SummerHill Secrets, Volume 2 (51 page)

The next time Jon called was Monday evening. I’d totally forgotten to get back to him about the hike. But I wasn’t home when he called, so Mom took another message.

“Are things all right between you and your friend?” Mom asked, her eyes searching mine. “Seems like you’re playing phone tag.”

I went to the sink to wash my hands. “I’ve got other things on my mind,” I said.

“Not Levi, I hope,” Mom shot back.

Why she had that idea, I didn’t know. “Levi’s off at college,” I reminded her.

“I heard he’s coming home for a visit.” Mom pulled a chair away from the table and sat down. No doubt she wanted to talk this through.

“Are you sure? Because last I heard, he wasn’t.”

She frowned. “Miss Spindler told me today that he was.”

“She oughta know!” Miss Spindler seemed to know everything there was to know in the neighborhood, usually before it even happened. Now that I knew how she kept up on all of us in SummerHill, I didn’t pursue things with Mom. I’d play it safe and keep quiet.

“Is it classified information that’s keeping you so busy over at our Amish neighbors’ farm?” Mom asked gently—not probing, really, just terribly interested.

“I’m helping Rachel care for one of the new lambs.”

“Oh?”

“The lamb’s sickly…an orphan. She won’t take to the bottle very well.”

Mom’s eyes were wide. “How very sad.”

“That’s why I’m going over there so much.”

Mom nodded her head, taking a deep breath. “Well, I’m glad to know this isn’t about Rachel’s brother.”

“Oh, Mom,” I laughed it off, “you can relax about Levi. He has a new girlfriend, I’m pretty sure.”

Our conversation ended quickly enough, but another was soon to take place. The prelude to it occurred when I bumped in to Dad on my way past his study.

“Hi, Dad,” I said, glad to see him. “What have you been doing all day?” I followed him up the steps.

“I think it’s time to finish our talk,” he said. “I’ll meet you in the backyard at the gazebo in, say, ten minutes?”

I checked my watch. “Sure, but first I have to make a phone call.”

He smiled faintly, and I hurried to my brother’s room, where I dialed Jon Klein. “Hi, Jon,” I said when he answered. “It’s me, Merry.”

“Hey!” He was truly glad to hear from me. “I hope you’re coming tomorrow.”

“I’d really like to, but I promised to help Rachel after school.”

“Oh.” A weighty silence followed. He probably wanted an explanation and deserved one. But how could I tell him I was choosing a sick and possibly neurotic animal over him? I couldn’t. He might not understand, and I didn’t want to risk losing my friendship with him. Besides, I could feel it in my bones—I was getting closer to a breakthrough with little Jingle Belle.

“Maybe I’ll go the next time,” I spoke up.

“How about next week?” he persisted.

“Why, what’s happening then?”

“Some people from my photography class are going down to the banks of the Susquehanna River. We’ll shoot some pictures, walk along the river…enjoy the surroundings.”

“Church friends?” I asked, knowing how picky Dad was.

“Two are.” The others were school friends of Jon’s, ones I didn’t know very well.

I was pretty sure Dad would say I couldn’t go. “I guess not. And I’m sorry about tomorrow.”

“Will you let me know sooner…next time?” He sounded annoyed.

“Yeah, I can do that.” Truth was, I could’ve let him know
this
time but didn’t. I’d treated his invitation with reckless indifference.

Again, we hung up on a slightly sour note. I truly hoped Jon would understand about Rachel’s lamb once I told him the whole story. If he’d just be patient long enough.

By the time I met Dad at the gazebo, he was looking out through the white latticework. “What took you so long?” he joked.

“Jonathan Klein.”

“Great kid…I like him.” Dad was grinning now, raising his eyebrows at me.

“He seems to like you, too,” I said, eager to know what was on his mind. “So what are we talking about?”

“Your mother,” he said.

My breath caught in my throat. “She’s not sick, is she?” Illness was always the first thought to come to mind. Because of Faithie.

He shook his head, turning to lean against the wood railing so that he was now facing me. “Your mom’s going through what’s commonly known as a midlife crisis, although
I
don’t think it’s anything to worry about.” He paused, raking his fingers through his hair. “I think her antique shop idea is an excellent one. It’ll keep her busy.”

“Is there anything I can do? I mean, to make Mom feel better?”

“Maybe there is,” he said more softly. “Why don’t you talk to her…about Faithie. Share your memories of your twin sister.”

“Would she want to? I mean, are you sure about this?”

He nodded, eyes glistening. “Mom still misses Faith terribly. We all do.”

“We all do.”
His words tumbled over and over in my brain.

I don’t honestly know how I got from where I was standing across the gazebo to my father’s arms. Somehow, I managed through a mist of tears. Dad wrapped me in his strong embrace, and I smelled his subtle cologne fragrance and felt the texture of his golf shirt on my cheek. “Oh, Dad,” I cried. “I miss Faithie, too.”

I would’ve offered to ride along with Mom after school the next day. I had actually planned to go antique browsing with her, but Rachel Zook was sitting on the white gazebo steps when I came bounding up the back walk. Wisps of her light brown hair had slipped out from under her head covering. It looked like she’d run all the way through the willow grove to get here.

“Hi, Rachel,” I said, observing her black dress and gray apron. Looked like Amish mourning clothes to me. “Jingle didn’t die, did she?” I barely got the words out.

“No…no, no,” she said, glancing down at her drab clothing. “But I don’t blame ya for thinkin’ that.” Her face broke into a small smile. “But Jingle’s still only takin’ enough nourishment to keep her alive.
Dat
has got her on tube feeding now.”

The muscles in my jaw began to relax. “You had me worried for a minute.”

“Jah, I ’spect I did.”

I invited her inside for lemonade and freshly baked cookies. I assumed there would be some ready and waiting on the kitchen counter, because that was Mom’s usual after-school snack for me in the spring and summer.

We weren’t disappointed. Mom had gone the extra mile and not only made oatmeal cookies but an apple crumb cake, too, along with a pitcher filled with sweet lemonade.

“Your mom’s an awful gut cook,” Rachel said, sitting down at the table with me.

“That’s a compliment, coming from you,” I replied, knowing what an incredible cook
her
mother was.

Then, out of the blue, Rachel said, “Jingle’s bein’ shunned by the flock.”

I sat up straight in my chair. “Why, what’s happened?”

“The rest of the sheep sense her troubled state.”

“Maybe you should keep force-feeding her,” I suggested.

Rachel shook her head. “Dat and
Mam
think it’s just a matter of days and she’ll be gone. Unless…” Her voice faded away.

“Unless what?”

“Well, if it ain’t God’s will for her to go yet.”

I should’ve known Rachel would say that. God’s sovereign will covered all His creation; it was I who hadn’t thought to invite the Lord into the situation. “Let’s ask God to help us with Jingle,” I said, ready to pray right then.

She didn’t answer, but her blue eyes were serious. “Talkin’ like that to God is up to you…and Levi,” she said softly.

“Levi?” I was startled to hear her mention his name.

“He’s home for a visit. Arrived not more than an hour ago.”

So Miss Spindler was right. Once again, she knew what she was talking about. “Has Levi prayed for the lamb yet?” I asked.

“Not that I know of, but he’s looked her over real gut. ’Tween you and me, I doubt he’s as concerned ’bout Jingle as we are.”

“What do you mean?”

Her eyes took on an almost distant look. “S’posin’ his distraction is understandable.”

I listened, waiting for more.

“Levi brought a girl home…to meet us,” Rachel sputtered out the words.

“His girlfriend from the Mennonite college?”

“Jah.”

So I was right all these weeks about my suspicions. No wonder his letters had stopped. Quickly, I remembered my manners. “Well, I’m happy for him. For you, too, Rachel.”

“Me?” Rachel blinked her eyes. “Ya know, I was hopin’
you’d
be my sister-in-law someday, Cousin Merry.”

I laughed softly. “Oh, things are over between Levi and me. He’s all grown-up now, and a Mennonite, too. I never would’ve fit very well in his Plain world.”

“I s’pose not,” she whispered, head down. “But it was awful nice to hope.”

Getting up, I carried the pitcher of lemonade to the table. “You know, I just realized Levi hasn’t heard the news about Miss Spindler’s secret.”

“Don’tcha mean Old Hawk Eyes?” Rachel asked.

“To me she’s simply Miss Spindler now. I don’t think she deserves a nickname anymore. Never did, really.” Miss Spindler had turned out to be a remarkably astute old lady. Outsmarting all of us.

“I’m sure Levi’s gonna want to see you while he’s home,” Rachel said before she left.

My heart actually stayed put hearing that. I guess I surprised myself, too. Maybe I was truly over any romantic interest in my lifelong friend. “I’d like to meet his girlfriend sometime,” I told her.

“You mean you’d like to
approve
of her?”

We literally howled at that, and since parting for us was always next to impossible, I walked all the way out to the lane and down to the willow grove shortcut with her.

The branches above us mushroomed over our heads like a giant tent. Deep in the willows, we found our secret place, more beautiful than one could imagine. The place had belonged to Faithie and me first. After her death, Rachel and I had claimed it as our own. Only one adult had ever visited here. My mother. That was two months shy of a year ago, the day I’d discovered baby Charity abandoned in our gazebo.

Beyond the willow grove was pure sunshine. Golden rays bounced off the grassy meadow to the west of the Zooks’ barnyard. And out behind the barn, the pond was aglow with dancing light. Summer was almost here!

“It won’t be long and I’ll be joining the Amish church, Merry.” Rachel’s face was serious as she said it, and her eyes shone.

“You sure now?”

“Jah, it’s the right way for me,” she said reverently. “Matthew and I will both take our kneelin’ vow this September.”

“I’m not surprised.”

She smiled, her dimples showing. “A gut many young people will be joining church this fall. Oh my, and Dat’s ever so glad ’bout it.”

I thought of Abe Zook’s disappointment over his second son, Levi, joining ranks with the Mennonites. “Makes up for certain ones
not
joining, I guess.”

“Jah. Dat thinks it’s high time we Amish take back our children from the clutches of the world,” Rachel said unexpectedly. “He’s started speakin’ out more and more ’bout raising the standard for our young people.”

“Does he plan to talk to Levi about returning to his Amish roots?”

“Well, yes and no. It’s a right touchy situation, with Martha around and all.”

“Martha?”

“Levi’s girlfriend—Martha Martin.”

For a second, I nearly laughed, thinking of the alliteration. “Is she staying at your house?” I asked, composing myself.

She nodded sheepishly. “I’m sharing my room with her.”

“You’ll get acquainted real quick that way.”

“Well, ain’t that the truth!”

I watched her turn and head out of the willow grove, her slender form flitting through the trees and the underbrush as the sun twinkled down on her.

“I’ll be right over after I change clothes,” I hollered to her, remembering the dear little lamb who needed me.

“Make it snappy!” she called over her shoulder.

I would hurry, all right. Because I was sure I knew what to do to get Jingle’s attention. I could hardly wait to try!

On the way back up the hill, I saw Mom driving out of our lane, then make the turn onto Strawberry Lane. Where was she headed? She never went into town that way. It was the opposite direction!

Quickening my pace, I shot through the front and side yards. Just in time, too, because when I peered through the trees, I saw Mom pulling into our neighbor’s driveway. “What’s she doing at Miss Spindler’s?” I wondered aloud.

Mom and Ruby Spindler had been casual friends for as long as I remembered. Our elderly neighbor seemed to enjoy doting on our family, sharing her freshly baked pies and other pastries. But never had she and Mom been close friends. So this was a surprise! In fact, if I hadn’t had an ailing lamb to tend to, I would’ve schemed to get to the bottom of Mom’s visit with our eccentric neighbor. But I had more important things on my mind. Today, I intended to change the course of Jingle Belle’s life!

The afternoon sky had begun to turn overcast by the time I changed clothes and headed toward the Zooks’ farm. Because of the gray clouds, I felt somewhat gloomy. But I was determined to help Jingle Belle, so I tried to ignore the discouraged feeling.