The walnut creek wish, p.17
The Walnut Creek Wish, page 17
“I assume your townhouse still hasn’t sold?”
“No, and I’m beginning to wonder if it ever will.”
Orley stepped around from the register and placed his hand on Jeff’s shoulder. “I can understand your feelings of discouragement, but you can’t give in to despair or let negative thoughts overtake you.”
That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one in my predicament. Jeff didn’t voice his thoughts. Instead, he forced a smile and said, “I’d better get going and see if I can find something for Rhonda at one of shops in Berlin before I head to my restaurant in Canton.”
He was almost to the front door when Orley called out to him. “Wait a minute, Jeff. There’s something I’d like to give you and Rhonda for your anniversary.”
Jeff turned around to face the bearded man. “I appreciate the thought, but there’s no need for that.”
“Please don’t say no. I’d really like to give you something, and I’m sure if my wife wasn’t in the backroom doing some paperwork, she’d agree with me.” Orley walked over to one of the tables in the center of the room, picked up something Jeff couldn’t distinguish, and placed it in a small box he’d taken from under the table. Then Orley came back to where Jeff stood and handed it to him. “Happy anniversary. Perhaps you and your wife can open this tonight, either before or after you go out for supper.”
A warm flush crept across Jeff’s cheeks. “Thank you.” Gripping the box in his hands, he hurried out the door. That surely was unexpected.
Canton
“I’m surprised you’re still here,” Lori said when Rhonda met her in the hotel’s downstairs hallway at four o’clock that afternoon.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Rhonda asked.
“With today being your wedding anniversary and figuring you and your husband would have made plans for this evening, I assumed you’d be getting off work early this evening.” Lori brushed a loose curl aside and smiled.
Rhonda shook her head. “I got here a little later than normal this morning so I could pick up something I had ordered for Jeff at the jewelry store. Now I have to make up the time I lost.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ll be leaving by five, which should give me plenty of time to get home, change into something nicer, and still make our seven o’clock dinner reservations.”
“Where are you going to eat? I assume it’s not Jeff’s restaurant?”
Rhonda shook her head. “I don’t know where it is, but Jeff said it’s someplace close to home and has a very nice atmosphere.”
Lori smiled. “I’ll be eager to hear about your evening, and I hope you and Jeff have a wonderful anniversary.”
“Thank you, Lori. I hope so too.”
Rhonda watched her ever-pleasant employee amble toward the front desk as a couple came in through the front entrance with their suitcases in tow. Rhonda listened to Lori greet them with a cheerful tone. Even though at times the young woman complained of some discomfort from her pregnancy, she nearly always seemed to be in good spirits. Lori had said once that despite the distresses that went with being pregnant, it was worth it and that she couldn’t wait to be a mother to her precious baby.
Rhonda bit the inside of her lip. If only I could be in her shoes.
Walnut Creek
“You look beautiful in that color,” Jeff said when Rhonda stepped out of their master bathroom wearing a pale yellow dress with white trim around the collar.
“Thanks.
Jeff liked to see his wife dressed up, but even more than that, he loved to spend quality time with her. He watched her go to the closet and pick out two pairs of shoes—a white pair of heels and black flats.
“Which shoes should I wear?” Rhonda turned toward him.
He shrugged. “Either one looks fine to me.”
Rhonda slid on the heels and stood in front of the full-length mirror. “I should probably go with these. What do you think?”
“They look nice, but wouldn’t the others be more comfortable?”
“Yes, that’s true.” She removed them and slipped on her leather flats, gazing back at the mirror. “These are dressy enough, and they are more comfortable on my feet.”
Rhonda put the white ones away in their closet. Then she stood in front of the mirror fussing with her hair a bit before walking over to Jeff. “I’m ready to go.”
“Okay, but before we leave, I’d like to give you something.” Sure wish I could have found that dainty daisy pin. It would have looked great on Rhonda’s yellow dress. Jeff handed her a peach-colored gift bag. “This isn’t what I’d originally planned to give you, but I hope you’ll like it just the same. Happy anniversary, honey.”
Rhonda opened the bag, and when she reached inside, a smile spread across her lovely face. “A picture-framed alarm clock. What a clever idea. And you even thought to put one of our wedding pictures in it. Thank you, Jeff.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He felt a head-to-toe release of all tension.
She placed his gift on her nightstand and stepped over to her side of the dresser. “Now it’s your turn.” Rhonda opened her top dresser drawer and took out a gift box with a green bow stuck to the top. “I ordered this for you from the jewelry store in Canton. I hope you like it.”
Jeff lifted the lid off the box and grinned when he withdrew a wristwatch. “Wow, honey, this is great. I especially like that it has the logo for my favorite football team in the center of the watch. This will be fun to wear on game days.”
Her gaze remained fixed on him as he set the time and put the watch on his left arm. “It cost a little more than some of the other watches I looked it, but I’ve been saving up to get it, so I hope you like it.”
“I love it, and I love you even more.” Jeff bent his head and gave her a lingering kiss. When they broke away from each other, he looked at the watch again. “We’d better go or we’re gonna miss our reservations.”
“Okay. I just want to check my makeup and get my purse, and then I’ll meet you in the car.”
“Sounds good, and if you have no objections, we’ll take your sporty car tonight. It’s classier looking and a lot more fun to drive than my SUV.”
Rhonda offered him another pleasant smile and nodded before going over to her makeup table.
Jeff whistled as he headed out the door with a spring in his step. He hoped the rest of their evening would go as well as the beginning had.
Millersburg
“This restaurant is so quaint and lovely.” Rhonda smiled at Jeff from across the table. “It’s like a hidden gem here in the heart of Amish country.”
He nodded. “You’re right. I chose this place because it offers Swiss, Austrian, and American cooking, which gives us a varied menu to choose from. The atmosphere is also nice.”
“I agree.” Rhonda studied the rich wooden decor throughout the dining room. It had a warm, cozy feeling and made her feel as if she were in another country. “Those spunky goats we saw in the fenced-in area outside the restaurant when we arrived were pretty cute too.”
“Yeah.” Jeff chuckled. “I really got a kick out of the biggest one and the way he sat up there on the hill, like he was a king overlooking his domain.”
She laughed. “That was pretty funny.”
“Do you know what you’re going to order?” Jeff pointed to Rhonda’s menu.
She pressed her lips together and studied the entrées. “Nearly everything listed here appeals, but I think I’ll go with the chicken schnitzel. It comes with either asparagus or broccoli and one side.”
“Which of the sides sounds good to you?”
“Think I’ll try the hot German potato salad. I’ve never had it served that way before. What are you going to order, Jeff?”
“I’m goin’ with the Reuben schnitzel, topped with sauerkraut and Guggisberg Swiss cheese. It’s also served with broccoli or asparagus, covered with hollandaise sauce. For my side, I’ll get either the mashed potatoes and gravy or some applesauce.”
“There are a lot of carbs in mashed potatoes, and the gravy would also be fattening.”
Watching Jeff’s face tighten as he rubbed the back of his neck caused Rhonda to wish she hadn’t said anything negative about the potatoes and gravy. “I—I didn’t mean to imply that you need to watch your weight, I just thought …” I suppose I shouldn’t have thrown cold water on his choice for this evening’s meal. It’s not like he normally eats like that. Tonight’s a special occasion for us.
Their waitress, wearing a Bavarian-style dress, arrived at their table and asked if they had any questions about the menu.
“No questions on my part,” Jeff was quick to say. “I think we’re both ready to order.” He looked at Rhonda. “Why don’t you go first?” Rhonda told the young woman what she wanted, and then Jeff placed his order. After the waitress left, they sat quietly, drinking their water. When Rhonda couldn’t stand the silence any longer, she said, “Are you upset with me, Jeff, for reminding you about the carbs in the potatoes?”
“No. You were right. I don’t need the extra carbs, and I’m sure I’ll enjoy the applesauce.”
“Okay. I just don’t want to spoil your evening.”
“Don’t worry—you haven’t. And unless the food is either cold or not cooked to our liking, the meal won’t be spoiled either.”
“That sure was a good dinner. I enjoyed every bite of food on my plate.” Rhonda reached across the leather seat of the sports car and placed her hand on Jeff’s arm.
“Mine was good too,” he agreed as he shifted it into fifth gear, being careful to keep his eyes on the road. Now that the sun had set and they were driving on a curvy road, Jeff needed to give driving his full attention.
Jeff felt like he owned the road, shifting with pleasure and having all the vehicle’s power at his fingertips. His SUV had an automatic transmission, which he didn’t mind, but Rhonda’s sporty-looking vehicle was more fun to drive.
Rhonda turned on the radio, and the pleasant music was no distraction at all. In fact, Jeff felt quite content and relaxed. In addition to the tasty meal they’d eaten, the conversation at the table between him and Rhonda had been pleasant and upbeat. Neither of them had mentioned their jobs or said anything negative to the other. Jeff was convinced that their marriage had gotten back on track and without much effort from either of them.
We have hit a few bumps in the road of our marriage, Jeff admitted to himself, but I’m glad Rhonda and I didn’t seek counseling like some other couples we know. The next time I see Orley, I’ll let him know that things are going better between me and Rhonda.
Thinking about Orley caused Jeff to remember the anniversary gift the Amish man had given him this morning. When he’d arrived home from work this afternoon, Jeff had set the box on the kitchen table after going through the mail. He still couldn’t figure out why Orley would give them anything for their anniversary, since the Amish couple didn’t know Jeff and Rhonda that well. Even so, the gift was a nice gesture, and Jeff was eager to find out what was inside that small box. He’d forgotten about it until now and hadn’t mentioned it to Rhonda yet.
Guess I’ll wait till we get home, and then I’ll show her the gift and we can open it together.
“Jeff, look out!”
His wife’s shout along with the two eyes shining in the road made him jump. Jeff gripped the steering wheel and hit the brakes, but it was too late. The sickening thump when Rhonda’s sporty car hit the deer was deafening to Jeff’s ears.
Chapter 23
“I don’t know why you’re so upset with me. It’s not my fault a deer ran in front of our car.” Jeff’s shoulders slumped. “I feel terrible about hitting the poor thing. I’ve never run into an animal before, and I hope I never have to live through something like that again.” “It was my car, Jeff, and it’s probably totaled.” Tears sprang to Rhonda’s eyes and ran down her hot cheeks as they stood on the shoulder of the road waiting for help to arrive.
“It will be okay. We have insurance, and I’ll get them called right away.” Jeff reached for her hand. “It could have been worse. At least neither of us is hurt like that poor animal.” He pointed to the small doe lying dead by the side of the road. “I’m sorry our lovely evening had to end with me hitting the deer.”
“I read in a magazine someone left at the hotel a few weeks ago that over one million deer are killed each year from getting hit by a car.” Rhonda shivered even though the evening air was quite warm. “I shudder to think of how many people have been killed when their vehicle has hit a deer.”
“Any loss of human life is a tragedy.” Jeff let go of Rhonda’s hand and slipped his arm around her. “You’re trembling. Are you cold?”
“No, just shook up over what happened to the deer and my car.”
“I get it. My legs are kinda shaky too.”
Rhonda looked at him and grimaced. “How am I going to get to work in the morning?”
“I’ll drive you there and pick you up when you’re ready to leave for the day. We may have to rely on my rig alone until we can get a new one. It is doubtful that yours can be fixed.”
Rhonda brought a shaky hand to her forehead. “This is one more thing that we didn’t need to happen.”
“I agree, but since you have full coverage on your car, we’ll either be reimbursed for the repairs or given the money to buy a new vehicle.”
Rhonda moved closer to her car, noticing some fur left by the animal where the dents showed. She looked down, saw that her shoe rested in the blood spot from the doe, and groaned. “I wish this part of our evening had never happened. I feel so bad for that poor animal.” Rhonda tried to stave off more tears as she continued to stare at her damaged vehicle. “I really liked my car, and I hope it can be repaired, but if it’s not fixable, and we have to wait to buy a new one, you’ll be stuck taking me to and from the hotel five days a week.”
“I don’t mind driving you, but it might be best if we see about renting a car. Since you have good coverage, I think our insurance company will pay for that too.”
“No, they won’t. With our finances being tight, I called a few weeks ago and lowered our premium by cutting back on a few things we had on our policy, including reimbursement for renting a car in the case mine was ever out of commission.”
Jeff folded his arms and groaned. “You should have consulted me before you did that, Rhonda. Doesn’t my input count for anything?”
“Of course, it does, but …”
Rhonda’s words trailed off when two vehicles pulled up almost simultaneously. One was a sheriff’s car and the other a tow truck. For now, their discussion was over, but no doubt it would be dealt with again when they got home
Walnut Creek
Lois looked away from the to-do list she’d been working on and glanced at the grandfather clock across the room. It was getting close to ten o’clock—definitely time for bed.
She nibbled on one of the homemade snickerdoodles she’d made after work. It went well with the warm cup of chamomile tea she had brewed for herself. A little snack before bed wouldn’t hurt anything, and it sure was tasty.
Lois’s day had been busy. She’d had time to do a few chores before she and Orley went to work at the antique shop this morning. Soon after they’d opened their business, a few elderly English people, possibly tourists, had come in. Lois had introduced herself, saying that if they needed anything to let her know. She figured the ladies must be from out of town because she’d never seen them around before.
Even now, Lois had to chuckle when she thought about how those three ladies browsed as they chatted about the different things the antique shop offered. The tallest woman had pointed to an old train set and commented that it looked like the one her dad used to have.
Not wanting to wake Orley while he rested, Lois suppressed a snicker. When a certain piece stirs up memories for a person, I guess they can’t help but want to talk about it.
Her gaze went to her husband, slouched in his favorite chair. His eyes were closed, and soft snores vibrated from his nose.
Lois couldn’t figure out how Orley could doze for a few hours in his chair and go right to sleep when they went to bed. She would have to be sick or overly tired to sleep in her chair.
She finished the last cookie and drank the remainder of her tea. Then she rose from her chair and went to the kitchen to rinse the dishes and pull down the window shades. I should put the cookie tin away first and then do up these dishes. Lois ran the water and added some detergent in the sink while pondering a few things: I wonder how Jeff and Rhonda are doing? I hope they are able to work things out. While the warm water ran, she began washing the few dishes. That young couple needs prayer, and I’ll be sure to do that before I go to sleep tonight.
Lois finished her task and went back to where Orley slept. She looked out the front-room window and saw the lights of a buggy going by. Soon it slowed to make the turn into the neighbor’s driveway. I thought so. It’s the Millers. They must have been out visiting this evening. They’re good people, such a nice young family, and their three little ones are so sweet.
A lump formed in her throat. If Orley and I could have had children, I would have tried to be the very best mother. I’m sure Orley would have been a good father too.
Shaking her thoughts aside, Lois waited until the clock chimed ten times. When her husband didn’t budge, she left her chair, walked over to him, and gave his arm a nudge. “Wake up, sleepyhead. It’s time for bed.”
Orley’s nose twitched slightly, but his eyes remained closed.
“Ich geh noch em bett.” She shook his arm with a little firmness this time.
His eyelids opened just a crack, but he made no effort to move. “Okay, you go ahead to bed. I’ll be there soon.”
She shook her head. “If I leave you here in this chair and go to bed by myself, you’ll wake up in the morning in the same place you are right now.”
