CHAPTER
18

When they finally arrived at Gloria’s house, Leona was aware of the two cars parked in the driveway, as well as the gleam of the outside porch light. Gloria insisted on carrying Leona’s luggage up the driveway for her, and Leona could hear what turned out to be a TV as they entered by way of the front door. Not around to the back?

“Come in, come in,” Jeannie Gingerich said, rising from the sectional and motioning for one of Gloria’s younger brothers—James, it looked like—to turn down the TV. She came to the front door to greet Leona, reaching to hug her. Leona found herself momentarily comforted by the woman’s familiar scent, so at odds with her changed appearance. Like coming home, she thought, torn between delight and sadness.

“I hope you stopped for supper somewhere,” Jeannie said.

“We ate on the run, anxious to get here,” Gloria said and excused herself to take Leona’s bag to the guestroom, leaving Leona there with the rest of the family. With the boys’ cropped hair and jeans, they couldn’t be mistaken for Plain. Joe, however, still wore a bushy beard, which surprised Leona.

“Welcome to Arkansas, Leona.” Joe flashed his old smile. He was a blend of Amish and English with his long beard and khakis and checkered blue shirt. “You picked a nice time to visit . . . everything’s bloomin’.”

Adam stepped forward to shake her hand, and Jonas and James came over and did the same. Prompted by their parents ahead of time? Leona wondered.

“We’ll visit more once you’re settled,” Jeannie said, showing her the way down a hallway lined with numerous framed family pictures. They found Gloria in the spare room, folding a handmade afghan at the foot of the bed. “Be sure to show Leona the bathroom, dear,” Jeannie told Gloria.

Thoughtful as ever, thought Leona.

“Denki . . . thanks so much.” Despite their kindness, Leona felt overwhelmed with the Gingeriches in such modern attire and surroundings. The reality of their new life was mind-boggling.

Are they happy living this way?

———

Gloria invited Leona to come over when she was unpacked, then slipped off to her room to change into sweats.

“Such a perty place you have here.” Leona’s eyes grew wide when she entered later.

Gloria relaxed against the headboard, her pillow behind her. “It’s just stuff Mom’s bought me,” she said. “She’s a housekeeper for several families, but I wonder sometimes if she just works so she has money to spend on stuff. Thank goodness I’m a penny pincher—I’m savin’ up for college classes.”

Leona didn’t comment on that. “So many bright colors,” she said. She seemed curious, laughing softly, pointing out the large white net holding oodles of stuffed animals. “Where’d ya get all of these?”

She means in the short time we’ve been Englishers. . . .

Her friend turned to look at her. “Did it seem strange, at first, having fancy things?”

“Sure, but after a while it became just the usual thing. Normal as white bread.”

Although Leona smiled politely, this seemed to bother her.

“Doesn’t Maggie sell some of these kinds of trinkets and things? Do you still work there?” Gloria had to ask.

“Well, I do, but we offer mostly homespun goods, remember? Tourists love locally made items.”

“Oh, I guess I forgot.” Gloria laughed as she climbed off the bed. She couldn’t stop staring at Leona. It was remarkable how little she’d changed.

The following morning, Gloria awakened to sunshine spilling through her white lace curtains. She squinted over to see Leona standing at one of the windows, staring out, already dressed for the day, her dark blond hair up in the traditional bun. “Morning,” she said groggily. “Did you sleep all right?”

“Jah, but I think I woke up too early.”

“Oh, the time change, maybe,” Gloria reminded her. “It’s an hour earlier here than back at your house.”

Leona came over and sat at the foot of the bed. “Hope ya don’t mind me wanderin’ in here.”

“It’s just fine.”

Leona smiled. “Like the old days, when you and your family welcomed me in.”

“I remember when your mother was so sick.”

Leona nodded. “It was a scary time . . . and your family was so nice to me.”

Gloria wondered why she was bringing this up. “Maybe if I shower, I’ll be able to wake up and join the human race.” She yawned.

“I’d like to help make breakfast, all right?”

“Good luck with Mom on that. I think she has coffee brewing . . . sure smells like it. But wait for me, okay?”

Leona smiled. “I’ll do that.”

Gloria gathered up some clean clothes. “Feel free to stay in here, if you want to look around more,” she said, still trying to absorb the fact that she and Leona were together at last.

———

Leona was surprised at Gloria’s hospitality. The room seemed ornate, though, very different from her friend’s former bedroom back in Colerain.

Looking at the bookshelves, Leona noticed the book of limericks she’d given Gloria, as well as a few devotional books from those days. Does she still read these?

Then on the bureau, Leona spotted something that looked familiar—a small pink net sachet with potpourri like the kind Maggie sold in her store. Leona raised it to smell the scent, which had faded. Then, looking more closely, she saw a tag: With love, JS.

She pondered this. Then it came to her. “I know those initials,” she murmured. “My cousin’s.” She found it quite touching that Gloria had kept something of her Amish life.

Even so, Leona was deeply aware now of the enormous challenge before her, her hope that Gloria would give up all of this to return to a simpler life in Lancaster County. More obstacles than I’d expected.

She headed back to the spare room and located her Bible in the suitcase, then went to sit in the comfortable chair in the corner near a little fake tree, a writing desk nearby. She found her bookmark and began to read chapter thirteen of Hebrews. When she came to verse five, she read it aloud. “. . . Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Leona continued reading, and when she’d finished, she rose and looked out the window, then back at the cheerfully decorated guestroom, getting acclimated to the new environment. Silently, she knelt and asked the Lord God for strength to see this visit through for His glory and honor.

When the knock came at her door, Leona was ready to have breakfast with her friend.

“Mom had to rush off to work, but she put a roast in the Crock-Pot and left a note,” Gloria said at the kitchen counter. “One of her clients requested an extra cleaning; they must have company coming.” She explained that her mother was always glad for any extra hours. “It’ll be just us for breakfast, since Adam’s also at work and Jonas and James are in school.”

Leona felt a spark of nerves at the thought of seeing Adam again. He’d seemed friendly enough last night, but they hadn’t really talked.

Gloria pushed her mom’s smiley-face-laden note across the counter. “Do you want eggs and toast for breakfast? I can heat some water in the microwave if you’d rather have tea than coffee.” She opened the refrigerator and removed a container of eggs. “Or I can rustle up something more hearty and Amish style, if you’d like.”

“Don’t go to any trouble.” Leona eyed the microwave but insisted on cooking up some fried eggs and bacon on the stove, and Gloria seemed fine with that. Unless she’s just being polite, thought Leona as her friend went to set the table.

Once they’d eaten their fill, Gloria suggested they take a drive. “I want you to see where I work, for one.”

“If ya want to, sure.” Leona was not thrilled about the idea of getting back into the car, but Gloria seemed awfully restless. Why?