by Sarah Price
“You looking for someone?”
She started and spun around, clutching at her heart. “My word, Jeremiah! You frightened me!”
He chuckled. “So I can see.” But even though he had made light of her reaction, there was something sad about his expression. His eyes didn’t sparkle the way they usually did, and Ella Mae suspected that she knew why.
“My maem”—she pointed toward the house, indicating that her mother was inside—“forgot something in her buggy. Her purse,” she explained.
Solemnly, he nodded.
“And I . . . I saw your buggy here,” she said. “Thought I’d say hello.”
Once again, he remained silent.
“So.”
He stood before her, his hands behind his back, and merely stared at her.
Feeling uncomfortable under his penetrating gaze, she shifted her weight and glanced at the ground. “I also wanted to ask you something. Or, rather, tell you something. You know, regarding our conversation on Saturday? I . . . I think you’ll be pleased.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Oh?”
“But maybe now isn’t the right time,” she added quickly. He was too tense and too serious for her to say what was on her mind. And with everyone in the kitchen, she didn’t want to hurry the discussion. “I mean, you just got home from work and have chores, I’m sure. And, well, they’re waiting for me inside, no doubt.”
“No doubt.”
He wasn’t making this easy on her, that was for sure and certain. “Mayhaps we could talk, alone, another time?” She took a step forward, standing directly in front of him. “Do you think we might do that?”
Something softened in his face, and after the briefest of hesitations, he gave her a soft smile. “Ja, Ella Mae, I think we might be able to do that.” He reached out and gently tugged at the untied string of her prayer kapp. “Tomorrow then? I’ll take you home?”
Her heart swelled, and it was all she could do to refrain from giddiness. She managed to nod her head as she backed away from him.
He watched her as she made her way toward the house, but when she was just about to turn around, he called out to her.
“Ella Mae?”
She stopped walking. “Ja?”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Confused, she squinted her eyes as she tried to understand his question. Forgetting something?
He pointed to her mother’s buggy. “Your maem’s purse?”
Her cheeks grew hot and she knew that she was blushing. With a little nervous laugh, she smacked her forehead and hurried over to the buggy. Sure enough, on the floor under the front seat was Wilma’s purse. Ella Mae grabbed it and hurried into the house, pausing at the door to look back at the stable. Jeremiah was smiling, still watching her.
She lifted her hand to wave to him, and he waved back.
Oh, tomorrow can’t come fast enough, she thought.
EDNA
CHAPTER 40
When she awoke on Thursday morning, she realized that she’d barely slept more than an hour or two. For some reason, she hadn’t shared the news about the theater closing with Elmer or the boys. There was no reason to distress them. Not yet, anyway.
She’d have to call Michelle from Destination Amish to alert her to the upcoming closure of the theater that had drawn so many people to the area. At least the closure wouldn’t impact her business this year. But she’d have to plan ahead, making adjustments for the following spring.
Quietly, she shuffled out of the bedroom and made her way to the kitchen. She needed coffee, that was for sure and certain. A lot of coffee, to make up for the sleepless night.
After putting on the kettle to boil water, Edna opened a drawer to pull out her calendar. She kept everything in there. Flipping through the months ahead, she saw how booked June, July, and August were. Slowly, in the upcoming weeks, the autumn months would fill in, too. She couldn’t help but wonder what the following year would look like.
“Good morning, Edna!”
She looked up and greeted her husband with a weary smile. He always arose earlier than she did—the cows demanded as much. But she had never failed to be in the kitchen with water brewing for coffee when he came in from his early-morning milking.
“Thought it was going to rain today,” he said as he made his way to the sink to wash the dirt from his hands. “But I reckon God has other plans for us.” Rubbing his hands together, he held them under the flowing water. “Not a cloud in that sky, I tell you. Whatever was supposed to be here must’ve gone around.”
“Reckon that’s not a problem,” she observed, “given that it rained on Tuesday.”
He switched off the faucet and reached for the hand towel. “Just enough rain to give those crops a good quenching, but not too much to rot their roots.” He tossed the towel onto the counter. “Now, if we could only figure out what kept you awake last night.”
Edna froze. She hadn’t thought she’d disturbed him. Even though she hadn’t slept much, she had tried not to toss and turn. But, after twenty-eight years of sleeping in the same bed, it was clear that Elmer knew her far better than she gave him credit for.
“Well?” he asked, leaning against the counter and crossing his arms over his chest. “What was troubling your mind, Edna?”
Oh! She hadn’t wanted to tell him about the theater. She hadn’t wanted to give him any reason to worry. Of course, she knew that he would learn about its closure sooner or later, but she had hoped later would be a few weeks down the road, not the day after Wilma had shared the news.
“It’s nothing, really,” she said softly.
“Must’ve been something to have caused you no sleep.”
She bit her lower lip, wondering how to tell him. “Wilma told me something yesterday—”
He made a face. “Wilma,” he muttered and shook his head.
Ignoring his comment, Edna plowed on. “—and I thought I’d share it with you later. After I spoke to that woman from Destination Amish.”
Elmer frowned, leaning forward just a little. “Destination Amish? What on earth could Wilma have said that involves your woman from Charm, Ohio?”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The Amish Round Theater . . . it’s closing.”
His expression immediately changed and Edna knew that he was as stunned by the news as she had been when Wilma shared it. “Closing?” He scratched at the side of his head. “Not being sold?”
Edna shook her head. “Apparently not. The owners aren’t selling it, at least not right now. Wilma said they’re shutting down at the end of the year.”
By the way his face shifted from stunned to concerned, Edna knew that she didn’t have to explain what the theater’s closing meant to her business. Elmer took a couple of steps, silent as he thought on her words. When he turned around to pace in the other direction, Edna felt as if a vise was tightening around her chest.
“I suppose,” he said thoughtfully, “that there are worse things. At least we have enough time to prepare for it.” He took a few more steps before turning around again. “And you don’t know if that will actually hurt your bookings.”
“I’d like to think there might be a silver lining,” she admitted.
“Those Englischers truly enjoy coming here,” he said. “And if they come to Shipshewana, they need things to do. Dining at an Amish home is definitely of interest to the tourists.”
Listening to Elmer think out loud, sharing his logical analysis of the situation, was giving her a sense of comfort.
“And if the theater was such a draw that its absence negatively impacts your bookings, we’ll just have to find something else to fill the gap.” He looked up at her. “Mayhaps it’s time to consider that mail-order cookie idea.”
Edna gave him a strange look. “What mail-order cookie idea?”
He waved his hand at her. “Oh, Yoder keeps mentioning it to me, every time I see him. I didn’t think to burden you with it; you’ve got enough on your plate
.”
Mail order? She’d never thought of that idea, but now that he’d said it, she felt a burst of inspiration. With the new, large kitchen in the outbuilding, she could certainly make bigger batches of cookies. The big room, when not being used for worship service, could accommodate the packaging of the cookies to mail.
It was a brilliant idea.
“Now hold on, there,” Elmer said, holding up his hands as if to stop her. “I can see those wheels turning inside your head. Didn’t you just hear me? You have too much on your plate as it is, Edna Esh. You keep that idea in reserve, you hear me now?”
Oh, she heard him. Loud and clear. But ideas were like garden tomatoes—best enjoyed when ripe, not after they’d fallen to the ground.
“It’s a backup plan,” Elmer insisted.
But Edna didn’t hear him. She was already busy working through the logistics of how she could actually make this happen. What a difference it would make to their lives if she’d finally be able to earn a living from baking all those cookies!
RACHEL
CHAPTER 41
“Did you see the look on Edna’s face when Wilma told her about the theater?”
Rachel pedaled her bicycle next to Ella Mae as they rode to the Esh farm on Thursday morning. “I guess I wasn’t paying attention,” she admitted sheepishly.
“My word, Rachel! Your head is in the clouds for certain!” Ella Mae gave her a sideways glance.
Rachel wasn’t about to deny it. She knew that her sister was correct. The previous afternoon, she’d been so preoccupied replaying her conversation with Jonas—that wonderful, sweet conversation!—that she’d barely heard a word anyone spoke. In fact, when she’d gotten home, she had retreated to her room and stayed there for the rest of the night, missing supper, which was fine by her. Her appetite had faded away, satiated by the abundance of emotions that filled her entire being.
“So it’s truly shutting down?” she asked. “Not just changing ownership?”
Ella Mae shrugged. “I reckon so.” Slowing her bicycle as they approached a stop sign, she waited for Rachel to do the same. “I think we should do something nice for Edna. Cheer her up a bit.”
Rachel smiled. “That’s a gut idea, Ella Mae.” Then, after a brief pause, she frowned. “Like what?”
“Have a gathering. In her new building. Surprise her, don’t you think? We could invite all the Cookie Club members and their families. Mayhaps on Saturday?”
Now that was an idea that would definitely cheer up Edna. And Rachel liked knowing she’d get to spend the entire day with Jonas. “It does look like it will be ready by then,” she said. “Jonas has worked so hard on it.”
“Speaking of which . . .” Ella Mae let her voice trail off, leaving the opening for her sister to talk.
“What?”
“Well, I couldn’t help but notice something different about you,” Ella Mae said slowly. “You know, when you returned from taking that tea out to Jonas.”
Rachel felt her cheeks flush. She’d thought she’d hidden her joy, but clearly her twin sister had missed nothing.
“I meant to ask you about it last night, but you disappeared as soon as we got home.”
There was something accusatory about the way Ella Mae said that last part, and Rachel felt a hint of shame. She’d never kept anything from her sister. She couldn’t understand why it was so hard to confide in her now.
When she realized that Ella Mae was waiting for her to speak, Rachel started to cross the intersection. Ella Mae was quick to follow.
“Well?”
Rachel glanced over at her sister. “I . . . I hadn’t thought to share this with anyone—”
Ella Mae gasped. “I’m not just anyone!” she declared loudly. “I’m your sister. Your twin sister!”
“I know, I know.” Rachel felt foolish. If she couldn’t trust Ella Mae, who could she trust? “It’s just that, well, I may have been a bit impetuous.” She thought she heard her sister laugh. Ignoring that, Rachel continued. “A bit judgmental about someone. And I wanted to wait a bit to make certain about my decision before I shared it.”
They turned down the road that led to the Esh farm.
“I’ve spent quite a lot of time with Jonas,” she said slowly, carefully choosing her words. “I suspect you know that Edna was trying to match me up with him.”
Ella Mae gave a little laugh. “I noticed, ja.”
“Well, once I got to know Jonas,” Rachel continued, “I saw a whole different side to him. All of that teasing and joking? It’s just an act, Ella Mae. An act to hide his insecurities. If you can get through all of that—why!—he’s just as pleasant as can be.” She couldn’t help but smile, remembering how he’d behaved at the MayFest cornhole competition and then at Martha Schultz’s house. “He’s funny and honest and”—she paused, reflecting back on Martha’s words—“tenderhearted, sensitive, and a good, God-fearing man, Ella Mae.”
When she looked over at Ella Mae, she noticed that her sister wore a broad smile. “Oh, Rachel! I’m so happy for you!”
Feeling a sense of excitement, Rachel had to focus on her pedaling. It wouldn’t do her any good to take a tumble in the road.
“He’s naughty—I’ll give you that,” she said, laughing as she remembered the forbidden kiss he’d snuck onto her cheek. “But in a good way, you know. He will certainly keep me on my toes.”
“And you’ll keep him on his, no doubt.”
Rachel flushed. “No doubt.”
They were approaching the Eshes’ driveway, and Rachel slowed down her bicycle. “Please don’t say anything, Ella Mae,” she whispered as if someone might overhear. “Not to Maem, not to Edna, not to anyone. Please. I’d hate for people to know when all of this is so”—she tried to think of the proper word—“new.”
Ella Mae nodded. “I understand. There’s always uncertainty in such circumstances when you’re getting to know someone.”
Rachel exhaled as if she’d been holding her breath. She felt relieved that her sister hadn’t teased her about Jonas. She’d half-expected Ella Mae to comment about how much Jonas had irritated her in the beginning, how insistent she had been that Jonas was far too saucy to ever attract a woman.
But her sister had not tossed that back at her.
“Oh, danke, Ella Mae.” She gave a sigh of relief. “I really appreciate that.”
Ella Mae returned her smile as they began to pedal down the driveway.
Rachel peered toward the house, wondering if she’d bump into Jonas. Just the thought made her feel those all-too-familiar butterflies in her stomach. When they stopped their bicycles, Rachel was slow to dismount. After she did, she leaned the bicycle against the side of the barn and started to follow Ella Mae to the house.
But then she caught sight of him.
He stood on the porch, a mug of coffee in his hand. He leaned against the pillar near the stairs, a warm smile on his face.
“What ho!” he cried out. “If it isn’t the Schwartz schwesters!”
Rachel stopped walking and watched as Ella Mae breezed past him, the hint of an amused smile on her face.
Once she disappeared inside, Jonas jumped down the step and made his way toward Rachel. “Good morning,” he whispered, leaning over so that his words softly brushed her ear.
For the first time, she felt shy. “Good morning,” she whispered back.
He glanced around as if to make certain no one was nearby to witness their exchange. Then, when he must have realized that they were not being observed, he reached down and took her hand in his. “Come with me,” he said, pulling her beside him as he led her away from the house.
“Where are we going?” she asked breathlessly.
“Shh. Just wait.”
He guided her toward the new building and gently directed her inside. “Close your eyes,” he instructed, and then, when she did, he led her into the center of the room. He positioned her where he wanted before he whispered, “Now open them.”
She di
d as he said, and when her eyes focused on the object before her, she couldn’t help but gasp.
“Did you make that?”
“You like it?”
Rachel stepped forward and reached out her hand to touch the side of the wooden birdhouse. It resembled a real house, a farmhouse, complete with a covered porch and little windows. She could see that the roof was hinged, and she opened it, peering inside.
“Makes it easier to clean,” he explained.
Instead of having painted it, Jonas had chosen to stain the wood and then coat it with a clear polyurethane.
“This is amazing,” she said, running her finger along the roofline. “The detail you put into this.”
He gave a little shrug, but she could tell that he was pleased with her compliment. “I saw how you were watching me from the window on Sunday. You looked so happy. I thought you might enjoy your own bird feeder.” He reached down and tapped his finger on the porch. “And this will hold bird feed, a way to attract the birds.”
She tilted her head, staring at Jonas, not the birdhouse. “The best of both worlds.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “Ja, that’s right. That’s exactly what I thought when I made this for you.”
“I wasn’t talking just about the birdhouse,” she whispered. “I was talking also about you.”
His eyes widened. “Me?”
She hesitated for a brief moment before she took a step forward and stood before him. With the greatest of trepidation, she leaned forward and lightly pressed her lips against his cheek. “You,” she breathed as she pulled away. “Danke for my birdhouse.”
He flushed, for once speechless.
“I best get going before your maem wonders where I disappeared to.”
She didn’t have to turn around to know that Jonas watched her as she hurried to the door. She could feel his eyes on her back, and just knowing that he kept his eyes on her made her heart swell. Somehow, she suspected that she’d once again be distracted while she worked.
ELLA MAE
CHAPTER 42
All day, Ella Mae kept glancing at the clock. Time seemed to move backward instead of forward. Why was the day dragging on so? When would the guests finally leave? And when would Jeremiah return to the farm?