Covered Bridge Charm

by Christner, Dianne;

  “The roof collapsed in the storm. We had to hire a crew to remove snow from all the buildings. We need a new roof so bad.” She shrugged. “I don’t know if that has anything to do with why it collapsed. But we’re constantly fixing leaks. Simon, the director of the board, hasn’t been able to get funding to do the repairs that are necessary. At one time, Sweet Life was the darling of the Mennonite community. Now that it’s old and needs repair, they’ve lost interest in it. You know the modern mentality, pitch it and get something new.”

  “If Gramps and I are going to be spending time here, we may have to make a donation toward the roof fund. Wouldn’t want the sky to fall on us.”

  Carly could only stare at their benefactor.

  Adam conveniently checked on Crusher right before bingo.

  Hello! Hello!

  Chirp. Chirp. Both birds called for his attention.

  “G-49” Shirley called. “G-49, folks.”

  But from the moment Adam stepped into the lobby, all his senses went numb except for his eyesight. Carly was hugging Jason in full view of the entire room.

  Jealousy narrowed his vision and faltered his step. They were so engrossed with each other, they hadn’t even seen him. Clenching his jaw, he strode toward them. As they drew apart, he overheard Jason’s words.

  “You’re welcome. After your aunt meets with the publisher, let’s celebrate. Let me take you out to dinner.”

  Once again, Adam’s fingers twitched with the desire to smash Jason’s perfect teeth.

  “You mean with Auntie?”

  Adam gleefully watched the disappointment cross Jason’s expression. “Sure.”

  When Carly finally saw him, she stepped away from Jason. “Adam.”

  He forced a smile. “Hey.” Nodded at Jason. “I was checking on Crusher. Thought I’d see how you were doing.”

  “Good.” She nodded toward the game table. “I have so much to tell you.”

  He glanced at Jason. “Can you excuse us a moment?”

  Jason shrugged and moved to lean against a wall where he could watch the ensuing game.

  “But now’s not really a good time,” Carly explained. “I should be helping Shirley with the game.”

  “The funeral’s set for Saturday afternoon. Can I take you?”

  “Oh, no. That’s when we’re meeting with the publisher.”

  Finally something was going his way. “Do you have to be there for that?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Jah, thanks for the offer.”

  He followed her gaze to the bingo table. “They look happy.”

  “Jason and James are donating money to fix all the roofs.”

  “How nice.” Adam gritted his teeth and glanced over at Jason, longing to ask him to go outside to discuss some things. But Jason moved toward the game table. Joining the game. Clever.

  “Isn’t it amazing? How God brought them into our lives? Not only are they blessing Martha, but now they’re blessing the entire center. It’s like they’re an answer to prayer.”

  It irked Adam that Jason was filling his godsend shoes. And if he did have to go to Indiana again, the guy would probably make his move on Carly.

  Carly’s gaze followed the game, and he knew at the slightest provocation, she’d be across the room, swiping tokens from Klepto’s hand or keeping the General from drawing battle plans on the cards.

  “How’s Crusher doing?”

  “Good as can be expected.”

  She touched his arm. “Thanks for dropping by. I’ll see you on Saturday.”

  So easily dismissed, he fought to contain his anger and jealousy. He’d go, but there was no law that said he couldn’t linger around in the parking lot.

  Adam sat in his cab, growing more irritated by the minute as he kept his eye on Jason’s car. The game should be over. Irish was probably trying to confirm his dinner date with Carly. When he found out she was already engaged on Saturday, he’d probably change the whole appointment with the publisher. It seemed he could magically make anything happen. Who couldn’t, with his funds and networking?

  When he finally spotted them making their way down the walk, he felt an instant of chagrin to see James leaning heavily on his cane. Skirting the yellow taped maintenance building, Jason used hand gestures and James nodded enthusiastically. Though donating money to the center was a wonderful thing, Adam’s gut wrenched with loathing.

  He timed his appearance so that when Jason turned from helping James into the car, he saw Adam. But the intruder quickly covered his surprise with a smirk.

  “I’d like a word with you.”

  “Sure.” Jason eyed him cautiously. “Let me start the heater for Gramps first.”

  Adam waited. When Jason returned, he nonchalantly stuffed his hands into the pockets of a coat that probably cost half a year of Adam’s wages.

  “What’s up?”

  “I thought you might need reminding that Carly’s my girl.”

  An eyebrow shot upward, but he quickly recovered. “Funny, she hasn’t mentioned that to me.”

  “Probably because she doesn’t realize you’re pursuing her.”

  He brought his hands up and tugged at the collar of his coat. “Then maybe it’s time I made myself plainer.”

  Adam shrugged. “If you want a setdown.”

  “Let’s let her decide.”

  “Why? Can’t you see we’re different. We live a plain lifestyle compared to yours. Surely you can’t be serious about her. And I won’t have you trifling with her, throwing your money and influence around for a one-night stand.”

  Jason shrugged. “Can’t fight romance. Don’t you get it? It’s Gramps and Martha’s story all over again. Only ours will have a happier ending.”

  “Over my dead body.”

  “Then you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

  Adam grabbed the front of the snob’s shirt.

  Jason straightened but didn’t flinch. “Maybe you don’t follow your church’s teachings as faithfully as you claim.”

  Unable to contain himself any longer, Adam swung. But the moment his hand connected with the other man’s eye, he felt regret. Backing away, he raised both hands in the air as if to disavow what had just occurred.

  He watched Jason stagger and recover.

  “Thankfully, there’s such a thing as repentance,” Adam mumbled.

  Jason climbed into the car and sank into the leather seat, not surprised to hear his grandfather’s deep chuckling.

  “I saw that coming. The way he glared at you during bingo.”

  Yanking the rearview mirror down to look at his throbbing eye, Jason replied, “Well thanks for the warning. I didn’t think you saw anything in there but your beloved Martha.”

  “You’re right. But I felt his vibes. He reminds me of John.”

  “Martha’s husband?”

  “He found out about us. Threatened me like that. Only I gave him the shiner. Wonder if Martha ever found out John knew about us?” He tilted his head. “You’re not going to ruin this for me, are you?”

  “I hope not, but you wouldn’t want me to roll over and play dead, would you?”

  “What’s going on with you and Carly?”

  Jason put the car in gear and started out of the parking lot. “She’s amazing. We’ve got so much in common.”

  James released a mild oath, which was unusual for him, these days. “The differences aren’t going to vaporize. Anyway, what about Karen? You sure this isn’t a rebound thing?”

  “Maybe. But I’d regret it if I didn’t try. We’re going to be seeing her every Thursday anyway, right?”

  “You young people never learn from history.”

  “Sure we do. Only we try to change it. Hindsight and all that.”

  “Better pray about it.” James chuckled again. “Bingo’s going to be mighty entertaining.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Saturday, the weather turned bitter cold and windy for Dot’s funeral. Somberness settled over Carly as they neared th
e church. Funerals reminded Carly of her parents’ deaths. Today the same old question haunted her. Why had God allowed it?

  Oh she’d heard the Adam and Eve explanation. Eve ate the fruit, and now mankind dies. But why her parents? And why did Dot have to suffer with dementia for so many years? Letting her mind follow the same old circles brought her near despair—as if nothing at Sweet Life mattered because they were all on this road toward pain and death.

  Adam turned into the parking lot. “You’re quiet.”

  “Just praying I’ll be able to endure the service. It reminds me of when my parents died.”

  “You want to talk about that?”

  “Mom and Dad had been arguing. My dad had quite a temper and used it to get his way. He wanted to go into town that day, but Mom was worried about the bad roads. Like usual, she gave in to him. And then they had the accident.”

  “You blame him?”

  “Not anymore. I know they loved each other. But it made me vow to never marry a man who would control me like that. Dale had those tendencies.”

  She saw Adam’s head snap up. Didn’t know why she was telling him this. But once she started talking about it, she couldn’t seem to stop. “Oh, he didn’t have Dad’s temper. But he didn’t like to take no for an answer. When he decided to move to Indiana, he wouldn’t budge. Didn’t want to hear how I felt about it.”

  “I’m sorry. I know I told you that going to Indiana wasn’t about us, but while I was there we did talk some. He’s real sorry about the way he treated you.”

  Her lips trembled. “But today is about Dot. And Crusher.” She tore her mind away from the memory of the accident to focus on the upcoming ordeal. She especially dreaded the graveside service afterward. But that wasn’t even the end of it. Later that night, she had to deal with Jason. She needed time to regroup before she could face him. “I’m not good at funerals. I was hoping to skip the meal afterward.”

  Adam turned off the ignition and glanced over with surprise. “I’d like to go for Crusher’s sake, but I can take you home first.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’m sorry this is so hard for you.”

  She nodded and gazed unseeing at the plain architecture of Old Holley Mennonite Fellowship Church. Its steep, gray-shingled roof bore no cross or steeple. The church contained no stained glass but reflected the plain lifestyle of its congregation. Such a lifestyle was based heavily on faith and tradition. At this moment, her faith became an undergirding source of strength.

  Still, she prayed. Lord, help us. Give us strength. With the Holy Spirit’s presence and the support she felt from seeing an entire throng of dark-colored vehicles, comfort enveloped her like a blanket. When hardships struck, it was good to belong to a fellowship that banded together.

  They sat in the truck, its tailgate up against a snow bank. The turnout had to be more than Old Holley’s 125 members.

  “Ready?”

  “Jah.”

  As they walked toward the church, she bent against the harsh wind. Adam squeezed her hand, providing a bit of warmth. Women who normally wore small floral prints were dressed in dark colors and moved together as one dark cloud toward the little white church.

  In the vestibule, Carly removed her coat and tossed it over her arm as she left Adam and solemnly moved to the left, the women’s side of the church.

  Inside the sanctuary, the lines moved up the aisle and past the casket so that everyone could say their good-byes. Dot didn’t look natural, but she looked peaceful. Carly kissed her finger and placed it on Dot’s cold forehead. Then struggling to hold back a sob, she moved back into the line.

  She took a seat beside Aunt Fannie and Miranda—the latter stuck out with her short skirt and bare head. But funerals were open to all so it was not an issue. While the wind shook the single-paned windows, a male song leader opened the service with a hymn. One of the ministers gave the eulogy, and a sextet presented two a cappella songs that were followed by a sermon.

  Regardless of the harsh weather, she’d never been so glad to leave the sanctuary. Outside they hugged their coats and scarves tight as they trudged to the neighboring cemetery.

  Miranda shouted over the howling wind. “Poor Crusher.”

  Carly nodded, remaining silent from her inner suffering.

  “I’m thankful we have something good to look forward to, the editor that’s coming tomorrow.”

  “It was good of Jason to change the appointment,” Carly agreed.

  “I’m on pins and needles,” Aunt Fannie admitted. “Like a girl waiting for her date.”

  Smiling, Carly said, “And not just any date, but the one that’s the one.” Her heart felt a moment of peace, thinking of all the good things that had happened recently. Like the verse the minister had used from the familiar Twenty-third Psalm: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” She could see God’s handiwork all around her.

  So many of her prayers were being answered—many brought about by her new Irish friends. That’s why facing Jason later would be so difficult.

  She found herself moving into a line again as only two at a time could fit on the path that had been shoveled into the large snow banks edging the parking lot. The graveside service was short on two accounts, the cold and the fact that the ground was frozen. Normally, they waited while some of their men shoveled dirt onto the lowered coffin, but because of the weather, Crusher had opted to let the funeral home handle everything.

  After the service, Adam located Carly. “You all right?”

  “Jah, except I look like a scarecrow and feel like a popsicle.”

  He laughed. “You look beautiful, and I’ll see what we can do to get you warm.” Draping his arm across her shoulders, he sheltered her as they made their way to his truck. Inside he tucked a blanket around her.

  On the ride home, he envisioned just how else he’d warm her. Comfort her. After Crusher’s dinner, he’d come and start a fire in her fireplace. He’d bring his popcorn popper and cuddle on the couch. Then he’d ask her if he could take her on a surprise excursion Sunday afternoon. He intended to take her to the bridge and propose. His gut now squirmed with anxiety and anticipation.

  “Can I drop by later? I’ll start a fire and bring popcorn.”

  She looked at him with disappointment in her eyes. “Oh, not tonight. I need to deal with some things.”

  He took her hand. “Sure you couldn’t use the company? I know I could. You don’t have to do this alone.”

  “I’m sorry. Another time.”

  “Tomorrow? I was hoping to take you someplace special.”

  He saw the longing in her gaze, but also discouragement. “I’ve got church and then that editor’s meeting at Aunt Fannie’s. We changed it to Sunday because of the funeral.”

  “I wondered about that.” If they were going to announce their engagement at Christmas, he had to propose this weekend. “After that? I really want to see you.”

  She smiled with relief. “Jah, that sounds good.”

  “So don’t wash your hair or anything. Count on seeing me. Actually, if you want to wash it, that’s fine by me. I’ll even brush it for you.”

  “You’ll do nothing of the kind, Adam Lapp.”

  He shrugged and grinned. “Just trying to be helpful.”

  She giggled and seemed to relax. He was disappointed he had to wait until the next day to see her, but it would give him time to break the news to Dad. He was thinking about what he’d say when her cottage came into view. Carly instantly stiffened, her face agitated.

  Then he saw the reason. He pulled in behind Jason’s car and put the gear in PARK. “Did you know he’d be here?”

  She nodded.

  Anger rose in him like a beast, narrowing his vision. “I can’t believe I missed part of Crusher’s dinner to bring you home to meet him. I’m a fool. You told me you weren’t up to seeing me tonight.” He waited for some kind of assurance that their relationship wasn’t f
alling apart and miles from the road to commitment and marriage.

  She placed her hand on his. “I said I had to deal with some things.”

  He jerked his hand away. “A carefully worded lie. You know what? I’m done here. Just go. Have your fling.”

  She turned to fully face him. “Now, Adam. Let me explain. I’m only going to dinner with him so that—”

  “I know. So you can drool your thanks all over the little rich boy who’s making all your dreams come true. Jason told me you hadn’t even told him about us. He said it was your choice. Looks like you’ve already chosen.”

  “But I choose you.”

  “Only. I’m not willing to share. So go.”

  “Adam. You’re being unreasonable. Whatever happened to trusting each other? Does that only work one way?”

  The beast inside was uncontrollable, and he didn’t know what he would do next if he didn’t leave. Give Irish another black eye? He ground out the words, “Just. Get. Out… of my truck.”

  Her eyes widened, shimmering with tears. “Fine!” She threw the blanket at him and climbed out of the truck, slamming the door. He watched her march toward Jason’s car, and the only victory he felt was when her covering blew off her head and sailed across the lawn. She ran after it, her hair losing its pins and blowing wild.

  Jason jumped out of his car to help her. Jealousy raged. Biting his lip, Adam looked away. Yanked the truck in reverse. Bitter and hurt, he resolved, Let her new godsend pick up the pieces from now on. See how that goes. He needed to calm down so that he could fulfill his obligation to Crusher. At least he was a man of his word.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Although Adam’s jealousy was deeply embedded, his anger dissolved almost as soon as he’d joined the gathering for Dot’s funeral dinner where he was able to focus on Crusher’s needs. But as soon as he was able, he left. His route took him past Jimmy’s place, and he noticed his friend’s truck parked outside his apartment. Missing Jimmy and thinking he was the perfect guy to give him some advice, he pulled into his drive.