Page 19 of Unforgiven

All that was why he still wasn’t on great terms with his parents. Though they didn’t refuse to acknowledge or see him from time to time, they didn’t treat him like they used to. Seth didn’t blame them. Whether he was Amish or English, he would never be able to change the fact that he was an ex-con.

That said, he’d had a need to see Melonie and he wanted to do the visit right. Plus, he was hoping that one of their parents would give him an inkling about how they felt about Lott’s interest in her. If they were supportive of his interest and seemed to be vigilant in their monitoring of them, Seth would step back and stay out of Melonie’s courtship. But if neither of them seemed to be watching Lott like a hawk and asking questions, then he would get involved.

As expected, his father allowed him inside but didn’t actively welcome his presence. Though Mamm and Daed had made a point of letting him know that they forgave his transgressions and believed his time in prison had been more than enough penance to the Lord, they were wary around him.

Seth understood. He was different than the boy they’d raised. He was harder and far less trusting. Surviving life in prison had required that he learn a bunch of skills that weren’t suitable in an Amish community.

He was a changed man, marked by everything that had happened. Even though he knew the bishop would forgive him and eventually allow him to be baptized, Seth knew it wasn’t the right fit for him any longer. He was too worldly. He’d long ago come to terms with that.

His parents had not.

“This is a surprise, Seth,” Mamm said after she hugged him hello. Worry etched her eyes as she scanned his face. “Is something wrong?”

“Nee. I’m fine. I came over to see Melonie.”

“Ah.” She exchanged a glance with his father. “That’s probably a gut idea, I think.”

It almost sounded as if they welcomed him being there. “Why do you say that?”

“Melonie is fine,” Daed said. “However, she is . . . she is headstrong.” His expression conveyed everything his benign words didn’t.

Against his will, Seth felt the same twinge he used to feel back when he still lived in this house. He’d wanted to be happy. Ached to feel comfortable. But that comfort and ease had been hard to find. “Is she all right?” he asked.

“I believe so,” his mother said. “She might tell you differently, though.”

Seth was torn between chuckling and peppering them with questions. He knew better than to show too much emotion, however. His father had always believed that his formerly unreserved tendencies would get him into trouble. Seth figured he’d probably been right about that.

“So, is Melonie around? May I speak with her?”

His mother inclined her head. “She’s in the basement pinning laundry to the line. She should be done soon.”

He made a move toward the back of the house. “I’ll go downstairs, then.”

“You don’t want to wait until she comes back up?” Daed asked. “You’ll see her soon enough. She’s not going anywhere.”

Seth felt a familiar tightening in his chest. His parents had expectations about chores and jobs and the way they should be done. Sometimes they seemed to forget that everything in one’s life shouldn’t be about duty. “There’s no reason to wait,” he said. “I still remember where the basement is. I can give her a hand.”

“No reason to do that. She knows what to do,” Mamm said. “Don’t you let her step away without finishing.”

“I won’t.”

As always, the small window at the top of the passageway did little to illuminate the space. Memories hit him hard. Growing up, he’d run up and down those wooden stairs, his bare feet sure and steady. Now he reached for the banister and found himself wishing for a flashlight. It seemed he’d gotten used to light.

At least the small, stark basement was brighter. Faint light filtered through the four windows that lined the top of the basement’s space. Added to that was a floor lamp powered by a small propane unit. It cast a pretty golden glow around the space, making the room look better than the way he remembered it.

Or maybe it was simply the sight of Melonie that made everything look better than it was. Even wearing a pale green dress and pinning clothes on the line, she was a sight to behold.

It was no wonder Lott wanted to be around her.

He took care to step hard on the final stairstep so she wouldn’t be startled. “Hiya, Melonie,” he said in a soft tone.

She jumped. When she turned to look at him, her grip on the article of clothing loosened. It dropped to the floor in a damp heap. “Seth.”

He strode across the floor and picked up the piece. It was blue cotton. One of their father’s shirts. He shook it out. “Sorry about that. I tried not to startle you.”

“I thought I heard footsteps, but I assumed they were from Mamm or Daed walking around in the kitchen. Why are you down here?”

Not wanting to immediately dive into his concerns about Lott, he shrugged. “I was nearby.”

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