A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft (15 page)

W
hen the doorbell rang at seven o'clock at night, the last people Beverly expected to see was Ginny Kaufmann and her daughter standing on her front stoop. “Hello,” she said with a tentative smile. “This is a nice surprise.”

“Hi, Beverly. I hope this isn't a bad time?”

Though Beverly was friends with the whole Kaufmann family, they didn't usually call on each other out of the blue. But since they had so graciously let her sleep at their house the evening of the robbery, maybe things had changed? “Did you two come over for tea?” she asked hesitantly.

“
Nee
. We actually came over to seek advice from Eric.” Looking rather agitated, Ginny craned her neck. “Is he around, by any chance?”

Beverly was now really surprised. She couldn't imagine what Ginny and Effie could need from Eric. “He is. He's sitting out on the back patio.” After ushering them inside, she gestured toward the back door. “Let me take you back.”

With a sigh, Effie nodded. Ginny slipped an arm around her, then turned to Beverly. “Would you be able to join us, too? I, um, think maybe you both could give us a lot of
gut
advice.”

More curious than ever, Beverly nodded. “I'd be happy to join you. May I get you girls something to drink first?”

“I'm fine. Effie?” Ginny asked.

Effie shook her head.
“Nee
.
Danke.”

Beverly was fairly curious by the time she'd led the women outside and they'd all said hello to Eric. After they were all sitting down, she said, “So, um, how may Eric and I help you?”

“It's not about me—it's about my friend Josiah,” Effie said.

Looking a little embarrassed, Ginny stared at Beverly and Eric. “Beverly, I know I promised that I wouldn't say anything, but I've been thinking a lot about what you said about Eric's past.”

Though she felt like the bottom of her world had just fallen out, Beverly simply stared.

Eric's eyes narrowed. “Pardon me?”

“Eric, I hope you don't mind, but the other day Beverly shared with me that you once had some trouble at home.” Ginny looked even more pained. “I'm really sorry, Beverly. I know you are probably mighty upset with me.”

“Upset” was putting it mildly. She was equally embarrassed and horrified. But she had no one to blame but herself.
She should have known better than to share her worries with anyone. As the silence between them all stretched taut, Beverly could practically feel Eric's heated glare.

“I'm the one who should be apologizing, Eric,” she said around a swallow. “The morning after you told me about your past, I was so confused and upset that I went for a walk. When I ran into Ginny, I shared some of what you told me.”

Eric braced his hands on his knees. “I never told you to keep my past a secret, Bev. You don't need to apologize.”

But of course, everything in his posture told a different story. He looked pensive. Almost like he was afraid Ginny was going to ask him twenty questions about his past. Beverly felt terrible.

“Are you worried about me or something?” Eric asked.

After glancing at her daughter, Ginny cleared her throat. “Of course not. We came here for advice. I thought it was the right thing to do.”

“What do you want to know?” Eric asked slowly.

Ginny took a breath. “This afternoon, Effie shared with me that her friend Josiah and his brother have been very likely living on their own.”

“Josiah's
daed
was there today, but I don't think he's around much,” Effie blurted. “He also doesn't sound very nice. At all.” After a pause, she mumbled, “I saw a bruise on Josiah last week, too.”

Eric glanced over at Beverly, confusion in his eyes. Beverly shrugged. She was just as at sea as he was.

“Effie also overheard enough to be afraid that Josiah's
bruder
Peter has gotten into some trouble of some sort.” Ginny contin
ued in a rush. “Josiah said he feared he might have even broken the law.”

“Josiah was really worried about a social worker coming to their home.”

Eric's expression hardened. “I'm sorry about your friend, Effie. If a social worker was called, that means his living situation is pretty bad.” After taking a moment, he added, “I imagine you are right. His brother might be in a heap of trouble, too.”

“And they didn't have any food.”

Eric winced. “Again, I'm real sorry. But I don't know how any of what's happening in that house pertains to me.”

“What happened to Eric was a long time ago,” Beverly interjected, feeling protective of him. “Almost twenty years. I don't think he could offer any advice to Peter or his brother.”

Ginny didn't seem to be cowed by Eric's cool tone. “I was hoping you might have suggestions about how we could help those boys without interfering too much.”

Beside her, Eric looked equally confused. “Just because I had some problems a long time ago doesn't mean I'm an expert on helping kids who are making bad decisions.”

“Of course not,” she said quickly, folding her hands tightly in her lap. “Eric, I didn't mean any disrespect. I was only hoping that you might be able to be those boys' friend or something.”

Eric blinked. “You came over to see if I could be their friend?”

“
Jah
. Someone needs to check up on them.”

“You could do that.”

“Yes, of course. But see, Josiah has finally started to trust Effie. I'm afraid if Frank and I get involved, he's going to think Effie told on him.”

“Which she did,” Eric said. Looking at Effie, he added, “I don't want to hurt your feelings, but he's going to find out that you told your mother about his living situation sooner or later. When he finds out, he's going to be upset. You might as well get it over with.”

“These boys need some adults who care about them.” Ginny sighed. “I'm afraid if my husband and I simply offered them some food it wouldn't be accepted.”

“I doubt me showing up out of the blue is going to be any different.”

“Of course not.” Ginny hung her head and took a deep breath, then raised her chin and looked Eric in the eye again. “Obviously, I care about Josiah and Peter enough to risk upsetting you and overstepping myself and even betraying a private conversation that Beverly and I shared.”

After a moment, Eric nodded. “Effie, if things are as bad at Josiah's home as you think, you need to tell someone who can make a difference. If that social worker doesn't move those boys to a better living situation, you need to go to the police.”

Her eyes turned to saucers. “But Josiah would be so mad at me.”

“If things are that bad, it doesn't matter.” Glancing Beverly's way, a new resolve entered his eyes. “Listen, sometimes a person has to be a good enough friend to risk having someone they care about be upset with them. If Josiah is being neglected or is in danger, then you have to tell the authorities.”

“You could even tell one of your teachers,” Beverly ventured. “Maybe that is the best way to help your friend and his brother.”

Effie bit her lip. “Mamm, I shouldn't have said anything.”

“
Nee
. I shouldn't have come over here and bothered Mr. Eric and Miss Beverly,” she said softly. “I am sorry. We were simply hoping to do something to help them, you see. Especially since it's almost Christmas and all.”

“Don't apologize,” Beverly said. “I know your intentions were good. There's simply nothing Eric or I can do.”

“Maybe there is,” Eric blurted suddenly.

“Eric?” As she watched, Beverly saw pain enter his eyes, but also something real and true. It was so honest, so completely without artifice, it took her breath away.

“Let me do some thinking about our different options,” he said at last. “I'll stop by tomorrow and let you know what I think we should do.”

“We?” Effie asked.

“Yep, we.” Taking a breath, he continued. “Effie, your concern for Josiah makes me realize that I can do something, too. I want to help those boys. It's, ah,
important
that I help them.”

Eric's words made Beverly realize that she, too, had changed. She needed to reach out to Effie and her friend and his brother in the same way that so many people had come to her aid after the robbery.

After exchanging a glance with Ginny, she looked Effie in the eye. “I promise, Eric and I will do everything we can.”

“Josiah is a really nice boy,” Effie said. “He's really popular, too. I, um, had no idea he was having such a bad time at home.”

“Not many kids want to share things like that,” Eric said qui
etly. “They're ashamed. But don't worry. We'll do something. Somehow, some way, things will be better by Christmas.”

Looking extremely relieved, Ginny stood up. “
Danke
. I didn't want to share secrets, but I didn't feel I had a choice. I truly hate the idea of a child going hungry here in Pinecraft.”

“I feel the same way,” Beverly said. Then when she noticed how dejected Effie looked, she moved to her side. “Effie, dear?”

The girl stopped and looked at her warily.
“Jah?”

“I'm glad you came over. I'm glad you told your mother about what you saw, too. It was the right thing to do.”

Her lip trembled. “You . . . You don't think Josiah is gonna be mad if he finds out I told you and my
mamm
about what I saw at his house?”

“I don't know. He might. But I do know that sometimes a person doesn't know how much he needs help until he receives it.”

Eric walked to her side. “I was in a situation a whole lot like Josiah's. I don't know if anyone ever guessed how bad things were but I can tell you that my brother and I, well, we had to face a lot of consequences because we were all on our own. I wish now that someone would have cared enough to help.”

Effie nodded. Then, after a pause, she took her mother's hand. Though she was thirteen, and a teenager, at that moment Beverly knew she was simply a girl who needed her mother.

Beverly stood next to Eric on the porch as they watched Ginny and her daughter walk down the street. It was clear that he was still pretty tense, though she couldn't tell whether he was upset with the situation or with her.

Either way, she knew she needed to apologize again. “Eric, I really am sorry that I betrayed your confidence.”

He turned to her, eyebrows lifted. “Why did you? What happened?”

“Well, like I said, the morning after we talked, I was still thinking about what you'd told me. And though a big part of me knew you were right, that your crimes were in your past, I was having trouble with coming to terms with it. I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that someone I cared so much about had done the same thing to other people that had been done to me.”

Something new lit his eyes. “Someone you cared so much about?”

She flushed. It was hard to hear her words on his lips, but she wasn't going to hide behind her embarrassment any longer. He deserved more from her. “Yes.”

Then, hoping to shift the conversation away from her latest confession, she added, “Like I said, I was having trouble with it, so I woke up early and went for a walk. That's when I ran into Ginny.”

“Just like that?”

“She was walking, too. Next thing I knew, I was telling her your story and sharing how I was feeling.”

“What did you think she would say?”

“I didn't know. But, Eric, I wasn't trying to gossip, I simply needed someone to listen. And maybe put everything into perspective. Which she did.”

“How so?”

“She has a son who recently married after a very short courtship and a daughter who not only chose not to be baptized Amish but is seriously dating a man who is teaching her how to drive, among other things. And before all that, she and her husband had to deal with Effie's diagnosis, surgeries, and rehabilitation. All of those things were challenges.”

His lips twitched. “I'd say so.” He looked her way then. “I'm not mad, Beverly.”

She sighed in relief. “I'm so glad. Did you happen to notice how worried Effie looked?”

“Of course I noticed.” Eric nodded. “I'm glad Ginny brought her over. I don't know if I helped her at all, but if I did, then talking about my past was worth it. And, well, I'll do some thinking about how to reach out to those boys without hurting their pride.”

“Do you think that's possible?”

“I think I can try.”

His gaze was warm on her, almost tender. She sighed in relief. “I'm glad you aren't upset with me.”

“It took me off guard, and if I'm being completely honest, it kind of embarrassed me to be thought of as the go-to guy for troubled teens, but I'm glad she did.”

“I'm glad you're not mad.”

Throwing his arm around her shoulders, he said, “Beverly, you just told me that you cared a lot about me.” He smiled broadly. “That's huge!”

“Not that huge,” she grumbled.

Kissing her cheek, he whispered, “It was to me, Bev. Because I care about you just as much.” He stepped away and stuffed his
hands in the back pockets of his jeans. “Now, let's go string up those lights on the tree.”

“All right, Eric.” Her pulse was racing and she knew she was probably blushing again.

She just hoped he thought it was from the excitement of decorating her first Christmas tree and not from, well . . . him.

M
ark, come join us outside on the front porch, would you?”

After glancing at William and getting only a shrug of shoulders in response, Mark followed his
daed
out the front door. There, he found Emma already sitting on one of the porch's black rocking chairs. His
daed
went right to her side.

“Is anything wrong?” he asked. He couldn't think of anything he'd done that might get him in trouble.

“Nothing's wrong, Mark,” Emma said. “We wanted to talk to you about what you and Laura told us the other night about Peter.”

It had now been about forty-eight hours since Mark had gone with Laura to talk to Officer Roberts and then taken her to the farm for supper. He'd only seen Laura for a couple of minutes in between classes yesterday and a few minutes after school today.
Just long enough to make sure she was okay and to tell her he'd come see her over the weekend. But first he had to get through the last two days of school before Christmas break. It seemed every teacher had something due that he'd forgotten about.

Today after school, he'd taken the SCAT home, helped Ben with the fruit and vegetable stand, then had supper. By the end of the meal, he could feel his patience starting to slip. He loved his new stepsisters, but they were chatty, busy little girls who loved his attention. While he was usually more than happy to be around them, by eight o'clock, all he'd wanted to do was pass out.

But it seemed his father and Emma now had other plans.

“None of what happened was my idea. I'm just trying to be Laura's friend,” he pointed out.

Emma smiled. “You're being a
gut
friend to her, for sure.”

“I went up to the station and talked to Officer Roberts this morning,” Jay said.

“Why? What did he say?”

“He said that he went to see Peter yesterday at his house.” Looking troubled, his father continued. “What he found concerned him.”

Mark sat down on the stoop, facing his
daed
and Emma. “Did he find the money?”

“After a time,
jah
.”

“So Peter did rob the inn.”

“It seems so,” Emma said. After clearing her throat, she leaned forward a bit. “Mark, Peter's actions were not good. That is true. But that's not the reason we wanted to talk to you. See, um, Officer Roberts said when he got to Peter's house, the boys' father
had left again. It seems he leaves for days or weeks at a time. And when he goes, he puts Peter in charge of Josiah.”

“That's too bad.”

“It's worse than that, Mark,” his father said. “When their father disappears, he doesn't leave them with anything.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“He doesn't buy them food or give Peter money to pay for expenses or bills.”

Mark was still trying to understand how Peter's father could abandon two teenaged boys without anything. “They didn't have any food? At all?”

His father shook his head. “That was why Peter robbed the inn. He was desperate to get something to feed his brother.”

Afraid his
daed
might see the tears that had suddenly sprung up in his eyes, Mark looked away. Now he felt even more guilty about going with Laura to the police station. Peter had only been trying to feed his little brother. “So we shouldn't have said anything.”

“That's not what I'm saying at all. You did the right thing, son,” his
daed
said. “See, Peter needs help. He and his brother need someone to count on. Actually, they need a lot of people to help them. They've been alone for far too long.”

Starting to understand, Mark nodded eagerly. “I can do that. I can ask him if he wants to come over here for supper. Or maybe, Daed, we can bring him some of the produce that no one wants? We've got lots of that.”

“Those are good ideas, but the boys need more.” After taking a deep breath, he added, “Officer Roberts is going to make sure
Peter pays Beverly back for the damage he did and the money he stole. But what he really has to do is find those boys someone to look after them until everything gets sorted out with their father.”

“What does that mean?”

“Officer Roberts has already talked to the social worker that stopped by their
haus
. They were just about to make some calls when I came by.” After looking at Emma, his
daed
said, “Mark, I want you to know that Emma and I volunteered to be those boys' foster parents.”

Mark had heard of foster kids, but he didn't really know what that meant. “Are you saying they're going to live with us?”

Emma nodded. “After your father talked to Officer Roberts, he came and talked to me. Then we went and met both Josiah and Peter. A social worker is watching them tonight, but they're going to come here tomorrow.”

“Forever?” He swallowed hard, trying to take it all in.

His father shrugged. “I don't know what's going to happen in the future. A lot depends on what happens with the boys' father when they locate him. But I did tell Officer Roberts I want the boys to stay with us at least until the New Year.”

Emma nodded. “Those poor boys. I think it's been years since they had a good Christmas. I want to give them that at the very least.”

“Have you told Ben and William and the girls already?”

“I told Ben but I asked him not to say anything to William or even Tricia,” his father said. “I wanted to talk to you first.” Leaning forward, his father looked at him closely. “Mark, it's
probably too late to ask you this, but are you okay with our decision?”

His father was right. Even if he wasn't okay with Peter coming to live at his house, it was too late for anything to be changed.

But that didn't matter.

What did matter was that Peter and his little brother wouldn't be living in some stranger's house. Or worse, living in their own house with nothing to eat.

“It's okay with me,” he said quietly. “We have a big house and a lot of blessings.” He turned to Emma, who he privately thought was just about the nicest woman he'd ever met. “Peter and Josiah are going to be really glad to get to know you, Emma.”

Emma smiled sweetly. “I'm looking forward to getting to know them.”

“If you and Laura hadn't felt compelled to do something about what she suspected, things wouldn't be changing for Peter and Josiah,” his father said. “Starting today, their lives have gotten better. I want you to know that I'm really proud of you.”

Mark shook his head. “I didn't do anything. Laura just asked me to go with her to the police station.”

“I think you might have done more than you know. Laura was able to go to the police because she had you beside her. And Peter told me that you've always been nice to him. Because of your kindness, he is willing to bring Josiah here.”

Mark felt humbled. “Things are going to change again, aren't they?”

Emma stood up and gave him a hug. “I imagine so. But in the best ways possible.” When she stepped away, she smiled. “Now we just have to hope that they like beagles.”

Mark grinned. “As long as Frankie doesn't steal their pizza, they should like him fine.”

A
FTER SUPPER,
E
RIC AND
Beverly had just taken a couple of cookies to the front stoop to watch the world go by when a police cruiser pulled up. As they watched the car park on the side of the street and Officer Roberts exit the driver's side door, Eric felt his shoulders and neck begin to tense, just like they used to when he was in the juvenile detention center and felt a guard's eyes settle on him.

Maybe Ginny Kaufmann had come to the right person after all.

It seemed that no matter how much time passed, he was always going to be the guy who was a little afraid of the police.

But Beverly, on the other hand, had no such qualms. Her eyes lit up. “Oh, Eric. It looks like Officer Roberts has some news.” She scampered down the porch steps.

“Hi, Beverly,” the policeman said with a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes. “I see you are enjoying the evening.”

“Oh,
jah
. When one is blessed with warm weather in December, it's hard not to appreciate it.”

Officer Roberts nodded, but his tense expression didn't ease. Looking past her, he nodded. “Hello, Eric.”

Getting to his feet, Eric asked, “Do you have some news?”

“I do. Do you two have a few minutes to talk?”

“Of course we do,” Beverly answered quickly. She pointed to the set of rocking chairs on the porch. “Would you like to sit out here or inside?”

The policeman looked at the chairs, then shrugged. “If you
don't mind sitting outside, I suppose this would work just fine. It is beautiful out.”

Once they were settled on the porch, Eric got right to the point. “What's going on?”

Roberts pulled out his smartphone and skimmed through a couple of screens. Eric noticed he was looking at some notes he'd typed on it. “First off, we're fairly sure we found your burglar, Beverly.”

Beverly scooted to the end of her chair. “You did? Who was it?”

Eric wrapped an arm around the back of her chair. He wanted to be able to support her in case the news was worse than they thought. “Easy, Bev.”

Glancing his way, her green eyes full of warmth, she exhaled and murmured, “I'm fine.”

Officer Roberts was still scrolling through his phone. Then he spoke at last. “It looks like our suspicions were right,” he said. “Your burglar was a teen.”

“Just one?” Beverly asked with a frown. “But there was so much damage.”

“It seems that he wanted to make it look like there was a bunch of kids breaking in. This kid, he's kind of a loner.”

“Well, he did a good job,” Eric murmured. “He trashed several rooms.” He stood up. “I'm glad you discovered who did it. Thanks for coming to tell us the news in person. I know Beverly will sleep better now.”

“Hold on. We need to talk about this some more,” the policeman said.

“How about I stop by in the morning?” Eric asked, feeling protective. Beverly didn't need to hear any of the details, at least
not from the cops. Instead, he was sure it would be better if he heard everything, then sat down with Bev and gently told her everything she needed to know. “As long as he's not out trashing more homes, it's all good.” When Roberts didn't say anything, Eric said, “I'm assuming you've arrested this kid?”

“No. Not yet.”

“And why is that?”

Officer Roberts rolled his shoulders. “This boy is seventeen. It turns out the young man's mother died a few years ago. Since then, he and his younger brother have been essentially making do on their own.”

“On their own? What about their father?” Beverly asked. “Is he dead, as well?”

“I can't tell you everything, but he isn't, ah, very involved in their lives.” He frowned. “I can share that their father doesn't care for them as he should. He shows up at the house for a while, long enough to give the boys hope that he'll be back, then he takes off again without any notice. This has been going on for a while. Of late, it seems he's been leaving for weeks at a time.”

“For weeks? Oh, but that's terrible,” Beverly said. “Those poor boys.”

Roberts nodded. “Yes, it really is terrible. They have been going through a pretty difficult time.”

“How are they able to live?”

“The house was paid for, but the father owes money to just about everyone. It's amazing no one has turned off their water.”

Eric winced. The whole situation sounded rough. And far too familiar. Though it had been almost twenty years, he still re
membered how it felt to have no one really looking out for him except Jack.

“Beverly,” Officer Roberts continued, “when we were talking to the oldest boy and attempting to figure out how he was making ends meet, his younger brother joined us and pretty much gave him away. And then this young man confessed everything. He even took us to a back shed and showed us your television. He also pulled out your lockbox and handed it over.”

“Oh, my.”

“He'd only used about eighty dollars of the five hundred. He said he's been saving the rest.”

“For what, do you think?”

“Food.”

Eric felt as if someone had hit him in the stomach. “They've been going hungry.”

“But why wouldn't one of the boys simply tell someone that their father kept leaving them?” Beverly asked innocently, her eyes wide. “They could have told a teacher, at the very least.”

“If they'd told anyone in a position of authority that person would have been legally bound to do something,” Eric said. “The boys might not have liked what would happen next.”

Roberts nodded, his expression grim. “That's right. They would have been placed in foster care—if someone was willing to take in two older boys. If not, they would have been split up and put into two different homes or perhaps in a group home.”

“What are their ages?” Eric asked.

“Thirteen and seventeen.”

Beside him, Beverly gasped. “Officer, by any chance, was this younger boy's name Josiah Yoder?”

Roberts stilled. “Do you know Josiah?”

“
Nee
. But, um, we just had a visit from a friend whose daughter is friends with Josiah. The girl was worried about him.”

“She has every right to worry about him. I'm going to need the girl's name.”

Beverly bit her lip.

Eric leaned close. “It's just like what Ginny said the other day, Bev. Breaking a confidence is sometimes the right thing to do.”

“My friend's name is Ginny Kaufmann. Her daughter Effie is Josiah's friend.”

“Thanks,” Officer Roberts said. “I know the Kaufmanns. I'll stop by and talk with them tomorrow.”