An Unlikely Match

by Beth Wiseman

  Maybe she’d stay in there a while, but close enough to the entrance that he wouldn’t be too uncomfortable to slip inside. And maybe he’ll kiss me.

  Eight

  Jayce stood rigid, his heart hammering against his chest, his fists clenched at his sides. “Are you okay in there?”

  “Ya. It’s just like I remember. Although it seemed bigger when we were kinner.”

  Her voice echoed when she spoke. He assumed kinner was her word for kids.

  He dropped to his knees and thrust his head inside, keeping the rest of his body out of the cave. “Seen enough?”

  Her head popped out, almost bumping into his. “Ya.” He jumped back to give her room to crawl out and stand, wishing he’d taken the brief opportunity to do as he’d threatened and kiss her.

  “Your thing on your head, your, uh . . . prayer covering. It’s lopsided.” He was tempted to help her straighten it, but when he reached out, he stopped suddenly, unsure if touching her head was allowed. Although, apparently kissing was.

  She adjusted the covering and tucked loose strands of hair back beneath it. Then she brushed the dirt from the black apron she wore over her maroon dress. Her attire reminded him of Little House on the Prairie reruns. He’d never admit to anyone that he liked the old sitcom. Aside from the simpler way of living, it was about a big family in a house filled with love. If Jayce ever had a home and a family, he was going to strive for that kind of atmosphere.

  “Okay. So aside from caves, what else do you have to show me in this part of the world?” Jayce raised his arms and stretched. Her eyes landed on his tattoo, so he lowered his arms and raised his short sleeve so she could see the entire thing. “I’m going to guess tattoos aren’t allowed?”

  She shook her head but put a hand over her mouth as she took in the multicolored design. “It’s a dove,” she finally whispered. “And . . .”

  He kept his sleeve raised, eyeing the artistry. “Yeah, of all things, I have a tattoo of a bird.” He suspected she was thinking about something beyond her fear of winged creatures. “You’re wondering why it’s so many colors and abstract?” He waited for her response.

  When she finally nodded, he continued, “Because peace isn’t easily attainable, and you can’t have it all the time. Life isn’t perfect, and it never will be. But . . .” Jayce traced the outline of the bird. He’d chosen various shades of blue for the dove, blended with hues of black and purple in the background. “Even though the lines aren’t defined, the meaning is.”

  She reached up and gingerly ran her finger along his arm, sending a shiver down his spine. Her eyes glowed as if the tattoo held some special meaning for her. It was almost weird the way she looked at him, but there was a mysterious warmth in her expression as well.

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispered as she eased her hand away.

  Jayce glanced at the artwork. He could still recall the night he’d had it etched into his skin. He’d been at a point in his life when things could have gone very badly if he hadn’t found a way to cling to hope, to God, and to the promise of peace. If not always, at least some of the time. And that strength had given him the courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other, even on the darkest days.

  He stared into her eyes, still teasing him with mystery. There was more to this girl than she was letting on. But there was a time and place for everything. He got in step with her when she finally started walking back to the picnic tables. As the clouds parted, sun rays flooded the space around them, slowly at first, then shining as far as Jayce could see. A gentle wind ruffled the few leaves on the ground, and as fate would have it, a cluster of birds fluttered and fled as he and Evelyn walked near an elm tree. She moved closer to him, almost shoulder to shoulder.

  “Tell me about Los Angeles.” She reached into her apron pocket and took out her sunglasses. What else did she keep handy in those pockets? Like her purse, it seemed to be a purposeful yet curious hiding place.

  “Like I said before, lots of people. Traffic all the time.” He glanced at her. “It’s busy. Always something going on. Lots of restaurants, businesses.” Shrugging, he tipped his sunglasses from his head to his nose. “The polar opposite of this.” He waved around the park as a horse and buggy galloped by in the distance.

  “I don’t think I’d like a big city.” She briefly looked up at him before shifting her gaze to another buggy turning a corner not far ahead.

  “I don’t think you would either.” He couldn’t envision this sweet woman, dressed in her calf-length dress, black apron, and head covering, walking the streets of LA. She’d be out of place, stared at, and probably made fun of. Then he’d have to defend her honor and would probably end up back in jail. He wasn’t proud of his temper, even when his intentions seemed honorable. But he’d never admit that to his father.

  They were quiet for a while as they walked, but it didn’t feel awkward. It was as if it was okay just to be.

  “Do you ever want to leave here?” Jayce scratched his head. “I mean, you might not like a big city, but are you ever curious about what’s out there, away from here?”

  “Believe it or not, I have been to other places.”

  “Like where?”

  “Florida. We’ve vacationed there twice. Mei bruders even surfed.”

  “Really?” Jayce raised an eyebrow. “Did you like it?”

  “I liked the ocean,” she said softly. “It’s one of God’s biggest wonders, I think. Huge masses of water that can be calm and soothing or ferocious and dangerous. We were there once when a hurricane was coming. I’d never seen such big waves.”

  As they approached the picnic table, Jayce realized he wasn’t ready for the day to be over, but he didn’t know the area well enough to suggest something else to do.

  Evelyn blew out a big breath. “It didn’t seem like such a hike to the cave when we were kinner.” She popped her hands on her hips as she eyed the cooler. “We’re out of tea. There’s a place up the road that has sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. The best lemonade ever.”

  Jayce smiled. “I could go for some lemonade.” He tried to remember the last time he’d had a glass of lemonade. His past dates would have been more inclined to order a beer or a glass of wine.

  He stood beside her as she untethered the horse. They’d made the walk to the cave and were probably both a little sweaty, but he caught a whiff of lavender swirling in the space around her. He’d noticed it earlier too. And it wasn’t overpowering like the vanilla smell in Lizzie’s buggy. It was heavenly.

  “I don’t really care what we do.” He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I’m just enjoying spending the day with you. And you smell good, too, like lavender.”

  She didn’t look at him as she gathered the reins in one hand, but he caught her smile. “Danki.”

  * * *

  Esther refilled coffee cups, happy Naomi had come for a visit.

  “It’s not the same here without you.” She eyed Naomi’s growing belly with two new lives forming inside. “But Lizzie and I couldn’t be happier for you and Amos.” She peeked out the kitchen window. “Are those generators bothering the two of you? We didn’t know they would be bringing those big vehicles.”

  Naomi shook her head. “Not anymore.” Laughing, she said, “Amos had some earplugs from when he used to go to the shooting range years ago, when he was first learning how to handle a gun. We’ve been using those. And I might keep using them long after your guests are gone. I can’t hear Amos snoring when I’m wearing them.”

  Esther didn’t like guns, but if you were going to eat deer and other animals, then it was best to know how to use the weapons correctly. She reached over and touched Naomi’s hand. “Pregnancy agrees with you. You’re glowing and seem so happy.”

  “I am.” She smiled dreamily. “I had planned to use a midwife, but since I’m having twins, even she thought it best that I see a doctor in Bedford. The doctor has me on limited activity. I just wish I were able to do more to help you and Li
zzie.”

  Esther shook her head. “Nee, now don’t you give it another thought. When I said we missed you, I meant your sweet smile and company.”

  “I know, but it’s a lot of work running the inn with just the two of you doing all the work, especially when you have such a big crowd. Are you having any luck finding help?”

  “Not yet. But we will find the right person.” Esther was beginning to doubt that. It seemed like the bulk of young people had grown up overnight and started lives of their own. Everyone was either old, like she and Lizzie, or starting a family like Naomi and Amos.

  The sound of feet pounding like a herd of cattle began to descend the stairs.

  “It’s the movie people.” Esther rubbed her tired eyes. “They have meetings in the dining room. You might want to go. Some of the words in their vocabulary aren’t fit to be heard, let alone spoken aloud. The boss, a man named Mr. Clarkson, is the worst.” She stood. “I should probably offer them some snacks.”

  Naomi waddled around the table and hugged Esther. “Give Lizzie mei lieb.”

  Esther nodded. “Speaking of Lizzie, I haven’t seen her in a while.” She glanced toward her closed bedroom door. “Napping, I suppose.”

  Gus walked in the door that led directly into the kitchen just as Naomi was leaving. “Wie bischt, Gus,” she said as she brushed by him.

  Their grumpy renter mumbled a response, but Naomi was just as accustomed to Gus’s unpleasant demeanor as Esther and Lizzie were.

  “I need some sugar.” He was still wearing his movie hat as he held out a bowl. “Tea ain’t no good without sugar. And I need some paper plates. Otherwise I’ll be forced to wash dishes.”

  Esther slapped her hands to her hips. “Gus, this isn’t Walmart or the Bargain Center.”

  Gus looked toward the dining room, then back at Esther. “What’s happening in there?”

  “I guess they’re having a meeting. I heard them talking about going back to Bluespring Monday, something about reshooting a scene.” Esther cringed when she heard Quinn challenge something Mr. Clarkson had said. Then, after some expletives were thrown her way, she was quiet. The movie producer always addressed Esther in a respectful way, but he wasn’t nice to his employees or his son. Esther was glad Naomi had gotten out the door before the conversation became heated.

  “Well, I don’t know why I wasn’t informed about this meeting.” Gus straightened his hat and stomped toward the dining room.

  Esther shook her head as she gathered her and Naomi’s coffee cups. After setting them in the sink, she began to prepare a plate of snacks for her guests. Giovanni and Hal seemed to enjoy the pretzels and cheese sauce Lizzie had made. Esther filled a plate and walked into the room, quietly setting the tray in the middle of the table.

  “Best pretzels ever,” Hal said as he reached for one.

  Gus hovered near one empty chair, presumably reserved for Jayce, who wasn’t present. “I didn’t realize we were having a meeting today,” Gus said.

  Esther glanced around the room as eyes darted in every direction. Quinn leaned back in her chair and grinned, raising an eyebrow at Mr. Clarkson.

  “Gus. You’ve met everyone.” The man in charge waved an arm around the room. “Actually, we were just talking about a scene we need to redo.”

  “What will my part be? I wasn’t there for the first shoot.” Gus’s indignance could be heard in his voice.

  Esther left the room, returning a moment later with a platter of full tea glasses. Quinn’s arms were folded across her chest as she stared into her lap. Hal and Giovanni busied themselves with the pretzels while Jesse stared at Mr. Clarkson.

  “Uh, no worries, Gus,” Mr. Clarkson said, followed by a smile. “We’ll get you in the scene on Monday when we revisit the cavern. Right now, we’re just discussing some technical issues, things that didn’t turn out exactly as planned.”

  “What time should I be ready to go?” Gus helped himself to a pretzel. “And what part will I be playing?”

  Quinn covered her mouth with her hand, still staring at her lap. Esther finished her task and continued listening from the kitchen.

  Mr. Clarkson cleared his throat. “Um . . . you’ll be playing a man named John. We’ll give you more instructions on Monday. But we’ll pull out around eight. It’s not necessary for you to be present in this meeting. Mostly lighting problems, and some of the scuba equipment malfunctioned, which wasn’t pleasant for our leading lady.”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  Gus passed back through the kitchen with the pretzel between his teeth and picked up his bowl of sugar and a stack of paper plates Esther had placed next to the bowl. He didn’t offer any thanks, but Esther learned long ago not to expect any.

  After the screen door closed behind Gus, she quietly pulled her chair out and sat, tempted to catch a nap, but worried her guests might need something.

  Quinn chuckled. “John? Since when do we have a character named John?”

  “Yeah, news to me too,” either Hal or Jesse said. Esther wasn’t sure.

  “The guy’s cranky as—”

  Esther put her hands over her ears and flinched when Mr. Clarkson began cursing again. She could still hear him despite her best efforts not to.

  “It was the only way for me to get the guy to shut up about the generators. We’ll just stick him in the background somewhere.”

  “He smells,” Quinn said. “Maybe you can make up a reason for him to take his own vehicle.”

  Esther couldn’t dispute Gus’s lack of personal hygiene. Although, when he had taken her to her doctor and hospital appointments a little while back, he’d made an effort to clean himself up. And some days he’d even left his gruff demeanor behind. Those glimpses into the man Gus might have been at some point in his past were always welcome, but rare.

  “Just put up with him Monday, and we’ll tell him we don’t need him anymore,” Mr. Clarkson said.

  “Where do you want him in the background, and how do we explain who he is? Only the key players are in the cavern.” Giovanni laughed. “Is he going to be some ancient caveman’s ghost?”

  Quinn was the one chuckling now. “I don’t think cavemen had big fat bellies.”

  “What are you people even talking about?” Mr. Clarkson wasn’t laughing. “We’re not actually putting him in the movie. Just stick him somewhere and make him think he’s in the background, just to shut him up. I’m telling you, he was driving me crazy about the generators, and I can’t listen to that for an entire month.”

  Esther couldn’t help feeling sorry for Gus. She stayed quiet and continued listening.

  “Well, he seems to think he’s part of our group now,” Quinn said. “Speaking of our group, I haven’t seen Jayce today.”

  “He’s running around with an Amish girl,” Giovanni said. “Billy told me he had dinner with her Friday night and was spending the day with her today.”

  Mr. Clarkson grunted. “You’ve got to be kidding. He doesn’t get enough at home, so he has to go poking around for it here—in an Amish community?”

  Poking around for what?

  “Billy said he talked to him. Let him know these girls are pious,” Giovanni said.

  Jayce’s father laughed. “Like that would stop my son from going after her.”

  Esther gasped, quickly covering her mouth with her hand as Mr. Clarkson’s words took on meaning. But then a chair scraped across the floor.

  “I hate the way you always assume the worst about your son, Brandon. Maybe if you took the time to get to know him—”

  “Oh, I know him. And here you are once again defending him.” He paused. “Maybe you and Jayce had a thing, Quinn?” There was mockery in his voice. Esther didn’t believe the claim could be true. Quinn was a lovely woman but considerably older than Jayce.

  The woman called Jayce’s father a name that Esther wished she hadn’t heard. Then her heels clicked across the room and up the stairs.

  “She’s too sensitive. I was just kidding.”
>
  Esther didn’t hear any remorse in the comment. But all was quiet afterward.

  She would be counting the days until this group went back to Los Angeles.

  * * *

  Jayce took in his surroundings as Evelyn guided the buggy down a gravel road. There were homesteads on both sides of the road, most with farmhouses, barns, and silos. Jayce felt like he’d stepped back in time to a place where life was slower, where simple pleasures were appreciated, and girls were happy with hot dogs, popcorn, and lemonade. Evelyn probably had no idea what saltimbocca was and probably hadn’t feasted on caviar, enjoyed seared lamb chops dusted in mint sauce, or tasted a host of other foods Jayce had grown up with. To this day he preferred a slow-cooked roast with potatoes and carrots like his grandmother used to cook. He still missed his grandparents.

  They passed a small white building. “Is that a church?” It didn’t resemble a church. There was no cross or stained glass, but it didn’t look like a home either.

  “It’s a school.” Evelyn clicked her tongue, gently slapped the reins, and picked up the pace.

  “It’s not very big for a school.” He saw a hand water pump outside. “I guess there’s no electricity either.”

  “Nee, no power. It houses grades one through eight for this district.” She slowed Millie to allow another horse and buggy to turn in front of her.

  “What do you mean grades one through eight? Through the windows it looks like one big room.”

  “Ya, all the children are together in one room. Lessons are tailored to each child’s age until graduation, which is after we complete eighth grade.”

  “Then where’s the high school?” Jayce lifted his sunglasses and scanned the mostly open fields around them.

  “No high school. We are only schooled through the eighth grade.”

  “Wow.” Jayce lowered his sunglasses and relaxed against the seat. A whiff of Evelyn’s lavender aroma wafted his way but was quickly overridden by Millie when the horse decided to do her business en route.