The Photograph

by Beverly Lewis

  Returning from behind the barn, Eva saw Sylvia Lantz pull into the driveway in her family carriage, waving. Eva hurried her step, then set the empty trash can down near the old hand pump. “Nice to see ya,” she called to their neighbor.

  Sylvia got out and went around to the opposite side of the buggy, where she removed a large casserole dish nestled in her handmade quilted carryall. “I decided to bring some supper over as a surprise,” she said. “Since it’s your day off from the candy shop, I thought I’d catch ya before you start cookin’.”

  “Perfect timing.” Eva was especially pleased because it was her day to cook. She walked with Sylvia into the house. “Heard from Naomi that you’re expectin’ company this weekend.”

  Sylvia nodded. “Jah, Tilly’s girls attend a private Christian school that lets out earlier for the summer than most public schools in Rockport, so the family’s comin’ for a nice long visit. Oh, I can’t wait to get my hands on their youngest! Tilly wrote in her last letter that he’s growin’ as fast as kudzu. It’s past due for them to come see us.” Sylvia set the dish on the counter. “Hope ya like homemade noodles and turkey with carrots and onions.”

  “Wunderbaar,” Eva said. “Denki.” She asked if Sylvia could visit awhile.

  “For a little bit, I guess.”

  Frona was still ironing in the next room, but she came around to poke her head in to see who was there. “Did I hear something ’bout a turkey casserole?”

  “I made a double batch.” Sylvia sat down at the table and smiled at Frona, then Eva.

  “Well, it ain’t like we’re in mourning,” Frona said, startling Eva and obviously Sylvia, too.

  “That is, we’re putting on our bravest faces, waiting to hear—” Eva started to say, hoping to soften the blow of Frona’s bad temper.

  “It must be awful hard,” Sylvia interrupted.

  Frona frowned. “We’re struggling . . . that’s for sure.” She sighed. “Eva and I are grateful for your thoughtfulness, Sylvia.” Then she withdrew to the next room.

  Sylvia motioned for Eva to join her at the table. “None of us knows what we’d say or do if we were put in the same circumstance as you and your family.”

  Eva smiled. “You’re always so kind.”

  They talked about Menno’s contact in Apple Creek, Ohio. “Let’s pray he’ll be able to find Lily and bring her home,” Eva said, not surprised when Sylvia admitted she’d already heard a little about this from Menno’s wife, Bena, just up the road.

  “Something gut has to come of this.” Sylvia touched the back of Eva’s hand. “You believe it, too, don’t ya?”

  “I certainly try.” She asked if Sylvia would like something to drink. “We have plenty of meadow tea in the fridge.”

  “I’ll have a small glass,” Sylvia replied. “What about you, Frona? Can you hear me . . . would you like something, too?”

  Eva was pleased Sylvia had reached out to Frona, but Frona merely said she wasn’t thirsty from the other side of the wall. She must be embarrassed.

  While they sipped their cold tea, Eva asked if Sylvia might reintroduce her to Tilly. “If ya think it might suit sometime while they’re visiting.”

  “I’ll ask once they arrive,” Sylvia assured her.

  She didn’t mind that Frona had probably heard what she was saying; Eva could just imagine her perpetual frown. “I’ll look forward to meeting your daughter,” she added.

  “And Tilly will enjoy getting to know you, Eva.”

  Eva hoped she could manage without being too bashful. Oh, she wanted to pick Tilly’s brain about ever so many things.

  That evening, after they enjoyed Sylvia’s hearty casserole meal, Eva and Frona each indulged in one of the delectable leftover truffles. Eva asked Frona’s advice about letting Naomi see Lily’s photograph. “I know she’ll keep mum, if I ask her to.”

  “Show it to anyone you like,” Frona said, wearing her oldest blue kerchief over her thick hair bun. She looked tired and was apparently still distressed over her rude response to Sylvia earlier. “It might be the last we see of Lily.”

  Eva sighed at Frona’s dispirited remark. “Let’s keep prayin’.”

  “Well, the bishop and I talked briefly yesterday before he went over to get you from your shop,” Frona said. “According to him, the world can be more appealing than the Kingdom of God, ’specially to younger folks.”

  “That’s one of the reasons we’re praying.”

  Frona seemed to ignore this. “By the way, you never said how you ran across that photo.”

  Eva shrugged, not willing to admit to the sad affair. “You surely remember how Lily started backing away from the church after Mamma died.”

  “Jah, I do.” Frona set her fork down. “But where’d you find the photo?”

  I’ll have to say eventually, Eva thought, not wanting to be impudent but still reluctant to talk about her final visit with Jed. Not just yet.

  “Eva, ain’t ya listenin’ to me?”

  “I don’t think it matters, Frona. Honestly, I doubt Lily meant for us to see it.”

  “You and Lily, fully of secrets.” Frona grimaced. “Guess I can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip.”

  After the dishes were washed and put away, Eva headed across the road and straight to Naomi’s side door. How many times did we girls come over with Mamma for homemade ice cream? she recalled. Naomi’s heart and home have always been open to us. . . .

  Inside, Naomi rose immediately from the table and led Eva into the front room while Abner stayed put with the coconut cream pie.

  “Poor Abner,” said Eva. “I’ve interrupted your dessert.”

  “Ach, I can tell by the looks of ya, you need to bend my ear, ain’t so? Abner will understand.”

  “You know me well,” Eva admitted and began to share about the surprising photograph of Lily. “Have a look if you want.” She pulled it out of her pocket and showed Naomi.

  For the longest time, Naomi held it out a ways from her face, her chin up as she stared at it. “Well, I’ve never seen Lily so dolled up before,” she said softly, glancing now toward the doorway to the sitting room.

  “What do ya mean?”

  “Well, it looks to me like she’s done something to make her eyes stand out.” Naomi pointed to the photo, and Eva leaned closer to look. “See there?”

  “I haven’t the slightest idea where she would’ve gotten makeup,” Eva said. “I never saw her wear it. And I can’t figure out when she would’ve had this taken.”

  “Wait just a minute.” Naomi put her hand to her mouth. “I was over at Ida Mae’s the mornin’ after Lily left, and Alan Yoder stopped by to deliver some biscuits from his mother. Evidently, a few weeks ago Lily asked him to take her to the mall—she was adamant that he wait for her in the parking lot.”

  “Wha-at?”

  “Jah, he said Lily came out later clutching a flat paper sack.”

  “Maybe that was the day she had the picture taken.” Eva was flummoxed. “Did ya read what’s on the back?”

  Naomi turned it over, and her lips moved as she read Lily’s writing. “I wonder what was goin’ through her mind. ‘The best and worst day . . .’”

  “It’s awful peculiar.”

  “You haven’t said how ya came across this.” Naomi gave the photo back to her.

  Eva leaned back in the chair, trying to relax—she felt too wound up. “You remember Jed Stutzman? He found it on the train comin’ here.”

  “Well, I’ll be. Must’ve been the same train Lily took to Ohio.”

  “I thought of that, but it also might’ve been that another traveler found it in a van or a cab and carried it onto the train. Without being able to ask Lily, how can we ever know for sure?”

  Naomi reached for the settee pillow and pushed it behind her back. “We can’t always know why things come our way. But we know this: ‘All things work together for gut to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’ Remember?”

 
; Eva was anxious to tell her more about Jed. “It was so nice of him to take me riding and walking. We had a wonderful time feeding the ducks at your pond, too. And then, before he left town, he stopped by The Sweet Tooth to see me.”

  Naomi was trying not to smile. “You’re fond of him, and there’s no doubt in my mind he likes you, Eva. Anyone who saw the two of you together would have to agree.”

  Eva felt confident enough now to reveal everything—how the minute Lily’s picture had fallen out of his wallet, Jed’s attitude had changed before her very eyes. “I can’t explain it, but I know there’s a link between that photograph and him seeking me out after we met by accident at the auction.”

  “Are ya sayin’ you think he’s enamored with the picture?” Naomi asked, eyes wide.

  “I wondered at first, but I don’t think it’s that.” She went on to tell Naomi about Jed’s former fiancée. “It could be that he’s just not ready to move on.”

  “Well, for pity’s sake.” Naomi put her hand on her chest. “Will you hear from him by letter, perhaps?”

  “He said he’d write, but that was before I found out about the photo. Now I have my doubts.” Eva thought of Alfred Dienner just then and told Naomi of the letter she’d received from him. “It surprised me, really.”

  “Why’s that, my dear?”

  Eva lowered her head.

  “Listen here, these young fellas know a perty face when they see one.” Naomi leaned forward. “And you’ve got a beautiful heart inside.”

  “Tellin’ the truth, I’ve never been so confused.” Eva poured out her angst over her uncertain future. “Menno’s determined to take over the house as soon as possible, and there’s really only room for one of us to stay. He seems to think—well, he hopes—we girls will be married by then.” She sighed. “But now, with Lily gone, it just doesn’t feel right to me. First Lily . . . and now Frona and I won’t be able to stay together, either.” She went on to tell Naomi that if things didn’t work out for them to live with one of their other brothers, Frona supposed they might end up living in Berne, Indiana, with a great-aunt.

  “So far away?” Naomi exclaimed.

  Eva rose and went to stand next to the large window. “I’d miss ya something terrible.”

  “And I’d miss you, too. Yet when ya think ’bout it,” Naomi said, coming over to stand beside her, “when you do marry, things will definitely change anyway—you won’t be over here as often, of course.”

  “Even so, I don’t want to rush into something with Alfred or anyone else just for the sake of stayin’ put here.”

  “You don’t have to cross that bridge yet.” Naomi slipped her arm around Eva’s waist. “I believe you have too many thoughts pushing round in your head for one evening, child.”

  Eva turned to clasp Naomi’s hand. “You’re prayin’ for me, aren’t ya? And Lily, too?”

  “You know I am.”

  “Mamma always said prayer was ever so important.”

  Naomi nodded sweetly, and if Eva wasn’t mistaken, there were tears in her eyes.

  When Eva walked through the kitchen toward the back door, Abner was still sitting at the table, his old German Biewel open. His pointer finger was on the page, following the lines.

  “Have yourself a restful night,” he said, looking up at her.

  “Denki for lendin’ your wife’s ear.”

  “Well, let’s see once,” he said, getting up to look at Naomi’s ear. “Ah, it’s still attached. Des gut.”

  “I do love talkin’ to her.” Eva smiled at Naomi.

  “Now, that’s better. We like seein’ our Eva smilin’ again,” Abner said before he returned to his reading.

  “Our Eva.” The words were so dear and more comforting than the two of them could ever know. Best of all, Eva was grateful for Naomi’s ongoing prayers for Lily . . . and for herself. Only heaven knows what we’re up against!

  Chapter Twenty-five

  BEFORE NAOMI AND ABNER FINISHED BREAKFAST the next morning, Lester Lantz dropped by. Abner waved him inside to join them, and Naomi greeted him, quickly excusing herself to pour Abner’s brother-in-law some hot black coffee.

  “Been hearin’ some rumblings ’bout Omar,” said Lester as he rested one elbow on the table. “Anything I might do to help?”

  “Ain’t sure what ya might’ve heard,” Abner said, then went on to mention Omar’s interest in voting.

  “Wonder where he came up with that,” Lester said. “Sure isn’t like there’s any leaning toward politics round here. That’s the world’s business.”

  Abner raised his coffee mug to take a sip. “’Tis the truth.”

  Naomi returned to the table, bringing some fresh fruit and another plate of sticky buns, which both men reached for the second she set it down. Taking a seat herself, she decided not to have anything more to eat, just slowly drink the rest of her apple juice, surprised and heartened that Sylvia’s husband was this concerned for their Omar.

  “We’ve tried to steer Omar in the right direction, but ultimately it’s up to him to make his own decisions.” Abner glanced at Naomi as though to cue her to say something.

  “Des gut, really,” Lester agreed. “I’ll admit that I regret the way I pushed our Tilly away, when all was said and done. Honestly, if I could do it over, I’d be gentler with her.” He drank some coffee; then, setting it down, he looked at first Naomi, then Abner. “I would caution you against using the same approach I did. It made Tilly even more determined to go her own way.”

  The room was still for a moment. Knowing Lester as she did, Naomi was glad to witness the softening in his face when he spoke of his daughter—many were the times young Tilly had sought comfort from her and Abner.

  Lester continued. “Omar’s mighty fortunate to have a father . . . and a mother who know how to talk to him ’bout something that other parents might take a hard line against. Some might even turn away from him, considerin’ the controversy.”

  Naomi nodded as she listened. “We’re hopin’ he’ll submit to the bishop’s authority and consider fasting and praying ’bout his decision.”

  They talked further about the hardship of having Tilly and her younger sister, Ruth, out of the fold, yet wanting them to know they were welcome to visit anytime. “Sylvia and I wish the girls had made a different choice, but being they were never baptized into the church, we don’t see any wisdom in shunning them. It’s not going to bring them back.”

  Naomi voiced her agreement before going down to the cold cellar for some stewed tomatoes for the noon meal as the men settled in to talk of crops and livestock.

  “I’ll keep Omar in my thoughts,” Lester said once he got up and made his way to their side door.

  “Denki, means so much,” Naomi said. Abner rose, as well, and walked with her out to the backyard as Lester headed to his waiting horse and carriage.

  “Well, wasn’t that nice?” Naomi said, wiggling her bare toes in the grass.

  “He’s been through more than we can imagine with Tilly and Ruth,” Abner said. “A right gut man.”

  Eva was pleased when Bena dropped by with two-year-old Katie Ann to provide Cousin Jeptha’s mailing address for Lily’s photograph. Bena hemmed and hawed, acting altogether curious to see the picture yet not coming right out to ask.

  Frona’s lips parted in a slight smile when Eva offered to show it to Bena, who quickly accepted.

  Bena stared at it and shook her head. “I can’t imagine what Lily was thinkin’, can you?”

  “Well, if nothin’ else, this might help someone find her,” Eva replied.

  “Oh, an’ before I forget, Menno mentioned that your brother Stephen thought you should have a copy made, in case this gets lost,” Bena said, stroking Katie Ann’s blond braids.

  Frona spoke up from where she had returned to chopping carrots at the kitchen counter. “If it turns up missin’, then so be it.”

  “Guess we’ll take the chance and just mail it as is,” Eva said, glancing at Frona, who clearl
y wanted to have the last say.

  Bena seemed to accept that. She went to the pantry and got a box of blocks out for Katie Ann to play with. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to spend much time helping. What can I do?”

  “There’s always the mending,” Frona grumbled, moving to the sink to wash her hands.

  So Bena sat right down and helped mend for a good hour before she and little Katie Ann left for home.

  “That was kind of her,” Eva remarked to Frona. “’Specially when she has plenty to do at her place.”

  Frona smiled faintly. “I still can hardly believe she’ll soon be in charge of this kitchen.”

  Eva went upstairs to address an envelope at her desk. She slipped the photograph carefully inside, wishing she were writing to Jed. If he writes, what would I say? she wondered, recalling their pleasant conversation while walking with him at the pond. But that sense of ease had come to an abrupt halt the moment Lily’s photo fluttered to the candy counter.

  “As open as Jed was about his fiancée and all he’s suffered emotionally, why couldn’t he be open with me about the picture?” she murmured, trying to suppress her feelings of missing him.

  The more Eva contemplated this, the more she felt it signaled a lack of trust on his part. Would Jed have withheld the truth from Lydiann, had she been in the same circumstance?

  Somehow, Eva doubted it.

  Discouraged, she headed outdoors to mail Lily’s photo. Back inside, she went to the small sewing area in the corner of the sitting room and stitched on the facing, then set in the sleeves for Frona’s new dress. All the while, she prayed for Lily.

  That night, after supper, Eva was determined to finish writing her letter to Alfred. She’d taken time to read through the few sentences of greeting she’d already penned, still wondering how she could be anything more than his friend. Truly, she wished she might hold on to her dream for a very special kind of love.

  In light of what had happened with Jed, she wondered if it was wise to cling so tenaciously to her desire. Wasn’t it time to abandon that hope and focus on her friendship with Alfred? After all, she thought, he’s the one pursuing me.