Made with Love (28 page)

And after the accident, well, he understood a little of what it was like to be shunned. After that it was like he didn't even exist. He knew then that not being acknowledged was an even worse punishment than being yelled at or accused. At least when people accused you they acknowledged that you were there. And that was another reason he'd decided to take the young men to Pinecraft. Even if their misdeeds were known by the people here they wouldn't be completely ostracized—not like back at home.

He blew out a breath. This past pain wasn't worth thinking of now. Now he had to think of Lovina. Was it too much to hope that his foolishness hadn't pushed her into another man's arms? Instead of ignoring her, he needed to be pursuing her! And he was determined to start now.

Noah rose and looked to the large box he'd set just inside the doorway. It was an ordinary cardboard box, and the lid was folded so she couldn't see inside. The box still smelled like the
laundry soap it once held, but that wasn't what was inside. Instead it was something special. Something for the shop…something he hoped Lovina would like.

He peeked in the top and then closed it up again, smiling. Was it a silly gift? Noah frowned. Maybe he should have gotten flowers or chocolates instead, like he'd seen other guys do. But Noah didn't have a chance for second guessing before the shuffling of bike tires on gravel caught his attention. It had to be Lovina parking her bike. Noah sucked in a deep breath and forced a smile.

The door swung open and Lovina hurried in. She stopped short when she saw him, and her brow furrowed. Normally Lovina's hair was perfectly combed back under her kapp, but today dark, wispy strands curled around her temples. Her face looked pale, and dark circles rimmed her eyes. Noah swallowed down the lump in his throat, wondering if she'd slept. Wondering if he was the cause of her disheveled look. From her sad look as she peered up at him, he knew he was.

“Lovina, I need to apologize for yesterday.” The words came out in a rush, and he stepped toward her, wishing he could wrap her up in his arms. She looked so worried. So weary. Noah wasn't sure he'd ever seen her like this before. He reached out and offered her his hand, palm up. She looked at it, and then placed her hand in his. It was trembling.

For a moment he pushed aside what he was going to say. Noah squeezed her hand. “Is something wrong? Did”—he sucked in a breath—“Did something happened to your dat?”

“Oh no, nothing like that. And…” She gazed up at him. Her eyes were large, round, and so innocent. So hopeful. “I thought something
was
wrong. You, well, you didn't even speak to me yesterday afternoon. I wanted to explain. I was up all night trying to figure out how to tell you…I still don't know how, or if I should.”

“Tell me what?” Noah kept his voice soft. Then he waited as her eyes searched his. He knew what she was doing. She was weighing to see if he could be trusted. If she could lay out her heart. He wanted to fill the silence with his apology, but something inside stirred, urging him to wait.

“I'm sorry I didn't take time to explain about Thomas,” she finally said. “I should probably be flattered by his attention, but…” She bit her lip, trying to figure out her words. “But he's not someone I want for more than a friend, no matter what my mother thinks.”

Noah wanted to pull her closer. He wanted to kiss her, but he also knew better than to do that. Now was not the time. This was not the place…or at least not yet.

Resisting the urge, he dropped her hand and crossed his arms over his chest, taking in her words. “I see.”

Lovina attempted to brush stray strands of hair off her face, but as soon as she removed her hand they fluttered back to her temples and cheek. “Thomas asked me to lunch yesterday, and I wanted to use that time to explain to him that I wasn't…well, that I wasn't interested in spending more time with him.”

“And he understands that now?” Noah kept his tone serious, even though his dancing heart was anything but. He forced himself to hide his smile, enjoying the way she squirmed.

“Ja.” She nodded. Lovina must have noticed the humor in his gaze because one eyebrow cocked. “He understands that, but I could change my mind.”

“Change your mind?” Noah scoffed. “And what has he offered you in comparison to me? Thomas Chupp took you to the beach and he took you to lunch.” Noah tapped his boot on the concrete floor. “I made your concrete look pretty.” Then he swept his arm toward the windows. “And look at that sunshine.”

“Ja.” Lovina tapped her chin. “Sunshine was the deciding factor to be certain. I'd rather spend time with a man who gives me beams of golden light.” Then she hesitated, as if suddenly worried that she was reading too much into the playful conversation. “Because of our, uh, work relationship, of course.”

“Is that what you think this is?” He motioned to the box. “The contractor in me does enjoy fixing up your old building…but the man inside loves being in your presence more and more each day. And he just had to buy you this.”

She didn't reply, but from the look in his eyes she didn't need to. She smiled. “So, can I open it?”

He kneeled beside the box, the coolness of the concrete seeping through his homemade pants. “Of course.”

Maybe he should have found a way to wrap it. Instead, he watched with excitement as Lovina opened the top of the box.

She sucked in a breath and pulled out a vintage Pyrex mixing bowl. It was turquoise blue with a simple pattern on the side. He'd seen it at an estate sale the previous night, and Noah knew he had to have it.

“It's—it's just like the one in that photo I tore out of the magazine. That wonderful cupboard I loved so much was decorated with these bowls.”

“Yes, well, take it as an apology. I'm so sorry I ignored you like that. I didn't like the fact that some other Amish bachelor was trying to spend time with my girl.”

“Your girl?” Lovina laughed, and the sound was music to his ears.

“If you don't mind,” Noah said.

Her eyelashes fluttered and she glanced back down at the bowl. “I don't mind. Not one bit.”

Noah's chest filled with warmth and heat. He thought again
about kissing her—on the cheek at least. But she kept her attention fixed on the bowl. She examined it as if she were holding a priceless diamond. Maybe to Lovina this was. Maybe the fact that he understood, supported her, was the most valuable gift she'd ever received. He hoped so.

“This is the perfect gift,” she said with a heavy sigh.

His heart bounced a little in his chest, knowing that she'd soon be even more surprised. “I'm glad you think so because I have twenty-four more of them coming—to be used to decorate the shop.”

Lovina gasped. “Twenty-four more?”

He nodded toward the back area of the warehouse, where he kept all the items they weren't using and the things he hadn't managed to sell yet. “I'm going to build you a cabinet, just like the one in the picture. I came upon an estate sale, and I couldn't resist. I didn't know those bowls were so collectible.”

“Noah Yoder, goodness knows I'm not paying you for your work as it is, and then you go and use the little money you've earned to buy me bowls.” She sighed, pretending to be exasperated, but he could tell from her expression that she was thrilled. “This is the most amazing gift. I can't wait to show my sisters and Mem. She used to have one like this, but one of us broke it years ago…”

As she placed the bowl back into the box her expression changed. She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Speaking of years ago, there is something I want to—need to—ask. I mean, if we are going to consider more than a friendship…”

The lightness he'd felt in his chest moments before sunk like a lead balloon. “Yes, of course. Ask…” His words trailed off. He was going to say, “Ask anything,” but from the look on her face he already knew what the question would be.

“Speaking of years ago—”

“Knock, knock!” A voice called out from the other side of the front door, and then came a gentle knock. “Anybody here?” It was a woman's voice, one Noah didn't recognize.

Lovina's lips sealed close, and she hurried to the door, opening it. An Amish man and woman stood there. From the woman's kapp Noah guessed they were from Pennsylvania.

“Can I help you?” Lovina asked. From her puzzled expression it was clear she didn't know them either.

“We're Leon and Marsha Kurth from Lancaster. We haven't met, but I feel as though we have,” the man started.

“We heard about the pie shop in
The Budget
. This is our first time down south. We came a bit before the buses arrive to fix up our new place,” Marsha jumped in. “We just bought it last week.” She looked around and her eyes grew wide. “This place is even more beautiful and spacious than I envisioned. And please tell me you're going to have pecan pie on the menu. It's my favorite. Do you mind taking a minute to give us a tour of what's going to be where? Are you going to put the tables by those windows? Oh, look! Diners will have a perfect view of the buses coming in.”

“I don't mind…” Lovina looked toward Noah, their gazes meeting. Her mixed emotions were clean on her face. She liked sharing her dream, but it meant their conversation would have to wait for another time. “I'd love to show you, and I have to introduce you to Noah Yoder, who's done all the work with the help of his nephew and a few other young men.”

Leon removed his hat and scratched his head. “Noah Yoder. That name sounds familiar. Are you a scribe in
The Budget
?”

“No, sir. I'm not.” Noah's gut tightened down as if being cinched by a rope. “If you'll excuse me, I need to check on the young men who are painting around back.”

“Are you from Illinois?” The man's brow furrowed. “I know I know that name for some reason.”

Marsha gave Leon's arm a playful tap. “Do you know how many Noah Yoders there must be?” she chuckled.

Ignoring his wife's comment, Leon stepped toward Noah. “Oh, you're going to give the outside a makeover too?”

Noah shrugged, feeling the man's gaze on him. The man was searching his mind's archives, trying to figure out where he'd heard that name. Noah could see it in his eyes.

“Just a coat of paint. It's nice meeting you both. I'll probably see you around.” He hurried out before they asked any more questions, and before they could follow. He also hoped that Leon would not remember why his name sounded so familiar. Five years ago there had been numerous reports in
The Budget
about his accident. And he had no doubt many an Amish preacher had used his example in their sermons too. If ever there'd been an example of how following the ways of the world could lead to destruction, he was it.

He just hoped that he had a chance to tell Lovina before someone connected him with the accident. And—even though it seemed impossible—he dared to hope that maybe a bit of the good he was doing now with the guys would help to redeem his deeds.

As Noah strode around the back of the building to check on the progress of the painting, one of his mem's old sayings came to mind: “The trouble with experience is you never have it until after you need it.” He'd make a different choice now because of that experience. He supposed he could be grateful for that. Grateful for wisdom and a second chance. Noah just hoped Lovina would understand, and that her thoughts of who he was
now
wouldn't be darkened because of who he was
then
.

 

Pecan Pie

One 9-inch unbaked pie crust

3 large eggs, beaten

½ cup firmly packed brown sugar

⅓
cup butter, melted

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup chopped pecans

1 cup pecan halves

vanilla ice cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°. Mix eggs, sugar, butter, salt, corn syrup, and vanilla in a bowl. Stir in chopped pecans. Pour into pie crust, reserving ¼ cup of filling. Top with pecan halves. Pour reserved filling over the top of the crust. Bake 60-70 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.