Chapter Six

Janie handed the Englisher her change and bag of souvenirs with a smile. “Thank you for shopping here. Please come back soon.”

“Thank you, sweetie,” the woman said, then turned for the door.

Eva rushed over, looked around the room, and then leaned in close to Janie. “I’ve been waiting until we had a lull in the store. It’s finally empty,” she said softly. “I need to tell you a secret.”

“What secret?” Janie asked, bewildered.

“I heard Bianca and Craig talking in the office this morning when I put my lunch in the refrigerator.” Eva craned her neck to look toward the back of the store where the staff offices were. “Bianca said the driver of the car and some of the passengers in the buggy accident are blaming Jonathan and they’re going to sue the store.”

Janie gasped. “No!”

“Shh,” Eva said, hissing her warning with a frown. “Keep your voice down. I don’t want Bianca or Craig to hear me. Craig said if they sue them, they could lose everything. Bianca said their lawyer told them they have to fire Jonathan now so they eliminate the liability or something.”

Janie’s stomach plummeted. “They’re going to fire Jonathan?”

Eva nodded solemnly. “That’s what Bianca said.”

“Ach no.” Janie gnawed her bottom lip as an urgency to tell Craig or Bianca what she’d witnessed the day of the accident took hold of her. Her father’s warning for Janie to steer clear of any of the business associated with the accident echoed through her mind. She had to obey her father, but how could she not tell Craig and Bianca what she saw when Jonathan was not only wrongfully accused but would now lose his job?

Worst of all, if they fire him, I’ll never see him again.

That was the final straw. Janie couldn’t stand by and watch Jonathan get fired when she held the key to his exoneration.

“Eva, I need to go talk to Craig. I have to tell him I know the accident wasn’t Jonathan’s fault.”

“You know for certain?” Eva asked, raising her eyebrows.

Janie nodded. “I witnessed it.”

“Go,” Eva said as a line of customers filed into the store. “I can handle things up here.”

“Danki,” Janie said.

She wove past the displays of wooden signs, magnets, and cloth dolls as she made her way to the back of the store. When she reached a door with a sign that read Employees Only, she pushed it open and entered the hallway leading to the storeroom, offices, and break room.

She approached Craig’s office and found him working on his computer. She knocked on the doorframe, and he looked up at her and smiled.

“Hi, Janie,” he said. “Is everything all right in the store?”

“Everything is fine.” She folded her hands over her apron. “May I speak with you for a moment?”

“Of course. Come in.” Craig gestured toward a chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”

“Thank you.” Janie sank into the chair.

“Well, what’s on your mind this fine Monday afternoon?” Craig leaned forward on his large wooden desk and steepled his fingers.

“I want to tell you something about the accident.” Although her father’s warning to not get involved still echoed through her mind, she pushed on. “I was eating lunch at a picnic table near the entrance to the parking lot, so I saw everything. That’s when I ran into the store to get you.”

Craig gasped, his eyes widening. “The police asked me for possible witnesses, and I completely forgot you were outside and might have seen the whole thing. Please tell me what you remember.”

Janie paused and breathed in a deep, shuddering breath.

“Take your time,” Craig said.

“The accident wasn’t Jonathan’s fault,” she said, her heart pounding with anxiety. “Not only did Jonathan signal before he turned into the parking lot, but the driver of the car was distracted.”

“What do you mean?” Craig asked.

“He was looking down at something in his hand instead of watching the road. I think he was texting on his cell phone.” An invisible load lifted from Janie’s shoulders as she said the words aloud.

“He was texting?” Craig asked, and she nodded. “Are you sure?”

“It looked like a cell phone. But the point is, he was looking down, not at the road to see Jonathan’s signal. He didn’t brake until he looked up to see he was about to crash into the buggy.” Her words came in a rush now. “Craig, it has bothered me that Jonathan was blamed when the accident wasn’t his fault. Jonathan wasn’t reckless. He did nothing to endanger those passengers. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you before. I was hoping someone else saw Jonathan signal too.”

Craig blew out a puff of air. “I’m glad you told me now.” He raked his hands through his dark hair. “You have no idea what a relief this is. Would you be willing to talk to a police officer if he needs more information?”

Janie nodded, but her father’s instructions to stay out of the investigation reverberated through her mind once again. She hoped she wouldn’t have to recount the story numerous times.

“Thank you, Janie,” Craig said. “I appreciate your help.”

“You’re welcome.” As Janie walked back into the store, she hoped she’d helped save Jonathan’s job.

Jonathan’s boots crunched on dry leaves as he led Bucky toward the stable. He hummed to himself as he contemplated the conversation he’d shared with Janie at lunch. He cherished every moment he spent with her and tried not to think about how November was just around the corner.

“Jonathan!” Craig called as he ambled from the store toward the stable. “I need to talk with you for a moment.”

“Okay.” Jonathan stopped the horse and began rubbing his neck while waiting for Craig. “You’re a gut bu, Bucky,” he murmured to the horse. “Ya, you are.”

“I’m glad I caught you before you left for the day,” Craig said as he walked over to him.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yes.” Craig smiled. “In fact, I have fantastic news. The driver of the car admitted fault.”

“What?” Jonathan tried to process what Craig had said. “He admitted he caused the accident?”

“That’s right.” Craig folded his arms across his chest. “I just spoke to my lawyer, and the driver admitted he was distracted because he was texting his girlfriend. You’re off the hook, and you can return to giving buggy rides tomorrow if you want. You’re completely cleared of any wrongdoing.”

Craig held out his hand, and Jonathan shook it as questions swirled through his mind.

“I’m still a little confused,” Jonathan said. “Why did he suddenly admit guilt? I thought he blamed me for the accident.”

“Janie came to see me on Monday. She not only saw you signal, but she insisted she witnessed the driver looking down at what seemed to be a cell phone, probably texting. I called my lawyer right away, and he contacted the driver’s lawyer. Apparently the driver was caught in a lie. He said he wasn’t texting, but the police looked into his cell phone records and found the evidence. He sent a text just as the car hit the buggy, and his lawyer told him he had to admit fault. You can thank Janie. She got the process started.”

“Janie did that for me?” Jonathan asked with surprise.

“That’s right. I’m not sure what made her tell me now, but it’s a good thing. Our lawyer said the driver and some passengers were going to sue, and he was pressuring us to fire you, Jonathan. And that’s the last thing we wanted to do.”

“So do you want to go back to giving tours tomorrow?” Craig asked, rubbing his hands together.

“I’d love to,” Jonathan said. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Craig patted Jonathan’s back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Jonathan silently marveled at the great news as he led Bucky into the stable. He was astonished Janie had gone out on a limb to make things right for him, and he hoped she wasn’t in any trouble for it. The Amish didn’t like to get involved in legal matters. Had she suspected he really might lose his job if she didn’t step forward? She was a truly special maedel. He had to thank her. But a question lingered in his mind—why hadn’t she told him she’d spoken to Craig on Monday?

Jonathan finished his chores in the stable and then stepped out into the parking lot. When he spotted Janie walking toward the white van idling nearby, he took off running.

“Janie!” he called. “Janie, wait!”

Janie spun toward him, her eyes wide with question. “Jonathan?”

“Janie,” he said, trying to catch his breath. “I need to talk to you.”

“What’s wrong?” Her eyes searched his.

“Nothing is wrong. In fact, everything is right.”

“I don’t understand.” Janie tipped her head in question, and she looked even more adorable than usual.

“I need to thank you,” he said, taking a step closer to her and breathing in the sweet apple scent of her shampoo. “I know you said you saw me signal, but danki for telling Craig not only that, but that the driver wasn’t paying attention.”

“Oh.” She waved off the words. “It wasn’t anything.”

“It was something,” he insisted. “Because of you, the driver admitted he caused the accident, and I’m cleared of any wrongdoing. And I got my driving job back.”

“Oh, that’s fantastic!” Janie gasped. “I’m so froh for you!” She dropped her tote bag and threw her arms around him, pulling him into a warm hug.

Stunned, Jonathan held her in his arms, and he felt something spark between them. A small flame ignited inside of him and then settled deep in his soul.

I love her.

The feeling was so intense that his pulse accelerated. Janie had somehow broken through the wall he’d built around his heart after Grace left him. He closed his eyes and longed to freeze this moment in time. He wanted to hold her close to him forever.

“Oh.” Janie suddenly stepped away from him. She smoothed her hands down her sweater, and her cheeks were the color of a red delicious apple. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to be so—”

“It’s fine.” Jonathan touched her cheek. “And danki again.”

Janie nodded, her cheeks still flaming. “Gern gschehne.” She glanced back at the van and then turned toward him again. “I need to go, but I will see you tomorrow.”

“Gut nacht,” he said.

“Gut nacht,” she repeated before climbing into the van.

As the van drove away, Jonathan said a silent prayer, thanking God for sending him to Bird-in-Hand to meet Janie.

“Jonathan was cleared of all wrongdoing today,” Janie finally blurted as she cut up her piece of pork later that evening. “The driver of the car admitted he was distracted and was texting when he hit the buggy.”

“Really?” Marie asked, her brown eyes wide with interest. “That’s wunderbaar.”

“Ya, I’m so froh for him,” Janie said, hoping her cheeks wouldn’t burn with embarrassment as she remembered how she’d hugged Jonathan earlier. What had possessed her to be so forward? She had never done anything that forward or impulsive before. Why did she feel so comfortable with him? It felt natural to hug him.

Janie suddenly realized her family was studying her. Had she missed part of the conversation?

“I asked you a question,” Dat said.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Janie did her best not to look guilty even though she knew her parents would have been furious if they’d seen her behavior earlier. “What did you say, Dat?”

“I asked you why the driver suddenly confessed,” Dat said, placing his glass of water on the table. “Did you hear what made him change his mind and tell the truth?”

With her father’s brown eyes watching her, Janie realized she’d shared too much. Now she had to admit she went against her parents’ wishes. But maybe her father would go easy on her when he realized she helped Jonathan keep his job.

“Janie?” Dat’s voice was laced with irritation. “Why are you acting so strangely tonight? Are you not feeling well?”

“I’m fine,” Janie said softly, placing her fork and knife on her plate.

“Then what is it?” Dat demanded. “You’ve been distracted all evening.”

Janie took a deep breath. It was time for her to tell the truth. “I’m the reason the driver admitted the truth. I told Craig I saw the driver texting. Craig spoke to his lawyer, and then—”

“You disobeyed me?” Dat’s voice boomed throughout the kitchen.

Janie nodded as tears stung her eyes. “I did, but I only wanted to help Jonathan. I found out he was going to be fired because some of the passengers in the buggy and the driver were going to sue Craig—”

Dat’s face turned bright red as he wagged a finger at her. “I told you to stay out of it, Janie Lynn. The last thing I want is for you to be dragged into court as a witness. The Englishers love to sue each other, and it’s against our beliefs to get involved in that.” He fisted his hands. “You are not to see Jonathan any longer. I don’t want you to have any contact with him.”

“Why?” Janie asked. “This isn’t Jonathan’s fault. It was my choice to talk to Craig. Jonathan didn’t know anything about it.”

“I don’t care,” Dat continued, his voice full of anger. “You are not to see him at all. I don’t want you to eat lunch with him or talk to him. You don’t make logical decisions when he’s around. Steer clear of him. He’ll be back in Maryland in a month and then we can forget all about this mess.”

“But, Dat,” Janie began, her voice trembling with both grief and regret. “I care about him. I can’t pretend I don’t know him.”

“You can and you will,” Dat ordered. He turned his attention to his plate and speared a piece of his pork.

Janie looked at her mother for help, but Mamm merely shook her head and frowned. Janie knew her mother would never go against her father, but she’d hoped somehow her mother could help. Janie looked at Marie, who seemed nearly as upset as she was.

Janie trained her eyes on her plate and willed herself not to cry. She’d prayed she and Jonathan could make their relationship work, but in a matter of a few minutes, all her hopes and dreams had dissolved. All she had left was a hole in her heart.

Jonathan sipped his cup of coffee and looked across the table at his grandmother. “I still can’t believe Janie came forward for me,” he said after explaining what had happened that afternoon. “I’ve never known a maedel like her.”

Mammi gave him a knowing smile. “She’s special to you.”

“She is.” Jonathan took a deep breath. “I think I’m in love with her.”

Mammi patted his hand. “Oh, Jonathan, I’m so froh to hear you say that. I know Grace hurt you deeply.”

“Grace did,” Jonathan admitted as he cradled the warm cup in his hands. “But I don’t think I felt this way about Grace. It’s different this time. I’ve been thinking all evening that I want to stay here in Lancaster. I think I want to sell mei haus back in Maryland and move here. I’ll find a job and—”

“Oh, that’s wunderbaar!” Mammi clapped her hands. “We’d love to have you, right, Omar?”

“Absolutely,” Daadi said. “You can stay with us until you build a haus. You can get a job working for your onkel or one of your cousins.”

“That would be great.” Jonathan’s heart raced with the possibility of starting a new life in Pennsylvania, a new life with the beautiful Janie Lantz. He couldn’t wait to tell her.