Sarasota Dreams (48 page)

“Oh no, I do understand that. I’ve seen my share of meanness. Just because Mennonites aren’t allowed to fight doesn’t mean they don’t find other ways to be mean.”

“Well, I haven’t seen it.”

“Trust me,” she said, “you will. That is, if you stick around awhile.”

“So now where?”

Ruthie gave him a puzzled look. “Where?”

“Where would you like to go? Remember? We were talking about getting something to eat.”

“Oh.” She tapped her chin with her finger. “How about Penner’s? They have the best pie in town.”

“Sounds good to me. To Penner’s we go!”

Ruthie tilted her head back and laughed. “You say the funniest things!”

He cast a quick glance at her before focusing back on the road. “You think I’m funny?”

“Very funny. I never know what to expect from you.”

“And I thought I had to dress up like a clown to get a laugh.”

Ruthie shook her head. “No, you don’t have to dress up like anything other than what you are.”

Silence fell between them, and Charles’s expression changed from smiling to concern. “Does it bother you to think I’m funny?”

“Of course not,” she replied. “I like to laugh.”

“Whew. I was worried there for a second.”

Ruthie laughed again. “See? That’s what I’m talking about. You don’t even have to try to be funny, but you are.”

The rest of the way to Penner’s they talked and laughed. Ruthie couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun and been so lighthearted.

They walked into Penner’s Restaurant still laughing. Mr. Penner seated them at the corner booth where they had a view from two windows. Ruthie knew that was the best seat in the place. Mr. Penner gave her an understanding grin, making her face flame. She wanted to hide her face, but that would make her embarrassment obvious.

“So did you have fun?” Charles asked once they were alone.

“I had a wonderful time!”

So Pop was right. Ruthie was perfectly content in the second-cheapest seats in the house. She even said she thought they were in the best place because they had a good view of everything. In a way, she was right. They couldn’t see all the performers’ facial features, but they got a good bird’s-eye view of everything.

He opened the menu and perused the different sections. The desserts weren’t listed, but he could see a bunch of pies in the glass display case by the register.

A server approached their table and addressed Ruthie first. “Hey there, girl. How ya been?”

Ruthie smiled at the quirky girl in the apron holding the pencil and order pad. “Hi, Jocelyn. What kind of pie do you have today?”

“The best coconut cream pie you ever tasted. Want some?”

Ruthie nodded and looked at Charles. “Mrs. Penner makes all the pies, and I love her cream pies.”

“Sounds good to me.” He closed the menu and slid it toward the server.

“I’ve seen you in here before,” the server said. “You got a name?”

Ruthie laughed. “Jocelyn, this is my … friend Charles.”

Jocelyn arched one eyebrow as the corners of her mouth twitched into a grin. “Your friend, huh?” She looked directly at Charles. “Nice to meet you. You’ll love the pie. It is totally delish.”

After Jocelyn left the table, Charles gave Ruthie a questioning look. She leaned forward and spoke in a low voice. “Jocelyn started working here after Mary married Abe.”

“Oh that’s right,” Charles said. “I remember the story now.”

“Jocelyn is different, but I’ve heard that the customers like her.”

“And I suspect she’s not Mennonite,” Charles said.

Ruthie giggled. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

“Something about the outfit, the hair, and all the makeup.” He made a goofy face that had Ruthie laughing even harder.

“You should have seen her before she toned it down.”

The bell on the door jingled, so Charles glanced up. “Isn’t that Peter?”

“You know Peter?” Ruthie asked.

“I do, but only because of what happened to Shelley. I was at the feed store with Jeremiah once when Peter tried to start trouble. Jeremiah did a good job of diffusing the situation. I can’t say I would have done the same thing.”

“Ya, I know how Peter can be.”

“He’s not a very nice person, is he?”

Ruthie shook her head. “No, he’s not, even if he is my cousin.”

“Peter’s your cousin?”

Her cheeks flamed. “Ya, his mother and my father are brother and sister.”

“I never would have … I mean, you don’t seem like … um …”

“That’s okay. People are always surprised when they find out.”

A
few minutes later, Jocelyn arrived with their plates of pie. “Here ya go. Enjoy!”

“Thank you,” Charles said. “It looks delicious.”

Ruthie appreciated how polite Charles always was. He’d treated her with the utmost respect all day.

After Jocelyn left to check on Peter, silence fell between Ruthie and Charles. If Ruthie had any idea what to say, she would have spoken, but most of the time words didn’t come easily to her.

“I had a great time today,” Charles finally said, breaking the silence.

Ruthie nodded. “Ya, it was very nice. How long will the circus be here?”

“Not long. They have two sets of performances every year—one in February and the other during the summer.”

“Do you always go?”

“I try to see them at least once per season. The man who spent the most time with me at clown camp still works with the troupe.”

Ruthie sat up straight. “Was he there?”

“He’s a behind-the-scenes guy. He used to perform as a clown, but something happened and now he helps produce the show.” Charles paused before adding, “So I didn’t see him.”

“Oh.” Ruthie didn’t know what to talk about next, so she sat back.

Jocelyn stopped by their booth to check on them. “Anything else I can get you two?”

“I think we’re fine,” Charles said. He gestured toward Ruthie. “Unless you want something else.”

“No thank you. I’m fine.”

Jocelyn’s eyes twinkled as she smiled. “I hope both of you have a wonderful day.”

She turned toward Peter and hesitated before taking a step. Ruthie watched, waiting for Peter to act out.

“Would you like more tea?” Jocelyn asked, her voice slightly deeper than it had been seconds earlier.

Peter opened his mouth but closed it as he shook his head. Ruthie had never seen Peter hold back. He obviously realized Jocelyn wasn’t easily bullied.

“Sometimes I wish I could be more like Jocelyn,” Ruthie said after Jocelyn left.

“Why?”

Ruthie thought about what to say and decided she might as well be open with Charles. He’d find out eventually anyway. “It’s very hard for me to speak my mind sometimes.”

“Some people speak their minds too much,” Charles said. “I find it refreshing to see self-restraint.”

“You do?” She couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice.

“Absolutely. Have you noticed that most people in their early twenties try to copy some of the crazy celebrities they see on TV?”

Ruthie looked down at the table, cleared her throat, and looked back at Charles. “I wouldn’t know. I don’t watch TV.”

Charles slapped his palm on his forehead. “That’s right. I forgot. I am so sorry.”

“What is there to be sorry about? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“There are a few things I’ll need to get used to about living a simple life. I’ve been watching TV for as long as I can remember, so that’s one habit that’ll be hard to break.”

After they finished their pie, Charles left a tip on the table and went to the counter to pay. Ruthie stood nearby, waiting and not knowing what to do, so she looked around the dining room. She felt awkward. Mr. Penner called out and asked if they were in a hurry because he needed to get something out of the oven. Charles said that was okay, he would wait.

When her gaze met Peter’s, he smiled. Ruthie didn’t trust Peter enough to think his smile was friendly, so she quickly looked away.

“Whatsamatter, Ruthie?” Peter called out. “Embarrassed to be seen in public with your new boyfriend?”

Enraged, Ruthie walked straight toward Peter and glared down at him. “You are the meanest person I know, Peter. Why don’t you try to be nice at least once in your life?”

Peter burst into laughter. “Don’t be so serious all the time, cousin.”

“I don’t like all your insults.” Ruthie took a couple of deep breaths and tried to tamp back her anger. Even she was surprised by her action.

“It’s hard to hear the truth, isn’t it?”

“Are you this condescending to everyone?” Jocelyn said, startling Ruthie. She hadn’t seen Jocelyn coming.

“What are you talking about?” Peter said. “This is a family conversation, in case you didn’t notice, and last time I checked, you weren’t in my family.”

Jocelyn placed her hand on Ruthie’s arm. “Want me to get Mr. Penner?”

Ruthie shook her head. “No thanks. Peter may be my cousin, but he’s not worth the effort of pulling Mr. Penner away from whatever he’s doing.”

Peter yanked his napkin from his lap and stood, causing the chair to screech across the floor behind him. “You women are crazy. I don’t have to put up with this.”

“Sit back down, Peter,” Ruthie said, her voice low and deeper than usual. “You’re making a spectacle of yourself. I’d hate word to get back to your mother.”

He glared at her for several seconds, causing Ruthie’s pulse to accelerate. She had no idea what to do next. Charles had left the counter and walked toward them. “What’s going on?”

Peter grabbed his napkin and sat back down. “Your girlfriend is acting crazy.”

Jocelyn placed her hand on the table and leaned toward Peter. “Who’s acting crazy?”

“You heard me,” Peter said. “And she’s not the only one.”

As Peter and Jocelyn bantered, Ruthie saw something she hadn’t noticed before. Sparks of attraction flew with the words. Ruthie turned to Charles, who had clearly noticed as well.

He placed his hand on hers and tugged her back toward the counter. “Stick with me, okay? I think they need to work through this on their own. Interference from us will just complicate things even more.”

“I don’t want to leave Jocelyn.” Ruthie looked back at Jocelyn who remained in the same position, her face about a foot from Peter’s, both of them showing off and trying to get the upper hand. “On second thought, I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

Mr. Penner approached the counter. “Sorry it took so long. I had to move a few things off the counter before I could …” He looked past Charles and Ruthie at Jocelyn and Peter. “What’s going on over there?”

“Just a little spat of attraction,” Charles said.

Ruthie gasped. She didn’t think Mr. Penner needed to be concerned with this.

Mr. Penner laughed. “That has been going on for weeks. Peter comes in here with a chip on his shoulder, and Jocelyn keeps trying to knock it off. When he leaves, he says he’s never coming back, and Jocelyn says that’s a good thing because she doesn’t want to see him again.” He rubbed the back of his neck, still grinning. “But he always comes back to do it all over again. And Jocelyn is right there to argue with him. I don’t understand why, but they both seem to enjoy arguing.”

Charles paid, thanked Mr. Penner for the pie, and led Ruthie to the car. “I’ve known couples who thrive on conflict. It might sound like arguing to most people, but it’s how some people show their affection.”

“I don’t think I’d like that,” Ruthie said, hoping Charles wasn’t one of those who did. She didn’t think he was, but she still didn’t know him all that well.

“I know I wouldn’t,” he said, putting her mind at ease a bit.

“Peter has always been rather strong willed,” Ruthie explained. “He knows what he wants, and he stops at nothing to get it, even if it hurts other people.”

“Yeah, I figured as much after he dumped Shelley when she thought he was going to propose.” Charles pursed his lips and looked at her. “Sorry. I shouldn’t talk about your cousin like that. It’s bad form.”

“That’s okay,” Ruthie said. “You didn’t say anything I didn’t already know. The whole family likes Shelley, and they were appalled by what happened. We all assumed she’d eventually be part of our family, but then Jeremiah came along.”

“Jeremiah seems like a good guy.”

“I think he is.” Ruthie wasn’t sure what all Charles knew about Jeremiah’s past—leaving the church and living a wild life before coming back. And she wasn’t about to be the one to tell him.

They pulled out of the restaurant parking lot and headed toward Ruthie’s house. She was content sitting in silence, watching the scenery as they rode.

Charles let go of the steering wheel with his right hand and placed it on top of hers. “Would you like to go out with me again sometime?”

She had to resist the urge to shout with joy, so she swallowed hard and nodded. “That would be very nice.”

“Good. I’ll need to figure out my schedule and see when I have some free time. Between school and work, I stay pretty busy. At least I know I’ll see you at church.”

“Have you decided to join?”

“My whole family is leaning in that direction. I have to admit I’m a little surprised. Pop wasn’t much of a churchgoer. Even though Mom was, she enjoyed all the finer things money could buy. When Pop lost his job, I thought she might go ballistic and do something crazy like some of her friends did, but she didn’t. In fact, she seems more at peace now than ever, even though we can barely make ends meet.”