Made with Love (5 page)

The young man was handsome enough, with a charming smile, which had made Anna even more suspicious. She'd watched him closely last week when he'd stopped by to talk to John. He'd offered to replace their roof for a low price. Too low in her opinion, which meant he had to be up to no good.

Anna had also heard about thefts in town. Three young men had been seen nosing around her friend Merna's place, and before you knew it a lock was broken on the back window and two pies were stolen right off the counter. Merna believed the theft would have been worse if Amish Henry hadn't ridden by and had called out to the intruders. Because it was dark he hadn't seen faces, but he'd said they must have been young, considering how fast they'd darted away. Later, as she laid in bed, listening to every noise, she'd realized that those young men had probably offered to work so cheaply so they could scope out the place. Get familiar with it so they could do some more thievery.

She was considering all those things when the first drops of rain began to fall. She was ready to go inside anyway. Coffee with a little cream sounded good.

Anna took her list and hurried inside. She stopped short just inside the door when she noticed John pouring coffee into two mugs. She closed the door behind her and smiled.

“How did you know that was what I was comin' in for?”

John grinned, wrinkles crinkling around the corners of his eyes as he did. “We've been married for coming onto thirty years. I know you always take your coffee after the sun is fully up.”

“Ja, maybe because there's too much to do first thing in the morning. No one has time to sit and pause.”

“Lots to do, like read a letter from your best friend?” He winked.

“Ja.” Anna nodded, placing the envelope on the table, and he took it in his hands. His eyebrows lifted as he saw the names on the back and read over the list slowly.

“Nice list of names here. Future sons-in-law, I'd guess.”

“Not quite.” Anna sat down with a huff. “Not like I wished.”

John took a slow sip of his coffee and then placed his mug on the table. “Sometimes we have too many expectations.”

“Is it wrong to expect my daughters to want to get married? To attend volleyball games and such? To be friendly and outgoing?”

John chuckled and leaned back in his chair. He twisted his lips from side to side like he always did when he was thinking—when he was trying to come up with the right words. He was the steady one in their relationship. He kept her grounded, but at times like this she just wanted him to spit his words out.

“I wasn't talking about expectations for our daughters, Anna, I'm talking about expectations of the young men. Do you remember what I was like when we met? Didn't have but a few dollars to my name. I was stubborn, and I spent more time dreaming than working. If I hadn't inherited the family farm, I'm not sure where we'd be.”

Anna cocked her chin, yet her grin gave her away. “Well, as I see it, not everything has changed much.”

John chuckled. “You talking about the dreaming part or the stubborn part?”

Anna's smile faded slightly. John had been so ill before they
moved. For many years he hadn't taken time to dream. It felt good to be speaking about such things. To see the twinkle in his eyes once again.

“Both,” she said, reaching over to pat his hand.

“Yes, well, as you've discovered it takes time to grow up. I think that's the important part of finding the right person…you get to grow up together. Finding someone who makes your heart dance is a good start, and I have a feeling that one of these young gentlemen will make Lovina's heart do just that.”

Anna frowned. “I don't know about all that romantic stuff. Remember, kissin' don't last. Good cookin' do.”

John smiled and patted his stomach. “Around six o'clock I might agree with that, but there were plenty of young women who cooked, but you…well, you're the one I couldn't stop thinking of.”

Anna waved a hand in her husband's direction. “You've gone soft in your old age for certain.”

He shrugged. “Just don't sign off on any young man one of our daughters brings home. The Lord sees more of the heart than we ever can.”

Anna nodded and took a sip of her coffee, and John's eyes scanned the list again. She'd just have to wait and see, wouldn't she, when and if one her daughters brought a young man home.

Her eyes paused on the last name on the list once again. Just as long as the young man wasn't Noah Yoder. Everyone had read about his deeds, and Anna didn't know if she could feel safe with him around. No, anyone but that young man.

 

Underground Ham Casserole

4 cups cubed ham

4 tablespoons butter

½ cup chopped onion

1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

2 cans (15 oz) cream of mushroom soup

1½ cups milk, divided

2 cups cheese

4 cups mashed potatoes

1 pint sour cream

bacon bits, optional

Fry ham, butter, onion, and Worcestershire sauce together and spread in bottom of 8-quart roaster. In saucepan, heat mushroom soup, 1 cup milk, and cheese together and pour over ham. Mix mashed potatoes, sour cream, and remaining ½ cup milk and then spread on top of cheese mixture. Do not add any salt! Sprinkle with bacon bits. Bake for 20 minutes at 350°.

Four

No dream comes true until you wake up and go to work.

A
MISH
P
ROVERB

L
ovina rode her bicycle past the Tourist Church, noticing how empty the large parking lot looked. In the winter, buses came from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, as many as five a day! With winter came old friends and new ones. Likewise the neighborhood park overflowed with Plain people playing shuffleboard and volleyball. Children ran around with their cousins at family reunions, but today just a few part-time residents could be seen here or there. Lovina pictured these streets full. She pictured evenings of music and singing on Birky Street. Pictured serving up pie as music was carried in on the breeze.

She smiled as she headed to the corner of Kaufman Avenue and Bahia Vista Street. Since moving to Pinecraft, she'd become a member of the Mennonite bank, Everence Credit Union, transferring all her money from her bank back in Ohio. Any bank that hosted pie contests was sure to get her business.

She parked her bike out front, straightened her kapp, and pushed open the glass doors. A smiling teller greeted her.

Lovina approached. “Is Jason Schlabach available?”

The man behind the counter nodded. “He's on a call, but I'm sure he'll be off in a moment. From the twinkle in your eyes I assume you have good news?” Lovina crossed her arms over her chest and stepped back. “I hope so.”

She chatted with those coming in to make transactions, and five minutes later Jason appeared, waving her into his small office. Jason's trousers and shirt were store-bought, and he had the short hair of a Mennonite, but he had a similar look to the other Plain men in the community. Even though Jason had an important job, there was no pride in his face. Instead, his kind smile told Lovina he was honestly glad to see her.

She hurried into his office and sat in the chair across from him. A simple wooden desk sat between them.

Jason sat too. Then he leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk. He lifted an eyebrow. “So have you found a place? A place for your pie shop?”

“I do believe so. There was a sign up just this morning. I couldn't get much of a look inside but a man who lives next door gave me the owner's name.” She slid the piece of paper across the desk with the owner's name and number. “The man told me the price, and it's in my price range—”

“Are you talking about the large warehouse on Bahia Vista Street?” Jason interrupted.

“Ja, do you know of it?”

“I walk by all the time. Lori Ann and I do as we take our children to the park. It's big…” His voice trailed off, and she wondered why he wasn't saying more.

Lovina threaded her fingers and placed them on her lap. “Very big, which means there will be plenty of room for a bakery. A nice large kitchen and…”

“Hold on a minute now.” He held up a hand. “We've yet to see inside. We don't need to be getting ahead of ourselves.”

“Ja, I know. I was hoping…” She paused and smiled.

“That I'd make the call?”

Lovina blew out a heavy breath, telling herself not to get too eager. Not to lose her head in this. Jason had told her he'd help her. When she approached him about securing a future loan he'd believed in her dream. More than anyone he'd believed, but now she worried. Concern darkened his gaze.

“It really is the perfect spot,” she continued, not willing to give up until Jason agreed with her. “There are just a few houses nearby and plenty of parking. I've looked up and down these streets for months, and it's the first time there's been a For Sale sign on the lot. They must have put it there last night. You should call before anyone else does.”

“I should, should I?” Jason dropped his fingers on the desk, tapping out a beat. “Last time it was for sale a few years ago they wanted too much money, but I suppose it doesn't hurt to call.”

Lovina jumped to her feet and clasped her hands. “Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Jason glanced at the clock on the wall. “I'll see if we can meet someone and look at the property over my lunch hour”—he steepled his fingers and leaned forward—“but I have to tell you now of my concerns. The bigger the space, the greater the cost of remodeling. I don't want you to do anything that would risk your investment. Or put your parents' property at risk.”

Lovina nodded. At the thought of asking Dat for financial help her knees grew weak. She sunk back into her chair, pressing her spine against the back rest. Her stomach tightened down as if the fresh strawberries she'd eaten for breakfast had turned to lead. She'd been so excited that she hadn't thought much about the
next steps. Even if she liked the property she didn't have enough money of her own for the purchase. She could get a loan, but only on one condition…her father had to agree to cosign. And where would she get money to remodel?

“I—I'd never want to cause harm to my family.”

Jason picked up the phone. “I have no doubt about that. Let me find out if we can see the place before we add in those worries to the mix.” He dialed, and she listened as he set up a showing with the owner. “I'll be bringing a friend,” Jason told the man. “We'll look forward to seeing you at noon.”