“So he put you behind the wheel without teaching you how to drive first? Some protection.”
Stephen steered his pickup onto the road. “What are you doing hanging out with him?” He gripped the wheel. “Yeah, yeah, I know his father’s ill, but don’t let Jake sucker you in.”
Minutes later, we were entering the nursery’s expansive parking lot. Stephen pulled to a halt near the retail shop and left the engine idling.
“I only wish…” I felt like a failure.
“What? That you could learn to drive?”
“Yah, that might have been my one and only opportunity, and I blew it.” My world felt topsy-turvy. “I’ll never have another chance.”
“I can help you learn to drive if you really want to.” Stephen turned to face me and inspected my expression. “But no pressure if you say no.” His voice was assuring but not pushy. With him I felt confident.
“Yah, I do want to try—as long as you don’t let me run into anything.”
“There’s not much to hit in this huge parking lot.” He gave me a methodical lesson on which pedals did what, and then he adjusted the mirrors and the steering wheel. We switched places. “Buckle in and take a moment to look around. Now, go easy, okay? We’re in no hurry.”
“Yah, okay.” I tapped the gas pedal so lightly the vehicle crept a few feet and then stopped.
“You can give it more gas, Evie.”
I pressed harder and the pickup gained momentum.
“Turn the steering wheel to the right.” His hand grasped onto it to help me rotate the wheel. “And you can try going a little faster.”
My foot punched the gas pedal, spinning the rear wheels out on the gravel. It felt like ice-skating on the pond in winter.
“Ease up on the gas.” He reached over to take the wheel as my foot jammed on the brakes. “It’s all or nothing with you,” he said. “Have you never heard of the saying ‘moderation in all things’?”
I thought I was going to cry, but instead giggles erupted from my mouth. Stephen chortled too until the cab was bursting with laughter. Tears of hilarity sprang to my eyes. His eyes were brimming too.
Without thinking, I collapsed into his arms. As quickly as our laughter started, it subsided. His face was inches from mine. He bent his head closer, and his lips brushed against my cheek. A gentle and sweet kiss, but a kiss nevertheless. I wanted to kiss him back, to sink into his embrace, but sanity took hold. I pushed away and leaned against the cab’s door.
Stephen straightened his back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. Please forgive me.”
I sat in silence for several moments, pondering my actions. I wanted to drive an automobile. I was tempted to kiss Stephen, and I still might.
“I must ask you to forgive me,” I said. “You could lose your job.”
“For kissing you?” The backs of his fingertips directed stray hairs behind my ears.
“Isn’t there a rule about fraternizing with the employees?”
“I don’t think so. Or against falling in love with one. Several Amish couples working here have later become wedded.”
“But they were both Amish, yah?”
“Yes, they were.” He took hold of one of my kapp’s strings and twirled it between two fingers. “And I’m not. You know I’m attracted to you, don’t you?”
I stared back at him in disbelief.
“It doesn’t seem you’re in a rush to become baptized.”
“I promised my parents I would. I was planning to, but now I don’t know.”
He flicked the string behind my back. “Are you waiting for Jake to make up his mind before you do? You could wait forever for him and never be wed.” The truth of his words stung.
“When I drove Beatrice over to the Millers’ and met Brandy, it was plain to see she dotes on Jake.” He expelled a lengthy sigh. “And no, I don’t believe Jake’s story about not being the father. I expect she’ll give birth to a towheaded baby—blond like both parents.”
The image had entered my mind earlier tonight, but I’d tried to brush it away like a cobweb that wouldn’t let go. I pictured Jake cradling the baby in his arms and felt a flood of grief saturate my heart.
“Wouldn’t Ruth and Amos be thrilled to have Jake and their new grandchild living with them?” Stephen brought me back to the present. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you sad. But sometimes facing the truth is for the best, even if painful.”
“Then why does Amos ask for me?” I recalled Amos’s shriveled lips mouthing my name.
“The man’s mind is all messed up. His memory’s shot?”
“No one knows for sure.”
“It’s time to move on, Evie. Even if Amos remembers you, what does that have to do with Jake? Has he been faithful to you?” Stephen’s words felt like a needed slap in the face to bring me back to reality.
My hand moved to the nape of my neck. “Nee. Out of sight, out of mind. And he believed the rumors about me without even verifying them.” I felt salty moisture pushing behind my eyes, but I held it in. I was done crying over Jake Miller.
TWENTY-NINE
The sun was fully up, the light threading itself past the window shades and making a slit of gold color along the left side of my single bed. Promises of a beautiful day, but I felt in a benumbed state, slow and doltish. I pushed to a sitting position and propelled myself out of bed. I needed to scramble.
As I entered the café, my mood spiraled upward upon hearing Beatrice singing an Italian song in the kitchen. Stephen and his sleeping bag must already be gone.
“Hope you don’t mind that I started the soup.” She grinned over her shoulder. “I know we talked about a different soup yesterday, but I couldn’t sleep. So I got out my grandmother’s
