The Proving

by Beverly Lewis

  Trina was silent as she came over to the sink and stood there, touching Mandy’s shoulder.

  “By the next afternoon, I was gone,” Mandy told her. “I mean, I could hardly breathe in this house, round Arie Mae. And then Mamma, of all people, said it was none of my business who Josiah wanted to date . . . made it clear I should leave for a while. Weeks and months passed, and pretty soon it was two years already. When Mamma wrote to say that Josiah and my sister were engaged, I realized it was better to stay put in Kansas, where I’d made a new life for myself. And . . . before I knew it, five years had come and gone.”

  The kitchen seemed more expansive as the silence settled in.

  And then Trina asked, “You’re still mad at Arie, aren’t you?”

  “Not really.”

  Trina frowned, her brow furrowed. “Are you sure? Or are you saying you’ve forgiven her?”

  “I’m sayin’ that what she and I had is broken, Trina.”

  “But that’s not what I’m asking you.”

  “We can’t fix what happened,” Mandy insisted. “It’s impossible, whether I forgive her or not. Don’t ya see? We can never go back.”

  “True, but you can move forward, right?”

  Mandy pondered this, exhausted with all she’d revealed. “And now Arie Mae will be here tomorrow mornin’ to cook breakfast for the guests . . . in your stead.”

  Trina said nothing more as Mandy turned to run the water for the dishes.

  Chapter

  35

  Mandy had left her windows open all night while she slept, and waking up, she yawned and stretched to the lovely scent of rain. Worrying about having confided so much in Trina, she hoped she’d done the right thing. Trina had been surprised, that was certain. And before leaving, Trina had wrapped her arms around Mandy, showing amazing care. And she had tactfully urged Mandy again to consider that maybe it was time to forgive, since Arie and Josiah were married, after all. “Remember, this wound isn’t beyond the scope of God’s grace.”

  Then Mandy had said a reluctant good-bye, and she and Trina parted ways.

  Looking back on Trina’s time there, Mandy couldn’t help but have warm feelings. She was curious how the flight to Rochester had been, having never flown on an airplane, nor having any desire to do so. Mandy also wondered how it felt for Trina to be home again. Gone so long. Mandy remembered how strange it had been for her to return to Gordonville last fall.

  Then, recalling that this was the morning Arie Mae was coming to cook breakfast for the guests, Mandy got moving quickly, rising to close the windows, the damp morning chill pouring into the room.

  Instead of waiting for Arie Mae to knock, Mandy made sure the door was standing open to greet her as Arie walked up the stoop and into the kitchen.

  “It’s another beautiful spring mornin’,” Arie said, a bright smile on her face after Mandy’s hullo.

  Mandy agreed and remembered that her sister had always been a morning person, seemingly cheerful no matter the weather or the circumstance. Mamma said Arie Mae was born happy, Mandy recalled unexpectedly, and she wondered how her sister could seem so pleased to be working at the inn under Mandy’s nose.

  While preparing to cook, Arie opened the tall cupboard door and started to giggle. “Remember how Dat would measure our height on the back of this door when we were really little?”

  Mandy hadn’t forgotten. Marveling at how comfortable Arie Mae truly appeared, Mandy answered, “Jah, and Mamma told him never to restain over it, ain’t so?”

  Arie nodded. “Look—when we started first grade, we were the exact same height.” She pointed to the pencil marking and the date on the back of the door. “After that, he measured us every six months.”

  “You’d be a hair taller, then I would be . . . back and forth.” Mandy smiled.

  “We should measure each other now, just for fun, even though we prob’ly haven’t grown any since the last time.” Arie gestured toward the cupboard. “Do you wanna be first?”

  “Like when we were kids?” Mandy asked. Arie had often insisted Mandy go first, since she was older by ten minutes.

  “Why not?”

  So Mandy stood very still, her shoes off and feet flat on the floor as their father had always said to do, while Arie marked her height on the back of the door.

  Next, Mandy marked Arie’s. This close, she could smell her sister’s light perfume, the same she’d worn since she was old enough in Mamma’s eyes.

  “Be sure to write the date,” Arie said, stepping away, “like Dat always did.”

  Mandy complied, aware of Arie’s gaze on her, and wondered if they really could simply pretend nothing had ever happened. Even though their heights hadn’t changed, everything else surely had.

  But as the early minutes wore on, Mandy felt more at ease, their conversation flitting easily from one safe topic to another as they waited for the guests to stir upstairs.

  And, despite a few initially awkward moments, Mandy wondered if this could possibly be a new beginning for them, just as Trina had suggested.

  The guests seemed to enjoy having two Amishwomen serve them breakfast. Arie Mae even offered to play “Amazing Grace” on her harmonica, which was a big hit. Mandy, too, enjoyed hearing the lyrical melody after so many years. And when one of the women asked if Arie would play an encore for her birthday, Arie obliged.

  “Josiah says I’ll be playin’ lullabies to our baby soon,” Arie Mae said later as she helped Mandy to redd up the breakfast room and kitchen.

  “‘Jesus Loves the Little Children’ is a sweet one,” Mandy added softly. “Mamma sang it to us and to Jerome and Hannah’s little ones, too. Remember?”

  “Jah, her first grandchildren.” Arie sighed. “Makes me sad sometimes to think my children will never know Mamma or Dat.”

  By the time Arie was to head home to cook the noon meal for her husband, Mandy was feeling more comfortable with the arrangement. She wasn’t prepared, however, when Arie paused with her hand on the doorknob, a look of tenderness in her eyes. “Mandy, I realize I mentioned Josiah earlier, and I hadn’t planned to—”

  “It’s all right,” Mandy said quickly. “Really.” Josiah’s your husband . . . end of story.

  Arie Mae smiled and then looked a bit uneasy. “It felt real gut to be back here workin’ with ya, sister.”

  Mandy nodded and returned the smile. It’s all rather unbelievable, she thought as she watched Arie walk home. They were almost back on sure footing, but Mandy knew God expected more from her.

  The next day went surprisingly well again, with Arie Mae working best as she could, considering how cumbersome she must feel. Mamma had quietly mentioned once that she and all of her sisters had worked right up until they had their babies, so Mandy didn’t worry that Arie was overdoing it, although she limited most of her work to cooking.

  Earlier that morning, when Arie had first arrived, she’d shown Mandy the piecework for a cradle quilt she was making. Mandy had oohed and aahed over it, oddly happy to be included, and when Arie asked her about the color scheme, she agreed that the soft greens and yellow worked well for a boy or a girl.

  “Would ya mind if I stayed for the noon meal?” Arie surprised Mandy by asking. “Since . . . uh . . . Josiah’s gone to an all-day farm auction over in Terre Hill.”

  “All right,” Mandy agreed, recalling the countless mud sales and consignment auctions they’d attended as a family.

  Arie Mae was being so dear, and they were getting along as they always had before the blowup over Josiah. Perhaps this arrangement really will work, Mandy thought as she went about the day.

  When the next Preaching Sunday rolled around, Mandy found herself thinking of Trina, of all people, missing her help especially when hitching up the horse and buggy by herself. She was curious how long it might be before she heard from her, yet there had been no commitment about keeping in touch. Still, Mandy was curious if Trina and Gavin would marry someday, excited that Gavin had suggested the move to Maryland. />
  Sometimes, Mandy still contemplated how Trina had landed here instead of where she’d hoped the travel company would send her. I’m thankful she came, Mandy thought, not forgetting how taxing their relationship had been at first. She remembered how Trina had told her later that the limo driver had declared Trina must be there for a reason.

  Just then, Ol’ Tulip reared her head, rattling the tack and traces, and Mandy snapped to it, leaving her musing behind. “You’re ready to get goin’, aren’t ya, girl?” she said, stroking Ol’ Tulip’s thick mane.

  While waiting for the common meal after church, Mandy stood outdoors with Arie Mae, who looked rather uncomfortable today, bless her heart, in a flowing blue dress, black apron over her middle. “I’ve noticed you’re still wearin’ black,” Arie said, stepping closer. “For Mamma?”

  Mandy nodded. “It’s been longer than six months, true.”

  “Well, how long you wear it is up to you.” Arie glanced toward some of their girl cousins, standing all in a bunch, most either engaged or about to be, according to the grapevine. “Have ya thought of goin’ to Sunday Singings again, maybe?” Arie asked, offering a smile.

  “Honestly, not sure I have the time. I try to catch up on my Bible reading and, well, rest come Sundays.” She thinks I should be dating. . . .

  “I can imagine, what with all the cleaning and grocery shopping and all.” Arie eyed Betsy Kauffman, who was talking with Cousin Kate Dienner. “You might approach Betsy and Kate ’bout working at the inn. I don’t know if Betsy has another job or if Kate’s interested, but I can find out.”

  Mandy smiled. “Denki for thinkin’ ahead. It means a lot.” She did mention that Cousin Kate hadn’t been too keen on even talking to Mandy when she first returned. “Maybe seein’ me here at Preaching with you might help.”

  Arie reached for Mandy’s hand and squeezed it. “It’s so gut to have ya back, sister.”

  Mandy was pleased by Arie’s open affection.

  Later, when Mandy was ready to head home, her teenage cousins Jonathan and Davey seemed especially friendly and eager to help her hitch up Ol’ Tulip. Mandy thanked them as she got into the carriage.

  A half mile or so down the road, Karl Lantz passed her in his gray family buggy, and Yonnie waved at her. She smiled and waved back in return, and farther up, where the road widened, Karl pulled over and gestured out his window for her to stop.

  “Mind if we drop by later with homemade ice cream?” Karl asked once their buggies were side by side.

  “It’s chocolate chip,” Yonnie said, eyes sparkling.

  She might easily have said she had other plans or politely refused, but Yonnie’s eyes were so hopeful that she didn’t have the heart to disappoint him.

  So she agreed they could come by in an hour or so, which meant Mandy would have little time to herself that afternoon. Yet, truth be told, Mandy couldn’t have been more delighted.

  Chapter

  36

  Mandy was rather surprised how, after the first couple of weeks, she and Arie had fallen into their former roles, Mandy continuing with her regular domestic chores, and Arie as head cook in charge of the kitchen—at least until Cousin Kate was to start when the baby was born. Betsy had also agreed to return, rather happily, too, and was already assisting Mandy in redding up after guests, as well as keeping up with all the mowing and her beloved hens. Betsy had even exclaimed how much she’d missed caring for the chickens, which had made Arie laugh a little. “I mean it,” Betsy had replied, and Mandy couldn’t help noticing that Arie was trying not to burst out laughing all the harder.

  It was Arie who suggested offering suppertime meals to the B and B guests. “For an extra charge, of course. It used to be a real draw, much like the carriage rides are now,” Arie mentioned to Mandy as they were at market together one Saturday afternoon in early June, tending the table where Arie’s embroidered items and colorful needlepoint wall hangings were displayed. “It’s up to you, Mandy.”

  Since Betsy had started working again, Mandy had a less hectic schedule, and had come along to keep Arie company, not wanting her to be alone as the mid-June due date neared. “Do ya honestly want to cook for these suppers?” Mandy asked, wondering why Arie would want to take this on.

  “We used to do three a week—I think I can handle that as long as you help with the cold food items. How does that sound?” Arie asked, going around to straighten the pillowcases, making sure they were in sets.

  “What, like Mamma’s canned chow chow?”

  This brought a laugh from both sisters. “Since you put it that way, it might be safer,” Arie teased. “You could slice the pickles, too . . . things like that.” She came around and took a seat next to Mandy behind the table.

  “You really don’t think I can cook much, do ya?” Mandy said, conscious of the sticky buns and other donuts in the next booth over, as well as an adjacent display of German sausages. The glorious aromas were making her hungry.

  “Did I say that?” Again, Arie had to cover her mouth to suppress her laughter.

  They teased each other back and forth until Arie remarked how Karl Lantz seemed to be coming around more frequently than before. “And why might that be?” Arie asked, giving Mandy a knowing grin.

  Mandy played coy. “Well, his little boy is fond of me.”

  Arie nodded. “His son, jah.”

  Mandy glanced at Arie, uneasy about any conversation involving Karl or any man, for that matter. It still felt too raw, too close to what had damaged their relationship in the past. They had managed to move forward, though, and how they were getting along felt good most days. But there were other times when Mandy wondered if they had merely covered over a festering wound, hoping it would just go away.

  Arie continued, “Jerome said that he and Karl were chewin’ the fat at one of the farm sales here recently. Come to find out, Karl is related to my husband.”

  Mandy mentioned she’d heard from Betsy, back last November, that Karl had relatives here. “She wasn’t sure which branch of Lantzes he was related to, though.”

  “He’s Josiah’s second cousin.”

  “Well, how ’bout that,” Mandy said, still wondering why Arie had her mind on Karl.

  “Jerome says Karl’s an honest man . . . and as conscientious as Dat was.” Arie waved at one of her regular customers, who waved in return while strolling past the market table with her children.

  “I believe he is, too” was all Mandy said. The direction of their conversation amused her. And to think that Karl and Josiah are related, and not too distantly either!

  As market closing time neared, Hannah and her girls, Gracie and Marian, came over to Arie’s table to visit. “What’re you sellin’ today, Aendi Mandy?” asked Gracie, her hands tucked behind the back of her rosy pink dress.

  “Oh, I’m just keepin’ Arie Mae company.”

  But Gracie was apparently intent on an answer. “I wondered what sort of handiwork you like to do best.”

  Arie spoke up. “Mandy likes to darn socks. Ain’t so, sister?” She turned to look at her, giving a wink.

  “Well,” Mandy said, “there was a time when I helped your Mammi Dienner darn your father’s socks—well before you were born.”

  “And before I even met your Dat,” Hannah told Gracie, who looked surprised that Mandy was that old.

  “Honestly?” Gracie said, mouth open.

  “Ain’t exactly what you’d call handiwork, though,” Mandy said, poking Arie for fun.

  “Nee,” Hannah said, “but it’s a necessity, and from what Dat says, your Aendi Mandy was the best sock darner around.”

  “You ain’t pullin’ my leg, Mamma?” Gracie asked, the corners of her mouth turning up.

  “Oh, she wouldn’t think of it,” Mandy said seriously. “And if you’d like to learn how, just come over after your chores are done. I’ll show ya.”

  Hannah was nodding her head. “I think she’d like that, wouldn’t ya, sweetie?”

  “Am I old enough?
” Gracie asked, eyes sparkling. “Gut enough with a needle?”

  Arie spoke up again. “Mandy was your age when our mother taught her to mend.”

  “Did you mend with her?” asked Gracie as she stepped forward to look at the wall hangings.

  “Rarely,” Mandy said, laughing. “Arie was busy cookin’, another necessity.”

  They stood there talking awhile longer, and then young Marian picked up a set of pillowcases and asked her mother if she could learn to embroider like that.

  Hannah smiled and touched Marian’s little head. “When Gracie’s over at Aendi Mandy’s darning socks, you can go to Aendi Arie’s to learn to embroider.”

  “And cook!” Mandy added, which brought a big smile to her younger niece’s shining face.

  “They’re such cuties,” Mandy said as they waved good-bye to head down the aisle toward the fudge display.

  “Jah,” Arie said, watching them go. “Reminds me of us at that age.”

  Mandy remembered going to market with Mamma numerous times and having strangers stop them to ask if they were twins.

  “Do you remember getting lost at Root’s Country Market?” Arie asked.

  “You thought I planned it so we could go around and get samples of food and goodies,” Mandy said, remembering it plain as day.

  “Well, didn’t ya?” Arie was laughing again, having herself a good time in the midst of showing her wares.

  “I might have, but I felt awful nervous in that big crowd, not knowin’ how to get back to Mamma.”

  “I was more frightened than you, I think,” Arie claimed, taking a sip from the water bottle she had tucked under the market table. “You were always the adventuresome one, remember? The tree climber . . . the daring one.”

  Mandy shook her head and pulled up a chair next to her. “There was never any danger at Root’s, though.”

  “Say what you will: We were plumb lost, and it took hours for us to find Mamma, or for her to find us.”