Simple Secrets (The Harmony Series 1) (21 page)

She nodded. “Thank you, Gracie. Telling you helped a little bit, I think. Even though I didn’t want to.”

I fixed a smile on my face and followed her down the hall to the sun porch. Abel, Hannah, and Sam were laughing at something Abel had said. Obviously their conversation was more lighthearted than the one Emily and I had just shared.

“Well, there you are!” Abel bellowed. “I was just telling Sam about the time Mabel Samuelson brought her sweet plum pudding to the church dinner but accidentally used salt in her recipe instead of sugar.” He wiped a tear of laughter from his eye. “No one said a word because they didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Until Teresa Harker’s boy, Jonathon, spit his out on the table and said the pudding ‘sucked big-time.’” Abel chuckled. “You remember that, Emily? Mabel was so embarrassed, but everyone at the table started laughing and it turned out to be one of the best church dinners we ever had.”

Emily smiled at her husband. “Yes, I do remember. I also remember that Mabel’s older son, Michael, had to do extra chores for teaching Jonathon that phrase.”

Sam grinned at me. “What took you two so long? Abel and I were beginning to think you’d come out of there with your dress already made.”

“Oh, you know. Girl talk.” I looked at the clock on the wall. It was already after three. “Are you about ready to go?”

Sam stood up. “Well, if we don’t get out of here soon, I’ll probably fall asleep.”

Abel snorted. “Are we really that boring?”

“That’s not the problem,” he said. “My stomach is so busy digesting Emily’s fantastic food, the rest of my body is almost useless.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Emily said. “You and Gracie will have to come back soon. We love having you here.”

I turned around and gave her a hug. “We will. Thank you so much for your hospitality.” Emily clung to me for several seconds. When we broke apart, there were tears in her eyes. I felt a deep connection to her and a desire to help her rid herself of the demons from her past. My dislike for Jacob Glick had grown to a smoldering fire. No one had the right to take his life, but something inside me couldn’t mourn for him.

Abel and Emily escorted us to the front door with Hannah bringing up the rear. After saying our last good-byes, as Sam and I walked to his truck, the front door of the small yellow house swung open, and Hannah came running out, calling my name. I stopped to wait for her.

“I—I just wondered if sometime we could paint together or do something...” The words tumbled out so quickly I really had to concentrate to understand her. Her china blue eyes were wide and her cheeks flushed a delicate pink. Such a beautiful child. For a moment, I saw Emily in her. Was this how she looked when Glick violated her? My heart ached at the thought.

“Of course,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’d love it. Maybe one afternoon this week? After school?”

Hannah nodded enthusiastically, and a smile erupted on her face that only added to her loveliness. “That would be wonderful. Will you call me?”

I barely got out the word “Absolutely” before she wrapped her arms around me.

“Oh, thank you, Gracie. I can hardly wait.” With that she turned and ran back to the house, her pale blue skirt flapping around her long legs. She turned once to wave at us before closing the front door behind her.

“Hannah hasn’t had anyone in her life who could help her with her art,” Sam said. “Ida told me Emily was a pretty good artist as a young girl, but she gave it up. Lost interest in it, I guess. Seems strange to me—with a daughter like that.” He shrugged. “But what do I know? I’m just a man. I don’t pretend to understand women.”

I swallowed the lump that rose in my throat and tossed him a sideways smile. “We’re not that hard to figure out. We’re just like you—only smart.”

He swung the truck door open for me. “Funny. If you all are so smart, why do you hang around us?”

I climbed into the seat, holding my skirt. “Because God took one look at Adam and said, ‘Wow. This guy’s going to need all the help he can get.’ And here we are.”

He raised one eyebrow and cocked his head sideways. “I don’t remember those words from the Bible.”

“I’m paraphrasing, but that’s exactly what He meant.”

Sam laughed and closed the truck door. Then he got in and started the motor. “Did you talk to your dad?”

I slapped my forehead. “Oh man. I hung up on him. I need to call him back.”

“It will only take a few minutes to get to my place. You can call him from there.”

I nodded and stared out the car window. As Sam backed up, I noticed a car parked in front of a detached garage near the back of the property. “Is that Abel’s car?”

“Yes. You’re wondering why all the chrome is painted black?”

I nodded. “I noticed a few cars like that when I came into town. My father mentioned something once about Mennonites who still affiliated themselves with the old ways but felt cars were a necessity in today’s world. They paint their bumpers dark so their cars won’t look too ‘flashy.’ He called them ‘black bumper’ Mennonites. I just assumed Abel was more progressive than that.”

“Harmony is a town full of all kinds of people, Grace. You’ve seen that. Old Order, modern Mennonites, conservative Mennonites, non-Mennonites—even some folks who don’t go to any church at all. Yet for the most part, everyone gets along. They care about their neighbors.” He backed out of the driveway and pointed the truck toward Main Street. Then he stopped and turned toward me. “This is a special place, you know? It’s not perfect, but there’s something ... unusual here. As cliché as it sounds, I feel like I found myself in Harmony.” He grinned. “I know. I sound like a throwback from the sixties.”

“Well, kind of.”

He laughed. “Get ready to think I’ve really gone over the edge, but here goes. Ida Turnbauer told me that after Angstadt died, a bunch of the women got together and prayed that God would protect Harmony from the kind of divisive spirit that ruled this town during his reign. That God would bless this town with peace and make it a special place where people truly feel at home and treat each other like family. She believes He answered that prayer.”

“Maybe you need to talk to Mary and John Keystone. I don’t think they’ve heard this story.”

“I didn’t say people can’t get angry and upset. I just said it won’t rule. We’ve had our share of spats and problems, but I’ve been here since I was a kid, and I’ve never seen them go unresolved. Eventually peace comes.” He put the truck in gear and started down the dirt road.

“Well, that’s very interesting, but what does that have to do with Abel’s painted bumpers?”

“Oh yeah. Almost forgot. Well, Abel painted his bumpers black as a way to bridge the gap between the modern Mennonites and the few Old Order folks who live here. He saw it as a compromise. Abel cares more about not offending someone than he does about how good his car looks. I think it’s a great example of humility, and it goes a long way toward keeping the spirit of peace alive in Harmony.”

I smiled broadly at him. “Oh, now I understand your truck. You’re trying to be the humblest, most peaceful person in Harmony.”

He burst out laughing. “Oh man. You’re brutal.” His hands caressed the old, cracked steering wheel. “Actually, I just like this truck. We’re comfortable together. I realize it’s an eyesore, but I don’t care. I’ll trade her in one of these days.” He reached out the window and adjusted the side mirror. “You know, I used to own Levi’s Suburban. His old station wagon broke down, and he needed transportation. He asked about this truck, thinking I might be willing to sell it since I had two vehicles. But I just couldn’t let it go so I sold him the Suburban instead.”

“You chose this truck over that nice Suburban?”

“Yep. I sure did.” He winked at me. “Now don’t tell me you’re ashamed to be seen in this fine vintage vehicle.”

“Heavens no. I drive a Volkswagen. That proves I have no ego whatsoever.”

We both laughed. As Sam’s truck shook and jiggled down the uneven road, I gazed out the window at the passing houses. Families were out in their yards playing together. Happy dogs ran around with toys in their mouths while being chased by children who screamed with delight. Old people sat in rocking chairs on their front porches, watching their antics while mothers and fathers cleaned their yards and prepared barbeque grills for dinner. Sam was right. There
was
something about Harmony. Something I’d never felt before—even in Fairbury. Sometimes I had the strangest sense that I’d been here before—that I knew this place. It was a passing feeling—one that came and went so quickly it was almost like a quick flash of lightning. I suppose it was seeing Mama and Papa’s house—talking to people who knew my family. Whatever it was, the sensation left me feeling slightly unsettled.

My mind drifted back to Emily and my discussion with her. What was I going to do about her revelations? What should I tell Sam? I’d promised Emily I’d do my best to keep her secret, yet I didn’t want to lie to Sam. I settled on a compromise.

“Sam, do you trust me?” I asked more sharply than I meant to.

He frowned at me. “Yes. Why?”

“Emily told me some things I think will help us find the truth about what happened to Glick, but I can’t tell you all of it. Some of it is very private—to Emily. Will you respect that and not push me for information I can’t share?”

“I suppose so. If that’s what you need me to do.”

“Thank you.” I began to recount the conversation Emily overheard as a child, leaving out her past involvement with Glick. I hesitated before actually naming names.

“I guess we need to find out just what Glick had on the good old bishop,” Sam said. “We also need to uncover the names of the three women being dangled as bait.”

“I—I know who they were.”

Sam glanced over at me. “So tell me.”

“A woman named Kendra McBroom.”

He nodded as he turned onto Main Street. “Kendra married a man over in Clay County. I don’t remember his name, but she has a sister who still lives here.”

“Sam, my mother was one of the women.”

He didn’t reply, but he slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road. We were parked right in front of Levi’s candle shop. All the shops on Main were closed except for the café.

“Your mother?” His voice quivered with surprise. He stared through the windshield at the almost empty street. “That could explain the fight your father had with Glick. If he’d found out about it...”

“But how?”

A look of confusion crossed his face. “What if Angstadt went to your grandparents and told them he wanted their daughter for Glick?”

“I don’t think so. First of all, my grandparents would never have agreed to it. They fully supported my parents’ relationship. Besides, I’m pretty sure Glick had someone else at the front of the line. I’d think if Angstadt had approached anyone, it would have been her.”

“You mean Kendra?”

I shook my head slowly and stared at the dashboard. “No. From what Emily told me, Glick favored one woman over the rest.”

Sam waited silently. Even before I could get my next words out, his eyes grew wide. “It’s not ... not...”

I put my hand on his. “It’s Sweetie, Sam.”

His face hardened. “I don’t believe it.”

“Look, it’s hard for me to accept, too.” I didn’t tell him that I couldn’t see Sweetie as a romantic figure. She must have changed a great deal over the years.

“Tell me everything Emily said about my aunt,” he said, his voice hot with anger.

“Emily said Sweetie was trying to run the family farm by herself and that her father was disabled. Angstadt mentioned some operation that might help him—but that Sweetie couldn’t afford it. He believed that if he offered her enough money to save the farm and pay for her father’s surgery, she might agree to marry Glick.”

Sam focused an icy stare out the window. “That’s true about the operation. My grandfather’s broken bones weren’t set correctly. He developed a pressure ulcer that restricted his blood flow, and he died. If he’d had surgery to put those bones where they belonged, his life might have been spared.”

“That’s awful Sam. I can’t imagine what your aunt went through. I’m so sorry. I hate the thought of dragging her into this situation and making her relive what must be the most painful time of her life.”

His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. Finally, he released his hold. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. You didn’t cause this situation. Besides, now we really are in this together. You don’t have to fight this battle alone.”

I smiled at him. “I was never alone. God has been with me from the beginning. But even before the moment I told you about the letter, I believed He sent you to help me. After I told you the truth, I
knew
He had.”

Sam turned in his seat and pulled my face to his. His kiss was gentle but determined. Before I realized it, my arms were wrapped around his neck and we were locked in a tight embrace. When his lips left mine, I looked into his eyes and almost gasped at the raw emotion I saw there. I pulled back and straightened up in my seat.

He scooted back behind the steering wheel. “I—I keep apologizing to you. I don’t know what came over me. I shouldn’t have ... I mean...”

“It’s okay.” I felt something bold rise up inside of me. “I wanted you to kiss me, Sam. It’s not just you.”

He ran a trembling hand through his hair. “Look, I know we’ve only known each other a few days...”

“Two days,” I interjected. “Two short days.”

“Well, they don’t feel short to me. I feel like I’ve known you all my life.”

The sincerity in his voice made my breath quicken. I gazed into his eyes. I had to fight to slow my breathing and catch my breath. What was happening to me? I’d never felt anything like this before. “I–I’m not sure if I can concentrate on this situation with my uncle if I’m thinking about you all the time. Can we agree to put our feelings on hold until we find a way out of this dilemma? My dad’s future hangs in the balance.”

Sam’s eyes ran over my face as if he were trying to memorize it. “Yes. Of course.” His voice was low and husky. He ran his finger down the side of my face. “But once we figure this thing out...”