CHAPTER 7
I t didn’t happen all that often, but his sister Kelsey and her husband Richard came over for supper. His grandparents’ sweet neighbor Patti—who also just happened to be Jonny’s brother’s girlfriend—joined them. As well as Martin. He’d driven down earlier, spent most of the day with Patti and then had appeared at his grandparents’ doorstep an hour before supper.
Jonny had no idea all four of them were going to be joining them.
He’d had been so irritated about the way Treva’s visit had gone, he’d taken a long bike ride, then had elected to make up the time lost by working on three more solar chargers to sell.
He’d been surprised to discover his sister and his brother there—and dismayed that everyone had been sipping coffee and catching up while they’d waited for him.
Though his grandparents hadn’t said a word about his late appearance, both Kelsey and Martin had shot daggers at him. If they’d been alone, he would’ve said something about that.
He was pretty sure that if they’d been alone, they would’ve said something, too.
Deciding that silence was golden and that absence made the heart grow fonder, Jonny had rushed upstairs. Sure, he was clinging to clichés like they were actual words of wisdom, but he would take what he could get. He needed as much help as he could glean in order to make it through the next couple of hours.
By the time he’d taken a hot shower, put on fresh clothes, and stridden back downstairs, everyone was bringing serving platters to the table. He’d arrived in time to retrieve the last one from the kitchen counter.
“I’m sorry I got home so late, Mommi,” he said, as he paused next to the island where she was standing. “I didn’t remember you telling me that everyone was coming over for supper.”
As always, his grandmother’s grace and goodness shone in her eyes. Placing a palm on his cheek, she said, “You didn’t remember because I didn’t tell you. Our gathering came together this morning. Patti had come over, then Kelsey did, too. Next thing I knew, we were planning dishes.”
“I see.” Not really, though. The bicycle shop was only a fifteen-minute walk away. Plus, he had a phone and his grandparents were New Order. There was a phone in the kitchen. No one had felt the need to give him a heads-up?
As if she were reading his mind, his grandmother added, “Kelsey offered to tell you, but I told her not to worry because I had time to give you a call.” She chuckled. “And then I promptly forgot about that promise.”
“So you’re not mad?”
“There’s nothing to be mad about, Jonny. Don’t fret so much. There’s nothing to do about the past, anyway.”
Like always, his sweet grandmother’s voice and kind manner soothed him like few things did. He loved her kindness and loved how she continually made him want to be like her. Centered and forgiving.
“I told the girls you’ve been mighty busy at work, Jonny,” their grandmother said, after they’d bent their heads for silent prayer.
“I have been.”
Kelsey cleared her throat. “And busy doing other things, too.”
Hearing something pointed in her tone, he felt himself go on guard as he took some broccoli, then passed the platter to the next person. “Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Well, I heard you’ve gotten to know Treva Kramer.”
“I have.” He glanced at Patti to see if she could give him a clue about where his sister was steering the conversation.
Unfortunately, she was busy putting spoonfuls of mashed potatoes onto her plate.
“Pass the gravy, Jonny,” Martin said.
Feeling as if Martin knew exactly as to what Kelsey was referring, he said, “Hold on. I’ll pass it in a second. As soon as I get the potatoes.” After Kelsey sent them his way, he helped himself to both the potatoes and a small amount of gravy before passing them on.
“I also heard she visited you today.”
It took a second for him to realize Kelsey was still talking about Treva. “Who did you hear that from?”
“It doesn’t matter. Pass the rolls, Patti.”
“Here ya go,” Patti said.
“So, how was the visit?” Martin asked.
“Fine.” Of course, that was a lie. Treva’s visit hadn’t gone well at all.
“What did you two do?” Kelsey asked.
“What does it matter?” he snapped.
“Why do you not want to talk about her visit, Jonny?” Mommi asked.
Making sure to temper his tone of voice, he turned to her. “It’s not that I don’t, it’s more a matter of trying to fill my dinner plate.”
Dawdi raised his eyebrows. “You have a bit of everything there is, son. Do you need more?”
“Of course not. I’m sorry.” Even though the food was beckoning him with tantalizing smells, he ignored it and answered, “I just don’t understand why Treva’s visit to the bicycle shop is interesting.” To the entire family.
“We heard you two have become friends,” Richard murmured.
Glancing at his brother-in-law, Jonny noticed that he was looking apologetic. It was obvious that he felt sorry for Jonny’s hot seat but wasn’t going to go against his brand-new wife.
Jonny reckoned he would do the same thing.
Knowing that he was never going to be able to eat in peace until he gave his family the information they wanted, he said grudgingly, “I have gotten to know Treva, but I’ve gotten to know a lot of people. Treva owns a coffee shop, and I sometimes get coffee there in the morning.”
“Did she ride her bicycle there?” Dawdi asked.
Jonny took the time to put a chicken leg on his plate. “She did,” he said. “I’m not sure why any of this is notable, though.”
“She got a flat tire on the way home,” Patti said.
“Oh no. Is she okay?”
“I think she has a couple of scrapes, but she’s good. Or so I heard.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Tomorrow morning he’d go see her and check out her injuries himself. And maybe try again to encourage her to get a new bike?
“Why didn’t you check her tires, Jonny?” Dawdi asked.
“I did, even though she didn’t ask me to.”
“And?”
He was getting frustrated, but he really wasn’t sure why. “And . . . and I told her that her bicycle was old and needed to be replaced. Or, at the very least, repaired and taken better care of.”
“Uh oh,” Patti murmured.
“She didn’t like hearing my opinion, but I wasn’t being mean. I was speaking the truth.” Finally getting enough food to fill up his plate, he picked up his fork. “She ignored my suggestions.”
“So you let Treva leave?” Kelsey asked.
She sounded scandalized, which was ridiculous. “Uh, yeah. She’s not a child. Of course I let her leave.”
Mommi cleared her throat. “Jonny, dear. I canna help but think that you could’ve handled things better with her.”
“I agree.” Glad he had his ball cap off, he dragged a hand through his hair. “But we, ah, had a disagreement. It’s not my fault that I’m human.”
“Mmph.”
Feeling like everyone at the table was giving him grief for a relatively minor fault, he said, “Next time I see Treva, I’ll apologize. May we not discuss her visit to my shop anymore?”
Martin sat up a little straighter. “All right. How about this . . . Want to explain why you now seem to have some new, cozy relationship with Dad?” Martin said.
No way did he want to talk about their father. “No.”
“Jonny,” Dawdi murmured under his breath.
Things were going from bad to worse. “You’re my brother, Martin. But that doesn’t mean you get to start deciding how I deal with our parents.” Or corner him in the middle of a meal to discuss them!
“I think it does, because Dad said the two of you are going to be talking a lot more often.”
Why couldn’t their father have kept his mouth shut? Immediately, shame coursed through him. That wasn’t fair, and it was selfish of him to only be thinking of himself.
How was he ever going to be Amish if he was only thinking about himself?
As the silence continued, second by excruciatingly slow second, their grandmother entered into the fray.
“If Matt is reaching out to Jonny, that’s gut , don’t you think? We are all family.”
“ Jah , Mommi,” Kelsey said in a small voice.
And, for once, Martin looked contrite. “You’re right, Mommi. I . . . I don’t know why I brought it up. It just took me by surprise. Sorry, Jonny. I didn’t know you two were getting along so well.”
There was that pinch of shame all over again. The only reason they were getting along was because he needed to stay on their father’s insurance.
But because he’d promised himself not to tell Martin, Kelsey, or Beth about the doctor’s words, Jonny couldn’t completely explain himself. “I don’t have to give you a report about who I talk to.”
Martin blinked. “You’re right. I’m sorry,” he said again.
“Jonny was right,” Dawdi muttered. “This ain’t the place to discuss it.”
“I understand,” Martin said while Jonny said essentially the same thing.
As silence descended upon the table at long last, Jonny concentrated on his meal.
But it now tasted like cardboard.
Boy, when was life ever going to get easier? He really thought he would have had a handle on himself by now.
Instead, he was just as confused as ever.