"How are you this morning?" her mother asked.
"Really good. Has Dat gone?"
"He left about an hour ago."
Willow sat down at the kitchen table. "I wanted to see him before he left."
"Your vadder and I feel really bad about what happened. We should have trusted you like you said."
"It doesn't matter now that we’ve all learned something from it."
"We have. Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Yes, please. What did you and Dat have for breakfast?"
"We had pancakes, and there's still plenty of batter left if you would like some."
"I’ll make some for myself after I have coffee, thanks, Mamm."
Her mother placed a mug of coffee in front of her and then sat down. "What are you going to do today?"
"I want to wash Valerie’s dress and take it back to her and thank her for being so kind to me."
"You can't put the machine on for just one dress. Wait till it's washing day. I'm sure Valerie’s got plenty of other dresses."
"That's true. I saw when I borrowed this one that she has a lot. But I'd still like to stop by her place anyway."
"You can do that. We've always got a spare buggy now that Violet is using her husband's buggy." Willow’s mother giggled. "I think that's the first time I've said ‘Violet' and 'husband’ together in a sentence."
"Jah, it does sound a little weird, doesn't it? I suppose we'll get used to it. I'm going out with Samuel tonight. He's picking me up at seven."
"Samuel?"
"Jah, he and I have grown quite close."
"I could tell by the way he was looking at you last night that he really likes you. There is a softness in his eyes every time he looks at you."
"Really?"
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't know it was true."
Things were turning out so well that happiness welled up inside Willow.
The day flew by, and all of a sudden Willow found herself waiting for Samuel. She felt like a young girl waiting to open Christmas presents. Maybe her parents did know something. At least she knew she had her parents' approval of him, which is more than what Violet had with Nathan at the beginning of their relationship.
“He's here,” Willow said when she saw the buggy lights coming toward the house in the darkness. She ran and hugged her father and then her mother. “I’m glad you’re not dying, Mamm.”
Her mother giggled. “Me too.”
“I won’t be late.” She grabbed her shawl, hurried down the front steps of the house, and met the buggy when it drew level.
“Hi, Willow.”
“Hello,” she said as she climbed into the buggy next to him. “Where are we going?”
“Have you eaten?”
“Just a little because I didn’t know if we’d be eating or not.”
“I have a surprise for you.”
“What?”
He laughed. “You’ll have to wait, and then you’ll find out when we get there.”
“I like surprises, but I want to know now.”
“Just wait. Tell me how things are with your folks now.”
“So good. Everyone’s a lot happier and I’m so relieved Mamm’s not really sick like Violet and I thought she was.”
“Jah, that would be a relief. I talked to Liam, and he apologized on his own initiative, and he said he's going to apologize to you too.”
“Ach nee. I don’t even want to face him again.”
“You’ll have to. He wants to say he’s sorry. You have to allow him that much. He’ll never do it again.”
“Okay. Now, are you going to tell me where we’re headed, or not?”
“Not.”
“Oh, come on.”
He laughed. “Wait and see.”
She slumped back into the seat. A few minutes later, she said, “This is the way to Nathan’s house. And Violet's, now. Is that where we’re going?”
“Jah. That’s the surprise. I saw them today and they invited us there.”
“Really? That’s wunderbaar. We’ll be the first couple they’ve had there for dinner. Wait till I tell Mamm and Dat.”
“Was that a good surprise?”
“Jah, the best.”
He chuckled.
Samuel and Willow walked to the door.
"I didn't bring anything. If I had known we were coming here, I would've brought something. I would've brought some dessert or something."
"I'm sure Violet will forgive you. She knew I planned to keep it a surprise."
"I hope so. This is a big thing for her, having the first people over for dinner."
Samuel chuckled as he knocked on the door. It was only days after Violet and Nathan’s wedding and they hadn’t gone on a honeymoon or to visit relatives like most newlyweds did. Nathan was building a house on some land he had. The new house would be bigger than the one they were in now, and it had more land surrounding it.
Together Violet and Nathan opened the door.
"He surprised me," Willow said.
Violet laughed. "He said he was going to. Surprise!” Violet said hello to Samuel and then pulled Willow inside the house.
While Willow helped Violet make gravy in the kitchen, Willow told her everything that had happened in the last few days. She described the big fight she’d had with their parents, how she'd run away to Valerie's, and how they’d made up, and she also told her about Liam. And she finished by saying, "And that's why I don't mind that I don't work at the lumberyard anymore. Also, I will have to look for another job. I liked working."
"Wow, that's a lot to happen in a few short days. You’ve hardly drawn a breath.”
"I know. Enough drama! So … did you enjoy your wedding?"
"I did. Everything seems to be happening so fast."
"Are we the first people you've had over for dinner?"
"Jah."
"That's good. That's how it should be, having your sister over for dinner. And it smells like you're having chicken."
"We’re having chicken, baked vegetables, mashed potatoes, and sauerkraut. All your favorite food."
Willow smiled. “Denke. That's so nice of you."
“We saw Samuel just as we were heading into the markets and we invited him to dinner because he said he was taking you out. Nathan said why not come to our place for dinner, and Samuel said he’d surprise you with it.” Violet whispered while the men were in the other room, "Hope you don't mind me inviting him. I know you’re getting along well with him, but normally I check with you first about things like that."
"I didn't mind at all. It was a wunderbaar surprise to come here."
"Good. I like him."
"And I'm liking him more and more," Willow said.
The two couples sat down and had a meal at the dining table, which was in one corner of the living room.
Chapter 15
It was the following week, and Violet had been invited back home to spend Thursday afternoon with Willow and their mother. It was a day off for Violet, and Willow was still looking for a new job. The sisters arrived at the haus together, and when they walked in, they were surprised to see their father there as well.
“Is everything okay, Mamm?” Suddenly Willow recalled that her mother never did tell her what was wrong with her, why she had to take that stomach medication. Perhaps it truly was something serious.
“Your mudder and I have something to tell you,” their father said.
When they had sat on the couch, one to either side of their mother, their father sat down on the other couch opposite the three women. Willow looked nervously back and forth between their parents.
Mamm said, “We’ve kept something from you these past months because we wanted to be sure before we told you anything.”
“Are you ill?” Violet asked.
Mamm smiled gently. “No, girls, don't be worried. I have been feeling a little ill, but that’s because I’m pregnant.”
Willow’s mouth opened wide and she looked at Violet.
/> “Nee!” Violet said, wide-eyed. “Is it true?”
Mamm nodded and Violet jumped up and then leaned down to share a hug with her mother, while Dat cautioned her to be careful and not hug too hard.
“I’m so happy, Mamm, but I'm just shocked. I can’t believe it. I thought you were too old.” Violet sat back down.
“I thought so, too. And I wasn’t dying like you two feared, I’m just having a boppli.”
“This is exciting," Willow said, "but it's also a little weird. When Violet has her first, his or her aunt or onkel will be just a tiny bit older.”
“What does it matter?” Dat said. "That's not so unusual in our community. It happens in families with lots of children, where a mother and her eldest daughter or daughter-in-law might have babies at the same time."
Willow looked over to see that her father was all but grinning. “You look so happy, Dat.”
“Gott has blessed us with one more child. It’s the best gift that a man can have.”
“I was worried you girls mightn’t be happy about this news,” said Mamm.
“Of course we are,” Willow said, while Violet agreed with a nod. “I just can’t wait. So that really was a doctor I saw going away from the house?”
“Jah, he was delivering the news in person. I’d had some tests run, because I wasn’t feeling myself, and he didn't want to make me wait for answers. It was the last—the very last—thing that I expected. I don't even remember him telling me that he was running that test."
Willow wiped away a tear and hugged her mother. It was the best news ever.
* * *
It was six weeks into dating Samuel regularly that Willow wanted desperately for him to ask her to marry him. She was visiting Violet to see how she could hurry the process along.
"Violet, what can I do to make him ask me to marry him?"
"Well, this is a turnaround."
"I always liked him. Well, once we got a chance to talk to each other alone."
"So why were you making such a fuss? If you had just gone along with Mamm and Dat, you could’ve already been married to him."
Willow shook her head. "Don't remind me of all that."
Violet giggled.
"You like being married, don't you?"
"I like being married to Nathan. I don't know if I'd like being married to anyone else."
"Well, that's what I meant. So you like being married to him?"
Violet’s face beamed. "I do. It's lovely to have someone special who’s so concerned and so loving towards me. Are you sure you’re ready?"
"I am. And every day I go out with him, I hope that today will be the day that he proposes. What if he never does?"
"I'm sure he will, sooner or later, but he probably doesn't want to rush things with you."
"What do you mean?"
"Is your memory that short? Remember all the fuss that happened at the beginning?"
Willow slumped down further in her chair at the kitchen table.
Violet continued, "Have you given him any hints?"
"I didn't know I had to. What kind of hints?"
Violet rubbed her nose. "Something to let him know that you would say yes if he asked you. Have you ever talked of marriage with him, or ever talked about the future?"
"Not really. Is that a bad sign?"
"Not necessarily. He could be waiting until he knows that you would definitely say yes. It's a hard thing for a man to ask a woman to marry him. He would feel dreadful if you said no, and that might be the end of your relationship, and he definitely wouldn’t want that.”
Willow slowly nodded. "I see what you mean. I never thought all this would be so hard."
"Are you definitely convinced he's the one for you?"
"Jah. I would never be interested in any other man. He's just so good and he's so kind and I love everything about his face. And he can be so funny or so serious, and I never know which to expect."
Violet giggled at her. "When are you seeing him again?"
"Tonight. He's collecting me, and then we're going over to his parents’ place for dinner."
"Again?"
"We've only been over there twice."
"When he’s driving you home, just drop some hints."
"I'm no good at these things. What should I say?"
Violet licked her lips. "Let's see now … I can't really think of anything."
Willow leaned forward. "Think hard, Violet. I can't ask him to marry me. Can I?"
"Some women do, and you could if you want to, but he might not like it if you do."
Willow groaned. "If I have to ask him, I have to ask him. I can't go on like this for much longer. I want to marry him and be alone with him and have our own place just like you've got your own place. Look at how happy you are now."
Violet nodded. “I am happy."
"Just help me out, will you? What can I say when he drives me home tonight that would be a hint?"
"You could say something like, 'What do you think of marriage?'"
Willow shook her head. "That's a bit dumb.”
“You think of something then. That's the best I can come up with."
Sighing, Willow said, "I'll give it some thought."
"You really don't have to. I'm sure he'll ask you soon. He's in love with you, too."
"Do you think so?" Willow's face lit up.
"Of course. Everyone knows that."
“I still can’t believe Mamm’s having a boppli. I won’t be the youngest anymore. You’ll still be the oldest and my place will be lost.”
“It won’t be lost, it’ll just be moved up.”
Willow giggled. “That sounds better. Have you gotten over the shock of it yet?”
Violet shook her head. “I’m still getting used to it. It was a shock, but a good one.”
* * *
Throughout the dinner that night at the Troyers', Willow kept thinking of what she should say to Samuel when he drove her home. She wanted to let him know she would definitely say yes if he asked her to marry him. Having to say something to him was making her tummy squirm.
"More dessert, Willow?" Mrs. Troyer asked her.
"No, denke."
"No?" Mr. Troyer asked, looking quite surprised.
The last two times she’d had dinner at their house, she'd had two desserts. She would've had a third helping if she’d been at home, but she didn't want the Troyers to think that she was greedy.
“I’ve had sufficient, and it was all so good.”
* * *
When Willow stepped into Samuel’s buggy to go home, Willow decided that it was unromantic for her to give him any kind of hint about marriage. She would let him take his own time, and she hoped it would be wonderful and romantic when he finally proposed. Surely he knew how she felt about him. They spent most of their free time together and got along great. If he didn't know how she felt about him, there would have to be something wrong with him.
As they clip-clopped down the moonlit road, in the darkness, Samuel glanced over at her. "You've been very quiet tonight, Willow."
"Have I?"
He glanced over at her again. "You have. Unusually so."
"Dinner was lovely. Your mamm’s such a gut cook. And now, I'm just enjoying the lovely night. I love the crisp night air this time of year and how it makes my cheeks tingle."
"Is that all?"
"Jah, and I'm just thinking about the job interview tomorrow as well. I really want the job."
"You’re not worried about anything?"
"Nee, I'm not. Do I look worried?"
"You looked a bit worried through dinner. Are you happy with us—you and me?"
"Jah, I'm very happy with how things are going between us."
"That's a relief.” He gave a nervous laugh. “I thought you might be getting sick of me or something."
"I could never get sick of you—never ever in a million years."
He laughed. "Are you positive about that?"
"I'm surer about that than
I've ever been about anything."
“I can rest easy, then.” A few yards further, he pulled the buggy off to the side of the road.
“What’s going on?” Willow asked.
He turned to face her. "Willow, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you."
She looked into his face. "What is it?"
He reached out and took hold of her hand. "If you still feel this way about me in a few years, do you think we might possibly get married? Do you think that will ever happen?"
Willow frowned. In a few years? She was ready to marry him now. "Why a few years?" She couldn't help herself from asking; the words came out of her mouth as though they had a life of their own.
"I want to wait until you're ready. I know you're very reluctant about marriage."
Willow didn't know what to say. "I'm not reluctant about marriage. I just didn’t want to be pushed into it.”
“The last thing I want to do is put pressure on you.”
“Nee, you’re not. I meant pressure from my parents—our parents. It’s not right. But I’m not reluctant about marriage.”
“I’m pleased to hear it.”
“Marriage is a good thing,” Willow said, hoping that was enough to nudge him in the right direction.
“When might you be ready for marriage?”
She put her other hand over his. “Samuel, what are you asking me?”
He gulped. “Would you … would you marry me in—”
“Jah, I will.” She had to jump in fast because she knew he was going to say, ‘in a few years.’
A smile spread across his face. “Really?”
She nodded. “Jah, really.”
“Do you mean … Are you saying that you’ll marry me now?”
“I’d like that.”
He laughed. “That makes me happy—very happy.”
He squeezed her hand a little and that made her heart pitter-patter.
“You don’t think it’s too soon, or you’re too young?” he asked.
“Nee. I'll be eighteen real soon, and I think everything is just right. You don’t mind if I work in a job, do you?”
“Nee, you can do whatever you want. Most women work outside the home to bring in an extra income in these hard times, but I make enough so you don’t have to. Do what makes you happy.”
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