Chapter 9 #3
“Because he might run off.”
“He wouldn’t run away from me.”
“Malachi, the answer is nee .”
As they pulled away from the barn, both she and Malachi looked out the back of the buggy. Blue sat in the driveway, watching them leave. Phoebe had to admit the cat looked a little forlorn.
They arrived at the grocery store, which was a small building across from a fairly large Amish house. They pulled into the driveway and Karen guided the buggy to the designated parking spaces. As Phoebe helped Malachi jump out, he exclaimed, “What’s that?”
She turned to see a man wearing all white, including a helmet with a screen in front of it. He almost looked like a walking snowman. She’d never seen anything like it before.
“That’s Aden Troyer,” Karen said, waving at the man as he approached the house. He took off his helmet, his red hair sticking out at different angles, and waved back, then went inside.
“What’s he wearing that stuff for?” Malachi asked.
“He’s a beekeeper,” Karen said.
Malachi’s eyes grew big. “He has bees?”
“ Ya. And they make the most delicious honey.”
“Can I see the bees, Mamm ?”
Phoebe crouched low in front of him. “That’s not a good idea. You might get stung.”
“Not if I wear some of those white clothes.”
“Malachi, nee —”
“I don’t think Aden would mind showing him the bees. Besides, they probably won’t be doing much buzzing around since it’s so cold.” Karen smiled. “We can ask Sadie when we get inside. That’s Aden’s wife.”
Phoebe didn’t like the idea of Malachi being around bees, but if Karen thought it was safe, Phoebe would trust her judgment. Malachi bounded after Karen and they went inside the store, Phoebe close behind.
The inside of the store was surprisingly spacious with plenty of neatly organized shelves laden with food and supplies.
“There’s a pretty extensive tool section in the back,” Karen said.
“And over there,” she added, pointing to a separate section, “are items made by our very own Birch Creek residents. You’ll find Aden’s honey there—but not very much.
He has new hives now, and it takes time to produce.
Also, his brother’s beautiful birdhouses are for sale. ”
“I can see that.” She walked over to the display of finely made birdhouses.
She touched one of them. How she would have enjoyed having a couple of these in Aunt Bertha’s yard.
They would certainly draw in a variety of birds for her to sketch.
She hadn’t thought about her sketches since they got here.
She shifted her gaze from the birdhouses to some simple but perfectly made rag rugs.
“Those are Abigail’s, Sadie’s sister. She also works here. The baked goods were made by their younger sister, Joanna, who’s a good friend of mine. She used to work here until she married Andrew Beiler.”
Phoebe nodded politely, knowing she would never remember all the names. Why was Karen telling her this, anyway? She almost sounded as if she thought Phoebe would be staying for a long time. Well, Karen would find out soon enough that she wouldn’t.
She was about to leave the handmade goods section to start shopping when she spied a few jars of jam. She picked up a jar of apricot jam, which was her favorite. “Have you tried any of these?” she said, turning to Karen.
Karen’s cheeks pinked. “ Ya. ”
“What did you think?”
“Considering I made them, I think they’re all right.”
Phoebe grinned. “I’m sure they’re more than all right.”
“I don’t plan on making any more, though. I don’t really have time since I started working with the Millers.” Karen had mentioned her work for the bookbinding business as they finished preparing supper the night before.
“When can I see the bees?” Malachi piped up, clearly bored with the conversation.
“Malachi,” Phoebe said, putting the apricot jam back on the shelf. “Hush. Don’t be rude. We’re here to shop, not play.”
“I don’t want to play with the bees. I want to see them.”
“Here comes Sadie,” Karen said, gesturing to a slim Amish woman coming toward them. “We can ask her.”
Phoebe shook her head. “Karen, Malachi doesn’t need to see the bees. He’s fine with us in the store. Malachi, don’t touch that.”
Malachi withdrew his hand from one of the birdhouses.
“Hi, Karen.” Sadie smiled. “Sorry it took me so long. I was working back in the office, and Aden is out with the bees.”
“Sadie,” Karen said, “this is Phoebe and Malachi Bontrager. They’re here visiting Jalon.”
Sadie’s smile widened. “Nice to meet you both.”
“We stopped by to pick up some groceries. Leanna’s gone and there’s slim pickings in Jalon’s pantry.”
Sadie nodded and looked at Phoebe. “Let me know if I can help you find anything.”
“Can I see the bees?” Malachi asked.
Phoebe grimaced at him, then looked at Sadie. “I’m sorry. He saw yer husband outside in his beekeeping clothes and got excited.”
“That’s all right. A curious mind is a gut thing.” She bent down in front of him. “Have you ever seen a beehive before?”
“ Nee. ” Malachi grinned. “But I want to.”
She stood. “Why don’t you two do some shopping, and I’ll take Malachi to talk to Aden. He’s recently set up the hives and it might not be a good idea to disturb them. But I’ll let him decide.”
Phoebe was about to protest, but Malachi looked so excited, and Sadie seemed happy to take him. “ Danki . Malachi, you listen to Sadie and Aden, okay?”
“I will.”
After Sadie slipped on her coat, she and Malachi left and Karen brought over a small shopping cart. “We’ll start with the baking staples first.”
They shopped for a few minutes, then the bell above the door rang. Sadie walked inside without Malachi. “Aden saw us out there looking at the hives. Now he’s telling Malachi every little thing about bees. They’ll be out there for a while.”
Phoebe relaxed a little bit. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Sadie, but now that Aden was with him, he would make sure Malachi understood not to upset the bees. Malachi would learn something too.
Two English customers came through the door, and Sadie started toward them. “Let me know when you’re ready to check out,” she said to Karen and Phoebe.
“Will do,” Karen said.
When they finished shopping, Phoebe checked her selections and realized she didn’t have enough money to pay for what was in the cart. “I’ve got to put some back,” she whispered to Karen, annoyed that she hadn’t paid close attention to the prices.
“Why?”
“I can’t afford all of it.” She felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment.
“Don’t worry about it. Jalon’s got an account here. And before you say you can’t accept his generosity, trust me that he’d want you to get whatever you wanted. You and Malachi are his guests and he’d want you to be comfortable. Besides, you’re cooking for him.”
Phoebe nodded, knowing Karen was right but not feeling any better about being so dependent on Jalon. She had to figure out a way to pay him back.
They were heading to the front counter to check out when Malachi and Aden came into the store. “I saw the bees, Mamm !” Malachi bounced on his toes.
“You did?” She smiled, relieved he hadn’t been stung.
“Only a couple. Aden said they were hiber ... hiberan—”
“Hibernating,” Aden supplied.
“ Ya. And I got to taste some honeycomb too.”
“I had a jar in the kitchen at the haus ,” Aden explained. “There isn’t enough honeycomb in the hives yet.”
She looked at Aden. “I appreciate you taking the time to show him.”
“Glad to. It’s nice to show the hives to someone who’s actually interested.”
“I’m interested,” Sadie said, coming alongside him. She gave him a knowing look, then started for the counter to check out one of the other customers.
“You’re interested in the honey. And the money we make from the honey.”
She looked over her shoulder. “If it will make you feel any better, you can show me yer bees later.” She gave him a small grin before turning her head, then switched to English as she answered her English customer’s question about one of the items she was about to purchase.
“Can I come back sometime and see the bees again?” Malachi asked.
Aden nodded. “If it’s okay with yer mamm .”
“Maybe.” It was as close to the truth as she could muster. She didn’t like seeing the disappointed look on Malachi’s face, but he also couldn’t always get his way. And she couldn’t lie to him and say yes when in all likelihood they weren’t coming back.
“Wait a minute.” Karen took off for the back of the store.
Phoebe looked at Sadie, who shrugged, then started ringing up their groceries.
Karen returned with a box of wood blocks for children and put it on the counter. Phoebe started to protest, but Karen put her hand on her arm. “I want to buy these for Malachi,” she said quietly. “Please let me.”
Nodding, Phoebe watched as Sadie rang up the blocks, then handed them to Malachi. He looked up at Karen. “ Danki ,” he said softly, his eyes shining with gratitude.
After saying good-bye to the Troyers, Malachi was quiet on the way home, content to watch the passing landscape as they made their way back to Jalon’s.
Phoebe and Karen discussed the meals they planned to prepare for the next few days, even though Phoebe doubted either of them would be staying at Jalon’s house that long.
She knew when she and Malachi did leave she would miss Karen.
She’d never had a sister, and she and her childhood friends were no longer close.
It was nice to have another female her age to talk to.
Malachi sprang into action as soon as they pulled into the driveway. He started to run off when Phoebe called, “Malachi, you can play after you help us with the groceries.”
He stopped in his tracks, snow puffing up around his feet. She could see him battling within himself, deciding if he would mind her. Then he went to her, short arms outstretched.
With a smile she handed him the lightest grocery bag, pleased he was still taking Jalon’s words to heart. “Come on, Blue,” he said to the cat, who was rubbing his face against Malachi’s leg. The two of them headed toward the house.
Phoebe collected the rest of the bags, leaving Karen to put up Jalon’s horse and buggy. “I’ll be in soon to help you put the groceries away,” Karen said, then guided the horse to the barn.
When Phoebe walked inside the mudroom, Malachi was waiting at the door, holding Blue. “Can I geh play now?”
At her nod, he and Blue dashed out the door.
Phoebe set the groceries on the counter, then picked up the bag Malachi had set on the floor since he was too short to reach the counter.
She started to hum as she unpacked the groceries, tension escaping her shoulders.
Tonight they would have chicken cordon bleu, a recipe she found at the library a few years ago and had always wanted to try.
She was going by memory, but between her and Karen they could figure out the preparation details.
They would also have fresh cabbage and carrot salad, freshly baked bread, canned peaches, and for dessert, the rest of the Orange Bliss cake, which Phoebe was eager to try.
By the time she started grating carrots for the salad, she was able to smile a little. Jalon would eat well tonight. It wasn’t close to what she owed him, but for now it would have to be enough.