AR01 - A Road Unknow Read online

  She got up, picked up the teakettle, and filled her cup with more hot water. “Do you have time for another cup?”

  Elizabeth glanced at the nearby clock, nodded, then took another tea bag and dunked it in the cup.

  “What made you come here? I mean, it’s not a small distance from Goshen. Do you have relatives here?”

  Elizabeth smiled. “I’d heard I had relatives here, but I didn’t know them. Matthew Bontrager is a second cousin. I’m living with an Englisch woman my age I met when her family visited Goshen.”

  “And you’re working for Saul at his store?”

  She nodded. “Just until Miriam comes back from maternity leave.”

  “Come talk to Leah when the job is over,” Mary Katherine said. “She may know someone who needs a hard worker.”

  “How do you know I’m a hard worker?” Elizabeth asked curiously.

  “Saul wouldn’t have hired you—or kept you—if you weren’t,” Mary Katherine told her with a grin.

  Leah walked in holding the baby Elizabeth had seen napping earlier. The baby looked about six months old and Elizabeth could already see she looked like her mother.

  “Somebody woke up and wanted her mamm,” Leah told her.

  “Do you want your lunch, liebschen?” Mary Katherine asked her with a chuckle as she held out her arms to take her.

  Elizabeth stood. “I need to get back to work. I enjoyed talking to you.”

  Mary Katherine turned her attention from the baby in her arms to Elizabeth. “I hope we’ll talk again.”

  “I’d like that.”

  As they left the room, Leah closed the door and turned a small sign to read “Do not disturb.”

  “I wanted to get some fabric to make myself a dress,” Elizabeth told Leah. “But I don’t have a sewing machine here.”

  “You’re welcome to use one here any time,” Leah told her as they walked back into the shop. “But it doesn’t really fit into your schedule, does it? You can’t sew much in a lunch hour. I could loan you a machine to take home if you like.”

  “I would love that,” Elizabeth said fervently.

  “Stop by here on your way home and I’ll have it ready for you.”

  “I don’t think my ride will mind stopping for it. Thank you—danki,” she said in the Pennsylvania Dietsch she’d been learning since she’d lived here.

  Leah showed her some dress material and Elizabeth fairly fell onto a bolt of polyester cotton in a color that could only be described as morning glory blue.

  “Wonderful choice,” Leah approved. “Let’s go cut it. Do you need a pattern? We have them.”

  She did have one in mind and quickly chose it, looked up the yardage needed, and Leah cut it. When Elizabeth left the shop she felt so satisfied. She’d met several wonderful people who welcomed her, especially Mary Katherine, enjoyed a lovely lunch away from work, and she now had the makings for her first brand-new dress in more than a year. And the loan of a sewing machine. Maybe she could squeeze out some money to get fabric to make another before she returned the machine.

  When she left the shop—spending less than she’d thought she might have to—she walked with a lighter step. It was a very good day and only a few hours into it. And after work, she and Bruce were having dinner and going to see a movie.

  Ya, a very good day indeed!

  11

  You need to stop for what?”

  “A sewing machine. It’s on the way to the restaurant. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Bruce shrugged. “Okay.”

  But he didn’t seem particularly happy about it. She directed him to the store and he parked in front of it.

  “I can get it,” she said and she got out of his car.

  “I’ll help.”

  He got out of the car and walked inside with her.

  “There you are!” Leah said as she left the counter and walked toward them. “I put the machine right up here for you.”

  “This is Bruce,” Elizabeth told her. “Bruce, this is Leah.”

  “Nice to meet you, Bruce.”

  “You, too.” He lifted the handle of the portable machine. “This isn’t heavy at all.”

  “Thank you again, Leah,” Elizabeth said. “I’ll have it back to you in a week.”

  “Do you have to rush off?”

  “We have dinner plans,” Bruce told her. “I’ll take this to the car.”

  He walked out and Elizabeth watched him set the machine in the trunk of the car.

  “We’re having dinner and then going to a movie.”

  Leah hesitated for a moment, and then she said, “I was kind of hoping you and Saul . . .”

  “Saul and I what?”

  “Grossmudder, are you matchmaking?” Anna asked her as she came to stand near the door.

  “Anna, are you eavesdropping?”

  “It’s not eavesdropping if you just happen to overhear something,” Anna retorted with a grin. “Let Elizabeth get going. Looks like her friend is impatient.”

  A car horn honked outside as if to reinforce her words.

  “And from what I heard, she’s been working for Saul for a while now,” Anna added before Elizabeth could walk out the door. “Maybe he needs to know someone else is interested so he should get cracking.”

  “I better go,” Elizabeth said, feeling her face redden. “Thank you again, Leah.”

  When she reached the car, she saw Bruce had his hand over the horn ready to honk it again. She got in and buckled her seat belt.

  “’Bout time,” he muttered as he started the car. “We’re going to have less time to eat because we stopped here.”

  “Sorry. But I appreciate your picking up the machine. I really need it. I can’t wait to sew a new dress with it.”

  “I thought you people didn’t care about that sort of thing.”

  You people?

  “What do you mean?” she asked, not wanting to misunderstand.

  “Well, you’re not supposed to care about material things, right? I figured it was why you wore the same couple dresses.”

  He couldn’t have hurt her more if he’d hit her. Her face flamed. What could she say?

  After a long moment when she didn’t speak, he glanced at her. “What, did I say something wrong?”

  “I come from a big family,” she said quietly. “There wasn’t a lot of money to have a big wardrobe.”

  “Oh,” he said.

  Just oh? she wanted to say.

  “What about your family? Do you have brothers or sisters?”

  “One of each. It was enough.”

  “Enough?”

  “Yeah. Having a lot of kids costs a lot of money these days.”

  She knew it was true. But children were a gift from God and even if it all got to be too much for her, you couldn’t tell God what to do, could you? Maybe the big family had been part of His plan for her and she just couldn’t see it . . .

  “You’re being quiet.”

  “Long day.”

  He parked outside an Italian restaurant and they got out. As she did, she saw a bag with Saul’s store logo lying on the back seat.

  “What’s that?”

  “The toy I bought the day I stopped at the store, remember?” he said carelessly as he slipped his arm around her waist. “Your boss was frowning about me stopping by. He should chill.”

  Elizabeth stopped in her tracks as she felt his arm. He’d never touched her this way before.

  “What?” he asked.

  She glanced down at his arm. “I—”

  “Geez, Elizabeth, I can’t put my arm around you? What, are you frigid or something?”

  “Frigid?” She stared at him.

  “I thought you were out for a good time. I mean, you’re on your rumschpringe and all.”

  “We don’t suddenly go wild, you know.”

  “No? Some of the Amish kids around here do.”

  “Some isn’t me,” she said quietly.

  He shoved his hands in the pockets of his j
eans and frowned at her. “Well, I just can’t say anything right tonight, can I? What, have you got PMS or something?”

  Her eyes went wide. Where was the charming Bruce she knew?

  “Look, let’s just forget about it, okay?” he said. “Too many fish in the sea, you know?”

  Then he stomped off to his car, got in, and the tires on his car squealed as he pulled out onto the road too fast.

  Elizabeth stood there on the sidewalk, gaping as she watched the car disappear into traffic.

  Saul saw the guy who’d been taking Elizabeth out after work lurking around the sidewalk in front of the store.

  Just how often was she seeing him anyway?

  As soon as he thought it, he shook his head. It was none of his business. He’d been attracted to her on the bus and he hadn’t acted fast enough.

  “See you tomorrow,” she said with a big smile.

  Her step was quick and light as she walked toward the door swinging her shopping bag with a jaunty air.

  He didn’t know if her good mood came from her time with Jenny at Stitches in Time or the prospect of going out in the evening.

  Rosie locked the door after the last customer and turned the sign to closed. She wandered back and leaned against the counter, watching him as he made out the day’s deposit slip.

  “We had a gut day,” she said.

  “Ya.”

  “So why are you frowning?”

  He straightened and cleared his expression. “I wasn’t aware I was.”

  “So why were you frowning?”

  “No idea. Anyway, it’s not important. You’re working tomorrow, right?”

  “Of course. Katie will be back, too. Her cold’s much better. Really nasty one going around. Be glad you haven’t caught it.”

  “Uh, ya, I am.” He turned his attention back to the deposit slip.

  He was grateful when she went to the back room to get her purse. He’d had enough questions.

  She left and the quiet after a long, busy day was welcome.

  Someone rapped on the door. A man pressed his face against the glass window.

  Bishop Stoltzfus!

  Saul shoved the bank deposit bag in the drawer and hurried to the door.

  “Gut-n-Owed,” he said as he opened the door. “This is an unexpected pleasure.”

  His mother had taught him never to lie, but he felt she’d forgive this one. Tall, stern-looking, with his bushy dark eyebrows beetled over sharp black eyes, he was an imposing presence.

  The bishop glanced around him. “Everyone’s gone?”

  “Er, ya,” Saul said. “Did you want to see someone? Daed’s retired, you know.”

  He nodded. “Of course, I know that. I was looking for the new young woman who’s working for you. Elizabeth?”

  Surprised, Saul stared at him. “You wanted to see Elizabeth?”

  “What do you know about her?”

  “She’s from Goshen. Been here for about a month. Why?”

  The bishop shook his head. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

  That didn’t sound good. “Nothing’s wrong with her family, is there? Because I have her address and home phone if you need to contact her.”

  He hesitated and then he shook his head. “No. It can wait a day.”

  “She’ll be in tomorrow morning. Shall I have her call you then?”

  “I’ll stop back then.” He started to turn and then stopped and looked at Saul over the top of his bifocals. “What do you know about this young woman?”

  “I checked her reference—the last place she worked.”

  “But I mean her character?”

  “They said she was honest and trustworthy,” Saul said, not liking the sound of this at all. “But it wouldn’t have mattered what they said, if I didn’t think she was a good person. I think I’m a pretty good judge of character and Daed interviewed her with me as well.”

  Careful, he told himself. Now you’re sounding defensive.

  “But what do you know about her? About why she came here?”

  “Her reasons are personal,” Saul told him carefully.

  He wouldn’t betray her confidence—especially since the bishop asked questions, but wouldn’t give him any answers.

  The bishop placed his hands on the counter and stared at him directly. “Are you interested in this young woman?”

  “She’s an employee.”

  “It’s not an answer to my question.”

  “No, I’m not dating her, if you’re asking.” It wasn’t something the bishop should be asking. . . . Couples dated very privately. Sometimes their own families didn’t know they were dating or engaged until the wedding date was announced in church.

  What was going on?

  “As I said, she’ll be here in the morning.” Saul knew he sounded a little stiff, but he couldn’t help it. The man was getting his back up.

  “Danki.”

  He escorted him to the door and watched as the man walked to a waiting van. He didn’t envy Elizabeth the man’s questions in the morning.

  A million questions raced through his mind. Was Elizabeth’s family looking for her? Why? Were they going to apply pressure to make her come home? He’d heard of parents doing it to their kinner who had run away.

  He closed the door, slowly walked back to the counter and made quick work of finishing the deposit.

  His driver pulled up at the curb just as he stepped outside.

  “Sorry I ran a little late.”

  “It’s all right. I had a last-minute visitor.”

  “You mean customer?”

  “No, visitor.”

  They had been driving for about ten minutes when Saul happened to glance out the window at a familiar figure. Was that—? He leaned over and stared. No, it couldn’t be Elizabeth. Why would she be standing on the sidewalk outside a restaurant? She was supposed to be out with Bruce and he didn’t see the man anywhere.

  It must be some other Amish woman.

  “Phil? Could you circle the block? I thought I saw someone I know.”

  “Sure.”

  But when they circled the block the woman was gone.

  “You want me to go around again?”

  Saul shook his head. “No, thanks. I must have been wrong.”

  “No problem.”

  “Bruce did what?!”

  The restaurant was noisy, but Elizabeth could hear the outrage in Paula’s voice.

  “He left me in front of the restaurant!” Elizabeth cried. She bit her lip and tried to stay calm. “They let me use the phone. I hate to ask, but can—can you come get me?”

  “Of course. Give me the name of the restaurant and I’ll be right there.”

  Elizabeth told her and then hung up.

  “What a jerk!” said the waitress who’d let her use the phone. “Sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing.”

  She shrugged. “Well, I don’t know much about men.”

  “Take it from me—they all only think about one thing.”

  The woman appeared to be in her early twenties, but she sounded old and cynical.

  “Here, honey, sit down and have something warm to drink,” she said, waving her hand at a table near the window. “It’s too cold for you to wait outside. You can keep an eye out for your ride from in here.”

  Elizabeth didn’t really want to sit there in the restaurant with all the people around her sitting together in couples enjoying supper together. But the waitress was right.

  “Could I have a cup of tea instead of coffee?”

  “Sure thing. Be right back.”

  When she returned, she set a little teapot of hot water and a cup and saucer down on the table. On the saucer, she’d placed a biscotti.

  Elizabeth thanked her and enjoyed the tea and the biscotti and finished them just in time before Paula pulled up outside. She counted out the money and the tip—then added to the tip for the waitress letting her use the phone to call Paula—and slipped on her jacket.

  “I didn’t want to cal
l you,” she told Paula when she got into her car. “You shouldn’t be out with your cold.”

  “It’s no problem,” she said. “You’d better call me if you get in a jam again. I was thinking on the way here we need to get you a cell phone. What if you’d been stuck somewhere and couldn’t get to a phone?”

  “I can’t really afford one yet.”

  “We’ll find a cheap one. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just one for emergencies.”

  The talk of money made Elizabeth remember the way she’d felt when she and Bruce talked in the car. She’d felt embarrassed to admit she only had two dresses because her family didn’t have much money.

  Bruce. The car. The sewing machine!

  She must have gasped, because Paula glanced over at her.

  “What?”

  “Leah loaned me a sewing machine and it’s in the back of Bruce’s car.”

  Paula muttered something under her breath. Elizabeth didn’t want to know what she said.

  She pulled over on the side of the road and got out her cell phone. Frowning, she dialed a number. “Bruce? This is Paula. Don’t talk, just listen. I’ll be by your apartment in about ten minutes. Be outside with the sewing machine. Understand? Yeah, sewing machine. Did you forget it’s in your trunk? Uh-huh. Well, never mind. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  “Oh, and my shopping bag!” Elizabeth blurted out, suddenly remembering. “It’s in the back seat.”

  “And her shopping bag in the back seat,” Paula added.

  Tucking away her phone, she pulled back onto the road. After a few minutes, she glanced at Elizabeth. “I know where he lives because several of us had a study group there one day.”

  “Oh.”

  “It’s not because we dated.”

  “I didn’t think so.”

  Paula sighed. “Yeah, because you’re just so innocent.”

  “I know.” Now it was her turn to sigh.

  “Well, I suppose it’s better than being cynical.”

  Just what Elizabeth had thought the waitress sounded like.

  Bruce was standing on the sidewalk beside his car when they got to his apartment.

  “You can put the machine and the bag in the back,” Paula told him.

  He did as she directed, and then he looked at Elizabeth. “Look, I’m sorry—”