by Amy Clipston
“What is it?” She reached up and smoothed a hand over her prayer covering. “Do I have egg on my face or something?”
“No.” He cupped his hand to her cheek. “I was just thinking about how schee you are.”
“Danki,” she whispered, and the air around them felt electrified.
She sucked in a breath as he started to lean toward her. Then he stilled. It was too soon to kiss her. What if her father looked out the back door and saw them? Surely then he’d forbid them from seeing each other. He couldn’t risk his opportunity like that.
“We should go,” Jeff muttered as he turned toward the windshield. He picked up the reins and guided the horse toward the road while trying to calm his racing heart.
* * *
“This is the Blank family’s farm,” Jeff said as he halted the horse by a large barn. “This is where Lewis’s family lives.”
“Really?” Christiana peered out the buggy windshield at the large white clapboard house and the large red barn. “His dat owns a lawn ornament store, right?”
“That’s right.” Jeff turned toward her. “Are you ready to meet my family?”
“Ya.” She still felt nervous.
“Don’t worry.” He touched her arm. “They’re going to love you.”
“I hope so.”
She climbed out of the buggy and met him by a path that led to the house. He waved at two couples, one about her parents’ age and the other about hers, who stood by a pasture fence. She took in the older woman’s warm smile and dark eyes and was certain she was Jeff’s mother. The older man was stocky and had dark hair, and his nose resembled Jeff’s. The young man was tall, and unlike Jeff, his hair was straight. But he had Jeff’s warm smile and similar facial features. That had to be Nick.
“Mamm, Dat,” Jeff began, “this is Christiana.”
“We’re so froh to meet you, Christiana,” the older woman said. “I’m Joyce, and this is Merle.”
“How are you?” Christiana asked, her stomach fluttering as she shook Joyce’s hand.
“We’re delighted to finally meet you.” Merle shook her hand as well. “We’ve heard so much about you.”
“Dat . . . ,” Jeff said, and everyone laughed. “Christiana, this is mei bruder, Nick, and his fiancée, Kathy.”
“Gude mariye.” Christiana shook their hands.
“I’m so glad Jeff met you.” Nick’s smile was wide. “You’re just what he needs.”
“Danki,” Christiana said.
“We’re so pleased that you joined us this morning,” Kathy said. “Would you like to come into the kitchen with Joyce and me to meet the other women in the congregation?”
“That would be nice.” Christiana nodded and then turned to Jeff. “I’ll see you after the service.”
“I can’t wait,” he whispered as he leaned close to her ear. Then he, his father, and Nick started toward the group of men who stood near the barn.
Christiana, Joyce, and Kathy stepped into the house’s large kitchen where women of the congregation stood greeting one another. Christiana smiled and shook hands as Joyce introduced her to several of them.
When a woman who looked to be around her age approached, Kathy touched Christiana’s hand.
“Christiana, this is Renae Detweiler. She’s engaged to Lewis Blank, Jeff’s best freind. Renae, this is Christiana Kurtz. She’s Jeff’s freind.”
“Hi, Renae,” Christiana said as she shook the hand of this blonde with blue eyes.
“I’ve heard so much about you from Lewis.” Renae’s smile was warm. “I’m so glad Jeff met you. Lewis said you’re just what he needs.”
“That’s exactly what Nick just said to me.”
Kathy leaned in close. “Jeff had such a rough time when Ella left him. Nick said he was worried Jeff had given up on love.”
Love? The word rolled around in Christiana’s head. Wasn’t it too soon to talk about love?
Yet she was certain Jeff had almost kissed her in the buggy before they left her house this morning. Maybe he did care for her as more than a friend, but she didn’t know for sure. She had to keep her emotions in check.
“Ella is here,” Renae whispered as she nodded toward the corner of the kitchen. “You should keep your voice down.”
“Where?” Kathy looked over her shoulder. “Oh. I see her.” She discreetly gestured to the corner where the same petite blonde Christiana had seen that day in Sara Ann’s quilt shop spoke to a brunette. “She’s over there. The one wearing a purple dress. She must be visiting her parents today. She normally attends church in her husband’s district.”
Ella was strikingly beautiful. Christiana imagined her and Jeff together—talking, laughing, kissing—and her stomach soured. Why was she jealous of a woman who had left Jeff and married someone else?
Joyce approached them with a smile. “What are you three conspiring about? It looks like you have a juicy secret.”
“We pointed out Ella,” Kathy said, keeping her voice low.
“Oh.” Joyce’s smile flattened. “Ya, I saw her earlier. I was surprised to see her here.” She shook her head. “I’ve forgiven her, but I’ll never forget how she hurt mei sohn.”
Christiana tried to imagine how Jeff felt the day Ella broke his heart, and she silently vowed to never hurt him that way.
“Let me introduce you to mei mamm,” Kathy said as she took Christiana’s hand and led her toward a group of middle-aged women.
Plastering a smile on her face, Christiana prepared to meet more women in Jeff’s church district. But she couldn’t get past the feeling that Jeff would be hurt when he saw Ella again—just like that day at the market.
Soon it was almost nine, time to focus on the Lord and not worry about remembering the names of all the women Joyce had introduced to her.
“You’ll sit with Renae and me, right?” Kathy asked, her expression hopeful as they walked to the barn.
“Of course I will.” Christiana walked with them into the barn and toward the other unmarried young women.
She sank onto the backless bench between her two new friends and then greeted other young women as Kathy introduced her as Jeff’s friend. They all seemed happy to meet her, but they did eye her curiously.
When Kathy and Renae each became engrossed in conversations with women sitting close by, Christiana turned toward the rows of young, unmarried men and found Jeff sitting between his brother and Lewis. Delighted, she took a moment to enjoy his handsome face. He was even more attractive than usual dressed in his Sunday clothes—black trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a black vest. Christiana could watch him for hours, but she pulled her attention away and looked down at her apron. She had to remove these thoughts from her mind and focus on the service ahead.
She looked over at the married women section and quickly found Ella, who was talking to the same brunette woman she spoke to in the kitchen earlier. Christiana tried to imagine why Ella would leave Jeff when he was such a kind and gentle man. He also seemed like a hard worker who would make sure he provided well for his family. After all, he’d built her a house.
“Was iss letz?” Kathy whispered in her ear.
“What do you mean?” Christiana glanced over at her.
“You look upset. Is something bothering you?”
“No.” Christiana looked over at Ella once again. “I was just thinking about Ella and wondering why she left Jeff.”
Kathy clicked her tongue. “Nick has asked me the same question many times. I don’t understand it either. That’s why I’m so froh he found you. Nick told me you made his bruder smile again.”
“Is that true?” Christiana asked.
“Ya.” Kathy nodded. “We’re so grateful for you.”
Christiana felt heat crawl up her neck to her cheeks.
“What did I miss?” Renae turned toward Christiana.
“I was just telling Christiana that Nick says she’s helped Jeff smile again,” Kathy told her.
“Ya,” Renae said. “Lewis has
told me the same thing.”
“Maybe they’ll be the next to get engaged,” Kathy said.
Christiana shook her head. “But we’re not even officially dating.”
“I’m sure that will come soon,” Kathy said, and Renae nodded.
Christiana’s thoughts spun. Could Kathy and Renae be correct? Would Jeff ask her father for permission to date her soon?
Her cheeks felt as if they might blaze with fire. She wanted to stare at Jeff as if she could read his mind if she did, but she knew looking at him was too risky. If he saw her blushing, he might later ask her why. Yet how could she share the conversation she’d just had with Kathy and Renae when it would most likely embarrass him as well?
Kathy and Renae were once again pulled into different conversations, and Christiana breathed a sigh of relief. She stole one last glance at Jeff and found him talking to Lewis. Thank goodness he hasn’t seen me watching him!
She studied her hymnal to avoid his gaze, but her mind still whirled with Kathy and Renae’s words. Was she really a blessing to Jeff? She’d wanted to be.
The service began with a hymn, and Christiana redirected her thoughts to the present. She joined in as the congregation slowly sang the opening hymn, “Loblied,” a hymn of praise. A young man sitting across the barn served as the song leader. He began the first syllable of each line, and then the rest of the congregation joined in to finish the verse.
While the ministers met in another room for thirty minutes to choose who would preach that day, the congregation continued to sing. During the last verse of the second hymn, Christiana’s gaze moved to the back of the barn just as the ministers returned. They placed their hats on two hay bales, indicating that the sermon was about to begin.
The chosen minister began the first sermon, and Christiana tried her best to concentrate on his holy words. She folded her hands in her lap and studied them, but her thoughts turned to Jeff. She tried her best to keep her focus on the minister, but her stare moved toward the young men across the aisle. She contemplated Jeff, who sat with his head bowed.
What was he thinking about? Was he thinking about her? Was he thinking about what their future could hold if they started dating?
While the minister continued to talk in German, Christiana lost herself in thought. She had enjoyed her time with Jeff these past couple of months. How she’d loved eating lunch together, laughing together with her cousins in the Coffee Corner, and walking in the park.
She hoped they would continue spending time together not only at the market but also outside of the market. Perhaps after today they would start spending time together with their families. Maybe he would invite her over to visit with his family again. Maybe she could have him over for supper.
She glanced at Jeff and found him watching her, his dark eyes intense. A shiver of awareness danced up her spine as her gaze locked with his. Her breathing came in short bursts. Then a smile broke out on his face, and she smiled in return before looking down at her lap.
The first sermon ended, and Christiana knelt in silent prayer between Kathy and Renae.
Relief flooded her when the fifteen-minute kneeling prayer was over following the second sermon. The congregation stood for the benediction and sang the closing hymn.
As she looked once more toward Jeff, she had to admit the truth. If God had something more in store for them, she hoped today would be the day Jeff would tell her how he felt about her, that he wanted more than friendship.
Kathy touched Renae and Christiana’s hands. “Let’s go help serve the meal.”
20
“I approve,” Nick said as he sat across from Jeff during lunch.
After the service had ended, Jeff and Nick helped the other men in the congregation convert the benches into tables for the noon meal. Then Jeff sat down with Nick, Lewis, and Dat and waited for the women to serve the meal.
“You approve of what?” Jeff asked.
“Are you joking?” Nick asked. “I approve of her, of course.”
“I do too,” Dat said with a smile. “She’s lovely.”
“She sure is,” Lewis said. “Gut for you.”
Jeff had found himself distracted during most of the service. His eyes kept drifting over to study Christiana. At one point she looked at him as if she felt the weight of his stare. When their eyes locked, his breath stalled in his chest. And then it hit him—he cared more for Christiana than he ever cared for Ella. Christiana had captured his heart in a way Ella never had.
Did Christiana feel the tremendous attraction he was sure had been growing between them?
“Here are some pretzels.” Kathy smiled at Nick as she set a bowl on the table. “Enjoy.”
“Danki, mei liewe.” Nick winked at her, and her smile broadened as she stepped down the line.
“When are you going to ask her out?” Lewis asked as he picked up a pretzel and popped it into his mouth.
“I have to get her daed’s permission first.”
“What are you waiting for?” Nick asked. “Talk to him when you take her home tonight.”
Jeff cleared his throat and glanced toward the other side of the barn where Christiana was filling coffee cups. She looked gorgeous in the dress she wore today. He couldn’t wait to be alone with her in the buggy on the way to his parents’ house. He longed to talk to her—and possibly hold her hand. Maybe even kiss her cheek.
What was wrong with him? He had no right to think about kissing her until he’d requested her father’s blessing.
Lewis leaned toward him. “You haven’t answered my question. Why not ask her dat’s permission tonight? What are you waiting for?”
“It might be too soon.” Jeff picked up a pretzel from the bowl. “I don’t want to move too fast and scare her away.”
“Move too fast?” Nick snorted. “Haven’t you been freinden with her for a couple of months now?”
“Ya, but we’ve been getting to know each other. You knew Kathy for a few years before you asked her out.”
“Take your time, sohn.” Dat’s words were gentle. “No one can tell you how fast to move with your relationship. You need to do what feels right to you.”
“True, but if he waits too much longer,” Nick said, “someone else might ask her out.”
A muscle in Jeff’s neck stiffened at the thought of someone else asking Christiana to be his girlfriend. No, he couldn’t allow that to happen.
“Kaffi?”
Jeff glanced over his shoulder as Christiana appeared with her pitcher of coffee. Her blue-green eyes focused on him.
For a moment it felt as if the rest of the congregation had faded away and they were the only two people in the barn. His heart hammered. What was happening to him?
“Would you like some kaffi?” she repeated, breaking their connection.
“Ya, danki.” He handed her his cup, and she filled it.
After she filled the cups of all the men surrounding him, Jeff angled his body and watched her move down the line. He studied her beautiful profile and admired how her eyes sparkled and her rosy lips curved up as she worked her way to the end of the table.
When he realized he’d been staring at her too long, Jeff swiveled around and picked up his coffee cup. He glanced beside him and found Lewis watching him. His eyebrows were lifted, and his expression flickered with amusement.
As he sipped his coffee, Jeff braced himself for Lewis to make a biting comment, but his friend remained silent.
“Are you sure you’re not in a hurry to date her? Because that sure looked like attraction to me.” Nick picked up another pretzel and took a bite.
Jeff shook his head. “I don’t want to make the same mistake twice. I care about Christiana, but I’m not prepared for another heartache.”
“Please, Jeff,” Nick said. “Christiana is nothing like Ella.”
Jeff pressed his lips together. He’d seen Ella at the service today, but for the first time in more than a year, his stomach hadn’t soured at the sight of her. He didn�
�t feel the overwhelming embarrassment that normally accompanied seeing her face. Was he finally getting over her?
“That’s the truth,” Dat said, chiming in.
“What?” Jeff asked him.
Dat picked up his cup. “Christiana and Ella are different. Christiana has a sweetness about her that Ella never seemed to have. I think she’s more tenderhearted.”
Jeff studied his father as he drank from his cup. Dat could sense that much about Christiana after meeting her only once and so briefly?
“I agree,” Nick said.
“I do too,” Lewis added.
“Huh.” Jeff considered the observation as he again sipped his coffee. His eyes moved to the far end of the barn, where Ella placed plates of peanut butter spread on the tables. He waited for the anger and grief to bubble up inside of him, but it never appeared. Instead, a mixture of relief and happiness coiled through him.
He was truly over her, and the realization sent elation coursing through him. Ella no longer had a hold on his heart or his memories. She was only part of his past.
“So, Lewis,” Dat began, “how are things at your store?”
“They’re gut,” Lewis told him. “We’ve stayed busy all summer. I think it’s going to be a profitable season for us this year.”
“Gut, gut,” Dat said.
Jeff glanced at his brother as his father and Lewis continued to chat.
“Make it official,” Nick said. “You’ll be glad you did.”
Jeff nodded, and excitement filled him. Maybe it was time to ask Christiana to be his girlfriend. He just had to find the courage to ask her father’s permission.
* * *
Jeff leaned against his buggy and looked toward the Blanks’ back porch, where Christiana stood talking to Kathy and Renae. He smiled as she interacted with her two new friends. He was so grateful that she seemed to not only fit in with his church district but also with his family.
“Jeff?”
He turned as Ella walked toward him with a tentative smile on her face. To his surprise, his stomach still didn’t lurch as she approached. He felt nothing—no anger, no grief, just nothing.