The Protective One

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Walking over to meet them, Will shook Logan’s hand and smiled at Tricia. “Hello, Tricia.”

  “Hello to you, too,” she replied in Pennsylvania Dutch before hugging E.A. “I’m so glad to see you. I’ve been worried about you.”

  “Nothing to worry about. I’m fine. How about you tell me how things are going as a real Amish wife?”

  As she hoped, Tricia giggled. “Logan’s mamm has been helping me sew my first dress.”

  “And, how is it going?”

  “I think I’m going to need to take some sewing lessons from you,” she said as they followed Will and Logan into the house.

  “Anytime.” She lowered her voice. “Or, just ask me and I’ll come over and finish up the dress for you. I won’t tell a soul.”

  Tricia hugged her. “Danke, but I’m determined to do it myself. For better or worse, you know?”

  E.A. smiled. “Jah. I know.”

  “E.A., come look what Katie’s been up to,” Marie called out.

  Entering the dining room, she was stunned to see a whole spread of beautiful-looking food arranged on the dining room table. Katie was pulling out a soup tureen just as E.A. walked into the kitchen. “Is all this for the B and B’s guests or for us, Katie?”

  “For us, of course. Harley and I decided to close the inn this week. We needed a break.”

  “Which for Katie means that she’s going to fuss and clean and get everything ready for all of us,” Marie said as she walked in the door.

  “I tried to bring a side dish but she wouldn’t let me,” Kendra said.

  Marie put a hand on her hip. “She wouldn’t even let me bring cookies, and I can almost make decent ones.”

  “I’m sorry we missed those,” Tricia murmured with a grin.

  “Oh, stop,” Marie said. “My cooking has improved. Kind of.”

  E.A. grinned, loving her girlfriends’ silly exchanges as much as ever. “Just for the record, I’m feeling a little guilty. I didn’t ask to bring anything at all. I’m sorry, Katie.”

  “Don’t be, I would have told you no if you’d asked. This little get-together is for you and Will.”

  “Why us?”

  “You don’t know?” Before E.A. responded, Katie shrugged. “Well, you will. Now, grab a dish and bring it to the dining room. Let’s eat while it’s hot.”

  E.A. did as she was bid, but it felt like her body was on autopilot. Carrying a large casserole dish of delicious-smelling macaroni and cheese, she followed Katie into the dining room and carefully placed it on a hot plate.

  But as she sat down, her mind was spinning. She had no idea about what their friends had cooked up—or how she and Will were supposed to react to it.

  Will sat down next to her and sent a sympathetic look her way. She was grateful for it. No matter what happened, at least they were in this together.

  After Katie sat down at last, Harley, who was sitting at the head of the table, smiled at the group of them all together. “No matter when we get together or for whatever reason, I am always glad that it happened. We have much to be thankful for.”

  Katie, sitting at the other end, smiled at her husband warmly. “Let us bow our heads and give thanks.”

  A sense of peace flowed through E.A. as she joined the others in silent prayer. Harley was right. All that really mattered was that they were all together. That was a blessing indeed.

  Taking her time, she gave thanks for their friendships, the many hands that had made the food, and the constant faith that she held close to her heart. That faith reminded her that no matter what happened, they would emerge stronger on the other side.

  When she raised her head, Tricia was looking at her strangely. Actually, most everyone was.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” Tricia said quickly. “I, well, you seemed to be praying so earnestly.”

  “I guess I was. Harley reminded me that there are still times when I take our group for granted. It encouraged me to give a lot of prayers of thanks.”

  “I’ve done that a time or two,” Marie said as everyone began taking helpings from the serving dishes and passing them on. “Especially during this last year. I don’t know how we would have survived if we didn’t have each other to lean on.”

  “That is what brings us together tonight,” Katie said. “I know that receiving gratitude and praise were the last things that E.A. and Will were thinking about when they helped that woman, but I don’t think there’s any harm in celebrating the fact that they stepped in and helped her.”

  E.A. had never thought about how her actions would be seen or judged by her friends. “We don’t need to be celebrated for what we did for Marta. We did what any decent person would do.”

  “Oh, I think it matters a lot. I’m sure it mattered to her,” Kendra murmured. “You saved Marta from an awful situation.”

  All of them knew Kendra spoke from personal experience. She’d been abused as a child but had been too ashamed to tell them much of what she’d gone through until recently.

  Will cleared his throat. “I feel the same way as E.A. I don’t think we did anything that the rest of you wouldn’t have done. And let’s not forget that John and Marie were there, too.”

  E.A. shook her head. “If we give praise to anyone at all, let’s honor Marta, who overcame a lot of odds in order to have a better life.”

  Logan raised a glass. “Here’s to people who take chances and make changes, then … and to the One who protects us all.”

  Tricia cleared her throat. “Now that we’ve toasted John, Marie, E.A., and Will, I thought maybe we could get some information.”

  “About what?” Will asked.

  “You two, of course,” Katie said. “Are you two officially a couple now or not?”

  All traces of humor vanished from Will’s expression. “That’s awfully nosey of ya, Katie.”

  “Oh, come now. It isn’t like Harley and me didn’t court right under your noses.”

  “But still …”

  “I’m sorry, but I think you’re being a little sensitive,” Logan interjected. “It isn’t like you two are the first of all of us to fall in love. So, put us out of suspense … are you two official now?”

  Right as E.A. was going to “officially” declare them a couple, Will turned to her and gave her a look that was so warm, it made her feel like they were the only two people in the whole room.

  “Here is your answer,” he said at last. “Of course I love Elizabeth Anne Schmidt. I love her a lot.”

  While all of their friends started clapping, E.A. simply looked at her guy and smiled. Her heart was so full, there wasn’t a single word that needed to be said.

  THIRTY−NINE

  Raising her glass of water, Elizabeth Anne smiled brightly. “Congratulations! May your future be happy and joyous. And if you ever need a helping hand? We’ll all be there for you. For better or worse.”

  SIX MONTHS LATER

  Back when she’d been Lark’s employee, E.A. had dreaded slow days in the shop. Lark had never wanted to talk to her or work on a sewing project. Usually, she’d just sat in her office or someplace in the back and played on her phone. She’d made sure that E.A. had known that she was supposed to answer the phone, dust, and simply be ready for customers.

  Then, when people did walk in, E.A. would feel Lark’s judgmental gaze on her back. It never failed to make her feel like she’d done something wrong. Even though she knew she hadn’t.

  But then, right before E.A. and Will’s wedding, Lark had announced that she was moving to Florida. Elizabeth Anne’s parents had helped her buy the shop, saying it was a good investment. Her mother also liked to come in to work a few hours a week now. She said she enjoyed having something interesting to do in her spare time.

  Now that she was the owner of Sew and Tell, E.A. tried to make it a far more welcoming and fun place, where she encouraged her customers to come in and tell her about their latest projects.

  Owning her own business seemed to suit her w
ell. Her sales had grown, and more and more customers were bringing their friends in, just so they could see how cute the store was. That made E.A. very happy. So did the fact that she had more sewing students.

  Actually, she was so busy that there was now always something to do. And because of that, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a really slow day at work.

  Yes, things had changed a lot over the last year. After a three-month engagement, she and Will had gotten married and moved into a small cottage on his parents’ farm that Will’s family, along with several other men in the area, had built for them.

  Because Will was so wonderful, he’d paid an Amish carpenter to design their kitchen and a sewing room for her. It was beautiful.

  And, so was her life.

  Will was still working three evenings a week and one day shift. He and his manager, Craig, had dreamed up that schedule. Craig enjoyed the quieter nights and Will liked still being in touch with the rest of the employees.

  E.A. had also made good on her promise to herself and now volunteered two days a month at a local women’s shelter. Some days she did nothing more than serve meals and help watch children, but that was enough. She liked feeling that she was doing something good for someone else—kind of like how she’d felt with Marta.

  But perhaps the greatest change was that she was living life Amish now. Just like she’d told Will, it wasn’t a considerable change. Though it had presented some challenges—she didn’t think she’d ever be able to actually drive a horse and buggy—she didn’t mind living a simpler life.

  Everything that had happened with Marta had reinforced her feelings that it was best to concentrate on what was important. Life wasn’t about details and being safe. No, it was about helping other people and not waiting for the perfect time. It was about watching fireflies in the summer and laughing with their friends and being thankful for each day.

  As if she’d conjured her up, the bells on the door at Sew and Tell chimed and in walked Marta herself.

  E.A. couldn’t help but stare. Her favorite sewing student looked so different! Her brown hair was longer. It now fell below her shoulders. She had gained a little weight, and the extra pounds looked good on her. Her cheeks were fuller and her skin was rosy. She looked healthy.

  But the greatest change was the way she was holding herself. She looked confident and secure. No, she looked happy.

  “Hi there,” Marta said before E.A. could walk around the counter to greet her. “I’m looking for Elizabeth Anne Schmidt … wait, E.A.?”

  E.A. rushed to her side. “Jah. It’s me.”

  Her eyes widened. “E.A., you have on a kapp.”

  “I know! I’m Amish now.”

  Marta looked at her closely for another long moment. “I’m sorry, I should have recognized you.” Smiling slightly, she said, “I would know your blue eyes anywhere.”

  “I don’t blame you for not realizing it was me. Believe me, you aren’t the first person who’s had to do a double take. Sometimes I forget that I look so different. A few months ago I married an Amish man.”

  “So you became Amish just like that?”

  E.A. smiled. “I wouldn’t say it was exactly that smooth, but it wasn’t hard, either. Will and I were good friends for years. Falling in love just seemed like the right thing to do.”

  A line formed between Marta’s brows. “Wait, did you say Will? Wasn’t he the man with you that day?”

  “Yes. Like I said, we’ve been good friends for a long time.” Stepping closer, E.A. said, “I’m surprised to see you here! To tell the truth, I almost didn’t recognize you, either.”

  “Really? Well, I guess my hair is longer.”

  “It’s more than that. You look … well, you look happy, Marta.”

  She relaxed and her eyes sparkled. “I am.”

  “Come sit down and talk to me.” She gestured toward the four padded chairs near the back of the shop.

  Marta followed but she was looking at the office door. “I’m happy to sit and chat … if you’re sure that’s okay?”

  “Lark left, so it’s my shop now. That means I can do whatever I want.”

  “Wow, I guess we both have had a few changes.” Sitting down in the chair next to E.A., Marta looked around the shop. “This is nice.”

  “Thank you. I wanted to make the shop a cozy place.” Smiling at the pale pink walls and colorful animals drawn by children that were displayed in pretty frames around the shop, she said, “I wanted people to feel like Sew and Tell was a place where they could stay a while.”

  Marta crossed her legs. “It always felt that way to me, E.A. But that didn’t have anything to do with how it was decorated. I felt that way because of you.”

  That was the sweetest compliment. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t need to say anything. It’s the truth.”

  “Can you tell me what happened to you after the fair?”

  Marta blew out a burst of air. “Boy, sometimes I wonder what didn’t happen. Let’s see. For starters, I reconnected with my parents and moved home with them. I live near Cincinnati now.”

  “Reconnected?”

  Marta nodded. “I hadn’t realized the extent of it, but Alan had wanted so much control over me that I slowly lost touch with most everyone else.” Looking reflective, she continued, “First, I drifted away from my friends, then family.”

  “That is very sad. I’m surprised they didn’t realize something was wrong.”

  “I think there’s only so many times a person can cancel plans or not return phone calls before even the best of friends and family gives up.” Marta clasped her hands in her lap. “Anyway, after I got settled back at my parents’ house, they spoke to a lawyer and found a counselor for me. Those two people, along with my parents and a few loyal and patient friends, became my team.”

  E.A. smiled. “I like the idea that you have a whole team of people by your side.”

  “Boy, not as much as me! Over the last year, I had started to feel like I was completely alone.” Her voice cracked. “Well, except for a few friends and you, E.A. You were there for me.”

  Overcome by emotion, E.A. swallowed. “Oh, Marta.”

  She shifted. “To finish up my story, at first Alan tried to get around the restraining order, and then he tried to contact me through our lawyers. But it was so strange. As soon as he realized that he wasn’t going to get me back easily—and if he fought he was going to have to give me even more money than my lawyer originally asked for—he backed off.” Looking a little smug, she said, “I have a feeling the charges against him had something to do with that.”

  “So then you got divorced.”

  “Oh, yes, I did. I’m not going to say it was easy or painless, but it just went through about five weeks ago.” She straightened her shoulders. “I am now Marta Benson.”

  “You gave up your married name.”

  Marta’s eyes lit up. “I couldn’t do that fast enough. I really, really needed to get rid of any reminder of him. It was better for me not to have any ties to Alan. So, that’s my story.”

  “I’m glad you are happier.”

  “I’m glad about that, too.” She smiled. “I’m also working again.”

  “You are? That’s wonderful.”

  “It turns out that I still love doing my research, and I’m still good enough at it to get work.”

  E.A. felt like a mother whose child had accomplished something difficult: so proud. “I’m so glad you came here to let me know. I’ve been worried about you! I’ve been praying, of course, but seeing how well you are doing makes my heart so full.”

  Opening up her tote bag, Marta pulled out the yellow backpack. “I also came here to give you something.” She held it out to Elizabeth Anne.

  “Your backpack?”

  “If there is anything about the last year that I’m most proud of, it’s this,” she said, running a hand along the fabric. “You helping me sew it, keeping it here so Alan wouldn’t know �
�� never being anything but encouraging even when I got frustrated. I’ll never forget it.”

  “Marta—”

  “No, let me finish. Because of you, I was able to make this little thing. And it, in turn, became something pretty important. It gave me a lot of hope. I thought if I could make this, well, I could accomplish anything—even finally leave my husband.”

  E.A. was so touched she could hardly speak. “Don’t you think you should be the one keeping it?”

  “No. I have enough memories. I don’t need a reminder of everything I did to leave. But … I thought, well, maybe you might need a reminder of the impact you made on me?”

  Overwhelmed by emotion, E.A. took it from her outstretched hands. “Danke. I will treasure it, always.”

  Marta stood up. “I’m going to leave now. I only came back here to see you—and my friend Elaine. She testified in court about my bruises and the things she heard Alan say to me.”

  “Thank you so much for coming by. I’ve been wondering how you were doing.”

  “You don’t need to worry about me anymore. I’m going to be okay.” She smiled again. “Now I’m on my way to a weekend retreat.”

  E.A. walked her to the door. “A retreat?”

  “It’s with some women from my church in Cincinnati.” She blushed. “Some new girlfriends, really.”

  E.A. reckoned that this was going to be the last time she ever saw Marta. It made her sad, but she understood. Being here in Walnut Creek no doubt brought back many bad memories. She knew she needed to be grateful that Marta had felt the need to even come back at all. “I’m happy for you, Marta.”

  “I’ll always be grateful for you, E.A. Always.” Quickly giving her a hug, she whispered, “I’ll never forget what you and your husband and friends did for me that day at the fair. Never.”

  E.A. hugged her back. Then smiled at her. “I will miss you, Marta. God be with you.”

  Marta’s eyes widened. “Oh, He already is, E.A. Of that, I have no doubt.” She smiled softly before walking out the door, leaving E.A. alone with her thoughts. She felt a sense of loss as she walked back to the sitting area and carefully picked up the backpack to bring it to the front counter. Just as she was about to fold it and put it in a drawer, she realized there was something inside. After unzipping it, she found a card inside.