Return to Paradise. Barbara Cameron

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      “I like to help people.”

      “I know. You’re a good guy.”

      David didn’t feel like a good guy. What would Bill think if he knew why he’d left his Amish community? If he knew he’d walked away from a woman he’d promised to marry? He wouldn’t think he was so good then.

      But Bill, thankfully, had offered friendship without prying. It was Bill who was good, helping him find a job, a place to rent and now a vehicle when he needed one. He’d invited David to his church but David wasn’t ready for that yet. Maybe someday.

      “You doin’ okay?” Bill asked him.

      David gave him a quick glance. “Yeah. Why?”

      “You just seemed a little down when I got in the truck and you don’t act like you’re enjoying it. Are you sorry you didn’t buy a new one?”

      “No. I don’t want something I can’t afford. And this’ll do fine for work.”

      “You’re being smart. Let me tell you, I wish I hadn’t gotten into so much debt buying my first truck.” Bill tapped his fingers on his knee.

      David found himself driving down roads he’d only driven in a buggy. Now he was in an Englisch vehicle and needed to slow down and be careful of the Amish buggies. He passed the buggies of two former friends, but they didn’t recognize him in his truck and he didn’t wave. No point in getting his feelings hurt if they didn’t return his wave.

      “Hey, you okay?”

      He glanced at Bill. “Yeah, why?”

      “How’s it feel to be near the old neighborhood?”

      “Fine.”

      But it wasn’t. He hadn’t been anywhere near his former Amish community since he’d left. Not having transportation had kept him in town and kept him from the temptation of trying to see Lavina . . .

      “Hungry?” Bill broke into his thoughts. “There’s a great place for burgers about a mile ahead.”

      It was a little early for lunch but that was fine. He nodded. “Sure.”

      Lunch might be a great way to thank Bill for helping him buy the truck. The restaurant was closer to where he used to live than he liked, but there probably wouldn’t be anyone he knew having lunch in the middle of a workday. He parked and started to get out of the truck when a beep sounded. Startled, he looked back and found Bill grinning.

      “Gotta take the keys if you want to find the truck here when you come back.” Bill shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans as he watched David retrieve the keys from the ignition and lock the truck. “What happens when someone tries to steal your horse and buggy?”

      “No one does.”

      “Hmm.”

      They went inside and found a booth. David realized that Bill was watching him over the top of his menu. “What?”

      “You sure you’re okay here?”

      What a friend. “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry that someone’s going to come yell at me for leaving the community.”

      “We haven’t talked much about why you left,” Bill said as he set his menu down. “Any time you want to I’m here for you.”

      “Thanks.” He turned, ready to give his order to the server and saw a woman in Amish dress entering the restaurant.

      For months after he’d left the Amish community he’d thought he’d seen her so many times. But it always turned out to be another woman.

      Just like all those other times, the woman turned and he saw it wasn’t Lavina but another Amish woman.

      “David? You gonna order?”

      He blinked. “Oh, sorry. I’ll have the double cheeseburger and fries. Well done on the burger.”

      They ate their lunch, and David didn’t look toward the door again.

      ***

      “Beautiful work,” Leah said as she stroked the quilt. “Just like always.”

      Lavina smiled. “Danki. I hope your customer who ordered it is happy with it.”

      “I’m sure she will be.” Leah folded the quilt, put it in one of the Stitches in Time bags and set it under the counter. She went through the rest of the quilts Lavina and her sisters had sewn and approved all of them. “Let me write you a check.”

      The bell over the shop window rang. Several women walked in. Leah glanced around. All of her granddaughters were busy helping customers. “Excuse me for just a moment, Lavina.”

      “You don’t have to worry about the check right now,” Lavina said quickly.

      “I’ll be just a moment,” Leah assured her. “Why don’t you take a look at the new fabric we just got in?”

      New fabric. Lavina couldn’t resist. She had several bolts in her arms when Leah found her a few minutes later.

      “I see you found the new fabric,” Leah said with a smile. “Let me help you with those.” She took several of the bolts and carried them to the cutting table. “How are you doing, Lavina?”

      “Gut. Danki.” Lavina set her bolts down and stroked the material on one of them, avoiding Leah’s gaze. When Leah didn’t say anything, Lavina looked up.

      Leah’s faded blue eyes were kind. “Really, kind?”

      “You know it’s not easy to miss someone. Your first husband died.”

      “David isn’t dead,” she reminded Lavina.

      “He has to be to me. He’s gone, Leah. He’s been gone a year. He’s not coming back.”

      Leah sighed. “I don’t know what to say. But I know this: God has a plan for each of us, timing that doesn’t always please us, but he always knows what He’s doing.”

      “I know.”

      “Do you, kind? Can you find the faith to believe it?”

      “I’ve tried.”

      “Remember, ‘we live by faith, not by sight.’”

      “I know.” Lavina sighed.

      Leah unrolled a bolt of fabric. “So, how many yards?”

      “Four of each.”

      Working competently, Leah cut the fabric, folded it and pinned a slip of paper with the amount to charge on each. She walked to the counter, and Lavina followed her. “Oh, I almost forgot your check.” She pulled a checkbook from the drawer, made out the check, and handed it to Lavina.

      “Waneta was in СКАЧАТЬ