Made with Love (14 page)

“Okay, tell us all about it.” Grace was the first to jump in.

Lovina's cheeks warmed at the thought of Noah Yoder. Of the way that he listened to her. The way he'd captured her dream in a simple sketch. And how he'd placed his hand on hers before they'd parted. “Tell you about what?” She fiddled with the sleeve of her dress.

“Oh, please! You act like we don't know,” Hope huffed. Her sisters were sitting around the table, enjoying a glass of Southern Breeze Punch, as was often the custom in the hot afternoons. “Even if we didn't have any idea what was happening between you and that handsome bachelor we could read it all over your face.”

Lovina looked away from their intent stare and went to retrieve a glass from the kitchen cupboard. She turned on the water from the tap and filled the glass, taking a long drink.

“He came by here, Lovina,” Faith said, yet her words didn't have the same playful tone as Grace's. “You can't hide it from us.”

“He came by here?” She spun around then, trying to figure out how that was possible. She'd met Noah at Big Olaf's, and then they'd parted ways and she'd come right back home. There was no way he could make it here before she did and then leave again.

She studied Faith's face, wondering if they were playing a joke—just to try to get her to say more than she should. They used to do that when they were little, four sisters teaming up against one to weave a fanciful tale. She'd fallen for it many times, until Dat had overheard them once and reminded them that weaving tales like that was no different from lying. But if they were lying now they were getting better at it, for all of them were looking at her as if she was the one who lost her mind.

“You seem confused.” Faith narrowed her gaze on Lovina. “Did Thomas Chupp show up at Big Olaf's or not?”

“Oh, Thomas!” It was all starting to make sense now. He
had
told her he'd come to the house.

Faith narrowed her gaze. “Who did you think we were talking about? Unless you thought we were talking about that other bachelor you met today. I never did hear what his name is. Boy, did you get Mem all excited when you mentioned him—and mentioned that you wanted to talk to her and Dat tonight.” Faith studied her face as if trying to get an answer to something. The only problem was that Lovina didn't know what the question was.

“I think Mem might faint straight away when we tell her that Thomas Chupp stopped by looking for you.” Grace chuckled. “Maybe there is hope for the rest of us yet!”

“Have any of you ever had a conversation with a bachelor? Ever? Just because you talk to someone doesn't mean you're going to spend your life with him.” Lovina sighed. “Both Dat and Mem went on dates with others before they were married.” She wagged her finger at her sisters. “I think the four of you are trying to make a big deal out of nothing.”

Joy grinned. She was working on some handstitching on a small potholder, most likely for a gift. “Are you looking for Dat and Mem? Mem walked down to take some salve to Abby Troyer. One of her twins touched the hot barbecue grill, and Mem offered to do some doctoring. Dat offered to walk with her, which means he's improving. This is his second walk in the same day.”

Then her sisters started talking at once, all of them having thoughts on their parents, the bachelors, and what Lovina was hiding. They talked about her as if she wasn't in the room.

Overwhelmed with the commotion, Lovina stuck two fingers in her mouth and gave a big whistle. Even though her mother said it wasn't ladylike, she'd used it for years to call in the cows and dogs on the farm, and occasionally to rein in her sisters.

The voices in the room stilled and Lovina took a deep breath. She was going to have to tell them something. She quickly
weighed what information would appease their curiosity but also give her space and freedom to meet with Dat and Mem tonight.

Lovina held up her hands, palms out. “All right, I will tell you about Thomas Chupp. I took him—his family—Mem's loaf of banana sour cream bread, and he was very kind. And then, when I was at Big Olaf's he showed up. He asked me to go to the beach with him tomorrow, because at least two of my sisters told him I hadn't been there in over a month.”

Joy and Grace gave each other knowing looks. Lovina noted disapproval on Faith's face.

Hope drummed her fingers anxiously on the tabletop. Hope never was one to involve herself in such conversation. Her mind was most likely someplace else, like flipping through a mental seed catalog. But Faith's eyes were focused on her. “So are you going?”

“Ja, I told him I would.” Lovina pointed at her sisters one by one. “But you can't tell Mem and Dat. I want to take them out tonight to discuss a few things.”

“To talk to them about Thomas Chupp? Already?” Grace shook her head, her blue eyes full of humor. “I don't think one date warrants a conversation with your parents.”

“Maybe it's about the other bachelor,” Faith said. “The one she was talking to this morning.” Her voice held a tinge of hope.

“
Ne
, I think it's something more than that.” Hope took a sip of punch with her straw. “I think it has something to do with a pie shop. Maybe Lovina found the perfect location to set up her shop today?”

The excitement in the faces around her fell, their disappointment clear. It was obvious they were far more interested in hearing about romantic pursuits than business ventures. All except for
Grace, who tilted up her chin. “Just remember not to expect it to turn a profit for a year, maybe two,” Grace commented.

“Ja,” Lovina said. “I'll keep that in mind.”

With the cloth bag slung over her shoulder and her notebook tucked inside, Lovina made her way to her bedroom. The blankets on her bed were still smooth and neat, as they'd been this morning when she'd left. Hope's were still rumpled, just as they'd been all day. Just as they always were. Lovina had decided long ago not to get too burdened down by the actions of her sisters. They had their unique gifts and talents, and she had hers.

She sat on her bed and pulled out Noah's sketches. Lovina sighed. If she was going to invest herself in anything, this would be it. And she couldn't think of anyone she'd enjoy partnering in this project with more than Noah Yoder. Lovina gingerly pressed his sketches to her chest and closed her eyes. Now she just needed Dat to say yes.

She had to trust it could happen. She had to trust that the peace she'd felt earlier that day was for a reason. She had to know that it was God who'd placed that dream in her heart all those years ago. And pursuing it was even more important than turning the head of a handsome bachelor. Yes, she had to know that, truly believe it.

 

Southern Breeze Punch

1 envelope blue raspberry Kool-Aid

1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate

1 cup sugar

7 cups water

2 liters ginger ale

1 (46 ounce) can pineapple juice

Mix all ingredients. Fill each glass with ice cubes and pour punch mixture over them to fill glass. Stir briskly and allow a few minutes for the cubes to thaw into the punch. This is a very refreshing drink and not too sweet. Keep some ice cubes in the freezer so you can quickly mix up a refreshing drink to serve your guest.

Eleven

When fear knocks on the door, send faith to answer!

A
MISH
P
ROVERB

T
he dining room of Yoder's Restaurant hummed with conversation. Lovina sat against the back wall with her parents. Every table in her vision was filled with customers, Englischers mostly. Lovina knew that once it was the season and the Amish and Mennonites from up north began arriving on buses, that wouldn't necessarily be the case.

She'd invited her parents out to dinner so they could talk…alone. She'd brought her satchel, and inside were the sketches from Noah. It was hard to believe that it had been just this morning when she'd first seen a For Sale sign in the warehouse. It was hard to believe that it had just been today that she'd first met Noah. Her heart warmed just thinking about him. But she couldn't dwell on that. Not now.

Even before finding the warehouse, she and Jason had spent many hours talking about the possibility and the details of her getting a loan. The bank would loan her money for a building for a pie shop on two conditions. First, that she'd use the money she'd saved as a down payment. That savings represented two years of
work as a schoolteacher in Walnut Creek. And second, that her father would agree to co-sign her loan. With his remaining property in Walnut Creek and his savings tucked in the bank from the sale of their Ohio home, Dat's assets were protection for the bank in case her dream fell short.

They ordered their favorite meals. Smoked ham with Amish noodles and three-bean salad for Mem. Meatloaf for Dat with mashed potatoes and buttered corn. And roast turkey breast and stuffing with a baked sweet potato and green beans for Lovina. As they ate, Mem and Dat spoke about friends back in Walnut Creek who were getting married. They also discussed Mem's ideas for a screened-in back porch. Lovina waited until their waitress, Sallie, brought hand-dipped ice cream with fresh strawberries for dessert before she dared to bring up the warehouse.

Dat was intently scooping a small bite with both ice cream and a strawberry when Lovina cleared her throat. Her parents paused and looked at her—two spoons in the air, halfway to their mouths.

“Dat, Mem, I need to talk to you about something.”

She lifted her satchel from the seat next to her and then pushed back her water glass and dish of ice cream to make room on the table. She laid the three sketches on the checkered table cloth as Mem and Dat finished off their last bites. She was just about to tell them about the day's discovery when someone walked up in the familiar green apron. Lovina assumed it was their waitress, but when she looked up it was Faith who stood there with a coffeepot in one hand. The look in her middle sister's eyes was mischievous, to say the least.

“Lovina!” Faith picked up the sketch that displayed the entry area of the pie shop. “This is amazing. Who drew this? Where is this place?”

“Faith…I didn't know you were working tonight.” She reached up and motioned for her dark-haired sister to hand the drawing back to her.

Faith shrugged. “Anna-Beth's son has a fever. She called to ask if I could cover for her tonight.” Faith refilled Dat's cup with coffee and eyed the paper again. “This place looks wunderbar. You'll have to take me to it someday. Where is it?”

Mem reached for the sketch, and Lovina handed it over.

“Is this restaurant someplace around Sarasota?” Mem asked. “It does look inviting.”

Lovina stared up at Faith and furrowed her brow, hoping she'd get the hint to leave. “Actually, Mem, this place is just down the street, right across from the Tourist Church.”

Faith didn't get the hint, and she stood still, coffeepot in hand, waiting for Lovina to continue.

Mem pushed her glasses farther up the bridge of her nose to get a better look at the sketch. “I don't remember this place. Surely it isn't where you said. I'd know about it for certain.”