Miriam's Secret (16 page)

“Now you sound like
Daett
.” Shirley winced. “I'm sure you're both right. It must be nice to have extra money though.”

“Let's not think about it anymore tonight,” Jonas said as he slowed down for a stop sign.

“That's suits me just fine. But don't ask me to choose a restaurant. I don't have any idea what's available or where they are.”

He pondered for a moment. “It'll be the City Square Steakhouse, then. I know you'll love it.”

With you I love everything, even movies,
Shirley almost said.

“Do you like steak?” Jonas asked.

“I love it…” Shirley said with some hesitation. “The few times we've had it at home, anyway. I hope I know how to act in a fancy restaurant. I've never been to one.” His long look took in all of her.

Shirley felt her heart flutter.

But then Jonas glowed with approval. “Just be yourself, and everything will be just fine.”

“Don't give me such compliments.” The words came out under her breath.

Obviously he caught the gist. His glow didn't wane. “It's hard not to with a girl like you.”

Shirley studied the road for a long moment and imagined how red her face must be glowing. Thankfully, Jonas changed the subject.

“Tell me more about this farm your sister inherited. I hear it's one of the finest in Holmes County.”

“Oh, it's nice, I guess,” she began. “
Daett
and my two older brothers spent considerable time there the past week. I went with Miriam once to clean the house and put things in order. It seemed like a nice place.

Jonas slowed down as they approached the outskirts of Wooster. He didn't say anything for a moment. “I heard the place is large, acreage wise, and it has lots of business potential.”

Shirley sighed. “I don't know how big it is. I do know
Daett
and my brothers will struggle to keep up with both farms on their hands. But they're happy about it. Already a young couple, Lester and Elaine Stoll, who married last fall and have been living in his parents' basement, have asked to rent the house. I heard
Daett
talk with
Mamm
and Miriam about it. I think they've accepted the offer.”

“I don't know them.” Jonas slowed down even more as they entered the heart of Wooster.

They're poor like us
, Shirley almost said, but she bit back the words. There was no reason for her bitterness about poverty to surface. And besides, money seemed to mean about as little to Jonas as it did to
Daett
. Maybe that came because Jonas had never suffered from the lack of it. Or perhaps it was because Jonas was a really nice person. He had, after all, overlooked the fact that she was from a poor family when they first started going out.

“Where do you know this Lester and Elaine from?” Jonas asked.

“They're in our district.” Shirley studied the city buildings around her. “They're nice people.”

“It's nice that you could find people to live in the house so quickly,” Jonas said. “And people you know, at that.”

“
Yah.
And it's nice to have a steady income so soon from the farm. Miriam is happy about that. She's giving everything to
Daett
and
Mamm
.”

Jonas didn't comment as he turned into a parking lot. “Well, here we are!”

Jonas jumped out of the car and dashed around to open her door. He took her hand and led the way toward the restaurant.

Shirley felt her hand trembling in his and hoped Jonas wouldn't notice. It was the newness of the place that had her in shivers, Shirley told herself. The truth was that Jonas's hand in hers was the real reason, but that didn't seem decent to think about right now. Perhaps later in the privacy of her bedroom she'd allow her mind to linger on how precious it was.

Jonas opened the restaurant door and held it for her. He quickly walked next to her as they approached the restaurant host.

Shirley was glad her pesky conscience wasn't stirring at the moment, but she feared it would soon exert itself in such a fancy place. And without Jonas, she wouldn't have had a chance to have a meal in a place like this.
Yah
, this was an amazing experience. All the more reason to enjoy it.
Live each moment in what is right.
And this was right! So very right. Thankfully her conscience didn't whisper anything back.

They were soon seated and a smiling lady handed them menus and left. Shirley took a discreet look at their surroundings. Elaborate lights hung from the ceiling. There were long, beautiful art prints on the walls. She noticed the well-dressed clientele had glanced at them while they were being seated. “I know what you said about being myself, but do I look weird or something?” she asked Jonas. “Maybe I should have left my
kapp
on? At least it would go with my Amish dress. Everyone is staring at us.”

“You look beautiful. That's why they're looking at us.”

Jonas was fudging the truth, no doubt. All these people had seen better-looking girls. For the future, she would have to get an
Englisha
dress for her outings with Jonas—if there were anymore. How would she accomplish that without the money to buy one? She certainly couldn't ask Jonas. Nor could she make an
Englisha
-style dress at home under
Mamm
's watchful eyes.

Jonas looked up from the menu and stared at Shirley with a smile.

“Don't look at me like that,” she whispered. “It embarrasses me.”

He grinned but turned his eyes back to the menu. She followed his example, although she was overwhelmed by the myriad choices and the fancy foods listed. When the waitress arrived, Shirley still hadn't decided what to order.

Thankfully, Jonas came to her rescue. “May I order for you, Shirley?”

“Yes! That would be perfect!”

Jonas turned to the waitress. “We'll both have the filet mignon.”

Shirley let out a breath of relief. She hadn't even known how to pronounce the words, much less known what “filet mignon” was.

“Potatoes au gratin or baked?” the waitress asked.

“Not baked,” Shirley said quickly. She had baked potatoes at home all the time. Why not be adventurous? Whatever au gratin potatoes were, at least it would be something new. Jonas chose au gratin too, so they must be okay.

“This is my favorite steakhouse,” Jonas said. “Great food.”

“Then I'm glad you brought me here,” she said, her eyes still taking it all in.

Jonas reached under the table and gave Shirley's hand a brief squeeze.

Shirley's heart pounded until the waitress returned with salads. After each offered a brief, silent prayer, Jonas began eating so Shirley followed his lead.

Soon the main course arrived. Conversation was light as they enjoyed the delicious steak and side dishes. Shirley watched Jonas carefully and ate slowly to avoid any missteps. She hid her sigh of relief when she took her last bite.

She gently massaged her neck to rub the tension away. Now, perhaps, she could relax.

Jonas finished a moment later and leaned back. The waitress appeared, and he ordered a dessert for both of them that Shirley had never heard of.

When they were finished, Jonas paid the check with a credit card. After the waitress returned the receipt, Jonas asked Shirley, “Are you ready to go?”

“Sure.” Shirley rose slowly, careful not to trip over her own feet. She could just see herself flat out on the restaurant floor with Jonas embarrassed half-to-death. When she was next to Jonas, his hand found hers. She leaned against his shoulder as they made their way out the front door. The faint smell of his cologne filled the air around them.

Chapter Sixteen

F
ifteen minutes later the lights of Wooster were behind them. Shirley relaxed in the comfortable leather seat of Jonas's Porsche. The darkness had settled like a blanket, but the car's headlights pierced through and highlighted the road ahead. Only a few vehicles passed them because Jonas had turned off the main highway not a minute ago. It was a longer way back to Berlin, but Shirley didn't care. The longer the ride home took, the better.

“So,” Jonas said as he smiled at her, “good meal?”

“Amazing!” She so wanted to nestle up close to him, but she didn't dare.

The little country road they were on wound itself here and there. A few Amish homes appeared now that they were well out of town. She could tell they were Amish by the gas lanterns burning in the front windows and the occasional buggy dimly visible in the barnyards if lanterns were lit in the barns.

Back to Possum Valley, Shirley thought. Jonas would drop her off, and she wouldn't see him again for who knew how long. She might even have to face a lecture tonight from
Daett
that would tempt her to make promises she wouldn't keep because they'd involve staying away from Jonas.

Jonas slowed down and the car bounced onto a pasture lane and then up a small hill. He pulled the car to a stop and turned off the lights.

Shirley drew in her breath as her eyes adjusted to the view. The sweep of stars reached low to the horizon. This was even better than what Miriam and she could see of the countryside from their upstairs bedroom. Here on this small knoll the country was open for miles, with only a few farms scattered in the distance.

“Like it?” Jonas asked.

“Of course I do. It's beautiful.” Shirley gazed across the fields.

This seemed a little early in their relationship for such a romantic spot, but she wouldn't object. Did she dare move closer to Jonas? If not tonight, then when? She had no assurance that Jonas would ask her out again. She scooted closer to him, and his hand found hers. Shirley breathed in the faint smell of the meadow through the open top of the convertible.

Jonas turned toward her. “I'm glad you like the view.”

I like being with you even more
, she felt like saying. The words felt safer wrapped around her heart than spoken. Never had she felt like this before. And the sad thing was that there might never be a night like this again.

“There are the seven sisters.” Jonas's free hand pointed skyward.

She followed the direction he traced and settled her gaze on the star cluster. All she could see though was the outline of his arm visible against the heavens. Jonas was more beautiful, she thought, than the twinkle of a thousand stars. Those she'd seen
all her life on the farm. The trace of his arm she'd never seen under the light of the stars. Oh, what if he read her mind? She whispered quickly, “The stars are nice, really nice.”

“Do you study the stars?” His voice was tender.

“Not really. I just look at them. They make me feel lonesome most of the time.”

“Stars
are
kind of lonesome. They look clustered together, but even the seven sisters are light-years apart.”

“Not unlike us.” The words slipped out, and she tensed. Why had she said something so foolish? Then she felt him squeeze her hand and figured he was smiling. She relaxed.

His hand let go and slipped around her shoulder. “Yes, you're right. So near and yet so far.”

“I know.” She tried to breathe evenly as she leaned her head against him.

His free hand swept lower across the horizon now. “Those are all Amish farms. You can tell by the dim lighting.”

“
Yah
.” Shirley took a deep breath. “They are my people, the place where I come from.”

“Do you like being Amish?” The question came gently.

“I think so.” Shirley stared at the star-filled heavens. “It's what I am. How do you be something else…something you're not?”

He shrugged. “You leave, I suppose. My parents did.”

She said nothing for a moment. “I've always thought I'd stay in the faith.
Daett
and
Mamm
are…” She let the thought drift off.