CHAPTER 19
N ow that it was nearing the end of September the air was a little crisper and there was more than a hint of fall in the air. The sycamore, elm, and maple trees’ red, orange, and gold leaves decorated the streets, and lots of English-owned houses were decorated with silly Halloween decorations or quaint-looking cornstalks and pumpkins. Treva loved every bit of it.
Those bright colors, together with the vivid blue sky, made for a string of beautiful days. Almost every customer had walked into the Trailside Café with smiles on their faces. While she made their pumpkin spice and caramel lattes, they told her all about how happy they were to be out walking and biking. It was a blessing to be able to enjoy the season.
Treva had started to get jealous.
When Jonny had come into the shop, his conversation filled with even more details about the glorious day outside, she couldn’t take it anymore.
In a moment of weakness, she’d told him that she was jealous.
Which meant her aunt and mother had encouraged her to take a day off . . . and Jonny had encouraged her to finally take him up on his offer of going on a bike ride.
She wouldn’t dare admit it, but she was scared. The bike was bigger than her old one at home and about a hundred times more powerful. Even though she knew deep down that she was in control—Jonny had painstakingly shown her how to work all the knobs and gadgets—at the moment she felt like a passenger on the proverbial freight train. All she could do was hang on and pray.
“You’re doing so well, Treva,” Jonny called out. “Are you having fun?”
“Kind of.” It was more like “not really,” but she was going to be very happy when the bike ride was over.
“Don’t worry, Treva. Before you know it, you’ll want to speed down all the hills and valleys of Walden.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
Jonny’s laughing response grated on her. Not because she thought he was making fun of her, but that she was pretty sure he truly had no idea how nervous she was to be pedaling next to him on the bike trail.
“How far do you want to go?”
“I don’t know. A couple of miles? Watch out up here, there’s a stick in the road.”
Sticks? “Should I go around it?”
“You could, or just take it slow and go over. You’ve got good wheels, yeah?”
“Yeah.” She was mumbling and she didn’t even care. Spying the stick, which looked more like a dangerous obstacle, Treva gripped her handlebars more firmly.
And then blip-blip !
She was over the stupid stick.
“Treva, be careful now,” Jonny warned. “There’s no need to go so fast. We’re just going out for an easy ride, yeah?”
Now he told her that? From the moment they’d set off, he’d ridden at a steady pace, dodging walkers and joggers with ease. She’d started sweating within the first ten minutes.
“I’m doing the best I can,” she called out. To his back. They’d started out side by side, but he’d moved in front of her when the path narrowed. She hated that. Now she not only was a ball of nerves, but she also was starting to feel like a kid following a parent or older sibling. Trying hard to keep up but not quite succeeding.
As if Jonny could read her mind, his voice gentled. “I know you’re doing your best. You’re doing real well, too.”
“Not really.” Plus, it wasn’t like he could keep an eye on her from his position up ahead. He had no idea the stress she’d been feeling.
After another five minutes, he said, “Listen, there’s a bench coming up in about twenty feet. Let’s stop and take a break.”
When she pulled to a stop where he’d designated, Jonny was already off his bike and stretching his arms. He had a big smile on his face and looked relaxed and carefree. She supposed he was.
It was too bad that she wasn’t sharing even a tenth of those warm and fuzzy feelings.
“Hey!” he called out as he strode to her side. Even though she didn’t need his help, he steadied the bike so she could get off and pulled down the kickstand. “What do you think?”
She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but to say she was having a great time seemed like an outright lie. “I think I’m getting the hang of things.”
He studied her face. “Oh no. You’re miserable, aren’t you?”
“ Nee .” Miserable was being home with strep throat. This? It was more along the lines of having a runny nose and cough one couldn’t shake. Unpleasant but not horrible.
His usually crystal-clear blue eyes clouded. “Treva, you can be honest.”
“Well, then I honestly have been a little bit afraid and nervous but not miserable.”
“What would you like to do? Do you want to turn back?”
Suddenly she felt like a failure. And a spoilsport. Definitely selfish. Thinking of how excited Jonny had been for this outing, she knew she needed to give it another go. Bicycles were a big part of his life. What would she do if he hated coffee?
She needed to learn to enjoy bike riding. At least a little bit. “I don’t want to turn around,” she replied. “We can keep going.”
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t want this to be our date, Jonny.” Just as important, she wanted to know that she gave electric bicycle riding a good try. The bike shop was Jonny’s job. No, it was important to him. If they were destined to have a future together, then she was going to need to learn to enjoy riding these bikes.
Or at the very least, not hate it.
He reached for her hand, gently ran his thumb over her knuckles. “We can do something else,” he murmured.
If he wasn’t Jonny, Treva would’ve wondered if he was hinting that they could be doing something far more intimate than riding bicycles together.
But she trusted him. He was simply being sweet. Once again, her heart melted a little bit more for him. The fact of the matter was that Jonny Schrock really was rather incredible. He was night and day from Reuben and an incredible combination of English worldliness and Plain sensibilities. He also was sweet to her and accepted her for how she was.
If he could accept all of her, she knew she could try harder to be the girlfriend he wanted in life.
“There’s no need to make different plans. I want to continue.”
He was still holding her hand. Looking down at their linked fingers, he said, “You sure?”
“Yes, Jonny. Positive.”
His smile turned boyish again. “Okay, then. Let’s go another three miles. There’s a pretty path that leads to a creek and . . . if we’re lucky, we might even catch the gal who has an ice cream truck. I’ll buy you a cone.”
His plans really did sound adorable. “I can’t think of a better way to spend our afternoon. Let’s go.”
Leaning closer, Jonny lightly brushed his lips against hers. So quickly, she didn’t even have time to respond.
Except to smile up at him—and be so very glad she hadn’t given in to her fears and asked him to stop.
Far too soon, they were on their bicycles again, Jonny in the lead. Treva did feel a little bit more assured, though. Even when a family coming from the other direction passed, their young children weaving slightly and not paying a bit of attention to who else was in the vicinity.
She even kept her balance and her cool when a trio of bicycle racers sped by. They hadn’t announced themselves except to ring the bells on their bikes. She thought that was kind of rude.
“The stop is up ahead, Treva!” Jonny called out. “Just after the dip.”
“Okay!” she replied. Smiling at the thought of walking next to him at the creek. And yes, sitting on the grass eating an ice cream cone . . . or maybe sharing a real kiss. One where she wasn’t caught off guard.
Yep, she’d almost made it.
And she had . . . until a young deer ran out onto the path.
Handlebars wobbling, she braked hard. But it was too forceful and too fast. Next thing Treva knew, she’d lost her balance and fallen to the ground. The bike hit the pavement hard, sending a shrill ting into the air.
She might have imagined the snap she’d heard in her left arm. But the pain that followed told her a different story.
She was in trouble.
And that was the last thing she thought about before she passed out in a dead faint.