Plain Peace Read online

  Anna stood up, tossed the peel in the trash, and faced off with her grandmother. “Are you being truthful with Daadi about what you do down in the basement?” She slammed her hands to her hips. “What do you do down there, anyway?”

  “Anna, I don’t have time to get into this with you now. I’ve told you that it’s my quiet place, and—”

  “I know what you’ve told me. You also keep the door locked.” Anna grinned. “But I know where the key is.”

  Mammi turned pale as the white wall behind her.

  “Don’t worry. I don’t go in there.” Anna shook her head. “I’m going to go tend to the garden.” She took a few steps, then turned around. “Please keep trying to talk to Daadi. I really like Jacob, and unless Daadi wants me to live with you for the rest of my life, he’s going to have to start giving me some freedom.”

  Her grandmother nodded, but Anna wasn’t holding out much hope.

  Jacob opened the envelope Anna had left and pulled out a flattened dime. Then he unfolded a white piece of paper and read her note.

  Hope your wish came true. I’ll be at the train tracks on Saturday at three o’clock. Anna.

  Jacob’s heart raced, even though he knew he shouldn’t see Anna against her grandfather’s will. He wondered briefly if he should go talk to Bishop Byler before Saturday, but he didn’t want to risk not being able to see Anna, so maybe he would talk to the bishop after the next worship service.

  He slid the note back in its envelope and tucked it into his pocket, then signaled Bolt to pick up the pace. He was glad he’d taken the family buggy to work today. The drive home gave him private time to think the situation out. Anna was proving to be much more than a distraction from his family problems. Thoughts of her kept him up at night.

  It was nearing the supper hour when Jacob turned into his driveway. He was pleased to see the flowerbeds filled with colorful blooms. Maybe everyone was starting to heal after all.

  “The flowers are pretty,” he said to his sisters when he walked into the kitchen.

  Mary Jane carried a loaf of bread to the table. “Mamm planted those earlier today.”

  Jacob nodded, then walked to the living room and hung his hat on the rack. He glanced around but didn’t see his father or brothers. Or his mother.

  “Where is everyone?” He pulled a pitcher of tea from the refrigerator.

  Anna Mae leaned up against the kitchen counter. “Who knows where Daed is. Eli and Abe are at the creek. I told them to be home by supper.”

  Jacob sat down in one of the chairs at the table, hoping everyone’s absence wouldn’t hold up supper. “What about Mamm?”

  “She said she had an errand to run.” Anna Mae moved toward a pot on the stove. “She was walking, so she couldn’t have gone very far.”

  Jacob mentally calculated how much more money he would need before he could buy his own buggy, then sighed. It was going to be awhile. But he could walk to the railroad tracks on Saturday if he had to. He got off work at two that day, so it wouldn’t be a problem. He thought about the wish he’d made that day and smiled.

  A few minutes later Mamm breezed into the kitchen, a smile on her face and a small pink box in one hand.

  “Be right back to help you finish supper.” Mamm was smiling, almost skipping, as she left the kitchen. Then Abe and Eli came in carting an ice chest full of fish and grinning from ear to ear. Even Anna Mae and Mary Jane were giggling among themselves about something. Jacob wasn’t thrilled to hear Ben Raber’s name mentioned. Ben hadn’t been very nice to Anna the day Jacob met her. He hoped one of his sisters hadn’t taken a liking to him. Still, it was nice to hear laughter in the house.

  But as he looked around at people talking, smelling the aromas of supper, he couldn’t help recalling a time when there were two more place settings at the table. Though time had offered a measure of healing, the pain was still there. Would his family ever be healthy again?

  He strained his neck to see out the kitchen window, but there was no sign of Daed.

  Again.

  Noah drove to Lucy Turner’s house to return the pendant Anna had brought to him. He dreaded facing her. She hadn’t been very pleasant the few times he’d met her. But the longer Noah had stared at little Benjamin’s picture, the more certain he was that Ivan would want the Stoltzfus family in his son’s life. Noah wanted to be a part of that, even if it meant having to deal with Lucy.

  He took a deep breath and knocked, then glanced around at the overgrown yard. His brother had built the house, but he’d still been married to Katie Ann when he died, so the house had technically belonged to her. But when Katie Ann moved to Colorado, she’d deeded the house to Lucy. Not many folks in Paradise could wrap their minds around that. Why would Katie Ann give her husband’s mistress the house? But Noah had known Katie Ann a long time, and he assumed she had her reasons. A fresh start, perhaps. Noah wasn’t even sure if Lucy understood just what Katie Ann had done for her.

  Alice Turner opened the door, her hair tousled, but she looked clean and wore a different dress? “Do you need more strawberries?”

  Noah held up his palm toward her. “No. No I don’t.” He smiled. “How are you, Alice?”

  “I think I’m okay.” She scratched her chin. “Why are you here?”

  Noah reached into his pocket and pulled out the pendant. “Is this yours?” He handed it to her, and right away her face lit up.

  “My Benjamin necklace!” She turned and yelled over her shoulder, “Lucy! I have my Benjamin necklace back!” Pulling it to her chest, she squeezed her eyes tight for a few seconds, then looked back at Noah. “Thank you.”

  Noah nodded just as Lucy walked up beside Alice. She didn’t look anything like the Lucy Noah remembered—bleached-blond hair, too much makeup, clothing a size too small. This new Lucy had short, dark hair and a freshly scrubbed face. She was dressed in simple blue jeans and a loose green T-shirt.

  “Noah?” She asked as if she wasn’t sure. They’d only been around each other a few times, and that was before Benjamin was born.

  “Hi, Lucy. I brought Alice something I think she lost.” He nodded toward the older woman.

  “Momma, why don’t you go check on Benjamin.” Lucy gently pulled her mother inside, then stepped out onto the porch and closed the door behind her. “Thank you for returning her necklace. I have no idea where she lost it, but it’s very important to her.”

  Noah shifted his weight, knowing he was about to get Alice in trouble, but Lucy should know what was going on. “Alice, I’m assuming, is your mother?” Lucy nodded. “I think she’s been stealing strawberries from some of the Amish gardens. Anna Byler found the necklace in her garden after seeing an older woman there.”

  Lucy raised her chin, frowning. “So that makes Momma a thief?”

  Noah shrugged. “Well, since she brought me a ton of strawberries, the strawberries were stolen by an older woman, and her necklace was on the scene . . . looks guilty to me.”

  Lucy rubbed her forehead, and Noah noticed the dark circles under her eyes. That, too, was a big change from the woman he remembered.

  “I’ll make this right,” she said. “I’m not sure how yet, but I will. Who all did she steal from?”

  “As far as I know, just the Bylers and maybe the Lapps.” Noah paused. “I know both those families, and they would have probably just given her the strawberries. I guess I’m wondering what would make her steal them late at night.”

  Lucy glanced over her shoulder, then looked back at Noah. “Momma had a stroke awhile back. She hasn’t really been right in the head since then.”

  Noah swallowed hard. “Is she okay in there with your baby . . . with Benjamin?”

  “Oh yeah. She loves Benjamin with all her heart. I don’t leave him alone with her, but she’d never do anything to put him in danger.” She opened the door and stepped backward. “Thank you for bringing back her necklace, and again . . . please let the Bylers and the Lapps know I’ll pay them for the strawberries. I’m not wor
king much right now . . .” She pulled her eyes from his, paused for a few moments, then went on. “But as soon as I can, I’ll make it right.”

  Noah shook his head. “I really don’t think that’s necessary. I just thought you should know what happened.” He peered over her shoulder, and in the distance he could see Alice holding Benjamin. “Do you think maybe I could—”

  “I’m sorry. I have to go. Thank you again.” Lucy took a final step backward and closed the door.

  Noah turned to leave but heard voices inside. He stopped and listened.

  “None of them Stoltzfuses like you. I’m surprised that nice doctor even came over here to bring me my necklace back.”

  Noah moved in closer to catch what else Alice had to say, but Lucy spoke up next.

  “Whether they like me or not, yes, it was nice of Dr. Noah to bring your necklace. But, Momma, you can’t be going into other people’s gardens and stealing fruit.”

  “Well, it ain’t like you make any money for me to pay him, and he saved my life! Don’t you think he deserved a little something for that effort?”

  “Momma, I would have found a way to pay him. I told you that. Stealing is not the answer.”

  Noah listened as Alice began to cackle. “Well, ain’t you the high and mighty one! You listen to me. You’re not right in the eyes of the Lord, so I don’t think you’d best be criticizing me.”

  “Momma, please don’t start this again. You know I’m trying to live a better life! And God loves everyone.”

  Noah was now back up on the porch listening. His heart ached for Lucy, despite her past.

  “God doesn’t love you. No one loves you, Lucy Turner. Even my Benjamin will grow up not to love you. And he’ll leave you as soon as he can.”

  Noah held his fist to the door, feeling an overwhelming urge to knock. Because maybe that would put an end to the old woman’s vicious words. And because he wanted more than ever to meet his nephew.

  But he pulled back his hand, eased down the porch steps, and walked to his car. He wondered if Lucy knew that there were medications for people like Alice, whether her problems stemmed solely from the stroke or involved something like depression or even Alzheimer’s. Maybe he’d try to talk to Lucy at another time.

  Cora placed the jewelry box on her nightstand and turned the knob until the delicate glass ballerina began to spin and music began to play. Though she didn’t recognize the song, she felt transported to another place as the soft notes sounded and the dancer slowly spun on her pedestal. She didn’t even look up when John walked out of their bathroom and into the bedroom, his hair wet and a white towel wrapped around him.

  Marianne had been right about the joy of doing something just for yourself. Cora thought her new friend may have gone overboard, with that closet crammed full of items her husband would forbid. But Cora understood. Living with Bishop Byler couldn’t be easy. Besides, women like them spent their lives tending to their husbands and children. Why couldn’t they indulge themselves even a little?

  “Where did you get that?”

  Cora pulled her eyes from the ballerina, slid out of her slippers, then eased into bed without looking at her husband. “I bought it.” She pulled the pins from her hair, found her brush in the drawer of the nightstand, and began running it the length of her hair. She glanced over at John when she heard the dresser drawer open, and her breath caught in her throat when she realized how thin he was. How had she not noticed? It had been less than a week since she stopped bringing him his meals to their bedroom. She’d hoped her bold action would send him back downstairs for meals with his family, but it hadn’t. Had he lost that much weight in so short a time?

  “Do you want me to bring you a plate of supper?” She glanced at the clock on the nightstand next to her new music box. It was almost nine o’clock, but she didn’t like to think of her husband hungry, especially if it was her fault.

  “Little late for supper, no?” He pulled on a pair of boxers and a white T-shirt, then went to his side of the bed.

  “I can still get you something if you want.” She stowed the brush back in the drawer. “I don’t mind.”

  “Nee. No food.” He climbed into bed and immediately pulled her close to him, his hands roaming her body in places that hadn’t felt his touch in months. It should have been wonderful, but his aggressive actions were a far cry from what they’d shared for most of their married life. There was no tenderness, no kissing, no running his hands through her hair and whispering how much he loved her—all the things she’d been dreaming about for so long. Instead, it was mechanical, unemotional, and over quickly. And immediately afterward, he rolled over in the bed facing away from her.

  Cora didn’t move, just lay there on her back as warm tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. She turned her head to the side, hoping to get a glimpse of the ballerina, but all was dark.

  She blinked her eyes once, and the tears spilled down her cheeks.

  Marianne and Anna cleaned the breakfast dishes, then she helped Anna load the buggy with today’s items for distribution. Once both husband and granddaughter were out the door, Marianne sat down at the kitchen table and stared at the half-eaten shoofly pie on the table. She cut her eyes toward her bottle of cinnamon tablets and frowned. She was out of the insulin pills, and she wasn’t sure the cinnamon would keep her blood sugar under control if she ate that pie. But her mouth watered for a piece.

  Anna had told her that Dr. Noah said she would have to go in for a visit before he’d refill her prescription. But since Isaac had put an end to all that, she didn’t want to risk getting caught at Dr. Noah’s. She leaned her head back and thought of the irony. She was well aware that she probably kept more things from her spouse than all the wives in the district—a terrible example to be setting as the bishop’s wife.

  She sat taller and shook her head, refusing to feel bad about her choices. And what about Cora? The woman had lit up the moment she saw the package with her ballerina music box. Such a small thing with such a big payoff.

  Marianne just didn’t believe the Lord would mind these little luxuries. Her husband would, but not the Lord.

  She drummed her fingers on top of the oak table as she twisted her mouth back and forth.

  Then she reached for the knife and cut herself a large slice of shoofly pie.

  11

  ANNA ARRIVED AT THE RAILROAD TRACKS WELL BEFORE three o’clock on Saturday. She’d told her grandparents she needed to use the buggy to deliver a batch of cookies to a bakery that was closed yesterday due to a family emergency. That much was true. She just hadn’t told them where she was going after that.

  She reached into her apron pocket and pulled out her flattened dime, rubbing it between her fingers as if it had some magical power. She sat down in the grass and leaned against the big oak tree, its canopy an umbrella from the fierce sun that shone this time of day. She drew her knees to her chest, her dark blue dress resting at her ankles, wrapped her hands around her legs, and rocked back and forth. She hoped Jacob would show up, even though she still wasn’t sure they could be anything more than friends.

  She straightened her legs out in front of her and leaned back. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to use the family buggy to venture out today, although it wasn’t too far for him to walk. Or maybe Glenda hadn’t given him the envelope she’d left at the hardware store. Maybe he wasn’t interested enough to come or brave enough to risk angering Daadi more.

  Maybe, maybe, maybe.

  Her stomach churned, partly from nervousness about Jacob, but also from her conflicted feelings about betraying Daadi. He hadn’t given her a chance to explain about Jacob, and he was making everyone in their district miserable. But he was still her grandfather. If only—

  The sound of buggy wheels brought her to her feet. She smoothed the wrinkles from her apron and dabbed at her damp forehead, then smiled when she recognized Jacob’s horse. She hurried to meet him.

  “I wasn’t sure if you’d be able to make it. Or if you’d
gotten the message.” Anna walked with him to the front of the buggy and waited while he tethered the horse. Then he turned to face her, and he was frowning.

  “I have to talk to your daadi. I’m going to do that soon.”

  Anna stopped breathing for a few moments as she pictured that scenario.

  Jacob’s hand on her arm sent a chill through her despite the intense heat. “I don’t feel right about sneaking around like this. I know he’s forbidden you to see me.”

  Anna let out the breath she was holding, conscious of his hand still on her arm. “I don’t feel gut about it either, but Daadi is being unreasonable. He’s not being fair.” She folded her arms across her chest, then regretted doing that because Jacob pulled back his hand.

  He smiled, and Anna felt her knees going weak. “Come on.” He reached for her hand, and together they walked to the oak tree and sat down on the grass. “No one was using the buggy, so I was able to bring it, but I would have walked here to see you. Anna . . .”

  He let go of her hand and took off his hat, revealing a mass of gold-streaked hair. He ran his hand through it before he went on. “I’ve already told you that mei family is in a bad way.” He paused, sighing, but then smiled. “I’m a mess too. But I really like you, and I’d like to date you. The right way, with your grandfather’s blessing.”

  Anna swallowed hard. Despite her recent actions, family meant everything to her, and she could tell it was important to Jacob as well. That he wanted to do the honorable thing by talking to her grandfather made him even more attractive—and he was plenty attractive as it was. She wondered how many women he’d kissed, dated, spent time with. If Jacob ever kissed her, would she do it right?

  “I told you. Daadi is unreasonable. He wouldn’t listen to me when I tried to explain. He won’t listen to anyone, really. That’s why people in the district hide things from him. Even my grandmother does it.” Anna turned to face him, cringing a little. Maybe she shouldn’t have told on her grandmother. “I never want to live like them. Not telling the entire truth is still a lie, and they have so many lies between them.”