Ida sighed. “I suppose you’re right. But it’s still a shame. You lost both of them now—Paul and Alvin.”
“Maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be.” Debbie worked hard to keep bitterness out of her voice. “I’ll just be an Amish old maid. Isn’t that what you call them?” Debbie jiggled the reins, and Buttercup increased her speed.
Ida didn’t sound convinced. “Someone as gut looking as you, Debbie? Don’t worry. Some young man will be calling on you soon.”
“Maybe I don’t want them calling,” Debbie snapped. She wished at once she hadn’t said anything, especially when she saw a cloud of sorrow cross Ida’s face.
“Da Hah has His ways,” Ida said before pressing her lips together.
Debbie held the reins with one hand and touched Ida’s arm with the other. “I’m sorry I said that.”
Ida nodded. “I know. Thank you for coming with me. I love Melvin, and I think I’ll love him even more as I get to know him better. And his children, of course.”
“Have you had any doubts?” Debbie asked. “The wedding’s coming up quickly.”
Ida chuckled. “I admit I had butterflies in my stomach for Paul Wagler once, but that’s over with. I’m very content with the man Da Hah has sent me.”
That’s a nice attitude to have, Debbie almost said. But that might have sounded sarcastic to Ida’s ears, and she really was here to support her. Especially with the favor Melvin had done for her. She likely wouldn’t be in the community if Melvin hadn’t prevailed with his brother on her behalf. She ought to cook and clean for the man every week for a year to express her gratitude.
“Do you disagree with my choice, Debbie?” Ida sounded worried. “Do you think I’m being silly…or wrong?”
“Of course not!” Debbie pulled Buttercup to a stop at the intersection. “I was thinking I should help Melvin with his housework every day for a year in gratitude for what he told his brother.”
Ida relaxed on the buggy seat. “Yah, it showed the kind heart Melvin has. And the gut judge of character he is. He saw what kind of girl you are. He’s going to be a gut husband for me, Debbie.”
“I’m sure he is,” Debbie agreed. “Now, where is his place?”
“Up ahead a mile or so.” Ida motioned with her head. “You’ll like it. Melvin keeps it up nice considering…”
Debbie kept quiet as Buttercup’s hooves beat on the blacktop. As Ida’s friend, Debbie only cared about Melvin’s place because of her. He seemed nice enough to Ida, and that was the important point. But another troubling thought raced through her mind. Had Ida’s tender heart been swayed by Melvin’s kind act of speaking up? Enough that she based her decision to marry the man on that reason alone? Surely not! Debbie decided.
“Melvin’s sister Lily helps out when she can,” Ida continued. “But she can’t do much more than the housework. Melvin does the rest. I’ll have to see today if we can at least begin a garden. Melvin told me on Sunday he’d have the spot plowed and disked, and that Lily wouldn’t mind.”
“She shouldn’t!” Debbie exclaimed. “You’re marrying the man.”
“It’s just that I didn’t want Lily to think we considered her incapable of…”
Debbie laughed. “I’m sure Melvin made things clear to his sister.” But Debbie’s face darkened as her unspoken question returned. Finally she said, “Ida, I hope you’re not being influenced to marry Melvin because he spoke to his brother on my behalf. Your mother does want you to use our visiting as a kind of trial run, you know. It’s not too late for you to back out if it doesn’t go well.”
Ida’s voice was sober. “I wasn’t influenced by Melvin’s kindness to you. Well, except to love him more. And you shouldn’t take Mamm too seriously. She’s worried about all the work in raising six children, I suppose. And about me becoming a widower’s frau since I’ve never been married. But those things don’t bother me. I know I’m not Melvin’s first choice in a frau, but he wasn’t mine either. Da Hah has worked things out as He sees best.”
Debbie glanced at Ida. “Maybe your mother does have a point?”
Ida shook her head. “Now look who’s on whose side.”
“You know I’m always on your side,” Debbie asserted. She motioned with her head. “Is that the place up there?”
Ida’s face broke into a smile. “Yah. Pull up by the barn so we can unhitch.”
Debbie took the turn into the driveway with care. She noticed a patch of freshly worked ground behind the house. Clearly Melvin had kept his word about the garden. She pulled the buggy to a stop, and the door of the house opened. Two small boys raced out.
Ida stepped down from the buggy and met the boys as they arrived. She greeted them cheerfully. “Hi! Is your daett around?”
The oldest dug his bare big toe around in circles in the driveway dirt. “He’s in the back field now, I think. Although he was working on his tractor in the barn.” They had turned shy now that they’d finished their wild dash to the buggy. Ida gave both of them quick hugs, which brought embarrassed looks to their faces.
“We’ll go talk with Lily first then,” Ida said as Debbie tied Buttercup to the hitching rack.
When Debbie finished, Ida was already on her way toward the house. She held the hands of the young boys, one on either side of her. She would make an excellent mother for these children, Debbie noted as she followed them. Ida obviously knew what was up. She was following her heart. Just like I did in rejecting Paul’s attention, Debbie decided. Such things weren’t always easy to explain or for others to see.
Lily met them at the door with a glow on her face. Melvin must have been right on that point also. Lily carried no hard feelings over this early foray of Melvin’s frau-to-be into his home. Lily appeared frazzled, in fact, and tired. The woman probably wished her brother’s wedding would be next week, if the truth be told.
“This is so gut of you to come,” Lily told Ida. “And for you to come along,” Lily said, turning her attention to Debbie. “That’s such a special blessing.”
“Thank you,” Debbie replied. “It was Saloma’s idea. I came along to help.” Lily certainly did her best to make them feel welcome, and her words seemed sincere enough.
“Ach!” A pleased look spread over Lily’s face. “You know it would have been perfectly decent, Ida, since I’m here.”
Ida returned the kind look. “I know, but maybe we can get more work done. Melvin said he’d get the garden ready, and I see it’s all disked. Shall we start there?”
“You don’t waste any time, do you?” Lily smiled as she tussled the hair of one of the boys. “You’ll be making Melvin a decent frau. I don’t think I could have made a better choice myself.”
Ida colored and dropped her eyes. “I hope Da Hah will bless our life together.”
“I’m sure He will! Let me show you around the house since you’ll be moving in soon,” Lily continued. “And you can talk to the children—the ones who are home from school, anyway.”
Ida’s neck burned bright red, but Lily didn’t seem to notice. Both boys looked up at Lily with expectant looks on their faces. Lily laid her hands on the head of first one and then the other. “You know this is Amos, the oldest of these two. He’s five and can’t wait to attend school next year. This is Ephraim, the mischievous one. But aren’t young ones all that way?”
“He’s not the youngest!” Amos protested.
Lily didn’t seem to hear as she led the way toward the kitchen. Ida followed, leaving the two boys with Debbie.
“She knows I’m not the youngest,” Ephraim spoke up. He gave his brother a pleased look.
“Let’s go out and play,” Amos announced.
Both boys gave Debbie only the briefest of glances as she held the front door open for them. They dashed out and were gone. The two were nice enough children, Debbie thought. They seemed okay with the idea that Ida would be their new mother. Likely Melvin had told them all about Ida. Even then, she didn’t envy Ida the task ahead of her. The responsi
bility of this household was immense. Ida had tackled more than Debbie would have. But then that was Ida.
Debbie found Ida and Lily in the kitchen with an even smaller boy on the chair beside them. He was all smiles as he listened to the chatter around him like his life depended on it. A little girl sat on Ida’s lap—the same one Debbie had seen with Melvin at Sunday meetings. Lily beamed above them all, obviously thrilled the children were taking so well to Ida’s presence.
“I’ve been telling Lonnie and Lisa, as well as the other children, all about you,” Lily said. “And about my leaving this fall. I might even leave earlier now, which will be so much better than bringing in another relative who would only be here on a temporary basis.”
Lisa reached for Ida’s kapp strings and pulled hard.
“Lisa, don’t!” Lily intervened.
Ida motioned to Lily. “She’s not doing any harm. She just wants to know me better.” Ida gave Lisa a quick hug.
Lily stepped back with a pleased expression. “Well, we didn’t get very far around the house yet. Shall we go on? The children can stay in the kitchen.”
“Lisa’s coming with me,” Ida cooed as she got to her feet. “Aren’t you, my little girl?”
Lonnie leaped to his feet. Obviously he assumed the invitation included him too. Lonnie grabbed Ida’s other hand. Both Melvin and his sister must have done their jobs well. Whatever they’d said about Ida had stuck. The children thought she was wunderbah.
Debbie followed the two as they toured first the downstairs with Lisa in Ida’s arms. Lonnie tagged along behind. Debbie gave the little boy a smile when they reached the top of the stairs, but he didn’t return it. He looked at her as if she were a stranger. Obviously no one had talked her up to the children, so she would have to turn on her own charm. Debbie kept up her smiles, and by the time they finished the tour of the upstairs, Lonnie had managed a shy smile in return. Ida was clearly better at this than she was, Debbie decided. Which was how it should be. She would not be these children’s new mother. That would be Ida.
Thirty-One
Debbie dug the hoe into the soft garden soil as her friend worked beside her. Out of the corner of her eye, Debbie saw Ida pause.
“He’s coming from the barn!” Ida whispered.
That could only mean one person—Melvin Kanagy! Debbie turned around to check as Ida rushed toward the approaching figure.
“I see you’ve come!” Melvin’s deep voice rumbled. He reached out for Ida’s hand.
Ida took it and stood for a few seconds to gaze up at Melvin’s face. It was clear she loved him, Debbie thought as she looked away. This was Ida and Melvin’s moment. She went back to work until the two came up beside her, still holding hands. Ida had a fading blush on her face.
“It’s gut that you could come,” Melvin greeted Debbie.
“I was glad to,” Debbie responded. Should she thank Melvin for his kind words to his brother on her behalf? She decided she shouldn’t. The Amish had reservations about speaking too openly about such things—at least to the person who had done the favor. She was here to help Melvin and Ida with his farm, and he’d take that as thanks enough.
“Don’t you have a job in town you have to be at?” Melvin asked, a puzzled look on his face.
Debbie laughed. “Yes. But my boss is allowing time off for…well…for your wedding preparations. One day a week is what I asked for, and Mr. Fulton agreed.”
Melvin grinned. “That’s gut and kind of him. And I for one am thankful.” Melvin turned his attention to Ida. “And so you’ve really come. I’m still finding that hard to believe.”
Ida gave him a shy smile. “You shouldn’t be. I was glad to come.”
After a brief silence, Melvin changed the subject. “Did you find the seeds in the basement? I told Lily where I stored them. Do you have any questions?”
“Nee, we’re fine,” Ida said. “Just tell us where you want the different seeds planted.”
Melvin thought for a moment. “Well, I don’t know much about garden planting. I can do the hard work, but managing the garden takes a woman’s hand.”
Ida nodded, a touch of red back on her cheek, “I’ll do my best then. Mamm taught me everything I know.”
Melvin grinned. “That’s what I was hoping for—not that I ever had any doubts. It’s just that some girls never learn these things.”
Ida didn’t know what to say, so Debbie spoke up. “Ida, he’s teasing you.”
Melvin chuckled.
Ida said, “Oh!” She smiled at Melvin.
Apparently Melvin didn’t tease a lot on their Sunday evening dates, Debbie decided. Saloma’s idea for these visits had already borne fruit. And from Ida’s pleased expression, she liked what she’d just learned today of her husband-to-be.
“By the way,” Melvin said, “I hate to ask this of you women, but could you help me with something in the barn? I’d like to put on some new tractor wheels, and I can’t seem to manage by myself.” Melvin looked apologetic.
Ida wasted no time before she answered. “Of course we can! We’re here to help you…whatever is needed.”
“I know this isn’t women’s work,” Melvin said as he glanced over his shoulder while leading the way to the barn. “Mary used to help me in the barn, but Lily has her hands full in the house. She does too much for the children and me already.”
“It’s not a problem,” Ida assured Melvin, with a glow on her face.
Ida would flourish on this farm, Debbie thought. She’d feel fulfilled and satisfied as Melvin’s frau in a way she never could have with Paul Wagler.
Melvin held the barn door for them and motioned toward the interior. “It’s the back wheel. I have the jack under the axle, but I can’t get much further. If the two of you would take one side, I can handle the other.”
Amos and Ephraim appeared from somewhere. Melvin shooed them back. “The women are here to help. There’s not much a five-year-old and a four-year-old can do.”
Both boys were disappointed.
Ida patted their heads, but they still looked glum.
Debbie gave them both smiles before she turned to follow Ida’s lead. Ida seemed to know what needed doing without instructions.
“Easy now, easy now…” Melvin said repeatedly as they maneuvered the heavy wheel. “Up, up just an inch, and there! We’re in.”
There was a metallic click, and the wheel lurched forward. Melvin was all smiles as he rushed to turn the wheel fasteners. Amos had picked the nuts off the floor and handed them to his father. Ida brushed the dirt from her hands. She looked pleased. Debbie also rubbed her hands together.
“We’ll be getting back to the garden then,” Ida said.
Melvin jerked his head up from where he was bent over the wheel. “Thank you so much, Ida…and Debbie. I so appreciate this. I was struggling for a few days already. There’s not that many of the community men who stop by that I could ask for help.”
Ida retreated and whispered to Debbie once they were outside. “The man needs more help around here than I imagined.”
“Looks like you’ll have your hands full,” Debbie agreed. “Now you have farm work to add to your duties, besides a husband and six children.”
Ida’s face glowed. “I will be doing Da Hah’s work by taking care of a man who needs me.”
“He’ll have you up before dawn and working till the sun goes down,” Debbie said with a smile. But that was typical Amish life, and she knew that if this were Alvin instead of Melvin she would be gladly getting up with him at four in the morning and working until the last rays of sunlight. Her smile would be just as goofy as Ida’s was right now. Debbie pushed the thought away. Alvin had left for the world she’d retreated from.
And Alvin would never have a chance to run a farm like this, especially now that his dad’s place was under the church committee’s direction. There was even talk on Sunday that the committee might force Edwin to sell his place. That would be the ultimate shame, judging from the sound of th
e whispered women’s voices who shared the news with each other. Debbie supposed she shouldn’t have eavesdropped, but the women had become so used to her presence they no longer made any attempt to keep appearances up and their words quiet when she was around. Maybe it was another sign she was being accepted into the community. Her thoughts brought a feeling of peace to her heart—even if Alvin wasn’t here to enjoy this life with her.
They arrived back at the garden, and Ida contemplated the strings they’d set up to mark the rows. When she didn’t move for several minutes, Debbie tapped her shoulder. “Wake up, dreamer!”
Ida laughed. “Yah, that’s what I was doing. Who would have thought Da Hah would give me a gift like this—a husband who wants me to work alongside him? I’ll be so happy here, Debbie!”
“I’m very glad for you,” Debbie said. “We’d better get busy or this garden is never going to get done.”
That galvanized Ida into action. “We’ll do carrots in this row, followed by two rows of red beets.” Ida’s voice choked for a moment. “Oh, Debbie, just think how wunderbah it’s going to be. And once I can’t help in the fields…” Ida colored again, but she continued on. “The oldest boy, Willard, will be able to help his daett with the evening chores by then. And he’ll be out of school before we know it. Have you noticed how strong the boy is and how tall? He’ll reach well above his daett’s height before he’s done growing.”
“Yes, that’s fine, Ida. But please, let us focus,” Debbie said. “We have to get this garden in.”
That seemed to rally Ida’s attention, and it didn’t waver until Lily brought out glasses of lemonade for them. Lonnie and Lisa were along too. Lily left them to play in the dirt when she went inside again. From the wearied look on Lily’s face, the chance to leave the two children with someone else for a few moments was as great a relief as the knowledge her brother’s garden was being put in.
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