A Place of Peace (8 page)

Miriam closed her eyes for a moment, willing her body to stop trembling. The image of Timothy’s gorgeous eyes trained on hers was burned into her brain, causing her body to continue to shake. “I think I need to go to
Aenti’s
and unwind in some peace and quiet. But you don’t need to go with me. I know you want to try to talk to your sister and brother.” Opening her eyes, Miriam found Abby still studying her.

“I really don’t mind taking you,” Abby said. Her expression became grim. “I need to tell you something. I checked my voicemail messages on my phone earlier. My boss really needs me back at the office right away. Would you be okay if I went back tomorrow?”

Miriam nodded. “I understand. I think I need to stay and spend some more time with Hannah and
Aenti.
I also want to try to work things out with my
daed.”
She touched Abby’s arm. “You go talk to your sister and brother. I’ll head back to
Aenti’s.
I saw Lilly and Gerald helping Edna home earlier. I want to be sure she’s okay.”

“All right,” Abby said. “You take it easy. I’m going to go see if my sister will actually talk to me. I’ll see you at
Aenti’s
later. I’ll book my flight so I can get back to my
wunderbaar
job.” She nodded toward Zach. “That cute guy is waiting for you. Seems like you may have more here than just Hannah and
Aenti.
You definitely should stay a while.”

“Please. He’s just an old friend.”

“And he’s handsome.” Abby elbowed Miriam in the arm. “Seems like you’ve got your pick between Timothy and Zach.”

“Not quite. Timothy seems to have found someone already.” She shook her head. “Go talk to your sister. I’m going to see what Zach wants and then head back to
Aenti’s
for some sanity time.”

Miriam walked back to Zach, finding the same attractive face and caring eyes she remembered. She was surprised to see he was clean-shaven too. Miriam had always assumed he’d married since a few young women in the district had hoped to court and marry him.

“I’m sorry, Zach,” she said when she stepped over to him. “I didn’t mean to take so long with Abby. It’s just been a rough day.
Wie geht’s?”

“No, no, no.” He gave her a sly grin. “That was forced. I want a real greeting from my old
freind.”

She couldn’t stop the genuine smile forming on her lips. Zach had been a friend to her when no one else had cared —after Jeremy Henderson had died. He was the only person who’d asked her what had happened and had listened without judgment to her explanation. He didn’t blame her for the child’s death as her family and many others in the district had.

“Zach, it’s so good to see you,” she began with overdone politeness. “Wie
geht’s,
my dear, dear
freind.”

“Ah!” He laughed. “Now, that’s a greeting. I’m doing gut.” His eyes turned serious. “I’m so sorry about your
mamm.
She was a
wunderbaar
woman. How are you holding up?” His expression said he truly cared.

She cleared her throat, which was suddenly dry. “I’ve been better.”

“Want to talk about it?” He touched her arm. “We can go somewhere private to chat. My front porch still has the best swing in all of Lancaster County.”

“Not today, but maybe soon.” She gave him a sad smile. “It was really good seeing you, but I have to go. I need some time alone.”

“I’ll let you off the hook for now, but I expect to hear from you within the week.” He patted his pockets and frowned. “I don’t have a card on me, but the number to my shop is still the same. I’d bet your
aenti
has the number.”

Miriam touched his arm.
“Danki.
I’ll call you.”

“Promise?” His expression was hopeful.

“Promise.” She turned and hurried toward the street and toward the path leading to Edna’s house.

Timothy glanced across the room again, and she was gone.

Vanished into thin air.

Was she a figment of his imagination?

No, she wasn’t a figment; she was in the flesh, real. Miriam had been standing on the other side of the room with her cousin Abby mere moments ago. However, he had looked over at Naomi and then back at Miriam, and she was gone.

He was certain he hadn’t imagined her, though. He could still envision her in his mind’s eye. She was as beautiful, if not more beautiful, than he’d remembered. Her skin was flawless, and her eyes, oh those deep, rich chocolate eyes, were wide with … innocence?

Could she still be innocent? Lilly had said Miriam left to be with a man she’d met through a personal ad. For all he knew, she’d lived with the man and then decided he wasn’t for her. Bile rose in his throat at the thought of Miriam living intimately with another man.

He swallowed a groan. Why was he jealous when
she
was the one who had left
him?

But his assumptions could’ve been wrong. Miriam’s eyes were still the same. And those beautiful orbs gazed at him with an intensity he couldn’t forget and that sometimes haunted his dreams.

Did that mean she still cared for him?

His heart thumped with that silly hope.

No, that wasn’t possible. If she’d cared, then she would’ve stayed and married him. She wouldn’t have broken all of those late-night promises they’d made while sitting on her father’s porch.

“Timothy?” Naomi’s voice broke through his mental tirade. “What’s wrong? You’ve got that million-miles-away look on your face again.”

“Sorry.” He cleared his throat and cut his eyes toward the back door. “How about we go for a walk?”

He yearned to see Miriam again. He needed to know he hadn’t imagined her standing there, staring at him, causing his pulse to leap and his throat to dry.

She shrugged. “Okay.”

Weaving through the knot of mourners, Timothy led Naomi out the back door. While Naomi spoke to a friend, Timothy stopped dead in his tracks when he found Miriam standing in the grass talking to Zach Fisher. His stomach soured when Zach touched her arm. Miriam stepped closer to him, and they shared a quiet conversation. After more coy expressions, Miriam touched his arm and then started toward the road leading to Edna Lapp’s house.

Had Miriam dumped her
English
boyfriend and returned to Lancaster County to begin a new relationship with Zach Fisher?

Seething with anger, Timothy shook his head.

What had Beth Anne been thinking when she said it was God’s will for him and Miriam to talk? How could it be God’s will for Miriam to break his heart all over again?

How could Timothy consider speaking to Miriam when the mere sight of her flirting made him physically ill?

Beside him, Naomi finished her conversation with one of her friends from the district. She turned back to him and tugged his arm. “Timothy?” she asked. “What’s bothering you today? You’ve been acting strange ever since we got to the funeral.”

Frowning, Timothy met her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

She pursed her lips and folded her arms in front of her chest. “You keep saying that, but you keep getting this dazed look on your face. You can talk to me. You can trust me.”

He sighed. No, I can’t tell you because the truth will hurt you too much.

“How about we head home?” He touched her arm. “I’m really tired.”

She lifted her chin in defiance. “You’re avoiding the question, Timothy Kauffman.”

He smiled. “You got me there, Naomi. I’m avoiding it because it’s too boring. I was thinking about a job I’ve been struggling with at work. I’m trying to figure out how to fix this one bureau that has been giving me a fit since Monday. See?” He shrugged. “It’s not that exciting. Let’s head home. I’m tired of the crowd.”

Her eyes said she wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t push the subject any further. “Let me say good-bye to Lilly first. I didn’t get to talk to her earlier.”

While Naomi stepped back into the house, Timothy cut his eyes toward the field once more. He spotted Miriam crossing the street and heading toward her aunt’s house, and he glowered.

Would he ever figure out who Miriam Lapp truly was? And what did that intense expression she gave him mean?

Why did she still make his toes curl with just one gaze?

Shaking his head, he stepped into the house and tried in vain to put Miriam out of his mind.

Miriam slipped off her shoes and walked into the den, where Edna sat with her feet elevated on a hassock. “How are you?”

“Tired, Miriam.” Edna frowned. “Arthritis is a nightmare.”

Miriam stepped over to the kitchen area, fetched a glass of ice water, and brought it to Edna. “This should help you feel better.”

“Danki, kind.
You’re so thoughtful.” She took a long drink and then set the glass on the end table beside her. “The funeral was nice.”

“
Ya.
” Miriam lowered herself onto the sofa. “I can’t believe my
mamm
is gone. I wish I’d spoken with her one last time. I wish I’d had one more chance to tell her I loved her.” She sniffed as the tears began to flow down her hot cheeks.

“Oh,
liewe.”
Edna reached out with a gnarled hand. “Come sit with me.”

Swiping her hands down her cheeks, Miriam moved to the chair next to her. Miriam sobbed while Edna rubbed her arm.

“There, there,” Edna cooed. “You mustn’t punish yourself. Your
mamm
loved you and knew you loved her. Lift your burdens up to God. He will help heal your soul.”

Miriam sniffed. “Abby said she’s going to book a flight home. I’m sorry to see her go, but she says she has to get back to work.”

Edna shook her head. “That
maedel
works too much. I think she’s forgotten what matters most in life.”

Miriam studied her bitten fingernails. Who was she to judge Abby when her life was nearly parallel, except for the big-time corporate job?

“What about you?”

“What?” Miriam looked toward Edna.

“Are you leaving me too?”

Miriam shook her head. “I want to stay a while so I can spend time with you, Hannah, and Lena Joy. I’d also like to work things out with
Daed.
He ignored me at the funeral, and I need to get him to realize I’m not to blame for what happened at the Hendersons.”

Edna patted Miriam’s hands. “I think that’s a good plan. You can wait a few days for things to settle down and then try to talk to him again.”

“I’ll call my boss in the morning and tell her I’m finally going to use that two weeks of vacation I have set aside.” Miriam stood and headed for the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” Edna asked.

“Baking. Beth Anne will be here tomorrow to pick up more pastries for the bakery. We need to have them ready, don’t we?”

Edna rose. “Let me help you.”

“No, no.” Miriam gestured for her to sit. “I’ve got it. Your cookbook is right here. I’ll start with a chocolate cake. I’m going to take over your baking duties while I’m here. You look like you could use a good rest.”

Edna smiled. “You’re an angel, Miriam.”

Miriam sighed.

If only Timothy agreed with you …

Pushing thoughts of Timothy out of her mind, Miriam set out to make the best chocolate cake that had ever been sold at the Kauffman Amish Bakery.

Pastry for 9-inch crust and strips for top

1 cup seeded raisins, washed

2 cups water

1 – 3/4 cups sugar

3 – 3/4 Tbsp flour

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp lemon juice

2 tsp grated lemon rind

Pinch of salt

Soak raisins for 3 hours. Mix sugar, flour, and eggs. Add raisins and remaining ingredients. Cook in a double boiler over hot water for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. When mixture is cool, empty into pie-dough lined pie plate. Cover pie with narrow strips of crisscrossed dough and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until brown.

T
he following morning, Miriam awoke at the crack of dawn and drove Abby to the airport. With tears in their eyes, they hugged and promised to keep in touch over the next two weeks. Abby insisted Miriam call her every day with news of how things were progressing with Miriam’s family.

Miriam stopped at the grocery store on her way back from the airport. When she arrived at the cabin, she finished baking while insisting Edna relax and supervise from the comfort of her favorite easy chair.

By the time Jessica’s SUV hummed up to the house, Miriam had six dishes awaiting her and Beth Anne—peanut butter bars, pumpkin pie squares, angel cookies, strawberry pie, chocolate shoofly pie, and a chocolate cake.

Miriam met Beth Anne and Jessica at the door and gestured for them to come in.
“Gude mariye,”
Miriam said. “How are you today?”

“Gut. Danki.
How are you?” Beth Anne asked. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to talk to you yesterday.”

“I’m doing okay,” Miriam said with a nod.
“Danki
for asking.”

“I’m sorry about your mom,” Jessica said. “I’ve been thinking of you.”

“Thank you,” Miriam said.

Beth Anne examined the desserts displayed on the table. “My! You and Edna have been busy. It all looks
wunderbaar.”

“Miriam gets the credit,” Edna said from her chair. “She’s been baking since last night and wouldn’t let me lift a finger.”

Beth Anne gave Miriam an impressed expression. “You’re a
wunderbaar
baker.”

Miriam shrugged, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “It was nothing really. I thought I would help her out since I’m going to stay a couple of weeks or so.”

Beth Anne’s eyes widened with surprise. “You’re staying a while?”

“Ya.
I have some things I want to work out here. I also want to spend some time with my family. Since I have a couple of weeks of vacation at my work, I’d like to use them for something important, like getting to know my sister’s
kinner
and taking care of
Aenti
for a while.”

Edna beamed. “You were always such a
gut maedel,
Miriam.”

“I’m sure your family will be
froh
to have you around again.” Beth Anne lifted the pies.
“Danki
for these.”