Peace (9 page)

B
ETH
B
YLER

A surprise greeted Beth when she stopped by her house to check up on her mother. Two of her aunts were in her mother's sewing room, sitting on either side of her mother's wheelchair. From the looks of it, all three seemed to be in deep conversation over a pile of fabrics.

Her mother and aunts had spent many hours designing, piecing, and stitching quilts for the annual Amish Country Quilt Show. Four years ago, they'd even earned an honorable mention. From their intent expressions, Beth was sure they were getting ready to enter again.

“Uh-oh,” Beth teased. “Are you three planning a new prize-winner?”

Practically in unison, all three jumped, then looked at her with pleased expressions.

Aunt Josephine was the first to recover. “Beth!” she said as she got to her feet and trotted over to give her a hug. “Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!”

“I could say the same about you. I didn't know you were going to pay Mamm a visit today,” she said after she hugged Jo, Aunt Evelyn, and finally her mother. “Seeing the three of you together is a
wonderful-gut
surprise.”

“Were your ears ringing?” Aunt Jo asked with a sly wink. “We were just talking about you.”

“Oh?” Carefully, she kept her face expressionless. “I can't think of a reason why.”

“Oh, Beth,” her mother chided. “You are always so standoffish.”

“I'm not.” She was simply private. Taking a seat across from her mother, Beth attempted to look carefree, though her insides were churning. She'd come over to check up on her mother, grab a few personal things, then hurry back to Chris's side.

With her aunts here—especially given the way they were looking at her as if
she
were the new project instead of the quilt—getting in and out of the house in a timely manner might be harder than anticipated.

“Don't look so worried, daughter. I was simply telling Jo and Evelyn here that you've been working too hard. And on Christmas, too.”

“Imagine our surprise to hear that you were helping out at the Yellow Bird Inn,” Aunt Jo said. “We didn't even think you could cook.”

Although she might be a rather private person, her inability to bake well was one thing that she had never been able to hide. “I'm learning to cook better. And Frannie left a lot of things in her freezer for my suppers.” Smiling mischievously, she added, “I'll have you know that I've become mighty
gut
at thawing frozen food.”

“Which is quite an accomplishment, to be sure.” Aunt Evelyn chuckled. “Don't fret, Beth. We're only teasing ya.”

“My only concern is that you're spending too much time working and not enough time enjoying yourself,” her mother said. “Here it is Christmas, and instead of enjoying some time with other young people, you're taking on another job.”

“I don't mind work.” Hoping to move the conversation along, Beth said, “I didn't know you were expecting company today, Mamm.”

As she hoped, her mother's expression brightened. “I didn't know it, either. Seeing my sisters has made me mighty happy.”

“We came over to surprise Patience. And you, of course,” Evelyn added politely. “And to offer another surprise. We want you both to spend Christmas in Charm.”

“Who is in Charm?” Beth asked.

“My daughter Martha and her family,” Evelyn explained. “They have a big house, with plenty of room for Patience's wheelchair to move around in.”

“
Jah
, no one should be home alone for Christmas,” Jo added. “My husband's cousin Jim isn't Amish, so he has a car. He's offered to drive us there, since it's on the way to Cleveland.”

“That's where Jim's wife's from,” Evelyn added helpfully. She paused. “Forgive me. That was probably far more information than you needed to know. But anyway, please do come. We want you both to join us.”

Looking at her mother, noticing how much younger she looked in her sisters' company, Beth felt like cheering. Her aunts' offer was an answer to her prayers. “What a wonderful idea, Mamm. I hope you will go.”

“I would like to go.” Looking at Jo and Evelyn with a fond expression, her mother added, “But Beth, you'll come, too,
jah
?”

“I'm afraid I can't.”

“But Beth, it won't be the same without you.” Evelyn frowned.

Beth gazed at her Aunt Evelyn and thought about how her aunt always had a kind word for everyone. She was guileless and sweet. Just as sweet as her sister Josephine was peppery.

She would have liked to spend some time with them, to watch her mother laugh like she used to. But there was no way she could leave Chris, even if she'd wanted to. His injuries were still too severe.

And his mood seemed fragile, too, as if he would be very hurt if she, too, abandoned him.

“There's a guest at the Yellow Bird Inn. I need to be there to watch over things.” To her embarrassment, her cheeks started to burn at simply mentioning him! She hoped her blush wouldn't betray her strong feelings.

“But it's Christmas,” Aunt Jo said.

“It is. But it will still be Christmas even if I'm not with you,” she said lightly.

“That is not what I meant, child.”

Aunt Josephine glared at Beth. “I don't understand why you'd be putting the inn before your family. Christmas is a time to be together, not to be apart.”

“I know that, but this year will have to be different, I'm afraid. I made a promise to Frannie that I must keep.” Gently, she added, “Mamm, I am glad you will be in Charm with Josephine and Evelyn and their families. I want you to go.”

“Frannie should have closed the place for the holidays, not accepted guests,” her mother said. “And if she did have guests, she should have tended to them herself. Not left them for you.”

“Frannie didn't think she was going to have any guests,” Beth said quickly, anxious to defend one of her best friends. “This one came as a surprise.” But of course, as soon as she said that, she wished she could take it back.

Because she'd just opened the proverbial can of worms.

“Oh?” Evelyn asked. “Who, exactly, showed up unannounced? Anyone we know?”

There was no way she could share the truth. That would be asking for trouble, and would practically guarantee a long conversation and debate about whether Beth should be anywhere near a man like Chris.

Thinking quickly, Beth blurted, “The woman who is staying at the inn is not from these parts.”

“You should have told her you were closed for Christmas,” Josephine said with a raised brow.

“Umm . . . Well . . . I would have, but she's a nice lady who is having a bit of a hard time of it.”

All three women leaned forward. “What do you mean by that?” Evelyn asked eagerly.

Out of the air, the fibs continued. “Divorce,” she whispered, thinking that was just shocking enough for her mother and aunts to not question why a lady would be traveling alone at Christmas.

Immediately, all three women leaned back with stricken expressions. As if divorce could be catching. “Oh, but that is a shame,” her
mamm
murmured.

“Indeed,” Jo added.

Feeling like a bit more explanation was needed, Beth said, “Yes, she, uh, wanted to get away from her troubles for a bit.”

“It's also a shame that the only way she could do that was by bringing you more work!” Aunt Josephine said. “You'd have thought she could find comfort in her own family at a time like this.”

“Or to have tried to get back together with her husband,” Evelyn said with a reproving air. “Marriage is not to be entered into or gotten out of easily, you know.”

“I feel blessed to be able to help her through this difficult time,” Beth said piously. “She doesn't seem to have anyone else.”

“I wonder why?” Jo asked. “Is she mean and rude?”

Beth was in a deep hole and for some reason, she seemed to keep digging that hole deeper. “Not at all. She is polite.”

“I hope so. Would you like us to visit with her? Or perhaps just me? I could counsel her. I'm
gut
at giving advice.” Looking at her sisters, Evelyn said, “I could walk back with Beth now and you two could come get me when Jim comes to pick us up.”

“
Nee!
I mean, that would not be a
gut
idea. Frannie likes to give her guests privacy. She would be mighty upset if she discovered that I was gossiping about Mrs. Jones.”

“Mrs. Jones is her name?” Evelyn asked.

“
Jah
,” she replied recklessly. In for a penny, in for a pound.

“Well, Beth, I suppose that you must stay.
Got
must have had a reason for you to be with this Mrs. Jones over Christmas. But if you do let her stay, you'll be alone for Christmas. I had best stay here,” her mother said.

Evelyn frowned. “Oh, Patience. We would certainly miss you.”

“
Nee!
You mustn't stay here,” Beth said quickly. Seeing the ladies' looks of shock, Beth said, “I mean, I want you to go to Charm, Mamm. There's no reason for you to be alone in this house over Christmas.” She didn't dare say anything more specific. Not a day passed that her mother didn't mention how much she missed Beth's father.

Funny how their family hadn't seemed too small when it was three of them. Now that there were only two? Some days, it felt as if they were two lonely people simply passing time.

“But what about you, dear?”

She thought quickly. “Well, Mrs. Jones is going to keep me mighty busy. You know what? I'll go visit everyone after Christmas. It won't be for the holiday, but things will be calmer. We can have a nice relaxing visit.”

Jo and Evie looked at her mother and then shrugged. “If you think that is best, Beth. Of course, we would love to have you visit any day of the year.”

“That's settled then. I'll look forward to visiting in January.” She turned to her mother. “Mamm, would you like me to pack your suitcase?”

“Don't worry about that, Beth,” Evelyn said. “We'll take care of your mother.”

“I'm going to go get some of my things then. I don't want to leave my guest alone too long.”

“She will notice you missing?”

“There's always a chance that she will,” Beth said before trotting off to her room. She was afraid to say anything else for fear of inventing even more lies!

But as she walked back to the Yellow Bird a little less than an hour later, Beth had to admit to herself that she wasn't only anxious to get back to her job.

She was anxious to get back to Chris.

So much so, she almost walked right past the black Suburban with the dark windows parked on the side of the street without noticing it.

Jacob wondered if his wife would never stop laughing. “It ain't that funny,” Jacob protested as Deborah, Walker, and Lydia all exchanged amused glances. “It really isn't.”

The four of them had decided to go to Mindy's for dinner and had ended up lingering over slices of pie. First, Walker had shared several stories about life on his grandfather's farm. Then Lydia had filled them in on her family's news. Then, eventually, the conversation had turned to Schrock's Variety Store.

That was when Jacob had made the error of mentioning that he'd been giving Mose's idea of selling pets some thought. Which the other three thought was amusing. Mighty amusing.

It had obviously been a mistake to bring it up. “I don't see what is so funny,” he protested. “I really do want to hear your opinions.”

“It's funny because ever since I've known you, you've hated selling pets,” Walker said.

“
Hate
is a pretty strong word for how I felt,” he mumbled, feeling more embarrassed about his past behavior with each new comment.

“You certainly haven't liked them!” Lydia said, her pretty face flushed with amusement. “All you've ever done is complain about their noisiness.”

“And their messes,” Deborah pointed out.

“And fetching their food.”

“You didn't even like the Dutch bunnies, and they were the cutest creatures ever,” Lydia added.

Jacob winced. The Dutch baby bunnies had been cute. Color-blocked in black and white, they were soft and shy. They were so small, you could hold them in one hand. They had been the gentlest of animals, too. But his father hadn't been able to make a proper hutch to save his soul.

Because of that, Jacob had been constantly on a rabbit hunt around the shop. “I liked those rabbits. I just didn't like picking up their droppings. Or chasing them.”

On his right, his bride kept chuckling. “Oh, Jacob,” she gasped when she came up for air.

“What do you think, Deborah?”

“How about you tell me what brought this on, first.”

“I was talking with Mose earlier today and he mentioned how quiet the shop was. I started thinking that he probably had a point about that.”

“Your father did keep things lively,” Walker said. “And I do have to say that folks did often stop by to see what animals your
daed
had gotten a hold of.” Sobering, he added, “Everyone knew how much your
daed
enjoyed those animals, Jacob. That was part of the charm of your father keeping the pets.”

“He was fond of them,” Jacob allowed with a reluctant smile.

“
Nee,
he loved having animals in the store,” Walker corrected.

“Remember the guinea pigs? He really liked those guinea pigs,” Deborah teased.

“I remember the parrot Mr. Schrock had two years ago,” Walker added. “He was a good bird, for sure. That parrot could mimic the customers like nobody's business.”

“I never thought I'd see the day when we sold that parrot. He loved to make fun of my mother.” Jacob shook his head. “Gosh, what was his name? I can't believe it's slipped my mind.”