Chapter 26
26
Lois had three customers in line to check out when the door buzzed again. Evelyn was still at the market, filling in for Casey. Hopefully she’d return soon. Lois stepped to the right a little and said, “Willkumm.” She froze.
Somehow she managed to force a smile and chirped, “I’ll be with you soon.” She quickly rang up the first customer, placed the items in the bag, and then ran the woman’s credit card as she asked, “Have you been out to the market?”
“Not yet,” the woman said. “We’re headed there next.”
“Make sure and try one of the sticky buns from the food carts. They’re a true Amish experience.”
The woman smiled. “Thank you. I’ll do that.”
“The coffee is really good too.”
Lois also chatted with the next two people in line as she checked them out, doing her best to keep her normal pace and give the customers a pleasant experience. Then she took a deep breath and said, “Bishop Stephen, hallo.” She exhaled. “Randy. Nathan. How can I help you?”
All three had their hats in their hands. Randy appeared annoyed, but Nathan smiled. Creepily. Closer to a sneer.
“We’re here on serious business,” Bishop Stephen said.
Randy stepped forward. “ Schvesta , you haven’t answered my letters.”
“Jah.”
“Why not?”
She shrugged. She figured the less she said the better.
“Lois, you misunderstood me before you left Big Valley,” Nathan said. “You overreacted.”
She took a step backward.
Bishop Stephen stepped forward. “John said the two of you aren’t courting any longer.”
Lois nodded.
Bishop Stephen cleared his throat. “We’ve come because it’s time you move home to Big Valley.”
Lois couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “It’s not home.”
“Your brother and his family are there. And you’ve had a perfectly valid marriage proposal.”
Lois crossed her arms.
“I’ve spent the last two hours speaking with your brother and Nathan. Both have spent months in prayer for you and want the best for you. You’ll be well cared for in Big Valley.”
Lois let her arms drop to her sides and squared her shoulders. Then she mounted her stool behind the counter. It didn’t make her as tall as any of the men, but it gave her more confidence. “I appreciate your concern for me, but I have a job here and a home. I have a bank account and support. I have a church. Even though I don’t live with a family here, I am accountable to others. I am not on my own.” Jah, she could use more friends, but she wasn’t without help.
“You need to be under the authority of a man,” Randy said. “Either me or a husband. Nathan is your only option.”
Lois wanted to put her finger to her open mouth and gag, but she knew that wouldn’t do any good. “If you remember,” she said slowly, “I courted Nathan. We’re not compatible.”
“Nonsense,” Randy said.
Nathan’s eyes grew darker. “You’re right that we weren’t a good match—you were far too headstrong. But I’m guessing you’ve grown up some since then. I’d hope so at twenty-five....”
The back door opened and closed.
“Headstrong? Because I protested you beating your sixteen-year-old son for arriving home fifteen minutes late because the car he was riding in had a flat tire?”
Bishop Stephen turned toward Nathan, his eyes wide.
“You challenged and disrespected—” Nathan stopped talking as he stared toward the hallway.
Lois shifted her gaze in that direction.
“What’s going on here?” Moses towered over all three of the men.
Lois stayed on the stool and kept quiet.
Randy stepped forward, his hand extended. “I’m Lois’s brother, Randy Yoder. I’ve come to take her home.”
Moses shook his hand and then turned toward Nathan, taking his. “And who are you?” Was he squeezing Nathan’s hand?
“Nathan.”
Moses calmly said, “Pleased to meet you,” as he finally let go of Nathan’s hand. Then he turned to Lois, his back blocking the view of the other men, and mouthed, Are you okay?
She shook her head as subtly as she could. He turned back to the men. “Lois just signed a lease on her apartment and a contract for her job, each for a year. I need to hold her accountable to both.”
“Nonsense,” Nathan said. “You can’t do that.”
“Business is business.” Moses shrugged. “Besides, I have some information I’ve been meaning to share with Bishop Stephen.” He nodded toward the front door. “Do you mind?”
Bishop Stephen glanced at Randy, who said, “Go ahead.”
For the first time since Moses bought the shop, Lois didn’t want him to leave, not even to step outside for a few minutes. She needed a friend at the moment, and Moses was the only one available.
But he led the way and Bishop Stephen followed.
Lois quickly filled the silence. “How is Deanna doing? How are the kids?” She called them all kids, even though the boys were just younger than she was.
“ Gut ,” Randy said. “The kids, the girls especially, miss you.”
“So do my children.” Nathan twirled his hat in his hands. “All of them. They need a mother.”
Lois was hardly mother material for his older children. The boy who had been sixteen when she fled Randy’s home would be eighteen now. She hoped he’d left his father’s house.
The front door opened and Moses walked back into the shop. Bishop Stephen held the door and said, “Randy, I’m no longer convinced we need to make a decision about this today. We can talk about it in the buggy. Let’s go.”
Randy opened his mouth and then closed it. Nathan’s eyes narrowed as he glanced from Bishop Stephen to Lois to Moses and then glared at her. She crossed her arms again, waved her fingers, and stayed on the stool. “Please tell Deanna and the children hello,” she called out. She wanted to say she missed them, but it felt insincere. Jah, she missed them, but she didn’t miss Big Valley.
Randy grunted something—Lois couldn’t tell if it was affirmative or negative. Then the three visitors walked out the door.
When it clicked shut, Moses stepped to the counter. “Are you all right?”
“Jah.” She climbed down from her stool but her legs were shaking a little, and she stumbled.
Moses reached over the counter and grasped her arm, steadying her.
“Denki.” She leaned against the counter. “What did you say to Bishop Stephen?”
“That I, from the talk among the Youngie, believed you’d be courting someone else soon.”
Lois wasn’t sure whether to be offended or grateful. She wished she hadn’t needed Moses Lantz to rescue her, but she had. What he’d said worked. They had left. At least for now.
But no doubt they’d return when it became obvious no one, in fact, did want to court her.
Regardless, Moses had gone out of his way to help her. “Denki,” she said. “And I mean that sincerely.”
Monday morning, Lois hurried down her steps. Something flew overhead. She shaded her eyes against the morning sun. A hawk flew toward the woods. She squinted. A red-tailed hawk. Had the pair returned after all? The bird flew past the loblolly pine and into the trees and disappeared in the top of a maple. Maybe the hawks had simply built a new nest instead of completely abandoning the property. Maybe the first nest had failed long before the construction started.
She pulled her scooter from up against the building and pushed it to the parking lot. Then she jumped on and kicked off, heading toward Paradise. As she reached the café, she used her hand brake and came to a stop. There was a For Sale sign in front. What in the world was Moses up to?
A wave of panic swept over her. Did he plan to sell the shop too? The phone number on the sign was Moses’s. The parking lot was full, as it usually was whenever she passed. It seemed business was good. Why would he sell it now? She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then she said a prayer. What if he did sell the shop? What would she do?
She doubted the job in Bird-in-Hand was still open.
She continued on, past the park and post office. And the turnoff to the care center. And Meadow Lane. A half mile later, she turned left. When she reached Amy and Bennie’s farm, Amy was in the yard putting wash on the line. Other farm wives had their Monday wash out hours ago. Ernie was playing with Oliver, who was sitting on a blanket. Maggie, who was screaming, was strapped to Amy’s chest. And Deborah was toddling toward the flower bed next to the house.
Lois parked her scooter, took off her vest, and started toward Amy. As she neared her friend, she asked, “How are you?”
Amy groaned. “Maggie was up half the night. Then as soon as she finally settled down, Oliver woke up with croup. I’m exhausted.”
“I’ll take over the laundry.” Lois picked up one of Bennie’s shirts from the basket. “And keep an eye on the kids. Go inside with Maggie. Maybe she’ll go down for a nap.”
“Denki,” Amy said. “You’re a godsend.”
Fifteen minutes later, Lois held the basket on one hip and Oliver on the other as she coaxed Ernie to hold Deborah’s hand. Then they all waddled into the kitchen to find Amy asleep in the rocking chair with Maggie against her shoulder. Lois put the basket down, strapped Oliver into the high chair, and took Maggie from Amy.
Amy’s eyes flew open. “Was I asleep?”
“Jah.” Lois patted Maggie’s back. “I’m going to put the baby down. You go nap while she naps. I’ll get the kids their dinner and then put them all down for a rest. Bennie can feed himself.”
Amy stood. “Nee. I’m okay.”
“Come on.” Lois led the way to the bedroom.
A half hour later, when Bennie came in from the field, Lois had the kinner cleaned up from their meal of cheese, apple slices, and bread with peanut butter. “Are there leftovers for you?” Lois asked.
“Jah. There’s soup from yesterday evening. I’ll have some bread too.”
When Lois came down after reading to the kinner from a stack of library books, Bennie had gone back outside. Lois began the dishwater to clean up the kitchen. A few minutes later, Amy stepped into the kitchen, yawning.
“You saved me,” she said.
“Why didn’t you sleep longer?” Lois asked.
“It was long enough. I feel like I can make it through the rest of the day.”
“Get some soup,” Lois said. “Bennie left it on the stove. I’ll clean up and then let’s get supper started.”
“I have a roast in the refrigerator. Mamm dropped it off yesterday from their freezer. And potatoes and carrots.”
“We can make rolls too,” Lois said.
As Amy ate, she talked about the market. “I love it,” she said. “Except when I get home, I have a lot of catching up to do. And now I’ll need to find time this week to make more product.”
“We’ll have some time before the kids wake up.” Lois started to brown the roast. “Get out your supplies while I put supper together.” By the time Lois finished, Amy had her totes of supplies on the kitchen table.
“I think we can do a round of candles,” Lois said. “How about you melt the wax while I wash the molds?”
As they worked, Lois asked if Amy knew Moses was selling the café.
“What?”
“Jah.” Lois started the hot water. “There was a sign up when I came through town.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know.” Lois added soap to the water.
“Is it because Sara broke up with him?” Amy put chunks of wax into a pot.
“Are you sure she broke up with him?”
“That’s what Sara said.”
That was what it sounded like from what Lois overheard, but Moses hadn’t appeared to be upset by what Sara had said. Perhaps it was mutual. Perhaps Lois hadn’t heard enough to really know. It wasn’t her beeswax anyway.
“What if he plans to sell all of his businesses?” Amy put the pot on the stove. “What if he expects us to pay off the farm soon?”
“I don’t think he’d do that.” But Lois feared he would sell the shop. Perhaps he planned to leave the area. Why did the thought of that make her heart hurt?
“There’s something else I need to tell you,” Lois said.
“You sound serious.”
“It kind of is. Randy and Nathan showed up at the shop on Saturday.”
Amy groaned again. “Nee.”
“Jah. With Bishop Stephen.”
Amy put her hand over her mouth. “What did they want?”
“For me to move back to Big Valley and marry Nathan.”
“What did you do?”
Lois began putting the molds into the water. “I protested, but it wasn’t until Moses intervened that they left.”
Amy’s mouth fell open for a long moment as she pivoted toward the stove and turned on the burner. “Moses intervened?”
“Jah.”
“How?”
Lois looked at Amy. “He took Bishop Stephen outside and told him, according to the local Youngie, I’d be courting someone soon.”
Amy smiled.
“Why are you smiling?”
She shrugged.
“Don’t read anything into this. It doesn’t erase what happened before.” But she did appreciate Moses’s help.
She wouldn’t tell Amy that Moses had tried to apologize to her, at least not yet. Why had Lois cut him off? Especially when she needed to apologize too.
On the way back to the shop, Lois stopped by the post office. She had a letter from Teresa and the Flight of Doves. Lois sat on the outside steps and skimmed through the reports. Mary wrote that she’d seen a flock of ducks flying south. Menno wrote he’d observed a northern gannet, a large seabird. Perhaps Menno, whoever he was, had been back to the Delaware shore.
Lois reread what Teresa had written to the group.
Don’t be afraid to spread your wings and travel if you’re able. Birding in another state—or country—can be enlightening. Just like with birds, a trip to a warmer climate, such as to Pinecraft in Florida, can be just what one needs in the winter. And imagine all the new people you’ll be able to flock with, and the murmuration you’ll be able to form. But also make sure and follow the examples of our feathered friends who find their way home each spring. You must do the same. You are needed and valued and Gott has a plan for your future.
Lois let out a ragged sigh. God had a plan. He provided a home for the sparrow close to his altar. He cared for the birds of the air. He would provide a home for her too.
Lois kept reading. Teresa proposed the group meet Saturday, October 12, at the Blue Rock Boat Launch on the Susquehanna River at eight in the morning.
There should be a good migration of birds moving through the area by then. We’ll have time to observe them—and each other.
Lois wanted to see Mary and meet Teresa and the others. But what if Menno joined the gathering?
Please let me know whether you can attend. If you are able, bring something to share for a morning snack. We’ll plan to meet until eleven and then go our separate ways.
Should Lois attend? She’d have to hire a driver. And she’d most likely blow her Jane cover. Perhaps she should let Mary know she belonged to the circle letter under her middle name. And what about Menno? Should she let him know she’d used her middle name? Did she owe him that?
She took out her notebook and pen, an envelope, and stamps. Then she wrote to the group that she planned to go to the October 12 gathering at Blue Rock Boat Launch. Of course she’d have to get a couple of hours off work, but Evelyn could handle the shop for the morning. She closed by writing, I’m looking forward to meeting everyone in person.
Then she wrote a note to Mary.
I’ve been participating in the Flight of Doves circle letter, that you are a member of, under the name Jane Weaver, which is my middle name and my mother’s maiden name. I wanted to remain anonymous. I’ll go by Jane at the gathering on October 12 and wanted to let you know.
Warmly, Lois Jane Yoder
As she addressed the letter to Mary, she pondered whether she should write to Menno. Finally, she decided against it. But then she changed her mind. She wanted a clean conscience.
She wrote a similar letter to Menno. Then she added,
I also wanted to let you know I traveled to Delaware to the location of your return address in July. I found a mailbox next to a market. But no one I spoke with had ever heard of you. I have no idea if you’re even real, but if you are I wanted to be honest with you. Best wishes, whoever you are.
She mailed the letters and then scootered to the highway. Already she missed Amy and the chaos of her home. Home. Lancaster County was home. Paradise Township was home. If only there really was an Amish man in the area wanting to court her, a man she could love.
Instead of staying on the highway, she turned toward the care center. Watching the birds with Anna would take her mind off her troubles.
On Tuesday, when Moses came into the shop, Lois mentioned she’d seen the For Sale sign at the café.
“Jah,” he said. “I put it up yesterday morning.”
Lois dusted the candles. “Why?”
“It’s not working out the way I hoped it would.” Maybe Sara had broken up with him after all.
On Friday, Evelyn called right after Lois opened the shop and said she’d be late. Her grandmother had fallen during the night and Evelyn wasn’t sure she should leave her. “Stay as long as you need to,” Lois said. “Don’t worry about coming in.”
“Would you let Casey know?” Evelyn asked. “I told him I’d sit in his booth over my lunch break.”
“Sure.” Lois smiled. Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen Evelyn and John together for a couple of weeks. And Evelyn had been spending time with Casey on the market days.
Moses spent the morning at the market, but when he came in a little before noon, Lois let him know Evelyn’s grandmother had fallen.
“I’ll give you a break,” Moses said.
“All I need is fifteen minutes to run out to the market.”
“Feel free to take longer.”
She shook her head. “Fifteen minutes is plenty.”
Moses retreated to his office but then returned with a packet of envelopes. “Would you take longer and mail these in town? I need them to go out today and don’t want to put them in the highway mailbox. I’ll watch the shop—I just want to stay close in case Casey needs anything.”
“Okay.” The envelopes all had computer generated labels and return addresses on them.
Lois hesitated for a moment.
Moses asked, “Is everything all right?”
She shook her head. “I appreciate you apologizing to me even though I cut you off.”
Moses opened his mouth.
Lois kept talking. “I need to apologize to you.”
He shook his head as she continued, saying, “I said mean things to you when we were in school. About how tall you were. About how short your parents were.” Her face reddened. “I was cruel. I called you Goliath. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Of course I forgive you.” He smiled a little. “I teased you relentlessly. I’m sorry for that too.”
Lois extended her hand. “Friends?” Her chest tightened.
“Jah.” He took her hand and shook it gently. “Thank you.”
Flustered, Lois clutched the envelopes, let go of his hand, grabbed her backpack from under the counter, and hurried out the back door.
Lois stopped by Casey’s booth first. He seemed disappointed and then worried when she told him where Evelyn was. “Is her Mammi all right?”
“I’m not sure,” Lois said.
“Is it all right if I use the shop phone to leave a message for her?”
“Of course,” Lois said. After she told Amy hallo and then goodbye, she scootered toward town. As she passed the café, she noticed the For Sale sign was down. Had Moses changed his mind?
When she reached the post office, Isabelle was at the mailboxes.
“Lois.” Isabelle beamed. “I was going to stop by the shop today.”
“I was afraid you’d already left for South Carolina.”
Lois took Moses’s envelopes from her backpack as Isabelle said, “I’d never leave without telling you goodbye.”
“When do you go?”
“Well, the shop in Charleston fell through.” Isabelle shrugged. “Barb asked if I wanted to visit them in Florida once they move. I might find a shop there I want to buy.”
Lois glanced around. They were alone. “What if Moses decides to sell the shop here?”
Isabelle laughed. “Do you think he will?”
“He had the café up for sale earlier in the week—I’m not sure if he still does.”
“He seems so unsettled.” Isabelle lowered her voice. “I know Anna and Bert did their best but sometimes nature overrides nurture.”
“What are you talking about?”
“His mother—she was so impulsive. Going this way and that, which was why her family liked Paul so much. It seemed she was finally settling down. Then they had the baby, and everyone was thrilled. Faith had done a one-eighty. But then she ran off again, this time for good. She was so different from Barb. Sure, Barb was a decade older, but you wouldn’t think the girls would be that different.”
“Are you talking about Moses’s birth mother?”
Isabelle seemed puzzled. “Yes...”
Lois stuttered, “Sh-she was Barb’s sis-ster?”
Isabelle nodded. “I thought you knew.”
Lois shook her head. “Does Moses know?”
Isabelle’s expression froze. Then she sputtered, “I assumed he did. That’s why Scotty wanted to sell him the shop. To help him out. He knew Moses needed more long-term income to pay for Anna’s care. That’s why he didn’t change his mind and sell the shop to me after I reminded him I wanted it.”
Lois furrowed her brow. There was also the fact that Isabelle couldn’t put together the financing.
“I’m sorry,” Isabelle said. “Me and my big mouth. Please don’t say anything to Moses.”
“I don’t know if I can promise you I won’t,” Lois said. “I mean, I won’t out of the blue, but if the topic comes up, if he ends up looking or asking for answers and I find out, I’d feel compelled to tell him.” Wasn’t that what a friend would do? “Do Barb and Scotty not want him to know?”
“I don’t know exactly. It was his birth father’s dying wish that Moses not know, that Anna and Bert would raise him as their own. I think he was afraid Faith would come after Moses and take him far away. Then later, I think everyone thought not knowing all of it would make Moses’s life less complicated. But I thought Bert and Anna intended to tell him by the time he was grown.”
But Bert died and Anna had Alzheimer’s. Perhaps Barb needed to tell him. As it was, Lois felt as if she now knew way more about Moses’s, Anna and Bert’s, and Barb’s business than she needed to.
But maybe Anna and Bert had told Moses. Maybe he chose not to talk about it.
She thought of the article on Moses’s computer again. She definitely wouldn’t tell Isabelle about that. But it probably indicated Moses did know—at least something.
Isabelle gripped the strap of her bag with her opposite hand. “I’ll ask Barb what Moses knows.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Lois said. “It’s nice to see you. When will you go to Florida?”
“Perhaps soon. Barb said they finally have a bite on the property.”
“That’s wonderful to hear.” Apparently Lois was letting go of the farm, because she was genuinely happy for Scotty and Barb. And for Isabelle. But she’d miss the three Englischers who’d been good to her.
Isabelle continued to the counter, taking a package out of her bag. Lois put Moses’s envelopes in the slot, then started back to the exit. But then she decided to check her mailbox. Perhaps she had a reply from Menno. She inserted her key and opened the box. Two letters. One from Mary. The other from Menno.