Laura shrugged and started across the room. “Jah, okay.”
***
As Pauline began to serve the men their meal, she tried to keep her mind focused on what she was doing and not on the terrible pain chipping away at her heart. She didn’t know how she had made it through the baptismal service. It was so hard to see the joyful look on Laura’s face when she was greeted with a holy kiss and welcomed into the church by Alma, the bishop’s wife.
Pauline knew full well that the ritual of baptism placed Laura into full fellowship, with the rights and responsibilities of adult church membership. From this day on, she would have the right to partake of the elements during the Communion services held twice a year. She would be free to marry Eli, too, and Pauline was fairly certain he would propose to Laura as soon as possible now that they were both part of the Amish church.
She glanced across the room and spotted Laura serving the table where Eli sat. She could barely stand to see the happy expression on Eli’s face, not to mention Laura’s smug look. She knew it was wrong to harbor such bitterness, and it had been wrong to lie about Eli hugging her after the singing, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. Why can’t Eli love me? Why can’t he see how much better I would be for him than Laura?
She squeezed her eyes shut. Oh, God, please help me learn to deal with this.
***
Lunch was finally over, and everyone had eaten until they were full. Laura was just finishing with the cleanup when she saw Eli heading her way.
“Come with me for a walk,” he whispered, taking Laura’s hand and leading her away from the house.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
A few minutes later, they stood under a huge weeping willow tree out behind the house, away from curious stares. Eli’s fingers touched Laura’s chin, tipping her head back until they were staring into each other’s eyes. “You’re truly one of us now,” he murmured.
She nodded, feeling as though her head might explode from the anticipation of what she felt certain was coming. “We’re both officially Amish.”
Eli bent his head, and his lips touched hers in a light, feathery kiss. She moaned softly as the kiss deepened.
When Eli pulled away, she leaned against him for support, feeling as if her breath had been snatched away. It seemed as though she had waited all her life to be kissed like that. Not a kiss of passion, the way Dean had done, but a kiss with deep emotion. Eli loved her with all his heart; she was sure of it now.
“I can finally speak the words that have been in my heart all these months,” Eli said, gazing deeply into her eyes. “I love you, Laura, and I want you to be my wife.”
Tears welled in her eyes and spilled over onto her cheeks. “Oh, Eli, I love you, too.” She hugged him tightly. “Jah ... I will marry you.”
“I just spoke with Deacon Shemly,” Eli said. “If it’s all right with you, we can be married on the third Thursday in November.”
“It’s more than all right.” Laura blinked away another set of tears. “I can’t wait to call my parents and give them the news.”
***
Eli thought his heart would burst from the sheer joy of knowing Laura would soon be Mrs. Eli Yoder. She loved him; he was sure of it. Why else would she have given up her old life and agreed to become Plain? He wanted to shout to the world that he was the luckiest man alive and had found a most special woman to share the rest of his life with.
While he wasn’t able to shout it to the world, Eli knew he could share his news with the family. Grabbing Laura by the hand, he started to run.
“Where are we going?”
“To tell my folks our good news.”
Laura skidded to a halt. “Do you think that’s such a good idea? I mean, can’t you wait and tell them later ... after you go home?”
Eli grimaced. “Now why would I want to wait that long? The family deserves to hear our news now, when we’re together.”
“They may not want you marrying a foreigner,” Laura argued. “Your mother doesn’t like me, and—”
Eli held up his hand to stop her words. “You’re not a foreigner anymore, and I’m sure Mom likes you just fine.”
Laura drew in a deep breath and released it with a moan. “Okay. Let’s get this over with then.”
Eli spotted his folks sitting in chairs on the porch, visiting with Martha Rose and Amon. Little Ben played at their feet, dragging a piece of yarn in front of an orange-colored barn cat’s nose.
Eli led Laura up the steps and motioned her to take a seat in one of the empty chairs. He pulled out another one for himself and sat beside her.
“Today’s baptism was good.” Mom smiled at Eli. “We’re glad you finally decided to join the church.”
He grinned. “And Laura, too. She’s a baptized member now, same as me.”
Mom nodded and looked over at Laura. “We welcome you into our church.”
“Jah, you’re one of us now,” Pop agreed.
“Danki.” Laura offered them a smile, but it appeared to be forced.
In an attempt to reassure her, Eli took her hand. “Laura’s agreed to become my wife. We’d like to be married the third Thursday of November.”
Mom and Pop exchanged glances, and Eli was afraid they might say something negative about his plans. Much to his relief, Mom gave a nod in Laura’s direction. “We hope you’ll be happy being Amish, Laura, and we hope you will make our son happy, as well.”
“Eli’s a fine man with much love to give,” Pop put in. “He’ll make a good husband and father; just you wait and see.”
Martha Rose left her seat and bent down to give Laura a hug. “Congratulations. Soon we’ll be like sisters.”
Amon thumped Eli on the back and then added his well-wishes.
Eli grinned. “I think Laura was a bit naerfich about telling you, but I knew you would all share in our joy.”
Laura shot him an exasperated look, and he wondered if he’d said too much. Maybe he shouldn’t have mentioned that she felt nervous.
He was trying to think up something to say that might make her feel better, when Pop spoke again. “Say, Eli, if you’re gonna marry this little gal, then don’t ya think you should try to fatten her up some?”
Eli looked at Laura, then back at his father, but before he could open his mouth to reply, she said, “Why would Eli want to fatten me up?”
“I’ve seen you at some of our meals, and you don’t hardly eat a thing. Why, you’ll waste away to nothing if you don’t start eatin’ more.”
Laura stood so quickly, she nearly knocked over her chair. “I have no intention of becoming fat, Mr. Yoder!”
Pop tipped his head back and howled. “She’s a feisty one, now, isn’t she, Eli?” When he finally quit laughing, he looked at Laura and said, “If you’re gonna marry my son, then don’t ya think you should start callin’ me Johnny? Mr. Yoder makes me feel like an old man.” He glanced over at Mom and gave her knee a few pats. “I’m not old yet, am I, Mary Ellen?”
Mary Ellen grunted as she pushed his hand aside. “Go on with you, now, Johnny. You’ve always been a silly boy, and I guess you always will be.”
Mom and Pop both laughed, and soon Martha Rose and Amon were chuckling pretty good, too.
Laura tapped her foot against the porch floor, and Eli figured it was time to end it all before she said or did something that might embarrass them both.
He stood and grabbed her hand. “I think Laura and I should take a walk down to the creek. She needs to get cooled off, and I need to figure out how I ended up with such a laughable family.”
***
Two weeks before the wedding, Laura’s and Eli’s names were officially published at the close of the preaching service, which was held in the Zook home.
Laura’s heart bubbled with joy as she helped her future sister-in-law and several other women get lunch served after church had let out. Everyone had a job to do, even Anna Beachy’s mother, Rebekah, who sat at the t
able in her wheelchair, buttering a stack of bread.
Martha Rose handed Laura a jar of pickled beets. “Would you mind opening these?”
Laura glanced at the other four women, but they all seemed focused on their job of making ham-and-cheese sandwiches. She shrugged and took the jar over to the cupboard, wondering why no one had said anything about her upcoming marriage. Were they displeased with Eli’s choice for a wife? Would they have rather heard Pauline’s name published with Eli’s?
She held her breath as she forked out the beet slices and placed them in a bowl. She disliked the smell of pickled beets. If she lived to be a hundred, she would never figure out what anyone saw in those disgusting, pungent things. She had just finished putting the last one in the bowl, when Pauline entered the kitchen.
“The tables are set up in the barn.” Pauline glanced over at Martha Rose. “Do you have anything ready for me to carry out there?”
“You can take this plate of sandwiches.” Mary Ellen held up a tray, and Pauline took it from her, never once looking Laura’s way or acknowledging her presence.
Pauline was almost to the door when Martha Rose spoke. “Laura, why don’t you go with Pauline? You can take the beets, then stay to help pour beverages.”
Laura drew in a deep breath and let it out in a rush. The last thing she needed was another close encounter with her rival. She didn’t wish to make a scene, however, so she followed Pauline out of the room without a word of protest.
They had no more than stepped onto the porch when Pauline whirled around and faced Laura. “You think you’ve won Eli’s heart, don’t you? Well, you’re not married yet, so there’s still some hope for me. You may have fooled Eli, but I can see right through you.”
Laura took a few steps back, wanting to get away from Pauline, and wondering if the young woman really did know she wasn’t being completely honest with Eli. Sure, she loved him and wanted to get married. She had become Amish, too. But deep down inside, she didn’t think she needed God and was sure she could do everything in her own strength.
“I’m sure Eli will come to his senses soon,” Pauline continued to rant. “He’s blinded by romantic notions right now, but one of these days he’ll realize you’re not really one of us and can’t be trusted.” She gazed into Laura’s eyes, making her feel like a child who had done something wrong.
Laura’s mind whirled as she tried to figure out some kind of appropriate comeback. All she could think to do was run—far away from Pauline’s piercing gaze. She practically flew into the barn, dropped the bowl of beets onto the nearest table, and sprinted off toward the creek.
***
When Eli looked up from the table where he sat with his brothers and saw Laura dash out of the barn, he knew something wasn’t right. He was about to go after her, but Pauline stepped between him and the barn door. “Let her go, Eli. I’m sure she just needs to be alone.”
Eli’s forehead wrinkled. “What’s going on, Pauline? Did you and Laura have words?”
Pauline placed the plate of sandwiches on one of the tables and motioned him to follow her out of the barn. When they were out of earshot and away from scrutinizing eyes, she stopped and placed both hands on Eli’s shoulders.
He shrugged them away. “What’s this all about?”
“That English woman will never make you happy. She’s an outsider and always will be. She doesn’t belong here, so you’d better think twice about marrying her.”
Eli’s face heated up. “I love Laura, and she’s not an outsider. She’s a member of our church now and has agreed to abide by our Ordnung.”
Pauline squinted. “You’re blinded by her beautiful face and smooth-talking words, but I know what’s in her heart.”
“What gives you the right to try and read someone else’s mind?”
“I didn’t say mind, Eli. I said heart. I have a sixth sense about things, and my senses are telling me—”
“I don’t care what your senses are telling you.” Eli drew in a deep breath to steady his nerves and tried to offer her a smile. “Look, Pauline, I’m sorry things didn’t work out between us, but if you’ll search your own heart instead of trying to see what’s in other people’s hearts, I’m sure you’ll realize that we could never have been anything more than friends.”
Pauline’s blue eyes flashed angrily. “We could have been more than friends if she hadn’t come along and filled your head with all sorts of fancy English ideas.”
Eli was trying hard to be civil, but he’d had as much of Pauline’s meddling as he could stand. He had to get away from her. He needed to be with Laura.
“I never meant to hurt you,” he said sincerely, “but I love Laura, and she loves me. She gave up being English so we could be together, and nothing you say is going to change my mind about her.”
Pauline’s eyes filled with tears, making Eli feel like a heel. He was sorry for hurting her, but it didn’t change anything. He didn’t love her now and never had. Even when they’d been courting, he’d only seen her as a friend.
Eli gently touched her arm. “I pray you’ll find someone else to love.” He walked away quickly, hoping she wouldn’t follow. His life was with Laura, and she needed him now.
***
Laura sank to the ground and leaned heavily against the trunk of a tree as she gazed at the bubbling creek. Maybe I made a mistake thinking I could become part of a world so plain and simple. Maybe Eli should have chosen Pauline.
She sucked in her bottom lip, and a fresh set of tears coursed down her cheeks. Could Pauline really see through her? Did the accusing young woman know Laura was only pretending to be a follower of God?
But how could she know? No one knew what was in Laura’s heart or mind. She’d taken her biblical training classes, studied the Amish language, and learned how to cook, sew, and keep house. She wore plain clothes and no makeup and had learned to live without electricity or many other modern conveniences. What more was there? Why would Pauline think she couldn’t be trusted?
“Because you can’t,” a voice in her head seemed to taunt. “You’re lying to Eli, and you’re lying to yourself.”
Laura dropped to the ground and sobbed. She knew what she wanted out of life—Eli Yoder. She wanted him more than anything. If she had to pretend to have a relationship with God in order to join the Amish faith so she and Eli could be married, what harm had been done?
Laura jerked her head when someone touched her shoulder. She looked up and saw the face of the man she loved staring down at her.
“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” he asked, helping Laura to her feet.
“I—I had an encounter with your ex-girlfriend.” She sniffed and reached up to wipe the tears from her face. “Pauline doesn’t like me, and she’s trying to come between us.”
“No, she’s not. I just spoke with Pauline, and I put her in her place but good.”
“You did?”
He pulled her into his arms. “I told Pauline it’s you I love, and nothing she says will ever change my mind.”
“You mean it?”
“Jah, I do. Pauline and I have never been anything more than friends, and she knows it. I don’t understand why she’s bent on making trouble, but don’t worry, because I’ll never stop loving you, Laura.” Eli bent to kiss her, and Laura felt like she was drowning in his love. Everything would be all right now. It had to be.
Plain and Fancy Page 18