The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club - 02 - The Tattered Quilt (33 page)

Winona Lake, Indiana

“This seems like a nice enough place,” Cheryl told Blaine as they entered the BoatHouse Restaurant. Looking around, she noticed right away the welcoming décor.

“Yeah, my boss, Stuart, told me about it. Said the restaurant has great year-round lakeside dining, not to mention some pretty good food.” Blaine patted his stomach. “Since it’s way past lunchtime, I’m more than ready to eat.”

Cheryl smiled as the hostess seated them in a booth near a window with a gorgeous view of the lake. Sliding into their seats, she felt like they had the whole place to themselves, with the high-backed booths separating them from the rest of the patrons. “It was worth the drive down here, don’t you think?” she asked Blaine.

He nodded and perused the menu the hostess had given them before leaving their table. “Would you like some fried calamari, mozzarella wedges, or a battered veggie platter as a starter?”

“If I had an appetizer, I’d probably be too full to eat anything else.” Cheryl studied the soups and salads on the menu. “The oriental chicken salad sounds good.”

“What else would you like?” Blaine asked.

“Just the salad will be enough.”

He studied her from across the table. “If you eat like that all the time, no wonder you’re so thin.”

Cheryl laughed lightly, feeling the heat of a blush.

Blaine tapped the menu with his index finger. “Think I’ll have a shrimp cocktail and the Asian cashew chicken. I’ll probably get a side order of sweet potato fries, too.”

When their waitress returned, they gave her their orders; then Blaine started talking about the lake again. “From what Stuart’s said, Winona Lake is a great shopping spot for anyone looking for unusual things like pottery, jewelry, wood carvings, and handmade silverware. After we finish eating, maybe you’d like to browse some of the shops while I check out the lake for the best fishing spots.”

“Are you planning to fish today?” Cheryl questioned. She wondered if he hadn’t brought her here just so he could spend the afternoon fishing.

“No, not today, but if I decide this is a good place to fish for bass, I might try it out sometime. Do you like to fish?” he asked.

“No, not really.”

“Oh, I see.” Blaine’s frown revealed his disappointment. “So is it okay with you if I check out some fishing spots while you shop?”

She nodded. “Sure, that’s fine.” Truthfully, Cheryl didn’t think this was much of a date if they went their separate ways after lunch, but she chose not to make a big deal out of it. Besides, it would give her a chance to look for some things she hadn’t been able to find anywhere else. She might find something nice to give Grandma for her birthday, in case Emma didn’t get the quilt done on time.

As they ate, Blaine talked about fishing, while Cheryl stared out the window. She tried to act interested at first, but it was obvious that Blaine’s mind was on fishing, not her. Cheryl found herself drawn to the beauty of the lake and the cottages dotting the shoreline. She wondered what it would be like to wake up every morning and watch the sun rise as it reflected across the lake.

“Look at this.” Cheryl motioned to the pamphlet she’d found propped up with the dessert specials, explaining the history of the restaurant. “It says here that this restaurant was built on the same foundation as the cafeteria that was constructed here in the 1940s, when the original boathouse was removed.”

“Hmm…That’s interesting.”

Cheryl kept reading as Blaine finished eating his fries. “And get this. The original boathouse was built way back in 1895. It also says that in the 1960s, the cafeteria was converted to a roller skating rink.”

“Is that so?” Blaine reached for his glass of orange soda and took a drink.

“I’ll bet it was fun to roller skate here by the lake.” Cheryl looked up from the brochure and realized that Blaine, now gazing out the window, was no more interested in the history of the restaurant than she was with his fishing stories. She couldn’t help wondering why he never asked anything about her. Their conversation today, as well as the other times they’d talked, seemed pretty one-sided. Maybe she’d made a mistake agreeing to go out with him again.

When the meal was over, Blaine said he would meet Cheryl where his SUV was parked, in two hours.

“That’s fine. I’ll see you then.” Cheryl hurried off toward one of the stores.

She felt guilty for feeling this way, but she actually looked forward to being alone for a while. It wasn’t that Blaine was unpleasant; they just didn’t have much in common.
Maybe I haven’t given Blaine a fair chance
, Cheryl thought.
Guess I could try fishing with him sometime; although sitting in a boat with a fishing pole really isn’t my thing
.

C
HAPTER
29

Shipshewana

D
espite the chill in the air, the lake is beautiful today,” Emma said, looking at the pristine waters as Lamar helped her out of the buggy. “I’m glad you suggested we come here this afternoon.”

Lamar’s eyes twinkled. “I thought we both needed a little break, and there’s nothing like fresh lake air to make one feel energized. Look there, toward the center of the lake,” he said with the excitement of a young boy.

Emma turned her attention to the geese Lamar was pointing at.

“Good thing we brought some bread along. Maybe we can entice them over to the shoreline so we can feed ’em.”

Breathing deeply of the fresh air, Emma watched as the majestic-looking birds glided quietly over the surface, making small ripples in the lake’s calm waters. Lamar had been right—the air was crisp and clean smelling. As always, Lamar looked at the positive side of things. She thought back to when she’d first met him and how in the beginning, she had avoided spending time with him. It didn’t take long for Lamar to worm his way into her heart, however, and she was glad she’d agreed to become his wife. Others, including their families, said they complemented each other.

I think it’s true
, Emma mused, glancing at Lamar as he secured their horse to a nearby tree.
I certainly enjoy his company, and we work well together at home and teaching the quilting classes
.

As they walked down the path, Emma’s thoughts shifted, reflecting on all the times she’d come to the lake with her first husband and how Ivan had carved their initials in a tree that stood in this very spot until a storm took it down. As difficult as it had been losing Ivan, Emma knew that she’d been blessed in both of her marriages. That special old tree was gone, but thanks to Lamar cutting out the piece of wood with the initials in it, Emma had a beautiful table that would someday become a cherished heirloom for her children and grandchildren.

Emma knew the importance of passing things on to the next generation. That’s why she’d taught her daughters and granddaughters how to sew and quilt. Since Mary lived close to Emma, she often came over so she and Emma could do some quilting together. It was fun having someone to quilt with while getting caught up on one another’s lives.

“How did you think things went with the class today?” Lamar asked, bringing Emma’s thoughts to a halt.

Emma sighed. “Okay, I guess, but I wish Anna would open up to me. She seemed even more sullen than usual this morning.”

“She does seem to be catching on to quilting, though,” Lamar observed.

“Jah, but I’m concerned because Anna doesn’t say much to anyone except Carmen.” Emma stopped walking and turned to face Lamar. “I have a hunch that young woman is not going to join the Amish church.”

“What makes you think that?”

“She has a chip on her shoulder and seems to be dissatisfied with the Amish way of life. I recognize it because when I was a young girl that’s how I felt.”

Lamar’s mouth gaped open. “Oh Emma, I find it hard to believe that you ever had a chip on your shoulder or were dissatisfied being Amish.”

“It’s true. I was restless and rebellious and almost ran off with my boyfriend, but I came to my senses in time.” Emma’s face heated just thinking about it. Even after all these years she felt shame for what she’d put her parents through.

“Maybe you should share this with Anna,” Lamar suggested. “Let her know that you understand what she’s going through.”

“I would if she’d open up to me, but I can hardly bring up the subject for no reason at all.”

Lamar took Emma’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I think we should pray about this, don’t you?”

Emma nodded. She’d been praying for Anna, as well as her other five students, and would continue to do so.

Winona Lake

Blaine left the Lakehouse store, where he’d spent the last half hour looking at various items involving water sports, and headed for his SUV to wait for Cheryl. After talking to a fisherman he’d met in the store, he’d learned that Winona Lake was known as one of the better bass fisheries in northern Indiana. He’d also been told that it was best to fish during the early morning hours before any power boats hit the water. The thing that made him want to come back the most was learning that in addition to largemouth bass, there were also walleye and bluegills. The man had said the shallower water of the lake was best fished from a kayak with a flat bottom because the thick vegetation that grew there could create a problem for motor boats.

Blaine glanced around the parking lot, then over toward one of the shops.
Where is she, anyway?
he wondered, looking at his watch.
Cheryl should have been here by now. What could be keeping her?
Blaine pulled out his cell phone to call her and frowned.
That’s great; my battery’s dead. Think I’d better drive past some of the shops and see if I can spot her
.

Cheryl stepped out of the Whetstone Woodenware shop and headed for the parking lot where Blaine’s vehicle was parked. She’d spent a little more time in the shop than she’d planned, but at least she’d found a nice hand-carved soup ladle to give her mother for Christmas. She’d also purchased a set of wooden salad tongs for herself. Since Cheryl’s dad loved coffee, she’d bought him a wooden scoop for measuring out coffee grounds. She wished she’d been able to spend a little more time in that shop, but she was already late.