A Simple Spring: A Seasons of Lancaster Novel Page 24

  “Ya, of course.”

  “Promise me. My heart would break to see Susie and Leah disappointed on their birthdays.”

  “I promise,” Sadie said, her throat gritty with heat and regret. She wished that Rachel hadn’t churned up Ruthie’s fears for no good reason. Sadie was Amish through and through, and if she was going to fly the coop, she’d had plenty of chances in the past few months with Frank and the band and now Mike.

  “Okay, then.” Ruthie topped another berry. “Now I’ll be able to rest easy again. It’s bad enough losing Mary. I can’t lose another sister so soon!”

  “You’ll still see Mary all the time,” Rachel pointed out. “She’ll just be living down the road at the Beilers’ place.”

  “That’s just not the same.”

  The screen door creaked, and out came Remy and Aunt Betsy, their faces flushed from the heat of the kitchen.

  “How’s it going out here?” Remy asked, eyeing the mound of clean berries.

  Aunt Betsy nearly tripped on the hose, and she told Susie to coil it up neatly. “We’re almost ready to put up the second batch. Mary’s just watching for the first batch to set up.”

  “I just can’t wait for fresh strawberry jam.” Ruthie’s dimples appeared when she smiled. “I want to spread it on my toast in the morning. I wish I had some now.”

  “Good things come to those who wait,” Betsy said, touching Ruthie lightly on the shoulder.

  “How is the canning going?” Adam called from the path to the barn. “Mammi says she’s been smelling sweet berries all morning from the Doddy house.”

  “Almost finished with the first batch,” Remy said, her face warming with a smile when she saw Adam.

  “It’s been a very good year for strawberries, thank Gott,” Aunt Betsy said.

  The jangle of her cell phone startled Sadie as she cut through a berry. She dropped the knife and berry as she glanced up to see who else noticed.

  And every single person faced her, staring.

  Aunt Betsy’s brows were raised in curiosity, while a scowl marked Adam’s face.

  Without wiping her hands, she grabbed her cell phone and winced. It was Frank. With a mixture of disappointment and annoyance, she turned it off and tucked it back under her skirt. She’d been hoping it was Mike, telling her he was coming in earlier. And now, she was in trouble again.

  “Is that thing keeping you from your chores, Sadie?” asked Aunt Betsy.

  Sadie swallowed, her dry throat straining. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. I’m sorry.”

  “She’s been topping berries, quick as the wind,” Ruthie said cheerfully.

  “Well, I hope so.” Betsy pointed to a large pail of berries for Susie to fetch, then headed back into the kitchen.

  Adam closed the space between them, standing across the table from Sadie. “It’s not a good thing, that phone. I know you’re in rumspringa, but it’s a bad example you’re setting for the little ones, carrying that thing around.” He pointed a thumb to Ruthie. “And even the not-so-little ones.”

  Ruthie hung her head, hurt by Adam’s suggestion that she’d been influenced in a negative way, and Sadie felt sickened by the whole situation. Really, did Adam have to make them all feel bad? Over a small little phone?

  He held out his hand. “Give me the phone.”

  “Adam …” Sadie gasped. The cell phone was her only tie to Mike right now. She talked to him every day, and if she lost her phone … She just couldn’t give it up.

  “Give it to me.” The metallic gleam in his dark eyes frightened her, and she quickly handed it over.

  He flipped it open and pressed a few buttons. Of course, he would know how to use it. Adam had been away from the farm for three years during his rumspringa. During that time he must have had a cell phone of his own.

  Watching him, she realized he was scrolling through either her text messages or her call list.

  Rachel and Ruthie kept cutting berries, but their eyes were on Adam and Remy, who stood beside him. She kept silent, her lips tight with concern.

  “Frank? He’s the one who just called you.” He winced, as if he’d just tasted something terribly sour. “That’s who this is about? The bishop told you to end it with the band.”

  “I’m trying to, but he keeps calling.” Despite the sick feeling in her belly, Sadie attempted to keep her voice calm. It wouldn’t do to argue or be disrespectful to her older brother, especially in front of all these people. She had to keep peace in her heart.

  “All the more reason to get rid of this phone.”

  “No, please,” she begged. “I need the phone right now, Adam. Frank keeps calling me because I never got to finish things off with the band. I know you don’t want me talking with them, but I have to let them know. They’re relying on me, and it’s wrong to just turn away from them. Remember the golden rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you. I wouldn’t want a person to cut me off, just like that.”

  He frowned. “What will it take for you to end it with that band?”

  “I need my cell phone back,” she said. “And I would have to go into town, to talk to them in person. It’s not just Frank. The others—Tara and Red—they’re good people. They deserve an explanation.”

  “They are not your friends, and they need to know that. You need to cut them off, once and for all. Do you understand?”

  She nodded.

  He put the cell phone on the table, just inches from the red berry stains. “Do it today. And then, after that, we’ll talk about you and the cell phone. Is that clear to you, Sadie?”

  “Yes.” Her pulse raced as she realized she’d answered with the Englisher word. Had he noticed?

  She couldn’t tell, because he turned and strode off, back to the barn.

  “Back to work,” Ruthie said in a singsong voice, trying to ease the heaviness in the humid air around them.

  Topping berries, Sadie’s mind was a million miles away. At least she would have no problem getting into town to see Mike now. But she would have to meet with Frank and the band, too. She had promised Adam, and if she had any hope of regaining his trust, she had to make good on her promise.

  “Meet me at Red’s place, soon as you can get there,” Frank had said when she’d phoned him from her hiding spot beyond the pond. “I’ve got awesome news!”

  As Sadie showered away the grime of her morning chores, she tried to think of how she would give her news to Frank and Red. Frank would argue with her, she knew that, but Red would be more accepting. With his wealth of music information and his talent for instruments and computers, Red had a quiet peace inside, and she hoped that her quitting wouldn’t upset him. The thought of leaving the band now made her belly ache with worry.

  Maybe the band would find another singer soon, she thought as she scrubbed hard at the berry stains on her hands. Maybe they already had. That was probably the awesome news Frank wanted to give her.

  Her heart felt lighter as she pinned her dress in place and smoothed her hair back under her kapp. She would settle things with Frank and the band, and visit with Mike, too. Today would turn out to be a good day, after all.

  As she got her scooter from the shed, she left word with Gabe that she would be going off to work at the hotel after her meeting with Frank, so she wouldn’t be back for dinner. That way, she would have the evening free to spend with Mike.

  The bishop’s warning blared in her brain as she glided down the road to the outskirts of Halfway. Behind her, a horse and buggy turned onto the highway, and she felt their eyes upon her. The eyes of the whole community were upon her.

  Such heresy, the bishop had said.

  And all along, she’d only been trying to let God’s light shine from within her, as the Bible said. How could something so pure and good be twisted into evil?

  Relief sank in when she rolled past the last Amish farm and turned onto the city street where Red lived. The door to the garage was open, and rock music filled the air. Stepping into the cool shadow
s, Sadie saw Red at the computer, working on something. His job was on the computer, though she didn’t understand what he did exactly. Frank paced in front of the sofa, playing along with the music on his electric guitar.

  “Hello!” She shouted above the music.

  Red raised a hand to wave, then scooted his chair away from his desk to turn down the volume. “Sadie …” He tilted his head and smiled. “Long time no see.”

  Frank turned and threw his arms open wide. “Sadie! Welcome back, church girl.”

  She smoothed the skirt of her dress down, not interested in a hug. “I’m not back to stay, Frank. I came to say good-bye.”

  “Aw, come on! You’re not still upset about that flyer going around town.”

  “Not upset anymore.” She had forgiven him, hard though that was. “But it did change everything. I told you, the ministers found out what I was doing. They’ve told me I have to end it with the band. I have to quit.”

  “Bummer.” Red crossed his thin arms over his chest. “I’m sorry to hear that, Sadie.”

  “Wait! Wait, wait!” Frank was waving his arms. “Those ministers are going to change their minds when they hear about this. We’ve been offered a contract. A real contract. The backup band on the Night Shade tour just dropped out, and the tour producer wants us to step in for them. We’ll be jumping in on the tail end of their East Coast tour. Six weeks paid, with a tour bus, food allowance …”

  “A tour?” Sadie frowned. “I can’t do that.” Even if the ministers permitted it, she wasn’t about to leave her home for six weeks. She would miss the entire summer with her family. A summer without her sisters and the little ones. Without Mammi and Remy and the bountiful fruits and vegetables from their garden. And Mike … she couldn’t be away from him for six weeks. “No, I can’t go on a tour.”

  “Of course you can.” Frank pointed a thumb toward the door. “I’ve got your contract in my van outside. Red and Tara and I have already signed. We’ve been waiting on you.” He unplugged his guitar and took a few steps toward the door. “Let me just get your contract. It helps to see it all laid out in black and white.”

  “No! Frank, wait,” she called after him, but he was on his own track, heedless of her. Same old Frank. “Sometimes he doesn’t even hear what I’m saying.”

  “He tunes everyone out.” Red clicked on the computer mouse, then stood up. “But I’m warning you, he’s going to put on the pressure for you to join the tour.”

  “I know that. But you three will have to do it without me.”

  “Well, that’s the thing.… There is no band without you. The producer was pretty clear about that. He wants the four of us. Especially the Amish singer. His words, not mine.”

  “That’s not fair,” Sadie said, turning to Red. “Can a producer do that?”

  Red frowned. “A producer can do anything he wants.”

  “They saw our video on YouTube and they liked the way we play together,” Frank said, pausing at the door. “They want the whole package.”

  Sadie stood in the familiar garage, worry creeping over her. How could she stop this without crushing Frank’s hopes?

  “Here it is!” Frank handed her some papers that were stapled together. “Nothing too complicated. You just need to sign on the last page.”

  “I’m sorry, Frank.” She let the papers drop to her side, her heart sinking. Although she didn’t share Frank’s dream, she didn’t want to ruin the tour for them. “I can’t go on a tour. The ministers have forbidden me to play with the band at all. I shouldn’t even be here now, but I wanted to end things right and proper.”

  “What? You can’t end things.” Frank smacked his cheeks dramatically. “You’re our lead singer!”

  “Not anymore. I told you, the ministers forbid it.”

  “But they can’t tell you how to live, can they? I mean, you don’t need them. You won’t need anyone if you sign on for this gig.”

  Sadie frowned. Frank didn’t understand.

  “Don’t look at me that way, bonnet girl. This is for real. If we sign this contract, everything will be taken care of for six weeks. They’ll pay for our food and we’ll have a place to sleep and we’ll get paid. This is a great gig, and it’s all because of your awesome voice and your apple-cheeked innocence.”

  Sadie felt torn in half.

  This was exactly what the bishop warned her about. She had gotten involved in worldly things, and now she was caught up with these Englishers. They were counting on her, and she had no choice but to let them down.

  To live Amish, she needed to follow the Ordnung.

  “I have to go.” She shouldn’t even be here now.

  “But what about the contract?” Frank asked, dogging her as she went out the door.

  She grabbed her scooter and handed him the papers. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, I won’t take no for an answer.” He refused to take the papers back from her, and she felt her face pucker with anger.

  “Don’t do this, Frank.”

  “Sadie, we need you—”

  She yanked her scooter toward the driveway. As she passed Frank’s van, she tossed the papers on its hood, then pushed off on her scooter.

  “Think about it!” Frank called after her.

  Heat waves shimmered over the road ahead of her as Sadie put her foot down to stop the scooter. She was far enough from Red’s house that Frank wouldn’t come after her, though she still wore a cloak of regret for letting the band down.

  Their big break had finally arrived, and Sadie was going to mess everything up.

  She pulled her scooter to the side of the road and carefully patted the folds of her skirt where she’d pinned her cell phone in. Where was Mike? Had she missed his call?

  She was working pins out of her dress to fish out the phone when a cloud of dust came over the hill behind her. A white truck appeared on the road, but she ignored it, looking down at her phone.

  A minute later, the rumbling grew closer—too close—and she shot a look behind her. The truck had pulled over.

  It had been a while since Remy and Adam had been hounded by that dark car, but caution made her go stiff. No one was in sight on this country road. She had best be careful.

  Caution was thick in her throat as she held tight to her cell phone and tried to see beyond the glare on the windshield.

  “Sadie?” Mike jumped down from the truck, waving.

  Her shoulders sank with relief. “You scared me! What are you doing driving a big truck like that?”

  “It belongs to the bakery.” He jogged toward her. “Remember? I told you I had to pick up whoopie pies for work.”

  In all the mayhem of the day, she had forgotten.

  “Hey, you,” he said, his smile full of light and joy.

  Oh, he was a sight to see with his blue eyes and easy grace.

  He reached down to hug her, and she closed her eyes and relaxed in his arms. A moment later, he was lifting her off her feet. Her scooter fell on its side, and they both ended up laughing.

  “Well, that was a nice hello,” she said when her feet were back on the ground.

  “What can I say? I missed you.”

  It had only been four days, but she felt the same way. “I missed you, too.” He held a hand up to shield his eyes. “It’s crazy hot in this sun. Where do you want to go?”

  She recalled the last time he had picked her up while she was scootering down this road. “How about some ice cream? We can head over to Stieger’s Ice Cream Parlor.”

  “That’s right, I owe you ice cream.” He reached down to pick up her scooter. “This will fit in the truck. If you don’t mind riding with some whoopie pies. Actually, they’re not assembled yet. I was kind of disappointed.”

  “You know how they got their name?” She giggled. Her heart felt so light, being with him again. “When someone gives you one, you’re so excited you say ‘Whoopie!’ ”

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  Remy usually found the clip-clop of the horse’s hooves on the
pavement relaxing, but the morning drama between Sadie and Adam had unsettled her, and she could see that the man sitting beside her was still stewing over it as they rode into Halfway.

  She turned to Adam. The lines of his face seemed to be hardened by the turmoil inside him. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  He stared at the road ahead. “Not really.”

  “Is it all right if I talk about it?”

  “I’d rather you didn’t.”

  “Adam, you’re in an impossible position. The ministers expect you to keep Sadie to the rules of the Ordnung, but at the same time you can’t control her. It’s not your fault that she got involved with the band. We all know how important music is in her life.”

  “I hate being the heavy,” he said slowly. “That’s what you call it, isn’t it? The heavy. A downer. A bummer.”

  Remy laughed out loud. “You picked up a few phrases during your rumspringa?”

  “Here and there.” Under the brim of his hat, his face softened, the tension easing. “I don’t like enforcing the law for Sadie, but it’s my responsibility.”

  “I know.” An outsider to the Amish, Remy had been seeing these difficult lessons play out in Sadie’s situation. Poor Sadie was trying to listen to her heart and please everyone else too, but that was impossible. If Sadie was going to follow her dreams and explore the music she loved, she would not be allowed to join the Amish community.

  “Do you think it will be different when we have children of our own?” Remy asked. “Will it be this hard to lay down the law to them?”

  “Not at all,” Adam said decisively. “Our children will obey their dat.”

  “And what if we get a wild one like Sadie?”

  He groaned. “Don’t even say that.”

  Remy laughed. She enjoyed Adam’s wry sense of humor, and she was glad he had asked her to join him for errands in town. Living with Adam’s aunt and uncle, she didn’t get to see Adam as often as she liked.

  Hands still holding the reins, Adam turned around to check traffic behind him. “Go on! Go on!” He waved for the car behind them to pass. “There’s plenty of space. I don’t know why he doesn’t just pass us.”