Roman was about to close up shop for the day and take Grace and the family to dinner, when John Peterson showed up.
“I was driving by and thought I’d stop in and see how things were going,” John said, leaning against the desk where Roman sat.
“I’m keeping busy enough. How ‘bout you?”
“Same here. Seems to be a lot more folks in the area who want quality furniture.”
Roman nodded. “How are things working out with Luke as your new apprentice? Is he coming to work on time and working steady?”
“So far he’s done okay, but I’m keeping an eye on him all the same.”
“I gave that young man plenty of chances, but he didn’t seem to care enough about his job to do as I asked.” Roman gritted his teeth. “I’m glad my daughter broke up with him, because to tell you the truth, I don’t trust that fellow.”
“Do you make a habit of firing your employees?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I just wondered if Luke was the first employee you’ve had to fire.”
Roman shrugged. “May have had to let a few others go over the years, but it was only because they wouldn’t listen to me and wanted to run things their own way.”
“Luke thinks you believe he had something to do with the break-ins you folks had awhile back.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised.” Roman shrugged as he ran his fingers through the back of his hair. “Martha found Luke’s hat outside in the dirt after that brick went through the kitchen window. Then Judith found his sunglasses not far from the clothesline that somebody cut.”
John’s dark eyebrows drew together. “That does make him seem guilty. Guess I’d better keep a closer watch on Luke. Sure wouldn’t want him tearing things up at my place.”
“As long as you don’t give him an ultimatum, he probably won’t bother your place. It wasn’t until I jumped him about being late a couple of times and docked his pay for being careless that things started happening.” Roman shook his head. “We’ve had a couple of incidents since Luke quit working for me, too. Makes me wonder if he might be trying to get even because I fired him.”
“I’ll be sure and let you know if I hear or see anything suspicious.”
Roman glanced at the clock on the wall, and realizing what time it was, he pushed his chair aside and stood. “Sorry to cut this visit short, but I need to head up to the house and get washed and changed. Today’s my oldest daughter’s birthday, and we’re taking her to dinner at Der Dutchman in Walnut Creek.”
John smiled and moved toward the door. “Don’t let me hold you up. Tell Grace I said happy birthday, and I hope you all have a pleasant evening.” Just as he got to the door, he glanced around the room and his forehead wrinkled. “I thought I’d heard that you’d hired your son-in-law to work for you.”
“That’s right. Cleon started working here a few weeks ago after he got home from a trip and discovered that all his bees, boxes, and supplies had been burned.”
“I heard about that, too. The fellow who told me said he thought it was probably done by some kids playing a prank.”
Roman nodded. “Could be.”
“So if Cleon’s working for you now, where is he?”
“Went to Pennsylvania to look at some items for his beekeeping business, which means I’m on my own for a few days.”
“He won’t be here for his wife’s birthday?”
“Nope, afraid not.”
The strange look on John’s face made Roman wish he hadn’t said anything. It was bad enough that Cleon wouldn’t be here for Grace’s birthday; he didn’t need John making something of it.
“Well, guess I’d better get going.” John lifted his hand in a wave. “See you around, Roman, and don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”
Grace wasn’t looking forward to her birthday dinner, but her folks had insisted on hiring a driver and taking the family to Der Dutchman. She didn’t want to disappoint them. Besides, a meal out with her family was better than sitting home alone with Anna. Grace would have spent the evening wishing Cleon could be with her and that their relationship was on track. If only there was something she could do to earn back his trust and his love.
As Grace sat in the backseat of Ray Larson’s van, she realized that at times she actually felt relieved that her husband wasn’t around, looking at her as if she were a terrible person and making her feel guilty for the secret she’d kept.
When Ray pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot, he turned to look at Grace’s father. “I’ve got some errands to run, so I’ll be back to get you folks in a couple of hours. Is that okay?”
Dad nodded. “You’re welcome to join us for supper if you like.”
“No, thanks. I’d better get my errands run, or I’ll have to answer to Donna.”
“Okay then,” Dad said as he and the rest of the family climbed out of the van.
Grace took Anna’s hand and followed her family inside the building. A long line of people waited for service. Anna and Martha busied themselves at the revolving rack near the checkout counter. It featured lots of postcards and books about the Amish, as well as some novels and a few children’s books. Several English people, who were obviously tourists, commented on how cute Anna was as she squatted down to look at the books.
Any other time, it probably wouldn’t have bothered Grace, but this evening her nerves were taut. She resisted the urge to tell everyone to quit staring at her daughter. Instead, she sat on a bench with her hands clenched in her lap, hoping they would soon have a table.
After thirty minutes of waiting, they were ushered into the dining room. Soon after they’d placed their orders and the waitress had brought beverages and rolls, Anna announced that she needed to use the restroom.
“Want me to take her?” Martha asked, looking over at Grace.
“I’ll do it.” Grace pushed her chair aside and reached for Anna’s hand.
When they stepped out of the ladies’ restroom a short time later, Grace collided with a man. Her heart thumped erratically when she realized it was Gary.
“Well, now, isn’t this a pleasant surprise?” he drawled. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Gracie. Where have you been keeping yourself?”
Grace opened her mouth to respond, but before she could get a word out, Anna looked up at Gary and announced that today was her mama’s birthday. “We’re having supper to celebrate,” she added.
A look of recognition registered on his face as he stared at Anna. “Oh, that’s right—I remember you. Aren’t you the little girl I saw at the Hostettlers’ house a while back?”
Anna nodded. “I’m Anna, and this is my mamm.”
Grace squeezed her daughter’s hand. “Haven’t I told you not to talk to strangers?”
“Come now, Gracie. I’m hardly a stranger—at least not to you.” Gary offered Grace a lopsided smile, and it fueled her anger.
“I want you to go back to the table now,” she said, giving Anna a nudge in that direction.
“What about you? Aren’t you comin’, too?”
“I … uh … need to use the ladies’ room, but I’ll be there as soon as I’m done.”
“You didn’t have to go before.”
Grace gave Anna another nudge. “Go on now. Tell Grandpa and Grandma I’ll be there soon.”
Gary winked at Anna, and she gave him a quick smile, then darted off toward the dining room.
Grace turned back to face Gary. “How much longer will you be staying in Holmes County?”
He rubbed his chin and looked at her in a most disconcerting way. “Well, now, that all depends.”
“On what?”
“On how many more interesting stories I find here.”
“Are you sure you’re not hanging around just to make trouble?”
He chuckled. “You’re really direct and to the point these days, aren’t you, Gracie? Not like the timid young woman I used to date, that’s for sure. Must be those years you spent living among the English that made you so bold.”
She grimaced. This man certainly had a way of getting under her skin.
He folded his arms and leaned against the wall. “I remember spending one of your birthdays with you, Gracie. Let’s see now—which one was that?”
She glanced back at the table to be sure Anna had joined her family again.
“Say, here’s an idea. Why don’t I join your little birthday party? While I’m there, maybe I can get someone in your family to open up and tell me more about the vandalism at your place. I really need to get that story wrapped up, you know.”
“You wouldn’t dare follow me back to the table.”
“Wanna bet?”
He started in that direction, but she reached out and touched his arm. “What information do you want that you don’t already have?”
His eyebrows jiggled up and down. “I’d like to know why you left me for that simpleton, Wade Davis.”
“Why would you talk about Wade like that? I thought he was your friend.”
“He was until he snatched you away.” Gary frowned. “What I’d really like to know is how come you gave up the English way of life for this.” He motioned to her plain dress and eyed her up and down.
“I chose to return to my Amish roots after Wade died because I knew that’s where I really belonged. I should never have left home in the first place.”
He motioned toward the dining room. “I only see one man sitting at your table. Where’s that new husband of yours?”
Grace could hardly swallow around the lump in her throat. She would never admit to Gary that her husband cared more about starting up his beekeeping business than celebrating her birthday. “Not that it’s any of your concern, but my husband is away on business right now. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my family.”
“Sure, Gracie. Don’t let me stop you.” He snickered. “Oh, and happy birthday.”
“What’s wrong?” Ruth asked, taking Grace’s hand when she returned to the table. “Are you having a wave of nausea? Is that why you went back to the restroom?”
Grace shook her head. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
Grace gave a quick nod.
“Anna said you were talking to a man in the hallway outside the restroom,” Mom put in. “Was it someone we know?”
Grace’s face paled as she shook her head. “Can’t we talk about this later?”
Their father nodded. “Grace is right. Let’s pray so we can eat.”
All heads bowed for silent prayer, and then everyone dug in. Everyone but Grace. She toyed with the piece of chicken on her plate.
“For one who was supposed to be hungry, you’re sure not eating much,” Dad said, reaching for another biscuit from the basket in the center of the table. “Are you feeling bad because Cleon couldn’t be here to help celebrate your birthday?”
Grace shrugged. “It would have been nice, but he’s got important business to tend to.”
“It’ll be good when he gets his bee boxes set up again,” Mom put in from across the table. “Nice for us to have some fresh honey again, too.”
“That’s for sure.” Dad lifted a drumstick off his plate and had just taken a bite, when he scrunched up his nose and released a moan.
“What’s wrong, Roman?” Mom’s eyebrows furrowed, and she reached over to touch his arm.
He opened his mouth, stuck two fingers inside, and withdrew a porcelain crown.
“Oh, no.” Mom clicked her tongue noisily. “Looks like you’ll be making a trip to the dentist tomorrow morning.”
“No, I won’t,” he said with a shake of his head. “You know how much I hate going to the dentist.”
“But, Dad, you can’t go around with the nub of your tooth exposed.” Ruth grimaced. “You’ll need to get that crown cemented on right away.”
“I’ve got some epoxy cement in my shop. Maybe I’ll use that.”
Martha’s mouth dropped open, and she looked at their father as if he’d taken leave of his senses. “You wouldn’t.”
He nodded. “Sure would. It’ll save me a chunk of money.”
Ruth couldn’t believe how stubborn her father could be at times. She glanced over at Grace, who had been unusually quiet all evening. Grace stared at her half-eaten food as if she didn’t care that Dad had lost a crown. Something was going on with Grace, and Ruth hoped it wasn’t anything serious.