“Thanks, Mamm,” Annie said, leading the way out the front door.
As soon as Matthew closed the door behind them, Annie turned to him. “I didn’t expect you till tonight… And you came right to the door. What’s happened, Matthew?”
She looked into his eyes and must have seen his discomfort, for her expression fell and she looked frightened. “What’s happened?” she repeated.
“Uh, I thought we might go for a ride,” he said, not wanting to tell her right there, standing in the cold on the porch.
“You’re scaring me,” she said. She put her hand on his arm. “Has something happened?”
“Annie…”
She pulled her hand back. “Wh-what?”
“Let’s go for a ride.”
She shook her head. “Nee. I don’t want to. Tell me what’s wrong.”
He swallowed. “Please, Annie. It’s bitter cold out here…”
“Tell me,” she said, her usual soft voice unrelenting.
“I-I…”
She huffed out a breath and began blinking rapidly. Tears filled her eyes. “It’s over, ain’t so? You’ve come to break up with me. You don’t love me.” Her eyes were huge, and she stumbled back a step. “That’s it, isn’t it?”
How he didn’t want to do this to her. She was such a nice person, such a good person. She didn’t deserve this.
“Annie,” he said softly, stepping closer.
“Nee!” she cried. “Don’t come near me.” She held up her hand, openly weeping now. “I… I told Mamm about us. She’s so happy for us. A Christmas engagement.”
“I know you told her.”
She looked confused for a moment, but then her tears increased. “Matthew—why?” she managed to get out. “Why don’t you want to marry me? You did before. Just yesterday…”
“I’m so sorry, Annie. I never should have courted you. I’m so sorry.”
“What? What do you mean you never should have courted me? Why n-not?” she stammered, and then her eyes grew even bigger. “There’s another girl. Is that it?”
Something in his eyes must have confirmed her guess. She gasped and pressed a hand to her mouth. Then she frowned and wiped at her tears.
“Who? Who is it?” she asked. “Who?” And then a look of dawning came over her face. “Oh, my heavens… It’s Doris, isn’t it?” She shook her head and began crying all over again. “Ach! Is it Doris? She’s your cousin, Matthew.”
She stumbled backward until she sank onto the porch swing. “Your cousin,” she repeated.
He went to her and squatted before her. “I’m sorry, Annie. Truly, I am. You’re such a wonderful person, and I do care for you…”
“But you don’t love me,” she interrupted. “Not like you love Doris.” Her voice had become leaden now, resigned.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Go away, Matthew.”
“Annie, I wish—”
“Go away, Matthew.” She looked at him through her tears. “Now.”
He stood up and looked down at her. He’d hurt her, and he regretted it. He’d never been so sorry about anything in his life.
“Forgive me, Annie,” he whispered. And then he left the porch, got into his buggy, and drove away.
* * *
After leaving Annie’s, Matthew didn’t know what to do with himself. The weather was holding—no new snow had fallen. He wanted to see Doris, but he felt so raw from confronting Annie that he wasn’t ready to go over there. Nor was he ready to go back home.
Nathaniel had surprised him. Matthew had never loved him more than he did right then. Matthew hadn’t expected such support and such understanding. Nathaniel had been a good father to him in so many ways over the years, but never so much as the moment he admitted his love for Doris. Matthew would never be able to repay Nathaniel for a lifetime of kindness and love.
Verna either, for that matter.
Would Verna ever come to accept him and Doris as a couple? Would she? He prayed so. He couldn’t stand the thought of hurting someone else. He loved Doris, and he didn’t want that love to be the cause of anyone’s pain. He wanted to rejoice in it. Revel in it.
He let out his breath slowly.
At least now, they knew. Verna and Nathaniel knew. He had dreaded this—avoided this—for forever, and now they knew. It was a relief. A massively huge relief.
But Doris’s family didn’t know. How would they react? He tugged back slightly on the reins, and Blackie slowed her trot to a walk. He needed to go see Doris. She was likely wondering what had happened with Annie. He needed to go see her right now.
Chapter Sixteen
“Matthew’s here,” Sally announced from the front room.
Doris jumped up from the rocker and joined her at the window. “So he is,” she said, her voice breathless. She watched him get out of the buggy and approach the porch. She studied his face. Had he told Annie? It was just turning dark, but she could see the seriousness of his expression.
He’d told her—she was sure of it. She licked her lips. By the look of him, it hadn’t gone well, but then, how could it have? Annie would have been heartbroken. Doris felt compassion for her but knew there was nothing for it. Matthew couldn’t have married Annie—it wouldn’t have been right for any of them. Still, that would be of no comfort to Annie.
Matthew didn’t knock, he just came right in.
“Matthew, hello,” Sally greeted him.
But he didn’t answer her; his gaze went straight to Doris. Doris swallowed and walked to him. She wanted to fold herself into his arms and comfort him, for she saw his upset and sorrow for what he’d had to do. But of course, she couldn’t.
“Hello, Matthew,” she said quietly.
“You hungry?” Sally asked, pulling on his arm and guiding him to the kitchen.
He gave Doris a look of resignation and allowed Sally to tug him along. Doris was on their heels.
“I’ll fix Matthew something to eat,” Doris told Sally.
“It’s no bother. I’ll make him a sandwi—”
“Sally,” Doris said, her voice brooking no argument. “Let me do it. I want to talk to Matthew.”
Sally stopped abruptly and turned to face Doris. She glared at her for a moment and then her expression opened with understanding. “Oh. You want to tell him about you and Jor…” She stopped and gave Doris a nod. “Okay. I’ll go bother our brothers.” She giggled and left the room.
“Matthew?”
“I told her,” he said, his voice heavy.
“How is she?”
“She hates me.”
Doris’s eyes widened. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
Matthew shrugged. “It’s true right now.” He reached out and grabbed her hand. “But it’s over, and there’s nothing more I can do. I don’t want to dwell on it anymore.” He gazed through the doorway where Sally had just exited. “You told Sally that you and Jordan broke up?”
“Jah. And Mamm. So, I’m sure everyone knows by now.”
He smiled. “I’m glad they know. Was your mamm pleased?”
Doris laughed. “That’s an understatement.”
“Verna and Nathaniel know—about us, I mean.”
Doris sucked in her breath. “And?”
“Nathaniel wasn’t surprised. Verna…” He shrugged again. “She knew about me and Annie, so she was upset.”
“But how did she know?”
“Annie had told her mamm after all.”
“Ach… nee.”
“But Nathaniel was supportive. He’s all right with it, Doris. And I think—I pray—Verna will be, too. It’s a bit much at first.”
“It is.”
“We need to tell your family…”
Doris’s chest tightened. “I know.”
“We might be surprised at how well it goes…”
Doris bit her lip. Her mother wasn’t exactly known to make anything easy. Doris could already hear her reaction. Just then, Henrietta appeared.
“Matthew,
we’ve been seeing a lot of you lately,” she said, entering the kitchen. “Your mamm is going to accuse me of stealing you from her.”
Matthew laughed. “I doubt that.”
“Is Doris getting you something to eat? Are you hungry?”
“I’m fine.” He took a deep breath. “I wonder if Doris and I might talk to you and onkel.”
Henrietta stopped short and studied him. “Of … course,” she said slowly.
“And the whole family,” Matthew went on. “That would be fine, too.”
The whole family? He wanted to tell everyone at once? Doris twisted her hands together. Well, maybe it was better. Get it over with in one fell swoop.
Henrietta narrowed her eyes and gazed at Doris.
“Come on, Mamm,” Doris said, trying to head off her mother’s questions.
They went into the front room.
“Sally, get Kara, will you?” Doris asked.
Sally gave Doris a questioning look but ran to do her bidding without comment. Everyone else was already in the front room.
“Hello, Matthew,” John said, and Stuart and Peter echoed the greeting.
“Hello all,” Matthew answered. “I have something to share with you. We’ll just wait for Kara.”
Matthew ran his hands down his thighs and Doris saw his hands shaking, but his face didn’t betray his nervousness. He looked the same as he always did.
When everyone was assembled, they all stared at him. When Doris moved to his side, she heard her mother suck in her breath.
“Go ahead, Matthew,” John said, his brow furrowing slightly.
“All right.” Matthew stood even taller, and Doris could feel the tension radiating off him. “All of you know that Doris and I have always been close—”
Henrietta’s mouth was open now, and she had clasped a hand to her chest.
“—and lately, we’ve grown even closer. You know, too, that I’m not really blood kin. I mean, I think of you all as my family, and I love you as my family, but the fact remains, we’re not truly related.”
Stuart was eyeing Doris; she could feel the intensity of his gaze, but she was more concerned about her mother’s response, and right then Henrietta was staring at Matthew, her expression taut.
“Um, lately, well, Doris and I realize that we’re in love with each other—”
He didn’t get another word out before Sally jumped off the couch. “I knew it!” she cried. “I knew it!”
“Huh?” Peter asked, screwing up his face. “That’s disgusting.”
“It is not,” Kara snapped. “I think it’s beautiful. And right.”
Doris threw her a grateful look and then looked back at her mother. Henrietta hadn’t moved. Her face seemed frozen. Her father stood, though, and gazed at them both.
“Well, I’ll be,” he uttered. “I… Well, I didn’t see this coming.”
He grinned then and shook his head in surprise, and Doris knew it was going to be all right with him. She looked again at her mother.
“Mamm?”
“Does my sister know about this?” Henrietta finally spoke.
Matthew nodded. “Just an hour or so ago, I told her. And Dat.”
“What did she say?”
“Um, she was shocked.”
“Was she in favor of this?”
John sat back down by his wife. “What difference does it make, Henrietta? Whether Verna is shocked or not. Or in favor or not.”
“I just want to know,” Henrietta retorted.
Matthew took a step forward. “I think she’s adjusting to the idea,” he said.
“Well, I think it’s fine,” Stuart said. “You two have always been together anyway. So, why not?”
“They’re cousins,” Peter said, making a face.
“Didn’t you hear a word Matthew said?” Kara asked Peter impatiently. “They’re not related at all. Not really.”
Peter gave an exaggerated shrug.
“Mamm?” Doris asked again.
Henrietta stood and made her way to the front window where she stood and gazed outside for a long moment. It seemed as if everyone in the room held their breath, waiting for her response. Matthew reached over and grabbed Doris’s hand, and she held on, waiting.
Finally, Henrietta turned from the window. “I never could abide that Jordan Lehman,” she said.
Doris wanted to scream. Would her mother never stop going on and on about Jordan? This had nothing to do with Jordan.
“But,” Henrietta continued, “I’ve always loved you, Matthew. Ever since you came to us and became my nephew so to speak, I’ve been fond of you. You’re a fine young man.”
Matthew squeezed Doris’s hand again.
“I s’pose having you as my son-in-law would be right nice—”
Before she could continue, Doris let go of Matthew’s hand and rushed across the room. She threw her arms around her mother and held on. Henrietta stiffened in her embrace, but then relaxed enough to hug her back—for a moment at least.
Doris drew back. “Thank you, Mamm,” she said with tears in her eyes.
Henrietta chuckled. “I imagine Verna has already come around and is planning the wedding.”
Doris grinned. “You think so?”
“I know my sister,” Henrietta answered.
Doris turned back to Matthew who was looking at her with such love that her breath stilled.
“Ach… Disgusting,” Peter mumbled upon seeing the look.
Stuart gave him a friendly slap on the arm. “Just wait, brother. Your time ain’t so far off.”
Peter grimaced and made a show of rubbing his arm where Stuart had hit him.
Doris walked back to Matthew and leaned against him. Kara came over and hugged Doris. “I’m right happy for you,” she whispered in her ear.
Doris’s eyes stung with tears of gratitude. “Thank you.”
Sally was grinning at her. “I knew it,” she said again.
“I think we’ll all clear out for a minute and give these two a moment to catch their breath,” John said. He raised his arms and herded everyone out of the room and toward the kitchen.
“I’ll make hot chocolate,” said Henrietta as she left the room.
“Can we put in some pieces of peppermint candy?” Sally asked. “After all, it’s nearly Christmas.”
Doris laughed as she watched her family leave. She felt such love for every one of them, that she became choked up. Matthew put his arm around her and sighed.
“It wasn’t so bad, after all, was it?”
She shook her head. “Nee. It wasn’t so bad at all.”
“I think they’re all happy for us. I hope so, anyway.”
“I think they are. Do you think Verna will be all right with it?”
“I reckon your mamm is right. Verna is probably planning things right now. Are you willing to live with Verna and Nathaniel for a few years after we’re married? We could find a daadi haus somewhere, but I know Verna and Nathaniel would love to have us.”
Doris nodded. “There’s more room at your house than here. And I think it’d be nice to live there. At first, anyway.”
“Gut. That will go a long way in easing Verna’s heart.”
“I s’pose we should start courting now,” Doris said with a grin. “You know, since we’re going to get married.”
Matthew laughed out loud at that. “Ach, Doris… I think we’ve been courting since the day I moved in with your aenti and onkel all those years ago.”
And then he pulled her to him and encircled her with his strong arms. He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. Doris curled her arms around him and pressed her cheek against his chest, breathing him in.
“It’s almost Christmas,” she said, repeating Sally’s words. “And this year, I’m going to make you your very own pumpkin pie. The whole thing, just for you.”
“I’ll count on that,” he said, chuckling as he kissed her again.
The End
Continue Reading…
&nb
sp; Thank you for reading The Revelation! Have you read Doris’s Christmas Story #1 & #2, The Cousin and The Punishment? If not, you can find them by Clicking HERE! Are you wondering what to read next? Why not read The Twin? Here’s a peek for you:
“It’s not fair,” Rachel hissed. “It should be me.”
“Why?” Lindy asked. “There’s no real reason.”
Rachel drew herself up and glared at her older sister. “Jah, there is a reason, and you know it.”
Lindy sighed. She was weary of Rachel, weary of her constant complaints and whining. It wasn’t Lindy’s fault that Dat had chosen her for the job—despite what Rachel believed.
“You get to see him every day. And all day.” Rachel walked to the door of Lindy’s bedroom and huffed. “It should be me.”
“I’m not there for Robert Mast, as you’re well aware. I’m there to care for his mother.” Lindy frowned, remembering Berta Mast’s pain the day before. Lindy had done her best to ease it, using all sorts of concoctions Old Mae had put together for her, but Lindy knew they hadn’t helped much.
Rachel’s brow crinkled. “How is she?”
“Not gut. Yesterday was a bad day.” Lindy took a fresh kapp from her top drawer and bobby-pinned it in place. “I hope today is better.”
“So do I.” Rachel drew in a long breath. “Sorry, Lindy. I shouldn’t be fussing so.”
“Nee, you shouldn’t,” Lindy answered frankly. “I didn’t ask for this job, and I certainly didn’t connive to take it from you.”
“I know,” Rachel said quickly. “I know.”
“Dat doesn’t even know you’re sweet on Robert.”
“Or that you’re sweet on Reuben,” Rachel added.
It was ironic that they as sisters, had fallen for brothers. Robert and Reuben were identical twins, so identical in fact, that it was difficult to tell them apart. Lindy didn’t dare mention that sometimes when she was with Robert, she felt as though she were with Reuben instead. Rachel would have a fit if she knew…
Yet, Lindy never really forgot that Robert wasn’t Reuben. Reuben was gone, and she missed him. It seemed like years since he’d left for Ohio to help his cousin with planting and harvest—years instead of just months.
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