Inescapable (19 page)

I crawled out of bed early
the next morning to start the scrambled eggs and mix up the pancake batter. Around five thirty I got Charity up and dressed, and then I brought her downstairs and set her up at her little table in the kitchen. She'd wanted to stay in bed, but until I was certain she could get herself dressed and ready in the morning, I couldn't risk having her show up in her pajamas during the morning rush. She grumbled a bit, but I made her a couple of pancakes, put warm syrup and butter on them, and added a squirt of whipped cream right in the middle. That put a smile on her face, and her grumpiness evaporated.

A little before six, I went out to flip over the Open sign. Avery Menninger was already waiting outside, along with several others. I let them in and had just started to close the door when my mother pushed it open.

“Mother,” I said, surprised to see her. “What are you doing here?”

“I thought you might need some help with Charity this morning.”

I looked outside but didn't see our buggy. “What's going on? Where's the buggy?”

She closed the door behind her and took off her heavy cape. “Your father forbade me to use it, so I walked.”

I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the back of the room. “Mother,” I said when we were far enough away so that the people in the restaurant couldn't hear us, “it's freezing outside. You shouldn't have walked all the way here. I can't believe Father allowed you to do this. What's wrong with him?”

“I do not care anymore.” Her blue eyes flashed with emotion. “I have had all I can take, Lizzie. Last night your father issued an ultimatum. He plans for us to leave Kingdom and move farther into the country. Away from this town. Away from people in general. I told him I would do no such thing.” She put her hand on my cheek. “I will not leave you and Charity. I simply will not.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but she shushed me.

“We will talk about this later. Now you must concentrate on your customers. Tell me where my granddaughter is.”

I silently pointed toward the kitchen. Without saying another word, she walked away. I'd never seen her act like that, not in all the years I'd known her. I wanted to cheer her on, yet the idea of my parents separating weighed heavily on my heart. Looking back toward the dining room, I found Avery and the other customers staring at me. It was time to concentrate on the task at hand.

I began to put my plans into action, and by ten o'clock everything was running like clockwork, albeit a little slower than normal. Some of my time was spent explaining to everyone what had happened to Cora. It didn't take long to see how much she meant to the people of Kingdom. Cora was more than the owner of the town's only restaurant—she was a friend, confidante, and helper. I had to wonder if I could fill her shoes, not only in my handling of the restaurant, but in her personal touch with people. I was certain everyone would be relieved when she returned. Especially me.

Around ten thirty, during a short lull, I pulled Mother aside and told her about my call to Clay.

“So you are standing by your decision to stay in town for now?” she asked.

“For now. But if I get any idea that the sheriff can link me to the man in the red cap, I'll cash Clay's check and leave.”

“Will you let me know where you go?” she asked, her eyes searching my face.

“Not for a while, Mother. I can't take the risk, and I won't put you in a situation where you have to lie.”

She nodded and looked away. “It seems wrong to run away when you are innocent, Elizabeth Lynn,” she said. “But I understand being willing to do anything to keep your daughter in your life.” She went back into the kitchen to check on Charity. I'd seen the pain on her face, but I couldn't make promises right now, even though I wanted to.

Mother informed me that Callie Hoffman would be in after lunch. She'd promised to cover for Leah at the school in the morning, while she went to Washington for needed supplies. I welcomed the help, but I was actually happy to have the morning to myself. A little time on my own would show me just how I wanted to use Callie. Sure enough, by the time the lunch menu was being served, I'd decided I'd have her take over the same duties I'd been doing. Cora had it right. Cooking was a full-time job. Serving customers, except when we were behind, was impossible if I was going to keep up with all the orders and get food out as quickly as I wanted to.

Mother kept Charity occupied all morning. I thought she'd leave after lunch, but she stayed, seemingly unconcerned about my father. At one point, when I was running behind, she took plates out to the tables. I'm sure my customers were shocked at being served breakfast by the wife of Matthew Engel. But Mother took it in stride, as if she'd been doing it all her life. I was proud of her.

True to her word, Callie Hoffman came into the restaurant a little after one o'clock, looking much as she had when I left town. She was a small, delicate young woman with curly red hair and big, beautiful eyes. She had such a slight build I worried that she wouldn't be strong enough to do the job. But she followed my instructions to the letter, and the customers seemed to like her very much. She wore a white prayer covering over her hair, and her dress was a lovely pink with small white flowers. I noticed that several of the women who came in on Monday had traded their black prayer coverings for white. And the black and dark blue dresses were in the minority for once. The meeting on Sunday seemed to be having an effect that Father would not appreciate.

I took a break at three and ate a late lunch while Callie checked on the few remaining customers. Everyone's needs seemed to be met, and the atmosphere was relaxed and jovial. While sipping a well-deserved cup of coffee, I looked up when the front door opened and Noah walked in. I smiled at him as he strolled over to my table.

“I heard about Cora,” he said. “Looks like you're making it through your first day with flying colors.”

“I did okay, but not without some help.” I tipped my head toward Callie, who was filling Abel Bennett's iced tea glass. Abel wasn't much older than Callie, and it was obvious he found the young Mennonite girl to his liking. I chuckled and lowered my voice so they wouldn't hear me. “Been a long time since anyone stared at me with that sappy hangdog look.”

Noah laughed and sat down at the table. “Are you talking about me?”

I was so surprised I almost spit out my coffee. Instead, I swallowed too quickly and choked. It took a while for me to stop coughing.

“Sorry,” he said, his forehead wrinkled in concern. “You seem to choke up a lot around me.”

I shot him a dirty look. “What . . . what did you mean?” I managed to get out. My voice was weak and raspy.

He grinned. “You knew how much I liked you, didn't you? For crying out loud, I used to follow you around like a lost puppy.”

I shook my head in amazement. “We were best friends. Of course, I knew you liked me. I liked you too.”

He turned his head sideways and raised one eyebrow. “I'm afraid it was more than that, Lizzie. I can't believe you didn't know it. Surely you could read between the lines.”

“Read between what lines? I never suspected . . . Why didn't you say something?”

“I guess I was too shy.”

I snorted. “Noah Housler, you were never shy a day in your life.”

His startling green eyes bore into mine. “Only when it came to expressing my feelings for you.”

I felt as if I couldn't catch my breath and didn't want to launch into another coughing spasm. I took a moment to calm myself and picked up my coffee cup, staring at him over the rim. Was he teasing me? He seemed serious. How could I have missed his interest? Finally I lowered my cup to the table. It wasn't big enough to hide behind anyway.

“I think you're kidding,” I said with a smile, “because I had the biggest crush on
you
. If you liked me, I would have known it.”

His jovial expression turned serious. “Sometimes when we don't value ourselves enough, we can miss seeing how other people really feel about us, Lizzie.”

I stood up, determined to get away before he could see how flustered I was. “C-can I get you . . . I mean, do you want to order something?”

He smiled again, but this time it seemed a little forced. “Sure.”

“Apple pie?”

“You know what? Think I'll actually order an entire meal. What's on the menu today?”

I ran over the specials with him, stumbling over my words.

“That hot roast beef sandwich sounds perfect. And coffee, please.” The twinkle came back into eyes. “But don't sell the last piece of apple pie. I doubt I'll be able to pass it up.”

I nodded quickly and fled from the room. When I reached the kitchen, I pushed the swinging door open and leaned against the wall next to it. I thought back to the time Noah had consoled me after my father's whipping. He'd been so sweet to me, promising that everything would be all right. But in all the time we'd spent together, there was never a moment when I'd thought his feelings for me were more than friendship. If only I'd realized . . .

I pushed myself away from the wall. If I'd known he liked me I probably wouldn't have gotten involved with Clay. Why hadn't Noah said something before he left for school? I would have waited for him. For as long as it took. I shook my head, angry with myself for even thinking that way. It wouldn't do any good to wonder what might have happened. The past was behind me, and thinking about it now was a waste of time.

I prepared his hot beef sandwich, making sure to give him extra mashed potatoes and beef. I was just finishing up when Callie came into the kitchen.

“Is that Noah's?” she asked. “Do you want me to carry it out to him?”

“That's okay,” I said quickly. “You make sure everyone else has what they need. I'll take care of Noah.”

She nodded. “Am I doing all right? Sorry if I'm a little slow.”

I turned and smiled at her. “A little slow? You're putting me to shame. You're twice as fast as I was when I started working in my first restaurant. I hope you'll stay on, Callie. Of course, when Cora gets back, I can't promise anything.”

“I understand,” she said softly. She put her hand on my arm. “Thank you so much for giving me this job, Lizzie. Even if it only lasts a short time. I'm very grateful for the chance to save up some money.”

“Plans?”

She blushed. “No. Well, maybe. I hope to be married someday, and I want to make certain we'll have enough money to buy a house.”

“Oh?” I chuckled. “Abel Bennett can't keep his eyes off you. Is that your future intended?”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Abel Bennett? Oh my, no. It's Levi Housler.”

“Levi? Noah's brother?”

“Yes, that's right.”

I cleared my throat. “Isn't he . . .”

“A little old for me?”

I put Noah's plate down on the counter and nodded. “He's almost thirty, isn't he?”

Callie stuck her chin out, and her eyes flashed with defiance. “He is twenty-eight years old, and I am twenty. That is only eight years' difference. My parents were ten years apart.”

“I'm sorry if I sounded judgmental. I didn't mean to.”

A smile chased the bravado from her face. “I apologize too. I guess I'm feeling somewhat defensive.”

“Totally understandable. How do your parents feel about your relationship?”

She looked at me with a confused expression. “There is no relationship. Levi doesn't even know I like him.” She grinned. “I'm working on him gradually.”

I couldn't help but burst out laughing. Callie seemed to understand my reaction and put her hand over her mouth as she giggled. At that moment she looked exactly as she had when we'd been in school. Although I was only a few years older than her, I felt almost ancient.

“Well, this will be interesting. I intend to keep an eye on you and Levi. My money's on you.”

She cocked her head to the side. “I'm sorry, I don't understand. Why would you spend money on me?”

For all of Callie's boldness, she was still a Kingdom girl. It took great effort for me to keep a straight face while I explained the worldly expression to her. But she nodded happily once I cleared up the confusion, and she thanked me for having confidence in her ability to attract Levi's attention.

“I'd better get this food out to Noah before it gets cold.”

“You can't tell Noah that I'm planning to marry his brother,” she said.

“I won't. I promise.”

She smiled and turned to fill the coffee and tea pitchers. I grabbed Noah's plate and pushed against the kitchen door, amused by her refreshing honesty and naïveté. She wasn't being sneaky, just straightforward about her plans to marry the man she loved. I wondered if Levi suspected anything. However, even with my limited experience with men, I'd come to the conclusion that most of them had no clue what women were thinking.

As I walked toward Noah's table with his plate, I wondered if he knew how deep my feelings ran for him. I prayed silently that this wasn't the case. I tried to look as indifferent to his presence as I could. Unfortunately, I forgot about a slight bulge in the rug that I'd been avoiding all day. My toe hit it, and I almost fell. Noah's plate went flying out of my hands and slid across his table. He desperately tried to catch it but was only partially successful. The plate flipped and most of his lunch plopped into his lap. I stood there with my mouth hanging open, horrified by what I'd just done.

Abel Bennett began to snicker, and my mother stood up from the table where she'd been eating with Charity. Except for Abel's snorting, there wasn't another sound in the room until Noah looked at me innocently and said, “Could I have some extra gravy with that?”