Finding Mercy by Karen Harper

Author:Karen Harper
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2012-10-18T22:00:00+00:00

15

“I DIDN’T KNOW it could all look so big, the waves too,” Ella said to Andrew—they’d decided they must still use that name for him—as he put the cooler on their blanket late the next morning at Lido Beach. They sat side by side about twenty feet from the surf rolling up on the slick sand. It was pretty obvious the tide was coming in. “I think I’ll just look for shells in the dry part of the beach,” she told him.

Grossmamm had been too worn-out to come with them on the city bus. Truth be told, Ella knew the old woman had been exhausted the night of Seth and Hannah’s wedding when she’d urged them to flee to Pinecraft, despite her claims that she wasn’t tired at all.

Ella knew Grossmamm had other worries besides keeping Andrew and her safe. Though Grossmamm hadn’t wanted to put a damper on Seth’s special day, she had recently received a letter that her only daughter had breast cancer. Ella’s aunt Martha lived in central Pennsylvania and had two little ones, so she could obviously use some help. It sure said a lot about Grossmamm, Ella thought, that she was willing to try to save a man who had been a total stranger just two weeks ago, when her own daughter could use some help. Or was Grossmamm even more upset by the fact Martha had told her not to come?

“You’ve been so brave through everything,” Andrew told Ella, leaning back on one elbow, facing her, soaking in the sun. He looked strange, wearing sunglasses he’d insisted on buying at a drugstore nearby. Ella knew they stood out around here in their Amish garb. Only a few other plain folk were on the beach, but it was a Monday and off-season. The Englischers basking in the sun and surf wore so little they looked stark naked to her. She just bet Andrew would like to shed his Amish clothes. If someone was a danger to them—and she knew Andrew feared that, since his eyes darted around behind his new sunglasses—would they be safer in modern dress—that is, undress?

“Are you sure it isn’t time to conquer your past?” Andrew asked. “I’m working on mine, even if I’m doing a lousy job of it. I’m terrified half the time, but I’m still going to face my fears and testify.”

“You mean for me to wade in?”

“I mean go in, all the way—with me, of course.”

“Oh, I couldn’t.”

“As I said, you’re a very brave woman. Isn’t it time you put that drowning nightmare to rest and fight back like you did against your captor?”

“I didn’t fight back. The Amish don’t fight back. I just escaped. And you tricked me into coming here today to pressure me to go in!”

“You know you longed to see the beach and water. I’m not tricking you about anything, not anymore. I’m just hoping you trust me and want to get over your fear of water and drowning enough to go in with me.

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