a zoo, but she enjoyed instructing interested customers and letting them add to a table runner made of multicolor yarn as thick as a rope.
As a customer thanked Kenzie for the demonstration and turned away from the loom, Lori came up behind her. “Ruby says you should take your lunch break now. I just finished mine.”
Kenzie had hoped she and Lori would be able to take their break together. They’d already seen each other every day for the past week and enjoyed several evening meals with Brother Jase. But with her time in Kansas coming to a close, she didn’t want to miss any chances to be with Lori. However, given the activity in the store, they probably shouldn’t leave the floor in pairs.
“Okay, thanks.” Kenzie hung the handmade “Taking a Break—Back Soon” sign on the loom and headed in the direction of the break room.
Lori walked with her. “Twenty minutes instead of thirty, Ruby said.” She sighed. “That barely gave me time to eat my salad and call Jase for our regular noontime chat.”
Kenzie shot Lori a startled look. Since when did Lori and Brother Jase have a daily chat time? Sure, friendship was in full bloom between them. She’d noticed it taking off the night Brother Jase brought Lori to Kenzie’s apartment. But she must’ve missed something significant if they’d established a daily talk-to-each-other routine.
“But”—Lori’s tone brightened—“we’re going to get four breaks today instead of only one to make up for having to cut lunch short. Jase said to call or text when I’m free and he’d make time to chat for a few minutes. And guess what? I’m helping with a youth project after work, so I’ll get to see him tonight.” She sighed and caught Kenzie’s hand. “He’s wonderful, Kenz. He really is.” She gave a quick squeeze and let go. “Gotta get back to the sewing nook. See ya later!”
Lori hustled off, and Kenzie entered the break room. She opened her lunch bag and took out the sandwich and carrot sticks she’d packed that morning. Lori’s bright smile lingered in her memory. Back in Flourish, if a man and woman spent so much time together, the fellowship considered them in a courtship. Were Lori and Brother Jase courting? Maybe they were, since Lori hadn’t asked Kenzie to join their activity this evening. Had Lori only forgotten to invite Kenzie, or did she want the time alone with Brother Jase? Kenzie could hardly blame her—as Lori had said, Brother Jase was wonderful. But she didn’t like this feeling of being left out.
Sitting alone in the break room with no one to talk to didn’t help chase away the uncomfortable feeling. She needed a distraction. She pulled out her cell phone and checked her email. The inbox set up for the missing ring had several more messages, and she read through them while she ate. She finished reading as she took her last bite of the sandwich. Then she wadded up her napkin and threw it into the wastebasket with a frustrated huff.
It’d been almost a full month now since she posted about the ring. When she returned to Indiana, if she moved back in with Mamm and Daed, she’d probably have to give up her cell phone. Some people might be tempted by her worldly possession, and the Bible advised her not to tempt others into sin. Even if she didn’t consider using a cell phone a sin, they did, and she respected the fellowship’s beliefs enough not to create strife. Unless the real owner of the ring came forward soon, she might never find her. So what to do with it?
She snorted a short laugh. Why hadn’t she thought of it before? She could give it to the police. They’d put it in a safe place and look for the owner, wouldn’t they? Then she’d be free of the responsibility and could be sure it wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands. A weight seemed to roll from her, and she smiled. She still had much to figure out, most notably the financing, before she could actually leave Kansas. But determining a means of dealing with the ring relieved a major concern. And maybe Lori growing close to Brother Jase was also a blessing. Her friend wouldn’t be so lonely if she was with him.
With a bounce in her step, she returned to the loom.
Bradleyville
Jase
Jase snipped another cluster of purplish-white blossoms from the rhinoceros-sized lilac bush and laid it carefully in the box