SummerHill Secrets, Volume 1 (59 page)

Mom was upstairs now. I could hear her across the hall, talking to Charity. Next thing I knew, she was waving Lissa’s photos in front of me.

I whispered, “Thanks,” and put the photo-lab envelope on the bed. Mom left the room to attend to Charity.

“Uh…Jon,” I said, glancing at my watch, “could I call you back later?”

“Like, how late?”

“Sometime after nine-thirty.” That’s when I had to be home. And that’s when I would know something about my status with Levi—and whether or not I was free to go with Jon to the church potluck.

“With watchful wonder, I’ll await your call,” he said.

I giggled. Jon was a real nut! Why had he waited so long to show an interest in me?

Downstairs, Levi looked truly dashing in his new T-shirt and jeans—without the usual suspenders. I wondered if he’d given them up, too.

Dad and Levi stood as I came into the room. “We were just talking about you, Mer,” Dad volunteered.

Levi nodded. “All good things.” His eyes caught mine.

Suddenly, my cats showed up, sniffing at Levi’s tennis shoes. “Okay, call off the cat squad,” I teased, shooing the felines away. “Looks like they’re still getting acquainted.”

Levi grinned. “You’d think Lily White would know me by now, jah?”

I remembered the first time I’d seen Lily—in the hayloft last spring—before the Zooks’ fire. Levi had called her a mouse catcher. “Maybe she’s worried you’ll take her back to the barn,” I said.

“Never again,” Levi replied. Unfortunately, Lily White hadn’t heard his remark. She was already long gone.

“Well, I guess you two better be running along,” Dad offered, rubbing his hands together.

“Nice chattin’ with ya,” Levi said to Dad, then shook his hand. I wondered if they’d come to some sort of gentlemen’s agreement. It sure seemed fishy for them to be so chummy.

Levi followed me out through the wide archway and into the hall to the spacious entryway.

“Mom, I’m leaving,” I called up the steps.

“Have fun,” she called back.

Dad was leaning against the wide wood molding in the doorway leading to the living room. “Drive carefully” was all he said. Then with a wave, he smiled.

Outside, Levi walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for me. There was a spring in his step as he hurried to the driver’s side after I was settled in. I admired the plush interior of his car. It still seemed odd to think that Levi actually owned modern wheels.

“Well, what do ya think?” he asked, jumping in behind the steering wheel.

“It’s kind of strange. I’m used to seeing you with your horse, riding around in your Amish buggy.”

He nodded. “I know whatcha mean.” He looked at me for a second longer, then put the key into the ignition. “Are ya hungry?”

“We just ate, but thanks.”

“Well, then, how ’bout a soda?” he suggested.

“Okay.”

He switched on the radio to one of the local Christian stations, and we rode without talking down SummerHill Lane. At the turnoff to Hunsecker Road, Levi reached over and held my hand. My heart skipped a beat as he drove the familiar road to the old covered bridge.

“It’s not gonna be easy sayin’ good-bye, Merry,” he said softly. “I want us to always be close like this—even when I’m gone to school.”

I could hardly speak. The moment was filled with deep emotion. Levi slowed down as we approached Hunsecker Mill Bridge, and carefully he guided the car into the narrow, covered bridge. The loose planks rumbled under the wheels as we passed through.

“Do ya still wanna be my girl while I’m gone?” he asked as we headed out into the fading light of dusk. The sinking sun’s red light cast a rosy glow over the road and trees as we headed for town.

I really couldn’t decide. Not now…not with things going so well between us. “What do
you
want, Levi?”

He smiled, his lips parting slightly. “Remember our talk in the gazebo earlier this summer?”

“I remember,” I said, feeling terribly shy.

“Well, I haven’t changed my mind about anything. But we’re still young and…” He paused. “And there’s something else. I feel I’ve received a call from the Lord, ya know. A call into the ministry.”

“That should come first,” I replied.

By the time we got to McDonald’s and went through the drivethrough, Levi had pretty much come to his own conclusion about us. I was glad he was the one deciding, but very sad that he wouldn’t be around SummerHill after August 13.

“I hope you’ll write now and again,” he said, glancing at me. “I don’t wanna lose you, Merry. But it just wouldn’t be fair to tie you down. Not now.”

I thought back to what Dad had said at supper. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve thought he’d given Levi the same spiel he’d given me.

“Of course I’ll write,” I said, pushing the straw into the plastic lid. “And you’ll be back to visit the farm, won’t you?”

“Jah,” he said. “Curly John and Sarah’s baby will be comin’ soon, don’t forget. So I’ll be back.”

“Rachel says the baby’s due in November.”

He nodded. “Sarah’s been busy makin’ all kinds of booties and things.”

His reference to booties got me sidetracked, thinking about Charity back home. “I bet Sarah’s excited.”

“Jah. She talks about namin’ the baby after me if it’s a boy.” Levi was obviously delighted.

“And what if the baby’s a girl—then what’ll they name her?” I turned to look at his familiar face, tanned from the sun.

“My brother wants her to be named for Sarah.”

“Curly John chose Sarah’s name?”

Levi nodded.

“How sweet—baby Sarah Zook,” I said, trying the name on for fun. “How will you tell her name apart from her mother’s?”

“The Amish love nicknames,” Levi chuckled. “She’ll hafta have one fer sure.” Then he surprised me and asked about Charity. “How’s that little one ya had yesterday…in the basket, ya know?”

It sounded like Rachel hadn’t told him about her being abandoned. “Oh, she’s fine,” I said.

“That’s gut,” he said. “Funny, though, I was sure I saw the same baby—same basket—in town with Miss Spindler yesterday afternoon.”

I swallowed hard. “Really?”

“I’m certain of it.” For a few moments only the radio broke the stillness. “What do ya make of it?”

“Guess she was baby-sitting,” I said. Would Dad want me to tell more? I didn’t think so.

“It’s awful strange—Old Hawk Eyes with a baby.” Levi made the left turn onto SummerHill Lane. “Who would’ve thought the old lady would wanna go shoppin’ with a baby?”

The same question had crossed my mind. But that was before I’d come to realize how very kind, even nurturing, our neighbor lady was. “I guess when you know a person long enough…well, eventually the hidden secrets of their personality are revealed.”

Levi looked at me. “Now ya sound like a philosopher.”

We laughed together, sharing the memorable moment as honeysuckle aroma wafted through the windows of Levi’s beautiful car.

“I’m glad I know ya, Merry,” he said, grinning. “Do I know all the secret parts of yer personality yet?”

I kept a straight face. “I doubt it.”

More laughter.

When Levi pulled into my driveway at nine-thirty on the dot, I could think of only one thing: He was leaving SummerHill. Things would never be the same between us.

“Why so glum?” he asked.

I forced a smile. “You know me, I hate change. It’s always hard for me.”

“Jah.” He nodded. “But it’s a new beginning for me. And fer ya, too, Merry. You’ll be goin’ to high school.”

I nodded, not wild about the prospect of leaving my old junior high behind to start over in a brand-new place.

“We’ll still see each other,” Levi said. “I promise ya that.”

Something inside me secretly wished he was making another kind of promise, even though I knew he was right about us going our separate ways.

He held tightly to the steering wheel, looking straight ahead. “Yer a wonderful girl, Merry. I’ve known it since the day ya saved me from drownin’ in the pond behind the house.”

I wasn’t sure why he always had to bring that up. Was it the saving of his life that meant so much to him? Or was it me, myself?

Just then, Abednego, my fat black cat, jumped up onto the hood of the car. He arched his back and hissed.

Levi leaned back in his seat and burst out laughing.

I got out of the car. “Abednego, you crazy cat. Come here!” I tried several coaxing tactics on him, but he refused to come.

By now Levi was outside, too, still getting a kick out of the way Abednego was misbehaving. I apologized for my rude cat, and instead of continuing to persuade and coax, I left Abednego behind and walked with Levi to the front porch.

“Still coming tomorrow to Faithie’s graveside?” I asked as we stood at the door. “We’ll go after dinner.”

“I’ll be there.”

“I’m glad,” I said. “Thanks for the soda.”

He took my hand and held it in both of his. “I’ll be missin’ ya, Merry.”

“I’ll miss you, too, Levi.” We said good-night, knowing full well there were two more weeks—wonderful summer days and nights—before Levi had to go.

Yet the sadness stayed with me long after his gleaming white Mustang pulled out of the driveway and sped down SummerHill.

I headed upstairs to my room. The events of the night had come as somewhat of a relief, yet I was still dealing with mixed emotions about Levi. Mostly sad ones. So sad that I completely forgot about Jon Klein and my promise to call.

Charity started to cry and I hurried to her room. “What’s the matter with you, sweetie?” I asked, picking her up.

Mom came running. “I wonder why she’s fussy,” she remarked. “I just finished bathing her, and I was sure she was asleep.”

“She just wanted to see her big sister, that’s all.” I walked around the makeshift nursery, hugging her close. “Isn’t that right?”

Mom sat in the rocking chair and watched me. “There have been some new developments,” she said.

I perked up my ears. “When? While I was gone? What?”

“Whoa, Merry, slow down.” She was smiling. “There’s nothing to worry about. In fact, it’s very good news.”

“Really?” I moved closer to Mom, eager to hear.

“The authorities have located Charity’s parents somewhere in Virginia. They’re in jail now. Fortunately, they have signed away—relinquished—all parental rights.”

“Yes! This is truly amazing.”

Charity babbled as I bent down and kissed her tiny cheek. “You’re gonna be ours forever!” I danced around the room, rejoicing.

“By noon Monday, we’ll have legal custody—temporarily, of course. It takes time to finalize adoptions.”

“You’re kidding—she’s actually going to be up for adoption?” This was too good to be true.

Mom nodded. “Your dad and I agree that we want you and Skip to be involved in the final decision.” She smiled, wiping a tear off her cheek. “We had a long talk about it tonight. We dearly love Charity and are willing to start over, so to speak. Things could be very lonely for all of us come fall when Skip’s gone. A baby…a baby like Charity would be a welcome addition to our family.”

“So, what’s to decide?” I said. Charity was going to be ours! She was going to stay right here and grow up with doting parents and a sister who adored her. I couldn’t believe God had answered my prayer so quickly.

“We want to have Charity here with us for a full week before we make our final decision,” Mom said. “It’s best to pray in earnest about something this important.”

“I’ve already prayed,” I said, referring to the prayer in the cellar the day she’d arrived. “God came through for me. Charity stays.”

Jon met me at the door leading to our Sunday school class. “I waited last night for you to call,” he said without the typical alliteration routine. “What happened?”

“I’m sorry. Maybe we should talk after class,” I replied, heading inside, looking for an empty chair.

Jon followed, asking if he could sit with me just as Mrs. Simms, our teacher, stood up to welcome the visitors. “What about the potluck? Did you decide?” Jon whispered.

“Sure, I’ll go,” I answered, feeling slightly disloyal to Levi. I tried to dismiss the thought. After all, he and I were only friends now. Still, the idea of hanging out with Jon while Levi was off at the concert in Ephrata alone bothered me.