Plain Jayne by Hillary Manton Lodge Read Free Book Online Page B

door. I sat up and reevaluated my surroundings. The tiniest hint of morning light was peeking through the windows.
    The knock sounded at my door again. I shook my head to clear it. “Come in.”
    Sara poked her head in. “Could I come sit?”
    I waved her in. “Sit.” My mouth tasted awful. I yearned for an orange Tic Tac. “What’s up?”
    â€œI told David to be more careful with his flashlight,” she said, pulling lint off her apron. “The boys always come to the girls’ windows after everyone goes to bed. That’s how we have dates. That’s how my parents had dates.”
    â€œYour parents are perfectly fine with you crawling out of windows with boys they don’t know?” My parents would have had joint hernias, and before this conversation I would have considered them
less
conservative than Gideon and Martha.
    â€œOh, they know David.”
    â€œDo they know you’re together?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œHow many girls come home pregnant?”
    Sara’s eyes widened. “None that I know.”
    I wondered how many she didn’t know about, but I kept that question to myself. “I’m sorry if I startled you last night.”
    She giggled. “David might not come back.”
    â€œI’m truly sorry,” I repeated.
    â€œThere are other boys,” she said, with a shrug that was almost coy.
    I played along. “Oh?”
    â€œThere is Milo Stutzman. And Henry Mullet.”
    I pressed my lips together to ensure a serious response. “You have choices.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œTell me about your grandmother,” I said, swinging my feet around. The floor was freezing. “Why does she have a car?”
    â€œGrandma is Mennonite.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œShe joined the Mennonite church when I was little, she and my grandfather.”
    â€œAnd your family still has contact with them?” I didn’t say, “unlike Levi,” but she caught my meaning.
    â€œThey joined a Mennonite church. Because they did that, we could still see them. Not Grandpa anymore, though. He passed on. But Levi joined a Baptist church. Our bishop didn’t accept it.”
    â€œBut the Mennonite church is acceptable?”
    She nodded.
    â€œDo you miss your brother?”
    Sara nodded again. “Very much. Everyone thought he would marry Rachel Yoder. I heard that she wouldn’t leave with him. Levi wouldn’t talk about it.”
    â€œHow often do you see him?”
    She shrugged. “When my dad’s not home, he’ll come visit. Sometimes…” she leaned in closer, “I visit him in town.”
    â€œReally?” I couldn’t hide my surprise.
    â€œAt the shop?”
    Sara gave a secret smile. “Grandma takes me.”
    Ida was more of a rebel than I’d given her credit for. “So he’s stayed in touch with your grandmother too?”
    â€œOh, yes. Everyone but Dad.”
    â€œYour dad’s angry?”
    â€œHurt, I think. But it’s not my place to question.”
    At that moment my stomach gave a long, loud commentary on the state of its condition.
    Empty.
    â€œI think I’m ready for breakfast. You?”
    Sara grinned, and the rest of the day began.

Chapter 6
    I called Levi after breakfast, using the cell number he’d given me earlier. “Your grandmother drives a car and your sister sneaks out at night,” I said. “There’s so much you didn’t tell me.”
    â€œIs everything okay? Are they treating you well?”
    â€œThey’re fine so far. Why didn’t you warn me that things between you and your dad were weird?”
    â€œIf I tried to warn you about every family struggle, we’d be talking for a very long time.”
    â€œOh. Well, then. Anything else you want to fill me in on while you’ve got me on the phone?”
    He sighed. “My mother is wary of outsiders. Amos and Elam rarely speak to