The next morning Vernon showed up for work, his eyes bleary. He hadn’t slept a wink last night. After Joel left, Grace ran upstairs to her room. She didn’t come down for supper, and Vernon wasn’t going to force her to. By now she must know what he and Joel had talked about, although he was sure Joel must have embellished the story to make himself look good. Even as he’d confronted him, the boy didn’t look like he really remembered what happened. Then when he did, he turned sickly pale.
Vernon hadn’t expected that. He also hadn’t expected the feeling of guilt overwhelming him now. But what did he have to feel guilty about? He wasn’t in the wrong. Joel had ruined his business. True, the roofing company he worked for was also successful, and his boss was fair and paid well, but he’d rather be working in the woods than on hot slippery rooftops. But he had accepted that disappointment a long time ago, when he realized he’d have to find other work to support his family. He’d even forgiven Joel. At least, he thought he had, until he saw the boy sitting at his kitchen table.
He removed his hat and rubbed his forehead. Grace came down for breakfast, but she didn’t eat much, and the usual chatter of an all-female household was nonexistent. His little girl’s heart was breaking. He could see that. But sometimes a person had to go through pain to learn the truth about people. He’d found that out firsthand.
The job they were starting today was for a commercial building, so it would take at least a week to get it done. They were also short one worker, a guy who had been injured two weeks ago when he fell off the top rung of the ladder he was climbing to get to the roof. He’d be okay, but he couldn’t work with a broken leg. The rest of the crew would have to pick up the slack, and even with them working faster, it would still take a little longer to complete the job.
He had just finished strapping his tool belt around his waist when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Thinking it was Mahlon, the youngest member of their group, who always had a million questions, he was buckling his belt when he turned around.
“Not sure how long this job is going to take,” he said before looking up. He secured the belt and lifted his head. “I’m praying we have gut weather—” His eyes widened. Not again. Would this kid ever leave him alone?
“Vernon.” Joel nodded at him, then started strapping on his own tool belt. A well-worn one, from what Vernon could tell.
“What are you doing here?”
“Reporting for work.” He grinned and adjusted his straw hat.
“Here?”
Joel nodded. “I’m taking Timothy’s place until he can get back on his feet.”
Vernon gaped. That couldn’t be right. “When . . . How . . .”
“I see you’ve met our substitute.” Brian Dawson, the owner of the company, always came by new jobs on the first day. “Called me out of the blue last night and said he could fill in for Timothy. Also said he knew you, and you’d vouch for him. That was gut enough for me.”
Joel was still smiling, but Vernon caught the trepidation in his eyes. This boy had more nerve than Vernon had expected. He thought about telling his boss he would never vouch for Joel, but he held his tongue. He wasn’t going to bring his boss, and an English man to boot, into his private business.
“Everything looks set for the job,” Brian said. He pulled down the brim of his baseball cap, the roofing company logo emblazoned on the front. “We’ll be done ahead of schedule thanks to the addition of Joel.” He clapped Joel on the shoulder. “Be careful. I tell that to all my men. Roofing can be a dangerous business.”
Joel nodded, and Brian walked away. Vernon moved to step in front of Joel. “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull . . . ,” he said in a low voice.
“I’m not trying to pull anything.” Joel lifted his chin. “I’m here to prove myself to you. I am trustworthy. I’m also sorry for what happened years ago. If I’d known that yer business was riding on that bid, I wouldn’t have told mei uncle about it.”
“You had nee business eavesdropping in the first place.”
“I know. I was wrong.” He glanced around the worksite, then looked back at Vernon. “You want the best for Grace. We both do. I love her, and I realize that I have a lot to do to get back in your gut stead. I’m willing to do anything to prove it. I figure since you won’t speak to me and you won’t allow me near your property or yer dochder, I’ll have to do that proving here.”
Several men were already on the roof. Vernon couldn’t waste any more time, but that didn’t mean he was happy Joel was here. “Keep yer distance,” he said.
“I will.” They started for the building.
“Have you ever done any roofing?” Vernon said, unable to resist asking the question. He didn’t like the idea of a complete novice twenty feet off the ground. It wasn’t safe for the rest of the crew—or for Joel.
“Ya. Barns, a few houses, and I helped expand our current building in Holmes—”
The reminder drove a spike into Vernon, and from Joel’s expression he could see the young man knew he’d made a mistake. Joel turned and hurried to the building.
Vernon put his hand on his hammer. This was just another job. He didn’t have to pay any attention to Joel. He would do his work, keep his nose to the grindstone like he always did. Joel could try to get back in his good graces all he wanted to—it would never happen. He would never let him marry his daughter.
Joel shimmied up the ladder, not looking back at Vernon. He’d stuck his foot in his mouth by bringing up the business in Holmes. Not a great start. But he was bound to make a mistake with his stomach tied up in knots. He tried to present himself as calm and collected, but inside he was a bundle of nerves. That seemed to be his usual state lately. He’d certainly been nervous when he told his uncle last night that he wanted to take a leave of absence from their business.
“Why?” Uncle Abner had said, setting down the newspaper he was reading.
“I’d like to try mei hand at something else.” An untruth, because he hated roofing. He had done it before, several times, because he was good with his hands. But being up on a hot roof, bent over, always making sure not to slip or have another kind of accident before the job was done—that was not something he enjoyed. But he would do anything to prove himself to Vernon, including getting up on a roof again. Not only did he owe it to the man, but he owed it to Grace too.
She’d been upset when he told her what had happened between him and her father years ago. And he’d told her everything, not wanting to keep anything from her, even though the whole situation made him look bad. She forgave him right away, understanding that he’d made a foolish mistake.
“I’ve been so worried about Daed. I’m just glad to know what made him so angry,” she’d said, taking his hand.
“Turns out it’s definitely me.”
She squeezed his fingers, then kissed his cheek. “You’re not that young mann anymore,” she said softly. “Today, you’re the mann I love. I know you’ll make everything right in the end.”
He’d left her house feeling both boosted and apprehensive. Grace had proven once again that she was an amazing woman, one worth fighting for. Now he had to figure out what to do next. By the time he pulled into his uncle’s driveway, the idea of trying to join the roofing crew came to him.
“But our business is doing well,” Uncle Abner said. “Yer doing well. I couldn’t ask for a better employee, and nephew.” Despite the kind words, he narrowed his eyes behind his silver-rimmed glasses. Then he lifted his paper in front of his face. “Nee need to upset the apple cart.”
“Too late,” Joel muttered. He’d already upset a few of them in the span of two days.
The paper came down again. “What are you talking about?”
Joel explained the entire situation to his uncle, including his part in Vernon’s business failing. “I want to marry Grace. The only way her vatter will agree is if I prove he can trust me. I called Dawson’s Roofing Company where Vernon works, and they happen to have an injured man they need to replace for the time being.”
“You did that without talking to me?”
“I wanted to make sure the opportunity was available.”
His uncle shook his head. “I can’t believe Vernon’s blaming you for what happened to his business years ago. That’s all water under the bridge now.”
“He blames me because I am at fault.” When his uncle started to say something, Joel interrupted him. “Please,” he said. “Let me have the time off for a couple of weeks. Hopefully that will be enough time to prove myself. Then I’ll come back to work for you.”
His uncle scowled. “It doesn’t bother you that yer leaving me in a lurch?”
Joel held out his hands, palms up. “I realize that. And ya, it bothers me. But what else can I do? I have to make this right, and not just because of Grace.”
His uncle’s eyes narrowed again, and Joel prepared himself for the answer he didn’t want to hear. But he would quit his lumberjack job if he had to. He kept his gaze steady as his uncle continued to stare at him, his expression impassive.
Finally, his uncle nodded. “You’ve never asked me for much, Joel. And you are one of the reasons we’ve been thriving all these years. Not the only reason, of course.” He brought the paper back up again. “Two weeks,” he said. “Not an hour more.”
Joel had been jubilant after Uncle Abner’s agreement, but now that he was up on the roof, getting ready to do the work he hated, he wondered if he’d made a huge mistake. How exactly was he going to prove himself to Vernon? He hadn’t thought that far. Vernon would see he was a good worker, but that wouldn’t exactly mean anything, since most all the Amish he knew were hard workers. But at least he was in close proximity to Grace’s father. That was a start. He’d figure out the rest later.
“Ow!” He yanked his hand from the roof and looked at his stinging thumb.
“Can’t even use a hammer right.”
Joel glanced over his shoulder. Vernon was several feet behind him but still within earshot. Joel pressed his thumb to his lips. He was not getting off to a great start.
That evening Grace hurried home from work. They weren’t busy and Patience said she would cover for her. Grace had been eager to leave. Her mind hadn’t been on her job anyway, but on Joel and her father. After hearing what had happened and why her father was angry, she wasn’t even thinking about her wedding anymore. She was just worried about her daed.
Joel told her he was going to fix things, and she trusted that he would. She was upset when he told her what he’d done to her father, and by extension, her family. But she also understood that it was a mistake. Joel didn’t have a devious bone in his body. She knew that. She trusted him with everything. She loved him.
And she loved her father.
She couldn’t believe he’d held on to his anger all these years. What about forgiveness? What about grace? Her father was a devout man who quietly lived his faith but was devoted to it. How could he violate one of the main tenets of his beliefs? Forgiveness wasn’t a choice. It was a requirement. And although it could be hard, it benefited everyone. Now because her father hadn’t forgiven Joel, their lives were in turmoil.
She went inside and found her mother in the kitchen starting supper. “Is Daed home?”
Mamm shook her head. “Not yet. He should be soon, though.”
“Oh.” She’d have to talk to him a little later then. She should have said something to him at breakfast, especially since she spent the previous evening in her room. But she couldn’t bring herself to broach the subject. All day she’d practiced what she would say, and now she’d have to wait longer to say it. “Do you need some help?”
“Nee. We’re having bacon and tomato sandwiches with the rest of that potato salad left over from Sunday. Charity made apple cinnamon cupcakes for dessert.”
Daed’s favorite. Seemed like everyone wanted to cheer him up.
“I’ll geh take care of the horses.” Daed usually did the barn chores after supper, but it wouldn’t hurt for her to help him out.
She’d just finished sweeping the barn floor when her father walked inside. “Looks pretty clean,” he said, still holding his lunch cooler in his hand. His gait was a little awkward as he walked toward her, reminding her how hard he worked. Sometimes he grimaced when he got up from the rocking chair, especially in colder weather. It was early fall and the weather was nice, but her father had obviously put in a hard day.
“I’ll take this for you.” She set aside the broom and took his lunchbox. “Mamm has supper ready.”
He looked at the cooler as she paused. “Trying to butter me up?”
The words were light, but his expression was weary. She shook her head. “Nee. I wouldn’t do that. I do want to talk to you, but it can wait until after supper.”
“About Joel, ya?”
She nodded and held the handle of the cooler with both hands.
Daed turned. “Ya. It can wait until after supper.”
Grace barely tasted the crisp bacon and fresh tomato as she ate her supper. The garden was still producing a few more tomatoes, and they tasted sweet and delicious. At least they usually did. Everything tasted like sawdust now. She’d been quiet during the meal, but the rest of the family was back to talking. Which eased her mind a little bit, but didn’t bring back her appetite.
“Grace.”
She looked up as her father pushed back from the table. He didn’t say anything else, and she followed him outside. It was a little cool, and she hugged her arms around her body.
“You said you wanted to talk.” He put his hands in the pockets of his pants. “I’m listening.”
She turned to him, and all her carefully planned dialogue went out the window. “Joel is sorry. Can’t you see that? Can’t you forgive him for one little mistake?”
Her father was silent for a moment. Then he said, “It wasn’t a little mistake.” He turned to her. “And I forgave him a long time ago.”
“You could have fooled me.” At his sharp look she said, “Sorry.”
He faced her, his expression relaxing. “Whether I forgive him or not doesn’t change what happened. It doesn’t make him trustworthy. And working with me on the roofing job—”
“Wait.” Her eyes widened. “He’s working with you?”
“You didn’t know?”
She shook her head. “Nee.” But excitement brewed within her. Joel was working with her father. That was perfect. He would see for himself what a great guy Joel was. Although she’d have to talk to him later and find out how he managed to get a job with the roofing company. But the fact that he did meant so much to her.
“He didn’t tell you? See, you can’t trust him.”
“Daed, I haven’t seen him since last night. Plus you said he couldn’t come over here anymore. He’s honoring your wishes.” She blew out a breath. “How can you get to know him when you keep putting roadblocks in his way?”
“I don’t want to get to know him.”
“Because if you do, then you’ll have to really forgive him. In your heart and soul. You haven’t been able to do that yet.” She bit her bottom lip. Had she gone too far with her accusations? She’d never spoken so directly to her father. Then again, never had so much been at stake.
Daed rubbed the back of his neck. “You must think you know me pretty well.”
“Daed, I—”
He held up his hand. “You might be right. Maybe I haven’t forgiven him completely.”
A little spark of hope ignited. “So yer going to give him a chance?”
Turning from her to face the backyard, he said, “I don’t know.”
Grace knew better than to push him. At least he was contemplating opening his heart and mind to Joel. And that was something, compared to the way he’d been yesterday. She went to him and put her hand on his arm. “Danki,” she said, her voice sounding thick. Then she went back in the house. She ran upstairs, got on her knees, and prayed for her father and Joel.