Leaving Lancaster by Kate Lloyd Page A

Anna orchestrate that gathering, or did the Fishers hate Grandma, too?
    â€œThey may not know about me. They might think my father died childless.” Nothing new, but voicing the facts made my throat constrict like I’d swallowed a tablespoon of salt.
    â€œOf course they know about you. Anna would have told them years ago.”
    â€œBut they’ve never reached out to me.” Because of Mom.
    Having no relatives in Seattle was an advantage, I’d always told myself. But I knew deep in my core it wasn’t true. Thanksgiving and Christmas were humdrum without a houseful of family. Thank the Lord for Dori and Jim. But they had their own children, as well as siblings and cousins they often visited in Portland, Oregon.
    â€œOut of curiosity, where do my dad’s parents live?”
    â€œNot far away.” Nathaniel massaged the reins. “I could drive ya by their farm right now if ya like.”
    â€œNo, we’d better not.” I avoided conflict. Hated it, really. “Mom said they never wanted to speak to her again.”
    â€œI’m sure Samuel’s parents have forgiven her. Holdin’ a grudge goes against the teachings of the Good Book. Luke 6:37. ‘Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.’”
    â€œMom’s recited that Bible verse enough times, but why should I forgive mean-spirited bullies who teased me as a girl and never apologized?” Even if they’d forgotten all about me.
    I supposed I hadn’t forgiven my dad for dying, either. Which I knew was ridiculous. But still, it seemed like he’d deserted Mom and me.
    â€œThe Lord admonishes us to forgive.” Nathaniel’s home was still a good trek away, but he pulled up on the reins and Galahad halted at the side of the road. Maybe he was going to make me hike back.
    When the reins went slack, the horse lowered his neck to munch grass and dandelions.
    â€œThank you, I’ve enjoyed our ride tremendously,” I said. “This is a beautiful area. So peaceful, I forgot to check my cell phone for messages all day.” Why was I babbling? Because I didn’t want our outing to end.
    Yet I couldn’t help pondering my life in Seattle. I’d turned my cell phone to silent. I slipped my phone out of my pocket and saw four missed voice mails. Three from Larry, and one from my newlywed girlfriend, Joanne. Before leaving the city, I’d left her a message, nothing specific, only wishing her well and saying I’d be out of town.
    So my old boss Mel hadn’t called. I didn’t expect him to, I told myself, but couldn’t shake the melancholy sludge engulfing me. I made the decision not to dwell on finding new work again for twenty-four hours. Who needed a dynamic career, anyway?
    I slipped my phone back in my pocket. “Our trip here was worth it if nothing more than this ride,” I said. “Thank you for taking the time, even if my Grandma Anna forced you.”
    Now what would we two polar opposites talk about? I considered describing the Amish Shoppe and my mother’s buggy, but Nathaniel would find it ludicrous. Then I wondered why I should care what he thought; I’d never see him again after this trip.
    His fingers tightened around the reins and he gave me a challenging look. “You sure you don’t want to mosey over to Samuel’s parents’ right now?”
    â€œWhy would you care?” I returned his gaze with defiance, a tug-of-war waging in my mind. “Although I admit I am curious to get a look at them, to see if my father favored either parent. This might be my only chance. No, I’d better not. I need to check with Mom first. She’d have a conniption. And my dad’s parents might give me the cold shoulder.” Too disappointing.
    â€œPerhaps another time, when your mother’s with us.” He slapped the reins and Galahad headed