It’s so good to see you.” As soon as Mandy entered the bed-and-breakfast, Ellen gave her a welcoming hug. “It seems like you’ve been gone forever.”
“I know.” Mandy swallowed hard, hoping tears wouldn’t let loose and she’d be unable to stop crying. Being back in Middlebury, in the home she and Ken had bought soon after their marriage, was bittersweet. As much as she loved Hawaii, it was hard to think about leaving her family and friends once again.
The prospect of selling the B&B was also difficult. Their lovely home had been on the market for two weeks, and so far they’d received no offers. At least with Ellen running things, the business would stay open for guests while it was for sale. Mandy hoped when a buyer came along that the people would continue using the home as a bed-and-breakfast.
“How long can you stay before you have to go back to Hawaii?” Ellen asked, following Mandy into the living room, after she’d taken off her coat.
“My return flight is in two weeks, so that should give me enough time to go through everything, get it boxed up, and sent off to Kauai.” Mandy blew out a noisy breath. “It could be a while before either Ken or I will be able to come back for another visit, so I’ll want to spend some time with my family and other friends while I’m here too.” She moved close to the fireplace, rubbing her hands. “Brr … I’ve been enjoying the warmth of Hawaii long enough to forget how cold it can be here this time of the year.”
Ellen nodded. “I assume you’ve already seen your folks?”
“Oh, yes. They hired a driver and met me at the airport in South Bend.” Yawning, Mandy took a seat on the couch, and Ellen joined her. “Sorry. I’m kind of tired.”
“Well, you did just fly over the ocean and several states. You’ll have to get used to the time change too.”
“You’re right about that. It took me a week to adapt to Hawaii time, and now I’m back here and will need to readjust.” Mandy yawned again, although she wasn’t sure it was only the trip making her tired. All the extra work she’d been doing to help Ken and his mother was enough to exhaust anyone. They all worked on the farm from sunup to sunset. And now she had much to do here, which would also be tiring.
Mandy looked around. “The place looks nice. You’re doing a great job keeping it spotless.”
“You know me. I like to make sure everything is in its place.” Ellen smiled.
“You’ve always been more organized than me.” Mandy lifted her hands and let them fall. “I’m sorry to put you through all this, Ellen. Having the Realtor come by and having to make sure everything looks good so she can show the B&B to potential buyers can’t be easy.”
“It’s okay. I’m doing it for my best friend, so don’t give it another thought.” Ellen gave Mandy another hug. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“Same here.”
“Sadie suggested the two of us plan another cruise to Hawaii so we can visit you on Kauai.” Ellen stared down at her hands, resting in her lap. “I’m not sure when that would be, though. She has her job at the hardware store, and I’m working here right now, so it would be hard for either of us to take a trip anytime soon.”
“I understand.” Mandy reached over and clasped Ellen’s hand. “You’re my best friend, and no matter how many miles separate us, I’ll never forget you. We must keep in touch through letters and phone calls. It will help us know how to pray for each other.”
“If I’m still working here, or someplace else where there’s a computer, we could email each other.”
“True. I hadn’t thought of that. Now aren’t you glad Ken taught us both some basic computer skills?”
“Jah, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get really good at it. I’m still leery of pushing a wrong key.” Ellen glanced toward the window. “Did you hear a horse whinny outside?”
Mandy tipped her head. “I think so.”
Ezra could almost hear his knees knock together as he stood on the front porch of the Pleasant View Bed-and-Breakfast. Whenever he was in the same room with Ellen, he felt like a schoolboy with a crush on the teacher. Only Ellen wasn’t his teacher. She was his boss’s daughter, and a beautiful woman two years older than him. Every time he looked at her pretty blue eyes or shiny golden blond hair peeking out from under her kapp, his mouth went dry. Ezra was certain Ellen didn’t realize his interest in her went beyond friendship, nor did Ellen’s father. Ezra certainly would never have admitted it to anyone either. He’d be embarrassed if Ellen knew how he felt, and even more so if he asked to court her, and she turned him down.
He’d known Ellen since they were in school together, but because she was two years older, he’d never imagined them being anything but casual friends. It’s best I admire her from a distance and not let on for now, at least. If Ellen ever gives an indication of liking me, though, I might take the chance.
Ezra remembered how one day when they were youngsters playing in the schoolyard, he’d gotten a splinter in his thumb and Ellen had removed it. Back then, they saw each other in church, but other than school and church, they’d never made contact. When Ezra became older and saw Ellen at a young people’s event, he’d watch her and wish he had the nerve to talk to Ellen or ask her out. But he was too scared to approach the young woman and face rejection.
Pulling his shoulders back and drawing in a breath, Ezra knocked on the door. A few seconds later, Ellen answered.
He took a step to one side, and then two back, bumping the porch railing. “Oops.” His cheeks warmed. She must think I’m a klutz.
“Guder owed.” Ellen smiled. “What brings you by here this evening, Ezra?”
He lifted the paper sack in his hand. “I ate supper at your folks’ house, and since your mamm knew I’d be comin’ this way to go home, she asked if I’d stop in and give you this.” Ezra handed her the sack.
“Let me guess. Mom made something for dinner with red sauce in it.” Ellen looked at Ezra with a sly grin.
“Why, yes. Earlier, when your mamm invited me to stay for dinner, she asked what I liked.” Ezra’s cheeks grew warm. “I told her stuffed peppers was one of my favorites, but how did you know there was red sauce?”
“Because you have a smudge of it on your face.” Ellen pointed to her own face to show him where it was on his.
“Oh, oh.” Ezra licked a finger and went over the spot. “Did I get it?”
“Jah, good enough. And don’t worry about it,” Ellen added. “When that happens to my daed, he always says, ‘I’m saving it for later.’ Now let’s see what Mom has for me.”
Ezra watched Ellen peek into the bag while he absentmindedly rubbed his face again.
“Yum. Mom sent me some chocolate whoopie pies. These will be nice to share with Mandy.”
“Will you be sending them to her in Hawaii?”
Ellen shook her head. “Mandy’s here now. She came back to get her and Ken’s personal things, because they’re staying in Hawaii for good.”
“Your daed mentioned that.” Ezra turned sideways and gestured to the FOR SALE sign out front. “What are you gonna do once this place is sold?”
Ellen shrugged. “I’m not sure. It all depends on who buys it and whether they want me to continue working here.”
Since Ellen hadn’t invited him inside, Ezra figured it was time to go. “Guess I’ll be seein’ you, Ellen. Maybe at the next young people’s singing.”
She’d barely said goodbye, when Ezra leaped off the porch and raced for his carriage. “If Ellen had any interest in me at all, she’d have invited me in to taste one of those whoopie pies,” he mumbled, releasing his horse from the hitching rail. Most B&Bs in the area didn’t have a designated place for visiting horse and buggies, but this one did, which made it nice for Ezra or any other Amish person who might come by.
As Ezra climbed into his buggy and headed for home, he had a little talk with himself. It wasn’t the whoopie pies he wanted, for Nora Lambright had served some of those after supper this evening. The truth was, he’d hoped Ellen might invite him in so he could spend a little more time with her. Of course, Ezra reminded himself, I’d have probably tripped over my own tongue trying to make a sensible conversation.
He snapped the reins. “Giddy-up there, Harley. Let’s get home. My mamm’s probably wonderin’ why I missed supper tonight.”
As Ezra headed down the road, he grimaced. I can’t believe I showed up with red sauce on my face. How embarrassing.
“Who was at the door?” Mandy asked when Ellen returned to the living room.
“It was Ezra Bontrager. He had supper at my folks’ place this evening, and my mamm asked him to drop off some chocolate whoopie pies for me on his way home.” Ellen held up the paper sack. “In a little while, let’s each have one with a cup of lavender tea.” Ellen placed the sack on the coffee table and took a seat beside Mandy again.
“Isn’t Ezra good friends with Sadie’s brother?” Mandy asked.
“Jah, he and Saul have been hanging out with each other since eighth grade. And Ezra still works at my daed’s shoe store.”
Mandy nodded. “I’ve seen him there when I’ve gone to buy shoes. He’s kind of quiet, but always polite.” She pulled a throw pillow away from her back and scooched into the couch. “How old is Ezra anyway?”
“He’s a couple years younger than the both of us, remember?”
“That’s right … I’m surprised he isn’t courting someone by now. Ezra isn’t too hard to look at, and he’s earning himself a fair living.” Mandy turned toward Ellen. “He could make a nice young woman a good catch.”
“So what do you think you’ll go through first?” Ellen quickly changed the subject.
“I haven’t decided yet. I’ll make some decisions in the morning.” Mandy pointed to the sack of whoopie pies. “I’m ready for some of those now. Should I go to the kitchen and fix us some tea?”
“No, that’s okay. Please stay here and rest. I’ll be back soon with the tea and some napkins.” Ellen hurried from the room.
Mandy leaned against the sofa cushions and closed her eyes. Even though it’d be hard to leave this home again, her place was in Hawaii with Ken. For the next two weeks, she would concentrate on packing up all their belongings, knowing after that, she’d return to her loving husband.