The Beloved Hope Chest

by Amy Clipston

  “You have to try Leroy’s root beer.” Tillie opened the cooler. “It’s amazing.” She passed around mugs and then the bottles.

  “Oh, I want some,” Mattie said. “You make the best root beer.”

  “Danki.” He handed her a mug and then filled it for her. “Are you feeling okay?”

  “Ya. I rested for a while before we started preparing the meal. I feel much better than I did yesterday.”

  “Gut.” Leroy forked some of the tuna casserole.

  “You look great, Mattie,” Dora said from across the table, where she sat beside Joel. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine, danki.” Mattie lifted the mug, cradling it in her hands. “I just tire easily, and my back and legs have been sore.” She sipped the root beer and licked her lips. “This is fantastic,” she said under her breath to Leroy as she placed the mug on the table.

  “I keep telling her to rest, but she’s stubborn,” Leroy chimed in.

  Mattie playfully swatted his arm. “I am not stubborn.”

  Her father chuckled. “Leroy, Mattie and Lizzie are just as stubborn as their mamm.”

  “That’s not nice, Mose.” Ruth chuckled.

  Leroy snickered, enjoying the teasing from his in-laws. Happiness covered him like a warm blanket as he glanced around the room. He finally had the two things he’d wanted most in life—his own business and a family.

  He glanced over at Mattie, who grinned while talking to her sister. He couldn’t wait to welcome her baby into the world. Once he had a child, his life would be complete. He was blessed beyond measure.

  Before long the sunset stained the sky in vivid streaks of orange, pink, and yellow, and soon after darkness flooded the shop. Leroy and Hank flipped on the Coleman lanterns and they shared the pies and cakes Mattie and Tillie had baked for the party.

  “This lemon meringue pie is appeditlich,” Lizanne announced. “You’re an amazing baker, Mattie.”

  “Danki.” She smiled as pink colored her adorable cheeks.

  “This pie is delicious,” Dora chimed from across the table. “Would you share the recipe with me?”

  “Absolutely. I’ll write it down for you,” Mattie offered. “Walk over to the kitchen with me before you leave.”

  “Danki. I’d love to try to make one. Do you like it, Joel?”

  He nodded while chewing. “Oh ya. It’s wunderbaar.”

  “Danki.” Mattie looked up at Leroy.

  Bliss bubbled up inside of Leroy as he gazed at his wife. Mattie seemed content and willing to be a part of his family for the first time since their wedding. He prayed they were finally making strides toward being a couple, a truly happy married couple.

  Soon the pies and cakes were gone, and all the women but Mattie divided up the dirty dishes and carried them to Leroy’s and Hank’s houses while the men stowed the tables and chairs.

  Mattie swept the floor. She stopped periodically to wipe her hand across her brow, and her cheeks flushed bright pink. She looked so cute that he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

  When she turned toward the counter, Leroy walked up behind her and touched her arm. “I can clean that up Monday morning.”

  “How will you have time to clean if you have a line of customers waiting outside the door?” She challenged him with a hand on her hip. She was stunning standing before him with her sapphire eyes sparkling in the low light. He wanted to grab her and kiss her until she was breathless.

  Would she push me away if I kissed her right now?

  He shoved the temptation away.

  “You know I’m right.” She gestured around the shop. “You saw how busy this store was today. If we don’t clean tonight, it won’t be ready for your next rush of customers.” She pushed the broom. “We have to make sure the harness shop looks nice and clean so the customers will tell their freinden about it.”

  “That’s true.” Leroy lingered by the counter as she moved the broom around the store. He longed to stare at her for hours and memorize every detail of her beautiful face. She looked even more attractive than she’d been as a teenager.

  “Leroy,” Hank called from the back room, “quit staring at your schee fraa and bring back those two chairs. We’d like to get home tonight, you know.”

  “You’ve always been a spoilsport,” Leroy grumbled as he folded up the last two chairs.

  Mattie glanced over at Leroy, grinned, and shook her head as she swept the floor.

  After the shop was cleaned up, they headed out to the driveway, where Joel, Mose, and Al hitched up the horses and buggies. Leroy shook hands with the men, thanking them again for coming to the grand opening.

  Ruth moved beside Leroy and touched his arm. She looked over her shoulder toward Mattie, who was holding a piece of paper while engrossed in a conversation with Lizanne and Dora. When she gazed up at Leroy, her blue eyes shimmered in the light of the lantern she held.

  “Leroy,” Ruth began, “I want to say danki for taking care of mei dochder.”

  Devotion and gratitude welled up in Leroy, leaving him speechless for a moment. He could only nod in response.

  “Promise me you’ll be patient with her.”

  “Ya, of course I will. She means everything to me. Her well-being is paramount to me.”

  “Danki.” Ruth touched Leroy’s arm. “You’re a blessing to her. Just remember her life with Isaiah was part of her past, but her life with you is her future. Gut nacht.” Then she climbed into the buggy and waved before Mose guided their horse down the driveway toward the road.

  Leroy waved good-bye to Joel and Dora and Lizanne and Al as their horses followed Mose’s buggy down the driveway.

  “It was a wunderbaar opening day.” Hank walked over to Leroy. “We’re off to a gut start.”

  “No, we’re off to a great start,” Leroy said, correcting him. “All our hard work is paying off.”

  “Ya, it is.” Hank yawned.

  Tillie looped her arm through his. “It’s past your bedtime, Henry Ebersol.”

  “Yes, dear.” Hank rolled his eyes, and Mattie giggled as she stood beside Leroy. “I’ll see you both tomorrow. Gut nacht.”

  “Gut nacht,” Leroy echoed with a chuckle. “Sleep well. We all worked hard today. I locked up the store and made sure all the lanterns were turned off.”

  “Danki.” Hank yawned again.

  Mattie hugged Tillie and said good night to her before she and Hank started toward their house next door. Leroy and Mattie walked in the opposite direction toward their house.

  “Mei mamm said she and Lizzie washed the dishes and put them away.” Mattie held a lantern that illuminated their path as she fell into step with Leroy. “I told her she didn’t need to do that. I would’ve washed them on Monday.”

  Ruth’s words swirled through his mind again, and he grinned.

  “What was that smile for?” Mattie gazed up at him.

  “Nothing. I’m just really froh.” He looped his arm around her shoulders and braced himself for her rejection.

  Instead, she leaned into him. His heart swelled with joy. This had to be a fantasy. Did Mattie love him like a wife should love her husband or was this some sort of cruel dream?

  “I gave Dora a copy of that recipe for the pie. I hope she likes it.”

  “I’m sure she will.”

  Mattie still leaned against him as they walked together toward the back porch. “I’m so excited about the store. You and Hank have worked so hard on this. You earned it.”

  They started up the porch steps, still side by side. When they reached the back door, he wrenched it open, allowing her to step through first. He shucked his boots and hat in the mudroom and then went into the kitchen.

  A cross-stitch hanging on the wall caught his attention. He read the inscription and then looked over his shoulder at Mattie standing in the middle of the room, watching him. “Where did this come from?”

  “Mei mamm brought it as a housewarming gift.” She touched her apron. “She said she saw it in a f
abric store and thought of me. I wanted to hang it there so I can see it every day.” She paused. “Is it okay that I hung it there?”

  “Of course it is. I’m glad to see you decorating. I want you to make this haus your home. Hang anything anywhere you’d like. You don’t need to ask me for permission.”

  “Gut. Danki.” A yawn overtook her pretty face, and she covered her mouth with her hand to shield it.

  “You need to get to bed. I worked you hard today too.” He took her arm and started to steer her toward the downstairs bedroom.

  She gasped and then held up her hand. “Wait!”

  Alarm shot through him. “Is something wrong? Is it time to go to the hospital?”

  She laughed. “No, nothing is wrong, and I’m not in labor. I just remembered I have a few presents for you.”

  “Presents?” He raised his eyebrows.

  “Ya. Just wait here.” She rushed over to the refrigerator and pulled out a pie plate covered in aluminum foil. “I only had time to make one, and I wanted you to have it.” She held out the plate.

  Leroy pulled back the foil, revealing a perfect raspberry pie. He breathed in the sweet scent, impressed by both her baking skills and her thoughtfulness. She’d made this pie for him because he enjoyed raspberry pies. Was this a sign that her feelings for him were growing?

  “Danki.” His voice quavered with overwhelming emotion.

  “Gern gschehne.” She gnawed at her lower lip. “I wanted to use mei mamm’s recipes to make you something special. I’m sorry I didn’t have time to make more. I promise you I will.”

  “It’s perfect.” He covered it.

  “I also saved you one of the chocolate cakes.” She opened the refrigerator door and pointed to the cake.

  “Danki.” He touched his abdomen with his free hand. “I’ve already eaten too much tonight, and I want to enjoy them. Why don’t we have the pie and cake for breakfast with kaffi?”

  “Pie and cake for breakfast?” Both her eyebrows raised.

  He shrugged. “Why not?”

  “Okay.” She took the pie plate from him and put it back into the refrigerator, setting it on the shelf beside the chocolate cake. “I have something else for you too.” She reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a large jar with a lid on it. “I believe you once told me you liked this.”

  Leroy took the jar from her and opened it. “What’s this?” He leaned down and smelled it. “Peaches?”

  “Peach salsa.” Mattie threaded her fingers together as if she were praying. “Don’t you like peach salsa? Mei dat does, and I was thinking that you did too.” She bit her bottom lip. The hope in her eyes softened something deep in his soul.

  “I do like it. Danki.”

  “Oh gut!” She blew out a deep breath. “I bought the peaches at the market and chips too. I only had enough for you, so I saved it.”

  “That was so thoughtful of you.” He handed the jar back to her, and she returned it to the refrigerator. “I’ll have some with lunch tomorrow.”

  “That sounds perfect. I couldn’t wait to give it to you, but I didn’t want you to have to share it tonight.” She closed the refrigerator door. “I wanted to do something nice for you since you worked so hard on the nursery. I really appreciate it.”

  “You don’t have to keep thanking me for that. It’s our haus. I want you to feel comfortable and froh here.” He held his hand out to her, and she took it. It was as if a wall had broken down between them, and their relationship had grown by leaps and bounds in the past few days.

  Leroy led her through the family room toward the downstairs bedroom. His pulse quickened as they stood in front of the bedroom door. Would she invite him in? He wouldn’t allow himself to take advantage of her, but he would relish sleeping beside her throughout the night.

  Mattie stopped in front of the door and placed her hand flat against his chest. “I’m so proud of you.”

  Leroy swallowed against his dry throat as he gazed down into her eyes. I have to be dreaming. This can’t really be happening.

  “You really worked hard to make the harness shop dream come to life,” Mattie continued, clearly oblivious to the tornado of emotions swirling inside of him. “You always struggled and felt lost because you didn’t have a daed to guide you. Your onkels were generous, but they were too busy with their own kinner to make time for you and Joel. Still, you took it upon yourself to learn a trade and turned it into a business. The items you and Hank created flew off the shelves today. You’re so talented.”

  “Danki.” He rested his hand on her cheek, and she closed her eyes as she leaned into his touch. This was too good to be true. This couldn’t possibly be real.

  “I’m so thankful you’re here with me.” His voice was low and husky.

  Leaning down, he brushed his lips against her forehead and then trailed kisses along the side of her face and down her jaw, slowly making his way to her mouth.

  With her eyes still closed, a soft gasp sounded from her mouth. His heart slammed against his rib cage and his pulse quickened. It was finally going to happen. He was going to kiss his wife.

  His lips brushed hers and heat buzzed through his entire body. She rested her hands on his shoulders as their lips brushed once again, sending electric pulses into every cell of his being. When he broke the kiss, he took a step back from her and raked his hand through his hair.

  Mattie stared up at him, her breath coming in short bursts and her cheeks reddening.

  “I’m sorry.” He held up his hands as if to stave off her anger or irritation. “I didn’t mean to push you too far.”

  “It’s okay.” She reached behind her for the doorknob and pushed the bedroom door open. “I should go to bed. It’s late. Gut nacht.”

  Before he could respond, she slipped through the door, then closed it behind her. Leroy stared at her door for a moment, his thoughts and emotions whirling through him at lightning speed. The kiss had been incredible, even more wonderful than he’d ever imagined. He didn’t want it to stop.

  While they were making strides as a couple, he wanted their progression to come naturally. Although she didn’t protest when he kissed her, the expression on her face told him he’d kissed her too soon.

  He slowly made his way up the stairs. When he reached the bedroom, Leroy changed into boxers and a T-shirt and then flopped onto the bed. The evening had been euphoric with Ruth’s encouragement regarding his marriage, Mattie’s surprise gifts, and then Mattie’s compliments about the harness shop. The kiss had also been perfect.

  He buried his face into his pillow and tried desperately to forget the taste of her lips. He longed to kiss her again and again, but he didn’t want to force her into intimacy with him.

  With a groan, Leroy rolled to his side and closed his eyes, and the memory of her lips against his filled his mind. He loved Mattie with all his heart. He hoped someday soon she would love him back.

  CHAPTER 9

  “YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO WITH ME.” MATTIE PLACED A PLATTER of bacon in front of Leroy. “I know you’re busy. I can go alone.”

  “I want to go with you,” Leroy insisted.

  She filled his coffee mug and then sat down across from him. “I appreciate the offer, but the harness shop has been busy all week. I don’t feel right about pulling you away right now. I’ll be fine by myself.”

  “I’ve already discussed it with Hank, and I’m going with you. Today is Thursday, so he and Tillie can handle it fine. It would be a different story if it were a Saturday when tourists are more likely to come in droves.”

  Mattie nodded and then lowered her head for a silent prayer. She peered up when she heard Leroy shift in his seat. She folded her hands in her lap as she watched him fill his plate with scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, and bacon. Her gaze landed on his lips, sending a tingle skittering through her.

  For the past few days, Mattie had found herself reliving the incredible kiss Leroy had given her Saturday night before she’d gone to bed. While the kiss had sho
cked her, she hadn’t exactly disliked it. It had been a good kiss, and it had awakened feelings inside of her that she’d never before experienced for Leroy. These new feelings for him were strange and unnerving, and she didn’t know how to handle them. This was foreign territory, and she wasn’t ready for it.

  Also, it was too soon after Isaiah’s death for her to be kissing another man. While part of her longed for Leroy to kiss her again, another part of her wanted him to keep his distance. Thankfully, he hadn’t tried to kiss her again.

  “If we’re going to raise this kind together, then I want to be involved from the beginning.” Leroy’s words broke through her mental debate. “That means I want to go to your appointments with you. I’ll step outside if you need to have an exam. I respect your privacy if that’s what you’re concerned about. I won’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I won’t embarrass you.”

  “That’s not what I’m worried about.” She scooped eggs onto her own plate. “I don’t want you to miss work for this. It’s just a routine appointment.”

  “I’m going with you.” His voice was kind but firm. “I thought we could go to lunch and maybe do some shopping after the appointment. Does that sound okay?”

  Mollified, Mattie nodded. “It sounds nice, actually. Are you certain Hank and Tillie will be able to handle the shop for that long?”

  “Ya.” He speared a few potatoes with his fork. “I told you we’ve already discussed it. I thought it might be gut for you and me to spend some time together. I promised to return the favor, maybe sometime next week. He and Tillie can run errands, and I’ll manage the shop.”

  “Oh,” Mattie said, surprised. He truly had planned this out well. “That sounds gut. I could help you when Tillie and Hank are out running errands. I’ll run the register while you take care of the customers.”

  “All right. As long as your doctor says it’s okay for you to work. We need to think about the boppli.”

  “That sounds gut.” Mattie smiled.

  “I have an appointment.” Mattie stood in front of the reception desk at her doctor’s office two hours later.