The Heart's Journey: Stitches in Time Series #2 (17 page)

“You’re an engaged woman.”

She straightened. “You’re just now remembering that?”

Nick stood. “Maybe
you’re
just now remembering it.”

Her face flamed. He was right. After all, he didn’t know that she intended on breaking things off with John when she returned to Pennsylvania.

She reached down to yank up the quilt with her left hand and cried out.

“You’re still having pain in that arm?”

“No. Yes.” How did you answer? He’d notice it was a different arm than the one that had pained her when they first left for Florida.

“Let me see it.”

“It’s fine.”

“Naomi.”

“I appreciate your concern,” she said carefully. “But you’re not a doctor.”

His expression grew shuttered. “No, I’m not. But I’m obviously someone who cares about you.”

He bent down, plucked up two corners of the quilt and shook the sand from it, then folded it. Ignoring her when she reached for it, he grabbed his e-reader and walked away.

Naomi stared at his retreating back and then scrambled after him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

Nick stopped so suddenly that she nearly ran into him. A vein throbbed near his temple and his eyes were stormy.

“When is it going to stop, Naomi? When are you going to stop letting him hurt you?”

When she started to speak, he held up a hand. “Don’t!” he said sharply.

Then, shaking his head, he took a deep breath. “Look, I don’t want to yell at you. I’m just frustrated. I know these things are complicated. But you have to break it off with him before he really hurts you.”

“I know.” When he continued to stare at her, disbelieving, she lifted her chin. “I know what I have to do.”

With that, she walked past him and proceeded to the car.

“She’s going to go back to him. I just know it.”

“Maybe not,” Daniel said.

“C’mon, if there’s one thing I’m certain about, it’s that the Amish are known for their forgiving nature.”

He looked up and smiled at the waitress as she set a piece of peanut butter pie before him. Stabbing his fork into the pie, he grimaced. “I wonder how much weight I’ve gained since I came here. These people ought to be arrested for making this pie.”

Daniel cut a bite of his own Dutch apple pie. “Better than back home, huh?”

“That and I’m resorting to stress eating.”

“And running.”

“And running.” He wiped his mouth on a napkin and took a sip of his coffee.

“So what are you going to do?”

Nick stared down into his coffee cup as if its contents held some kind of answer to his dilemma. “I’m going to have a talk with Leah this afternoon. If I can just get Naomi out of the house.”

Daniel clapped him on the back. “I’ll be happy to help there.”

“You?”

“I’ll take her shopping. You know, souvenirs, that kind of thing.”

Nick narrowed his eyes. “Am I supposed to tell you that you’re a pal? You’d better not be thinking of putting the moves on her.”

“Thinking of her being your girl?” Daniel asked him mildly.

“Wouldn’t matter if I did.” Nick pushed the pie aside and concentrated on his coffee, but suddenly it tasted bitter. “I had no business falling in love with her.”

“No, you didn’t.”

He jerked his head up. “You don’t need to rub it in.”

“I know.” Daniel pushed aside his empty plate and leaned his elbows on the table. “I shouldn’t poke fun at a man in love.”

“That’s an apology?”

Daniel shook his head. “No. You’ve got it bad. I can relate.” He leaned back in his chair. “I know in your culture that sometimes two people of different religions marry. A Catholic man and a Jewish woman, that sort of thing. But it’s not the same concept with the Amish and the
Englisch
. It’s not just a matter of religion. It’s a different culture, a totally different way to live when you’re Amish.”

Daniel cocked his head and studied Nick. “Although you certainly do blend in. You dress plain for an
Englischer
and you’re constantly getting involved in the community. You even attend services from what I hear.”

He grinned as Nick’s eyebrows went up. “Yes, I checked you out. Naomi’s a childhood friend. I care about her.”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out some bills. “Now it’s time for me to take Naomi out for a ride.”

Their waitress approached with the check and smiled at Nick. “You remembered your frequent pie card, right?”

Daniel snickered. “Do you need to ask? You know he’s addicted to your peanut butter pie.”

She grinned at him. “But the fact that you’re in here almost as often for Dutch apple is okay, right?”

“Right.” Daniel returned her grin.

“Say, how is it that you Amish here can drive but it’s not okay in Lancaster County—or any other Amish community
I’ve heard of?” Nick asked as they waited in line to pay at the cash register.

“I’m Beachy Amish Mennonite,” Daniel told him.

Nick watched Daniel pay for his pie and coffee and waited, wanting to know more.

Determinedly he looked away from the baked goods conveniently placed nearby for sale. Maybe he’d stop in for some homemade breakfast rolls and other baked goods when they left for home. Just to tide them over.

After all, he wanted to reciprocate for what Leah and Naomi had baked and packed for the trip. He was just that kind of guy. He grinned. He was justifying getting more treats, that’s all.

“So tell me more,” Nick said after he paid his bill and they turned to leave.

“Most people don’t want the history lesson about the founding of the church, so I’ll just say this,” Daniel said as he held the door open for Nick. “The Beachy Amish Mennonites—named after Moses Beachy—have been around since the 1920s or so, and we’re very progressive compared to the Old Order Amish you know in Lancaster County. The original settlers to that part of the country have been there since the 1600s.”

They strolled down the sidewalk. “I drive, my home’s wired for electricity, and I have an inside phone,” Daniel said. “All things you have.”

A line had formed for the restaurant. Nick walked with Daniel to his car parked nearby. It was a good thing they weren’t in a hurry, because there were a lot of people moving around.

A mounted police officer stood on the corner, watching traffic and pedestrians as they moved past.

“Our version of a speed trap,” Daniel told him. “Want a lift to your van?”

“I’m not parked too far away. I’ll walk.”

“Well, then I’ll go see if I can persuade Naomi to go for a drive,” Daniel said, and he shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked away.

Nick frowned. He hoped he hadn’t just asked a wolf to go pick up a lamb.

Leah opened the door when Nick knocked on it a little later.

“Why, what a nice surprise,” she said with a smile, holding the door wider so that he could enter.

“You might not think so in a minute,” he muttered.

She pressed a hand to her heart. “Oh my, do you have bad news?”

“Can we sit down?”

“
Schur
,” she said. “What’s wrong? It’s not Naomi, is it? She just left with Daniel. There hasn’t been an accident?”

“No, no, I’m sorry, I’m just making this worse,” he said. “Come, sit down, and let me talk to you.”

He told her about how Naomi had reacted at the beach not once but twice, the latter time right after John had returned home. She listened but didn’t react with surprise.

Then she reached over to touch his arm with her small but firm hand. “I know about John,” she said quietly.

“And you think it’s okay for her to marry him?” he nearly yelled, jumping up from the table so impulsively that his chair fell over backward, the noise jarring in the small house.

“No, no, of course not,” Leah said quickly. “I’ve spoken to Naomi about it and I was glad when she came here with me so that she’d have a chance to think about what she needed to do.”

Nick closed his eyes and then opened them. Relief left him feeling dizzy. Then he realized that just because Leah wanted her granddaughter to break off her engagement, it didn’t mean that Naomi would do so.

“Would you like some coffee or tea?” she asked.

“Only if you put that ankle up on a chair and let me make it.”

“Always thinking of other people, aren’t you, Nick?”

“I’m no saint,” he muttered, pulling out a chair and gesturing at it.

Only when she put her foot on it did he move to fill the teakettle and set it on the stove burner.

“Tea?”

He shrugged. “You’ve gotten me to liking it. Sometimes.”

She stared at him, a thoughtful expression on her face.

“What?” he asked as he returned to the table.

“Have you come to care for Naomi?” she asked point-blank.

She made him think of his own grandmother. It was unnerving the way she reminded him of his mother’s mother—gone now—and the way she’d always known when he’d gotten into mischief. He’d sworn that Grandma Iris had known he’d done something before he’d actually had a chance to do it.

“You know I think you have three fine granddaughters—well, the ones I know,” he said carefully. “I’m aware you have many more, but I’m talking about Mary Katherine, Anna, and Naomi. I’m fond of all three of them.”

“But you don’t look at Mary Katherine or Anna the same way.”

The teakettle hissed. He turned off the flame, poured hot water into cups, and brought them to the table.

“Good thing,” he told her lightly. “I doubt Mary Katherine’s husband would put up with that. And Anna would just laugh
at me if I started looking at her …” he trailed off. Romantically? He was afraid to even say the word.

He pushed the bowl of tea bags toward her and then chose one for himself. Opening it and dunking it into the hot water provided a nice diversion. But when he finally had to look up, she was still staring at him.

“I’m just worried that John will hurt her,” he told her. “I swear that’s all I care about. I know that any feelings I have can’t go anywhere. She’s been baptized. She’d be shunned. I couldn’t let that happen. Her faith, her family and friends … I couldn’t—”

Leah laid her hand on his and it was cool and dry and firm. “Does she know how you feel about her?”

He remembered the kiss on the beach and he didn’t dare look at her or she’d know what happened. “I think she’s guessed I’m attracted to her,” he said honestly, meeting her gaze. “But I promise you I won’t pursue a relationship with her, Leah. Just help her break things off with John. I beg you.”

Leah’s eyes widened and she blinked. “Oh my,” she whispered. “You’re in love with my
grossdochder
.”

Groaning, he put his head in his hands and slumped in his chair. Lifting his head, he stared at her. “Are you related to my grandmother?”

“It’s written all over your face,” she said sagely.

They sighed in perfect unison.

The door opened and Naomi breezed in, then stopped as she saw Nick sitting in the kitchen with her grandmother. “What’s wrong? Something’s wrong.”

“No, it isn’t,” he said quickly. “We were just talking about how sorry we are that we’re going home soon.”

“Yes, well—” Naomi looked like she couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Why are you home so soon?” he asked her.

“I forgot my money,” she said, and then she frowned. “How did you know I’d gone anywhere?”

“Because you weren’t home when I got here.”

“Oh.” She appeared to think about it. Then she shrugged. “Well. Okay. I should get my money. Daniel’s waiting.” She headed for her room.

Leah started to say something but Nick quickly shook his head and touched a finger to his mouth, indicating she should stay silent.

Naomi came out of her room, tucking some bills into her purse. “
Grossmudder
, Daniel wants to know if we’d like to have supper with him tonight. He says I should invite you too, Nick.”

Daniel walked inside. “I thought we could go to this great sushi place.”

Nick watched Naomi make a face. “Will they cook mine if I ask? I don’t think I’d like raw fish.”

Daniel laughed. “I was just joking. Nick, you joining us?”

“Sure. Thanks.”

“He doesn’t even care where we go,” Daniel teased.