A Secret Encounter (Amish Secrets--Book 2) Page 14

  “Sure. I’d love some,” Anna said. She turned to Aaron. “Do you need to go?”

  Aaron nodded, eyeing Joseph warily. He leaned over and kissed Anna’s cheek. “I’ll see you tonight when I pick you up.”

  Anna smiled and escorted him to the door. She turned the key to lock the door after Aaron exited. They wouldn’t officially open till eight o’clock.

  Joe smiled when Anna entered the break room. He handed her a cup of steaming coffee. “Do you need the cream and sugar?”

  “I can get it.” Anna moved to the refrigerator to get the creamer. She poured some into her mug, added a spoon of sugar, and then sat down across the table from Joseph.

  “How are the wedding plans coming along?” Joe attempted to make small talk.

  Anna frowned. “I’d rather not talk about that.”

  Joe shrugged. “Okay. What do you want to talk about?”

  “I had thought that you left for good. Jacob said you were leaving us.” Tears rose in her eyes, something Joe didn’t expect. “I thought you’d left without saying goodbye.”

  “Did it matter?”

  Anna stared at him forlornly. “Of course, it mattered. I thought I might never see you again.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Just because we aren’t together anymore, doesn’t mean that I hate you. It doesn’t mean that I don’t care for you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  She clasped her hands together. “We can still be friends, can’t we?”

  “Aren’t you afraid I’m going to steal something from your purse? I’m a thief, you know,” he said sardonically.

  “Can we put that behind us?”

  He raised a cynical brow and crossed his arms. “I don’t know. Can we?”

  <><><>

  Anna wanted to scream. Where was the easy talk and mutual admiration they’d once shared? When she thought he’d left for good, her mind had filled with a thousand things she would say to him if she ever got a chance to speak with him again. Things like: I’m sorry. I was wrong to treat you that way. I missed you.

  But it seemed things were different now. Her mistrust in him had erected an invisible wall – one that must be torn down before they could ever have any kind of relationship. Relationships were built on trust. But how could she trust a known thief?

  That was one question she hadn’t figured out.

  <><><>

  Aaron couldn’t believe Joseph Bender had come back. He thought he’d been rid of him for good when Anna said that he’d gone. Now he was back, probably trying to wiggle his way back into Anna’s heart at this very moment. He had to do something. He swiftly moved to the phone in his shop and searched through the telephone book. He found the number he was looking for and placed a quick call.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Today hadn’t gone the way Joe had planned. It seemed the wedge between him and Anna had been driven further, forcing them apart even more. When Anna had entered the shop this morning, hope had filled his heart. But the scenario he had imagined never happened. How could they get back to that place where they once communed together?

  Anna hadn’t been in a good mood today. After their brief conversation in the break room this morning, they hadn’t spoken two words to each other.

  A man walked in the door carting a large bouquet of flowers. Were they from Linda’s husband? Joseph smiled.

  “Is there an Anna Smucker here?” the man from the florist asked.

  Joe’s smile turned upside down. He pointed to where Anna helped a customer.

  Joe watched as Anna’s face lit up in delight. She read the small card attached to the flowers and smiled. When she unintentionally caught Joe’s eye, she abruptly turned around. He watched as she excused herself, then cheerfully took the flowers to the break room.

  <><><>

  Joseph double checked the door to be certain Anna was still assisting a customer. He quickly and quietly tip-toed over to the bouquet of flowers, searching for the card.

  “What are you doing?”

  Joseph jumped. “Harvey, you scared me to death.”

  Harvey chuckled. “Caught ya with your hand in the cookie jar, did I?”

  “Shh…just keep watch while I read the card.” He held the small envelope in his hand.

  “You know, you really shouldn’t be doing that.”

  “You’re right.” Joe moved to put the card back.

  Harv began his exposition from memory, “To my beloved Anna, You are the most wonderful woman in the world. Flowers are lovely, but they pale in comparison to your beauty. Looking forward to tonight. Yours alone, Aaron.” Harvey’s face brightened. “Pretty debonair fellow, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Is that really what it says?” Joe lifted a brow.

  Harv nodded sheepishly. “I read it earlier. Figured you’d be wantin’ to know what it said.”

  Joe plopped down into one of the chairs at the table and stared miserably at the beautiful red roses. “What am I going to do, Harv?”

  “Why don’t you pray? Then wait on the Lord.”

  “Should I just stand by and watch Anna marry Aaron?”

  “Pray. And wait on the Lord.”

  Joseph sucked in a deep breath and released it heavily. “Okay.”

  <><><>

  Aaron walked into Threads of Beauty ten minutes prior to closing time. Anna was glad to see him, anxious to be on her way home. The atmosphere had been way too tense in the store today. She thought she’d be thrilled to see Joe again, and she had been this morning. But it seemed there had been a brick wall between them since.

  “I need to wait until Linda arrives before I can leave,” she informed Aaron. “She had some errands to run.” Anna refolded several scraps of material on the Clearance table and organized them as they’d been earlier in the day. Why is it that customers could never replace items the way they found them? Oh well, just part of the job. At least it kept her busy.

  Aaron nodded and took a seat and pulled out a newspaper from his coat. He glanced over at Joe behind the cash register, still irked by his presence.

  Linda entered the store carrying several bolts of fabric and Joe rushed to help her. They took her purchases into the back room, then Linda beckoned Anna to the back room as well.

  Aaron eyed the cash register, a dozen thoughts swirling in his mind. It’s now or never, he told himself. He rushed to the register and quickly opened it. He lifted the drawer and grabbed the large bills from underneath. He rapidly closed the drawer and glanced around for a place to stash the money. He spied Joe’s Bible on one of the inside shelves. Perfect!

  <><><>

  Anna and Linda walked out of the break room. Anna smiled at Aaron as he patiently sat where she’d last seen him, still reading his newspaper. “I’ll be ready to go in just a few minutes, Aaron. Linda and I need to go over today’s sales receipts and count the money. You don’t mind waiting, do you?”

  “No, of course not, Schatzi.” Aaron’s eyes sparkled.

  Anna opened up the cash register and removed the drawer. She gasped when she didn’t see the large bills underneath.

  Linda moved close and whispered, “Anna, is there a problem?”

  Anna gestured to the empty drawer bottom. “The money’s gone…you don’t think?” She hated to think the worst of Joe, but history spoke for itself.

  “Well, perhaps there’s another explanation. Maybe it’s around here somewhere.”

  Anna look at the shelf beneath the counter. Something green peeked out from Joseph’s Bible. She pointed it out to Linda.

  Linda frowned. “Oh no.” She sighed.

  Aaron walked up. “Is there a problem?”

  “There’s money missing,” Anna volunteered.

  “I’ll call the police,” Aaron said, hastily making his way out the door.

  <><><>

  Joseph stood in shock as the officer brought his hands behind his back and placed the cuffs on his wrists. Another officer stood stalwart, reading
him his rights. He kept silent.

  Anna’s disappointed gaze darted elsewhere when he forlornly looked her way, but not before he recognized the shame. It was the same look his father had given him before he’d walked out the door the last time.

  Pray and wait on the Lord.

  This time, no matter what happened, he couldn’t let his faith waver. But it was different now. Somehow, he felt peace instead of fear.

  God was in control.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Anna wrapped herself in one of Mammi’s quilts and slipped outside into the cold night. She sunk down into the hickory rocker on their small front porch. The sky was clear and the air crisp. It seemed she could see every star visible to the naked eye. Each one sparkled with a majesty all their own, manifesting their Creator’s magnificent glory.

  A tear slipped down Anna’s cheek.

  Recounting the things she’d seen and read to the police had been so difficult. And then when the officers slapped the handcuffs on Joseph. It had been terrible. She felt like she was betraying a friend. And, in essence, she was.

  As she’d watched the officers walk out with Joe, then put him into their patrol car, it was all she could do to not break down in tears. As the patrol car drove away, she felt a piece of her heart leave too. It had been the most miserable thing she’d ever experienced.

  So many times she’d reminded herself that Joseph Bender was a thief. But every time the words formed in her mind, she’d prayed that somehow they weren’t true. But they were.

  What now?

  She wished Mamm or Dat were here to talk to. It was times like this she missed her parents most. What would they have said at a time like this? When she’d been younger, she’d never thought she might have to face life – and marriage – without them. She’d always taken for granted that they’d be there for her. Never had their absence, and the consequent void, been so evident, as it was now.

  Anna turned when she heard the door creak open.

  Rachel walked out carrying two mugs of hot cocoa. She handed one to Anna.

  “You couldn’t sleep either?” Anna offered a faint smile.

  “It’s been crazy, jah?”

  “Jah.”

  “Jacob thinks that Joseph is innocent,” Rachel blurted out.

  Anna raised a brow. “He does?”

  “He said they had some good conversations when they traveled to Paradise for Samuel’s funeral. He asked Joseph point blank if he was a thief, and he said no. So either he’s innocent, or he’s a thief and a liar.”

  Anna chuckled wryly. “And the reason I liked him in the first place is because I’d thought he was honest.”

  “May I offer some advice?”

  Anna nodded.

  “Just give it to God. He’ll work it all out in His own way and in His own time,” Rachel encouraged. “This is a burden you don’t need to carry. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you,” she quoted.

  “Thank you. I think I will.”

  Rachel stood up from the rocker beside Anna. “Anna, anytime you need to talk, I’m here. And I don’t know if Jacob told you, but we found a place. It’s just down the road, three farms away.”

  “Really? That’s wonderful.” Anna’s face brightened. “When will you and Jacob be moving?”

  “Hopefully, by February. So you’ll have to put up with us a bit longer.”

  “Oh no, we love having you here,” Anna replied.

  Rachel smiled before stepping into the house.

  Anna bowed her head and whispered a silent prayer. In spite of all she’d been through, God was still good. He’d been her strength when her folks died. He’d been there through all the trials she’d gone through lately. And she knew he’d be there guiding her future. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. It was that steady Rock that kept her going, and that kept her strong.

  <><><>

  Anna stood to go back into the house. Bright lights shined in the distance, most likely a passing car. She paused when she realized the vehicle had turned into their lane and was approaching rapidly. Who would be visiting this time of night?

  She looked closer and recognized the car. It was Linda’s.

  “Anna!” Linda called from the car.

  She watched as Linda, her husband, and Harv all exited the vehicle with haste.

  “What’s going on?” Anna stared wide-eyed.

  Linda held up a laptop computer. “I need to show you something.”

  Anna led the way into the house, offering her guests a seat at the kitchen table. Rachel was already seated at the table with her Bible open in front of her. She rose and walked to the cook stove, placing a large pot on top. She opened the water reservoir and ladled out some hot water for cocoa and coffee.

  “You better get your grandma and Jacob. They’ll be wantin’ to see this too!” Harv bellowed.

  “Shh…the kinner are sleeping,” Anna cautioned.

  She returned a moment later with Mammi and Jacob. Rachel handed everyone a mug and brought out some instant coffee and cocoa mix. While the others prepared their drinks, Linda powered on her computer. When the screensaver appeared, she reached into her purse and pulled out a small plastic rectangular object.

  “What is that?” Anna asked.

  “It’s an SD card. It can hold a lot of information,” Linda informed her.

  “And video!” Harv added.

  “Just watch,” Linda advised. She pressed a few keys on her laptop and a video began playing.

  “That’s the store!” Anna said, surprised.

  Linda nodded. “Joe began installing a surveillance system for me before he went to Paradise for the funeral. He ran into some difficulties, so he wasn’t able to finish it before he left. I didn’t know this, but Harv had begun working on it and actually got it to work. Everything that happened in the store today is on this video.”

  Harvey pointed to the screen and Anna squinted to see the image. “That’s Aaron,” she said.

  “Yep, that’s Aaron all right,” Harv agreed.

  Anna’s jaw dropped when she saw Aaron sneakily open the cash register and hide the money in Joseph’s Bible. She stood speechless.

  “Anna, there’s more,” Linda said. “Joe didn’t want me to say anything, but I’m going to anyway. The Christmas bonus I gave you last week – it came from Joseph’s paycheck.”

  Anna’s eyes filled with tears.

  “That’s not all,” Linda continued. She typed ‘Threads of Beauty’ into the search engine and a colorful page opened up. “Do those quilts look familiar?”

  Mammi spoke up. “Those are my quilts – the ones that were hidden under the bed!”

  “That’s right,” Linda said. “Joe volunteered to set up a website for the store. For free. He knew you’d been struggling financially and he wanted to see if he could help by promoting the store online. That’s why we’ve been getting so much business lately. He took the quilts so he could take photographs and post them online.”

  Tears streamed down Anna’s face and she sobbed into her hands. Harvey pulled her close and patted her back. Anna finally found her voice. “So he’s been innocent this whole time?”

  “That Aaron boy should be the one sitting in that jail cell right now. Not Joe,” Harvey uttered with a scowl.

  “Have you shown this to the police?” Jacob asked.

  “No,” Linda said. “I wanted Anna to see it first. But I plan to take it to them tonight.”

  “May I go with you?” Anna asked through her tears.

  “Of course,” Linda answered.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Joseph sat on the small firm bed in his cell, his hands clasped together and head bent in prayer. A metal click drew his attention to the lock as a correctional officer opened the cell door. He stared at the officer wide eyed.

  “Bail has been posted. You’re free to go until your trial,” the officer informed him.

  Who posted bail for me? He wondered.

&
nbsp; The officer walked him to the main booking office and they handed over his personal belongings. After he changed back into his street clothes, he was escorted to the outer waiting room.

  Joe’s mouth dropped open. “Bishop Hostettler?”

  “I was already on my way to see you when I found out what happened,” Judah said. “Kumm, I have somebody you might want to see. We hired a driver.”

  Confusion displayed on Joseph’s face.

  “I’m preaching this Sunday at the Girods’ place,” the bishop informed him. “Do you know them?”

  “No. I haven’t met them yet.”

  “I’ll be staying in their dawdi haus over the weekend. You have been granted permission to stay too.” Judah led the way out to the parking lot, where a van waited for them.

  “I have?”

  When they neared the van, an Amish couple stood beside it. Joseph examined them as he and the bishop came closer. He suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared in disbelief.

  The woman rushed toward him, tears in her eyes. “Joseph?”

  He gulped hard and his voice faltered. “Mamm?” His eyes wandered beyond where she stood. “Dat?”

  “Jah, it is us, Sohn,” his father replied.

  Joseph couldn’t take his eyes off of them. He stood in the cold, unaffected by the chill. “What are you doing here?”

  The bishop spoke up, “Why don’t we talk about this on the way to the Girods’ place?”

  Joseph, along with his parents, and Judah, all filed into the van. On the journey to their place of respite, Joseph’s folks filled him in on all that had happened since he’d left. They apologized for their harsh treatment of him and informed him that they, too, had eventually left the Swartzentruber Amish. He learned that Mary’s brother ended up going to prison after he was reported by someone else. His folks now lived in Southeastern Ohio, which was a lot closer to Bishop Hostettler’s district, than the other sect up North.