by Brunstetter, Wanda E. ; Brunstetter, Jean; Brunstetter, Richelle
“Ach. You just like teasing me, don’t you? Katie dropped the treat back in the box and set it on the countertop. “Now you’re not getting a treat, you goofy cotton ball.”
Roseanna turned her head toward the hallway, hearing steady footsteps coming closer. She stepped aside for Katie’s mother to enter the kitchen.
“Hello, Roseanna. How are you doing?”
“I’m all right.” Roseanna forced a smile.
“That’s good to hear.” Katie’s mom gave Roseanna a hug and went over to the sink. “Katie, could you hand me the dish soap?”
“Jah, sure.” As Katie hurriedly moved past the box of treats, it toppled over and landed on the floor. Ella ran to the open box and stuck her head in. “No!”
Roseanna couldn’t contain her laughter. Ella wore the box on her head and didn’t even try to shake it off. The sounds of crunching could be heard as Ella walked around with no sense of sight. The dog appeared perfectly content.
“Katie,” Roseanna said with a snicker, “I thought she was a Pomeranian, not a boxer.”
“Ha! Ha! Very funny.” Katie crossed her arms, yet she giggled, too.
After Katie got the box off Ella’s head, she and Roseanna said good-bye to Katie’s mom.
“Are you sure you both don’t want something to eat before you go?” She dried her hands. “I can bake some gingerbread cookies. Christmas is coming up pretty soon, so it might help get you in the Christmas spirit.”
“It’s okay, Mom. I’m sure Roseanna’s already had something to eat for breakfast.”
“But don’t you want to sit down for a little bit and visit?”
Oh, great. I’ll bet she wants to ask me questions about John. Roseanna tugged on her jacket. “No, that’s fine. Ella ought to go for a walk. The dog needs to burn off all of those biscuits she ate.”
Ella let out a loud yawn and lay down near Roseanna’s feet. Figures. Roseanna reached down and petted the dog.
“Well, okay. Have a nice time on your walk, you two. Be safe.”
Katie smiled. “Thank you, Mom. We will.”
Katie led Ella and Roseanna out of the kitchen and over to the front door. “It’s a bit chilly outside this morning.” Katie turned the knob and opened the door a smidge. “But morning walks are the best. It’s a great way to wake your body up.”
Roseanna followed behind as they walked along the side of the road. Her shoulders shook from the chill, and her lips felt like sandpaper. December was inching closer, which meant snow might be covering every part of the county soon. It made everything appear pure and innocent, though. “I am looking forward to sledding again,” she admitted.
“Me, too!” Katie stopped and turned around to hand the leash to Roseanna. “Why don’t you walk her for a while? It must be getting boring walking without a little pal dragging you.” She snickered. “Am I right?”
Roseanna shrugged her shoulders but accepted the leash. She turned her head quickly, noting Katie’s teasing expression as she followed her. Roseanna could tell Katie was trying to make her feel better, but doing leisure activities only took her mind off John for a few moments. She wasn’t willing to express how she felt to her best friend, either.
Ella barked at a vehicle speeding past them and jerked forward, tugging Roseanna’s arm. “Calm down.” She pulled Ella back to prevent her from being in the road.
Katie tapped on Roseanna’s shoulder. “Hey, Roseanna. Can we stop for a second?”
“How come?” Roseanna continued walking.
“I want to talk with you about the wedding.”
Roseanna quickly turned around, which caused her towering friend to jump. “Katie, there was no wedding, and I don’t want to talk about it.”
“But it’s not good to bottle up your feelings, especially when you’re still hurting.”
“What makes you think I’m still hurting?” Roseanna’s voice rose as she clenched her fingers around the leash. ”John left me. So what? He couldn’t marry me? So what? I don’t care anymore.” Roseanna’s stomach tightened as she stood in front of her friend, shaking and unable to look at her. This is my fault. I’m the reason John left. Who in their right mind would want to marry someone as pathetic as me?
Katie stumbled back a step. “So John didn’t say why he decided to leave?” Apparently, she was not about to let up.
“No, he didn’t. Now, would you please stop asking me questions?” Roseanna covered her mouth, seized by remorse. It wasn’t right to snap at Katie. “Sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry.” Katie lowered her chin. “I was only trying to help.”
“I know.” Roseanna’s eyes darted to a large animal coming up behind Katie. It was another dog, but it was immense compared to a Pomeranian.
“What? What’s wrong?” Katie looked over her shoulder and froze.
The big dog snarled as it approached. Roseanna held her breath, wanting to scream but refusing to allow instinct to betray her.
“Should we run?” Katie’s voice cracked.
“No.” Roseanna brought Ella close to her side. “We need to move quickly, but we can’t run.”
“Why?”
“’Cause dogs run faster than humans. That’s why.” Roseanna gestured with her hand. “Come on. We gotta get Ella out of here.”
Roseanna paced herself, not wanting to move too quickly, which might encourage the larger dog. Fortunately, Ella walked cooperatively. Otherwise she could’ve agitated the larger canine even more.
“It’s still following us.” Katie’s voice quavered.
“As long as the hund’s not charging at us, we’re fine.” Roseanna’s skin tingled where sweat had formed. We should’ve brought some of Ella’s treats with us. We could have thrown some to the dog.
“I have an idea.”
“Wait, Katie. What are you—” Roseanna looked behind and saw Katie bending down to the ground and picking up a rock. “Katie, don’t.”
Katie threw the rock, and it landed in front of the dog’s left paw. The mutt stopped, eyed the rock, and then growled, lowering its back legs.
“Run!” Roseanna pulled on the leash to make Ella move faster.
“You said running wasn’t a good idea!”
“It is now!” Roseanna scooped up the dog. She and Katie took off running, and Roseanna was too afraid to look back. They ran several minutes, until Katie informed her the dog was no longer behind them.
Roseanna stopped running. Catching her breath, she leaned against a wooden post. She could feel the warmth of Ella’s breath against her neck.
Katie approached Roseanna and hugged her. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I think so.” Roseanna looked up. “Thank You, Lord.”
“Amen.” Katie patted her back and then let go. “I haven’t run that fast in my entire life. I thought we were goners.”
“Same here. I haven’t run that fast since John…”
“Roseanna?”
“I need to go home.” Roseanna handed Ella and her leash to Katie.
“Do you need me to walk back to your house with you?”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll be fine. Danki, Katie. I’ll see you at church on Sunday.” She reached out and rubbed Ella’s stomach. “Good-bye, Ella. Be a good girl for Katie.”
Roseanna waved to Katie as she walked away, clutching her arms against her stomach. Katie can finish Ella’s walk on her own, but am I being selfish? Am I a horrible friend? She wiped the damp corner of her eye with her hand.
When Roseanna reached her house, a buggy occupied the hitching post. Her leg muscles tightened. Oh, my goodness. That’s John’s buggy.
As Roseanna grabbed the front doorknob, a rush of adrenaline overpowered her. “What do I do?” she muttered. “I can’t go in there. He humiliated me.” Roseanna’s hands were almost as purple as the leash for Katie’s dog. She needed to go into the house and warm up. I could use the back door and then decide what to do without freezing to death. She headed around to the back of the house.
Roseanna put her hands in her jacket pockets and sat on the indoor steps, closing her eyes for a moment. After what happened between Katie and me, I don’t want my emotions to interfere with any future choices.
“What are you doing, Roseanna?”
Roseanna’s eyes snapped opened. She lifted her head and saw Mary looming over her. “I honestly don’t know.”
“How was the walk? Was Katie’s dog as cute as ever?” Mary stepped down and sat next to her.
“Yeah, very cute. But the walk didn’t go so great.”
Mary leaned an elbow on her knee. “Did Ella bite you?”
“No, but another dog almost did.” She explained what had happened.
“Well, I’m glad you’re okay.” Mary rubbed her hands on her dark green dress and sighed. “Bigger dogs scare me.”
“Me, too.”
Mary clasped her sister’s arm. “Oh, Roseanna, John’s mother is here, and she wants to know how you are doing.”
“Huh? John isn’t here?” Roseanna looked upward, sighing. Thank goodness for small blessings.
“No, but if he were, I would sure give him a piece of my mind. It wasn’t right for him to leave you. I mean, we cleaned up after a wedding that didn’t even happen.”
“Mary, you’re not making me feel any better.”
“I’m sorry. John’s mother being here probably doesn’t help either.”
“No, it does not.” Roseanna stood up and brushed off her dress. “Don’t worry. I’ll get through it.”
She went up the steps and past the living room, hearing her mother’s voice coming from the kitchen. Roseanna peered in, wondering if she should turn around and leave. But it was too late, Mom had already seen her.
“Hello, Rosey. Welcome home.” Mom raised her mug and sipped.
“Thank you, Mamm.”
John’s mother, Linda, rose from the chair and placed her mug on the table. “I’m so glad to see you.” She went over and wrapped her arms around Roseanna.
“It’s good to see you, too.”
“Here. Have a seat, Roseanna.” Mom got up and grabbed a mug. “Would you like some kaffi?”
Roseanna shook her head. “I’m not in the mood for coffee right now.”
“All right. Let me know if you change your mind.” Mom squeezed Roseanna’s shoulder and left the kitchen.
Roseanna sat in the chair. She was hesitant to make conversation with John’s mother but didn’t want to be impolite. Roseanna asked Linda how she was doing, and they continued to talk casually for a few minutes.
“Roseanna, about John… I came here to let you know that he left Lykens the day after the wedding.”
“He left?” Roseanna covered her mouth. She’d been too overwhelmed with her thoughts and emotions to go over to John’s house, but Roseanna didn’t think he would leave the area. She figured her betrothed only needed time to think things over.
Linda took a drink from her mug. “Jah. He went to where his uncle and aunt live in Ronks. At least, that’s where he told me he was going, while packing his belongings.”
Roseanna made a humming noise from her throat as her stomach sunk. I chased him away. I chased John away. Her eyes became wet, but Roseanna suppressed her emotions.
“Roseanna, I am very sorry for what happened a couple of days ago.”
“You don’t need to apologize on John’s behalf. It’s not your fault.”
“He’s my son. My only child even.” John’s mother covered her face with both hands. “I just can’t believe he did this again.”
“What?”
“I mean…” Linda jumped up. “Oh dear. I thought you knew.”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean by ‘again’?” Roseanna pulled her arms against her chest.
Linda wiped her eyes. “A couple of years ago while we were living in Ohio, John—” She hitched a breath. “He was about to get married to another woman until he ran away from the wedding.”
Roseanna sat stiffly in her chair, unable to respond.
CHAPTER 5
Ronks, Pennsylvania
John watched as snowflakes fell from the clouds, his body numb from the winter winds blowing against him. He gripped the wooden handle of the shovel with gloved hands, squeezing his eyes shut as another gust penetrated through to his skin.
I wonder what my folks are doing right now. John grabbed his handkerchief out to take care of his dripping nose. If I had followed through and married Roseanna, I’d be home with her and my family right now, living a brand-new life.
John felt his shoulders slump to match his mood. “What have I done?”
Christmas would be here in a few weeks, and the thought of that made his stomach tighten. I promised Roseanna we would have the best first Christmas as a married couple. He rubbed his gritty eyes before continuing to shovel the snow from his uncle’s driveway. The shovel’s blade grazed the gravel. “I was stupid, Roseanna. Very stupid. You’re probably still angry with me.” John bit his lower lip and looked at the tree closest to him. All the branches were bare. What gave the tree vividness was stripped away.
The snowflakes felt like needles jabbing John’s skin as they landed on his face. “I can’t go back to Lykens. I just can’t.” He scooped a heap of snow and carried it over to the large pile out of the path of the driveway.
After he wiped his nose with his handkerchief, he stuffed it into his jacket pocket and grabbed the snow shovel again. John hoped the flakes that were falling wouldn’t amount to much. Then again, maybe he deserved to clean out snow all winter for reneging on their marriage and hurting his fiancée.
“John!” his aunt called from the house. “Come in for a bit and warm yourself up by the fire!”
He turned to her and saw she was standing on the edge of the porch with a steaming mug in her hands. “I’ll take a break when I’m done,” he replied. “I’m almost finished!”
A short time later, John stepped onto the porch. He stomped the snow off his boots and shook the moisture from his stocking cap then entered the house.
The aroma of hot chocolate drew him into the kitchen. It was good to be in the house. He noticed a plate of lemon bars and chocolate chip cookies sitting on the table. John slipped off his jacket, hanging it up on the wall peg, then he laid his gloves and stocking cap on the bench.
He walked to the sink and washed his hands. The warmth of the water felt good against his cold fingers, and when they were heated through, he dried them off with the towel lying near the sink.
Aunt Lena smiled and handed him a mug of cocoa. “Help yourself to something sweet, John.” She grabbed a napkin for herself and picked out a couple of treats. “Did you get all of the driveway cleared off?”
“Jah.” He took a napkin and looked at the tray of cookies in front of him.
“Why don’t we go into the living room and warm up by the fire? From the looks of your crimson cheeks, I’d say you need to thaw out.”
John followed her into the next room and took the seat closest to the fire. As he drank from his mug, John gazed at the luminous colors flickering in the rising flames.
“Do you want to talk about it, John?”
“Talk about what?” He picked up a lemon bar and took a bite.
“You have been here a few weeks now, yet you’ve been keeping some things to yourself.” The rocker creaked as she gave her chair momentum. “I know you’re hurting, but it’s not good to keep things bottled up.”
“I know you mean well, Aunt Lena, but I really don’t want to talk about it.” John looked away. His aunt fell silent as she continued to rock. You wouldn’t understand, Aunt Lena. No one would.
Lykens
Roseanna stitched the long sleeve onto the bodice of her project, threading precisely as she normally would. There we go. I can have this dress finished by tomorrow. She gave the fabric a firm shake, admiring the deep red shade. As Roseanna stitched another part of the dress, she heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
“Roseanna, Mom needs you to he
lp in the kitchen.”
When Mary entered the room, Roseanna raised her head and nodded. “Hang on, Mary. I’ll be down in a moment.” She stood and laid the dress on the back of the chair. Roseanna went over to the window and noticed the snowflakes were subsiding and that Adam and Nancy Anne were throwing snowballs at each other. “Heh. Kids.”
“Hey, Roseanna.”
“Yes, Mary?”
“Who is that dress for?”
“Oh, the dress? Umm… it’s for…”
Mary patted Roseanna’s shoulder. “It’s not for anyone, is it?”
“Well, not anyone specific.” Roseanna’s stomach tingled. She’d sewn more dresses than ever before after John’s mother let that one secret slip out. Roseanna pretended to be fine after her talk with Linda, but she wasn’t.
Oh, my goodness. Roseanna covered her face. Her hands were frigid against her warm cheeks. John, how could you? Why did you keep that hidden from me this whole time? I would have known better, John. I would never have agreed to marry you.
The sound of Mary speaking again broke through Roseanna’s thoughts. She wiped her eyes with her hands as discreetly as she could and then faced her sister.
“I’d better go help Mom.” Roseanna went over to the bed and grabbed the white prayer kapp to put on.
“Roseanna, do you need someone to talk to? You know I’m here for you.” While Mary wrapped comforting arms around Roseanna, they rested their heads on each other’s shoulder. “I’m your sister. I’ll always be here for you.”
Roseanna’s heartbeat seemed to stop as she rested in her sister’s embrace, debating whether she should express to Mary how she really felt. She made up her mind as she squeezed her sister tighter. “I know, Mary, but don’t worry. I’m all right.”
“Hello, Rosey,” Mom said when Roseanna entered the kitchen. “Could you please bake your delicious pumpkin pies for our Christmas dinner this week? You know how much your Grandma Zook enjoys them.”
Roseanna walked over to the pantry and grabbed a can of baking powder and coconut sugar. “Jah. And I’d have to say I love the pumpkin pies I make, as well. But they’re not as good as the apple cobbler you made last year, Mamm. Where did you get the recipe?”