expression hadnât deterred Ida in the least. Sheâd just given her a sly smile in return.
Paul interrupted Debbieâs thoughts with another triumphant look. The man was the limit tonight. He seemed emboldened by Alvinâs absence and was moving in for the kill. Since Paul was one of the team captains, heâd not only chosen Debbie for his side but had placed her next to him in the play rotation. The man either had no shame or he considered her a gone goose and unable to resist his attentions. That idea raised her hackles.
He glanced over at her and said, âThanks for agreeing to play beside me tonight.â
Sheâd done nothing of the sort, so she gave him what she thought was a piercing look. But it only produced a hearty laugh from Paul as the ball sailed toward them again. At least he was a gentleman, Debbie noticed. He stepped back to give her a chance to play. But when the arch of the ball drew close, Paul shouted, âSet it up for me! Over this way!â Self-serving man , Debbie thought, but she still bounced the ball toward him in a high arch. Paul leaped into the air and pounded the ball into the barn floor on the other side of the net with seemingly effortless ease.
âGood one, Paul!â someone called out over the groans heard from the other side of the net.
Paul pranced about for a moment enjoying his success but saying nothing about her part in the score. Now he looked at her expectantly, obviously wanting her to comment on his prowess.
âNot bad,â she said, avoiding his gaze.
âCome on, you can do better than that, canât you?â He stepped closer and tilted his ear toward her.
âYouâre a great volleyball player!â she hollered.
A satisfied look spread over his face. âThatâs much better.â
Moments later Paul got another spike in. Mary Yoder, who played across the net from them, scrambled out of the way ratherthan attempt to block the ball. She blushed red as Paul teased, âI didnât mean to endanger your life.â
Mary replied, âI only had to duck a little. I was ready for that anyway. You know, playing across from you Iâve learned.â
âIâll be more careful next time,â Paul said with the same kind of wide grin heâd been sending Debbieâs way. Mary blushed at the attention, and Debbie looked around for Ezra, Maryâs boyfriend. But it didnât really matter, she realized. Paulâs effect on girls was well-known. No doubt Ezra would take it in stride. Most Amish boys seemed practical about such things. Obviously Alvin didnât fit that mold. Heâd left the community with a broken heart over her. At least thatâs what was being said. What other reason could he have had? None. Which didnât speak well of Alvinâs courage. On the other hand, how could she blame him in the face of Paulâs overwhelming charisma and manipulation?
Debbie tried to push thoughts of Alvin away, but his absence hung over the gathering tonight. Thoughts of him wouldnât go away no matter how hard she tried to ignore them. Thankfully no one else had mentioned anything so far. If they did, Debbie didnât know how she would respond. A thought raced through her mind and stung as it went by. Perhaps the young people shared Bishop Beilerâs suspicions that she was to blame for Alvinâs actions?
Debbie held still for a moment, the game continuing around her. Paul sent his charms her direction again, but she ignored him as she processed her emotions. Surely no one would think she should also leave or that sheâd join Alvin in the Englisha world? Didnât they know that neither Alvin nor she would be happy out there? She wouldnât. And she was sure Alvin was a man firmly rooted in the community, regardless of his current action. Wasnât the Knepp family among the most faithful church members around? Bishop Beiler had told her so himself. Somewhere
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