Covered Bridge Charm (41 page)

“The roof collapsed in the storm. We had to hire a crew to remove snow from all the buildings. We need a new roof so bad.” She shrugged. “I don’t know if that has anything to do with why it collapsed. But we’re constantly fixing leaks. Simon, the director of the board, hasn’t been able to get funding to do the repairs that are necessary. At one time, Sweet Life was the darling of the Mennonite community. Now that it’s old and needs repair, they’ve lost interest in it. You know the modern mentality, pitch it and get something new.”

“If Gramps and I are going to be spending time here, we may have to make a donation toward the roof fund. Wouldn’t want the sky to fall on us.”

Carly could only stare at their benefactor.

Adam conveniently checked on Crusher right before bingo.

Hello! Hello!

Chirp. Chirp.
Both birds called for his attention.

“G-49” Shirley called. “G-49, folks.”

But from the moment Adam stepped into the lobby, all his senses went numb except for his eyesight. Carly was hugging Jason in full view of the entire room.

Jealousy narrowed his vision and faltered his step. They were so engrossed with each other, they hadn’t even seen him. Clenching his jaw, he strode toward them. As they drew apart, he overheard Jason’s words.

“You’re welcome. After your aunt meets with the publisher, let’s celebrate. Let me take you out to dinner.”

Once again, Adam’s fingers twitched with the desire to smash Jason’s perfect teeth.

“You mean with Auntie?”

Adam gleefully watched the disappointment cross Jason’s expression. “Sure.”

When Carly finally saw him, she stepped away from Jason. “Adam.”

He forced a smile. “Hey.” Nodded at Jason. “I was checking on Crusher. Thought I’d see how you were doing.”

“Good.” She nodded toward the game table. “I have so much to tell you.”

He glanced at Jason. “Can you excuse us a moment?”

Jason shrugged and moved to lean against a wall where he could watch the ensuing game.

“But now’s not really a good time,” Carly explained. “I should be helping Shirley with the game.”

“The funeral’s set for Saturday afternoon. Can I take you?”

“Oh, no. That’s when we’re meeting with the publisher.”

Finally something was going his way. “Do you have to be there for that?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Jah, thanks for the offer.”

He followed her gaze to the bingo table. “They look happy.”

“Jason and James are donating money to fix all the roofs.”

“How nice.” Adam gritted his teeth and glanced over at Jason, longing to ask him to go outside to discuss some things. But Jason moved toward the game table. Joining the game. Clever.

“Isn’t it amazing? How God brought them into our lives? Not only are they blessing Martha, but now they’re blessing the entire center. It’s like they’re an answer to prayer.”

It irked Adam that Jason was filling his
godsend
shoes. And if he did have to go to Indiana again, the guy would probably make his move on Carly.

Carly’s gaze followed the game, and he knew at the slightest provocation, she’d be across the room, swiping tokens from Klepto’s hand or keeping the General from drawing battle plans on the cards.

“How’s Crusher doing?”

“Good as can be expected.”

She touched his arm. “Thanks for dropping by. I’ll see you on Saturday.”

So easily dismissed, he fought to contain his anger and jealousy. He’d go, but there was no law that said he couldn’t linger around in the parking lot.

Adam sat in his cab, growing more irritated by the minute as he kept his eye on Jason’s car. The game should be over. Irish was probably trying to confirm his dinner date with Carly. When he found out she was already engaged on Saturday, he’d probably change the whole appointment with the publisher. It seemed he could magically make anything happen. Who couldn’t, with his funds and networking?

When he finally spotted them making their way down the walk, he felt an instant of chagrin to see James leaning heavily on his cane. Skirting the yellow taped maintenance building, Jason used hand gestures and James nodded enthusiastically. Though donating money to the center was a wonderful thing, Adam’s gut wrenched with loathing.

He timed his appearance so that when Jason turned from helping James into the car, he saw Adam. But the intruder quickly covered his surprise with a smirk.

“I’d like a word with you.”

“Sure.” Jason eyed him cautiously. “Let me start the heater for Gramps first.”

Adam waited. When Jason returned, he nonchalantly stuffed his hands into the pockets of a coat that probably cost half a year of Adam’s wages.

“What’s up?”

“I thought you might need reminding that Carly’s my girl.”

An eyebrow shot upward, but he quickly recovered. “Funny, she hasn’t mentioned that to me.”

“Probably because she doesn’t realize you’re pursuing her.”

He brought his hands up and tugged at the collar of his coat. “Then maybe it’s time I made myself plainer.”

Adam shrugged. “If you want a setdown.”

“Let’s let her decide.”

“Why? Can’t you see we’re different. We live a plain lifestyle compared to yours. Surely you can’t be serious about her. And I won’t have you trifling with her, throwing your money and influence around for a one-night stand.”

Jason shrugged. “Can’t fight romance. Don’t you get it? It’s Gramps and Martha’s story all over again. Only ours will have a happier ending.”

“Over my dead body.”

“Then you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

Adam grabbed the front of the snob’s shirt.

Jason straightened but didn’t flinch. “Maybe you don’t follow your church’s teachings as faithfully as you claim.”

Unable to contain himself any longer, Adam swung. But the moment his hand connected with the other man’s eye, he felt regret. Backing away, he raised both hands in the air as if to disavow what had just occurred.

He watched Jason stagger and recover.

“Thankfully, there’s such a thing as repentance,” Adam mumbled.

Jason climbed into the car and sank into the leather seat, not surprised to hear his grandfather’s deep chuckling.

“I saw that coming. The way he glared at you during bingo.”

Yanking the rearview mirror down to look at his throbbing eye, Jason replied, “Well thanks for the warning. I didn’t think you saw anything in there but your beloved Martha.”

“You’re right. But I felt his vibes. He reminds me of John.”

“Martha’s husband?”

“He found out about us. Threatened me like that. Only I gave him the shiner. Wonder if Martha ever found out John knew about us?” He tilted his head. “You’re not going to ruin this for me, are you?”

“I hope not, but you wouldn’t want me to roll over and play dead, would you?”

“What’s going on with you and Carly?”

Jason put the car in gear and started out of the parking lot. “She’s amazing. We’ve got so much in common.”

James released a mild oath, which was unusual for him, these days. “The differences aren’t going to vaporize. Anyway, what about Karen? You sure this isn’t a rebound thing?”

“Maybe. But I’d regret it if I didn’t try. We’re going to be seeing her every Thursday anyway, right?”

“You young people never learn from history.”

“Sure we do. Only we try to change it. Hindsight and all that.”

“Better pray about it.” James chuckled again. “Bingo’s going to be mighty entertaining.”

S
aturday, the weather turned bitter cold and windy for Dot’s funeral. Somberness settled over Carly as they neared the church. Funerals reminded Carly of her parents’ deaths. Today the same old question haunted her. Why had God allowed it?

Oh she’d heard the Adam and Eve explanation. Eve ate the fruit, and now mankind dies. But why her parents? And why did Dot have to suffer with dementia for so many years? Letting her mind follow the same old circles brought her near despair—as if nothing at Sweet Life mattered because they were all on this road toward pain and death.

Adam turned into the parking lot. “You’re quiet.”

“Just praying I’ll be able to endure the service. It reminds me of when my parents died.”

“You want to talk about that?”

“Mom and Dad had been arguing. My dad had quite a temper and used it to get his way. He wanted to go into town that day, but Mom was worried about the bad roads. Like usual, she gave in to him. And then they had the accident.”

“You blame him?”

“Not anymore. I know they loved each other. But it made me vow to never marry a man who would control me like that. Dale had those tendencies.”

She saw Adam’s head snap up. Didn’t know why she was telling him this. But once she started talking about it, she couldn’t seem to stop. “Oh, he didn’t have Dad’s temper. But he didn’t like to take no for an answer. When he decided to move to Indiana, he wouldn’t budge. Didn’t want to hear how I felt about it.”

“I’m sorry. I know I told you that going to Indiana wasn’t about us, but while I was there we did talk some. He’s real sorry about the way he treated you.”

Her lips trembled. “But today is about Dot. And Crusher.” She tore her mind away from the memory of the accident to focus on the upcoming ordeal. She especially dreaded the graveside service afterward. But that wasn’t even the end of it. Later that night, she had to deal with Jason. She needed time to regroup before she could face him. “I’m not good at funerals. I was hoping to skip the meal afterward.”

Adam turned off the ignition and glanced over with surprise. “I’d like to go for Crusher’s sake, but I can take you home first.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m sorry this is so hard for you.”

She nodded and gazed unseeing at the plain architecture of Old Holley Mennonite Fellowship Church. Its steep, gray-shingled roof bore no cross or steeple. The church contained no stained glass but reflected the plain lifestyle of its congregation. Such a lifestyle was based heavily on faith and tradition. At this moment, her faith became an undergirding source of strength.

Still, she prayed.
Lord, help us. Give us strength.
With the Holy Spirit’s presence and the support she felt from seeing an entire throng of dark-colored vehicles, comfort enveloped her like a blanket. When hardships struck, it was good to belong to a fellowship that banded together.

They sat in the truck, its tailgate up against a snow bank. The turnout had to be more than Old Holley’s 125 members.

“Ready?”

“Jah.”

As they walked toward the church, she bent against the harsh wind. Adam squeezed her hand, providing a bit of warmth. Women who normally wore small floral prints were dressed in dark colors and moved together as one dark cloud toward the little white church.

In the vestibule, Carly removed her coat and tossed it over her arm as she left Adam and solemnly moved to the left, the women’s side of the church.

Inside the sanctuary, the lines moved up the aisle and past the casket so that everyone could say their good-byes. Dot didn’t look natural, but she looked peaceful. Carly kissed her finger and placed it on Dot’s cold forehead. Then struggling to hold back a sob, she moved back into the line.