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Authors: Deborah Raney
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farther from the administrative offices.”
“I really don’t mind the noise. It’s kind of nice, actually. Reminds me what this work is all about.”
“That’s a good way to look at it.”
The waiter came and poured coffee. Melanie took a sip and asked, “So, are you starting to feel at home now?”
“In the job, you mean?”
“Well, the job, the town … the whole thing. Are you getting used to the Midwest? That was probably the biggest adjustment. A bit of culture shock, I’d imagine.”
“You could say that. The other day I told someone I was going to get a soda, and they seemed to have no idea what I was referring to.”
“And just what were you referring to?” she joked.
“Apparently what you people call ‘pop.’ ” He pronounced the word with a nasal twang, laughing.
She was growing to love the sound of his laughter. “Ah, yes, pop. You ask for soda around here, and you’ll get baking soda. Where exactly did you live back East?”
His smile faded, and he lingered over a sip of coffee before replying. “Several places, actually. Most of them in New York State. But my parents were part-time missionaries, so we sometimes spent summers out of the country with them.”
“Oh, really? Where?”
“South Africa. The Philippines. Those are the two I remember best.”
“What a rich childhood that must have been. Are your parents still doing mission work?”
He looked at his plate. “No … They were … killed in a plane crash … several years ago.”
“I’m so sorry, Joel. I can’t imagine …” She could sense that the wound was still tender and grasped for a way to change the subject. “Do … do you have brothers or sisters?”
He brightened a bit. “I have a brother. He’s two years older than I.”
“And is he on the East Coast too?”
Joel nodded. “Yes. He is.” He seemed lost in thought, and Melanie felt terrible for opening such a tender issue.
“How about you, Melanie? Do you have other family—besides your in-laws, I mean?”
“Well, my parents are out in California. My folks are older. Momwas forty-two when I was born. Dad had a couple of heart attacks about twelve years ago, so he retired early, and they moved out to San Diego. My brother and his family live in New Jersey … in Bergen County.”
“Wow. You have family scattered from coast to coast.”
She nodded. “Matt—my brother—married my best friend. In fact, I’m the one who set them up.”
“A matchmaker, huh?”
“Yes, and proud of it. Karly is like the sister I never had. They have two adorable little boys now.”
“Do you get to see them often? Your family?”
“Not nearly as often as I’d like. Jerica and I get out to see my folks once a year, and I’m able to see Matt and Karly a little more often since I’m in New York on business occasionally … but it’s hard being so far from all of them. I suppose you know how that is.”
“You must really appreciate having your in-laws close by. I visited with Jerry a little bit at the elders meeting the other night. He seems like a nice guy.”
“He is. I’m sure I take Jerry and Erika for granted sometimes. They’re the greatest. I owe them a lot. After Rick died, Jerry trained me to manage the business. Even though Rick had a nice insurance policy, I’m not sure I would have made it without Jerry’s generosity. Of course, he had an ulterior motive.”
“Jerica?”
She smiled. “Uh-huh.”
“Typical grandparents.”
“Maybe a little … um … beyond typical,” she said wryly. “Rick was their only child, so Jerica is extra precious to them.”
“I can imagine. Well, it’s nice that they’ve been so good to you. It’s obvious that you love the family business.”
“I really do. Well, most of the time. I wish I could be home with Jerica more. She’s growing up so fast, and sometimes I worry that I’m missing out on half her life.”
“I suppose that’s something every working mother
“I really don’t mind the noise. It’s kind of nice, actually. Reminds me what this work is all about.”
“That’s a good way to look at it.”
The waiter came and poured coffee. Melanie took a sip and asked, “So, are you starting to feel at home now?”
“In the job, you mean?”
“Well, the job, the town … the whole thing. Are you getting used to the Midwest? That was probably the biggest adjustment. A bit of culture shock, I’d imagine.”
“You could say that. The other day I told someone I was going to get a soda, and they seemed to have no idea what I was referring to.”
“And just what were you referring to?” she joked.
“Apparently what you people call ‘pop.’ ” He pronounced the word with a nasal twang, laughing.
She was growing to love the sound of his laughter. “Ah, yes, pop. You ask for soda around here, and you’ll get baking soda. Where exactly did you live back East?”
His smile faded, and he lingered over a sip of coffee before replying. “Several places, actually. Most of them in New York State. But my parents were part-time missionaries, so we sometimes spent summers out of the country with them.”
“Oh, really? Where?”
“South Africa. The Philippines. Those are the two I remember best.”
“What a rich childhood that must have been. Are your parents still doing mission work?”
He looked at his plate. “No … They were … killed in a plane crash … several years ago.”
“I’m so sorry, Joel. I can’t imagine …” She could sense that the wound was still tender and grasped for a way to change the subject. “Do … do you have brothers or sisters?”
He brightened a bit. “I have a brother. He’s two years older than I.”
“And is he on the East Coast too?”
Joel nodded. “Yes. He is.” He seemed lost in thought, and Melanie felt terrible for opening such a tender issue.
“How about you, Melanie? Do you have other family—besides your in-laws, I mean?”
“Well, my parents are out in California. My folks are older. Momwas forty-two when I was born. Dad had a couple of heart attacks about twelve years ago, so he retired early, and they moved out to San Diego. My brother and his family live in New Jersey … in Bergen County.”
“Wow. You have family scattered from coast to coast.”
She nodded. “Matt—my brother—married my best friend. In fact, I’m the one who set them up.”
“A matchmaker, huh?”
“Yes, and proud of it. Karly is like the sister I never had. They have two adorable little boys now.”
“Do you get to see them often? Your family?”
“Not nearly as often as I’d like. Jerica and I get out to see my folks once a year, and I’m able to see Matt and Karly a little more often since I’m in New York on business occasionally … but it’s hard being so far from all of them. I suppose you know how that is.”
“You must really appreciate having your in-laws close by. I visited with Jerry a little bit at the elders meeting the other night. He seems like a nice guy.”
“He is. I’m sure I take Jerry and Erika for granted sometimes. They’re the greatest. I owe them a lot. After Rick died, Jerry trained me to manage the business. Even though Rick had a nice insurance policy, I’m not sure I would have made it without Jerry’s generosity. Of course, he had an ulterior motive.”
“Jerica?”
She smiled. “Uh-huh.”
“Typical grandparents.”
“Maybe a little … um … beyond typical,” she said wryly. “Rick was their only child, so Jerica is extra precious to them.”
“I can imagine. Well, it’s nice that they’ve been so good to you. It’s obvious that you love the family business.”
“I really do. Well, most of the time. I wish I could be home with Jerica more. She’s growing up so fast, and sometimes I worry that I’m missing out on half her life.”
“I suppose that’s something every working mother
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