A rap sounded on the front door, and she headed into the hallway. Listen, Tracy, someones here. Ill give you a call later, okay?
Okay. Take care.
Fiona snapped off the phone as she swung the door open and saw what appeared to be a whole congregation of Amish men in black trousers and dark shirts filling her porch. She blinked against the late-afternoon sunlight and realized there were only four, surveying her silently.
What on earth?and then she realized they had to be the carpenters Ted had said hed send. The oldest man, his beard a snowy white, nodded gravely.
I am Mose Stetler. Ted Rittenhouse said as how you are wanting some carpentry work done. Said you needed it in a hurry.
Yes, he told me hed talked to you. Im Fiona Flanagan. She nodded to the men and held the door wide. Please, come in. Im glad you were able to come so soon.
And a little surprised Ted hadnt told them to forget about coming after their exchange earlier.
Oh, we had to. He jerked his head toward the youngest of the men, hardly more than a boy, with rounded cheeks above a rather straggly beard. Young Aaron, here, hell be needing your services before long, wont you, Aaron?
The boy blushed, his prominent ears reddening. My Susie He stopped, apparently embarrassed to actually say that his wife was expecting.
Well, then, all the more reason to get my practice up and running. But Ill be happy to talk to your wife anytime, even if my office isnt ready. She started to say the woman could phone her, and then realized that she couldnt. Just have her send a message if shed like to talk.
He bobbed his head, flushing when one of the other men said something to him in what sounded like German. She didnt understand the words, but the teasing was obvious.
So, now. Mr. Stetler rubbed callused palms together. You show me what you want done, and I will figure out a price. His eyes twinkled. A fair price. Youre one of us, after all.
She blinked. Surely he couldnt be referring to her mother. No one knew except the Flanagans. One of you?
A resident, not a tourist, he explained. Apparently tourists were fair game, but not someone who planned to live here.
She showed them over the downstairs, explaining what she needed. Mose made several helpful suggestions for the arrangement that she hadnt thought of.
Finally he took out a stub of pencil and a scrap of paper and figured a price. She looked at the paper with a sense of relief. It was high, but shed known it would be, with the cost of materials, and it was well within her budget.
Fine. We have a deal. When can you start?
Stetler beamed. Right away. We do some measurements now, and then be back here at eight oclock tomorrow morning.
Excellent.
By the time theyd finished up the measurements and were heading out the door, they were on a first-name basis, even with Aaron, the shy expectant father. She was just assuring him that he wasnt going to feel a thing when one of the other men said something that made them all double over with laughter.
He said unless Aarons wife hits him for getting her into that predicament.
Somehow she wasnt surprised to see Ted Rittenhouse standing by the porch, one large boot propped against the front step and a grin on his face.
Ill protect him, Fiona shot back, her gaze challenging his. Shed let him see that she was getting along perfectly well with his Amish friends.
Ted nudged at the step with his boot. Hey, Mose, youd best put fixing this step at the top of your list.
Mose nodded gravely. Before you put your big foot through it, yes. For some reason, everyone thought that was funny, and they all trooped off, laughing, toward the wagon and its patiently waiting horse.
She was very aware of Ted, standing silent beside her. When he didnt speak, she realized there was something she had to say. She turned toward him, and found him watching her.
Thank you very much for sending Mose and his crew over. Im so relieved to have the project underway.
Theyll do a good job for you. And theyll be honest about the price, too.
She nodded. Im sure they will. She hesitated, and then decided shed better say the rest of what shed been thinking. You know, I thought maybe youd change your mind and tell them not to come.
He looked surprised. Why would I do that?
Well, you werent exactly happy with me earlier.
That doesnt mean Id make things difficult for you. Maybe you have something to learn about folks around here.
Those words might have been said snidely, but she couldnt detect anything other than genuine concern in his voice. Concern, and perhaps even kindness.
Maybe so. She struggled to speak over the sudden lump in her throat. This move is a big change in my life. I know I have to adjust some of my attitudes if Im going to make a go of it here.
His lips twitched in a slight smile. Youll be fine. You have something to offer. Just give yourself a chance. And give us one, too.
The gentleness in his voice drew her. She looked up to find his intense gaze so focused on her face that it seemed to generate warmth. She couldnt look away, couldnt even seem to draw breath. Was it the afternoon sunlight dazzling her eyes, or was it the man?
And then he took a step back. It was hard to tell with that stolid face of his, but she had a feeling he felt just as shocked as she did.
Chapter Three
Her mothers box now sat on her brand-new dresser in her own bedroom in the house in Crossroads. Fiona touched it, smiling a little at the sound of hammering from downstairs.
Shed moved in yesterday, in spite of Nolie and Gabes repeated urging to stay with them until the work was completely finished. Much as shed appreciated their kindness, shed given in to the need to be here, on the spot, supervising the renovations.
She had a bedroom and a kitchenat the moment she didnt need anything else. Once shed found time to paint the room that was going to be her living room, to say nothing of getting some furniture in it, shed be ready to entertain. She could invite her Flanagan cousins over.
The past few days had been busy ones, notable only for the absence of one person. Ted hadnt dropped by again. Maybe he was occupied with township business. Or maybe hed been as shocked by that moment of rapport as she had been.
In any event, it was fine that he hadnt been around. Shed been able to write the incident off as nothingjust a random flare of attraction that she could quickly forget. She had nothing in common with a man like Ted Rittenhouse, and even if shed wanted it, she had no time in her life for romance.
Making a success of her practice had to be the only thing on her mind now, and shed already made a good start. An invitation had been relayed by Aaron from his wife and had resulted in her first visit to an Amish home.
The simple, painted interior with its large, square rooms and handmade furniture had charmed her. When shed commented on the beauty of a hand-carved wooden rocking chair, young Susie had shrugged off the compliment, saying the chair was for use, not for pretty.
Shed been surprised to find Susie already in her thirty-fourth week, but she learned that the couple had only recently returned to the family farm after living in an Amish community in Ohio where Aaron was apprenticed to a master carpenter. Susie was healthy, happy and eagerly looking forward to the birth, and especially to having her baby at home. Fiona had come away with a sense of satisfaction that she would provide the kind of birthing experience the couple wanted.
Shed been surprised to find Susie already in her thirty-fourth week, but she learned that the couple had only recently returned to the family farm after living in an Amish community in Ohio where Aaron was apprenticed to a master carpenter. Susie was healthy, happy and eagerly looking forward to the birth, and especially to having her baby at home. Fiona had come away with a sense of satisfaction that she would provide the kind of birthing experience the couple wanted.
And happy that she was wanted and neededshe couldnt deny that. It was a step toward belonging. And another step might be
She lifted the lid on the box, her fingers touching the perfectly matched corners. Here was all she had of the mother shed never known. An Amish cap and apron, put away never to be worn again. A white baby gown, edged with delicate embroidery. And the patches for a quilt, each one sewn with stitches so tiny they were practically invisible.
She carried the pieces to the spool bed which was her latest purchase and spread them out, not sure how they were intended to fit together. Each piece was a rectangle composed of smaller square and rectangular pieces in rich, solid colors. The deep pink shade that predominated made her wonder if her mother might have intended the quilt for a daughter. If so, shed never know.
But she could have the quilt. She didnt have the skill to put it together, but the quilters at Ruths store did. She could imagine it gracing her bed, symbolizing her ties to her new community.
She gathered the pieces, slipped them into a bag and went quickly down the steps, greeting the carpenters, amazed as always by how much theyd accomplished. The rooms were taking shape before her eyes, and her dream was closer to reality every day.
She hurried over to the general store, eager now to set this project in motion. Ruth looked up when the bell tinkled, but she was busy with a customer, so Fiona waved and went on through to the workroom. Emma Brandt greeted her with a smile, while two older women she hadnt seen before glanced up, nodded and bent over the quilt frame again.
Emma, Id like to show you something. She approached the quilt frame slowly. It wasnt too late to change her mind, but Emma was nodding. Waiting.
Yes?
For a moment her hand held the bag shut. This would be the first time shed shown the quilt squares to anyone, and she felt an odd reluctance to have them out of her possession. Shaking the emotion off, she drew out the fabric squares.
I have these quilt pieces, and I wondered if youd be able to put them together for me.
Emma pushed her glasses into place and took them, turning them slowly in her capable hands. A log cabin design, she said. The colors are lovely. This will make a fine quilt for your new bed.
She was getting used to the fact that everyone seemed to know everything about her. It seemed the rumor mill was always grinding in Crossroads. Emma could probably tell her where shed bought the bed and how much shed paid for it.
Thats what I thought, although I dont even know how the squares fit together. She may as well admit her ignorance up front.
Emma quickly moved some of the blocks together. The traditional manner would be to arrange them like this, so that the darker colors make diagonal lines across the surface.
The quilt seemed to come to life under her hands, and Fiona could visualize it on her bed. Maybe she could find curtains in one of the solid colors.
That would be perfect. Do you have time to finish it for me?
Im sure we can. Emma picked up one of the pieces, examining it closely. The workmanship is very fine, uh-huh. Did you make it yourself?
Fiona shook her head. Its all I can do to sew a button on. These were given to me. I was told that my mother made them.
Ah. Emmas look of sympathy said she understood. Then very special the quilt will be for you.
Yes. She willed away the lump in her throat. It will be very special.
One of the older women rose from the quilting frame. She walked toward them, her faded blue eyes magnified by the thick glasses she wore. She reached for the quilt pieces, turning them over in work-worn hands.
Emma said something in the low German that Fiona had learned was the common tongue of the Amish. For a moment the older woman stood frozen. Then she said something that made Emma give an audible gasp.
Their expressions startled Fiona. Emma, is something wrong?
Emma shook her head, not looking up. Then, so quickly Fiona hardly understood what was happening, all three women folded up their work and scurried away without a word.
By evening, Fiona was feeling thoroughly exasperated with all things Amish. Ruth had had no explanation for what happened and seemed as mystified by the womens behavior as Fiona. Shed promised to talk to Emma and try to smooth things over as soon as she could.
But that hadnt been the worst of it. The carpenters had left for lunch as usual, but they hadnt come back. They hadnt sent word, either. They were just gone, with tools left lying where theyd put them down.
Clearly shed offended someone, but how, she didnt know. Shed have been happy to apologize for whatever it was, but since she couldnt get in touch with any of them that was impossible.
She walked slowly from one unfinished room to another. What if they didnt come back? Panic touched her. Would she be able to find someone else to finish the work? She pulled her cardigan tighter around her. Shed had her share of feeling isolated and helpless in her life, and she didnt like the sensation.
A knock on the door came as a relief. At last, maybe someone was coming to explain. She yanked the door open to find Ted on her porch, frowning down at her.
We have to talk, he said.
She nodded, stood back for him to enter, and gestured down the hall. Come back to the kitchen. Its the only finished room downstairs.
She followed him down the hallway, his tall frame blocking out the dim light she had left on in the office. Reaching the kitchen, she switched the light on and the room sprang to life.
Originally it had been one of those huge, inconvenient rooms that had probably given the cook fallen arches, but at some point it had been renovated. Now the stove, sink and refrigerator made a convenient work triangle, and her few dishes were arranged in the closest of the glass-fronted cabinets.
She started to offer Ted a seat, but hed already planted large fists on the round pine table. And he didnt look as if he planned to sit down and relax any time soon. He wore jeans and a blue sweater that made his eyes even bluer, but from the way he leaned toward her, he didnt seem any less intimidating than when he wore the uniform.
He didnt need to glare at her as if shed committed a cardinal sin. A little flare of anger warmed her.
You may as well stop looking at me that way. Ive obviously made a mistake and offended someone, but I dont have the slightest idea what Ive done. She folded her arms.
Teds face was at its most wooden. Why didnt you tell me you were Hannah Stolzfuss daughter?
For a moment she could only stare at him. How could heHow do you know that? I didnt tell anyone here.
Its true, then? Youre actually her child? The passion in his voice reverberated through the room.
She hugged herself tighter as if to shield herself from him. Not that its any of your business, but yes, my mothers name was Hannah Stolzfus. She died shortly after I was born, so I never knew her, but Ive seen the birth certificate. That was her name.