Going Home (13 page)

Sitting across the table from Faith and her daughter, Noah felt strangely uncomfortable. Faith had seemed friendly enough at the farmers’ market, but she’d become quiet all of a sudden and would barely make eye contact with him. Melinda, on the other
hand, had been talking nonstop ever since they’d entered the restaurant.

He smiled at the child, who had a splotch of ketchup smeared on her chin from the hot dog she’d eaten. “Did you get enough to eat, Melinda?” he asked.

She bobbed her head up and down. “But I left room in my tummy for some ice cream.”

Noah chuckled and was surprised when Faith laughed, too. “I think I’ll have my ice cream on top of a huge piece of blackberry cobbler,” he announced. “How about you, Faith? Do you like cobbler?”

She smiled at Noah, and he felt a strange stirring in his heart. “Sure. Most anybody raised in these parts has a taste for that delicious dessert.” Faith swiped a napkin across her daughter’s face. “You look a mess, you know that?”

Melinda scrunched up her nose. “I don’t care. It ain’t no fun eatin’ a hot dog unless you make a mess.”

“
Isn’t
any fun,” Faith corrected.

“Isn’t,” the child repeated. “Anyway, can I have some ice cream now?”

“Sure, why not?” Noah blurted out before Faith had a chance to respond. “That is, if it’s okay with your mamm,” he quickly amended.

Faith nodded. “I guess it would be all right.”

When the waitress returned to their table, they placed an order for one bowl of strawberry ice cream for Melinda and two blackberry cobblers topped with vanilla ice cream for Faith and Noah.

While they waited for their desserts, Noah listened to the blaring country music and watched with interest as Faith tapped her fingers along the edge of the checkered tablecloth, keeping perfect time to the beat.

The woman who was singing on the radio also yodeled, and Noah marveled at her ability to make her voice warble in such a pleasant way. “Oh–le–ee—Oh–le–dee–ee—Oh–de–lay-dee—” Faster and faster the song went, until Noah could no longer keep up with the intriguing sounds.

He glanced over at Faith and noticed her staring out the window. She appeared to be a million miles away. Maybe in her mind she was back onstage, telling jokes or yodeling like the woman on the radio.

“You really do miss it, jah?”

“What?”

“Entertaining.”

Melinda, who had been twisting her straw into funny shapes, spoke up. “Mama don’t tell jokes no more. She gave that up when we came here to become Amish.”

“Is that so?”

Melinda nodded, but Faith shrugged her shoulders.

The waitress showed up with their desserts just then, and the conversation was put on hold.

When Noah finished his cobbler several minutes later, he leaned his elbows on the table and studied Faith. She seemed so somber. It was hard to believe she had ever been a comedian. Didn’t the woman realize she could still tell jokes and have fun, even though she was no longer an entertainer?

She looked at him and frowned. “You’re staring at me, and it makes me nervous.”

His face grew warm. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to stare.”

“I’ll bet you were lookin’ at her ’cause she’s so pretty.”

Melinda’s candid statement must have taken Faith by surprise, for her mouth fell open and her blue eyes widened. “Really, Melinda—you shouldn’t try to put words in Noah’s mouth.”

“She doesn’t have to,” he said. “Your daughter’s right. You’re a fine-looking woman.”

Faith stared at the table. After a few seconds, she looked over at Melinda and said, “Did you hear about the restaurant that just opened on the moon?”

Melinda’s eyebrows lifted. “Really, Mama?”

Faith nodded as she looked over at Noah and winked.

“Tell us about it,” he said, deciding to play along.

“Well, they have lots of good food there, but there’s absolutely no atmosphere.”

Noah chuckled.

“See, I do still have some humor left in me,” Faith said with a lift of her chin.

He nodded. “I’m glad.”

“Tell us another joke, Mama.”

“Not now.” Faith looked back at Noah. “Why don’t you share something about yourself?”

He plunked his elbows on the table and rested his hands under his chin. “What would you like to know?”

“Do you farm with your dad, or have you found some other kind of work to keep you busy?”

“Actually Pop doesn’t farm much anymore. He’s been raising hogs for the last nine years.” Noah rubbed his hands briskly together. “I work at a nearby Christmas tree farm, and I truly like it.”

Melinda’s eyes seemed to light right up. “A Christmas tree farm? Does Santa Claus live there?”

He snickered as he shook his head. “No, but it’s sure a great place to visit. In fact, I think you would enjoy seeing all the pine trees that are grown especially for English people at Christmastime.”

Melinda licked the last bit of strawberry ice cream off her spoon and turned to face her mother. “Could we go to Noah’s work and see the Christmas trees?”

“Well, I—”

“That’s a great idea,” Noah cut in. “I’ll talk to my boss next week and see what we can arrange.” He glanced over at Faith. “That is, if you’re in agreement.”

She deliberated a few seconds and finally nodded. “Sure, that sounds like fun.”

“I’ll let you know as soon as I get it set up.”

As they traveled home that afternoon, Faith thought about Noah and how at ease he had seemed with her and Melinda during their meal at Baldy’s. He wasn’t the same shy boy she’d known when they were growing up. Faith had enjoyed Noah’s company today and had actually felt relaxed. Noah’s gentle way
had settled over her like a soft, warm quilt.

She shook the reins, and the horse began to trot.
Makes me wonder why the man’s never married. It seems like he would make a good father
. In the years Faith and Greg had been married, he’d never looked at her, or even Melinda, with the tenderness she’d seen on Noah’s face today. Was it merely an act, or did Noah have the heart of a kind, considerate man? Should she have agreed to his invitation to take them to the tree farm?

She glanced over at her daughter, whose head lolled against the seat as her eyes closed. Melinda seemed excited about the idea, and it would certainly be a nice change from all the work Faith had been expected to do since she’d come home. A visit to the tree farm would be fun for Melinda and maybe for Faith, too. It might be the only fun thing she would get to do while she was here in Webster County.

Faith grimaced as her thoughts moved in a different direction.
Oh, no. I got so caught up in the enjoyment of the day that I forgot to call the talent agency in Memphis again
.

I
t’s nice we could have this time to visit,” Wilma said to Noah’s mother, Ida, as the two of them sat at Ida’s kitchen table. “We’ve both been so busy lately, and it’s been awhile since we’ve had a chance to get caught up on each other’s lives.” She lifted her glass. “This iced tea sure hits the spot on such a warm day.”

Ida nodded and handed Wilma a plate of ginger cookies. “Please, help yourself. Noah made these last night, and they’re sugar free.”

“Danki,” she said as she plucked a cookie off the plate then took a bite.

“How are things at your house?” Ida asked, as she also reached for a cookie. “Are your
dochder
and
grossdochder
adjusting fairly well?”

“My granddaughter’s doing well, but with Faith, I’m not so sure.”

Ida’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “How’s that?”

“Faith has seemed so despondent since she’s returned home—hardly cracks a smile and doesn’t say much unless she’s spoken to.”

“That’s too bad. You think she’ll stick around this time?”

“I don’t know, but if it’s within my power to keep her, I surely will.”

“How are you going to do that? It’s not like Faith is a little girl and you can order her to do as you say.”

Wilma sighed. “How well I know that. If I’d been able to make her listen to me when she was a teenager, she wouldn’t have left home in the first place.”

Ida reached for another cookie. “I’m glad none of my kinner ever got the notion of leaving the Amish faith. Don’t think I could stand it if they did.”

Wilma stared at the table. “I’ll never forget the shock of awakening one morning and discovering a note from Faith saying she was running off to find a new life—one where she could yodel and tell jokes.”

“She could have done that here, couldn’t she?” Ida asked. “I mean, there are some in our community who like to yodel.”

“That’s true, but Faith had it in her mind that her yodeling wasn’t appreciated. Of course, that’s partly her daed’s fault; he never did like to hear her yodel. Said it sounded like a bunch of croaking frogs or like she had something caught in her throat.” Wilma grimaced. “I’m sure I didn’t help things any when I got after her for acting so silly all the time. Seemed like she never had a serious word and was always playing some kind of prank
on her brothers and sisters. Now Faith barely cracks a smile, much less tells any jokes.”

“If she’s unhappy, then she might leave. Isn’t that what you’re thinking?”

“Exactly.”

“What if Faith married someone from our community? Then you’d be assured of her sticking around.”

Wilma nodded. “That thought did cross my mind.”

Ida snapped her fingers. “I think I’ve got the perfect solution.”

“What might that be?”

Ida leaned closer to Wilma, and her voice lowered to a whisper, which Wilma thought was kind of silly, since they were the only ones in Ida’s kitchen. “Levi and I have been hoping Noah will find a good woman and settle down to marriage, and I’m thinking if we got our two together, it could be an answer to prayer for both our families.”

Wilma’s lips curved into a smile. “You know, that’s exactly what I’ve been thinking.”

When Noah stepped into the kitchen and found Faith’s mother sitting at the table, visiting with his mom, he halted. He’d just arrived home from work and hadn’t expected any guests.

Wilma looked up at Noah and smiled.

“It’s good to see you, Wilma. What brings you out our way on this hot afternoon?” he asked.

“Just came by for a little chitchat with your mamm.”

Noah took down a glass from the cupboard and got himself a drink of water at the sink. “Want me to make myself scarce so you two can talk?”

“That’s okay; I think we’re pretty much talked out,” Wilma responded.

Noah shrugged and gulped down the glass of water.

“So, Noah, how are you doing these days?” Wilma asked.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Pretty good. And you?”

“Oh, fair to middlin’.”

“Glad to hear it. How’s the rest of the family?”

“Most are doing okay. Grace Ann is still working at Graber’s General Store, and Esther’s helping out at the Lapps’ place now. Sally Lapp had triplets awhile back, you know.”

Noah nodded and went to the refrigerator. “What did you have planned for supper, Mom?”

“That can wait awhile. It’s too hot to do any cooking, so I might fix cold sandwiches.”

“Okay. Maybe I’ll go out for a walk then.” He gave his mother’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “You look tired. Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m fine.” Mom fanned her face with the corner of her apron. “Just feeling the heat is all.”

“Is there anything I can do for you before I take my walk?”

She shook her head. “But I appreciate the offer.”

Noah headed back to the sink to get another drink of water.

“That’s a good boy you’ve got there, Ida,” Wilma said.

“I think so, too.”

“It’s good that you know how to cook,” Wilma said to Noah. “Most women would appreciate a man who can cook.”

Noah grunted. He wasn’t used to getting such praise.

“Faith has never liked to cook that much,” Wilma went on to say. “But when I told her I was running a few errands and would probably be stopping here to see your mamm, she said she’d have supper waiting when I got home.”

Noah’s ears perked up at the mention of Faith’s name, but he tried not to appear too interested. No point in giving Wilma or Mom the wrong idea.

“Even if Faith’s not the best of cooks, she does seem to be a good
mudder
.” Ida nodded at Wilma. “After all, she gave up her worldly ways and brought her daughter home.”