by Amy Clipston
“Hi, Ella.” He folded his arms over his chest.
She bit her lower lip and then cleared her throat. “How are you?”
“I’m all right.” He shrugged.
“I know you have a booth at the marketplace now, selling your wood and leather goods.”
How did she know? Had Sara Ann told her?
“Ya. It’s going well.” He tilted his head. “What’s new with you?”
“We finally got moved into our new haus. John’s construction business has been busy . . .” Her expression clouded even more. “I, uh . . . I want to apologize to you.”
“Apologize for what?” he asked as suspicion crept into his thoughts. Had she done something to him he didn’t even know about?
“I’m sorry for hurting you the way I did.” She looked down at the ground and then back up at him, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I went about the breakup the wrong way. I was immature and selfish. You’re a wunderbaar man, and you’ll always have a special place in my heart. I cherish the time we had together.”
His jaw went slack as he stared at her, unsure how to respond.
“Jeff, you did nothing wrong.” She sniffed. “My heart . . . changed.”
“What do you mean?”
She took a deep breath and continued. “I’d had doubts long before our wedding day. I met John a few months before you and I were supposed to get married. I wasn’t unfaithful to you, but I felt a connection with him that you and I didn’t have.” She wiped at her eyes. “You have to admit that you felt we were growing apart too. I know it wasn’t just me. We didn’t talk like we used to.”
He swallowed as he nodded, realizing what she said was true. How had he failed to acknowledge that?
“I knew I was falling in love with John, but I was afraid to tell you. I should have the moment the doubt started creeping in. That was my mistake. Waiting until the last minute was cruel, and I feel terrible, but I felt like I had to go through with our marriage because everyone expected it of me. I’m sorry I wasn’t honest with you sooner. I embarrassed us both.”
He shook his head. “Wow. I never expected to hear you say this.”
“I should have months ago, but I was a coward.” She took another deep breath. “Sara Ann invited me to visit her quilt booth at the market, but she didn’t mention you had a booth. Then when John and I were there, she pointed it out, telling us you’re very successful. We both turned and saw you there, your back to us.” Her lower lip trembled. “I made excuses to Sara Ann, and we hurriedly left. Later John encouraged me to talk to you, to make things as right as I could. I finally got up the courage this week, and that’s the real reason we’re here today.”
Her shoulders shuddered. “Can you forgive me?”
He didn’t even have to think about it. “Of course I forgive you, Ella.”
“Danki. You deserve happiness, and if you don’t have it yet, I hope you find it soon.” She smiled at him and then looked over her shoulder. “I need to go. Take care, Jeff.”
“You too.” Jeff nodded, and she walked away.
He glanced toward the house where Christiana still stood talking to Kathy, and he smiled. He did deserve happiness, and he was almost certain he’d found it in Christiana.
* * *
Christiana sat in a rocking chair on Jeff’s parents’ porch later that afternoon. A gentle breeze sent the colorful flowers in his mother’s garden swaying as if moving to music only they could hear. She took in the brilliant colors of the daffodils, peonies, zinnias, daylilies, and gaillardias and silently marveled at God’s glorious creation of this beautiful summer day.
She smiled as she lifted a mug of root beer and looked out toward Jeff’s house sitting across the field. She studied the two-story, whitewashed home with its welcoming wraparound porch and large windows. She tried to imagine Jeff living there all alone. The house seemed to call for a family, to beg for one.
“Have you had a gut day?” Jeff asked as he rocked beside her.
She turned her attention toward him and nodded. “I have. Your family is wunderbaar.”
She smiled as she recalled eating lunch with Kathy, Renae, and Joyce and then visiting with Jeff’s family and Kathy again when they arrived here. The afternoon had been perfect. She talked about recipes with Joyce and Kathy, and then she’d laughed as Merle and Nick shared funny stories about Jeff’s childhood.
Christiana felt so comfortable with Jeff’s family. It was as if she belonged there.
“Ya, they’re okay,” Jeff said, joking. “I can tell they like you too.”
“I’m so glad.” She looked over at his house again. “Your haus is so schee. I love the porch.”
“Danki.” He smiled, and his smile was warm and sweet.
Christiana longed to tell him that she’d seen Ella and that Joyce had pointed out John while they were delivering the noon meal, but she was concerned that bringing up his ex-fiancée might dampen the mood.
“Ella and John were at the service today,” Jeff said before taking a drink of his root beer.
Christiana spun toward him. “You saw them?”
He nodded. “I did.”
“Kathy and your mamm pointed them out to me.”
“Oh.” He set his mug on the small table between them. “It was actually gut to see them.”
“Why?” She waited for his pleasant expression to morph into a frown. But to her surprise, it never clouded.
“For the first time, I didn’t get upset when I saw Ella. I realized today that I’m truly over her.”
“Really?” Christiana asked, and he nodded. “I’m so glad to hear that.”
“Ella surprised me.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I was waiting for you at my buggy, she came over and apologized for hurting me. She said she should have told me months sooner that she was having doubts. She told me I was a gut man and deserved happiness, and she begged me to forgive her.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I forgive her.” He set his mug on one arm of the rocking chair. “I wasn’t expecting an apology from her, but I’m ready to move on.”
“That’s wunderbaar. I’m so glad to hear it.” She pointed across the field. “And I’m glad you didn’t give your haus away.”
“I am too.” He threaded his fingers with hers, sending heat roaring up her arm. “It’s nice to have you here today.”
Their eyes met, and her heartbeat stuttered. She could see a future together. Could he see one too?
* * *
“This was a perfect day,” Christiana said when Jeff halted the horse by her back porch later. “Danki for asking me to spend it with you and your family.”
He looked over at her, taking in her beautiful profile. “We’ll have to do this again soon.”
“Ya. Would you like to come to church with me next time? Then you can meet more of my family too.”
“That would be fantastic.”
He reached over and ran his fingertip down her cheek, and she shivered under his touch. “Danki, Christy,” he began, his voice husky, “for all you’ve done for me.”
“What have I done?” she whispered, her eyes wide.
“You’ve shown me that I’m worthy of finding someone new. You’ve shown me that I don’t have to give up on the dream of filling mei haus with love and laughter.” He moved his fingers down to her neck. “And you’ve shown me that my breakup with Ella doesn’t have to define me. I don’t have to hold on to that grief for the rest of my life. You inspired me to forgive her today. Danki for showing me that I’m strong enough to move on.”
“Of course you are. It’s not your fault that she chose John. Instead, it gave you the opportunity to choose a different path. I’m certain God is guiding you down the road he’s chosen for you.”
“I believe that now, and I owe that to you. I’m grateful God led you to open your booth, grateful he led you to me.” He grinned. “And I’m glad you spilled that kaffi on me too.”
<
br /> She chuckled.
“I’m so thankful for you, Christy. I can’t tell you how much.”
“I’m thankful for you, too, Jeff.”
“Promise me that you’ll give our relationship a chance to keep growing.”
“I promise.”
“I’m ready to be more than your freind, if you’re ready.”
She nodded. “I am. Are you ready to talk to mei dat?”
“Ya. You let me know when you think the time is right.”
“What if I ask him if you can bring me home after the market closes one evening? Then you can talk to him and stay for supper. What do you think?”
“I love that idea.” And I think I love you. And then without thinking, he leaned down and brushed his lips across her cheek. She sucked in a breath at his touch.
He turned her face and placed a hand on her shoulder, and then he kissed her. The contact sent liquid heat shooting from his head to his toes.
“I can’t wait to see you again,” he whispered against her cheek.
“I can’t wait either.” Her voice trembled.
He gently pulled away. “Gut nacht.”
“Gut nacht.”
She climbed out of the buggy and hurried up the porch steps, turning to wave before disappearing into the house.
As Jeff guided the horse toward the road, he smiled. Soon Christiana would be his girlfriend, and before long they could be planning their future together.
21
“What a nice surprise,” Christiana announced as her parents and Phoebe stepped into the Bake Shop Thursday afternoon just as the last customer was leaving following a rush. “What brings you to the market today?”
“Your dat finished a job early, so he thought we could come by and visit you.” Mamm walked around the booth, taking in all of her selections. “Everything looks so nice.”
“Ya, it does.” Dat scanned the booth. “You did a gut job setting it up.”
“Danki.” Christiana smiled as Daisy sauntered into her booth. “Have you ever met the market’s resident cat?”
Mamm laughed. “Who is this?”
“This is Daisy,” Phoebe said. “Most of the vendors keep food for her.” She looked down. “Would you like something to eat, Daisy?” She beckoned for the purring creature to follow her to the counter.
Daisy meowed and then skipped along behind Phoebe.
Christiana walked to the cookie shelves. “Dat.” She waved him over. “Would you like some of your favorites—oatmeal raisin?”
“Ya, that sounds appeditlich.” He pulled out his wallet. “How much?”
“Oh stop.” She waved off his money and handed him a bag of cookies. “Enjoy.”
“Danki.” He took the bag and then looked up at the ceiling as he sniffed. “Is something burning?”
“No, I just put a sheet of chocolate chip kichlin in the oven, but they’re not burning.” Christiana snapped her fingers. “Oh wait. That’s Jeff’s burnishing machine next door. He uses it to cut leather for the leather goods he sells.”
“His machine smells so strongly that you can smell it here?” Dat asked, his expression serious.
“Ya. You can even smell it down at the Coffee Corner sometimes.”
“Doesn’t it bother you?” Dat asked, concern filling his eyes.
“Nope.” Christiana shook her head. “When I first met him, I thought maybe the market was on fire, but now I know it’s just his machine.”
“Huh.” Dat rubbed his beard and looked toward her booth exit. “That would concern me very much. I’m surprised no one has reported it to the fire department.”
“We all know it’s just Jeff’s machine.”
She decided this might be a good time to ask her father about the next step she and Jeff wanted to take. She already knew Jeff had no plans tonight. “By the way, Dat, could he give me a ride home today and stay for supper?”
“I want to talk to him before I agree to that.”
“Sure, but why?” Christiana wondered why her father’s expression looked so grim. He’d seemed to accept Jeff when they met last Sunday.
“I want to learn more about this machine that smells like it’s on fire. It concerns me that it’s located next to your booth.” Dat turned as a group of six older English ladies came into the Bake Shop.
“Hello.” Christiana plastered a smile on her face. “How are you today?”
“We’re great,” one lady announced.
“We’re on a mission for whoopie pies,” another lady called.
“You got that right, Norma,” another one said before turning to Christiana. “The young lady at the Coffee Corner said you have the best whoopie pies in Lancaster County.”
“That’s a nice compliment to receive.” Christiana led the women to the whoopie pie section of her booth. “Which flavors are you looking for?”
“Oh, I haven’t met one I didn’t like,” the first lady said. “Right, Wilma?”
“Right, Clarice.”
The women laughed, and Christiana looked up as her mother and Phoebe followed her father out of her booth and toward Jeff’s. Her stomach twisted. She hoped Jeff would say the right things and give her father whatever answers he was looking for regarding his machine. If only she could ride home with Jeff, he could ask her father for the permission they needed to date.
If everything went as planned, by tomorrow she’d be Jeff’s girlfriend. A smile turned up her lips as excitement skittered through her.
“Which flavors do you recommend?” Norma asked her.
“Vanilla is my favorite, but my customers seem to prefer the red velvet.” Christiana pointed to the boxes. “But if you don’t want to choose one kind, I have a sampler over here.”
“Perfect!” Wilma clapped her hands.
* * *
Jeff looked up from the burnishing machine as Freeman, Lynn, and Phoebe stepped into the booth. “Hello there. Wie geht’s?”
“We’re well. How are you?” Lynn asked.
“Great.” Jeff removed his safety glasses and then wiped his hands on a red rag as he walked over to them. He held out his hand to Freeman. “How are you, Freeman?”
Freeman shook his hand but pointed to his worktable with his other hand. “It smells like your booth is on fire.”
“Oh. That’s just my burnishing machine. I use it to cut leather for my gifts.”
“Look at the gifts he sells, Dat.” Phoebe tapped her father on the arm and pointed. “See? He makes leather bracelets, wallets, and key chains. He also has journal covers. He personalizes them too. And look at his wooden gifts.” She pointed to the alphabet trains. “Look at these cute little trains. Christiana says a lot of people buy them as toys for bopplin.”
Freeman scanned the booth and nodded before turning his furrowed brow back toward the worktable. “How do you power that burnishing machine?”
“I, uh . . . You want to know how I power it?” Jeff swallowed nervously as he studied Freeman’s expression and narrowed eyes.
“Ya.” Freeman walked toward the worktable. “It’s a simple question. Do you use a power inverter, an air compressor, or a car battery?”
Jeff hesitated as dread gripped his shoulders. “I use electricity.”
“What?” Freeman’s voice rose.
“I do.” Jeff swallowed as his body began to tremble.
“You’re Old Order Amish, right?” Freeman’s tone challenged him. Thank goodness his voice hadn’t risen again, but he had grown more intense.
“I am.”
“Then how do you justify using electricity to make items to sell?” Freeman gestured around the booth. “I imagine you make a decent living selling these fancy gifts to Englishers.”
“My gifts are not fancy. They’re simple and handmade.” Jeff worked to keep his tone even as his temper flared. He couldn’t afford to argue with Christiana’s father, no matter what he said.
“Do you make a gut profit?” Freeman stood tall in front of Jeff.
“I do okay.
”
“But you use electricity to make them.” He pointed at the machine. “Does your bishop know you use electricity to make these items?”
“He does. And this market is owned by an Englisher, Freeman. I don’t own it.”
“What difference does that make?”
“These are electric lights.” Jeff pointed above him. “The market also has smoke detectors, a sprinkler system, and electric doors. This is not an Amish business.” He pointed to the booth exit. “Bethany uses electricity to power her coffeepots, her oven, and her cash register.”
“Bethany is not mei dochder,” Freeman said.
“And I’m not your sohn.” Jeff pinched the bridge of his nose when he realized what he’d said. He’d just disrespected the father of the woman for whom he cared. Why did he so often manage to say the wrong words! “Look, Freeman, I’m using electricity here only to make my job easier and faster. I don’t use it at home. I use a power inverter at home.”
“It’s wrong.” Freeman turned toward Lynn and Phoebe, who looked on with their eyes wide. “I’ve seen enough. Let’s go.”
“Freeman, wait!” Jeff rushed after him. “I’m Amish. I’m not committing any sin.”
Freeman faced him. “That’s your business, but you will not involve mei dochder in your Englisher ways.” Then he marched toward Christiana’s booth.
“Please don’t say that.” Jeff started after him as his veins froze in fear.
Phoebe walked over to him and held up her hand. “Wait, Jeff.”
“I think I just lost my chance with your schweschder.” Jeff groaned and cupped his hand to his head. “I can’t believe I did that. I was planning on asking for his permission to date her. What am I going to do now?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Phoebe peeked over her shoulder and then looked back at him, lowering her voice. “I’ll ask if I can stay and help Christiana. After my parents leave, we’ll work out a plan for her to win Dat over. Don’t worry.”
“All right, if you say so. Please tell her I’m sorry.”
“I will.” Phoebe gave him a weak smile. “Don’t lose hope.”
“Danki.”
But as Phoebe walked away, Jeff felt his heart crumbling. He was going to lose Christiana before he even had a chance to date her, to call her his girlfriend. He needed help, and only God could provide that help. He closed his eyes and sent up a silent prayer.