“She was almost a thief; she’d stolen your office,” Luke said, which made everyone laugh.
“Jah, she stole my office and then she stole all of our hearts,” Isaac said.
Hazel giggled. “I don’t know about that.”
Luke said, “It’s not easy working in a family business.”
“Luke was working in his family’s business when we met,” Bee said.
“Jah, but I didn’t stay in it for long.” He turned to Isaac. “Maybe you won’t be there for long either.”
That hadn’t even occurred to Hazel. Maybe Isaac might leave and move closer.
“Nee, I wouldn’t know what else to do. You see, I have six brothers and the business is their livelihood and it’s always been my vadder’s plan, and mine, that it would support our future families as well.”
“It must be a big business to do that,” Bee said.
“It’s growing,” Isaac said. “Denke to Gott.”
That night, Luke, along with Hazel, drove Isaac back to his bed-and-breakfast. When Hazel got home, she peeped into her mother’s bedroom and saw her sleeping soundly. Then she tiptoed into her bedroom, which was right next door.
When Hazel slipped between the sheets, she closed her eyes and thanked God for the day. They might have raised enough to pay all the bills, and Isaac had come to see her.
Could she and Isaac have a proper relationship? She was certain he liked her and 'felt that way' about her. Since he hadn’t seemed to be in a hurry to marry Mary Lou, maybe he wouldn’t mind waiting for her, but how long would he have to wait? She didn’t see that her mother would ever leave the town she felt comfortable in, and Isaac would never move there; he’d as good as said so. The next time he tried to say anything to her, she’d listen to what he had to say.
When Isaac got back to the bed-and-breakfast, he realized he didn't want to go back home without telling Hazel how he felt about her. He'd tried once, but she had deliberately interrupted him. He took his hat off and placed it on the bed and then undid the top button of his shirt. His mind traveled back to those letters Hazel had tried to hide. Did she have another man? There had been no one else by her side today, so he figured she couldn't have had another man who was very significant in her life. And if she did, he would convince her that he was the best man for her.
Hazel knew she would never have to worry about anything ever again with a solid man such as Isaac. He was devoted to his family and wasn't the kind of man who would run away after another woman. He was the opposite of how her father had been. But then there was her mother to consider. Even though her mother was better now, Hazel was sure she wouldn't consider moving to Lancaster County. She closed her eyes tightly and prayed for God to work everything out.
If she had faith, God would make a way for them. She recalled from the Scriptures that if one had faith as small as a mustard seed, then mountains would be moved. Hazel needed a mountain to be moved.
The next morning, Hazel was up early. She was in the utility room pressing her Sunday-best dress so she would look as good as she possibly could.
Then she heard her mother calling her. She set the iron back on the holder and hurried up the stairs, hoping that her mother hadn't woken Bee and Luke. It was still early and she knew they'd been tired after the auction.
When she opened her mother's door, she saw her sitting up in bed. “What is it, Mamm?”
Her mother coughed. “I don't think I'm well enough to go to the meeting today.”
She moved closer and sat on her mother's bed. “Are you sick?” She leaned forward and pressed the back of her hand to her mother's forehead. “You don't feel hot.”
“I think I have the flu coming on.”
“That's no good. Can I bring some breakfast up to you?”
“I don't feel like anything. Perhaps just a hot cup of tea?”
“Of course.” Hazel hurried back to the kitchen and filled up the kettle and placed it on the stove. Then she finished ironing her dress. She didn't exactly resent her mother, but sometimes she felt more like she was the mother, and her mother was the child. A pang of bitterness ran through her heart. Her mother was standing in the way of her happiness. It didn't seem fair. Then she reminded herself of the prayer that she had prayed just as she'd been drifting off to sleep. She had to trust Gott that everything would work out. Or did He expect her to come up with a plan? She shook her head. He wouldn't do that because she would never be able to come up with a plan.
When she had made her mother a cup of tea, she carefully draped her newly ironed dress over her arm and headed up the stairs to her mother.
“There you are, Mamm.”
“Denke. Sit down and talk to me for a moment. Do you have the time?”
“I do. I got up early to iron my dress.” She draped her dress over one side of the bed and then sat down by her mother.
“I can tell Isaac likes you very much.”
“I like him too.”
“Just make sure he is not a man like your vadder.”
“Nee, he's not. I just know he's not.”
“I hope you're right. I wouldn't want to see you have a broken heart like my heart was broken. I wouldn't say that all men are bad, because I know they're not. Sometimes it's hard, though, to tell the good from the bad—to separate the wheat from the chaff.”
“I put everything in Gott's hands, Mamm.”
“You'll never leave me, will you?”
“Of course I won't.”
Her mother smiled. “It will always be you and me together, won't it?” She reached for Hazel's hand and Hazel took her hand and put her other hand on top.
“Jah, it will always be us. Together forever.”
“You won't be going back to Lancaster County, will you?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Good.”
“Now drink your tea, Mamm, before it goes cold.” She got up, leaned over, and kissed her mother on the forehead. “I'll say goodbye before we head off to the meeting.” She carefully picked up her dress and walked into her bedroom, feeling low. For a moment there she had thought her mother was going to say that if she found a man she loved to hang on to him and not let him go.
Isaac paced back and forth in his small room. It was adequate, but the room's decor was totally suited to a woman with its bright pink swagged curtains and the lacy bedspread. He chuckled quietly.
Finally, a knock sounded on his door. His breakfast was arriving and it was ten minutes late. He didn’t want to be late when Hazel’s Uncle Luke came to collect him for the early-morning Sunday meeting.
“Good morning,” the old woman crowed.
“Morning,” Isaac said.
“You’ll be leaving today then?”
“I will. I’ll take everything with me when I leave in half an hour.”
“I hope you enjoyed your stay.”
He looked down at his bacon and eggs and coffee, which were growing cold. “I did. Now I’ll enjoy this breakfast.”
She smiled at him and stepped back.
After he had closed the door, he carefully placed the tray on the small table. Normally bacon and eggs was what he preferred for breakfast but this morning he was sick to his stomach thinking this might be the last time he saw Hazel for some time. It didn't sit right with him. He had to make one last effort to win her over and have her come back to Lancaster County with him.
Hazel pulled her dress on, trying her best not to resent her mother. Mamm couldn’t help being clingy with her fragile mental state. She was so happy that Isaac had come to see her that she didn’t want to think about how low she’d feel when he left. Then she reminded herself that she couldn’t let a man determine her mood or she’d end up like her mother. She had to be happy no matter what.
It wasn’t long before Hazel was traveling in the buggy with her Uncle Luke and Aunt Bee, on the way to collect Isaac for the meeting. When they came close to the bed-and-breakfast, she could see him standing outside waiting for them. He looked so h
andsome in his black suit and hat, standing so tall and straight.
She carefully adjusted her prayer kapp and hoped that he would find her appearance pleasing.
He greeted her aunt and uncle and then climbed into the back seat with her.
“Hello, Hazel.” He had a small bag with him that he put by his feet. It was a reminder that he was soon going to be leaving.
“Hello.” She could tell by the way he looked at her that he was in love with her. She was certain of it.
Then her uncle started chatting with him and she knew they wouldn’t be able to have any private words until the meal was served, after the meeting was over.
Hazel was running out of time. Soon her uncle would be driving Isaac to the bus stop and Isaac had a crowd gathered around him.
“Who’s your friend?”
She looked over to see a good friend of hers, Becky. Becky was nearly six feet tall and, she joked, just as wide. Everyone loved Becky for her jolly personality. “Hi, Becky. I worked for Isaac. Remember I told you about Isaac and his family?”
“Jah. I saw him at the auction yesterday. I was there briefly before I had to leave for work. Why are you looking so stressed?”
She glanced over at Isaac. “It’s just that he’s leaving soon and I want to talk to him. I don’t have a chance with everyone around.”
Becky looked over at Isaac. “Some of those people are leaving now. Leave it to me.”
Before Hazel could say anything, Becky marched over and said something to the crowd and marched back holding onto Isaac’s arm. Hazel was embarrassed, wondering what Becky had said. But no one was looking at her except for Isaac who had his eyes fixed onto hers.
“Here he is,” Becky said with a quick little grin before she walked away.
“What did she say to you?” Hazel asked.
“She said there was someone I needed to speak with.”
“Oh, that’s embarrassing.”
“Nee it’s not. Come, let’s walk this way so we can speak privately.”
They headed to a quiet corner of the bishop’s yard. “I wanted to speak to you before you left.”
“Jah?”
She nodded.
“What did you want to say?”
“I don’t know. Nothing I haven’t said before. Things would be different if I didn’t have to look after my mudder. I guess I just wanted you to know that.”
“And if she wasn’t a problem you’d come back with me?”
“Jah.”
“You mean it? You’d marry me?”
Hazel gasped. “Marry?”
“Jah. What were you talking about?”
“Oh, I’m not certain.”
“Marry me, and we can have a cat or two.” He smiled at her.
“Oh, maybe we should get to know one another better and see … Marriage sounds good to me.” She had to be totally honest and let him know how she felt. She might not get another chance.
“So, if it’s all right with your mudder, you’ll move to Lancaster County and marry me?”
She giggled. “It sounds like a dream.” Then she got serious. “You know how fragile my mudder is.”
“She can come with us and live with us. My haus is plenty big enough.”
This was something she’d already thought through. “All her doctors are around here.”
“She’ll have to change doctors. There are many fine doctors in Lancaster County. We’ll find her the best ones.” He looked around.
“What are you looking for?”
“Your onkel and aunt. I need to make a detour before Luke takes me to the bus stop.” He hurried away and left her standing there.
She stood and watched him talk to her onkel and aunt and then after a few words, Bee and Isaac hurried toward the buggy. Not wanting to worry her mother, she tried to stop them, but Onkel Luke caught up with her.
“Let them go, Hazel.”
She swung around to face Luke. “She’s not strong enough.”
“Too bad!”
Hazel’s jaw dropped.
“You’ve never had time to be a child or a teenager. It might not be her fault, but she can start putting you first. That man is willing to marry you, and he wants to make it known to your mother, and ask if she’ll live with the both of you. He's a very good man, to make that offer to her.”
Hazel wanted to be there when her mother made that big decision. “I don’t want her to think that everyone is making decisions for her.”
“You’re talking as though moving to Lancaster County and living with you will be a bad thing for the both of you.”
Hazel slowly nodded. “It’ll be the best thing. I only hope she can see that.”
Luke nodded. “She’ll see sense.”
“I hope so. I only hope she doesn’t tell Isaac yes and then go back on it later.”
“We won’t let her.”
Hazel silently sent up another prayer. Her entire future depended on what happened in the next half hour.
“She’s a tricky one. I mean, she’s genuinely ill, but I think she plays on it a bit for sympathy. I don’t think she wants a man to come between herself and Hazel.”
Isaac regarded Bee’s words carefully as they drove the short distance to her house to talk to Hazel’s mother. “I hope she’ll see I’m serious about Hazel.”
“You’ll have to do your best to convince her.”
“I will. Denke for driving me here. How long have I got?”
“You’ve got fifteen minutes to convince her, if you want to make that bus.”
“Okay.”
“And we’ll still have enough time to go back to the bishop’s haus to collect Luke and Hazel.”
When they got to Bee’s house, they found Hazel’s mother sitting on the couch.
Isaac took a deep breath and set a smile on his face. He felt better knowing that Bee was going to help him.
Judy looked up at them as if she knew something was going on. “What is it?”
As the two of them sat on a couch opposite, Bee said, “Isaac has something to say.”
He opened his mouth and let the words come out without trying to think too much about them. “I’m in love with your dochder and she’s in love with me. She won’t leave here and come back with me, or even continue a relationship with me because she’s concerned about you.”
“It’s her choice. I’ve got nothing to do with it. She’s a grown woman.”
Bee said, “So, you’re fine if she moves away and lives in Lancaster County again?”
“I’d miss her of course, but if that’s what she wants to do, she should do it.”
Isaac wasn’t entirely convinced she'd say the same thing to Hazel. “Would you come with us and live with us after we’re married?”
“Married?” Her bottom lip quivered and she coughed as though trying to cover what she was truly feeling. “That’s a big step.”
“Not really. Not when two people are in love.”
She raised her eyebrows on hearing the L word.
Bee said, “This is going to happen, Judy, so decide what you want to do. Either stay with Luke and me or live with Isaac and Hazel. They’re in love and—”
“Why isn’t Hazel here for this discussion?”
Isaac shot Bee a look of desperation.
Bee licked her lips. “She’s too scared of upsetting you.”
Judy turned to Isaac and asked him, “She wants to marry you?”
“Jah, she said so. She’s hesitating because she’s worried about you.”
“And you’ll be good to her?”
He chuckled. “I’ll treat her like the special woman she is. I’ve never been in love like this. You see, I met her in Falls Creek when I was twelve or thirteen while I was on vacation with my family.”
“You did? She never mentioned it. Bee lived at Falls Creek.”
He nodded. “Hazel told me she must’ve been there staying at Bee’s. I was so taken with her that I was silly enough to propose back then. I was a mere c
hild, couldn’t have been any more than thirteen, or maybe even twelve, but I never forgot those eyes. Those beautiful eyes.”
“She does have lovely eyes.”
“I nearly married someone else, I got to the verge of thinking I should propose, but I wanted to capture that connection, that feeling, that I had once found with that wonderful green-eyed girl I’d met at Falls Creek. You see, I never thought I’d see her again. When I walked in and saw her that first day at the workshop, I was shocked as I recalled her face. Then, I was sure she wasn’t the one because when I met her, she’d gone by the name of Livy.”
“Jah, her first name is Olivia, but she never liked it so she started having everyone call her Hazel, which is her middle name.”
“Ah, I wondered where the name ‘Livy’ came from.”
“I am happy for you to marry Hazel.”
“You are?” He could scarcely believe his ears.
“Jah, I believe you are a genuine person if you’ve thought about her for that long.”
“I did. She was never far from my mind even though I didn’t know her. There was something about her.”
Bee put a gentle hand on his shoulder as if to tell him not to oversell now that he had her approval. “You’ve got that bus to catch, Isaac. We’ll collect Hazel and Luke on our way and tell them the good news.”
He leaped to his feet and held his hand out to Hazel’s mother. She smiled and grabbed his hand as tears welled in her eyes. “Look after her.”
“I will. I will put her first in everything. And you are very welcome to live with us. I have a large haus.”
“Denke. I will give it some thought.”
“We better go, Isaac,” Bee said.
They hurried out of the house.
When Hazel saw Isaac hurrying toward her, she knew from his beaming face that it was good news.
He reached her and said, “She’s given us her blessing. We can marry.”
The Amish Bachelor: Amish Romance (Seven Amish Bachelors Book 1) Page 11