Mrs. Miller stopped rolling out the pastry. “How long will you be staying with Levi’s family?”
“Less than a week probably. We just need help to move all the furniture over from their barn and then bring my hope chest and everything from here.”
“We’ll help,” Catherine said.
Mrs. Miller shook the wooden rolling pin at her youngest daughter. “You won’t be doing anything for a while. Not with the bad wheeze you’ve got.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re sick?” Lucy asked Catherine.
“Jah, she’s had a bad cold and now she’s got a wheeze in her chest.”
Catherine pulled a face. “I don’t like the word 'wheeze.'”
“Well, that’s what it is.”
“It’s more of a squeak. I might need oiling,” Catherine joked.
"No you don't, not with all of the butter you eat," laughed Adeline, and she was quickly joined by her mother and sisters.
“All the same, you won’t be going anywhere for a while. The Fullers have enough men in the family to help do all that.”
Catherine slumped low in her chair. “I feel like a prisoner.”
“No prisoner eats as much as you do,” Adeline said.
“I’ve not finished growing yet. I need to eat a lot.”
Lucy smiled. “I can see nothing’s changed around here since I’ve been gone.”
Chapter 16
During dinner, Joshua told his brothers about the get-together that Levi had agreed to.
“I love a good party,” Benjamin said.
“A party? Aren’t you having everyone there to do work, Levi? A working bee?” Mrs. Fuller asked.
“I thought it was a party,” Benjamin said.
“You would think it was a party,” Jacob said. “You don’t take anything seriously.”
“I’ll do work as well, and then I won’t say no to a ‘get-together’—if that’s what you’d like to call it.” Benjamin smiled at Joshua.
Lucy put her hand to her mouth and giggled at Benjamin, only to get half a scowl from Mrs. Fuller.
“It would be a gut idea because you need a few men to move all your furniture,” Mrs. Fuller said.
“That’ll only take half a day,” Levi said.
“Exactly, and what will we do with the rest of the day?” Benjamin asked. “Have a party. A house-warming party.”
Mrs. Fuller shook her head in despair at her youngest son, and then stared into her beef and cabbage stew.
Levi turned to Lucy, who was sitting right beside him. “What do you think?”
“I like the idea. And we should do it on Saturday.”
“Perfect,” Joshua said. “We won’t work at the shop this Saturday. We’ve caught up on all our orders and we’ve got that big hotel job wrapped up.”
Mr. Fuller leaned forward and spoke in his usual slow and calculated way. “That’s only if nothing urgent crops up before then.”
“Jah, if nothing urgent turns up before that,” Joshua said. This was something he would be able to invite Adeline to. She would most likely have turned up anyway because Lucy was her sister, but if he asked her personally that would give her a hint of how he felt about her. After that, he wouldn’t push things. Love should grow in its own time.
The very next day after work, Joshua summoned up as much courage as he could and drove his buggy to the Millers’ house to ask Adeline to accompany him on Saturday. He got down from his buggy, walked quickly to the door and knocked on it. Mrs. Miller opened the door and stared at him.
“Hello, Mrs. Miller. Could I speak with Adeline? I’ll only be a moment.”
“She’s not home. I’m sorry, Joshua.”
Embarrassed, he hung his head.
“Is anything wrong?” she asked.
“Nee, I just wanted to talk with her, that’s all.”
“Oh.” And then the penny seemed to drop. “Oh.” Mrs. Miller smiled. “She’s at Hazel’s haus.”
“Hazel?”
“Jah.”
“I just happened to be heading there now.” He hadn’t been going anywhere until he heard Adeline was there.
“Gut.”
He gave her a smile and she gave him a nod as though she approved of him being fond of her daughter. At least, that was what he hoped it meant.
As he walked to the buggy, he heard the front door close. Then when he climbed in the buggy, he looked back at the house and saw a curtain move from the window in one of the upstairs rooms. He could see Adeline’s younger sister staring at him. He drove away laughing to himself. Catherine couldn't have known that he could see her so plainly through the curtain.
If only he had known Adeline was at Hazel’s then it wouldn’t have appeared so odd. He could’ve arrived there as though he was going to talk to Isaac. Then he reminded himself that he’d decided to give her a hint of his feelings. “She’ll surely know I like her when she learns I called at her haus,” he said aloud to himself. All the way there, he prepared himself to be let down. Adeline might not like him at all.
Hazel had been on Adeline’s mind, and Adeline had decided to visit her hoping that things had gotten better for both Hazel and her mother.
“How’s your mudder coping with everything?”
“She’s better. Much better since your mudder’s visit.”
“Good. Mamm wanted to come this evening, but she said she wasn’t feeling the best, so she might come tomorrow during the day and visit your mudder.”
“That would be really good if she could. Mamm’s had such a hard time, but she’s starting to feel like this is her home.”
“She is?”
“Jah. It was a quick turnaround. Her sister said she’d visit soon, so that made her happy. I’m not certain if she’s just putting on a brave face, but I’m not complaining. I used to complain. I used to ask, ‘why me?’ all the time. 'Why did I have to be the one to have a vadder like that?'”
Adeline nodded in sympathy and wondered how she’d feel if she were in that situation.
“All I wanted was a happy family like my friends had. Mamm could’ve married a different man.”
Adeline pointed out, “Then you might not be here, if she’d married a different man.”
“I guess that’s true.”
“Then who would Isaac have married?” Adeline asked and then remembered Mary Lou whom he’d very nearly married.
“I can think of a girl he would’ve married,” Hazel said.
“Ach nee, don’t even say that.”
Hazel smiled. “I’m happy now, and I just want my mudder to be the same.”
“She will be, when she holds your boppli in her arms.”
Hazel nodded. “I hope so.”
When Joshua turned off the road to go to Hazel and Isaac’s house, a buggy was heading toward him. It was Adeline’s buggy heading away from the house. He’d nearly missed her.
He moved his buggy off the road and pulled up his horse. When she came closer, she smiled at him and waved.
“Wait, Adeline.”
She stopped the buggy. “Hello, Joshua.”
His heart pumped hard against his chest. She looked lovely in the semi-darkness with her face framed by the light tendrils of hair that had escaped her prayer kapp. “Hello. I just called at your haus. I wanted to speak to you. Your mudder said you were here.” She looked at him and didn’t speak. “Remember how I told you that I’d ask you somewhere?”
“Jah.”
“This Saturday coming, Levi and Lucy are having people help them move their furniture in and then they’re having a …” he remembered Benjamin’s words about having a party, but didn’t want to say that. “They’re having a meal afterward. Would you like to come—with me?”
“Oh, I thought you’d still be mad with me because of Hazel and …”
“I’m not mad with you. Why would you think that?”
“Because of what Jacob said.”
Joshua frowned. “When did you see Jacob?”
“At the markets on Saturday.”
“He never mentioned he saw you. What did he say?” Joshua hoped that Jacob hadn’t ruined everything for him with Adeline.
“I thought you would’ve known. I thought you knew I’d talked to him.”
Joshua’s eyebrows rose. “Nee. He didn’t upset you, did he?”
She shook her head, but Joshua could tell his brother had upset her. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t his place to say anything."
"When you and I spoke recently I thought you knew that he talked to me. Anyway, the whole thing was my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten involved.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, why did you?”
She shrugged. “If a friend asks for help, it’s hard to say no.”
“I know what you mean. I just didn’t like to have things arranged without knowing about it. Will you come to Lucy’s and Levi’s with me?”
She nodded. “Jah I will.”
“Can I collect you and take you home?”
She didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. “That might be a bit difficult. I can see you there.”
He was disappointed, but he was pretty sure he knew why she wouldn’t be seen traveling in the buggy with him. It must've been that she didn’t want to upset her friend.
When Adeline got home, the first thing she did was pour her heart out to her younger sister. She told her everything. “I don’t know what to do, Catherine.”
“From what you’ve told me, it’s clear that he likes you. He doesn’t like Nella or Mary Lou, and anyway, who would like Mary Lou?”
“Catherine! That’s a dreadful thing to say.”
“Jah, I know. I’ve got to stop being so mean. I’m working on it.”
“You really think he likes me?” Adeline asked.
“Jah. He wanted to collect you on Saturday, didn’t he?”
Adeline nodded.
“See? He didn’t ask anyone else.”
“Nee, he didn’t.”
Catherine shook her head. “You should’ve agreed to go with him.”
“How could I? Nella’s been crying over him and Mary Lou’s made no secret about liking him. How can I hurt my friends like that?”
“I would. I would if I liked someone and he liked me. Joshua doesn’t like them, so you’re not hurting them, not really. They can find other men.”
“I don’t like to see people upset.”
“What about you?”
Adeline tipped her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“You’re a person too, and don’t you deserve to be with the man you want?”
“I guess so. I hadn’t thought of things in that way. You’ve got a special way of seeing things.”
“Go to his place right now and say you’ve changed your mind and he can pick you up.”
Adeline giggled. “Nee, I can’t do that. The moment’s gone. Anyway, I have to forget about him.”
“Nee, you don’t.” Catherine grunted. “Why are you so hopeless?”
“I’m not, I’m just considering other people’s feelings.”
“I’ll be well enough to go on Saturday. I’ll go with you.”
“It depends what Mamm says.”
“I’ll be well enough.” Catherine’s voice rose.
“You’re not going to do something stupid, are you?”
Catherine shook her head. “Of course I won’t.”
That night, Joshua closed himself in his room right after dinner. Why was it that the only girl he liked didn’t openly like him back? At times, he was certain she liked him, but then she wouldn’t accept his invitation to travel in his buggy. Did she have concerns for her friends, was that all it was? He had to single her out on Saturday and get to the bottom of things.
Joshua and the men worked on all the jobs that needed to be done on Levi’s leased house. It was a small house on two fenced acres with a large barn. When most of the work was done, more people arrived. Adeline had been there the whole time, helping Lucy unpack boxes inside the house.
Nella kept away from him, but as soon as Mary Lou arrived she walked up to him. He’d just finished helping to organize the barn.
“I didn’t know you’d be here,” she said to him as though nothing had happened in the past.
“Levi’s my bruder, so I couldn’t really get out of it.”
Mary Lou giggled. “I guess not.”
“Did you just get here?”
“I tried to come earlier, I mean, I would’ve, but I was called into work this morning. I don’t like to turn them down when they ask me to come in. Someone was sick.”
Loud giggling caught their attention and they both turned to look at the group of girls.
“Looks like the party’s already starting.”
She giggled again. “Can I bring you a soda, or anything else?”
“Nee. I need to get cleaned up.” He dusted off his hands. “I’ll catch up with you later.” After he gave her a smile, he walked away. Before he reached the house, Becky Stoltzfus called out to him.
He turned and waited for her to catch up to him. “Hi, Joshua.”
“Hello, Becky.”
“Have you heard from your bruder?”
“You mean Timothy?”
“Jah.”
“Nee. Is he okay?”
“He seems to be. He’s got a place to lease with John, and did you know they’re buying a car together?”
“Nee, I didn’t.”
She stepped closer to him. “What do you think about that?”
“What part of it?”
“I just said that your bruder and John are going to buy a car together.”
“I heard you.” It was always awkward talking with Becky. Conversations never flowed with her. “That sounds like a good plan.”
“Don’t you think it means they’ll be out of the community for longer if they’re buying cars?”
“I guess they need to travel, so it makes sense to buy one and pool their resources. It’s practical.”
“Cars can be dangerous.”
“So can buggies. Anything has a chance of being dangerous. I wouldn’t worry. They’re in Gott’s hands.”
“But are they, if they’re on rumspringa? They’re not saved until they’re baptized and neither of them has been.”
He didn’t want to stand there talking about hypothetical things. No one really knew where someone ended up if they died on their rumspringa with the intention of returning to the community. He didn’t want to be rude to Becky, but neither did he want to talk to her for the sake of talking. The only woman he wanted to talk to was Adeline. “Gott has it in hand. He knows the beginning from the end.”
“I know, but—”
Mary Lou interrupted, “Becky, will you excuse me for a moment? I need to speak to Joshua in private for a moment.”
Joshua had never been so pleased to see Mary Lou. He stared at Becky waiting for her to reply. It took a while, but she eventually gave a reluctant nod and stepped back. Mary Lou grabbed the edge of his sleeve and pulled him away a few paces.
He frowned at her. “What is it?”
“I’ve been watching you and I know what’s going on with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re in love with Adeline.”
He couldn’t believe his ears. Should he deny it? He couldn’t do that because what she said was true. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“There’s nothing to say. Why couldn’t you have just been honest with me in the first place rather than leading me on like you did?”
He studied her face to see if she might be joking. She wasn’t. “I never led you on, Mary Lou.”
She put her hands on her hips and tipped back her chin. “You did.”
“Well, I surely didn't intend to, and if I did, I’m sorry.”
“Is that all you’ve got to say?”
“Jah. There’s nothing else I can say.”
“And you admit that you’re in love with Adeli
ne Miller?” Her voice rose as though she deliberately wanted everyone to hear.
“That’s my personal business, Mary Lou, and I would appreciate it if you kept your voice down and I would further appreciate it if you kindly don’t discuss me with anyone else.”
“I’ll tell Adeline the kind of man that you are.” She shot him a glare and stomped away.
His heart was racing. He didn’t like arguments and neither did he like upsetting people. Now all eyes were on him and he needed to get away somewhere by himself.
As he was looking for a quiet spot by the barn, thinking perhaps of even ducking behind it, Benjamin came toward him. “I saw you talking to Mary Lou just now. It seems you upset her.”
“I didn’t.”
“Looks like it to me. Was it a lover’s tiff?”
“Cut it out, Benjamin. You know things aren’t like that with me and her.”
“Well, what do you want things to be like with her?”
He pulled a face. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“Who do you like then?” Benjamin asked.
“Not Mary Lou.”
“Why not?”
He glared at his brother, wanting him to stop antagonizing him.
“What’s wrong?” Benjamin asked.
“Nothing’s wrong. Just stop talking to me about Mary Lou.”
“Okay. I was just off to talk to Adeline anyway.”
Joshua jumped in front of his brother. “You’re going to what?”
“Talk to Adeline. She’s by herself in the kitchen.”
“I’ll talk to her. There’s no need for you to do it. Weren’t you going to ask every girl out and none of them were going to say no to you, or something? No wait, that was Jacob.”
“Yeah, it sounds like something Jacob would say. I’m totally opposite to him.”
“Good.” Joshua saw Jacob coming toward them. “I’ll go talk to Adeline.”
“What’s stopping you?” Benjamin raised his eyebrows, and then Joshua knew that his brother might be the youngest in the family, but Benjamin was smart enough to figure out that he liked Adeline. Or perhaps he’d overheard Mary Lou? It wouldn’t have been hard since she had all but yelled it out.
“What’s going on with you two?” Jacob asked.
Joshua's Choice: Amish Romance (Seven Amish Bachelors Book 3) Page 8