Covered Bridge Charm (12 page)

Overhead the sky darkened and churned. She decided to eat her lunch at a picnic table, with the river to her back. She watched rotten apples drop from a large hanging tree. Suddenly the rain began, pelting hard from its onset. Grabbing her peanut butter sandwich, she spotted a huge tree and wondered if it was the tree where Martha got kissed. She lingered there, gazing through the downpour to see if there were any other big trees in the vicinity. But a loud clap of thunder had her tossing her sandwich and running for the bridge.

As she drew her sweater tight, the rain deluged her, flattening her prayer cap. She fled. Jimmy was right. Again. She jumped over water rivulets and reached the bridge’s shelter. With the open sides of the bridge, water spray still reached her.

Her phone rang. She snatched it and stared at the screen, a smile forming as she answered. “I’m at the Crawfordsville Bridge. Not swimming, but almost. Okay, bye.” Adam was on his way, and she didn’t regret it. Fickle heart.

Although the bridge had been restored, she watched puddles form under a leaky roof. By the time Adam arrived, she was drenched and cold. She made a dash for his truck as he handled her bike. When he jumped inside, water dripped off his dark hat. He grinned at her, and they both broke into laughter.

“Too stubborn to call,” he chided.

She shrugged.

The truck windows grew foggy. “So was it worth it?”

“Jah. I had time to think. I’m going to do it.” She raised her hand to stave off any determent. “I was standing on the bridge, praying about it, and this deep loneliness swept over me.” She let out the part about needing to forgive. “It was like the loneliness is a calling so that I can empathize with the residents. I think it’s God’s plan for me.”

He frowned. “Loneliness?”

She nodded. “I can’t argue with God’s plan, can I?”

Amusement crinkled his mouth. “Well you could, but I wouldn’t advise it.”

He leaned close, and his rugged form filled the tight space. “Did you get any other insights? Like maybe your lonely years are about to end? You don’t have to constantly eat pie to remember what it tastes like.”

Her heart sped as it always did when he flirted. She untied her prayer cap, smoothing its wet strings. “I don’t know. But I felt God on that bridge.”

“Carly.”

She looked into his wistful eyes. “Jah.”

“I wish I felt that kind of certainty. I want to fill that lonely spot for you, but I’m afraid that if it wouldn’t work out, I’d hurt you. Jimmy’s afraid of that, too. He warned me away from you.”

Her jaw dropped. “But how did he even know about us?”

Adam shrugged, wiped drops of moisture from her cheek. “We’re close.”

Her voice broke, “So are you taking his advice?”

His expression reluctant, he asked, “Do you want me to?”

She stared at the foggy window. If they got closer and it didn’t work out… if Adam’s friendship was somehow removed from her life, she’d be devastated. She knew he had some kind of issues to work out before he could commit to her. If she waited, he might even change his mind. And Jimmy was usually right. “Jah. We should listen to reason. But first”—she clutched the front of his shirt and trembled.

Adam didn’t need instructions. His arms quickly embraced her and his virile lips sweetly caressed. She could tell he felt the same, grasping for a taste of heaven and what might have been. Or what could destroy them both. Warmed from within, she touched his cheek. “You’re a good man, and I’m fond of you. But I’m set in my ways. Jah. It’s probably best if we take Jimmy’s advice.”

His eyes dark and hooded, he ran a rough thumb over her lips. “Maybe.” He sighed and drew back. “You’re shivering. For now, I’ll take you home.”

A
dam gazed across the humble sanctuary at the women’s pews and watched Carly, unawares. All he could think about was their recent kiss. Usually he was the initiator, but she’d kissed him twice now. Her passion had ignited a strong desire in him. He admired her both for claiming it and for afterward being strong enough to say no to the possibility of pursuing a relationship with him. The things he’d heard about her from Dale weren’t jiving with the woman he was getting to know. He’d never had the nerve to ask Jimmy about Dale’s accusations.

He’d been disappointed when she pushed him away. Had hoped she would take the risk. Hoped that she’d be strong enough to carry them both through new territory, to fight for him like she fought for her residents. It hurt him to watch her taking Bishop Kauffman’s sermon on family relationships so intently. He could read her mind. She’d use it to strengthen her resolve against him, to take her brother’s advice to heart. To push him away, just like with Dale.

It soured his stomach to think of his own family situation, the way he allowed his dad and uncle to use him as a pawn to fuel their private feud. Every time he stood up to them, the stakes were pushed to a higher level. He always strove to be a peacemaker as their faith dictated. Would he find peace if he moved to Indiana? Even if he didn’t want to leave his family or Carly?

That afternoon, his confusion drove him to her cottage, and he had every intention of telling her about Dale’s offer. He needed to get the Dale thing out in the open and persuade her he wasn’t like his cousin. If the information leaked out by other means, it would only complicate matters. But when he arrived at her cottage, her bike was missing, and she didn’t answer the door.

Sunday after church, Carly kicked off her shoes and stretched out on Aunt Fannie’s sofa, one leg dangling leisurely, thinking how the service had confirmed her decision. The songs and even the scripture, Psalm 68:6, called her name. “God setteth the solitary in families.” She’d never considered that verse before. But she felt He was telling her to seek solace in her family. That it should suffice. And that she could be like family for Martha and the other residents.

Adam had made it clear that he felt the same attraction she felt, but that he wasn’t ready to commit. He was giving her forewarning that if they moved forward to explore their feelings, he might pull away. There was an obvious risk in any budding relationship, but the fact that he’d alluded to it twice now meant something deeper was troubling him. A definite red flag. She ran her finger across her lips, remembering and wishing it could be different.

A rustling sound alerted her to move her leg. Cocoa was futilely digging at Fannie’s wood floor, and Carly’s leg would be the rabbit’s next target.

“Ach! Make that rabbit quit. It’s ruining my floor!”

Carly moved onto her side and rubbed the rabbit’s fur. He treated her as his personal groomer and got angry when she didn’t comply. “Settle down, Cocoa.” Though her rabbit was usually silent, that didn’t mean he didn’t have anything to say, and as any good bunny owner would do, she’d memorized his body language. He soon mellowed into a chocolate-and-white puddle.

Aside from her outburst, Fannie had been unusually quiet. Carly had hoped to tell her about her plan to help Martha or maybe even feel her out about Adam. But she wasn’t even talking about the quilt show she’d just attended. “I wish you’d tell me more about Quiltopia.”

“I told you about the Quilted Cottage Tour.”

“I know, but it feels like it didn’t meet your expectations this year.”

“I just got my hopes up over nothing.”

Carly gave Cocoa a final pat and sat upright. “Did you talk to someone about your pattern book?”

Auntie pursed her thin lips, then opened up to Carly. “Two people. First I talked to a woman in a booth. A national quilt designer. She gave me tips on how to organize my work and got my blood a-rushing. She told me she’d introduce me to a man from a Mennonite publishing house on her break. So I brought in some samples from the car, but he wasn’t interested in taking on that kind of project.”

Fannie swiped her hand across her eyes, and Carly’s heart broke. She hurried across the room and knelt in front of her aunt’s chair, placing her hand on her knee. “I’m so sorry. How devastating.”

“Jah, well.” Fannie patted Carly’s shoulder as if she was the one needing support. “Now you know why I didn’t want to talk about it. Didn’t want to go spilling my tears all over you. Now get up and get me a hanky off my dresser.”

Carly quickly did as bid. When she returned, she reassured, “There are other publishers.”

“I know. And the tips I got about organizing will help me for the next time. It’s just that I’m tired. I think I’ll go take a long nap.”

“I wish I was as good at giving pep talks as you are.”

Fannie chuckled. “You are, in your own way. I’ll rest, and then I’ll get up and give myself a pep talk.”

“Good. And the next time I drop in, I hope to see that dining-room table covered again. And you can explain more about the new stuff the lady at Quiltopia taught you.”

Fannie stood and straightened her skirt. “Jah, I’m just too tired today.” She sighed. “But not too tired to see something’s troubling you.”

Carly saw that Auntie wasn’t going to let her go until she confided so she blurted out, “Do you think Adam is like all the other Lapps?”

Auntie’s eyes widened. She dipped her head for so long that Carly thought she might be falling asleep. Then she lifted her gaze. “He doesn’t seem to be. If you’ve got your heart set on a Lapp boy, then there’s something I should tell you. Should’ve told you before. When Bob passed, Roman offered to marry me.”

“What?”

“Like you, I couldn’t help but be attracted. But it had only been a year since Bob and Bobby passed. It was too soon, and I was scared because he wasn’t taking no for an answer. Just like your Dale, he had everything planned out his way. So I went for his Achilles’ heel. I told him I wasn’t the meek type. And that I still loved Bob. Then he left me alone.”

Carly bit her lip, imagining Roman’s reaction.

Auntie shook her head and said in a weary voice, “It never would’ve worked. I’ve no regrets. I’ve had a good life. Especially since you and Jimmy came to me.”

Carly’s heart expanded with love. “Thanks for sharing that.”

“So given both our histories, tread careful.”

“I will.” She kissed Auntie on the cheek. “Get some rest.” Then scooping up Cocoa, she headed outside. The sweet smell of jasmine filled the air, but sadness and disappointment filled Carly’s heart.

Adam played a scenario through his mind: he went home and confronted Dad, told him he was pursuing Carly. He imagined the threats that would follow. Dad would withdraw the partnership offer and dare him to go to Indiana. He wasn’t ready to do that, couldn’t because he needed time to repair the damage he’d caused in his relationship with Carly. To fight for her. He could confront his uncle over the way he’d treated her. He should have done so as soon as he’d learned of Si’s devious tactic.

So he found himself rapping on Simon’s door instead. His aunt answered.

“Adam. What a nice surprise.”

“Is Uncle Si handy?”

“He’s in the living room. Come on.” Following her, he saw Simon napping in his favorite chair. His aunt tapped him on the shoulder. “Adam’s here.”

“Hmm?” Simon stirred and then motioned for him to take a seat. Adam glanced at the television and hesitated.

While Simon didn’t understand his reservations, his aunt took the remote and turned it off, honoring Adam’s religious views against it. “I have cake. Want some?”

“Sure,” Simon said. When she’d left the room, he arched a brow. “You look serious. What’s my brother up to now?”

Sitting on the edge of the sofa, Adam quickly replied, “Nothing new. But I heard what happened to Carly when she took her volunteer plan to the board.” He felt Simon studying him.

“Surprisingly, she did a great job with it.”

“Then why did you take it away from her?”

“It’s not personal, if that’s what you think. Strictly business.”

Adam shook his head. “It wasn’t fair, and you know it.”

Simon’s hand swept through the air. “You don’t understand how things are done. Sherie was in line for a promotion. I’m sure she’ll find a way to include Carly and keep an eye on her at the same time.”

Not liking Simon’s condescending tone, Adam argued, “Carly cares more about the residents than anyone else at Sweet Life. Doesn’t that account for anything?”