Sewn with Joy (27 page)

T
he gaggle of women entered the building. Some Joy knew and some she didn't, but she knew Rowan had told the security guard to take all their names from
Mem
and then let them in.

Mem
walked to where Joy stood by the tables that were always ready for meals. “Do we just set up here?”

“
Ja
,
Mem.
Just put it down anywhere.”

Joy hurried toward an older woman and helped her with the large casserole dish she was carrying. “
Ja
, place the food right on these tables,” she repeated.

The woman set down the casserole. It was hot and bubbling and smelled delicious.

“You must be Joy. I'm Adeline, and most of us are from Ephrata, Pennsylvania. We met your
mem
at Yoder's Produce. We were supposed to have a sisters' sewing circle today, but this sounded like a lot more fun.”

Joy smiled. Wasn't that just like
Mem
to rope them in? There was so much conflict of late within the community that
Mem
had been smart to ask outsiders for help. And these women seemed
pleased. Even as they placed their dishes on the table, they scanned the set. They took in the television crew and the lights, and their eyes settled on the Amish living room set. Alicia sat on the sofa in her Amish dress, reading over tomorrow's script.

Adeline stepped closer to Joy and pointed to Alicia. “Is that woman Amish or
Englisch
? It's hard to tell. She's not an actress, is she?”

Joy lifted her chin and smiled, pleased by the woman's comments. If this woman couldn't tell Alicia was
Englisch
, then she knew she'd done her job well.

“She's one of the actors. And a dear friend,” Joy added. “She's going to love all this food. It smells so wonderful, although I'm sure I'm going to get some complaints.”

Adeline's face fell. “Complaints? Why?”

Joy chuckled. “Oh, because wardrobe has already had me take her dress out once. I suppose she's been eating too well around Pinecraft. Georgia—the wardrobe designer—is almost ready to ban Alicia from ordering in from Me, Myself, and Pie. Alicia loves it, of course. She was determined to try every pie on the menu, and from what I hear she's getting close.”

The woman hung on every word, and Joy knew she was giving them plenty of news to tell when they returned home. Yet for the first time, it didn't bother her. They'd talk about the cameras and the set, so they might as well talk about the people too. These were real people with real needs. For so long she simply thought of the Amish relationship with the
Englischers
as “us versus them,” but the more time she spent on the set, the more she thought differently about friendships and the need for all people from all backgrounds to know God.

The women had barely set the food on the table when the crew gathered around, ready to dig in as if they were soldiers who'd just
gotten off a march. Georgia didn't wait to be served. She picked up two steaming biscuits and slathered them with butter and jam. With elated voices, everyone else eagerly let the ladies pile paper plates with their requests for fried chicken, potato salad, zucchini casserole, homemade bread, chocolate chip cookies, and pie.
Mem
had brought a fresh fruit salad, and her bowl was empty within minutes.

Joy watched her
mem
scooping up healthy portions of casserole onto paper plates. If Joy lived a hundred more years, she'd never forget the transformation of her mother right before her eyes. She appeared twenty years younger. Her smile was bright. Her eyes twinkled. For the first time Joy realized how much her father's illness had taken its toll on
Mem.
How nice it was to sit back and watch her work.

Joy couldn't help but smile as she watched everyone eat too.

“This is amazing,” one of the cameramen declared, licking his fingertips.

“Are they coming back for dinner?” one of the men asked, dabbing his mouth with a white paper napkin.

“Yes, we'll be back,”
Mem
piped up, and a cheer rose.

“You're still eating?” Rowan asked, walking up to his assistant.

“Is there still food on the table?” Heidi asked.

“Yes.”

“Then I'm still eating.”

Joy walked up to both of them. Alicia was there too. “You know they're bringing more food tonight and tomorrow, right?”

Alicia wrinkled her nose and grinned. “Yes, and I can't wait to see what it is.”

Mem
approached Kristen with two paper plates. “Would you like a piece of pie?”

The actress placed a hand on her flat stomach. “I can't
remember the last time I ate pie. But if you want to cut one of those in half—”

“Oh, nonsense.”
Mem
handed her the plate with the largest piece. “One piece of pie isn't that much. Besides, you need to plump up.”

Joy laughed. “There is no such thing as small in my mother's portioning.”

“No, honestly. I can't eat that much,” Kristen said even as she took the plate from
Mem
's hands. Her eyes widened as she took a bite. “This is amazing.”

Mem
winked. “I told you.”

When they were nearly finished, Joy took a plate herself and stepped to the back of the line. Someone walked up behind her, and she turned to see Rowan.

“I think this is a hit. They're taking the job, right?”

Joy turned to her
mem.
“Are you sure? Do you think you can handle all this every day they're shooting?”

“I won't be able to do all the cooking, but I'd be happy to find people who can.”

Joy leaned in close to her, whispering into her ear. “But what will the bishop say?”

“The bishop. Oh,
ja
…”
Mem
nodded. “I already stopped by and talked to him and Jeanette.”

“You did?”

“
Ja
, I told them about your
dat
's therapy. He not only understood our need to make money, but he said he'd put in a special request for those in the church to help too. They'll be taking up a collection.”

Hearing that, Joy's heartbeat quickened. She placed a hand over it. “And did he talk about me? Did you mention that's why I'm working here too?”

Mem
's brow furrowed. “Why you're working here?”

“
Ja
, to earn money for
Dat
's treatment. And that's why Faith was helping me sew.” Joy didn't know whether to laugh or cry. “
Mem
, have you even looked in your bank account? We almost have enough for his first round of therapy.”

Tears filled
Mem
's eyes. She covered her mouth with her hands, and then she reached out and grasped both of Joy's shoulders. “I had
ne
idea, Joy. I really had
ne
idea.”

“I'm just glad I could help,
Mem
.” Joy glanced up and noticed Alicia standing nearby. Had she overhead?

Mem
moved back to the table and began gathering up all the empty dishes. As she did, Alicia stepped closer.

She chuckled. “I've never seen the crew so excited about craft service meals.”

“Yes, there's something to be said for good Amish cooking. What do you think, Alicia? Maybe sometime this week you can come help us make Shepherd's Pie for the whole group.”

Rowan sidled up with a smirk. “Alicia doesn't cook, let alone Shepherd's Pie.”

Alicia looked up at him. “There's so little you know about me lately. Isn't that right, Joy?” Alicia gripped Joy's arm. “I'm not the same person I was a year ago, Rowan. I
did
make Shepherd's Pie for Joy's whole family. It seems I'm becoming a little more like Joy every day.”

Alicia bit her lip and tuned to Joy. “I've even started reading my Bible. I found one of those Gideon Bibles in the dresser of my hotel room. I want to thank you, Joy. Thank you for being here, and thank you for being such an example to me. I'm not sure how everything would have worked out on this set if it hadn't been for you.”

“Well, thank you. I…I don't know what to say.” Joy reached out and took Alicia's hand, and Joy could read more in her gaze.

“You have something you want to ask me,” Joy said. “I can see it in your eyes.”

Alicia's eyes widened. “How did you know?”

“I sit in a director's chair.” Joy chucked. “I'm getting good at reading people.”

Alicia glanced at Rowan. “Uh, maybe we can talk about it later.”

Rowan lifted his hand. “I get it. I understand. I'm not invited in this conversation.” He sounded as if he was hurt. Or maybe he was angry. But what would he be angry about?

Seeing him go, Joy lifted her eyebrows as she turned to Alicia. “Well?”

“I was talking to some of the cast, and we were wondering if you'd want to do a Bible study with us at lunch. After we eat. Maybe starting tomorrow?”

“A Bible study?” Joy's eyes widened.

“Ja.”
Alicia chuckled. “I mean, yes. Me, Georgia, Kristen…a few of the camera guys mentioned they might be interested too.”

“It sounds interesting. Let me think about it. I like the idea of Bible reading together.” She smiled. “It's the
leading
that has me nervous.”

“Yes.” Alicia nodded. “Of course.”

Joy was about to ask more about Alicia's expectations when she heard footsteps beside her.

“Excuse me.” A young Amish woman stepped up to Joy. Joy had seen her around town.
Mem
had obviously roped her in too. “I'm sorry to bother you, but Jeanette asked me to deliver this to you.” She pulled out a small envelope from her apron pocket.

Joy swallowed hard. “Jeanette, the bishop's wife?”

“Ja.”
The young woman nodded. “She stopped me just outside the gate. She wanted to deliver it to you herself, but the security
guard wouldn't let her in. Your
mem
had them put my name on the list, but not hers.” The young woman smiled. “She was quite upset when I came upon her. She even offered to carry in one of the casseroles, but the security guard wasn't fooled.”

“She…she was coming to bring this to me?
Danke.”
She took the envelope from the woman's hand.

Joy stepped over to Rowan and told him she'd be back shortly, and then she hurried into a back corner, hoping no one would follow. It wasn't until she'd stepped away that she realized she hadn't finished talking to Alicia about the Bible study, but she had plenty of time to do that later. Right now Joy had to know what Matthew's
mem
had sent. She opened the envelope and pulled out one thin sheet of paper.

Dear Joy,

Your
mem
stopped by this afternoon and told us she was going to be cooking for the television show. She also explained why the money is needed. Jacob and I feel so bad that we didn't help sooner. Of course, we didn't know.

Even though she didn't say so, I assume that's why you're working there too. I know my son doesn't know this, and I hope you'll tell him. He's angry, but I believe he will come around and understand. He wouldn't be so angry if he didn't love you so deeply. That's what I keep telling him.

That's not the point of my note, though. I'm writing to tell you Jacob and I will do what we can to get the community to help with the expenses for your
dat
's therapy treatments. That's what a church and community are supposed to do—share together in all things, both
gut
and bad. With that promise, we also encourage you to
step down from your job. A television show is
ne
place for a young woman such as you. Don't be tempted by the world and all that it offers.

I'm having another sewing frolic tomorrow. It won't be the same without you. I hope to see you there.

Love, Jeanette

Joy didn't realize her hands were trembling until she attempted to fold the paper. Matthew was angry, but if she quit, all would be forgiven. And the church was going to help provide for
dat
's treatments. It seemed almost too good to be true.

For a moment she tried to picture life as before. Before she'd started working on the set, she'd woken up slowly and had time to talk with
Mem
and
Dat
before heading over to Pinecraft Fabric and Quilts. She had time to attend sewing frolics and to be with Matthew. That old life was what she wanted most, wasn't it? To know
Dat
's treatment would be covered and that she could go on with her romance
? To love and to be loved?
To marry and live a simple Amish life?

That's what she wanted before, but now…What had changed? She'd made new friendships with
Englischers
. And she saw that while she had been sewing with friends and working in a quilt shop, there were real people out in the world who needed hope and to hear about God's love. And now Alicia wanted to start a Bible study. She was opening up right before Joy's eyes. Her friend would be crushed. She'd close back up and resurrect those old walls if Joy walked away now.