And she’d spent years reliving that experience. Trying to help her parents heal by allowing them to force their will on her. She’d been hurting but she’d kept everything to herself. Never making a big deal about her own issues. In fact, she probably wouldn’t have told him anything if he hadn’t pressed.
But instead of dwelling on everything that had happened, she’d still opened herself to him and given him so much. Her strength and modesty were awe-inspiring. Yet, she didn’t seem to even realize it.
Michael glanced at her, noticing that she was holding herself still and steady. She was alert. Wary.
She was worried about what he might think.
“Penny?”
“Jah?”
“Have you ever talked to anyone about everything? You know, sought help?”
“Like a counselor?”
“Jah. Or a preacher. Or even some close friends?”
She nodded. “I have. Michael, losing my sister was a terrible thing. But I know she’s up in heaven. And I know I’ll understand why that happened to her when I get there. I’ve made peace with it. What I haven’t been able to do is dare to live my own life. I’ve been afraid of what might happen. Afraid to cause my parents more worry.”
“But you’re doing that now.”
“Jah. But they aren’t happy with me. They don’t understand. And I’m old enough now to realize that they may not ever understand.”
“But you are going to keep moving forward?”
She nodded. “Well, I’m going to try.”
“Penny, I think you are pretty incredible.”
She blinked. Then, to his relief, she slowly smiled. “Thanks.”
He liked that. He liked that she didn’t try to brush off what had happened to her or make it seem like something less than it was. He was glad that not even her shyness and worry would make her discount what had happened.
“You’re welcome,” he said simply.
She didn’t say another word. Instead, her smile became brighter, as if he’d just given her a beautiful gift. Seeing that smile, Michael knew there had never been a better moment in the midst of a better day.
CHAPTER 13
What a day! Beverly was still reeling from Tricia’s announcement this morning about being bullied. And her ears were still stinging from Edward’s scathing words. He’d been hurt and angry that Tricia had come to her instead of confiding in her family there.
Not surprisingly, the conversation between Edward and Tricia hadn’t gone any more smoothly. Edward felt she should have shared everything that she’d been going through weeks ago. Tricia’s belated honesty also hadn’t made up for the fact that she’d left Sugarcreek and her family with nothing more than a note. Tears were streaming down Tricia’s face when she finally hung up the phone.
“Well, that was awful,” Tricia said, wiping her eyes with the side of her hand.
“Indeed it was,” Beverly agreed.
“Do you think Daed will ever forgive me?”
“Of course.”
“Anytime soon?”
Thinking back to the anger in her brother’s tone, Beverly shrugged. “I can’t answer that question. He’s not happy with me at the moment, either.”
Tricia glared at the telephone. “Oh, I wish I could have recorded that conversation! Daed should have heard himself. Then he would have understood exactly why I didn’t tell him anything. He doesn’t listen.” Wiping at her tears again, she whispered, “Mamm never intervenes.”
“I’m sorry about that, but most wives don’t.”
“When I’m a wife, I’m gonna intervene when I don’t like what my husband has to say.”
“I’ll look forward to seeing that,” Beverly said with a smile.
What she didn’t bother adding was that she didn’t think Edward and his wife’s relationship was all that unusual. In many Amish households, the husband was always right. Beverly herself had grown up imagining that her future husband would make most of the major household decisions.
But then, Marvin had also made the decision to fall in love with her best friend while they were engaged.
Now Beverly wasn’t sure if she would ever be okay with always following her husband’s lead. Somehow she didn’t think so. But who was she to say what was right and what was wrong for others? After all, Edward and Kathleen had enjoyed a successful marriage for almost thirty years. Beverly, on the other hand, hadn’t even been able to keep her fiancé from straying.
Tricia coughed, bringing Beverly back to the problem at hand. “Daed kept saying it was rude of me to come here uninvited. Was it? Are you mad?”
Tricia was trying to hide it, but Beverly noticed she was trembling. She was anxious and worried. Preparing herself to be rejected again. But in her eyes was a slim ray of hope. A hope of acceptance. To be loved, no matter what she’d done.
Beverly couldn’t have ignored that silent plea for help even if she had wanted to. “I’m not mad. Of course I’m not.”
“Promise?”
“I’m not mad at all.” She curved a hand around Tricia’s shoulder and pulled her into a hug. “There was a time when my aunt Patty gave me comfort here. I’m glad that I can do the same for my sweet niece.” She was just about to add something more when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll be back,” she said before hurrying to the front door. When she saw that it was Eric Wagler, the man who owned her inn, Beverly barely stopped herself from taking a step back in alarm.
Unfortunately, she didn’t do nearly as good a job holding her tongue once she opened the door. “What are you doing here?”
He raised his eyebrows. “I told you I’d be coming back.”
“I had assumed you would have given me a little bit of warning,” she hedged, because what she really had wanted was more time to pretend her life wasn’t about to drastically change.
“I told you I’d be back sometime this summer. And it is April.” He tilted his head to one side. “Is this a problem?”
Actually, it was. He was tall. And had beautiful brown eyes. He was handsome. But most of all, he made her feel things that she’d nearly forgotten about after her fiancé had broken her heart. In short, Eric Wagler was the very last person she wanted to see . . . and the only person in the world able to make her blush and stammer like a schoolgirl.
Since she still hadn’t invited him in, he folded his arms across his chest and smirked. Smirked! “Bev, I had hoped you’d be happier to see me than you were last time, but it doesn’t look like that’s the case.”
“I’m happy to see you,” she lied. “Come on in. As a matter of fact, you are the highlight of my day.”
Concern drifted over his features. “You okay?”
“Jah. It’s simply been a day of surprises. Want to set your bag down and come into the kitchen? I’ve got a niece for you to meet.”
He tossed his duffel on the ground, then gestured toward the back hallway. “You lead and I’ll follow, Beverly.”
That was a strange thing for him to say. What was even stranger was her reaction to it.
Her palms had become a little damp and she felt, well, giddy.
Almost.
AFTER THEY’D FINISHED THE sandwiches and brownies, Michael had simply wanted to sit and watch the surf. Penny had been okay with that. Actually, she’d been fine with anything he wanted to do. She simply enjoyed being by his side.
“I can’t believe this is my fourth time in Sarasota, but my first time here at Siesta Key,” Michael groused. “I hate that.”
“If you’d been here before, today probably wouldn’t seem as special,” she replied easily. Personally, she was glad Michael hadn’t been to Siesta Key before. It gave her hope that he would always remember their day together, too.
“Today would still seem special, Pen.”
She turned his way, but his eyes were closed. Just in case they weren’t completely closed, she faced forward again. No way did she want to be caught staring at him.
“I’m going to res
t my eyes for a couple. ’Kay?”
“’Kay,” she replied, liking how he shortened words and phrases when he was comfortable.
When his breathing turned steady, she pulled her dress up to her knees and let her calves and feet get some sun. Wiggled her toes in the warm sand. Then, as the clouds cast a shadow over them, and Michael’s breathing became deeper, she glanced his way again and looked her fill.
It turned out that Michael Knoxx was just as handsome asleep as he was awake. She’d secretly hoped that it was just his bright personality that made him so attractive to her, but that hope fell by the wayside now. The fact was, the Lord had certainly given him more than his share of attractive attributes. He was tall, broad-shouldered with dark blond hair and hazel eyes. He even had straight, white teeth! The only flaw—well, what should’ve been a flaw—was his right leg.
But it seemed to only enhance his appearance.
Glad she’d brought a watch, Penny saw that almost an hour had passed since he’d closed his eyes. The next bus came at four o’clock, and they were going to have to be on it. And since they were going to have to gather their things and be at the stop in plenty of time, she was going to have to wake him up soon.
She scanned his sleeping form once more as a group of ladies walked by. Then, when they were relatively alone again, she reached out and gently shook his shoulder. “Michael? Michael, it’s time to wake up.”
His eyes opened instantly. “Hey. Did I fall asleep?”
“You did.”
“I’m sorry.” He smiled sheepishly. “That was pretty rude.”
“Not at all. I was sorry to have to wake you.”
He stretched, then sat up. “Is it time to go?”
“Pretty soon. We have to walk to the stop.” With his leg paining him like it was, she feared it might take him a bit longer than usual.
He nodded. “Do we have a minute? Or do you want to go right now?”
“I think we have a good five minutes or so,” she replied, enjoying the novelty of being in charge of the schedule.
“We have just enough time, then.”
“Time for what?” She really, really hoped he didn’t want to go swimming because they didn’t actually have time for that and she didn’t want to have to tell him no.
“I have a proposal for you.”
“A proposal?” Penny didn’t even attempt to hide her confusion. “What kind of proposal is on your mind?” she teased. The only proposals she’d ever heard of happened when men proposed marriage.
He turned to face her directly. Then, to her shock, he reached for her hand and held it between his hands. “I’ve been thinking about this all day and have been trying to summon the courage to ask you.”
“Ask me what?”
“Penny, after my surgery, when I’m doing better and can get around good . . . will you bring me back here?”
“Of course.” She smiled at him. “I’ll be happy to.”
“No, I mean, let’s make a plan, Penny. How about we start learning to embrace each hour. Each day. How about we promise to cherish each moment?”
“Cherish?”
He nodded. “That’s going to make us stronger. Better.”
“I can do that.”
“Gut. Then you can make some new friends, too.”
“And you’re going to heal.”
He shook his head as he gently caressed her knuckles. “I’m going to do that, but I think I need to follow your lead, as well. I, too, need to become more aware of what I want and need.”
“But, Michael, you’re already—”
“Nee. I am not. But you’ve given me hope. So, will you accept my proposal?”
She stared at him a long moment, then nodded. “I do. I will accept your proposal, Michael. In one month’s time, I promise to know a lot more about myself. We’ll come back here and have sandwiches and celebrate.”
“Nothing would make me happier, Penny. Danke.” A new light shone in his eyes. A heady mixture of promise and satisfaction.
Spurring thoughts about a future she shouldn’t even be imagining.
Without a word, she slipped her hand from his. Before she got too used to it being there.
CHAPTER 14
Beverly figured she’d put off the conversation she needed to have with Eric long enough.
After she’d introduced him to Tricia, he’d moved his things into one of the two empty rooms. Then, as if they’d been living together for weeks, he’d found her and politely informed her that he had some errands in Sarasota to run, and that he’d be back later.
That had been hours ago.
In the meantime, she’d fretted about all the possible reasons for his return. She’d served tea. She’d chatted briefly with Penny after she’d brought Michael home. She’d helped Michael make his way back up the stairs and made sure that he’d gotten in and out of the shower without any problems.
After that, she’d said good night to Tricia, who had announced that she was heading upstairs to read and write letters.
But now that he’d returned from his errands, it was time to find out what he wanted to do with the inn. Just as she needed to finally come to terms with the fact that although her aunt Patty had indicated that she’d wanted Beverly to continue running the inn after her death, she’d never actually owned it in the first place. In fact, up until a few months ago, it had been owned by Patty’s husband—who’d willed it to Eric.
Yes, it would be better to know Eric’s intentions about the Orange Blossom Inn. Did he want to take things over right away? Did he want her to move out immediately?
She had no earthly idea, but it was beyond time to find out.
Eric must have thought the same thing, too, because when Beverly returned to the kitchen she saw that he’d poured himself a cup of decaf coffee, sat down at her kitchen table like he owned it—which he didn’t, well, at least not yet—and proceeded to watch her put out the dishes for the morning breakfast rush.
While she checked the sugar bowls, refilled the pretty glass containers with homemade granola, and measured out coffee, he asked questions here and there. None of his questions were all that taxing. None were intrusive. He mainly seemed to be making conversation and whiling away the time until she was ready to sit with him.
Only when there was absolutely nothing else to distract her, did she finally pour herself a cup and sit down across from him.
“What have you decided to do?”
“I’m going to move to Sarasota,” he said.
“I see.” Well, now she knew.
But honestly, that was all she appreciated. Even though she’d spent many nights imagining this conversation, coaching herself about what to say and how to say it, his news hit her hard. Surely if he was moving to Sarasota, that meant that she would need to move out of the inn. She was really disappointed. So much so, she couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
He stood up and poured the remainder of his coffee down the sink. “Did the lawyers call you?”
“Oh, they called,” she said. “And they told me that you were correct, that the Orange Blossom Inn was yours.”
He grimaced in a funny way as he sat down again. “Listen, this is awkward for both of us. I bet you feel like I’m taking over your life.”
“No. I know you didn’t ask for this surprising inheritance. And I don’t blame you for wanting the inn.” After all, she’d been thrilled when she’d thought her aunt Patty had given it to her.
“I’m glad you feel that way,” he said slowly. “But still, I wish this conversation could be easier.”
“It is what it is, jah?”
“Jah.” He smiled, letting her know that he wasn’t being snarky. Instead, he was clearly feeling as awkward about things as she was.
She smiled, hoping to soften her next words. “So, when do you plan to move here permanently?”
“Not for a bit. I’m going to stay here for a couple of weeks, then go to PA and put my place on the market. I’ll return after my
home sells.”
“Ah.” He’d already put a lot of thought into this. She’d known he would. Why hadn’t she made plans, too? “So you’d like me out as soon as possible.”
His eyes widened. “No,” he said quickly. “No, not at all.” He looked at her chidingly. “Beverly, I’m not going to kick you out. I can’t believe you thought I would.”
“It’s not kicking me out if it’s your inn and not mine.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Actually, um, I don’t. It doesn’t take two of us to run an inn, Eric.” Before he gave her another glare, she continued. “And please don’t think that I’m upset with you. Because I’m not. Anymore.” Oh, why was she telling him everything on her mind? It was as if she’d just swallowed a pint of truth serum. Eric did not need to know everything she was thinking.
He rubbed a hand across his mouth, as if he was attempting to hide a smile, which didn’t make sense. Then, at last, he spoke. “Beverly, I’m really glad you’re not mad at me. Anymore. But, uh, what I’ve been trying to say is that I’m going to get an apartment or a condo or something in Sarasota.” He shrugged. “I might rent or lease a place. There are a lot of vacation properties available.”
“You aren’t going to move in here?”
“No. At the moment, I don’t intend to move in here.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I’m not ready. And honestly, after the excitement of inheriting a place in sunny Sarasota wore off, I started thinking about how running an inn would change my life. I don’t know if I’m ready to put myself at everyone’s mercy twenty-four-seven.”
“It’s not like that. Most people are not much trouble,” she blurted, then wondered yet again why she couldn’t just keep her mouth shut.
“It’s close to that,” Eric said. “Listen, I should have called you. I should have told you what I found out from the lawyers as soon as I knew. And I should have told you my decision as soon as I made up my mind. I’m sorry. It was unfair of me to leave you hanging like this.”
She agreed. He should have done those things. But at the moment, she was glad he was telling her face-to-face. She didn’t think she would be feeling the same way if she’d been sitting alone and merely listening to his voice over the telephone. “What’s done is done.”
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