Made with Love (13 page)

“I can't imagine how a little package of colored pencils could cause any problems. I've never really seen that…I mean, being raised with only sisters.”

“You'll see.” Noah wagged his finger in the air. “Wait until we start working on your pie shop. Then you'll get a dose of what it's about.”

They talked about the colors Lovina liked—the white of the cottages around Pinecraft and the light colors—teal, apricot, and pink—of the plain dresses that the young Amish women wore in these parts. They talked about what would need to happen first in the remodel.

“So when will you know?”

“I'm going out to dinner with Dat and Mem tonight. If it's a no I'll know by tomorrow.”

“And if it's a yes?” Noah asked.

“Well, that could take more time. If Dat agrees to cosign for me I have to talk to Jason at the bank. He can figure out the loan and do all the paperwork.”

“I'll be praying about that.”

“Danke.” It warmed her heart to hear that. While all Amish men were supposed to be men of prayer, hearing someone state it so plainly wasn't common.

The bell jingled behind them, and Lovina heard a voice call out.

“Lovina!”

The smile on Noah's face faded as footsteps neared.

Lovina turned, and her eyes widened as she saw Thomas Chupp standing there.

 

Soft Pretzels

1½ cups warm water

2 tablespoons yeast

5 cups flour (approximate)—can use up to 2½ cups whole-wheat flour

¼ cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1½ cups hot water

2 tablespoons baking soda

melted butter

cinnamon sugar (optional)

coarse salt (optional)

Dissolve the yeast in water. Add the flour, brown sugar, and salt. Knead like bread dough. Let rise 15 to 20 minutes. Roll and shape into pretzels. Dip into 1½ cups hot water that has 2 tablespoons baking soda dissolved in it. Lay on absorbent paper towel to dry. Transfer to greased cookie sheets to bake. Bake 7 minutes in preheated 450° oven. After baking, dip into melted butter. We like to roll them in cinnamon sugar or sprinkle them with salt. These are fun to make when you have several helping hands. Makes 10 pretzels.

Ten

If you live an honest and upright life, there is no need to “talk the talk.” Your life speaks for itself.

A
MISH
P
ROVERB

T
homas Chupp strode in to Big Olaf's, walking directly to their table and pausing next to Lovina's chair.

She glanced up, surprised and a little intimidated by the way Thomas looked down at her. He was handsome and he knew it. It was clear that Thomas was used to having command of a room. It made her slightly uncomfortable, like something an Englisch man would do.

“I'm so sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to thank you for stopping by earlier. My Aunt Vera told me where you lived and Faith said you were here.” He grinned. “It was nice seeing her again. She told you that I met her last night, but I had no idea you were related…” His smile brightened. “I hope I'm not interrupting anything.” He looked from her to Noah and then back again, but in her opinion Thomas didn't seem sorry at all.

“Well—” she started, but he quickly cut off her words.

“You know that I'm new in town, and my aunt insists I must go to Siesta Key Beach. And since you're the only person under
the age of sixty I know in Pinecraft, I was wondering if you'd join me? I thought we could go tonight.”

“Tonight? No.” She shook her head. “I'm sorry. I already have plans.”

Thomas looked to Noah and frowned slightly, as if believing he had something to do with those plans. Noah did in a way, but Lovina didn't want to try to explain.

“But what about Faith—”

“I see.” He cut off her words again. “Well, what about tomorrow night then?” Thomas's eyes widened hopefully.

“I don't know. I have some important things I'm working on.” She thought about mentioning Faith again, but she needed to talk to her sister first. Lovina always hated when Mem tried to set her up, and Lovina guessed that Faith didn't appreciate it either.

“Ja, but your sister told me you haven't been to the beach in over a month. How could you let that happen, especially when you live so close?” Thomas focused on her, refusing to let her look away.

“My interests lie in other areas.”

Thomas's smiling eyes locked on hers. “I won't take no for an answer.”

Lovina looked to Noah as if wanting him to jump in and save her, but his gaze was turned downward. He was busy sketching something—something she wanted to see. Thomas hovered over, and she knew he wasn't going to leave until she gave him an answer. Not any answer, but the one he wanted to hear.

“Ja, well, maybe in the morning before it gets too hot. But just for an hour or so.”

“Wunderbar. I'll hire a driver. I'll get some lunch items packed too. See you at ten o'clock tomorrow.” And just like that, Thomas walked out without a parting glance.

He was there and gone quickly, and she almost wondered if she'd imagined it. But from the wall now firmly erected between her and Noah, she knew she hadn't.

Lovina brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. She didn't know what to say.

“The pretzel is
gut
.” Noah held it up. And then he took his final bite. “And if you don't mind, I'd love to look in your notebook. To get an idea of things you like.”

Noah spoke to her in a kind, gentle tone, but there was a coolness to their interaction that hadn't been there before.

“Ja, of course.” Her heart sunk. The playfulness of their meeting was gone just like that. And Lovina wondered if she should have done something differently. But really, what could she have done? It wasn't as if Thomas had given her any chance to decline. And why should she have? Someone who was new to town had invited her to the beach. That was all. It was nothing to be ashamed of. And Noah wanted to work for her, nothing more.

Mem will be pleased…pleased about the date, that is
. Lovina was still worried about Mem's opinion of Noah. But she supposed time would tell concerning that too.

She opened up her notebook and flipped through a few pages, trying to get Thomas's intense, brown-eyed gaze out of her mind and trying to decide what to show Noah first.

“I do like this cupboard.” She pointed to a large cupboard on one of the pages. There was nothing fancy about its design. It was wooden and had four shelves, but the shelves were filled with colorful dishes. Mostly old Pyrex bowls, mugs, and plates in colors of teal, sea foam green, yellow, and white.

Noah ran his finger over the page. “I love how they used those reclaimed letters on the top shelf to spell out EAT,” he commented, yet with little emotion.

“Ja,” she smiled, “but in my shop it would spell out PIE.” She chuckled.

“That only makes sense.” A bit of his smile returned. “I've seen a lot of those salvaged letters around from old signs. I wonder if you might find some old theater letters around your warehouse. I wouldn't be surprised.”

“I like how you call it
my
warehouse.”

Noah shrugged. “I know it's not a certain thing yet, but I'll continue to do what I can to help.”

He sketched the shelf next, and it reminded Lovina of the way her sister had sketched earlier. With such concentration. It amazed her how people were able to take what was in their thoughts and put it on paper. That was something she had no talent in whatsoever.

Lovina continued to point out items, and Noah drew them. Another hour passed, and when they were through Lovina was holding three sheets of paper in her hands.

She spread them on the table before her. She had what she needed for tonight's meeting with her parents. If her father wouldn't say yes now, she knew he never would.

“Thank you.” She looked across the table at Noah, knowing her simple words could never convey her heart. “I'll let you know when I hear something.”

“Thanks for considering me too.” He rose and tucked his sketchbook under his arm, but he left the colored pencils on the table.

She pointed to pencils on the table. “You really aren't going to take those?”

“No, but you're welcome to take them.” A smile showed a slight dimple in his cheek. “Consider them a souvenir of our meeting.”

“I'll give them to my sister. But let me pay for them. I know you just bought them today.”

He nodded with a grin. “Yes, I'll accept payment. But not in money.”

“What then?” She rose, standing next to him, peering up into his face.

“The first piece of pie from your pie shop.”

Her heart jumped at those words, and she couldn't help but smile. “That sounds like a deal, Mr. Yoder.” She extended her hand, and he took it. His hand was rough—a working man's hand—and she liked that about him. “That's a deal I can work with.”

Lovina couldn't help but notice her sisters watching from the window when she returned home and parked her bike. She couldn't erase her smile, and she wished she could tell them everything—all about the warehouse, about Noah and his sketches—which she now had tucked inside her notebook.

She couldn't do that, mostly because they'd never be able to keep it from their parents. Lovina wanted to be the one to tell Dat and Mem about the money she'd saved, the bank loan that Jason was working on, and her remodeling plans. She had the sketches that would capture her father's creative nature. She also planned to downplay Noah Yoder's involvement. She wasn't sure what Noah had done to get on Mem's bad side, but the fact that Mem hadn't mentioned him once to any of her daughters proved that he wasn't in her good graces.

Lovina strode into her house determined to hide her smile, but the four grinning faces looking up at her from around the kitchen table made it impossible.