Planted with Hope (14 page)

Hope moved to the first raised bed and then paused. Movement caught her attention, and she jumped, realizing someone was already there—squatting by the farthest garden bed. Her heartbeat quickened when she spied the silhouette of a man. She could barely make out his form in the dim, early morning light.

What is he doing here so early?
Was it safe?

The man stood, and she still couldn't see his face. He placed
an Amish hat on his head, and she felt safer, but still she debated whether to run. Pinecraft was a small village set within the larger city of Sarasota, Florida. News of crimes was often reported in the local paper.

Hope felt more at ease seeing his Amish hat, but it still seemed strange to have someone in her space, especially so early.

Hope cleared her throat. The man turned. She sucked in a breath, recognizing Jonas Sutter. His eyes fixed on hers and a smile touched his lips. Seeing him took her breath away. And in the light of the early morning it was as if she truly saw him for the first time.

He wore the typical white shirt and Amish pants. He wore the same hat every other Amish man did, but he was
unlike
any Amish man she'd ever known. His eyes appeared dark and his eyebrows lowered. It wasn't a frown, but rather curiosity, as if he was wondering what
she
was doing here so early.

“Can I help you?” he asked with a humored smirk on his face. He took two steps toward her, and she found herself taking a step back.

Jonas had a handsome face, boyish almost, but also intelligent. Why hadn't she noticed how handsome he was sooner? Maybe because he was alone, without Emma to draw her attention away. Maybe because she'd gotten used to his beard and saw him not only as someone who'd been married before but rather someone who'd faced unimaginable loss and had carried his daughter through it.

Hope tilted her head to the side. “Help me? I—this is my garden.”

“Your garden?” He frowned again, and those eyebrows folded even more, making him even more handsome.

She pointed to the building beside her. “
Ja
, this is my sister's place—Me, Myself, and Pie. She asked me… ”

“Oh, Lovina's your sister,
ja
.” He held humor in his gaze. “I met her in the pie shop, and I heard of her long before I came to Pinecraft. My sister Ruth Ann wrote letters while it was being remodeled, telling me all about it. From all that she wrote, it seemed as if this warehouse was transformed overnight.”

“It wasn't overnight, but it did go fast. Two months I believe. Maybe three.” Hope crossed her arms over her chest, still wondering what Jonas was doing here. Wondering why he was so interested in her garden beds. And why he was pretending he didn't realize she and Lovina were sisters.

Jonas glanced at his book bag that he'd set on the dewy ground and then met her gaze once again. “I'm heading to school now, but if you'd don't mind I'd love to stop by later and see what you've planted.” He pointed to the seed packets in her hands.

Hope hadn't planned on being there this afternoon. She'd planned on planting early and heading home before it got too hot… and before the garden received too many visitors. Still, this was different. He was different. She swallowed down the emotion balling up in her throat. “
Ja
, of course.”

Jonas stepped closer, and he pointed again to the seed packets. Lima beans were on top.

“Did you know that you can plant lima beans in the same furrow as weaker-sprouting vegetables and the lima beans help break up heavy soil, making it easier for the other plants to grow?”

“
Ne
, I didn't know that. I suppose one can learn something new every day.”

He picked up his book bag and strode to the edge of the building. Then he paused and looked back over his shoulder. “Just
don't do too much planting yet, all right? I'd like the children to get involved.”

“The children?”

“
Ja
, the schoolchildren. Speaking of which, I better get going. I need to get everything ready. They're still getting used to me as their teacher, and I'm still getting used to them.”

Hope nodded, and her gaze followed his retreat. “I'll see you later then,” she called after him.

It was only after Jonas left that Hope realized she had no idea what their conversation had been about. Jonas was the new schoolteacher—at least for this spring—but why was he so interested in her garden? And more than that… why was she so glad that he was?

But then her brow furrowed, just like his had. While she liked the idea of inviting Jonas into her garden, and even having Emma around, why had he said
children?
Surely he wasn't talking about
all
the children he taught, was he? Hope pressed her lips into a tight line.

She rested a hand on her hip, elbow askew, also wondering why Jonas had acted so comfortable around the place. Maybe Lovina knew something about this—more about the handsome widower.
I've got to get to the bottom of this.

Hope pressed her seed packets to her chest. She'd have time to plant them later today, but first she needed to talk to Lovina. Her oldest sister had been eating a piece of toast and fried egg when she'd first woken up, and she was gone by the time Hope made her own breakfast. Hope guessed that Lovina was already in the pie shop, preparing for the day. Even though Me, Myself, and Pie had four full-time bakers, the shop had brought in many more customers than expected—especially during high season. Grace had even approached Lovina about opening an online shop after
a local businessman had suggested it. While the idea was a good one, Lovina was having a hard enough time simply keeping up with the pies sold in the store. Sometimes—like today—she came early to make as many pie crusts as she could to get ahead.

Hope walked around to the front. She set the seed packets in her garden bucket and then left the bucket by the open front door. Even before she entered, she recognized both Lovina and Noah's voices. But there was also another voice that she didn't recognize. It was an older woman, and her voice held a slight quiver from age. Hope entered and all three faces turned to her. Lovina stood behind the baking counter, rolling out pie crusts. Noah leaned against the counter with his arms folded over his chest, and Elizabeth Bieler—Joy's boss from the fabric store—sat on a wooden chair next to the counter. On her lap she held a paper bag that had been rolled down on top, making it looked like an oversized lunch.

“Well, there she is.” Elizabeth offered a quick wave. “Just the person I wanted to see.” Then she turned back to Lovina. “Oh, I enjoyed talking to you, too… don't feel as if I didn't. And I promise I'll bring by that recipe for orange fritters. I think you'll like it. I found the recipe in one of my mother's old cookbooks. With so much wonderful citrus this time of year you'll just have to give it a try.”

“
Ja
, I'd love to. Believe it or not, sometimes I need a break from baking pies.” Lovina chuckled. “And if you have any good pie recipes, I'd love to try them too. I love to add a new, special pie every few weeks or so.”

Elizabeth lifted her chin. “
Ja
, I'll have to look around and see what I can find. I love being able to give special gifts to friends.” She patted the bag on her lap and glanced over at Hope. “Which is why I've come.”

Lovina's eyes brightened. “Oh, Hope, do you remember the other day when I told you Elizabeth had something for you? She got tired of waiting for you to stop by.” Lovina chuckled and brushed the back of her hand across her forehead, leaving a smudge of flour on her temple. “I told her that I thought you were out back, in the garden, but she insisted on waiting until you finished your conversation.”

Noah looked at Hope from the corner of his eyes. “Conversation? Your sister doesn't hide her excitement very well, Hope.” He clucked his tongue. “Is it someone we should know about?”

Heat rose to Hope's cheeks. “It was Jonas Sutter. He'd just come by. I hadn't expected him.” She shrugged. “Maybe he just wanted to check out the new garden?”

“Check it out?” Noah shook his head as he reached over and snatched a strawberry from the bowl in front of Lovina, taking a bite. “I'm not sure what Jonas needs to check out. He's the one who helped me with the layout. He also designed the irrigation system.”

“Jonas did that?” Hope's voice broke, and she quickly looked to the side, embarrassed by the emotion that was evident in her voice. “I—I didn't know.” She turned to Lovina. “You told me Noah and the teens were building it. But you didn't say anything about Jonas.”

Lovina pressed hard against her rolling pin, not looking up. She worked quickly, rolling with fast movements. “Well, I, uh… I told you that other men from the community were helping too. I didn't know I needed to mention names.” The dough under Lovina's rolling pin tore. She picked up the dough and formed it roughly into a ball.

Hope narrowed her gaze. Lovina was usually gentle with her crusts. Lovina had told Hope more than once that being in a hurry
made sloppy crusts, which could only mean one thing… Lovina was nervous. Lovina had something to hide.

Noah reached over and placed a hand on Lovina's shoulder. “Lovina, that crust isn't going to get up and crawl away, I promise.”

She glanced up, surprised. And then she bit her lower lip. “
Ne
, of course not. I'm not sure what's gotten into me.” She looked up at Noah and her face softened. A silent conversation passed between their gazes. Hope placed a hand on her hip. Both of them knew something—something they were hiding from her.

Looking away from Noah, Lovina took a keep breath, and then she turned to Hope. “Actually, I
do
have something that I need to talk to you about.” Her cheeks lifted in an attempt at a smile. “Maybe tonight, after dinner?”

What could be so serious, so secret? Hope's mind went blank. By both Noah and Lovina's responses, Hope knew it had something to do with Jonas. Why would he volunteer to help with her garden? And why had he been there this morning, looking it over? Nothing made sense.

“
Ja
. I'd be happy to talk to you tonight.” Hope looked to Elizabeth, understanding that whatever Lovina wanted to share didn't need to be discussed in front of their elderly friend.

“I know that the two of you need to have a talk about Jonas Sutter—he is worthy of a conversation—but I have something to talk about too.” Elizabeth slowly began to unroll the top of the paper bag. She reached her thin, age-spotted hand inside and pulled out a folded square of fabric.

“First, I made an apron for you, Hope. Your sister Joy designed the aprons for Lovina's pie shop, and I thought I'd try to create my own apron—a garden apron.” She handed it over.

“You did this for me?” Hope unfolded the heavy canvas material. It was an apron all right, with thick straps and large pockets
in front. But the best part was what Elizabeth had embroidered on front.

“Planted with Hope,” Hope read. Emotions surged up through her chest. She'd hardly had more than a few short conversations with Elizabeth, but the thoughtfulness of the gift overwhelmed her.

Hope put the strap over her head. It caught on her
kapp
and then she fixed it. The apron slipped on and she tied it in back.

“I love these pockets.” She slid her hands into the deep openings. “These are perfect for my seed packets and my tools.”

“And for something else—another special gift. Although this one isn't for you to keep. It's for you to borrow for a time.”

Hope's brow furrowed. “Borrow?”

Elizabeth pulled out an old book from the bag. It was the size of a small notebook with a hard cover. The edges were worn, and the green faded cover proved its age. Elizabeth set the paper bag to the side, and she ran her hand over the cover.

Lovina paused in rolling out her crust. “What is that? An old hymnal?”

Noah straightened and stepped forward. He leaned down, excitement clear on his face. “That's an antique. I'm sure of it. It looks like an old journal.”

“
Ja
, that's exactly what it is.” Elizabeth smiled again, broader, and for the first time Hope noticed the hint of dimples on her aged cheeks. “It belongs to one of my friends—well, a friend who started out as a customer at my fabric shop. She's Englisch, and her family has lived in Sarasota for over a hundred years. They have a beautiful family home by the water.”

“But why would she want to lend that to me?”

Elizabeth's eyes twinkled. “It's a garden journal. From 1942. My friend's mother was named Pauline, and in the midst of
World War II she started a Victory Garden—have you ever heard of that? Most families had one during the war. There was rationing back then, since so much food went overseas to the troops. Gardens sprouted up in small backyards, on large estates, and even in parks. People knew if they were going to make it through that war they had to do their part to fill their stomachs.”

Hope looked from Lovina to Noah and then back to Elizabeth again. She'd heard about Victory Gardens before, but she hadn't paid much attention.