“A little. But perhaps things aren’t completely over between the two of you. Maybe Landon will change his mind.”
“I doubt he will. And once more, I don’t think he should. If he is truly worried about whether I can even be home alone, then he hasn’t really gotten to know me.”
“That is true. But, ah, I hope you won’t be too terribly hard on him if he comes back and apologizes.”
“Why is that?”
“Because sometimes men aren’t as smart as they need to be. We’re all mighty imperfect, you know. Your mother’s said she’s been tempted to hit me on the head a time or two, just to knock some sense into me.”
Elsie chuckled. “Maybe not too many times, Daed. You’re a wonderful-gut man.”
His heart melted—just like that. “Only because of my family. You all have made me a better man.”
They sat for a while longer, leaving off the serious discussions in favor of watching the kittens’ antics instead. Little by little, Elsie scooted closer. And soon they were joking like they used to, when it was so easy to make her happy.
“I’ll be all right, Daed. I’m just sad.”
“I know you’ll be all right. But I’m still going to keep my eye on you,” he said lightly. “It’s a father’s job to worry, you know.”
She simply smiled. A melancholy one.
Which made his resolve to go calling on their neighbor even stronger.
When Landon saw Elsie’s father walking up his front walk, he mentally groaned. He knew he had a lot to make up for. But he didn’t want to talk to Peter Keim before he talked to Elsie.
But when her father knocked on the door, then entered, his entire body looking ready to go into battle with him, he resigned himself to the inevitable.
They were going to have a discussion about his behavior right now. Whether he was ready for it or not.
“Good evening, Peter,” Landon said. “What brings you here?”
He raised a brow. “I can’t imagine my being here would be much of a surprise, Landon. Over the past few weeks, you’ve single-handedly managed to make my daughter the happiest I’ve ever seen her in years . . . and the most depressed.”
He felt his cheeks heat. Suddenly, it was as if he were six years old instead of twenty-six. “I’m sorry to hear that. It wasn’t my intention to make her feel that way.”
“It doesn’t matter. You still did.”
“Does Elsie know you’re here?”
“Nee. She wouldn’t be too happy about it, neither. She would tell me that her relationships are none of my business.”
Landon knew that Elsie was a smart woman. “But you decided to pay a call anyway?”
“I did. Because, Landon, I’ve found over time that some things canna be put off. Sometimes if you do, it doesn’t make them better, they only fester and get worse.” He eyed him knowingly.
And as the man had probably expected, Landon squirmed under his direct gaze.
“I am sorry I’ve made her upset.” After a second, he added, “However, I don’t think our relationship is over yet.”
Peter scratched his head. “I must be getting old, because I don’t know what you mean.”
“I, uh, have been rethinking some things.”
“Such as?”
“Such as how I might have been a bit shortsighted, as far as Elsie’s vision was concerned.”
“Might?”
“Was. I realized I was wrong about Elsie.” He paused, wanting to keep the rest of his thoughts what they were—private. To himself. But Peter’s gaze was unwavering and it was easy to see that he wasn’t going to let Landon off with a few vague words.
As he thought about it, it made all the sense in the world, too. Elsie was a special woman. Special and a bit delicate. And not just because of her vision problems, either. No, she had a way about her that was more vulnerable than most women. She wore her heart on her sleeve. There, ready for anyone to do damage to it if they weren’t careful.
And he hadn’t been.
“I spoke to my brother earlier today and he reminded me of how love isn’t something to be taken for granted,” he finally said. “Love is hard to come by, and even harder to recognize. I should have realized that my feelings for Elsie were stronger than anything that could keep us apart.”
A look of new understanding appeared in Peter’s eyes. “So you have strong feelings for her?”
“I love her.” Of course, the moment he said the words, he felt guilty. No woman wanted her father to hear those words before she did.
“You look pained, son.”
The “son” reference was an encouraging one. “I need to tell Elsie that instead of you.”
To Landon’s further amazement, Peter grinned broadly. “Well, of course you do. Elsie won’t want you saying those sweet words to me.”
Peter was now joking with him? The quick change of emotions was incredible. “Peter, I need you to keep what I just said a secret, just between you and me.”
“Well, now, that depends on something.”
“On what?”
“On when you decide to pay her a visit and tell her yourself.”
“Now?”
Elsie’s father looked shocked. “I think not. You look like something that’s been dragged behind a horse and left to rot.”
“That good, huh?”
“I suggest you come over tomorrow afternoon. After you talk to Elsie, you may stay and have supper with us.”
Landon was tempted to point out that supper with the Keim family still wasn’t quite the romantic gesture he’d hoped for. He had a feeling he was going to have to do a lot of apologizing and coaxing even to get her to agree to see him. He certainly didn’t want to do that with witnesses!
“I suppose there is no other way to see Elsie?”
“Nope. You may come when it is convenient for us or you may stay home. All by yourself.”
Landon stood up and held out his hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“And you’ll come prepared?”
Landon wasn’t sure what that meant, but he figured he would by tomorrow night. “Of course.”
“Gut,” Peter said. Then he turned around and walked out the door.
Landon could have sworn he heard something under the other man’s breath that sounded a lot like “young pups” but he couldn’t be sure.
That was probably best, anyway. He had enough trouble, he didn’t need Peter Keim adding to the pot.
chapter thirty
Pandemonium.
To Elsie, it felt like the whole household had gone bananas, and she was stuck in the middle of it with nowhere to go. Everyone was talking at once, talking too loud, in an overly happy way.
In an overly suspiciously happy way.
It was like they all knew some special joke but hadn’t seen fit to fill her in on it.
It had been like this ever since her father had come home from his errands yesterday afternoon. And today had not been any better—for some reason, most of the family had decided to congregate in the kitchen and had forced her to join them. Viola and Roman were there, as well as Amanda and Regina. And her parents and grandparents. All chatting merrily. Just like they had all kinds of wonderful-gut things to celebrate.
In fact, it had seemed like she was the only person in the family who wasn’t talking merrily or laughing at a new joke. As the minutes passed, Elsie became more and more uncomfortable.
She knew her sour mood hadn’t gone unnoticed. Every so often, someone in the family would cast a worried glance her way, then try to include her in the conversation.
She’d had no desire to talk to anyone, and had tried to leave the room more than once.
But each person seemed intent on keeping her with them, Viola most of all. “Come on, Elsie,” she coaxed with what looked like a terri
ble, pasted-on smile. “How about trying out some of the applesauce Amanda and I made this morning?”
“Nee.”
“You should try it. It’s gut.”
“Viola, I’m not hungry.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re hungry, you can still give it a try, don’t you think?”
Elsie wanted to snap that it did, indeed, make all the difference in the world. But she knew such comments would only make her seem surlier than she was already acting. “Viola, I’m sure your applesauce is gut, it always is. But I don’t want any.”
Her mother walked over and peered at her closer. “Are you feeling poorly?”
Her heart was. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.” Reaching out, she looked determined to pat her face all over to see if she had a fever. It was a habit of her mother’s that Elsie had always found rather annoying.
“Mamm, there’s no need to put your hands all over my face.”
Her mother lowered her hand. “Elsie, I was only trying to help you.”
“I know you were, but I am old enough to know if I have a fever.”
“Elsie,” her grandmother admonished with a heavy frown. “Watch your tongue. There’s no need to snap at your mother like that.”
The small furor that had been brewing in her belly seemed determined to reach its pinnacle, her true breaking point.
Looking out the kitchen window, Elsie ached to jump to her feet, run out the door, and keep on running until her feet could no longer carry her. Anywhere had to be better than where she was.
Anything had to be easier than the situation she was in.
But since that didn’t seem possible, she bit her lip hard. She was now determined to hold her tongue, while hoping and praying she would be allowed to leave sooner than later.
Another ten minutes passed.
It felt like four hours.
She was debating whether to ask again what was going on or to simply leave when her father clasped his hands together. “Everyone, he is here! And it’s about time, too.”
The tension in the room suddenly dissipated. Which was funny, because Elsie now realized that she hadn’t even noticed the tension. She’d thought it was merely her bad mood infecting her gregarious, happy family.
As she looked around, it slowly dawned on her that she was the only person who didn’t seem to understand the significance of her father’s words.
Even little Regina seemed to be delighted about her dawdi Peter’s announcement.
The suspense was starting to drive her crazy. “Exactly who is here?” she asked.
Her mother grinned. “It’s a surprise.”
Exasperation warred with her curiosity. Maybe it was Viola’s Edward? She couldn’t think of any other reason for the family to be so excited.
“Viola, tell me,” she whispered. “Is Edward here?”
“Nope,” Viola said as she turned away and started walking to the door. “You sit tight. I’m going to go let him in.”
She wanted to stomp her feet like a child. Or complain. Or scream. She wanted—no, needed—to do something!
Not caring anymore if she sounded disrespectful or shrewish, Elsie fairly yelled at her father. “Daed, who is here?”
“Dear, it’s Landon, of course,” her mother said as the mudroom door opened and Viola’s voice floated into the kitchen.
“Landon?” she whispered. This was not good news.
Then, as she waited for someone—anyone—to fill her in, in walked Landon Troyer himself. He looked bashful and handsome and determined.
Without even a quick greeting to the crowd of people standing in the kitchen, he walked directly to her. “Hi, Elsie.”
Hi? He came over to say hello?
Still confused and miffed, she eyed him coolly. “Landon, why are you here?”
“I wanted to apologize. And to explain myself, too.”
Elsie sat up straight, slowly realizing that everyone in the family intended to be a part of the conversation. “Now?”
“Jah. It’s as good a time as any, don’tcha think?”
“Nee.” It was too much. “I don’t believe we have anything to say to each other.”
There. She’d done it. She’d just pushed away the best man who’d ever come into her life. She steeled herself to watch him turn and walk away from her for good.
In front of her whole family.
But instead of heeding her words, he knelt down and rested his hands on the edge of her chair. “Your father told me you’d probably tell me something like that.”
“My father?”
Landon gestured behind him. “Jah. He paid me a visit yesterday.”
Now she was really mortified. “Daed, did you tell Landon to come over here and apologize to me in front of the whole family?”
He shifted on his feet in a guilty way. “Not exactly . . .”
“What, exactly, did you say to Landon?” When he merely looked at his feet, she felt her temper rise again. “Daed, I wish you wouldn’t have done this.”
“It’s not like you’re thinking,” he said quickly.
She was so angry, she got to her feet. “Landon, I’m sorry my father made you feel obligated to do this . . . this public apology. I promise, I had no idea he had such a thing planned.”
But instead of accepting her apology, Landon shook his head as he got to his feet, too. “Don’t be hard on him, Elsie. When your father came over, I had already planned to come over here to see you. I was ah, just trying to gather my courage.”
“Gather your courage?”
“Jah. Shortly after we parted the other night, I began to have my doubts about all those plans I’d been so proud of. Once more, I began to realize just how stupid I’d been.”
“You did?” she asked again. Slowly, she began to be aware of just how much the rest of the family was concentrating on Landon’s words. It was so still in the room one could hear a pin drop.
But she was just as aware that she no longer cared about who was listening, or what anyone else thought. All she cared about was Landon and the words she was hearing from his lips.
Landon, too, seemed to be oblivious to all her relatives’ ears. He reached out and gently took her hand. “My brother reminded me of something that I’d recently forgotten. That plans are good and all, but they’re meant to be only that . . . plans. Not something carved in stone that can never be changed.”
He paused, and then continued, his voice huskier than before. “Daniel also reminded me of how much harder it is to find a person that you want to spend the rest of your life with. To fall in love with. That is what needs to be sheltered and protected and guarded, no matter what.”
Her hand felt secure in his hand. “Is that what has happened to you?” she whispered.
“Jah. I’ve fallen in love with you, Elsie. I’m in love,” he said with a sheepish-looking smile. “Completely, definitely, without-a-doubt in love!”
As she looked at him in wonder, he continued. “Elsie, I want to keep you close to me always. That’s what is important. That’s all that matters. Everything else? It pales by comparison.”
These were words out of her daydreams. Words she’d begun to believe she’d never hear. They were so sweet, so kind, she found herself simply staring at him. Speechless.
Landon continued with a smile. “Elsie, I asked Peter to have your family here on purpose. I wanted everyone who is important to you to know how important you are to me. And more important, I want them to be my witnesses.”
After looking around the room, he said, “Elsie, I promise you now, in front of everyone present who is important to you, that from this day forward I will do everything I can to make you happy. I want to marry you, Elsie.”
“Even if I can’t see?”
“Especially if you can’t see.
No matter how you come to me, I want you, Elsie.”
“But what if I can’t give you anything in return? I don’t want to be your burden.”
“Elsie, you already make my burdens lighter. Your happy spirit makes any load feel lighter. Your willingness to accept everyone around you for what they are—not for what you wish them to be—humbles me. Makes me yearn to see other people that way, too. I’ve already discovered that every day is better with you in it.”
She didn’t know what to say. How could she? How did one respond to such sweet, heartfelt words? Her mouth went dry as Landon stared at her, looking for a response.
She glanced at Viola. Though she couldn’t really make out Viola’s expression, she did see what her sister wanted her to . . . a slow, decisive nod.
“Well,” she said. Then paused, trying to form words when her mind seemed to have gone blank. Warily, she looked at Landon. Prepared herself to see his impatience with her.
But all she noticed was that he was still there. And her hand was still clasped between his own.
She tried again. “Landon, I’ve done a lot of thinking about the two of us . . . and about what you thought life might be like if we were married. And, ah, I have to say that you weren’t all wrong. It might be a mighty difficult thing, to be married to a woman who can’t see all that well. Or at all,” she forced herself to say.
“We can make it work.”
His words matched his tone. Both sounded certain. Confident.
But how could she be sure what was the right direction to go? Whatever she said was going to affect the rest of her life.
From the back of the kitchen, her grandmother cleared her throat. “If I may,” she began. “I would like to share something that I’ve learned most recently.”
Elsie turned to her, as did Landon.
“What did you learn, Mommi?” Viola asked.
Her grandmother glanced at her grandfather, then drew a breath. “I’ve learned that nothing is impossible, as long as you have support from people who love you. And you have many people who love you, Elsie. I, for one, think Got arranged your relationship with Landon here mighty nicely.”
“Because?” Landon asked.
The Days of Redemption [03] Eventide Page 21