Page 88 of A Gathering of Secrets

I don’t argue. I came here to spend a few minutes with my sister. Give her the birthday gift. Remind my sweet little niece she has an aunt. Try to hang on to something precious before it slips away. Despite all the years that have passed and everything that’s happened, there’s still a small part of me that craves the approval of my family. Maybe even the Amish community as a whole.

“I have news.” She sets her hand protectively over her abdomen. I know what she’s going to say before she utters the words. “I’m ime familye weg.”

Emotion surges and then I’m out of the chair, bending to her, hugging her close. “You just one-upped my birthday present.”

She chuckles. “It’s such a blessing. I just hope…”

I don’t let her finish. Before my niece was born, Sarah lost several pregnancies. It took a heavy toll on her and William. She’s wanted a big family since she was a little girl. “I’m sure everything will be fine.”

For an instant, I think about telling her that Tomasetti and I have set a date for our wedding, but the timing doesn’t seem right. This is her moment. I’ll fill her in next time I see her.

I motion toward the gift. “It’s not going to open itself.”

Grinning, she digs in, tearing the paper with the relish of a kid at Christmas. I know it’s for my benefit, to put me at ease, and we both enjoy the moment.

“Something smells heavenly.” She says the words as she reaches inside and the tissue paper falls away. “Oh! A candle! From The Mercantile! Katie, that’s my favorite store these days. Danki!”

“It’s bergamot and sweet rosemary.”

“They make the best candles.”

“Best everything.” I glance at the gift bag. “There’s more.”

“Well, my goodness, Katie.” She digs around the bottom of the bag with gusto, pulls out the soaps and tin of tea. “Oh and just look at that pretty tin! The little soaps are nice. They smell almost as good as that candle.” My sister hugs them to her. “Did those sweet Amish girls make all of this?”

“They made the candles. I think the owner made the soap.”

“Edna,” she says.

“You know them?”

“William helped out with the plumbing right before they opened the store. Those girls were the sweetest things. Made his lunch every day and wouldn’t let him pay a penny.” She shakes her head. “I was just there last week. Had all the keys made for the new gates.”

“Keys?”

“Ja. Someone opened the gate in that back pasture last week. Let all of our goats out. One of the ewes was hit by a car and killed. William says it was probably teenagers, but it gave us a start. We’re keeping all the gates locked now. William wanted extra keys so I had duplicates made.”

“You had keys made at The Mercantile?”

“Edna made them.” Smiling conspiratorially, she leans close. “William thinks I’m quite the dutiful wife. Little did he know the only reason I went there was for the shopping.”

CHAPTER 20

It’s eight A.M. and I’ve been sitting in the parking lot of The Mercantile for half an hour, watching the construction crew work on the old round barn, thinking about things I shouldn’t be thinking about. I didn’t sleep much last night. My conversation with Elam Schlabach kept running through my head.

I heard he done one of them other girls Emma used to hang with.…

Is it possible? I’ve spoken with the three girls on several occasions and not once did they give me any indication that something had happened.

I guess rape and sodomy aren’t exactly the kinds of things the Amish like to talk about though, are they?

I’m so caught up in my thoughts I don’t spot the buggy until it stops outside the big antique door. I watch Ina Yoder and Viola Stutzman climb down. Both girls are animated and chatting with the driver as they gather their things—several brown paper bags and two large trays heaped with what looks like individually wrapped pastries. Viola turns and waves to the driver as the buggy drives away. Ina pulls a wad of keys from her pocket and starts toward the door.

I reach them as Ina unlocks the door. “Guder mariye.”

Viola startles upon hearing my voice. “Oh, Chief Burkholder! Didn’t hear you drive up. Guder mariye to you, too.”

Ina pushes open the door and ushers us inside. “We’re not quite open yet, but you’re welcome to coffee while we get the register up and running.”