The Amish Maid's Sweetheart
Page 10
“What do your parents think?” Olive asked.
“They were surprisingly fine about it.”
“And Sally?” Amy asked.
Claire giggled. “Her too, even more surprisingly. Now, enough about me. Can this be just a regular girls’ get-together? I know the bishop won’t like you spending much time together with me now that I’ve left, so this might be the last time we’ll be together like this.”
“Jah, until Donovan joins us,” Jessie added.
“I hope it happens,” Amy commented.
Claire nodded and then turned to Lucy. “You look like your thoughts are a million miles away. What’s been happening with you?”
* * *
Lucy felt sorry for Claire. Not one of them was jumping for joy over her news. “I’m sorry, Claire. I’m happy for you, really. My face might say otherwise, but I’m pleased and I wish you a happy marriage.”
A furrow peaked in Lucy Fuller’s brow as she then explained to her friends, “I have some things I’ve been worried about. The problem is the farmland around here is diminishing, and the property prices are rising. The young couples getting married can’t afford to buy farmland because the developers are paying so much more to turn the farms into suburban lots.”
“Ach, Lucy, why do you concern yourself with these things? And why do we need to discuss it here?” Olive clasped her hands on the table in front of her.
Lucy folded her arms and leaned back in her chair at the coffee shop. “All of us should be concerned. What would happen if there were no farmland; what would happen to our way of life?” She looked at each of her friends, Amy, Jessie, Olive, and Claire.
Amy moved uncomfortably. “Is it really that bad?”
Lucy fixed her eyes on Amy. “Jah, it is. One hundred homes are going up on what used to be Mrs. Hostetler’s farm.”
“That’s only because her kinner had left the community before she died and that’s why they sold to a developer,” Olive said.
Lucy waved a hand in the air, intent on making her point. “Jah, and if the developers hadn’t offered far and above what a farmer would’ve paid they would never have sold to them. One, or several, of our fellow Amish would have bought it.”
Olive blew out a deep breath. “We can’t do anything about it, can we?”
“We can try to stop the developers and encourage owners to keep the farmland.” Couldn’t her friends see what was happening around them? They had to understand what was going on under their noses; it concerned the whole Amish community and the broader community.
Dan, the coffee shop manager, brought their cakes to them. “The coffees won’t be long.”
“Thanks, Dan.” Lucy smiled up at the man she was fond of. When he left, she went back to what she’d been talking about. “We’re the new generation, and it’s up to us to save the farmland for our kinner.” Lucy pursed her lips. She hadn’t found a man yet, but Jessie and Elijah were soon to be married and so were Olive and Blake. Claire hoped Donovan would join, but somehow, Lucy didn’t think it was likely.
“How’s your job with the Englisch woman, Lucy?” Olive asked.
Lucy knew Olive was trying to change the subject, but she couldn’t force them to be concerned. “Oh! I love it. I’m helping the children with their schoolwork too.”
Claire asked, “You do housework for her as well?”
“Jah, when the children are at school. And Julie’s house is close enough for me to ride my bike.”
“Did you hear Joshua Hershberger is back here for his mudder’s funeral?” Olive looked directly at Lucy.
Lucy gulped. Her family had a long history with Joshua Hershberger. “Is he staying at his old haus?”
“Jah, I heard he’s come back from rumspringa, now that his parents have both died, and that he’s going to run the farm,” Jessie said.
A hush of silence swept over the girls. Lucy said nothing. He hadn’t been on rumspringa, but she’d let the girls think he had. The girls were quiet because Lucy’s sister, Grace, had been set to marry Joshua Hershberger before her sudden death at age eighteen.
“There you go, ladies.” Dan placed their coffees on the table.
Once Dan left, Lucy said, “Mamm and Dat will be upset they missed Mrs. Hershberger’s funeral. They would’ve liked to have seen Joshua too, I’m sure. I hope it’s true that he’s staying on.”
“I guess having him back brings back memories of Grace,” Amy said to Lucy.
“I was eleven when she died. I still think of her every day and I can still remember how in love she was with Joshua.” Lucy looked up at the ceiling and blinked back tears. “She died three months before she was to marry him.” It wasn’t only his life that had changed after Grace’s death from Swine Flu; Lucy’s life had never been the same. Their whole family had suffered.
Olive patted Lucy on the arm. “Elijah told me that’s why Joshua left the community; he was distraught. He left the day after her funeral.”
Lucy nodded. “And this is the first time he’s been back.”
“Joshua’s vadder died some time ago, didn’t he?” Jessie asked.
“Jah, Joshua would have been fifteen when he died,” Lucy said.
Claire frowned. “Joshua left his mudder all alone this whole time?”
“Nee, she was close to her bruder and her schweschder-in-law; she wasn’t alone. That’s where Mrs. Hershberger’s body will be for viewing, at their haus,” Jessie said.
“He shouldn’t have left her alone, that’s all I’ve got to say.” Amy wrinkled her nose. “I would never leave my mudder alone if I had no siblings.”
“You can’t hold that against him, Amy. Everyone does what they think’s right. My vadder says people must make their own way and do what’s right in their own eyes,” Claire said.
Amy tapped Olive’s arm to gain her attention. “You seem to know a lot of what’s happening with Joshua Hershberger.”
“Elijah and Joshua were friends before he left the community. Joshua came to the haus to see him yesterday.” Olive picked up her mug of coffee.
Lucy turned to Jessie. “Did you see him? Were you at their home when he visited?” Lucy guessed Jessie might’ve been there since she was practically engaged to Olive’s brother, Elijah.
Jessie nodded. “He’s very handsome.”
Olive giggled. “He’s not as handsome as Blake, though.”
Amy dug Olive in the ribs. “You’d have to say that. Anyway, looks are superficial and don’t matter.”
Olive smiled. “Funny thing is, when you’re in love with someone they grow more handsome. When I first saw Blake, I could see he was handsome, but now I think he’s the most handsome man in the world.”
“It’s true; that’s what I think about Elijah,” Jessie said.
Olive pulled a face at the mention of her older brother being handsome.
“Stop it the two of you. You’re both being boastful.” Amy crossed her arms and pursed her lips.
The other four girls laughed at her expression.
Jessie looked at Amy and Lucy. “You two will find someone to marry soon. Months ago, we all had no one and now, I’ve got Elijah, Olive’s got Blake and Claire is about to marry Donovan.”
“I suppose you’re right. Anything could happen.” Amy turned to Lucy. “Don’t you think so, Lucy?”
Lucy shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe. I’m more concerned over if my parents got the message Mrs. Hershberger’s funeral is on Friday.”
“They probably wouldn’t turn around and come straight back. They’d stay for your aunt’s wedding, wouldn’t they?” Amy asked.
“I guess so. Maybe Dat would come back and leave the others there.” Lucy hoped someone would return so she wouldn’t have to go to the funeral alone. “Anyway, let’s talk about something else.”
Amy squared her shoulders and looked directly at Lucy. “Okay, Lucy, this question is for you. If Dan joined the community, would you like him?”
Another flurry of giggles went up amongs
t the girls.
Lucy frowned and whispered, “Sh, he’ll hear you.” Why weren’t they more serious? Okay, so they guessed she liked Dan, but he wasn’t Amish, so there was never anything going to happen between the two of them. Claire had given up on finding an Amish man, but she wasn’t about to.
Four sets of eyes were on Lucy waiting for her to say something about Dan. Trying to avoid the question, she said, “I want a man who’s dependable and Amish or I shall not have one at all. I’m not like you girls; I don’t need a man to make my life perfect.”
“But you do want kinner?” Olive asked.
“I do, but if it’s going to happen it will. I will not marry someone I have no respect for just so I can have kinner. I simply won’t.” Lucy realized her voice was high-pitched when the other girls looked at each other with raised eyebrows. She was normally quiet, but this problem about the diminishing farmland had riled her. It also upset her that not one of her friends cared. They would care—eventually, but by then it would be too late.
“Nee, you wouldn’t marry someone you don’t respect, Lucy,” Claire said while patting her arm. “No one would like doing that.”
Lucy picked up her coffee and took a mouthful. Maybe she should have had a tea rather than strong, black coffee; she’d already had two before she left home. It could be that her irritability with the girls was caffeine-related.
The girls chattered on about weddings while Lucy plunged her fork into the pink-iced cupcake in front of her. How would Joshua have changed after all these years? Would he look the same; would he even be the same person after years of living as an Englischer? Lucy remembered he was tall and lanky with wavy hair and brown eyes.
Joshua had always been kind to her. Joshua and Grace had taken her with them on many outings. Her favorite memories were a Mud Sale and a night of ice-skating. Lucy closed her eyes and saw Grace and Joshua on the ice together. They had been so in love it was no wonder he fell apart after Grace’s death. It was too much for any of them to cope with.
When her cupcake was nearly gone, and she noticed a lull in the conversation, Lucy said, “My familye will be in Ohio for three whole weeks.”
Concern spread over Jessie’s face. “I didn’t know they’d be gone for that long. Come and stay with me, Lucy. You don’t want to be all by yourself.”
“I can’t. I’ve got to feed the animals and everything.” Lucy forced a smile when she realized she sounded somewhat ungrateful.
“Come home with me and I’ll bring you back and forth to feed them,” Jessie urged.
“Denke, that’s kind of you, but I’m looking forward to the peace and quiet. I’ve never been alone before. It could be a nice change for me.” The other girls were quiet and Lucy felt different from them. Didn’t they care about anything, or were they only concerned about marriage? “Did you know there’s a Land Preservation Trust?”
Amy and Jessie shook their heads at her talking about the land again, but Olive said, “I think I’ve heard of it.”
Lucy would make them see there was a real problem and that it was important to deal with it now. “It’s been set up to keep development away. The land can never have a shopping center or anything like that put up on it if the current owner files for an easement. The trust issues an easement which is binding on all the future owners of the property.”
“Hmm. Does that mean people don’t own their land anymore and they have no say? What if they sell it?” Amy asked.
Lucy took a deep breath. They were asking questions; that had to be a good sign. “The easement becomes part of the property deed, which is like the property title. The people still own their land same as before. It’s just protected from development so it can forever remain farmland.”
“Then it stays farmland for all time and if someone buys it they can’t do with it what they want?” Amy frowned.
“Jah.” Lucy nodded. “Well, I suppose they can do what they want as long as they don’t want to develop it.”
“That sounds like a gut idea then, Lucy,” Olive said.
At last, they were getting it.
“Why are you so worried now if people can do that?” Amy asked.
“It’s been in place since the late eighties. I just wish more people would get involved and not sell off their land for the highest price without considering the consequences.”
“You can’t force people,” Jessie said. “Mark will take over when Dat retires, but I don’t know if he’d sign the land over, or do the thing you’re talking about.”
Lucy scratched the back of her neck thinking about Jessie’s older bruder, Mark, and him taking over his father’s land. She explained to her friends the Amish population had doubled in the last twenty years yet their farming land had diminished. What would happen in another twenty years when their future kinner had grown into adults and if the community kept growing as well? If this generation didn’t preserve the land now, it might be too late.
“Are you going to the Mud Sale, Lucy?” Jessie asked as if she hadn’t heard a word.
Lucy decided it was best to keep quiet on the subject of development for the moment. At least the Mud Sales were a good cause. The money from the auction went to the volunteer firefighters.
“It shouldn’t be raining this year like it was at last year's sale,” Amy said.
Lucy nodded and stared out the window.
Jessie said, “Mamm and I made cakes to sell.”
The other girls spoke on what their families would offer, but Lucy wasn’t listening. She wondered if she might see Joshua at the Mud Sale.
When Grace and Joshua had taken her to a Mud Sale years ago, Joshua’s mudder sold raspberry jam to raise money, and her mudder sold cakes.
* * *
Claire left the group not knowing how she felt. In the end, they’d all said they’d support her, but she’d been left out of the conversation completely once she’d shared her news. Maybe it was her fault because she already felt like an outsider and had little to offer Lucy by way of advice.
In her heart, she knew none of the girls believed Donovan would join their community, and maybe he never would. God would not turn His back on her just because she wasn’t baptized Amish. She’d thought about getting baptized, but like many of the young people she had delayed it, intending to wait until she found a husband. Without being a full-fledged and baptized member, she couldn’t be officially shunned, she reminded herself. Therefore, her parents had the choice whether to associate with her or not. They’d welcome her back for visits, and she was waiting on an answer as to whether they’d attend her wedding.
Events like Amish funerals and weddings were something she’d have to avoid. Claire was sad she couldn’t go to Mrs. Hershberger’s funeral. Joshua's mudder had always been a kind woman.
When Claire was in a taxi heading back to Donovan, she felt much better. Now, with Donovan was where she belonged. She had to put her old life behind her. It felt odd to be the first of her friends to marry since Olive and Blake, and Jessie and Elijah had known each other for longer.
Chapter 15
When Lucy arrived at Mr. and Mrs. Esch’s haus for the viewing before the funeral, she was well aware she was the sole representative from her familye. Olive had invited Lucy to go with her in her bruder’s buggy. Surely her father would’ve been there if he’d gotten her message. The late Mr. Hershberger and her father had grown up next door to each other and had been like brothers. Lucy hadn’t even received word her family had arrived in Ohio, so there wasn’t much chance one of them would suddenly appear at the funeral.
Her heart thumped in anticipation of seeing Joshua, whom she hadn’t seen in years. What would she say to him? He’d already had so many losses, and he was only in his late twenties.
At an Amish funeral, it was commonplace to see hundreds of people, and dozens of buggies lined up in the front field in rows. Lucy stepped into the crowded house and at one end of the room she saw the wooden coffin containing the body of Mrs. Hershberger.
Jessie was right; Joshua had grown into a handsome man. Lucy’s memories of him were fuzzy and were always of him with Grace.
She closed her eyes, the same questions echoing in her mind. Why do people have to die? Why did Grace die so young? When she opened her eyes, she saw Joshua walking toward her.
Her feet wanted to run, but she was grown up now and had to control her natural impulses.
What will I say to him?
Joshua was better looking than any Amish man should be. Instead of the bony teenager Lucy remembered, he was bigger, well-built, and taller.
He dipped his head when he reached her. “Lucy?”
She giggled. “Jah, it’s me.”
“You’re all grown up.”
“That’s because you’ve been gone for a long time.”
He glanced around. “Where are your folks?”
“Mamm’s schweschder is getting married in Ohio and the whole familye has gone. They left a day before your mudder went home to be with Gott. I sent a message to them, but I haven’t heard back.” Lucy licked her lips. “They’ll be sad they missed it.”
His eyes fell to the floor as if he were disappointed.
“They will be upset to miss the funeral, I know it,” Lucy repeated. “They remained close friends with your mudder.” Lucy’s eyes traveled around the room searching for something to say.
“Denke, Lucy, for your kind words.” He laughed. “I can’t believe how you’ve grown up.”
There was a silent moment. Lucy had run out of things to say. She could not talk about Grace, and she knew Joshua was thinking of her at that very moment.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’d better go and speak to some people,” he said drawing his eyes from her.
Lucy nodded and watched him walk away.