Abby handed Lillian two round plates—one for each layer. Turning each of them over carefully, the two of them surveyed the damage.
Abby settled into a chair, holding the back of her hand to her forehead. “I was so afraid I’d burned Onkel Seth’s birthday cake.”
Lillian’s heart did a flip flop. “It’s your Onkel Seth’s birthday?”
Abby smiled. “Jah. Will you please stay for a few more minutes and help me with the frosting? Onkel Seth has said many times how gut the frosting on your cakes is. Will you teach me your secret?”
Lillian didn’t want to overstay her welcome, and it was beginning to get dark. Knowing the Yoder’s had a phone in their barn, she decided to phone her daed when she finished and ask him to pick her up.
“Do you have cream and cardamom?”
Abby scrunched up her face. “Why do we need cream and cardamom?”
Lillian smiled mischievously. “Those are my secret ingredients. But don’t tell anyone or they won’t buy my cakes anymore.”
The two of them laughed as Abby got out the butter and powdered sugar, along with the secret ingredients. Lillian set the cakes on the window sill and cracked the window just a little to allow the layers to cool. Then they busied themselves mixing up the ingredients into a rich, whipped frosting.
Lillian heard stomping of feet near the kitchen door, and she knew Seth and Jacob were there. They entered the large kitchen, knocking the snow from their work boots, and brushing off fresh snowfall from their coats.
“Onkel Seth! You’re not supposed to see your cake yet. Go see mamm. She was asking for you—something about taking a measurement.”
Lillian giggled quietly, knowing that Abby had just given away Seth’s gift from his schweschder, but she was happy he would be vacating the kitchen since her heated cheeks were sure to give away her feelings about seeing him.
Seth turned back before leaving them, flashing a quizzical look in Lillian’s direction.
Abby pointed to Lillian. “She was kind enough to drop off left over whoopie pies from the bakery, and then I had a cake disaster, so she offered to help. Onkel Seth, will you give her a ride home when we finish? ”
Lillian’s blush turned to fire on her cheeks at the bold request from Abby. She held her hand up in rebuttal. “I can call my daed from the phone in the barn and ask him to pick me up. I’ll be out of your way in just a few minutes.”
Lizzie waddled into the room holding a hand over her swelling abdomen. “Please stay for the meal, Lillian. Then Seth can take you to your haus when we finish.”
It wasn’t like her familye would be expecting her for the evening meal. She always stayed late at the bakery on Saturday evenings to do extra cleaning before leaving it vacant until Monday morning. How could she say no to Lizzie’s hospitality? She would welcome the chance to get to know her better—if she could keep her mind off Seth for that long.
****
After the meal, and the birthday gathering Lillian hadn’t planned on attending, she helped Abby wash the dishes while Lizzie sat at the kitchen table with her knitting.
Lizzie poured herself a second cup of kaffi from the pot that sat on the table. “Denki for helping Abby with the cake. That frosting was the best I’ve ever tasted.”
Lillian turned around. “It’s my grossmammi’s recipe.”
Lizzie’s look softened into a warm smile. “I’m sure you probably have other things to do this evening. You don’t have to stay and help with the dishes.”
Lillian smiled back. “I don’t mind. It’s the least I can do since you shared your meal with me. The only thing I have waiting for me is a pile of dishes at the bakery—nothing fun. I enjoyed myself tonight. Denki for your hospitality.”
Lizzie and Abby looked at each other knowingly.
“May I go back to the bakery with Lillian and help her with the dishes, mamm?”
“I was about to suggest that very thing.”
Lillian put the last plate into the rinse water.
“Denki, but I can do them.”
Lizzie put down her knitting. “Lillian, you have been a big help tonight. I will get my bruder to take you both to the bakery where you can wash those dishes twice as fast with an assistant, and then Seth can bring Abby back home.”
“Denki, that’s very kind.”
Lillian felt flutters of nerves in her stomach at the thought of a buggy ride with Seth—even if they wouldn’t be alone.
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CHAPTER 8
**********************
Seth had hoped he would get the chance to ask Lillian for a buggy ride before he lost his nerve, but with his niece along, he couldn’t ask her. He felt butterflies in his stomach as he steered the mare down the snow covered lane to the bakery with Lillian beside him. If not for Abby chattering constantly in the back of the buggy, he’d have felt like he was on a real date with Lillian. As he listened to the two them converse, he realized neither of them had said a word to him the entire trip. Was it possible that Lillian wasn’t interested in him? Maybe he would have to wait to see if she showed an interest in him before being hasty enough to ask her to take a buggy ride. He wasn’t fond of rejection, and he didn’t want to risk his heart being broken if she didn’t feel the same about him as he already felt about her.
Lillian found it hard to concentrate on the constant questions about baking that Abby kept shooting her way. Her mind was on the man sitting next to her in the buggy. He was quiet—a little too quiet. Shouldn’t he feel at ease with his niece along with them? Or was it possible that he had no interest in her, and his earlier kindness was just because of the Amish ways? She hoped it wasn’t out of community obligation that he’d helped her with the chickens. If the truth be told, she was froh that she’d been invited to share Seth’s birthday celebration with him and his familye. She wondered what it would be like to be part of Seth’s familye as be his fraa. A deep blush settled on her face, and she was glad for the cold weather to disguise her pink cheeks as being from the outside temperature, rather than from her intimate thoughts of Seth.
Abby marveled at the quaint bakery that Lillian owned and ran. She loved to bake, but wasn’t very gut. In fact, she was clumsy in the kitchen. Since her own mamm didn’t have a mamm after age ten, neither of them had gotten the benefit of learning proper baking skills—something that is handed down from mamm to dochder.
Abby pushed up her long sleeves as Lillian refreshed the water in the large sink. “Would you teach me how to bake the way you do? I would like to learn, but my aenti Bess is too busy with the bed & breakfast, and my mamm never learned.”
Lillian smiled, an idea sparking in her mind. “I could use some help in the morning preparing orders and helping customers. If your mamm could spare you for about three hours a day, you can help me and I will teach you as we work. I’d pay you a wage, of course.”
Abby’s eyes grew wide. “A job? I would like that. I’m sure Mamm would let me kume to the bakery after I’m done dropping off the twins at school. I would have to leave every day in time to pick them up from school at noon.”
Seth walked into the room, rolling up his sleeves.
“I’m not very gut at the washing, but I can help dry.”
Abby and Lillian giggled.
“You really want to help, Onkel Seth? I thought you hated doing dishes?”
Seth nudged her. “Only because you like to have soap fights. Then my schweschder gets after me, while you just stand there looking innocent and let me take all the blame.”
Abby laughed. “Don’t listen to him, Lillian, that only happened once, and we both got yelled at.”
Lillian scooped up soap bubbles from the sink and tossed them playfully at Seth and Abby. “Halten argumentierung, or we will never get this done!”
Abby and Seth looked at each other mischievously, and then each grabbed a handful of soap and splattered Lillian, which caused her to burst into laughter.
“That hardly seems fair, two ag
ainst one!”
Seth laughed at her.
Abby then grabbed a handful and pitched it at her onkel. Lillian did the same, and before they knew it, there was an all-out soap-suds fight going on—girls against Seth. Lillian laughed so hard, tears were coming to her eyes. The floor was covered in soapy water, and the sink was nearly empty of the fresh water Lillian had run. Their clothes were splotched with suds; Lillian’s hair was soaked to her scalp.
Seth broke off the laughter. “I better get a mop. Where do you keep it?”
Lillian forced herself to be serious. “It’s around the corner near the back door.”
Lillian had enjoyed the playful banter, but it was time to get the mess cleaned up or she was never going to get home, and she didn’t want her daed to worry and come looking for her—that could be cause for embarrassment in front of Seth. She remembered the words of her schweschder, and knew that if she was lucky enough to date Seth, she would keep it quiet the way Hannah and Jonathon had. She’d been told by a few of her friends when they were younger that dating in the community is always kept secret until the couple is ready to publish their wedding. She certainly didn’t want her daed to find out about her new friendship with Seth—even if that’s all the further it ever went.
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CHAPTER 9
**********************
Lillian waved to Seth and Abby, who’d taken her place in the front seat of the buggy, as they turned around to leave. Her heart fluttered at the thought of seeing Seth again in the morning. He’d actually said he looked forward to seeing her at the meal after church. She hoped Hannah had enough time to finish her new dress so she could wear it to the service, but even if she didn’t, she would consider wearing one of Hannah’s dresses so she wouldn’t appear tired in the same brown dress she usually wore. Her cheeks heated, and she knew that if her daed had any idea of the way she was thinking, he’d give her a scolding and probably take her straight to the Bishop for a lecture on being prideful. At the moment, she didn’t care—she wanted to look nice to catch Seth’s eye.
****
Seth’s heart sunk as he waved goodbye to Lillian. Snowflakes fell on her cheeks, warming them and making her look like an angel. Part of him wanted to draw her into his arms and warm her. She was so beautiful he wondered why he hadn’t seen it before. Why did she have to be so beautiful? As he moved the buggy forward, he was tempted to look back to see her one last time, but he knew better than to give in to the temptation. Thankfully, Abby had already begun with her teenage chatter.
“Onkel Seth, are you going to ask Miss Lillian for a buggy ride?”
Seth’s heart skipped a beat. “What would make you ask me a question like that?”
Abby giggled. “Because I see the way the two of you look at each other when you think no one is looking.”
“And how is that, Miss busy-body?”
Abby continued to giggle. “You look at her like you’re smitten with her, and she looks at you the same way.”
Seth thought about it for a minute. Was it possible that what Abby was saying was true? Did Lillian have an interest in him after all?
“You must be mistaken, Abby. You’re young and may not understand grownup expressions.”
“I’m not a baby, Onkel Seth. And let’s not forget I grew up among the Englischers for the first ten years of my life. That makes me a little more grown up than the other girls my age in the community.”
Seth furrowed his brow. “I suppose you’re right. But do you really think she is interested in me?”
Abby didn’t have to think about it. “I’m a girl—I know these things.”
“If you’re wrong, then I’d be left heartbroken and looking like a fool.”
Abby cupped her arm in his. “Onkel Seth, no one would ever accuse you of being a fool. You’re too kind for that.”
Seth steered the horse to the side door of his schweschder’s haus. “Thanks for the insight, but you know I have too much responsibility to my daed to worry about taking Lillian for a buggy ride. Be sure and tell your daed I’ll be by first thing in the morning to help him set up the benches for the service.”
She kissed him on the cheek before jumping down from the buggy. “I will. Happy birthday, Onkel Seth. I hope you’ll change your mind and talk to Lillian after services tomorrow at the meal.”
Seth scrunched up his face, feeling defeated at the thought of trying to work up enough nerve to ask her to take a buggy ride with him. He was better in group situations—especially when it came to conversing with females. He’d never had the time to date, and he wasn’t sure he could do it now.
Besides, his loyalties were with his daed, and taking care of him was second nature to him. He was getting on in years, and there was no way his daed could shoulder the responsibilities of the farm alone. Seth had all but taken over the harness-making business since his daed was only able to make one piece per week lately. His arthritis prevented him from cutting the leather, and even sewing had become more difficult. His daed was his responsibility, and he knew he had no business wishing for a life with Lillian when he couldn’t give her the attention she deserved. Maybe it was best if he didn’t see her any more than was necessary. He already liked her too much, and didn’t want to give her the wrong impression—that could only lead to heartbreak for both of them. He would have to put a stop to any further misguiding on his part where she was concerned. It saddened him that there could never be anything between them. He wished things could be different, but he just didn’t see how.
**********************
CHAPTER 10
**********************
Lillian’s stomach was in knots as her familye rode to the church services. She was grateful for the new snow that had blown into Elkhart County overnight, knowing she could keep her coat on during services. She regretted letting Hannah talk her into the blue dress, and hoped Seth wouldn’t find it presumptuous to wear the color during wedding season. She didn’t want Seth to think she was hinting around at an invitation as a suitor. And she certainly didn’t want the other women in the district to view her as desperate to land a husband—even if she did feel that way all of a sudden.
Hannah nudged her and leaned in to whisper so their parents wouldn’t overhear their conversation.
“Why are you scowling? You should feel happy in your new dress. Seth will be sure to notice you now.”
Lillian’s scowl deepened. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. I shouldn’t have worn this color during wedding season. I appreciate you making the dress for me, but I don’t want Seth thinking I’m baiting him.”
“You aren’t baiting him—I am!”
Lillian’s face grew pale. “What?”
“Oh dear schweschder, stop worrying. I made the dress for your own gut.”
Lillian suddenly felt sick. “Why did you do that? You could have made any other color than blue. I can’t go into the service like this. The women will talk about me behind my back. You know how some of them like to gossip.”
Hannah smiled. “Of course they’re going to talk. And we want them to.”
Lillian’s eyes widened at her schweschder’s madness. “Why on earth would I want the women in the community to talk about me behind my back?”
Hannah winked at her. “Because it will stir things up a bit and it will surely get back to Seth through his schweschder.”
Lillian was shaking. “Why would I want gossip about me wearing this dress to get back to Seth? Are you trying to cause me grief?”
Hannah put her arm around Lillian. “Even if he notices you on his own, he’s a man and may not put it together. But with the help of a little bit of talk circulating, he will hear that you have hinted at wanting a suitor.”
Lillian pulled away from Hannah. “I’m not going to let you make me into the subject of gossip. I will leave my coat on the entire day if I have to, but no one will see what I’m wearing. If I’d known this was your plan, I wouldn’t have agreed to let
you make this dress for me. I won’t let you embarrass me.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to embarrass you. I was just trying to give Seth a shove in the right direction.”
Lillian pursed her lips. “Who says I want Seth to notice me?”
“The look on your pale face does. Just admit that you like him.”
Lillian crossed her arms. “I won’t do any such thing, or you might just go so far as to tell him. Then if he isn’t interested in me, I will look like a fool.”
Hannah’s look softened. “He won’t think you’re a fool. He’ll be flattered by your interest in him.”
“I’m not going to push him into noticing me. It isn’t proper.”
Hannah’s eyes narrowed. “What isn’t proper is my dear schweschder becoming a spinster when there is a perfectly gut man available. It’s not your fault he’s so shy, and you shouldn’t have to pay for his shyness.”
Lillian thought about what Hannah was saying. In a lot of ways she was right. But their daed would say they were wrong, and would probably scold them severely for plotting such trickery against a man.
Lillian was grateful the deep snow had slowed their travel, and they were a few minutes late to the service that had begun without them. She kept her head down as she slipped onto the end of the bench beside Hannah. Seth was more than likely near the front of the room since the service was at his schweschder’s haus, and he was usually one of the first to volunteer to help set up the benches.
No sooner had she felt at ease with the thought of Seth being far enough away from her that he wouldn’t notice her attire, than he walked in, quietly stomping the snow from his boots. She couldn’t help but look his way as he sat on the bench directly across from her. They were so close they could have reached out and touched hands. Thankfully, Seth pushed his nose in his Bible and didn’t look her way.
Amish Winter Wonderland: BOOK TWO (Jacob's Daughter, An Amish, Christian Romance) Page 3