Free Lorie's Heart by Amy Lillard Page A

move forward, these many unanswered questions dragged at her, holding her prisoner until they were answered. Even painting didn’t help. Or maybe it seemed not to because it was one more secret she kept.
    â€œI’m heading to the market,” Sadie said, taking off her cooking apron and replacing it with a clean one. “We’re going to need a few more tomatoes before tomorrow’s truck gets here. I thought I’d go down and see if anyone has any.”
    Escape. “I’ll go.” Lorie patted her sister’s hand. “You rest your feet.”
    Sadie smiled. “You just want to get outside on this beautiful day.”
    â€œCan you blame me?” The sun was shining and temperatures were on the rise, but for now it was a perfect Oklahoma day.
    â€œNot at all.” Sadie took a ten-dollar bill from the petty cash box and handed it to Lorie. “Just don’t dally too long in the sun.”
    Lorie smiled. “I’ll try not to.” She left the restaurant as Sadie slid into the employees’ booth and started wrapping silverware.
    Outside, the day was even more beautiful than it looked to be through the plate-glass windows. Lorie closed her eyes and raised her face toward the sun.
    She stood there for a second, thankful to be out of the restaurant, out in the open air, just out. Inside it seemed as if the walls were closing in on her. Every day they seemed closer as if they had moved during the night to make her uncomfortable. It was a ridiculous thought, but it was how she felt all the same. Everything seemed too small these days, from the black dresses she was required to wear to her own skin. And she didn’t know how to make it comfortable again. Didn’t know if it ever would be.
    â€œExcuse me.”
    She opened her eyes, realizing she was taking up the middle of the sidewalk. People were having to walk around her as she stood there and basked in the sun when she needed to be making her way to the marketplace.
    Two blocks down and three blocks over was the empty parking lot where the Amish of Wells Landing set up a market each spring and summer. The farmers and crafters, jelly makers and pickle canners all set up shop to sell their wares to Amish and Englisch alike.
    Lorie always enjoyed the market, perhaps because the restaurant kept their family so busy that they didn’t have time to spend on what most considered the traditional Amish pursuits. They didn’t farm or can goods for the winter. They didn’t keep milk cows or goats. They didn’t make their own cheese and butter. But the restaurant had been her father’s dream and the entire Kauffman clan gladly embraced it with him. As much as Lorie enjoyed the fresh produce and goods available at the market, she couldn’t imagine her life any other way.
    Eustace Chupp, an Amish-turned-Mennonite farmer, usually had the best tomatoes and Lorie went straightaway to his stand.
    She bartered for a crate, arranged to have them carted to the restaurant, then wandered through the market for a few minutes, looking for treats for Daniel and Cora Ann.
    â€œLorie!” Emily waved her over to the table where she and her father-in-law, James, sat tending the milk they had for sale.
    She made her way toward her friend, glad for the opportunity to take a little more time at the market. She wasn’t ready to go back to the restaurant.
    â€œI didn’t expect to see you today,” Lorie said as she approached their booth.
    â€œI didn’t expect to be here today. But Becky needed a day off for a youth meeting.”
    Becky, Elam’s oldest sister, had recently joined the church. She and Billy Beiler were quite close and everyone was waiting for the two of them to announce their intentions to get married. Lorie envied the young girl in knowing what she wanted at such a young age. It seemed to be the way among Amish youth. They knew what they wanted and made it happen. So why was she so