Planted with Hope (11 page)

Hope rose and hurried out. The air was warm and humid, but it was much quieter—even with the traffic noise. As she rounded the back of the building, her heartbeat slowed. She took in the large grassy area separated from the buildings behind it by a tall fence. It was peaceful and quiet. Hope closed her eyes and pictured a garden there. She took in a deep breath that smelled of sun and grass, picturing small sprouts of new life poking up. And for the first time since they'd moved to Pinecraft, Hope had a sense of lightness in her chest. More than that, she had a glimpse of being home.

 

Cherry Pie

2 Tbsp tapioca

⅛
tsp. salt

1 cup sugar

3 cups drained sweet or sour cherries, juice reserved

½ cup cherry juice

¼ cup almond extract

1 Tbsp butter

Mix tapioca, salt, sugar, cherries, juice, and almond extract together in a large bowl and let stand 15 minutes. Pour into 9-inch pie shell. Dot with butter. Cover with top crust. Seal edges and slice hole in top for venting. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350° for 50 minutes.

Chapter Eight

If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put responsibility on their shoulders.

A
MISH
P
ROVERB

I
n just two days Jonas Sutter went from hearing about an idea for a garden from Clyde to discovering that one was going in at the pie shop. Jonas rounded the side of the building. Rays of the new dawn stretched down over the large grassy area. One never knew what a week would hold, he supposed.

Last night, after he'd put Emma to bed, Jonas had heard his brother-in-law Clyde chatting with someone on the front porch. He'd planned on ignoring Clyde and instead finishing his lesson plans for the coming week, but then he heard his name mentioned not once or twice, but numerous times.

Jonas had opened the screen door and peeked out.

“There you are,” Clyde had said. “I'd thought you'd gone to bed.”

“Oh no, just put Emma down.”

It was then that Clyde had introduced him to Noah Yoder, and within thirty minutes Jonas had found himself agreeing to
meet the man before school, bright and early, to help plan the garden plot.

Now, as two birds chirped overhead and a yellow and white butterfly danced by on the warm breeze, Jonas stood and surveyed the area.

“I'm glad you want to help me figure this out.” Noah removed his hat and brushed his blond hair back from his forehead. “But don't let anyone know you're involved in this—not yet. Lovina has some things planned for this project—some people who want to get involved—but… ” Noah's voice trailed off.

“But just as too many cooks can spoil the pot, too many gardeners can spoil the soil.”

Noah chuckled. “I've never heard truer words.”

Jonas held an ordinary college-ruled notebook and pencil in his hand as he walked the length of the area and then walked back to Noah. “What do you think of three rows of three raised beds? They'd run from north to south to catch the best sun. I've heard of using cement blocks, too, instead of wood. They last longer and they're easy to set up.”

Noah nodded. “I heard of a place where I could get good soil too. I know you have to get to school this morning, but if you have time this weekend I'd love for you to ride along with me to look at the dirt.” Noah offered a shy smile. “I know my way around a junkyard, but I've never been one to have a green thumb.”

Jonas crossed his hands over his chest and chuckled. “
Ja
, of course. I'll see if Ruth Ann can watch Emma.”

“You can bring her if you'd like. I'm sure one little girl couldn't get in too much trouble.”

Jonas narrowed his gaze. “I wish that were so, but my daughter's a little too much like me. You remember the incident at the
park, don't you? Poor Hope Miller. I'm sure she was simply trying to enjoy a quiet walk.” He shook his head. “But even if Emma were on her best behavior, I don't want her too involved, not yet. It's going to be hard for her to keep a secret.”

“
Ja
, Lovina feels the same. She told Hope—” Noah paused and his eyes widened. “Uh, pretend I didn't just say that.”

Jonas winked. “Say what?” He looked to Noah and tried to hide his expression of joy, but inwardly his heart warmed. As he'd talked to Lovina he'd wished that she was thinking of Hope as the gardener to oversee this project.

He turned his back to Noah and looked to the rising sun. Tenderness washed over him at the remembrance of Emma in Hope's protective arms. For so long he couldn't imagine another mother for his little girl, yet now this young woman in Pinecraft had stirred his thoughts in that direction. He felt both unworthy of someone like her and hopeful at the same time. And, even if she wasn't interested in more than a friendship, this garden would be a gift. If Hope was a gardener, like Emma said she was, then he was happy to help.

With thoughtful consideration, Jonas sketched out nine long raised beds. Then he walked over to Noah and held out the sketch. “There is so much space to use, but maybe this is enough to get started? And together we can run some pipes from that spigot to create a simple watering system. It shouldn't take more than a few hours' work.”

His words were interrupted by a soft clapping sound, and Jonas's head jerked up. He expected to see Lovina, or maybe their dat, but instead an older woman stood there.

She was Amish, and she wore a simple brown dress and white kapp. Her white hair was combed neatly without a hair out of place. The woman wore walking shoes and yet leaned heavily on
her cane. Jonas tilted his head, wondering what she was doing out this early. Wondering where she'd been walking to, and how she'd even found them back there.

“I thought I heard voices!” she called, answering his last question. She neared them with a quicker pace than he'd expected.

Noah approached her, his smile wide. “Can I help you?”

“Don't you remember me?” She lifted her chin and gazed directly at Noah. “I'm Elizabeth Bieler from the fabric shop. Faith—Hope's sister—works for me, and I'm the one who let you borrow my quilt at the park last Saturday.”

Jonas cleared his throat. “I'm actually the one who borrowed the quilt. Hope took it home. I hope it was returned.”

“Of course it was returned.” She smiled. “I've just come to inspect.”

Noah's hat was still in his hand and he scratched his head. “Inspect?”

“
Ja
, I've come to hear about your plans for the garden.”

Jonas's heartbeat quickened. He glanced at Noah. “Did you tell her?”

Noah shook his head, and they both turned their attention to Elizabeth, waiting for an explanation.

“No one told me.” Elizabeth leaned on her cane. “I've been praying about it. I've been praying about a garden that would bring the community together—just like our garden did in 1942.” The older woman jutted out her chin, appearing pleased.

Noah nodded, but in a way that told Jonas he was simply trying to appease the woman.

“1942, that was during the war,” Jonas said. “I know that many Englisch communities banded together during that time.” Jonas didn't tell the woman that history was his favorite subject. He waited to see what she had to say instead.

“
Ja,
and sometimes we can learn a lot from those who've gone before us, Englisch or not.” She lifted her cane and pointed it at Noah's chest. “As soon as those raised beds are in I'd like you to tell Hope to come see me. Tell her I have something for her.” Elizabeth smiled. “A gift.”

Noah nodded, and Jonas could again tell that he was puzzled by this woman. Noah returned his hat to his head. “
Ja
, of course.”

The woman walked away, humming a tune as she did.

Jonas looked to Noah, and the man shrugged. “So maybe I'm not the only one who guessed that this garden is for Hope.”

“
Ja
, someone must be talking, but I suppose that's not my concern. It's my job to make sure the beds are in and to get the soil.” Noah pointed to Jonas. “And then it'll be your job to take care of the rest. You did promise to help, didn't you?”

Jonas nodded. He didn't want to seem too eager, but he had to admit that he was looking forward to spending more time with Hope and working with his students in the garden.

“Just as long as you don't forget to pass that woman's message to Hope… when the time is right, of course.”

Noah nodded.
“Ja
, I have a feeling Elizabeth Bieler will search us out if we forget.”

Jonas looked to where the woman had just left. “And I'm eager to hear what the woman was talking about too. It sounded like that garden in 1942 was pretty important.” He shrugged. “I'd planned on tying in science and math to our lessons, but maybe there will be a chance to add in some history too.”

Jonas looked down at his sketch, wondering how everything had changed. He'd gone from teaching school to now being part of this garden. And then there was his friendship with Hope. Tonight was the singing that he and Emma were going to attend with Hope. Jonas stroked his chin, wondering if they'd make it
through the night without Emma speaking of the garden. He knew his little girl, how excited and eager she was. Then again, he knew how much she liked Hope, and maybe the idea of a surprise would seem like a special gift to their new friend. That was how it felt to Jonas, and as he walked to the school he had a hard time hiding the extra bounce to his step. Tonight he would see Hope, and in the next week or so he'd help to give her the ultimate gift.

 

Lovina's Pie Crust

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup solid shortening, chilled

½ tsp. salt

1 egg

5 tsp. ice water

1 tsp. vinegar

Mix flour, shortening, and salt. Beat egg and add water and vinegar. Add to flour mixture to make a soft dough (do not over-handle or you'll end up with a chewy crust). Makes one double pie crust or enough for two single crust pies.