The Deception (Lindy's Story Book 2) Read online

  The buzzer over the fries went off and he ran to remove the basket. He’d better look smart or Myrtle might change her mind.

  * * *

  By the time their shift was over, Ariel was slumping. She looked up at Reuben and groaned. “Lord, but that was something else today.”

  “It was that coupon they handed out at the mall,” Reuben answered. “Everyone came in with that coupon.”

  “Yeah, a whole fifty cents off a burger. Big deal.” She slipped her arm through his as they took off toward the bus stop.

  “Fifty cents is fifty cents,” he said.

  She rolled her eyes. “Wow. Aren’t you the fount of wisdom today?”

  They caught the bus within minutes and arrived at his apartment within a half hour of leaving the restaurant. They climbed the stairs, and Reuben unlocked the door.

  “Come on in.”

  “I was planning to,” came Ariel’s sassy retort. She grinned up at him, and he shut the door behind them. She wound her arms around him and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. He kissed her back and felt her melt into him. At this rate, his hair would never get cut. Still kissing, they stumbled over to the couch and sank down upon it.

  Reuben broke their kiss and backed away a few inches. “I’m going to visit my mother,” he told her.

  “What?” Her pupils were large, and her lips were already the tiniest bit swollen. “What are you talking about? In Indiana?”

  “Yes. Indiana.”

  “Now?”

  “This Friday and Saturday.”

  “This seems kind of random.”

  “My mother is sick,” he said, trying to keep his tone even.

  Ariel backed away and looked up at him. “Sick?”

  “She’s dying.”

  “What?”

  “She’s got cancer, and she’s not doing well.”

  Ariel’s mouth was hanging open and she kept shaking her head. “But that’s awful. I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you say anything before?”

  Why, indeed. He had no idea why he hadn’t said a word.

  “I’m telling you now.”

  She stood up and straightened her shirt. “Do you want me to come with you? I can get off. I’ve worked for Myrtle for two years now.”

  “She’s going to have you fill in for me.”

  Ariel blinked. “I see.”

  “But thanks.”

  “I’m really sorry. How long does she—” Her face colored. “I mean, well, when you say she’s dying…?”

  “I don’t know how long she has,” he answered her unspoken question.

  They were silent then. Reuben’s mind was in a whirl. Finally, Ariel cleared her throat. “So, you do need a haircut, don’t you?”

  He rubbed his hand over his head. “Yes.”

  “Okay. I have the scissors in my bag. We’ll do it right over there.” She pointed to the space in front of the kitchen sink. “Come on.”

  He stood up and grabbed one of his two kitchen chairs, dragging it to where she’d pointed. He sat down.

  “Don’t you have a towel or something?” she asked. “Otherwise, the hair is going to fall down into your collar.”

  “I have a towel,” he said, walking toward the bathroom. He came back with a towel over his shoulders and a comb in his hand. He sat down.

  Ariel combed through his hair and then began cutting it.

  “Your hair is so thick. I wish mine was,” she murmured as she snipped.

  “That’s what Mamm always told me,” he said, smiling. “She said mine was even thicker than Robert’s…”

  Ariel stopped cutting. “Mamm? You call your mother mamm? That’s sweet. And who is Robert?”

  Reuben realized then that he’d never talked about his twin at all. Nor had he spoken much about his mother either. In fact, this day was the first as far as he could remember.

  “He’s my twin.”

  Ariel made a funny noise and walked around to face him. “You have a twin and you never thought to tell me?”

  “I, uh…”

  “What else haven’t you told me?” she asked, putting one hand on her hip.

  He looked into her wide blue eyes and sighed. She was right. He should have been more forthcoming. They’d grown close over the past weeks, and she should know something more about him than that he had no money to speak of.

  “I’m Amish.”

  She dropped the scissors, and they clattered at his feet. “You’re what?”

  His gaze was level on hers. “You heard me.”

  She blinked and shook her head, backing up. “You didn’t think to tell me?” Her voice had risen. “I-I can’t believe it.” She frowned then. “But you have a phone.” She glanced around the apartment and threw her arms out. “You’re using electricity! Isn’t that forbidden?”

  He blew out his breath. “Yes. I’ve… I’ve taken a… detour.”

  “A detour?” she cried, and her eyes went even wider. “Am I a detour?”

  Reuben grimaced. Oh Lord, what had he gotten himself into. Because she was a detour. He would have never phrased it like that, but in a way, it was true. He didn’t have any sort of future plans for the two of them. But then, they’d never mentioned the future, so it wasn’t like he’d been dishonest.

  At least, not to her.

  “Why would you say that?” he asked, stalling to give himself time to think further.

  “You know why. Amish men can’t marry regular people like me. In fact, I’m pretty sure we shouldn’t even be dating.” She shook her head in disgust. “You could have told me, you know.”

  “I-I didn’t see the need.” He reached out and grabbed her hand from where it was fisted on her waist. “Don’t get so upset about it. It’s not that big of deal.”

  “Not that big of deal?” She shook her head again. “And we’ve kissed. And more. Isn’t that forbidden. You’re not even supposed to hold hands, are you?”

  He groaned. “We can hold hands.”

  “But make out?” Her lips bunched together in a huge scowl. “So, what am I to you? Huh? A temporary diversion?”

  He stared at her and then dropped her hand. “And what am I to you?” he asked, his voice quiet.

  She blinked and gaped at him. And then her expression fell and for a panicked moment, he thought she might cry. But she didn’t. “You’re … you’re my boyfriend,” she whispered. “Or I thought you were. And I thought—stupidly, I guess—that I was your girlfriend.”

  “You are my girlfriend,” he said quickly, deciding it was true. Lindy’s image floated in him mind, but he ignored it. “Of course, you are.”

  He grabbed her hand again and pulled her onto his lap. She shoved the towel off him and lay her head on his shoulder. He listened to her breathe, felt her tremble slightly against him.

  “I… I love you, Reuben,” she whispered into his neck.

  He bit his lip. What was he doing? But the question in his mind was fleeting, and he squeezed her tightly. “I love you, too,” he said.

  Did he? Did he love her?

  He wasn’t sure, but now he’d said it. She wound her arms around his neck and raised her face to his. He kissed her, long and slow and deliberate, and he felt her meld into him, until there wasn’t even a whisper between them.

  Chapter Three

  Lindy had taken Berta outside. It had been an arduous task and had taken nearly a half hour to get her settled into the rocker on the front porch. But seeing Berta’s peaceful expression as she breathed deeply of the fresh air, made it worth it.

  But within minutes, she’d dozed off, and Lindy realized that the days of her taking Berta outside were coming to an end. She should have gotten Robert to help her. He could support Berta so much better than she could. But he was out in the fields, and she hadn’t wanted to disturb him.

  In truth, she hadn’t wanted to see him. Things were quickly becoming awkward between them, and it was all because of that kiss.

  That kiss. That kiss. That kiss.

  Why had he d
one it? Now, she hardly knew how to act when she was with him. And they were still keeping up the ruse that he was Reuben. It was taxing to be sure. So, she hadn’t called him in to help her move Berta, but she wasn’t sure she could move her back to her bed alone. She wished she were stronger. Berta didn’t weigh much, so it shouldn’t be that hard in the first place, but it was. Moving a person wasn’t like moving a sack of feed or a bale of hay.

  Lindy closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air, too. It was a pleasant day, and she loved sitting there, pretending there were no chores to be done, listening to the birds sing to each other, and hearing the rustle of the trees as the breeze played through their branches.

  Lindy heard the sound of a buggy approaching and opened her eyes. Old Mae. Good. She’d come to check on Berta. Lindy stood and walked to the steps.

  “Old Mae!” she called, waving.

  Old Mae pulled up to the porch and smiled in greeting. She secured the reins and then slipped down to the ground with a smoothness that belied her age.

  “Gut day,” she said. She looked beyond Lindy to where Berta was snoozing. “How is she today? I’m surprised to see her out here.”

  “It’s a gut day today,” Lindy said. “She even ate fairly well this morning.”

  “And the herbs? Is she taking them?”

  “I’ve been steeping them in tea and adding honey.”

  Old Mae chuckled, her gray eyes crinkling at the corners. “Berta must have her honey.”

  “For sure and for certain,” Lindy agreed with a smile.

  “How’s her pain level?”

  Lindy shook her head. “Not gut. I’m able to get a pill down her every now and then, but usually, she just won’t take them.”

  “Stubborn woman,” Old Mae muttered. She walked across the wooden porch to where Berta slept. She put her large, strong hand on Berta’s shoulder. “Wake up, dear.”

  Berta roused, looking confused. Then her gaze focused on the healer woman. “Old Mae, when did you come?”

  “Just now,” Old Mae said, lowering herself into the rocker where Lindy had been sitting. “Came to check on you.”

  Berta nodded. “Did you now?”

  “I did.” Old Mae’s gaze narrowed, and Lindy knew she was making her assessment. “Lindy tells me you haven’t been taking them pain pills.”

  Berta made a face and shook her head. “Don’t like them. They make me sleepy.”

  “You’re sleepy already,” rejoined Old Mae. “Might as well sleep without such pain.”

  Berta’s brow furrowed. “Now, I ain’t needing any lectures from you today, Old Mae.”

  “But you’ll get them anyway.”

  The two old friends chuckled.

  “Lindy is taking right gut care of me.”

  Old Mae glanced at Lindy where she was leaning against a porch pillar. “I have no doubt about that. She tells me you’re drinking the herbal teas.”

  “I don’t mind your kind of medicine, Mae.”

  “Glad to hear that.” Old Mae grew serious. “But them pills, you should take them.”

  “I do at times.”

  “I mean regular-like.”

  Berta shrugged. “I’ll give it some thought.”

  “How is your pain?”

  “Tolerable.”

  “This is Old Mae sitting here, Berta. Now, you tell me the truth. How is your pain?”

  Berta’s eyes filled with tears and she flicked a glance at Lindy before looking back at Old Mae. “Tolerable,” she repeated.

  Lindy straightened. “I’ll go into the kitchen and fetch some iced tea for all of us,” she said. If she left, maybe Old Mae could get better information. It was worth a try anyway.

  She went into the kitchen and took her sweet time preparing three glasses of iced tea, even though she knew Berta would probably not drink hers. She dallied further by putting some oatmeal cookies on a platter. After a good ten minutes, she walked out to the porch carrying everything on a tray.

  “Here we are,” she said cheerfully.

  Old Mae helped herself, and Berta took a cookie and at least pretended to nibble on it. They began chatting about the weather and other topics equally unimportant to the topic glaring at them all. Finally, Old Mae stood.

  “I better get going,” she said. “I’ll help you carry everything in, Lindy.”

  “Ach, nee. I can take care of this.”

  “I’ll help you carry everything in, Lindy,” Old Mae repeated with a determined look in her eye.

  “Jah, of course. Thank you, Old Mae.”

  The elderly woman followed her to the kitchen. Lindy put down the tray and took the glasses from Old Mae’s hands.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “You’re doing a right fine job, Lindy.”

  “Thank you.” But Lindy knew Old Mae hadn’t followed her in there to compliment her nursing skills.

  “It’s going to get a lot worse,” Old Mae said, her eyes unwavering on Lindy.

  “I-I know.”

  “Nee, I don’t think you do. This is not going to be a gentle slipping away. This could be very, very difficult.”

  “I-I…” Lindy blubbered, not knowing what to say. It wasn’t Old Mae’s way to paint such a picture of gloom.

  “She needs to take them pills and she needs to have the prescription increased.”

  “But—”

  Old Mae raised her hand. “Listen to me, child. I know you love Berta. I know Robert and Reuben love Berta. But you’re going to have to ignore her a bit and get that medicine down her. I don’t much care how you do it.”

  “But we can’t force her…”

  Old Mae’s brow rose. “I ain’t saying force her. I’m saying that some medicine can be hidden in food…”

  “You’re suggesting—”

  “I am.” Old Mae ran her hand over her apron. “Where’s Reuben? I heard he’s back.”

  “O-Out in the field,” Lindy said, cringing against the lie.

  “Fetch him for me, will you?”

  “Jah.” Lindy took off out the side door. She paused at the edge of the field, trying to see where Robert had gotten off to. The corn was tall, and it wasn’t easy to locate him. Finally, she saw him, and he wasn’t all that far out. She hitched her dress slightly and took off running through the corn, feeling the clumps of dirt between her toes and the ears of corn brush against her thighs. It was almost claustrophobic between the rows, but she was accustomed to it. After all, her father grew corn, too.

  She heard Robert before she saw him. When she burst through the row of corn, he gave a start.

  “Lindy!” he said, a smile breaking across his face. But it faded immediately. “What is it? What’s wrong? Is it Mamm?”

  She held up her hand, panting a bit. “Nee. Old Mae has come. She wants to talk to you.”

  “Old Mae?”

  “She came to check on your mamm. She asked me to fetch you in.”

  “All right.” He immediately led the way back to the house, hurrying as quickly as she had coming out to find him.

  “She’s in the kitchen,” Lindy called ahead to him and he disappeared into the side door.

  Chapter Four

  If Old Mae was calling for him, then it must be serious. She wouldn’t pull a man from his work for just anything. His stomach filled with dread as he rounded the corner into the kitchen.

  She was sitting at the kitchen table, her hands folded peacefully in front of her.

  “Old Mae?”

  “Reuben.” She scrutinized him, her wrinkled forehead creasing further. “I wanted to speak to you. Sit down.”

  He sat. “Thanks for coming, Old Mae. Yours is the only medicine Mamm will take regular-like.”

  Old Mae’s eyes were steady on his. “My medicine isn’t enough…” She paused. “Where’s Robert?”

  “He-he’s in Ohio,” Robert lied. Lord, he hadn’t thought this through at all. Trying to ease his mother’s longing for Reuben shouldn’t include lying to so many of his lov
ed ones.

  “I see,” she said. “For how long?”

  “Until I go back. We’ll exchange places.”

  “I see…” She leaned back in her chair and observed him. “You’re doing this for Berta, ain’t so?”

  He nearly gagged. “Doing what?”

  “Ach, Robert, you know full well what I’m talking about. So, Reuben wouldn’t come?”

  Robert sighed, slumping. “Nee.”

  “Why not?”

  “He, uh, he says he’s coming. But I was worried it wouldn’t be soon enough.”

  “And Berta has swallowed this deception?”

  Robert nodded, feeling miserable now. “Jah.”

  “I see.” She leaned forward. “Well, I know your heart is in the right place. Does Lindy know?”

  He nodded again.

  “So, she’s having to lie for you, too.” Berta pursed her lips. “I imagine she isn’t too excited about that, but she loves your mamm.”

  “That she does.”

  Old Mae shook her head. “This ain’t what I wanted to talk to you about. It’s the Englisch medicine. Your mamm needs it.”

  “I know she does, but—”

  “I told Lindy that Berta will have to take it. Her last days are going to be bad, Robert. Very bad if she doesn’t have pain-killers.”

  “She won’t take them.”

  “Don’t give her a choice.”

  Robert gaped at Old Mae. This wasn’t characteristic of her, either. “Are you saying to hide them in her food or something?”

  “That’s what I’m saying.” Old Mae chuckled. “I guess you ain’t the only one who deceives for a higher purpose.”

  Robert blinked. “Do you think I’m wrong?”

  “Ach, Robert. It ain’t for us to judge each other. I leave that to the Almighty.”

  Robert reached out and grabbed her hand. “Thank you, Old Mae.”

  “You’re welcome, son.” She gently pulled her hand from his grasp and stood up. “I’ll say gut-bye to your mamm and be on my way. Mind what I said.”

  “I always mind what you say.”

  She laughed at that and gave his shoulder a squeeze as she left the room. Robert sat for a moment staring at the table. All right, then. He’d get the pain-killers into his mother’s system one way or the other.