Chapter 17

17

Deciding to take Bethanne at her word, when Jay got off work, he went home, showered, and then headed over to the Hostetlers' house. As he drove the horse and buggy down the back streets, he gave himself a pep talk. He wanted to expect the best from Bethanne, but experience had shown him that even her best intentions for moving forward had to battle with the old insecurities that seemed to always take over.

He'd wanted her to be his girl for most of his life. He was pretty sure he was in love with her. But he also realized that he was just a man who wanted a wife and a family. If Bethanne pulled away from him again, he didn't know how much longer he could wait.

Seth Zimmerman's words of wisdom about being patient had merit. But his experience with Tabitha had been different. Tabitha had been abused. But despite all of that, she'd slowly gotten to know Seth and wanted to overcome her fears and be with him. Bethanne, on the other hand, might want to move forward but not with Jay.

After he parked the buggy in the front drive, he climbed out, settled the horse's leads around the hitching post, and then turned toward the front door. It was time to come calling again. He hoped and prayed it went well.

"Wilkum, Jay," Martha Hostetler said as she ushered him into the house. "How are you this evening?"

"I'm well, danke. And you?"

"We're the same." She gave him a tired smile. "I don't know why this weather always seems to bring out the worst in me. Even though the trees in the yard keep most of the house nice and cool, it never feels cool enough."

"Mei mamm says the same."

"I'm glad I'm not the only one hoping for a short summer."

He smiled. "You're not the only one, I'm certain of that. It's so hot at the lumber mill. Between the heat and humidity, I sometimes go through several shirts a day."

"In any case, we're glad you stopped by. As soon as Bethanne spied your buggy on the drive, she ran up to her room to change."

He took that as a good sign. "She didn't have to do that."

"I think she wanted to. She was gone all day and only came home a while ago."

"Really?"

"I know. It's hard to get used to, ain't so? I'm ashamed to say that I've gotten so used to her always being here, I sometimes don't know what to do when she lets me know that she won't be home for hours."

Maybe all of his worries had been for nothing. Maybe Bethanne really was ready to move on with her life—and if she was up in her room primping, maybe she hadn't changed her mind about him.

"Bethanne's going to keep us on our toes," he said. Feeling optimistic, he added, "Perhaps that will serve me well."

She smiled. "Indeed." Directing him into the parlor, she said, "Bethanne put out a puzzle and I brought out large glasses of half and half—tea and lemonade. Would you care for anything else at the moment?"

"I'm good."

"Well, then, I'll, uh, go let Bethanne know you're waiting."

"She knows, Mamm," Lott said as he came into the room. "Jay, Bethy wanted you to know that she'll be down shortly."

"Danke."

As his mother headed for the kitchen, Lott sat down at the card table. "I sure hope things work out between the two of you. It's nice having another man around the house."

That made two of them. "How's work?"

"Good. I got hired on, and the boss has me working with just about everybody. Every morning, I'm going somewhere new."

"Do you like that?" Jay wouldn't. He thrived on things staying the same as much as possible.

"I do. It keeps things interesting."

Jay sat down on the couch. "Seth Zimmerman works there too, doesn't he?"

"Jah."

"Is he ... difficult to work with?"

"Nope. He's far more patient than some of the other guys. I would've thought he'd be the opposite. But he says that prison taught him the value of perspective. He doesn't get too upset about much, which I'm glad about since I'm engaged to his little sister."

"I haven't talked to Melonie in a spell. Is she doing well?"

"She is." Lott laughed. "For some reason, she still puts up with me."

Bethanne entered the room wearing a dark pink dress and pink flip-flops. She looked so fresh and pretty—like she was ready for a day in Pinecraft. And she seemed happy . "I'm sorry you had to wait, Jay," she said.

Jay stood. "It was no problem. Lott and I were catching up. Plus, your mother walked me in and made me feel welcome."

Bethanne glanced at the table. "And she already got us drinks. Would you like some cookies? I made molasses drops yesterday."

"Not yet." Jay's gaze drifted to her brother.

Catching the unspoken signal, Lott stood up. "I'll, uh, go see what Daed is doing. See ya, Jay."

"See ya." Finally alone with Bethanne, he stepped closer to her side. "Hi."

Her cheeks pinkened. "Hi." Looking a little more self-conscious, she added, "I'm glad you came over this evening."

"I'm glad you wanted me to return." And very glad that she hadn't changed her mind since then. "So, where were you today? Your mother said you only recently got home."

"I was at my aunt's house," she said as she sat down on the couch.

Right next to where he'd been sitting.

He was so pleased by that choice, he felt like a foolish boy. "And how was your aunt?" he asked as he sat down beside her.

"Overwhelmed." Looking like she was trying not to laugh, she added, "Aunt Dora was attempting to make jam. I don't know how many containers of strawberries were on her counters. When I got there, she looked like she was about to box up everything and take it all to my mother to deal with."

"Uh-oh."

"We put up forty jam jars of strawberry preserves."

"Forty? That's a lot."

She blew out a burst of air. "You don't know the half of it. You'd have to know Aunt Dora to get the full effect, but imagine a woman completely unsuited to the kitchen always imagining being an Amish cook."

He laughed, appreciating her humor. "That bad?"

"Jah. She's a good sport, though. Honestly, her awkwardness makes every cooking chore more fun. I never know what she's going to do."

"Her daughter is Candace, right?"

She nodded. "Our county's own beauty queen. She came home soon after I got there and ended up helping us."

"Sounds like a fun afternoon."

"It really was. Except that she told us she's been having some trouble."

"With what?"

She swallowed as worry lines marred her brow. "She thinks a man is stalking her. It's bad enough that she told Officer Mulaney, the new officer who's been escorting her to her appearances."

"Wow. I just saw him. He was at the lumber mill."

She looked even more concerned. "He was? Why?"

"There was a fire near one of our dumpsters. People are saying that someone set it on purpose."

"Why would someone do that?"

"Keep this to yourself, but I'm pretty sure the cops think that it was to cover up a theft." He waved a hand. "That maybe something was taken from the office. I'm not privy to a lot of information."

"Oh my stars. I hope they find out who did it, and soon."

"Me too." Not eager to focus on the craziness at work anymore, he tapped the top of the jigsaw box. "I heard you put this out for us."

"I did. Um, I thought maybe it would give us something to do while we talk. And if you did decide to come back." She looked away. "But maybe that was a silly idea."

He opened the box and scooped a handful of pieces onto the table. "I think it was a good idea. How do you start a puzzle?"

"The same way as anyone else. I put together the edges."

She sounded so prim and sure. He thought it was adorable. Just to tease her a bit, Jay said, "That's not how I begin. I collect pieces of the same color. See?" He picked up two burnt orange–colored pieces and showed her that they had to both be pieces of part of the sunset in the picture.

She wrinkled her nose. "You do one part of the picture at a time?"

"What's wrong with that? It works for me."

"Only you."

"Maybe we should see who's more successful at piecing together a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle."

Her gaze was warm when she glanced his way. "Obviously, it will be me."

"Bethanne, I had no idea you were the competitive sort."

"Only at certain things," she retorted. "Such as puzzles."

His heart swelled. At long last, he and Bethanne were sitting together. Just enjoying each other's company. Talking about nothing of worth but making the kind of connection he'd dreamed about. "I hope I won't hurt your feelings with my puzzle prowess."

To his amusement, Bethanne didn't look cowed by his ridiculous bragging. Instead, she lifted her chin. "I guess we'll see, won't we?"

"Does this mean I can come over again soon?"

"You're going to have to. I mean, mei mamm is going to want her game table back eventually."

"Tomorrow night, then?" he murmured. "I don't want to upset your mother."

She smiled. "Is that the only reason?"

"You know I don't want to spend my evenings doing anything else, Bethy."

She stared at him, seemed to try his words on for size, and then nodded. "I'm glad."

He was too. At long last, he was courting Bethanne. As he collected another orange piece, he allowed the feeling of satisfaction to seep in.

It felt good.