A Season of Love

by Amy Clipston

  Lizzie Anne laughed. “I guess I do.”

  With a grin, Katie shook her head. “You two are gegisch. We need to serve lunch so we can eat. I’m starving.”

  Lindsay looped her arms around Lizzie Anne’s and Katie’s shoulders. “This has been one of the best days of my life. Let’s go get some lunch.”

  Later that afternoon, Matthew glanced out at the porch and spotted Daniel standing with his brothers, Timothy and Robert. He sidled up to the group and nodded a greeting to Timothy and Robert. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” he said. “Daniel, may I speak with you for a moment?”

  “Of course.” Daniel nodded toward the pasture. “Would you like to go for a brief walk?”

  “That would be wunderbaar,” Matthew said. He followed Daniel down the steps. “I wanted to talk to you about a personal matter.” He swallowed and hoped he would choose the right words. “It’s something I’ve been considering for a while now.”

  Daniel frowned. “This sounds like something serious. Are you unhappy at the furniture store?”

  “No, no.” Matthew shook his head as they approached the barn. “I’m perfectly froh at work. It has nothing to do with that.” He looked back and saw Lindsay stepping out onto the porch, and he gestured toward the barn. “Could we please go inside the barn?”

  Daniel shrugged. “That would be fine.”

  They stepped into the barn and Matthew took a deep breath.

  “What’s on your mind, Matthew?” Daniel asked. “You look naerfich.”

  Matthew nodded. “I am.”

  “Go ahead,” Daniel said. “You know you can talk to me about things.”

  “Danki,” Matthew said. “I want to ask your permission to date Lindsay. I really care about her, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know her since I moved here. Now that she’s baptized, I’d like to ask her to be my girlfriend.”

  Daniel smiled, and Matthew felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

  “I knew this day would come.” Daniel shook Matthew’s hand. “You have my permission. I trust you with her.”

  “Danki,” Matthew said with a smile. “I will treat her very well, Daniel.”

  Lindsay spotted Elizabeth on the porch and rushed over to touch her arm. “I was looking for you.”

  “Lindsay.” Elizabeth took her hand and steered her away from the group of friends who had surrounded her. “I wanted to speak with you too.” She pulled her into a hug. “I’m so froh you’ve joined the church. I’d hoped this was the path the Lord would choose for you.” She looked down at Lindsay’s green dress. “You look so schee. Is this a new frock?”

  Lindsay ran her hands down her dress. “I’ve been working on it for a few weeks. I made it special for today.”

  “You positively glow.” Elizabeth touched her cheek. “This was the right choice for you.”

  “Danki.” Lindsay fiddled with the ties to her prayer covering as her thoughts moved to Rebecca. “I can’t stop thinking about Aenti Rebecca. I wish she’d been here.”

  Elizabeth’s expression was sympathetic. “I know you wanted to share this moment with her, mei liewe, and I know she wishes she’d been here. But she was thinking of you and praying for you today. I’m certain her heart is full of joy. You and your schweschder are like her dochdern, and your decision to stay and join the church has given her more joy than she can ever express to you. Even though she couldn’t be here today, she’s celebrating with you in her heart.”

  Lindsay sighed. “I know you’re right, but I just wish Aenti Rebecca and Jessica could’ve been here to celebrate with us in person.”

  “Lindsay, you know things don’t always work out the way we want them.” Elizabeth sat on the porch swing and patted the spot next to her. “Sit, mei liewe. Remember that verse from Joel that the bishop read?”

  Lindsay lowered herself next to Elizabeth and nodded.

  “It tells us, ‘Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.’ “ Elizabeth touched Lindsay’s hand. “Even though Jessica and Rebecca weren’t here physically, they were with you in your heart. Like your parents always are.”

  Lindsay gently pushed the swing back and forth. “What do you think my mom would think about me joining the church?”

  “What do you mean?” Elizabeth looked confused.

  “She joined the church and then she left to marry my father,” Lindsay said. “Would she be froh for me today?”

  Elizabeth paused, considering the question. “You never would’ve come here if your parents hadn’t died, so it’s a complicated question. However, your mamm chose Rebecca as the guardian for your schweschder and you, which means there’s a reason why you’re here. Therefore, I think she would be very froh to see how you’ve grown, matured, and also assimilated into the community here. That makes me believe she wanted you here so she could provide the best life for you and your schweschder, if you each chose to take it.”

  Lindsay smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  Elizabeth laughed and hugged Lindsay again. “Are you heading heemet now? It’s getting late.”

  Lindsay nodded. “Onkel Daniel should be around here somewhere.”

  “There he is,” Elizabeth said as she stood. “He’s over by the barn talking to Matthew.”

  “Oh,” Lindsay said, looking to where her uncle and Matthew stood together. “I wonder what they’re talking about.”

  “Why don’t you go find out?” Elizabeth asked.

  “That’s a gut idea.” Lindsay stood. “Gut nacht.”

  Lindsay left the porch and walked toward her uncle and Matthew. She approached and overheard them talking about the weather.

  “I guess it’s time to go,” Daniel said. “I need to hitch up the horse.”

  “I’ll help you,” Matthew said.

  “No, no,” Daniel said with a smile. “You go on and say gut nacht to Lindsay while I hitch it up.”

  “Okay,” Matthew said. “Danki.”

  Lindsay thought she saw a private expression pass between her uncle and Matthew, and she wondered what it meant.

  “Let’s go for a walk,” Matthew said as Daniel walked away.

  “That sounds nice,” Lindsay said, falling into step with him while they walked toward the pasture.

  “It was a nice day, ya?” Matthew finally asked.

  “Ya, it was nice,” Lindsay said, fingering the wooden heart she’d kept in her pocket for the baptism.

  “What were you and Elizabeth discussing on the porch?” he asked.

  “I told Elizabeth I wished mei aenti and schweschder could’ve been here today, and she reminded me they were all celebrating with me from afar even though they couldn’t be here.”

  He nodded. “That’s very true.”

  “I also asked her if she thought my mom would be happy for me today, and she said that she thought my mom would be froh that I’ve made a life in this community.”

  “I agree.” Matthew smiled. “I’m very froh too.”

  “So we can be froh together,” Lindsay joked.

  “I’d like that very much.” He looked serious and Lindsay’s skin tingled.

  She asked him about work, and they talked about their upcoming week as they stood by the fence. She wished the evening could last a few more hours. Being in his company was relaxing, fun, and exciting all at once. She spotted her uncle leading the horse and buggy toward the fence. “I guess I better go.” She gestured toward the buggy. “The horse and buggy are ready.”

  “Lindsay,” Matthew said, “wait. I need to ask you something.”

  Her heart pounded in her chest as she met his serious gaze. “Ya?” she asked.

  “We’ve been spending a lot of time together lately, ya?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “And we have a gut time when we’re together, ya?” he asked, his expression anxious.

  “Always,” Lindsay said. />
  “I was wondering if maybe you’d consider …” he paused. “Would you be my girlfriend?”

  Lindsay couldn’t stop her grin. “I’d love to.”

  “Gut.” A nervous smile crossed his face. “We’d better get you to the buggy before Daniel gets impatient.”

  “Did you think I’d say no?” she asked with surprise, walking beside him toward her uncle.

  “I hoped you wouldn’t,” he said.

  “Gut nacht,” Lindsay said when they reached the buggy. “I hope you have a gut day tomorrow.”

  “I hope the same for you,” Matthew said. “I’ll talk to you soon. Gut nacht.”

  Climbing into the buggy, she couldn’t stop her pulse from pounding or her smile from deepening. This had been the best day of her life.

  Daniel sat beside her and took the reins. Still smiling, Lindsay waved at Matthew as the buggy bounced down the driveway toward the road.

  Cheese Cupcakes

  12 cupcake foils

  1 can of cherry pie filling 12 vanilla wafers

  2 eggs

  ¾ teaspoon vanilla

  4 3-ounce packages of cream cheese

  ¾ cup sugar

  Place vanilla wafers in the bottom of each cupcake foil. Beat cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Fill each cupcake foil 2/3 full with mixture. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove cakes and let stand 25 minutes before topping with pie filling. Refrigerate for at least 90 minutes.

  6

  The following Saturday, Katie sat on the floor and pushed a toy train toward Daniel Junior. He grinned and pushed it back. With a squeal, Emma launched herself across the floor, intercepting the train before it reached Katie’s legs. Katie laughed while Daniel Junior frowned.

  “Did you want the train, Emma?” Katie asked in Dietsch while picking up the toy. “Can you ask for it?”

  Emma held out her hand and grunted while Daniel Junior continued to glower.

  “She’s not going to ask for it,” Junior said. “She only talks when she wants to. She’s very stubborn.”

  Katie smiled at Junior. “Would you please share with your schweschder?”

  “Ya,” Junior said. “You can use it.”

  “I think it’s nap time,” Lindsay announced as she entered from the kitchen, crossed the family room, and picked up Emma, who bellowed in protest. “You know the routine.”

  Katie stood and reached for Daniel Junior’s hand. “May I walk upstairs with you?”

  “Ya,” he said, taking her hand.

  While holding Emma in her arms, Lindsay smiled at Katie. “I appreciate all you and Lizzie Anne are doing for me today. It helps to have you here with the kinner while Lizzie Anne and I do some cleaning.”

  “Gern gschehne,” Katie said. “I’m glad we can help. It was fun too. I love spending time with you and Lizzie Anne.”

  Lizzie Anne appeared from the kitchen holding a tray of food for Rebecca. “I have Rebecca’s lunch ready. I’ll bring it to her.”

  Katie followed Lindsay up the stairs with Daniel Junior in tow. After tucking him in his bed, she stepped out into the hallway and headed to Rebecca’s room. Stepping through the doorway, Katie found Lizzie Anne sitting on Rebecca’s hope chest while Rebecca sat propped up in bed eating from the tray on her lap.

  “Katie,” Rebecca said. “Come in.”

  Katie sank into a chair next to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

  Rebecca nodded while chewing her turkey sandwich. “I’m feeling pretty well today, danki. I just wish I could’ve helped you maed clean the house with Lindsay. I appreciate all you’re doing for us.”

  Lindsay appeared in the doorway. “We had a gut time. Lizzie Anne and I scrubbed the kitchen floor and bathroom while Katie played with the kinner and fed them lunch.”

  “Many hands make light work,” Lizzie Anne sang with a smile.

  “That’s very true,” Katie chimed in. “Mei mamm uses that expression all the time.”

  “I’m glad to have the help.” Lindsay lowered herself onto the end of the bed. “I can’t possibly get it all done alone. I’m always worried the kinner will hurt themselves if I leave them alone.”

  “That’s true. I worry when they are alone too.” Rebecca placed her sandwich on the plate. “I’m so glad you are here to help. It’s frustrating being stuck in this bed.”

  “But the doctor said …” Lindsay began.

  “I know. I know.” Rebecca sighed.

  Katie smiled at her aunt.

  “I need to hear some gut news,” Rebecca said. “Tell me what’s new with you maed.” She swiped the napkin across her lips and glanced at Lizzie Anne. “How is your family? I miss coming to church and seeing everyone.”

  “Everyone is fine.” Lizzie Anne’s lips turned up in a wide grin.

  “What’s that expression for?” Lindsay asked, facing her.

  Katie raised her eyebrows. “You look like you have some exciting news.”

  “I sort of have a secret.” Lizzie Anne’s cheeks glowed cherry red. “And Katie’s right. It’s something really exciting.”

  Lindsay gasped. “You need to tell us,” she said. “You can’t keep this secret now. That would be teasing.”

  “Well,” Lizzie Anne began, studying her black bib apron, “Samuel asked me something last night.”

  “What?” Katie asked. “What did mei bruder ask you? He asked you to be his girlfriend, ya?”

  Lizzie Anne shook her head.

  “Oh my!” Lindsay shot up from the bed. “He asked you to marry him?”

  Lizzie Anne nodded, and Lindsay launched herself toward Lizzie Anne, nearly knocking her off the hope chest as they hugged and squealed.

  “But I thought you were going to take it slow,” Lindsay said when she’d calmed down. “That’s what you told me Sunday after the service.”

  “He changed his mind.” Lizzie Anne laughed. “I’m just as surprised as you are.”

  “Wait a minute,” Katie began, trying to comprehend this development. “Samuel asked you to marry him? How can this be?” She rolled the information through her mind, trying to make sense of it all. Samuel didn’t discuss this with me. Why would he make a decision like this without telling his family?

  “I know you weren’t expecting this, Katie,” Lizzie Anne said, her eyes filling with tears. “But it’s all true. He asked me to marry him, and he wants to get married this season.”

  Katie glanced at her aunt, who looked as surprised as Katie felt.

  “Congratulations,” Rebecca said. “When were you expecting him to propose?”

  Lizzie Anne wiped her eyes while Lindsay sat next to her and looped her arm around Lizzie Anne’s shoulder.

  “Not this soon,” Lizzie Anne said. “Like I said, I was completely surprised.”

  “Don’t you think you’re a little young?” Katie asked. “I mean you’re only eighteen. Where are you going to live? It’s not like he’s built a haus.”

  “He’s already thought of that.” Lizzie Anne’s expression darkened a little as if the question stung. “We’re going to live in the apartment attached to your parents’ house until we have our own place. Your dat is giving Samuel land, so we can build on the other side of the pasture.”

  Katie stared at her. “Samuel discussed this with Dat already?” How could he tell Dat and not me?

  Lizzie Anne nodded. “Ya, he did. He wanted to have it all set before he asked me.”

  “Does mei mamm know too?” Katie asked.

  Lizzie Anne shrugged. “I guess so. I’m not really sure.”

  But neither of my parents told me. Katie shook her head with disbelief. “I’m really shocked.”

  “Katie,” Lizzie Anne said, looking hurt. “Aren’t you excited? We’re going to be schweschdern! We’ll be living together until Samuel and I have our own place!”

  “This is wunderbaar gut,” Lindsay said, hugging Lizzie Anne again. “I’m so excited for you. Are you getting married in November or December?”

  �
�Mei mamm and I were talking about that last night.” Lizzie Anne angled her body toward Lindsay. “We have to get out the calendar and talk about it. I think we’re going to discuss it more tonight.”

  “You have a lot of planning to do,” Rebecca said. “It’s a very exciting time. I’m so happy for you and Samuel.”

  “Danki,” Lizzie Anne said with a grin. “I’m so froh. I feel like I’m dreaming.”

  Katie tried to force a smile. However, the idea of her best friend and her brother getting married in a couple of months made her feel confused. It was all happening so fast. She knew she had to stay positive, though. She was happy to hear Lizzie Anne would be her sister, and she did think Samuel and Lizzie Anne made a good couple. They complemented each other.

  “I have news too,” Lindsay said with a smile. “Matthew asked me a question too.”

  Rebecca looked concerned. “What did he ask you, Lindsay?”

  Lindsay clasped her hands together. “He asked me to be his girlfriend.”

  Lizzie Anne squealed and hugged Lindsay. “That’s so exciting! You’ll be the next bride, Lindsay.”

  “Let’s slow down,” Rebecca said, grimacing. “There’s no rush. Let Lindsay and Matthew get to know each other better, Lizzie Anne. They didn’t grow up together like you and Samuel did.”

  “That’s a gut point,” Lizzie Anne said.

  Katie smiled and folded her arms across her apron. “I’m so happy for you, Lindsay. I’m not surprised. I thought he was only waiting for you to be baptized before he made it official.”

  Katie watched and listened while Lizzie Anne talked about the upcoming wedding and how much she had to plan. She turned to Rebecca and found her aunt studying her while she broke apart a homemade pretzel. “Can I get you anything, Aenti?” she asked. “Do you need more water?”

  Rebecca shook her head. “No, dear. I’m fine.”

  Katie stood. “May I get you a slice of chocolate oatmeal cake? I brought a freshly baked one this morning. Mei mamm did some baking yesterday and told me to bring you one.”