Beverly was in the kitchen making loaves of zucchini bread on Thursday morning when the phone rang. Thinking it was sure to be Eric, she debated answering it. Recently, she’d discovered that his phone calls had become the highlight of her day. She had also, to her dismay, even begun to wonder if their friendship could eventually evolve into something more romantic. Which was just silly.
Really not good!
After all, Eric was an Englisher, and a successful financial planner. He was worldly, and had obviously dated a lot. He would never be remotely attracted to her, and she would be a fool to entertain such thoughts.
In fact, it would be best to start distancing herself from him.
On the other hand, anyone could be on the line. And, well, she was the innkeeper, which meant she had no business ignoring a ringing telephone.
“Hello?”
“Hiya, Beverly,” her older brother Edward said. “What is going on out there in Sarasota?”
Oh! This was what she got for hoping and praying that it wasn’t Eric on the line. It was worse! Now she was going to have to walk the line between defending her abilities to look after Tricia and taking the blame for letting the girl fall in love and get engaged.
Then there was the fact that she was somehow going to have to try to be supportive of both her niece and her brother, which was likely going to be impossible.
“Beverly, you there?”
“Everything is, um, moving along,” she said at last. “I’m busy keeping the inn going. Which is, well, a busy job.”
“Sounds like you’ve been far busier than that.” There was a definite edge to his voice now.
“Hmm?” Growing up with Edward, she’d learned it was helpful to play innocent.
“Beverly, who is this Ben? Is he really everything Tricia says he is?”
“Well, um . . .”
“And what about his family?” he added. “Tricia said his father is a widower. When did his wife pass away? What happened to her?”
“Edward, that ain’t something that’s any of our—”
“She said they just moved to Sarasota, too. What brought on the move? And where do they hail from?”
She was starting to realize that not only had she not done a very good job of looking out for Tricia, she had definitely not asked enough questions about Ben. “Edward, if you have so many concerns, you should simply come down here and get the answers yourself. I’m the girl’s aunt, not her parent. And I’m, you know, busy with the inn.” There, that would show him!
“That’s why I called you. Me and Kathleen are getting on the bus tomorrow. We’ll be there on Saturday.”
“You’re coming out here to visit?” As she heard her voice, she grimaced. She’d practically squeaked.
“Jah. That’s what I just said,” he said impatiently. “What’s wrong? Do you not have room in that busy inn of yours? If not, tell me where I should stay.”
“Of course I will have a room for you both.” She was pretty sure she would. But even if she didn’t, she would find them someplace, even if it meant she had to give up her own room or share with Tricia. “I’m glad you’re coming down.” And, she realized, she was glad. Edward and Kathleen had never had the opportunity to come visit her. She’d understood, knowing he was busy with his farm. “I’ve missed you, Ed,” she said, voicing her thoughts.
“I feel the same way.” Lowering his voice, he added, “Kathleen has been fairly vexed with me. She’s been wantin’ to come down for a few weeks now.”
“I’ll look forward to seeing her.”
“You’ll see her soon enough. Now, give me some answers.”
“Well, let’s see. Ben is a nice young man. He seems very smitten with Tricia. He’s also the eldest of three sons. He looks after them and helps his father with their organic farm.” She thought of his other questions. “As for his father, I’m not sure when his wife passed on to heaven and I haven’t asked. I do know he came down here to start fresh.”
“Tricia already told me most of that.”
Now, more than ever, Beverly wished she could go back and apologize to Tricia for sounding so doubtful. Not that she had changed her mind about her concerns, but it was obvious poor Tricia had already been grilled over the phone.
“If Tricia told you everything, why are you asking me?” she snapped.
“I want your thoughts about this man. Tricia acts like he’s wonderful. Is he?”
Oh, for heaven’s sakes! “That’s not for me to say. I am not engaged to him, Edward.”
“Come on, Beverly. Do you really not care that my youngest is ready to get hitched to a man she barely knows? I would have thought you, of all people, would have cautioned her about giving in to her heart.”
For days, she’d thought the very same thing. But now, hearing her brother speak about her misalliance in the past? Well, it didn’t feel too good.
In fact, she was kind of tired of being Marvin’s poor ex-fiancée. “Tricia is her own woman and she is smarter than you are giving her credit for,” she replied, no longer even trying to keep the vinegar out of her voice. “As far as I can tell, Ben Hilty is a good man and he seems to care for her very much. She certainly looks happier than I’ve ever seen her. That says a lot, I think. And if you’re wondering if he’s going to break up with her before the wedding, I don’t think so.”
Edward sighed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
“This isn’t about me, Ed. It’s about Tricia and Ben.”
After a brief pause, he mumbled. “Jah, that’s what Kathleen said.”
He sounded so sheepish, she grinned. “I knew you married a smart woman. Now I really can’t wait to see Kathleen.”
“We’re looking forward to being there. I suppose it’s still hot there?”
“Hot as July,” she said with a smile. “Bring plenty of cool clothes. And don’t forget water for the bus ride. That twenty-hour ride seems to last forever.”
“I wrote that down. Okay, we’ll be getting off that Pioneer Trails bus on Saturday.”
“I’ll be in the parking lot waiting with the rest of Pinecraft. Does Tricia know you’re coming?”
“Nee. I wanted to talk to you first.” For the first time, his voice sounded hesitant. “Will you tell her?”
“Of course I will. Safe travels, Edward.”
After she hung up, Beverly poured bread batter into the three lined pans on the counter, put them in the oven, and set her egg timer. Then she went to go find Tricia and deliver the news.
WHAT SHOULD SHE WEAR? What should she say? What should she do? Staring at the clothes in her small closet on Friday, Emma’s choices became too many and the decisions dire.
It was time she got some help.
Though Emma had plenty of weeds to pull and even a sewing project to finish, she put a leash on Frankie and walked around the block toward Dorrie’s house. Around noon every day, her best friend took a thirty-minute walk. Though it was hot as could be, Emma figured she and Frankie could handle it if he could keep his paws mainly on the cool grass.
They’d passed five houses and just turned up Miller Avenue when they saw her. Dorrie had on her usual: sunglasses, sporty tennis shoes, and a bright smile. Today, she was wearing a bright coral-colored dress. Frankie, recognizing Dorrie and her penchant for giving him lots of doggie treats, wagged his tail and picked up his pace. When Dorrie saw them approaching, she waved.
“Fancy seeing you two out and about!” she said with a happy smile.
“We thought it was a good time for a walk.”
“At noon?” Dorrie stopped and looked at her carefully for a moment. “Well, it is my favorite walking time. How’s my favorite beagle?” she asked when Frankie nudged her with his nose.
He sat down in a spot of grass beside her so she could give his head a rub—and so she could pull out a dog biscuit from a hidden pocket in her dress. Chomping away, he had the gall to look at Emma as if to say it was really too bad that she hadn’t ever learned about dog biscuits.
“Gut hund,” Dorrie murmured as Frankie crunched. When he wagged his tail, she gave him a pat and pointed to a small, shady spot under a tree in someone’s front yard. “Jah, it is a warm one. Hop up there and take a break where it’s nice and cool.”
Stunned, Emma watched Frankie do exactly as Dorrie suggested. She wasn’t sure if she was impressed or jealous of Frankie’s obedience. “How do you do it, Dorrie? Frankie doesn’t behave that well for anyone else in the world.”
“Nee?”
“You know he doesn’t.”
“Well, it’s all in the dog treats. I always carry one when I go for a walk, just in case I run into Frankie.”
“Hmm.” Maybe that was why Frankie was always on the loose.
Still looking pleased with herself, Dorrie continued. “I bake them myself, and from my own recipe, too. Dogs love them. They’re tasty.”
“Have you tried them?”
She grinned, showing off her dimples. “Of course I have. I give them to my pair.” Dorrie and her husband had two rescued greyhounds. Emma had long ago decided that those dogs were the luckiest in the state of Florida. “I just noticed that you are all alone. Where are Amber and Lace?”
“Ach, Amber was looking a little peaked this morning. I think one of her front legs is bothering her a bit.”
“I hope there’s nothing wrong?”
“Nothing that a little rest and a treat or two won’t help. Now, what are you doing out? I don’t care what you say, you walking out and about at noon is most unusual.”
“I need your help.”
Immediately her friend’s easygoing smile vanished. “Of course. Anything. What happened?”
“Jay Hilty is coming over tonight to take me to supper.”
Immediately her look of worry slipped into another beautiful smile. “Emma! Good for you!” She pulled her into a quick, fierce hug. “Isn’t that good news? The best! Wunderbaar.”
“It is. I mean, I think it is.”
Dorrie chuckled. “Oh, it is.”
“I would feel more positive if I wasn’t so nervous. I don’t know which dress to wear. Or what I should say or do. Or what I shouldn’t say or do.”
Her girlfriend looked her up and down, shaking her head in dismay. “Dear, you’re a mess.”
Emma wasn’t even going to try to say she wasn’t. “This is true. I am. I am a complete mess.”
Dorrie turned around, leading the way to Emma’s house. “Come on, Frankie,” she said. “Let’s get you out of the hot sun and settle your owner down.” As if Frankie understood every word she said, he woofed and trotted forward, leading the way home.
Once they walked inside, Dorrie went straight to Emma’s bedroom, scanned her seven dresses, and pulled the tangerine-colored one off the hanger. “This one.”
“Really?” She hardly ever wore that dress. Though she liked the bright color on her daughters, she’d always thought it was a bit too flashy for a woman like herself. She was a widow and a mother of three. Surely such women didn’t wear such shades of orange. “Um, I was thinking maybe the blue. Because of my eyes.”
“I’m sure he’s already discovered you have pretty blue eyes, Emma. This dress is happy. And you are always tan, so it looks pretty on you, too.”
“You don’t think he will think it a bit gaudy?”
“He will think you look fetching. Trust me, Emma. Tangerine.”
“Okay. Danke.” She carefully laid the dress on the bed. “Now, what do you think I should talk about with him?”
Her lips twitched. “Probably whatever you want to talk about, dear.”
Emma noticed that Dorrie was trying not to tease her. “I’m serious. I don’t know what men like to talk about on dates. What if I say the wrong thing?”
“If you say the wrong thing then he’s not the man for you.” Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she added, “I don’t think you have a thing to worry about. Don’t forget, you already are friends. He already knows you are sweet and kind.”
Sweet and kind didn’t necessarily sum up the person she wanted him to think she was. “I hope it’s that easy.”
“It will be if you allow it to be. Don’t make good things difficult, dear. We all have enough troubles, you don’t need to go borrowing them.”
“You might be right about that.”
“I know I am.” Shifting, she rested one of her hands on Emma’s lemon-and-blue log-cabin quilt. “Now, how is your family taking it?”
“They don’t know. I only asked my parents to watch the girls for a few hours this evening.”
“They’re going to be here when Jay comes over?”
“Oh, nee! I asked if I could bring the girls over to their haus.”
Dorrie tilted her head. “And they agreed without asking the reason why?”
“I’m sure they’ll ask.” Thinking of how difficult navigating that conversation was going to be, she murmured, “I’m sure they’re going to ask a lot of questions.”
“They are. And I know you won’t like me sayin’ this, but they’re going to try to convince you that you’re doing the wrong thing.”
“They may be right.”
“They aren’t, Emma. Even if you and Jay Hilty realize that the Lord only wants you two to be friends and nothing more, it is important that you take this first step. You need to open your heart to the possibility that you could find love again. And what’s more, Sanford would want you to.”
“Do ya really think so?” Emma wanted to imagine that Sanford would be happy for her, but she just wasn’t sure. She sighed. “I’ve tried to imagine what he would say if I told him that I was doing this.”
“I know what he would say, and I think you know, too.”
“And what is that?”
“That it is about time you allowed a man to take you to dinner.” She wagged a finger. “It’s been three years, Emma. Three years is a long time to be alone.”
It had been. “Our families are going to worry about me.”
“I am sure they will.” She pursed her lips, then added, “Forgive me, but I think they are also worrying about themselves.”
Dorrie had lost her. “That makes no sense.”
“Of course it does. Change is hard, Emma. If you move on, that means they’ll have to move on, too. They’ve already had to adjust to Sanford leaving this earth so quickly. They’re going to fight tooth and nail if you make them adjust to something else.”
She was starting to think that Dorrie made a good point. Emma’s parents had told her that they would be happy to take care of her and the girls for the rest of their lives. At first, she’d been so grief-stricken that she’d clung to their promise and hadn’t dared to think that anything could possibly be different. But now, with the girls all in school and her having more time on her hands, she’d started to feel that she needed something more than they could give her.
Of course, until Frankie had found Jay and his boys, no other man had made her even contemplate falling in love again.
“Change is hard.”
“Jah. But change is a part of life. We grow older in spite of our best intentions. And with that age, it’s best to become wiser, too.”
Emma nodded. “Danke, Dorrie. I knew going to find you was the right thing to do.”
“See, you’re already getting wiser!”
“And you are getting prideful,” she teased. “Thank you for your help.”
“It was nothing.” Standing up, she pointed to the tangerine dress lying on the quilt. “Wear the dress and take the girls to your parents early so that whatever they tell you can roll off your shoulders before Jay comes over.”
“I’ll do that,” she promised, though she didn’t think her parents’ criticisms were going to roll off her shoulders at all. No, they were going to remain firmly settled there like a twenty-pound flour sack.
Heavy and burdensome.