Last Bride, The (Home to Hickory Hollow Book #5)

by Beverly Lewis

  “Evidently Norman’s movin’ ahead with his plans to work part-time with his brother-in-law. Seth says Norm plans to purchase some of Marcus King’s old furniture for his room at Lloyd and Maggie’s house. For the time being, though, he’ll stay on with his parents.” Marta shook her head and reached for a couple tatted doilies. “Now, these here are awful perty.” She held them up to inspect them.

  “Made ’em myself.” Mandy laughed a little.

  “Well then, I must have a gut eye for quality, ain’t so?”

  “I guess I couldn’t agree with you more.” Mandy felt a little funny, boasting so.

  They both laughed. Then Marta said, “Don’t get a big head, now, ya hear?”

  “I promise not to.” Mandy’s thoughts were full of Marta’s astonishing news, and she wondered if Glenice’s visit might have been the turning point for the poor young woman. “Are ya sure ’bout all this business with Norm’s fiancée?”

  “Sorry?” Marta turned to look at her.

  “You’re not mistaken, are ya, ’bout Glenice leavin’?”

  “Oh, I heard it from two reliable sources.”

  “It must’ve just happened.”

  “Jah, early this morning.” Marta looked at her with kindness and compassion in her eyes. Then she slipped her arm around Mandy, encircling dimpled Mimi, as well, and held Mandy’s gaze. It was as if she were trying to say, “I’m sorry I brought this up.”

  “Must be for the best, then.”

  Marta nodded, then releasing her, she asked, “How’s Tessie Ann doin’?” She carried her chosen items to the cash register.

  “Well, her color’s better.”

  “Didn’t know she was ailin’.” Marta reached to take Mimi from Mandy.

  “Tessie misses Marcus,” she replied, wondering what Marta knew of their sister’s courtship.

  “Ah, so that’s why she wore black to Fannie Sue’s wedding. It gave me pause—thought I’d missed something.”

  “Jah, s’pose so.”

  “And, Mandy . . . I hope you aren’t upset by what I said ’bout Norman Byler. Didn’t mean to—”

  “Not at all,” Mandy said right quick. “It’s not like we were ever meant to be together . . . that’s for certain.”

  “Sometimes we’re given precisely what we need no matter what we think at the time,” Marta said, her blue eyes sober. “The Good Lord knows exactly who that person is, as you surely know by now.”

  Mandy nodded. She couldn’t agree more.

  Marta opened her purse to pay the bill.

  “Nee . . . no.” Mandy refused the money. “Consider it a gift.”

  “Are ya sure, sister?”

  “I insist.” She hurried around to the other side of the counter and kissed Marta’s freckled cheek, then cupped Mimi’s round dumpling of a face in her hands. “It’s ever so nice seein’ ya both.”

  “You really have a lovely place here to sell your things,” Marta said and opened the door to leave.

  Watching her sister stroll down the little shoveled walkway, Mandy recalled her words. “Sometimes we’re given precisely what we need.” She contemplated them long after, telling Emmalyn, when she returned, that she would not be at work for another week.

  Chapter 17

  By early February, Tessie’s morning sickness had dissipated. Thankfully, there were no more probing remarks from Mamma, who’d accepted the rather cryptic explanation that Tessie had anemia. Tessie was taking some iron tablets to remedy that, as well as the prenatal vitamins her doctor had prescribed. She’d discussed with the doctor the possibility of acquiring a certified midwife, such as their own Mattie Beiler, Ella Mae’s daughter. Tessie was still considering that, though she wanted to wait until she told Mamma her news. The Amish grapevine would have a heyday with it.

  Her mother had no idea Tessie had seen the doctor twice now or that he’d already spoken with one of the specialists at the Clinic for Special Children. She’d quickly learned that the ability to predict genetic diseases among the Plain community was complicated. And since aborting high-risk babies was not at all the Amish way, no prenatal testing would take place—only a preliminary consultation before the baby’s birth.

  Tessie Ann spent most of her days cooking at home in her mother’s absence, since Molly needed Mamma’s help with her infant son, Michael Abram. As for herself, Tessie was needed more at the shop than at Sylvan and Mandy’s, since Mandy had quite suddenly decided to stay at home more often now. Sylvan had sketched out a blueprint for a small addition to the back of the family home to be built in early spring. This would make it possible to move Mandy and Emmalyn’s store when the short-term lease expired in April.

  Mandy had told Mamma at a recent quilting frolic that the Amish bishops in the country, one hundred and eighty in all, had met at a conference not long ago, and the biggest issue of concern was the use of cell phones. Apparently Mandy had asked Sylvan if she could have an iPhone for her business, since Emmalyn used one quite often. Sylvan, however, was opposed to it and assumed Bishop John Beiler would be, too, so Mandy dropped the idea.

  Tessie thought it was considerate of Sylvan to provide a spot for her sister and Emmalyn’s shop goods on the back of the house. Did that mean their marriage was back on an even keel? If Mandy’s not confiding in me, then all must be better, thought Tessie.

  “So . . . all’s well,” she whispered while gathering ingredients for a pumpkin chiffon pie. She’d heard others repeat such words when there was no way to know how things might turn out. Or worse, when intuitively they knew that nothing would ever be well again. But she wouldn’t reflect her own worries onto Mandy. No, it seemed that even with her sister’s former beau back and living in Hickory Hollow, things were going along just fine for Mandy and Sylvan. Tessie certainly hoped so.

  On the day before Valentine’s Day, Tessie received another card from Levi Smucker and was thankful she’d opened it in private, because Levi had written a dinner invitation at the bottom. If you’re willing, he’d added.

  She appreciated that he hadn’t pressed her for a date after his initial indication of interest at Fannie Sue’s wedding feast. She’d saved that previous card, unsure why, because if Levi had any knowledge of her condition, she was certain that both the correspondence and his interest would vanish instantly.

  She pondered Levi’s dinner request for a couple days, feeling hesitant to accept. Soon, very soon, she would no longer be able to conceal her growing babe, and then what?

  But she needed a friend, and perhaps Levi could be just that. So she got up and wrote a note, deciding to hand it to him discreetly after the shared meal following Preaching tomorrow. If it works out, she thought as she reached for her black dress from the wooden pegs to inspect it.

  Thinking of his kind attention, Tessie changed her mind about what to wear tomorrow. “I’ve looked dismal long enough.” She pulled out her best blue dress and white cape and apron, then went to the sewing room to let out the seams a bit.

  During the Sunday common meal of cold cuts and snitz pie, Mandy overheard Sylvan talking with Norman Byler. Earlier, Norm had seated himself directly across the table from Sylvan and Mandy, and she had spent most of the meal recalling the things poor Glenice had privately shared. Presently, though, Mandy heard Levi Smucker’s name mentioned—from the bits and pieces she was gathering, Sylvan and Norm had started to volunteer at the local fire company where Levi Smucker was assistant fire chief. Evidently Levi had given both of them beepers to alert them to a fire.

  “Some Amish from more progressive churches are allowed to receive texts on their cell phones instead,” Norm informed Sylvan.

  She hadn’t meant to snoop, although it was difficult to tune out all of their excitement over plans to raise money for the fire company at the April running marathon in Bird-in-Hand.

  Deliberately, Mandy turned her attention to Tessie, who had sat down with their mother and Dawdi Dave near the end of another row of tables. Mandy was suddenly struck by her sister’s
altered attire. When did this happen? And how did I miss it during Preaching?

  Mandy wondered what had precipitated the surprising turn and found joy in the prospect that Tessie was emerging from her grieving time.

  After enduring as much talk between Sylvan and Norm as she could possibly manage, Mandy excused herself and strolled to the kitchen to offer some help, even though it wasn’t her turn. She had to get some breathing space, somewhere as far from Norm as possible.

  When her help was graciously rejected, Mandy wandered out to the large utility room and located her coat, outer bonnet, and gloves. Donning them, she decided to venture out to the back porch for some air. It was there she noticed Tessie outside now, as well, and standing near the thick clump of trees that formed a windbreak on the northeast side of the property. Mandy was surprised to see her sister had ventured out with little more than a shawl and gloves.

  Then, out of the blue, Levi Smucker appeared, and if Mandy wasn’t mistaken, it looked like Tessie handed him something. They stood together for a moment; then Levi skedaddled off to join the other young men his age over near the corncrib. Mandy’s curiosity was piqued to high heaven as she watched him go.

  Ah, so Levi’s the reason for Tessie’s blue dress today, Mandy thought, grinning at the discovery.

  She moved down the steps and wandered across the yard, breathing in the crisp air while observing her youngest sister. Presently, a ferhoodled look appeared on Tessie’s pretty face, and Tessie began to weave in and out of the trees before she finally stopped to lean against one of the larger trunks. She stared up at the branches.

  Is she honestly thinking of climbing up there on the Lord’s Day? Mandy choked back a chuckle.

  Still focused on Tessie Ann, she watched her sister slide her hands beneath her white Sunday apron and turn to face the north. The slightly rounded silhouette of Tessie’s belly was alarming at first. Then Mandy wondered if she was just getting a little chubby like some of the girls Tessie’s age who loved their mashed potatoes and gravy, and many sweet desserts.

  But, no, the way Tessie held herself just now made Mandy wilt. For the life of her, it looked like Tessie was pregnant. Oh, she wanted to reject the notion, but it was impossible not to wonder if Tessie and Marcus King had slipped up and made a mistake in a weak moment.

  Tessie bowed her head just then and looked like she was struggling. Or was she praying? Her shoulders rose and fell as her upper body heaved.

  Saddened and terribly perplexed, Mandy lifted her skirt and rushed across the yard. “Tessie Ann,” she called to her. “Schweschder!”

  ———

  “Mandy, please keep your voice low,” Tessie pleaded, still shocked that her sister had confronted her in this way—and on the heels of Tessie’s short conversation with Levi, too.

  “What’ll happen when Mamma and Dat put together that you’re expecting a baby? What then?” asked Mandy, looking altogether forlorn.

  Tessie shook her head, scarcely able to take it all in. “Dat will hit the roof and then some.”

  “Well, you’d better go to the bishop and confess to him first—and right away. He’ll find out sooner or later.” Mandy was staring at Tessie’s middle now.

  “You don’t know what I’m goin’ through.”

  “Nee, I don’t.” Mandy’s face fell. “I assume Marcus was the baby’s father.”

  “Jah,” Tessie admitted, “but you daresn’t tell a soul.”

  “Sister, you can’t hide this forever.”

  Tessie sighed. “I’m just askin’ you to keep this quiet . . . for now.”

  “Well, if you don’t go to the bishop yourself, someone has to!”

  “It’s not your place, Mandy!”

  Her sister exhaled loudly. “Whose, then?”

  “Certainly not yours!” Tears began to spill down Tessie’s face. Oh, she wished Mandy hadn’t discovered her secret already. Yet she wasn’t surprised at her sister’s accusation, really. She should have known it was just a matter of time before all of this came to light. But why today?

  “Listen, I won’t be askin’ you questions ’bout what took place an’ all—mistakes can happen sometimes,” Mandy said, her tone softer now. “I’m not excusing it, mind you—not whatsoever. But ya can’t just wait till a baby comes to confess your sin.”

  Tessie couldn’t stop the tears. “Ach, this isn’t what you’re thinkin’, I assure you.” Her heart thudded in her chest, and a wave of nausea threatened to overtake her.

  “Well then, I don’t understand. Why wait?”

  Tessie folded her arms. “You just keep it to yourself, ya hear?” With that, she headed for the east side of the barn, away from the stable, though she’d gone only a few steps when she turned back and called over her shoulder, “I mean it!”

  Chapter 18

  Tessie received a follow-up note from Levi on Tuesday, saying where to meet and the restaurant he’d chosen to treat her to supper Saturday evening. She turned sideways and looked in the dresser mirror, shaking her head. Who next might realize the truth about her? It pained her that Mandy had reacted so, yet if the tables were turned, she, too, would have urged her sister to confess her situation to the man of God.

  Tessie also worried that Mandy might spill the beans, given the right circumstance. Or the wrong one. What Tessie really wanted was to talk privately with her sister Molly to find out what things she would face in the months ahead before the baby came. Tessie had stopped in at the library and looked through a book on such matters, but she hadn’t dared to check it out. Molly would know very well, as would Miriam, Marta . . . and Mamma. But it was unfeasible to share with any of them, not just yet.

  She placed Levi’s note in her dresser along with the cards and decided to make the best of the proposed date. She couldn’t deny that she felt remarkably peaceful around Levi, so that was something, at least.

  I’ll go with him only once, she promised herself, adjusting her soft blue apron against her matching dress.

  Friday noon, while they waited for Great-Aunt Elaine to arrive for the meal, Mandy listened as Sylvan told her about his busy morning getting the family buggy wheels reset.

  “I ran into a hole on the road and bent an axle,” Sylvan said, scowling.

  “Good thing you weren’t hurt when the carriage hit it.”

  “No chance of that,” he replied quickly, still glowering at his misfortune. “But it’s all fixed now . . . just more money out of the budget than I wanted to spend.”

  She considered that and wondered why he wasn’t more pleased for the extra money she was bringing in, although it wasn’t terribly much.

  Before she could say more, Sylvan added that it was mighty good to see Tessie finally wearing normal clothes again. “It’s time she was out of mourning attire, that’s for certain.”

  Mandy shifted in her chair, suddenly uncomfortable. Even though she had not promised to keep to herself what she knew, she felt a responsibility to stay quiet about it.

  After his aunt Elaine came over and they’d enjoyed their meal, Sylvan offered the silent table blessing, then left to go outdoors. Mandy walked Elaine back to the Dawdi Haus, then returned to make two big batches of hot dish, trying her best to get over her grouchy attitude. Knowing yet another sister was in the family way—and Tessie, no less—was another blow to Mandy’s own hopes.

  When at last the task was complete and she was ready to head out, Mandy led their most reliable horse from the stable and hitched up the carriage by herself, frustrated that Sylvan hadn’t noticed or bothered to help.

  She loaded the food into the buggy and headed to their English neighbors’ three miles up the road, where they rented space in one of their big freezers. And all the way, Mandy fumed and fretted, knowing her feelings were not at all pleasing to God.

  Later that afternoon, Tessie Ann dropped by Mandy’s on foot, wearing her snow boots and heaviest coat. Mandy greeted her, looking her right in the eye, not letting her gaze wander to Tessie’s middle. “Glad you
came by, sister,” she said with a hug.

  “Needed some air, cold as it is.” Tessie looked downright miserable. “But I’m really here because of Mamma . . . she’s starting to look at me funny.”

  “Well, I wonder whether she suspects.”

  “What would it hurt if I just came right out and told her?” asked Tessie, following Mandy into the kitchen. “Bring an end to the questions in her eyes.”

  “That’s up to you.”

  Tessie shook her head, quiet for a moment. “No, I don’t think I’m ready for all of that yet. I’m really not.”

  “Just wait till you are, then.”

  Tessie sat at the table on the wooden bench while Mandy brought over two mugs of hot cocoa. Tessie took her time stirring her cocoa. “Do ya have marshmallows, maybe?”

  “How many?”

  Tessie smiled a little, then laughed. It was an outright giggle.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothin’, I guess. I’m just every which way with my emotions nowadays. Maybe that’s normal . . . for my situation.”

  Mandy made no comment. She really didn’t want to hear about any of that, perturbed as she was with her own inability to conceive.

  They had been drinking their cocoa for only a few minutes when here came Ella Mae Zook, riding into the driveway, alone in her gray carriage.

  “I’d never expect her out on such a frosty day,” Tessie said, appearing surprised. “I’ve actually wanted to go and visit her. Ella Mae invited me over to see her a while back. I just never got around to goin’.”

  “Ah, for some of her wonderful-gut peppermint tea?”

  Tessie nodded as she stared out the window. “That’s just what she offered.”

  Mandy knew full well what could happen if you sat long enough at the Wise Woman’s cottage sipping her famous tea. Oh, she knew, all right. “Well, it might be providential that you’re both here today.”