She picked up her phone from the nightstand, checking to see if Dan had tried to call, but there was nothing. It hurt that he had seemed to pull away from her.

  I’ve blown it with Dan, and for all I know, he could be moving on to someone else. Maybe this is what I get for keeping my Amish roots hidden from him. Violet set the cell phone down and rolled onto her side to look out the window. Oh, Violet, you worry too much.

  Violet lingered in the warm bedding until her phone vibrated on the nightstand, and she quickly grabbed it. Could this be Dan calling me?

  But Dan’s name wasn’t displayed on the screen. It was from home, so Violet assumed it was her mom calling. Even though she’d hoped Dan was calling, she was happy to speak with Mom. She pressed the TALK button. “Good morning, Mamm.”

  Mom greeted her in a chipper tone. “Good morning, Violet. How are you doing this lovely Monday?”

  “I’m good, and I’ve got time to talk because this is my day off.”

  “I timed that just right then.” Her mother paused. “I was thinking about you and thought I’d give you a quick call in case you were going to work.”

  “I’m glad you did, and you sound happy, so I guess you’re doing well.”

  “Jah, I’m fine.”

  “How’s Dad doing?”

  “Your father is busy, but he’s doing well. Oh, your sisters said to say hello.”

  “Tell them hi back when you get the chance.” Violet sat up in bed, leaning against the headboard. “I miss you all very much.”

  Mom began talking about Grandma’s painful sinuses and her visit to the doctor on Friday. She’d been given a different prescription to help with the pressure and pain.

  Violet shifted under the sheets. “I hope Grandma will feel better soon.”

  “Yes, we do too. Oh, and your grandpa is fine. He’s been busy trimming some shrubbery in his yard. He’s sprucing up the place nicely.”

  “Yard work is something he enjoys. He likes to keep his and Grandma’s place looking good.”

  Mom seemed to breeze through the topic of how her sisters and dad were doing. She brought up Francine and Matthew going out to eat Saturday night and briefly mentioned Ben coming to the house. It wasn’t long into the conversation about relationships when the topic was directed toward Violet. “I’ve heard through the grapevine that a certain young man and a certain young lady have been dating.”

  “Who are you talking about, Mom?”

  “I heard Levi Yoder and you have been dating. Is this true?”

  Violet twisted her ponytail. “We were dating, but I broke up with him.”

  The phone seemed to go dead. Not a word was said for several seconds.

  “Mom, are you there?”

  “Yes, I’m here.” Mom let out a small sigh. “Why would you break up with a nice young Amish man?”

  Violet didn’t want to tell Mom that Levi had been smoking and drinking with his roommates while she’d been dating him or that he’d been boastful and pushy. The last time Levi had stopped by, Violet had told him she would pray for him. Expressing her concern for his bad habits, she had urged him to stop before it got worse. Violet wanted Levi to understand that even though they wouldn’t be dating anymore, how he cared for himself was still important. But Levi, being stubborn, seemed to spin what she’d said. With a wink, he had said, “See? Your worrying about me means you want to be with me.”

  Violet told her mother that the two of them didn’t get along and that their personalities weren’t good together. Of course, Violet wasn’t sure Mom was truly satisfied with the explanation, but she hoped it would be enough.

  “Maybe you’ll find another Amish young man there to date.”

  “There are different fellows that do come down here from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.” Violet paused. “But usually they don’t intend to stay in Florida.”

  “I see.” Her mother coughed. “Off topic, I know you don’t like cauliflower, but hear me out on this. I’ve found a recipe that you’ve got to try. It’s simple to make, and it barely tastes like plain cauliflower.”

  Violet was relieved that Mom had taken the conversation in another direction. She needed a change in topics and this one worked for her.

  “I’d be willing to give it a try.”

  “Okay, sounds good. If you can write it down, I’ll read the ingredients from the recipe to you.”

  “All right, Mom. Let me find a notepad and something to write with.” Violet rose from the bed and opened the drawer of the nightstand, removing a notepad and pencil. “Okay, I’m ready.”

  Violet placed it on the nightstand and began scribbling down the ingredients and instructions as Mom read them to her. There weren’t many ingredients or much preparation involved in making the dish, which was nice.

  “You’re right about it being simple. This sounds pretty easy, and I’ll let you know when we’ve tasted it.”

  “I hope you’ll like it as much as we have. You could make it for supper and share it with Leora and John.”

  “Sure, they’d probably like to try this.” Violet’s stomach gurgled. “Maybe this evening.”

  “Oh, before I hang up, can I ask a quick question? Were there many at church yesterday?”

  “Yes, there was a good number of people.”

  Violet liked attending the non-Amish church. It was different in many ways. For example, the sermons and songs were all spoken in English. Amish church was three hours long on backless benches versus an hour or so sitting on a pew in the Mennonite church. Plus, Violet didn’t have to wear Plain clothes. She wore her printed skirts and embellished blouses.

  Violet set the writing pad aside and visited a bit longer with Mom, catching up on some other things happening back home. It was great hearing that everyone was in good health. Besides, talking to her mother and shedding the yoke of hiding her past relationship with Levi helped too.

  After ending their conversation, Violet thought back to earlier in the phone call. It was evident that Mom had been thrilled about her dating Levi. Her mother hadn’t let go of the thought of Violet finding a suitable mate.

  “As long as he’s Amish,” she mumbled. Violet wondered if her father felt the same way as Mom.

  She got out of bed and put on her robe. Breakfast was on Violet’s mind now, as well as seeing her family before they left for work.

  Stepping into the kitchen, she found Leora and John finishing up their hot cereal. “Good morning.”

  They answered, “Guder mariye,” in unison.

  “You’re welcome to finish what’s left of the hot cereal.” Leora added a few more fresh blueberries from the bowl sitting on the table.

  “Danki.” Violet grabbed a small dish from the cupboard and a spoon from the drawer. “I plan on doing some shopping later. Would there be anything from the store we need for supper?”

  “I’d like to barbecue this evening,” John replied.

  “I’ve pulled out some frozen beef patties to thaw in the refrigerator. Otherwise, we have the rolls and vegetables needed to put on them. We could make fries too,” Leora put in.

  “That sounds good. If I come up with any other ideas to add to our meal, I’ll pick up the food while I’m out.” Violet dished the oatmeal into her bowl.

  After breakfast I’ll go out to the store and buy the ingredients to make that cauliflower recipe. Maybe I’ll go to the mall later and look for some new skirts and tops too.

  Opening the fridge, Violet grabbed the orange juice and poured a full glass. Then she sat down with her food at the table by her sister and silently prayed.

  John excused himself to finish getting ready for work, and Leora soon got up from the table.

  “I best get going myself.” Leora offered Violet a smile. “I hope you enjoy your day off.”

  Violet held up a spoonful of oatmeal. “Thank you for the yummy hot cereal this morning.”

  “No problem.” Leora left the kitchen.

  While eating, Violet speculated on whether Dan would call her back and when. Or was it already too late for them? What if he had decided to move on? She yearned for the chance to see him again. If she knew where he lived, would driving by his house help her feel better?

  Violet tried not to blame Levi completely for this situation. If she hadn’t gone out with him to begin with, she wouldn’t be in this mess right now. But she did go out with him, selfishly seeking to have fun. Where did it get her? Violet hadn’t made a good choice, and now she was stuck with it.

  Later that evening, Violet, Leora, and John finished praying silently before their evening supper. Violet’s mouth watered at the enticing grilled hamburgers. She and Leora had prepared homemade fries to accompany the burgers, and the new recipe of broiled cauliflower was there too.

  Violet dished up her plate with all the good food. She went for the new recipe from Mom and forked a bite of the glistening, browned vegetable. The floret was tender, and the seasoning complemented it well.

  “Hey, this tastes great.” Violet smiled. “I’ll have to thank Mom for finding this recipe and having me try it out.”

  Leora took a bite. “Yep, this is real good.”

  “I like cauliflower any old way.” John bit into a floret and wiggled his brows. “But I’ve got to admit, this is quite tasty.”

  They all chuckled and started eating again. During the rest of the meal, Violet shared about her shopping excursion at the mall, and her sister talked about their visit with friends. It was nice to have a good meal and pleasant time with her family. Even so, Violet couldn’t help thinking about her situation with Dan. If only I could fix the mess I managed to put myself into with Levi. Maybe then I’d have a chance with Dan.

  Chapter 9

  Three weeks had passed. Early on Friday, Violet was at the restaurant. Her alarm clock hadn’t gone off this morning, so she dashed out the door to get to work on time. She hadn’t had time to eat breakfast, so she couldn’t help but notice how good the food smelled. At least Leora had come knocking on her bedroom door so Violet could arrive at work on time.

  Violet made an effort between serving tables to grab a plastic cup and fill it with water. She took a few gulps before resuming her duties.

  Anne came over, carrying an empty tray. “I just took my table their order.” Anne grinned. “How’s it going?”

  “Good. I’m just trying to fill the void in my stomach, that’s all.” Violet took another swig of water.

  “You didn’t have breakfast before coming in, huh?”

  “No, I overslept.”

  “You got here on time, so you did good.” Anne patted her shoulder. “When your break comes up, you should probably get yourself something to eat. It’s not good working on an empty stomach.”

  Violet smiled. “Yep, I’m looking forward to that.”

  “I need to get back to my tables. See you later, Violet.” Anne headed off toward the tables by the salad bar.

  After throwing her cup in the waste bin, Violet went right back to waiting on customers.

  During her lunch hour, Violet ordered a grilled hamburger with everything on it and fries. She took a seat at one of the tables tucked away in the back.

  As Violet sat at her table eating, she thought about Dan. She still hadn’t heard a word from him or even seen him in passing. The hope she’d had of them getting back together didn’t seem likely. She made an effort to cope with that reality and keep herself busy.

  Violet had done some things with her family during that time. They had gone on a picnic at the park in Pinecraft. John, Leora, and Violet had enjoyed their time outdoors, soaking up the warm weather. Another day they biked on the Legacy Trail and then went to a restaurant on the water for supper. Recently Violet had invited John and Leora to go to the beach with her, and they had a nice time out on the sand for a couple of hours. Afterward, Violet drove them to Armand Circle to have lunch at one of the restaurants. She had parked in the lot across the street from the Tommy Bahama Restaurant. It had been their first time trying out the place, and they all enjoyed the meal.

  One day, Levi had again popped by John and Leora’s place, trying to ask her out. He had even tried to kiss Violet, but she’d pushed him away. Violet worried that, despite her protests, he would continue with his possessive behavior.

  After eating her meal and freshening up in the bathroom, Violet was ready to get back to work, feeling satisfied after having eaten good food and gaining energy to tackle the rest of her shift. The restaurant had a steady group of customers filing in. Violet could only guess why it had become so busy today. Perhaps a tourist bus had come in and dropped off travelers for a meal. Quite often, Amish people from different communities arrived in Pinecraft and came into the restaurant with others from their group. Regardless, she needed to take care of the guests, no matter how many had entered the establishment.

  As Violet waited on a young couple, she was surprised to see Dan coming into the restaurant. Her heart seemed to pick up its pace when she saw him. He hadn’t looked her way yet, but he was seated near her section. Violet hoped for the chance to speak with him. It would be tricky since she’d already had her break.

  It wasn’t long before they made eye contact. Dan’s hand came up, and he waved at her in a friendly manner.

  Violet smiled in his direction. At least he’s smiling back at me. I really need a moment with him.

  She finished up a customer’s order and headed to the kitchen first, then went over to Dan’s table.

  “Hello, Violet. How have you been?”

  I’ve been missing you, she wanted to say. “I’ve been doing okay.”

  “I was hoping to see you today.” Dan paused. “Are you still seeing Levi?”

  “No, I’m not. Like I had told you before, Levi and I are not dating anymore.”

  When he tilted his head, the light above shimmered on his blond hair. “Seriously?”

  She gave a nod. “I would really like to visit with you, but I’m a little busy right now.”

  “Okay. How about when you’re done working?”

  “That would be fine. I’ll be finished here at four today.”

  Dan rolled up his gray cotton sleeve, revealing his watch. “That’s not too long from now. I’ll come back about then.”

  “Good. I’ll see you later, Dan.”

  She headed back to her customers. I have another chance to get together with Dan. Violet’s heart swelled with hope. Thank You, God. I’ll do my best to make it work this time.

  The restaurant was still open, but Violet’s shift was done. She had gathered her things and now sat off to the side, waiting for Dan to show up. He said he would come by so we could talk, and I need to be patient. I hope Dan and I can have afresh start on our relationship. Violet looked at her phone to check for messages. But there weren’t any, so she scrolled through some apps to pass the time. Soon she spotted Dan wandering in and waved him over. “I’m glad you came back, Dan.”

  He took a seat across from Violet. “It was good to see you today. And I was surprised to hear that you and Levi aren’t dating. When I came through the parking lot, I saw Levi out there.”

  Violet grimaced. I hope Levi doesn’t come around and try to bother me here. Why can’t he get a clue and move on?

  “Violet, did you hear what I said?” Dan reached across the table and put his hand on hers.

  “Could you repeat that?” Violet’s face warmed, and she had to admit it felt nice having Dan’s attention.

  “After what had happened with calling you the last time and what Levi had said, it made me wonder if you two were still going out. I wanted to be sure that you are free to date me.”

  “I am, Dan, and I’d like to go out with you again.” Violet hoped her tone was reassuring.

  “Good to hear.” Dan gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting it go.

  They had only visited a few moments, when Levi strolled up to them. “Hi, Violet, how’s my best girl doing?” He flashed his charming grin at her, practically ignoring Dan.

  “Levi, for the last time, we are through.”

  Dan looked at him with a stern expression. “You heard her.”

  Levi grabbed Violet’s wrist to pull her up. “Come on, Violet. You can’t pick this loser over me.”

  Dan, being taller than him, stood up from his seat. “You heard what she said.”

  Levi pulled away from Violet. She wondered if he might be intimidated by Dan’s height. “Fine, have it your way!” Levi turned and sauntered off.

  Violet gasped. “That’s the first time he’s ever given up that easily.”

  “Maybe he won’t bother you anymore.”

  “I’d like that very much.” Violet hoped that was the case since she wasn’t sure if this new relationship could handle much more of Levi. Even though Dan was still new in her life, she was drawn to him.

  Violet was so happy to be home. She couldn’t help it. Seeing Dan and working things out had made her day much better. She hummed a hymn as she headed into the kitchen. Leora was in the middle of putting away the dishes from this morning.

  “Somebody sounds happy.” Leora opened an upper cabinet, placing a mug inside.

  “I am.” Violet grinned. She explained to her sister what had taken place after work with Dan. She also mentioned Levi showing up at their table and how everything went with that situation.

  Leora gave her a hug. “I’m glad you and Dan are giving your relationship another try.” She pointed at the counter. “By the way, you have a letter here.”

  Violet picked it up. “Oh, it’s from Francine.” She ripped open the envelope and began to read it.

  Hello, Violet,

  How are things in sunny Florida? I hope you all are doing fine and keeping busy.

  We are well here and having plenty of cold weather in Middlebury. The fireplace is a good spot to warm up by, that’s for sure. Alana and I do have to compete for room, but we try to share or walk away when we’ve gotten warm enough.

  I hate to pry, and I know it’s not my business, so if you don’t feel like telling me, I’ll understand. I was wondering why you ended your relationship with Levi. Mom had said it was because you and he didn’t get along. But I can’t help feeling that there was a more serious reason. Just curious—if you and Levi had continued going out and he’d asked you to marry him, would you have wanted to move back to Indiana?

 

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