Chapter 32
Though the sun was still hanging low in the sky, it was too late to be receiving a caller. Kyle wondered if something had happened with either Aaron or Bethany.
When he realized that it was Ben Lapp in the vehicle and that he was looking straight at him, Kyle wondered if that impulsive hug had been taken wrong and that Daisy’s brother was about to give him an earful.
Did he deserve it? Maybe.
“You here to see me?” he asked after Ben got out of his SUV and started walking toward him.
“I am.”
“Would you care to sit outside or in?”
“In, if you don’t mind. I’m pretty sure I spied Mervin watching me from his window. If he sees us out here together, he might decide to mosey over for some conversation.”
“Good point. Well, come on, then.” He looked over his shoulder as he walked inside. “It’s warm, though.”
And it was. Unlike the main house, the former owners hadn’t built a basement for the dawdi haus.
At the end of summer, the heat seemed to have given up the fight and warmed up the house.
Luckily, he had a propane-powered air conditioning unit that he plugged in for a few hours every night.
Otherwise, Kyle didn’t think he’d ever be able to handle the warmth.
“It’s a warm one, for sure.”
“I’m surprised that you don’t have an apartment in town. You could be living with all the advantages.”
Ben shrugged. “I’d be cooler, that’s true. But air conditioning and television ain’t the only advantages in life. I tried it for a spell, but I ended up moving home. The bills were expensive and, well, I got lonely for my family.”
“I can see that. I miss my sister and parents something awful.”
“I like that we have that in common.”
“Parents or a sister that we feel protective over?” he joshed.
His words seemed to relax Ben a bit. “So you know why I’m here.”
“I’m guessing that it involves Daisy, but no. I don’t know why you’re here.”
“After Daisy got to the table, my parents had a lot to say about your relationship with her.”
“Listen, I’ll agree that I maybe shouldn’t have given her a hug, but that’s all it was.”
“Daisy knew that. Lukas and I did, too.” He rolled his eyes. “Honestly, I think my parents knew it, too.”
“Then … what’s the problem?”
“They cautioned Daisy against you because they’re certain you’re about to propose to Winter.”
“Winter Walker?”
“I think we both could agree that we only know of one woman named after a season.”
“True.”
“Is it also true that you’re in love with the woman?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but jah. I am very sure.”
Ben propped one foot on the opposite knee. “I also happened to learn that her parents are willing to include farmland with her hand.”
Kyle almost choked. “Nothing has been said about that.”
“Are you sure?”
“Winter said something, but I’m learning that she says a lot of things that she might not mean.”
“You know that she didn’t treat Daisy well in school. She turned a lot of the kids away from her. I’d like to say she’s gotten better with age, but that would be a lie.”
“Ben, I don’t know what that has to do with Daisy.”
“Well, Kyle, my father knows you would love a farm of your own, and so he told my sister that she could never compete with that.”
“What?”
“Worse, she believed him,” he added as he stood up and began to pace.
“You know, I always wondered why my sister has always carried a bit of insecurity about her when she’s with her peers.
But now I know the reason.” Turning back to face Kyle, he continued.
“It’s now obvious that that is the kind of nonsense our father has been telling her.
” His voice turned strained. “That … that she would never be more special to a man than a piece of farmland.”
He was shocked. “That was cruel of him to say.”
“Is it wrong, though?”
“Of course it is. What kind of man do you think I am?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Well, I may not be perfect, but I can tell you that I’m not the kind of man to use a woman in order to grab a piece of land.”
“I didn’t think you were.”
“Really?” Kyle wasn’t sure if he believed him. Otherwise, why would he have shown up and asked him such things?
“Listen, no matter how much Daisy might have denied it, I know she’s sweet on you. I can see it in her eyes. In the way she watches you whenever you are near. Plus, I’ve watched the two of you together. There’s something between you two.”
“I’ve never taken advantage of her.”
“No, you might not have kissed her and told her a mess of sweet things, but it’s obvious that she means something to you.”
“She does.” But he’d never come out and said that.
Ben’s expression became even more strained.
“Kyle, I realize that I’m not going about this the right way.
If there ever was a right way. But, I just wanted to tell you that if you are falling in love with Winter …
or, if you aren’t falling in love with her, but are enjoying the idea of one day running the Walkers’ farm …
then you need to step away from Daisy. Don’t let her get her hopes up anymore than they already are. ”
He took a breath. “But, if you do feel something for Daisy, please let her know. And make sure you use the sweet words she needs.”
Kyle raised his eyebrows. “Sweet words?”
“Yeah, obviously it’s good that I’m not dating anyone right now. I don’t know how to be a good boyfriend.” He lowered his voice. “I do know how to be a good brother to my sister, though. I’ll say whatever I need to. No, I’ll do whatever I need to do in order to protect her. Do you understand?”
Ben’s expression was hard. Kyle reckoned he was attempting to scare some sense into him—or maybe he simply wanted him to step up. But whatever the reason, the guy had done a good job, and he respected that.
“Jah. Sure. I understand.”
“Good.” He turned around and walked out the door. Kyle watched him stride to his vehicle, get in, and drive away.
Then, as he sat in the old dawdi haus, he watched the sun fade into the night and he thought about his future. It was time. He knew who he needed in it. Someone bright and vibrant … but who also was a little bit unsure.
The rest of the world might think of Daisy Lapp as tough and independent. He knew better. She had a tender heart that needed protecting and he was the man for that.