The Storekeeper's Daughter (11 page)

Naomi bolted for the rear of the store and pounded on the storage room door. “Papa, it’s me! Caleb Hoffmeir’s here with some news about Zach.”

The door swung open, and Papa and Jacob emerged.

“Where’s he at? What’d he say?” Papa’s eyes were wide, and he looked downright befuddled. It was the first time he’d spoken to Naomi since that morning, when the police stopped by their house.

“He’s up front by the counter. He thinks he may have seen Zach in Berlin, Ohio.”

Papa rushed past her, with Jacob Weaver following. Naomi was right on his heels.

“What’s all this about you seein’ Zach in Ohio?” Papa asked Caleb, who stood with his back against the counter.

“Not sure it was him,” Caleb answered, “but he had the same dark brown eyes and light brown hair cut in a Dutch bob. If I hadn’t thought he was home with his family, I probably could have convinced myself it was him.”

“Who was he with? Where exactly did you see him? Was he okay?”

Caleb held up one hand. “Slow down, Abraham, and I’ll try to answer your questions one at a time.”

Papa gripped the edge of the counter with both hands. “Okay, I’m listening.”

“I went to Berlin to see about some buggy parts, and—”

“Forget the buggy parts! Just tell me about my son!”

Jacob stepped forward and laid his hand on Papa’s shoulder. “Calm down once, and let the boy talk.”

Papa sucked in a deep breath, and Naomi could tell he was fighting hard for control. “Go on,” he mumbled.

“On Sunday, before I headed home, I decided to take a walk.” Caleb paused a moment. “I was goin’ past this quilt shop, when I noticed an English couple looking in the window. The woman was holding a little boy who looked sort of like Zach.”

“Did you say anything to ’em?”

“No. Didn’t see a need.”

“Did you get a look at the vehicle they were driving?” This question came from Jacob, but Caleb shook his head.

“I kept on walking, so I didn’t even see if they had a car.”

“But you’re sure it was a quilt shop they were in front of?” Papa asked.

Caleb nodded. “The sign out front said FANNIE’S QUILT SHOP. I’m sure of that much. Also heard the man say they’d be goin’ back on Monday to buy a quilt.”

Papa paced back and forth, making sounds like “
Hmm
... Well now ... I wonder...” Finally he halted, turned to face Naomi, and announced, “You’re gonna have to mind the store a few days ’cause I’m goin’ on a trip.”

“Where are you going, Papa?”

“To Ohio. To Fannie’s Quilt Shop.”

Naomi couldn’t believe her dad planned to leave her in charge of the store, much less the children while he went to Ohio. She wanted to believe he trusted her again but figured more than likely he was just desperate for any news of his missing son. It could be a trip made in vain, however, and what if something bad happened while Papa was gone?

“Do you have to leave right away?” Naomi asked, touching her father’s arm.

He pulled away. “Don’t be tryin’ to tell me what to do.”

She blinked. “I—I wasn’t. I just thought—”

“I need to go to Berlin,” Papa said. “Don’t have a moment to lose.”

“Would you like me to give you a ride home so you can pack and find a way to the bus station?” Caleb asked.

Naomi had almost forgotten he was still there, standing on the other side of the wooden counter. He offered her a brief smile, but she looked away, afraid she would break down in front of him.

Papa hesitated and gave his beard a couple of tugs. “Well, I suppose I would need to leave my horse and buggy here so Naomi and the girls have a way home.”

“I can call my cousin Henry who runs a buggy shop near Berlin and see if he’d be willing to put you up for a couple of nights.”

“I’d be much obliged,” Papa said with a nod.

“Want me to see about gettin’ you a bus ticket and a ride to the station?” Jacob Weaver asked.

Papa nodded. “Jah, sure. That would be a big help.”

“Richard, one of the English fellows who works for me, was gonna drive me into Lancaster today, so we can drop you off at the bus station first, if you like.”

“I appreciate the offer, Jacob. Danki.

“I’d better get a move on then,” Papa said. He glanced over at Naomi. “Don’t know how long I’ll be gone but probably won’t be more than a few days at the most.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but he turned his back on her. “Ready, Caleb?”

Caleb nodded.

“Can you and your driver pick me up in an hour at my place?” Papa asked Jacob.

“Sure, no problem.”

Papa opened the screen door, and the three men stepped onto the porch. Naomi heard her father say something to Mary Ann and Nancy, and when she glanced out the window, she saw him hug them.

She sniffed and fought for control.
Papa never gave me a good-bye hug. He’s still angry with me, and I fear unless Zach is found, he always will be.

On a sudden impulse, Naomi darted for the front door. Papa was already in the parking lot, heading for Caleb’s open buggy. She hurried after him, a surge of guilt giving power to her legs. She had asked God for a sign that Zach was all right. Maybe Caleb’s news was that sign. “Papa, wait!”

He stopped and whirled around. “What’s wrong?”

“Take me with you. I want to be there when you find out if the quilt shop owner has any information about Zach.”

Papa’s forehead wrinkled, and his eyebrows disappeared into the creases. “Who would watch the kinner if you came along?”

She gulped back the sob threatening to explode from her lips. “I don’t know. I’m sure the older boys could manage on their own, and maybe we can ask Anna Beechy to care for the younger ones.”

“What about the store, Naomi?”

“Couldn’t we close it for a few days?”

“No. This is something I need to do alone.” Papa turned away as though the matter was settled.

With a heavy heart, Naomi watched him climb into Caleb’s buggy. She knew he couldn’t be persuaded to change his mind. When Papa said no, that was it, plain and simple.

Caleb waved as he pulled out of the parking lot, but she didn’t respond. He was being so nice, yet she couldn’t even find the words to thank him.

“What’s wrong with me?” she moaned. “I’m not acting right anymore.” Hunching her shoulders, Naomi trudged back to the store. Maybe, just maybe, Papa would return from Ohio with good news.

“Papa said he’s goin’ to Ohio to see someone about Zach,” Nancy said when Naomi stepped onto the porch.

Naomi nodded. “That’s right. Caleb was there on Sunday, and he saw a little boy who looked like Zach.”

“Will Papa be bringin’ the boppli home with him?” Mary Ann questioned, her expression hopeful.

“I don’t know what Papa will discover in Ohio,” Naomi answered as honestly as she knew how. Truth was, she didn’t hold out much hope that the person who ran the quilt shop would know anything helpful.

“Can me and Mary Ann stay out here awhile?” Nancy asked, changing the subject. “It’s hot inside, and we like watchin’ the people go by.”

Naomi nodded. “If we get lots of customers, you’ll have to come back in the store. I can’t watch you and wait on people at the same time.”

“You don’t hafta watch us,” Mary Ann said with a huff. “We’re big girls, and we can look out for ourselves.” She thumped her older sister on the arm. “Ain’t that right, Nancy?”

“Yep. We’ll be just fine.”

“I’ll keep the door open so you can call if you need anything.”

Naomi pushed on the screen door and entered the store. She figured she might as well get to work unloading the shipment of rubber stamps that the UPS man had delivered first thing this morning. Maybe Ginny Meyers would drop by later today, and she could show her what came in. She needed something to take her mind off Zach—and Papa heading to Ohio for what could very well be a complete waste of time.

Half an hour later, Naomi gathered up the garbage and headed outside with the idea of giving the plastic sack to Nancy to deposit in the trash bin. She was surprised to see her sisters leaning against the porch railing holding red lollipops in their hands.

“Where’d you get those?”

Flash!

Naomi jumped.

Flash! Flash!

She pivoted to the right. A middle-aged English man stood on the far end of the porch with a camera in his hands. He nodded and grinned at Naomi. “They said I could take their pictures, and I offered them candy as payment.”

A jolt of heat shot up Naomi’s neck, and her stomach rolled. She dropped the sack of garbage and yanked the candy from her sisters’ hands. “You two know better than to accept anything from a stranger.” She shook her finger in Nancy’s face. “You also know how we stand on picture takin’. What were you thinking?”

“Didn’t figure there’d be any harm. Sarah Graber said she let someone take her picture a few days ago.”

“If Sarah jumps off the barn roof, are you gonna follow?” Naomi’s voice was shrill, and her hands shook as she clenched the candy she held at her sides. Didn’t her sisters have any idea how dangerous talking to a stranger could be? And allowing the man to take their pictures ... She was sorely disappointed in them.

“Get inside, both of you,” she hollered. “The shelves need dusting, and the windows could use a good washing, too. Now get to it!”

The girls stomped off, slamming the screen door as they went inside.

Naomi dropped the lollipops into the garbage sack she’d left on the porch and turned to face the photographer, ready to give him a piece of her mind. Before she could get a word out, he lifted his camera and snapped a picture of her. She gasped. “How dare you!”

He slipped the camera into a canvas satchel and slung it over his shoulder. “Looks like somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.”

Naomi whirled around and stomped into the store, leaving the garbage sack where it lay. She found Nancy washing windows, but Mary Ann was crouched behind the counter, crying.

Naomi dropped to her knees in front of her youngest sister. “I didn’t mean to make you cry, Mary Ann, but you should know better than to do what you did out there.”

The child wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I only wanted a piece of candy.”

“Then you should have come inside and asked for one.”

Mary Ann looked up, her brown eyes reminding Naomi of a wounded animal. “I figured you’d say no.”

Naomi pulled the little girl into her arms. “When you’re done with the dusting, you can help yourself to a lollipop from the candy counter.”

Mary Ann sniffed. “Nancy, too?”

“Jah.” Naomi grabbed the broom and started sweeping the floor.
What was Papa thinking, leaving me alone to care for his children? I can barely function, much less take charge of things ’til he gets back home.

“Mom, if you don’t need me for a while, I think I’ll take my lunch and go out back to the picnic table,” Abby said.

Fannie nodded. “Sure, Daughter, go right ahead. Since it’s almost noon, there probably won’t be too many customers.”

Abby smiled, her dark eyes gleaming. She was such a sweet girl, always helpful and ever so pleasant. And Abby was mighty good with a needle and thread. She’d done her first piece of quilting when she was ten years old and had been making beautiful quilts ever since. Fannie didn’t know what she would have done without Abby’s help after her husband, Ezra, had a massive heart attack two years ago, leaving her a widow. Fannie’s son, Harold, had married Lena Graber two years ago, and they lived next door to her, so Fannie knew she could rely on them, as well. Fannie hoped she’d have her only daughter around awhile. Abby was only eighteen and didn’t even have a serious boyfriend yet.

“I’ll trade off with you when I’m done eating,” Abby said, breaking into Fannie’s musings. “You’ve worked hard all morning and could use some time in the fresh air.”

Fannie grunted. “Hot and sticky air, that’s more like it.”

“It’s much cooler under the shade of the old maple tree.”

“That’s true, and I’ll probably take your suggestion.” Fannie pointed to the back door. “Now go eat your lunch. Time’s a-wastin’.”

When Abby hurried away, Fannie returned to her job at the cutting table. She had a Log Cabin quilt she was planning to work on, and it sure wouldn’t get done by thinking about it.

She’d only taken a few snips when the bell on the front door jangled. She looked up and saw an English couple enter the store. The woman held a little boy in her arms.
Probably not much more than a year old,
Fannie figured. The baby had light brown hair and eyes so dark it made her think of chocolate syrup.

Fannie fought the urge to ask if she could hold the baby. It had been too long since her kinner were little. She’d always wished for more children, but the Lord must have thought two were enough. After Abby was born, Fannie never conceived again. Since she had no husband now, it wasn’t likely she’d ever have any more children, either.

“May I help ya with somethin’?” she asked, moving toward the English couple, who glanced around the store with confused expressions.

The man fidgeted and glanced out the front window. “We—uh—need a quilt,” he mumbled.

“What size are you needin’?”

He looked at the woman. “Queen?”

She nodded. “That’s the size of our bed, so that’s what we want.”

“All the quilts are hung on racks, according to their dimensions,” Fannie said, pointing across the room. “Do you have any particular style or color in mind?”

The woman shook her head. “No, not really. I guess maybe something with blues would be nice. Our bedroom is blue and white.”

“There are several quilts with blue in them. Would ya like to browse, or do you want me to show them to you?”

“You’d better show us, or we’ll be here all day,” the man said. Fannie figured his edginess was probably because he’d rather be doing something other than looking at quilts. Most men didn’t like shopping. Leastways, Ezra never had.

“Right this way.” Fannie led, and they followed.

The woman handed the baby over to the man while she looked at quilts.

“Sure is a cute baby,” Fannie said. “How old is he?”

“He’s—uh—one.”

“What’s the name of this pattern?” the woman asked, pulling Fannie’s attention back to the job at hand.

“That one’s called Lone Star. My daughter, Abby, made it.”

“Do you make every quilt here in the shop?”

“Oh no. We’d never have time to make ’em all.” Fannie waved her hand. “There are several Amish and Mennonite women in the area who sew for us.”

“They’re all lovely,” the woman said, “but I think I’ll take this one.” She glanced at her husband and pointed to the price sticker. “It’s six hundred dollars, Jim. Can we afford that much?”

He grimaced but nodded. “I think we can swing it.”

“Will you take a credit card?” the woman asked.

“We’ll be paying cash,” her husband said, reaching into his pants’ pocket and retrieving a brown wallet.

“But, Jim, that’s a lot of money and—”

“It’s fine. I’ve got enough cash left to get us home.”

“Where you folks from?” Fannie asked as she lifted the quilt off the rack.

“We’re here visiting family,” the man answered before the woman could open her mouth.

Fannie figured that was all the information he cared to give, so she dropped the subject. Some English folks were sure odd. So closemouthed about things.

She took the quilt to her work counter and carefully wrapped it in tissue paper, then placed it inside a lightweight cardboard box.

Obviously pleased with her purchase, the woman fairly beamed. She took the baby from her husband, and he picked up the box.

Fannie followed them to the front door. “I hope you’ll get many years of enjoyment from the quilt you bought. Have a good day now.”

“Yes, thank you,” the man muttered. “You, too.”

For the next few hours, Naomi and her sisters cleaned and stocked more shelves. When that was done, she sent Nancy and Mary Ann to the back room so they could play while she inserted more figures into the ledger.

She had just seated herself behind the counter when Ginny Meyers entered the store. Naomi looked up and feigned a smile. “We got a new shipment of rubber stamps in this morning. You’d probably like to have a look-see.”

Ginny raced over to Naomi. “I can’t even think about stamps right now. I read about Zach’s kidnapping in the newspaper this morning and came by to offer my support.”

Naomi nodded. “It happened on Saturday.”

“That’s what the paper said.” Ginny reached across the counter and took hold of Naomi’s hand. “I’m sorry, Naomi. It must be awful for you.”

Naomi blinked back the tears threatening to spill over. Having someone’s sympathy was awful nice, but for some reason, seeing Ginny and hearing her kind words made Naomi feel worse.