The more Anna worked with Joseph, the more she realized he was the Joe she’d always known. The fact that he was a thief still baffled her. He seemed so…so…normal. Honest. Not like someone who would take advantage of others. The one thing she’d loved about Joe in the first place was that he’d always been genuine. And respectful. And kind.
But he’s a thief, she reminded herself. You saw the money in his room, the missing quilts under his bed. Anna sighed. Why couldn’t she reconcile the two images of Joe? Probably because they were such a stark contrast. Ach, I hate this! She desired to believe the best about Joe. She wanted him to be good.
She glanced up from the cash register and studied Joe as he showed a customer one of the quilts. His eyes sparkled and his laugh carried across the store. She’d missed seeing that. She knew she would always remember with fondness the times she’d shared lunch with Joe and Harv in the alley. An ache crept across her heart once again. She’d lost two good friends.
The attractive young woman smiled back at Joseph and placed her hand on his forearm. Does he know her? Joe walked up to the sales counter with the woman and handed the quilt to Anna. Anna rang up the customer’s purchase and placed it into a large bag.
Joe glanced up at the clock, then back at Anna. “Please let Linda know I’m taking an early lunch. I should be back in an hour.” He smiled at the woman beside him and she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. “Ready?” he asked.
The woman nodded happily.
Anna’s mouth hung open as she watched Joseph walk out of the store. It seemed her body temperature had risen ten degrees in the space of sixty seconds. She never considered the possibility of Joe moving on to someone else. Jealousy coursed through her veins at the thought of him with another woman.
You are betrothed to Aaron, she reminded herself.
Why didn’t the thought bring the comfort she desired?
<><><>
“They make a nice couple, don’t you think?” Harv’s voice from behind caused Anna to jump.
Anna placed a hand over her heart in an attempt to still its beat. “Harv, what are you doing here? I’ve never seen you in the shop before.”
“Thought I’d check it out. Unless, of course, you don’t want me in here.”
Anna’s heart lurched. “Why would you think that, Harv?” Anna asked the question, but she already knew the answer. Because Anna hadn’t spoken to Harv or Joe, barring instances when they’d worked together and had to communicate, since they’d left her home.
“Seems to me you’d know the answer to that already. But I can clarify. You’ve changed, Miss Anna. The sweet woman who faithfully brought two lonely men lunch every day has been hiding somewhere. Either that or perhaps she doesn’t want to associate with the likes of two certain vagabonds. I wonder if she’s ashamed of us now.” Harvey’s honest eyes displayed his disappointment. “It’s not the lunches that we miss, though. The lunches were mighty good, mind you. But it’s that perty little angel with the sweet smile that brought ‘em every day. That’s what we’ve been missing. Have you seen her anywhere?”
Tears filled Anna’s eyes. Harvey was right. The kindness she’d shown toward them – and the love – had been conditional. Selfish even. The moment she found out something negative, that there was nothing in it for her, she’d turned her back on both of them. She’d sent them back out into the cold. It shamed her to think of what a poor example of Christ’s love she’d been.
“I’m sorry, Harv,” Anna said as tears spilled onto her cheeks.
Harvey motioned toward the door where Aaron just walked in. “I’ll go now,” he dismissed himself to the back room.
Anna turned and quickly brushed her tears away before turning to greet Aaron.
Aaron raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Ready to go?”
“I need to stay here until Joe gets back. He took an early lunch,” she explained.
Aaron frowned. “Right. Joe.” He nodded. “When will he be back?”
“About forty-five minutes.”
“Didn’t he know that you usually take lunch at twelve?” he asked incredulously.
“It’s okay, Aaron. I wanted –”
“No, it’s not okay. He deliberately left early because he knew I would be taking you out.” Aaron’s frustration was quite evident. “Does he not have any respect for other peoples’ time? Linda needs to fire him.”
“What? No. That’s not necessary.”
“Where’s your boss? I want to speak with her,” he demanded.
Anna placed her hand over his in an attempt to calm him. “Aaron, leave it alone. Please.” She reached up and turned his face toward hers.
Aaron released a slow breath when she caught his gaze. He nodded in compliance.
“Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight instead?” Anna presented her peace offering. “I have some snacks in the fridge. I’ll just eat my lunch in the break room today, okay?”
Reluctantly, Aaron agreed. He pecked her cheek, then grumbled when customers walked in the door. “I guess I better let you work. I’ll see you tonight.”
Anna moaned as she watched Aaron walk out the door, but quickly pasted on a happy face for the approaching customers.
<><><>
After saying a quick hello to Linda, Joseph walked into the break room to don the apron she liked the workers to wear. Whistling, he walked to the peg that held the apron, quite aware that Anna sat at the small table eating her lunch.
Harv walked in from the back room. “How was your lunch date?”
Joe’s eyes briefly moved to Anna’s and quickly back to Harv’s. He cleared his throat. “Uh…it was fine.”
“That sure was one perty woman ya had there,” Harv commented.
Joseph knew he was speaking this way to provoke Anna to jealousy, but he didn’t appreciate it. “Jah, uh. We can talk about it later.” Joe nodded toward Anna, his way of kindly telling Harvey to shut up.
The chair legs screeched across the floor as Anna moved to get up.
“Anna, you don’t have to leave,” Joe said, sending a disapproving look to Harvey.
Harvey finally got the message and went back to the storage room to give them privacy.
“No, it’s okay.” Anna continued to rise from her chair and moved to put the remainder of her food into the refrigerator.
“Please, Anna. Let’s talk,” Joe implored.
Anna worriedly glanced down at his hand on her arm. “I don’t think that’s a gut idea. I’m betrothed to Aaron now,” she reminded him.
“About the quilts that were in my room –”
“Joe, please.” Anna shook her head and briskly exited the room.
“Ugh!” Joe kicked his foot against the wall in frustration, then sunk into the chair Anna had just evacuated. What he felt like doing is picking it up and throwing it against the wall. But he was certain Linda would not appreciate that.