Sarasota Dreams (27 page)

Shelley slowly shook her head. “I’ve just been very busy lately.”

“So I’ve heard. You need to be careful about how you stay busy and who you are busy with. Some people can take your focus off the Lord.”

There was no doubt what Mrs. Penner was talking about. Shelley instantly felt defensive, but she knew better than to argue her case. The only way Mrs. Penner ever changed her mind about someone was to see that person in action.

Mrs. Penner set the rolls on a cooling rack then poured some coffee into two mugs, which she carried to the table. “Sugar and cream?”

“Yes, please.”

After they both had their coffee fixed like they wanted, Mrs. Penner joined Shelley at the table. “Jeremiah has always been somewhat spirited, as my daughter once was. You know what happened to her.”

Shelley looked Mrs. Penner in the eye and saw the wisdom borne of pain. “Yes, I know.”

“Well? Aren’t you going to tell me Jeremiah is different?” Mrs. Penner lifted an eyebrow as she waited for Shelley’s answer.

“I would like to, but I’m not sure.”

Mrs. Penner offered one of her rare smiles. “Smart girl. It’s always a good idea to take a wait-and-see attitude before jumping into something. He’s not keeping it a secret that he wants to court you. Our Mary has tried to convince us that Jeremiah is a changed man, and she reminds us that he helped Abe escort that evil monster who tried to hurt her out of the restaurant so the police could take him away.” She sipped her coffee then set down her mug before looking back up at Shelley. “But it’s easy to do one act of kindness in front of an audience. We need to see if he continues or if the temptations of his old life drive him away again.”

“Yes, I agree.”

“He needs to be consistent. I don’t want you getting hurt by someone who isn’t sincere.”

Shelley looked at the older woman and nodded. “Even if Jeremiah is sincere, I have to help my mother with William.”

Mrs. Penner leaned forward with a hint of a smile. “How is sweet William?”

“He’s fine, but he’s starting to show some independence, and my mother doesn’t know what to do about it.”

“Yes, I can see how that would be troublesome to her.” Mrs. Penner stood and walked over to the counter to ice the cinnamon rolls.

“Would you like some help?”

“Gracious no,” Mrs. Penner said with a chuckle. “You’d just get in the way.”

Even though Shelley understood that Mrs. Penner spoke brusquely but was a good woman deep down, she was taken aback and silenced.

“Here,” Mrs. Penner said as she placed a small plate filled with a fluffy-looking roll covered in icing in front of Shelley. “Taste that, and let me know if it you like it. It’s a new recipe that I’ll make in the restaurant if it turns out good enough.”

There was never any doubt Shelley would like it. After all, it was common knowledge around Pinecraft that Mrs. Penner’s cooking had put Penner’s Restaurant on the map of almost every tourist who visited Sarasota.

The first words that came to mind when Shelley tasted the roll were
totally yummo
! She giggled at how much influence Jocelyn had over some of her thoughts.

Mrs. Penner spun around and scowled. “What is so funny?”

Shelley finished chewing and nodded her satisfaction. “This is delicious.”

The scowl on the older woman’s face faded to a hint of a grin. “That is what I like to hear.” She turned back to finish icing the rest of the rolls when someone knocked on the door. “Go see who that is, Shelley. I’m not expecting anyone.”

Shelley opened the door and took a step back. “Jeremiah … what are you doing here?”

“Who is that, Shelley?” Mrs. Penner called from the kitchen. “It’s Jeremiah,” Shelley called back before turning back around to face Jeremiah.

“I stopped by the restaurant with some produce from the farm. Mr. Penner asked me here to offer you a ride home, since it’s pouring out.”

“Umm …” Shelley glanced over her shoulder then turned back to Jeremiah. “I can wait until it stops raining.”

Jeremiah glanced over Shelley’s shoulder. “Hello, Mrs. Penner.”

J
eremiah, what are you doing here?”

Mrs. Penner’s tone left no doubt that she didn’t want him in her house.

“I … uh, I came to see if Shelley needed a ride home since it’s raining.”

“She can wait until it stops.”

Shelley cleared her throat, glanced at Mrs. Penner, then turned around to face Jeremiah. His heart lurched at the quick connection he felt with Shelley. “I really should be getting home. My mother is expecting me.”

Mrs. Penner tightened her lips and folded her arms. “She’ll understand since it’s raining.”

Shelley gave her a look of apology. “Mother is having a difficult time lately, and she needs me.”

Jeremiah felt bad for Mrs. Penner, despite her opinion of him. In fact, he couldn’t really blame her after his past. “I promise I’ll take her straight home,” he said.

The woman blinked and abruptly turned as she mumbled something very softly. He could barely hear her, but he was pretty sure she said, “Promises are only as good as the person who makes them.”

After walking Shelley to the passenger side of the car with the umbrella, Jeremiah ran around to the driver’s side. “This rain came out of nowhere.”

Shelley’s eyes were focused on her hands folded in her lap. “I’m sorry about what Mrs. Penner said, but you have to understand. After what happened with Mary’s mother … the Penners suffered quite a bit for many years.”

“Oh, I do understand.” He turned the ignition and smiled at Shelley before pulling away from the curb. “She has every reason not to trust me after all the stunts I pulled.”

“Oh.” Shelley folded her arms and stared forward. “So what are some of these … stunts you pulled?”

Jeremiah smiled. “I’m afraid to tell you too many details, or you’ll never speak to me again.”

“Why do you think that?” Shelley asked.

Jeremiah shrugged. “You’re already mad at me for leaving the church. Besides, I’m asking forgiveness while moving forward. Dwelling on the past is very unhealthy.”

“And dangerous,” she added. They rode in silence for a few minutes before Shelley spoke up again. “Are you planning to give up your car?”

Jeremiah chuckled. “Abe is trying to talk me into it, but that’s the only thing I think I’ll miss. It’s nice to not have to rely on others for transportation. I like being able to get in my car and go wherever I want.”

Shelley looked at him quizzically. “Where all do you go?”

He thought for a moment before shaking his head. “Not many places. Mostly just to the farm and around Pinecraft.” He paused before giving her a brief glance. “And picking up one of my favorite people, so she doesn’t have to walk home in the rain.”

“I appreciate the ride, Jeremiah, but I would have been fine.”

“I’m sure you would have, but it’s nice to be able to offer you a ride. Did you know that I had a sports car before I decided to come back to the church?”

“Yes,” Shelley said. “I remember seeing your bright-orange car.”

“Abe advised me to at least swap for something less flashy before talking to the church elders.” He pulled up in front of Shelley’s house. “Will you be in church tomorrow?”

“Yes, of course. I never miss church.”

He let out a deep sigh. “I’ll be there, too. Maybe we can talk afterward.”

“Maybe.”

“Look, Shelley, you don’t have to worry about me embarrassing you.”

“It’s not that I’m embarrassed….”

“No, but you know what I mean. I don’t want to get people thinking anything you don’t want.”

Shelley frowned. “I’m not sure what to say to that.”

He hesitantly touched her arm. She inhaled deeply, cleared her throat, and slowly let out her breath.

“I wish I’d behaved differently in the past,” he said.

“Wishing away things about the past is such a waste of time.”

“Yes, I realize that. But again, you know what I’m talking about. I think things would be different between us if I had been more faithful.”

“Maybe, but you don’t know that for sure.”

“True.” He nodded toward the house. “We’re being watched again.”

She looked at him and smiled before getting out of the car. “Thank you for the ride, Jeremiah.”

He waved and drove away. After he was out of sight of her house, he pulled over and said a prayer that Shelley would eventually care about him as much as he did her.
But I know, Lord, that it will take some time to undo the damage I’ve done. Guide me, and keep me on the path to do Your will
.

The next day Shelley woke up before the sun came up. Since she was the first person up, she quietly got dressed and went outside to wait until time to make the coffee.

“Get up, William,” Shelley said as she stood over her brother, who refused to get out of bed. “You have to get ready for church.”

He sat up and glanced around with a dazed look in his eyes. “I had a bad dream.”

“Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry.” Shelley sat down on the edge of his bed. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

William rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “No, it’s too scary.”

Seeing him like this first thing in the morning reminded Shelley of when he was a tiny boy. Her heart ached for the limitations he had in life, but he didn’t seem to mind. Most of the time William was very happy, and he loved the Lord.

Shelley patted him on the arm and stood. “Get up, and get ready. I’ll have breakfast waiting for you.” She got to the door when she heard him softly say her name. “Yes?”

“Is Mother feeling better?”

“I think so. Let’s talk about that later, maybe after church.”

Gray clouds hung over the Gulf of Mexico, and the humidity was high, but it hadn’t started raining yet. Shelley and William led the way to church, with their parents directly behind them. She could hear her father’s voice as he spoke softly to her mother.

They arrived in time to greet some of their friends. William and her father went to one side of the church, while Shelley and her mother joined the women on the other side. Her mother’s silence disturbed Shelley, but she didn’t know what to say. As they sat down, she lowered her head and prayed for her mother’s moods to improve.

Shelley glanced up as Jeremiah entered the church. Her breath caught in her throat, and she had to fan herself. She looked in the opposite direction, hoping her mother wouldn’t notice what had gotten her in such a state.

Throughout the church service, the very fact that she was in the same room as Jeremiah hung heavy in her mind. It bothered her to feel the way she did. After all, Jeremiah obviously wasn’t the ideal match for her. Everyone close to her knew that, but her heart clearly wasn’t getting the message.

After church they went outside, and William didn’t waste any time joining Shelley and their mother. Jeremiah stood off to the side, occasionally glancing her way but not taking a step in her direction. She knew he was keeping his distance for her sake.

In spite of the fact that Shelley, William, and their mother stood by the sidewalk waiting to walk home, their father continued chatting with some of his friends. When Mary walked out of the church, she spotted Shelley and joined them.

“It’s mighty humid today,” Mary said. “I thought it would be pouring by now, but the storm seems stalled over the water.”

William frowned. “I don’t like to walk in the rain.”

Shelley forced a laugh. “He hates getting his head wet.”

“It makes my hair soggy.”

Mary smiled. “I know that feeling.”

“Where is Abe?” Shelley’s mother said. “Shouldn’t he be out of the church by now?”

“He’s helping Jeremiah fix one of the baseboards that came loose.”

Shelley’s mother looked over at her husband and shook her head but didn’t say anything else. An uncomfortable silence fell among them.

Finally, Abe walked outside. Mary extended her hand toward him, and he took it as he joined the women. “It was wonderful seeing you this morning, Shelley,” Mary said. “I miss talking to you every day at the restaurant.”

“You have no business missing anything about your old life,” Shelley’s mother said. “You have a nice husband who gives you a good life.”

Shelley wanted to find a rock and crawl under it, but Mary smiled at her and winked. “Maybe Abe and I can have you out to the house someday soon.”

“Perhaps you can talk some sense into my daughter. She’s been riding in the car with that Jeremiah boy lately. Her father and I don’t like it one bit.”

Mary gave Shelley’s arm a squeeze. “I’ll stop by the restaurant soon. We’ll talk later.”

After Mary left, Shelley’s father joined them. “Let’s go home, family. I’m starving.” He gazed off into space, as he did often. Once Shelley was old enough to help out more around the house, he’d found ways to be absent—both physically and mentally.

Since her mother hadn’t bothered with meals lately, the task had fallen on Shelley. She was beginning to resent the fact that too much was expected of her, yet her mother found fault with everything she did.

“I like Mary,” William said. “She’s nice.”

“And she has a good head on her shoulders, that girl,” their mother said from behind. “She knew she couldn’t do any better than Abe, so she latched on to him so he could take care of her.”

Shelley couldn’t hold back any longer. “Mother, I don’t think she married Abe just because he could take care of her. Abe and Mary fell in love.”

“Maybe so. But you need to start thinking about finding a man who can take care of you, and I’m not talking about Jeremiah. He left the church once, and you never know when he’ll lose interest again and take off for who knows where.”

Shelley glanced over her shoulder at her father, hoping for support, but he was clearly not listening. He’d dropped back a few steps, and he appeared to be deep in thought.

Since it seemed pointless to argue with her mother, Shelley decided to keep her mouth closed. William spotted a seagull as it headed toward the beach. “Remember when we were on that picnic, and a bird just like that one tried to steal our lunch?”

“Yes,” Shelley said, grateful for the diversion. “Maybe if you hadn’t fed him that potato chip, he wouldn’t have known we had food.”