The Timepiece

by Beverly Lewis

  This evening she would guard her heart more carefully. After all, Andy’s interest in me came about before his father was made a preacher. . . .

  Adeline missed seeing Brendon that Saturday evening, but he’d told her earlier that he had a meeting to attend. So she enjoyed a quiet evening near the gas fireplace, studying for hours and then reading more of the Bible before soaking up every word of her mom’s next diary entry. She had slowed down the pace of reading those now, wanting to savor what was left, prolonging this special time. She was curled up in the pretty quilt given to Mom and Earnest as a wedding gift so long ago, a mug of hot tea within reach on the lamp table. Every now and then, she found herself staring at the flames in the gas fireplace, wondering when to best share with Brendon what she was discovering spiritually. How will he react? she wondered, knowing he was preoccupied with work.

  She shrugged it off, thinking the right time would present itself. I’ll know when to bring this up. . . .

  Later, she got her laptop to look at wedding trends, especially colors and styles of bridesmaids’ dresses for her maid-of-honor and two attendants. If I decide on even that many, she thought, wanting to keep things simple, per Brendon’s request.

  Adeline’s grandparents had offered to pay for a lavish wedding, but Adeline didn’t want to take advantage of their generosity. After all, her mom’s marriage to Earnest had taken place before a justice of the peace, and the marriage to Adeline’s stepdad, William Pelham, had also been relatively modest. It wouldn’t be right to spend a bunch of Grandpa and Grandy’s money on my wedding, she thought. And she wouldn’t ask the trustee her mom had appointed to shell out extra, either. For once, I’ll be frugal, like Brendon.

  Up Hickory Lane, Andy had already arrived and awaited Sylvia, much to her amazement. He stood outside his open courting carriage, dressed in black except for the white shirt collar that peeked out at the neck of his coat. His wide black felt hat made him look especially distinguished. She tried not to act surprised that he’d actually come, lest he not understand the reason.

  “I thought of just pullin’ up to your back door,” Andy said as she met him. “No point hiding who you’re out with tonight, jah?”

  She smiled. “Well, there are still some couples who prefer to keep it a secret,” she said, liking that he wouldn’t have minded her family knowing. She appreciated that he seemed to like to have things out in the open. “I did tell my parents, though.”

  “I told mine, too,” Andy confessed, helping her into the carriage.

  Again, she was very surprised and would have loved to know what the new preacher thought about his son taking out Earnest Miller’s daughter. But it wasn’t polite to probe. Besides, she thought, feeling a subtle twinge in her heart, maybe I don’t want to know.

  “Are ya hungry?” Andy asked after getting into the driver’s side.

  “Jah, are you sure?”

  “It’s time to eat, for sure.” He mentioned two restaurants. “Which would you like?”

  “Dienner’s is fine.”

  “My Dat’s cousins run that one, so maybe we can get a family discount,” he joked, spreading the lap blanket gently over her. “I hope you’ll be warm enough. If not, I’ve got more blankets in the back.”

  She appreciated his attention to her and tried not to compare a single thing he said or did with Titus. It was only fair, but it wouldn’t be easy.

  Andy picked up the driving lines and signaled the horse to move forward.

  Off to a good start, she thought happily.

  Dienner’s Country Restaurant was crowded mainly with tourists, but there were a few Amish couples eating in the secondary room off to the side of the buffet. The young Amish hostess, with a friendly smile on her rosy cheeks, directed Sylvia and Andy to their table amidst the background of dinner conversation and the clinking sound of utensils on plates. Sylvia didn’t recognize the hostess, but Andy seemed to, and she assumed the young woman must be one of his many cousins or someone he knew from another church district.

  When they were seated, Andy made a point of telling Sylvia that the hostess was Linda Esch, an in-law to his married sister. “Linda’s also a storyteller at the little rural library out east, near Honey Brook.”

  Sylvia perked up at this. “She makes up stories?”

  “Well, not exactly.” Andy explained that Linda memorized stories and dramatized them for children. “To encourage them to learn to read.”

  “What a talent!”

  Andy agreed. “She has a sharp memory.”

  “How many stories does she know by heart?”

  “At last count, seven—everything from Dr. Seuss to Aesop’s Fables. Do ya remember reading ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’ and ‘The Fox and the Grapes’?”

  Sylvia smiled as she recalled Mamma reading those to her when she was small.

  Andy reached for the menu. “Well, I guess we should choose what to order before we forget, jah?” He winked at her.

  Agreeing, Sylvia realized again how comfortable she felt with Andy. He was always so easy to talk to.

  “Would ya like the buffet?” he asked with a glance at her. “Don’t be shy . . . you can have whatever you’d like.”

  She thanked him but didn’t think she wanted something as substantial as the all-you-can-eat buffet. In the end, Andy chose that, and she ordered a cheesesteak on a potato roll with a side of coleslaw.

  Effortlessly, they resumed their conversation, talking now about the upcoming youth fall festivities, including the fall supper party to be hosted at the home of Ella Mae’s son-in-law.

  “It’ll be loads of fun, and I hear David Beiler will have his nine-hundred-pound pumpkin on display,” Andy said, grinning like he couldn’t wait to see it. “David fertilizes it with phosphorous once the blossoms start.”

  “That’ll do it,” Sylvia said. She told Andy that Dawdi Riehl had once grown a fifteen-hundred-pound pumpkin.

  Andy chuckled. “That is big.”

  They talked easily throughout the evening, and it wasn’t until much later, when they were alone again in his courting carriage and bundled up with several heavy blankets, that she realized she’d scarcely thought of Titus.

  As they rode out along Route 30, Andy talked of all the fun they would have together this fall, as if he planned on asking her out again. At North Soudersburg Road, they turned north for a little way, then went east on Irishtown Road, wending their way back toward Hickory Hollow.

  A mile from her house, Andy slowed the horse. “Sylvie, I don’t want to take you for granted,” he said. “Would ya like to spend time with me next Saturday after the Beilers’ supper party?”

  To think he was asking her this far ahead made her smile. “That’d be nice, but . . .”

  He turned to look at her. “What is it?”

  “I guess . . . well, I thought ya might not wanna spend time with me anymore, not after your father’s ordination.”

  Andy was so quiet for a moment, she was aware of her heart beating. Ach, I shouldn’t have said anything.

  When he spoke again, it was rather softly. “Listen, Sylvie. I know why you and Titus aren’t together. It’s no secret.”

  “You know?”

  “Jah.” He paused and signaled the mare to a walk. “But I’m not Titus . . . and my father isn’t Preacher Kauffman.”

  She was surprised that he’d immediately touched on the heart of the matter.

  Andy continued. “My Daed and Dawdi Mahlon have been close friends with your Dat for more than twenty years now. Your Dat has been like family to them, and my father knows he’s serious now ’bout living as he should.” Andy looked her way, then back at the road. “But it’s not only about the connection between our families. It’s about you, Sylvie. I’ve admired ya ever since our school days.”

  She’d wondered how long Andy had been observing her. “That’s a lot to live up to.”

  “Well, you don’t have to worry. All of us are sinners, saved only by the grace of God.”

>   His words echoed in her heart, endearing him to her, and she felt ever so encouraged.

  “So if it’s all right with you, I’d like to see ya next Saturday after the fall supper party, and at Singing on Sunday, too,” Andy said.

  Two evenings in a row?

  “That’ll be fun,” she said, trying to squelch a grin.

  “Okay then. It’s settled.” Andy gave a nod before signaling the horse to trot again.

  She felt truly at home with him, just as she had the other times they’d talked. And while she liked that they were becoming good friends first, before he showed any romantic affection, she couldn’t help wondering how long before he might hold her hand.

  CHAPTER

  thirty-two

  The following Tuesday afternoon was chillier than the last few days, yet Sylvia dashed outside without a coat, down to the mailbox to check for a letter from Adeline. She spotted one right away, on the top of the pile.

  “What will she say?” she whispered as she ran back up the driveway toward the house.

  Sylvia hurried into the kitchen and sat in the spot where she always ate her meals. Sunlight poured through the windows and warmed her up. Mamma appeared to have gone upstairs to the sewing room, so Sylvia decided to read the letter now before announcing its arrival.

  Not till I know something . . .

  She started at the beginning with Dear Sylvie, and before she reached the end, happiness had filled her heart.

  Before Dat came in for supper that evening, Sylvia went over to the shop to tell him the exciting news. She opened the door to the showroom, then went to the interior door and peeked inside. “Guess who’s comin’ for Thanksgiving?” she called.

  Her father spun around on his work chair. “Well, I’ll be!”

  She held up Adeline’s letter. “She’ll arrive the night before Thanksgiving and stay till early Saturday mornin’.”

  Dat smiled. “That’s great.”

  “And . . . she’s bringing along her Nine Patch project. It’ll be fun to see how it’s progressed.”

  “Won’t Tommy be happy to see her again,” Dat commented as he stood and stretched a bit.

  “I think all the boys will be,” she said, though she agreed that Tommy would be especially thrilled.

  “Your Mamma will want to have Dawdi and Mammi Riehl over for the feast, too.”

  Sylvia could hardly wait to tell Adeline in person about her first date with Andy Zook. By then, I’ll have seen him at least three times, she thought happily.

  Then, just that quick, Sylvia wondered what Andy would think of Adeline’s return. Would it complicate things between them when things were starting off so well?

  She recalled his kind words about her and the reasons he’d wanted to take her out for supper last Saturday. I mustn’t fret, she decided, wanting to trust God in this, as Dat had been encouraging all of them to do lately about everything. He had even asked them to read chapter seventeen, verse seven, of Jeremiah each morning when they first got up. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

  “I’ll be sure to ask Adeline her favorite dessert,” she said, interrupting her own musing.

  Dat nodded. “Gut idea. And do I get to tell you mine?”

  She laughed. “Sure,” she said, heading back to the house to share the good news with Mamma, too.

  Dat told the boys even before they sat down at the table for supper. “We’re having a special guest for Thanksgiving,” he said, grinning at Sylvia, who carried a large platter of fried chicken.

  “Is it the new preacher?” asked Adam, taking his seat next to Ernie.

  “Dat said a guest, not guests,” Ernie told him. “Preacher Zook’s not gonna come for dinner without his family.”

  Adam frowned and looked at Dat.

  “Do we get a hint?” Calvin said with a glance at Tommy, who was nodding his head.

  Dat dramatically pressed a finger against his cheek. “Hmm, let’s see. This is someone who makes delicious omelets.”

  “So the person is a she!” Calvin announced.

  Dat chuckled, and the boys were still for a moment, like they were thinking hard.

  Then Dat gave one more hint. “She promised Tommy a ride in her car.”

  Tommy raised his eyebrows. “Adeline?” he asked quietly, like he wasn’t sure he ought to say it.

  Dat laughed. “You guessed it.”

  Even Adam was nodding his head happily, and Sylvia could hardly wait to write to Adeline and tell her how very delighted they all were.

  That evening, Adeline texted Brendon that she had booked their garden wedding, complete with a reception tent. There will be a luncheon for one hundred guests and a three-tier cake of our choosing. We’ll save loads of money, not having a four-course meal!

  In less than a minute, he texted back: Perfect!

  Adeline laughed under her breath, pleased they were in agreement. She went to the kitchen table and opened her laptop to sit down and do some research for a class as the full moon shone in through the sliding doors to the balcony.

  Looking forward to seeing Andy again, Sylvia asked Ernie to drop her off at David and Mattie Beiler’s farmhouse, where the supper party was set to begin that Saturday evening. It was Halloween night, though none of the People in Hickory Hollow celebrated it.

  On the drive over, she told Ernie about the supposed nine-hundred-pound pumpkin Ella Mae’s son-in-law had grown.

  “By now it’s probably another hundred fifty pounds on top of that, if he hasn’t cut it off the vine yet,” Ernie told her as the driving lines rested loosely in his hands.

  “Honestly, that big?”

  He nodded. “Pumpkins like that can grow more than twenty pounds in a day.”

  Sylvia gazed out at the waning moon, still bright. “Why don’t we grow any of ours that big?”

  “Well, how’re we gonna get them out to the vegetable stand to sell?”

  “A forklift, maybe?” she suggested.

  Ernie burst out laughing.

  When they arrived, she thanked him for dropping her off and said she planned to get a ride home.

  “With our new preacher’s son?” Ernie gave her a knowing grin.

  “So I guess the word’s out.”

  “Can’t keep somethin’ like that a secret.” He waved and clicked his cheek to signal the horse forward.

  Sylvia didn’t know what to think. Could it be all of Hickory Hollow knew already, after she and Andy had only had one date?

  Sylvia thought it was awfully nice of Susie Zook and Cousin Alma to save her a seat at the table in Mattie Beiler’s large front room, which was decorated with big paper leaves someone had taken a lot of time to cut out. Long tables and wooden benches crowded the space, and the lasagna supper was so tasty, more than a few fellows went back for seconds. Unfortunately, Cousin Jessie was under the weather tonight, so she was missing out on a wonderful meal and some good fellowship, as well.

  “Tell her we missed her, won’t ya?” Sylvia said to Alma, who sat to her left.

  Alma nodded as she glanced over toward Jessie’s beau, Yonnie Zook. “She and Yonnie are getting serious,” Alma whispered. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they tie the knot next fall.”

  “A year’s a long time away,” Susie said softly, eyes serious.

  Sylvia thought again of her plans to join church next September and agreed with what Susie had just said. A very long wait.

  After the plates had been cleared away, Mattie and Ella Mae brought out clear plastic bins of cookies—five different kinds in all. The fudge meltaways, Sylvia knew for sure, were Ella Mae’s doing. The oodles of nuts, coconut, chocolate, and graham cracker crumbs made for an especially delicious treat.

  She took only one, and the first bite was pure heaven as it melted in her mouth. Going over to say hullo to Ella Mae, Sylvia thanked her for making them. “I would’ve come an’ helped ya, had I known what you were up to.”

  “So thoughtful of you, dearie.” Ella Ma
e’s eyes shone as Sylvia gave her a little hug, the Wise Woman’s soft white hair brushing Sylvia’s cheek.

  “It’s nice seein’ ya here with die Youngie,” Sylvie told her.

  “Jah, but I best be gettin’ back to the Haus before I frighten anyone.” Ella Mae tittered and patted her heavily wrinkled cheeks.

  Sylvia shook her head. “Ach, you’d never do that!” She clasped the dear woman’s hand.

  “Kumme see me again, Sylvie,” Ella Mae said as she smiled at some of the other youth who’d come to greet her now, too.

  “I will,” promised Sylvia. She must’ve heard I’m seeing Andy, Sylvia thought, unable to hold back her smile. She wants news!

  After table games and singing a few gospel songs, everyone helped redd up before going outside to see the enormous pumpkin, even larger than Sylvia had imagined. Some of the guys sat on it, acting silly. One of Titus’s cousins commented that, if they had a phone, they could all take a photo while pretending to lift the pumpkin. That made Sylvia think of Adeline, and she wished she could begin to describe how huge this pumpkin was.

  Andy came over to talk with her. Just then, she spotted Titus, whom she hadn’t seen at the supper party earlier. Had he come just to see the pumpkin, maybe?

  Their eyes caught, and he gave her a faint smile before looking away.

  She gathered up her black coat and outer bonnet, feeling surprised because she hadn’t felt sad or discouraged at seeing him. A good sign, she thought, walking out to Andy’s carriage with him. “That supper Mattie made was wunnerbaar-gut, ain’t so?” she said as they settled into his courting carriage.

  “Delicious! There must’ve been five kinds of cheese in the lasagna,” Andy remarked, picking up the driving lines after covering Sylvia and himself with the thick lap blankets. “And I liked each one.”

  She chuckled. “And did ya taste Ella Mae’s fudge meltaways?” she asked as they headed toward the road.

  “The first cookie I reached for,” Andy admitted. “I don’t think my Mamm has that recipe.”