Authors: Tricia Goyer

Made with Love (7 page)

BOOK: Made with Love

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He'd made enough to support himself and the three teens, doing what he could to scrape by. But this placeâ¦he got excited just thinking about what he could do with all the forgotten and castaway items in here. He'd get a nice check from Sarasota Architectural Salvage for just a few of the things lying around. There were a half-dozen fluted columns and some corbels leaning against one corner, and those always got a good price.

Noah continued on. Two industrial metal cabinets caught his eye. He moved toward them and resisted the urge to open their doors and peer inside. He could get lost in this place, but he didn't have the whole day to wait around. Noah glanced at his watch. It was time to check on the teens, see if they were back from Phillippi Creek, and get them working for the day. There was a local rental that needed the shed in the back torn down. It wasn't glamorous, but it was work. He didn't need to stay there the whole day, but he did have to go with the guys and get them set up.

The voices in the back continued to talk. What should he do? He couldn't leave until he spoke with the owner of this place.

He tried not to eavesdrop, but their voices echoed.

“Lovina, I agree that such a place coming on the market is rare, butâ¦” the man's voice trailed off.

“I have enough money. With the money I've saved and the loan you promisedâ¦”

“Yes, but what about after that? How are you going to pay to remodel this place? The money from the loan won't be nearly enough.”

“The Lord will provide. I am certain.”

The man said something Noah couldn't make out and then the woman, Lovina, chuckled. “Oh, I see you don't like that answer.” Her voice held a hint of humor. “I'm not afraid of hard work. And I have four sistersâ¦”

The man laughed then. “I know you'll roll up your sleeves. I have no doubt your sisters will too, but it's more than you can tackle alone.”

Noah took a step forward. He didn't want to startle them. He didn't want to interrupt. He had no idea what the woman wanted this place for, but if she needed helpâ¦if she needed this
place cleaned out and fixed up, well, that could be an answer to his prayers. Maybe hers too.

His foot hit a loose board. A loud squeak echoed through the cavernous room. The conversation in the next room stopped, and the two men and the woman strode through the doorway.

Both men wore curious looks, but seeing his Amish dress they didn't seemed alarmed. The woman looked at him, but it was almost as if she was looking through him, enraptured by the room.

“I'm so sorry I interrupted. I'm Roy Yoder's nephew.” Noah pointed behind him. “My uncle lives right close, and I've been waiting to take a look in here for a while.” He turned to the man in gray slacks and pressed white shirt. The man looked to be in his mid-thirties and Mennonite, Noah supposed.

Then he turned to the Englischer. “And I assume you own this place?”

“Yes,” the man continued before Noah could say anything more. He glanced at his watch. It was clear that he was in a hurry. “We were just about to leave.”

“Not yet. Just a minute more?” The woman, Lovina, moved to the center of the room, closer to Noah. “I can almost see it now. We can have work tables here.” She motioned with her hands. “I can be rolling pie crusts as customers walk in. Those enjoying their pie will be able to ask the bakers questions and see how it's done. And thenâ¦” She pointed behind her, and her beautiful face glowed with excitement. “The kitchen will be back there.”

Pie? A kitchen? Noah removed his hat and scratched his head. Were they thinking of turning this place into a bakery?

The Mennonite man sighed and looked around. His eyebrows furrowed and sadness filled his face as if he'd just had a great dream crushed. “It's a wonderful idea, but there is no wayâ¦”

The Englischer looked at his watch again, and Noah was sure
he was going to bolt any second. He wished he had a chance to talk to Lovina alone, to take time to understand her dream, but now was his chance.

“I can make it possible!” Noah stepped forward. He turned his hat over in his hands. “My name is Noah Yoder. I've worked construction for the last four years. I have a crew that can work with me, and we can turn this place around faster than you can blink. I can draw some plans and sketch out some designs. We can do that together.” A lump formed in his throat as he said that last word. He liked that ideaâliked it very much.

“I'm hardworking and honest,” Noah added. He swallowed as he said those words. He was honestâ¦now. The two men looked at each other with curious glances, but they didn't interrupt. It was as if they were waiting to see if he was going to put a price on this offer. He didn't give them a chance to brush him off.

“I think this place would make a lovely bakery.” Noah moved toward the large windows. Sadly someone had painted them over. “Just look at these large windows. We can replace them and the sun will stream right in.”

Lovina took a step closer to him, hanging on every word.

“I work with Sarasota Salvage too. I can make a few calls,” he said. “I'm sure they'd be interested in some of thisâa lot of this.” He swept his arm, noting the items in the room.

The Englisch man stepped forward. “Listen, I'm sure you have great ideas but I have another appointment.” He stretched out his hand, and then he placed a key in the Mennonite man's hand. “Can you see this place is locked up? I'll have someone swing by the bank tomorrow to pick up the key.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

The man hurried out. Instead of watching the Englischer go, the woman's eyes were fixed on Noah. So much hope filled her
gaze that Noah had a sudden urge to do everything he could to make sure her dream of a bakery came true.

Like him, she was an underdog. He'd grown up Amish his whole life, and he'd never heard of a woman trying to achieve such a thing. Joy mixed with concern on her face, and he understood. There were many who most likely thought she was a fool, just as they thought him to be a fool for moving to Pinecraft with the teens.

Noah's shoulders squared with determination, and he made a promise to himself to help this woman in whatever way he could. He took a step closer to her, and then he pointed across the road toward the Tourist Church. “When folks gather to welcome the bus they'll be able to see the bakers in here working. Lovina is right. It'll draw them in. What better place to welcome new friends than here, chatting over a piece of key lime pie?”

Noah looked back at them. The pretty woman smiled, but instead of looking at him she kept her gaze fixed on her shoes.

The woman glanced up briefly. “It all sounds wonderful, but I'm afraid there aren't enough fundsâto pay you, that is.”

“Oh, I don't need pay.” The words spilled out before he had a chance to consider his offer.

The woman's head jerked up. Her mouth circled into an O and her eyes widened. She had a heart-shaped face with dark brows and even darker brown eyes. Pretty lashes blinked once, and then twice, as if she was uncertain if she'd heard him correctly.

“You don't need pay?” The banker cleared his throat. “Did I hear that correctly?”

“Well, I won't work for free, but I do a lot of salvage work.” He walked over to some old barstools. They had red-painted seats, and the paint was chipped. “Items like this might be good in your bakery, but there's a lot of things around here I'm sure you won't need.”

“It's a pie shop, not a bakery,” she said. Yet she wasn't upset. “A
whole shop with pies, and pie pans decorating the walls.” She pointed to a wall by the door. “I can even picture a cabinet there holding cookbooks.”

The banker strode forward. There was a hint of excitement on his face too.

Noah extended his hand to the woman. “Ma'am, I'd love to help you. I even have three teensâuh, employeesâwho can help me.”

Her eyebrows lifted, and she looked skeptical.

“And you'd do it in exchange for the items you can salvage around this place?”

Noah paused before answering, studying the woman's face. Then he glanced around. There were some great items to be certain, but there was something else too.

His heart had warmed when he'd seen her standing in this room. She was petite in stature, and her dark brown hair was tucked under her kapp, but the way she held herself was different from most Amish women. She stood with her shoulders back, wearing confidence like a cloak. A gentle confidence that made her beautiful. An underdog shouldn't have confidence like that, and he wondered if she could explain it to him.
Oh, Lord, let me have a chance.

“Yes, ma'am,” he said with a firm set of his chin. “My crew will do the work in exchange for the items we can salvage. Unless, of course, there's a way we can use the items around here. I'll make sure to put your needs first.”

She turned from Noah to the banker. “Jason, did you hear that? Surely you don't have any concerns now.”

“Noah Yoder. Wasn't that what you said your name was?” Remembrance flickered in the man's eyes. Then his gaze narrowed on Noah, as if he was just realizing who he was.

Noah sighed. Had his reputation marred this man's opinion too?

“Yes, sir. I'm from Arcola, Illinois.” He placed his hat back on his head. “And I'm willing to answer any questions you have about me.” The hope that buoyed his heart a moment before disappeared, and suddenly the room seemed stuffy.

“I'm not sure that's needed yet.” The man's voice softened, and he turned to the woman. “It's a nice idea, Lovina, but let's not put the buggy before the horse. Let's worry about your funding first, shall we? We know where Mr. Yoder lives. Once the money's secure and the deal is settled we can talk to him then.”

The woman nodded. Noah wanted to state his case and clear his name, but instead he remained silent. He'd tried to prove himself again and again in this community. Why did he think things would change now? Maybe he should just find one more job that would be enough to provide them with fares back to Arcola, and let that be that.

Finally, Noah offered the man a slight smile. “Yes, of course.” He didn't have the heart to look at the woman, to see the accusations in her gaze too. “Well, like you said, you know where I live.”

He strode out across the creaky floor. The muggy heat hit his face as soon as he opened the door, but it didn't compare to the burden that weighed down on his shoulders. He took long strides toward the backyard of his uncle's place. The teens' laughter carried out through the door, causing his stomach to tighten down in knots.

Noah paused at the door, balling his fists and placing them against the wood. Maybe God should have called another follower to try to help these guysâ¦someone with better credentials. Obviously, he wasn't going to get anywhere. Not with his past trailing behind him, carrying with it a wake of loss and broken dreams.