Seeing Your Face Again (18 page)

His determination sent shivers of anticipation through him. Alvin quickened his walk. Was there something wrong with him? He'd rarely spoken with Debbie at home. He always left the moves up to her—even after Debbie had spoken of her feelings for him at Verna's wedding. He hadn't dared take the relationship onward. Paul Wagler was to blame for that, but Alvin's own fears were at the root
of his hesitation. Perhaps this choice to enter the
Englisha
world and do something on his own for the first time was the right one. He needed courage, and here of all places he'd found it.

Alvin squared his shoulders. He would find which apartment the girl lived in, and he would call on her. Wasn't that what
Englisha
people did? Well, they might call on the telephone first, but he didn't have a phone and he didn't know where to find her phone number. He could find her apartment number much easier. Tenant names were listed in the front register on the wall in the lobby. He hurried his steps. If he waited too long he might lose his nerve. What if he passed out when she answered the apartment door? Alvin gave a nervous laugh at the thought. He glanced around, but the few people out tonight were busy with their own worlds. The man ahead of him walked even faster. If the fellow had heard him, he might figure a crazy man was loose on the street.

Alvin suppressed a smile as he entered the apartment complex and stopped in front of the list of names. “Crystal Meyers” was among them, with a fourth-floor number. Alvin's hands shook as he stepped into the elevator. This was right, Alvin told himself. He must move on just like he'd done with the letter to Deacon Mast that had to be written. The elevator door opened and Alvin stepped into the fourth-floor hallway. Crystal's number was just around the corner. He approached and knocked.

Moments later the door opened with a chain latch still attached. Crystal stared at him. “Yes?”

“I'm Alvin Knepp from the fifth floor.” Alvin pasted on a nervous smile. “I've seen you a few times…in the hall…and thought I'd stop by to say hi.”

“Oh…” The door closed and opened without the chain. “Alvin, is it?” She returned his smile. “Do you want to come in?”

“Sure.” Alvin stepped inside.

Crystal wore a comfortable-looking gray dress spotted with pale-red flowers. She didn't look much like Debbie up close, so maybe
he'd imagined that. But she was still beautiful. She must have recognized him from earlier to give him such a nice welcome. Maybe
Englisha
girls were all like this. He hadn't known very many of them. He clasped his hands in front of him like Bishop Beiler did when he was preparing to preach a Sunday-morning sermon. He pushed thoughts of Bishop Beiler and his Amish life away when Crystal's dog came up and sniffed his hands.

“Saint Bernard?” he asked, taking a guess.

She laughed. “No. He's a Labrador retriever.”

Alvin rubbed the dog's head. “Maybe we could all go for a walk in the little park I found tonight. Sometime, that is.”

“Clovery Park?” She raised her eyebrows. “You know of the place?”

“I guess that's what it's called. I found it tonight when I was out on a stroll to clear my mind.” The words came out easily enough.

“I walk Brutus there often. He likes it.”

Alvin didn't know what to say.

“You work in the area?” she asked, studying him.

“I work for Mr. Rusty. Downtown…at the Hyatt.” Alvin met her gaze. “He's a nice man to work for.”

She shrugged. “How about we take that walk tomorrow afternoon then, around two? It's a Sunday.”

Alvin nodded. “That sounds fine.” He backed toward the door. “I suppose I'd better go now.” He was suddenly nervous at how easy it had been to meet this
Englisha
girl.

“Well, okay,” she said. “It was a very short visit, but I'm glad you stopped by. Come again tomorrow at two for that walk.”

“I will,” Alvin said as he twisted slightly to open the door and then backed out into the hallway.

When Crystal closed the door behind him, Alvin wiped his brow with the back of his hand. He'd spoken with an
Englisha
girl! He'd handled himself well. And she had agreed to go out with him! His heart now pounded like crazy, but how bad was that? It felt
gut
, in fact.

Seventeen

T
he following day, soon after lunch, Alvin tried on his best Sunday suit—the same one he wore to church services. He clipped in the hooks and eyes while standing in front of the bathroom mirror. As he looked at his reflection, he thought,
Nee
, this simply wouldn't do. Way too Plain. He didn't plan to hide his past from Crystal, but if he showed up like this he would scare her for sure. He undressed and pulled on his work jeans and a shirt. Over that he put on his heavy work coat. Crystal would have to see him like he usually was. If she didn't like it, that might be for the best anyway. Last night and this morning he'd been racked with a horrible guilt. How could he go out with an
Englisha
girl? What if his
mamm
and
daett
found out…to say nothing of Debbie. Yet what did it matter? The worst would soon happen at home anyway—the
bann
. And his relationship with Debbie was finished now that he'd left the community. He told himself this over and over again. Debbie was surely dating Paul by now. No girl could turn down that kind of charm for long. Wasn't that one of the reasons he'd doubted Debbie's profession of interest at Verna's wedding? There was simply no way someone of Debbie's quality wouldn't choose Paul over him.
And what if she did choose to marry him for some reason? There would surely be regrets on her part later. And he simply couldn't live with that.

Why Crystal had agreed to go out with him begged an answer. But she must have done so because she thought nothing serious would develop from their time together. That's how things were out here in the
Englisha
world, were they not? He didn't know that much about
Englisha
dating, but it did seem so. Back in the community a man dated and planned to marry. Here in the world, everyone seemed more like friends without making deep commitments.

Alvin paced in front of the mirror and peered at his drab clothing. He looked a sight. It made his heart sink. Surely Crystal wouldn't reject his company because of what he wore. Not like the community back home rejected him. Out here in the
Englisha
world people thought differently. Look at Mr. Rusty, for example. The man gave him respect Alvin had never felt from his
daett
. Already Alvin was head of maintenance. That wasn't such a great accomplishment, but it was a start in the world. Carlos worked under him, along with some part-time help. It felt strange to have his suggestions followed. Alvin had never been the boss of anything. And his suggestions worked like they would have worked at home—if
Daett
had only accepted them. Alvin dismissed the bitter thought.
Daett
did the best he could and must not be blamed.

Alvin glanced at the clock and rushed out the door. He took the stairs one floor down and approached Crystal's door and knocked.

“Come in!” she called out.

He opened the door and stepped inside.

Crystal appeared from the kitchen for a brief moment. “Have a seat. Smile at Brutus. He likes that.”

“Hi!” Alvin said, but Crystal had disappeared already.

Alvin sat on the couch and eyed the dog, who did the same back at him.
Daett
had kept a cur around the place since Alvin was a teenager. A smaller dog who kept the rats down in the barn. Brutus
didn't appear quite as friendly. Alvin leaned forward. “Hello. How are you, Brutus?”

Brutus growled.

“Not the friendly type, huh?”

Brutus lay down and stared at him. At least the dog didn't bark or lunge at him. So far so good.

Crystal bustled through the kitchen doorway. “I packed a little something. I thought we might get hungry.”

Alvin smiled. “Sounds good to me. How far are we going?”

She eyed him for a moment. “I thought you said the park?”

“Of course. I was just…”

“Joking,” she finished for him. “Don't mind me. I'm used to being alone and having only Brutus to boss around.”

She handed Alvin a paper bag and snapped the leash on Brutus's collar.

“Are we ready?” she asked.

“I'm ready.” Alvin jumped to his feet. He opened the door, and she marched through with Brutus in the lead. They took the elevator down in silence, much like they had the other time he'd ridden with her. Elevators didn't lend themselves to conversation, Alvin decided. There was no reason he should be nervous.

They got out in the first-floor courtyard. Alvin hurried ahead to open the door. Brutus strained on the leash, and Crystal almost had to run to keep up.

“Want me to take the leash?” he offered.

A grateful look crossed her face as she handed the leash over. “Thanks. He needs a strong hand on these walks, which is why it's a struggle to take him out.”

Alvin hung on. Brutus seemed to have forgotten his earlier hostility toward him. No wonder Crystal had accepted his offer of a walk so readily. She needed a strong dog walker more than anything else!

“Weather's turning nicer.” Crystal gave him a warm look. “I
thought for a while there we'd be in drifts ten-feet deep with how it kept snowing every week.”

“
Yah
, the farm back home was taking it hard too.” He gave her a quick glance. He hadn't planned on giving out such personal information.

She smiled. “I know you come from Amish country. Mr. Rusty told me when I asked.”

He almost stopped. “Do you know Mr. Rusty?”

She laughed. “Not well, but I made inquiries. I grew up around here. It's not that hard to find things out about people…when you're interested.”

Warmth rushed through him. Did Crystal mean something special by that comment? She would have had to make inquiries
after
he'd talked with her last night. And Mr. Rusty was off on Sundays unless there was an emergency, so this took some effort on her part.

“I like Amish country.” Crystal gave him a kind look as if that explained everything.

And it might, Alvin thought. If she knew he used to be Amish, this might explain her easy acceptance of him. How many
Englisha
girls would go for long walks with men they barely knew…even if they lived in the same apartment building? Not many. But Crystal had accepted his offer before she'd spoken to Mr. Rusty.

Alvin hung on to the leash until they reached the park pillars.

“You can let him run,” Crystal told him. “He knows enough to stay within the park area. If not, I can call him.”

Alvin unclipped the leash, and Brutus was off with great bounds.

Crystal watched her dog run among the trees. “I can't let him run that much during the summer. He bothers people—or rather people are bothered by him.”

“It must be difficult keeping such a dog in an apartment,” Alvin said sympathetically.

She laughed. “Better than the alternative—getting mugged or robbed. The city's not the safest place for women, shall we say. And I don't have a husband or boyfriend.”

Alvin glanced away. He wasn't about to comment on
that
subject.

Crystal seemed to have no such compunction. “Do you have a girl back in Amish country? Or a wife, as far as that goes?”

Alvin laughed. “A wife! I wouldn't be here if I did.”

Her gaze held great interest. “Loyal, huh? I heard you Amish were like that.”

Alvin shrugged. “We try.”

“I heard you don't divorce. Is that true?”

Alvin didn't hesitate. “No one from my community has left his wife in my lifetime. Or from any of the other districts. I would have heard if they had.”

“That's quite a record. I'm impressed.”

Alvin nodded. “It comes from our obedience to God's Word and our love for each other, I suppose. We stick it out.”