A Place of Peace (26 page)

Her smile was coy. “All customers are welcome to purchase the entire pie if they choose to do so. I would imagine you’d get a Kauffman family discount.”

To his surprise, she was playing along with his flirtatious banter—just like she used to do when they were a couple. His pulse skittered. He resisted the urge to swipe a crumb from her cheek. Touching would be too personal, too dangerous for his heart.

“I was sorry to hear your
daed
has fallen ill. How is he?” he asked, steering the conversation to a safer subject.

“Gut.”
She leaned back on the supply counter behind her. “His rehabilitation is going well. He’s learned how to feed himself, and he’s working with a speech therapist. It’s a miracle after the stroke he suffered. He’s coming home in a couple of weeks.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He absently ran his finger along the smooth counter as confidence surged through him. He longed to tell her how he felt about her. “I was glad to hear you came back and are going to be baptized. Beth Anne told me you’d worked things out with your family. That’s
wunderbaar.”

“Danki.
It’s good to be back.” She fingered the ties on her
kapp,
a nervous habit he remembered her doing often.

An uncomfortable silence fell between them, and the air surrounding them felt electrified. He glanced down at the pie to avoid losing himself in her deep brown eyes.

She snatched a knife off the counter, sliced the pie, and placed a piece on a plate. She held the pie and a fork out to him, and her smile was genuine and sweet, turning his insides to butter.

“Here,” she said. “Take a bite before you melt the pie with your stare.”

“No, I couldn’t.” He shook his head. “That’s for the customers.”

She continued to hold the piece out for him. “Please. Just eat it. You’ll insult me if you don’t.”

“I certainly don’t want to insult you.” Accepting the pie from her, he took a bite, and it melted in his mouth. “Miriam, you still make the best crumbly peach pie in Lancaster County. No one could ever hold a candle to you.”

Her smile faded, and he instantly regretted the double meaning of the comment.

But it’s true. No one could ever hold a candle to you.

Her smile reappeared, but it was forced, resembling a grimace. “Congratulations on your upcoming wedding to Naomi. Lilly told me the
wunderbaar
news.”

He tried to smile, but his lips remained flat.
“Danki.”

“I wish you all of the happiness in the world.” She fingered the ties in her
kapp.
“You deserve it.”

He studied her eyes, wishing he could read her thoughts. Was she truly happy for him, or did she feel the same regret that was coursing through him?

“Timothy!” Elizabeth’s voice sounded behind him, but he kept his gaze locked on Miriam’s, awaiting a sign of her true feelings.

Elizabeth sidled up to him. “Did
Dat
send you over for whoopie pies again today? I’m going to have to start charging that man. He’s hurting my profits.”

Her eyes still unreadable, Miriam nodded toward Elizabeth. “I believe she’s speaking to you, Timothy.”

Timothy cut his gaze to Elizabeth. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

Her frown was impatient. “I asked if your
dat
sent you for whoopie pies.”

“Oh.
Ya.
He did.” Timothy prayed he didn’t look as frazzled as he felt. “Two dozen would be
wunderbaar.”

“Two dozen this time? Is he
narrisch?”
Elizabeth threw her hands up. “I don’t know if I have that many made. He may have to settle for one dozen.” She started across the kitchen. “He has to stop these mid-morning orders. It’s not good for business.”

She stopped and spun, facing Miriam. “Miriam, I forgot to tell you Zach called. It must’ve been an hour ago, but we’ve been so busy it slipped my mind. He wanted me to tell you to call him. I apologize for not telling you earlier, but it’s been crazy.”

Timothy’s stomach knotted. Facing her, he found Miriam’s cheeks blazing a deeper red.

She’s seeing Zach Fisher.

Does she love him?

He wondered if she would be announcing her engagement soon. Was Zach the reason behind her joining the church? Would she follow through with their nuptials, unlike she had with Timothy?

“Timothy!” Elizabeth called. “Come help me package up these whoopie pies for
Dat.
We have work to do around here.”

Miriam’s expression softened. “You’d better go. She’s a bit stressed today.”

“I can hear it in her voice.” He gave her a tentative smile. “It was
gut
seeing you, Miriam.”

“Would you like to take some crumbly peach pie with you?” she asked, cutting her eyes to the pie. “I can make another one.”

He shook his head. “I’d better not push it with
Mamm.
It’s not wise to cross her when she’s stressed out.”

She chuckled, and her radiant smile was back. “You’re right.”

“Have a
gut
day,” he said, fighting the urge to reach over and touch her.

“Ya,” she whispered. “You too.”

I hope to see you again soon.

He swallowed the thought and crossed the kitchen to join Elizabeth, who was loading whoopie pies into a large cardboard box.

“You tell
Dat
he has to stop these surprise orders,” she mumbled. “I need some warning. If he called ahead then it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Ya,”
Timothy said, adding pies to the box. “I’ll remind him.”

After the whoopie pies were loaded up, he hoisted the box from the counter.
“Danki, Mamm.”
He gave her a kiss on the cheek. “We’ll enjoy them.”

“Ya, ya.” She waved him off. “Tell your
dat
I’ll give him a piece of my mind later.”

He said good-bye to his sisters and then glanced across the room and found Miriam studying him, her eyes focused and intense. He’d give anything to be able to read the thoughts in that pretty head of hers.

Stepping out into the store area, he wondered what Naomi would think if she knew he’d made up an excuse to visit Miriam.

It would break her heart.

Miriam blew out the breath she’d been holding for what felt like several minutes. She stared at the doorway, wishing Timothy would realize he’d forgotten something, maybe the crumbly peach pie, and come back to get it.

He’d looked so handsome in that dark blue shirt. His blue eyes had sent her insides into a wild spin. And that smile, oh, that smile …

She closed her eyes and groaned. It was a sin to covet another woman’s husband.

But he’s not married yet!

Miriam suppressed her scheming inner voice and turned her attention to slicing the pie on the counter. She then grabbed the plastic wrap and began wrapping each piece.

While she worked, Timothy’s smooth, warm voice echoed through her mind. His genuine interest in her and her family, along with his flirtatious jokes, had caught her off guard.

Was he toying with her emotions?

She’d never known Timothy to play games. Yet, she wondered why he would show her so much attention when he was marrying another woman.

Miriam’s stomach lurched at the thought of Timothy and Naomi. Although Miriam held no claim to Timothy, she couldn’t digest the thought of Timothy and Naomi living in the house he’d built for her.

But she’d left him. How could she expect him to wait for her?

However, on an inexplicable level, Timothy had seemed to be testing her today. Was he trying to tell her something? What had he meant when he said, “No one can hold a candle to you?” Was he referring to more than just her cooking?

The comment had struck so deep in her soul that she’d deliberately mentioned his wedding to remind him he’d chosen someone else to be his bride. Paying Miriam such a high compliment felt like a cruel joke.

He must’ve only meant my baking.

“Miriam?” Beth Anne asked, approaching the counter. “Would you mind making another chocolate cake? Lizzie says we’re out again.”

“Of course,” Miriam said with a smile.

Beth Anne glanced down at the pie. “That looks
wunderbaar.
Did my brother steal a piece?”

Miriam loaded the individually wrapped pieces onto a tray.
“Ya,
he did. I tried to get him to take the whole pie, but he said your
mamm
would scold him.”

Beth Anne lifted the tray. “I’ll take this out front.”

“Danki.”
Miriam pulled out a cake pan and a mixing bowl from the cabinet behind her. Turning, she found Beth Anne still watching her. “Ya? May I help you?”

“Timothy seemed
froh
to see you,” Beth Anne said.

Miriam shrugged, wishing her cheeks wouldn’t flare at the sound of his name. “We’re friends, and nothing more. He’s marrying Naomi, and I’m happy for them.” She hoped she sounded casual.

“Ya. Friends.” Beth Anne sounded unconvinced, but she smiled. “You best get to baking that cake. The customers are fond of your recipe.”

Miriam heaved a deep sigh while Beth Anne walked away. She hoped she could get used to seeing Timothy without wearing her heartstrings on her sleeve.

Miriam felt a hand touch her arm, and she turned to find Kathryn giving her an unreadable expression. She hoped Kathryn wasn’t going to chime in on Beth Anne’s observations. While Kathryn hadn’t greeted Miriam with a warm hug, she also hadn’t been rude since Miriam came back. She seemed almost happy to have Miriam there.

“I owe you an apology,” Kathryn said slowly. “Beth Anne explained to me that you didn’t walk out on my brother. She told me that your breakup with Timothy was due to lies, not your intention to hurt him.”

Miriam nodded. “That’s true. My sister Lilly told lies to Timothy and me out of jealousy.”

Kathryn held out her hand and Miriam shook it. “I’m sorry for being so nasty to you. I thought I was protecting my brother, but I was wrong.”

Miriam smiled.
“Danki.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Kathryn said with a genuine smile. “You’re a
wunderbaar
addition to our bakery.”

As Kathryn crossed to the other side of the kitchen, Miriam leaned back on the counter and shook her head. What a confusing day it had turned out to be.

9-inch pie shell, unbaked

1 cup sugar 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1 stick butter

8 large peach halves

1/4 cup water

Mix together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then mix in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle half of the mixture in the bottom of the pie shell. Arrange peach halves cut side down over crumbs. Cover with remaining crumbs. Add the water and bake for 10 minutes at 450 degrees, then for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

D
o you need anything?” Miriam asked, standing in the living room of Abraham’s house three weeks later.

Abraham shifted in the chair and cleared his throat. “Wa-water.”

“I’ll be right back. You get comfortable.” Miriam crossed to the kitchen, where Lilly stood at the counter flipping through a recipe book. “I can’t believe
Daed’s
been home a week already. The days are flying by.” Miriam plucked a glass from the cabinet, added a few ice cubes, and then filled it with ice water from the refrigerator.

“Ya.
Before you know it, your baptism day will be here. It’s difficult to believe September is upon us,” Lilly said. “It’s not that long now. How are your classes going?”

“Gut,” Miriam said with a nod. “I’ve been meeting with the bishop Wednesday evenings along with going to the classes on our church Sundays. I’m really enjoying it.”

“That’s gut.” Lilly smiled. “Hannah told me you’ve been spending a lot of time with Lena Joy.”

“That’s true. I visit her twice a week in the evening. We’re working on a few sewing projects together.” Miriam sighed. “She’s such a sweet girl. I hope she has her liver transplant soon.”

“
Ya,
I know. I pray for that every day.” Lilly tapped the cookbook. “What if I made
Mamm’s
meatloaf tonight? Sound good?”

“I think
Daed
would love it.” Miriam headed for the doorway. “I’m taking
Daed
a glass of water. I’ll be right back to help you with the ingredients.”

She ambled back to Abraham and handed him the glass.

He took a few sips.
“D-danki.”

“Gern gschehne.
May I get you anything else? Maybe a snack? Or the newspaper?”

He shook his head while placing the glass onto the end table beside him. Leaning back, he closed his eyes. “No. I rest.”

She wagged a finger at him, even though his eyes were closed. “Remember you must do your exercises later to keep up your strength.”

“Ya, ya.”
He waved her off without opening his eyes.

Miriam shook her head. He was stubborn, but that kept him strong.

Moving back toward the kitchen, Miriam heard an unfamiliar feminine voice that didn’t resemble either of her sisters'. She stood in the doorway, and her eyes widened when she spotted Naomi standing at the counter and speaking with Lilly. A basket of rolls, bagels, and sticky buns sat on the table.

Mustering up all of her inner strength, Miriam moved into the kitchen and plastered a smile on her face. “Naomi,” she said. “What a pleasant surprise.”

“Miriam!” Naomi rushed over and shook her hand. “Wie
geht’s?”

Miriam stifled a groan. She couldn’t fathom a close friendship with Naomi.
“Gut,”
Miriam said. “What brings you here?”

“I thought I’d stop by and see how you all were faring.” Naomi’s smile was genuine and bright. “Lilly told me that your
daed
came home last week, and I wanted to make a visit and bring some goodies for you.” She nodded toward the basket. “I hope you’re hungry.”

Miriam’s appetite had evaporated the moment she’d laid eyes on Timothy’s fiancée, but she wasn’t about to admit that. After all, jealousy was a sin.

“They look
appeditlich. Danki,
Naomi.” Miriam glanced toward her sister, who gave a sad smile. Did Lilly sense Miriam’s jumbled emotions? Miriam hoped her uneasiness wasn’t so transparent.