Plain Peace (A Daughters of the Promise Novel) (17 page)

Cora placed the jewelry box on her nightstand and turned the knob until the delicate glass ballerina began to spin and music began to play. Though she didn’t recognize the song, she felt transported to another place as the soft notes sounded and the dancer slowly spun on her pedestal. She didn’t even look up when John walked out of their bathroom and into the bedroom, his hair wet and a white towel wrapped around him.

Marianne had been right about the joy of doing something just for yourself. Cora thought her new friend may have gone overboard, with that closet crammed full of items her husband would forbid. But Cora understood. Living with Bishop Byler couldn’t be easy. Besides, women like them spent their lives tending to their husbands and children. Why couldn’t they indulge themselves even a little?

“Where did you get that?”

Cora pulled her eyes from the ballerina, slid out of her slippers, then eased into bed without looking at her husband. “I bought it.” She pulled the pins from her hair, found her brush in the drawer of the nightstand, and began running it the length of her hair. She
glanced over at John when she heard the dresser drawer open, and her breath caught in her throat when she realized how thin he was. How had she not noticed? It had been less than a week since she stopped bringing him his meals to their bedroom. She’d hoped her bold action would send him back downstairs for meals with his family, but it hadn’t. Had he lost that much weight in so short a time?

“Do you want me to bring you a plate of supper?” She glanced at the clock on the nightstand next to her new music box. It was almost nine o’clock, but she didn’t like to think of her husband hungry, especially if it was her fault.

“Little late for supper, no?” He pulled on a pair of boxers and a white T-shirt, then went to his side of the bed.

“I can still get you something if you want.” She stowed the brush back in the drawer. “I don’t mind.”

“
Nee
. No food.” He climbed into bed and immediately pulled her close to him, his hands roaming her body in places that hadn’t felt his touch in months. It should have been wonderful, but his aggressive actions were a far cry from what they’d shared for most of their married life. There was no tenderness, no kissing, no running his hands through her hair and whispering how much he loved her—all the things she’d been dreaming about for so long. Instead, it was mechanical, unemotional, and over quickly. And immediately afterward, he rolled over in the bed facing away from her.

Cora didn’t move, just lay there on her back as warm tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. She turned her head to the side, hoping to get a glimpse of the ballerina, but all was dark.

She blinked her eyes once, and the tears spilled down her cheeks.

Marianne and Anna cleaned the breakfast dishes, then she helped Anna load the buggy with today’s items for distribution. Once both husband and granddaughter were out the door, Marianne sat down at the kitchen table and stared at the half-eaten shoofly pie on the table. She cut her eyes toward her bottle of cinnamon tablets and frowned. She was out of the insulin pills, and she wasn’t sure the cinnamon would keep her blood sugar under control if she ate that pie. But her mouth watered for a piece.

Anna had told her that Dr. Noah said she would have to go in for a visit before he’d refill her prescription. But since Isaac had put an end to all that, she didn’t want to risk getting caught at Dr. Noah’s. She leaned her head back and thought of the irony. She was well aware that she probably kept more things from her spouse than all the wives in the district—a terrible example to be setting as the bishop’s wife.

She sat taller and shook her head, refusing to feel bad about her choices. And what about Cora? The woman had lit up the moment she saw the package with her ballerina music box. Such a small thing with such a big payoff.

Marianne just didn’t believe the Lord would mind these little luxuries. Her husband would, but not the Lord.

She drummed her fingers on top of the oak table as she twisted her mouth back and forth.

Then she reached for the knife and cut herself a large slice of shoofly pie.

A
NNA ARRIVED AT THE RAILROAD TRACKS WELL BEFORE
three o’clock on Saturday. She’d told her grandparents she needed to use the buggy to deliver a batch of cookies to a bakery that was closed yesterday due to a family emergency. That much was true. She just hadn’t told them where she was going after that.

She reached into her apron pocket and pulled out her flattened dime, rubbing it between her fingers as if it had some magical power. She sat down in the grass and leaned against the big oak tree, its canopy an umbrella from the fierce sun that shone this time of day. She drew her knees to her chest, her dark blue dress resting at her ankles, wrapped her hands around her legs, and rocked back and forth. She hoped Jacob would show up, even though she still wasn’t sure they could be anything more than friends.

She straightened her legs out in front of her and leaned back. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to use the family buggy to venture out today, although it wasn’t too far for him to walk. Or maybe Glenda hadn’t given him the envelope she’d left at the hardware store. Maybe he wasn’t interested enough to come or brave enough to risk angering
Daadi
more.

Maybe, maybe, maybe
.

Her stomach churned, partly from nervousness about Jacob,
but also from her conflicted feelings about betraying
Daadi
. He hadn’t given her a chance to explain about Jacob, and he was making everyone in their district miserable. But he was still her grandfather. If only—

The sound of buggy wheels brought her to her feet. She smoothed the wrinkles from her apron and dabbed at her damp forehead, then smiled when she recognized Jacob’s horse. She hurried to meet him.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be able to make it. Or if you’d gotten the message.” Anna walked with him to the front of the buggy and waited while he tethered the horse. Then he turned to face her, and he was frowning.

“I have to talk to your
daadi
. I’m going to do that soon.”

Anna stopped breathing for a few moments as she pictured that scenario.

Jacob’s hand on her arm sent a chill through her despite the intense heat. “I don’t feel right about sneaking around like this. I know he’s forbidden you to see me.”

Anna let out the breath she was holding, conscious of his hand still on her arm. “I don’t feel
gut
about it either, but
Daadi
is being unreasonable. He’s not being fair.” She folded her arms across her chest, then regretted doing that because Jacob pulled back his hand.

He smiled, and Anna felt her knees going weak. “Come on.” He reached for her hand, and together they walked to the oak tree and sat down on the grass. “No one was using the buggy, so I was able to bring it, but I would have walked here to see you. Anna . . .”

He let go of her hand and took off his hat, revealing a mass of gold-streaked hair. He ran his hand through it before he went on. “I’ve already told you that
mei
family is in a bad way.” He paused,
sighing, but then smiled. “I’m a mess too. But I really like you, and I’d like to date you. The right way, with your grandfather’s blessing.”

Anna swallowed hard. Despite her recent actions, family meant everything to her, and she could tell it was important to Jacob as well. That he wanted to do the honorable thing by talking to her grandfather made him even more attractive—and he was plenty attractive as it was. She wondered how many women he’d kissed, dated, spent time with. If Jacob ever kissed her, would she do it right?

“I told you.
Daadi
is unreasonable. He wouldn’t listen to me when I tried to explain. He won’t listen to anyone, really. That’s why people in the district hide things from him. Even my grandmother does it.” Anna turned to face him, cringing a little. Maybe she shouldn’t have told on her grandmother. “I never want to live like them. Not telling the entire truth is still a lie, and they have so many lies between them.”

Jacob cupped her cheek in his hand, and Anna stopped breathing again. “That’s exactly why I have to talk to your grandfather. We’re lying just by being here.”

She knew he was right, but the feel of his touch reminded her that this small untruth was worth it. “Okay,” she managed in a whisper as Jacob moved his hand. “But what if he still forbids us to see each other? Then what?”

He shrugged. “I’ll figure it out.”

“So how are things with your
daed
? Any better?”

Jacob had told her all about his father, the ways he’d been handling his grief about Leah. Or not handling it.

He rubbed his forehead. “He still stays to himself. And this week
Mamm
quit taking meals to him in their bedroom. I think she was trying to force him to be with the family at mealtime, but
it didn’t work. He just doesn’t eat now, except for the lunch
Mamm
sends with him when he’s tending the land.”

Anna was quiet for a few moments. “
Daadi
would be a
gut
person for him to talk to.”

“I’m not sure anyone can get through to him at this point. I feel the most sorry for
mei mamm
. And for Eli. He’s twelve, and he really needs his
daed
.”

Jacob leaned back against the tree and crossed his ankles. “Besides, you said your grandfather is unreasonable and unfair. What makes you think he could help my father?”

Anna sighed. “He knows how he feels. He lost his
sohn
and his
sohn’s fraa
—my parents. And
Mammi
told me that he withdrew into himself for a long time after that. I know he’s stubborn and strict, but he does love the Lord, and I know he wants to be a
gut
bishop. Maybe I should suggest that he pay your father a visit.”

“Maybe.” Jacob turned to face her. “Or maybe wait until after I talk to him about us.”

Us
. That sounded nice.

“If that goes well, I’ll talk to your grandfather about
Daed
.”

“I’m so sorry your family is going through this.”

Jacob reached for her hand and squeezed. “Me too.”

Anna reached into her pocket and pulled out her flattened dime. “Did you bring yours?”

“Ya.”
He smiled as he produced his in the palm of his hand. “So what did you wish for?”

Anna shook her head. “Can’t tell you. Then it won’t come true.”

Jacob sighed as he stretched his legs out and crossed his ankles. “Well then, I guess I can’t tell you what I wished for either.” He paused, leaning his face closer to her. “Maybe I’ll just show you.”

Anna’s pulse quickened and her emotions whirled as she realized this was the moment she’d been waiting for. The feel of Jacob’s lips on hers sent her stomach into a wild swirl. But after only a few seconds, she surprised herself and relaxed into the kiss, parting her lips as she shared an intimacy she’d only dreamed about. It was everything she’d hoped it would be, and as Jacob eased away, he kissed her tenderly on the cheek.

Anna couldn’t take her eyes off him. Or his mouth. Without giving it much thought, she leaned up and kissed him again.

Maybe my wish is coming true
.

Lucy carted Benjamin on her hip into Noah’s clinic, hoping her little one would behave himself. She loved her son more than anything in the world, but there was merit to the entire “terrible twos” phrase she’d heard about.

She’d never been to Noah’s clinic, and she wouldn’t have ventured here today if she wasn’t desperate. But she owed her regular doctor so much money, she didn’t dare show her face at his office.

She walked up to the receptionist window and rang the bell. The foggy glass door slid open.

“I don’t have an appointment, but I was wondering if Dr. Stoltzfus would have time to see us.” Lucy repositioned Benjamin on her hip. “Benjamin is due for his shots, but he seems really congested too.”

“Has he been here before?”

Lucy shook her head. “No. He usually goes to Dr. Bentson in Lancaster.”

“Dr. Stoltzfus had an emergency. He should be back within
the hour. You’re welcome to wait. There is one person in front of you.”