Where Love Grows

by Jerry S. Eicher

  “We’ll find something for you,” Susan said. “But you don’t have to dress like us. No one will mind. We understand that you come from a different world.”

  “What do you think, Teresa?” Maurice twisted to look over the seat.

  “I think you should borrow some dresses,” Teresa said. “They come with pins instead of buttons, but I’ll help you figure it out. You’ll feel much more comfortable during your visit if you feel like part of us. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it more.”

  “I already know I’m going to enjoy it,” Maurice said. “I want the Amish to feel comfortable around me.”

  “We’ll accept you no matter what you wear,” Susan assured Maurice.

  “Mom, don’t listen to Susan. If you want to experience everything, and I mean everything, you need to blend in as much as possible. You should even wear one of these kapps.” Teresa pointed to her hat. “It’s a unique and wonderful experience.”

  Maurice laughed. “I think you’ve sold me on the idea, Teresa. Bring out the Amish dresses and hats, Susan! This woman is getting into character!”

  “Oh, Mom!” Teresa squealed. “This is going to be so wonderful. Why didn’t I ask you here sooner? I just didn’t have the courage. I wasn’t sure if you’d come all this way.”

  “You didn’t do anything wrong, sweetheart. I wouldn’t have come a moment before this. I kept expecting to see you return with a look of defeat on your face. Only a wedding invitation convinced my hardened old soul that this Amish business wasn’t a passing whim.”

  “Your heart isn’t hardened, Mom.” Teresa’s voice caught. “You’re very real…and very good. God has done so much more than I ever expected Him to do. And baby Samuel—he’s going to have a father, a wonderful, real father.”

  “Yes, darling, that is wonderful.” Maurice turned around in the seat again. “You know, all that time I listened to you talk about this Amish thing, well, I never in my wildest dreams ever thought it would come to this. I’m the one who should be saying I’m sorry because I didn’t believe in you. I guess that’s partly why I’m here. I wanted to say it to you in person.”

  “Mom, you don’t have to apologize. I didn’t expect you to believe in my dream. You did all you could. You allowed me to pursue it. A lot of mothers wouldn’t have done that.”

  “That’s nice of you to say,” Maurice allowed.

  “Are you still at that same house?” Susan asked, remembering the rickety stairs going up to the second floor and the peeling paint on the walls.

  “No, I moved out soon after Teresa left. Where I am now isn’t much better though.”

  “Have you thought about possibly staying here…longer?” Teresa asked as she leaned toward the front seat.

  “I wasn’t sure what it would be like. We’ll have to see. But in the meantime, I plan to enjoy my daughter and grandson to the fullest.”

  “I sure hope you like it here!” Teresa exclaimed.

  “We’ll see,” Maurice repeated and silence fell over the buggy.

  Susan watched Maurice out of the corner of her eye as the older woman observed the passing landscape while Toby plodded along.

  “Teresa and James have their own farm,” Susan offered. “It’s cleaned up now, but we’re still in the process of fixing it up. Right now we’re painting the master bedroom.”

  “I know how to paint!” Maurice exclaimed. “I certainly can help with that. Teresa, you never mentioned a farm. Do you really have one?”

  Teresa laughed. “Yes, we do. What would Amish people do without their farms?”

  “But you’re so young, and this man of yours…is he much older?”

  “He’s my age.”

  Susan laughed. “You can be glad now you’re not marrying old Yost Byler, Teresa. Your mom would have seen right through that one.”

  “Susan!” Teresa gasped. “Don’t be saying stuff like that. Mom just got here.”

  “So you do have your secrets,” Maurice said. “I can’t wait for your adventure stories.”

  “They’re nice secrets, Mom,” Teresa said. “Nothing to be ashamed of or worried about.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Mamm was waiting on the front porch swing when Susan turned Toby down the driveway. The rays of the early afternoon sunlight reached between the leaves on the shade trees and played on Mamm’s face.

  Seated beside Susan on the buggy seat, Maurice gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

  “What’s wrong, Mom?” Teresa asked quickly, leaning forward.

  “It’s just so beautiful…so Norman Rockwell like,” Maurice said. “It’s almost not real. And that woman on the front porch—she looks so angelic.”

  “That’s my mamm,” Susan said. “She’s probably taking a short afternoon break.”

  “From the preparations for my wedding,” Teresa explained. “These people have been working from dawn to dusk to give me a real Amish wedding.”

  “Well, God bless them!” Maurice said. “That’s a very wonderful thing they’re doing.”

  Susan pulled Toby to a stop by the house. Teresa climbed out and stood beside the buggy’s front passenger door. She held her hand up to her mother. “Do you need help getting down?”

  “I’m not an invalid,” Maurice said. “I’ll get down by myself.”

  Susan held the reins firmly, keeping Toby still as Maurice stepped down from the buggy, clinging to one side for balance.

  When she touched ground, Susan said, “Good job! You’ll be a pro at this in no time.”

  “No doubt about that,” Maurice said.

  Susan climbed out of the buggy and stood by Toby’s head.

  Mamm was already making her way to the buggy. When she arrived, Susan said, “Maurice, this is Anna, my mamm. Mamm this is Maurice, Teresa’s mamm.”

  “Mrs. Hostetler,” Maurice said, stepping forward. “I’m so glad to finally meet you. You have been taking fantastic care of Teresa. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her looking better.”

  “We try.” Mamm smiled and extended her hand. “And call me Anna. We go by our common names around here. It’s simpler that way.”

  “Well, that’s certainly in keeping with your simple lifestyle,” Maurice said.

  “So you came all the way from New Jersey?” Mamm asked.

  “Yes. From Asbury Park. Thank you so much for inviting me.”

  “You’re surely welcome. Tell me, did you see much of Susan when she lived in Asbury Park?”

  “Only the few times she came over to help Teresa. She always brought us pies. Susan bakes awesome peach pies. You have a very wonderful daughter, Anna. Girls like ours don’t come better.”

  Susan felt her ears grow red. She protested, “I’m not good all the time, you know.”

  “Well, most of the time,” Maurice corrected with a laugh.

  Anna smiled. “It’s nice to hear Susan was behaving herself.”

  “Mamm! You know I was behaving myself,” Susan protested.

  “Yah, of course,” Mamm added. “I’m just teasing. Now, Maurice, would you like to be shown your room? I’m sure you’re tired after that long bus trip. I know I always am.”

  “Well…” Maurice cleared her throat. “Susan said something about getting me some appropriate clothing. Some Amish things. Do you think that’s possible? I know the wedding’s not yet, but I don’t want to go around standing out so much. I see that plainly now.”

  “You want to wear our clothing?” Mamm looked surprised. “Did someone say you had to?”

  “No, no one said that,” Maurice said. “The truth is, I think I’d like to wear your kind of clothing.”

  “Oh!” Mamm said. “I guess we’ll have to see what can be done then. Susan, why don’t you drive on down to Ada’s and see if she can spare a few dresses. Maurice looks about her size.”

  “Would that be a compliment?” Maurice asked with a hint of a smile.

  “Believe me, it’s a compliment,” Susan said. “Shall I go now, Mamm?”

  “Yes. Take
the buggy; don’t walk. You won’t want to carry any dresses Ada gives you. They might be too heavy for that distance. While you’re gone, I’ll show Maurice her room.” Mamm reached for the suitcase sitting on the ground.

  “Oh no you don’t.” Maurice shook her head. “No maid service in Amish country, I’m sure. I’m starting this visit off right.”

  Mamm smiled and backed up. Maurice picked up the suitcase and the two women went toward the house.

  “Looks like those two hit it off well,” Teresa said, watching them cross the lawn. When they made their way onto the porch, Mamm held the front door while Maurice entered. They shared a laugh about something as they disappeared inside.

  “Don’t you just love when mothers get along?” Susan commented as she walked to the buggy, Teresa at her side.

  “Beats them not getting along. Especially when she’s going to stay for at least a week.”

  “Maybe longer,” Susan said. “Too bad Yost has an Amish girlfriend now.”

  “Stop it!” Teresa laughed. “You’re something else, Susan!”

  “Well, it was a thought,” Susan said with a wry smile. “Are you going with me to Ada’s?”

  “I’d better stay and get back to work,” Teresa said. “See you in a little bit.”

  Susan climbed aboard the buggy and drove out to the main road, heading south a short distance before pulling into her sister Ada’s driveway. She left Toby by the hitching post without tying him up. He was tired enough to stay put while she dashed into the house.

  “Good afternoon!” Ada’s eldest girl, Joan, greeted Susan at the door.

  “Hi,” Susan said. “Is your mamm home?”

  “Upstairs.” Joan pointed. “Shall I call her?”

  “I’ll just run up.” Susan opened the stairway door. “What are you doing on this nice summer afternoon?”

  “Baking cookies.” Joan beamed. “Do you want one?”

  “I’d better pass, but they do smell wonderful. I’d better get upstairs and see your mamm.”

  “Hello!” Ada called from the top of the stairs.

  “Don’t come down,” Susan said, taking the steps up two at a time.

  “What’s going on?” Ada asked.

  “Teresa’s mamm arrived, and she’s asking for Amish dresses to wear. Mamm sent me over to ask if she can borrow several of yours. She’s about your size.”

  “Yah, of course.” Ada followed Susan downstairs and then led the way into the main bedroom. “What’s Teresa’s mamm like?”

  “About as nice as Teresa, if that’s possible.”

  “Is she divorced?”

  “I don’t know. Neither she nor Teresa have ever said.”

  “Well, it doesn’t matter,” Ada said. “Here, take one of my dark-blue dresses, this dark-green one, and maybe my light-blue Sunday dress in case she wants to come to services.”

  “Thanks!” Susan said, her arms full.

  “Do you want help carrying the dresses?”

  “No, I’ve got it. And thanks again.”

  “Can I give you at least one cookie?” Joan begged as she followed Susan to the front door.

  Susan stopped and opened her mouth. Joan popped a cookie in. Susan chewed while Joan waited for the verdict, her hands twisted behind her back.

  “They’re wonderful! Now stop worrying, silly,” Susan said, giving Joan a big smile.

  Joan looked relieved and opened the door.

  Susan exited the house and hurried across the yard, placed the dresses on the backseat of the buggy, and then climbed up. She waved goodbye to Joan who was still on the porch and then urged Toby forward. He shook his head, and then they were off.

  When she arrived home, Steve came out of the barn to help her unhitch. He had a curious look on his face. “So you have a visitor in the house? Teresa’s mamm?”

  “Yah, just in for the wedding. Teresa hopes she’ll stay a little longer.”

  “Is she as nice as Teresa?”

  “Now look here, Teresa’s already taken,” Susan teased.

  Steve laughed. “She’s still a nice girl. Let me take Toby to the barn for you.”

  “Thanks.” Susan held the shafts while Steve led Toby forward.

  “And I guess you’re pretty nice too,” Steve said over his shoulder before marching toward the barn and leading the horse by the reins.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Susan shouted after him. “You guess?”

  “Just teasing,” he said looking at her as he opened the barn door. Without a backward glance, he disappeared into the dark interior.

  “Well,” Susan said, turning to walk toward the house, “such a tease.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The evening supper table lay spread with mashed potatoes, gravy, meat casserole, green beans, creamed corn, and a garden salad. Pecan pies had been cooling on the counter since early morning. Susan took one last look around before hollering, “Supper’s ready! Will someone call Daett in from the barn?”

  “You can go,” Mamm called back from the living room. “I’ll run upstairs and get Teresa and her mamm.”

  As she walked out the washroom door, Susan glanced toward the barn. Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of a figure coming down the lane. She looked closer. “Joan!” she exclaimed. “What brings you out this time of the evening?”

  Joan ran toward her and handed Susan a brown paper bag. “Mamm said to bring this dress up. I guess she thought of another one Teresa’s mamm could use.”

  “That was nice of her. Isn’t it suppertime by now?”

  “Yah, soon. But there’s plenty of time to get back. Mamm said to ask if the dresses fit.”

  “I don’t know. Teresa’s upstairs right now with her mamm, who is trying them on. I think we would have heard by now if they didn’t fit.”

  “Okay, that’s good. I guess I’ll see you then.” Joan turned to go, but Susan stopped her.

  “Tell your mamm that if Steve doesn’t come home for supper, he’s here. I’m going to invite him to eat with us since we already have company tonight.”

  “Okay. But tell Steve not to rush if he does come home. Mamm’s running late, and he always arrives hungry.”

  “I’ll tell him.” Susan waved as Joan ran across the yard and headed toward home.

  Young people! Susan thought. They have so much energy. But she wasn’t that old herself. It must be Teresa’s wedding coming up that made her feel so ancient. The wedding was a reminder that she was old enough to be married…and even have children of her own by now. Most Amish girls were married soon after their twenty-first birthdays. She was well past that now and growing older by the minute. Should she marry Thomas? But nothing could be done about marriage unless she agreed to Thomas’s plans. Maybe she would yet…perhaps next fall, but not sooner.

  Susan walked toward the barn, glancing up at the setting sun in the west. Bright red and orange colors were splashed across the sky. She didn’t slow down to take it in. Supper was on the table, and this wasn’t the time to stare at sunsets and ponder problems. After supper and with the dishes done there would be plenty of time for dark thoughts.

  “Daett!” Susan called, opening the barn door. “Supper’s ready!”

  There was no answer, so she walked in. Moving past the horse stalls, she noticed one of the back barn doors was swinging on its hinges in the breeze. She could see into the open barnyard where her daett and Steve were lying on their backs under a hayrack.

  “Supper’s ready,” she repeated. “Steve, you’re invited to join us, if you wish.”

  “I’d like to, but Ada will wonder where I am.” Steve scooted out and stood, stretching his back.

  “I sent word with Joan that if you didn’t show up in time for dinner it’s because you accepted our invitation to eat with us.”

  Steve smiled. “Then I’ll stay. If nothing else than to get an earlier supper.”

  Susan laughed. “Joan said you always arrive starved.”

  “That’s me,” he agree
d, his smile broadening.

  “We’ll be right in then,” Daett said, still working under the large machine. “As soon as I get this bolt in.”

  “Supper’s on the table now,” Susan said. “Remember, Teresa’s mamm is here. Joan came by to bring some dresses for her. Maurice doesn’t want to draw attention to herself, so she asked if she could wear Amish clothing. We borrowed some from Ada.”

  “Looks like we’d better get inside, Steve. We can’t have the women waiting,” Daett said.

  “That’s what they say,” Steve said as he handed Menno an adjustable wrench.

  Susan hurried back to the house, holding her apron off to the side so it wouldn’t flap against her legs. She arrived at the washroom door breathless, thinking she ought to run more often. It felt good to move like a young girl again. Entering the kitchen, she uncovered the dishes, transferring the lids to the sink with one hand held underneath to catch any drips. When she turned around, Teresa was in the doorway, a smile on her face. “You have to come and see Mom in her Amish dress! She looks absolutely darling.”

  “Ada’s dresses fit then?”

  Teresa beamed. “Perfectly. I didn’t have to adjust anything. Come!”

  Susan following Teresa into the living room where Maurice stood by the front window. She was clutching her hands together. “How do I look, Susan? It feels strange to be dressed this way.”

  “You look great!” Susan walked around Maurice. “I almost wouldn’t have known you.”

  “I agree, Maurice,” Mamm said. “Ada’s dress fits you perfectly. You look good enough for Sunday services.”

  “Thank you.” Maurice’s face glowed. “That makes me feel so much better.”

  “You look so good you’ll set old Yost Byler’s heart pounding right out of his chest!” Susan said with a laugh. “Even if he’s already made other plans.”

  “Susan!” Mamm gasped. “Don’t say things like that.”

  “Who is Yost Byler?” Maurice asked.

  “He’s an older bachelor in the community. He has a history, let’s just put it that way for now,” Mamm said. “Susan, you shouldn’t tease like that.”

  “Never mind Yost,” Susan declared. “If we don’t eat soon, supper is going to be cold…and moving toward frostbite.”