set aside for Mrs. Byler.
She shouldn’t have let Daniel, Steven, and John have second helpings during the inaugural week of Peach Parfait Supreme. She was sure they only did so to get on her good side.
And she shouldn’t let all their attention puff her up like a crowing barnyard rooster. It was only pie. But everyone who tried it seemed to truly like it.
Later during the lunch rush, the bell over the door jangled to announce another customer. Leah didn’t even turn her head as she delivered a full tray of plates to a booth. Everyone seemed to have a special request that day: More pickles, please. Could you grill my burger a little more? I’d prefer the dressing on the side instead of already on the salad. And every place at the counter had remained occupied since breakfast. Daniel and his friends took up three stools and didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry. They dawdled over cheeseburgers and chips while offering updates from their blacksmith shop, furniture factory, and farm, respectively. Leah was too busy to pay much attention, but she nodded and added a few comments to be polite.
Half an hour later, she crossed paths with April while carrying a tray of dirty dishes to the dishwasher. “I’m surprised you didn’t want to wait on Jonah yourself,” April said.
“What?” Leah squawked. “He’s here? When did he sneak in? Where is he sitting?”
April faced her. “That’s four questions in one breath. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you rather like the guy.”
“Liking has nothing to do with it,” Leah said, tucking a stray lock under her kapp. “I just want him to try my creation and report back to Joanna.” She pulled off her soiled apron and slipped on a fresh one in under three seconds.
“You’d better hurry. Last time I checked there’s only one piece left. And he’s sitting in his regular spot.”
Leah swallowed hard, feeling as though the radio had announced tornados were headed their way. She charged through the swinging door and headed straight for the refrigerated display carousel. The last piece of Peach Parfait Supreme sat forlornly under plastic wrap.
In the few moments it took to reach the pie a customer’s voice sang out. “Say, Leah, I’ll take another slice of your new recipe. It wasn’t bad at all.”
Leah pivoted. The speaker was the elderly Englischer who had been their very first customer. The buttons on his work coveralls were already straining from his exceptional appetite.
Leah looked past him toward the last booth. Sure enough, Jonah Byler was poring over The Daily Budget. “Mr. Rhodes,” she whispered. “I was saving the last piece for somebody. Would you mind terribly if I gave it to him?”
Rhodes swiveled on his stool in the direction Leah had been looking. He wheezed with laughter. “Sure thing. I was young once. At least my wife tells me we were. Can’t remember much about it.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Rhodes. How about some Dutch Apple Crumb on the house instead?”
“Done!” Rhodes looked pleased with the bargain. Leah served up his pie and then hurried toward Jonah’s booth with the dessert special before someone else wanted it.
She set the plate down on his table with a clatter. “Hello, Jonah. Nice of you to drop by.”
“What’s that?” he asked, barely glancing away from his newspaper.
“My Peach Parfait Supreme—the new recipe I made with the specialty cheese I bought from your mamm.” She felt giddy with anticipation.
“Sure, I remember, but I’m really full, Leah. April heaped up my sandwich with ham and cheese like she was trying to fatten me up. Extra macaroni salad too.” He flashed a smile over the newspaper. ‘I’ll try it another time. Really, I can’t eat another bite.”
She felt deflated, as though he had actually poked a hole in her. “Jonah, please, just sample a forkful and I’ll wrap up the rest for you to take home. I would like your mother to try it. I practically had to wrestle this
She shouldn’t have let Daniel, Steven, and John have second helpings during the inaugural week of Peach Parfait Supreme. She was sure they only did so to get on her good side.
And she shouldn’t let all their attention puff her up like a crowing barnyard rooster. It was only pie. But everyone who tried it seemed to truly like it.
Later during the lunch rush, the bell over the door jangled to announce another customer. Leah didn’t even turn her head as she delivered a full tray of plates to a booth. Everyone seemed to have a special request that day: More pickles, please. Could you grill my burger a little more? I’d prefer the dressing on the side instead of already on the salad. And every place at the counter had remained occupied since breakfast. Daniel and his friends took up three stools and didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry. They dawdled over cheeseburgers and chips while offering updates from their blacksmith shop, furniture factory, and farm, respectively. Leah was too busy to pay much attention, but she nodded and added a few comments to be polite.
Half an hour later, she crossed paths with April while carrying a tray of dirty dishes to the dishwasher. “I’m surprised you didn’t want to wait on Jonah yourself,” April said.
“What?” Leah squawked. “He’s here? When did he sneak in? Where is he sitting?”
April faced her. “That’s four questions in one breath. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you rather like the guy.”
“Liking has nothing to do with it,” Leah said, tucking a stray lock under her kapp. “I just want him to try my creation and report back to Joanna.” She pulled off her soiled apron and slipped on a fresh one in under three seconds.
“You’d better hurry. Last time I checked there’s only one piece left. And he’s sitting in his regular spot.”
Leah swallowed hard, feeling as though the radio had announced tornados were headed their way. She charged through the swinging door and headed straight for the refrigerated display carousel. The last piece of Peach Parfait Supreme sat forlornly under plastic wrap.
In the few moments it took to reach the pie a customer’s voice sang out. “Say, Leah, I’ll take another slice of your new recipe. It wasn’t bad at all.”
Leah pivoted. The speaker was the elderly Englischer who had been their very first customer. The buttons on his work coveralls were already straining from his exceptional appetite.
Leah looked past him toward the last booth. Sure enough, Jonah Byler was poring over The Daily Budget. “Mr. Rhodes,” she whispered. “I was saving the last piece for somebody. Would you mind terribly if I gave it to him?”
Rhodes swiveled on his stool in the direction Leah had been looking. He wheezed with laughter. “Sure thing. I was young once. At least my wife tells me we were. Can’t remember much about it.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Rhodes. How about some Dutch Apple Crumb on the house instead?”
“Done!” Rhodes looked pleased with the bargain. Leah served up his pie and then hurried toward Jonah’s booth with the dessert special before someone else wanted it.
She set the plate down on his table with a clatter. “Hello, Jonah. Nice of you to drop by.”
“What’s that?” he asked, barely glancing away from his newspaper.
“My Peach Parfait Supreme—the new recipe I made with the specialty cheese I bought from your mamm.” She felt giddy with anticipation.
“Sure, I remember, but I’m really full, Leah. April heaped up my sandwich with ham and cheese like she was trying to fatten me up. Extra macaroni salad too.” He flashed a smile over the newspaper. ‘I’ll try it another time. Really, I can’t eat another bite.”
She felt deflated, as though he had actually poked a hole in her. “Jonah, please, just sample a forkful and I’ll wrap up the rest for you to take home. I would like your mother to try it. I practically had to wrestle this
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