The back door opened then, and Julie could see someone climbing out. The figure backed away from the door and then it closed behind him. "Oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness. It's your father." She clamped her hand over her mouth, the sheer joy of the unexpected visit causing tears to run down her cheeks. "Race you to the bottom." Julie climbed back on her scooter and started pumping her left foot as fast as she could. After about three repet.i.tions, she realized that this might have been a mistake, as it was downhill and she was going much faster than was safe for someone with her skill level. Still, she didn't care.

"Slowpoke." Whitney sailed past, looking like she was barely even exerting effort. "Dad, Dad! Dad, look up here." She was using one hand on her handlebars and waving with the other, while Julie was holding on for dear life with both hands. Brian pa.s.sed her, too, but he at least seemed to be exerting effort in the process.

Julie eased up on the hand brakes and found herself gaining on the kids. By this time she had no idea whether or not Thomas had seen them yet, because she was too terrified to look anywhere besides the road directly in front of her. She had almost caught Brian when they reached the car.

"My, my, what has happened to the wife I used to know? I don't recognize this speed demon I just watched tearing down the hill at Mach 1 speed."

Whitney threw her arms around Thomas's waist. "You might not recognize a lot of things. Mom has started to come out of her sh.e.l.l in a major way. She's almost . . . almost cool." She leaned back and squeezed Julie's arm at the elbow.

Julie looked at her daughter, waiting for the punch line, but saw nothing other than a serious expression on her heat-reddened face.

"Well, all right." Thomas grinned as he reached out and included Julie and Brian in the hug. "It's so good to see the three of you. The house is just plain boring without all of you around."

"Yeah, but I bet the house is finally tidy to your satisfaction, right?" Whitney looked up at him. "If not, you've got no one to harp on but yourself, 'cause we didn't do it."

Julie couldn't help but stiffen a little as she waited for his response. Thomas and Susan were definitely from the same gene pool, and it was a constant source of stress in their home. Right now, she wasn't sure what she wanted to hear-something between the harsh truth and a complete lie.

He finally cleared his throat as he pulled away from the hug. "Well, that part is nice, but I still miss all of you."

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

Didn't this work in reverse in most families? Wasn't the wife supposed to nag the husband about these things?

Thomas interrupted her thoughts with another enormous hug. And she embraced him back. It felt good to be in his arms, and for the moment, she'd just focus on that.

Still, she couldn't help but think a few hours later that while an organized house was nice for Thomas, there was another side to that equation, because in a lot of ways, the last few weeks had been a nice break for her, too. An escape from the constant awareness that she did not live up to her husband's expectations. In this place, she was very aware of not living up to Susan's standards, but because things were so extreme here, it didn't feel as depressing.

After a festive dinner, Whitney and Brian said they'd take care of dishes, so Julie and Thomas headed out for a walk together. She had so much she wanted to share-about Whitney at Kids' Club, Brian and his observatory, gardening, sewing. And Rosemary. She told Thomas the woman's stories and how they'd gotten her thinking about using her gifts. She looked at Thomas. "Thomas, what would you say are my gifts?"

"Your gifts? Besides being beautiful, you mean?"

"That's a lie, and you know it. I'm not being facetious; I want the truth."

"It's not a lie. You are beautiful, and I suppose I need some clarification of the question. How, exactly, would you define the word *gift' as you are using it in this sentence?"

"You know good and well what I mean. What am I good at?"

"You're a terrific mother, a great wife, and one of the nicest people I've ever met."

"Those are all too general to be completely true or completely helpful."

"All right, then. I'll be more specific. You're a great wife because you constantly deal with my ever-changing schedule with good grace and good humor, and I know from the talk around the office, this is not the norm for many of my coworkers. You are a terrific mother because you encourage the kids to follow their own dreams. That part about you being one of the nicest people I know is true, too, and one of the ways I know this is that you truly see people. You notice when someone is sad, or uncomfortable, when most people would not give them a second glance."

Julie knew there was a flip side to all those statements. She might adapt to a schedule well, but his coworkers' wives maintained meticulous homes. She let the kids follow their dreams but perhaps was too lax with them. She noticed people, but did she do anything to really change things?

Maybe Rosemary was wrong. Maybe there was a group of people who really just didn't have anything much in the way of gifts. They were the group of people, like her, who just floated through the sea of this life, waiting for the tide to pull them in, or push them out, or the next wave to crash into them.

Still . . . maybe there was a bit of truth to his words. G.o.d, if I really do have a special gift, any gift, please show it to me. Please help me use it to the best of my ability.

"Now, let's get back to that part about me being a terrific wife." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "What was it you were saying again?"

Chapter 26.

The Friday morning of Lisa Lee's visit had been a train wreck. Nothing had gone right, including spilled coffee, which had splattered underneath the stove, a backed-up kitchen sink, and burned pancakes that still smelled up the entire farmhouse. All the makings of a disastrous day were firmly in place. Susan pulled out her to-do list. "We've got to work fast. We're already almost half an hour behind schedule, and there are a few additional things we have to add to the list now." Susan would make certain things were as comfortable as possible for Lisa Lee's visit today-just like a good Amish woman would do for her guests.

"The kids sure must enjoy their school. They seem to be in an awfully big hurry to get there." Thomas turned from the window and looked at Susan, as if waiting for a response.

Since she didn't have time for chatter this morning, she gave none. "Okay, Thomas, you're in charge of sink duty. Let's see, Julie . . ." She started to tell her to work on the coffee clean-up detail, but it was too important to have that job done correctly today. Better just to get Julie out of the way. "Why don't you go on out to the garden and start weeding at the green bean row?"

"Don't we need to do a load of laundry this morning?"

"We certainly don't want Lisa Lee showing up with our laundry hanging out on the line. It's got to look perfect around here, and we are a far cry from perfect right now."

"Okay." Julie turned and started for the door.

Susan heard Thomas mumble something to her as she walked by. It sounded something like "I want to go to school with the kids," but she couldn't be sure, and it didn't really matter. They didn't have time to talk.

Susan got down on her hands and knees and looked at what she had to face. Julie had wiped up the bulk of the coffee after she'd spilled it, but it had streamed underneath the stove and all around the front stove legs. This was going to require a toothbrush and some scrubbing. She looked under the sink and pulled out her cleaning supplies while Thomas continued to work with the plunger in the sink itself.

"So how are things going here?"

At least he was working while he talked. "Fine. Just busy."

"Fine? Really? Because you seem about as uptight as I've ever seen you."

"Of course I'm uptight. Today's visit is crucial for us, and it's started as a nightmare."

"No worries, sister of mine. We'll have it all straightened out and ready to go by the time Lisa Lee arrives." He looked at his watch. "We've got a couple of hours yet, yes?"

"Yes, but plenty of things to do." She pulled out the brushes and cleaner and went back to the stove. She knelt down on the floor and started scrubbing with every bit of her energy. Hopefully things would get better from here. "This is make it or break it for me today. It has to be perfect, and given the start we're off to, I'd say that's likely not going to happen."

"We'll give it our best shot." A loud gurgling sound coming from the sink was the first hopeful sign. "One down, what's next on my list?"

It was good to have Thomas here.

A few hours later, Susan watched through the farmhouse window as Lisa Lee emerged from the black Suburban. Kendra and the camera crew had been standing in the driveway as the car approached. Kendra held out a restraining hand toward the crew and approached Lisa, shook hands and began telling her something. Lisa nodded politely, tucked her hair behind her ear, and smiled without comment. Finally, she shook her head and pointed toward the house.

Kendra was obviously still arguing the point as Lisa Lee came to the front porch and knocked. Susan ran to the door, accompanied by the cameraman, who was waiting inside. "Welcome. Please come in." It felt strange inviting her in, as if she were a guest, rather than the reason for all of this.

"h.e.l.lo. How nice to see you again." Lisa walked in and hugged Susan. "I hope you are enjoying your adventure here."

"Yes, I am." She hoped it sounded convincing.

"Julie, so nice to see you again. Thomas, thank you for being willing to adjust your schedule to be here today." She walked over and hugged each of them.

It was amazing that even in this heat, Lisa Lee was every bit as perky as she was in her Los Angeles studio. She looked around the living room and smiled. "I am so happy to be here so I can see for myself how this is all working. We've had feedback from the segments that is absolutely amazing. Haven't we, Kendra?"

Kendra, who had entered silently behind Lisa, nodded. "Yes, we have."

"So for today's taping, we're basically going to do a general tour of the place. We'll go out and check out the kids in the schoolhouse, look in the barn and see the animals, look at the vegetable garden, and do a lot of talking to each of you. Then we'll film my first attempt at cooking in the wood stove, during which time I'll prepare a three-course meal for your family."

"That sounds wonderful." Julie beamed up at Thomas. "Can you believe it? A three-course meal prepared by Lisa Lee."

Susan couldn't help but wonder what that might mean. Did they have Lisa cooking because she had not performed adequately? Would she be expected to do that much better during the upcoming weeks?

Lisa fanned herself. "Whew. It's hot in here."

Yes, it was.

Julie sat at the table, pondering the odd sense of peace that had begun to build inside her today. She wasn't certain if it was because of her talk with Thomas last night, or the unexpected easiness of being around Lisa Lee, or the fact that Lisa had also burned the shoo-fly pie she'd made for dinner tonight.

"Ladies"-Lisa Lee looked around the table, then nodded toward Thomas and Brian-"and gentlemen. I would like to thank you for one of the most enjoyable and challenging days I've had in a long time."

"I'm so glad you enjoyed it." Susan said the words in perfect grace, and with a beautiful smile on her face. Only because Julie had known her so long did she know that Susan was stressed to the breaking point right now.

Lisa looked down at her watch. "Let's see, Kendra. I believe you said that electricity could be restored at 6:00 P.M., and according to my watch, it's 6:02. What do you say we get a little air-conditioning going in this place?"

"A good idea." Kendra nodded and pulled out her ever-present walkie-talkie. "Joe, turn the power back on to the farmhouse."

The whirring sound of the window-installed air-conditioners quickly filled the room, and a cool breeze began to stir from the backside of the house. A collective "aah" went around the table.

"It'll take it a long time to cool off, I imagine. I must say, you are all awfully good sports about living this way for a week. I think all of us who live on the California coast tend to forget what real weather feels like. Susan, I'm amazed at all that you accomplished in this heat."

Susan just continued to give her perfect smile.

"And, Julie," Lisa said, picking at the piece of pie on her plate. "Julie, I have to say, I'm impressed with how well you did cooking that shoo-fly pie on the first week of being here. That stove is more difficult to control than I had thought it would be."

"No offense to you, but it definitely soothed my ego a little bit when you burned the edges today."

Lisa laughed. "Glad I could help you out. Kendra, what is the task for this coming week?"

"Authentic Amish clothes." Kendra looked around the table until she fixed her gaze on Whitney. "All week long."

"Oh no." Whitney covered her face.

Kendra smiled outright. "Starting in about an hour. As soon as the dinner dishes are sufficiently washed and put away, we're going to make a trip into town. We want Lisa to experience this firsthand."

Whitney moaned and shook her head. "This is going to be awful."

The grin on Kendra's face left little doubt that she was counting on it.

Chapter 27.

There were already three buggies lined up at the watering rail when they arrived. They sat dark and empty in the fading evening light, their horses taking no notice of the new arrival. Julie shifted uncomfortably in her seat, hoping this outing wouldn't last long.

"Isn't this wild? We're parking our horse and buggy in an actual horse-and-buggy parking spot at Walmart." Whitney shook her head. "The kids back home would never believe this one."

"They're not going to believe you in a black bonnet, either, but I'm guessing they'll get to see a little of both if they watch the episodes." Brian adjusted the straw hat on his own head. "I guess that's one of the advantages of being the only boy on this adventure. I know for a fact that none of my friends are going to be watching."

"Neither will mine." Thomas nodded toward his son. "But I'm still glad I get to dress normally."

Whitney reached up and touched the side of her neck, tucking an imaginary loose hair back inside her bonnet, and glanced toward Julie. "Mom told me I had to keep a positive att.i.tude in the midst of this horror, so I'm not going to say what I'd really like to say right about now." She looked down at her black skirt and ap.r.o.n. "Suffice it to say, we'll just have to pray for low ratings for this particular episode."

Chris laughed as he climbed down from his place in the buggy. "Have a good time, you guys," he whispered as he helped Whitney down from the buggy. He looked up at Julie then, a hint of panic on his face.

She smiled and whispered, "Don't worry. I'm not the *no talking' police."

"Glad to hear it." He helped her down from the carriage, then turned his attention toward the smaller buggy, which had arrived beside them, carrying Gary, Susan, and Angie. He hurried around to the far side to a.s.sist Angie while Gary helped Susan.

The two Suburbans had taken parking spots near them, and Lisa Lee, Kendra, and a full barrage of cameramen emerged and stood at the ready.

Julie made certain her bonnet was sitting securely on her head as she started toward the front door of the huge shopping center. She looked at Thomas. "A little part of me thinks that it is sort of nice to be allowed back into the modern world for a while."

"What does the bigger part think?"

She shrugged. "It's embarra.s.sing. The outfits, the cameras, all the attention this is sure to garnish." By the time they reached the inside of the store, people were already gawking. They pointed, and whispered, and giggled.

Kendra turned to the group. "All right. Adults, we're limiting you to the grocery section of the store. Kids, you are free to go wherever you like as long as you stay together."

"Woo-hoo." Whitney did a fist pump. "Come on, everybody, let's go check out the music." Angie and Brian followed in a whirl of excited chatter, followed by a couple of cameramen.

A tired-looking, bone-thin woman approached the group. Her gray hair frizzed in various directions, in spite of the ponytail she wore. "Hey, you're Lisa Lee, aren't you?"

Lisa smiled graciously. "Yes, I am. What is your name?"

Within seconds an autograph-seeking group had formed around the ever-smiling Lisa. She looked toward Susan. "You go ahead. I'll be along in just a few minutes."

"Well, let's go look at some groceries, shall we?" Susan gestured toward the other side of the store, looking every bit as elegant in her plain attire as she did in her stylish clothes back home.

The group moved away from Lisa Lee and her admiring fans. Just as they turned down the main aisle of the grocery section, an Amish couple came walking out of an adjoining aisle, directly in their path. They were both young, early twenties if that, and the woman carried a small child in her arms. She looked toward Susan, and Julie, and Thomas, cut her eyes toward the cameras. Her face grew red as she focused her attention on the floor. Her husband took her by the arm, said something softly in a language Julie did not understand, and they walked past the group to the checkout counter.

"Well, that was a bit awkward." Kendra sort of snorted. "Ray, I'm hoping you captured that moment on camera?"

The cameraman nodded. "Got it."

"Great." She nodded. "Okay, everyone, let's get on with our journey, shall we?" Kendra walked in the general direction of the groceries.