by Amy Clipston
What he really needed was to find someone who knew where Veronica Fisher lived, without looking for a needle in a haystack at a youth gathering. Margaret and Ellie Lapp would know, of course, but like Stephen, they might think it awkward that he wanted to see Seth’s fiancée.
It was time he asked around. He knew what church district Seth’s family had been in, and Seth had always made it sound like Veronica’s family was in the same one. Perhaps he could start there.
CHAPTER 5
VERONICA WAS PULLING A PIE OUT OF THE OVEN WHEN Emily entered the kitchen through the mudroom.
“You had three messages on voice mail.” Emily placed a piece of paper on the counter. “Lindann’s cousin Amanda wants to talk to you about ordering pies for her bakery. Fannie Mae wants another pie, and Susannah also left a message reminding you about the six pies she’s going to pick up around eleven today for her family reunion.”
Veronica gasped. “Oh my goodness. I’m way behind already. Would you help me?”
“Of course I will. I don’t have much to do for Dat on Saturdays, and we’re all set for the next Englisher group dinner tonight.” Emily grinned. “You’re becoming famous.”
“No, my pies are the famous ones.” Veronica laughed. “We’d better get to baking.”
“I NOTICED SUSANNAH CAME TO PICK UP HER PIES,” MAMM said while they ate lunch later that day.
“Ya, she did.” Veronica wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. “I spoke to Lindann’s cousin Amanda. She wants to order six pies and pick them up Friday. I’m so surprised by the interest in the pies. It seems like it’s not going to stop until the season is over.” She paused as an idea came to her. “Dat, would you build me a bake stand by the road? I could sell my pies, relishes, and jams out there once a week. Maybe on Saturdays.”
Dat placed his sandwich on the plate and turned to Mamm, who tilted her head with curiosity.
“If you want to build a bake stand, does this mean you’re not going to go back to work at the market?” Mamm asked.
Veronica shook her head. “I really don’t want to go back to the market. I’d rather stay here and help you and Emily with chores and sell my pies and relishes. Also, I can sell the jars of jam here and not have to take them to the Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market anymore.” She met her father’s concerned expression. “Would that be all right, Dat? I’m already making money by selling the pies, and if I had a bake stand, I would make even more money.”
“It’s fine with me.” Dat turned to Mamm. “How do you feel about it, Mattie?”
“I think you can stay home from the Philadelphia market for now since baking the raspberry pies will keep you busy for at least the rest of the summer. The bake stand is a wunderbaar idea,” Mamm said. “Anyone who tastes them is definitely interested in the pies, and baking them is something you enjoy.”
“Ya, I agree,” Emily chimed in as she lifted a pretzel from her plate. “Word will really get around about your appeditlich pies if you have the stand. Living on busy Gibbons Road has its advantages.”
“Danki.” Veronica smiled. She felt excited as she considered the possibility of selling even more pies. It seemed she really did have something of her own now.
VERONICA LOOKED OVER TO WARD THE HOUSE AND SMILED when she saw her mother carrying two glasses of tea to where she and Dat were applying the last coat of white paint on the bake stand. It had only taken Dat and their neighbor, Hank Ebersol, two weeks of spare time to build the stand, which resembled a medium-sized shed with a counter and several shelves for her to display her items for sale. She would keep the pies cold with the help of large coolers.
A sign sitting in front of the stand and matching the one they’d made for Gibbons Road advertised Fishers’ Foods, and once the last coat of paint dried, Veronica would be ready to sell her pies, relishes, and jams. The customers coming up the driveway to her father’s harness shop would pass right by her new business too.
“You two must be thirsty.” Mamm held out the glasses of iced tea as she admired their work. “It looks schee.”
“Danki.” Veronica moved her hand across her brow. “I’m so froh with it. Danki, Dat. It’s even more wonderful than I imagined it would be.”
Veronica smiled up at her father. She was grateful for his generosity.
“Gern gschehne,” he said. “Now you have to bake.”
“Ya.” She nodded. “I have to put a few more pies in the oven if I want to have enough to sell tomorrow.”
“You go and get started,” Dat told her. “I can finish up the painting, and I’ll hang the sign above the shelves. I’m also going to buy an awning to help keep the food in the shade, and I’ll put the other sign out by the road too.”
“Danki.” Veronica kissed his cheek, then hurried toward the house, excitement bubbling up inside of her. She couldn’t wait to start selling her pies, jams, and relishes from her very own stand!
JASON FOLDED THE LIST AND PLACED IT IN HIS POCKET BEFORE climbing into the buggy.
“Are you going to the hardware store?” Stephen called as he descended the back porch steps and moved toward him.
“Ya, Dat gave me a list of supplies to get so we can fix the barn door. Do you want to come?”
“Yes.” Stephen came to the other side of the buggy. “Mamm asked me to run out to Bird-in-Hand for her, and we might as well do both errands together. She wants me to pick up something on Gibbons Road. It’s not far from the hardware store. We can visit the hardware store first and then go out there.”
“What does she need?” Jason guided the horse down the rock driveway toward the main road.
“She said a maedel is selling raspberry pies at a bake stand on Gibbons Road. Mamm heard about it in her quilting circle yesterday. The pies are supposed to be amazing. The girl’s last name is Fisher, but she couldn’t remember her first name.”
Jason’s hands gripped the reins tighter. Her last name is Fisher and she lives on Gibbons Road? That wasn’t far from where Seth lived. Could this maedel be Veronica Fisher or maybe one of her sisters? After having a hard time working up the courage to ask his parents who they knew in Seth’s church district, was it going to be this simple to find her?
After picking up the supplies at the hardware store, Jason guided the buggy toward Gibbons Road. When he spotted a Fishers’ Foods sign, anticipation fluttered through him. What if this is Veronica’s stand? He pushed the thought away, convincing himself it would never be so easy to find her.
“The way Mamm said one of the women raved about the pies, they must be gut,” Stephen said, pulling Jason back to the present.
“Ya, they must be.” Jason guided the horse halfway up the rock driveway to the stand. His gaze moved around the property, taking in the row of barns and the two-story white house. He spotted a store with a large sign that said Bird-in-Hand Harness Shop at the far end of the property, and his mouth dried. Seth had said Veronica’s father owned a harness shop.
This has to be it!
“May I help you?” A short, pretty blonde approached the buggy, and Jason recognized her as one of the sisters who had consoled Veronica at Seth’s visitation.
“We want to buy a pie,” Stephen said as he pushed the buggy door open.
“Oh, wunderbaar,” the blonde said. “I’ll go inside and get mei schweschder. I’ll be right back. You may go over to the stand if you’d like. There are jars of jam, pickles, and relish for sale too.”
Jason climbed from the buggy and walked toward the stand as the maedel rushed toward the front porch. She climbed the steps, opened the door, and called, “Veronica! You have customers!”
Veronica! I’ve finally foundher. Jason felt as if he were cemented in place. The door creaked open, and Veronica stepped out. She glanced over at Jason and Stephen and smiled before walking down the stairs with her sister in tow.
Jason couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. As she came closer, he took in how her blue dress complemented her ice-blue
eyes—they were so much brighter than they’d been as she’d cried at the visitation. He took in her gorgeous eyes and still found sadness there. Her smile was shy, as if she wasn’t comfortable talking to strangers.
As she approached, Jason realized he was tongue-tied. Everything he’d longed to say to her was carried away on the warm July breeze. He could only look at her, taking in her sweet face.
“Wie geht’s?” Stephen asked, smiling. “Our mamm sent us out to find your raspberry pies. Apparently they are legendary around here.”
Veronica’s cheeks flushed, and she shook her head, staring down at a blue cooler rather than meeting Stephen’s eyes. “I wouldn’t say they’re legendary, but I’ve been getting quite a few orders.” She pulled a pie out of the cooler. “Did you say one?”
“Make it two,” Stephen said. “If they’re that gut I’m sure we’ll eat more than one.” He gave Jason a sideways glance as if to ask him why he was staring, not talking.
Veronica placed the pies on the counter, and Stephen slid his wallet out of his back pocket. “How long have you had this stand?”
“I just opened last Saturday,” she said. “That’s the day I’ll be open all summer.”
“That’s great.” Stephen grinned at her, and Jason actually felt a pang of jealousy. Why should he be jealous of Stephen, who was madly in love with Leah? That was preposterous! Perhaps what he truly envied was Stephen’s outgoing personality. He was never shy or tongue-tied. It was as if he’d never met a stranger.
“Do you need anything else?” She pointed toward the sign on the counter. “I also have relish and a few different kinds of jam.”
Jason studied her, wanting to speak but not finding any words. She looked at him, and their stares locked. Stephen said nothing, apparently deciding to leave him hanging dry.
“Do you need anything else?” she repeated.
“Relish,” Jason said. “Please,” he added quickly.
Her eyes flickered in question before she lifted a jar of relish and placed it next to the pies. “There you go. Anything else?”
“Would you like some jam?” Jason asked Stephen.
Stephen shrugged. “Sure. Dat likes it. Which kind?”
“One of each,” Jason said. He spotted Stephen staring at him in his peripheral vision, but he kept his own eyes focused on Veronica as she placed their items in a large bag.
“There you go,” Veronica said. She quoted the price, and Stephen paid her. “Danki for your business. I hope you enjoy the pies.”
“I’m sure we will.” Stephen started toward the buggy. “Have a gut day.”
Jason lingered at the stand, not wanting to leave. “It’s a schee day.”
The confusion was back in her eyes. “Ya, it is.”
“It won’t rain until Wednesday.” Did I really just comment on the weather? Jason felt like a buffoon, but it was the only thing he could think of to say. He just wanted to be near her. He wanted to hear her voice again.
“Really? I hadn’t heard that.” She paused, blinking as if he were an intricate puzzle. “Well, have a gut day. Danki again for your business.”
“I hope to see you again soon,” he said. “Uh, to buy more pies, I mean.”
Her pink lips formed a scowl. “Good-bye.” She started toward the house, and he slowly moved toward the buggy.
Great. I managed to scare her off by sounding like a stalker. He longed to hide his face in his hands. As he walked, he glanced toward the porch, just as Veronica disappeared into the house. He climbed into the buggy, and Stephen raised his eyebrows.
“Why were you acting so weird?” Stephen asked.
“Do you realize who that is?” Jason guided the horse toward the road. He looked at the house one last time and spotted Veronica watching them from the window.
“No, who is she?”
“Didn’t you hear her sister call her name? Veronica. Veronica Fisher,” Jason said with emphasis. “She was Seth’s fiancée.”
“She was?” Stephen sounded shocked. “Are you sure that’s her?”
“I’m positive. Seth lived less than a mile from here. I thought she probably didn’t live far from him, but I didn’t know who to ask exactly where.” Jason guided the horse onto Gibbons Road. “I wanted to talk to her just now, but I couldn’t form the words.”
“So that’s why you just stared at her like a statue?” Stephen shook his head.
He swallowed a groan. “Was it that bad?”
Stephen snorted. “Ya, it was.”
“Great.” Jason huffed. “I messed up. I really wanted to talk to her.”
“Go back,” Stephen suggested simply, as if it would be the easiest task ever. “Just turn the buggy around and explain that you were nervous but you really need to talk to her.”
Jason shook his head. “No, I can’t possibly do that.”
“Why not?”
“I want to talk to her alone. It has to be the right moment.” It has to be perfect.
“All right,” Stephen said. “Go get another pie next Saturday then. But remember to go easy. She seems a little shy, and she’s probably still grieving. Don’t come on too strong.”
“You’re right.” Jason sighed. Why was his younger brother so intuitive?
“And don’t act so strange.” Stephen chuckled. “You need to relax.”
“Relax,” Jason repeated, but that would be impossible. He wasn’t only nervous about what he needed to tell Veronica. She was the most beautiful maedel he’d ever seen. How could he possibly relax around her? He considered asking Stephen how he managed to relax around attractive maed, but he couldn’t bring himself to solicit any more advice from his younger brother. He didn’t want to feel like an even bigger buffoon.
What was he thinking? He had to remember why he needed to talk to this beautiful woman. He gripped the reins and took a deep breath. He’d finally located Veronica, but now he had to find the best time and place for their talk. He still didn’t know how she would react to what he had to say about Seth.
Maybe Stephen was right. Maybe next Saturday would be his perfect opportunity.
VERONICA PEERED OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW AS THE buggy tires crunched down the rock driveway toward the road. When the driver looked up toward the window, she took a step back, out of his line of sight. Who was this man? He was tall, taller than Seth, and he had light-brown hair instead of Seth’s sun-kissed blond. The man had eyed her with such intensity in his deep-brown eyes that he made her self-conscious. She couldn’t wait for him to leave, but he lingered as if he wanted to ask her out on a date. She was thankful when his brother climbed into the buggy to leave. She wondered if he would’ve stayed if his brother hadn’t been with him.
The back door opened and closed with a bang as Emily entered the kitchen through the mudroom. “What did they buy?” she asked.
Veronica leaned back against the sink. “Two pies, one jar of relish, and four jars of jam.”
“Wow!” Emily clapped her hands. “Only two Saturdays and the bake stand is already a great success.”
“Ya.” Veronica peered through the window again to make sure those odd customers were truly gone. She would have to run and get her father for protection if they came back.
“Those men were handsome.” Emily’s voice was full of excitement. “They were so tall.”
Veronica frowned. Emily was right. The one who had stared at her had the most attractive brown eyes she’d ever seen. They were the color of caramel. Although he was handsome, he seemed too interested in her—almost infatuated. The thought made her bristle.
“Don’t you agree?” Emily looked confused. “What’s wrong? You look concerned about something.”
“One of them was a little odd.” Veronica hugged her arms to her chest as she remembered how he had assessed her with his eyes. “The shorter one stared at me, and it made me feel uncomfortable. He hung around as if he wanted to ask me out.”
“Really?” Emily’s eyes were wide. “But he didn’t?”
> “No,” Veronica said.
“Would you have said yes if he had asked you out?” Emily asked. “He was really handsome.”
“No,” Veronica said with disenchantment in her tone. “I don’t even know him.”
“You could’ve invited him to youth group,” Emily suggested. “Actually, you could have invited both of them.” She blushed. “I wouldn’t mind getting to know them.”
“I’m not ready for that,” Veronica said quickly.
“I am,” Emily said with a sigh.
“Don’t worry.” Veronica smiled as her shoulders relaxed. “You’ll meet the right guy someday, Em. You’re schee and sweet.”
Emily’s smile was encouraging. “And you will meet someone too. I’m sure of it.” She jammed a thumb toward the door. “Want to help me sort quilting squares until your next customer?”
“Sure.” Veronica followed her sister out through the mudroom as she wondered again who the stranger had been. Would he come back to the bake stand? And if he did, would she have enough courage to ask him for his name?
CHAPTER 6
“WAS THE STAND BUSY AGAIN TODAY?” MAMM ASKED WHILE she washed the dishes and Veronica dried them that evening. Her sisters had gone outside with Dat to help him with the animals.
“Ya, it was.” She told her mother how many pies, jars of relish, and jars of jam she sold. “I’m going to have to get busy baking again on Monday after we finish the laundry.” She finished drying a plate and added it to the stack while her thoughts moved to the mysterious visitor at the bake stand. “These two young men stopped by to buy pies for their mother. One of them was sort of odd.”
“What do you mean by odd?” Mamm stopped scrubbing a pot and looked over at her.
“He stared at me, and his eyes were really intense.” Veronica paused for a moment while trying to choose the words to describe it. “I felt really self-conscious, like he was maybe thinking something inappropriate while he was looking at me, or at least wanted to ask me out, even though we’ve never met.”
