Amish Jane Doe by Shelley Shepard Gray

Author:Shelley Shepard Gray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-06-10T16:37:21+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Jackson had ended up spending the day with his parents. After the first awkward hour, the three of them had seemed to come to an unspoken agreement. They wouldn’t talk about the past. Instead, they focused on the present—and on chores that needed to be done.

After his mother made them a warm lunch of soup and sandwiches, he’d asked if he could help take care of some tasks his father had been having a difficult time doing on his own.

Slipping into the ease of the moment, his father agreed. Next thing Jackson knew, he was repairing a back step. Soon after, he and his father were fixing a leaky faucet in the bathroom.

As they steadily worked side by side, Jackson felt some of the pain and anger he’d been harboring for so long dissipate. His father seemed to feel the same way, because his words and directions slowly became less stilted and more conversational. Eventually, to Jackson’s surprise, his father even began to ask him questions about his job. He would’ve never guessed it, but it seemed that his father enjoyed mysteries and detective stories.

As the hours passed, each one of them started to glance out the window more frequently. Marie’s absence was noted, and it was obvious they all felt like she should’ve been home far earlier.

Jackson was also pleased to notice that his father seemed more concerned than angry that Marie was late. He would have never imagined his daed choosing that path, but he was glad of it. Maybe the Lord really had been working with his father and was helping him become a better person. He sure hoped so.

By the time the sun had started to dip over the horizon, none of them could deny what was going on. Marie was very late and it wasn’t like her. Not at all.

After glancing at his watch for what felt like the thirtieth time, he said, “Where do you think she could be?”

His parents exchanged solemn, worried glances. “I couldn’t begin to guess,” Daed said. “She was going to see LizBeth like we told ya, but it was just to work on a quilt.”

“A quilt?”

His mother shrugged. “I didn’t believe LizBeth was much of a quilter but I allowed her to go, anyway. Marie’s been so restless of late. I thought she might learn something from an older woman.” She glanced out the window again. “But she should have been home by now.”

“It’s five o’clock. It’s raining and getting dark.” He was well aware they could see the same thing he could, but he felt like he needed to emphasize that.

Walking to one of the front windows, Mamm peered out. “Maybe Marie decided to stay with LizBeth.”

He’d already tried her cell phone once. LizBeth hadn’t answered. He hadn’t wanted to leave a text—he wasn’t sure if he was being ridiculous or simply cautious. But now he was getting antsy. In addition, he was starting to get a feeling that something was very wrong.

“I’ll try calling LizBeth. She should be done with work now, if she went to the store after Marie’s visit.

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