The Ebb Tide

by Beverly Lewis

  “I’ve pondered that, too,” she said, reaching down to pet meowing Sweetie Pie, who’d managed to escape the house. “Oh so many times, I have.”

  Their precious moments together ticked away, Kevin’s expression still sober. “I really should let you get inside, Sallie, although I’d love to talk longer.”

  She nodded, the same thought crossing her mind. “Have a safe trip back to school.” She leaned on the banister, relieved. After all, they’d shared so deeply all last summer. Surely, he’ll join me in prayer. . . .

  Long after Kevin left, Sallie remained on the porch, wrapped in her sweater against the chill, thinking about his visit and all they’d shared.

  When she finally made her way back inside, Essie had already redded up the kitchen. “Such a nice fella . . . interesting, too.”

  “Ach, you’ve done almost everything without me!” Sallie exclaimed, embarrassed that she’d let so much time slip away.

  But Essie shook her head. “It was right for you to entertain your guest.”

  “I’m glad you finally met him,” Sallie admitted a little shyly.

  “He carries on a real nice conversation, I’ll say.”

  If only she knew the half . . .

  “And I’ve certainly never seen you glow like that before,” Essie added now, studying her hard.

  Sallie tried her best to deny it. She honestly did, but she couldn’t hide her fluster at this.

  So without further discussion, she hurried off to her room to hang up the beautiful seashell initial beside the framed photo of the Cape May Lighthouse. Then, standing back to look at it, she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she and Kevin had gathered those exact shells.

  The night we walked on Sunset Beach . . .

  Four weeks passed, and Kevin’s letters came, one after another, interspersed by an occasional drawing or note from Autumn, who was full of news about the busy school year. November’s rain and cold turned to sleet for several days in a row right before Frannie’s Thursday wedding. Much fussing was going on, what with Mamm concerned that things wouldn’t be ready in time. But thanks to many hands making the work lighter, it all came together, and Frannie and Jesse’s special day dawned golden with sunshine.

  Since Allen and Kate had of course taken over the original farmhouse, the service and subsequent wedding feast were held at Mamm’s younger sister’s place. Sallie wept happy tears upstairs in the spare bedroom when she first laid eyes on Frannie in her newly sewn royal blue dress and white organdy apron. They clasped hands and promised to stay close.

  “I really must know something, though,” Frannie whispered before going downstairs to make her hushed entrance into the traditional wedding service—three hours of singing and sermons, to be followed by a five-minute wedding. “Essie let it slip that your friend Kevin Kreider visited you a while back. Is that so?”

  The comment took Sallie by surprise, because she’d managed to keep it quiet from the family, who, except for Allen and a few farmhands, had all been down at the farm auction till quite late that evening. “A month ago, jah. Didn’t want to say anything to anyone with your wedding so near, however. You never know what the grapevine might do with something like that . . . ’specially with me on the fence ’bout church.”

  Frannie’s eyes flew wide. “I thought something was up.” She wrapped her arms around Sallie. “I know these last few months haven’t been the easiest for you, but I’ve seen you trying. I know ya ain’t deciding this lightly. Denki for keepin’ this day so special.”

  Sallie nodded silently, fishing for the fresh hankie under her sleeve and dabbing her eyes. “I love ya, sister, I truly do.”

  Oh, she must stop crying like this, or her eyes would look like she was going to a funeral!

  The Christmas season slipped up on Sallie, and the time for family gatherings was just around the corner. A week earlier, Sallie had taken time to sit down with Dat and Mamm, and in the comforting glow of the gaslight, she had told of her decision. And now that everyone in the immediate family knew she no longer planned to join church, Sallie had begun to study toward the GED test . . . and to work additional hours at the restaurant. Once she passed her test, she would find a full-time job. Then I can search for an apartment and possibly a roommate. She’d thought of fellow waitress Kelsey Towner as a possibility, but she wanted to heed her father’s advice and not rush the situation. And because she was still living at Essie’s, she continued to dress in traditional Old Order clothing and to attend Preaching service, visiting the nearby Mennonite church only on off-Sundays, knowing how much such gestures of respect meant to her family.

  After all, there was plenty of time to purchase new clothing and to learn to drive a car later, when the time was right. And someday, I’ll take a special vacation, she thought, her mind alive with the word pictures Kevin had painted of his many ocean-side adventures. Now that she knew she would one day leave the Plain community, Sallie dared to dream again of travel, though it would be a long, long time before she had enough squirreled away for a trip to Australia.

  Sallie’s twentieth birthday fell on the day after Christmas, and as always, her family saw to it that her special day didn’t get lost in the celebration of the Lord’s. They gathered at Adam and Kate’s for cake and ice cream, pretzel sticks, and salty nuts, the house crammed full with her dear ones.

  That evening, recalling the sound of Kevin’s laughter and missing him, Sallie took the panda bear out from her closet. She looked at the bear a long moment before placing him on her desk and sitting down to pen a letter to Kevin, expressing thanks for the pretty red cardinal Christmas card and his gift to her—The Wonders of the Great Barrier Reef—which featured underwater photographs taken along the vividly colorful coral reef.

  Since dropping by Essie’s last fall, Kevin had written quite often, keeping Sallie informed of his studies and the fascinating research he was currently doing out on the central California coast. Sallie longed to respond immediately each time but had held back, waiting a day or so in most cases to reply. But it was getting harder to do so, and she hoped he might call her soon, impatient to hear his voice again. And ever so eager to hear his response to her hard decision not to join church.

  Recently, Frannie and Jesse had dropped Kevin’s name during a visit with Allen and Kate, or so Sallie had gathered from Kate’s gentle prying when Sallie was there to help with the children. Not only that, but Kevin’s name had reached Dawdi Riehl’s ears, though he was nearly too frail to bother worrying over his granddaughter’s correspondence with a Mennonite boy, of all things.

  48

  The day before Palm Sunday, Sallie helped her mother bake a roast with the usual side dishes—creamy mashed potatoes, gravy, cooked carrots, and pearl onions—so they could simply reheat the meal on the Lord’s Day, a no-Preaching Sunday. There would be chow chow, pickled beets, and deviled eggs, too.

  Mamm had invited Jesse and Frannie to join them and Essie for the noon meal tomorrow. “Your Dat’s been a-hankerin’ for some company for dinner,” Mamm said, mopping her brow with her handkerchief. “I think he misses rubbin’ shoulders with the farmhands, too. Feels nix waert, poor man.”

  “He wouldn’t feel useless if he could do some light work round the stable, maybe.” Sallie looked over her shoulder to check that her father wasn’t paying attention. “Allen surely wouldn’t mind.”

  “You bring it up to him.” Mamm went to sit at the table, which opened large enough to accommodate the six of them tomorrow. “Seems he’ll consider things from you or Essie that he wouldn’t think of takin’ from me.” Mamm laughed softly. “Persnickety.”

  Sallie found this humorous. She gave her a smile and headed back to Essie’s to do some mending.

  That afternoon, when the mail arrived, there was another letter from Kevin.

  Quickly, Sallie opened it in Essie’s kitchen and found an Easter greeting. “Kevin wants to come visit on Easter Monday. How ’bout that?”

  Essie’s smile was playful. “F
or ‘just a friend,’ he’s real interested in seeing ya again, especially if he’s takin’ time away from his family.”

  Sallie shrugged it off. “I’m not sure if Mennonites observe that Monday as a holiday, really. Besides, he’s likely coming straight from his university.”

  “Well, I don’t have to ask if you want to see him again,” Essie said, wiping down the front of the gas stove.

  Sallie passed it off with a little laugh, but she did not protest.

  Easter week brought renewed life and brilliant color back to the countryside. Sallie couldn’t help but notice Essie’s crocuses and daffodils, as well as her early tulips and Dutch hyacinths, all springing forth for the Lord’s resurrection-day celebration. Essie pointed this out to Sallie, saying she believed it was God’s special way of reminding them that His presence was always near.

  Down the lane from Essie’s house, Mamm’s perennials were also in radiant bloom—bleeding heart, creeping phlox, and primrose. And just up the road at Frannie and Jesse’s little rental, the pink and white cherry blossoms were already flowering.

  At every turn, nature’s rebirth reminded Sallie of how she’d always felt with Kevin . . . so fully alive.

  For the people of Paradise, Good Friday was a day of fasting and prayer, the beginning of a weekend capped by the typical three-and-a-half-hour Easter Sunday Preaching service and shared meal.

  The celebration continued into Easter Monday, when all the Amish-owned businesses closed for a day of fishing or visiting. It was an ideal day for Kevin’s visit, and Sallie had to purposely make herself calm down during breakfast with Essie.

  She kept wandering into the small front room after washing the kitchen floor, going to the window that overlooked the long lane toward Peach Road.

  As he had written, Kevin arrived at Cousin Essie’s around ten o’clock that morning, having spent the night at the home of his Miller relatives.

  As before, he parked his car out along the road and approached the cottage on foot, bearing a bow-wrapped basket of flowering plants. Sallie’s pulse sped up, and she quickly brushed off her full apron before rushing out to the front porch to greet him.

  Kevin’s face lit up, though he grinned a bit sheepishly as he presented the basket to her. “The flowers seemed like a good idea until I arrived. Lancaster County looks like the Garden of Eden right now.”

  Sallie hugged the basket of potted plants and inhaled deeply of the fragrant blooms. “They’re perfect,” she reassured him. “Denki for bringing them.”

  “It’s been so long since we’ve been together, I wanted to give you a little something.”

  For a moment, they both seemed somewhat tongue-tied, and Sallie set the pretty gift on the porch table.

  “Frannie and her husband, Jesse, have invited us to their place, if you like,” she said at last. “But I should warn you that Jesse is set on beating us both in Ping-Pong.”

  Kevin grinned. “After seeing your natural skill at Skee-Ball, I doubt that’s possible. But he’s welcome to try.” Kevin chuckled, and Sallie joined in, delighted at the prospect of spending the day with him.

  All wound up, Sallie rode with Kevin over to Jesse and Frannie’s place, where they had a rousing Ping-Pong match until it was time to eat. She was fairly sure he’d let her win a couple of games, his handsome face breaking into a grin . . . and then a wink.

  She enjoyed helping Frannie with last-minute preparations for the simple meal, especially since Kevin was nearby, talking with Jesse in the corner of the kitchen. Sallie had baked her favorite chocolate mocha pie before breakfast that morning, wanting everything to be perfect for Kevin’s visit.

  From what tidbits Sallie could hear, Jesse and Kevin were discussing family trees . . . and lo and behold, it sounded like they were distant cousins!

  At dessert, both Kevin and Jesse asked for seconds of Sallie’s pie, and Kevin comically asked for the recipe.

  They lingered around Frannie’s table, continuing the lively chatter. Ach, such good fellowship, Sallie thought as her sister and brother-in-law got better acquainted with the man she most admired.

  Later, when they’d said their good-byes to Jesse and Frannie, Kevin suggested driving around Paradise Township and into Ronks, and Sallie recommended they stop at the one-room schoolhouse. They got out of the car so Kevin could peek curiously in the windows. “My grandparents must have attended a similar school . . . a bit like some my sister saw in Central America on her summer mission trip,” Kevin said, walking with her around the building once more before they climbed back into the car to return to Essie’s.

  Sallie nodded thoughtfully. “Remember how you once told me that God might have given me my desire to travel? Well, I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately.”

  He glanced over at her, eyebrows raised. “I remember you said Cape May might be it for you.”

  She shrugged. “Not anymore.”

  He grinned at this. “Well, if you’re looking for travel ideas, I’d love it if you could come to my graduation commencement at EMU. Sunday, May second,” he added, anticipation in his voice.

  Sallie drew in a quick breath at the invitation. She hadn’t expected this, but then, Kevin was full of surprises.

  “My entire family will be there, and I’d like them to meet the person who understands me best.”

  Sallie cherished his words, truly astonished. She’d never thought of being anyone’s closest friend, except for maybe Frannie’s.

  “I’ll send you an announcement, if that’s all right,” he said as he pulled the car up near the end of Essie’s lane and switched off the ignition.

  “Denki, I’d be glad to go,” she said. “These past four years have sounded like such a lot of work for ya, Kevin.”

  “From this perspective, it all feels worth it,” he said, downplaying it. He climbed out of the car and came around to let her out, just as he always had, and Sallie savored the gesture.

  “Do you have some time for a short walk?” he asked.

  She nodded, and they went strolling along the roadside, where the first tentative iris spears had sprouted, robins darting across the way.

  “I also have some news to tell you.” Kevin revealed that he had been accepted into the master’s program at Rutgers in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

  “Congratulations!” she said, happy for him.

  “It’ll mean more hard work ahead. But I’m ready for that. . . . I’ve really appreciated all of your encouragement.” He glanced at her then, and for a moment, she thought he might reach for her hand, though he seemed to think better of it, given the number of buggies on the road.

  “By the way, I have church friends near the university who can put you up for a night or two if you do come to my graduation, Sallie,” he mentioned.

  “I’ll do my best to be there.” She smiled.

  “Wonderful.” He ran his hand through his thick hair. “And just know that if for some reason you can’t come, I’ll understand . . . since you’re still living under the guidance of your father . . . for now.”

  It was thoughtful of him to say so, and because he was such a good friend, she appreciated it all the more.

  “Well, I’ll be taking the GED soon and have joined a Bible study group, too, similar to the Sunday school we attended at your little church in Cape May.”

  “You seem very settled now . . . happy with your choice to leave the People.” His eyes met hers, and for the longest moment, Sallie was sure this was nothing more than a wonderful dream. “I love you, Sallie . . . and have ever since that first day on the beach.”

  She was so amazed by his forthright declaration that she quirked her eyebrow and gave him a teasing look. “Ah . . . so that’s why you kept finding reasons to spend more time with me, ain’t so?” she asked.

  “No ain’ts about it,” he chuckled, taking both of her hands in his.

  Heart pounding, she fought back the emotions swirling within her, a mix of joy and also sorrow that they would be going their separate wa
ys again.

  “I enjoyed spendin’ the day with you, Kevin,” she said as they neared his car.

  “Wouldn’t have missed it for anything.”

  “Not even scuba divin’?” She flashed a smile.

  “Not even that.” He leaned near and kissed her cheek. “During those weeks in California, doing my research project, I couldn’t stop thinking about you, Sallie—I was praying the whole time.”

  Her face grew warm.

  “Never forget how powerful prayer can be,” he said, stepping into the driver’s seat. “I’ll call you soon, okay?”

  Overjoyed to agree, she watched as his car backed out of the narrow lane and moved onto Peach Road.

  On the walk back toward Essie’s, Sallie glanced at the Dawdi Haus just as a familiar figure moved away from the window. Sallie couldn’t help but grin—Mamm had likely witnessed the kiss!

  49

  Go on, Sallie . . . look in the mirror,” Cousin Essie said, her face wreathed in smiles.

  “Have I got a dirt smudge?” Sallie pressed her fingers to her cheeks.

  “You’re glowing again. What’s goin’ on?”

  Sallie tried to keep a straight face. “Kevin invited me to his college graduation.”

  “And did ya accept?”

  “Jah,” she said. “I s’pose I ought to talk it over with Dat and Mamm, but I really should go.”

  “Should?” Essie practically giggled.

  “Well, you know. . . .”

  “Okay, better fess up, dearie. Did something wunnerbaar-gut happen today?”

  Sallie hesitated, not exactly sure how it would sound if she voiced it. Then, knowing how much Essie cared, she told her, “Kevin said he loves me.”

  “Oh, that ain’t surprising.” Essie nodded emphatically. “And I can’t think of a finer fella, even if he was Amish.”