Treasuring Emma (16 page)

The smell of perked coffee filled the kitchen. He went to hug his mother. “I see you’re up.”

“I’m sorry I slept in this morning.” Her
kapp
was perfectly in place, the pleats of her dress pressed and the skirt without a wrinkle. “I should have had breakfast ready for you.”

He noticed she didn’t mention his father. “That’s all right. I brought a treat for you.” He held out the cup of fast-food coffee and the bag with the Danish.

She smiled, yet the emotion didn’t reach her eyes. “That was thoughtful of you, Adam.” She looked him up and down as she accepted the food. Her expression held a little more hope. “I see you decided to wear your Amish clothes.”

He couldn’t bring himself to tell her the reason why. It was a good thing he had only gone through the drive-through to get breakfast. He would have gotten more than a few strange looks at his beard and mustache. Maybe he should shave them off after all. It would make things simpler. Make his mother happy.

She set the coffee and Danish on the table but didn’t touch them. Instead she went to the sink and turned on the tap. “Fried chicken and mashed potatoes okay for supper, Adam?”

“Whatever you fix is fine.” He looked around the kitchen. “Where’s
Daed
?”

His mother turned off the tap. It took a second before she faced him. “I’m not sure.” This time her smile was too wide. “He was gone before I got up.”

“Probably running some errands in town.”

“
Ya
. Probably.” She didn’t say anything for a moment. Then she held up one finger. “Could you do a favor for me?”

“Anything,” Adam said.

“I have a pie plate that belonged to Mary.” She opened a lower cabinet and pulled out a glass dish. “Could you take it to Leona? I’ve had it for years, actually. I should have given it back to Mary sooner.”

“Sure.” Adam took the plate. “I’ll be right back.”

“Wait.” His mother picked up the coffee and Danish. “I’m not hungry, and I already had my coffee. Maybe Emma might want this?”

He took the bag from her. Emma probably didn’t want anything from him. But at least he would offer it to her.

C
HAPTER
14

Adam headed for Emma’s house with the pie plate tucked under his arm. Steam rose from the small hole in the coffee lid. Even if Emma rejected breakfast, this gave him a good excuse to check on Dill. He’d been thinking about the horse this morning, hoping the pad on her foot had helped a bit last night.

He tucked the folded edge of the bag between his teeth and knocked on the door. Waited for an answer, then knocked again. He didn’t hear any movement from inside the house. His eyes drifted to Emma’s grandfather’s old workshop. He left the porch and walked to the wood shop door. Emma was sweeping with harsh, sharp strokes. A giant cloud of dust hung in the room.

He sneezed. She looked up. Thin white trails ran from the bottom of each eye through the dust on her cheeks. She’d been crying. He hated to see her cry.

Emma turned from him. “
Geh
away.”

He ignored her command and set the coffee, bag, and plate on the dirty counter. “Emma, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. I’m cleaning up.” She sniffed. “Can’t you see what a mess this place is? I shouldn’t have let it get this way.” She brandished the broom, kicking up more dirt.

Adam shook his head. The shop hadn’t been touched in years. Why was she blaming herself for its condition now? He took the broom from her hand and was surprised when she let him.

“I brought some coffee. And a Danish, if you want it.”

She turned to him and swiped at her cheek with her hand. The attempt only smeared the dirt all over her face. He couldn’t help but smile.

“What?”

“Remember the time it rained for three days straight? We were like, what, ten, eleven years old?”

She nodded.

“And there was that huge mud puddle in my backyard. You dared me to jump in it.”

“But you were too chicken.”

“I was too smart.” He grinned wider. “Then I dared you.”

“But I was even smarter.” Her lips began to twitch. “When I said I would, I pushed you in instead.”

“And I grabbed you and yanked you down with me.” He laughed.

“What made you think of that?”

“Your face.”

All the humor in her eyes vanished. She rubbed her face again. “I must look a mess, then.”

“
Nee
, Emma. You don’t look a mess. Not to me.”

Emma couldn’t move. She couldn’t pull her gaze from Adam. His words reached through her embarrassment, through her pain, to the tender part inside her. Worst of all, he didn’t realize how easily he could do it. A kind look. A friendly touch on the arm. An offhand comment, like the one he just made.

She picked up the cup of coffee and took a long drink. The hot liquid scalded her mouth.

“Whoa, careful.” He took the cup from her. “That’s fast-food coffee. It’ll burn the taste buds right off your tongue.”

Her cheeks reddened. She looked away, not daring to eat the Danish. She’d probably choke on it if she tried.

Adam set the coffee back on the counter. “How’s Dill?”

“She’s doing fine. I tethered her in the backyard a little while ago. She needed the sunshine. A change of scenery too.”

“
Gut
idea.” He picked up the bag. “You going to eat this?” When she shook her head, he pulled out the Danish. “Do you mind?”

She shrugged. She waited for the usual agitation and resentment she felt when she was around him to surface. It didn’t come. Things between them felt almost . . . normal. Or else she was too tired to feel anything at all.

He took a bite of the pastry. “Stale. I like Leona’s better.” He dropped it back in the bag. Craned his neck, looking around the shop. “Don’t you think cleaning this place could wait? It’s kinda nice the way it is right now. Feels like your
grossvadder
is close by. He always left the place a mess, if I’m remembering right.”

“You are.” Emma couldn’t believe it. Finally, someone who understood why she didn’t want to change the workshop. Then again, Adam usually was the only one who did understand her. But it didn’t matter anymore. “It won’t be like this for long,” she said, not meaning to voice the thought aloud.

“Why?”

A knock sounded on the door. Emma turned. A man stood in the doorway, his smile revealing his chipped tooth. Mark.

“Hope I’m not intruding.” He crossed the threshold, not waiting to be invited, and held out his hand to Adam. “Mark King. Peter’s cousin.”

Adam returned the greeting. “Adam Otto. Emma’s neighbor.”

Neighbor. Not friend. Definitely not boyfriend. He wasn’t even really her neighbor anymore. She looked from Adam to Mark. “If you’re looking for Peter, he’s not here.”

“I know. That’s why I’m here. I came to see how you were doing.” Mark moved a step closer to her. “Peter said you were upset.”

So now Peter was telling everyone what happened. The betrayal deepened. “I’m fine. We had a misunderstanding.”

“Sounded like more than just a misunderstanding.” Mark looked around the workshop. “This used to be your
grossvadder’s
?”

“
Ya
. You really didn’t have to come by. I’m doing okay. I’m sorry Peter was upset—”

“Oh, he wasn’t just upset. He was angry.”

Emma blanched. “He was?”

Mark nodded. “Said something about how you weren’t ready to face reality. And about some tools? That if you would sell them it would help all of you out financially?” He shrugged. “But I didn’t hear everything. The conversation wasn’t
mei
business.”

“
Nee
. It wasn’t.”

Emma turned at the sound of Adam’s voice.

Mark’s brow lifted. “Oh. I’m sorry. Is it your business, then?”

Adam didn’t respond. But Emma saw his jaw clench—a sure sign that he was upset. What did he have to be mad about? This wasn’t Adam’s business either. At least Mark was
familye
. Adam was . . . nothing.

“I’m an old
freind
of Emma’s,” he finally said. “If she’s upset about something, I do consider it my business.”

Mark scrutinized Adam’s face. “Is that your truck in the driveway next door?”

Adam nodded.

“Nice. I noticed the plate is from Michigan.”

“It is.”

“And I suppose your
fraa
doesn’t mind your deep concern for Emma? Or is she on her way over too? It doesn’t look very
gut
for a married
mann
to be alone with a woman who isn’t his wife.”

“I’m not married,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Ah. I just thought with the beard . . .” Mark rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “Then again, you have a mustache. And a truck. You’re not Amish, are you?”

“I don’t see what that has to do with any—”

“Seeing that you’re not Amish, and not
familye
. . .” Mark shrugged and looked at Emma. “We should probably talk about this privately.”

Emma’s head spun. She couldn’t tell if Mark was digging at Adam or just pointing out a fact.

Adam’s gaze bored into Mark. “You’re Peter’s cousin? Funny, I don’t remember him mentioning you before.”

“From what I understand, you haven’t been around here for a while.”

Emma frowned. What did Mark know about Adam? Maybe Clara had gossiped about him to Mark. She’d never liked Adam much since he left the community.

Adam closed the distance between them. “What exactly are you doing here?”

Mark stepped back, his eyes wide, innocent. “I told you. I’m checking on Emma.”

“As you can see, she’s fine.”

“Because you’re here?”

“Ya.”
Adam lifted his chin. “Your concern is noted, but not needed.”

Mark held up his hands. “No reason to get upset.” He looked at Emma. Compassion filled his eyes. “You’ve been through a lot lately, Emma. I wanted you to know, if you need anything, I’m here.” He glanced at Adam. “I’m planning to stay in Middlefield for a while. I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.”

It took everything in Adam’s power not to lose his temper. Was Emma really buying this? From the soft look on her face, she was.

“Here.” Mark turned from Adam and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. “You have a little dust on your face.” He touched Emma’s cheek with the corner of the cloth. “Right here.”

Emma’s face flushed a bright red. So did Adam’s, but not for the same reason. She took the cloth, rubbed it on her face for a second, and started to hand it back.

“
Nee
. Keep it.” He smiled.

Adam wanted to wipe that smile right off his face. Anger bubbled inside him. This guy was a fake and a phony. There was a dead emptiness in his eyes that all his charm and false concern couldn’t hide. Why didn’t Emma see it?

“Danki,”
Emma said in a soft voice.

For some strange reason, the quality of the tone affected him. Seeing her with Mark. Hearing her voice—low, almost sultry. A tight knot coiled in his gut.

Mark took several steps toward Emma. They were close to each other now.

Too close. Adam couldn’t stand it anymore. “I think you should leave.”