Just Plain Sadie (17 page)

“And mine wouldn't?” Sadie shook her head. “I've gone against everything in my life to be with you. I don't see how us going to the movies is any worse than anything else we've been doing.”

“I don't know how to tell you why. It just is.”

“That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!” Sadie hadn't meant to yell, but this conversation was so unreasonable. It was okay to do all those other things against their communities, but going to the movies was taking it too far? It was about the dumbest thing she'd ever heard.

“Ridiculous or not, it is how I feel.” His voice turned cold, hard.

Sadie wanted to cry. “It's Valentine's Day, we were supposed to go out on a fabulous date.”

“I thought that's what we were doing. Until about ten minutes ago.”

“Whose fault is that? I made a suggestion. You are the one who got all righteous on me.”

Ezra looked like he wanted to say something in return, but instead he turned around and started the engine to the truck.

Sadie buckled her seat belt, but still continued to frown at him. “Where are we going?” she asked.

“I'm taking you home.”

* * *

He was fuming. How had such a special night turned into ash? He hadn't thought about anything past going to eat dinner. Thinking about their impromptu ice cream dessert the other day made him realize that maybe some things were better left unplanned. Then they could have a good time doing whatever they wanted whenever they wanted.

As long as that didn't include going to a movie.

He didn't want to take Sadie home. He wanted to do something fun. Take a walk, get another ice cream, anything as long as they were together.

Anything but go to the movies.

He could feel the anger coming off her in waves as she sat next to him on the trip back to Wells Landing.

Some Valentine's Day this was turning out to be. After what seemed like an eternity he pulled up to her house. “Can I go down the driveway or not?”

“No need,” she snapped. She grabbed her purse from the floorboard and slung it over one shoulder, then pushed the truck door open. She slammed it behind her and stopped in front of his headlights. He could see bright flashes of pink on her cheeks, one more testament to her anger. She looked as if she was going to say something else, then spun away. He watched her stalk out of sight, then he turned his truck toward Taylor Creek.

* * *

Chris pushed his way into Kauffman's Family Restaurant. He wanted to see Sadie. He had been thinking more and more about that picture that Joshua had showed him, and he needed to make sure that she was okay.

She had been his best friend for so long. It was more than a simple breakup with a girlfriend. He'd lost the one person he could truly talk to.

This was all his fault. If he hadn't told her that he wanted to go to Europe, then she wouldn't be acting so wacky. She had been through so much lately—losing her father, her sister moving away, and now this.

Her sister Melanie bustled over, no doubt alerted to his entrance by the bell's summons. “Why hello there, Chris Flaud,” she said with a smile. “What brings you in tonight?”

“I thought I would come in and talk to Sadie. But I expected to see her, not you.”

Melanie frowned. “I thought she was out with you. In fact, I worked for her today so she could go out.”

Chris bit back a sigh. She was out with that Mennonite again. He couldn't blame her. He had practically thrown her by the wayside, asked her to wait. Even Joshua had told him that was a bad idea. What had he been thinking?

Melanie motioned him back around the counter and toward the row of booths off to one side. “But you can come back here to sit down. I'll come and join you in a second. Coffee?”

Chris nodded. What could he do? He had come to see Sadie, to talk to her, only to find out that she had gone out with someone else again. He wanted her back. If he couldn't have her back romantically, then he would darn sure take her back as a friend. He missed her terribly.

Chris slid into the booth and watched as Melanie bustled away. She stopped for a moment to talk to Cora Ann, who was filling glasses behind the waitress station.

Cora Ann looked up at him and nodded, her mouth pulled into a small frown. The way everybody was acting, he would've thought she had died. Going out with a Mennonite was almost as bad.

Melanie came back a few minutes later with two steaming cups of coffee. She sat down across from him and cupped her hands around her mug. “So,” she said.

“So,” he repeated.

Melanie shook her head. “I'm worried about Sadie.”

“Me too.”

“She lied to
Mamm
about where she was going tonight. She lied to me too.”

“She's been sneaking around with that Mennonite guy.”

Melanie's eyes grew wide. “Do you think that's where she is right now?”

“I'm pretty sure.” He took a sip of his coffee and stared out over the restaurant. People were eating, milling about. No one was in too big a hurry, but he looked at those people and he couldn't help but think they had no problems. Not like the weight of his heart. As much as he knew he was being ridiculous, it was still how he felt. “My brother found a picture of her online with him. Ezra.”

Melanie shook her head. She stood. “I need to get
Mamm
. Don't go anywhere.”

He didn't even have time to respond as she hurried away, returning moments later with her mother in tow.

Maddie Kauffman had never been one of his favorite people, but she was Sadie's mother. Still, the woman looked as if she'd been sucking on green plums. Her face was always tense and unhappy, and he couldn't help but wonder how she could produce such sweet, loving daughters when she herself seemed as sour as a persimmon.

“Tell her what you told me,” Melanie said.

“My brother Joshua, he showed me a Facebook page. There was a picture of Sadie and that Mennonite boy, Ezra Hein.”

“Facebook? Like on the computer?”

“
Jah
.”

He wouldn't have thought it possible, but her face grew even more pinched and her mouth flattened into a thinner line than before. “Show me.”

She led them into the office. There was barely room for the two of them. She sat down behind the restaurant's computer and tapped a few keys. A few minutes later Facebook appeared on the screen. It didn't take long before Chris found his brother and tracked down the guy who worked at the shed company with him. He clicked on the picture then zoomed in, finally showing her the picture of Sadie and Ezra.

Maddie shook her head. “I don't know what to do. We can't let her continue like this.”

Melanie nodded.

Chris stood, uncomfortable with the whole situation. He'd come here to find solace for himself and instead he'd only brought pain to the others around him.

Maddie Kauffman grabbed his arm before he could take even one step from the office. “Chris, help us,” she beseeched.

He shook his head. “What can I do?”

“Something. Anything. We can't let her go on like this.”

That was when he understood Maddie Kauffman was so worried about Sadie because she was afraid she would lose that daughter like she had lost her other.

“You could court her again,” Melanie said.

Chris wasn't quite sure what to say. He would love nothing more than to court Sadie. He had made so many mistakes where she was concerned. He would like to correct all those. But he had already decided. He was going to Europe in a few months, and Sadie didn't want to wait for him. What was a guy to do?

“Please,” Maddie asked, squeezing his hand in her own bony fingers. “I can't lose her too.”

To his surprise, Chris found himself saying yes, that he would try to keep Sadie busy, go out with her, make sure she knew he cared. With any luck and God on their side, they could convince her that Ezra Hein was no good, and staying with her family and the righteousness of the Amish faith was the only way to go.

Sadie was rolling silverware at the restaurant the following afternoon when Cora Ann summoned her to the phone. Sadie was so excited she nearly tripped over her own feet trying to get to it. Cora Ann told her it was a guy, and she knew it was Ezra calling to apologize. His stern attitude about going to the movies was ridiculous. All he needed was a little time to understand how crazy dumb his thoughts on the matter really were before he would offer her his apology.

“Hello?” she said, then waited to hear his familiar voice.

“Sadie, is that you?” Not quite the familiar voice she had been expecting.

“Chris?” She hadn't heard from him in days, weeks maybe. They never talked anymore.

“One and the same. How are you doing?”

“Okay, I guess.” She was frustrated and tired and heartsick all at the same time, but other than that she was fine.

“Good, good,” he said.

“Is that why you called? To find out how I'm doing?” She was more confused than ever. But she had to admit that she loved hearing his voice. She had missed him since they had been arguing.

“I wanted to ask about bowling tonight.”

“We settled that. You can go bowling. Find some girl and take her.” The thought was not one she was comfortable with, so she pushed it aside.

“See, I have found a girl.”

“Oh?” She hoped her voice sounded even and only mildly interested.

“You.”

“Chris, this is not a good idea.”

“I think it's a great idea. You're a good bowler. I'm a good bowler. Between the two of us, we could take them all.”

“That's not what I mean and you know it.” She looked around to see if anybody else was listening in on the conversation, then she lowered her voice where only he could hear. “You're leaving.”

“And you're dating a Mennonite. I know.”

Was she? She had been, but after last night she didn't know where her relationship with Ezra stood.

He had dropped her off at the driveway without a word and left. No good-night kiss or another date for the next week. Nothing.

“Chris,” she started in protest.

“I miss you, Sadie. You're my best friend. Come bowling with me. That's all I ask.”

How could she say no to that?

* * *

“The dynamic duo returns!”

Sadie wasn't sure who said the actual words, but she smiled, happy to be embraced back into their buddy bunch.

Jonah and Lorie still weren't among them and never would be. Jonah had really taken Lorie's leaving hard. He hardly came out anymore. Sadie had even heard that he had been going to wild parties in Tulsa. But the rumor mill in Wells Landing was so extreme that there was no telling what they would've said about him or Lorie.

“It's good to be back.”

There was a lot of back patting and handshaking. Even Ruthie and Hannah gave Sadie a hug.

“We asked Melanie to join us. And Noah too, of course,” Hannah said. “I hope you don't mind. We needed a fourth since Lorie's gone now.” As she said the words, Hannah looked off in the distance as if she didn't want to look at Sadie directly when she said them.

What was wrong with everybody? Couldn't they see how happy Lorie was now that she had gone
Englisch
? Did it really matter? Did it make her less of a devout person? Did it make her less of a Christian? Sure, the temptations of the world were great, but Lorie had to find out who she was now, not who her dad had turned her into by hiding her among the Amish to protect her.

“Of course I don't mind, Hannah. She is my sister, after all.”

“And a much better bowler,” Melanie added with a laugh.

“We'll see about that.” Sadie got out her ball. She had gotten it back from Ezra after their second date and wondered if she'd ever get to use it again. It felt good to be back at the bowling alley, having a normal Thursday night surrounded by all her friends. That was just where she thought she needed to be.

* * *

Just before the ninth frame, Melanie sidled up and sat down on the bench next to her. “So how was last night?”

“It was fine, thanks for asking. And thanks for working for me too.”

“So how's Ezra?”

“He's good, I—” Sadie half answered the question before she realized it was a trick. “That wasn't nice, Melanie Treger.”

Melanie shrugged. “I'm your sister, I don't always have to be nice.”

“I think you got that backward. You're my sister, so you should always be nice to me.”

“All joking aside, Sadie, what are you doing?”

“I'm sitting here.”

“I said all joking aside,” Melanie repeated. “Why are you seeing him?”

“Ezra?” She had been about to say something about Chris, but thought better of it. She had a feeling she had pushed all her sister's buttons enough for one night.

“Yes, Ezra.” Melanie looked around, then back to her sister. “There's so many nice guys here in Wells Landing. Guys that share your same beliefs. Why would you want to go out with a Mennonite when you can go out with Chris?”

Sadie shook her head. “There's so much more to the situation than you know.”

“Then tell me,” Melanie said.

“I can't. It's not mine to tell.”

“Fine then. But do me this favor.” She waited to continue until after Sadie had nodded her agreement. “Give Chris a chance. Whatever it was that happened between you before, I think he really likes you. And you wouldn't have to worry about all the rest—shunning, moving, and making
Mamm
cry.”

A shunning. It was the one thing Sadie hadn't thought about. She had joined the church. Lorie hadn't. Lorie wasn't shunned. She could come and go in Wells Landing as she pleased. The only consequence she had was the fact that
Mamm
didn't want her to go
Englisch
. But once
Mamm
had gotten used to the idea, she had forgiven Lorie quickly and allowed her back into the family fold. But with Sadie, it was different. She had joined the church, and if she left to do something like marry Ezra, then she would surely be shunned. Most people didn't realize that a shunning was to bring someone back into the fold. But once she married Ezra, there would be no coming back. She would be shunned for life. There was no recovery from that. She would never be able to sit at the same table with her family and eat again. She could never take money from them or even ride in the same car with them. The thought broke her heart, especially when she thought about Daniel.

Sweet, sweet Daniel. He had such a hard time when Lorie left that he surely wouldn't understand why he couldn't spend time with Sadie.

“Think about it, okay?” Melanie asked.

What was there to think about? That she couldn't marry Ezra if she wanted to remain a member of the Kauffman family in good standing, or that she could date Chris for the next couple of months, and come June he was on a plane to Europe?

It wasn't much of a choice either way, now was it?

* * *

After spending the evening with Chris, Sadie was more confused than ever. Even prayer hadn't brought her any solace. All she wanted was a sign, for God to help her.

Ezra hadn't mentioned marriage, but she couldn't believe that both of them were going against their family and friends just to date. It had to be going somewhere.

She loved the sizzle she felt whenever she was near him. It was that spark she had read about in
Englisch
romance books during her
rumspringa
. Romance writers talked about that one special someone that made a heart sing. Sadie thought Ezra could be that person to her. But after Valentine's Day night, she wasn't so sure anymore.

And then Chris. She had known him all of her life. They had been through so much together. She loved him, but not with the same kind of love as she felt for Ezra. So it didn't have that zap and tingle, but it was steady and true, wholesome and solid as a rock. She would never have to worry about Chris. Well, she wouldn't after he got back from Europe. What was a girl to do? Wait on Ezra to propose and decide then? Put him off until Chris returned, if he returned? What would she do if she had both of them wanting to marry her at the same time?

The thought was silly. Two men wanting to marry her at the same time? She was just plain Sadie. And that was all she would ever be.

* * *

It was Friday afternoon and Daniel was due off the bus any minute. Sadie was staring out the window at nothing. The sun shone brightly with the promise of spring. It wouldn't be long before the crocuses started to come out, and the tulips that she had planted around one of the outbuildings. But staring out at nonexistent flowers was not helping her one bit.

She heard the roar of an engine and went out to meet Daniel's bus. But instead of Daniel, it was Ezra.

She stopped in her tracks as he pulled on the driveway, put the truck into park, and climbed out.

“Hi,” she said. It was all she could manage to get through her numb lips.

“I've come to apologize,” Ezra said. “Arguing with you and fighting with you on Valentine's Day was surely not part of my plan.”

Anticipation rose inside her. Was this the sign she needed? Of all the days for her to be waiting at home for Daniel to come off the bus, and then have Ezra show up full of apology. She had asked God for a sign. Was this it?

“Does that mean you forgive me?”

Hope flashed in his brown eyes. “Of course.” He took her hands into his and squeezed her fingers lightly. The touch was gentle but reassuring. “I know everything's not going to be perfect all the time. We're going to have a lot of adjustments, but I want you to know that I love you, Sadie Kauffman. As strange as it may seem, you're the best thing that's ever happened in my life.”

She could hardly believe her ears. Ezra Hein loved her? “I don't know what to say.”

He frowned. “I think if you don't know what to say, then that means you don't return my feelings.” He nodded, but looked down as if he couldn't bear to meet her gaze again.

“That's not what I meant at all. I . . . I'm just so happy.” Tears rose into her eyes. Yes, she was happy, but so very, very confused. She was hoping he would take her into his arms, maybe kiss her one more time and show her the love that he confessed. But another engine sounded, and this one most likely belonged to Daniel's bus.

They pulled apart as the bus stopped to let Daniel out. Sadie went onto the road to help him cross, then took his hand and headed back down the driveway. Ezra had climbed back into the truck cab.

“You're not staying?”

He shook his head. “I need to be getting back.”

“I understand.” She waited a heartbeat and then another. He had come to apologize. But he wasn't going to ask to see her again? Why was love so confusing?

“When is your next day off?” he asked.

“Tuesday.”
Mamm
had changed it. She had the day completely off, and Thursday night off so she could bowl with her team.

“So Tuesday I can come by?”

“I-I . . .” she stuttered, then tried again. “I don't think coming by here is a good idea.”

He nodded. “Right.” Then he looked down at Daniel.

Sadie knelt down next to her young brother. “Daniel, why don't you run on in the house? I'll be there in a minute to get you some cookies, okay?”

He looked from her to Ezra, giving them both a big grin. “Okay, but I wanted to talk to Ezra.”

“You can do that next time, buddy,” Ezra said.

He nodded, then ran for the front door, his backpack slapping against his tiny back all the way there.

Yet for all the promises that Ezra had made, how was he going to talk to Daniel next time? The two of them couldn't even eat dinner together without everybody causing a big fuss. And if it came to pass that the two of them did get married, they would be shunned. How was that supposed to work out for him to spend time with Daniel? How was that supposed to work out where
she
could spend time with Daniel? There were too many questions and not enough answers.

“Pick you up at the library?”

“Are you going to tell me where we are going?”

“That's a surprise.” He smiled, a dazzling flash that she wondered might perhaps be that sign from God she'd been asking for. One thing was for certain: Tuesday couldn't get there quick enough.

* * *

Sunday morning dawned, perhaps the prettiest day they'd had all year. Though the winds still held a chill, the sun shone brightly, holding promises of what it would be like come June.

Sadie loved the summertime so much more than winter, and she could hardly wait for the summer to get there. When she said that, she had to remember that Chris was leaving in June. Could she trust that he would come back, or was he going to be gone forever?

Sadie was helping put away the last of the benches after the church meal when Melanie came up beside her. “A bunch of us are going over to Millers' Pond. You want to go?”

“It's too cold to swim.”

“Who said anything about swimming? We want to go have a good time. Sit around and talk.”

“Who's all going?”

Melanie shrugged. “Me and Noah, Ruthie and Mark, Will and Hannah. You know. The group.”

“And I'm going to be the only single girl there.” It wasn't really a question. But Sadie had the feeling that Melanie had something going on that she wasn't telling her about.