A Place at Our Table Read online

  Squaring her shoulders, she knocked.

  “Come in,” he called.

  She opened the door and stood in his doorway. “Hi.”

  Sprawled on his double bed and clad in shorts and a white T-shirt, he sat up straighter, leaned back on two pillows propped up against his headboard, and set a book down beside him. “Are you heading to bed?”

  “Ya.” She folded her arms over her robe. “Do you have a minute?”

  “Well”—he gestured around his large bedroom—“I’m not very busy right now.” When Simeon married Eva and moved to the apartment downstairs, Nathan jumped at the chance to move from his smaller bedroom. The larger room gave him the opportunity to have a double bed and add a second dresser and a nightstand.

  She glanced around the room as memories of Simeon filled her mind. It seemed as if it was only yesterday he knocked on her door when she overslept and told her to hurry up so they could open the restaurant on time. She missed the days when he was still around to be her big brother and remind her to greet the customers as they arrived in the restaurant, fill the drink orders quickly, and keep smiling even when patrons complained.

  Understanding suddenly punched Kayla in the stomach as she realized she had picked up where Simeon left off as the older sibling. She had become just as bossy toward Nathan as Simeon had been toward her.

  “Kay?”

  “What?” She snapped her gaze to Nathan’s as he lifted an eyebrow.

  “You look a bit lost in thought. Is everything okay?” A smile slowly spread across his lips, and relief flooded her. He was actually smiling at her for the first time since the barn burned down. Maybe they would be okay after all.

  “Ya.” She squared her shoulders again. “I was wondering if we could talk.”

  “What do you want to talk about?”

  “I’m sorry for upsetting you the other night.” She touched the tie on her robe as she spoke. “I know you have your heart set on being a firefighter, but I’m worried about you. I don’t want to lose mei only bruder.”

  His smile faded as his eyes narrowed. “I know that already, but—”

  She held up her hand. “Let me finish. I know you’re frustrated with me because you think I’m acting like Mamm or Dat, but I just realized Simeon used to treat me the same way. He also acted like he was my third parent.”

  His expression softened. “Really?”

  “Ya. I guess that’s what older siblings do when they care. Maybe that’s what I’m supposed to do to keep you safe.”

  “But you can’t be the one to keep me safe forever. I have to grow up sometime, Kay. I have to learn to keep myself safe.”

  Kayla nodded. “Ya, I guess you do.”

  “Danki, I guess, for caring about me.”

  She laughed. “Gern gschehne. Gut nacht. We have to get up early tomorrow. Monday is one the busiest days at the restaurant.”

  “Every day is one of the busiest days there. And it’s going to be even busier since we have to make food for the barn raising on Tuesday.”

  As Kayla turned to leave the room, her gaze moved to Nathan’s row of shelves on his far wall. She spotted a firefighter radio and crossed the room to pick it up.

  “Is this Simeon’s?” She held it in her hands, and memories of the radio echoing throughout the house as it announced various calls—from medical to accidents to fires—appeared in her mind. It seemed as if it was only yesterday that Simeon was rushing out the door in response.

  “Ya.” He scooted to the edge of his bed. “Brody told me I could keep it as a way to remember him.”

  “That was really nice of him.” She set the radio on the shelf and walked to the door. “You’d better get some sleep.”

  “Ya, Mamm.” He drew out the words with dripping sarcasm. She turned toward him, and to her surprise, he smiled.

  “See you bright and early.” She stepped backward into the hallway.

  “Gut nacht.” Nathan scooted under his sheets and flipped off the Coleman lantern on his nightstand.

  Kayla closed his door and made her way to her room. As she slipped into bed, her thoughts spun with memories of Simeon and his last fire call. It was late that night when Brody came to the house with the tragic news. The sound of Mamm’s sobs filled the house and woke both Kayla and Nathan.

  They ran down the stairs, and when they reached the bottom step they found Mamm sobbing in Dat’s arms as Eva sobbed in Brody’s arms. Brody explained what had happened, and Kayla felt as if the wind had been punched out of her lungs. Her older brother being crushed under a burning house sounded more like a nightmare than a true story.

  The next few days passed in a blur as they hosted the visitation in their home and then buried Simeon in a nearby cemetery.

  Kayla sniffed and wiped her cheeks as she rolled onto her side and faced the wall. She closed her eyes and tried to shove away the heartbreaking memories of the days that followed her brother’s death.

  Soon her thoughts moved to James and his family. He’d told her he’d begun volunteering when he was sixteen, and he shared with Nathan that he’d had some frightening experiences. Did his family ever worry about him? Did they pray every time he went to the firehouse to serve? She rubbed her forehead. Of course they worried about him. They were his family and they loved him the same way she loved her brothers.

  As Kayla settled under the covers, she continued to think about James. Would she see him at the barn raising? He and Mark had promised to come, hadn’t they? And as much as she hated to admit it, she secretly longed to talk to James again.

  EIGHT

  Kayla balanced a large tray of sandwiches as she stepped onto the back porch. She glanced toward the wooden skeleton beginning to look like a barn. The naked wood stretched up toward heaven with an azure sky as its backdrop, and she counted at least twenty men lined up on the top of the structure. They were hammering in the boards for the roof. Another thirty or so were on the ground cutting boards, building walls, and supervising the hard work.

  Voices shouted over the noise as the men worked in unison with the hot sun beating down on them, and her heart swelled with gratitude for all the volunteers who had come out to help her father rebuild.

  It was close to noon and time to deliver lunch to the line of tables Nathan had set up for the food they’d prepared.

  She noticed a man walking up the rock path leading toward the house. From where she stood, he looked tall, but his face was hidden in the shadow cast by the rim of his straw hat. She crossed the porch and started slowly down the steps, ready to greet him.

  As Kayla reached the bottom, her foot slipped. She lost her balance and stumbled, falling into the hard chest of the man, who was suddenly there. She dropped the tray, and sandwiches went tumbling to the ground as he grabbed her arms and righted her.

  “Are you all right?”

  She looked up and gasped as James Riehl’s ice-blue eyes searched her face. “I-I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

  “It’s all right.” He laughed as he released her arms. “Are you hurt?”

  “No.” Her cheeks blazed as hot humiliation flooded her face. She bent to retrieve the sandwiches peppering the path.

  “Wait.” He grabbed her arms again.

  She stood up straight, startled. “Was iss letz?”

  “We’ve done this before and we both wound up with headaches.” He chuckled, a deep and sweet melodious sound that sent more warmth roaring through her veins.

  Whoa. Where did that come from?

  “Let me.” He bent and handed her the tray. “You hold the tray, and I’ll get the sandwiches.”

  “Okay.” She held out the tray as he piled the soiled sandwiches on it. Then he smiled at her, and her cheeks flamed even hotter.

  “Danki for your help,” she muttered.

  “Gern gschehne. So why do we keep meeting like this?” He raised his dark eyebrows. “Do you feel the need to keep throwing food and drinks at me?”

  “Oh, well, I . . . um, I didn�
�t mean to . . .” She racked her brain for an explanation for her clumsiness. How had James Riehl managed to steal her ability to speak clearly?

  “I’m kidding.” He held out his hands. “Would you like me to carry this back inside for you?”

  “That’s not necessary, but danki.” She turned and started up the steps, hoping her face would return to a normal temperature.

  “Actually, I was wondering if I could use your bathroom.”

  She craned her neck and peeked over her shoulder. He still stood at the bottom of the steps, leaning his tall body against the railing. “Come inside, and I’ll show you where it is.”

  He hurried up the steps. “Let me get the door for you.”

  “Danki.” She walked through the mudroom and stepped into the large kitchen. Mamm and Eva turned and greeted James as he walked in behind her.

  “It’s so gut to see you,” Mamm said.

  Eva nodded. “Danki for coming out today to help.”

  “It’s nice to see you both too.” James glanced at Kayla and raised his eyebrows.

  Kayla pointed to the family room. “The bathroom is just through there, to the left.”

  “Danki.” James gave her a little nod before disappearing through the doorway.

  “What happened there?” Mamm asked as Kayla set the tray with the pebble-and-dirt-covered sandwiches on the counter.

  “I slipped on the steps and dropped the tray.” Kayla lifted the lid of the trash can and began tossing the sandwiches.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Eva said. “I have more rolls. I’ll start making new ones. Did you fall?”

  Kayla tossed the last of the spoiled food. “No. James caught me.”

  “He caught you?” Mamm’s tone made Kayla look up, and she saw that her eyes had widened. “How did he manage that?”

  Eva stepped over to the counter. “He caught you in his arms?”

  “Shh.” Kayla looked toward the doorway, hoping James wasn’t standing there listening. “Be quiet or he’ll hear you.”

  “Why are you blushing?” Mamm asked.

  “Please stop teasing me,” Kayla pleaded with them. “It wasn’t a big deal. I started to fall, and he happened to be there and caught me.”

  “That sounds kind of coincidental.” Eva rested her elbow on the counter and set her chin on her palm. “Tell me more.”

  Oh, how Kayla wanted to silence her mother and sister-in-law. She bit back the frustrated words that wanted to roll off her tongue.

  Eva suddenly stood up straight and smiled at someone behind Kayla.

  “Can I carry something outside for you? That way I can make sure you don’t stumble again.”

  James had stepped back into the kitchen. Kayla opened her mouth to tell him she was perfectly capable of walking down the steps when she heard the screen door click shut. Three women appeared in the kitchen doorway, each holding large trays.

  “Mamm! I’m so froh you made it.” James walked over to the eldest woman and took the tray from her hands. “This is Kayla Dienner, and her mamm, Marilyn. This is her sister-in-law, Eva.” Then he motioned toward his mother and the younger women. “This is mei mamm, Dorothy, and mei schweschdere, Laura and Cindy.”

  So he has two schweschdere. Kayla held out her hand to Dorothy. “It’s so nice to meet you. Danki for coming.” Then she shook Laura’s and Cindy’s hands, marveling at their eye color. It was so similar to James’s.

  Eva and Mamm followed suit, greeting each of their guests. “We’re so froh you’re here today,” Mamm said. “It was such a shock to lose our barn, and we appreciate everyone who’s taken the time to help us.”

  “We wouldn’t miss an opportunity to help neighbors.” Dorothy pointed to the serving tray James placed on the table. “Mei dochdern and I made sandwiches—ham and cheese and turkey and cheese.” Then she pointed to the serving platters her daughters held. “We also have some kichlin for dessert.”

  Laura nodded toward her brother. “Jamie insisted we make peanut butter kichlin. They’re his favorite.”

  Jamie?

  Kayla turned toward James as he shrugged. “It’s your own fault for making such appeditlich kichlin.”

  Kayla studied him as the name rolled around in her head. Did his family call him Jamie? Why did he introduce himself as James?

  “You’d better not eat them all,” Cindy scolded him. “They’re for everyone.”

  “We’ll keep an eye on him, right, Kayla?” Eva grinned.

  Kayla longed to hide under the table. Was Eva going to tease her all day?

  “Why don’t we go ahead and take the food outside?” Mamm suggested, and Kayla was thankful for the distraction.

  Eva examined the tray Dorothy had been holding. “These sandwiches look appeditlich.” She glanced at Kayla. “Especially since someone managed to drop a tray full of the sandwiches I spent nearly all morning preparing.”

  “It wasn’t her fault,” James chimed in. “I witnessed her fall.”

  “You fell?” Concern filled Laura’s expression as she turned toward Kayla. “Are you all right?”

  Kayla longed to get out from under the microscope her mother and sister-in-law had trained on her. “Ya. I didn’t fall. I stumbled, and James grabbed me before I actually fell. The sandwiches took all the damage.” She lifted the tray of sandwiches from the table. “I’ll carry these out. I’m sure the men are getting hungry. They’ve been working in the hot sun since early this morning.”

  “Let me carry that.” James took the tray from her. “We don’t want to take any chances with these sandwiches,” he deadpanned.

  Kayla ignored him. She spotted a jug of iced tea and a package of plastic cups on the counter. “I’ll bring the iced tea.”

  James raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you can handle all that without stumbling? If my hands are full, I might not be able to catch you this time.”

  Kayla pressed her lips together as frustration boiled through her. When would she stop being the butt of their jokes? She picked up the jug and cups.

  James’s smile faded. “I’m only kidding. You carry those, and I’ll take the sandwiches.”

  “Great.” Relief flooded Kayla. Maybe the jokes would stop after all.

  She followed him out to the porch and down the steps.

  “How have you been?” he asked as they headed to the tables her family had set up near the building site.

  “Fine.” She glanced up at him and, for the first time, noticed his wide chest and broad shoulders. Had farm work given him such a muscular physique? Or perhaps he was a carpenter? “How are you?”

  “I’m gut.” He paused for a moment as if he were contemplating what to say next. Before they reached the tables, he halted.

  She stopped walking, too, and turned around to see why.

  “Listen. I feel like we started off on the wrong foot. I never meant to overstep my bounds by encouraging Nathan to join the fire department as a volunteer. I really would like to start over with you and would like to be your freind. How would you feel about that?”

  He stilled as if her response meant the world to him, and happiness fluttered in her chest.

  “I’d like that.”

  “Great.” They reached the tables and she set the iced tea and cups beside the napkins, plates, and utensils she’d carried out earlier.

  He put the tray next to the iced tea. “Would you like to eat lunch with me?”

  Surprised, she took an involuntary step back. But then she jammed her thumb in the direction of the house behind her. “I need to bring out the rest of the food.”

  “I think they’ve taken care of that.” He nodded toward the house. She turned to see their mothers, Eva, and his sisters walking toward them, their arms full.

  “Oh.” She waited until all five women arrived. As they set all the food on the tables, Kayla sidled over to Eva and lowered her voice. “Do you need my help with anything?”

  Eva swiveled toward her. “I think we have it handled.” Her eyes narrowed.
“Why do you ask?”

  “James asked me to eat lunch with him.”

  Eva’s face brightened and she grinned as she glanced over Kayla’s shoulder toward James.

  Kayla gritted her teeth. “Stop looking at him.”

  Eva touched Kayla’s arm. “Relax. I think it’s great he wants to have lunch with you. Go have fun. His mamm and schweschdere offered to help us carry out these desserts, and now we’re all going to make more sandwiches. We’ll be fine.”

  “Danki.” Kayla walked back to James and picked up a plate. “Eva said they have plenty of help with the food since your mamm and schweschdere are here. I guess I can eat with you.”

  “Great.” He grinned. “Let’s eat by that big tree over there.”

  “That would be nice.” She filled her plate with a sandwich, a scoop of pasta salad, and a handful of potato chips as he filled his own plate. After they each poured a cup of iced tea, she followed him over to the tree and sat down on the grass, facing him.

  After a silent prayer, they began to eat.

  “I didn’t realize you were here. When did you come?” She lifted her turkey and cheese sandwich.

  “I wanted to get here earlier, but I had to take care of some chores first. I think we got here about an hour ago.” He picked up a chip.

  “Oh. Did your daed and bruder come with you?”

  “Just Mark. Mei daed stayed behind to run our farm.” He bit into the chip.

  So he’s a farmer. “What kind of farm do you have?”

  “Dairy.” He pointed toward the line of men now serving themselves lunch. “Some of mei freinden came to help too. Mei best friend, Noah, is there next to Mark, along with Laura’s boyfriend, Rudy, and Rudy’s best freind, Allen. We all wanted to help your family.”

  Her heart warmed. “That’s really nice that you all came. Danki.”

  “Gern gschehne.” He shrugged. “That’s what we do in this community.”

  They ate in silence for a few moments, and she considered what else to ask him about his life. She suddenly felt compelled to ask if he had a girlfriend, but she didn’t dare.

  “How long did you say your parents have owned the restaurant?” His question broke through her racing thoughts.