Sarasota Dreams (23 page)

It was late spring, and the temperatures were rising but hadn’t reached the nineties yet. The winter visitors, also called snowbirds, had gone home, so the highways and businesses weren’t nearly as crowded as they were as little as a month ago. The Pinecraft community in Sarasota played host to Amish and Mennonite visitors who preferred the mild winters in Florida over wherever they came from. Many of them stayed with relatives who lived in the tiny rental houses, while others had short-term leases of their own for the season.

As Jeremiah drove down the long, narrow, shell-covered driveway toward the Glick farm, he spotted Abe standing outside the old barn with a couple of the other workers. Jonathan Polk and his adult son, Charles, were part of the crew Abe had put together from a group of farmhands to take down the barn.

Abe lifted a hand in greeting, but he continued talking. One of the things Jeremiah appreciated about his friend and boss was his no-nonsense approach to everything he did. There was never any guessing or wondering where he stood. If Abe said something, that was exactly what he meant.

Jeremiah opened the trunk of his old black car and pulled out some of the supplies for the farm. By the time he’d set everything down, Abe had sent the other men off to do their chores, and he’d joined Jeremiah.

“Did you stop by Penner’s?” he asked.

“Yes, but Shelley still seems distant.”

Abe shook his head. “Give her some time. After your behavior in the past, I can understand her reluctance.”

“Don’t forget, Abe, I helped you with that bad dude, Jimbo, when he came after Mary. Shelley was there, so she knows I helped.”

Abe tilted his head forward and gave Jeremiah a stern glare. “I’m sure Shelley is well aware of your good deeds, but you need to remember to exercise some humility. Don’t boast about what you do because you want people to notice. The Lord sees everything, and He’s the only one whose judgment matters.”

Jeremiah lowered his head. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m still struggling with some things.”

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself or rush your relationship with Shelley. Let the Lord do His work in His own time.”

“Thanks, Abe.” Jeremiah turned toward the pile of supplies. “I’ll go get the wheelbarrow, so I can bring this stuff in one load.”

Abe placed a hand on Jeremiah’s shoulder. “Trust that Shelley will eventually come around and see what a good man you are and that you’ve left those unruly years behind.” He paused before adding, “That is, if it’s the Lord’s will.”

Jeremiah nodded.

For the next couple of hours as Jeremiah worked with his hands, he allowed himself to reflect on his past. Abe was right. The acts he’d committed during the years that he had spent away from the church needed quite a bit of forgiving. He’d fallen into the trap of chasing the wrong kind of women, pursuing more material objects than he’d ever need in a lifetime, and being the kind of man who’d frighten someone like Shelley. In his own mind at the time, he’d managed to place some of the blame for his indiscretions on Shelley. He’d had a crush on her since they were teenagers, but she never had time for him. She was always running home saying she needed to help her mother and younger brother. At the time, he saw it as a personal rejection, but now he knew she was being an obedient daughter.

Shelley preferred walking over riding the three-wheeler around the community as so many of the other neighbors did. Her adult-sized tricycle stayed tethered to the pole in the carport unless she needed it to haul groceries or other items from the store. Since she worked the early-morning shift, she generally went home after the last of the lunch customers left.

As she rounded the last corner toward the house her family rented, she slowed down and said a prayer that she’d find her mother in a better mood than when she’d left. Ever since her younger brother, William, was born with Down syndrome, her mother suffered from depression, and her father retreated further into silence when he wasn’t working. When William got upset, he liked to be alone, so sometimes he took off without telling anyone where he was going, which upset their mother even more. Her older brother, Paul, left the church as soon as he was old enough to find a job to support himself. At first their parents were so disappointed they didn’t want him coming around, in case Shelley might get ideas to do the same. After he and his wife had their first child, the allure of grandparenting had been so strong that they’d accepted him and his family with the hope that Paul would return to the church and bring his family with him. Paul’s wife, Tammy, had a sweet disposition, and Shelley adored her niece, Lucy, and nephew, Grady. Shelley wondered if she’d ever have children of her own someday, but as time passed, she wondered if most men wouldn’t want to take a wife who’d ultimately wind up with the responsibility of a mentally challenged brother who would need care for the rest of his life. If Paul had stayed with the church, he would have taken William in, but Shelley was the only option. Until Peter let her down, Shelley had thought there might’ve been hope, but now she’d settled back to her old way of thinking.

The side door by the carport was unlocked. As she entered the house, the eerie silence disturbed her. William went to school and then an afternoon group work session during the week, and he wouldn’t be home until the van dropped him off right before dinner. A single dinner plate and a glass were in the sink, letting Shelley know her mother had eaten alone. Her father had tried to talk her mother into getting a part-time job, just to get her out of the house and more socially active, but she’d insisted she needed to be home in case William needed her. She set the takeout box filled with cake on the counter before leaving the kitchen.

“Mother,” Shelley called out. “Are you home?”

She was met by silence, so she made her way through the tiny three-bedroom house, glancing in each room, praying her mother would be awake. When she got to the nearly dark master bedroom, she saw movement in the bed. Recently, her mother had started napping and waking up after Shelley got home from work.

“What time is it?” her mother asked. “I didn’t mean to sleep so late.”

“It’s a little past two.”

Mother sat up in bed and patted the hair that had come loose from her bun. “Oh, good. I’ve only been asleep for an hour.” She shoved her feet into the clogs by the bed and slowly stood. Shelley couldn’t help but notice her mother grabbing onto the nightstand for support.

“If you’re not feeling well, why don’t you lie back down?” Shelley said. “I can finish the chores.”

“There isn’t much to do, since I’m the only person here all morning.”

Shelley was exhausted from the busy morning at Penner’s, but she thought about her father’s attempts to cheer up her mother and decided she should at least try to advance his cause. “Would you like to take a walk with me now?”

“Isn’t it awful hot to be walking?”

“The rain last night cooled things down a bit, so it’s not too bad. We can just stroll around the block and get some fresh air.”

Her mother’s hesitation let her know she didn’t want to do it, but she couldn’t think of a good enough reason. Finally, she sighed and nodded. “Okay, but just around the block.”

“I’ll put a few things away while you get ready,” Shelley offered. “Mr. Penner sent me home with some dessert. He said he and Mrs. Penner haven’t been eating as many sweets since Mary got married and moved out.”

“Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll join you in the kitchen.”

Shelley left her mother alone to do whatever she needed to get ready for their walk. She put her tote on the hook in her room and then went to the kitchen and put the cake in the refrigerator so the cream-cheese icing wouldn’t spoil. Then she washed the dishes in the sink and wiped the crumbs off the table.

“I’m ready.”

Shelley glanced up and spotted her mother at the door wearing a different skirt and some hard-soled shoes. “Don’t you want to wear comfortable shoes?” Shelley asked.

“Neh, these are fine. I’m used to them.”

Shelley had her doubts, but she didn’t push. Her mother grabbed the key off the hook, and they took off.

“Anything interesting happen at work today?” Shelley’s mother asked.

Shelley pondered mentioning Jeremiah but made a quick decision not to. “No, pretty much a normal day.”

“I had a visitor this morning, shortly after William went to school.”

When her mother didn’t continue, Shelley slowed her pace and turned to look at her mother. “Well? Who was it?”

“Hannah.”

Peter’s mother. The downside to growing up in a community where everyone knew everyone else made it difficult getting over the man she once thought she’d marry. “Did she say anything I need to know about?”

Her mother shrugged. “She doesn’t know if Peter is happy.”

“What gives her that impression?”

“He seems restless.”

Despite the fact that Shelley had thought she was madly in love with Peter before he’d informed her he was marrying someone else, she’d gotten over him. “I think Peter’s always restless,” Shelley said.

“Hannah seems to think Peter regrets his decision and that he’s considering calling off his wedding.”

If there had been any doubt about things turning out for the best in Shelley’s life, it was gone. After the breakup, she’d realized that Peter always wondered what he was missing, and he was seldom satisfied with what he had.

“He might just be holding a torch for you.”

“I don’t think so,” Shelley said.

“You wouldn’t know though, would you?”

“Mother, even if Peter wants me back, I don’t think we’re meant for each other.”

“You’re not getting any younger, Shelley. I don’t want you to miss out on a chance of finding a suitable husband. Peter is a good man, and if he wants to reconsider his decision, you should—”

“No, I shouldn’t. I don’t love Peter.”

Her mother frowned. “Peter will be a good provider, and you know him very well.”

“Not as well as I once thought.”

“You should give him another chance.”

“Considering the fact that he hasn’t asked for another chance, that’s a moot point,” Shelley said. She noticed that they’d slowed way down. “Are you okay, Mother?”

“My feet are tired.”

Shelley stopped. “Why don’t you take off your shoes and walk barefoot?”

“I’ll give that a try for a little while.” She placed her hand on Shelley’s shoulder to steady herself as she took off each shoe with the other hand. “Now what were we talking about?” Silence fell between them for a few seconds. “Oh, Peter. So would you like me to ask his mother if he might want to stop by the house soon?”

Had Mother not heard a single word she’d said? “I’m not interested in Peter anymore.” Shelley turned and started walking again. Traffic had begun to pick up, so she had to wait at the corner before crossing. A black automobile slowed as it approached, and she glanced at the driver—Jeremiah.

The car stopped, and Jeremiah waved. “Hey, Shelley. Mrs. Burkholder. Want a ride somewhere?”

If Shelley had been alone, she would have turned him down, but her mother’s feet were hurting. “Mother?”

Her mother audibly sighed and then nodded. “Yes, I think a ride would be very nice.”

J
eremiah wasn’t sure what just happened, but he had to smile. One minute he was driving home from work, and the next minute he spotted Shelley and her mother walking down the street. Mrs. Burkholder had been limping. He’d stopped with the intention of offering a ride, but he wasn’t sure they’d take him up on it. He was surprised when they accepted. Shelley’s mother got into the front seat next to him, and Shelley slid into the backseat.

“Where to, ladies?”

“Home, please,” Shelley said.

Jeremiah tried to make small talk as they drove to the Burkholder house. He could tell they were both uncomfortable, so he decided to take a low-key approach.

“Nice day for a walk,” he said.

Mrs. Burkholder cleared her throat but didn’t say anything. He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw a pained expression on Shelley’s face. She mouthed, “I’m sorry.”

Okay, so conversation would be rough. At least their house wasn’t too far. As soon as he brought the car to a complete stop, Mrs. Burkholder unbuckled her seat belt, flung open the door, and jumped out. She glanced over her shoulder and scowled at Shelley before darting into the house, leaving Jeremiah and Shelley alone.

“I guess I came along at the right time, huh?” Jeremiah said.

“I guess you did. You do realize the only reason I got in your car with you was because my mother’s feet hurt.”

So that explained the limp. “Then I’m glad I came along when I did.”

Shelley nodded. “Ya, your timing was good.”

She remained in the car, so he pondered for a few seconds whether or not he should take advantage of the situation.
Might as well
, he thought. “Would you like to go out with me sometime?”

“I don’t think so,” she said. “You should know that by now.”

“I was hoping you’d changed your mind about me.”

“What makes you think I’d ever change my mind?”

“C’mon, Shelley. I was young and restless, but that’s in my past. You know I see things differently now. I’ve turned my life back over to the Lord.”