by Sarah Price
A broad smile broke onto Edna’s face. “Why, Mary, I’d love that.”
“Truly? After all of your work with the tours?”
Edna nodded. “Oh ja. I’d love to have everyone over at the haus. It’s been far too long since we’ve done a family gathering.” She glanced over her shoulder at Bethany, who was already finished collecting squares for a second quilt top. “Besides, your dochder has made it so easy for me to do my job that it hardly felt like work these past few weeks.”
Mary beamed at the compliment directed toward Bethany. Hearing those words from Edna was all the Christmas gift she needed that year.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
All week long, Bethany had been increasingly anxious as Saturday approached. The quilting party at Wilma’s hadn’t helped ease the feeling of butterflies in her stomach.
During the week, she hadn’t seen John. However, when she was at the Eshes’ house, she had felt a warm sense of comfort in knowing that John had been there just hours before. When she returned home at night, she knew that he’d be passing near her house on the way home from his job in town. And at night, she could hardly sleep as she tossed and turned, thinking about John Esh and those piercing blue eyes that seemed to sparkle whenever he spoke to her.
For the past three days, she’d had to endure riding with Jeremiah and Jonas. Jeremiah wasn’t as bad as Jonas, who continually talked about himself. On Wednesday, he’d spent the entire journey boasting about all of the wood he had cut since his father had started them chopping down those trees last week. On Thursday, he’d shared with her that he was the fastest milker in the family—although, like the wood chopping, she doubted his tale.
The only good thing about his stories was that she could merely tune him out, nod her head, and give an occasional “ja” while she enjoyed her own thoughts of John Esh and their upcoming date on Saturday evening.
And yesterday, of course, Edna had driven both her and her mother home.
Now, today John had promised to fetch her and she was ever so excited.
“Your red dress?”
Bethany jumped at the sound of her mother’s voice. “You frightened me!”
Her mother frowned, a curious expression on her face. “I noticed. You must’ve been awfully deep in thought not to hear me.”
The truth was that Bethany had been deep in thought. About John.
“You’re wearing your red dress to Edna’s?” The bishop had only just approved the new color of fabric a year ago and it had taken almost that long for her mother to convince Bethany to make a new dress from it. “You’ve never worn it before.”
“I haven’t?” Bethany tried to think. Was this truly the first time she’d worn it? “Oh, well, I thought I’d wear it today.” She gave her mother a soft smile. “It feels a little festive, don’t you think?”
But that wasn’t the whole truth. She had wanted to wear it for her date with John. Secretly, she thought the bright color contrasted in a nice way with her brown eyes and hair. Besides, she was tired of always wearing dark colors like navy blue or hunter green. Deep down, ever since she’d begun working for Edna, she’d started to feel different. And while she might not always be able to speak her mind, she could express herself in other ways. Wearing a bright-colored dress was a good start.
“Well, I think you look quite nice,” her mother said. She turned her head toward the window, even though she couldn’t see out of it from where she stood. “Oh! I hear a buggy. I think Jeremiah is here for you.”
Please be John, please be John, Bethany prayed as she fetched her shawl and purse before hurrying out the door.
The cold air hit her as she hurried down the porch steps. She shivered as she approached the buggy.
“Hurry, Bethany!” From inside the buggy, John leaned over and slid open the door for her.
Immediately, her heart felt as if it flip-flopped. She climbed inside the buggy and smiled. “Gut martiye, John Esh!”
His blue eyes practically danced at her cheerful greeting. “I see the cold weather agrees with you.”
She shook her head. “Nee, I only like winter when I can stay inside. It’s too cold and dreary otherwise. In summer I love gardening in the mornings. Makes me more cheerful. At least that’s what my maem says. And I despise the snow.”
He clucked his tongue and jiggled the reins, urging the horse forward. “Well then, I reckon I’d like to see you in the summer.” He glanced at her. “If you’re even more cheerful then.”
Leaning against the seat, Bethany stared out the window. The truth was that she felt more cheerful these days than ever before. She suspected that she knew the reason why: John. What was it about him that made her feel light-headed and tingly inside? There was something about him that just gave her goose bumps and made her daydream whenever she was apart from him.
For the rest of the trip, they rode in silence. That was one of the things she increasingly appreciated about John. Unlike Jonas, he didn’t feel the need to fill every second with talk. In the afternoons when Jonas had taken her home, she often got a headache from his constant chitter-chat.
As the buggy turned down the driveway, John broke the silence. “Speaking of snow, it’s supposed to snow later.”
She looked at the sky. “It is a bit gray, isn’t it?” She sighed. “Ugh.”
“Hopefully it won’t hinder Maem’s people from coming.”
Bethany didn’t think it would, but she didn’t want to sound argumentative, so she said nothing.
“Maem says we’re having a Christmas Eve holiday supper.” He glanced at her. “Said it was your idea.”
Bethany’s mouth opened and she gave a slight gasp. “It was her idea.”
John pressed his lips together and shook his head. “She said it was definitely your idea.” He paused as if thinking. “In fact, she said, ‘That Bethany had the best idea when we rode to Wilma Schwartz’s haus.’ She seemed rather impressed with your enthusiasm.”
“I didn’t say anything about it!” Bethany felt the heat rising to her cheeks. Would John think that she had suggested such a thing so that she could spend more time with him? Just the thought was scandalizing to her. “I truly didn’t!”
He laughed and nudged her with his arm. “I’m teasing you.”
It took her a long moment to realize what he’d said. And then, she smiled. “Oh, John! You had me scared there for a minute.”
“Scared? About what?”
“Well, I . . .” She paused. She didn’t know how to explain it without embarrassing herself. “I . . . I’m just not that forward, that’s all.”
“I know that, Bethany.” He gave her a reassuring wink. “That’s one of the many things I admire about you.”
One of the many things. Bethany had that familiar light-headed feeling. It was a feeling she was getting used to whenever she was in John’s company.
And she liked it very much, indeed.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
When the buggy pulled into the driveway, Edna was standing at the sink, washing the pans she’d used to make fresh bread. She peered out the window in time to see John emerge from the driver’s side and walk around to help Bethany climb out.
Shutting off the faucet, Edna continued watching, her curiosity piqued.
After getting out of the buggy, Bethany stood outside, helping John unhitch and then unharness the horse. During the week, when Jeremiah had arrived after picking up Bethany, she’d hurried right inside to get started with work. Edna hadn’t thought much of it before, but now, as John said something and the young woman smiled, she realized that a friendship had, indeed, formed between them.
After they put away the horse, John once again escorted her to the house. They walked slowly, their heads bent together as they talked.
Turning away from the window, Edna leaned against the counter, her mind whirling. Was it possible that her hopes were coming true?
“Gut martiye,” Bethany said softly to Edna as she slipped her shawl from her sh
oulders. John was right there to take it from her.
“It’s supposed to snow later,” he whispered. “You really need to wear a warmer coat.”
Bethany gave a small nod and the color rose to her cheeks at his caring rebuke.
Edna’s heart began to race. Anyone with a pair of eyes could see the chemistry between the two. The way he watched her and spoke in such a kind, tender tone. The way her cheeks pinked up and she looked away demurely but listened to him with such respect.
“Coffee?” She didn’t wait for their answers as she poured two mugs. She was eager to see more of their interactions and didn’t want to shoo John away too quickly.
“Danke, Maem.” He sipped at the coffee as his eyes scanned the room. “You all set in here? I could fetch more chairs if need be.”
“We should be okay, I believe.” Just to be certain, Edna looked around. Twenty-two people were coming that day. With only one week left until the official end to her season, Edna knew her remaining schedule by heart. “I just need to finish the soup and bake the dessert, but they’re ready.”
John glanced at Bethany. “Mayhaps she doesn’t need your help at all, then,” he said. “Mayhaps I should just take you back home already.”
Bethany’s eyes widened, just for a brief second, and then she realized he was joking. Her eyes lit up and she tried to hide her smile.
“Now, John,” Edna said, “don’t tease her so.” But it was clear that Bethany was not offended in the least. In fact, Edna hadn’t seen either Jeremiah or Jonas speak so intimately with her. Most of the time, Jonas merely spoke about himself, while Jeremiah said nothing at all. “Besides, I’m just not certain how I could do any of this without Bethany anymore. I’m hoping, come spring, she might consider helping me permanently.”
The room fell silent. John avoided looking at either one of them as he finished his coffee and seemed to contemplate something inside the cup. Finally, he tore his eyes away from it and stared at the wall behind Edna. “Ja, I can see where something permanent might be a right gut thing.” He glanced at Bethany when he added, “I mean, if such an arrangement would suit Bethany.”
She appeared to catch her breath, the color draining from her cheeks. For a moment, she chewed on her lower lip as she met his gaze. “I reckon that might be something to pray on.”
Immediately, Edna felt a wave of excitement. She suspected that there was something more to what met the eye when it came to John and Bethany, and frankly, the idea excited her. Bethany would be a wonderful wife for any man in the community, and Edna would welcome her into the family with wide open arms. Their personalities matched, and from the way John peered at Bethany, her son was head over heels in love with her.
Suddenly, an idea came to her. “Mayhaps you could take Bethany to the chicken coop and fetch me some eggs. I want to make deviled eggs to put out on the tables.” She’d never done that before, but it sounded like a good idea, especially if it meant that she could continue observing the two young people.
John raised an eyebrow at her, most likely as a result of her strange request. But Edna continued acting nonchalant.
“You wouldn’t mind, would you, John?”
He set down the mug on the counter and shook his head. “Of course not, Maem.” The look he gave her, however, suggested that he suspected what his mother was doing. “Mayhaps Bethany could borrow your coat.” He looked at the young woman. “It’s warmer than your shawl.”
Edna merely nodded and watched as, obediently, Bethany followed John to the mudroom where he helped her put on the jacket and then held the door open for her to pass through.
Edna stood there, leaning against the counter as she tried to collect her thoughts. A smile broke onto her face as she realized that the quiet manner of John was mirrored perfectly in Bethany. What a sound match they would make!
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Mary sat at Wilma’s kitchen table, sipping at a cup filled with lukewarm coffee. Abram had dropped her off at the Schwartzes’ just an hour ago so that she could finish working on the knot quilts. Now, with eighteen quilts finished, folded, and set upon the counter, Mary had time to relax and visit with Wilma.
“Where are the girls?” she asked as if she suddenly had realized that they weren’t there. Truthfully, she’d noticed their absence when she’d first arrived but had said nothing. It was far more pleasant to work quietly without their constant bickering.
Wilma gave a small shrug. “I’m not certain. Maybe visiting friends. I was putting away laundry when they left.”
Mary frowned. She’d never let Bethany leave the house without knowing where she was going. What if there was an emergency? What if she needed to find her? But that was clearly not how Wilma was raising her two daughters.
“Well, I’m sure glad that we finished these quilts.” Mary meant it. She’d been feeling rather useless these past few weeks. Making the quilts had started to help her feel more cheerful. She ran her hands over the top of a quilt and sighed. “I can only imagine how happy the homeless people will be to wrap themselves in something warm at the shelter.”
Wilma made a noise deep within her throat.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Mary persisted. “Nee, Wilma. What is it?”
“I reckon I’m not feeling the holiday spirit as much as I should be.”
Uh-oh, Mary thought. That was not like Wilma. She might complain a lot, but it was almost always good-natured and not truly serious. The confession she’d just made put Mary on high alert. Something was wrong with her friend.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.
Again, Wilma shrugged, but within a few seconds, she spoke. “It’s just that I’m feeling poorly, Mary.” She raised her head and met Mary’s concerned eyes. “It’s the girls.”
“What about the girls?”
Wilma sighed, her shoulders drooping just a little. “Yesterday, with everyone here, especially Bethany—”
“Bethany?” Mary interrupted. The reference to her daughter caught Mary off guard. Had something happened yesterday that Mary had missed? “What about her?”
“—it became clear to me. Rachel and Ella Mae, well, mayhaps they have some . . .” A hesitation. “. . . some troubles.”
“Oh my,” she whispered.
For the past few years, she’d grown so used to Wilma complaining about the twins and how argumentative they were, especially with each other. It had been a long time since Mary had spent much time with them. It appeared that, as everyone’s children grew, they went their own ways, and it was hard for all of the families to get together. Mary had gathered that Rachel and Ella Mae were a bit difficult to handle, but, despite everyone’s jokes, she had always thought Wilma was embellishing her stories just a touch.
Now, she realized that poor Wilma was starting to get the blues, just as she had six years ago when the twins had turned sixteen.
Wilma wrung her hands and avoided meeting Mary’s concerned gaze. “I know it’s high time that they settle down, but after I saw how Bethany behaves compared to my two dochders, I realized that no one will ever want to marry them. Not like they are now.”
If Rachel and Ella Mae always behaved as they had yesterday, Mary would certainly agree with her. But she was reluctant to admit so much. “That’s not necessarily true—”
“Ja, it is,” Wilma interrupted. A tear fell from her eye, and she swiped at it. “You know one of the reasons that I’m always pushing Rachel and Ella Mae on Edna?”
Mary frowned. “Because it would do the girls good to do some hard work outside of the house.”
Wilma waved her hand at Mary. “Ja, ja, there’s that. But also because Edna has those boys! I surely thought that one of my girls might strike the fancy of one of her boys. But Edna chose Bethany over my twins and now she’s courting John—”
This time, it was Mary who interrupted. “Stop right there, Wilma Schwartz.”
Clearly startled by Mary’s strong tone, Wilma
blinked at her.
“You said this the other day, too, and I just want to prevent more baseless gossip. We don’t know whether they are courting, and I don’t want to presume anything.” She was growing weary of repeating herself. If Bethany chose not to talk to her about her friendship with John, Mary had to assume there was a reason why. “I respect her privacy, and so, Wilma, should you.”
Wilma’s mouth opened and she sat there, dazed, for a long moment.
Mary took advantage of the silence to continue. “Besides, if your dochders have troubles, it’s no good to just marry them off. You need to address those issues and resolve them. Otherwise, they’ll never make anyone a good fraa and most certainly they won’t have a good marriage.”
Finally, she shut her mouth and pressed her lips together. How dare Wilma think that she could just pawn her two unruly girls off on Edna and, hopefully, two of her sons!
“Land’s sake, Mary Ropp!” Wilma blinked twice. “I’ve never heard you speak in such a tone in all the years I’ve known you.”
Immediately, Mary’s irritation vanished and she felt guilty. She shouldn’t have spoken so sharply to Wilma. Her friend was feeling poorly, and instead of supporting her, Mary had snapped at her. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d allowed her emotions to dictate her words.
“I’m . . . I’m sorry, Wilma.”
But Wilma stopped her by holding up her hand. “Nee, you’re right. It’s not my business to speak aloud about Bethany’s special friendship. And my dochders do need some fine-tuning before I send them over to Edna’s.”
Mary sighed and gave her head a little shake.
“Or anywhere else,” Wilma added quickly.
Rather than continue berating Wilma, Mary decided to shift the conversation. “Mayhaps you should focus on other things than your dochders. Their time will come, I’m sure. Let’s talk about the school pageant on the twentieth and our holiday supper on the twenty-fourth. Those are wunderbarr gut things to do before the holidays, don’t you think?”