Sarasota Dreams (36 page)

“Maybe it’ll be difficult at first, but I do just fine.”

“Let’s check with the hospital receptionist and find out where the closest bus stop is.”

After she directed them to the location where they could catch the bus, they walked outside and resumed their conversation. Shelley spoke first. “You might discover you don’t need a car,” she said.

She’d obviously never understand, so Jeremiah didn’t want to argue with her. “Maybe. Looks like I don’t have a choice, and I’ll have to make do for a while—at least until I make enough money to buy a newer automobile. In the meantime, I’ll go back to walking and catching rides whenever I can.” Jeremiah paused before adding, “And I guess I’d better set something up with David.”

“David?”

“Yeah, the guy Abe hires to drive him places that are too far to walk. Until I get my house built on the farm, I’ll need him twice a day. That can wind up costing me some money.”

“Will it be more than what you pay for in gas?”

Jeremiah mentally calculated the cost of gas, maintenance, and insurance. “It might actually cost a little less if David will cut me a deal.”

Shelley smiled. “That would be nice.”

The bus ride to Pinecraft was uneventful. There were only a few people seated toward the front, and the bus was able to go past all stops except one where a young woman waited. As they took the last step onto the sidewalk, the bus driver wished them a good day and took off.

In spite of Shelley telling Jeremiah she could walk from the bus stop to her house, he insisted on getting off the bus with her, escorting her home, and walking the three blocks to his house. They had to dodge a couple of children playing in their yards. Memories of Jeremiah’s own childhood flickered through his mind, and nostalgia nearly overwhelmed him.

“What are you thinking about?” Shelley asked as they rounded the corner to her street. “You seem mighty pensive.”

He shrugged. “Just about how those kids remind me of myself when I was their age.”

“I remember you back then. You were quite a character.”

Jeremiah laughed. “Yeah, I was, wasn’t I?”

“You used to tease me unmercifully.”

“That was because I liked you,” he said, a grin quirking the corners of his lips.

“If that’s how you act when you like a girl, I wouldn’t want to see what you do when you don’t like her.”

“There aren’t many people I don’t like,” Jeremiah said.

Shelley’s mother stood near the door as Shelley entered the house. “Where have you been? I expected you home a long time ago.”

“Jocelyn was injured in a car accident, so I went to the hospital to see her.”

“You should have come home first to tell me so I wouldn’t worry. It is dangerous for a young girl like you to be trotting about in an area you’re not familiar with.”

“I wasn’t alone,” Shelley said. She cringed as she added, “Jeremiah was with me.”

She braced herself for an outburst of all of Jeremiah’s faults. She was surprised her mother’s expression softened.

“That’s good. At least he knows the ways of the world, and he will protect you.” She started to walk toward the kitchen, but she stopped and turned to face Shelley. “How is Jocelyn?”

Shelley told her mother about the concussion and how Jocelyn would probably be back at work soon. She was surprised not to get a lecture about the evils of living in the world.

William came home shortly afterward, and Father followed. As they sat down at the table, Shelley looked around at her family and wondered what it would be like to have her own family. Then she sighed as she considered the unlikelihood that that would happen. Even if a man was in love with her, taking on the responsibility of William might make him think twice before committing to her for life. In many ways, William was easier to contend with than someone without Down syndrome. He rarely argued, and with very few exceptions, he seemed eager to please.

When Shelley started to bring up Jocelyn’s accident, her mother grimaced and gestured not to discuss it. After dinner, when William and their father had left the kitchen, Shelley turned to her mother.

“Why didn’t you want me to talk about Jocelyn?” she asked.

Her mother didn’t look directly at her. “We don’t know much about Jocelyn, and I didn’t want to upset your father.”

Shelley suspected it had nothing to do with her father and everything to do with the fact that her mother didn’t want to constantly be reminded about Shelley’s brother Paul leaving the church. The instant she thought that, it dawned on her that this was the same issue with Jeremiah. Having him around was a reminder.

“Mother, do you ever talk with Paul about his faith?”

Her mother’s expression hardened. “Paul’s faith—or lack of it—has broken my heart, so I don’t want you to ever bring it up again.”

“I just—”

“You heard me. Paul’s faith is not open for discussion.”

Shelley held up her hands. “Okay, I won’t talk about it anymore if it upsets you that much.” She carried the last of the serving dishes to the sink. “William seems to be doing well, considering he and Myra—”

“Leave the kitchen, Shelley.”

“But Mother—”

Her mother stabbed her finger in the direction of the door to the rest of the house. “I told you to leave. I cannot discuss this any longer.”

Shelley did as she was told. The tension in the house was almost more than she could bear. William glanced up from couch, where he sat as her father read from the Bible. His smile quickly faded as their gazes met.

“Are you mad at someone?” he asked.

Shelley shook her head as she bit back tears. All she’d wanted to do was have a meaningful conversation with her mother, but she kept getting shut out because her mother couldn’t face things she didn’t like.

Father put down the Bible and looked back and forth between Shelley and William. “Why don’t the two of you go out for some ice cream?”

William hopped up and clapped his hands. “Let’s go, Shelley. I want some rocky road ice cream.”

J
eremiah still hadn’t replaced his car two weeks after his old one died. He’d found a junkyard that would pay him a small amount as well as tow it from the hospital parking lot. He was surprised it hadn’t cost him money. He’d gone looking at other cars, but Shelley’s words continued ringing through his mind. Somehow he’d managed quite well without having his own wheels. It wasn’t nearly as difficult to adjust to his old lifestyle as he’d thought.

He turned around and worked on another section of ground, getting it ready for a new variety of oranges Abe wanted to plant. He felt a trickle of sweat drip down his back. Summer had arrived early this year.

“How’s the planting going?” Abe asked.

Jeremiah tossed the shovelful of dirt to the side. “I’m almost finished digging this row.”

“I’m talking about on your land.”

Jeremiah straightened and leaned against the shovel. “I have most of the summer crop planted already, so now it’s just a matter of weeding while I wait.”

“Ya, that is what we have to do.”

“I’ve been thinking about where to put a house,” Jeremiah said. “I know it needs to go over by the cluster of trees, but any advice you have would be appreciated.”

Abe offered a clipped nod. “We can discuss that soon. For now, I’d like you to help me unload some of the trees I just had delivered.”

Jeremiah followed Abe to the truck parked at the end of the long shell-covered road that forked in two directions—one going to the house and the other to the edge of the grove. Jeremiah couldn’t help but smile as he thought about how he’d have a place of his own like this one of these days.

“It might start raining soon,” Abe said. “That would be good for the newly transplanted trees.”

Jeremiah glanced up at the sky. It was a deep blue with a few puffs of fluffy white clouds hanging low. He didn’t see any sign of rain, but whenever Abe said rain was coming, he was generally right.

They worked hard for the rest of the afternoon, finishing a few minutes before the first clap of thunder. “I hope we get a soaker,” Abe said. “That will get the trees off to a nice start.” He started toward his house. “Come on inside before it starts pouring.”

Jeremiah followed Abe to the house. They were dampened by the first drops of rain, but they made it to the front porch before the downpour.

Mary joined them, and they stood and watched the rain for a few minutes before she finally spoke up. “I talked to Shelley a couple of days ago. I wish someone had called me, so I could help while Jocelyn was out.”

Jeremiah suspected that Mr. Penner didn’t want to bother Mary, so he hadn’t called to let her know. “Your grandmother filled in.”

A wry smile tweaked Mary’s mouth. “That must have been interesting.”

“Did Shelley say anything about it?” Jeremiah asked.

“No, she wouldn’t.” Mary glanced over at Abe, who continued to gaze out at the rain. “I have never heard Shelley complain about anything or anyone.”

“Not even me?”

“Why would she complain about you?” Mary’s eyes twinkled as she laughed. “I’m the one who did all the complaining about you.”

“You know I’m very sorry about that.”

“Ya, I do know that, and you know all is forgiven.”

Jeremiah leaned against one of the poles on the porch. “Shelley challenged me to give up my car for good.”

Abe whipped around, his eyebrows lifted. “So is that why you aren’t driving a car anymore—to make Shelley happy?”

With the question put that way, Jeremiah immediately knew the answer. “No. She got me thinking about it, but since I’m renewing my commitment to the Lord and coming back to the church, I figured it was time to stop dipping my toes into the water and just take the plunge.”

Mary laughed again. “The way you talk reminds me of some of my old customers, Jeremiah.”

Abe cast a glance at Mary. “I find it rather strange.”

“Strange isn’t always bad,” Mary said. “I think it’s fun.”

Jeremiah remembered a time when Mary didn’t feel that way. Abe had been good for her by accepting who she was and loving everything about her. When Jeremiah first came to Abe to discuss coming back to the church, Abe’s protectiveness toward Mary had been the only obstacle Jeremiah had had to overcome. Jeremiah still felt bad about the taunting and rude comments he’d hollered from his car. Mary deserved so much better than that. Fortunately, she was as kindhearted as Abe, and she’d forgiven him.

“Jeremiah?” Mary’s sweet voice startled him. “Are you feeling okay?”

He shook himself. “I’m doing just fine. Every once in a while I get lost in my thoughts.”

She grinned. “Love has a way of doing that to you.”

“What are you talking about, Mary?” Abe asked.

Mary turned her smiling face toward her husband. “Jeremiah knows what I’m talking about, right?”

Of course he did, but he decided to change the subject rather than field questions he didn’t have answers to. “With David being available to drive me back and forth to work, I think I can do just fine without an automobile.”

“Ya,” Abe agreed. “That is what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

“It took my car breaking down to get it through my thick skull, but God is in control,” Jeremiah said.

“Since it’s still raining, how about coming inside? Mary asked me to repair a few things in the house. Maybe you can give me a hand.”

“Yes, of course,” Jeremiah answered. “I’ll be glad to help with anything you need.”

As he walked past Mary on the porch, he tried not to look directly at her knowing, smiling face. She was extremely astute, and he suspected she was aware of everything he was thinking—particularly when he harbored thoughts of Shelley.

The following Sunday Shelley had a difficult time getting William out of bed. Worry gnawed at her stomach as she shook his shoulder. He mumbled something she couldn’t quite understand.

“Are you sick?” she asked.

“He’s not sick,” her mother said from the doorway. “That awful girl Myra upset him yesterday at his company’s picnic.”

Shelley’s heart twisted. “Don’t let anyone upset you this much, William. You might have thought you were in love with Myra, but if she’s mean to you, she’s not worth being upset over.”