An Amish Schoolroom

by Amy Clipston

  After Glen filled him in, Dat peered over at Mamm and Bethlyn. “Is this true?”

  Mamm and Bethlyn both gave him sullen nods.

  Dat drew his brows together. “I understand you’re afraid of losing Glen, but the Lord is the one who will lead him on the right path. You should have kept your thoughts to yourselves.”

  “More than that, you both should be ashamed of yourselves,” Mammi snapped. “Laurel is gut for this family. She’s vibrant and funny. And she’s sweet and hardworking. Of course Glen has fallen in love with her! Don’t you remember how Lea told us that she fell at school and Laurel took such gut care of her? Why wouldn’t you want Glen to marry a maedel like her, whether she lived here or in Pennsylvania?”

  Glen shook his head as his heart sank. “Mammi is the only one here who understands how I feel. The rest of you are too blind to see what I see. You were worried about Laurel breaking my heart, but you’re the ones who broke it.” His words sent a shaft of ice through his chest as he stood. “I’ll be in my room.”

  He made his way upstairs and then sank down on the edge of his bed. “God, help me repair my broken relationship with Laurel. Give me the right words to convince her to stay. Losing her will break me apart.”

  Chapter 9

  Glen knocked on the front door of the daadihaus the following morning. He had barely spoken to his family since their confrontation last evening, and he’d been up half of the night praying and trying to figure out a way to make things right with Laurel.

  When the door opened, Laurel studied him with sad eyes.

  He plastered a smile on his face. “Gude mariye. Would you like to come to youth group with me today?”

  “No, danki.”

  “Jerome and Faith will be there.”

  “I’m going to rest today, but you have fun.” She started to close the door, and he shot his foot out and stopped it.

  “Please give me a moment. I’m sorry my family is too narrow-minded to see we belong together, but I meant it when I told you I love you. I was up nearly all night praying and trying to figure out a way to fix this, but all I can think to do is tell you how much I care for you and how much it would destroy me if you left. Please give me another chance.”

  She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Glen, but it can’t work between us. It’s better if we’re just freinden.”

  Her words were like shards of glass to his heart, but he tried to mask his pain. “I understand, but I will miss you.”

  “Have a gut day. Tell Faith I said hello.”

  He stepped back, making room for her to close the door.

  As Glen walked toward the barn for his horse and buggy, a new determination seized him. He would find a way to convince Laurel to stay.

  * * *

  “Where’s Laurel?” Faith asked as she sat on a folding chair between Glen and Jerome in Randy Smoker’s barn later that afternoon.

  Members of their youth group laughed and talked while playing Ping-Pong and eating snacks. The smell of hay, animals, and moist earth surrounded Glen.

  “She didn’t want to come.” Glen kept his eyes focused on his lap.

  Jerome nudged Glen with his elbow. “You’ve been glum all day. Did you two have an argument?”

  “Sort of.”

  “About what?” Faith asked.

  As Glen summarized what had happened with his family, Faith gasped and Jerome cringed as the story moved from bad to worse.

  “That’s terrible,” Faith said. “You and Laurel are great together. It’s obvious how much you care for each other.”

  “Apparently only mei mammi can see that.”

  “You can’t give up on Laurel,” Jerome added.

  “I’m not giving up, but I don’t know what to do from here.” Glen kicked a rock with the toe of his shoe as indignation ripped through him. “I’m so disappointed in my family, but how can I make things right when mei mamm and schweschder hurt her so deeply?”

  “With God all things are possible,” Faith said.

  Glen nodded as hope took root in his chest. Lord, show me how to fix this before it’s too late.

  * * *

  “I made your favorite this morning,” Mamm said, her voice sugary sweet as Glen sat at the kitchen table the next morning. “French toast and sausage.”

  “Danki,” Glen muttered as he stared down at his pile of French toast, which he doused with butter and syrup.

  The muscles in his shoulders were coiled as he worked to suppress a yawn after another sleepless night. He had prayed, tossed, and turned nearly all night long while he worked to find an answer to his conundrum with Laurel. Despite his best efforts, Glen had come up short. And then the reality that he would lose her truly hit, landing like a punch to his gut.

  “Would you like more sausage?”

  Glen looked up and found his father studying him while Mamm held out the platter of food. “No, danki.” He looked down and focused his eyes on his half-eaten breakfast.

  “We need to get started on that dining room table order today,” Dat began. “It’s going to be a big project. It will seat twelve, and they want it done quickly.”

  Glen nodded and tuned his father out while his thoughts continued to swirl with sorrow over Laurel.

  “Did you hear what I said, Glen?”

  His head popped up when he heard his mother say his name. “What, Mamm?”

  “I said I’m sorry.” Her voice shook as tears stung her eyes. “I’m sorry for hurting you.”

  Glen sat back in his chair as he studied his mother with suspicion. “If you were truly sorry, then you’d see Laurel and I belong together. And you’d apologize to her yourself.”

  Mamm nodded and sniffed.

  “Don’t disrespect your mamm,” his father warned.

  “You know what, Dat, I think I have a right to my anger,” Glen seethed. “I love Laurel, and I want to plan a future with her. But I can’t since my family ruined it. How would you have felt if Mammi and Daadi had ruined your chances with Mamm? Don’t you think you’d be upset too?”

  Dat stared at Glen over his coffee mug.

  “I’m done. Danki for breakfast.” Glen pushed back his chair and carried his plate to the counter. “I’m going to the shop.” He started toward the door.

  “Glen,” Mamm said.

  He spun and faced her.

  “I am truly sorry.” Mamm wiped her cheeks as tears began to trail down them.

  He studied his mother. “If you truly are sorry, Mamm, then you need to make things right.”

  Before she could respond, he stalked out to the workshop and hoped he could lose himself in a project and somehow forget his fractured heart.

  * * *

  “Was iss letz, Laurel?”

  Laurel looked up from her desk and found Rena watching her with a concerned expression later that morning at the schoolhouse.

  Laurel sighed. “Coming here was a mistake. I’m going to give the school board my resignation later this week, and hopefully I can go home before Thanksgiving.”

  Rena hurried over to the desk. “Why?”

  Laurel glanced at the clock. “The scholars will be here soon, and it’s a long story. I’ll have to tell you later.”

  “Tell me now.”

  Laurel shared an abbreviated version of how Magdalena and Bethlyn had hurt her feelings and then explained that she and Glen broke up. She felt a fresh crush of sadness when she thought of leaving Glen. “I care for him, but I can’t stay here knowing his family doesn’t approve of our relationship.”

  “Magdalena and Bethlyn are wrong about you and Glen. Plus, you’re a wunderbaar teacher. The kinner love you, and I’m honored to call you mei freind.” Rena touched Laurel’s shoulder. “Please don’t go.”

  Laurel felt the grief that had followed her around like a shadow for the past few days well up inside of her. She tamped it down, pushed back her chair, and stood. “Danki, but I’ve made my decision. I’m going to go greet the kinner at the door, and then I’ll pass o
ut our work papers. We have a busy day ahead of us.”

  As Laurel turned her attention to her school day and her beloved students, she sent up a silent prayer to God, asking him to help her get through the day.

  * * *

  Later that afternoon, Laurel stood in front of the class. “Okay, everyone. It’s almost time to go. Danki for your hard work today.”

  “Teacher Laurel,” Rena said as she walked to the front of the schoolroom. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but the scholars have something special for you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Earlier today, when the kinner had some free time at their desks, I asked them to create something for you.” Rena smiled at Lea. “Lea asked if she could present it to you.”

  Lea stood and walked over to the desk carrying a stack of colorful pages. She set them on the desk and then pointed to the mural of the Pennsylvania dairy farm that Laurel had created. “Since you made a picture to show us why you love Pennsylvania, we made you pictures to show you why we love Colorado.”

  Laurel looked down at the colorful stack of papers, finding drawings of snowmen, horses, mountains, and log homes. “These are lovely. Danki.” She looked over at Rena, who gave her a warm expression.

  Then Lea handed her a picture showing nine stick people. “This is my family.” She pointed to a person standing on the end. “This one is you. Ich liebe dich, Teacher Laurel.”

  Speechless, Laurel cupped her hand to her mouth as tears filled her eyes.

  “It’s time to go, scholars,” Rena announced. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Laurel continued to study the drawings as the children left for the day.

  “They love you,” Rena said as she walked over to the desk. “Can you imagine leaving them now? And the school board had such a terrible time finding a teacher for our community.”

  “You could be their teacher.” Laurel’s voice sounded hoarse.

  Rena shook her head. “I don’t have enough experience. I’m learning so much from you, but I’m not ready to take on the classroom by myself. Don’t you see how much your leaving will upset the community? We need you. I know you’re hurt, but please give everyone a chance to show you how much you mean to us.”

  Laurel sniffed as a heavy feeling knotted up her stomach. Coming here had been such an easy decision. Leaving would prove to be harder.

  * * *

  Laurel climbed her porch steps at the end of the day and found a note tacked to the door. She pulled the note down, and her eyes widened as she read it.

  Laurel,

  Would you please come over and bring your grandmother’s barbecued meatloaf recipe?

  Thank you,

  Magdalena

  Suspicion taunted Laurel as she walked into her house and wondered what Magdalena wanted. She considered not complying, but it was the Amish way to forgive. Plus, Rena’s words about how much the community needed her continued to echo in the back of her mind as guilt had begun to mix with her hurt. Laurel would be leaving the community in a lurch if she quit the teaching job. She had made a commitment, and the school board needed her.

  Laurel huffed out a deep breath. Perhaps Magdalena wanted to apologize, and Laurel hoped that if she did, she was sincere.

  After freshening up, Laurel retrieved her grandmother’s cookbook and walked over to the Troyers’ house. She knocked on the door and then hugged the cookbook to her chest.

  “Hello!” Magdalena’s expression seemed too bright and also a little nervous as she opened the door wide. “I’m so froh you came over. Did you bring the recipe?”

  Laurel held up the book. “Ya.”

  “Please come in. Bethlyn and I have been expecting you.” Magdalena pointed toward the kitchen.

  Laurel walked through the mudroom and stepped in the kitchen, where Bethlyn stood at the counter. “Hello.”

  “Hi.” Bethlyn gave her an awkward wave.

  “Here’s the book.” Laurel set the cookbook on the counter. “I marked the page. Enjoy.” Then she pivoted and started toward the door.

  “Wait,” Magdalena called after her.

  Laurel spun to face them, hugging her arms to her chest to shield her fragile heart.

  Magdalena’s expression was hopeful. “Will you cook with us?”

  Laurel hesitated. While it was their way to forgive, she couldn’t stop their hurtful words from echoing in her mind. If they didn’t approve of her, then the invitation felt artificial. “I have a lot of papers to grade, and I—”

  “Please?” Bethlyn asked, interrupting her.

  Magdalena walked over to Laurel and touched her hand. “We’re sorry, Laurel.” Her voice quavered. “What we said about you was wrong. We want to show you that we truly would like to start over.”

  Laurel studied her and couldn’t find any sign of a lie.

  Bethlyn walked over to them. “Mei zwillingbopplin love you. Lea can’t stop talking about you, and I understand what she sees in you. You’re a kindhearted, sweet, loving, gifted teacher, and our community is blessed to have you. And Glen is also blessed to have you in his life.”

  “You’ve blessed mei sohn abundantly,” Magdalena added. “You’ve made him so froh, and since you broke up, I’ve never seen him so distraught. Please don’t leave.” Her voice caught and then recovered. “It’s breaking my heart to see him so very bedauerlich. Please give us another chance.”

  Bethlyn nodded with vigor. “Ya, please. We want you here.”

  Laurel sniffed as tears filled her eyes. “I want to stay, but I’m not sure.”

  “I was overwhelmed by the idea of Glen wanting to move away from us,” Magdalena said. “To the point where I lost sight of what a sweet maedel you are. Will you give us another chance?”

  Laurel smiled as forgiveness flooded her. The Lord had sent her here for a reason, and she needed to give Magdalena and Bethlyn some grace. Plus, she owed it to the school board to honor her commitment. “Of course I will.”

  “Danki!” Magdalena pulled her in for a hug.

  “I’m so grateful.” Bethlyn joined them, wrapping her arms around them both.

  Laurel wiped her eyes as she pulled away.

  “Now, will you help us cook your mammi’s recipe?” Bethlyn asked.

  “I will.” Laurel’s heart turned over in her chest as she moved to the counter. “I hope you have barbecue sauce.”

  * * *

  Shock rained down on Glen as he stood in the kitchen doorway later that evening and found Mamm, Bethlyn, Mammi, and Laurel sitting at the kitchen table laughing together. He blinked and rubbed his eyes, certain he had imagined it, but he hadn’t. The delicious smell of meatloaf drifted over him as he stepped into the kitchen.

  “What’s going on here?” he asked.

  “Hi, Glen.” Laurel waved at him. “We made mei mammi’s barbecued meatloaf.”

  Mammi grinned at him. “I can’t wait to have a piece.”

  “It should be ready soon.” Mamm stood and crossed to the counter, checking the timer.

  Bethlyn pushed back her chair and stood. “I’ll start setting the table.”

  “Laurel,” Glen began, “may I speak with you alone?”

  “Of course.” She wiped her hands on a dish towel, then followed him out to the porch.

  “What happened?” he asked once they were alone.

  “Your mamm left me a note asking me to bring mei mammi’s meatloaf recipe. When I got here, your mamm and Bethlyn apologized and asked me to stay and give them another chance.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I said of course I will.”

  His heart came alive. “Are you saying you’ll stay in Colorado?”

  She nodded. “Ya, I am.”

  “Does that mean you’ll give me another chance too?”

  “Ya. I just couldn’t stay knowing your family didn’t approve of me. But if they won’t give up on me, I won’t give up on them or your community. And to be honest, we had a really nice time this afternoon while we cooked. I
think I can have a gut relationship with your mamm and Bethlyn if they’re being sincere with me.”

  She rubbed her thumb across his cheek, and he leaned into her touch. “The truth is, Ich liebe dich, Glen. I want to be with you, and I’m certain in my heart that God will bless our relationship.”

  “I’m so grateful to hear you say that. I love you too.” He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers, and the contact sent a new warmth and happiness flooding his every cell. When he broke the kiss, he threaded his fingers with hers. “Let’s go inside for supper. We can talk later on the porch.”

  As he walked back into the house with Laurel at his side, he silently thanked God for bringing her back to him.

  Epilogue

  “I’m so full. That was the most appeditlich Thanksgiving meal I’ve ever had.” Laurel placed her hand on her abdomen as she sat beside Glen in the porch swing on his parents’ back porch. “But don’t tell mei mamm I said that.”

  Glen chuckled as he looped his arm around her shoulder. “I promise I won’t tell your mamm.” He smiled over at her, and her stomach swirled.

  The past month had flown by since Laurel had decided to stay in Monte Vista. His mother and sister had both gone out of their way to include Laurel in family dinners, even inviting her to their quilting circles with their friends.

  Laurel had also continued to enjoy her time in the classroom as she bonded with her students and learned new ways to help the struggling children learn. She was happy, really happy, and even though she missed her family, she loved Monte Vista and felt comfortable there. She no longer felt like an outsider but instead like a member of the community.

  “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

  Laurel turned toward Glen, and his expression seemed sheepish, or possibly nervous. “What is it?”

  “I talked to your dat the other day.”

  “You did?” She searched his eyes. “Why?”

  “I wanted to ask him a question, and he gave me his answer.”

  “What question?” She angled her body toward him.

  Glen cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, which caused the swing to move. “These past few months with you have been the happiest of my life. I’m so grateful God led you here and that he found a way for you to stay.” He paused, looked down at the porch, and then looked up. “So, I wanted to ask you something.”