Covered Bridge Charm (29 page)

Her voice sounded far away, but she threw him a bone. “Do you think demented or partially demented people feel grief the way a normal person does?”

“I would imagine they’d get over it quicker, but they probably grieve daily about their memory loss.”

She rubbed her lovely temples. Stress lined her apple-cheeked face.

Why hadn’t he said something more comforting? “Got a headache?”

“Jah. A doozy.”

“I’ve got news that’ll cheer you up.”

She looked at him for the first time since she’d gotten in his truck. “Oh, jah? Try me.”

“Crusher told me an interesting story about Martha.”

“You know she’s in the care center?”

“Jah, he told me.”

“I meant to go over there tonight.” She looked back out the window. “But now I can’t.”

“Don’t worry. She’s a fighter. She’ll soon be back at Sweet Life.” Carly didn’t reply, so he continued. “Anyway, the summer she was sixteen, her house burned down.”

Her eyes widened, and she involuntarily tucked a stray blond curl behind her ear.

He felt his pulse quicken.

Her voice softened. “Tell me the story.”

He pulled into her drive, relieved she wasn’t charging out of the truck in a huff. So far so good. He explained all Crusher had revealed, ending with, “He’s pretty sure it would be the Larwood bridge.”

She sucked her bottom lip. “This changes everything.”

“I know. We need to start over.” He saw the hesitation in her eyes. “It makes sense because that bridge has a great beach where people fish. So let’s go over on Sunday afternoon and poke around a little.”

She jerked her gaze away. “No.”

He caught her hand. “Carly, please.”

But she drew it away, onto her lap. “I wish you’d quit toying with me.”

“I understand I hurt your feelings. But if I’d laid everything out, especially as mixed up as my mind was in the beginning, you wouldn’t have given me a chance. And I’d never have known I could fall in love with you.”

Her eyes held pain, and her dimples flashed. “You even toy around with your words. Could fall in love, I think I might be in love. Jimmy told me about the kinds of tricks you both use with words when talking to women. I wish you would just leave me alone.”

“It’s called flirting. It’s a little dance that helps guys learn about women.”

Not amused, she folded her hands. “It hurts to imagine you flirting with your blind date in Nappanee. Are you going to check her out and compare her with me?”

“What? No.”

She rolled her gaze toward the night sky.

“Because I’m not going to Indiana. You’ll see. I’m staying here and proving to you and Dad and your brother that this is where I want to live and work.” He hesitated, then added, “And love.”

She studied him with a yearning expression. “I don’t have any answers for you tonight, Adam. It’s not a good time to be discussing this.”

“I understand. Let me walk you to the door.”

At her stoop, he tried to take her arm, only intending to kiss her cheek, but she shrugged away. “Thanks for bringing me home. For dealing with my bike.”

“Sure. Take something for that headache and think about going over to Larwood bridge on Sunday.”

She nodded and closed the door.

The drive home was dark and lonely. The Indiana opportunity had botched his life from the get-go. He wished he’d never gotten that birthday card from Dale. Maybe it had provoked Dad to treat him better, but then he’d offended Jimmy and now Carly. And before this was over, Dale and his family would be offended, too.

When he’d called to politely refuse the plane ticket, Dale had insisted that he keep it until after Christmas. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, and now Carly was putting on the brakes. Even being picky over the words he used when he described his feelings. He needed to talk to Ann to see what he was doing wrong. He looked at the clock. She’d still be up. Maybe she could help him come up with an idea to win back Carly’s trust. But then he remembered the little coffin in the back of his truck.

T
he following Sunday at church, Carly’s raw emotions steered her away from Adam. She didn’t want him to find out she was going to Larwood bridge with Aunt Fannie. But her plans of slipping away without notice went awry went Ann intercepted her outside the church building.

She drew her to a tall evergreen where people habitually clustered. “I’ll bet you thought I forgot all about your suggestion.”

“What suggestion?” Carly teased, keeping her eye out for Adam.

“Good one.” Ann tilted her head expectantly.

“I knew you would get back to me when you were ready.”

When Ann clapped her hands like an enthusiastic child, she got Carly’s attention. “I’m going to do it! Here’s my plan. I’m already taking some children caroling, so I’ll take them to Sweet Life. In the meantime, I’ll get organized, and the children can begin their visits in January.” She beamed.

Adam appeared in Carly’s peripheral vision. She touched Ann’s arm, thinking to make her exit. “I’m excited. I’ll have Sherie call you to work out the details.” She noticed a flicker of disappointment in Ann’s eyes and hesitated. “Unless you want to tell me more about it now.”

Ann followed Carly’s nervous glance. “Oh. I get it. You’re trying to avoid my pesky brother, aren’t you?”

Carly sighed. “Too late for that.”

“Sorry.”

Carly gave her a genuine smile. “So tell me your plan.”

“I’m rounding up adult volunteers, like my sister Faith, to act as chaperones and setting up a reading program. I’m also going to work with the Sunday school team to coordinate a quarterly program for the residents—an extension of what the kids learn in class. Some songs.”

Carly caught her excitement. “That’s perfect. The reading will be regular, and the programs will witness to the residents who don’t have church backgrounds. I knew you’d be good at this.”

“Good at what?” Adam placed a hand on Ann’s shoulder.

Ignoring him, she told Carly, “I have lots of other ideas, too, but thought we should start with the obvious and easiest to implement.” She glanced at Adam. “I was just telling Carly how pesky you can be.”

Feigning shock, he replied, “Well that was a waste of time. She already knows that. In fact I came over here to try and convince her otherwise.”

“Good luck with that.”

Carly’s heart sank as Ann waved, leaving them alone together. Her voice was unenthusiastic. “She’s agreed to head up the children’s volunteer program.”

“She’ll be good at it. I’m glad you delegated it.” He leaned in to whisper, “Gives us more time to locate James Irish.”

The heat rushed to Carly’s face, and she changed the topic. “Martha’s back at assisted living.”

“That’s great. When’s her birthday?”

“December 12.”

“Not much time. Want to check out the bridge today?”

“Sorry. I have plans with Aunt Fannie.”

“What about tonight? I could come over and get started on that picket fence at your place.”

She shook her head. “No, not today.”

Aunt Fannie’s greeting couldn’t have been worse. “I’m ready whenever you are. It’s going to be fun checking out that old bridge. Take your time. I’ll meet you at the car.”

Adam’s face, normally tanned year around, suddenly paled. His lips tensed.

“I’m sorry. I…” Carly faltered.

He raised his hands to ward off her explanation. “Now I get it.” He turned away angrily.

Several heads turned toward them. Blushing furiously, Carly lifted her chin and hurried to her aunt’s car. She got in, clenched her jaw, and slammed the door, turning on her aunt. “Why did you tell him we were going to the bridge?”

But Fannie was unaffected by the angry outburst. “I’m baiting him, Honey. Showing him what he’s missing.”

Carly ground out the words. “I don’t want to bait him. I want to forget him.”

“Well he looked real mad. So maybe that’ll work out for you.”

As they drove, Carly sank back in the car seat and poured out her misery. “One happy week, then everything fell apart. Within a few days I lost Adam, Martha went to the hospital, Nines’s cat died, and I lost the old black dog.” She swiped at her tears. “It was the last straw.”

“Oh, now. That old dog was a nuisance, and you know it. What happened?”

“He got old. Don’t ever get old, okay?”

Auntie remained silent.

“For a while now, I was delivering the stick to him up on his porch.”

Auntie gasped. “You weren’t?”

“Friday the porch was empty. He’s gone. And I don’t even know if he was loved.”

Auntie pulled into her driveway and killed the engine. “I’m sorry. You’ve had it rough, for sure.”

Carly nodded.

“But today’s going to be different. Let’s go put the soup in a thermos and head out.” Auntie kept up a steady prattle after that, only pausing when they pulled into the parking lot at Larwood bridge. Then she snapped her mouth shut.

Carly felt the blood drain from her face.

Larwood bridge was under construction. Hurrying out of the car, she got as close as she could to the barricaded signs warning them to keep away.

She didn’t hear Aunt Fannie’s approach. “Look at all those boards in a stack across the river. I’ll bet Martha’s initials are on one of them.”

Carly looked at the pile of boards, then back at the forbidden construction-site warnings. The bridge’s floorboards had large gaps where the river showed through. “How do we get across? Is there a way around?”

“S-sh. Here comes a security guard.”

Stomping her foot, Carly let out one of Martha’s expletives. “Oh for Pete’s sake.”

“Sometimes the door just has to smack us in the face,” Auntie replied.

The security guard approached, eyeing them warily, but made small talk. Were they from the area?

“Jah,” Auntie replied. “Just came to have a little picnic.”

He arched a brow. “Cold day for that.”

“We brought a couple thermoses of soup. Just takes a small blessing like a hot cup of soup on a cold day to make a person happy, doesn’t it? Want to join us?”

He studied Auntie, his gaze lifting to her head covering. “Thanks for the offer, ma’am. But I’ll have to decline. I’m on duty now.” He tipped his hat. “Enjoy yourselves. Just stay clear of the construction site.”

“Sure thing.”

After he was gone, Carly shrugged tighter into her coat. “You think this place is guarded 24-7?” Was there a road that led to the other side? Where could she get a boat?

On Monday, Carly watched Martha administer her inhaler and settle back into her recliner. “I’ll bet you’re glad to have that back.”

The older woman coughed and dropped it into her pocket. “It was a nightmare without it. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t let me have it.”

“Anytime you get admitted into a hospital or care center, they take away your meds.”

“They think I’m demented?”

“No, of course not. They do that for everybody.”

“Well I’m glad to be home. I’ll never complain about this place again.”

Carly smiled, wondering how long that resolution would last.

“The care center was awful.”

“You had me worried. I meant to visit you, but Nines’s cat died, and I ended up staying here late.”

“Nines’ss cat?” Martha sighed. “I’m sorry for her.”

“She’s doing pretty good.”

“How can you tell? She has such a vacant look, just sitting and waiting for somebody to take her someplace. Nobody ever does.” She shook her head and looked Carly in the eyes. “I know you would’ve come if you could. But my own daughter was too busy to visit. She only came the day I was admitted and the day I was released.”

“Now Martha. You weren’t in the care center very long.”

“Seemed like forever. Thought I was gonna die there. Anyway, Helen’s just too busy for her own good.”

“We all have to live our own lives.”

“You telling me to butt out?”

“Eek!” Hall Patroller’s sharp voice rent the air. “Bird’s out! Bird’s out!”

Carly jumped, and Martha started to get out of her chair. “You’d better stay and rest. I’ll go check it out and let you know what’s going on.”

Slumping back into her seat, Martha crossed her arms.

Out in the corridor, Hall Patroller’s wheelchair was up against the far wall with her arms sheltering her head and hissing, “Hate birds! Hate birds!”

Meanwhile Crusher was trying to coax Birdie down off a hall sconce. Carly hurried to Hall Patroller and touched her shoulder. “Shh. Let’s not frighten the bird so Crusher can get it.”

Hall Patroller lay her head against Carly’s side. It was the first moment of weakness she’d ever seen in the woman. She massaged her shoulder. Down the hall, Crusher was able to coax the bird onto his arm and was stiffly walking back toward Dot’s apartment when the General bounded out of his room, wearing nothing but his paper underwear. “What’s all the fuss?”

“Shh! Shh!” Carly pointed at Crusher and the bird.

The General drew up his arms and made them into a pretend rifle. “Bang!”

The bird flew up off Crusher’s arms and circled the hall.

“Missed ’em!” the General shouted, raising his arms and trying to get a bead on the excited bird. Thankfully Crusher took control of the situation, ducked into Dot’s apartment, and whistled for the bird. When it flew home, Crusher slammed the door closed. The General stood outside the closed door. “Bang!” Then his voice lowered. “Another one got away.”