Made with Love (20 page)

Yet when Lovina left Dat had given her a knowing look and a message for Noah. One she was all too happy to deliver.

Even though it was nearly seven o'clock in the evening the sun was still high in the sky. Lovina parked her bicycle by the front gate and was preparing to knock on the front door when she heard voices around the back. She walked around the side of the house, noticing how meticulously Roy Yoder tended his flowers. In the back she saw Noah and the teens. It looked as if they'd just finished grilling hot dogs, and the whole back yard smelled like a campfire. The most interesting feature, though, was the large counter that nearly filled the backyard space.

It looked as if it was an antique piece, maybe from a nice, older home. It was just the sort of thing she'd want for her shop. Lovina paused and sucked in a breath. Had he…found that for her? She froze in her spot, not knowing what to say or do. It was Mose who saw her first, and he chuckled.

“Well, Noah, remember your idea for surprising Lovina with her new counter? You can throw that idea out the door.”

Noah looked up, his gaze met hers. He had a hot dog in a bun in one hand and a bit of ketchup was tucked in the corner of his lip. He smiled and then quickly wiped at it.

He put the hot dog back on his paper plate and set it on the overturned milk crate he was using for a table. Yet the whole time his eyes stayed fixed on hers as if truly seeing her for the first time.

“Did someone say
surprise
?” she managed to say.

He stood and walked toward her. “You came too soon.”

Lovina pointed her thumb over her shoulder, pointing out the way she'd just come. “I can leave if you need me to. I mean if you don't want to hear the big news…” She pretended to turn as if she was going to leave.

“No! Wait.” He took a step toward her. “I do want to know. I do want you to stay. I was just hoping I'd have my surprise cleaned up first.”

Lovina pointed to the long countertop. “Is that for me? Is that what I think it is?”

Noah nodded. He approached and lifted his hands in front of her, making a forward and backward L with his hands, as if framing a shot for her. “Can you picture this counter with four bakers lined up behind it as you enter the pie shop? They call out their greetings as you enter, and you stand mesmerized as you watch them so effortlessly rolling out the pie crusts and fluting the edges.”

Emotion swelled in Lovina, and she blinked back tears.

Noah paused and the sparkle in his eyes faded. “Unless.” He gulped. “Unless you've come to tell me your dad said no.”

She covered her mouth with her hands, and her shoulders trembled as she tried to hold in her tears. Mose, Gerald, and Atlee looked at each other and then at Noah. Worry was clear on their faces.

Lovina lowered her hand. “No, that's not it. That's not why I'm crying. He actually said yes.” More tears came and she wished she could hold them in. She took a step closer to the counter.

Gerald scratched his head, causing his dark hair to stick up even more. “Well, if he said yes why are you crying?”

“I'm crying because I've been dreaming about this for so long.”

“So it's a yes?” Noah asked, wanting to make sure he'd heard her right.

She nodded.

“A yes that you can buy the property, or a yes with us helping with the remodel?”

Lovina nodded again and then mouthed the word. “Both.”

Noah jumped and punched his fist in the air. “Yes!” He looked to the teens, who were still busy eating their dinner. They'd moved past their hot dogs and were now digging into chocolate whoopie pies—probably ones they'd picked up from Yoder's.

Noah crossed his arms over his chest. “Boys, it looks like we have the job.”

“
The
job?” Atlee asked.

“Yes, the perfect job for us…right out our back door.”

Lovina brushed at her tears and then discretely wiped her moist hands on her skirt. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward. She pictured the counter covered with flour and rolling pins. She ran her hand down its surface and then turned to Noah. She patted her temple. “Everything—all my dreams—have been up here for so long. And now I feel like I'm seeing them come to life.”

“And it's just a start, Lovina.” His gaze followed the paved driveway that ran along the side of his uncle Roy's fence, following it to the parking lot and then to the warehouse beyond. “I have so many more ideas. I can't wait to get started.”

She continued to run her hand down the counter, noticing the nicks and worn spots.

“It's a perfect counter. Just looking at it I can picture meals cooked. I can see the worn spots where crusts have been rolled out.” Her hand paused on one spot where the Formica was no longer cream but white. “Wherever did you find it?”

“We were pulling some stuff from an old house that was going to be remodeled. I saw this, and I knew it was for you.”

She dared to look up into his face, knowing she'd have a hard time not feeling her heart cinching one notch closer to his. Lovina had spent the day on a beautiful beach with a handsome bachelor. Thomas had said all the right things and had done all the right things, and yet there had been nothing truly memorable about their time together. Yet standing here with Noah, with her hands on this old, worn countertop and the smell of hot dogs in the air, Lovina's heart swelled. This was the most romantic moment of her life.

Noah knew her. Noah believed in her dream. And he not only believed…he was backing her up. Lovina looked at the warehouse again, picturing it open and ready for business. Not only because she believed it could happen, but because the man working alongside her would make certain of it.

 

Chocolate Whoopie Pies

Pies

1½ cups shortening

3 cups sugar

3 egg yolks, beaten

3 teaspoons vanilla

1½ cups buttermilk (or sour milk)

3 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons salt

1½ cups hot water

1½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder

6 cups flour

Filling

1½ cups shortening (not butter flavored)

5 tablespoons milk

3 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

3 egg whites, beaten stiff

For pies, preheat oven to 350°. Cream together shortening and sugar. Add egg yolks and vanilla. Stir in buttermilk. Add baking soda, salt, hot water, cocoa, and flour. Beat well. Drop by tablespoons onto greased cookie sheet and bake 12 minutes.

For filling, cream shortening and milk. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; mix well. Beat in egg whites until filling is fluffy.

To assemble pies, spread a heaping spoonful of filling on flat side of half of the cookies. Top with remaining cookies. Makes approximately 40 whoopie pies.

Fifteen

If at first you succeed, try not to look astonished.

A
MISH
P
ROVERB

W
hen Jason Schlabach had told Lovina that things could move quickly with the purchase of the warehouse, she hadn't quite understood what he'd meant. It had been less than two weeks since she'd first seen the warehouse. It had been only a week and a half since they'd made their first offer. And now Jason held the escrow papers in his hand.

Lovina had been up early and dressed. She'd read her Bible and had cleaned the kitchen. When she still had time before their meeting, she decided to walk to the bank instead of riding her bike.

At the park she'd taken in the sight of Mrs. Beiler sitting on an overturned five-gallon bucket, fishing. At the school, she'd paused and watched the children practicing for a Columbus Day program, performing on the lawn. She walked with slow steps past the bookstore and then across Kaufman Avenue to the bank.

She wasn't surprised to see Noah standing and waiting there, with her dat by his side. And even though it was expected, the
sight of Noah made her heart flutter. Ever since Dat and Noah had met to discuss the warehouse and go over more details of the plan, the two men had become constant companions. Noah had come to the house, mostly because Dat hadn't been feeling well. Her sisters enjoyed talking to him, and were always offering him whatever they were cooking up. But Mem was a different story.

Mem hardly said anything worthwhile to Noah—mostly just small talk. When he showed up she usually made an excuse to visit one of their neighbors. Lovina tried to pretend it didn't bother her, but it had. For Mem not only ignored Noah, but she also refused to discuss anything about the pie shop. It was almost as if Mem believed that if they didn't talk about it, it wouldn't happen.

And while Lovina enjoyed having Noah over so often, she rarely got any of his attention. She knew that Dat and Noah mostly discussed construction, but there were many days she felt left out. Was Noah becoming the son Dat had never had? She liked the thought of that, but what would happen after the pie shop was open? Would Noah stick around—if not for her, then for Dat?

She reached the bank door and Noah opened it for her. She walked in and the two men followed.

Jason was waiting in the lobby. “Lovina, gentlemen. I have everything ready on my desk.”

Lovina settled into one of the chairs across from Jason and her dat sat in the other.

“Should I leave while you sign your paperwork?” Noah asked. He glanced between her and her father, as if suddenly worried he'd overstepped his bounds.

Dat stroked his beard. “Not at all, son. If it wasn't for you we wouldn't be able to do this at all.” Dat turned to Jason. “Do you think we can get a chair for my friend?”

“We already have one coming.” Jason stepped aside as another man brought in a chair for Noah.

“Okay, friends.” Jason sat. “I have three stacks of paperwork. One for each of you.” Jason turned to her. “If you don't mind, Lovina, I'll do Noah and your dat's paperwork first, because it's less complicated than yours.”

“Noah's paperwork? Dat's?” her brow furrowed. “I don't understand.” She looked from Jason to her father. And then back to Jason again. “Last time we talked the sale was going to be in my name. Dat simply was going to provide the funding and…” She let her voice trail off. She didn't even know what to say about Noah.

Dat looked at her. “I've been thinking about it, and that's a great burden of responsibility for you to carry. I've decided to change things.” Dat cleared this throat. “The amount for the building will be covered, but I'm going to give you money for the remodel too. Noah is going to be a signer on that portion of the paperwork, so he can have access to the money and buy supplies as needed. For example, we'll need to make sure the kitchen is up to code…and I don't want you to have to worry about that.”

Lovina's mouth dropped open, and tears filled her eyes. “Dat, no. I can't accept all that.”