Lydia's Charm Read online

  “But you’re home early today,” Ike said. “So you didn’t give us a chance to get everything done.”

  “I’m home early because I’m goin’ to Keim’s. I told you this morning that if you wanted to go along, you’d need to have your chores done by noon.”

  Ike frowned. “Sorry, Papa, but my lazy brothers won’t listen to anything I say.”

  Menno felt overcome by a sense of guilt. Ever since Sadie had died, he’d put a lot of responsibility on the boys—especially Ike. It was either that, or he’d have to hire someone to come in and do the household chores, and he really couldn’t afford that right now. He’d just gotten Sadie’s hospital bills paid off and had been trying to put some money away for future needs they might have. With the tourist season starting up again, Menno figured he might sell more furniture and that would help their finances. But he had two employees he needed to pay, not to mention four growing boys who had to be fed and clothed. At the rate things were going, he’d never get this old house fixed up like he’d promised Sadie when they’d first moved to Charm.

  Menno glanced at the rocking chair he’d made for Sadie soon after they were married. A wave of sadness washed over him. She’d used that chair to rock each of their sons.

  As much as Menno hated to think about it, he really needed a wife—a mother for his boys. But the only widowed women in the area were much older than him. A few younger women weren’t yet married, but they seemed so immature. What Menno needed was someone who’d had experience raising children. The question was, who?

  CHAPTER 2

  Do you like your new schtiwwel?” Lydia asked Josh as they left Charm Shoe and Boot.

  He grinned and pointed to the pair of shiny black boots on his feet. “Sei nett.”

  “Jah, they’re very nice.” As Lydia helped Josh into the buggy, his stomach growled noisily. “Are you getting hungry?” she asked.

  He patted his belly and gave a nod.

  “All right then, we’ll stop over at Grandma’s Restaurant and get some lunch.”

  Josh’s eyes widened. “Grossmammi has a restaurant?”

  Lydia chuckled. “No. That’s the name of the restaurant where we’ll be eating. It has nothing to do with your grandma.”

  As they traveled the short distance to town, Lydia noticed that the picturesque landscape looked the same as she remembered it: same curving, hilly roads with many Amish farms scattered along the way. Some had been built close to the road, while others were set farther back. Some had their place of business connected to their homes, and some were in separate buildings.

  As they continued along County Road 70 with Buttercup behaving herself quite nicely, Lydia noticed that the roots of several old-looking trees were exposed along the edge of the road. They’d probably been there for a good many years, just like the little town of Charm, which had been founded in 1840. It was originally named Stevenson, but when the first post office was opened in 1885, the town’s name was changed to Charm. Lydia remembered her father saying that some folks had given the town the nickname of Putschtown, which meant “a small clump.”

  A bird fluttered from one of the trees and swooped in front of the buggy. Josh let out a whoop and ducked his head.

  “It’s all right, son,” Lydia said. “The voggel can’t get in our buggy. I think he’s just trying to make it to one of the trees on the other side of the road.”

  Josh flashed Lydia a grin that nearly melted her heart. Oh, how she loved spending time with her precious little boy.

  As they came down the hill into Charm, she spotted the building for Keim Lumber, which had been built a few years ago and was more modern than the last one had been. She was anxious to see what it looked like inside.

  Across Highway 557, she spotted Grandma’s Restaurant. When she pulled Buttercup into the restaurant’s parking lot, she was surprised to see so many cars. Since it was a weekday and an hour past noon, she hadn’t expected so many people would still be having lunch. She hoped they could get a table right away, because she had a couple more stops to make before they headed back to Grandpa’s place, and she wanted to get there in plenty of time to help Mom with supper.

  When they entered the restaurant, Lydia was disappointed to see several people standing in the entryway, waiting for a table. She thought about leaving, but Josh was really hungry. As she recalled from her last visit several years ago, this was the only restaurant in the center of town. Of course, there was the Chalet in the Valley, but that was farther out. Also, she’d never eaten at the Chalet and wasn’t sure if they’d have anything on the menu that Josh would like.

  Lydia stepped up to the counter and told the hostess that they needed a table for two; then she took Josh’s hand and stood off to one side. While they waited, Josh alternated between playing with the lever on the gumball machine and watching out the window, while Lydia read the names and comments in the guest book. One comment in particular caught her attention: I’m glad we came to visit this charming little town. There are so many quaint and unusual shops here; no wonder they call it Charm.

  Lydia had never really thought about the quaintness of Charm or heard anyone who lived here refer to it as charming. She supposed that most people who lived in a certain area for any length of time took everything about it for granted. People from outside the area, especially tourists, no doubt viewed traditional Amish towns like Charm in a much different way.

  They waited about twenty minutes and were finally shown to a table. Several more minutes passed before a young English woman came to take their order.

  “Sorry about the wait, but we’re shorthanded right now and didn’t expect such a big lunch crowd this afternoon.” The dark circles under the waitress’s eyes and the perspiration glistening on her forehead gave indication of her obvious fatigue.

  Lydia smiled, hoping to encourage the young woman. “It’s okay. We didn’t mind waiting.”

  The waitress offered a faint smile as she looked at Josh, sitting on a booster seat with an expectant look on his face. “What can I get you to drink, little fellow?”

  “A glass of milk.” Lydia spoke for Josh, since he wasn’t proficient in English yet. That would come after he started school in a few years. “And I’d like a glass of iced tea, please,” she quickly added.

  The waitress left the table, and when she returned with their beverages, she took their order: a hot dog for Josh and a turkey sandwich for Lydia.

  While they waited for their food, Lydia looked at her shopping list. They still needed to stop by the general store to pick up a few things Mom had mentioned she needed at the last minute, and then they’d go to Keim Lumber to buy some paint. Shortly before Lydia and Josh had left for town, Lydia had told Mom that she’d help her paint the kitchen tomorrow morning. Lydia was more than willing to help because Mom wouldn’t have time to do the painting on her own.

  “How come that little Amish girl looks like a lady in her face?” Josh asked in their Pennsylvania-Dutch language.

  Lydia took a sip of her tea and nearly choked when Josh pointed at a woman who had just entered the restaurant. She was dressed in Amish clothes and couldn’t have been more than four feet tall.

  Lydia noticed that the little woman’s chestnut brown hair was sprinkled lightly with gray, and soft wrinkles framed her lips and eyes. She was definitely not a girl. More than likely, she was in her early fifties.

  “How come that little Amish girl looks like a lady in her face?” Josh repeated as he continued to point.

  Lydia shook her head sternly. “Put your hand down, Josh. It’s not nice to point.”

  “But how come she looks—”

  “Not now, Josh. I’ll explain things to you later.”

  When the little woman followed the hostess past Lydia and Josh’s table, Lydia held her breath, hoping Josh wouldn’t say anything more. To her relief, he kept quiet, but he continued to stare at the little woman.

  Lydia was glad when the woman was seated near the back of the restaurant, out of
Josh’s sight. She didn’t want to deal with any more of his embarrassing questions, at least not until they were in the buggy where no one else could hear.

  Lydia managed to keep Josh occupied by talking about other things until their food was brought to the table. Then, after a silent prayer, she told Josh to enjoy his hot dog.

  When they finished their meal, Lydia took the bill to the counter to pay. They were almost to the front door when she spotted a sign in the window that read: WAITRESS WANTED. Could this be the job she’d been hoping to find? A job this close to Grandpa’s house would be perfect, because she could walk or ride her bike to work.

  Lydia was so excited about the prospect of working here that, if Josh hadn’t been squirming and tugging on her hand, she might have inquired about the job right then. Under the circumstances, she figured it would be best to leave Josh with Mom and come by in the morning to put in her application. Hopefully, the job would still be available. If it wasn’t, she would have to accept it as God’s will and trust that He’d provide something better for her.

  When Lydia and Josh entered the general store, a nice-looking Amish man with reddish-brown hair and dark brown eyes greeted them with a cheery smile. He was of average height with muscular arms, and his cleanly shaven face let Lydia know that he wasn’t married.

  “Can I help you with something?” he asked as Lydia turned toward one of the aisles.

  “I just need some toothpaste and a few other things, but I think I can find them,” she replied.

  “I’ll be at the front counter when you’re ready to pay for your purchases.” He disappeared around the corner, and Lydia moved up the aisle with Josh.

  She’d only been looking a few minutes when Josh tugged on her hand. “Schpielsach.”

  Lydia looked down at Josh and shook her head. “I don’t have enough money to buy you a toy.”

  “Zuckerscheifli?”

  “No, Josh. You just had lunch. You don’t need any sugar candy.”

  The corners of his mouth turned down, and his eyes filled with tears.

  Lydia sighed. She wished she could have left Josh at home with Mom. It would have saved her the embarrassment of him pointing at the little person at the restaurant, and she’d have been able to shop without him begging for things. But if she’d left him at home, they couldn’t have shopped for new boots.

  Guess I should be grateful for the time I get to spend with my boy, she chided herself. Once I get a job, I won’t be with Josh nearly as much as I’d like.

  Lydia lifted the corner of Josh’s straw hat and ruffled his hair. “Why don’t you look at the toys while I finish shopping? If I have enough money left after I pay for my purchases, I’ll buy you some gum or a piece of candy.”

  Josh grinned and scampered away.

  When Lydia finished shopping and stepped up to the counter, she was surprised to see the Amish man kneeling on the floor next to Josh.

  Wearing a contented smile, Josh held a red lollipop in his hand. “Zuckerscheifli.”

  Lydia was about to reprimand him for taking the candy without asking, when the man spoke up.

  “I hope you don’t mind that I gave him a lollipop. He was eyeballing the candy, and I couldn’t resist.”

  “I don’t mind. That was kind of you.” Lydia tore her gaze away from the man’s handsome face. “Did you say thank you?” she asked Josh.

  “Danki.” Josh swiped his tongue over the lollipop and grinned at the man.

  “You’re welcome. Are you finished shopping now?” he asked Lydia.

  She nodded and placed her purchases on the counter.

  “Are you new to the area? Don’t believe I’ve seen you in our store before.”

  Lydia introduced herself, as well as Josh, and then explained how she’d come to live with her mother, Mae Weaver. “Mom used to live in Wisconsin, but she moved to Charm a year ago to care for my grossdaadi, Wilbur Hershberger,” she added.

  “Oh yes, I’ve met your mamm a couple of times, but not Wilbur yet.” The man extended his hand, which was nearly twice the size of Lydia’s. “It’s nice to meet you. My name’s Levi Stutzman. My family moved here a few months ago from Geauga County, in the northeastern part of the state, and we bought this place.” He motioned to the other end of the store. “My daed and two sisters are in the back room, unpacking some pots and pans we just got in. My younger brothers, who help out in the store on occasion, are at home, and my mamm’s out running some errands right now.”

  “Maybe I’ll get to meet some of your family the next time I come in.” Lydia paid for her purchases and picked up the paper sack. “We have one more stop to make, so I guess we’d better be on our way.”

  Lydia and Josh were almost to the door when it swung open. The same little Amish woman they’d seen at the restaurant entered the store.

  Josh tugged on Lydia’s dress, and she held her breath. She hoped he wouldn’t say anything that might embarrass her. She really should have taken the time to explain about little people after they’d left the restaurant.

  The little woman looked up at Lydia and smiled; then she moved on past. Lydia thought about introducing herself, but with Josh standing there wide-eyed and mouth hanging open, she decided it was best to make a hasty exit.

  “How come that little Amish girl looks like a lady in her face?” Josh asked as Lydia was putting the paper sack in the buggy.

  “I’ll tell you in a minute.” Lydia hoisted Josh into the passenger’s seat, untied the horse from the hitching rail, and took her seat on the driver’s side. She’d better give Josh an explanation right away, because if the little woman lived nearby, there was a good chance they’d see her again.

  “Listen to me, Josh,” Lydia said, carefully choosing her words. “You know how some bopplin are born with a lot of hair and others have none?”

  He gave a slow nod.

  “Some bopplin have blue eyes, and some have brown.”

  “Jah.”

  “Well, most bopplin grow up to be tall, but some are short.”

  “Ich katzbehnich.”

  Lydia bit back a chuckle. “You’re short-legged now, but someday when you grow up, I’m sure you’ll be tall just like your daed.”

  Josh blinked and stared at Lydia as though he had no idea what she was trying to tell him. Truth was, she wasn’t exactly sure how to explain dwarfism to Josh. If she told him that some babies were born with a genetic defect causing short stature, he’d never understand. She needed to keep her explanation simple.

  She reached across the seat and touched Josh’s arm. “Some people, even when they grow up, never get tall. They stay small, like that little woman in the store.” She paused to gauge his reaction, but he still wore a look of confusion.

  “But why’d the little girl look alt?”

  Lydia sighed. “She looks old because she’s a woman, Josh.”

  He shook his head vigorously. “She’s a bissel maedel.”

  “She’s not a little girl.” Lydia turned Josh to face her. “You’re not understanding what I’m trying to say. The little woman was born different than you and me. You’ll grow up to be tall someday, but she’ll never grow any taller than she is right now.”

  “How come?”

  “Because God made her different than us, and she’ll always be short.”

  “Even when she’s alt like Urgrossvadder?”

  “Jah, even when she’s old like your great-grandfather.”

  Josh swiped his tongue across the lollipop a couple of times and tipped his head, as though trying to process all that she’d said. “Does the little woman sleep in a little bed, and eat at a little table?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.” Lydia had never been inside a little person’s house, so she really couldn’t say.

  Josh made another quick pass at his lollipop. “Can we go to her house sometime and see?”

  “I don’t think so, Josh. I don’t even know the woman’s name, much less where she lives. Right now, we need to go to Keim Lumber and g
et some paint for Grandma’s kitchen.” Lydia backed the horse away from the hitching rail. She was glad to have this discussion over and hoped she’d put Josh’s curiosity about the little woman to rest.

  CHAPTER 3

  How’s business?” Nona asked as she walked up to the front counter where Levi stood. “Have you been keeping busy?”

  Levi gave a slow nod. “But not so busy that I haven’t been able to handle things on my own. How’d things go with your errands?” he asked. “Your horse didn’t give you any trouble, I hope.”

  “Of course not. Tinker’s gentle as a kitten.” Nona peered up at Levi. “Any idea who that young woman was with the little boy? I didn’t recognize them.”

  “Her name’s Lydia King. She’s Wilbur Hershberger’s granddaughter.”

  “I see. Do you know where she’s from?”

  “She mentioned that she’s a widow and that she and her son, Josh, moved here from Illinois.”

  “Guess we’ll probably be seeing a lot of them then.”

  “Maybe so.”

  “Did you notice her pretty face and shiny blond hair?”

  Levi gave a brief shrug.

  “Her boy’s sure cute.”

  “Jah. He was eyeballing the candy, so I gave him a lollipop.”

  “That was nice.” Nona smiled. “Maybe Lydia and her son will come into the store often and you’ll have a chance to get better acquainted.”

  Levi’s eyebrows drew together. “Don’t get any ideas, Mom. You ought to know by now that I’m not lookin’ for a fraa.”

  “Never said you were looking for a wife.”

  “I’m perfectly happy helping you and Pop here in the store.”

  “Never said you weren’t.” Nona moved around the counter and climbed onto the stool where Levi had previously been sitting. “You can’t blame a mamm for trying,” she said with a chuckle.

  “There’s a twinkle in your eye that has me worried.” Levi leaned over, so he was looking Nona in the face. “I hope you’re not getting any ideas about trying to play matchmaker.”