“Nee, I don’t mind waiting with you, unless you’re trying to get rid of me.”
“Of course not! I don’t want to spoil your evening, that’s all.” She’d actually like to be a fly buzzing around inside the barn to see if Tobias and Emma ended up talking. She most likely wouldn’t be able to pry any information out of her bruder on the way home. She wasn’t sure Emma would confide in her, either, even if they had been best freinden since they were ten years old. With her mind flitting about, she nearly missed Paul’s comment.
“An evening, or part of one, spent with you can’t be considered spoiled.”
Rosanna wasn’t sure how to respond. Instead, she squeezed the hand that continued to hold hers. She should pull her hand away, but didn’t quite know how to do that without hurting Paul’s feelings. He truly was such a nice, considerate fellow. When a sudden breeze blew, she shivered despite the heavy blanket wrapped around her like a cocoon.
“I, uh, could take you home, if you want. You don’t have to consider it as anything more than a freind giving you a ride, if that will make your decision easier. I don’t want you to freeze out here.”
“I’ll be okay.” Rosanna forced the words out through teeth that wanted to chatter. “Tobias surely won’t be much longer.”
“You’re talking about Tobias Mast? Your bruder?”
Rosanna laughed. “I see your point.”
“I could sneak back inside and tell Tobias you want to check on Mollie and since I was leaving anyway, I could drop you off. How does that sound?”
Rosanna wavered. She did want to check on Mollie. And she was growing colder by the minute. If the wind kept up, she’d surely be a block of ice by the time Tobias exited the barn. If Paul could discreetly seek Tobias out and give him that message, she could be home in minutes. “Okay. That sounds like a fine idea. Danki, Paul.”
Paul dropped her hand and pulled the blanket tighter around her before hopping to the ground. “I’ll be right back out to hitch up my buggy.”
Rosanna could barely see his silhouette floating toward the barn. Did she make the right decision? She didn’t want to give Paul a false impression. She hoped the ride home wouldn’t be too awkward.
* * *
“She’s trying to roll over already,” Rosanna said. Paul had been asking her about Mollie, a subject she never grew tired of discussing. Just like any other mudder.
“Already?”
“Jah. I can’t believe it. She’s quite strong. I think she’ll figure it out any day now. And I think she’s working on some teeth the way she gnaws on her hands and practically anything else she can get into her mouth.”
“Next thing you know she’ll be crawling and then walking.”
“Not too soon, I hope. She’s so adorable.” Rosanna slapped a hand across her mouth and spoke between her fingers. “Oops! I didn’t mean to sound braggy or prideful.”
Paul laughed. “You didn’t. You sounded like a mamm. It’s obvious you love your boppli.”
“I surely do. Sometimes I forget I didn’t give birth to her. She’s such a part of me.”
“I’m sure all adoptive parents feel the same way. At least, I hope they do. All little ones need to feel loved and cherished.”
“You really love kinner, ain’t so?”
“I suppose I do. I’ve never been asked that before, so I guess I’ve never thought about it. But I do have a fondness for them.”
“You must have inherited that from Mary.”
“Mamm sure does like caring for little ones. She smiled the whole time she watched Mollie for you.”
The horse clip-clopped along at a moderate pace, but Rosanna didn’t seem to feel the cold any longer. Either she was already frozen or Paul’s ability to draw her into easy conversation warmed her.
As if reading her mind, he asked, “You aren’t too cold, are you?”
“I was just thinking I didn’t feel the cold so much now.”
“Gut. I’ve enjoyed talking to you, Rosanna.”
“It has been fun. I hope I haven’t bored you with tales of Mollie’s every smile and coo.”
“Not at all. I like hearing about her. And I like hearing how happy you are. I do hope you’ll continue to attend the singings, though.”
“I’m not sure. Tonight didn’t go so well.”
“You aren’t used to being away from Mollie. That’s probably the problem.”
“Maybe.” Rosanna didn’t mention that watching Henry and Frannie exchange meaningful glances hadn’t exactly made the evening pleasant. She had to let him go. They had never been a couple. She’d never even sat in his buggy with him. Any relationship with him had been purely wishful thinking on her part. It was time to banish all those thoughts. Some little niggling voice whispered that she had already relinquished her silly crush on Henry Zook. She exhaled in a deep sigh, but a contented one rather than a despondent one.
“Are you tired?”
There he goes being considerate again! “I suppose so. Mollie doesn’t sleep through the night yet, so neither do I.”
Paul laughed. He had an easy, happy laugh that didn’t sound forced or strained at all. Rosanna doubted he had a dishonest or pretentious bone in his body. What he said, he meant. And he was so easy to talk to. She hadn’t felt one bit fidgety or nervous during the whole ride. What could that mean?
Chapter Fourteen
Rosanna knew she should ask Paul if he would like a cup of kaffi or a piece of pie. After all, she had kept him from indulging in a snack after the singing, and he was kind enough to drive her home. If she asked him inside, though, Mamm and Daed would jump to the wrong conclusion. There was a chance they had already gone to bed—a very slim chance. Mamm was most likely still fussing over Mollie.
Ach! What should she do? She didn’t want to be rude, but she didn’t want to give her parents or Paul the wrong impression. She wrung her hands beneath the blanket Paul had tucked over her earlier. She had to make a decision. The buggy rolled along the Masts’ long dirt driveway and would arrive at the white two-story house before she could inhale two more frosty breaths.
“Here we are.” Paul stopped close to the back door. “I’m glad you came tonight, even though you didn’t stay.”
“Danki, Paul.” Rosanna chomped on her tongue, indecision warring in her brain. “Would you like a cup of kaffi or cocoa to warm up?” There. Her tongue decided for her. She laughed. “I kept you from your snack, so I can at least offer you a bite to eat and a drink to warm you up.” She held her breath, hoping he would refuse the offer so she wouldn’t have to explain his presence to anyone.
“Sure, I could kumm in for a few minutes, if it isn’t any trouble.”
Rosanna forced enthusiasm into her voice. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy Paul’s company, because she did. It was, ach, it was confusing, that’s what it was! “Of course it isn’t. There should be some pie or cookies, and there’s always hot water in the kettle.”
“May I take a peek at Mollie if I promise not to wake her up?”
“Do you really want to?” Rosanna couldn’t believe a young fellow would actually ask to see a boppli. She figured they would try to pretend Mollie didn’t exist—that is, if they showed any interest in her at all.
“Sure. I’d like to see her, if that’s okay.”
“Okay. She usually sleeps in a crib in my room, but we moved the cradle to the living room, so that’s probably where she is right now.” Rosanna scooted to the edge of the seat and prepared to climb from the buggy.
“Wait! I’ll help you.”
Startled, Rosanna pulled her foot back. She’d been climbing in and out of buggies all her life. She was pretty sure if she jumped she would land on her feet like a cat, but she waited for Paul to dash around to her side. He reached up for her hand and then practically lifted her down. Her heart thudded, either from the exertion or from Paul’s nearness or both. She couldn’t be sure. “Danki.”
Surprised by her reaction, Rosanna hesitated before moving to
ward the house. Now what was that all about? She willed her racing heart to slow down. Paul’s hand cupping her elbow did nothing to calm her. She didn’t have any choice but to follow his lead.
“I’ll try to tiptoe so I don’t wake Mollie,” Paul whispered as they mounted the cement steps leading to the back door.
“You forget that Mollie lives in a house full of rowdy kinner. She can sleep through just about anything.”
Rosanna hoped it wasn’t wrong to pray that everyone had gone to bed and was deep into dreams. Then she wouldn’t have to explain why Paul had brought her home instead of Tobias and why he had followed her into the house. Her black athletic shoes didn’t make so much as a squeak as she tiptoed across the linoleum floor in the kitchen. As she’d told Paul, Mollie could sleep through any noise, so it wasn’t the boppli that concerned her. Mamm, on the other hand, could wake up if a gnat sneezed at the opposite end of the house.
Paul crept along behind Rosanna. He’d let go of her arm but still walked close enough that Rosanna could practically feel his breath on the back of her head. A single kerosene lamp glowed in the kitchen. The brighter propane-powered light had been turned off. Rosanna’s huge shadow kept pace on the wall beside her as she made her way through the kitchen. Paul’s giant shadow overlapped hers.
A soft humming from the living room alerted Rosanna that her prayer had not been answered in the manner she had wanted. Another single lamp glowed from within that room. One peek inside dashed all her hopes. Sarah sat in the old oak rocking chair near the black woodstove with a tightly swaddled Mollie in her arms. She softly sang a tune Rosanna had heard her sing to Sadie, Katie, James, and Joseph when they were small. Undoubtedly Sarah had sung the same song to Rosanna and her older bruders as well. The gentle rocking and hushed singing ceased when Rosanna crossed the threshold into the living room. Sarah’s eyebrows shot upward when her glance fell on Paul. The question in her eyes didn’t cross her lips.
Rosanna lifter her shoulders ever so slightly. “Is she awake?” Rosanna’s whisper sounded more like a shout in the quiet room.
Sarah nodded. “I fed her a few minutes ago and couldn’t bear to put her right back to bed.”
Rosanna smiled. Many times she continued to hold or gaze at Mollie long after she’d returned to her slumber. Rosanna crossed the room with Paul on her heels. She’d better offer some sort of explanation before Sarah’s imagination ran away with her. “I-I wanted to check on Mollie,” she confessed. “I knew Tobias wouldn’t want to leave the singing early, so Paul offered to bring me home.” That should satisfy her mudder’s curiosity for the time being. Rosanna didn’t mention that she’d fled from the barn after the last note of the final song and that she would have waited in the cold for Tobias if Paul hadn’t sought her out.
Paul scooted around Rosanna. “Isn’t she the sweetest boppli?”
Rosanna thought so, of course. There couldn’t be any sweeter sight in the world than little Mollie sleeping peacefully or cooing or reaching for a rattle. She figured every new mudder believed her little one was the most precious thing in the world.
“Ach! Gut evening, Sarah. I didn’t mean to ignore you.”
Sarah stopped rocking. “Hello, Paul. It was nice of you to bring Rosanna home. I didn’t think it was late enough for everyone to leave. Had the singing even ended before you left?”
“Jah. I-I didn’t want to stay, but I knew Tobias did, so I-I . . .” Rosanna couldn’t say she hid in the cold buggy to avoid talking to anyone and to lick her wounds after watching Frannie and Henry slip out together.
“I knew Rosanna wanted to check on Mollie since she isn’t used to being away from her.”
Rosanna threw Paul a grateful look. He had jumped right in to save her further stumbling around for justification.
“Well, as you can see, Rosanna, Mollie is fine. We have had a pleasant evening.”
Rosanna nodded. “I knew she would be fine with you, Mamm. It was just hard to be away from her.” She reached down to lightly pat the tiny body in Sarah’s arms.
“She sure is a gut boppli.” Paul leaned closer. “She’s definitely growing, too.”
Rosanna beamed. Mollie was the best boppli ever. She didn’t dare say the prideful words aloud, but she couldn’t help thinking them. “I-I told Paul I’d feed him a snack since we left before he could even grab a handful of cookies.”
“And you can see that I’m wasting away, too.” Paul patted his solid but flat belly.
Rosanna and Sarah laughed. Sarah resumed her gentle rocking. Rosanna fought the urge to snatch Mollie from her mamm’s arms so she could hug her and breathe in her sweet scent. But she needed to be a gracious hostess first. “I promised Paul a cup of cocoa or kaffi to warm up for the ride home. It’s gotten colder out.”
“The water is hot, and there are some little packets if you want cocoa, unless you want to make it from scratch with milk.”
“The instant kind is fine,” Paul assured her.
Rosanna gave Mollie another little pat before shuffling toward the kitchen with Paul on her heels.
“There is some peach pie left, and cookies, too,” Sarah called softly.
Rosanna nodded. She crossed the kitchen to the cabinet where the boxes of cocoa usually sat. “We have some with or without the little marshmallows. Which would you prefer?”
“Without, please. Here, I can help. Where are the mugs?”
“You don’t have to help.”
“I’m used to helping in the kitchen. I told you once before, my bruders and I used to take turns helping Mamm.”
“You did say that. The mugs are in there.” Rosanna pointed to a different cabinet. When she saw Paul set two mugs on the counter, she pulled out another packet of cocoa for herself. Holding the mug would at least give her hands something to do once she sat at the table with Paul. She couldn’t very well just sit and stare at him. That wouldn’t be polite at all. And she could take a little sip when she couldn’t think of anything to say. “I’ll get the kettle.”
Paul passed behind her to set the mugs down. A little shiver shot up Rosanna’s spine at his nearness. She tore open the packets of cocoa and dumped brown powder into each mug. He stood close. Too close. Her breath caught. Her brain seemed incapable of issuing the command to step back. She caught a whiff of Paul’s soap as he held a mug still for her to pour water into it. She prayed she wouldn’t slosh it and scorch his hand. She had to move away from him.
“Would you like pie or cookies or both?” Rosanna scooted around Paul to retrieve the big cookie jar. She could get a breath into her lungs now that she’d put a little distance between herself and the big blond man with the most amazing chameleon eyes.
“Either one will be fine. I’m easy to please.”
“Which means you’ll eat anything, if you’re like my bruders.” Rosanna chuckled. They would eat anything that didn’t get away from them or eat them first.
“That about sums it up.” Paul laughed along with her.
Rosanna carried the cookie jar to the big oak table and pulled paper napkins from the holder. She returned to the counter to cut a healthy slice of peach pie and slid it onto a dessert plate.
Paul had located the silverware drawer and retrieved spoons to stir the cocoa. He carried both frothy mugs to the table. “Aren’t you having any pie?”
“Nee, I’ll just have cookies.” She dropped onto a chair and stirred her cocoa. Why had her stomach turned into a giant ball of nerves? She doubted it would accept a single bite of cookie, even though the chocolate chunk cookies that filled the bear-shaped jar were her absolute favorites. She swirled the cocoa, laid the spoon on a napkin, and raised the mug to her lips.
“You might want to let that cool for a minute. I nearly burned the taste buds off my tongue.” Paul smiled before turning his attention to the pie in front of him.
“Gut idea.” Rosanna peered through the steamy fog at Paul. She lowered the mug but kept her icy hands wrapped around it.
“Great pie!
Did you make it?”
“Actually, I did.”
“It’s very tasty.”
Seeing what quick work Paul made of the pie, she slid the cookie jar closer to him.
“You first.” Paul held the jar over for her to select a cookie.
She reached into the jar and pulled out a single cookie. She laid it on the napkin beside the spoon but didn’t make a move to pinch off a bite.
“Only one?”
“One is fine for now.” Even one cookie probably wouldn’t make its way down her throat.
“Did you make these, too?” Paul dipped his hand into the jar and extracted three cookies.
“I did.”
He bit off a chunk. “Mmm! Delicious! These are my favorites.”
“Mine, too.” Rosanna broke off a bite and popped it into her mouth. Somehow Paul had away of putting her at ease. Tension drained from her body, her shoulders relaxed, and she actually tasted the chocolaty, sweet concoction. She might even persuade her stomach to unknot and accept the entire cookie.
“Mollie sure looks great.” Paul licked his lips after polishing off his first cookie. “She really is beautiful.” He looked down and plucked a chocolate chunk out of a cookie. “Like her mudder,” he added in a whisper.
Rosanna’s heart tripped over itself. Did Paul really say what she thought, or were her ears playing tricks on her? One peek at his tomato red face told her she surely must have heard correctly. Heat rose in her own cheeks. Should she respond, or pretend she hadn’t heard the comment? Paul half raised his eyes and caught her looking at him. Now she had to say something. “Danki,” was all she could manage. She broke off another piece of cookie to give her nervous fingers something to do. How were they going to recover from this?
Paul grabbed his mug and took an audible gulp. He immediately began to cough.
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