by Amy Clipston
“So, could you get my paycheck for me?” Neil asked, slamming Rudy back to the present.
“Sure.” Rudy walked with Neil to the office, where he retrieved Neil’s paycheck from the safe. “Here you go.”
“Danki.” Neil shook the envelope containing the check at Rudy. “You and Marlene were awfully cozy out there, huh?”
“We were just messing around.” Rudy waved off the comment.
“No, it was more than that.” Neil folded the envelope in half and slipped it into his pocket. “When are you going to ask her out?”
“Knock it off, Neil. You know I’m not interested.”
Neil snorted. “You couldn’t be more interested. It’s been written all over your face for weeks now. You stare at her in church, and whenever she’s in the room, she’s got your full focus. Just admit it, Rudy. You’re in love with her.”
“In love with her?” Rudy scoffed. “Now you’re just being dramatic.”
“Is that so?” Neil jammed a finger into Rudy’s chest. “Well then. How would you feel if Paul or I asked her out?”
Rudy gritted his teeth with enough force to flex a muscle in his jaw. The truth was, the idea of another man asking her to be his girlfriend left envy boiling in his gut. He dreaded it whenever he saw one of his friends talking to her at church or at one of their Sunday afternoon gatherings. Nightly he prayed she wouldn’t fall in love with anyone else. And he was completely aware of how immature and selfish his feelings were.
But he couldn’t admit that to Neil or anyone else.
“It’s her business if she decides to date someone. I can’t stop her.” The words tasted bitter on Rudy’s tongue.
“Look, Rudy.” Neil lowered his voice. “Marlene is terrific, and you’d be narrisch to let her slip through your fingers. What are you afraid of?”
Rudy lifted his chin. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
Neil seemed to study him. “It’s been almost four years since you and Laura broke up.”
“Neil, stop it. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” Rudy slipped past his cousin and moved out to the stockroom. “I have things to do before mei dat gets back from the bank.”
“Wait.” Neil rushed after him. “Please don’t forget that what happened between you and Laura wasn’t your fault. You just outgrew each other. You can’t let that stop you from trying again with someone else.”
Rudy spun toward him. “Why don’t you worry about your own life and leave mine alone, okay?”
Neil held his hands up. “I’m just saying, Marlene obviously cares about you as much as you care about her. You should tell her how you feel before it’s too late.”
“Are you done?” Rudy nearly spat the words at him.
“Ya.” Neil frowned. “I’m done. I just hope you’re not.”
As Neil headed back out into the store, Rudy scrubbed a hand down his face. He didn’t want to believe that his cousin was right about Marlene. Life would get too complicated if they were more than friends. But how much longer could he deny that his feelings for her were growing each day?
Marlene hummed as she pinned a pair of her father’s trousers to the clothesline and pushed the line out toward the barn. Birds sang in a nearby tree as the July afternoon sun warmed her skin. It was the perfect day, and she couldn’t stop smiling.
She’d enjoyed doing chores with her aunt, sister, and cousin today, and tomorrow she would see Rudy for their Saturday shift at the hardware store. She couldn’t wait to see him again. She hoped he would tease her and make her laugh. They had so much fun working together, even when the store stayed busy from the time it opened until it closed.
“Listen to you.” Anna appeared beside Marlene on the porch and set another basket of wet clothes at her feet. “You’re humming like a maedel in love.”
Marlene stopped humming and glared at her. “I’m not a maedel in love.”
“Ya, you are.” Anna pointed at her. “You’re in love with Rudy. Why don’t you just face the fact?”
“Please.” Marlene picked up another pair of her dat’s trousers and hung them on the line to avoid Anna’s accusing look.
“Clearly, you two are crazy about each other. Why aren’t you dating?”
“He doesn’t care about me that way. We’re just really gut freinden who enjoy each other’s company.”
Anna handed her a pair of their onkel’s trousers. “Well, you can’t keep your eyes off each other at church, and you never stop smiling when he’s around. You tease each other like a couple who has been together for years. You remind me of how Dat and Mamm used to act before she got sick.”
Marlene bristled at the quip as she straightened the wet trousers on the line.
“Don’t you want to date him?” Anna asked gently.
Marlene was stumped by the question. Deep in her heart, she did want to date him. He was everything she’d ever dreamt of having in a boyfriend, but dating would change everything. She and Colin had been good friends, and their relationship grew complicated when he asked her to be his girlfriend. She couldn’t run the risk of upsetting things between her and Rudy when what they already had was so easy and fun.
“He’s handsome, funny, and nice. Why wouldn’t you want a boyfriend like him?” Anna handed her another pair of Onkel Leonard’s trousers.
“I don’t think I’m what he’s looking for,” Marlene admitted. “He seems froh living his life as a bachelor. He’s never said a word about dating me, so why would I assume he wants to?”
Anna was silent for a beat as she handed Marlene a white shirt. “If he asked you out, what would you say?”
Marlene turned toward her. “I don’t know. Part of me would be froh, but another part would be bedauerlich.”
Anna’s brow furrowed. “Why would you be sad?”
“Because everything would change.” And change was what scared Marlene the most.
CHAPTER 7
The bell above the front door rang, announcing a customer.
Marlene looked up from the counter and smiled when she spotted Rudy’s mother walking toward her. “Hi, Ada! Wie geht’s?”
“I’m doing fine, danki. How are you doing today, Marlene?” Ada asked.
“I’m doing well. It’s a schee Monday here at Lancaster Hardware and Supply.” Marlene leaned forward on the counter. “Did you need me to find Jeptha or Rudy for you?” She pointed toward the aisle where Rudy had been stocking painting supplies.
“No, I actually came to see you.”
“Oh.” Marlene gripped the corner of the counter as questions filled her head. Was Ada going to fire her? “What do you need to discuss with me?”
“I’ve heard so many wunderbaar things about you that I wanted to come and visit.” Ada’s smile was bright, and Marlene couldn’t help but think that Rudy had inherited his smile from Ada. “Rudy and Jeptha talk about you incessantly at home. They both say you work so hard and that you’re helpful and pleasant to the customers, no matter how busy the store gets.”
“Danki.” Marlene stood up a little straighter. “I appreciate the compliments.”
“Oh, mei sohn thinks the world of you. He talks about you all the time.”
“Does he now?” Marlene looked over to the aisle where Rudy stood and spotted him rubbing a hand down his face, which looked to be stained the color of red delicious apples. She bit the inside of her lip to prevent a giggle from bursting forth. “That’s awfully nice, Ada.”
“That’s why I wanted to invite you over for supper tonight.”
“Oh.” Marlene looked over at Rudy and found him frowning, his shoulders hunching as an apology spread across his face.
“I’m making my special chicken potpie casserole. It’s Rudy’s favorite.” Ada leaned forward. “And I won’t take no for an answer. I want to thank you for making my Rudy smile again.”
Marlene stilled. She’d made Rudy smile again? Was that true?
“Please say yes.” Ada folded her hands as if she were praying.
Marlene glanced at Rudy as he walked up behind his mother. “Well, I don’t know, Ada. It’s Monday, and—”
“Please, Marlene,” Ada said again.
Marlene met Rudy’s gaze, and his eyes pleaded as he mouthed the word, Please?
Marlene looked back at Ada. “Ya, I’d be delighted to join you for supper.”
“Great.” Ada clapped her hands.
Behind her, Rudy mouthed a thank-you.
Ada spun to face Rudy and patted his chest. “You bring Marlene home for supper tonight. I’m going to make her something special to thank her for being such a gut freind to you.”
“Ya, Mamm.” Rudy gave her a quick hug, and Marlene’s heart swelled with admiration for him.
“Well, I’m off to the market,” Ada said over her shoulder as she headed toward the door. “I’ll see you all tonight.”
“Good-bye, Ada,” Marlene called after her.
Rudy shook his head as he came up behind the counter to Marlene. “I’m sorry about her.”
“Don’t be.” Marlene opened a bottle of water and took a sip. “It’s an honor to be invited for supper with your family.”
“Just ignore her pushiness.” Rudy leaned against the counter behind him. “She means well, but she gets a little overexcited.”
“I think she’s great, and you should be thankful to have her.”
Rudy’s eyes widened, and he leaned toward her as he gasped. “I’m sorry, Marlene, I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s okay.” She nudged his foot with hers. “I know what you meant, and I meant it when I said it is a privilege to be invited.” She walked to the back wall and picked up the phone. “I’ll leave a message for my family so they’ll know I won’t be home for supper. Tonight will be fun.”
As she dialed the number, happiness bubbled inside of her. She couldn’t wait to have supper with Rudy and his family. Eating with him would be a new step in their special friendship.
Rudy savored the delicious chicken potpie casserole as he looked across his mother’s kitchen table at Marlene. She was stunning as she smiled and talked about how much she enjoyed being back in Birdin-Hand. Her gorgeous green eyes seemed to sparkle in the natural light streaming in through the kitchen windows. She wore her kelly green dress—t he one he liked best on her—and her cheeks were flushed pink. He studied her, memorizing every line of her face and every intonation of her voice. She was perfect to him, beautiful inside and out.
He was falling for her, and it scared him deeply. She was on his mind throughout the day, and she invaded his dreams at night. He felt a spark any time their hands brushed, and his heart swelled every time she laughed.
The thought of losing her to someone else nearly ripped him to shreds. Yet nothing he could do would stop his emotions for her, which grew deeper as the days wore on.
“Did you like Indiana?” Mamm asked as she scooped more casserole onto her plate.
Marlene nodded. “I did. But Bird-in-Hand feels like home again.” She looked over at Rudy. “Thanks to your sohn.”
“That’s gut to know.” Mamm winked at Rudy.
“This is appeditlich, Ada.” Marlene pointed her fork at her plate. “I have to get the recipe. I think mei dat would enjoy it too.”
“Oh ya.” Mamm wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. “I’ll be sure to write it down before you leave tonight.”
“How do you like working at the store?” Dat asked Marlene. “You never seem to complain, but I don’t know if you’re just being polite.”
Marlene gave a little laugh, and Rudy couldn’t hold back his grin.
“I love working there,” Marlene insisted. “I worked at a market in Shipshewana, so I was used to retail. I enjoy interacting with the customers.”
“You worked at a market?” Mamm leaned forward. “What kind of things did you sell?”
As Marlene told tales about living in Indiana, Rudy looked down at his plate. He had to find a way to manage his feelings for her before he wound up with a broken heart, though he feared it was already too late. She’d already won him over, and now his parents were falling for her too.
Rudy suddenly realized that his heart was doomed.
“Everything was lovely tonight, Ada,” Marlene said as she dried a dish and set it in the cabinet. “Danki again for inviting me over.”
“Gern gschehne,” Ada tossed over her shoulder. “I’m so froh you could join us for supper. I wanted to get to know you better since Rudy seems smitten with you.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s the case.” Marlene picked up another dish from the drying rack, and her hands trembled at the prospect of winning Rudy’s heart. “We’re just really gut freinden.”
“Marlene, I’m not blind,” Ada said, scrubbing a dish. “I know mei sohn, and he definitely has feelings for you. He’s a little shy since he went through such a bad breakup years ago. I think he blames himself for the problems he had with Laura, but it wasn’t his fault alone. They were young when they got together, and they just grew apart after she lost her mamm and her best friend, Savilla. It has taken him a long time to heal from that, but I think he might finally be ready to move on, thanks to you.”
Marlene shook her head. “He and I get along great, but I don’t think he wants to date me.”
“Rudy is a very gut man,” Ada continued. “He has a gut heart even though he’s a little reticent when it comes to sharing his feelings. He’s a hard worker, and he’s going to take over his dat’s store someday soon. Jeptha has been grooming him for years. When the time is right, he’ll take this haus and we’ll build a little one for ourselves in the back.” She pointed to the window over the sink. “Just give him time, and he’ll tell you how he feels.”
Marlene studied Ada as confusion swirled through her. Did Ada truly understand the situation as well as she thought? Surely she was misguided. Rudy had never even said he cared about Marlene.
But Marlene didn’t want to hurt Ada’s feelings. Maybe it gave Ada hope to believe she’d welcome the grandchildren she prayed for sooner rather than later.
Ada turned to face Marlene, her expression suddenly serious. “Don’t you have feelings for mei sohn?”
Marlene opened her mouth and then closed it. How could she admit she cared for Rudy when she wasn’t sure he would ever share those feelings?
“You know, Jeptha and I were gut freinden before we started dating. We knew each other in school and then youth group. We talked occasionally, but we didn’t start dating until we were around your age.” Ada turned back toward the sink. “Sometimes love takes a little longer to develop.”
Love?
Marlene swallowed as a ball of unease formed under her ribs. She had to stop this conversation before Ada starting planning their wedding!
The back door opened and then clicked shut, and Rudy sauntered into the kitchen. As confusion trampled her like a team of horses, Marlene could only stare at him.
Could she possibly love Rudy? Could he love her too?
He stepped over to the counter and leaned against it before lifting an eyebrow. “What are you two ladies discussing?”
“You,” Ada quipped, and Marlene cringed.
“Really!” Rudy stood up straight. “I hope you’ve been saying gut things about me.”
“Only the best,” Ada said as she scrubbed a handful of utensils.
Rudy touched Marlene’s arm. “I’d better get you home before your family thinks I’ve kidnapped you.”
“Oh.” Marlene looked at the drain board, which contained glasses and another pile of utensils. “I need to help finish with the dishes.”
“No, no.” Ada dismissed her with a wave of her hand. “You go on. I can handle this.”
“Are you sure?” Marlene asked.
“Of course I am.” Ada gave her a knowing smile. “I’ll see you again soon.”
“Danki for supper,” Marlene said before following Rudy outside.
When she stepped out onto the porch, she said good night to Rudy’s
father as he swayed back and forth in a rocker. Then she walked down the steps and climbed into Rudy’s waiting buggy.
“I’m sorry if mei mamm was a bit blunt,” Rudy said as he led the horse toward the road.
“She was fine,” Marlene said, settling back in the seat. “I had a lovely time.”
“I’m glad.”
They rode in silence for a while as her conversation with Ada spun through her mind. Possibilities consumed her as she considered what it would be like to date Rudy. Would he tell her that he loved her? Would Dat give him permission to date her? If so, would Dat allow her to continue working at the store if she and Rudy were a couple?
The questions echoed through her mind as she stared out the window at the passing traffic.
She glanced over at Rudy and found him also staring out the front windshield, seemingly occupied in thought. Was he thinking of her and imagining what a future together would look like? She desperately wished he would tell her how he felt.
Marlene dismissed the thought and chewed her lower lip as her aunt’s house came into view. The ride home had been too short. She wanted more time with him, but she would see him again on Wednesday when she came to work. How would she manage without talking to him tomorrow? She was already too attached.
Rudy halted the horse at the top of her driveway and then turned toward her. “The evening wasn’t long enough.”
She smiled. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
Leaning over, he tenderly pressed his hand to her cheek, and her pulse galloped. “I had a nice time tonight.”
“I did too,” she whispered, her words vibrating within her.
“Danki for coming over to have supper with my family.” His husky voice made her wonder if he were holding something back.
A moment passed between them, and his nearness made her dizzy. Did he feel it too?
When Rudy didn’t speak, Marlene knew she had to get out of the buggy before she confessed her feelings to him. She couldn’t bare her soul until she was certain he cared for her in return.