“Jah, I’m sure she’d be upset if you didn’t.”
He stepped inside the kitchen and spotted his grandmother at the sink. “I need to get going,” he said, “but I wanted to say goodbye.”
She walked out onto the porch with him. “Danki for coming, and I’m sure Thomas is glad, too. No matter what Cyrus said to you, I want you to come back and visit.”
Noah enveloped her in a hug and then kissed her cheek. “I’ll be back to visit sometime.”
Her smiled reached all the way to her eyes. She turned and headed back to the kitchen.
Noah swallowed hard and wandered across the yard to his vehicle, blinking a tear from his eye. He rubbed a hand across the aching in his chest. He loved them already...and he was going to miss them.
* * *
For a week, Mary baked for the tourists and practiced her three entries required for the three days of baking for the contest.
Monday morning, she grabbed the potholders, pulled two loaves of bread out of the oven and set them on the cooling racks. Standing back, she watched Amanda fill a jellyroll pan with cinnamon rolls and pop them in the oven.
“Amanda, I’m going to take this cart of honey-wheat and white bread to the front so it’ll be ready to run across the street later for the men working at Sweet Delights.”
“I’m right behind carrying cupcakes and sugar cookies.” Amanda exchanged the potholders for a tray and fell into step behind her.
Mary parked the cart in the front of the store, the door opened and Jean whirled in and quickly closed the door before a gust of wind could blow a pile of rustling leaves inside. “Good morning, ladies. It’s nippy out today.”
“Mornin’, Jean. Fall is just around the corner.” Mary backed the cart farther away from the entrance.
The door flew open again, and Ethan Lapp scrambled in. “Morgen, Mary. Amanda.”
“You, too.” Amanda said as she started to arrange the sugar cookies and cupcakes on a shelf. Mary looked up. “Morgen, Ethan. You’re not working at the bakery raising?”
“Jah, I just stopped in to say hi.”
His eyes strayed from her. “How are you, Amanda?”
“Jah, I’m gut.” She kept on working.
Mary had the feeling that maybe Ethan and Amanda wanted to talk. “Ethan, when you go back, will you roll this cart of bread and rolls over to Mamm so she can set them out for lunch for the workers?” Without waiting for his reply, she picked up the empty pans and carried them back to the kitchen.
She tidied up the counter and washed the sink full of dishes. Twenty minutes later, Amanda walked in.
“So what was that all about with Ethan?” Curiosity pulled the words out of Mary.
Amanda pulled a bowl from the cupboard, clunked it on the counter and started to make a cake. “Nothing really. Ethan’s just started coming around and talking.”
“Are you two a couple?” Mary whispered.
“Nein.” Amanda paused. “I’m not sure what we’re doing. It seems we’re just talking.” A little smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “He might have said more, but he needed to get back to work. Where’s Noah?”
“He left a note saying he was taking jugs of tea and coffee to Sweet Delights for the workers. Are you purposely trying to get off the subject of Ethan?”
“Okay, the other day he stopped by, and we just started talking about the festival and things.”
“So has he asked you to go on a buggy ride?”
“Nein, we’re just friends.”
Why was it that neither she nor Amanda had snagged their perfect love? Why was it that both of them wanted what they couldn’t have?
Mary sighed. It was harder each day seeing Noah knowing he was Englisch and that nothing was going to happen between them.
He would glance at her when he thought she wasn’t watching, and she’d felt the spark when their hands accidently touched. She’d frozen in place and couldn’t breathe. Now, she could still feel the tingle on her hand...and in her heart. But that was as far as it could go.
* * *
Opening the back door of the store, Noah dashed through and laid Mary’s mail beside her. “We have our schedule from the festival contest director.”
Mary whirled around to face him. “Have you read yours?”
He nodded. “We have to take our first entry to the judge next Thursday for the first-round judging. They will eliminate all but three in each of the three categories. On Friday, those nine will bake, and they’ll pick a winner in each of the three categories. The winners will receive $5,000. On Saturday, those three winners compete for the trophy and grand prize of $20,000.”
“You’re a world of news.” Mary tore open her contest letter and read.
“I hope you’re ready, Mary.”
She smiled and her eyes locked with his. “Game on, Noah.”
Her voice was soft and melted into him like butter. “Ready to get busy and practice?”
She jerked her gaze from his. “Jah, let’s get busy.”
Noah pulled out the canister of flour, and they each practiced their entry one more time. He watched Mary slide hers in the oven on the bottom rack, and he set his on the top rack and closed the door.
Emily burst in through the back door and ran to Noah. “Can I compete in the children’s baking contest at the festival?” she begged. “They’re still taking entries. One of the prizes is a pink backpack.”
He shrugged. “Sure. You’re a good baker. Mary saw to that.” He glanced at Mary and detected a hint of a smile cross her face before it discretely disappeared. “Do you know what you want to make?”
“Yes, peanut butter bars. I can win, Noah, my recipe is really, really good. My friend Kate is going to enter, too.”
Mary handed a measuring cup to Emily. “Do you want to make a practice one now, and I’ll watch?”
“Sure.” Emily gathered her ingredients and carefully measured each one out.
Noah took a step back and leaned against the sink. Emily liked Mary, and for that matter, so did he. Maybe too much.
Mary lifted her cornflower-blue eyes and locked them with his. His chest thumped like he was a schoolboy with a crush.
He grabbed a tray of bread and headed to the front of the store. What was he doing? Where could this relationship go? He was Englisch, she was Amish, and neither was willing to change.
Chapter Seventeen
On Wednesday, Mary pulled out a tablet and pencil and sat at the table in the store’s kitchen. She wrote a schedule for herself and a baking schedule for Amanda. The next week would be hectic with extra baking for the tourists and festivalgoers, and creating perfect entries for the contest.
Noah rushed into the kitchen from the back door and threw open the pantry doors. He pulled out his pocket notebook and pen and jotted down things as he mumbled to himself. “We’re running low on baking powder and flour. I’m going to run to Iowa City and get extra supplies. I spoke to Susan on the street and told her I’d pick up some supplies for her restaurant, too. Is there anything you can think of that we need?”
“More sugar,” Mary answered without looking up from her list. She tried to ignore the tingling in her stomach whenever he was around. She kept her gaze down and made another note.
“Would you like to ride over to my store in Iowa City while I pick up a few things? You’ve never seen it, and it’s only eighteen miles. Shouldn’t take too long.”
She raised her head. “Jah, I’d like to see your other store.”
Thirty minutes later, Noah pulled up to the front of his store in Iowa City. “I’ll let you out here. You can walk through, and I’ll meet you at the back door.”
She stepped out of his vehicle, shocked to see that this store was twice the size of the one in Kalona. She gravitated to the bakery section first. He had a few desserts and pastries here th
at weren’t at the other one. They looked delicious. Now she was curious about how the rest of this store would be different.
He had an elegant coffee stand with a beautiful cappuccino and latte maker. A full salad bar was in the middle of the deli section with fresh vegetables and fruits. There were not only cold sandwiches, but a woman behind a counter was making grilled cheese, hamburgers, paninis and pizzas.
In Kalona, she had thought of Noah as a shop owner, but his talents spanned much more than just a small shop. She walked through the large produce area. He had all this to take care of and he still helped his grandparents. And he was giving her a hand, as well.
She weaved her way through the kitchen to the service door at the back and found Noah loading his SUV.
“What do you think?” A hint of pride was visible in his expression.
“It’s bigger than I imagined. Your bakery here has a larger selection of pastries. It appears you learned the trade of your vater very well.”
His smiled stretched all the way to his amber eyes, and his five o’clock stubble gave him a rugged but handsome look. He motioned to his vehicle parked at the open door. “Ready to go back to Kalona?”
“Jah, I need to get my baking done. I don’t have a fancy store like this to support me.” She teased as she climbed in and fastened the seatbelt.
He buckled up and started the engine. “I’m saving every dime I get out of this store to pay for Emily’s college, and Jenny’s, if she’ll let me pay. But Jenny said she didn’t want to work in the store, so she didn’t want to take money from the business. But it’s hers, too.”
“Jenny owns a portion of the business? In the Plain community, it would have gone to the son.”
“When our parents died, I put everything they owned in all three of our names. So if anything happens to me, they’d have a means to pay for their schooling or a way to support themselves. But as you probably know, the Amish in Kalona weren’t coming to my store until after I gave out samples at the barn raising. Most of them patronize your bakery, Mary, and they grow their own vegetables. And as you say, Kalona is a small town, so I’m not sure I can keep that store open unless I win the contest.” He glanced across the console. “You do realize whoever wins will be written up in the newspaper and in the tourist brochure. That should boost sales.”
Mary’s back straightened against the seat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that about your business. I suppose more of the Plain come to my bakery, but you have a gut deli business, and your pastries taste wunderbaar.”
“Mary, my parents had said they left their community during their rumspringa, but I was shocked when Cyrus said my grandpa lay on the ground for hours while my dad fiddled around in town buying a bundle of shingles, which should have only taken a few minutes. That must have been why Dad pushed Jenny and me so hard.”
Mary turned her head so fast her kapp strings swung back and forth. “Nein, don’t blame your daed. He was young and didn’t know your grossdaddi had fallen. The older man shouldn’t have been on the roof by himself.”
“I know, but I can’t get that out of my head.” Noah’s voice choked on the words.
Mary cleared the lump clogging her throat. She’d blamed Noah for trying to ruin her business. Now she knew that wasn’t true.
The remainder of the trip was quiet as she watched the farmers in the field. Back in Kalona, Noah parked behind his store and picked up the heavy box from the SUV while Mary lifted the lighter one. She followed him in and set her carton on a shelf in the pantry.
Noah plunked his box on the floor in the back. “I have to take a couple of boxes down to Susan. Want to come along and carry one for me?”
“Sure. It shouldn’t take but a few minutes to walk to Susan’s restaurant.”
Noah held Lazy Susan’s front door open as Mary carried her box inside. She slowed her pace, and waited for Noah when Susan waved them over to the checkout counter.
As Noah’s six-foot, bigger-than-life presence strolled next to her, Mary tried to keep some space between them. She looked around to see if anyone had paid attention to them walking in together. Nein, it didn’t appear so. Everyone seemed to be talking or eating.
Was she leading Noah on by riding with him to Iowa City? There was an attraction between them, that was for sure and certain. But she could never leave her community. And Noah had made it clear he didn’t intend to join their Order.
Was this just two friends working together or something else entirely? Something that shouldn’t be...nein, that couldn’t be.
But her heart said something she didn’t want to hear.
* * *
Noah glanced at Mary, but she seemed deep in thought. Maybe she was worried about the contest. He stepped up to the checkout counter with his box of supplies. “Hi, Susan, where would you like these boxes?”
“Thank you, Noah, Mary,” Susan greeted them with a smile. “Just set them here on the counter, and I’ll have someone from the kitchen come and get them.”
Noah handed her the bill. Susan took it and waved her hand toward a table. “Why don’t you two take a seat? Order a sandwich and a piece of pie on the house while I write you a check.” She hurried from behind the counter and headed toward the office.
Noah gestured at a booth. “How about lunch?”
Mary glanced at the front door then back at him. “I’ll just have a piece of pie. I have things to do and need to get back to the store.” She slid into the closest booth, and Noah sat opposite her.
After the server set their water down and scooted away with their order, Noah leaned back and blew out a sigh. “It’s nice to sit and relax. You’re quiet, Mary.”
She ran her hand along the edge of the placemat. “Just have a lot on my mind. Making a recipe that’ll beat yours for the contest, and Sweet Delights is almost ready to open.” She kept her gaze lowered as she picked up her water glass and wiped the condensation off the bottom.
The server set their pie down and hurried away.
Somehow, he got the feeling Mary wasn’t telling him something. Was it just her baking she needed to get back to? He took a sip of water, but tension hung in the air between them like smoke rising off a bonfire.
“Noah, I need to be honest with you. I’m baptized and have joined our church. That means that my actions, if deemed inappropriate by the Gmay, could be disciplined. The bishop has warned me about spending too much time with you.”
He jerked and sloshed water from the glass he was holding. He set it on the coaster and flopped back against the seat. “Mary, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was such a problem, but we work together. This is only a temporary situation.”
He never should have asked her to come to such a public place with him. It wasn’t fair to put her in an awkward situation. What was he thinking? They were from different worlds. It was an impossible situation for both of them.
You’re a fool, Miller. Let her go.
* * *
Mary took a bite of pie, looked up and into the stare of Bishop Yoder approaching her table. Her fork dropped to her plate, and a piece of crust flopped onto the table.
The bishop approached and stood by her side. “Mary, could I have a few words with you?” His voice was low, but others at tables nearby looked their way.
Noah glanced at Mary. “I need to get back to the store. I’ll excuse myself, and you can sit in my place, Bishop.” He slid off the seat and headed toward Susan at checkout.
Bishop Yoder sat opposite Mary, taking Noah’s seat. He pushed Noah’s dishes off to the side and laid his clasped hands on the table in front of him. His face was solemn. “Mary, you have been baptized and joined the church. That means you have chosen to submit to the Ordnung and the Gmay.”
Mary gulped a ragged breath. “Bishop, I know, but I have done nothing wrong.”
He shook his head. “Do not allow this Englischer to co
urt you. He attended church, but other than that, he has given no indication that he wants to join our Order.”
“I work with Noah. We picked up supplies for our kitchen, and Susan asked us to bring back a few things for her.” Mary kept her attention on the pie, picking at it with her fork, except for a quick glance at the bishop’s face.
“Listen to me, Mary.” He tapped his hand softly on the edge of the table. “I think you have told yourself that. At your baptism, you promised to obey the regulations. Has that changed?”
A streak of pain tore through her and dropped to the pit of her stomach. “You’re right, Bishop. I have been letting my heart overrule my head and what I have professed with my lips. I will move out of Noah’s store next week. By then, Sweet Delights will be far enough along. I can work inside and get it ready to open.”
The bishop stood. “Jah, I don’t believe we will need to have this conversation again. I will let you finish your pie in peace and in prayer.”
What was she thinking? She should have kept her distance from Noah.
She’d only be at his store for a few more days. Tomorrow was Thursday and the day her first contest entry was due. She and Noah were competitors once again. This time she needed to keep her focus on the prize, otherwise Noah, or someone else, would win the $20,000.
Chapter Eighteen
Thursday morning, Mary hitched King at 4:00 a.m. and headed to Noah’s store.
Lord Gott, all that I do is to serve You. If I fail in any way, please lead my feet back on the right path so that my work glorifies Your name. I hope that my will is in line with Your will for me and Sweet Delights. But truly, Father, I don’t know what I’d do if I lost the bakery, but Your will be done.
She reached for the doorknob and noticed the light shining through the parted curtain. Noah was already here. He thought like her, the first entry might require repeat making until they turned out perfect.
The Amish Baker's Rival Page 14
