A Sister's Wish (18 page)

Chapter 21

Saturday, November 7

D
anke
for breakfast,” Simon told Tess. “It was
gut
.”

Smiling at her brother, Tess laughed. “It was better than that. It was wonderful-
gut
.” She'd picked him up at seven that morning and drove him over to Walnut Creek. There, they'd eaten Der Dutchman's famous breakfast buffet. She'd somehow managed to eat eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, and two cinnamon rolls. Two! “Of course, I'm going to have to run five miles tonight.”

He grinned. “I'll think of you when I'm napping.”

“That's the difference between men and women, I guess. You can sleep off your extra calories. I, on the other hand, have to work it off.”

“Those extra calories were worth it, though. Ain't so?”

“I agree. It's so nice to spend so much time with you.” After taking one last fortifying sip of coffee, she said, “Now I have someplace to show you.”

He stood up. “Let's go, then.”

Five minutes later, as she was driving him to the little house she'd just bought, she felt her hands start to sweat. “So, I did something the other day. I hope you won't be mad.”

“What did you do?”

“I looked at a house that was up for sale.”

“Are you going to move to Charm?”

“I am. But that wasn't really my intention.”

“You lost me.”

“Well, you see, I've been thinking about that conversation you had with that boy. And thinking about us. And Jeremy.”

“And?”

She could practically feel the tension floating off him. “And, well, I wanted to do something, too.” Taking a deep breath, she blurted, “So I bought a place.”

“You bought a house. Just like that.”

“Well, it wasn't quite like that.” Slowly, she told him about her conversations with Jill. And then with the bishop. Finally, she said, “I wanted to do something for you, Simon. I wanted to do something to make up for what I did.”

“Pull over.”

She gripped the steering wheel. “What? Simon—”

“Pull over, Tess.”

Thankful that they were on a wide road with plenty of room on the shoulder, she did as he asked and shifted into park. “You're mad at me, aren't you?”

“I'm not mad.”

There was something in his voice that made her finally look at him directly. And what she saw in his eyes nearly took her breath away. “Simon?”

“You listen to me, sister. What happened to me at home wasn't my fault. It wasn't Jeremy's, either. And, it wasn't yours.”

“I know that. But if I had stayed . . .”

“If you had stayed it still would have happened. Our father . . . our parents? They were determined to hurt us. They didn't need an excuse.”

“I know that. But I should have tried to protect you better.”

“There wasn't anything you could do. You couldn't have protected me.” Reaching out, he took her hand and pressed it in between his palms. “Tess, have you looked at me?” When she started to nod, he interrupted her, his voice turning more emphatic. “
Nee,
I mean, have you really
looked
at me? Looked at who I am? I'm okay.”

She stared at him. And maybe for the first time, she actually did look at Simon, looked at the person he now was. Gazed at him without the pain of their past coloring what she saw.

Simon was a man. A handsome, capable, strong, hard-working man. He was kind toward others. He was respected in his place of work, and he was loved by a very beautiful, very sweet woman.

In spite of their past. In spite of his past, he had moved forward.

“You are okay.”

Unable to help herself, she placed a palm on his cheek. Just like she used to do. But instead of feeling soft skin covering full cheeks, she felt his cheekbone, framed by a firm jaw. Covering it all was two days' worth of scruff. He didn't move. Simply sat motionless while she rested her hand there.

Then, to her surprise, he smiled. “I think your hand is shaking.”

Her hand was indeed trembling. Embarrassed, she dropped it, letting it fall to her lap.

Taking a fortifying breath, she said, “Want to see the house?”

“Jah.”

Pulling back onto the empty highway, she drove the last five minutes to the quiet street. She could practically feel him taking in the neat houses, the nearby park. When she pulled into the weed-covered drive, he inhaled.

Neither of them said a word as they got out of the car. She watched as Simon crossed his arms over his chest and studied the place.

Walking to his side, she cleared her throat awkwardly. “I, um . . . well, I was thinking of living upstairs and using the bottom floor as a community center of sorts. A place for people to go who need help.”

“Like my barn.”

“Yes. Like your barn. But this place is easier to get to and isn't going to take much renovation. Do you like it? I thought we could call it The Refuge.”

Still looking at the small, nondescript house, with its peeling paint and ragtag yard, he seemed to study it a little longer. Then, turning to her, he nodded. “I think that's a
gut
name, Tess.” Warmth filled his eyes now. And with that warmth, she felt hope. Hope for their future.

“The Refuge it is, then,” she said. “You're right, Simon. It is a real
gut
name.”

Chapter 22

Monday, November 9

Y
ou are looking like a new man, Simon,” Marcus Mast declared as he slapped him on the back. While they walked toward one of the many square tables in the mill's small outside eating area, he added, “I think I've seen you smile at least three times today.”

“Only three?” Levi Kinsinger called out from where he was drinking a bottle of water a couple of feet away. “The way he's carrying on with my sister, he should be smiling from dawn till dusk.”

“Does that mean you're scowling from dawn to dusk, Levi?” Marcus teased.

“Not yet. But if he gives me a reason to, look out,” Levi replied.

“I've been nothing but respectful with Amelia,” Simon interrupted, needing to take some control of the conversation. “She has no fault with me.”

Levi grunted. “I bet. The way she floated in the door the other night made it sure seem like she'd been real respected. For hours.”

Not liking the way Levi was making his behavior sound, Simon got to his feet.

As the men around them laughed, Marcus pulled him aside. “Calm down. You know Levi wouldn't say anything to shame his sister. He's just teasing.”

“Hope so.” He turned to look Levi's way.

Levi raised his hands in mock surrender. “I promise, I meant no disrespect.”

“Sorry.” He shook his head, trying to dissolve some of the tension that had just formed in his shoulders. “I guess I'm still pretty sensitive where Amelia's concerned,” he said to Marcus.

“That's to be expected. I'm that way about my Rachel, and we've all seen the way Roman dotes on his wife. You're not behaving any differently than the rest of us. It's the way of the world.”

Feeling marginally better, he nodded. “You're right, I guess.”

“I know I am. Calm down and relax. You're among friends.”

Yes, he was. Kicking his feet out, Simon raised his face to the sun. It was early November and they were experiencing an unusually sunny day. The temperature was in the mid-fifties. A group of them had taken their lunches outside, anxious to enjoy one of the last warm days before the snows came.

When Marcus and Levi unbuttoned their cuffs and rolled their sleeves up, after a slight pause, Simon did the same.

Showing his tattooed arms to Amelia had meant overcoming a major hurdle in his life. Though he doubted she'd ever think the intricate designs embedded in his skin were anything
but strange and foreign, she hadn't turned from him. She'd also made him realize that attempting to hide his past was a foolish undertaking. He was never going to be able to run from it. It simply wasn't possible.

There was a significant pause from the men around him when they spied his tattoos. Simon waited for the inevitable questions that were sure to come.

But to his amazement, Levi merely stared at them with interest while Marcus grinned. “So that rumor was true. You did get tattoos in prison.”

Only a childhood spent hiding shock and nervousness enabled Simon not to flinch. “I only got one there,” he finally said. “The rest of them came after.”

Still eyeing the arm closest to him, Marcus said, “Do you regret them?”

“Yes and no,” he replied after thinking about it for a moment. “I wish I'd never been in the state of mind I was in to get them in the first place.” He paused, then blurted, “Since then I've learned that wishing for things like that is a waste of time.” Thinking of a phrase one of the English truck drivers he was friends with used all the time, he added, “It is what it is.”

He leaned back, relieved that he'd finally been able to talk about his past almost normally. Then he noticed that Levi had moved to stand directly in front of him. Simon looked up, bracing for criticism. He wasn't looking forward to doing this publicly, but he wasn't about to back down, either. He'd wasted too much time waiting for the perfect time or wishing for acceptance.

But to his surprise, Levi grinned. “Amelia told me you showed her the rest of your tattoos. The ones on your shoulders and back.”

Marcus stared at Simon's shoulders encased in white cotton. “There's more? What do they look like?”

Simon rolled his eyes. “I'm not taking my shirt off. You'll just have to wait and wonder.”

Laughter and more than a few ribald remarks began flying through the air when the door to the main building opened. Simon hardly paid attention until the courtyard became quiet again. Slowly, he got to his feet and looked where everyone else was.

The first thing he noticed was Lukas Kinsinger approaching. Then he noticed that both Tess and Amelia were behind him. They were speaking to an Englisher wearing a ball cap.

Simon darted forward. “Amelia, why are you here? Is something wrong?”

“Not at all. Lukas brought me up so I could have some company while I address Christmas cards. Then, we got some visitors.”

“Tess. Hey,” he said before at last turning to focus on the stranger.

Then realized he wasn't a stranger at all. “Jeremy.”

“Yeah. Hey, Simon.”

The man in front of him looked a little like the teenager he remembered. He was wearing jeans and a flannel shirt. He had far too many lines around his eyes for a man his age, and there was even some gray in his hair. However, he was staring back at Simon with the same hazel eyes shared by him and Tess.

Simon could hardly come to terms with what he was seeing. “I can't believe it's you.”

Jeremy nodded stiffly. “I . . .” He ran a hand along the edge of his neatly trimmed beard. “Well, I came back.”

Indeed, he had.

T
ESS LOOKED FROM
the small group of workers who Simon had been sitting with to Lukas to Amelia, to her brothers. It was a toss-up as to who was more stunned to be in each other's company. Amelia looked like she wanted to reach out for Simon but wasn't sure her touch would be welcomed.

Lukas was watching Simon and his sister in the same protective way.

And Simon? Well, he looked like he was either going to burst into tears or walk away.

Someone needed to salvage the situation. It might as well be her. “Simon?” Tess asked prettily. “I know you're busy, but I was hoping you might be able to leave a little early today. Do you think that would be all right?”

A spark of amusement lit Simon's eyes. “Seeing as how the three of us are standing together for the first time in over a decade?
Jah,
it is probably a good idea. Boss?”

Lukas nodded. “You don't need my permission, Simon. Family always comes first.”

Tess noticed that Simon was looking at Amelia warily. It was obvious—to her at least—that he was worried that his girl was finding Jeremy's appearance too much to take.

Walking to Jeremy's side, Tess whispered, “How about you, Lukas, and I head over to the reception area? We can visit with Rebecca Yoder while Simon talks to Amelia for a few minutes.”

Jeremy looked relieved. “That's a fine idea.”

“Tess, there's no need,” Simon said.

“Um, I think there might be,” she countered. When Simon smiled sheepishly, she knew she'd been right.

As they walked back into the building and down a rather
narrow hallway, they settled into pairs. Lukas and Levi led the way. Simon walked at a far slower pace beside Amelia.

Remembering that Amelia had recently gotten her cast off, Tess knew that her brother was taking care with her. But the expression on Simon's face showed that he was far more concerned with her state of mind than any healing fracture. He had his head bent toward Amelia's and he was whispering to her. When she nodded, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and exhaled.

His gentleness with her was a sight to behold. Tess had never experienced such care. She knew Simon hadn't, either. She wondered where he'd learned that gentleness. Had it come from Amelia or had it been lying dormant inside of him, just waiting for the right person to bring it out in the open?

Jeremy looked just as mesmerized by the way Simon treated his girlfriend as Tess felt.

“He dotes on her,” said Jeremy.

“He's in love with her,” she corrected.

“It sure looks like it. Are they engaged?” he whispered.

“Not yet.”

“She's pretty.” He shook his head. “No, she's beautiful.”

Tess agreed, but knew that Simon had fallen in love with everything that Amelia was, not just her pretty face. “She's more than that. I think she healed him—well, she and her siblings. Simon loves them all.”

“If they made him like this, I love them, too.”

That was the type of sarcastic remark he used to make. She turned to him sharply, ready to tell him that he needed to watch his tongue, when she realized he was being serious.

It seemed that they all had changed for the better.

When they got to the reception area, Simon turned to Tess and Jeremy again. “I guess you remember my Amelia?”

“We said hello, but not properly.”

Turning to Amelia, Jeremy inclined his head slightly. “Amelia, it's verra nice to see you again.”

Her crystal-blue eyes fairly sparkled. “It's nice to see you, too, Jeremy. Both you and Tess.” She smiled at Simon's sister. “I'm so glad you are here.”

When his siblings shifted awkwardly, Simon hid a smile. It was going to take some time for them to get used to Amelia's caring personality. In an effort to give himself a moment to come to terms with the fact that his brother was standing in front of him after all this time, he waved his hand. “I don't know if you recognized everyone. Tess, Jeremy, this is Rebecca, Levi, and Lukas.”

“We already said hello when we came in,” Tess said awkwardly. “You were right, we've all grown up and changed a bit.”

After a few minutes of stilted conversation, Simon was eager to escape. Looking at the group of them, he said, “I told Amelia that after we talk we could maybe meet up with her later or tomorrow.”

“Why don't you come to the
haus
?” Lukas asked. “We could have supper together tonight.”

Rebecca groaned. “We can't put together a meal that quickly.”

“Sure we can.” Looking at Levi, Lukas asked, “Can you pick up some hamburgers and hot dogs and buns and chips at the market?”

“That ain't a problem. We can grill.”

“If you men do that, I'll make some potato salad,” Amelia said.

“Darla should be home in an hour,” Lukas added. “She can help you, too, I bet.”

Rebecca nodded slowly. “If you men are taking off early, I'm going to, too. I'll ask Mercy to fill in for me, then go talk to Jacob. We'll bring something over.”

Tess looked from one Kinsinger to the next. “Are . . . are you sure you all want to do this? I mean, you don't know us anymore.”

“Of course we want to do this,” Amelia said. “You're Simon's family.”

Simon shook Lukas's hand.
“Danke.”
After smiling at Amelia, he turned to Tess. “Ready?”

“I am. Jeremy?”

He didn't say anything, just nodded.

When they exited the building, Jeremy stared at them both. “I don't know where to start.”

“How about you tell us how you came to be here.”

“I work for a trucking company over in Mansfield. One day a couple of weeks ago, one of the guys was talking about Simon Hochstetler.”

Simon raised his eyebrows. “What was he saying?”

“Nothing of real importance. Only that you were his contact person at Kinsinger Lumber. Then I started doing a little research and discovered he really was talking about my little brother. A couple of days after that, I decided to Google Tess. After a couple of phone calls, I discovered where she worked and got her phone number.”

“Last night,” Tess said, “I was working when my phone rang. And there he was.”

“She got all weepy on the phone.”

“I was really glad he called at night and not when I was driving,” Tess said with a laugh. “We made plans to come here and see you. I didn't want to wait another day for the three of us to all be together.”

Simon's head was spinning. How could so much have happened so quickly? For years, he'd been in limbo. Or maybe his own personal purgatory. He'd merely been existing, wanting Amelia, but sure he would never be good enough. Doing his best to block out the memories of his past, covering his arms so no one would ask him intrusive questions. Now he had Amelia, his sleeves were rolled up for the world to see . . . and he was standing with both his brother and sister.

It was almost too much to handle. Okay. He needed to sit down. “We should go somewhere private or something.”

Jeremy nodded. “I agree. Where should we go?” Scanning the street, he said, “Is your
haus
nearby?”

Tess pulled out a key. “I happen to know someplace even better. Right, Simon?”

Looking at the key, much of the worry he'd been holding close dissipated. “
Jah
. It is the perfect spot to have a reunion.”

The three of them walked down the sidewalk. One Amish, two English. Each a little damaged. Each mended and hopeful. And for the first time in years, together.

I
T WAS LATE.
Probably too late for Simon to still be at her house, but Amelia didn't care. As far as she was concerned, he could stay the entire night if he wanted.

A man didn't become reunited with a long-lost brother all that often.

After Simon and his siblings had left the mill, the four Kin
singers had stood in the reception area and discussed the miracle that had just taken place.

When they'd introduced themselves and asked to see Simon, Amelia had been unable to stop smiling. It was only when she'd seen the stunned look on Simon's face that she'd started to worry that the reunion might not be quite the joyous occasion that she'd hoped.

But now it seemed that they were going to be all right. It had been a good evening. After supper, Tess and Jeremy had left. Simon had refused their offer of a ride home, saying he wanted to spend a bit more time with her.