Covered Bridge Charm (21 page)

“Dad’s in the living room,” Mom said.

Having delayed going there as long as possible, he took the cue and left the women to their final preparations.

As soon as Adam sat in Mom’s recliner, Dad lowered his newspaper.

“Smells good in there, but I couldn’t get by with anything but one slice of cheese.”

Roman chuckled. “I heard Sissie’s screech.”

A small herd of grandchildren raced through the room. Two lingered. Ann’s blue-eyed Mary with brown ringlets dashed behind Roman’s chair. “Hi, Papa.”

Brown-eyed Jacob squatted behind Adam’s recliner. “We’re hiding. Don’t tell.”

“Act normal,” Mary whispered. “Talk about trees.”

Roman folded his hands behind his head. “Did you get the quotes on shipping yet?”

“Working on that,” Adam replied, playing along as Beth’s son Matthew tiptoed through the room, looking for his cousins.

“I said talk about trees. Act normal,” Mary whispered.

“I hear you!” Matthew yelled, and all three children dashed out of the room.

Roman’s arms lowered. He leaned forward. “From the spectacle you put on at church, I half expected you to bring that Blosser woman to dinner.”

Adam rolled his gaze.

“She trying to lure you back to Simon’s?”

Though Roman probed, Adam held the Rook card—the highest card in a game many Mennonite families enjoyed. “She asked me to call Dale.”

Roman seemed stricken. “Why? Doesn’t she know he’s happily married?”

Grinning inwardly, Adam kept a straight face. “She knows we keep in touch, and she needs some information from his computer.”

“Bah! Why doesn’t she go to Simon?”

Adam shot Dad a look that said,
Really?

“I suppose Dale’s still after you?”

“Jah. He’s determined.”

“Just like his dad,” Roman muttered angrily. Then he shook his head. “Watch out for them.”

“Who?”

“Si and Dale. The Blosser woman, too. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. Don’t make any choices you’ll regret.”

That evening, Adam hauled some wood inside and made a fire in his fireplace. He rested his legs on his footstool and adjusted the throw pillow his sister Ann had given him. Looking around the room, he wondered what Carly would think of his place. How would she transform it? With enticing smells from the kitchen, a rabbit snoring at his feet, and a wife snuggled content at his side? Or would she drag him into countless schemes? If Dad was right, he was doomed. He couldn’t get her out of his mind.

He scowled at his phone. The last time he’d talked to Dale, his cousin had reported the house next to his had gone up for sale. That Adam could get it for a good price. It needed fixing, but he’d help. He’d been right when he’d told Dad that Dale was determined. Like every other male Lapp. Like Dad. After Christmas, he’d surely put up a fight about Adam returning to Sweet Life’s woodworking shop. If they kept going toe-to-toe, there’d eventually be an explosion. He didn’t want to see their relationship end up like Si and Dale’s.

Punching in Dale’s number, he soon had him on the line. After some small talk, he asked, “Remember that name I wanted you to investigate? Well now I have the last name.”

“Great. That’ll help.”

“It’s Irish.”

“Never heard the name. But I’ll see what I can find.”

“Thanks.”

“Uh… somethin’ going on between you and Carly?”

Adam had been waiting for this. “We’re friends. Would it offend you if I took it further?”

“Only because we both know how dead set she is about Indiana. She’s trouble, you know. Anyway, I’ve been talking to Jenny, and we’ll match your dad’s offer. Make you a full partner.”

“I’m not holding out to pressure you,” Adam said. “Things have been going better with Dad. Except he doesn’t like Carly. If I date her, he’s likely to toss me out.” The other end of the line went quiet. No doubt Dale was remembering how Si had done that to him. Remembering his relationship with Carly. “Sorry. That was inconsiderate.”

“That’s all right.”

“Why don’t you guys come out for Christmas? It’s the one time Dad and Si pretend to like each other. You can stay at my place.”

“Thanks for the offer, but Jenny likes to be with her family. They actually like each other, you know.”

“Think about it. I miss you.”

“You know how to remedy that. How about you come here after Christmas?” The line grew quiet again. “I’ll even buy your ticket.”

“I’ll think about it. Thanks for doing me this favor.”

“Sure. I’ll let you know what I kick up.”

“All right. Take care.” Adam set the phone on his side table and sank into the sofa, allowing his imagination to travel to Indiana. As kids, they got along fine. But would Dale be just as manipulative as Dad? He wondered what the house was like that needed work and imagined the two of them fixing it up. Jenny would probably keep his refrigerator stocked. Dale claimed he’d gained weight because she was such a good cook.

Then his thoughts returned to the day he’d just spent with his family. His sisters adored him, and after Dad’s digs, he’d been fairly agreeable. They made a great team at work. And besides that, Carly needed him. He just needed to be firm with Dad and take his time with Carly. He needed some time to wear Dad down, and then he’d set after Carly. She’d probably play hard to get. It would be fun. He fell asleep on the couch with a smile on his face.

Carly curled up on her green-striped sofa and made Sherie’s calls. She rewarded herself with hot chocolate, cookies, and play-breaks with Cocoa. Often she had to leave Sherie’s scripted message: “This is Carly Blosser, and I’m a caregiver at Sweet Life Assisted Living. We’re starting a volunteer program called Little Steps”—she always cringed at this point because they’d changed the title from Every Little Bit Helps—“and it’s based on the belief that everybody can do one little thing to stamp out loneliness. We’re looking for people who can sing, read, write letters, do clerical work, hand massage, take photos, exercise, be a phone companion or a staff assistant. The list is even longer. If you are interested, please call Sherie at…”

Carly was surprised to watch the calls roll in on Monday. Sherie recruited a volunteer named Becca to answer phones and assist with the program’s organization details.

“Carly, you did such a great job with that phone list.”

“I didn’t recognize any of the names. Where did you get them?”

“They were hand-picked people who are involved in the community. Their connections will help spread the word in circles that might generate funds for improvements.” For the first time, Carly believed Simon had done the right thing to put Sherie in charge because she had a wider worldview. “But I’ve been thinking we need more Mennonite volunteers to stay in line with the founding ideals. And your people are such hard workers. Dependable. You did such a wonderful job with the calls. Are you ready now to put one of your own ideas to work?”

“Jah. I’m ready.”

“How about passing out fliers to your church people.”

Biting back a smile as Sherie set her church apart as a peculiar people, she replied. “Jah. I’d love to do that for you.”

“Great. I’ll put them in your cubby by the end of the day.” Sherie pushed up her glasses and gave a dismissive wave. “That’s all.”

Carly clocked out and fetched the library cart. A small group, including Martha, Klepto, and Repeater, gathered in the lobby to get first choice of books. After she took down recommendations, she punched in the code and the double glass doors opened. The library was in a separate building. Inside she took the elevator, wondering if the entire retirement center would implement her volunteer program if it was successful in assisted living. She’d ask Jimmy and Auntie to help with the fliers. Adam, too.

C
arly took Adam’s hand, but the wind caught some fliers, causing her to stumble out of the back of Jimmy’s four-door truck cab.

“Clumsy,” she muttered, dusting off her skirt and checking her covering.

“You okay?”

“Jah. I’m fine. Just my pride.” She lifted her skirt a bit. At least she hadn’t ruined her stockings. And it had been amusing to see the struggle on Adam’s face as he chose to help her instead of chasing the fliers.

Jimmy returned to them panting, “Carly!”

She quickly dropped her skirt, her gaze catching Adam’s. He shrugged, but his grin said it all. Jimmy handed her the captured fliers, and she divvied them out evenly. Jimmy suggested he and Adam take one side of the country road and she and Auntie the other. They’d use rubber bands to affix the fliers to the outside of the mailboxes. And after they’d canvassed an area, one of the men would run back for the truck.

But when an aggressive dog gave the women trouble, Jimmy motioned them over, eyeing Adam speculatively. “We should split up, for safety’s sake.” But when Aunt Fannie strode to Jimmy’s side, his expression hardened, sending a definite warning to Adam.

“Hey. We’re all in plain sight here,” Carly joked, trying to ease the tension. But nobody laughed. “I should’ve grabbed a couple sticks out of the bed of your truck.” That brought smiles.

With a shrug, Adam said, “Let’s go.” Then as if to taunt Jimmy, he leaned close and whispered, “I’m looking forward to that soup you’ve been bragging about. There’s a lot resting on that pot of soup, you know.”

“Oh, really.” She laughed. “You should’ve warned me before I added the mushrooms.”

“Gross.”

She glanced across the street at her brother, but he wasn’t watching them. “With the look Jimmy gave you, I’m not so sure it matters. I guess you weren’t joking when you said he warned you away from me.”

“Nope.”

“Actually your dad was shooting daggers at me last week at church when I asked if you’d contact Dale.” She shook her head. “At our age, you’d think we could do as we pleased.”

“You’d think.” But Adam’s pleasant demeanor had vanished. “Maybe you misinterpreted Dad. He was probably thinking about Uncle Si or something.”

“I don’t think so, but it’s nice of you to protect me. Is he the part of life you still have to work out?”

“Jah. But it’s different than what you’re thinking.”

“No, I understand.” She knew dads warned their sons away from her because of the rumors, but it still hurt. Before he could say something to take away the sting, they were interrupted by a couple of children riding bikes up and down a gravel lane. Carly recognized them from church as the Zook children.

“What you doin’?” Michelle, a girl about twelve inquired.

“Delivering fliers about the need for volunteers at Sweet Life Assisted Living.”

“That’s the old people?” her younger brother asked.

“Yes. They’re lonely and need people to help them.” She handed the flier to Michelle. “Will you give this to your mother?”

“Sure.” She read it out loud, “‘Everybody can do one little thing to stamp out loneliness.’ I suppose I could read to them. I love reading.”

The sweet idea brought a smile to Carly’s lips. “They’d love it. But your mom would have to agree.”

She dumped her bike and started running. “I’ll go ask her.”

“Wait! Michelle!” The girl came back, panting. “Can I see the flier a second? See there? Have your mom call that number if she’ll allow you to read. She’ll need time to think it over. Probably have to ask your dad, too.”

The girl nodded with disappointment. “Probably.”

And she’d need to clear the idea of children volunteers with Sherie. Carly’s mind raced. They would need to be chaperoned. The idea rooted itself and inspired her. Entire Sunday school classes of children could visit. Unless they brought too many germs into the facility.