by Amy Clipston
“I hope you’re right,” Linda said, putting all her hope into those words.
Aaron ran his paintbrush over the wood on the outside of the enclosed porch while Manny painted nearby. They had finished replacing the screen door, repairing the stairs, and building the additional ramp for his mother. The April sun was warm on his neck as he moved the paintbrush back and forth.
“You’ve been driving a car a long time, ya?” Manny asked while he worked.
“Ya, I have.” Aaron stopped, balanced the brush on the paint can, and took a drink from a cold bottle of water. “Why do you mention it?”
“I would imagine that you don’t remember how to hitch a horse to a buggy or guide the buggy.” Manny’s grin was taunting Aaron.
“Are you challenging me?” Aaron asked his nephew.
“I don’t know.” Manny shrugged as he dipped his brush in the paint can. “Do you want to be challenged?”
“I’ll take that challenge.” Aaron set the bottle of water down, put the cover on the paint can, and wiped his hands on a rag. “Where do you keep your buggy?”
“I’ll show you.” Manny started for one of the barns, and Aaron followed him.
As they moved past the back porch, Aaron spotted Linda helping Becky hang laundry. He waved at Linda, and she gave him a curious wave in response.
“You can use my dat’s buggy.” Manny pointed inside the barn. “I’ll go get the horse.”
Aaron looked at the buggy and the technique quickly came back to him. Manny brought the horse, and Aaron hitched it without any help while Manny watched.
“See?” Aaron asked his grinning nephew. “I hitched it just fine, and you had no faith in me.”
“I want to see you guide it now. Show me that you remember how to be Amish.”
Aaron laughed. “You really don’t think I can do it?”
Manny leveled his gaze at him as a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “I guess we’ll see.”
“All right.” When they took the horse and buggy outside, Aaron glanced toward where Linda and Becky turned to watch them with interest. He’d been trying all afternoon to think of an excuse to visit with Linda. Now was the perfect opportunity. He could take Linda for a buggy ride. If he played his cards right, it could turn out to be a nice, romantic visit for them.
Aaron walked over to the women. “Do you want to help me prove my nephew wrong?” he asked.
Linda looked confused as she stared at him. She glanced at Becky, who shrugged. “I don’t know,” Linda said. “What do I have to do to help you?”
“Do you think I remember how to guide a horse and buggy?” he asked her.
She still looked baffled as her eyebrows drew together, and he couldn’t help but think she was adorable.
“I suppose you can.” Linda leaned forward. “Why are you asking me these strange questions?” Her expression became concerned. “Are you okay, Aaron? Do you feel ill? Has the sun gotten to you?”
Aaron laughed. “Ya, I’m fine, Linda. I’m not ill or narrisch.” He pointed toward the buggy. “Manny thinks I don’t remember how to be Amish. He wants me to prove I can drive that horse and buggy as well as I drive a truck. Do you want to come with me?”
“Oh.” Linda hesitated and glanced at Becky again as if to ask for permission.
“Go.” Becky waved her off with a smile. “I’m eager to see how this turns out.”
“Okay.” Linda handed Becky the pair of trousers she was holding.
“Great.” Aaron clapped his hands together. “Let’s go prove Manny wrong.”
As Linda walked with Aaron to the waiting buggy, she noticed how handsome he was in his blue T-shirt, and she had a difficult time keeping her gaze off him. His unruly, blond curls peeked out from under a tan baseball cap.
“Do you need a wrap?” he asked. His adorable smile was back.
“No, it’s warm enough today.”
“Do you know what you’re doing?” Manny asked with a teasing expression.
“You’re going to feel gegisch for asking.” Aaron opened up the passenger side door and held out his hand to Linda.
She took his strong hand and climbed into the buggy, smoothing her black apron over her blue dress.
“We’ll see about that,” Manny commented.
Aaron climbed in next to Linda and shut his door. He inspected the inside of the buggy.
“Do you need help?” she offered, keeping her voice low so Manny wouldn’t hear.
“No, no.” He shook his head. “I was just thinking that it’s been a long time since I’ve sat in one of these. Once again, I feel like I’ve stepped back in time.”
“Does that feel gut or bad?”
He faced her and his eyes were sentimental. “It’s actually pretty gut.”
Her heartbeat thundered as she again hoped he was going to stay in Paradise. She couldn’t bear the thought of saying goodbye to him and watching him walk out of her life forever.
“All right.” He took the reins in his hands. “Let’s show my nephew how wrong he is about me.” He nudged the horse to move, and they began their journey.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I haven’t figured that out yet.” He guided the horse onto the road. “Wouldn’t my nephew be shocked if we didn’t come back?”
Linda laughed. “It would at least surprise him.”
Aaron moved the buggy close to the side of the road so a car behind them could pass.
“I had forgotten how slow you travel in a buggy. You can’t just run up to the store for milk in a hurry.” He smiled over at her. “Our trip to the restaurant in Bird-in-Hand was much faster in the truck.”
“That’s true, but you miss how schee the scenery is when you’re moving fast.”
“Not always.” He gave her a serious expression. “I’m enjoying the scenery next to me right now, and it was just as schee in the passenger seat of my truck.”
She gave him a shy smile and then looked out the window. She still wasn’t used to receiving his compliments, but she never grew tired of them. The sweet and sincere way he told her she was pretty caused her heart to soar. She wondered if his feelings for her were as strong and deep as the ones she had for him.
Another car passed by, and Aaron laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Linda asked.
“I was wondering what the tourists are thinking when they drive by a buggy and see a guy in a T-shirt and wearing a baseball cap in the driver’s seat.” Aaron grinned at Linda, and she laughed. “They must be wondering if the Pennsylvania Amish changed their clothing guidelines.”
They continued down the road for a few more minutes.
“Do you think we should head back?” Linda asked.
“I was enjoying the break, but I suppose you’re right.” He guided the horse down a side road to turn around. “Danki for riding with me. I like how this feels.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“You and me in a buggy together.” He gave her a sideways glance. “We should’ve done this years ago when we were teenagers.”
Her mouth dried as she took in his attractive profile.
“Don’t you agree?” He looked over at her. “We missed a great opportunity.”
“There’s no time like the present,” she said softly.
“You’re so very right.” He nodded in agreement.
After Aaron steered the buggy back up the driveway to where Manny was waiting with Junior, he hopped out and opened the passenger door for Linda. Aaron then gave his nephew an I-told-you-so look.
“You won.” Manny shook Aaron’s hand. “Can you unhitch the horse now?”
“Of course I can,” Aaron told him.
Linda chuckled to herself as she made her way back to where Becky was hanging a second load of laundry. “Buwe,” she quipped with a chuckle. “They are so gegisch.”
She hung up a dress and then realized Becky was watching her. “What?”
“Do you have feelings for Aaro
n?” Becky asked with curiosity in her eyes.
“Why would you ask me that?” Linda reached for another dress to avoid Becky’s probing stare.
“You seem to enjoy being with him, and it’s obvious that he enjoys being with you. He was determined to get you to ride in the buggy with him.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Linda shrugged. “He’s very nice. We’ve been getting to know each other.”
“That’s gut.” Becky hung up an apron while she spoke. “I was wrong about what I thought about Aaron when he first arrived. I originally believed it wasn’t gut for our family when he came back. My dochder showed me how wrong I was. She helped me realize that our family needs Aaron. He’s not only helped Ruth with her recovery, but he’s also been a blessing to my kinner. I’m hoping Solomon will see that he needs his bruder too.” She faced Linda. “I’ve been hoping Aaron will decide to stay, and you could be the reason he decides to come home for gut.”
“Danki.” Linda picked two more aprons from the laundry basket and handed one to Becky. She hoped Becky was right, not only that Aaron would decide to stay in their community permanently, but that she could be one of the reasons.
Aaron helped Manny stow the buggy in the barn.
“You proved me wrong, Onkel,” Manny said with a smile. “You do remember how to be Amish.”
“I remember a lot of things,” Aaron said. “Danki. That was fun. I hadn’t been in a buggy in a long time.”
He watched his nephew turn toward the barn door and then freeze in place like a statue. His eyes widened.
“What’s wrong?” Aaron looked over his shoulder and found Solomon glaring at them from the doorway. He kept his expression calm despite his instant anxiety. “Hello, Solomon.”
“Knowing how to handle a horse and buggy doesn’t make you Amish,” Solomon groused. “All it proves is that you can command a horse, and just about anyone can do that.”
Aaron sighed. “You’re right. I get your point. I’m certainly not Amish.”
“Don’t you ever take my buggy out again without my permission,” Solomon barked.
“It was my fault,” Manny said. “I prompted him to use it, so don’t be angry with him. You can punish me.”
“You can go now, Manny,” Solomon instructed. “You’ve done enough. I need to speak to Aaron alone.”
“Ya, Dat.” Manny shot Aaron an apologetic look before leaving the barn.
“We were only goofing around,” Aaron explained. “Go easy on him.”
“I’m not going to punish him. My issues are with you.” Solomon leveled his eyes at Aaron. “You’re doing great work on Dat’s haus, but you need to take a step back from my family. Manny is getting too attached to you, and it’s not gut for him. I think it’s time for me to pull him away from you. I need him working with me, not playing games with you.”
“He’s a great bu,” Aaron said. “And he enjoys working with me. I’m teaching him a lot, and you may be glad I did someday if you need some work done on your haus.”
“If I need work done on my haus, the haus that I built, I can do it myself. You are not the only one who can do something besides run a dairy farm. I’m going to tell him tonight that he is forbidden to help you anymore. You’re on your own.” Solomon turned and started to leave the barn, and Aaron’s blood boiled.
Aaron made a quick decision—he’d hit the issue of their broken relationship head-on with a direct question.
“Solomon!” Aaron called after him, and Solomon turned. “What’s it going to take for you to forgive me? It’s been three months, man.”
Solomon shook his head. “If you want me to forgive you, then you would have to rewrite history, and that’s not going to happen.”
Solomon stalked out, and Aaron felt the last of his hope evaporate. After moving outside, he glanced to where Linda still worked with Becky. He wanted more than anything to be a part of his family again and ask Linda to be his girlfriend.
Yet at that moment he stood cemented in place, feeling lost and lonely, as he turned to watch his only brother walk away.
EIGHTEEN
Linda dried the last dish and set it in the cabinet. She was hanging the dish towel over the oven-door handle when she heard the familiar crunch of tires and hum of a truck engine in the driveway. Her pulse quickened as she stepped toward the front door.
“That Aaron Ebersol is here,” Reuben grumbled while peering out the front window. “Why is he coming here? Doesn’t he remember it’s inappropriate for an Englisher to date an Amish maedel?”
“He’s not trying to date me, Onkel,” Linda said. “We’re just freinden.”
Footsteps sounded on the porch steps.
“It’s wrong,” Onkel Reuben barked while wagging a finger in her face. “Do you know what the members of the community will say about you when they hear you’re seeing an Englisher? You’ll be shunned, and that would bring shame on this family. You’re not to see him. I’ll tell him myself.”
A knock sounded on the door.
Linda gasped as tears stung her eyes. “Onkel, please don’t. Just let me talk to him.” She felt her shoulders droop as she swiped her hands across her eyes.
Reuben swung the door open. “What do you want?” he snapped.
“Good evening, Reuben,” Aaron said. His gaze was steady and calm, but he frowned. “I was wondering if I could speak to Linda.”
Linda hugged her arms to her middle as she stared at Aaron. She ached to speak with him, but she knew she was stuck standing behind her controlling uncle.
Aaron looked past Reuben at her, and his expression was worried. The sympathy in his eyes was almost too much for her to endure. She looked down at her shoes to avoid his gaze.
“You know you don’t belong here,” Reuben groused. “You’re not Amish, and Linda is a baptized member of the church. You’re putting her in a bad position by coming here. You should know that already since you were raised Amish. If you had any respect for this community, you’d leave and not come back until you’re baptized.”
“You’re right,” Aaron said. “I’m wrong to come here, but I just need a few minutes of Linda’s time. We’ll sit out on the porch and talk. I won’t stay too long, I promise.”
“No, it’s not appropriate.” Reuben started to push the door closed.
“Wait!” Aaron yelled.
Linda looked up as Aaron pushed his arm out, blocking the door from closing.
“Just give me a minute,” Aaron pleaded with Reuben. “I know you want to keep us apart, but I’m begging you, man to man, to just let me talk to her for a minute. Then I’ll stay away.”
Linda gasped. He couldn’t mean that. He couldn’t want to promise to stay away from her forever. Had he come here to tell her he was leaving? Her hope sank.
Reuben glanced back at Linda, and she brushed her hand across her eyes again. “Fine,” he barked. “You have five minutes.”
“Danki, Reuben,” Aaron said, relief reverberating from his voice.
Linda nodded at her uncle and started for the door, grabbing her cloak before she stepped out into the cool spring evening. She prayed Aaron hadn’t come to tell her he was leaving Paradise for good. Her heart couldn’t take that news.
Aaron hated telling Reuben he wouldn’t come back again, but he couldn’t think of any other way to convince him to let Linda come out to the porch. He’d been thinking of her all day long, and he had to talk to her, one on one. She drooped like a wilted flower behind her uncle, and the sight was tearing his heart out. He wanted to take her away from the constant verbal abuse her uncle threw at her. He wanted to save her, the way she had saved him by showing him how to love.
Linda moved slowly past her uncle and through the front door, her shoulders hunched and her walk marked by the slight limp. His broken heart shattered with each step she took. She turned and closed the door behind her and then faced him.
“Why are you here?” her voice was meek, like a tiny mouse.
“I had to see yo
u.” Aaron ran his fingers down her cheekbone, not caring if Reuben was looking out the window.
“Why?” Her eyes glimmered with fresh tears. “Did you come here to tell me you’re leaving?”
“What?” He searched her face, trying to find the source of her worry. “No, no. I just wanted to talk to you. We haven’t been able to talk since we took that buggy ride. I’ve missed you. It’s been three long days since I’ve seen you except in passing.”
“Then why did you tell my onkel you would never come back here?”
“I had to think of something to convince him to let you talk to me.” He took her small hand in his and led her to the bench. “Sit with me for a minute. Please.”
She glanced over her shoulder and took a shuddering breath as if making sure her uncle wasn’t lurking behind the door. Her shoulders then loosened up and she stood up a little taller. Her expression relaxed, and her eyes seemed brighter. She sank onto the bench, and he sat down beside her.
Aaron held her hand and looked deep into her warm, brown eyes. “You don’t need to be so nervous and unsure of yourself around your onkel. You’re like a morning glory.”
She stared at him with confusion. “What do you mean?”
“When you’re away from him, you’re in full bloom. You’re radiant and confident,” he explained as he pushed an errant lock of her hair back behind her ear. “But when you’re with him, it’s like nighttime. You curl into yourself, and you lose that confidence and grace you have when he’s not around. You need to be in full bloom all the time and let the world see the amazing woman you are. Don’t let him steal your confidence. You need to stand up to your uncle and be who you are, no matter how he behaves.”
She nodded slowly, taking in his words. “I’ll try.”
“How have you been?” he asked.
“Fine. I’ve just been working at the hotel and the bed-and-breakfast. Did you finish the back ramp?”
“Ya.” He nodded and relaxed back on the bench. “I finished it yesterday.” He shook his head, thinking about his last conversation with Solomon. “Mei bruder won’t let Manny work with me anymore.”