by Amy Clipston
“All right.” Chris moved to the sink to wash his hands. Shame and anger meshed inside of him as he scrubbed off the dirt and grime. He looked out the window above the sink, and his gaze settled on the Fisher home, where he imagined Emily enjoying supper with her parents and sister. He was certain the Fisher daughters had never been estranged from their parents.
Would time heal his wounds, as the old adage promised? Somehow the chasm in his heart seemed too large and too deep to heal.
CHAPTER 11
“WE GOT A LOT DONE ON THE DRESSES TODAY.” RACHEL stirred a pot of chicken and noodles on the stove late Friday afternoon. “Danki for your help.”
“You don’t need to thank us.” Veronica leaned against the counter and wiped her hand across her sweaty brow. Her cheeks were rosy as she blushed.
“Veronica,” Rachel said with alarm in her tone. “You don’t look well.”
“Are you feeling all right?” Emily rushed to her side and touched her hand. “You look like you’re burning up.”
“I think it’s hormones.” Veronica fanned herself with her hand. “I’m hot all the time, and I’m so tired.” She placed her other hand over her mouth to stifle a yawn, then touched her abdomen, although no changes to her slender frame were yet visible.
“Have a seat.” Emily gently tugged Veronica’s hand, steering her to the table. “You look like you need to rest.”
“Ya, you need to rest,” Rachel echoed.
Veronica lowered herself into a chair.
“Are you sick?” Mamm entered the kitchen from the family room and rushed to Veronica’s side. “Do you need to lie down?”
“Don’t fret over me. I’m fine.” Veronica waved them both away. “I just need to relax and cool off.”
Emily poured a glass of water from the pitcher in the refrigerator and set it in front of Veronica. “Take a drink.” She smoothed her hands over her apron as she took in her oldest sister’s pink cheeks.
“Danki.” Veronica sipped the water and then gave Emily a tired smile. “I will be fine, Em. Stop worrying.”
“Okay.” Emily continued to observe her sister, hoping she’d feel better soon.
“Is your stomach upset? Do you want something to eat?” Rachel started rifling through the cabinets. “I’m sure we have some crackers here somewhere.” She found a sleeve of saltines and brought them to Veronica.
“That’s a gut idea, Rachel.” Mamm rubbed Veronica’s shoulder.
“Danki.” Veronica bit into a cracker and then looked up at Mamm standing over her. “You stop worrying too, Mamm. I’m okay. I promise you.”
A faraway look overtook Mamm’s eyes. “I remember the first trimester with all my kinner. It was an exciting but exhausting time. There was so much I wanted to do, but I knew I had to rest. Listen to your body, Veronica. If you’re tired, then your body is telling you to slow down.”
Veronica took another bite of cracker. “Ya, Mamm. I will.”
Emily and Rachel exchanged knowing smiles. Mamm always gave the best advice.
Emily glanced at the clock above the sink. It was almost a quarter after five. “I think everything is ready for supper. The men will be here anytime, right?”
“Ya,” Rachel said, peering out the window above the sink. “Mike and John should be here soon. Mike left work early so he could be here by suppertime.” She looked over her shoulder at Veronica. “Jason did too, right?”
“Ya,” Veronica agreed before taking another cracker.
“Your dat should be closing up the shop at five.” Mamm set a large bowl of salad on the table. “I’m surprised he’s not home yet.”
Emily brought out bowls for the chicken and noodles. She hoped Chris would join them for supper tonight, but he hadn’t agreed to come. She frowned as doubt settled over her.
“Is something wrong, Em?”
Emily glanced over to where Veronica observed her intently. “No, I’m fine.”
Veronica raised an eyebrow. “You wear your emotions on your face, so you’re not a gut liar. You look like you’re upset about something.”
“No, I—” Emily began.
“Did something happen with Chris?” Rachel asked. “I thought you said he liked the chicken salad and brownies you took him for lunch yesterday. Isn’t he coming tonight?”
“You took Chris lunch yesterday?” Veronica asked as a grin formed on her lips. “Was he surprised?”
Emily loved her sisters, but she wasn’t in the mood for their endless barrage of questions about Chris.
The sound of horse hooves and buggy wheels moving up the rock driveway drew Rachel’s attention to the window.
“Oh! Mike and John are here.” Rachel rushed through the mudroom and out the back door.
A few moments later, the door opened then clicked shut again, and Dat stepped into the kitchen. “Oh, I smell chicken and noodles.” He rubbed his hands together. “My favorite!”
Emily looked at the doorway, expecting Chris to appear in the kitchen behind Dat, but he didn’t.
“Dat, did Chris say he’d be over soon?” Her fingers sought the ribbons on her prayer covering. She held her breath, hoping he would say yes.
“I don’t think he mentioned it before he went to work in Hank’s barn.” Dat frowned and rubbed his cheeks as if trying to remember their conversations throughout the day. “No, I don’t think he mentioned coming over tonight. Did you invite him?”
Emily’s spirit sank as she tried her best not to permit disappointment to invade her face. “Well, I did say something to him.” She could feel the weight of Veronica’s stare at her back.
Dat gestured to the door. “You should go ask him. I’m certain he’d love to come.”
“Ya.” Emily forced a smile. “Maybe I will.”
“Gut.” He started toward the family room.
“How was your day?” Mamm said, following him out of the kitchen.
Emily busied herself with bringing food to the table. As she set down a large bowl of green beans, Veronica gently grabbed her arm.
“What’s bothering you?” Concern flashed in her blue eyes.
Emily paused, debating what to tell her sister.
“It’s Chris, isn’t it?”
“Ya, it is.” Emily frowned. “I don’t think Chris is going to come tonight.”
Veronica pointed to the chair beside her. “Sit and talk to me.”
The sound of another horse and buggy poured in through the window above the sink.
“I think Jason is here,” Emily said.
“Ya,” Veronica said with an impatient nod. “And that means we don’t have much time to talk alone. Tell me what’s wrong. Please.”
Emily examined a dish on the table to avoid Veronica’s eyes. “I invited Chris yesterday when we had lunch together, but he said he didn’t want to intrude. Now that I think about it, I don’t think he feels comfortable coming over here. I don’t understand it.” She met Veronica’s sympathetic gaze. “I know Mamm told you how Chris poured out his heart to me about his bruder and his father, but it’s like he’s afraid to get too close or something.”
Veronica’s eyes softened and she gave a knowing grin. “You care about him.”
Emily’s cheeks flushed. “Ya, I do. I want to get to know him better, and I want to help him. He’s dealing with a lot of guilt after losing his bruder.”
Veronica leaned close to Emily. “Well, if you think Chris needs to be here, then you need to find a way to get him to come over.”
Just then, John bounded into the kitchen and took in a big breath. “I love chicken and noodles!”
Emily stood as an idea flashed in her mind. “Hi, John. Would you do me a favor?”
CHRIS STEPPED OUT OF THE BATHROOM AND WALKED TOWARD the kitchen, stopping to drop his dirty clothes in the hamper. After getting ahead on his projects in the harness shop this afternoon, he offered to do all Hank’s chores in the barn as a way to thank his uncle for allowing him to stay with him. He’d spent nearly two hours muck
ing out stalls and feeding the animals. After he finished the chores, he was certain he smelled like the barn, so he’d taken a shower and changed into fresh clothes before supper.
In the kitchen the aroma of pot roast wafted over him. Aenti Tillie stood at the stove as she stirred gravy in a saucepan.
“That smells appeditlich.” He pushed his hand through his damp hair. “Would you like me to set the table?”
Aenti Tillie looked at him over her shoulder. “Ya, if you want to. I’m running a little behind this afternoon. I was quilting and lost track of time.”
Chris fetched three dinner plates from the cabinet and placed them on the table. He took utensils from the drawer and began to arrange them at the place settings. Emily’s sweet face came to mind. He’d been consumed with thoughts of her as he worked in the harness shop and on the farm.
Chris had debated joining her and her family for supper tonight. As much as he craved spending time with her, the awkwardness he’d experienced when her sisters announced their engagement and pregnancy news still reminded him he was a stranger. Chris didn’t belong with Emily and her family. In fact, he didn’t belong anywhere.
“You like pot roast, right?”
At his aunt’s question, he looked up from the table to where she was still standing at the stove.
“Ya. Mei mamm makes it from time to time.”
“I used her recipe. Hank and I enjoyed it when we visited your family in Ohio once, so I asked your mamm to write it down for me. I thought you might like to have something that reminded you of home.”
His neck tightened as memories hit him in the face. Family dinners. Mamm bringing a pot roast to the table. Sitting across from Gabriel at the table. He wondered what Mamm was cooking tonight and whether Paul and his family would join his parents for supper just as Emily’s sisters and their extended family planned to do.
A knock at the back door startled Chris.
Aenti Tillie raised her eyebrows as she glanced at him over her shoulder. “Would you please get that?”
“Ya.” Chris crossed the kitchen and walked through the mudroom. When he reached the screen door, he didn’t see anyone standing outside. Chris wrenched the door open and saw John Lantz standing on the porch. “Hi, John.”
“Hi, Chris.” John grinned up at him, his blue eyes twinkling with excitement as he held a softball in his hand. “Can you come out and play ball with me?”
Chris rubbed his clean-shaven chin, trying hard not to grin. “You want me to come out and play?”
“Ya.” John held up the softball. “I brought a ball and bat. We can play softball in Rachel’s field.”
“Who’s at the door?” Aenti Tillie appeared at his shoulder. “Oh, hi, John. How are you today?”
“Hi.” John waved up to her. “I was wondering if Chris could come out and play with me. I know it’s suppertime, but Emily said I should convince Chris to come for supper, and then he can stay and play ball with me for a while.”
Chris looked toward the Fisher house and spotted Emily standing on the back porch. She waved at Chris, and everything clicked into place. Emily knew Chris would never refuse John’s invitation. She was so determined to convince Chris to join her and her family for supper that she sent John to fetch him. He was amazed Emily would go to so much effort.
“Chris?” John’s voice was full of enthusiasm and his eyes pleaded with Chris to say yes. “So can you play after we eat supper?”
Chris turned and met his aunt’s gaze. “I know you made the pot roast for me.”
“Go. You can have leftovers for lunch tomorrow.” Aenti Tillie waved him off. “Emily is waiting for you.”
His stomach pitched. Emily is waiting for you. “Danki, Aenti Tillie.”
“Great!” John took Chris’s hand and tugged him toward the porch steps. “See you later!” he called to Tillie.
Chris permitted John to propel him across the porch and down the steps to the rock path leading to the Fishers’ house. John released Chris’s hand and took off running. Chris fixed his eyes on Emily standing on the porch, leaning on the railing and watching them.
John rushed up the porch steps. “I got Chris to come to supper,” he told Emily. “So that means I can play ball with him after we eat, right?”
“Right.” Emily’s cheeks looked pinker than usual. Was she blushing?
John rushed into the house, the screen door clicking shut behind him.
“Hi.” Emily gave Chris a tentative smile as he climbed the steps.
“Hi,” he echoed as he approached her. “That was a dirty trick.” She smelled like cinnamon, strawberries, and . . . sunshine?
“I did what I had to do.” She lifted her chin, and her eyes twinkled. “It’s obvious how fond John is of you. I couldn’t get you to agree to come to supper when I asked you yesterday, but I knew you wouldn’t want to hurt John’s feelings.”
“I worry about your feelings too, Em.”
She blushed again. “We’d better get inside. Mei dat is hungry.”
CHAPTER 12
EMILY COULDN’T KEEP HER EYES OFF CHRIS DURING SUPPER. She stole glances at him as he sat across from her. He was so attractive in his blue shirt, which brought out the blue hues of his gorgeous eyes. His light brown hair was damp as if he’d just stepped out of the shower, and he smelled like soap and a musky aftershave that made her think of a fall breeze. She’d wanted to reach up and run her hand over his clean-shaven chin. His earlier comment to her on the porch knocked her off balance for a moment.
I worry about your feelings too, Em.
Did that mean Chris cared about her? But if he truly cared about her, would she have had to send a seven-year-old to convince Chris to come over for supper?
“Isn’t that right, Em?” Rachel’s question brought Emily back to the present.
Everyone’s eyes focused on Emily, and her ears burned. “What’s that, Rach?” She turned toward Rachel beside her and hoped her words sounded casual instead of nervous.
“I said you did the bulk of the sewing today,” Rachel explained as she buttered a roll. “You’re the best seamstress in the family, other than Mamm, of course.”
“That’s not true.” In her peripheral vision, Emily could see Chris looking at her intently, and she longed for her galloping pulse to slow to a normal pace. Why did Chris have such a strong effect on her? “Mamm taught us all to sew, and she is the best. I just happened to do the most sewing today, but that doesn’t make me better than anyone else.”
“Ya, she’s very humble, but she’s the best out of all of us,” Rachel insisted, turning her attention to Mike. “But we did get a lot done today, thanks to Em.”
“That’s gut,” Mike said, swiping a roll from the basket. “You think you’ll have everything done in time?”
“Oh, ya,” Rachel said. “I know we will. Right, Em?”
Emily shrugged. “Ya, I think so. I told you I’ll do my best to help you finish the dresses in the next couple of weeks.”
Mike raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you’re not trying to accomplish too much in a short period of time? It’s okay if we wait until December or even January to get married.”
“I don’t want to wait,” Rachel’s tone held a hint of a whine.
“She’s stubborn,” Mamm teased.
“Don’t I know it,” Mike countered with a grin.
“I’m sure everything will come together just fine,” Rachel insisted. “Trust me.”
“I do trust you.” Love gleamed in Mike’s eyes as he gazed at his future bride.
Would Emily ever find that kind of love? That familiar pang of jealousy shook her to her core, and she tried to push it away.
Emily glanced at Chris. He was still looking at her, and warmth built in her chest as she gave him a shy smile. He responded with a nod.
“How do you like working in the harness shop?” Jason asked, sitting on the other side of him.
“I like it.” Chris spun his fork in the noodles. “Leroy and mei onk
el have taught me a lot about leatherworking.”
“He’s a talented student,” Dat chimed in. “Chris has quickly learned the basics and is now working on more complicated projects. He makes it look easy, but it took me much longer to get to the level of quality work he’s already reached.”
“No, I’m really not that gut.” Chris shook his head, and his cheeks turned pink.
Emily fought the grin threatening her lips. He was actually blushing!
“Don’t listen to him, Jason,” Dat continued between bites of chicken. “He’s very gut.”
Chris met Emily’s curious gaze and he shrugged. “Your dat likes to exaggerate.”
Emily turned toward the head of the table where Dat sat, shaking his head. “Are you exaggerating, Dat?”
“No, I’m not.” He lifted a forkful of noodles. “Chris is talented. We’re blessed to have him working at our shop.”
Chris’s face darkened as he stared at Dat. He’d told her he didn’t know how to handle compliments, but that was in reference to his smile and eyes, and this was about his work. Chris had shared, however, that his older brother was better skilled at horse training than he was, so maybe he’d never received compliments about his work before either.
Sadness settled over Emily as she tried to imagine Chris’s painful home life. Why couldn’t his father appreciate what a wonderful man Chris was?
After supper the women started cleaning the kitchen and the men went outside.
“Dinner was appeditlich,” Veronica commented as she finished washing a glass in the sink.
“Ya, and your pies were too,” Rachel agreed, taking the glass to dry it. “I ate too much. I have to be careful or my dress won’t fit.”
Emily stopped sweeping the floor and peeked out the window toward the field behind the house. She spotted Chris playing softball with John, Mike, and Jason as Dat leaned on the fence nearby and watched. She held on to the broom and beamed as Chris pitched the ball to John and then clapped when John slugged the ball out toward Mike in the makeshift outfield. Chris seemed to fit in so well with her family.