Courting the Amish Nanny

by Carrie Lighte

  The next day she deliberately arrived at Levi’s house fifteen minutes early to make him a hearty breakfast from the leftovers—mashed potato pancakes and a turkey frittata—in case he was too busy with opening-day activities to stop for lunch. It was so cold out that when Sadie inhaled through her nose it felt as if her nostrils would freeze shut, and she quickened her pace.

  “Can we kumme to opening day, Daed?” Elizabeth asked at breakfast as she helped herself to a second potato pancake.

  “You can’t go to opening day,” David told her. “Opening day is a day and we’re already in it.”

  “I know that.” Elizabeth was clearly indignant her brother was the one correcting her for a change. “But can I, Daed?”

  “I don’t want you or David anywhere near the parking lot. There will be cars coming in and out all day.” Levi put down his index finger, which he’d been pointing at them. “I have to leave now, but if Sadie says it’s okay, you can kumme to the workshop at seven forty-five. That’s when everyone on the crew will gather to ask for the Lord’s blessings on our work.”

  “Of course we’ll join you there. And rest assured, I’ll keep the kinner far away from the action,” Sadie agreed.

  “It’s fine if you visit Maria in the workshop or visit us out by the trees. You can take the kinner to any of your usual spots to play, too...just as long as they’re not anywhere near the parking lot.”

  I must really like him, Sadie thought. Otherwise I’d tell him I heard him the first time he said that! Instead she suggested, “It can’t be more than twenty degrees out, so you’d better bundle up extra warm today.”

  “Twenty degrees? I’m going to leave my wool coat for you, otherwise you’ll freeze,” Levi’s altruism snuffed out any flicker of annoyance Sadie felt at him. She insisted that since he’d be outside all day, he’d need his heavier coat and convinced him she’d grab an extra sweater at the daadi haus if she planned to stay out for any length of time.

  Don’t read too much into his offer. The niggling thought quickly tempered her bliss. He might just be being considerate of you because you’re his employee. Remember what you thought about the diary Harrison gave you?

  Shortly after Levi left, the trio tromped down to the workshop, where Sadie gave Maria a hug. She had arrived early that day in anticipation of their first customers. “How are you doing today?” Sadie asked her.

  “Gut. I started feeling better yesterday morning and then I regretted not having you all over for dinner.”

  Levi, who was standing nearby, replied, “We’re glad you rested. You’ll need your energy today.”

  Once again, Sadie was aware he was always concerned about his employees’ well-being because everything had to run smoothly on the farm. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t take his kindness or attentive remarks too personally.

  When the last of the crew arrived, everyone squeezed into the workshop, formed a circle and clasped each other’s hands so Levi could lead them in prayer. Since Sadie was standing next to him, he reached for her hand, and she wished she had taken off her gloves first so she could have felt his touch.

  “Gott, please keep us and our customers safe today,” Levi requested. “Help us to serve them well for Your glory. Amen.”

  He didn’t have to be so brief. Sadie reluctantly relaxed her fingers, releasing his hand.

  “As long as we’re all together, I want to say denki for everyone’s help. Each of you plays an important role in the farm’s success,” Levi announced.

  “Even Elizabeth and me?” David piped up, causing everyone to chuckle.

  “Jah, we made the ornaments,” Elizabeth reminded him right before someone knocked on the windowpane.

  “I think that’s our first customer!” Levi rubbed his hands together. “Time to get to work!”

  “Get to work? We’ve been working,” Scott ribbed him as the men filed out the door.

  Before it closed behind them, Sadie could hear the Englischer asking whether the trees were organic, and then the sound of gravel popping as another car or truck rolled up the driveway. Since she knew how concerned Levi was about the children around Englisch vehicles and because she didn’t want to be in Maria’s way, Sadie said goodbye and summoned the children to accompany her to the house, promising they could go back outside once the sun had been shining long enough to bring the temperature up a few degrees.

  But Elizabeth and David weren’t about to miss out on any of the activities; the two of them pushed chairs to the windows so they could watch the comings and goings of the Englisch customers. And after completing her household chores, Sadie joined them there herself, as intent on catching sight of Levi at work as the children were.

  * * *

  Despite the frigid weather, customers were turning out in droves to purchase trees. Levi had expected to feel lonely for his departed wife, knowing how much she would have enjoyed opening day, but he was so busy all he felt was an urgency to keep up with the commotion. He and his crew were stationed throughout the farm to help customers with whatever they needed, whether finding the species they wanted, shaking needles off the trees and baling them, or helping strap them onto car roofs, if necessary. Although it was apparent the business was understaffed and Levi would be glad when Otto arrived the following day, all of his planning was paying off and he was grateful the other young men and Maria were such diligent employees.

  Not to mention how grateful he was for Sadie. Whenever he was near enough, Levi glanced toward the house to see if she and the children were playing outdoors, but it appeared they were staying inside. Maybe she was too cold. I should have insisted she take my coat. Levi could have walked around in a short-sleeved shirt and still felt sweaty from all the adrenaline coursing through his body. Opening day was finally here and if the first couple of hours were an indication, sales were going strong!

  “Do you have any carts?” a woman asked halfway through the morning. “We cut our tree down but we’re having trouble carrying it.”

  On Walker’s advice, Levi had invested in several carts designed for the purpose of transporting the trees, but it appeared they were all in use. Levi offered to give her a hand, so the woman led him to where her two teenage daughters were waiting beside a fallen balsam. He took the heavy end near the stump and directed them to lift the end toward the tip of the tree. They moved clumsily and slowly through the aisle. Levi considered pulling it to the baler by himself, but he preferred not to drag the trees on the ground for fear of damaging the boughs.

  “Thanks,” the woman said after they neared the area where customers lined up waiting for two of Levi’s staff to feed trees through the baler. “This is our first Christmas since my husband died and I’m realizing all the things he did for us that I took for granted. Sometimes I don’t think I deserved a man who was so good to me. If I could do things over, I’d do them completely differently.”

  Unsure how to respond, Levi told her he was glad to help and then excused himself and jogged across the parking lot to where Scott and a customer were struggling to align a tree across the roof rack of a small sedan.

  But the stranger’s disclosure touched a nerve, and hours later Levi was still ruminating on her remarks. Like the widow, Levi felt he hadn’t deserved such a good spouse and he wished he would have done things differently in his marriage, too. As he was thinking about Leora, it occurred to him he’d crossed a line by entertaining Sadie alone the previous day—not because their behavior had been inappropriate, but because socializing and playing games with her and the children like that gave rise to daydreams about a romantic relationship. Sadie’s my nanny, not a replacement for my wife, he said to himself. I probably got carried away because being playful with her made me nostalgic about happier times with Leora. I’m not really longing for romance in the present—I’m reminiscing about the past. Still, since he wanted to keep his emotions in check, Levi decided he’d better lim
it the time he spent with Sadie. And since they were so busy on the farm, he figured he’d start by skipping lunch that afternoon.

  * * *

  By one thirty, Sadie concluded Levi wouldn’t be coming in for lunch. She’d given Elizabeth and David their meal already, and even though they hadn’t spent any time outdoors, the excitement of the day had worn them out and they were getting cranky.

  “After you take a little nap, we’ll go outside,” she promised as they headed upstairs. She came back down and was about to refrigerate the leftovers when a loud banging rattled the door. Is that an Englisch customer? They’re so brash—this is clearly a private haus, not part of the tree farm...

  But the dark, stocky man on the porch was wearing a brimmed hat. “Hello. I’m Otto, Levi’s brother-in-law.”

  Nonplussed, Sadie opened the door wider. “I’m Sadie. Levi’s out on the farm, but kumme in.”

  “Denki. Something smells appenditlich,” he hinted.

  “It’s Thanksgiving leftovers and they’re still warm. Why don’t you put your suitcase in the living room and I’ll fix you a plate?”

  Otto popped into the other room and back into the kitchen again, sliding into a chair at the table before Sadie had a chance to turn around. “You probably weren’t expecting me. I wasn’t supposed to arrive until tomorrow, but on short notice our driver decided he needed to leave right after his Thanksgiving dinner and we drove straight through the night, so here I am. Looks like it’s a gut thing, too. There were so many cars lined up outside I asked to be dropped off at the end of the road.”

  Sadie smiled, pleased that sales were good. “Jah, the farm has been buzzing all day. Levi will be glad you’ve arrived early. The kinner are upstairs taking a nap. They’ll be happy to see you, too.”

  “I’ll be happy to see them,” Otto replied. “It’s been over a year—that’s far too long in between visits. My mamm and schweschder can’t wait to take care of Elizabeth and David. They never wanted Levi and Leora to move to Maine in the first place. They thought the location was too remote and the community was too small.” He ground pepper over the generous portion of potpie Sadie had served him.

  She found herself defending Levi and Leora’s decision. “Perhaps, but it’s beautiful here and the farm is thriving. I think the community will grow, too.”

  Otto shrugged. “It probably will, but even if it doesn’t, I don’t share my familye’s opinion about Levi and my schweschder moving here. I’m like Leora—always up for an exciting new endeavor. And you’re right about it being beautiful here. I’ve never seen so many pines.”

  “Jah, and yet the Englischers still kumme to a farm for their Grischtdaag trees,” Sadie said, causing Otto to chuckle. “Would you like dessert? We have pie.”

  “Apple, I hope?”

  Sadie had been saving Jaala’s pie for Levi but it appeared as if he’d already had a slice last night after she went home, so she served Otto the remaining piece with the cream she’d freshly whipped in anticipation of Levi’s return, before taking a seat at the table again.

  “You look kind of old to be a nanny. Not that you look old, but you’re not a schoolgirl,” he commented, giving her a once-over.

  Sadie didn’t know exactly what he was implying but his remark ruffled her feathers all the same. “Neh, I’m definitely not a schoolgirl, but I’m not exactly elderly, either.”

  “Ach! I didn’t mean to be offensive. I was expecting a younger nanny, that’s all. But I guess in such a small community there aren’t too many young meed.”

  “I don’t live here. I’m from Pennsylvania,” Sadie said and then wished she could take the information back. It would inevitably lead to questions about what happened to Levi’s other nannies and she didn’t want to cast him in a bad light. She felt protective of him. “My stepmother is distantly related to Levi, so when we heard he needed help, I decided to kumme for the season.”

  “Won’t your familye—or your suitor—miss you during Grischtdaag?”

  “I don’t have a suitor and my familye won’t miss me because I’ll be going home on Grischtdaag Eve.” Again, Sadie immediately regretted divulging such personal information. She abruptly stood and crossed the room to rinse a glass, her back toward Otto. Why did everyone have to mention a suitor? No wonder she was always thinking about walking out with a man—even people who’d just met her brought up the topic. Well, if Otto could ask her such an intrusive question, she could ask him, too. She set the glass upside down in the drying rack and turned to face him. “Won’t your familye or your girlfriend miss you for Grischtdaag?”

  “My familye will see plenty of me soon enough.” Otto paused before admitting, “As for a girlfriend, I don’t have one. Yet. But maybe I’ll have one soon.”

  Sadie smiled in spite of herself. As unusual as it was to discuss courting with a man she’d just met, it felt good to hear someone Otto’s age admit both that he wasn’t walking out with anyone and also that he hadn’t given up hope, either.

  * * *

  Eventually, Levi’s hunger won out over his resolve to avoid Sadie. When he entered the house, he heard laughter that didn’t sound like Sadie’s coming from the other side of the mudroom door. It almost sounded like a man’s, like—

  “Otto!” he exclaimed. His brother-in-law wasn’t supposed to arrive until the next day, and while Levi could sure use his help, it bothered him that Otto was sitting there in his kitchen, laughing with Sadie. Otto rose and they clasped each other’s shoulders in a brief embrace.

  “I arrived early and Sadie was kind enough to feed me. We were just discussing courting.” Levi’s mouth dropped open before Otto corrected himself, “I mean, the fact neither of us is courting.”

  Otto had always been forthright, but Levi was surprised Sadie would discuss such a topic with a virtual stranger. He never even broached that subject with her. Levi peeked in her direction. She was leaning against the counter with her head dipped, but Levi noticed her ears were pink. Was she embarrassed to have been caught talking about the subject with Otto? Or did the subject itself make her uncomfortable?

  “I came up here for a quick lunch myself. After I eat, I’ll show you around. We can sure use the help.”

  “Oh, neh, I gave the last of the meal to Otto,” Sadie apologized. “Since it was nearly two o’clock, I thought you decided to skip lunch today.”

  “That’s all right. I’ll have a slice of apple pie instead.”

  “Otto just finished the rest of the apple pie. Would you like pumpkin?” said asked feebly.

  “Neh. I don’t like—” Levi’s response was quicker and gruffer than he intended, but he stopped short of expressing his distaste for pumpkin pie. “I don’t like taking it from David or Elizabeth. They’re thrilled they each have the kind of pie they like for themselves. I’ll eat peanut butter spread on brot.”

  “I didn’t make brot this morning—I was out of yeast.”

  “Great,” Levi muttered. His hunger was making him agitated and the fact Sadie had given his lunch to Otto wasn’t helping matters. “Do we have enough food for dinner tonight?”

  “Jah, I’m making soup,” Sadie replied, her chin in the air.

  Recognizing it sounded as if he was blaming her because there was hardly anything to eat in the house, Levi tried to lighten the mood. “What kind? Stone soup?” he joked.

  “Turkey,” she replied through gritted teeth, and for a split second Levi thought she was referring to him, not to the soup. “We have just enough, but I’ll need to purchase groceries for tomorrow. I’m happy to take the kinner to the market with me when they wake from their naps.”

  Levi said he preferred she didn’t take the children out in the buggy.

  “I can take you this evening, Sadie,” Otto volunteered. “I have a couple of personal items I need to get, too. The Englisch stores will be open late because it’s Black Friday.”

&nb
sp; “That also means there will be a lot of traffic. I’m not sure I want you and Sadie going out in it,” Levi protested.

  “We’re not kinner,” she snapped, hands on hips.

  Levi rubbed his forehead. Coming to the house was a mistake. “You’re also not used to the way Englischers drive around here.”

  “I assume they drive just like the Englischers in Pennsylvania do—on the right side of the road. But if you’re concerned about your buggy getting wrecked, I’ll make a shopping list and you can go tonight. Otto will be here to watch the kinner after I leave.”

  Levi wasn’t concerned about the buggy; he was concerned about Sadie and the children. But the last thing he wanted was his brother-in-law watching the twins alone. Otto was so reckless he probably made Sadie’s brothers look timid. Yet Levi couldn’t very well say that. And since Otto didn’t know how to get to the market, he couldn’t go on his own. Levi conceded aloud that the best solution was for Otto and Sadie to go together that evening.

  “Gut,” Otto said, bringing his dish to the sink. “It will give Sadie and me a chance to get to know each other better.”

  Somehow, that idea was nearly as unappealing to Levi as the thought of Otto watching the children on his own, but he couldn’t change his mind now.

  * * *

  After Levi and his brother-in-law left, Sadie threw her energy into making up the bed for Otto, silently ranting as she worked. What did Levi expect? Was I supposed to pull food from thin air? I’m stretching every morsel as it is. If it weren’t for Jaala, we wouldn’t be eating anything but scrambled oier today. I understand he’s concerned about traffic, but sometimes his fears are just plain lecherich.

  Not that she especially wanted to go to the supermarket with Otto; he seemed pushy. No, not really pushy, but...brazen. But maybe his presence would be good for Levi. Otto wouldn’t tiptoe around Levi’s qualms the way Sadie had been doing. At that moment, she couldn’t recall why she thought she was ever drawn to him.