Tanner glared at them, his blaze of anger fizzling out.
Eva gave him a firm gaze. “I’m sorry I took Becky to get ice cream without your permission, and that we discussed such personal things. I enjoyed working here, but you don’t have to pay me for my short time. That’s silly. I really did enjoy working with Martha and helping your customers. I’ll find work somewhere else.”
Martha let out a huff. “And yet another one scared and left.”
Eva’s eyes were so wide with fear and disappointment, Tanner felt lower than dirt. “No one is going anywhere,” he said, his tone heavier than he’d planned. “You do work hard, and you deserve breaks. Next time, just tell me where you and Becky are going. I don’t let her wander around, not with the busy main road and so many Englisch and tourists about.”
Eva looked confused. “I’m not fired?”
Martha slapped a hand on her hip. “She’s not fired?”
Tanner shook his head. “You are not fired. You are a big help to Martha.”
“I am so thankful someone finally noticed that I do work hard, too,” Martha said with a mock frown. “And that one of my best workers is going to stay.” Glancing at Eva, she added, “I hope.”
“I know you go above and beyond,” Tanner explained. “And I also know that Eva stays busy, except for that ice cream break.” He tried to smile, but his jaw muscles ached from gritting his teeth. To lighten that, he added, “Next time, invite me to go with Becky and you for ice cream.”
Martha’s gasp of surprise echoed over the empty store. “Well, I never.”
“I have my moments,” Tanner said. “I was rude today and I am sorry for that. Now let’s get cleaned up and call it a day.”
Then he turned and hurried back to his workshop, sweat popping out down his backbone, his palms moist with it. He didn’t know which was worse, anger and bitterness, or grace and acceptance. Both made him extremely nervous.
Becky was up and drawing, her face twisted as she pressed her crayons against the drawing tablet he kept handy for her.
“What do you have there?” he asked, glancing at the colorful art.
“I drew Eva and me with ice cream,” his daughter explained, pointing to the stick figures of her and Eva, complete with aprons and kapps.
“That is gut likeness,” he said. Then he noticed another stick figure in the background. A man with an obvious frown, drawn with a straight line for lips. “And who might this be?”
Becky looked up and into his eyes, her expression torn between the truth and a sadness he couldn’t erase. “That’s you, Daed. I wish you weren’t sad all the time. I try to be the best daughter, but...are you sad because of me?”
Tanner’s heart dropped as he kneeled in front of his sweet child. “I am never sad because of you,” he tried to explain. “You are my sunshine and my joy, liebling.” Then he stood and lifted her into his arms. “Daeds get grumpy sometimes because we love so much, and we work so much. And we worry a lot.”
“Martha says to worry is to waste your mind. She told me to always keep gut thoughts in my head.” Then she gave Tanner an earnest stare. “Do you ever have gut thoughts in your head, Daed?”
Tanner smiled, but it felt awkward and bittersweet. “I have a great thought right now. Want to go to Yoder’s and get a burger?”
“Can we do that, really?”
“I don’t see why not. You have no sitter to cook for us tonight, so we’re on our own. And I’m hungry.”
“Me, too,” she said. “Daed, you aren’t sad anymore. You love hamburgers so much, ain’t so?”
“I do, but I love you the most, little one.” Tanner held her close and hugged her. “Never forget that my Becky Butterfly,” he whispered.
Then his precocious daughter said, “We might ought to invite Eva because she thinks you’re mad at her, too.”
How should he handle that request?
In the end, it had already been handled. When they checked out front, Martha was locking up and Eva had already left.
Tanner’s heart burned with regret in the same way Becky’s mood shifted for a minute or two. But soon, they were both laughing and holding hands as they walked toward Yoder’s, in the opposite direction of where Eva Miller was staying.
And yet, Tanner wished he could have invited Eva to supper with them. Then he decided it was best if he steered clear of her, the way he’d try to do all week. He’d have to be careful at work, and he’d watch out for Becky.
He couldn’t allow his daughter to get too close to anyone besides family.
It was for her own sake, he told himself even if he wondered over and over if protecting Becky this much was the right thing to do. But what other choice did he have? No one could ever find out the truth about Becky’s real father.
Eva was so tired when she got home, she almost didn’t eat. Or maybe her nerves were getting the better of her.
“We only have leftover tea sandwiches,” Ramona said as she laid the spread. “Egg salad and ham-and-turkey wraps. Will that do?”
“More than do,” Eva said as she sank down. “I have to admit standing on my feet for three hours every day has worn me out.”
“Then eat something, and I’ll make you a soothing herbal tea to help you sleep.”
Eva got up and washed her hands and face, her mind spinning with Tanner’s anger and then his apologies. “I do not understand men sometimes, Aenti.”
Ramona snorted while she placed the dainty leftovers on the pretty aqua-colored plates she used for every day. “Ach, vell, that is an age-old problem, I’m afraid. Men have their own way of doing things, even speaking. They can become very shy when they don’t want to face a problem. It wonders me how they ever manage to fall in love and get married.”
“And I am a problem, or it seems.” Eva got out forks and napkins. “This food is so gut, I hope I can get a bite or two in me.”
“Let’s take our plates out to the porch,” Ramona suggested. “I love to hear the ocean breeze rustling through the palm trees. That fresh air is good for the soul.”
Eva fixed a tray with their tea and plates, and Ramona carried it to the porch and placed it on a white table. They settled into the cushioned chairs and held their heads down for a silent prayer.
Eva prayed for her mamm back home, and she thanked Gott for allowing her to experience this beautiful world which was so different from anything she’d ever known. Then she asked the Lord to help her behave whenever she was around her boss. Oh, and please, Lord, help Tanner Dawson have a better perspective.
When she lifted her head, Ramona smiled over at her. “You had a lot to pray about, ain’t so?”
“I did,” Eva said. “I like it here. I’m glad I’m here to see the ocean and the palm trees and feel the warm wind on my face. I do feel better.”
“That could die down once you get into a routine,” Ramona replied, her eyes sad. “I had to make being a widow work for me so I could survive. I love holding my teas and I like baking, too. I earn a fair living here. But it’s so gut to have someone to share these leftovers with, Eva.”
Eva took Ramona’s hand. “Mamm and I should have checked on you more and for certain sure visited you a lot more.”
Ramona shook her head and took a sip of the tasty peach-chamomile tea. “Helen was never one for socializing. She prefers being by herself. We had to force her to the frolics and youth singings, and she paid no attention to rumspringa. Just found a boy to marry and made it happen.”
Eva munched on some grapes she’d placed on the tray at the last minute. “She never talks about Daed. I know she misses him, same as you miss Onkel Steven. But you talk about everything, and you welcome everyone into your house.”
“We are different, your mamm and me, but we both love you. Maybe since you are doing better and approve of my way of life, you can convince her to kumm for a visit.”
“I could, but I’m thinking this is my rumspringa,” Eva said with a grin. “Do I really want Mamm involved in that?”
Ramona laughed out loud. “Maybe not. Maybe later in the year, you can both return here, ja?”
“Wunderbar!”
Ramona finished off one of the tiny wraps and whispered, “But what would she think about you and Tanner?”
Surprised, Eva almost choked on her tea. “What about Tanner and me?”
“I think he’s smitten,” Ramona divulged, her eyes brimming with laughter. “He’s never acted like this before.”
“You mean, surly and brooding?” Eva shrugged. “I can’t imagine why I’d bother him in a gut way, not when he seems to dislike me completely, and I seem to irritate him at every turn.”
“That’s another thing about men,” Ramona explained. “Sometimes they say the opposite of what they are thinking or feeling. Sometimes, they get strong feelings, but they don’t want to feel what they are feeling. So they act all mannish and puff up like a rooster and let loose a few loud blusterous rants or crows to hide their fears and worries.”
Eva shook her head. “So you think Tanner is mad and scowls all the time because he likes me?”
“Could be,” Ramona replied, sitting primly in her chair. “Just might be.”
“I don’t think so,” Eva countered. “He came close to firing me because I didn’t tell him I was taking Becky for ice cream. We could see the ice cream shop from his store. She wasn’t in any danger. But mostly, he doesn’t trust me. And... Becky and I talked about personal things today. About her mamm and my daed. That is what made him mad.”
“He doesn’t trust anyone,” Ramona said, solemn now. “And he is overly protective as I’ve said. I don’t know the story, but something happened between him and Becky’s mamm. He was single and having a gut life and then Deborah showed up and soon they were married. Then she died so suddenly after Becky was born.”
“Are you saying—”
“—I’m not saying anything because I don’t know the truth, but he does and he’s not only protecting his dochder, but himself too, I believe. I just don’t know what happened.”
Eva wasn’t too innocent to understand the implications. Had Tanner wed Deborah out of love, or out of duty? Did he resent her death because she’d left him and their child alone?
“Do not judge him,” Ramona said. “I shouldn’t have mentioned this, but if you’re to work with him, you need to understand his dark moods. It’s been hard on him, raising Becky alone. And yet, he refuses to find another wife. And he’s had lots of opportunities from the single women who flock to his shop with food and flirtations. He’s immune to such.”
Her aenti stopped and then glanced over at Eva. “However, he is not immune to a fresh-faced, pretty young woman who challenges him at every turn and seems to be able to hold her own with him and his temper. If you survived his mood today, Eva, there is a good reason for it. Gott is in the details, and I’m praying you will be a gut influence on Tanner and Becky.”
“He did say to invite him next time I took Becky for ice cream,” Eva said, not really believing what her aenti was suggesting.
Tanner had no interest in Eva. He had to be ten years older than her. Their personalities didn’t match at all. He had a child. A beautiful little girl who needed a mother. Not a confused twenty-two-year old who’d skipped her rumspringa completely. Until now. Eva had been baptized, so technically she had to be done with running around.
But nothing said she couldn’t at least have fun and enjoy her time here. But with Tanner? Never. Just never.
Ramona’s eyes widened. Placing her teacup back on the table she said, “Well, I can tell you one thing for sure. He’s never said those words to any other woman. You might consider taking him up on that offer.”