“Hopefully that won’t be the case,” Amanda said.
“Well, I hope the Kaufmanns let us stay for a bit and warm up,” Susanna quipped, attempting to lighten their worries.
Amanda giggled. “Me, too.”
“Stop complaining, girls,” Daed called out.
“I’m not complaining,” Traci said. “Amanda and Susanna are arguing. Not me.”
“We weren’t arguing,” Amanda said.
“All of you, hush,” Mamm chided. “Instead of snipping and snapping at each other, you should be hoping we have a good and productive visit.”
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with hoping it’s a good, productive, and warm one,” said Susanna.
“Oh, brother,” Mamm said. “Some things never change, do they? Once again, you are making sure you get your last word in.”
“I’m not quite that bad,” Susanna protested.
“There she goes again,” muttered Traci.
“I, for one, am rather enjoying this little walk. It feels familiar and so many other things haven’t lately,” Amanda commented. “After all, we’ve certainly delivered a gift together a time or two.”
“Or maybe twenty-two,” Susanna said.
“It’s been more than that,” Traci said.
As they walked up the short brick-lined walkway, Daed shook his head. “Sometimes you girls sound exactly as you did when you were twelve. It never ceases to amaze me. Now, put on your good manners.”
“Sorry, Daed,” Amanda said. “I’ll do my best.”
“I bet you will,” Susanna whispered.
Amanda blushed. But before she could say anything, the front door opened.
And then there stood Dale Kaufmann. “Hello,” he said. He stared curiously at her parents, smiled hesitantly at Traci and Susanna, then settled on Amanda. “Hi.”
Amanda smiled brightly. As if he’d just said something amazing and insightful. “Hiya, Dale. We, um, we came over to say hello. We brought you a pie, too.”
“That’s kind of you. Ain’t so?” he asked as he turned around.
Susanna had been so intent on watching the interplay of her sister and Dale, the crowd of people standing behind him took her by surprise.
After the briefest of pauses, a lovely woman with Dale’s brown eyes and hair approached. “Wilcom. I’m Anna Kaufmann,” she said as she opened the door wider. “It’s so kind of you to come over. Please, do come in.”
“Danke,” Daed said, walking through and stopping politely so he didn’t track snow on the clean floors.
Just as Susanna was taking off her cloak, she noticed Amanda and Dale were staring at each other. Just like the rest of them didn’t exist.
It was so personal, so intimate, she felt her cheeks heat.
It seemed she hadn’t needed to be worried about Dale Kaufmann ignoring her sister after all. Instead, she should have been worried about the sparks that were flying between the two of them.
CHAPTER 8
Thursday Evening, December 14
As his parents led the way to their family room and two of his sisters hastily ran into the kitchen to brew coffee and pull out plates and forks for the pie, Dale Kaufmann tried to get his mind centered.
He needed to act calm and thoughtful, but he feared that was doomed to be an insurmountable task. After all, he was as much at a loss for how to deal with their unexpected visitors as anyone else in his ten-person family. His parents, never ones for surprises, were visibly dismayed.
And his younger siblings? Well, they could hardly contain themselves. They were whispering to each other, some excitedly, some with far less enthusiastic expressions.
Mr. Schwartz seemed thoughtful and intent. His wife acted nervous. Susanna seemed quiet. The littlest one seemed that way, too.
Then he focused on Amanda. She raised her blue eyes to him. Smiled just slightly.
Suddenly, he was tongue-tied.
As if she realized this, her smile grew.
He needed to say something, anything, so everyone wouldn’t notice that he was simply standing there staring at her. Like a besotted fool. “Hiya, Amanda. How have you been?”
A glimmer in her eyes let him know that his comment sounded as inane as he’d feared. “I am fine. And you?”
Considering that he had spent far too many hours thinking about her and was now fumbling for conversation, he shrugged. “All right.”
“Ah.”
“Amanda?” Susanna called out. “Let’s sit down.”
She edged away from him. “I better sit down.”
“Jah. Me, too.” Good gravy! Was he incapable of saying anything worthwhile?
After offering their visitors a seat, Dale’s father folded his hands in his lap. “John, Leah, it was good of you to come over. We thank you for the pie, too.”
“We should have come over before now.”
“Nee,” Dale’s mother said. “We should have been more welcoming.” After sharing a look with his father, Mamm said, “The fault lies with me, I suppose. I grew up in this house, and lived next to the Vances all my life. It was hard to see them go. I’m afraid I’ve been mourning the loss.”
“We’ve noticed that a lot of people have had a hard time with us moving here,” Mr. Schwartz said.
“I canna deny that,” Daed said simply. Dale was glad that his father hadn’t tried to soften his words or make up some explanation. It was better to be open and honest instead of tacking on cumbersome explanations that were not completely true.
Unable to help himself, he glanced toward Amanda. She was sitting quietly next to her sister, her blond, blue-eyed, wholesome looks complementing her sister’s darker hair and green eyes. Both women were so pretty. Their little sister was sitting near Jimmy, Michael, and Avery, Dale’s youngest siblings. The four of them were quietly whispering to each other, no doubt wishing they were doing something else.
Luckily, Beth and Esther brought in a tray loaded with coffee cups, pie plates, some fingerprint cookies the girls had made that afternoon, and silverware. Marie, all of fifteen, looked pleased to be carrying the coffeepot instead of having to sit with her younger siblings. The next ten minutes were spent passing out cups of coffee, doing the same with the pie, then complimenting the snacks.
As Dale took a big bite of pie, smiling at his sisters when Mrs. Schwartz shared that Susanna had made it, he couldn’t help but reflect that he and his family had sat in the room with his neighbors many, many times over the years.
Of course, it had been a different family, and they’d all been so comfortable with each other that it hadn’t felt as if they’d had company over at all.
He and Neil had often sat in the background, sneaking cookies that their mothers pretended they didn’t see them eat, whispering and joking to each other, making plans for Christmas break, for summer breaks. Making plans for the rest of their lives.
Dale realized then that he might be twenty-five years old, but it was the first time that he’d come to terms with the fact that his future was going to be different than the one he and Neil had planned. They weren’t going to be farming next to each other. They weren’t going to be living next to each other for the rest of their lives. Their future had changed.
Now, as he sipped his coffee, he realized that though their future was going to be different, he wasn’t mourning the loss anymore. Instead, he had accepted it.
He was grateful for that. He—and his whole family—needed to move forward. God gave them a lifetime to live for a reason. He didn’t intend for every day to be the same as the one before.
Mr. Schwartz cleared his throat. After looking at his wife, he set his coffee cup down and pressed his palms on his knees.
“Anna and Jeremy, thank you for your hospitality. Being here on this snowy evening does my heart good. I know I speak for all five of us when I say that it has meant a lot to us.”
Mamm’s cheeks flushed. “It was our pleasure. Like we said, we should have paid you a visit when you first moved in.�
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“I must admit that we came over for another reason.”
The whole room tensed. Even Dale’s thirteen-year-old brother, Jimmy, who rarely listened to anyone besides himself.
“What is it?” Daed asked.
“When I was out today, along the south end of my property, where it connects with yours . . .”
“Yes?”
“I discovered that part of the fencing was broken.”
Relieved that fencing was all that was on his mind, Dale exhaled. “That happens from time to time. It’s old wood, you know. Sometimes the winter storms wreak havoc and cause the fencing to splinter like toothpicks. I’ll help you fix it in the morning.”
“Danke, son,” his father said. “I know you’ll do a good job of repairs.”
But instead of looking grateful, Mr. Schwartz only seemed more agitated. “You all are misunderstanding me. Forgive me if I sound harsh, but I ain’t talking about a piece of broken wood. I managed a large farm for most of my life. I know how to mend fencing, and I’m familiar with the usual wear and tear that occurs over years.”
“Then I’m afraid I don’t understand,” his daed said.
“I’m saying I discovered a six-foot section that is in splinters.”
“Splinters?” Max, Dale’s older brother, asked.
Mr. Schwartz nodded. “I’m afraid it’s so badly damaged that it had to have been done on purpose.”
Daed’s eyebrows knit together. “Hopefully that ain’t the case. Sometimes animals get spooked and break through fencing, you know.”
“When you see it, I think you’ll agree that no animal is to blame.”
Unable to help himself, Dale stood up. “But it all doesn’t make sense. Why would anyone want to ruin good fencing?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask you. Do you have any idea about why someone would deliberately damage my property?”
“The fence is technically on both of our properties,” Max said.
Mr. Schwartz looked from Max to their father to Dale. “Well, I sure didn’t break it, and I know my girls didn’t, either.”
Mamm flushed. “Are you accusing us?”
“I am not,” Mr. Schwartz said slowly, though his expression told a different story. “However, I must admit that this whole situation does cause me concern. If you say that nothing like this has ever occurred, then it does after we move in a few weeks ago . . .”
“No one in my family is going to go around breaking fences,” Mr. Kaufmann said angrily. “I don’t know how your neighbors back in Berlin treated you, but here in Kentucky, we got better things to do than destroy each other’s property.”
“I brought my family over here in order to discuss this with you, not point fingers. We don’t want any trouble, either.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Dale knew it was time to intervene. His father had a temper on his best day. He also had a habit of saying things that he later regretted. This was looking to be one of those moments.
“Mamm,” he muttered. “Get Daed to calm down.”
She met his eyes and nodded. “Everyone, I think it’s time we all step back and take a deep breath. Don’t you agree, Leah?”
Mrs. Schwartz’s gaze warmed. “I agree one hundred percent. Nothing will get better if we remain angry. It would be far better for us to reach a place where we can all get along.” Smiling softly, she added, “We want to be your neighbors for years and years. I’d like to get off on the right foot.”
“Exactly,” Mamm said.
To Dale’s relief, his father exhaled, then looked a little sheepish. “I’m sorry. My temper’s been a real fault of mine for all my life. I like to think that I’ve gotten a handle on it and learned to think before speaking . . . but obviously, that ain’t the case.”
“I could have probably broached the subject better, too,” Mr. Schwartz said. “I shouldn’t have come over without notice.”
Mamm gestured to Marie. “Would anyone like more kaffi?”
When Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz both accepted, Dale knew it was time to take a break. Turning toward Amanda, he said, “Would you like to go out to the back porch? It’s a little chilly but there’s a gas heater there.” It went without saying that there was a lot more privacy, too.
“I’d like that,” Amanda said. After a pause, she said, “Susanna, do you want to come, too?”
“Nee. I’ll stay here and visit with the other girls.”
As Dale helped Amanda dig out her cloak and put it on, he caught sight of both sets of parents watching his actions with interest.
Feeling like they were on display, he felt his cheeks flush. But that didn’t stop him from pulling on his own coat and escorting her out the door. He was eager to spend more time with Amanda. And even though there was a faint shadow over this visit, he wasn’t going to let the opportunity to be alone with her slip by.
He’d take time with Amanda Schwartz any way he could.
CHAPTER 9
Thursday Evening, December 14
Would it be wrong of me to say that I’m almost glad that fence broke?” Dale asked as he closed the door behind them.
Amanda couldn’t help herself. She giggled like a teenager. “Jah. It would be wrong. That fencing is a serious matter.” But yet, here she was, smiling, too.
He chuckled. “Of course, you are right.”
She was so glad he’d brought out a lantern with them. It made her feel more at ease around him. It also gave her a good opportunity to study his features a little better. He really was so handsome. “Your sisters seem nice. All of your family does.”
“We get along. Well, most of the time. There’s a lot of us, you know.”
“Eight kinner is an awful lot.”
“Soon only seven of us will be living at home. My older brother, Max, is moving to Michigan.”
“Why there?”
“His girlfriend’s family just moved there. They’re getting married soon.”
“That’s wonderful!” she exclaimed, just as she realized that sounding so happy about a sibling moving away was in bad taste. “Or, um, are you sad that he’s going to move so far away?”
“Nee, I’m happy for him. We’ve always gotten along, but I’ve never been as close to him as I am to some of my sisters. Or Neil. Neil and I grew up together like brothers.”
Amanda knew that he’d brought Neil Vance up in an innocent way. But still the mention of his name stung. “Well, um, congratulations anyway.”
Stepping closer, he shook his head. “I didn’t mention Neil in order to make you uncomfortable. I mentioned him because he’s simply a part of my life. I know he got off on the wrong foot with your sister, but I promise, he’s really not bad. He’s actually a really good person. He’s been a great friend to me over the years.”
“I’m sure he has been.” Because he was still staring at her intently, she said, “I’m sorry, I don’t know how to make things easier between us.”
“Maybe it already is. Maybe I’m hoping you’ll see that I’ve come to terms with him moving.”
She wished the lantern’s glow was a little brighter. She would have loved to study his expression better. “Truly?”
“I promise. Now, if I tell you something else, will you listen to it with an open mind?”
She wondered what he could possibly say. “I’ll try.”
“Well, I’ve started to be very thankful that you moved here. Now I can start visiting you in the evenings.”
Visiting in the evenings? “That sounds like you intend to be courting.”
“That’s probably because I’d like to. Eventually. When we know each other better. If you are okay with that.”
Though he was stumbling over his words, she noticed that he also sounded hopeful. And, perhaps, a bit too sure of himself?
She couldn’t resist teasing him a bit. “I might be . . . if my parents are okay as well.” Primly, she added, “I’m sure you will be wanting their approval, too.”
“Oh!
Jah,” he blurted, sounding slightly flustered. “To be sure. I am hoping that your parents will be open to my visits.”
Now she was the one stepping closer to him. “I was only teasing you, Dale. If they hadn’t been open to you calling on me, they would have never simply stood still and watched us step out here together.”
“Did you notice that mine did the same?”
“I did.” She smiled. “I know we don’t really know each other all that well, but perhaps the two of us might help pave the way for our two families to learn to trust each other and get along.”
“I hope so. If someone has decided to start breaking our fencing, we all are going to have to stand together. Otherwise, things will only get worse.”
LATER THAT NIGHT, when Amanda was still lying on her back and staring at the ceiling, Susanna creaked open her door.
“Manda, you asleep?” she whispered.
“Nope.”
“Gut.” After closing the door behind her, Susanna padded across the room and then hopped onto the other side of Amanda’s big double bed. “I couldn’t sleep, either.”
Amanda moved onto her side to face her sister. “This is one of those times that I wish we still shared a room.”
Chuckling softly, Susanna whispered, “I know. Who would have thought we would miss our little cramped room?”
Oh, but their room had been stuffed to the gills. Susanna was a pack rat, and she? Well, she always had boxes and bins of fabric or yarn that she was working on. When they were teenagers, they would argue about each other’s stuff all the time.
But they’d also had each other all the time. They’d always talked about everything, late into the night. Their friends, their parents, how annoying Traci had been when she was seven . . .
Learning to go to sleep with only her thoughts had been difficult to get used to.
“What did you think about tonight?” Susanna asked.
“I don’t know. The Kaufmanns seemed nice.”
“Do you think Mamm and Daed are ever going to get along with them?”
“I hope so,” mused Amanda. Especially since Dale has such grand plans.
“Mamm seemed happy when we got home.”
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