Seasons of an Amish Garden

by Amy Clipston

  How was she going to get everything done in only six weeks? It wasn’t that she’d waited too long to get started. Ephraim had proposed only two weeks ago!

  She had to stop worrying, though. She and Ephraim had so much to look forward to! She’d get it all done somehow.

  When everyone had finished eating their salad, Mandy gathered the bowls and tossed them.

  “The casserole should be ready now.” She flipped off the oven and grabbed two pot holders. “It just needed to be warmed up a bit.” She opened the oven, and a wall of warmth hit her face. She hefted the dish onto the counter.

  “All right.” Mandy smiled at her friends as she carried the casserole to the table. “This is mei mammi’s recipe. I hope you like it.”

  “It looks amazing.” Tena rubbed her hands together.

  “Danki.” Mandy grinned as she set the platter in the center of the table. Then she sat down beside Ephraim. He gave her a nod, and then scooped some casserole onto his plate.

  Mandy sat back in her chair as her friends all filled their plates. The room fell silent as they dug in. When Mandy felt something touch her thigh, she found Hank standing on his back legs with his paws on her lap.

  “So you do wish you could have some of this food too?” Mandy touched his nose.

  “Oh, Mandy!” Tena gushed. “This is fantastic.”

  “It’s great.” Ephraim leaned close to her, his voice low in her ear, sending a flutter low in her belly. “Wunderbaar.”

  “Danki.” Mandy’s chest swelled with warmth as the rest of her friends joined in with praise. “I’m so glad you like it. I made this meal special for us.”

  Mandy smiled. Sunday nights were her favorite times with her best friends.

  Ephraim folded his arms over his heavy coat as he sat on a rocking chair on Emma’s back porch and looked toward the garden he and his friends had planted in the spring. His life had changed so much since he’d asked Mandy to be his girlfriend eleven months ago. It was as if their relationship had grown and blossomed like the fruits and vegetables they’d sold at the roadside stand all season long.

  He smiled to himself as he imagined her beautiful face, her bright-blue eyes, and her sweet laugh. He’d always considered Mandy to be just another young girl who came over to bake and giggle with his sister. But then one day he saw her in a new light. It was as if she had grown up overnight. Before long she was also his friend, and he wanted to know her better.

  Along with Katie Ann, Mandy, and Wayne, he’d visited Emma last Christmas Eve, and his world seemed to shift just as sure as they’d been snowed in. That night he realized he wanted to be more than Mandy’s friend. A few days later, he asked her to be his girlfriend, and then two weeks ago he worked up the courage to ask her father’s permission to propose. Mandy had said yes, and neither of them wanted to wait for marriage any longer than necessary.

  In six weeks, Mandy would be his wife, and they would start a new journey together. His heart thumped as he pictured their bright future. He was blessed to have Mandy in his life, and he would cherish her and take care of her to the best of his ability.

  “So you’re going to be a married man in less than two months.” Wayne, his best friend, patted his shoulder from the rocking chair beside him. “How does that feel?”

  “Amazing.” Ephraim grinned and glanced at Wayne. “I’m ready.”

  “You know, you’re making the rest of us look bad,” Chris teased.

  “How so?”

  “Now the other maed will want us to propose,” Chris said, turning his palms up. “Now they’ll all want to get married—soon.”

  “Not Clara.” Jerry smirked. “I can’t propose until after I’m baptized next fall, so I’m off the hook for now.” He pointed his index fingers at Wayne and Chris. “But you two, well, that’s a different story.”

  Chris groaned. “I don’t think I’m ready yet.”

  “I admit I’m not either,” Wayne said. “Tena and I are just getting to know each other better.” Then he smiled. “But I’m froh for you.” He gave Ephraim a nudge. “You and Mandy will have a wunderbaar life together.”

  “Danki.” Ephraim smiled. He couldn’t wait to see what God had in store for him with the woman he loved.

  “The casserole was appeditlich.” Emma gave Mandy a warm smile as she held up her clean Pyrex dish.

  “Danki.” Mandy buttoned her coat and then took the dish. “I’m so glad you liked it.”

  “Are you ready?” Ephraim asked as he lifted the salad container from the counter.

  “Ya.” Mandy said good-bye to her friends, and then she followed Ephraim to his waiting horse and buggy. She shivered as she looked up at the clear sky, taking in the bright stars twinkling above her. “It’s such a schee night for early November.”

  “Ya.” Ephraim opened the buggy door for her and took the Pyrex dish out of her hands. “It is.”

  As she climbed into the buggy, she smiled. She’d known Ephraim nearly all her life. Mandy and Katie Ann had declared each other best friends on their first day of school when they were seven years old. Mandy still recalled seeing Ephraim on the playground that first day. He was two years older than she was, and he caught her eye the moment he smiled at her. She’d always had a crush on him, and she never imagined he’d ever see her as more than his little sister’s friend.

  But everything changed last fall. He seemed to linger and talk to her more often when she visited Katie Ann at their farm. Then he seemed to seek her out at church and at youth group events. He finally asked her to date him shortly after Christmas last year, and her father had readily agreed.

  Two weeks ago, he’d proposed, surprising her, and she couldn’t contain her happiness! She couldn’t wait to take his name and move in with his family until his father built them a house on his dairy farm.

  “Can you believe we’ll be married in six weeks?” Mandy heard her voice lift with excitement as he handed her the dish and container to hold on her lap. “It’s coming so quickly!”

  “It is.” He closed the door and jogged around to the driver’s side.

  “But I have so much to do. I still have to finish making my dress. Then I have to make the dress for mei schweschder. She has enough to do helping Mamm with her sewing business.” She angled her body toward his. “And I have to plan the menu with mei mamm and schweschder.”

  “It will all come together.” He gave a slight nod as he kept his eyes trained on the windshield while guiding the horse toward the road.

  “What do you think about having lasagna and garlic bread for our wedding supper?” she asked. “Mamm thought it might be a gut idea since we can prepare the lasagna pans ahead of time.”

  He gave a shrug. “Anything will be great.”

  She tilted her head as she studied his profile. “It’s just so much. I’m overwhelmed.”

  “Don’t worry. It will all get done.”

  But how? she wanted to ask him. Not only did she still have responsibilities to her family at home, but she hadn’t realized planning and executing a wedding took so much work. That was probably because she was the first to marry among her friends. Maybe her mother had some idea, but Mandy knew she would never want to be anything but optimistic about their plans.

  She turned toward Ephraim, who still stared straight ahead without another word. The buggy was filled with the sound of wheels scraping on the road, the clip-clop of the horse’s hooves, and the roar of passing traffic. Still, it was too quiet for her, allowing the list of wedding tasks to once again roll inside her head.

  “What are you thinking about for table decorations?” Ephraim’s voice broke through her thoughts.

  “What?” She spun to face him.

  “I asked what you’re thinking about for table decorations.”

  “Oh.” She forced a smile. “Mamm and I think we should go with a blue candle that matches the dresses, and maybe a little baby’s breath. That will be simple but elegant.”

  “Sounds perfect.”
/>   “Ya.” She blew out a sigh.

  “What was that sigh for?”

  “The truth is I just don’t see how I can accomplish everything I need to do for the wedding in six weeks.” She threw up her hands, almost spilling the stack of kitchenware on her lap to the floor.

  “Well, both of our schweschdere will help you. Your mamm, too, right?”

  “I know, but still, it’s hardly enough time.” Her shoulders tightened as she awaited his response, even though she wasn’t sure what she wanted him to say.

  He halted the horse at a red light and faced her. “Would you feel better if we went by to see mei mamm? Maybe she can help make the decorations.”

  “Really?” Hope lit in Mandy’s chest.

  “Sure.” He smiled. “I bet she’ll be thrilled to help.”

  “Great.” She gripped the stack on her lap. If Ephraim’s mother agreed to help, surely some of the stress plaguing her would ease.

  CHAPTER 2

  After Mandy placed the dish and container on the floor of the buggy, Ephraim held out his hand as she climbed out. “Everything will be fine. I promise you.”

  “Danki.” She laced her fingers with his and enjoyed the reassurance his hand entangled with hers always gave her.

  She allowed him to steer her through the cold air up the path and to the back porch. As they entered the home’s back door, voices sounded from the kitchen.

  “Do your parents have guests?” she asked Ephraim as she pulled off her coat.

  “I wasn’t expecting any.” Ephraim took her coat and hung it on a peg next to his.

  Mandy followed him into the kitchen, where they found Ephraim’s parents sitting with his older sister, Darlene. Her husband, Uria, and their young daughters, Savannah and Rebekah, were there too.

  “Darlene!” Ephraim said as they walked in. He greeted Uria and the girls. “How are you all doing?”

  “Hi, Mandy!” Savannah waved. Seven years old, she had her mother’s light-brown hair and honey-brown eyes, so like Ephraim’s as well.

  “Hi.” Mandy waved hello to all of them and then took a seat in the empty chair by Rebekah. She was nine and had the same coloring her sister had. Mandy glanced around the table and took in the adults’ expressions.

  Something was wrong. Didn’t Ephraim notice? His parents’ faces looked serious, and Uria looked upset. Had his sister been crying?

  “Would you like some kaffi?” Ephraim’s mother held up a carafe.

  “Ya. Danki, Leona.” Mandy pushed back her chair.

  “Sit. I’ll get you a mug.” Ephraim retrieved two mugs from a cabinet. “I didn’t know you all were coming. I would have stayed home from the meeting at Emma’s if I’d known. What brought you here today, Darlene?”

  Mandy noticed a look pass between Darlene and her mother, and Darlene dabbed her eyes. What was going on?

  Ephraim filled the mugs with coffee before setting one in front of Mandy. After he sat down next to Uria, she saw him take a good look at his parents and then his sister. “What am I missing?”

  “I lost my job,” Uria said.

  “What? When?” Ephraim’s handsome face clouded with a scowl.

  “Back in August.” Uria blew out a deep sigh. “The construction company closed. I’ve been doing odd jobs and looking for something permanent, but nothing has panned out.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that,” Ephraim said. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

  “We were hoping something else would come along,” Darlene said. “We hated to burden you all with our problems.”

  “Do you have a plan?” Ephraim asked.

  Mandy sipped her coffee. When she felt something touch her arm, she turned and found Rebekah holding up a chocolate chip cookie.

  “Danki,” Mandy whispered as she took the cookie and bit into it.

  “We came to ask for help.” Darlene looked at her husband and rubbed his arm. “We can’t pay our rent anymore, and we’ve gone through our savings. We have nowhere else to go.”

  “They’re going to move in with us!” Ephraim’s father said. “Uria will help Ephraim and me run the dairy farm, and we’ll get to spend more time with our granddaughters.”

  Mandy was glad to hear his cheerful tone. Yet knowing his daughter and her family had come to this point had to be difficult.

  Mandy took another drink as she tried to catch Ephraim’s eye. The stress in the room was palpable. This felt like a private family discussion. If Ephraim would just look at her, she could motion for him to take her home.

  Mandy felt a tug on her sleeve. She turned as Rebekah held out another cookie. While her parents were trying to find stability, the girls just seemed happy to be eating cookies.

  “Danki,” Mandy said again as she took the cookie and placed it on a napkin next to her half-eaten first one.

  The back door opened and clicked shut, and Katie Ann appeared in the doorway.

  “Darlene!” She went to her sister and hugged her. “I didn’t know you were coming today. Rebekah! Savannah!” She hugged her nieces next. “What’s the occasion?” She sat down next to Savannah and took a cookie from the little girl’s plate with a grin.

  Darlene cleared her throat. “Well, Uria lost his job in August, and he hasn’t found anything permanent. Since then we’ve depleted our savings.”

  Katie Ann looked around the table. “Are you moving in, then?”

  “Ya,” Leona said. “They are. We were just discussing that. Uria is going to work on the farm with your dat and Ephraim.”

  “Darlene and Uria can take the sewing room,” Dat said.

  “And the maed can stay with me.” Katie Ann turned to her nieces. “Would you like that? One of you can sleep in my big bed. And we’ll get a cot for the other.”

  “Yay!” Rebekah clapped her hands. “We can stay with Aenti Katie Ann.”

  “Can I bring my dolls?” Savannah’s tone seemed hesitant.

  “Of course you can.” Katie Ann poised to take a bite of her cookie. “I’ll clear some of my shelves. You can both bring your special things.”

  Savannah seemed satisfied with that.

  “Are you really okay with this?” Darlene’s eyes glistened.

  Katie Ann rubbed Savannah’s arm. “I always have room for my favorite nieces.”

  “We’re your only nieces,” Rebekah said, and Katie Ann laughed.

  “I really appreciate it,” Darlene said. “We just don’t know what else to do.”

  “We’ll make it work for now.” Marlin reached across the table and touched Darlene’s hand. “I’ll build you all a haus in the spring. We’ll just be a little cramped in this haus until then.”

  “Danki, Dat. We hate to be a burden.”

  “Family is never a burden, mei liewe,” Marlin insisted.

  “Would it be all right if we move in this week?” Uria asked. “We have to be out of our rental as soon as possible.”

  “Ya, of course. We can help you move tomorrow.” Marlin turned to Ephraim and Katie Ann. “Right?”

  They both nodded.

  Mandy shifted on her chair. This conversation felt so personal. She shouldn’t be here. She turned to Ephraim, who had finally looked at her. He raised his eyebrows in question. “Why don’t you take me home?”

  “Okay.” Ephraim pushed back his chair.

  “It was nice seeing you all,” Mandy said.

  They all said good-bye, and she followed Ephraim into the mudroom. After they pulled on their coats, they headed into the cold and climbed into his buggy.

  They rode in silence as he guided the horse away from the house. Mandy contemplated the family’s discussion. The Blanks were facing some big changes. Her heart broke a little as she recalled the sadness on Darlene’s face.

  “Why didn’t Uria tell us when he lost his job?” Ephraim’s question broke through their silence. “He and Darlene should have known we wouldn’t consider knowing about their troubles a burden.”

  “Maybe he was embarrassed. I’m sur
e he feels responsible for taking care of his family, and he never expected to find himself in such dire straits.”

  “But my parents could have helped them months ago.” Ephraim gave her a sideways glance.

  “Uria probably thought a job was going to come through.” Mandy bit her bottom lip as she suddenly saw her future shifting. How could Marlin build a house for Darlene and her family next spring and build one for Ephraim and Mandy at the same time? It wasn’t possible. And how could the family manage with so many people in the house all winter, including her? She wouldn’t be a blessing. Even though she knew they’d never think so, she’d be a burden!

  Only one solution made sense.

  “It will be different having Darlene and her family living with us,” Ephraim said, his voice pleasant as he looked out the windshield. “But it will be nice to see my nieces every day.”

  “The haus will be cramped,” Mandy said.

  “Cramped?” Ephraim shrugged. “Ya, I suppose so, but we’ll make do.” He smiled at her. “Just wait until you move in. Then it will really be chaotic.”

  “You don’t honestly think I should still move in?”

  “What do you mean?” He halted the horse at a red light and turned toward her. “Why wouldn’t you move in?”

  She angled her body toward him. “The last thing your parents will need is another mouth to feed. You’re already going to have eight people in the haus.”

  “Exactly. That’s why it won’t make a difference if there’s a ninth.”

  “No.” Mandy shook her head. “We need to delay the wedding. Not just because it will be crowded with me there, but to give your family the time they need to adjust. It won’t hurt us to wait a few months.”

  His eyes went wide. “You don’t want to marry me as soon as possible?”

  “Of course I do. But I think we should delay the wedding for your family’s sake. Besides, I’m stressed because I don’t have enough time to get everything done. An eight-week engagement has turned out to be too short.”

  “We have plenty of time,” he said, insisting.

  “No, we don’t. And now your parents have more important things to worry about.”