Two Suitors for Anna
Page 27
He grinned and waited. What did she have for him?
She carried a big package wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine. Placing the present on his lap, she grinned. “Open it!”
He untied the bow and ripped the paper from the gift. His eyes wide, he lifted out the beautiful white-and-blue wedding quilt. He spotted the pocket and tugged out the letter tucked inside. “‘Dear Daniel, Our road to love has been a rough one at times with the trials we’ve faced, but we’ve conquered each one and our love remained strong for each other. I love you with all my heart, and I always will. I believe God picked you for me and for Daisy. I’m looking forward to everything the future has in store for us. I love you, Anna.’”
His throat dry and his eyes damp, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her. He choked back the tears threatening to stain his cheeks. Blinking them away, he composed himself. “Danki, Anna. I love your gift. It’s perfect. I’ll read your letter often through our years together to remind me of this day.” He stood and offered his hand. “Kumme with me. I have something for you.”
Anna clasped his hand, and he led her to the barn. He uncovered a beautiful cedar hope chest. She gasped and knelt to run her hand over the top. She lifted the lid, took a deep breath, and grabbed and pressed the quilt to her cheek. “I remember you bought this the first time we met in the shop.”
“I wrote you a letter.”
She searched for the pocket on the quilt and pulled out the note. “‘Dearest Anna, The day I met you, my heart raced. Leaving the shop, I couldn’t get you off my mind. You’d made a lasting impression on me. The more we talked, the more I fell in love with you. Even though we’ve had some harrowing things to deal with, I’d do it all again to have you in my life. Marrying you makes me the happiest man in all of Berlin. I promise to honor and cherish you until the day I die. I love you with all my heart. Daniel.’”
She clutched the note and hugged his neck. “It’s perfect!” She let go of him and took a deep breath. “Daniel! It’s beautiful and I love the cedar scent. I can put many of our wedding gifts inside, and I can sit on the top of the chest to put on my shoes. How thoughtful of you!”
“Jah, my idea was for you to use the furniture piece to sit on or stack things on. Your choice.”
The sparkle in her eyes and the radiant smile on her face told him all the late night hours he’d spent working on it with the help of a few lanterns were worth it.
“You handcraft things? I’m shocked you never mentioned it before. You did an excellent job. It’s exquisite.”
“I haven’t had much time to handcraft things, since I met you. Jonathan and Adele’s haus required clean-out and work, and the problems you and I have had to contend with, and managing the farm and repairs for others, I had to put my woodworking interest aside. Then when you agreed to marry me, I bought the wood from Mr. Zook and worked on your gift whenever I got a chance.”
“I’m pleasantly surprised, and you couldn’t have given me a more suitable and amazing present.”
Daniel gently took her in his arms. “Everything I have is yours, Anna Bontrager. You can do anything you want to the haus to make you happy here.”
“You’re all I need.”
Pennsylvania Dutch/German Glossary
boppli baby
bruder brother
daed dad, father
dochder daughter
Englischer non-Amish male or female
fraa wife
grossmudder grandmother
haus house
jah yes
kapp covering for Amish woman’s hair
kinner children
kumme come
mamm mother, mom
schweschder sister
wilkom welcome