Made with Love (26 page)

 

Morning Glory Muffins

2½ cups flour

1¼ cups sugar

3 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

3 eggs

¾ cup applesauce

½ cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups grated carrots

1 medium tart apple, peeled and grated

1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple

½ cup flaked coconut

½ cup raisins

½ cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. In another bowl combine eggs, applesauce, vegetable oil, and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened (batter will be thick). Stir in rest of ingredients. Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake 20-24 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes before removing from pans. Makes 2 dozen.

Twenty

If you must doubt, doubt your doubts, not your beliefs.

A
MISH
P
ROVERB

L
ovina was only too happy when she returned to the warehouse. Thomas walked her there, but he didn't stay or dawdle. She stepped inside the warehouse, and a wonderful aroma greeted her. Right inside the doorway there were boxes of food from Yoder's. Mem had brought food for Noah and the teens as promised, but it looked as if it hadn't even been touched.

Voices came from the back office area, echoing across the expansive room. She followed the voices and found the guys working in back. An old toilet sat in the hallway. Everything else had been removed too, including the sink, the railings, and the broken light fixture. A flood light had been set up, and Noah was fiddling with something in the hole where the toilet previously sat.

She stood in the hallway, wondering what she should say to them. Should she apologize for leaving? Should she offer to bring the food back to them? No. That didn't seem like a good idea. They'd need to wash up before they ate. Maybe it would be better if they ate at Roy's place?

Mose was sitting on the floor, handing his uncle tools. He
looked up at the light fixture. “You know I heard that you can actually fill a light bulb with gasoline, and then when someone flips it on the whole thing will explode.” Mose chuckled.

Atlee sat up straighter. “Man, that would be one way to—”

“Don't even think of it.” Noah's voice was stern. “That's stupid, and you're going to get yourselves seriously hurt. You'd better not try
anything
like that around here.”

Noah returned to his work, and Lovina took a step back, not wanting them to know she'd overheard. She stepped into a shadowy area of the hall.

“You guys should be thankful that judge didn't give you a harder sentence,” Noah mumbled under his breath. “Half of the school gone—burned down—because of a stupid prank.”

The room was silent. They didn't say a word.

“Wrench.” Noah said.

And then she heard the sound of tools being moved around in the toolbox.

She couldn't see what they were doing, but she guessed that Mose handed Noah the wrench.

“It was an accident…” Gerald started, and then let his voice trail off.

“Which is the very reason the judge let you off. Why he let you come down here.” Noah sighed. “Please don't mess it up.”

Lovina waited a minute longer, and then she walked up to the door, clearing her throat. “There you are. I can't believe you've gotten so far on the bathroom.” She tried to offer a cheerful tone, and she focused on Noah. But he didn't pause. Didn't turn.

“Yup, it's going good,” Gerald finally said, looking at her. Gerald and Atlee sat against one wall watching Noah work.

“So, did you know that lunch is waiting?” She tried to sound cheerful.

“Yes, we know,” Mose said, frustrated.

“We have to wait until the new toilet is in,” Gerald said. “Noah wants us to know how to do this so we can install our own toilets someday.” The sarcasm was clear in his voice.

“I see.”

She stood there a moment longer watching Noah work, but it was clear she wasn't wanted. “Well, I think I'm going to go work from home today. I have some advertisements to write and…other business paperwork to get done.”

“Have fun,” Gerald called, but other than that no one said a word. A heaviness weighed her down, and she wondered what the problem was. Noah had been so happy this morning. He'd been excited about the progress. He had a hop in his step as he'd headed back to show off those old movie posters. And now…now he wouldn't even look at her. Why? Was he starting to regret getting involved in such a big project? That thought, and a dozen other worries, filled her mind as she rode her bicycle home. It didn't help that her mem was standing at the window, as if watching for her, as she rode onto the small driveway.

Lovina sighed as she parked the bike and forced a smile as she entered the house. Mem still stood there, looking at the back door. Her eyes were wide, expectant.

“So, how did it go?” Mem moved to the kitchen table and sat. Her stationery box was there, and it looked as if she'd been working on a letter.

Lovina guessed that Mem was writing to Regina. How many conversations had Lovina overheard between the two women growing up? Over cups of coffee, they'd chatted about all their concerns for their community and the people. They always seemed to know what was going on and they had an opinion on all of it.

Lovina had no doubt that letters had been flying back and
forth about what she was up to. Had Regina been the one prodding Mem about a romantic interest for Lovina? Or did Mem come up with the idea that Thomas Chupp would make a good husband on her own?

Lovina darted her eyes away from Mem's expectant gaze, and then she hurried toward the refrigerator, pouring herself a glass of lemonade.

“How was it?” Mem asked again. She scooted up the chair, causing the chair legs to scrape on the ground.

“Well, when I last checked in Noah and his crew were working in the bathroom. They were replacing the toilet and everything else in the bathroom. I can't wait to see what it's going to look like when they finish. It'll be like a whole new bathroom!”

“That's nice, Lovina. Bathrooms are important…but I was wondering about your lunch with Thomas.”

Lovina knew she wasn't going to escape her mother's questions. If she didn't answer them now she'd have to later. She picked up her glass and carried it to the table, sitting across from her mother.

“Well, the truth is that the food was good, but the conversation was barely adequate. I mean, Thomas is nice enough…for a friend.”

Mem's face fell, and her smile was replaced by a frown.

“It's clear he misses Somerset. He's very proud of his farm and his life there. I'm thankful that I'm not attracted to him, since I'm setting up roots here…building a business and all.”

“It's not as if the business is up and running.” Mem straightened her shoulders. “Like Thomas said this morning, with the work you've already done on the building you could put it on the market and make a nice profit.”

Lovina took another sip of lemonade and set her glass down. Instead of anger, she felt pity for her mother—having so many
expectations. She felt sad that she'd never been the daughter Mem wanted. She also felt a bit of relief too. Relief that they were having this conversation.

“Mem, I appreciate that you have such high regard for the changes in the building, but my goal has never been to make money. The pie shop—it's something I've wanted to do for so long. And I'm thankful the opportunity has arisen. Thankful for Dat's help, and for Noah—”

“Noah Yoder,” Mem interrupted, “may be a
gut
carpenter, but I sure hope you don't let your heart get wrapped up in him. He's the last person you should consider as a future husband.”

“The
last
person?” Lovina sputtered. “Really, is that what you believe?”

Mem picked up the pencil from the table and began tapping the eraser on the tabletop. “You have put so much trust in him, but you never even looked into his past. Did you ever call for references? Did you ever ask
how
Noah knows so much about construction? Or why? Do you know why he ran away from Illinois? Or what he's running from?”

“Ran away?” Lovina cocked an eyebrow.

“Ja, that's what you do when you're not respected by your community. What you do when your bad reputation follows you wherever you go. You leave. You find a new community.” Mem stopped the tapping and placed the pencil on the table, smoothing out the letter in front of her. “Well, that would work for most people, except those in the Amish community. The Englischers think they are so connected, being on their computers all the time, but we have our ways of protecting each other. In addition to
The Budget
I've heard about Noah Yoder from all sorts of folks. He may have fooled you, Lovina, but there are some people he can't fool. More than that, I can see the way you look at him. I would
have to question if the reason you hurry out of here each morning is to go work at the pie shop…or to see him.”

Lovina's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe the words she'd just heard come out of Mem's mouth. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she tried to calm herself. She focused on her words, on her attitude, determined to keep herself in check. Determined not to let her own tongue run away from her.

“Mem, I know that Noah left behind his community. I'm sure he'll tell me all his reasons when he's ready.” She spoke as calmly as she could. “And just because I have friendly feelings for him doesn't mean I'm going to marry him. I have one thing on my mind, and that's opening my pie shop. I'm just thankful God chose to send someone like Noah to help me.” Lovina stood. “Without him I'd be unable to open it.” She picked up her glass of lemonade and her notebook. “And if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. There are business plans I need to make. On our time-frame I can't waste even a few hours trying to dig up someone's past, especially someone whom I so greatly respect.”

She hurried to her room and shut the door. Leaning against the cool wood, Lovina's knees trembled. And for a moment she didn't know what made her more upset. Was it Mem's comments about Noah or the way Noah had treated her this afternoon, ignoring her? Or that deep down she knew both of Mem's statements were true—that Noah had run away from something, and that Lovina did look forward to seeing him as much as she enjoyed working on the shop, maybe more.

Lord, am I making a mistake letting my heart get wrapped up in him? You've given me a mission—a dream to fulfill—with this pie shop. Am I letting myself get distracted?

Lovina placed the glass of lemonade on her bedside table and sat on her bed. She had to admit that Noah was on her thoughts
most of the day. She also could see from his gaze that he cared about her too. He didn't try hard to hide it.