Almost Amish (25 page)

“Yes, I am.” She hoped it sounded convincing.

“Julie, so nice to see you again. Thomas, thank you for being willing to adjust your schedule to be here today.” She walked over and hugged each of them.

It was amazing that even in this heat, Lisa Lee was every bit as perky as she was in her Los Angeles studio. She looked around the living room and smiled. “I am so happy to be here so I can see for myself how this is all working. We’ve had feedback from the segments that is absolutely amazing. Haven’t we, Kendra?”

Kendra, who had entered silently behind Lisa, nodded. “Yes, we have.”

“So for today’s taping, we’re basically going to do a general tour of the place. We’ll go out and check out the kids in the schoolhouse, look in the barn and see the animals, look at the vegetable garden, and do a lot of talking to each of you. Then we’ll film my first attempt at cooking in the wood stove, during which time I’ll prepare a three-course meal for your family.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Julie beamed up at Thomas. “Can you believe it? A three-course meal prepared by Lisa Lee.”

Susan couldn’t help but wonder what that might mean. Did they have Lisa cooking because she had not performed adequately? Would she be expected to do that much better during the upcoming weeks?

Lisa fanned herself. “Whew. It’s hot in here.”

Yes, it was.

Julie sat at the table, pondering the odd sense of peace that had begun to build inside her today. She wasn’t certain if it was because of her talk with Thomas last night, or the unexpected easiness of being around Lisa Lee, or the fact that Lisa had also burned the shoo-fly pie she’d made for dinner tonight.

“Ladies”—Lisa Lee looked around the table, then nodded toward Thomas and Brian—“and gentlemen. I would like to thank you for one of the most enjoyable and challenging days I’ve had in a long time.”

“I’m so glad you enjoyed it.” Susan said the words in perfect grace, and with a beautiful smile on her face. Only because Julie had known her so long did she know that Susan was stressed to the breaking point right now.

Lisa looked down at her watch. “Let’s see, Kendra. I believe you said that electricity could be restored at 6:00
p.m.
, and according to my watch, it’s 6:02. What do you say we get a little air-conditioning going in this place?”

“A good idea.” Kendra nodded and pulled out her ever-present walkie-talkie. “Joe, turn the power back on to the farmhouse.”

The whirring sound of the window-installed air-conditioners quickly filled the room, and a cool breeze began to stir from the backside of the house. A collective “aah” went around the table.

“It’ll take it a long time to cool off, I imagine. I must say, you are all awfully good sports about living this way for a week. I think all of us who live on the California coast tend to forget what real weather feels like. Susan, I’m amazed at all that you accomplished in this heat.”

Susan just continued to give her perfect smile.

“And, Julie,” Lisa said, picking at the piece of pie on her plate. “Julie, I have to say, I’m impressed with how well you did cooking that shoo-fly pie on the first week of being here. That stove is more difficult to control than I had thought it would be.”

“No offense to you, but it definitely soothed my ego a little bit when you burned the edges today.”

Lisa laughed. “Glad I could help you out. Kendra, what is the task for this coming week?”

“Authentic Amish clothes.” Kendra looked around the table until she fixed her gaze on Whitney. “All week long.”

“Oh no.” Whitney covered her face.

Kendra smiled outright. “Starting in about an hour. As soon as the dinner dishes are sufficiently washed and put away, we’re going to make a trip into town. We want Lisa to experience this firsthand.”

Whitney moaned and shook her head. “This is going to be awful.”

The grin on Kendra’s face left little doubt that she was counting on it.

There were already three buggies lined up at the watering rail when they arrived. They sat dark and empty in the fading evening light, their horses taking no notice of the new arrival. Julie shifted uncomfortably in her seat, hoping this outing wouldn’t last long.

“Isn’t this wild? We’re parking our horse and buggy in an actual horse-and-buggy parking spot at Walmart.” Whitney shook her head. “The kids back home would never believe this one.”

“They’re not going to believe you in a black bonnet, either, but I’m guessing they’ll get to see a little of both if they watch the episodes.” Brian adjusted the straw hat on his own head. “I guess that’s one of the advantages of being the only boy on this adventure. I know
for a fact
that none of my friends are going to be watching.”

“Neither will mine.” Thomas nodded toward his son. “But I’m still glad I get to dress normally.”

Whitney reached up and touched the side of her neck, tucking an imaginary loose hair back inside her bonnet, and glanced toward Julie. “Mom told me I had to keep a positive attitude in the midst of this horror, so I’m not going to say what I’d really like to say right about now.” She looked down at her black skirt and apron. “Suffice it to say, we’ll just have to pray for low ratings for this particular episode.”

Chris laughed as he climbed down from his place in the buggy. “Have a good time, you guys,” he whispered as he helped Whitney down from the buggy. He looked up at Julie then, a hint of panic on his face.

She smiled and whispered, “Don’t worry. I’m not the ‘no talking’ police.”

“Glad to hear it.” He helped her down from the carriage, then turned his attention toward the smaller buggy, which had arrived beside them, carrying Gary, Susan, and Angie. He hurried around to the far side to assist Angie while Gary helped Susan.

The two Suburbans had taken parking spots near them, and Lisa Lee, Kendra, and a full barrage of cameramen emerged and stood at the ready.

Julie made certain her bonnet was sitting securely on her head as she started toward the front door of the huge shopping center. She looked at Thomas. “A little part of me thinks that it is sort of nice to be allowed back into the modern world for a while.”

“What does the bigger part think?”

She shrugged. “It’s embarrassing. The outfits, the cameras, all the attention this is sure to garnish.” By the time they reached the inside of the store, people were already gawking. They pointed, and whispered, and giggled.

Kendra turned to the group. “All right. Adults, we’re limiting you to the grocery section of the store. Kids, you are free to go wherever you like as long as you stay together.”

“Woo-hoo.” Whitney did a fist pump. “Come on, everybody, let’s go check out the music.” Angie and Brian followed in a whirl of excited chatter, followed by a couple of cameramen.

A tired-looking, bone-thin woman approached the group. Her gray hair frizzed in various directions, in spite of the ponytail she wore. “Hey, you’re Lisa Lee, aren’t you?”

Lisa smiled graciously. “Yes, I am. What is your name?”

Within seconds an autograph-seeking group had formed around the ever-smiling Lisa. She looked toward Susan. “You go ahead. I’ll be along in just a few minutes.”

“Well, let’s go look at some groceries, shall we?” Susan gestured toward the other side of the store, looking every bit as elegant in her plain attire as she did in her stylish clothes back home.

The group moved away from Lisa Lee and her admiring fans. Just as they turned down the main aisle of the grocery section, an Amish couple came walking out of an adjoining aisle, directly in their path. They were both young, early twenties if that, and the woman carried a small child in her arms. She looked toward Susan, and Julie, and Thomas, cut her eyes toward the cameras. Her face grew red as she focused her attention on the floor. Her husband took her by the arm, said something softly in a language Julie did not understand, and they walked past the group to the checkout counter.

“Well, that was a bit awkward.” Kendra sort of snorted. “Ray, I’m hoping you captured that moment on camera?”

The cameraman nodded. “Got it.”

“Great.” She nodded. “Okay, everyone, let’s get on with our journey, shall we?” Kendra walked in the general direction of the groceries.

Julie knew that it wasn’t her place to say anything, and that she was here to help Susan, so she shouldn’t say anything. So she shuffled forward and tried to forget what had just happened. As they walked the length of the cereal aisle, her mind tumbled over and over with thoughts, and regrets, and memories of what Thomas had said just last night. “You truly see people. You notice when someone is sad, or uncomfortable, when most people would not give them a second glance.” If that truly was a gift she possessed, wasn’t this the time to use it? She turned and leaned against a shelf of Toasted O’s. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“What? Shopping? I think you’ll get used to it.” Susan’s voice was light, but her eyes widened in a warning to Julie.

“That’s not what I was talking about.”

“Hey there. What are you all talking about, so serious over here?” Lisa bounded up the aisle, all smiles. “Did I miss something?” She moved to join the group, which had all gone stone silent.

“Julie was just saying she didn’t like this.” Thomas put his arms around her shoulders. “She was just about to tell us what it is she doesn’t like.”

Julie could have throttled Thomas at that moment. He should have known she would not want to have this conversation in front of Lisa. That would make it all the more likely to come back and hurt Susan.

“What don’t you like, Julie?” Lisa’s voice was full of interest. “I really want to know all concerns that any of you might have.”

“Amish clothes.” The words barely croaked out of her closed throat.

“You knew when you came here that this would happen at some point during your stay. We were very upfront about that.” Kendra looked toward Lisa and rolled her eyes. “Let’s head to the produce. We need to keep on schedule.”

Lisa squeezed Julie’s arm. “It’s only for a week. It’ll be over sooner than you think.”

Susan shot her a warning glance, and then the group started down the aisle. Everyone except Julie, whose feet wouldn’t move.

“Here’s the thing . . .” She said the words so late, and so quietly, it stunned her when everyone stopped and turned around. She didn’t dare look in Susan’s direction for fear of losing her nerve, but the right words evaded her. She rubbed the back of her neck, praying for help.

“You know, it really doesn’t matter what
the thing
is; this is a crucial part to the show.”

Julie looked up at Kendra and felt her resolve starting to slip. Maybe she shouldn’t have spoken up. But what if this really was her gift, the loaves and fish she was supposed to use, and she was too much a coward to use it at a time like this?

“Yes, we did make an agreement, but at the time I didn’t understand how wrong it would be.” As she said it, Thomas reached over and took her hand. She wasn’t certain if it was meant as an offer of support or a warning.

“What is it that bothers you?” Lisa moved closer, squinting her eyes in concentration.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Susan offered. Julie could see the panic in her eyes. Julie had backed down throughout filming for her sister-in-law, but this seemed bigger than even Susan’s dreams. This was about something larger.

The word came to her.

“Respect.” Julie looked Kendra in the eye with every bit of conviction in her body flowing through her. “It’s one thing for us to try this experiment so the rest of the world can get an idea of what it would be like for a modern family to try to live a more Amish lifestyle. The clothes we normally wear do that just fine. But to dress exactly like them . . . it only matters when we’re here, in public. And, well, you saw how that Amish couple looked at us. That was a slap in the face. Especially with all these cameras following us around, something that flies against everything they believe in.”

“We’re simply taking on one more aspect of their lifestyle,” Kendra said dismissively.

Julie shook her head. “No. No, it most definitely is not. From what I’ve seen, they are a quiet people full of dignity. And this . . . well, it goes too far.”

“If you’re going to break our contract, then we’ll be forced to—”

Lisa’s upheld hand stopped Kendra from saying the rest of whatever the threat would have been. “You know, she may have a point. This whole experiment was about a modern family living simply. It’s not supposed to be demeaning or disrespectful of another group of people. That’s the last thing I would want to do.”

“But we’ve already got next week’s schedule planned around that.”

Lisa tilted her head to the left side. “Then we’ll just have to think of something else. We’ve got a group full of bright minds here. Let’s think this through.” She looked at her watch. “But we’re going to have to think about it on our way through the parking lot, because I’ve got a plane to catch.”

Thomas squeezed Julie’s hand. He leaned closer and whispered, “Well done.”

The realization of what she’d just done flowed through Julie’s veins in a warm tide of happiness. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this good about anything. It didn’t even bother her when Susan refused to meet her eye.