Sarasota Dreams (57 page)

It had been a while since he’d been on an Internet auction site, but it didn’t take long to list the first batch of items. Rather than list everything at one time, Charles decided to start with a couple dozen CDs and DVDs to see how they’d do. Some of them were rare, so he suspected he’d do well with them. By the time he finished, he already had bids on the first few. He sat back in his chair and stared at the computer screen. A year ago he couldn’t imagine himself considering giving up all his electronic gadgets. Now he was eager to move on to a simple life without all the distractions that prevented him from living in the moment and developing a stronger relationship with the Lord.

Later that night as he and his parents sat at the kitchen table eating sandwiches, Pop asked him what he’d been doing all afternoon. “Once we got home, you disappeared.”

“I went on an auction site and listed some of my stuff.” Charles noticed his parents exchanging a glance as he took another bite of his sandwich. He decided right then to let them in on what he was doing. There was no reason to keep it to himself. “I asked Ruthie to go to the Ringling Museum of Art for her birthday. I can use the money from the sales for that.”

Mom’s forehead crinkled. “Are you sure you want to do that? I know how much you enjoy your music and movies.”

Charles put his sandwich on the plate and leaned back in his chair. “I used to enjoy them, but this whole Mennonite thing …”

Pop chuckled. “Yeah, this
whole Mennonite thing
has me shifting my priorities, too.”

“I just hope I get enough to pay for our admission and take Ruthie out for dinner afterward.”

Again, Mom and Pop looked at each other before Mom reached for his hand. “We appreciate everything you do, Charles. I don’t think we tell you often enough.”

Warmth flooded Charles as he smiled back at her. “You are the best parents a guy could have.”

“We’re not perfect parents though,” Mom reminded him.

“Perfect parents would be boring.” Charles shoved the last bite of sandwich into his mouth and pushed his plate back. “After you’re done, why don’t you two go for a walk or something? I’ll do the dishes.”

Pop jumped up from the table and pulled Mom to her feet. “Let’s go, Lori, before he changes his mind.”

Once Charles was alone in the house, he did the dishes, wiped the countertops, and swept the kitchen floor. In the past, he dreaded the times when Mom asked him to do anything around the house, but now he actually enjoyed it. Once the kitchen was clean, he went to the doorway, turned around to see the fruits of his labor, and smiled. He couldn’t remember feeling better about his life.

Ruthie met Rosemary on the sidewalk in front of the shop the next morning so they walked in together. Papa was already inside behind the counter, jotting something onto a notepad.

He glanced up. “Ruthie, I need to talk to you for a few minutes. Rosemary, why don’t you mind the floor while my daughter and I meet in the office?”

A panicked look crossed her face. “I … um … okay.”

“If you need one of us, just knock on the door,” Ruthie said.

Rosemary nodded. She turned her back so Ruthie couldn’t see her face anymore, but she knew Rosemary was miserable about being left alone on the sales floor.

Once Papa came into the office and closed the door behind himself, he turned to Ruthie. “I’ve been thinking it might be a good idea for you to work for someone else for a while.”

“But why?”

Papa shrugged. “This is all you’ve ever been around. I think another job will give you more perspective.”

“What kind of job?”

“Rolf Fresh will be opening a frozen yogurt shop soon, and he’s looking for part-time help.”

Working in that environment sounded like a nightmare to Ruthie. Not only was she self-conscious out of her element, but she also tended to be klutzy when she was nervous. An image of accidentally dropping a cup or cone of frozen yogurt down a customer’s shirt made her shiver with horror.

“I’ve never done anything like that before,” she argued.

“That’s exactly why I want you to do it.” Papa pointed to the chair and waited for her to take a seat before he sat down. “I’m not saying you have to do it forever. I just want you to have more experience than you can get in this store and the housework you do at home. I told Rolf that you’ll be there tomorrow for an interview.”

“Tomorrow?” Ruthie’s voice squeaked.

“Ya.” Papa folded his arms. “You’ll start next week—that is, if he thinks you can do the work.”

All Ruthie could do was nod. After Papa dismissed her, she walked back out to the sales floor where Rosemary remained behind the counter while a couple of customers browsed. Relief replaced Rosemary’s panic when she saw Ruthie and her papa coming out of the office.

Since Ruthie was certain her new job was inevitable, she had Rosemary do all the bookwork while she supervised. Papa spent some time telling Rosemary a few simple phrases to use with customers until she became more comfortable.

After lunch, Papa asked Rosemary if she could stay an extra hour. She nodded but Ruthie could tell her heart wasn’t in it. Ruthie wondered if Rosemary was as miserable as she was.

By Wednesday, Charles had made enough money off his auctions to take Ruthie to the Ringling Museum of Art and to dinner wherever she wanted to go. And he had money leftover that he could give his parents. He was eager to make plans, but now that he worked every day at the farm, he didn’t have time. At least he could tell his parents the good news.

“You don’t have to give us the money,” Pop said. “Keep it for yourself.”

“No, Pop. That wouldn’t be right. I’m part of this family, too, and I want to share in the responsibility.”

Pop started to argue, but Mom shushed him. “Jonathan, I think this is important to Charles. He’s a grown man, and it makes him happy.”

After looking back and forth between Charles and his wife, Pop finally nodded. “Yeah, you’re right, Lori.” He looked Charles in the eye. “You are a much better man than we raised you to be, and that’s even more proof that the Lord is active in our lives.”

Charles didn’t want to take anything away from his parents, but he knew Pop was right. “The best thing you ever did for me was lead me to Christ.”

Tears sprang to Mom’s eyes so Charles decided to change the subject.

He’d changed quite a bit lately, but since Mom rarely cried, his gut clenched.

“Where do you think I should take Ruthie for dinner?” he asked.

Pop thought for a moment before replying, “Why don’t you ask her where she wants to go?”

“I don’t know if she’s been many places outside of Pinecraft.”

“He’s right, Jonathan,” Mom said. “Let me give this some thought. In the meantime, you can ask Ruthie what some of her favorite foods are. That should help narrow the list.”

When Sunday arrived, Ruthie was out of sorts. She’d applied for the job at Fresh’s Yogurt Shop and gotten it. Mr. Fresh told her she’d start the following Monday, helping set up before their grand opening. The very thought of it sent her into panic mode.

“Why aren’t you ready yet?” Mother asked as she stood at Ruthie’s bedroom door. “We need to leave in five minutes.”

“I can’t get the kapp on right.” Ruthie felt as though her hands had become detached from her arms as they shook.

“Here, let me help you.” Mother walked right up to her, spun her around, and adjusted the kapp in a matter of seconds. “There you go. All your hair is in place, and your kapp is just right.”

“Thanks.” Ruthie looked down at the floor to avoid her Mother’s gaze.

“Ruthie, stop worrying about tomorrow. You’ll do just fine.”

“I’m not so sure,” Ruthie said. “You know how I can be when I’m nervous.” She pointed to her kapp. “Even in the privacy of my own room, my hands are shaking. Can you imagine how embarrassing it’ll be if I’m like this tomorrow?”

“Perhaps it won’t be so embarrassing if you stop thinking about people looking at you. Consider yourself the Lord’s servant and serve the frozen yogurt for Him.”

Mother always did have a better perspective than she had. “Ya. You’re right.”

“You’ve always worried about offending people or doing something others don’t approve of. The only thing you need to concern yourself with at this stage in your life, Ruthie, is following His calling.” She backed toward the door. “Now take a deep breath, say a prayer, and meet your papa and me outside.”

After Mother left, Ruthie did exactly as she said. When she finished her heartfelt but brief prayer, she felt much better. Her nerves hadn’t completely calmed, but she felt more anchored.

The instant she arrived on the church lawn, she spotted Charles and his parents. Charles grinned at her and mouthed that he wanted to see her after church. She nodded.

Ruthie had to force herself not to let her mind stray throughout the service. She stared at the pastor during the sermon and tried to absorb what he said.

Afterward she followed Mother toward the door. Charles stood outside waiting. Her pulse quickened as she stepped closer to him.

“Good news!” he said, his face lit up.

Ruthie couldn’t help but smile at the obvious joy he exuded. “Tell me. I’m ready to hear good news.”

“If you’ll accept, I’m taking you to the Ringling Museum of Art and out to dinner afterward. The only thing I need to know is what kinds of food you like or don’t like.”

“We can always go to Penner’s,” Ruthie said. “They have a wide variety.”

Charles looked disappointed at first, but he quickly recovered. “If that’s where you want to go, I’ll take you there, but I thought … well, maybe … I don’t know. How about we go somewhere different?”

“I haven’t been to all that many places,” she admitted. “So it’s hard for me to suggest a place.”

“Do you like seafood?”

“Ya. I like fish and crab cakes.”

“Then I bet you’ll like lobster. I know the perfect place.”

Ruthie had never tasted lobster, but she knew it was pricy. “Isn’t lobster awful expensive?”

Charles pursed his lips and nodded. “It can be but this is a special occasion, and I really want to treat you to something you’ll always remember.”

Ruthie didn’t need lobster to remember being with Charles, but he seemed so excited she didn’t want to poke a hole in his joy. Instead she said, “We can go wherever you want to take me.”

“Perfect!” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Mom and Pop are waiting for me. Your birthday’s on Friday, right?”

She nodded. “Ya, but if that’s not a good night for you—”

“I don’t want to interfere with your family’s plans….”

“My parents won’t mind celebrating on a different day.”

She was delighted to see him smile. “If your dad will let you off early, I can pick you up at two thirty. Abe has already given me the afternoon off.”

“Um … well, I’m starting a new job.”

“I heard. Mr. Fresh told me you start tomorrow, but the shop doesn’t open for another week. He said you don’t have to work on Friday afternoon either.”

Ruthie wasn’t sure how she felt about everyone making arrangements without consulting her, but this wasn’t the time to bring it up. “Okay, then we can go at two thirty on Friday.”

As soon as Charles left with his parents, Ruthie joined hers. Mother was the first to speak up.