CHAPTER 26
A s she carefully walked down the path from her home’s front door to the café, Treva took time to pray. She gave thanks for the fact that she wouldn’t need surgery. She gave thanks for the many notes, bouquets of flowers, and sweet cards her friends, extended family, and customers had sent—each one wishing her well and a speedy recovery.
She prayed for her parents and Aunt Ruth and the nurses and the home care provider who had taken care of her so well over the last three days.
But most of all, she asked the Lord to help her be thankful for her well-intentioned mother, aunt, and father. Instead of closing the café for a couple of days, they’d elected to take over. Her aunt had baked, her mother had manned the espresso machine, and her father had taken over orders and payments.
To her surprise, they’d never complained about the additional work. If anything, the three of them seemed delighted to be more involved. Her father had even shushed her the other evening when she’d dared to suggest that he didn’t need to be on his feet all day long.
From what her friends had whispered when they’d visited, the three of them had done a good job, too. The coffee drinks were almost as good as Treva’s, and the banter between the three of them was entertaining. When she’d reviewed the receipts for each day, she’d been pleasantly surprised to see that the sales had been steady.
If she hadn’t been so grateful, she might have even been a little bit jealous of how well things were going. There had been more than a moment when she’d liked to believe that she was irreplaceable.
Besides, how could she cling to such a thing when her family had dropped everything in order to step into the rigors of the café? Over and over, Treva reminded herself that this café had been her dream, not theirs. She was thankful for them, too.
They were the best.
But now, as she stood at the entrance, listening to the three of them argue and fuss and take altogether too long to do anything, Treva knew that it was time to step in. Otherwise, the novelty of their antics was going to wear off fast.
As their voices rose, she winced. Maybe it already had.
“Hello!” she called out, deciding to make a grand entrance on the off chance that someone had spied her lurking just outside the door.
“Treva, you’re back!”
“ Jah .” She grinned.
“It’s so gut to see ya,” Mary Borntrager said from her spot in line. “We were told you wouldn’t be here for several more days.”
She held up her arm, which was covered in a jaunty-looking purple cast. “I might not be able to do all the tasks, but I can definitely help out.” Noticing the dirty countertops, filled with stains from the coffee grounds, foaming milk, and who knew what else, she grew alarmed. If someone from the county came to inspect her establishment, they were not going to be impressed. She was certainly not going to be happy when she was given a fine.
She’d arrived in the nick of time.
Slipping into the side entrance to the counter area, she grabbed the first green apron she saw and placed it over her head.
All three members of her family were gaping at her.
“You should not be here, daughter,” her daed said. “You should be at home. Resting.”
“I have rested. I’ve rested a lot. But now that my arm is safe and sound in its cast, I can be here. Tie the sash, wouldja please?”
Her father didn’t move. “Daughter—”
“We have a lot of customers and the counters are a mess,” she said under her breath. “Please don’t make a scene.” As in any more of a scene.
“Fine.”
Though he tied the sash, she knew he was frowning. “ Danke , Daed.” Joining the three of them behind the counter, she scanned the area, mentally debating where she could do the most good.
“We had everything handled, Treva,” her mamm said, as she began to make a mocha coffee.
Ach. Her mother’s feelings were hurt. “I know you all are doing a gut job, but I can’t stay away.” Picking up a clean dish towel and a fresh sponge, she set them on the counter and began making everything spic-and-span again. “Ah, that looks mighty nice, Mamm.”
The line between her mother’s eyebrows eased. “Not as nice as yours, but I’m trying my best.”
“That’s all that matters, ain’t so?” Treva murmured with a wink.
Looking even more relaxed, her mother grinned. “Indeed.”
Treva might have been imagining things, but the atmosphere in her little café seemed to lighten a bit. Her father began taking orders more efficiently, her aunt treated the baked goods with more care, and her mother talked less and worked the machine more.
She did her part by praising everyone, washing spoons, plates, and cups with one hand, continually cleaning the countertops, and greeting almost everyone by name.
In doing all that, her spirits lifted.
Until Jonny walked inside with his father and another woman. The moment he saw her cast, his expression tightened. The strange woman patted his shoulder and whispered something to him.
When he smiled at the woman and murmured something in return, Treva felt a burst of jealousy. It was as unwelcome as it was a surprise.
“Oh, look who’s here. Your beau, Treva!” Aunt Ruth said excitedly. She’d also spoken loud enough to be heard over the steamer on the machine. “And isn’t Jonny Schrock looking mighty handsome today?”
Two customers next to the counter turned to stare.
Treva was sure her face was beet red. “Shh, Ruth.”
Ruth turned to her. “I couldn’t hear ya, sweetie. What did you say?”
“She said to hush about Jonny’s good looks,” her daed said. “Treva don’t want you commenting on her beau in front of all these people.”
“All I was saying was that he looks handsome. Don’t you think so, Emma?”
Her mother turned around. “Who?”
“Treva’s beau. Jonny. Jonny Schrock.”
She stopped looking at the milk frother and craned her neck. “Jonny’s here? Where?”
“In my line,” her daed said. “Get busy and make that drink, Emma.”
When Jonny’s father winked at her, obviously amused by her family’s antics, Treva wished she could melt into the floor. She’d been embarrassed before, but this was a whole new level.
Worse, there wasn’t a single thing she could do to make things better. She was stuck, and if she did try to get them to stop, everyone would know exactly what she was doing.
Including Jonny.
The pair of college-aged girls at the counter giggled and shot her a sympathetic look.
Yes. Her humiliation was now complete.
Right then and there, she knew there was only one thing to do. Pretend she wasn’t mortified at all.
“I’ll be right back,” she told her father, as she tossed down the dishcloth she was holding and headed toward the line.
Jonny watched her every move.
She couldn’t exactly discern his expression, but it sure seemed like a combination of worry and wariness.
“I was hoping to see you here, but I didn’t think you’d be working,” Jonny said.
“I’m not working very hard. I just arrived.” Smiling at the woman, she said, “Hello. I’m Treva.”
“I’m Kennedy. I’m very pleased to meet you. Jonny told Matt and me about your café last night.”
“He did?”
“Kennedy came in town last night to see Daed,” Jonny explained.
“Oh!” Finally, it made sense. Kennedy might be a bit younger than his father, but she was definitely seeing him and not Jonny. That was such good news.
Jonny’s father held out a hand. “Good to see you again, Treva. I hope you’re feeling better?”
“I am, thank you. In no time, it’ll be good again.”
“And no surgery?”
She shook her head. “Nope, and I’m so glad about that. I’ll only have to have on this cast for a month, and then I’ll hopefully be as good as new.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Trev,” Jonny said. “I’ve been worried about you.”
“I know, but there’s no need for you to do that.” As they moved up in line, she turned to Kennedy. “Have you been to Holmes County before?”
“I haven’t.”
“I trust you are enjoying yourself?”
“I really am.” Looking at Matt fondly, she added, “The first place he took me was an Amish farm.”
It was a popular tourist spot. “And what did you think?”
“She likes the lambs,” Matt said.
“There were lots of them, and each one was cuter than the next,” Kennedy said excitedly. “They must have had six or eight.”
“Or a dozen,” Matt added under his breath.
“They were so cute and sweet. I even got to pet them.”
Jonny smiled. “I don’t know anyone who can resist the sight of a baby lamb.”
Treva agreed. “Did you see any other animals?”
Kennedy’s smile grew. “Baby pigs, a bunch of bunnies, and some tiny goats.”
“You’re making it sound so fun,” Jonny said. “I should go back again. I haven’t gone there since I was a little boy.”
“When did you go?” Matt asked Jonny.
“When we all stayed with Mommi and Dawdi for the summer. Visiting there was always a highlight.” His eyes lit up. “Beth loved seeing the baby animals. Have you gone there lately, Treva?” Jonny asked.
“You know what? I haven’t been there in years. I’d love to visit soon.”
“How about I take you later this week?”
“Well, I don’t know. I’ve already missed so much work.”
Jonny glanced over at her parents, who were currently bantering with each other, her aunt, and three of the customers. “I hate to break it to you, but your parents are having a grand time.”
“They are, and despite a few hiccups, they’re doing a good job, too.” They deserved her honesty, even if that meant coming to terms with the fact that she wasn’t indispensable.
“If you don’t mind me giving my two cents, I think you ought to look at the silver lining for a spell,” Matt said. “Before you know it, you’ll have that cast off and be working all the time.”
“He’s right,” Kennedy said. “A career is not a life.” After a pause, she added, “Besides, just because you give yourself some time off doesn’t mean that you can’t be here either before or after your excursion.”
“Looks like everyone is trying to wear you down, Treva,” a lady in front of them said.
“I think it’s working, too.”
Jonny’s expression brightened. “Does that mean you say yes?”
“ Jah .” Looking into his eyes, she realized that he made her feel good and special. Like she was worth his time and his attention. It was so different from the way Reuben had treated her, it was almost laughable.
“Treva, we’ve got a problem!” her father called out.
“Uh-oh. I’d better go see what he needs. See you in a minute.” Aware that the people in line were all watching her join her daed , she made sure to keep her voice low when she got to his side. “What’s wrong?”
“We need more ones and fives, dear. Do you need to go to the bank?”
“Uh, nee . I keep some money in a safe in the back. I’ll be right back.”
As she walked into the back room, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. There she was. Cranberry-colored dress, white kapp , same brown hair, and her striking green eyes.
New purple cast on her left arm.
But there was something new in her expression. It was hope and excitement . . . Two things that had nothing to do with the café, either. Instead, they were all because of the addition of Jonny in her life . . . and the fact that she wasn’t exhausted and trying to do everything herself.
Remembering something Kennedy had told her in line—that a career is not a life—she realized that she was exactly right. She enjoyed her job and was proud of its success. But it wasn’t all she was or all she hoped to be.
Ironically, when she’d finally given up control, she’d realized that she had everything she’d been praying for.
“Danke, Gott,” she said. “Thank you for looking out for me by not giving me everything I was asking for. Thank you so much.”
Her door opened. “Where’s the money?” Aunt Ruth asked. “Your father needs some change, badly.”
“Oh, sorry.” She bent down, punched in the code in the safe, then pulled out two envelopes. “Here you go.”
Watching her aunt disappear once again, Treva followed at a much slower pace.
There was no reason to hurry.