Winter’s Awakening

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Her chin went up a notch. “That was kind of you, but I am okay.”

  “Are you by yourself? Where’s everyone else?”

  “Miriam never came in today. Lilly didn’t either. Mrs. Kent left early to run a few errands, but said she would come back around four or so and get me. My parents can’t come—the weather’s much too bad to take out a buggy.”

  He was glad he’d listened to his conscience and had come to check on her. “I’d like you to come to the store with me and Caleb.”

  “That’s not necessary. I’ll be fine.” Looking out the window she murmured, “I’ll just wait for Mrs. Kent to get back.”

  She was still so unsure around him. Well, he supposed he couldn’t blame her. Things had been hot and cold between them during the last few weeks. So much so, that he was never sure how to act around her anymore either.

  “I don’t know if that will be too easy for Mrs. Kent to do. Everyone says that the roads are bad and that cars are sliding off the road. A few branches have fallen onto the streets, too. The weight of the ice on them is making them break like the smallest of twigs. So the streets are blocked as well.”

  She bit her lip. “It is worse than I thought.”

  “Much worse. Listen, I don’t want you to stay here by yourself. I won’t be able to focus on my work, worrying after you here all alone. Please, I’d like to take you over to the store.”

  “How is that better?”

  “At least you won’t be alone.” He wanted to mention that at least they’d be together. And that he could comfort her if she got scared. That he’d make sure she would be fine, no matter what. But he didn’t. He was afraid that would spook her. “Will you let me take you?”

  She nibbled her bottom lip. “But how will I let Mrs. Kent know that I’ve left?”

  “Why don’t I give her a call? She has a cell phone, yes?”

  Pure relief filled her expression though her words were far different. “Yes, but…”

  “Please, Gretta? It will make everything easier.”

  “You don’t have to worry—”

  “I can’t help but worry about you. Because I care about your safety…about you…”

  “Truly?” Her blue eyes looked translucent, she was staring at him with such hope.

  He nodded. “Gretta, I will feel so much happier if you are nearby. And, I’d like to be with you, too.”

  “All right. I don’t want to argue anyway.” With a determined expression, Gretta strode to the phone, picked up the receiver, and punched in the numbers. “Mrs. Kent? Yes, this is Gretta. Joshua Graber is here, he’s going to walk me to their store to wait out the storm.”

  Josh watched as she listened intently to whatever her boss was saying. As he watched, it occurred to him that her ability to listen closely was one of the things he admired about her. She was a good listener.

  Now he called himself a fool for underestimating her strengths. Gretta was the type of woman who worked well with others and listened to what they had to say. She was able to stand in the background and let others be the center of attention.

  Many times, she’d quietly encouraged him but never took any credit for jobs well done.

  And he’d taken it for granted.

  She hung up. “I guess it’s all settled, then.” Turning to him, she lightly placed her hand on his arm. “Oh, Joshua, you were right. Mrs. Kent was happy I called. She said in the last hour she’d only gone one mile in her car!”

  Still conscious of her touch, Joshua fought to listen to her words. This was the first time in weeks that she’d reached out to him. It was all he could do to not cover her hand with his own. “So…she’s going to go home?”

  “Jah. Well, as best she can. Tree limbs are everywhere. She said she’ll be glad to know I’m with you, so she can go back home. I just have to lock things up.”

  Stepping away, she pulled out her ring of keys.

  “Do you have any idea of how we can get a hold of your parents? I don’t want them to worry.”

  After thinking a moment, Gretta said, “Perhaps your neighbor friend Mr. Allen could stop by? Lilly said her father passes our home on his way from work.”

  Thinking quickly, Joshua called the Allen’s home. Mrs. Allen was happy to speak to him, but had a nest of worries on her own. Their power was out…and the last she’d heard from Charlie was that he was stuck in one of the side streets in town. “When he called, he said he was two blocks from your store, Joshua. I hope he made it.”

  “He wasn’t there when I left, but Caleb is. If he shows up, Caleb will let him in, then I’ll ask Charlie to give you a call right away.”

  “Oh, thank you.”

  “I’m happy to help. But actually, I called because I’m needin’ a favor myself. I’m taking Gretta over to the store. Is there any way Mr. Allen could stop by and pay her parents a visit and let them know Gretta’s safe at the store?” Quickly he told Mrs. Allen Gretta’s address. “I think he passes her house on his way home from work. I don’t want them to worry.”

  “You’re right, Josh. Scott does drive right past the Hershberger home. I’ll call him right now and ask him to stop by and relay the news. Consider it done.”

  “Mr. Allen’s going to visit your folks,” Josh murmured to Gretta.

  She heaved a sigh of relief. “Oh! Please tell her thank you.”

  Smiling at the girl next to him, he dutifully said, “Gretta says thank you.”

  “You tell her that she’s very welcome,” Mrs. Allen replied. “Now you all be careful, and please don’t forget to have Charlie call, would you?”

  Now it was Joshua’s turn to be reassuring. “I’ll have him call you right away. And don’t worry about us. We’ll all be fine. We’ve got a generator for heat and lots of food, of course. Would you pass that news onto my folks, too?”

  “I’ll send Lilly right over. Thank you so much, Joshua.”

  Joshua hung up. “I, for one, am very grateful for the kindness of friends. Between us all, we’ll get everyone informed of our whereabouts.”

  Smiling, Gretta said, “I’m so glad Mr. Allen will stop by my home. I know my parents would have been very concerned if I hadn’t come home.”

  “It will be all right, Gretta. I don’t want you ever to be afraid.”

  A thread of vulnerability shone in her eyes before she blinked it away. With a smile she said, “You know, most Amish don’t care for phones and such, but it’s times like these when I thank the good Lord for such inventions.”

  “I feel the same way.”

  “We best get going now. Caleb is alone at the store. Others might have joined him by now.”

  After checking the back doors, Gretta followed Joshua outside. The wind that greeted her blew her skirts around her ankles.

  When the lock stuck, Joshua carefully placed his hand over hers and helped to turn the key. Then he held out his hand.

  Please take it, he silently offered. Please take my hand and walk by my side.

  After a moment’s hesitation, Gretta slipped her hand in his and stepped close. Though the temperature was frigid and the wind and ice felt like pinpricks on his skin, Joshua suddenly felt as if he was warmer. He’d missed her. He’d missed this—this feeling of contentment. Of knowing who he should be next to, who he should be walking near.

  “Together, it is as if we are both able to fight the weather,” Gretta said from his side. “Alone, it was too much.”

  “Yes.”

  Gretta was right. Alone, everything had felt too hard and confusing.

  Of course, he now realized that he wasn’t alone anymore at all. No, to his relief, he felt as if his other hand was firmly contained too.

  The good Lord was guiding them to safety. To safety and to each other.

  Joshua knew he had never been more grateful.

  Chapter 23

  Charlie opened the door with a broad smile as soon as Josh and Gretta arrived. “Come on in and get warm! Caleb told me I got here not ten minutes after you l
eft, Josh. I hope you don’t mind, but I think I’m going to have to stay here for a while.”

  “I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry I was gone so long. We had some phone calls to make, including one to your mamm,” Joshua said as he fought the wind and pushed the door shut with a hearty shove. “Which reminds me, you need to call her up as fast as you can. She’s worrying.”

  Charlie pulled out his cell phone, but his gaze settled on Gretta. “Thanks, Josh. I’ll do that.”

  Catching Charlie’s look of interest, Joshua performed the introductions. “Gretta, this here is Charlie.”

  She smiled sweetly. “Hi.”

  “Hi, Gretta. It’s nice to meet you. Lilly has said you’ve been a good friend to her.”

  “I feel the same way about her. It’s nice to meet you, too, though I must say I wouldn’t have minded other circumstances.”

  “You’ve got that right. Well, I better go call home—again,” Charlie said with a shake of his head, then walked a few feet away.

  Joshua was just about to offer to hang up Gretta’s cloak on a hook when the wind outside gave another powerful whoosh. The gust was so strong, the building shook and windows groaned in protest.

  Gretta’s eyes searched his. “I fear the storm is getting worse.”

  “I think you’re right,” he murmured. Just as he reached for her hand, another blast of wind slammed the building. The lights flickered, then went dark. Outside, the last of the lit buildings turned dark as well, encasing the area in a black shroud. “Well, the power’s now out everywhere,” Joshua said unnecessarily, just as his brother Caleb approached, holding a lantern.

  “It’s going to be a long night,” Caleb said. “We might as well set up a place to wait out the storm together.” He looked around. “How about here? There’s plenty of room for us to all sit together but still be able to look outside at the main street.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Joshua said. “But first, we have much to do.”

  Charlie strode forward. “How can I help?”

  “Come with me, would you? We’ll look at the generator and then take a gander to see what all we might need to make this area comfortable.” He turned to Gretta. “Would you take this flashlight and go gather up some blankets and things from the back room? The generator will keep the food in the freezers from spoiling, but the heat won’t come back.”

  She nodded. “I can do that.”

  Josh smiled at her with a burst of pride. He had chosen wisely. His hoped-for future wife wasn’t panicking at all, but pitching in to help in any way she could.

  While Charlie and Joshua rushed through the back room, Gretta picked up as many quilts as she could carry and set them on the wide wooden bench near the front desk. She was just wondering what else they might need when she heard knocking at the front door.

  There was Cathy Plum, one of her favorite English customers at the restaurant. Gretta hurried to open it. “Mrs. Plum, what are you doing here?”

  “For the same reasons as you, I expect,” she replied with a frown. “I’m afraid I’m stranded here in town. My stubbornness to heed the weatherman’s advice and go right home has gotten the best of me in this storm. Now the streets are too bad for me to drive on. I’m stranded.”

  “Where’s your car?”

  “In the back. Joshua and that young man he was with saw me in the parking lot. When I explained my situation, they offered to give me shelter.”

  “I’m mighty glad you’re here.”

  “I know I’ll enjoy your company, Gretta, as long as you dispose of that Mrs. Plum foolishness. Right now, I’m just Cathy, okay?”

  “Okay, Cathy.”

  “Now, what can I do to help you?”

  “I just gathered some quilts, but thought I might look to see if there are some blankets we could use, too. Will you help me gather them?”

  “I’d be happy to.” As the narrow beam of the flashlight illuminated their path, Cathy said, “Who’s that teen with Caleb and Joshua? Another stranded motorist?”

  “His name is Charlie Allen. He is stranded, but he’s also a friend and neighbor of the Grabers.”

  “Thank goodness Joshua was here,” Cathy said with a shiver. “I can’t imagine what I would have done if he wasn’t.”

  “He rescued me from the restaurant. I feel the same way.” Joshua was proving himself to be a stalwart man. A man to trust during any occasion. He was so responsible, his family left the store in his care. Neighbors like the Allens turned to him for assistance and friendship. Other members of the community were now depending on him for shelter and safety.

  Now, she, too, was in his care, and had never felt more cherished. Sometime over the last few weeks, she’d begun to focus on her fears instead of focusing on Joshua’s many good qualities.

  She’d dwelled on the negatives instead of opening her heart and mind to a bright future. And to the Lord’s will.

  Now she realized the truth—this time had been a test for her. A test to see what she really wanted. A test to see what she was willing to give…and receive. Stopping in front of a stack of horse blankets, Gretta shined her light on them. “Cathy, would you help me gather some of these? They’re thick enough to sleep on, I think.”

  Cathy picked up two as did Gretta. Then they started back toward the front of the store, the flashlight making a wobbly line of light to follow as Gretta carried both it and the blankets in her hands.

  As the front windows rattled again, the older lady shivered dramatically. “I guess the Lord really has been watching over me. I’m thankful He gave me this store and your company to weather the storm in.”

  “I’m thankful for it, too,” Gretta murmured.

  “Look what we found,” Charlie proclaimed as they entered the area, holding a portable stove.

  “That looks like something I’d cook with when camping,” Cathy said after introducing herself to Charlie.

  “That’s because this is a camping stove,” Joshua said with a grin. “It will let us heat up some water for coffee and such and keep warm.”

  Gretta pointed to the pile of quilts. “Cathy and I brought these in, and some horse blankets, too. I hope they’ll work.”

  “They’ll be great,” Joshua said, his voice soft and low.

  Once again, Gretta caught herself meeting his gaze and feeling her insides take a tumble. Even though they were stranded in the storm, there was no one with whom she’d rather be. She’d missed him.

  As the wind and ice splattered the glass panes in the front door, Mrs. Plum looked at their little group. “Would you all mind too much if we said a little prayer? Though I think He led me here, I’d sure like to think that we still have his ear.”

  “We’d be most grateful,” Gretta said. “Prayer always helps.”

  One by one, they each bowed their heads.

  “The power’s out, Mom,” Lilly called out from the kitchen.

  “Thanks for the update,” her mother called down, sarcasm thick in her voice. “I was just changing clothes. Now I’m stuck in the closet, hoping things match in the dark.”

  Chuckling, Lilly said, “Where are the candles?”

  “Candles? Hmm. Some might be in the dining room. Oh, and we might have a flashlight in one of those cabinets on top of the refrigerator. I could have sworn I stashed a couple of boxes up there. Scott? Can you look around?”

  “I’ll try,” he said as he wandered into the dim light of the kitchen.

  Lilly looked at him gratefully. “What a mess. I don’t know how were going to find anything. We haven’t unpacked every box for the dining room and kitchen.”

  “I’m afraid you’re right. I think your mom has put off opening a lot of the boxes since it seemed like we were doing just fine with some of our stuff packed away. I sure didn’t think there was any hurry.”

  “Now we’re in a big hurry for candles and flashlights.”

  “Well, let’s see what we can do.”

  As the wind howled outside, Lilly and her father f
ranticly searched the cabinets for anything that they could use as a light source.

  They couldn’t find a single thing.

  “Boy, this isn’t good,” her dad said in an extreme bit of understatement. “I don’t know what we’re going to do if we don’t even have any candlelight.”

  “I’m starting to get a little worried,” Lilly admitted.

  Slowly, her mom came down the stairs holding Ty’s hand. Lilly wasn’t sure if she was holding hands to comfort her brother or herself. In the waning light, she looked at them both. “Any luck?”

  “None, Barb. We’re really up a creek,” her dad said worriedly. Lilly noticed that he lowered his voice so Ty wouldn’t get worried. “The temperature’s going to drop as soon as the sun sets. It’s going to be really cold and unpleasant in here in the dark.”

  “I don’t want to be cold,” Ty announced.

  “I don’t either, but we’ll be okay,” Lilly said, but tried to make her voice sound a whole lot more hopeful than she felt. “Who knows? Maybe the power will come back on soon.”

  “I doubt that.” Her dad patted his cell phone. “I just got a call from my boss. The roads are so treacherous they’re asking everyone to stay off of them. Already, there are a number of wrecks outside Mansfield. That’s why the phone company hasn’t called me in to help man the customer service desks. They’re thinking it’s just not worth the danger.”

  “Well, I guess I’m glad after all that Charlie is at the Graber Family Store,” her mom said matter-of-factly. “At least there will be plenty of supplies for him and he’ll be off the roads.”

  “He’ll be fine,” Lilly agreed. “If I know Josh, he’s probably rigged up some kind of wood stove and is roasting hot dogs or something. He would be exactly the type of guy to handle any kind of crisis with ease.”

  Her father groaned. “Don’t mention food. I wasn’t hungry until I realized that we don’t even have a way to open cans. Barb, we really should invest in a manual can opener, at the very least.”

  “I’ll go bring down some blankets,” her mom volunteered. “We’ll all cuddle in the living room.”