Isaiah concluded his remarks and took his seat as the testimonies were given. Bishop Beiler was last on the list and said with a big smile on his face, “It was goot to have Isaiah with us again this morning. I know he visited for reasons other than seeing us, but the Lord has chosen to bless many through the story of Isaac and Rebecca and their love. The Lord chooses to bless us still today when we see love blossoming in the hearts of our people. Many blessings on Isaiah and Esther as they continue to seek the Lord’s will and join their lives as husband and wife.”
Chuckles were heard again as the name of the closing song was given out. Esther kept her eyes on the page in the hymnal, and she lifted them only to sneak a look at Isaiah. He caught her glance and winked. She could have slapped him or kissed him—she wasn’t sure which. But the more she saw of his handsome face and heard the sermons he preached, the happier she was that they had been granted the privilege of loving each other.
Esther squeezed back tears. Here she was crying over a man, and it wasn’t even her wedding day. How things had changed. The song ended before she had composed herself, but no one seemed to notice her. The happy chatter began almost at once, as the women hurried into the kitchen to prepare the noon meal.
Bishop Beiler had planted an idea in her mind this morning with his kind ways. She would invite him to travel to the valley and marry them there. The bishop was older, but he still enjoyed trips to unfamiliar territories. Isaiah could ask him before he left, and from the look on Bishop Beiler’s face during Isaiah’s sermon, the man would be honored.
Isaiah would stay late again tonight. He hadn’t left for his parents’ place last night until after eleven in a buggy borrowed from Daett. Isaiah had been back this morning to pick her up for the drive to church, which hadn’t been necessary, but he had insisted. He would return to the valley tomorrow. She wanted to accompany him back, but she wasn’t quite ready. Another week in Lancaster County with the wedding coming up in October would be exactly what Mamm and she needed to make their plans.
Esther tried to keep her mind straight as she helped serve the married men’s table. Her hands were full of peanut butter bowls and red beets and slabs of margarine on flat plates. Isaiah didn’t help with his constant winks in her direction. What did he want? That she spill red beets all over the tablecloth? That was going to happen soon if he didn’t stop teasing her.
She finally gave in and returned his smiles, shivers running up and down her back. This was becoming embarrassing. Esther emptied her hands, and with one last smile toward Isaiah, she slipped into the kitchen and stayed there. She couldn’t risk more winks and smiles. She shook her head. Here he was, a bearded minister, and she, a minister’s widow, acting like teenagers.
The first round of tables was soon finished, and Esther seated herself for the second serving. There were young people left who hadn’t eaten, so there would be a third round served. Back in the valley, almost everyone made it to the first two servings on Sundays, but they were a smaller community, unlike the Lancaster County districts that were bulging at the seams.
Esther gave the young girl who served their table a smile and a quick greeting when she dropped off a fresh plate of sliced bread. “Hi, Barbara.”
“Looks like you have made a perfect catch in that valley of yours,” Barbara said, eliciting chuckles from the women within earshot.
“I think I have,” Esther agreed without blushing. Maybe she had become accustomed to the feeling of falling in love.
“Well, the best to you,” Barbara told her.
Esther nodded her thanks and grinned.
The meal concluded, and Esther helped with the dishes in the kitchen. She noticed Isaiah’s broad back going out the front door toward the barn, so she slipped into the living room to collect Diana, but Mamm waved her away.
“You go with Isaiah. I want to spend some time with my granddaughter.”
Esther gave in at once.
Diana gave her a quick hug before Esther left. That Diana didn’t object was goot. It spoke of the security and stability she found in her extended family. They were together again, and Isaiah had spent considerable time with the child last night.
Esther returned to the kitchen and made her way through the mudroom, where she collected her shawl. She was at the end of the walk by the time Isaiah had Daett’s spare driving horse out of the barn. Rather than wait, Esther hurried over to help him. Isaiah grinned when she approached the buggy.
“You can stop teasing me now,” she scolded. “You had me turning all kinds of colors all day.”
“But you’re the sweetest thing when you change into multiple shades of red.”
“Don’t you forget you’re a minister,” she reminded him as she fastened the tugs on her side. “You should behave yourself.”
“I don’t think I can ever behave myself around you,” he said with another wink.
“I’m getting in the buggy before I turn bright red and purple.”
Isaiah tossed her the reins before he hopped up to settle on the seat. “Where’s Diana?”
“Going home with Mamm.”
“Grandma time.”
“That was a goot sermon you gave.”
He sobered. “In all honesty, Esther, I hope I didn’t embarrass you too much, but those were things I wished to speak about. I know I’m clumsy at times, and that I get embarrassed easily, like I did with Peter and Edna, but—”
“You didn’t have to say them because of me.”
“I wanted to say them. For my own sake and for others like me who are a little afraid of the emotions that come with love.”
“You are sweet, you know, for a minister.”
He laughed. “I’m glad you think so. I’m not sure sometimes myself.”
“Isaiah.” She touched his arm. “You have no reason to doubt yourself. I’m madly in love with you. Why else would I sit there and allow you to say such things?”
He regarded her for a moment. “I’m not glad that Mandy was taken from me, but I am glad that I am allowed to know you, Esther. It’s a great honor.”
“I could say the same,” she said softly, leaning against his shoulder. “But stop saying such things, or I’ll be reduced to tears again.”
“Tears are goot. They mean that you love me.”
“You already know that.”
“I need all the confidence I can get.” He sighed. “This is new territory for me.”
“And for me,” she said, her hand on his arm. “But I am thankful, very thankful, that we are making it, Isaiah.”
His answer was a smile as he turned into Daett’s driveway.
“I want Bishop Beiler to officiate at our wedding in the valley,” she said as they came to a stop by the barn. “Would you speak to him before you leave?”
“You want me to tell the bishop the wedding won’t be here?”
“Yah. It will be okay. I’m sure he will be most agreeable. I could tell from the way he acted today.”
“You just want me to get in trouble again.”
Esther laughed. “Aren’t I worth a little trouble?”
He grinned. “You have a point,” he said as he climbed down from the buggy. “I’ll see that the arrangements are made before I leave.”
“Thank you, Isaiah.” She climbed down to plant a kiss on his cheek. “But I imagine you’re being accommodating until we’ve said the vows, and then you’ll boss me around.”
He winked. “I guess that’s part of the risk of falling in love. You never know what will happen.”
“Hmm…you are very dangerous. Maybe I shouldn’t wed you after all.”
He shook his finger at her. “That’s not going to happen.”
THIRTY-NINE
On a Thursday afternoon more than a week later, a Greyhound bus wound its way through the lower levels of the Adirondack foothills. Seated inside next to her mother, Diana peered out the window for the last mile of the drive into Little Falls. The leaves on the hardwood trees had begun to turn with the f
irst blush of red, gold, and a deeper orange scattered among the bright evergreens.
At last the bus pulled to a stop at the familiar gas station, where Dorrine was already waving from beside her buggy. Diana waved back. Esther joined in with a sudden sting of tears in her eyes.
Diana peered up at her. “What’s wrong, Mamm? Why are you crying? We’re home.”
“That’s why,” Esther whispered.
“When will we see Isaiah again?”
Esther gave Diana a quick hug. “I think he’s coming over tonight, but I don’t know for sure. Certainly by tomorrow night.”
“Goody!” Diana said in a loud voice, bouncing up and down.
Several of the passengers smiled at them as Esther led the way off the bus.
“You have a well-behaved child,” one of them commented. “And a happy one.”
“Thank you,” Esther answered, smiling back.
When they stepped into the street, Diana pulled loose from Esther’s hand and raced toward Dorrine, who opened her arms wide. Diana flew into them.
“Someone’s happy to be home,” the bus driver said with a big grin. He already had Esther’s suitcase out and ready to go.
“Thank you,” Esther told him. “And thanks for the safe journey.”
He tipped his hat and climbed back into the bus. Esther grabbed her suitcase and headed toward Dorrine’s buggy.
“Oh, Esther!” Dorrine exclaimed, her arms open again. “You’ve come back.”
Esther laughed and gave Dorrine a hug. “What did you expect, silly?”
“I wasn’t sure there for a while!” Dorrine giggled. “It’s just so goot to see the two of you, and to see Isaiah this past Sunday. The man preached up a storm. What did you do to him in Lancaster County?”
“Got things straightened out and began to make our wedding plans.” Esther lowered her voice. “We had to work through a rough spot, but it’s smooth sailing now.”
Dorrine hugged herself in delight. “So will you tell me? Surely I can know when it will be?”
“Yah, this wedding season. The last Thursday of October.”
“Oh, that’s such goot news. No wonder he seemed reborn.”
Esther laughed. “And we’re having the wedding here in the valley. Isn’t that extra wunderbah?”
“That’s a little risky.” Dorrine paused in her stride. “Have your parents agreed?”
“Yah. Mamm’s coming two weeks ahead of time, and the wedding won’t be that large. After all, it’s the second wedding for both of us.”
Dorrine helped Diana climb into the buggy and whispered over her shoulder, “Isaiah was sure acting as if it’s his first wedding this past Sunday, and look at you! You’re aglow.”
“The Lord has blessed us, there’s no doubt about that,” Esther said, hurrying around the other side of the buggy to hide her red face.
Dorrine still noticed, and said with a sigh when Esther climbed in, “Well, I’m happy for the two of you. Now, if only we could figure out what’s going on with Joseph. He has me worried.” Dorrine clucked to her horse, and the buggy headed up the street out of Little Falls.
“What’s wrong now?” Esther asked.
“He was gone for a few days about the time Isaiah went out to see you. Did Isaiah maybe say something to you about it? I didn’t dare ask him on Sunday, and John wouldn’t either. He said it’s none of our business, but Joseph is our neighbor, and Arlene is my cousin.”
“You think it had something to do with Arlene?”
Dorrine wrinkled her brow. “Beats me. But how do you think Joseph could ever have persuaded old Peter to change his mind?”
“Maybe Joseph did something romantic,” Esther said, and they laughed together at the joke.
“You know that’s not the answer. So what is it?” Dorrine asked.
“I’ll have to go down and ask him,” Esther decided.
“Would you? And then stop in and tell me afterward. I’m so curious. I can’t help myself. I mean, what if Joseph and Arlene are getting married? Wouldn’t that be something?”
“Yah, it sure would,” Esther mused, settling back on the buggy seat. A moment later a smile crept across her face. “What if Joseph somehow did convince Peter to change his mind? Why couldn’t the Lord bless him the way the Lord is blessing us?”
Dorrine appeared skeptical. “But Joseph isn’t Isaiah…”
“And neither am I Arlene.”
Dorrine clucked her tongue in sympathy as her horse slowed for the long climb up the crest of Highway 5. Silence settled in the buggy until Diana burst out at the first sight of their house on Fords Bush Road. “There it is!”
“Yah, there it is,” Esther agreed. “It’s so goot to be home.”
Dorrine pulled to a stop in the driveway, and Esther hopped out to lift Diana down and retrieve her suitcase.
“I’ll see you later,” Dorrine said. “I know you want to get settled in.” She jiggled the reins to trot her horse on down the hill.
Esther watched her go for a few seconds before she took Diana’s hand and entered the yard. The first hard frost had bitten the roses sometime in the past week, and the blossoms hung faded and weary. Diana let go of her mother’s hand to run up to them and take a long breath, her face pressed into the petals.
“They don’t smell anymore. What happened, Mamm?”
“Winter’s coming, sweetheart. But there will be spring again and many more roses. We will always have roses in our lives. I promise you that.”
Diana’s countenance lifted slightly. “I like winter too, I guess. And snow.”
“It’s all in the Lord’s plan. But come, we have many things to prepare. First of all, we need to walk down and say hello to Joseph. Would you like that?”
Diana nodded vigorously, and Esther left the suitcase on the front porch. A moment later she was heading down the road with Diana by her side. They might as well see Joseph before she became wrapped up in household duties and supper preparations.
Surely Isaiah would come over tonight. He might wish to appear restrained, but she was confident his desire to see her would win out in the end. She had told him before he left Lancaster County of her travel plans.
Diana let go of her hand to race ahead and barge into the greenhouse. As Esther drew near, Joseph appeared in the doorway with Diana by his side and a big grin on his face.
“Well, look who’s back!” he called to Esther. “Welcome home.”
“Greetings to you too.” She glanced around. “You’ve been sprucing up the place.”
Joseph laughed. “Yah, it’s time.”
“So what is going on, Joseph? What’s the secret?”
His grin was broad. “My wedding to Arlene, Esther. Peter and Edna have relented.”
“Joseph!” Esther exclaimed, rushing over to give him a quick hug. “How did you accomplish that?”
“The Lord’s blessing,” he said with a chuckle.
“You’re not deceiving me,” Esther told him. “You did something.”
“Maybe,” Joseph allowed. “But we’d best leave that unsaid. We don’t want more rumors going around the community, do we?”
“You didn’t take roses to Arlene, did you? Or worse…to Peter?”
Joseph roared with laughter. “I had to be a little more original than that, believe me.”
“Well, if you won’t tell me, I’ll just ask Arlene.”
“Arlene doesn’t know. I have to maintain some secrets, you know. After I told you everything about Silvia’s Rose.”
“Oh, Joseph.” Esther stepped closer. “I can never thank you enough for the story you told me about Silvia and your work with the roses. You changed our lives. We will never be the same.”
He hung his head for a moment. “I’m not worthy of your kindness, Esther. I doubt if I would have a frau in a few weeks if it weren’t for you, so I think we’re even. Now, about the wedding…I would like you and Isaiah to serve as the witnesses on my side of the family. Can you make another trip back to
Lancaster County? Please say yes. I would be greatly honored.”
Esther gasped with delight. “Joseph! Of course we will. I don’t even have to ask Isaiah to know that. But why…I mean…”
“Maybe I want to seal my goot standing in Peter and Edna’s eyes with a minister as my witness at my wedding.” Joseph’s eyes twinkled. Then he glanced down at Diana, who had begun to pull on his arm.
“Are you coming up for supper tonight?”
Joseph patted her on the head. “I think Isaiah is coming, and I have lots of work to do. I’m getting ready for my new bride’s arrival.”
The little girl’s disappointment showed, so he added, “But you can come over here for supper after Arlene and I are married, and Arlene and I can also come up to your place when your mamm invites us.”
“Goody, goody,” Diana chanted, hopping up and down on one foot.
“That sounds like a good plan, but now we have to go.” Esther took Diana’s hand. “We just wanted a quick visit, Diana. Joseph has to get back to work, and we still have to unpack.”
“Looks like you’ll be stopping in somewhere first,” Joseph said with a grin. “I saw drapes moving across the street.”
Esther hid her smile. “Dorrine should have come over and asked you what was going on herself.”
“Don’t be too hard on her. Not every man has his promised one hustled back home to keep her from marriage,” Joseph said, his face grim. “But that’s all over and settled, so we will hold no bitterness against the man.”
“You have a golden heart, Joseph.”
He just shook his head and remained silent.
Esther left him to hurry across Fords Bush Road. Because Dorrine had made her curiosity so plain, there was no need for discretion. Dorrine must have come to the same conclusion and rushed out to the porch to meet her.
“So, what’s going on?” Dorrine asked with quick glances toward the greenhouse.
“Their wedding is on again—and soon, from the sound of things. For some reason, Joseph was able to change Peter’s mind.”
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