Planted with Hope (10 page)

Hope glanced up. “What do you mean?”

A smile broke through, causing the corners of Dat's lips to rise. “I won't say just yet. I'll just say that I stopped by the pie shop a bit ago to drop off a sack dinner for Grace, and Lovina wants to talk to you. She asked me to bring you to the pie shop tonight.” He turned to the back door. “Get on your flip-flops. There's a table waiting for us, and Lovina promised me a piece of coconut creme pie. And she asked for you to bring your seed catalog. She has an idea. One I think you'll want to hear.”

 

Vegetables in a California Garden, 1933

Someone has said that it takes a robin to make a spring, but to me the arrival of the first seed catalogue is the real harbinger of vernal dawn.

Works of homely interest, yet colorful and alluring, the catalogues of my favorite seedsmen have always been my spring season literature. They tell of old garden comrades, vegetable varieties tried and true, and bring news of promising youngsters, strains just making their bow to the garden world. Eagerly I thumb over each page, selecting the “guests” to be invited to my garden; and how difficult it is to limit the invitations!
^*

^*
Ross H. Gast,
Vegetables in the California Garden
(Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1933), 17.

Chapter Seven

It is better to rejoice that our purse is half full than to fret that it is half empty.

A
MISH
P
ROVERB

H
ope mindlessly turned the pages of the seed catalog as she sat at the small table at Me, Myself, and Pie. She and Dat had gotten there thirty minutes ago. They'd both ordered pie. Dat had finished his, and Hope had only eaten half of her piece of cherry. The pie was delicious, as always, but she had too much on her mind to think about eating.

Lovina had acknowledged them a few times with a wave and with the mouthed words, “I'll be there in a minute.” But every time she tried to approach, someone had stopped her to ask for a recipe or to gush about what a great asset the pie shop was to the community. Finally, when the last rush of people left and only a few still sat around the tables, Lovina approached.

There was a sparkle in Lovina's eyes as she sat across from them, and Hope wondered how much of that was due to the pie shop and how much was due to Lovina's growing relationship with Noah Yoder. Hope and her sisters enjoyed taking turns guessing how long it would be before Noah and Lovina's wedding would
be published. Faith guessed that it would be in November—the typical month for weddings in the Amish community—but both Grace and Hope believed it would be sooner. It seemed silly to wait so long to marry the one you loved, especially here in Pinecraft. It wasn't as if anyone needed to worry about getting the harvest in, or even about spring planting. Waiting until November was not important in her opinion.

Lovina sat in the chair next to Dat and turned her attention to Hope. “I've been thinking. Wouldn't it be wonderful to do something with the back plot?”

Hope poked her fork into a cherry and twirled it in a circle. “Are you thinking about putting in an outside patio? That would be nice during the season. I've rarely seen the store without a line—more seating would be welcome.”

“Oh, that is an idea too, and maybe something to consider in the future, but what I was actually thinking about was a garden.”

Hope's head lifted. She dropped her fork to her plate. “A garden?”

“
Ja
. It's a large space—much bigger than our backyard.”

“It would be a lovely idea if we were in Ohio, but I don't think that's a great idea here.” Hope sighed, and the ache in her chest grew. “You know what a miserable time I've had in that little bitty plot in the backyard.”

“That's true, but I talked to Noah about it earlier today. There are some garden clubs around here, and they have to get their dirt from somewhere.”

“You mean their
soil
.” Hope sighed. “I can't imagine the cost of bringing it in.”

Lovina reached over and patted Hope's hand. “There will be an expense, but Noah and I think it's a worthwhile investment. If we get in good soil, I have no doubt we can have a wonderful
garden. Noah's very resourceful. He knows so many contractors in the area, and they're always helping each other out. He's already talking about building some raised boxes or beds to make it easier. We thought the boxes would be a perfect work project for Mose, Gerald, and Atlee.”

Heat rose to Hope's cheeks. Her lips started to open in excitement. “Wait… you're serious?” Hope pointed her thumb behind her, toward the back of the building. “You want to grow a garden—a real garden out back?” She sucked in a breath, taking in the aroma of baking pies, cherries, and promise. “But why would you do that?”

Lovina's fingers drummed on the table, as if she couldn't hold in her excitement. “Personally, I love fresh vegetables, and we have all that space not being used. It'll be something that can be enjoyed by… ” Lovina pressed her lips together, and she stopped there. Then she shrugged. “Enjoyed by so many in this area. Please say yes. I'm excited just thinking about it.”

Hope tilted her head and studied her sister's face. Lovina's grin was large—almost too large. With Hope's perusal Lovina glanced to the ceiling, as if the network of the warehouse's ducts and beams was the most interesting thing she'd ever seen.

There had to be more than what Lovina was letting on about, but Hope wouldn't press. Unhindered joy—something she hadn't felt for months—surged up from her stomach and caught in her throat. It shocked and amazed her that Lovina would do this for her. It would be an expense. It would be a risk. But looking at the spark in Lovina's eyes Hope knew it wasn't about the vegetables. It was about giving Hope a precious gift.

Hope reached across the table and grasped her sister's hand. She squeezed tightly, and then she looked to her dat. He was sitting quietly, but she could tell he was excited too. Pride beamed from his eyes as he watched the interaction between his daughters.

Tears lined her lower eyelids, and the cover of the seed catalog blurred. She ran her hand over the glossy page.

Would it really be possible to have a garden in Pinecraft? And if it was, would it be enough? Would her heart long to stay? If she did get a garden started that didn't mean she couldn't leave, could it? Maybe it would be the perfect project for Dat too. He was feeling better, and he didn't have a farm to run. Maybe she could do it for
him
as much as herself.

“
Ja
, Lovina. I like the idea… if you can find good soil, and if it doesn't cost you too much to set up.” She considered telling Lovina about her letter to their cousin Eleanor, too, but changed her mind. She'd wait to see if Eleanor wrote back.

“Don't worry about any of the cost, Hope. All you need to do is look through that catalog and decide what you'll need to get started. I'll put in the order of seeds for you. I'll also talk to Noah and he'll take care of everything else.”

Hope's chest warmed. Was this really happening? She wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

Lovina turned. A new surge of customers had entered. Instead of being overwhelmed by them, Lovina seemed pleased. “I have to get back to the kitchen, but let's talk tomorrow morning when you've had a chance to look at the catalog.” Then Lovina smiled, and her nose wrinkled up as she did. “Take time to dream tonight, Hope. Don't let doubts or worries keep you from dreaming.” She rose and hustled off with a simple parting wave.

Hope watched her walk away, and then unexpected laughter spilled out. She picked up her fork and took another bite of her cherry pie. “Tomorrow? Lovina isn't wasting any time, is she?”

Dat stroked his long white beard, looking pleased. “
Ne
. From the moment that she decided to open this pie shop she's been a
different woman. It's as if your sister has gotten a taste of what God can do, and she can't wait to see Him show up more.”

Hope tilted her head and looked to her father with curiosity. She'd grown up her whole life going to church. She'd heard more messages from their Amish preachers than she could count, and she'd seen her father and mother leading a simple faith, but she'd never heard him talk in such a way.

“
Ja
, I suppose that makes sense,” she finally answered.

Hope wanted to ask her father about all the changes within him—with Lovina—but she held her words in. It seemed odd to talk to him about spiritual things. It was so much easier talking about gardening.

She opened the first page of the seed catalog. “So what do you think I should plant? Maybe I should start by seeing what grows well in this zone,
ja
? I'm sure the library has some books on gardening in Florida.” She again thought about her letter to Eleanor. Should she write her cousin another letter, telling her she'd had a change of plans?
Ne
. If Hope did get a job and decide to move, she had no doubt that her dat would be happy to take over the back-lot garden.

“It would be good to check out some books, just as long as you add strawberries sometime this year. There's nothing as wonderful as plucking a fresh strawberry right off the vine. I'm looking forward to that.”

“I have to admit that one of the things I'm most excited about is the peace and quiet.” She sighed. “There aren't many places to find it around Pinecraft.”

“
Ne
. That's the truth. But I doubt that even this big warehouse can block out all the noise.”

“Still.” She smiled. “It'll be a place just for me. When the
people and the noise seem to press in I'll have a place to go.” She clapped her hands together. “Oh, and I'd guess with the right soil we'll have a wonderful harvest.”

Another large group of customers neared, and soon all the tables around them filled. The noise of their voices caused the hair on Hope's arms to stand. Hope pushed her pie plate back from her.

“Dat, you don't mind if I go around the back to take a look, do you?”

“
Ne
, not at all. I'll be back in a little while.” He winked. “Maybe if I sit here longer Lovina will offer me another piece of pie.”