Cousin's Challenge (17 page)

Ella had just begun mixing the batter for some gingerbread when the bell on the door of her bakeshop jingled. She hurried into the front room just in time to see Jake step through the doorway.

“Wie geht's?” he asked.

“I'm fine; just busy is all.”

“Guess That's nothing new for you, is it?” Jake smiled and moved over to the glass-topped display case where the baked goods were kept. “I came here to buy a few things, and I insist on paying for everything this time.”

“What do you need?”

He touched his chin dimple as he eyed the baked goods. “Let's see now.... I'll take three loaves of bread, a dozen glazed doughnuts, and two packages of dinner rolls.”

“Anything else?”

“Think that'll be all for this time.”

Jake had been making a habit of coming by for baked goods at least twice a week, and Ella wondered if his family really needed that much or if he just bought things in order to help them out financially. Since she hadn't let him do too many chores for them, she had a hunch he was trying to make up for that by buying bread, cookies, and pies. It didn't make sense why he insisted on helping, though. Especially when the two of them didn't get along that well.

She hurriedly packaged up the items he'd requested, and then after he'd paid her, she moved toward the back room. “If you'll excuse me, I have some gingerbread I need to finish mixing.”

“Mind if I tag along? Maybe we can visit for a few minutes.”

With a brief nod, she said, “You're welcome to come along, but I don't know how much talking I'll be able to do. If another customer comes in, I'll have to drop what I'm doing and wait on them.”

“Where's Charlene? Doesn't she usually wait on customers when you're baking?”

“Charlene's not here right now. She went with Mama to a doctor's appointment.”

“Is your mamm feelin' poorly?” Jake asked as he followed Ella into the kitchen.

“Mama hasn't felt well for a long time, and it's taken us this long to finally convince her to see the doctor. I hope he'll run some tests and that we'll find out what's wrong with her soon.” Ella frowned. “She's really tired most of the time, and she's put on quite a bit of weight even though she doesn't eat very much.”

“Hopefully it's nothing serious,” Jake said. “Maybe she just needs more rest.”

“It seems like all Mama does is rest.” Ella sighed. “It's hard not to worry about her.”

Jake leaned against the counter and watched as Ella started mixing the gingerbread dough. “Maybe you'll have some answers soon.”

“I hope so.” She stifled a yawn.

Jake moved closer to where she stood. “You talk about your mamm being tired, and yet every time I see you, there are dark circles under your eyes. Right now, you look like you're about to fall asleep.
”
He nudged her arm. “As my mamm often says to me,
‘Ich iwwerduh mich net.'”

“I am not overextending myself, and I'm not going to fall asleep.” Was Jake trying to start another argument? Was that the reason he'd come over here today—so he could needle her some more?

“Would you like me to give you some examples of how you overextend yourself?”

She tapped her foot out of frustration and shook her head.

Jake held up one finger. “You're working in the bakeshop six days a week.” Another finger shot up. “You clean the house—”

“Charlene helps with that.”

“Okay, Charlene helps, but I've seen you cleaning several times when I've come by to see if you needed my help with anything.”

Ella clenched her teeth.
Then why don't you quit coming by?

Jake held up a third finger. “You do outside chores that are meant for a man.” A fourth finger joined the other three. “You're taking signing lessons from Jolene.” He held up his thumb. “And I've seen you in town running errands and grocery shopping. If all That's not overextending yourself, then I don't know what is.”

“I'll say it again,” Ella spoke through tight lips. “I am not overextending myself. I do what I do because it needs to be done, and it's really none of your business how hard I work or how much I choose to do.”

“Okay, okay, don't get so riled.”

“I'm not riled.”

“Jah, you are, and you seem so uptight. Maybe you ought to ask someone to give you a foot massage. My mamm used to give me foot massages when I was a buwe, and that always helped me relax.”

Ella nearly laughed out loud, thinking how Jake must have looked getting a foot massage from his mother when he was a boy. “I don't need a foot massage,” she mumbled.

Jake motioned to the table. “Well, then, I think you ought to sit down and take a deep breath or have something warm to drink. That can be relaxing, too.”

The thought of taking a break did sound appealing, but Ella didn't want Jake to think she was taking his advice, so she shook her head and muttered, “I can't sit down; I've got more baking to do.”

“Suit yourself, but if you're not going to take a break, then would you mind if I sit for a few minutes? It's mighty cold out this afternoon, and I'd like the chance to thaw out before I have to hit the road again.”

“Feel free to have a seat. As soon as I get my gingerbread in the oven, I'll bag up your order.”

“You did that already, remember?” Jake motioned to the sack on the counter.

Ella's face heated. “Oh, That's right.”

Jake flopped into a chair.

Ella turned back to her job.

Jake popped his knuckles a few times and hummed a familiar tune.

Ella fanned her hot face with the corner of her apron and tried to ignore him. She really did wish he'd go home.

By the time Ella had put the gingerbread in the oven, she realized she needed a break.

“Would you like a cup of hot chocolate or some coffee?” she asked Jake.

He grinned like a little boy. “Hot chocolate sounds good.”

She poured hot water into two cups and added some powdered cocoa mix. Then she placed the cups on the table along with some friendship bread, fresh butter, and a jar of homemade elderberry jelly.

“I'm glad to see you took my advice about taking a break,” Jake said when she seated herself in the chair opposite him.

She picked up her cup and lifted it to her lips. One sip of the hot chocolate sent a ripple of warmth surging through her. She really had needed a break.

“Say, what's that on your nose?” Jake asked, leaning forward and squinting at Ella.

She lifted her hand. “Where?”

“Right there.” Jake stood and moved quickly to the other side of the table.

As he started toward her, Ella shooed him away with her hands and then swiped at her nose. “Don't bother; I'm sure I can get it.”

“Oh, great, now you made it worse.” Jake bent down and reached his hand toward her face. Without thinking, she grabbed his hand, and in so doing, a strange prickly sensation zinged up her arm. She let go of his hand as quickly as she'd grabbed it.

A hint of a smile flitted across Jake's face, revealing the deep dimples in his cheeks. Was he laughing at her? Did he know about the strange sensation she'd felt? Had he felt it, too?

“I was just going to rub off that speck of flour on your nose, because you look really funny like that.” Jake's eyes sparkled with laughter. “Now the whole side of your nose is white with flour.”

Feeling rather foolish, Ella reached up to wipe her nose. “There, is that better?”

Jake stared at her, his placid expression unreadable. Several seconds went by, and then his face broke into a wide smile. “Jah, That's much better.”

Ella was relieved when he returned to his side of the table and sat down. She drank her hot chocolate and pushed her chair aside. “I think I'd better get back to work now.”

“Okay. I'll leave you to it, then.” Jake grabbed his sack of baked goods and moved toward the door. “Thanks for the goodies,” he called over his shoulder before the door banged shut.

Ella breathed a sigh of relief. Every time Jake came around, she felt flustered. She wished she could make him stay home, but knowing Jake's pattern, he'd probably be back in a few days to buy more doughnuts or bread.

Ella had just started to clean up the mess she'd made from the gingerbread when the back door swung open and Mama stepped into the room. “Was that Jake Beechy's buggy I saw leaving our place as we were coming in?” she asked.

Ella gave a quick nod. “He came by for some baked goods.”

“Again? Seems like he was just here a few days ago.” Mama gave Ella a knowing look. “He's been coming around a lot lately. Is there something going on between you two?”

Ella shook her head. “The only thing going on between me and Jake is a lot of tension.”

“Maybe you feel irritated whenever he comes around because you're attracted to him.”

“That's
lecherich,
Mama. There's nothing about Jake that I'm attracted to.”

Mama gave Ella's arm a little squeeze. “It may not be as ridiculous as you think. I didn't like your daed all that well when we first met, either.”

“I didn't just meet Jake. I've known him since we were kinner.” Ella plopped her hands against her hips and frowned.
“Der Jake is en lidderlicher kall.”

“Despicable is a very harsh word to be calling Jake. You need to think about the way you speak of others, Ella. I doubt that Jake's as bad as you make him out to be.” Suddenly Mama's eyes filled with tears. “Before your daed and I started going out, there were times when he irritated me to no end with his teasing.”

“What'd he do?”

“Well, when we were young and still in school, he used to poke me in the ribs to make me giggle, and it hurt. And whenever he came over to visit my bruder, he used to sneak upstairs to my room and put straw in my bed.” Mama chuckled. “I didn't realize it back then, but he only did those things to get my attention. It wasn't until we were teenagers that I began to realize your daed wanted to take me out.”

“And you still wanted to go out with him after all the mean things he'd done to you when you were a kinner?”

“Oh, jah. I had a big crush on him, even though I didn't like most of the things he'd done. I knew he'd grow up someday, and I hoped when he did that he'd see me as a woman he could love and not just as someone to tease.” Mama reached for a paper towel and blotted the tears clinging to her lashes. “I miss your daed so much and would give anything to have him here teasing me right now.”

As Ella reflected on her mother's words, she felt a prickly sensation creep up her spine. She'd had a crush on Jake when they were children, but she'd never admitted it to anyone, not even her cousins. She'd never told a soul about the promise Jake had made when he'd walked her to school, carrying her books, either. She'd thought he liked her as much as she liked him. She'd thought he had really meant it when he'd promised to take her for a ride in his buggy when he turned sixteen. But no, the first time Jake took a girl for a ride, it had been Loraine, not Ella.

She shivered despite the warmth in the bakeshop. Jake was a liar; he wasn't to be trusted.

“Are you all right, Ella?” Mama asked. “You look umgerennt.”

Ella blinked. “I'm not upset. I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“It was nothing important.” No way could she tell Mama what she'd been thinking. Ella touched Mama's arm. “I should have asked right away. How'd it go at the doctor's?”

Mama shrugged. “Okay.”

“Did he run any tests? Does he know why you're so tired and shaky?”

“Calm down, Ella. You sound like a screech owl.”

Ella hadn't realized her voice had risen. “I'm sorry, Mama. I'm just worried about you. You've been feeling poorly far too long.”

“The doctor thinks I either have hypoglycemia or diabetes. He's scheduled me for some blood tests on Friday.”

Ella hoped Mama had hypoglycemia rather than diabetes, because she knew it could be controlled by a change in her diet. If Mama started eating regularly instead of picking at her food, and if she made sure she ate the right kinds of food, then hopefully, she'd feel better in no time.

When Lonnie pulled his horse and buggy into the schoolyard, several children were heading for home, including Sylvia and Irvin. Irvin waved, and Lonnie waved back then signed to Irvin,
“Have a good afternoon.”
He was pleased that he knew how to sign enough words to make sentences now. As his lessons with Jolene had continued, he'd begun to feel more confident that he'd soon be talking easily with his hands without feeling self-conscious or unsure of himself.

Lonnie's folks were taking signing lessons from Jolene as well, which made it easier for Lonnie to communicate at home. Mama had caught on so well that she and Lonnie could carry on a conversation without her having to write everything down.

Lonnie started across the yard and saw Eunice heading that way on her bike. She halted when she saw him, turned the bike around, and took off down the road. Lonnie shrugged. He could never figure out why Eunice did any of the things she did. She was nothing like Jolene, that was for sure.

When Lonnie entered the schoolhouse, he nearly bumped into Fern, who was coming out the door. Her face colored, and she signed,
“Sorry.”

“Me, too,”
Lonnie signed back. He was glad Jolene had been teaching Fern and some of the children in her class how to sign. It made it easier than trying to read people's lips. Even so, he knew the day was coming when he'd have to rely on lip reading more than signing in order to get a job that took him outside his home.

Sure wish there was something I could do besides work with Pop's hogs.
Lonnie grunted as he tromped up the steps to Jolene's classroom.
I wonder how hard it's going to be to find a job once I start seriously looking.