Esther ambled up the stairs and knocked.
“What?” he said as the door flew open. Then he closed his eyes, gave his head a quick shake, and said, “I mean, hello, Esther.How are you today?”
Esther pressed her lips together, but it didn’t stop her from grinning.
“So now I’m doing what you asked, addressing you like you want”—he paused, frowning—“and you’re laughing at me.”
Esther arched an eyebrow. “I’m not laughing at you, Gus. I’m laughing with you. Danki for remembering the proper way to speak to someone.”
“I guess I’m supposed to ask if you want to come in.” He grumbled, turned around, and left the door open.
Esther didn’t want to go in, but she followed him, noticing the place wasn’t as tidy as it was on her last visit. But it alsowasn’t the pigsty it had been before Rose cleaned it. Their new employee had the day off on Sundays.
“What’s that?” Gus stood in his living room and pointed at the box.
It wasn’t until she handed it to him that she wanted to change her mind, take it back, and rip into it. But she’d stick withher original plan.
“Naomi found it in the basement at the daadi haus. There was a card with mei and Lizzie’s names on it—a card from Mamm. She’d written that this package was to be delivered to you. I’m sorry if it’s been there since her passing. There was so much stuff in that basement. We just never went through it all.” She folded her hands in front of her. “But now you have it.”
Gus stared at the box, a grave expression on his face. “Okay.”
Esther brushed invisible wrinkles from her apron, stalling for time. She’d expected more from Gus, at least a hint as to whatmight be inside, or if he even knew the contents. Gus’s cat, Whiskers, stretched from where she was napping on a rug in thecorner.
He set the box on the couch. “Anything else?” He looked at Esther as he folded his arms across his big belly.
“Nee, I suppose not.” She chewed her bottom lip, eyeing the mysterious find again. “Maybe the package contains important papers?”
“No.” Gus walked to the door, which was still open. He stepped aside, motioning for Esther to step over the threshold.
“You’re welcome,” she said coolly as she shot him a fake smile.
“Oh. Yeah. Thanks.” He looked around Esther. “One of the limos is gone. I saw the kid take off in it early this morning.”
Esther had noticed a car missing. “I figured it was Jayce. He doesn’t seem to enjoy the meetings the rest of them have inour dining room. It’s a beautiful day for a drive, although I’d choose a buggy over a car. Jayce carted Evelyn to eat in oneof our buggies not long after he arrived.”
“I’m sure that’s who he’s with now. Or maybe the other gal that has the hots for him. Your new girl, Rose Petal.”
Esther slapped her hands to her hips. “I told you not to call her that. And what makes you think she fancies Jayce?” She likedthe boy a lot, but he’d be leaving soon and she didn’t want to see either girl get hurt.
Gus laughed, his belly jiggling. “That kid actually asked me for my thoughts about women. Can you believe that?”
“In all seriousness, nee, I can’t.” She tried to envision Jayce questioning Gus about anything to do with females or relationships.
“Well, it ain’t the new gal he’s after. Said she talks too much.”
Esther grinned. “The maedel does have a lot to say.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if those two—the Schrock girl and Jayce—end up together.” Gus grunted. “He probably hasn’t thoughtabout everything he’d have to give up to be with an Amish girl. But he ain’t like all those others.” He waved an arm in thedirection of the inn. “I had the misfortune to have to take him back and forth to the movie shoots in my truck. I think he’dprefer to live on a farm somewhere out here, and the kid probably has the money to do it.” Gus laughed. “He’d probably changehis mind in the summer months. Took me a while to get used to no air conditioning when I first moved in here.”
“It would be nice if he stayed on, but a relationship with Evelyn would be a bit more complicated.” Esther’s wheels were alreadyturning. A little matchmaking side project might be the distraction she and Lizzie needed to get their minds off what wasin the box. Or provide some much-needed relief from hosting the film crew. She recalled Lizzie’s ridiculous attempt to makethe couple feel romantic by loading up the buggy with vanilla. Esther and Lizzie worked better as a team when a situationwarranted their skills. “Evelyn is a lovely girl. And we like Jayce a lot.”
Gus scratched his head. “You just said it would be complicated, but that hasn’t ever stopped you and your crazy sister fromtrying to get couples together.”
“Ya, I know.” She smiled. “We like a gut love story. But only once have we ever successfully matched up a non-Amish person with someone here in our community. Most of the time, outsiders don’t want to make the changes that would be necessary.”
“I didn’t say he’d ever convert to your religious stuff. I just said he don’t fit in with the rest of them, and he’s mentionedhow he wished he could stay.”
“Hmm . . .” Esther tapped a finger to her chin. She was surprised that Gus talked about Jayce as if he might actually likehim. Conversations with Gus about others almost always included negativity. The boy must have grown on him a little too.
Her grumpy renter smiled. “Go get ’em, Esther.” He shook a fist in the air. “Go get wacky Lizzie, and you two go do your thing.Might not be bad to have the kid around.”
Esther’s mouth was still hanging open after he closed the door. Gus didn’t like anyone, but he clearly liked Jayce, whichwas completely unexpected considering the huge differences in their lifestyles and demeanors.
As she walked back to the house, she
