CHAPTER
32
Gloria placed the basket filled with wreath-worthy material on the worktable in the screened porch and went in to help Millie chop vegetables for a salad. “I had a real nice chat with your father-in-law,” she said, going to wash her hands.
“He prob’ly enjoyed that.” Millie pulled out an apron from the side drawer and offered it to her.
“When will Leona be home?”
“She’s finished at five o’clock, so if you’d like to drive over and pick her up in twenty minutes or so, you could say hullo to Maggie at the same time.”
“Okay, I’ll do that once I finish up here.” She moved to the wooden block to dice the already scraped carrots and peeled cucumbers. Then she washed the lettuce leaves and tore them gently before scooping all of it into a large Tupperware bowl and placing it in the fridge.
“You enjoy workin’ in the kitchen, ain’t so?” Millie said.
Gloria smiled, guessing what she was thinking. “Jah, I’d make a good Amishwoman, if that’s what you mean.”
Thinking now might be the right time, Gloria asked, “Would Pete mind possibly accompanying me to see the deacon sometime?”
Brightening, Millie nodded. “Don’t see why not. Peter would be glad to take you, if ya ask.”
“Denki,” she said, thinking she wanted to talk with Leona about possibly staying till Sunday.
On the way out to the car, Gloria noticed Benuel sitting on his back porch. He waved to her as she climbed into the car, resisting the inclination to check her phone messages.
About a mile down the road, she slowed when a horse cart came rumbling toward her. A closer look told her that Orchard John was holding the reins, and he was motioning for her to pull over.
Nerves clenched her stomach. This was bound to happen, she thought, not that she’d been trying to avoid him.
Quite surprised, she slowed to a stop and rolled down her window, shyness overtaking her at first, embarrassed for him to see her driving a car. What will I say?
“Willkumm back, Gloria,” he called from his perch, his straw hat squared on his head, the way he always wore it, and his black suspenders pronounced against his light gray shirt. He hasn’t changed, she realized, though she couldn’t help but note his tentative expression.
“How are you, John?”
“I thought I might run into ya, considering how often I travel this road.”
“What’ve you been up to?” she asked, feeling awkward as she filled in the space. Leona would say I’m all ferhoodled!
“Well, ya know . . . workin’ long hours.” He paused, removing his hat. “Not too busy to meet you for coffee, though, if you’d care to.”
For a moment, if she let her mind wander back, it was almost like she still lived around here.
“Okay,” she replied without thinking.
“We could meet at our old favorite, say around seven tonight?”
She nodded, hoping this wasn’t a mistake. “I’ll see you there.”
He bobbed his head, put his hat straw hat back on, and signaled the horse to move forward.
“What did I just agree to?” she murmured as she stepped on the gas. And what if we’re seen together? she thought, concerned for his sake.
Pulling up to Maggie’s Country Store, she parked, wondering if she ought to tell Leona about the chance meeting and Orchard John’s invitation. I’ll have to eventually, she thought, considering the plan was for tonight. Otherwise, Leona will be curious why I’m leaving the house.
Gloria noticed the pink tulips growing profusely in planters in front of the shop and along the walkway leading to the steps. They reminded her of Ada Miller’s flower beds earlier. What a lovely, welcoming woman, she thought, still surprised she’d been able to peek in her former bedroom, the very spot where she’d once dreamed of marrying Orchard John. To think he’d stopped his horse to talk to her just now! And I agreed to meet him for coffee tonight. . . .
Inside Maggie’s adorable shop, she spotted Leona and waved. “I’m your taxi driver today.”
“How nice.” Leona hurried to gather up her things and called for Maggie to come say hullo. Maggie appeared from the alcove and put on a big smile when she saw Gloria there.
“It’s so gut to see you again,” Maggie said, coming right over. “Leona says you’re having yourself a little vacation.” Maggie’s eyes sparkled.
Gloria glanced at Leona. “Sometimes a person just needs to get away.”
“Well, ya picked a mighty perty time to be here, that’s for sure.” Maggie waved her hand at the front door. “Did ya see the tulips when ya came in?”
“Everywhere I look, there are flowers. It’s like one big florist’s shop,” Gloria said. “I also got a chance to gather some of nature’s bounty for Leona’s wreaths today.”
Leona pulled a mock grimace. “You went to the clearing without me?”
“I certainly did,” Gloria teased, to which Leona laughed.
“Well, if you run out of things to do, come back and do a bit of shopping,” Maggie suggested as they walked toward the door.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Gloria called over her shoulder. “Denki!”
They were pulling into Leona’s driveway when Gloria finally told her friend about the encounter with Orchard John.
Leona’s eyebrows rose. “That didn’t take long.”
“We’re meeting for coffee tonight.”
“Tonight?” Leona’s face lit up.
“Early evening,” Gloria said, trying to put a damper on her own feelings. “Just a friendly visit, is all.”
“Oh, I’m sure it will be that,” Leona said mischievously.
He’s baptized Amish, after all, and I’m the daughter of a shunned church member, Gloria thought as she parked the car around back of the Speichers’ farmhouse, concealed from the road.
“Might be a good idea not to say anything to your family,” Gloria said.
“What’s to hide? They’ll find out sooner or later.”
Gloria nodded. “I suppose.”
“Just mention it casually, maybe, at supper or during dessert.”
Gloria reached for her purse. “We’re making too much of this.”
Leona looked at her and frowned good-naturedly. “You’re the one stewin’, ain’t?”
“Yet there’s nothing to stew over,” Gloria said as she got out of the car. Nothing at all.