Satisfied that he’d done his best, Zeke left the cafeteria, only to be met at the elevator by a barricade of Lantz men. Five brothers and a grossdaadi. They crossed their arms in unison. A bit of déjà vu from his worst nightmare, even if there were only six family members—and none had chain saws.
Zeke stopped. Frowned. “What’s wrong?” He’d delivered Gracie safely to the waiting room, albeit upset, and…Wait. Were they blaming him?
And she hadn’t defended him?
At least he’d gotten exactly half of the twelve that were threatened if he hurt her.
“Care to explain what happened?” Cliff broke formation.
“Um, I bought her a meal, and we were eating.” No need to mention the flirting part. “And talking. When a certain somebody decided to join us.” He attempted to give Cliff a meaningful look.
Cliff frowned. “Somebody you know?”
Apparently the meaningful look failed.
“Actually, no. First time I met him. Sort of. I mean, I saw him at the school yesterday morning, pushing a broom.”
Cliff’s eyes widened. “Gracie’s missing groom.”
Grunts and grumbles came from the five brothers. They stepped closer. One looked around.
“Jah. He basically accused her of cheating on him, and she retaliated with a large glass of ice and soft drink dumped on his head.”
The five brothers relaxed.
Cliff shook his head. “That girl. Oh, that girl.”
Oops. Zeke hadn’t intended to get her into trouble. That wasn’t the typical turn-the-other-cheek Amish response. He’d meant to show them that she could take care of herself.
“I talked to Timothy after Gracie left.” Fed him, too, but they didn’t need to know that or exactly what else he’d said since the man had told him to tell Gracie but not anyone else. He skimmed over the details. “He needs a lot of prayer as he figures things out.” And probably a good rehab center, but that would be Timothy’s choice.
“Is he still intending to marry our sister?” The words were heavy with warning. Zeke didn’t know which brother asked. And he didn’t know what the warning meant.
“I don’t know.” He hoped not. Gracie deserved better than a drug-addicted drunk who loved another. But that would be Timothy’s and Gracie’s choice. Not Zeke’s. And since he wasn’t here to date or court but to work, there was nothing he could do about it.
Except pray.
And pray he would.
“Sorry for accusing you.” One of the brothers lightly punched Zeke’s arm. “You’re a good man.”
“Jah. Too bad Gracie hadn’t discovered him first,” another brother agreed.
Oh, that warmed Zeke’s heart.
“Never did see what Gracie saw in Timothy,” a third brother said.
It was taking forever to learn names at this rate, but it was entirely too awkward to point to them individually and ask, “Who are you? And you? And you…?”
“Maybe you should ask Gracie what she saw in him,” Cliff suggested, as if he knew the truth about the abusive behavior and wanted her to tell her brothers.
“And encourage her to chase Zeke here?” a brother teased.
A chorus of agreements.
“Don’t let them drive you away,” Cliff said, grasping Zeke’s arm. “They’re only teasing.”
The brothers fell silent. He really needed to learn their names. He’d find some way of asking on the elevator. Jon was the beardless one, and then there was Joseph—the one with scruff who’d recently married. And he knew Reuben, who was the oldest. Three down, nine to go.
“I’m not here to date,” Zeke reminded them. “And the line is drawn in quicksand. Crossing it means immediate punishment, I was told.”
And that was the cold, hard truth.
“Hmm.” Daadi Cliff eyed him. “So skip the dating and cut straight to marrying?”
* * *
Tears flowed down Grace’s face, and she fought to stay upright. Here she was, filling her empty stomach and flirting with Zeke while her brother breathed his last breath. Dumping her soft drink on Timothy’s head while the doctor notified her parents. Her selfishness shamed her.
She moaned, covering her face with her hands. “Jon. Oh, Jon.” How would she ever live without her favorite brother? They shared everything, including the same wedding season and apparently both not getting married…Another wail burst out of her.
“Gracie! Get a hold of yourself. Hush, now.” Daed’s hands tightened on Grace’s upper arms, and he gave her the tiniest of shakes. Then he pulled her into his hug. “No, Gracie. Listen. Jon is alive. He’s still in surgery for his shoulder blade, actually. It’s Timothy’s friend, Peter. I know you have valid reasons for your concerns about marrying Timothy if he’s alive, but you probably should prepare for the possibility that he’s gone, since both of his friends he was with—”
“He’s alive.” Gracie found her strength to stop wailing.
Daed jerked and clutched her tighter. “You sure?”
She nodded. “He was in the cafeteria.” Tears still dripped, as sympathy for Peter’s family and friends filled her. And so quickly on the heels of Toby’s death. And all because of Timothy’s foolishness, wanting to go out for one more wild night as a free man before he was bound by the chains of matrimony.
But maybe he wanted to marry her as much as she wanted to marry him—not at all. Maybe he’d felt pressured to do it because of their mamms being best friends and imagining their children marrying ever since they were newborns sleeping in the same crib while their parents visited.
Gracie shook her head and swiped at her wet face. “Jon will be okay, right?”
Daed sighed. “He’s in the hands of the Lord.”
Which was a nonanswer. And clearly stating that Daed didn’t know, and…and…Well, the rest was too terrible to consider.
Down the hall, the elevator door dinged as it opened. And one by one, her five brothers, Daadi Cliff, and Zeke emerged.
Daadi Cliff had his arm around Zeke’s shoulder. “Just remember the twelve sons of Jacob. With a few exceptions, those are the names of Seth’s twelve boys. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin. The exceptions are Nathan, David, Aaron, Isaac, and Jon. Don’t worry. You’ll get to know everyone in time.”
Time was one thing Gracie knew they didn’t have. How long would Zeke be allowed to stay?
Daed walked toward the men. “Zeke. Do you think you’d be able to build furniture? Luke, Toby’s daed, needs help with the furniture side of the business—he also builds caskets—and the bishop said Luke had requested you by name. Furniture orders are backing up, and he’s not yet buried his son. I thought I’d send you and Vernon to help out tomorrow. There’ll be a few others from your area that are being asked to help out there as well.”
Zeke nodded, his expression sobering. “Jah, I’m sure I can do it. I’m so sorry for all the loss.”
Daed nodded. “It’s a terrible time, to be sure.”
Grace winced a bit and said a quick prayer for Luke and his wife in their grief…and for Peter’s parents.
“It’s a blessing to have the men from your area come to help us,” Daed said, clapping Zeke on the shoulder. “There’s a group of Amish and Mennonites coming from Missouri, too. They’re due to arrive late tonight or tomorrow.” He turned. “Gracie, with your mother and I at the hospital with Jon, you’re needed at home. Since you went to Toby’s visitation today, there’s no need to go tomorrow for the second day of it.”
Grace sniffled. “I’m glad to help.” But it’d be lonely at home without Patience or anyone there to visit with or to share the workload. And she didn’t want to whine about it. She needed to do her part during this time of great need.
Even if it meant that Zeke would be a couple of miles away. At least it was closer than being in different states.
She hated visitations anyway.
And funerals were even worse, with three hours of preaching plus the trip to the cemeter
y. Though with multiple deaths from the tornado, they might have combined services.
Zeke cleared his throat. “If it makes it easier, I could move into Luke’s hayloft while I work for him. I’m not sure how to get there, and—”
“No!” The word burst from Grace unbidden.
Zeke and the male members of her family jerked to look at her.
Her face burned. But how were she and Zeke supposed to talk if he wasn’t even there? How were they supposed to court without courting? How were they supposed to flirt? What about stealing kisses? How…
Zeke’s face reddened. Dan laughed. Daadi Cliff dipped his head, but his shoulders shook.
Daed stared at her. “Grace Lynn.”
Horror filled her.
“Did I say all that out loud?”
Nobody answered. They didn’t need to. She knew.
She wished for a hole to open up for her to drop into.
None did. Of course, that would’ve been too easy.
A long silence fell.
Grace swallowed and stared down at her shoes. “I’m sorry. I know he’s not here to court. And I was just kidding.” Except that was a lie, and everyone knew it. Ugh. “I mean, jah, having Zeke stay at Luke’s would solve a lot of problems.” And create more. She sighed heavily.
There was a round of awkward chuckles.
“Zeke?” Daed asked.
“Your decision,” Zeke said quietly.
Oh, she hated that she put him in this position. Shame filled her.
“We’ll discuss it after the funerals,” Daed decided. “I came to get your mamm’s knitting. Jon will be in surgery for hours. I want the rest of you to go home. And Gracie…”
Silence fell. One beat. Two. Three.
Grace looked up.
Daed stared into her eyes. “I trust you.”
* * *
Zeke firmed his shoulders, determined to do everything in his power to help Gracie earn and keep Seth’s trust. Even if it meant they weren’t alone at all. They could talk just as well in the living room with Cliff nearby as they could on the floor in Jon’s bedroom, in each other’s arms…His face heated. They probably could talk better around chaperones. Especially since they weren’t courting. Besides, if perfect Vernon thought they were spending time together as a dating couple, he might decide to notify the missionaries in charge who’d remove Zeke from temptation’s way. No romantic entanglements. Zeke almost snorted. He and Gracie had already been tangled romantically. At least two times. And how sweet it was! He looked forward to future entanglements…
Jah, the interest was there, on both sides. But they needed to develop a friendship, too. Though even the beginnings of one was well established. But Gracie needed to talk to Timothy before she and Zeke made any future plans. He would seriously miss Gracie when he returned home to Indiana, even if he made plans to come back here. He had a heart connection with her that he’d never had with anyone. Ever.
Despite the mental fog he was lost in, he managed to trail the Lantz family into the waiting room.
Seth grabbed his wife’s knitting bag and gave Zeke a fatherly slap on the back. “Good night.” He left the room.
Zeke whispered another prayer for Jon as one of the Lantz brothers—Dan, he thought—pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll call the driver.”
It’d be good to get back to his host family’s haus, though Zeke intended to take a shower to get all the construction dust off and tumble straight into bed.
Calling Daed would wait another day. Zeke didn’t know exactly what he’d say to him anyway. I’m sorry for being such a huge disappointment to you didn’t seem to fit. It also seemed rather poor-pitiful-me-ish. Daed would pick up on that. It’d be better to pray about what Gott would have him say and that Gott would guide their conversation.
“Zeke.” Gracie touched his sleeve, drawing him out of his mental wanderings. “We’re leaving to meet the driver.”
“Danki,” he said.
She picked up her soft drink and moved to join the others as they headed toward the elevator.
Zeke watched the sway of her skirt for a few moments before he shook his head to hopefully remove the fog from his brain and followed her.
He needed to pray about more than one thing.
What to say to Daed and…
What to do about his relationship with Gracie.
Chapter 23
The next morning, the scent of strong coffee and fried eggs woke Grace. Mammi. Grace should’ve been up to help. She rolled over and stretched wearily. She’d had a restless night’s sleep due to worrying about several things: Jon, what to do about Timothy, finding a new job since she quit her waitressing position to get married, and Zeke. Not to mention the bed seemed so empty without Patience sleeping beside her.
It was the first time that Grace could remember sleeping alone, though surely she had before Patience was born and until her sister was old enough to sleep in a real bed. The strangeness had contributed to her difficulty in falling asleep.
Her back twinged as she got out of bed, remnants from her fall down the stairs yesterday morning. She hoped it would loosen up again once she started moving. She moved a little slower than usual as she showered, dressed, and prepared to take on the day. Since no one would bring cinnamon rolls, she wouldn’t be in a huge rush and wind up repeating the previous morning’s drama. Though she wouldn’t mind a repeat of the time spent in Zeke’s arms.
Or the kiss.
Oh, the kiss.
Her heart pounded just thinking of it.
She’d absolutely love a repeat of that.
Except, with a different ending than him saying he was sorry and running from the room.
The smell of burnt bacon and smoke filled the kitchen. Grossmammi stood in front of the open refrigerator muttering to herself as she shuffled items around.
Grace crossed to the stove. Smoke poured from the oven and the bacon was crispier than crispy. The crispiest she’d ever seen. Mamm didn’t make hers so well-done. She grabbed a pot holder, turned the burner off, and moved the skillet to a cool spot, then checked the eggs. They were crispy, too. The oatmeal was scalded and sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Stove-top foods saved—sort of—Grace turned her attention to the oven. She whipped open the door and waved away the black billows of smoke that poured out. It smelled toxic. She turned the oven off and stared at the blackened toast.
Mammi was usually a great cook, so this was weird. Was Mammi suffering a bit from dementia? Or was it caused by one of the new meds she’d gotten when she went to the doctor last week? Maybe this was why Daed wanted her at home to help—so Mammi wouldn’t burn down their haus.
“Doesn’t your mother ever clean her refrigerator? This is a disorganized mess,” Mammi complained.
The refrigerator had been organized but probably was messed up with all the women working in the kitchen yesterday for the barn raising. But Gracie didn’t argue. That would be disrespectful. Instead she pulled the burnt toast out of the oven. She turned to set it on the counter.
The kitchen door opened, and Daadi Cliff, Vernon, and Zeke came inside. Without a word, Daadi Cliff removed his work boots, then opened the kitchen window. Was this his new normal?
Vernon wrinkled his nose. “It smells…done.” He bent to take off his footwear.
Well, that was tactful.
“Oh, Gracie, you baked.” Zeke winked. His boots thumped into the plastic tray next to the others.
That would earn him a thump from a well-aimed pillow. Which actually sounded fun.
And promising…She peeked at his oh-so-kissable lips.
They twitched as if he had an idea of what she was thinking.
If only Grace could pass the blame for the overdone breakfast. Zeke hadn’t had anything she’d cooked yet, and if the way to a man’s heart is truly through the stomach, she’d just had an epic fail by proxy.
Mammi emerged from the depths of the refrigerator with a jar of strawberry preserves Gracie had
helped Mamm make from their strawberry patch excess. Mammi plopped the jar on the table hard enough to make Grace wince. “Grace Lynn, when breakfast is finished, I need you to help me straighten that mess of a refrigerator. Your mamm ought to be ashamed, letting it get into that condition. In the meantime, find the ketchup.”
Grace swallowed the retort hovering on the edge of her tongue, nodded, and moved to obey.
Mammi was right. Food was shoved in everywhere. Bottles and jars were tipped over. The dill pickle jar had lost its lid. The cheese had been put in unwrapped and left to harden. Mamm would insist on cleaning this atrocious mess, too.
At least that would give her something to do today while alone at home. Perhaps some laundry and some baking of the good, nonburnt kind.
She found the ketchup bottle sideways in the vegetable drawer, buried underneath leftover fried chicken.
At least there wasn’t much of that left. If Mammi let her, she’d figure out something to do with it for the noon meal.
Except, Zeke and Vernon weren’t going to be there. They’d be building chairs. And however many orders Luke had pending. He supplied the local furniture store in addition to the Amish community.
She’d need to pack a lunch for the two Shipshewana men.
Cold fried chicken, cut-up raw carrots and celery, dill pickles, the last of the cherry tomatoes from the late garden, and an apple…She turned to check the bowl someone had moved to the counter. Exactly two apples left. Perfect.
She carried the ketchup to the table, set it beside Mammi, and then sat in one of the empty seats. The one across from Zeke. Not that she planned to play footsie under the table.
Although the idea held merit.
But no. Daed trusted her.
After the silent prayer, Grace got up to help Mammi carry the burnt offering over to the table. Mammi must’ve really been thrown off-kilter by the sad state of the refrigerator, because normally she was a really good cook.
The men filled their plates and ate without a word of complaint. Although they washed it down with generous amounts of coffee. Grace gulped juice.
Zeke bowed his head for his end-of-meal prayer and glanced at Mammi and then Grace. “Danki for breakfast. I really appreciate it.”
The Amish Wedding Promise Page 20