“Deborah used to follow us everywhere when we were in school. One time I asked Perry why she followed him around so much. Perry grinned and said he wasn’t the one she was following.”
JACOB SCHROCK
In her arms, Jacob must have cried for a solid fifteen minutes, his shoulders shaking with the force of his emotion. Never had Deborah felt so needed or loved.
It had taken an incredible amount of trust for him to let down his guard enough to cry in front of her. Through it all, she’d patted his back and murmured reassurances. She didn’t know if what she’d said even registered, but she’d meant every word. Together, they would get through this. She was sure of it.
Now Jacob was looking at her like he wished he was anywhere else on earth. His cheeks were red and his gaze wary. “I can’t believe I did that. I’m so sorry.”
Deborah ached to tell him that she was glad he cried. But she knew there was no way a man like him was going to take that the way she’d meant it. “It’s okay,” she said instead.
“I bet you want to leave now.”
“Why on earth would I want to leave?”
“Because I’m so weak. Crying in front of you.”
“I’ve never thought you were stronger,” she said. “It takes a strong to man to admit when he’s weak.”
“You think?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever thought you were stronger than right at this minute,” she said honestly. So he wouldn’t get anymore embarrassed, she said, “How about I stay and work at the store with you?”
“There’s no reason for you to do that. It’s pretty dead here.”
“Maybe there’s another reason I’d want to stay. Maybe I’m not ready to be away from you yet.”
He blinked, then slowly smiled. “You know what? You’re pretty amazing, Deborah.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. I can’t think of another woman on earth who wouldn’t hate me if she were in your position.”
He was wrong, of course. What had happened to their families wasn’t their fault. Both of them were victims of their relatives’ poor judgment.
She didn’t think she was the only woman to realize that, either. Jacob was a good man. He wasn’t perfect by any means, but he had a good heart, and he worked hard, and loved his family, too.
He also just happened to be handsome. To her, he’d always been the most handsome man in the world.
Afraid to tell him that, she kept things easy and light. “It just shows you that I’m a mighty special person, Jacob. It’s time you realized that.”
He looked at her, really looked at her. His gaze warm and tender. “Maybe I have. Finally.”
“What have you realized?”
“I’ve realized that you’ve been in my life for so long for a reason,” he said quietly. “I think God put us together to give each other support. I think maybe we’re meant to be together. I don’t know if anyone else in the world could understand the pain we’re both going through.”
“So what’s going to happen to us? I hope we’ll stay together.”
Pressing his lips to her brow, he smiled softly. “I hope we will.” After a moment, he said, “Who knows what will happen with the store. I can’t imagine that my mom will want to keep running it. It wouldn’t be the same without my daed, anyway. But this store is as much a part of my life as it was a part of my parents’. It’s going to be really hard to see it closed.”
“Maybe you can keep it running.”
“Me?”
“Why is that so hard to imagine? You’ve been pretty much running the store for the past few years.”
Hope shone in his eyes . . . as well as a good bit of doubt. “Do you really think anyone is even going to want to shop here again?”
“Jacob, perhaps people aren’t staying away from you because they’re upset about what your father did. Maybe they’re trying to give you some space. I promise, things will turn around in time. They always do.”
He shrugged. “At this point, I don’t even know what to say or do. Or who to worry about.”
“Then let’s just worry about today. I think that’s enough. Let’s get through today and then we’ll worry about tomorrow tomorrow.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Sure it is.”
Running his fingertips over her cheek, he looked at her in wonder. “Have I told you that I don’t deserve you?”
“I promise, you do, Jacob. If I know anything, it’s that we deserve each other.” He’d just enfolded her in his arms when the door opened and a group of four ladies walked in.
They were English tourists, obviously in town for the day.
Stepping away from her, Jacob looked like he’d never been so happy to have customers. “May I help you?”
“We just wanted to come look around. People have told us that you can’t come to Crittenden County without stopping by Schrock’s Variety. My friend Jean said this place wasn’t to be missed.”
Deborah smiled warmly. “Is that so? And where are you from?”
“St. Louis,” another replied. Stepping forward in her olive green jogging suit, she added, “I’m so glad there’s not a crowd here. Tuesday’s going to be bad, you know.”
“Why Tuesday?”
“A busload from the retirement home is coming here on Tuesday.”
“A busload? Truly?”
The woman laughed. “I wouldn’t kid about that. Your store has become a destination, young man.”
As the ladies spread out and began shopping in earnest, Deborah covered her mouth with her hands. When she could contain her laughter, she dropped her hands and smiled at Jacob. “See? Everything’s going to be all right. We’ll get through today . . .”
“And then we’ll get through Tuesday.”
“And then before you know it, we’ll look forward to another day. It’s going to be okay, Jacob,” she said quietly. “It really is.”
“I think you’re right. And I think you’d best stay here by my side, too. These ladies look like trouble,” he joked when one of them came a little closer.
“Don’t worry, Jacob. I’m not going anywhere.” After all this time, during the worst of their sorrows . . . once again, they were able to find a sliver of light.