffed the cell phone in his coat pocket. Sure hope I’m not gonna be late. I probably shouldn’t have taken Mom’s call.
Amish Cooking Class--The Blessing Page 27
