A Gift of Grace (19 page)

She shrugged. “It’s okay, I guess.”

“I wanted to go work for him, but my
dat
needs me here to help run the farm. There’s always plenty of work to do.” He gestured around the barn.

“That’s a shame. You should be able to do what you want.”

He shrugged. “Ack, it’s okay. Farming is never boring.”

Jessica lifted the kitten up and nuzzled its tiny head against her cheek. “So soft. Like velvet.” She then gently put it back next to its siblings. “Be a good kitty and mind your mama.”

Samuel snickered.

“Samuel!” a voice boomed.

Samuel jumped to his feet. “Sounds like my
dat
.” Reaching out, he took Jessica’s hand and lifted her to her feet.

“I need your help outside,” the voice snapped.

Jessica turned to see Robert frowning at them. She let Samuel’s hand go and brushed the hay from her jeans.

“Now,” Robert said, his eyes boring into his son.

“Yes, sir.” Samuel followed his father through the barn and out the door.

Jessica frowned and fished her iPod from her pocket.
So much for having someone to talk to
.

“Did you have a nice time today?” Rebecca asked Jessica while they walked up their front steps later that evening.

Jessica shrugged. “It was okay. Not as bad as I expected.”

Rebecca longed to ask Jessica about kissing Jake, but she wasn’t sure how to broach the subject without causing Jessica to shut down. Jessica wrenched open the storm door, and Rebecca reached out and clasped her arm.

“Can we chat for a minute on the swing?” Rebecca asked.

“Why?” Her niece eyed her with suspicion.

Rebecca shrugged. “We never get to talk. We’re always so busy.”

Her niece’s brows knitted with suspicion.

“Please. Just for a moment.” Rebecca motioned toward the swing. “Have a seat.”

Jessica sank into the swing and stared out over the field.

“Pretty night,” Rebecca said, lowering herself into the space next to Jessica. “At least the humidity broke a little.”

“What is it that you want to talk about?” Jessica asked. “I’m sure it’s not the weather.”

“I wanted to ask you a question.” Rebecca took a deep breath, wondering how to bring it up. She said a silent prayer that she wouldn’t cause more distance between them.

“Please just spill it,” her niece said.

“I heard something earlier, and I wanted to ask you if it was true.”

Her niece frowned.

Rebecca touched Jessica’s hand. “No matter what, I’m on your side.”

“My side?” Her niece’s frown deepened. “What have I done wrong now?”

“Don’t get upset. I just wanted to talk to you about something that came up when I was talking with the other women.” She glanced toward the door, hoping Daniel and Lindsay were out of earshot. She didn’t want anyone to hear them or interrupt. “Sadie mentioned that Eli saw you kissing Jake. Is it true?”

Jessica clicked her tongue and made a sweeping gesture with her hand. “What is it with you people? Why is it that everything I do is the latest news?”

Rebecca reached for her, but Jessica moved out of range. “I’m not accusing you. I just want to know the truth.”

“Well, the truth is that
Jake kissed me
.” She scowled and smacked her thigh for emphasis. “There. Now you know. Are you happy?” Her tone cut Rebecca like a knife.

Speechless, Rebecca just nodded.

“And if you want to know the whole truth, we both decided it was a mistake. So,
nothing happened
. Got it?” Her niece rose. “I’m going to bed.”

“Jessica! Wait.” Rebecca followed her to the door. “I’m not accusing you of a crime. I just wanted to know if it was true.”

Her niece faced her. “It is true. I’m a teenager. I’m going to make mistakes. Letting my good friend kiss me was a mistake, but I don’t think I should be ripped apart in the latest Bird-in-Hand gossip.”

“No one is ripping you apart.” Rebecca touched Jessica’s cheek. “I just wanted to know what really happened so I can set straight anyone who mentions it.”

Jessica shook her head. “I don’t get you people. You claim to be such wonderful Christians, yet you’re the most two-faced people I’ve ever met.”

Rebecca frowned. “We don’t claim to be wonderful at anything. We all make mistakes, and we all need God’s help to be better Christians. We strive to be like Jesus, and it’s an impossible task.”

Jessica shook her head. “I wish that everyone would just leave me alone to live my life. I can’t wait to get out of here and go back home. I hate it here.” She yanked the door open and stomped into the house.

Rebecca sank back into the chair and stared out over the dark field while regret washed over her. She should’ve kept the gossip to herself. She’d managed to push Jessica even farther away.

Elizabeth’s words echoed in her mind. Rebecca was trying so hard to listen. Why wasn’t it working? What was she supposed to hear?

Closing her eyes, she prayed that God would help her find the way into Jessica Bedford’s heart.

6 eggs, separated

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 cup flour, sifted

3–1/2 tsp anise seed

Beat egg yolks until thick. Beat egg whites stiff and combine with egg yolks. Gradually add powdered sugar and mix lightly. Sift flour and add egg mixture together with anise seed. Drop from teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet, about 1 inch apart. Chill in refrigerator overnight. Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes.

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A
unt Rebecca,” Lindsay said, sidling up to her in the kitchen of the bakery the following Monday, “I have a great idea to share with you.”

Rebecca smiled over at her niece while mixing up a gooey Shoo-Fly Pie. “Oh? What’s that?”

“How about we plan a birthday get-together for Jessica for Sunday night? It’s her sixteenth birthday.”

Rebecca smiled. “That’s a
wunderbar
idea! You can make your famous lemon meringue pie, and I’ll make a chocolate cake.”

“What are we planning?” Sarah leaned on the counter and lifted a glass of ice water. Her cheeks were pink from the heat of the kitchen.

“A birthday gathering for my sister.” Lindsay grinned.

“A birthday?” Kathryn stepped over from the oven. “That will be wonderful
gut
! I love birthdays! I’ll make apple fritters.”

“It sounds like a great plan.” Rebecca lifted her wooden spoon. “Should we make it a surprise?”

“No.” Lindsay shook her head. “Jess hates surprises.”

“Then we’ll tell her tonight.” Rebecca smiled. Maybe a birthday gathering was the way to get her niece to warm up to life in Lancaster County.

“Rebecca,” Elizabeth whispered, tapping her shoulder. “I think it sounds like fun, but will Daniel agree?”

Rebecca met her mother-in-law’s gaze, finding concern in her eyes. She scanned the kitchen and spotted her niece and sisters-in-law engrossed in their baking duties.

“Is he still not speaking to you?” her mother-in-law asked.

“
Ya
.” Rebecca wiped her hands on her apron. “How did you know?”

“I just know. Eli once was silent for a month.”

Rebecca’s eyes widened in shock. During her marriage, Rebecca had only seen her in-laws become cross with each other a few times. She couldn’t imagine Eli being so angry with his wife that he would stop speaking to her for a month.

“You look surprised.” Elizabeth smiled. “Eli is a very stub-born man, and his sons are very much like him.”

“What did you do?” Rebecca asked.

Elizabeth poured mixture for bread into a pan. “I let him have his time. Finally, he came to me and asked if we could talk things out. I let him have his say and then told him how hurt I was that he could be silent for so long.”

“What did he say?” Rebecca leaned in close to hear her mother-in-law over the chatter and noises of the kitchen.

Her mother-in-law gave a triumphant smile. “He never did it again.”

Rebecca nodded, her thoughts turning to Daniel. She wondered how he would feel about a get-together for their niece. It had been nearly two weeks since he stopped speaking to her. Although he’d returned to their bed a few days ago, he climbed in without so much as a grunt.

She wondered what she could do to win his heart back. She’d considered begging him to talk to her, but she stood firm on her convictions that Jessica belonged with them. Rebecca was surprised to find she was almost as stubborn as her husband.

Or maybe she was as stubborn as Jessica? She pushed the thought aside.

Turning her gaze to Lindsay, Rebecca bit her bottom lip. Her niece laughed and talked to Sarah while cutting out cookies. Lindsay looked so happy and so comfortable dressed in Plain clothes and talking with Sarah. The girls did belong here, despite what Daniel thought. Rebecca knew in her heart that she was right.

It was God’s will, wasn’t it?

She glanced at Elizabeth, contemplating her words. Letting Daniel continue his silence might be the best way to handle him. She’d tell him about the gathering and leave it at that.

Later that evening, Rebecca cleared the plates from the table and filled the sink.

“I’ll get it,” Lindsay said, adding a stack of plates to the sink.

“Don’t be silly.” Rebecca waved off the thought. “I’ll do the dishes tonight. You can sweep the floor if you like.” She glanced across the room to where Daniel rose from the chair and headed for the living room. If she was going to tell him about the plan, now was the time.

She cut her gaze across the room to Jessica, who was wiping the table with a rag. “Jessica,” she said. “Lindsay and I wanted to celebrate your birthday Sunday.”

Jessica met her glance and raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”

“Yeah, we want to give you a party,” Lindsay chimed in with a wide grin. “We invited the rest of the family already, and I’m going to make you a lemon meringue pie.”

“Wow.” Jessica blinked, looking surprised. “Thanks.”

“A party?” Daniel asked from the doorway, his scowl trained on Rebecca.

“
Ya
, just a gathering of friends and family.” Rebecca folded her arms across her chest in defiance. Her body trembled with anticipation of his reaction. She wondered if he’d yell or simply remain reticent. She hoped for the former, since yelling would encourage a conversation, something they hadn’t experienced in a long while.

“Can I invite Jake?” Jessica asked.

Rebecca nodded. “Of course.” She looked over at Daniel, whose frown deepened. “You may invite anyone you like, Jessica,” Rebecca said, still staring at Daniel. “It’s your day.”

“Cool!” Jessica said. “Thank you.”

Daniel grunted and retreated into the living room.

Facing her nieces, Rebecca plastered a smile on her face, despite the hurt and disappointment surging through her. “I’ll make a chocolate cake and get some ice cream,” she said. “We’ll make this day one to remember.”

Jessica stared at the calendar on the wall the following day. Two whole months had past, but it seemed like only yesterday that she had come to the store for the first time. Where had the last eight weeks gone?

She scanned the front of the store, studying the furniture pieces for sale. It may have been two months, but she still didn’t feel as though she belonged. She wondered if she’d ever feel as though she belonged here.

Lindsay, on the other hand, went off dressed in her Plain clothes and laughing with Rebecca every morning. Jessica could hear Lindsay and Rebecca talking about recipes and gossiping about bakery customers late into the night. Lindsay participated in Daniel’s evening devotions while Jessica stayed in her room listening to music. Jessica was still the outsider, and Lindsay became more and more a part of the Kauffman family every day.

Jessica sauntered across the front of the store and flipped the sign to “Open” and then retreated back behind the counter. While she shuffled papers on the desk and prepared the ledger for the day, the door whooshed open.

“Good morning,” Jessica said without looking up. “Welcome to Kauffman and Yoder.”

Glancing up, her stomach twisted when she spotted Arnold Browne, a customer who’d recently demanded a corner curio cabinet built at light speed as a gift for his wife.

She forced a smile onto her face. “Mr. Browne. How are you today?”

“I’d be better if my curio cabinet was done.” He slammed his hand on the counter. “My anniversary is tomorrow. If you people can’t get it done in time, then you should’ve told me! I want a full refund, plus 10 percent for my inconvenience.”

She stood and leaned forward on the counter. “Actually, Mr. Browne, I told you that this is our busiest time of year, and we’re backed up with—”

“I don’t want to hear about your summer orders.” The middle-aged man tapped his finger on the counter. “I want to hear about
my
order!”

“I can tell you about your order if you stop yelling,” a voice said.

Jessica glanced at Jake standing in the doorway clad in blue jeans and a black T-shirt. His eyes were brewing with confidence and determination as he folded his arms across his chest.

She smiled. How cool of him to come to her defense.

“Well, Jake?” The older man folded his arms over his flabby chest. “I’m waiting.”

“I’m putting the final coat of stain on it.” Jake stepped over to the counter, sidling up beside Jessica. “I’ll finish it up and have it ready later today.”

Mr. Browne eyed Jake for a moment and then nodded. “Fine then. I’ll check back later.”

“Sounds good.” Jake motioned for the door. “I’ll get right to work on it. You have a good day now.”

Jessica gave Jake a sideways glance. He winked at her, and she grinned.

The door whooshed open and closed, and Jessica breathed a sigh of relief while sinking into her chair. “What a way to start off my day.”

“I’m sorry about that.” Jake shook his head. “I knew Mr. Browne was a jerk, but I never imagined he’d yell at you like that.”

“I’m so glad you came out when you did.” She nodded toward the door leading to the shop. “I was going to come back and get your grandpa to help me handle him.”

“I was heading up to say good morning, and I heard him start in on you.” He scowled. “That ticks me off. You didn’t deserve that.” His expression softened. “But don’t let that cranky old man ruin your day.”

“Thank you.” She smiled. “Listen, do you have plans for Sunday night? My sister and Aunt Rebecca are throwing me a birthday party. Can you come?” She bit her bottom lip suddenly feeling self-conscious. “I understand if you’re busy.”

“Are you kidding?” he asked with a grin. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’d be happy to come.”

“Jake Miller.” His grandfather appeared in the doorway. “Every time I see you, you’re chatting. Do I need to rethink making you a master carpenter?”

“No, Grandpa.” Feigning a dramatic sigh, he faced his grandfather. “I was just making sure Jessica was okay up here. She’s already had a run-in with Mr. Browne this morning.”

“Old Arnie was at it again, huh?” Milton asked, shaking his head. “I hope he didn’t get to you too much.”

“Jake came to my rescue, so it was okay.” Jessica smiled. “Jake is going to have the curio done before closing.”

“Well then, Jacob, you’d best get to it.” Milton gave a stern expression.

“Yes, sir.” Jake’s smirk faded. “I’ll be right there.” Milton disappeared through the door and Jake gave Jessica an apologetic expression. “I guess we’ll chat later on.”

“Get to work before you lose your job.” She pushed her hair back from her shoulders. “I don’t want to be responsible for your unemployment.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think my grandfather would fire me. My mom might have something to say about that.”

“Go on.” She waved him off. “If you keep talking we won’t have anything to discuss later.”

“I find that hard to believe.” He pulled his keys from his pocket and tossed them to her. “Feel free to plug your phone in. The charger is still on the dash where you left it last week.”

Jessica frowned, placing the keys on her counter. “What for? No one has called me in almost a week.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Not Brian or Morgan?”

“Neither of them.” She yanked her phone from her purse and glared down at the display. “It’s like I don’t exist to them anymore.”

“It’s their loss.” His eyes mirrored her frustration.

“They promised they’d keep in touch, but I guess since school has ended they forgot about me.” She shook her head. “Trisha hasn’t called either, but I got a letter from her a few days ago.”

“If they can forget you that easily, then they aren’t your friends.” He headed for the door. “I’ll see you later. If you have problems with any more customers, yell for me. I’ll set them straight.”