Ruth looked into Luke’s mellow blue eyes, but one thing was missing. Sincerity. Or was she jaded toward him? After years of being married to a man who treated her so cruelly, did she now have a hard heart? She turned away, hoping he couldn’t read her mind. “I need to finish the stew. Micah will be hungry.”
“I’m hungry, too.” Luke came around the table and encircled her in his arms. She hated how he referred to a loving, intimate act like he was an animal. And at the most inconvenient times. She recoiled and felt his hand dig in her wrist. When she yelped, he surprised her by backing off, putting both hands up. “Did that hurt? Honestly?”
“Jah!”
He gently took her wrist and kissed it. “I don’t know my strength, I suppose.”
She looked into his eyes, and hints of the man she used to love punctured her heart. He was genuinely sorry. He drew near to kiss her, but just as their lips were about to meet, she turned her head.
He kissed her cheek softly. “You’ll see over time…I’ve changed.” He walked away into the living room. She heard the melting snow drip into the rain barrel outside. Could God soften Luke’s heart permanently? Deep down she missed that man she’d married.
~*~
Lizzie shoved more dried beans into a bag and put it on the scale. Two pounds exactly. She ripped off a plastic bag from the roll and tried to open it, but such force tore the bag. She sat down in the chair behind the counter, glad her daed and no customers were in the store.
The thought of Fannie’s outright flirting with Roman, talking and laughing so much, she couldn’t get a word in edgewise. And what audacity she had to ask Roman to take her to his shop to pick out a rocker. Lizzie clenched her fists. Why couldn’t she open up to Roman, like Fannie? In no time, Fannie would have Roman proposing if she didn’t open up and tell him why she’d called off their engagement years ago. But something told her it would make Roman despise her.
She heard her daed come into the store. He always had a smile on his face after being with his chickens, but now he was smiling about something else. “Look who stopped by again. Two times in one day.” Someone opened the door and her daed swung in on his hand crutches.
Lizzie looked up to see Melvin. This tall, lanky man held hope in his erect shoulders. His green eyes edged with shaggy brown hair twinkled. She wondered if he’d look older as a married man, having to wear a beard.
Melvin strode over to the counter. “How’d you like to go out to the Country Junction for dinner?”
“I, ah, I have chicken in the oven, Melvin,” she said. “You can join us, though.”
Her daed clapped his mangled hands together. “Jah, Melvin. Lizzie’s a wunderbar goot cook. She’d make someone a fine wife.”
“Daed!”
“Ach, I’m only teasing you, in a way.” He looked at Melvin. “I guess I just feel guilty sometimes, having her all to myself. Lizzie should open one of those bed and breakfasts for tourist.”
“That’s a goot idea,” Melvin said, staring at Lizzie. “Your neighbors next door will have their farm up for auction. The Englishers who live there didn’t pay their mortgage.”
“Troutmans? Are you sure?” Jonas sat in a chair. “They’re goot friends. Bill never mentioned anything to me.”
“I suppose he was trying to work it out with the bank. They just told me when I delivered a clock.” He turned to Lizzie. “I thought of Lizzie, and decided to stop in again…”
Lizzie was truly touched. Melvin had a loving heart, and didn’t seem like the pesky little boy who liked her in grade school. He was thirty now and she thirty-two. It all seemed very…practical.
“Well, I’d like to know how much they want for that house,” Jonas quipped. “Lizzie, I do think you could run one of those little hotels. You’d give it a woman’s touch.”
“Daed, we’re debt-free. Why would we want a mortgage?”
“I get bored with the store at times. Would be nice talking to folk from all across the country.”
Lizzie had to admit the store was monotonous at times. Same customers and same dry goods to stock, day in and day out. She could also decorate a bed and breakfast with fancy curtains, like the ones she saw in Lancaster. The bishop gave her cousin special permission to use electricity, too. Ach, to have such luxuries, especially for her aging daed, who suffered from MS, would be a blessing. “Daed, if the price is right, I think we should do it.”
Melvin looked at her and winked. “If you buy the place, I’ll make a grandfather clock for it.”
Lizzie’s heart melted at Melvin’s kind offer. She was seeing such fine qualities in him, now that she was trying to turn her attention away from Roman.
~*~
Granny pursed her lips as Jeb bent over and laughed. He hit his knee and laughed some more. “I told you so…old woman.”
She shoved the wooden spoon into the large pot to swish the liquid around the stuffed cabbages. “I think they’re just friends.”
“And when was the last time our son had a goot female friend? Deborah, you have to admit I’m right.”
“You put the idea in the boys’ head, is all. He ran with it to please you.” As soon as she said this, she knew she was digging a deeper hole. Their son never did anything he didn’t want to. He was headstrong.
“What’s wrong with Fannie?” Jeb asked. “She’s already like a dochder to you.”
“Nee, she’s twenty-one. She calls me Granny for a reason. I’m old enough to be her granny. I could be Lizzie’s mamm, though.”
“But Colonel Brandon was twice the age of Maryann…” Jeb said.
Granny’s eyes softened. “You’re reading my books? Ach, and Sense and Sensibility at that?” She went over to her husband and got on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Isn’t it goot?”
“I flipped through it. Didn’t really read it.” He cleared his throat. “I read though that Jane Austen was a preacher’s dochder who grew up poor. Lived a real simple life.”
Granny’s eyebrows furrowed. “Where’d you read that?”
“Now don’t get mad, Deborah, but I was over at the yarn shop in town. To buy you some colored yarn, and well, I asked Suzy to look up that lady on the Internet.”
“Jeb, you fool. We’re not allowed to use it.”
“I didn’t. Suzy did. I needed to make sure this Austen lady was a goot woman, since you’re reading her books.” He shifted his weight. “I ordered you another book, too.”
Granny pushed at his chest. “Still don’t make it right…what’d you get?”
“Well, Suzy recommended Pride and Prejudice, and I thought it would do you a heap of good. You’re so prejudiced against Fannie, always saying Lizzie’s the right one for Roman. It shows too much pride.”
~*~
Fannie smiled across the table at Granny. “Supper was so goot. Danki. Let me do the dishes.” She got up and started to clear the table.
“I’ll help,” Jenny offered. “I used to help my mamm.”
“I can help, too,” Millie said.
Fannie bent over and put her hand on Tillie’s shoulder. “Do you want to help, too?”
Tillie nodded her head.
Fannie put a hand on Granny’s shoulder. “Now, you go relax before the women come for knitting.”
Roman watched Fannie’s green eyes sparkle as she talked to his girls. She was a natural Mamm. Why someone hadn’t snatched her up yet was a mystery to him. He thought of his daed’s advice; to spend time with Fannie and see if he’s drawn toward her. Nothing yet, only images of Lizzie flashed through his mind most days that gave him a wagon full of guilt. He should have told Abby before their wedding he still cared for Lizzie, but just couldn’t risk losing her, too.
He walked over to his house to check the woodstove. After throwing a log in, he sat in his Amish rocker and closed his eyes. He needed to go out to the barn for the cow’s second milking, but needed to rest a spell. Roman thought again of Abby’s hope chest upstairs. He’d mentioned it to Fannie on their buggy ride, and
she encouraged him to open it. He could tell Fannie about his guilty feelings for some reason. She was so easy to talk to and full of good advice.
When she said a woman’s heart can be divided, too, some never getting over their first boyfriend, he was shocked. Was he too hard on himself? Should he go upstairs and read Abby’s journal? Maybe she never got over the first man she courted. It seemed disrespectful, but Fannie encouraged him; even offered to look through it with him.
He tried to get the idea out of his mind, and closed his eyes to fall asleep, but the sound of buggies coming up the driveway and Jack barking kept him awake. He heard a man’s voice call to his horse. Roman got up to look out the window, hoping it wasn’t Luke. He’d made it clear he didn’t want him coming around his girls with such a quick temper. His eyes widened when he saw Melvin helping Lizzie out of the buggy. Through the twilight, he could see she flashed him a smile that lit up her whole face. Lizzie never looked at him like that; she was so reserved around him. He felt silly spying but continued to watch. Lizzie looked so beautiful when she smiled; he’d almost forgotten. It was her warmth and love that had captured his heart, but she was showing affection to Melvin as they continued to talk in the driveway. What had he done wrong all those years ago to cause her to break off their engagement?
He watched as Lizzie kissed Melvin on the cheek and headed toward his mamm’s house. Melvin watched her as she walked up to the porch. Jenny flew out the door and into Lizzie’s arms. Roman’s heart went into his throat. How his daughters needed a mamm.
~*~
“Well, Lord be praised, you’re all here. And Maryann, you brought your Becca.”
Becca beamed. “No relatives getting married this week, and I’m glad.”
Granny chuckled. “We depend on the young girls to help too much maybe, but you can do twice as much as us old folk.” She looked around at the other women. “I’m talking about myself being old, not yinz.”
Maryann put up her hand. “I’ll admit I’m old. Forty–five and feeling it. So tired all the time.”
“Too young to be so tired,” Granny said.
Ella looked up from her loom. “Did you make a doctor’s appointment yet? See if you have low blood sugar, like me?”
“I don’t have time…”
“Make the time,” Ruth said, coolly.
Granny’s jaw dropped at Ruth’s bluntness. She’d noticed a tougher spirit in her, and feared bitterness was taking root
“You have one child, Ruth. I have eight,” Maryann said. “When you have more kinner, you’ll understand.”
“Don’t want any more kinner.” Ruth got up to pour hot water from the tea kettle. She fumbled to open a tea bag and ripped it in half, spilling lose black tea all over the counter. Lizzie got up to help clean up the mess. “I did this today at the store. I kept ripping bags. I’ve been so edgy lately.”
“Melvin on your mind?” Fannie teased.
Granny watched Lizzie’s face intently. It was how people reacted that she took to heart. Anyone could put on a show. When Lizzie had no twinkle in her eye when talking about Melvin, she wanted to leap for joy. A woman’s eyes couldn’t hide a thing. She looked at Lizzie more intently. “I know Roman stopped by today. Did he do something to unnerve you?”
Granny watched with delight as Lizzie’s face reddened and she fumbled for words. “Nee, ah, he just came in, ah, to buy a whoopie pie. He said you don’t make pumpkin ones like I do.”
Now Granny had to get up and make some tea. She wanted to dance over to the counter. She didn’t even ask Roman to go and get her a pie. He went on his own. Praise be. He was seeing the light. Lizzie was the one for him.
“I’d like the recipe,” Ella said. “I collect pumpkin recipes, since I have so much to put up.”
“Ach, I have a recipe for pumpkin cheesecake,” Granny said. “I’ll write it down before you go.”
“I’ll take it. Danki, Granny.”
Becca looked up from her knitting loom. “Ella, when can we have another baking day?”
Ella smiled at her across the room. “Ach, soon I hope. I may need you as a little mamm’s helper, too.”
All the women stopped knitting and gawked at Ella. “Nee, I’m not pregnant, but we are applying for foster kids…lots of them.”
“Will they be little or teenagers like me?” Becca asked. “I’d love for you to get a girl my age. We’d have fun.”
“She’d be in school all day. The English go to school up through twelfth grade.”
“I’m glad we only have to go up to eighth grade.” Becca sighed. “All I want is to bake all day, anyhow.”
Granny always marveled at Becca’s tender heart. At fourteen, she was responsible enough to raise a family. “You’d be goot with little ones and a friend to any teens that they may get.”
Becca looked over at her mamm, and then whispered into Granny’s ear. “Kind of tired of little ones.”
Having been the oldest girl in her family, Granny understood. She looked over at Maryann and noticed the woman was barely staying awake. “I’m making a doctor’s appointment for you and I’ll make sure Suzy can drive you. I’ll go, too.”
Maryann looked at her. “Danki. I’m so tired and dizzy again.”
Fannie got up to make a cup of tea. “Have yinz ever heard of ‘Black Friday’?”
“Sounds spooky,” Ella laughed. “What on earth is it?”
“It’s what the English call the day after Thanksgiving. I got a flier in the mail. All yarn and craft supplies are seventy-five percent off at Punxsy-Mart if you go early in the morning.” She snickered. “The English think five in the morning is early. I say we go and get things on our winter craft lists.”
Granny clapped her hands. “Wunderbar goot idea. I need some canvas to do needlepoint.”
Ella sighed. “I need embroidery thread. I’m working on a baby quilt, just in case we get an infant. I want to embroider kittens on each square.”
“Ach, like the one in Emma’s quilt shop?” Granny asked.
“Jah,” Ella said. “It’s red and white. I think it’s dear.”
“I made that,” Granny said. “I can help you.” She looked over at Fannie. “Do you think we can get a driver that early?”
“And to take all of us?” Ella asked.
Fannie nodded. “Jah, Suzy has a van. I’ll ask.”
“I won’t be going,” Ruth snapped. “No money in the budget for crafts.”
Ella turned to her. “Have you asked Luke?”
“Nee, what’s the point? He says the same thing every time I ask for craft money. ‘It’s a waste of hard earned cash’.”
Granny cringed at the coldness in Ruth’s voice. “Sugar makes medicine sweet,” she said. “Why not put some sweetness in your asking?”
Ruth looked across the room at her evenly. “Granny, you think a few words to my husband by your Jeb and Zach will cure everything, don’t you? Well, it doesn’t. Luke’s broken my heart, and there’s no cure.”
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart…Psalm 34:18,” Maryann said. “I’ve meditated on that verse and it seems like God’s not close to the ones who are suffering for no reason. But He wants to help…to heal.”
Ruth put her head down. “You think He’d help me, even though my faith teeters all over the place?”
“He wants to help you more because your faith waivers, I think,” Ella added.
“Jah, I agree,” Granny said. “He leaves the ninety-nine sheep and goes to look for one that is lost.” Granny got up walked over to Ruth. She cupped her cheeks in her hands. “We’re not only praying for you, dear girl. We’re here to hold you up.” Granny soon felt tears on her hands and bent down to hug Ruth. The other women got up and one by one embraced her. Granny stood back and thanked God He gave her the idea to have this little knitting circle.
~*~
Ella took the turkey out of the oven and stuck the meat thermometer in it. It needed to cook longer, so she popped it back in the oven
and turned the egg timer to fifteen minutes. She put a toothpick in the pumpkin cheesecake and looked at it carefully. It was clean, so the pie was done. Ella went to her pantry to get two cans of cranberry sauce and grabbed the hand can opener. She went over to her china closet to get a fancy bowl and after opening the store-bought cans of chunky cranberries, dumped them in. When the clock chimed twelve-thirty, she panicked. She didn’t even have the mashed potatoes done yet. When Zach came into the room with his white shirt and black pants and vest, she couldn’t hide her smile. “You’re wearing your for goot clothes?”
“Jah, it’s a special day. Are you ready?”
“I was going to wear what I have on. Should I put on my goot dress? I don’t have time. I don’t have the mashed potatoes done.”
Zach went to her and planted a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll finish the potatoes.”
She hugged him quickly. “Danki.”
Ella ran upstairs and changed into her burgundy dress and put on a fresh white apron. Why hadn’t Ruth and Luke come to help, like planned? She sat for a minute to collect herself. Luke always made her feel so nervous. She’d never said a word to anyone, except Granny, that it seemed like Luke lusted after other women…after her. Did Ruth ever notice her husband’s eyes on other women, even after church? She bowed her head and silently prayed the Lord would give her strength to get through this meal. That she and Zach, and Granny and Jeb, could teach by example how to love your spouse. And she added a special Thanksgiving prayer that Becca could come. Ella wasn’t old enough to be her mamm, but Becca treated her like one, and she filled a void in her life.
She heard the clip-clop of horse hoofs and ran downstairs. Luke would laugh in Zach’s face if he found him helping in the kitchen. She was relieved to see it was Granny and Jeb. She opened the side door and welcomed them in.
When Jeb saw Zach smashing the potatoes, he looked at Granny and grinned. “I thought I was the only man in town that helped cook.”
“You’re goot to a tired old woman.” Granny pinched his cheek. “Maybe we will all rub off on Luke and Ruth, jah?”
Zach looked puzzled. “Ruth? It’s Luke that needs to change.”
Smicksburg Tales 1,2 & 3 (Amish Knitting Circle, Amish Friends Knitting Circle & Amish Knit Lit Cirlce ~ Complete Series: 888 pages for Granny Weaver Lovers and 30+ Amish Recipes Page 5