A Season of Love

by Amy Clipston

  Katie nodded. “I know, Mamm. I already told you I was going to share them with everyone.”

  Sadie glanced at Nancy. “You’re going to help your schweschder finish this up?”

  “Ya,” Nancy said. “Then I’ll bathe Aaron if you need me to.”

  Sadie shook her head. “I’ll do it.” She started toward the doorway and then glanced back at Katie. “I mean it about the pretzels. You don’t want your dat to hear about this.”

  Katie nodded with a frown. Why couldn’t her mother understand she and Jake simply liked to talk, and that was it? Besides, they weren’t even having lunch alone.

  When her mother disappeared, Katie turned to Samuel. “Did you see Lizzie Anne today?” she asked. “I heard you tell Mamm you might try to stop by Naomi’s to see her.”

  Samuel leaned against the counter and folded his arms over his chest. “I did. She’s doing well. She’s enjoying babysitting for her sister, and she’s looking forward to the birth of her new niece or nephew pretty soon now.”

  “Did you discuss the wedding?” Nancy asked, placing another pretzel on the sheet.

  “We did. We’re looking at the second week in December.” He grabbed a chocolate chip cookie from the jar by the sink and bit into it.

  “Oh, dear,” Nancy said with a gasp. “That doesn’t give you very long to plan. That’s less than three months away.”

  “I know, but that’s what Lizzie Anne wants.” He straightened and walked toward the family room. “Let me know when the pretzels are done.”

  Katie shook her head once he was out of earshot. “I can’t believe they want to get married so quickly. What’s the hurry?”

  Nancy grinned. “I think it’s romantic.”

  Katie snorted. “You’re gegisch.” She gestured toward the pretzel dough. “Let’s finish these up so we can get them in the oven.”

  9

  The following day at noon, Katie sat next to Jake at the same table on the porch. The new bakers, including Hannah, Fannie, and Vera, who were all in their mid-twenties, sat at the same table but talked among themselves about their husbands and the weather.

  “How’s your day going?” Katie asked Jake while opening her lunch bag.

  “It’s going well.” He pulled his bologna sandwich from his lunch bag. “How about yours?”

  “Fine. I brought a surprise for everyone.” She retrieved a half dozen homemade pretzels from the zipper storage bag she’d packed in the bottom of her lunch bag. “I made these last night. I’d hoped to bring more, but my siblings enjoyed them more than I’d expected they would.” She placed them in the center of the table, and Hannah thanked her while taking one.

  “Enjoy them,” Katie said. She bowed her head in silent prayer. When she looked up, she found Jake holding a pretzel.

  Jake smiled. “This is so nice of you. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Danki will suffice.” Katie said. “I had fun making them. Nancy helped. I love baking with mei schweschdern. I’m hoping to teach Janie how to bake this year. She’s starting to show an interest, and it’s fun teaching her.”

  “I’ve noticed that you like spending time with your family,” he said.

  “Oh ya.” Katie couldn’t stop her smile. “I love being a part of a big family. I hope to have a big family myself someday.” She nodded toward his pretzel. “I hope you like it. I thought you might enjoy a change from frozen pizza.”

  “You’re right,” he said before taking a bite. “Katie, these are outstanding. Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome.” She placed a few pieces of lunch meat on a piece of bread along with some cheese.

  “How’s the project coming along?” Katie asked. “I saw you and Daadi have one cabinet disassembled.” She took a bite of her sandwich.

  He nodded. “It’s coming along fine. I just hope the construction isn’t too intrusive for the customers.”

  “Oh, not at all.” Katie wiped a napkin across her mouth. “It’s been fine. I ran the front earlier, and no one seemed annoyed by the construction noise. You and Daadi are very conscientious. If nothing else, the Englishers enjoy seeing an Amish carpenter and his apprentice at work.”

  “Apprentice?” Jake asked with feigned offense. “You do realize I’m a true-blue carpenter, don’t you?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Grinning, Katie held up her hand. “I didn’t realize I was in the presence of a real carpenter.” She laughed. “I’m only teasing you. I’m certain you’re a wunderbaar gut carpenter.” She studied his face. “Do you want to work at the furniture store for the rest of your life?”

  “I do.” Jake pulled another piece off of his pretzel.

  The other bakers were engrossed in a conversation about shoofly pie.

  Jake leaned over the table toward Katie. “How about you?” he asked. “What do you want to do for the rest of your life? Continue working here with your family?”

  Katie glanced down at her sandwich. “I really want what every Amish girl wants — a family.” She looked up at him and he smiled. “I want a farm like my parents have, and I want a big family. It’s my dream to be like mei mamm, you know? Marry and raise mei kinner in the Amish faith, hopefully in this district alongside mei freindshaften and mei freinden. Family is very important to me.”

  “That makes sense.” He took another pretzel. “How was your evening? Did you do anything else other than make appeditlich pretzels?” He held a pretzel out to her. “Would you like one?”

  She shook her head as she chewed her sandwich. “Thank you, but I had one last night. Actually the pretzels took up most of my evening.” She remembered her conversation in the kitchen with her siblings. “Oh, I did find out something interesting.”

  “What was that?”

  “Samuel said he and Lizzie Anne want to get married the second week in December.”

  Jake’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline.

  “I had the same reaction when he told me.” Katie paused as two customers walked by the table and entered the bakery. “That doesn’t give them much time.”

  “No, it sure doesn’t. But if that makes them happy, then who are we to judge, right?”

  “You’re right.” She sipped from her cup of water and tried to look excited for them. “I’m certain they will be very happy together. They do get along well, and I think they’re very much in love. And, of course, I’ll love having Lizzie Anne as mei schweschder since she’s one of mei best freinden.”

  Jake didn’t look convinced. “Is something bothering you? You look like you’re a little down.”

  Katie sighed. “It’s just kind of difficult to watch mei freinden move on while I’m stuck in the same place.” She forced a smile. “But I’m very happy Lindsay and Matthew are dating and Sam and Lizzie Anne are getting married. How could I not be happy for them, right?”

  He looked sympathetic. “It has to be difficult watching your friends’ lives change while yours is still the same.”

  “It is, but I wish them well.” Katie needed to change the subject. “How was your evening?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “The usual. I ate frozen pizza and read a magazine. After that, I did a load of laundry and then headed to bed early.”

  Katie frowned. “Another frozen pizza?”

  He laughed. “You’re appalled, right? I bet you eat a square meal every night.”

  “No, no,” she said quickly. “To each his own.” She wished she could make him supper sometime, but she knew her mother wouldn’t approve. If she was upset over pretzels, she would definitely lose her temper if Katie asked to invite Jake over for a meal. “That’s all you did? Just frozen pizza, a magazine, laundry, and bedtime?”

  He paused, then looked as if he remembered something. “I also received an unexpected phone call.”

  “Oh?”

  “Jessica called me for the first time in nearly six months.” Jake shook his head and sipped his cup of water. “I was surprised, to say the least.”

  “How’s she doin
g?” Katie asked.

  “She’s fine. She’s busy at school.”

  “That’s nice.” Katie bit into her sandwich and wished she had the nerve to ask what happened between him and Jessica. “Is she coming to visit soon? I’m certain Lindsay would love to see her.”

  “She said she wants to come for the holidays. She won’t have time to come visit before then.”

  “Oh.” Katie finished her sandwich while contemplating Jessica. “You’ll be froh to see her, ya?”

  He nodded, considering the question. “It would be nice to see her again. We were close friends for four years.”

  Curious, Katie wondered about his relationship with Jessica.

  “But my feelings have definitely changed,” he continued. “She and I are just too different. We have different goals in life, and you can’t build a relationship when your hopes and dreams are worlds apart.”

  “That makes sense,” she said. “I assume her goal in life is to live and work in a big city with a fancy job, ya?”

  “That’s right. Our lives would never mesh.” He shook his head. “The last time we talked we had a disagreement. But we both knew we could never be together. After all, I’m Mennonite, and she’s not. Our lives are just too different.”

  “I see what you’re saying,” Katie said. “Even so, you cared for each other, and it must have been difficult for you both to accept when the relationship ended.”

  “It was at first, but we both had to move on. Tell me what you’re working on today,” he said, changing the subject. “What’s on your baking agenda this afternoon?”

  Katie rattled off the list of items she planned to bake and the other chores she had to complete before the bakery closed. The conversation turned to the weather, and soon Katie realized that the lunch hour had flown by.

  “I guess we’d better get back to work before we get ourselves fired.” Katie started collecting the trash. “I enjoyed lunch again today.”

  “I did too,” he said. “The pretzels were the best part.”

  Katie dropped the trash into a nearby can and then collected her lunch bag and cup. “I’m glad you liked the pretzels. I’ll have to think of something else to make for you tomorrow.”

  “No, no,” Jake said. “Don’t do that. I don’t expect you to bake for me every day.”

  “Ladies,” a voice called, “I need you in the kitchen, please.”

  Katie turned and found her grandmother watching them. “We’re coming now, Mammi.” She met Jake’s gaze. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Absolutely,” he said with a smile. “Thanks again.”

  Katie walked back to the kitchen alongside the other bakers.

  Friday afternoon, Katie stood in the bakery kitchen and mixed cookie dough while listening to the sound of rain pounding on the roof above her. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was almost time to head home. She still needed to check the supplies in the back pantry before she left. She grabbed a notepad and pen from the counter and rushed out of the kitchen to a large walk-in pantry located by the office.

  Stepping inside, she made a list of which supplies were running low, including oil, flour, sugar, and sprinkles. It took a while, and when she walked back to the kitchen, she found it empty.

  “Hello?” she called. “Mammi? Aenti Kathryn? Ruthie?” She wondered if everyone was out in front of the bakery waiting for the van. When she stepped over toward the counter, her foot slipped on a puddle of water, and she screeched as she fell onto her bottom.

  Jake rushed into the kitchen. “Katie?” He held his hand out to her. “Are you okay?”

  Katie laughed despite her sore tailbone. “I sort of slipped. I guess someone splashed water on the floor earlier while washing dishes.” She took his hand, and he lifted her to her feet as easily as if she were weightless. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He let go of her hand and looked at her curiously. “What are you doing here? Everyone else left.”

  “What?” Katie shook her head in disbelief. “They’re all gone?”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “I think they left about ten minutes ago. You didn’t see them go?”

  “No,” Katie said, gesturing toward the hallway off the kitchen. “I was in the pantry doing a supply inventory. I was supposed to do it earlier, but I got sidetracked with baking.” She bit her lower lip. “I don’t understand. Why would they leave me?”

  “Maybe they thought you had a ride,” he suggested. “I’m certain it had to be a mistake.”

  “But I didn’t tell anyone I had another ride heemet today, and I always go in the van.” Katie glanced out the window toward the blowing wind and rain. “What am I going to do? I guess I can call the phone shanty at mei haus and see if Samuel can come get me.”

  Jake paused, as if he were debating something. “I can give you a ride,” he finally said. “As long as it doesn’t get you in trouble.”

  Katie hesitated, remembering both her mother’s and Elizabeth’s warnings about being friends with Jake. The perception of her alone with a Mennonite boy could be negative for both Katie and her family. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

  “I don’t want you here alone. Is it okay if I wait with you until Samuel comes?” Jake offered.

  “Let me see if I can reach him at the house.” Katie walked to the front of the bakery and picked up the phone. She dialed the phone in her family’s phone shanty, and her heart sank when she reached the voice mail instead of a live person. She left a quick message and then called the furniture store, again reaching the voice mail.

  She walked back into the kitchen and found Jake standing by the counter. “I couldn’t reach anyone at mei haus or the furniture store, and it’s pouring outside like a monsoon. I don’t know what to do, Jake.”

  “Let me finish picking up out front, and then I’ll lock up the front like I told your grandmother I would. I’ll be right back.” Jake disappeared through the doorway.

  Glancing around the kitchen, Katie blew out a sigh as she picked up a stack of stray pans that had been left near her workstation. Never had she’d imagined she’d find herself alone at the bakery with Jake Miller. What if word got back to her father that she was alone with him? Katie would be in deep trouble for certain.

  In an attempt to burn off her nervous energy, she washed the pans, put them away, and straightened the counters. She then swept the floors and checked to be sure the gas lamps were off in the office. She fetched the keys from her grandmother’s desk and returned to the kitchen to find Jake leaning against the counter and smiling. She’d never noticed how handsome he was until that moment. The thought caused her to feel flustered and embarrassed.

  “I took my tools to my truck,” he said, standing up straight. “I’m ready to go when you are.”

  “Wunderbaar gut,” she said, crossing the kitchen to retrieve her lunch bag and small tote. “I’m ready.” She followed him to the back door, which he held open for her. “Danki.” Standing under the overhang, she pulled the door closed and jammed the key in. When it refused to turn, she jiggled it. “I don’t understand it. This key never gives me a problem,” she muttered. “Why isn’t it moving?”

  Jake held out his hand. “May I try?”

  She yanked the key out of the lock and handed it to him. “Here you go.”

  Jake slipped the key in the lock and turned it with ease. He then handed it back to Katie, and she shook her head with amazement.

  “You just didn’t have that special touch.” He motioned toward the truck. “Ready to run through the rain?”

  Katie hesitated as worry gripped her. “This is a bad idea. I should go call the phone at mei haus again and see if I can reach Samuel.”

  Jake shook his head. “No. It’s raining like crazy, Katie. It wouldn’t even be safe for Samuel to come and get you in a buggy, and it would take him quite a while to get here.”

  “I don’t know, Jake.” She looked up at him. “I’ll be disobeying mei daed if I get in the truck with you. W
aiting for Samuel seems to make more sense.”

  “Katie, please listen to me,” he began. “Your family is probably worried sick about you since you didn’t arrive home on time and it’s storming out. The sooner I get you home, the sooner they’ll know you’re safe. Trust me on this.”

  She bit her lower lip and then nodded. “You’re right. Let’s get to mei haus as soon as we can.”

  He gestured toward her bags. “Do you want me to carry those for you, so you can run without balancing the bags?”

  “No, danki,” she said, shaking her head. “I can run.” Katie sprinted across the parking lot, dodging two large puddles on the way.

  When she reached the passenger side of the pickup truck, Katie climbed in, placing her bags on the floorboard. She shivered and ran her hands over her soaked dress while wondering how she would make her parents understand she had no other alternative ride home.

  Jake jumped in the driver’s side and brought the engine to life. “I can’t believe how hard it’s raining. I wonder if we’ll have some flooding.”

  She cleared her throat and hugged her arms to her chest.

  He kept his eyes trained on the road before him. “I’m sorry they left you behind. If I’d known, I would’ve told your aunt to wait.”

  “Danki.” She glanced away, hoping he wouldn’t see the anxiety she was certain was apparent on her face.

  They drove in silence for several moments. The only sounds were the roar of the engine, the rain beating on the windshield and roof, and the jingling of Jake’s key chain as it hit the steering column. She tried to think of something to say, but her only thoughts were about how her parents would react when she arrived home in Jake Miller’s truck.

  “Katie,” he began, “I really enjoy spending time with you.”

  “I enjoy spending time with you too,” she said, watching the trees rush by out the window. “But I —”

  “Wait,” he said. “Please let me finish. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.” He gave her a sideways glance. “I realize we’re walking a fine line between two worlds, and I know what difficulties that can cause for you. The last thing I want is to make trouble for you.”