“You didn’t? Why not?” Johnny’s tone was one of surprise, and his eyebrows lifted high on his forehead.
Rebekah looked over at her cousin, wondering the same thing.
“Could we speak privately for a minute?” Mary Ellen asked, bending down to whisper in Rebekah’s ear.
Rebekah glanced up at Johnny for his approval.
“Jah, sure, go ahead. It’s fine by me,” he replied with a shrug.
“Let’s go down by the pond,” Mary Ellen suggested. “I don’t think anyone else is there right now since everyone’s waiting to eat.”
“Shouldn’t we help the other women get lunch on?”
“We won’t be gone long, and there are plenty of others here to help so we probably won’t even be missed.”
“Well, okay then.” Rebekah wheeled off in the direction of the pond, and when they reached the taller grass, making it hard for her to maneuver the chair, Mary Ellen took over pushing.
A couple of ducks on the water dipped their heads up and down and flapped strong wings as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
“They look so happy,” Mary Ellen said, dropping to a seat on the grass.
“Almost as happy as you and Johnny seem to be,” Rebekah mumbled.
“Oh, we are,” Mary Ellen’s voice bubbled like a sparkling stream, but when she looked up at Rebekah, her dreamy expression turned suddenly sorrowful. “I’m sorry for keeping our betrothal from you. It’s just that—well, I was afraid you might be upset.”
“Upset? Why would you think I’d be upset?”
“We’ve always done everything together. If I got a bunny, you got one, too.”
“If I got a doll, so did you.”
Mary Ellen nodded. “But this time, I was afraid you would be hurt that I was getting married and you weren’t.”
“That’s just the way of things,” Rebekah said flatly. No use telling Mary Ellen how she really felt. “There comes a time when little girls must grow up. I’ve come to realize that I can’t have everything my friend has.”
“Oh, but you can.” Mary Ellen touched Rebekah’s shoulder. “Well, maybe not at the exact same time as me, but someday you’ll fall in love and get married.”
Rebekah groaned. “We’ve had this discussion before. I’m not able to get around like you, and I doubt that any man would want to be stuck with a handicapped wife.”
“Other women—some much worse off than you—get married and even have children.”
“It doesn’t matter because no one is in love with me.” Rebekah shrugged. “Besides, I have my new business now, and if I can become self-supporting, then I won’t have need of a husband.”
“Love can change all that.”
“As I said, there’s no one to love.”
“‘Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass,’” Mary Ellen recited the verse from Psalm 37.
Rebekah gave her wheelchair a sharp turn to the left. “We’d better get back. I’m sure they’re probably getting ready to serve up the noon meal by now, and we should be there to help.”
Mary Ellen looked like she might want to say something more, but instead, she grabbed the handles of Rebekah’s wheelchair and directed it toward the house.
***
Many of the families lingered for most of the day, enjoying the good food and the fun of being together. It was a time for laughter and games, stories to be told and retold. No one seemed in a hurry to return home to the evening chores that waited to be done.
But Rebekah wasn’t anxious to stay around the Hilty farm and be reminded of her cousin’s happiness. Even the news about Aunt Grace expecting a baby had sent a pang of regret to her tender, aching heart. She knew it was wrong to harbor feelings of jealousy, and she also knew she had been unkind to Mary Ellen earlier. Since her family had no plans to leave early, the noon meal was over, and everyone seemed occupied, she decided it would be a good time for her to find a place of solitude and talk to God about a few things.
Rebekah wheeled off toward Aunt Mim’s garden, where an abundance of flowers and herbs grew. Maybe after some time in the beauty of colors and fragrances that only God could have created, she might find forgiveness for her attitude and could return to the yard feeling a bit more sociable.
A firmly packed dirt path ran through the middle of the garden, and Rebekah had no trouble navigating it with her wheelchair. She rolled right between two rows of pink roses and stopped to drink in their delicious aroma.
Closing her eyes and lifting her face toward the warming sun, Rebekah sent up a silent prayer. Dear God: Help me to be a gracious friend and accept the fact that Mary Ellen will soon be a married woman even though I’ll always be single. Help my business to do well so I can keep busy and make a good living. Amen.
Even after Rebekah had finished her prayer, she kept her eyes closed, allowing her imagination to run wild. Wouldn’t it be like heaven to stand in a garden like this one and whisper words of affection to a man who had pledged his undying love to me? She could almost feel his sweet breath on her upturned face as she envisioned the scene in her mind. She could almost hear his steady breathing as he held her in his arms, whispering words of endearment.
“The roses are sure beautiful this time of year, jah?”
Rebekah’s eyes flew open, and she whirled her chair in the direction of the deep voice that had pulled her from the romantic reverie.
Daniel stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets and a peculiar expression on his face. “I’m sorry if I scared you. I could see that you were probably meditating, but I figured you would have heard me come into the garden.” He grinned, causing the skin around his eyes to crinkle. “My mom always says my big feet don’t tread too lightly.”
Rebekah had to smile in spite of her melancholy mood. “You’re right. I was meditating.” She chose not to mention what she had been meditating on or that she was still a little put out with him for not coming over to help set out the greenhouse plants as he’d said he would do.
As if he could read her mind, Daniel knelt on the grass beside her wheelchair. “I’m sorry about not comin’ over to the greenhouse the other afternoon. My daed needed me to help fix some broken fences, and I couldn’t get away.”
“I figured you were either too busy or had changed your mind about coming,” she said, staring down at her hands, clasped tightly in her lap. “It took me awhile, but I finally got all the plants set in their proper place.”
Daniel shook his head. “I didn’t want to be too busy, Rebekah. I really wanted to help you, and I would have come over to let you know I wasn’t able to help out, but Pop wouldn’t let me leave.” He drew in a deep breath and blew it out with a puff of air that lifted the ties on Rebekah’s kapp. “I’ll be glad when I’m out on my own and don’t have to answer to my daed anymore.”
Rebekah wasn’t sure how to respond to that comment. It wasn’t like Daniel to speak out against either of his folks, but she figured he was probably talking out of frustration.
“Have you gotten any starts from your aunt’s rose garden?” Daniel asked, taking their conversation in a different direction.
She shook her head. “I’ve never thought to ask.”
“Mim seems to like you a lot. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind sharing some of them with you.”
“Maybe I’ll talk to her about it.”
“I was surprised when I showed up here and found you sitting all alone. I figured you’d be up on the lawn, joining in the young people’s celebration.”
“Mary Ellen and Johnny’s betrothal?”
He nodded, and Rebekah was sure that same look she’d seen on his face a few times before had cast a shadow of sadness on it now. The bishop’s announcement must have jolted Daniel like it had her. He was probably hurting every bit as much as she, only for a different reason. She was jealous because she would never have the kind of happiness Mary Ellen was experiencing. Daniel probably wished it had been him, not Johnny, who had
won Mary Ellen’s heart.
Rebekah swallowed hard, struggling for words that wouldn’t be a lie. “Celebrations are for those who can run and play games. I’d much rather be enjoying these lieblich flowers.”
“They are lovely,” Daniel said. “But don’t tell my daed I said so ’cause he might think I was ab im kopp for caring so much about flowers and plants.” He grunted. “All Pop ever thinks about is those cantankerous dairy cows of his.”
Again, Rebekah didn’t know how to respond. She didn’t think Daniel was off in the head, but she certainly didn’t want to criticize his father so she sat there quietly, drinking in the delicious aroma of Aunt Mim’s flowers and enjoying this special time alone with Daniel.
Daniel stood and moved toward her like he might be about to say something. Then he stared down at his boots a few seconds and slowly raised his gaze to meet hers. “Would ya like me to push your wheelchair? We can walk around the rest of your aunt’s garden if you like.”
Rebekah’s first thought was to decline. She didn’t need anyone’s help pushing her wheelchair, and she certainly didn’t need Daniel’s pity. She hesitated only a moment as pride took a backseat and a desire to spend more time with Daniel took the front seat. “Danki, I’d like that,” she finally murmured.
Daniel smiled and stepped behind her wheelchair. “You’d better hang on tight, Rebekah Stoltzfus, because I’ve been known to be a reckless driver!”
CHAPTER 13
The days sped by with a delicate shifting of summer to fall. A few tourists still visited Rebekah’s greenhouse, but most of her customers now were Amish or English people who lived in the area.
Rebekah began to fret over the possibility that her business might fail and had to remind herself frequently to pray, trust God, and search the scriptures for more of His promises. Her faith was still weak, and she knew it.
One Friday since she had no customers at the moment, she decided to lie down on the cot in the back of her store to rest awhile and seek God’s will. Heavenly Father, she prayed, I’m still looking for a miracle. I really need to be able to support myself because I don’t want to be a burden to others. Please bring in more customers, and show me what to do to make the business more successful.
The sharp ringing of the bell outside the greenhouse pulled Rebekah from her prayer. “Come in!” she called.
As she struggled to a sitting position, she heard the door creak open. “Rebekah? Are ya here?”
Rebekah recognized the familiar male voice, and she had to take several deep breaths in order to quiet her pounding heart. Why did Daniel make her feel so giddy? She knew he only cared for her as a friend, but she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about him and wishing for more. Daniel’s kind face flashed before her eyes as she remembered that Sunday afternoon at the Hiltys’ when he’d pushed her wheelchair through Aunt Mim’s garden. They’d laughed and talked so easily then, and he had actually made her forget the pain over hearing the news about Mary Ellen’s plans to be married.
Rebekah forced all thoughts to the back of her mind as she called, “I’m back here, Daniel. Just trying to get my crutches strapped to my arms.”
Daniel poked his head around the partition, and his wrinkled forehead let her know he felt concern. “Are you all right? Why aren’t you in your wheelchair? Were you lyin’ down?”
Rebekah laughed. “So many questions, Daniel. And don’t look so poker-faced. I’m wearing my leg braces today and using the metal crutches that help me stay upright.” She dropped one stiff leg to the floor. “Mom hollers at me if I spend too much time in the wheelchair, so I’m trying to humor her today.” The other leg followed the first, landing on the floor with a thud. “I was only lying down to rest awhile, but sometimes getting up again isn’t so easy.”
Daniel moved closer to the cot. “Need some help?”
Rebekah swallowed hard. There it was again. That “I feel sorry for you” look on Daniel’s face. She winced, wishing he could see her as a woman and not some elendich—pitiful—handicapped girl. She didn’t need his pity.
“Are you hurting?” he asked, dropping to his knees in front of her.
She drew in a deep breath. “I’m fine, really.” Her crutches were propped against the wheelchair, next to the cot. She reached for one and bumped the other, sending it crashing to the floor. “Always trouble somewhere,” she muttered.
Without waiting to be asked, Daniel lunged for the crutch. “Trouble usually has an answer, though,” he said, handing it to her with one of his heart-melting smiles.
Rebekah’s eyes misted. She hated to be dependent on others, but receiving help from someone as thoughtful as Daniel made it almost a pleasure. “You always seem to be around whenever I need something,” she murmured.
“Jah, well, that’s what friends are for.” Daniel looked Rebekah right in the eye. “I only wish we could be more than friends.”
More than friends? What was Daniel saying? Did he actually see her in some other light—something that would involve more than friendship? Rebekah wasn’t sure what to say or do next. “You ... you want to be more than friends?”
He nodded.
“What are you really saying, Daniel?”
He adjusted his weight from one foot to the other. “I’m sayin’ that if it were possible, I’d like to be your partner.”
“Partner?” Rebekah could barely get the word out.
To her surprise, he touched her arm, sending a jolt of electricity all the way up to her neck. “Jah. I’d like to be your business partner.”
Business partner. The words echoed in Rebekah’s head like a woodpecker thumping on the side of Dad’s barn. She drew in a long, steady breath, hoping to calm her nerves. She should have known Daniel wasn’t asking her to be his marriage partner. What a dunce she was for even letting such a ridiculous notion pop into her head. She and Daniel weren’t courting, and he’d never shown the slightest interest in her in a romantic sort of way. In fact, she was still sure he was in love with Mary Ellen. How could she have been so stupid as to misread his intentions?
With the aid of her crutches, now strapped to her arms, Rebekah pulled herself to a standing position. “Why would you want to be my business partner?” she asked, once she had found her voice.
Daniel frowned, looking as though it almost pained him to say the words. “I’ve told you before that I have a love for flowers. Running a greenhouse would be the most exciting thing I could imagine. I envy you, Rebekah.”
“Envy me? How could anyone envy a woman with a handicap such as mine?” Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, and she squinted, hoping to keep them there.
“I–I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,” Daniel sputtered.
With both crutches securely in place, Rebekah plodded across the room. When she stepped into the area where the plants and flowers were kept, she came to an abrupt stop, turned, and almost bumped into Daniel. “Oh, I didn’t know you were there.”
“Followed you out,” he mumbled.
Rebekah glanced around the room, feeling suddenly self-conscious. “I love these green-leafed, blossomed creations God made, so I do understand why you’d want to run a greenhouse.” She clicked her tongue. “There are two small problems, though.”
He scrunched his forehead until it wrinkled. “Two problems? What would they be?”
“First of all, my greenhouse is a new business. I’ve been open only a few months, and it’s not showing enough profit to support two people. I’m not even sure if it’s going to support me.”
“And the second problem?”
“Probably the most obvious problem is my parents. They’d never allow such a thing.”
“Why not?”
“We’d be spending many long hours together—alone—with no chaperones.”
“We’re both adults, Rebekah.” A slight smile tugged at the corner of Daniel’s lips, and a twinkle danced in his usually serious brown eyes. “Of course, my daed don’t always see me that way.”
>
Why must Daniel look at me like that? Especially when he sees me as nothing more than a possible business partner? “If we were both the same sex, then maybe it wouldn’t be a problem.”
“I see what you mean.” Daniel shrugged. “Besides, I doubt my daed would want me to quit helping with the dairy business.”
“If it were possible,” she said with feeling, “I’d actually consider becoming partners. You know a lot about flowers, and you’ve proved to be pretty handy to have around.”
Her words brought a smile to Daniel’s face, and when he gave her a surprising wink, her heart fluttered so much she had to will it to stop. “So, what brings you here today? I’m sure it was for something more than to retrieve my crutch.”
He chuckled. “I’m here to buy a plant for my mamm. Her birthday’s tomorrow, and I want to give her a gift that will last awhile.”
“How about a purple African violet?” Rebekah suggested, moving over to the area where all the violets were kept. “I have a beautiful one that came from a start off one of Grandma Stoltzfus’s plants.”
Daniel bent over and scrutinized the plant in question. “I’ll take it.”
She giggled. “You haven’t even asked the price.”
He shrugged. “Well, what does it matter? I like the plants, my mamm needs a gift, and you probably can use the money.”
Rebekah gave him a mock frown. What should she do with the likes of Daniel Beachy?
***
A few days later, Daniel decided to pay Rebekah another visit. “Back so soon?” she asked as he stepped inside her greenhouse. “Did your mamm not like the plant you bought her? I can exchange it for something else, if you like.”
Daniel shook his head. “She liked it just fine.” He glanced around the room, feeling kind of nervous and wondering how Rebekah would take to the idea he hoped to present.
Rebekah turned her wheelchair toward him. “Then what can I help you with?”
Daniel nodded in her direction as he gathered up his courage. “I was hoping I could help us both.”
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