“That’s too bad. We said goodbye last night but I was hoping to catch her and Dat before they both left.”
“Lily’s a little upset that you’re heading off so soon, I’d say. She didn’t seem her normal self and she didn’t need to leave as early as she did.”
“I knew she’d be upset about me going to Ohio, but I told her we won’t be gone for long.”
“It’s not just that. You two aren’t as close as you once were.”
Daisy followed her mother into the kitchen. “I know that. What can I do about it? I can’t spend a lot of time with Bruno and her too. I can’t split myself into two.”
“I don’t know what you can do. Just show her more attention when you get back, okay?”
“I will.” Daisy giggled.
Her mother looked across at her. “What’s so funny?”
“Last night, Bruno and I got into bed and someone had short-sheeted it.”
“They what?”
“You know, folded the sheets over, so when we tried to get under the sheet our legs got caught in the fold.”
“Oh. Who would’ve done that?”
Daisy put her fingertips to her mouth and giggled again. “Do you seriously have to ask?”
“Oh, Lily?”
“Jah. Then we found someone had put something grainy in the bed. Bruno said it was sugar.”
Nancy’s jaw dropped open. “That’s dreadful. Poor Bruno.”
“Don’t worry. Bruno thought it was funny and so did I. I’ll miss Lily so much and all the fun we used to have.”
“I don’t think it’s funny at all. It’s not a proper thing for a young lady to do. It just goes to show that she hasn’t grown up yet.” Nancy shook her head, and continued, “Well, no wonder she left so early this morning if she’d pulled that stunt.”
Daisy stared straight ahead. “I’ll write to her.”
“You won’t be gone that long, will you?”
“After I meet all Bruno’s family, he wants to do some traveling so I can meet most of his other relatives.”
Nancy pulled a face. “How long do you think you’ll be gone?”
Daisy shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not certain.”
“When you come back, you’re staying on, aren’t you?”
“Jah, I don’t want to move away.”
“Good.”
Daisy smiled. “Bruno said when he sells his business, he’ll have enough money to pay a lot off our loan.”
Nancy nodded, glad that Bruno had already told her husband and herself that, but words were fine—it was actions that counted. They had bought a house that Hezekiah had told them about. It was a reasonably priced house that was for sale close to Nerida’s, but just because they bought a house didn’t mean they were staying. Lily had often expressed her fears about Bruno keeping Daisy in Ohio, and Nancy hoped Lily wasn’t right.
Chapter 3
After having breakfast in the only diner she could find open at that early hour, Lily arrived to work just as one of the Walker boys was delivering the flowers to the stall. After she’d arranged the flowers, Matthew Schumacher turned up. Matthew had the stall next to hers where he sold his family’s goat products—mostly cheese and yoghurt.
“Good morning, Lily,” he said in his usual cheery manner. “I heard last night that you were starting here today. And a good thing too. Mrs. Walker was wearing herself out here at the stall and with all the work she had to do with running the business.”
“Morning, Matthew.” Matthew had always been a good friend and he’d grown up in the past two years into a man who was tall and reasonably attractive.
“That was a good wedding yesterday.” While he spoke, he unloaded his trolley of products into the refrigerated displays.
“It was okay, I guess, as far as weddings go.”
Matthew chuckled and glanced across at Lily. “How could it have been better?”
“I don’t know.” Lily really felt like saying it would’ve been better if her sister hadn’t gotten married at all or had not gotten married to someone who could take her far away. They should’ve married twins just like they’d always said they would. But if she said that, Matthew might think she was crazy.
“Are you in one of your bad moods this morning, Lily?”
She swung around and stared at him, narrowing her eyes. “What do you mean?”
He laughed again. “See, that there. That’s what I mean.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t see why people have to be happy all the time; there’s no rule about that, is there? Anyway, everyone would get angry if you accused them of being so.”
“To answer your question, I guess there’s no rule about being angry or happy. It’s more enjoyable to be around people who are cheerful. If you’re grumpy all the time, you’ll find that no one wants to be around you. I don’t mean ‘you’—I’m talking about people in general.”
“Well, you don’t have to talk to me, Matthew Schumacher. No one is forcing you.”
Matthew placed the goods that were in his hands down and took a few steps closer to her. “Lily, I’m just trying to be your friend. If something’s upsetting you, you can tell me what it is.”
She saw the genuine concern on his face and was glad for the opportunity of someone to talk to. “I’m sorry, Matthew. You’ve always been nice to me. I’m just upset that Daisy is gone now and things will never be the same between us. We’ve always been together and done everything together. I’ve never been alone like this and it’s ever since Bruno’s come along.”
Matthew nodded. “I can see how that would make you feel.”
Lily’s eyes widened. “You don’t think I’m crazy?”
“Sometimes I do, but not about this. You must feel like you’ve lost part of yourself.”
“I do, that’s exactly how I feel. It’s almost as though I don’t know who I am anymore.”
“You’re the same person you always were, Lily. You’re just the same.”
“I don’t know. I feel all jumbled up. We used to talk about everything and before I could figure out what I thought about a thing I’d talk to Daisy about it. Now she’s gone. How will I know my opinions on everything without her?”
“It’ll take some time to adjust to being without Daisy living in your home. Where is she going to live, anyway?”
“Well, that’s just it. I think that Bruno is secretly hoping that she’ll stay in Ohio once they get there.”
“Wouldn’t they have talked about that before they got married?”
“I think Daisy will just go along with whatever he wants. She’s lost her own mind and is just agreeing to whatever he says.” Lily pushed out her lips as an image of Daisy’s face smiling at Bruno came into her mind.
“Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?”
Lily shook her head. “I don’t think so, but denke for asking.”
“I better continue setting up.”
Lily was pleased to have a friend in Matthew. He seemed to understand what she was going through. His older brother, Mark, was married to Lily’s sister, Rose, and Matthew was often in attendance at the weekly family get-togethers that took place in Lily’s home. He would’ve seen for himself how close she’d been with Daisy. Now Daisy had just walked away without a care in the world or a second thought for her.
* * *
Throughout the day, whenever Lily didn’t have customers, she spent her time either chatting with Matthew or rearranging the flowers. She was in the middle of arranging some pink roses when a male voice scared her.
“How much for these?”
She jumped and turned around to see Elijah.
“What are you doing here?”
“I just finished one job and I’m on my way to another.”
“And I thought you’d come to buy some flowers,” she said.
“If that’s what it takes to see you, then yes.”
She turned and her eyes swept across the colorful variety of flowers. “Which ones take your fancy
?” Lily’s flirting with Elijah over the past several weeks was finally starting to pay off.
“It depends,” he said.
She turned around to look into his eyes. “Depends on what?”
He rested his hands on his hips and grinned. “It depends on which ones you like.”
Lily giggled. “Are they for me, or are you going to buy them for someone else and you want my opinion?”
“They’re for you. Who else would I buy flowers for?”
Before she could answer, he took a step toward her and picked up cream roses with pink edges. “I know nothing about flowers, but these are quite beautiful. I didn’t think roses would grow at this time of year.”
“The Walkers grow the flowers in hot houses and whatever is out of season, they have flown in.”
“That sounds expensive.”
“Not really. They deal with other wholesalers. They’re in some kind of co-op.”
He looked down at the flowers. “Do you like them?”
“I like the yellow ones better.” Lily had always been partial to yellow roses. She didn’t really know why.
“I’ll take a dozen of the yellow roses.” He took a roll of paper money out of his pocket and peeled off some notes. “Keep the change.”
“Are you sure? They don’t come to anywhere near that.”
“Jah. Take the flowers home and every time you look at them think about me. Will you do that?”
Lily stuffed the notes into the coin bag she kept buckled safely around her waist. “Jah, I will.”
“Are you going to the ice-skating tonight?”
“I wasn’t going to. But I’ve got my cousins staying and they’ll probably want to go.”
“Good. I’ll see you there tonight.” He glanced over at Matthew at the next stall, and then said quietly, “If you’re going, I’ll be there.”
Lily watched him stride away. She liked everything about Elijah Bontrager. He was a no-nonsense, decisive person who always seemed in control. He might be the man she would marry if she ever decided to.
Matthew stood at the edge of his stall and called out, “What did he want?”
“He just bought me some flowers.” She pointed to the yellow roses and wished she could stop smiling since she knew that Matthew liked her too and didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
“Is that all it takes?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is that all it takes to put a smile on your face?” Matthew asked.
Lily grimaced. She didn’t like being so easy to read, but she had to laugh. “I guess so.”
“Humph. He didn’t even say hello to me,” Matthew grumbled.
Lily picked up her bunch of roses, walked over to Matthew and placed her thumb and forefinger just under one rosebud where the stem began. When she had pulled the flower from the bunch, she handed it to Matthew. “See, that made you smile. It works for you too. Everyone’s happy when they’re given flowers.”
* * *
When Lily got home later that day, she walked into the kitchen, placed her roses in a vase and set them in the center of the table.
“They’re lovely, Lily,” her mother said, turning away from the stove.
“Someone gave them to me. That’s why I brought them home.”
“Who gave them to you?” Her mother rushed over to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
“Elijah.”
“Elijah Bontrager?”
“Jah. Have Daisy and Bruno left yet?”
“They left early this morning. I told you that. You said goodbye to them, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did.”
“Your cousins tell me there’s ice-skating on tonight and your vadder is hoping you’ll take them there.”
“Okay, that sounds good.”
Her mother frowned at her. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind at all. I don’t like ice-skating. I like watching it more than doing it.”
“They say it’s going to be a bit warmer tonight and there won’t be that chill in the air like there has been over the last few days.”
“That’s good to know.”
“You’ll have to stop by Nerida’s haus and pick up their skates. I’ve got some food packed for you to leave with Nerida.”
“Okay.” Not seeing the cousins anywhere about, she walked up to her mother and whispered, “Why can’t they stay at their own place? They’re old enough to look after themselves by now.”
“I offered for them to stay and that’s why they’re here. That’s what Nerida wanted too. She might have suggested it, but either way, it’s a chance for Nerida to recover in peace and it might help Nerida and I to get back to where we once were.”
“Aren’t you friends with her now? You don’t have to be like a slave to her looking after her kinner.”
“Hush, Lily, it’s not like that. It’s not like that at all. I like doing things to help people.”
That part was true. Lily knew her mother liked doing things for people and that’s where Lily was different from the rest of her family. Her mother was always taking time to cook meals for the sick and the needy. In her spare time, when she wasn’t visiting people, she was sewing or knitting things to sell for charity. It seemed to Lily that too many people in her family were too busy looking after other people while neglecting themselves. Her sisters were all doing what their husbands wanted and that was why she was sure Daisy was going to end up living in Ohio. She and Daisy would be apart forever. Daisy wouldn’t even give her a second thought now she had Bruno—he had replaced her.
Chapter 4
Lily set off to the ice-skating with her cousins right after they’d had the evening meal. While the horse clipped-clopped down the road, she thought about Elijah. Maybe the idea of marriage wasn’t too bad. If she got married, she could have her own house and garden and have everything exactly how she wanted. She’d be out from under the control of her parents who watched her like hawks and judged every little thing she did. Matthew was nice, but he was more like a brother whereas Elijah would make a better boyfriend and husband. He’d also be a good provider and eventually he’d take over his father’s business, seeing that he was the eldest son.
“Where are you going, Lily?”
She glanced over at Willow, her annoying younger cousin. “Ice-skating. Isn’t that where you want to go?”
“You missed the turn to Mamm’s haus. We’ve got to get our skates, remember?”
“Ach, sorry.” Lily turned the buggy around. She’d been so busy daydreaming about men she’d entirely forgotten she had to call in to her Aunt Nerida’s house.
The cousins giggled at her forgetfulness. Lily smiled too at the sound of laughter because it reminded her of the good times that she and Daisy had when they got themselves into one lot of mischief after another.
When she stopped the buggy outside, the cousins jumped out while she took out the basket of food that her mother had packed for Nerida and John.
Uncle John met her outside the house. He had a long gray beard and his suspenders stretched tight over his large stomach. She’d never gotten along very well with him; he’d always looked at her suspiciously as though she was up to no good.
“Hello, Onkel John. How’s Nerida?”
“Aunt Nerida is getting better.”
Of course, he objected to her dropping the word ‘aunt’ from Nerida’s name, but Lily figured herself old enough to call her Nerida. “Here.” She handed him the basket of goodies. “This is from Mamm.”
His face lit up. “Ah, thank her for us.”
“I will. The girls are just getting their skates.”
“Jah, I know,” he said and then stared at her as though he was waiting for her to confess something she’d done.
“How much longer will her leg take to heal?” Lily asked to stop herself from wondering what he’d heard about her. He had to have heard something the way he was staring at her meanly.
He shook his head. “She shouldn
’t have been up on the roof. She should’ve left that to me. It was a nasty break.”
“It sounds painful.”
“She broke her femur. That’s the main bone in the upper leg. They had to nail it together. They called it a ‘metal rod,’ but it works the same as a nail would.”
Lily held her stomach, not wanting to hear any more details about nailing bones together. It sounded worse than any other broken bone she’d heard of—the ones that get set in plaster and bandages.
John didn’t take the hint to stop giving the grisly information. “Then they had to screw the metal to the bone on either end.”
“Oooh. Don’t tell me any more.”
“It was quite interesting. The doctor explained it all to me. Do you want to see the x-rays? You’ll be able to see how it’s broken and there’s another one showing how they’ve fixed it.”
Lily shook her head. “I certainly don’t!”
He laughed. “Bit squeamish?”
“I never thought so.”
“The doctor said it’d take between four to six months to heal properly.”
Lily gasped. Did that mean the cousins would be staying at the house for that long? “That’s a long time!”
“Jah.”
“Who looks after Nerida during the day?”
“She’s got two friends who take it in turns cooking and cleaning and generally looking after her.”
“Who are they?”
“Shirley and Connie.”
Lily nodded. “Ah. That’s good of them.”
“And your mudder’s been so good to look after the girls. We know they’re in good hands with you and your parents.”
“Yeah, I’ll look after them.” Lily felt a little bad for being mean and bossy to them at times. “Can I see Nerida?”
“Aunt Nerida is resting now.”
Again with the ‘aunt’ business. What’s his problem? “Okay. Some other time, then.”
“Jah. Why don’t you come back through the day tomorrow?”
“I work six days a week. Well, five and a half really.”
“That’s right. You’re working for the Walkers now. You’ve taken over Rose’s old job.” He rubbed his beard. “Nerida mentioned that to me.”
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