by Amy Clipston
When their eyes met, Laurel’s heart did a little flip. He nodded at her, and she bobbed her head in recognition before turning her attention back to the hymnal.
The song leader began singing the first part of the verse, and Laurel and the congregation joined in. While she sang, she considered her budding friendships with Glen and Rena. As long as she had a friend or two, she could make it in this new community.
* * *
“So, that’s Laurel.” Jerome Esch, Glen’s best friend since first grade, sat across from him at lunch after the service. “She’s schee.”
“She is, and she’s sweet and funny.” Glen lifted his cup of coffee.
Jerome raised his eyebrows. “You like her.”
“Sure I do. She’s different from the maed here.”
“How so?”
“She’s not shy and she likes to talk. Mei mamm called her a chatterbox, but I find it endearing.” Glen looked over to where Laurel talked to an elderly man while filling his coffee cup. She looked pretty today in a pink dress with a white apron that was the length of the dress, unlike the aprons the women wore in his community that tied at the waist.
“You should invite her to come with us this afternoon when we get together to play volleyball.”
“I was already planning to do that. I think she’ll enjoy meeting some more folks in the community, and it will give me a chance to get to know her better.” Glen tilted his head as he looked at his best friend. “What about you and Faith? Have you talked to her dat yet?”
Jerome shook his head. “Not yet, but I’ll get around to it.”
“By the time you get around to it, she may have moved on to someone else.”
He grimaced. “I’m just not ready.”
“What are you waiting for? You’ve known her since we all started first grade together.”
“But this is different. Becoming more than freinden is a process. We’re still getting to know each other.”
Glen rolled his eyes. “For months now you’ve been talking about asking her dat for permission to date her.”
“I’ll do it when the time is right.”
Glen shook his head. “If you wait too long . . .”
“I know.” Jerome nodded behind Glen. “Look at that. Laurel and Faith are talking.”
Glen peeked behind him and spotted Faith, a petite redhead with a smattering of freckles across her little nose, smiling and nodding as Laurel talked to her. He imagined Laurel sharing stories about her community back in Pennsylvania. Faith looked interested as she smiled and laughed at something Laurel said.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if they became close freinden like we are and then we could go on double dates?” Jerome asked.
“Slow down there,” Glen told him as he faced his best friend once again. “First of all, you need to muster up the courage to talk to Faith’s dat. And second, I don’t know Laurel well enough to even guess if she’d be interested in me.”
Jerome pointed at him. “How about this? I’ll work on asking Faith out, and you work on getting to know Laurel better.”
Glen shook Jerome’s hand. “You have a deal.”
* * *
Glen waited outside the barn for the women to finish lunch. When he spotted Laurel walking out with Faith, he hurried over to her. “How are you?”
“Gut. I just need to make sure the ladies have all of the help they need in the kitchen and then I’ll be ready to go home.” Laurel gave a little laugh. “It feels so funny to call this place home, but I suppose it is. Well, at least it is for now.” She started toward the kitchen.
Jerome walked over to him. “Is she going to join us?”
“I haven’t had a chance to ask yet. She’s checking in the kitchen to see if they need any help.” Glen looked toward the porch.
After a few minutes, the back door opened, and Laurel and Faith walked out together. Excitement overtook Glen as the two women walked over to where he stood with Jerome.
A smile turned up Laurel’s lips as she held her hand out to Jerome. “Hi, I’m Laurel.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Jerome shook her hand and then grinned at Glen before turning his attention back to the young women. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Laurel blushed. “Oh dear. I hope it was all gut.”
“Of course it was,” Glen said. “Would you like to join us for volleyball and singing this afternoon?”
Faith gave Laurel a hopeful smile. “You must come with us.”
To Glen’s surprise, Laurel’s smile faded. “Oh, I don’t know.”
“Why not?” Faith asked.
“Tomorrow is my first day of school, and I need to be well rested. I thought I would spend the afternoon reading and praying.”
“But you need to meet some more people,” Glen offered. “And Sunday afternoon youth events are the best place to do that.”
“Ya,” Faith said. “It will start to feel like home here once you’ve made some freinden.”
“Exactly,” Jerome chimed in.
Laurel looked over at Glen as she worried her lower lip. “Okay, but I can’t stay out too late.”
“I promise we’ll be home at suppertime,” Glen said.
“I need to go home to change out of my church clothes before we go.”
“I do too,” Glen said.
Laurel’s smile was back. “Great! Then let’s go.”
“Will you ride with me, Faith?” Jerome asked.
Faith gave him a sweet smile. “Of course.”
Glen and Laurel headed toward his buggy, and after hitching up the horse, they climbed in and headed toward home.
“So, how did you like the service?” he asked as he guided the horse toward the road.
“It was very nice, and everyone seems so friendly. I was grateful to meet Faith.” Laurel turned toward him. “Is she dating Jerome?”
“No.”
“I think she wants to.”
“You do?” He glanced over at her.
Laurel chuckled. “It’s very obvious. When we were pouring kaffi, she kept looking over at him. And she was in a hurry to get over to him after we ate lunch. Does he like her too? It seems like he does . . .”
“You’re very intuitive.”
“So, they do like each other! Is he planning to ask permission to date her?”
“I’ve been telling him to ask, but he hasn’t found the courage yet.”
“Will her dat say no?”
“I doubt it. We’ve all known each other since we started school.”
“He’s just naerfich. Mei bruder, Ervin, was naerfich when he asked his girlfriend’s dat for permission, even though they’d known each other all their lives too. He finally summoned the courage, and they’ve been dating for three years. I think he’s going to propose to her soon.”
“Will they build a haus on your dat’s farm?”
“Ya, I think so. I think Rachel Ann will be a wonderful schweschder. I look forward to when they marry.”
“That’s nice.” He was overwhelmed by her sweet heart. Laurel was a special maedel.
“How far do we need to go for the youth gathering?”
“It’s not far from home. We’ll stop there to get changed and then continue on,” he said. “Do you like playing volleyball with your youth group?”
“Ya. I always enjoyed hosting, too, even though it’s a lot of work to get ready.”
He felt himself relax as she chatted about her experiences back home. He could listen to her talk all day, and he was grateful she was going to give him the chance to do just that.
Chapter 3
Laurel couldn’t stop smiling as she stood beside Glen while they played volleyball later that afternoon. She had more fun than she’d ever imagined.
Not only had she met more young people her age but she’d laughed so much that her belly ached. She was grateful Glen had convinced her to come today. He was right—she needed to meet more people in order to start to feel at home. And she had also enjoyed spen
ding more time with Glen. He was so friendly and outgoing, and she had a feeling that they would become close friends.
A young man on the opposing team served the ball, and Glen leapt up with ease and spiked it back to them. When a young woman on the other team missed, Laurel and her teammates cheered.
“That means we won,” Laurel announced. “You’re an amazing player, Glen.”
“It wasn’t just me. It was the team.” He pointed toward the house. “Why don’t we get some lemonade?”
Laurel walked beside him toward the house and noticed that many of the youth group members looked over at her as they walked by. She stood out since she dressed like a member of a Pennsylvania settlement, but she didn’t mind the stares.
She nodded at the strangers as she continued toward a table set up with bowls of potato chips and pretzels, along with plates, cups, and a jug of lemonade.
“Are you having a gut time?” Glen asked.
“I am.” She picked up a plate and piled snacks on it before pouring a cup of lemonade. “It’s a schee day.” She looked up at the cloudless azure sky and the gorgeous purple mountains topped with snow in the distance. “It’s so lovely here.”
He looked out toward the mountains. “I guess I take it for granted since I’ve lived here my whole life.”
“I bet you do.” She popped a chip into her mouth.
“Laurel!” Faith called as she rushed over and grabbed her arm. “There you are. I want you meet mei freinden. Kumm!” She turned to Glen. “I’m sorry, but I need to borrow her.”
Laurel looked at Glen and shrugged.
“We’ll talk later,” he said.
Laurel’s heart lifted as she allowed Faith to steer her toward a group of young women. It was turning out to be an absolutely wonderful day.
* * *
“Looks like you and Faith got along well,” Glen said to Laurel as he guided his horse toward home later that evening.
He had been pleasantly surprised when Laurel wanted to join the youth group for supper instead of going home earlier. He had been a little envious that Faith had pulled Laurel away from him and kept her preoccupied with her friends for most of the afternoon, but Glen kept reminding himself he would be able to talk to Laurel during their ride home. Besides, Laurel needed some female companions since she certainly would miss her friends back home. Still, he was grateful for the one-on-one time with her.
“We did. Her freinden are so nice. They took me in right away.”
He gave her a sideways glance. “Why wouldn’t they?”
“Isn’t it natural to wonder and worry about new people?”
He shook his head. “I knew they would like you.”
“I appreciate that.” She smoothed her hands over her black apron. “Danki for inviting me today.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” He peeked over and found her looking out the window toward the mountains in the distance, and he suddenly wanted to know everything about her. “Did you leave a boyfriend back home?” he asked. The words leapt from his lips with little forethought.
She chuckled as she turned toward him. “No, and I doubt I would have come if I’d had one.”
He felt relieved at her response. “How did you decide to apply for the job?”
“I saw the ad in the Busy Beaver, and I thought now was the perfect time to see more of the country before I fall in love, settle down, and start a family.”
“You’re the bravest person I know.”
Her cute little nose scrunched. “You think so?”
“Ya, I do.”
She shrugged. “I just don’t want to regret never taking a chance.”
“Tell me more about your family.”
She settled back in the seat and then shared funny stories about her siblings’ antics during the remainder of the ride home.
When they finally reached the house, she waited outside the barn while he took care of the horse and buggy.
“Would you like to come inside and visit with my parents and me?” he asked when he met her outside the barn.
“Oh, no, danki.” She pointed toward the daadihaus. “I really do need to rest for tomorrow. I bet I’ll struggle to fall asleep as it is.”
“I’ll walk you home.” He walked beside her to her door, and then she turned toward him and gave him a shy smile.
“I really had a nice time today.”
“I did too.” When he shook her hand, a tiny spark shimmied up his arm. “Have a restful evening.”
“You too.” She gave him a winsome smile before disappearing into the house.
Glen felt a spring in his step as he ambled back toward home, then headed inside and found his parents sitting in the family room reading.
Dat looked up from the Amish newspaper, The Budget. “How was your afternoon?”
“Gut. We played volleyball over at the Yoder place.” Glen sat on the sofa across from their wing chairs. “Laurel came with me, and Faith introduced her to the other maed.”
Mamm peered over her reading glasses at him. “Oh, how nice. How did everyone like her?”
“I think she and Faith will be close freinden.”
“That’s nice,” Mamm said.
“Ya, she fit in like she’d grown up with the rest of us.” Glen grinned. “I’ve never met anyone like her. She never runs out of words, and she’s just open and honest. At least, she seems honest. She’s not afraid to be who she is. And she’s so brave. I can’t imagine just up and leaving my family for a ‘new adventure’ as she put it. She’s just amazing.”
Mamm seemed pensive. “Huh.”
“What?” Glen asked.
Mamm’s expression was almost accusatory. “You like her.”
“Of course I do.” Glen studied his mother. “Don’t you?”
Mamm studied him. “You realize she’s not going to stay here. She just came to spend a few years here for the job. You shouldn’t get attached. If you do, then you’ll wind up with a broken heart.”
“I’ll be careful.” But deep down, he could already feel himself growing closer to Laurel than he wanted to admit. For the first time, he seriously considered what it would be like to get attached, fall in love, get married, and have a family with a special woman. And he liked imagining all of those things with Laurel. He just needed to find out if Laurel thought about him the same way.
* * *
Excitement overtook Laurel as she glanced around the schoolroom early Monday morning. She’d arrived at the schoolhouse shortly after six to make sure the room was in order. She looked over at the tall brown tree she’d created out of construction paper with its colorful red, yellow, and orange leaves, each one featuring the name of one of the students she would teach.
Beside the tree she had created a farm scene with drawings of barns, a farmhouse, cows, and a rolling patchwork of green fields, reminding her of home.
As she looked at the sea of wooden desks, her heart turned over in her chest. She was certain she’d be blessed by each of the students in the classroom.
“I think we’re ready.” Laurel rubbed her hands together and turned to Rena. “Did I forget anything?”
Rena laughed. “No. You’ve thought of everything, and your murals are gorgeous. All of the worksheets are ready for each grade, and you have all of the songs ready too. I think you’re set for the entire week.”
“I like to stay organized.” Laurel looked at the clock on the wall. “They should be here any minute.”
Rena walked out toward the door and opened it. “We have scholars.”
Laurel stood at the front of the room, happiness bubbling through her as the children began filing into the schoolroom. “Good morning!”
Boys and girls from first to seventh grade walked in and greeted her before putting away their lunch bags and taking a seat in the row corresponding with their grade.
Lea walked into the schoolhouse beside her twin brother and ran to Laurel. “Teacher Laurel!”
“Hi, Lea.” Laurel grinned as
the little girl hugged her.
Lea looked up at her. “I’ll be your helper if you need one.”
“I would love that. But for now, please put your lunch bag in your cubby and find a seat.” Laurel touched her head.
Lea hurried away with her long braids bouncing behind her, and she stowed her lunch at the back of the classroom.
More students arrived and conversations swirled around as the children put away their lunch boxes and then took their seats.
“Good morning, everyone!” Laurel announced, and the murmur of conversations ceased. “I’m Teacher Laurel, and this is Teacher Rena.” She pointed to Rena at the back of the room as she waved.
“We’re so excited to be here with you this year. My name is Laurel Weaver, and I’m from Pennsylvania. Does anyone know where Pennsylvania is?”
One of the boys in seventh grade raised his hand.
“Yes.” Laurel pointed at him. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Aaron Zook,” he said. “Pennsylvania is on the East Coast near New Jersey and Maryland.”
“Very gut!” Laurel pointed to the mural she drew. “Mei dat owns a dairy farm like that one there. There are many dairy farms in Lancaster County where I’m from.” She looked around the room. “Now, I’d like to know your name, your favorite color, and how many siblings you have. Let’s start with our first graders.”
As the small children in the first row began their introductions, Laurel felt herself relax. She was going to love her new job in her new community, and she was grateful God had brought her here.
* * *
Laurel yawned as she locked the schoolhouse door later that evening. After a long first day, she had stayed late to grade papers and prepare for tomorrow.
Now she had to go home and find something for supper, but first she had to find the strength to walk back to the house. She yawned again as she hefted her heavy tote bag up on her shoulder. Then she pulled the little flashlight out of the small zipper compartment in her bag and started down the hill toward the house.
Above her, the bright hues of the red, orange, and pink sunset were starting to dim as a loud chorus of cicadas sang the day into night. Laurel’s shoulder started to ache, and she felt the weight of her exhaustion bogging down her steps.