I must convince him he can live in the community and be happy.
Claire placed the final pin in her hair. She pulled her prayer kapp on and tied it under her chin. The smell of baking bread wafted up to her room. Sally was the one who baked the family's bread, and Sally would have something to say about her going to work so early. Claire decided to slip out of the house before Sally saw her and without eating breakfast.
She got to the barn, successfully unnoticed, and wheeled out her bicycle. As soon as Claire had one leg over, she looked up to see her schweschder scowling at her from the kitchen window. Claire smiled and waved as she rode away.
Claire knew she didn’t want to end up with a bitter heart like Sally had developed. What good was it to stay in the community alone and miserable? If she gave up the chance to marry Donovan, she would risk 'catching' Sally's unhappy disposition. She’d have to live with Sally in the family home, and her own mood would surely turn sour, too. It was no way to live.
She knew in her heart if all those stories about Donovan had been true, he’d changed. The Donovan she knew would never do such things, and now he professed to believe in Gott. Claire smiled and pushed harder on the pedals.
She arrived in Donovan’s room breathless, with her face flushed.
He was asleep when she softly opened his door. She sat next to him figuring she would wait silently ‘til he woke. She saw a Bible lying across his chest and was delighted he’d been reading it, but hoped it wasn’t hurting his ribs. She stood up and gently moved it away.
As soon as she sat down again, he opened one eye. “Claire.” He tried to sit up too quickly and winced with the pain.
“Where’s your medication?”
“No, I don’t need pills. I just moved too fast.” He smiled and put out his hand and she put her hand in his. “Are you early?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re out of breath?”
“Yes.”
They both laughed. She wanted to tell him she loved him and wanted to marry him, but words escaped her as she looked into his kind eyes.
He gently lifted one eyebrow. “Have you reconsidered my question?”
She licked her lips. Now was her opportunity to tell him how life really was in the community. “Donovan, I want you to know your life wouldn’t have to change so much if you joined the community.”
“Go on.”
“Many Amish folk own businesses. They own building companies, B&Bs, restaurants, food marts, furniture and craft stores, and all kinds of things.”
He rubbed his chin.
She continued, “The bishop also allows electricity and computers in places of business.” Claire lowered her voice, “Just not in the home.”
“Is that so?”
Claire nodded. “It’s not so bad to live without electricity. I mean, I guess the light is not as strong, but it’s softer and more romantic. And we do have plumbing—indoors, even.” She giggled. “And cooking can just as easily be done with gas. In fact, many people prefer to cook with gas.”
Donovan smiled and looked down at her hand he held. “Come closer.”
She leaned in toward him.
“Let’s set all that aside for one moment. Whether we live Amish or not, will you answer me one question?”
Claire’s eyes grew wide while she waited for him to continue.
“Do you, Claire Schoneberger, love me?”
She looked at his lips and everything within her was compelled to kiss him, but modesty held her back. “Yes, Donovan Billings, I do.” It was a relief to be so open and honest.
“Then marry me and I’ll give you my word I will look into joining the Amish community. I can’t promise I will, but I’ll find out all I can and make a decision.”
Her gaze fell away from him. He was not giving her a proper answer. She wanted to hear he’d join, just like Blake had. Didn’t he love her enough?
“Claire.” She looked back into his eyes and badly wanted to say she’d marry him. “You do love me, don’t you?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes, I do.”
“Then marry me and trust everything will work out how it’s meant to.”
She thought once more about Sally, whose life was wasting away, and also her chances of having children were lessening with each passing day. Claire wanted to have children while she was young and have many of them. Life would pass too quickly waiting for an Amish version of Donovan. If she said no to Donovan, what if no one ever came for her? Closing her eyes for a moment, she further assessed the situation. Here was a man in front of her offering happiness, a life and a family. He was sincere about believing in God, so he wasn’t a heathen—an unbeliever. Something inside told her to seize the chance. When she opened her eyes, a smile spread across her face. “Yes, Donovan, yes.”
“Come here.” He opened his arms and she very gently embraced him. “Let’s get married as soon as we can and we can decide about the rest of our lives after we’re married. Whether we live in the community or not,” he said. “We’ll decide together.”
Claire bit her lip. “Where will we live?”
“We could stay here for a while.”
“Your mother won’t think I’m suitable for you.”
“Nonsense, ‘whatever makes you happy,’ is what my mother will say. Then we can rebuild my house and live there. What do you say?”
Claire nodded. “Okay.”
“We’ll get a marriage license today and get married as soon as we can. As soon as we marry, we’ll lease a house while we wait on the re-building of Finch House. What do you think about you staying here now, once we tell your family we’re getting married?”
Claire covered her mouth and looked away from him.
“Claire, I’m not suggesting anything other than separate rooms. I’ve enough money to pay my mother for our rooms and I’ve got a lot more money coming from insurance.”
Claire managed a smile. “I’ve never lived away from home.”
“Your new home is with me. I keep my word, Claire. I’m not just saying I will look into joining the community to keep you happy. I mean it, I will.” He threw the covers off him. “Let’s tell your parents right now.”
Claire giggled. “Right now?”
“Right now. You step outside and I’ll get changed.”
She nibbled on the end of a fingernail hoping her folks wouldn’t be too upset. “My father will be working on the farm somewhere at this time.”
“Then we’ll find him and tell him.” Donovan shooed her out of the room.
Claire left his room and walked to the kitchen of the B&B to get herself a glass of water. Everything was happening so fast her head was spinning.
Claire’s father and her brother, Elias, were mending a fence on the far side of the property. She’d spotted them from Donovan’s car. He parked and then they walked toward them.
“Is it polite I ask your father for your hand?” Donovan whispered to Claire.
“No, it’s not done. No one asks.”
Elias was the first to see them. He tapped his father on the shoulder and his father turned around and waited for Claire and Donovan to reach them. Elias and Mr. Schoneberger nodded hello to Donovan and then looked at Claire.
“The reason we’ve come to find you is to tell you Claire has agreed to marry me.”
“Ach,” her father said as he took off his hat. “Is this what you want, Claire?”
“Jah, Dat, more than anything.”
Her father nodded and looked at Donovan.
“You would marry an Englischer, Claire, and leave us?” Elias asked.
Claire looked up into Elias’s face.
Donovan spoke before Claire had a chance. “I would like to learn more about the community. I have told Claire I will seriously consider joining, if I’m welcome, of course. I need to make an informed decision. Claire has agreed to marry me either way.”
“Are you angry, Dat?” Claire bit her lip not knowing if she could go through with it without thei
r approval, and what if her mother cried?
“Nee, I thought this would happen when I saw Donovan at the barn raising. You're not the only one who sometimes knows things. Have you told your mudder?”
“Nee, we’re going to do that now.”
Her father nodded solemnly. “I’ll come with you.”
Donovan and Claire drove in the car and arrived at the house first. Staying in the car, they talked while they waited for Claire’s father and Elias to arrive.
“Your father took it better than I expected.”
“He’s always been that way,” Claire said. “He has a lot of faith.”
Donovan nodded.
Claire and Donovan got out of the car once Elias and Mr. Schoneberger arrived and they all walked into the house together.
Claire saw her mother coming out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a dishtowel. “Is anything wrong?”
Sally appeared behind their mother, standing with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
Dat spoke first. “Claire has something to tell you.”
Claire took a deep breath. She hadn't known how hard this was going to be. “Mamm, Donovan and I are getting married.”
She blinked a couple of times. “Your vadder and I thought this might happen. Are you leaving the community?”
Claire looked at Donovan who stood next to her and he gave her a smile. “For a time; Donovan might join us later.”
Donovan gently gave her a nudge with his shoulder prompting her to say, “I’ll collect my things and go now. I’ll be staying at the bed and breakfast.”
“Ah, separate rooms, of course,” Donovan added, “until the wedding.”
Her mudder took a deep breath and looked at her husband. Claire’s vadder put his arm around her mudder.
“I’ll help you pack your clothes,” Sally said softly.
Sally walked ahead of Claire up the stairs. Once they were inside Claire’s room, Sally said, “I’m pleased for you, Claire.”
“You are?”
“Jah, I would do the exact same thing if I ever found anyone to love.”
Claire spun around toward Sally and gave her a hug. She had approval from one member of her family, and it was the last person she’d expected. “Denke, Sally.”
“You're welcome, little schweschder.”
After they had packed some things into a large bag, Claire walked down the stairs.
“You’ll come back and visit us?” her mudder asked with tears in her eyes.
“Jah, I will, Mamm. Don’t cry, please don’t.”
Her mother nodded, and Claire was pleased they weren’t going to cut her off.
Claire hugged everyone goodbye and then Donovan and she drove away.
“Is that how you expected things to be?” Donovan asked.
Claire wiped tears from her eyes. “They took the news better than I thought they would. Sally even said she was happy for me. It’s the hardest thing I ever had to do.”
Donovan raised his eyebrows and grabbed her hand. “I’ll always be here for you. Now to tell my mother.”
“How will you do that?”
“Very quickly.” Donovan laughed.
Claire looked out the window as they drove away from the only place she’d ever called home. She knew she would have to leave the past behind in order to create something new.
They arrived at the B&B to see Mrs. Billings’ car was in the driveway.
“She’s here. Come on, let’s go tell her,” Donovan said.
Claire nodded and tried to smile at him, but her insides gnawed at her.
When they walked in, Mrs. Billings was sitting at the reception desk. “Hello, Mom, where’s Yvonne?”
“Everyone needs a day off, Donovan.”
“Ah.”
Mrs. Billings looked at Claire and it was obvious she was wondering why they were together.
“Mom, there’s only one way I can say this, and that is to say it quickly.”
She narrowed her eyes at her son.
“This beautiful lady right here has agreed to marry me.”
Mrs. Billings sprang up from her chair. “Really?”
“Yes,” Donovan said. “And we’re going to get married as soon as we possibly can.”
She stared at them open mouthed.
Claire knew exactly what she was thinking. “I guess it is a little fast.”
“It’s not! I was engaged to Donovan’s father a week after we met. It was on our first date when he asked me to marry him. I said yes. This is history repeating itself.” She walked around the reception desk and hugged Donovan and then hugged Claire. “I’m happy for you both and happy for me. I have a wedding to plan.”
“No, Mom. We don’t want any fuss.” He turned to Claire. “Do we?”
She shook her head.
Donovan continued, “No, we don’t want a fuss. We’ll have a small ceremony and that’s all we want. No engagement party, no other kinds of parties, nothing.”
Mrs. Billings’ hands flew to her mouth. When she removed them, she said, “I’ll finally have grandchildren.”
Donovan sneered. “Mom, you hate children.”
“No, I don’t.” She glared at Donovan.
“Whatever you say. I won’t argue. I hope you’ve got an extra couple of rooms for the next few months. Claire and I are staying here, in separate rooms for now. I’ll pay of course. We’ll be here until we get married; then I’ll lease a house. Then we’ll move into Finch House when it’s been rebuilt.”
Mrs. Billings looked at Claire. “Are you leaving your community, Claire?”
Claire opened her mouth to speak, but Donovan spoke for her. “That’s a long story, Mom, and right now, Claire and I are going out for a bite to eat. It's been an intense morning.” He guided Claire to the doorway. “Oh, and, Mom…”
“Yes?”
“Claire quits.”
“Of course,” Mrs. Billings said before she sat down.
Claire pulled on Donovan’s arm. “No, wait. I need to do something and besides, I gave your mother my word I’d stay a year.”
Mrs. Billings called out, “That’s quite all right, Claire. We can sort it out when Donovan’s not around.”
Claire and Donovan looked at each other and laughed.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he whispered, once they were outside.
“No, it wasn’t.”
He put his arms around Claire. “We’ll have a good life together, you and I.”
Claire buried her head into his shoulder and in the safety of his strong arms she knew everything would work out well. “I know we will, Donovan, I just know it.” She was comforted by Mrs. Billing’s reaction. It was important to have family support. The next thing would be to tell her girlfriends. She hoped they’d take the news well and wouldn’t be cross with her. In particular, she wondered about Jessie’s reaction since she’d already warned her about Donovan.
Chapter 14
Claire had asked the girls to meet her at the Coffee House, their usual gathering place for every other Saturday—when they could. They hadn’t met there for months now, due to most of them having jobs, and sometimes having to work that day. Claire had been in touch with them all, wanting the five of them face-to-face to break the news.
When the other four walked in together, in a group, Claire knew they’d already heard.
They sat down with her, all wearing grim faces.
“So, you’re really marrying him?” Jessie asked.
Claire wished they’d be happier for her but she couldn’t blame them. Not really. She’d feel the same if she’d heard one of them was leaving the community, and Donovan didn’t have the best of reputations. “I am. We’re getting married soon and it’s a Friday wedding.” She gave them the hoped-for date.
“Well, congratulations,” Olive said in a rather flat tone.
“Look, I know what you’re all thinking, but he’s changed. He really has.”
Lucy said, “It’s just that we’re worried a
bout you, and we don’t know him.”
“I do,” Jessie said. “I know enough about him to think you’re making a mistake.”
The girls gasped at Jessie’s words.
“I’m sorry, but one of us has to say what we’re all thinking.”
Claire wiped a tear from her eye. She’d wanted their support and now none of them were going to be there for her.
Olive, who was sitting next to her, put an arm around her shoulder. “Don’t be sad.”
“I don’t want to end up alone and miserable like Sally.”
“I thought that too, but then Elijah appeared even though he was there all along. I’d given up on him. Perhaps there’s someone in the community you’ve overlooked too?” Jessie asked.
Claire shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I love Donovan and I truly believe he’s the man for me. Now, I would like it if you’d all come to my wedding, but I understand if none of you can. I know you might not even be able to talk to me at all, since I’ve left now.”
“We’ll be there. Well, I will,” Olive said.
“I think we’ll all be there for you, Claire. I’m sorry I said what I did just now. All of us just want your life to be good and happy.”
“Thanks, Jessie. I know.”
“And look at how you’re dressed,” said Amy. “That’s going to be hard to get used to.”
Claire looked down at her long-sleeved tee shirt and knee-length denim skirt. “I don’t even know what to wear as an Englischer. Mrs. Billings was kind enough to buy me some clothes, but I don’t really like these.”
“You’ll work it out,” Amy said. “You look fine.”
“Jah, as pretty as always,” Lucy said. “I’ll support you in anything I can, Claire. You’ll always be one of my very best friends.”
The girls all murmured the same sentiments and Claire felt a little better. “I’ll let you all know when we know for sure when the wedding’s going to be. It’ll be soon. Donovan’s working out the final details. He loves to organize things, which is good because I don’t like that kind of thing.”
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