Finding Love at Home (The Beiler Sisters) (35 page)

Debbie hesitated. “Does that make a difference?”

“Just wondering,” he said.

“Do you know anything about
Englisha
colleges?”

He laughed. “
Nee
, but you seem to have made it through okay without getting corrupted.”

He was hitting all the right buttons, Debbie thought. And he hadn’t picked a fight yet. Phillip maneuvered around her feelings like a man sure of his grasp on the tiller.

“Franklin and Marshall was the college.” She added, “In Lancaster.”

He didn’t miss a beat. “Nice college. I’ve driven past there often. It’s a nice choice of location.”

Debbie smiled. Maybe this evening wouldn’t turn out so badly after all. Then she caught sight of Emery talking with Crystal at the young folks’ table. Why on earth was Emery with Crystal? Did he feel sorry for her? Or was there a deeper motive?

“What’s wrong?” Phillip asked, noticing her distress.

“Nothing… I hope.” Debbie forced her attention back to Phillip and resumed their casual chatter.

Thirty-Five

I
da got up from the couch to take another glance out the living room window of the home she now shared with Ben. It was Sunday, and the children ought to be arriving any moment now. She could hardly wait! Ben was reading his copy of the weekly
Budget
and was digging deep into the bowl of popcorn she’d prepared. The past few days since the wedding had gone by so quickly. Ida wondered if they’d allowed enough alone time before the children arrived, but Ben didn’t appear unhappy, so he must be okay with the plans.

He noticed her glance and smiled. “They’ll be here soon enough.”

“You don’t mind then?” She hesitated. “All of them coming at once. I will be busy, you know.”

He grinned and reached for her hand. “You’ll always have time for a kiss, won’t you? Like right now? A kiss for an old man?”

“You’re not that old!” She playfully slapped his cheek, but then she planted a kiss firmly on it. He set
The Budget
aside and gathered her in his arms. Ida remembered this was how they’d first kissed. Heat still rose in her face being this intimate, even though they were alone in the house. It would take her a while to get used to the fact
that she was Ben’s
frau
and that kisses could come at unexpected moments like this.

“We can’t be doing this when the children are around,” she said.

His smile didn’t fade. “Then I’ll be remembering them in my mind.”

“You say such nice things.” She stroked his beard.

His eyes twinkled. “That’s because you’re nice.”

“Maybe it’s because you’re a
gut
man,” she corrected.

He grunted. “Now you’ll have me blushing.”

So he’d noticed her constant blushes. Well, she was a young bride. Young brides were supposed to blush. A shadow crossed her face.

“Did I say something wrong?” he sounded concerned.

“
Nee
.” She gave him a warm smile. “I was just thinking of Paul and Debbie.”

He touched her hand. “I wouldn’t worry about that. Would you object to another Kanagy dating a Beiler?”

Ida looked up in surprise. “Phillip? Phillip and Debbie? Why didn’t you tell me?”

He shrugged. “I was thinking of other things.” He smiled. “And it’s not a sure thing. Phillip is interested, but I don’t know what arrangements they made, if any. Phillip doesn’t exactly talk with me about everything… yet.”

She gave him a baleful glance. “Then you don’t know anything. You’re guessing… and hoping. Well, I still wish Paul and Debbie would come together someday. Even if Phillip is your brother.”

“You never were one to shy away from the truth, Ida.” He sounded amused. “I guess love lies in the hands of
Da Hah
… and Debbie and Phillip… and Paul.”

“
Yah
,” Ida agreed. “I must stop trying to help
Da Hah
. I have other things that need doing.”

“
Yah
, I would think so,” he said, motioning toward the front door.

Ida jumped up when she heard the sound of buggy wheels in the driveway. Her hands flew to her face. “Oh, Ben, they’re here!”

“
Yah
.” He got up and took her hand. “Let’s go welcome
our children
home.”

She clung to his hand and felt great waves of joy rush through her. She’d never doubted Ben’s resolve to take Melvin’s children in, but now that the moment had arrived to hear him say
our children
…Oh, it was almost too much to take in! She needed to receive this great privilege and blessing one
slow
breath at a time.
Breathe, Ida. Breathe.

Ben’s sister Lily was waiting beside the buggy with a big smile on her face. All of the children except for three-year-old Lisa were gathered around her, uncertain where to go or what to do. Lisa was still sitting on the buggy seat. Ida let go of Ben’s hand and headed straight for the little girl. She reached in, gathered her into her arms, and smothered her with kisses. Then Ida set Lisa on the ground and glanced around. Maybe this was a bad start, showing such emotion right away. But Ben had tears in his eyes, as did both of his children, eighteen-year-old Wilma and sixteen-year-old John. They had their
daett
’s gut heart inside of them, Ida decided.

She gave Wilma and John quick hugs. Wilma clung to her for a moment, but John was a little stiff. Ida decided he wouldn’t like hugs in the future. And he was almost a man, so that was understandable. And she wasn’t his mother, so she’d try to remember to give him plenty of room. The last thing she wanted was for Ben’s children to feel uncomfortable around her.

Ida took four-year-old Lonnie into her arms next. He smiled up at her, his face glowing. “It’s really you!” he said. “Are we going to live here all the time now?”

Ida choked back the sobs, unable to answer. Five-year-old Ephraim and six-year-old Amos joined their embrace. They created a little circle of heads around her body. Ida was crying with joy. All three of these boys would be hers forever! Their tender hearts were still flexible enough to make room for her with only minor adjustments. And they’d been young enough to have been spared the brunt of sorrow associated with their
daett
and
mamm
’s passing.

Ida untangled herself from the arms of the three young boys. She approached eight-year-old Rosa. She wiped her eyes, and reached for the girl. Rosa’s return hug was a little weak. Ten-year-old Willard was totally stiff and unresponsive, but she already knew he would be. Willard was the one she’d prayed for the most, and she could again see why. His heart had been deeply wounded, and only
Da Hah
would be able to break through. Still, she gave Willard a long hug and whispered in his ear, “It’s so
gut
to have you home.”

He didn’t say anything.

Ida stepped back, let out a long breath, and smiled at all of them. “Well, you have come!” She stepped next to Ben. “We welcome you to your new home. Why don’t we all go into the house, and we can start getting to know each other better.”

That seemed to break their trance. The three boys raced for the house, with Rosa tagging along behind them. Willard headed toward the barn without a backward glance.

“Where’s he going?” Ida asked Ben

“Willard has chores to do,” Ben said. He glanced toward his two children. John gave his
daett
a quick nod as if he understood and walked toward the barn.

They knew it was best if Willard wasn’t alone, even if he wished to be, Ida thought. Deep gratefulness rose up inside her. She whispered, “Thanks for everything you’re doing, Ben.”

He stepped closer to slip his arm around her. “You were right from the start, Ida. I should have seen it myself about my brother’s children. I’ve always loved them, but they grew even dearer to my heart in the week they were here before the wedding.”

“Well, I guess I’d better get out of here,” Lily said loudly.

Ben laughed. “You have your own wedding coming up next week. You’ll be getting plenty of hugs yourself, so don’t look so innocent.”

“I can’t wait.” Lily grinned as she climbed into the buggy. “See you soon!” And with a wave she drove out of the lane.

Wilma was almost at the house, Ida noticed. She left Ben’s side
to hurry after her. She caught up with her at the front steps and stopped to catch her breath. “Will you fill me in on how you’ve been running the household? I do declare I’m getting to be an old woman.”

Wilma smiled. “You look quite young to me.”

“Thank you!” Ida returned. “How did it go with all the children?”

Wilma looked pleased that Ida was consulting her. “We were just doing the best we could. The relatives helped me before the wedding to clean the house.” Wilma made a wry face. “That’s why things were decent when you got here on your wedding night. It wasn’t because of me.” She frowned. “I’m glad to hand running the house over to you.”

“I’m sure you did great.” Ida laid her hand on Wilma’s shoulder. “Between the two of us, we should manage just fine. Now, what kind of meal schedule did you have?”

Wilma didn’t answer for a moment. “I kept
Mamm
’s ways, but you don’t have to.”

Ida drew Wilma close. “I know I’m new here and have my own ways, but that doesn’t mean we will change everything. For one thing, that’s what your
daett
, John, and you are used to. And we want everyone happy, don’t we?”

Wilma glowed. “You’re everything
Daett
said you were.”

Ida blushed and hid her face for a moment. “I’m sure your
daett
doesn’t know everything about me.”

Wilma didn’t appear convinced. “He’s had a few days with you, and he looks quite happy.”

Ida took Wilma’s arm. “Please know I’m not trying to take your
mamm
’s place, Wilma. And you’ve been running the household for quite some time now. I don’t want to just step in and take over. I hope you know that.”

Wilma sighed. “No one can take
Mamm
’s place. Thank you for not trying.
Daett
said you’d be like that too.”

Ida looked away. “What else has your
daett
told you?”

Wilma laughed. “Only nice things, believe me.”

“Well, that’s a relief.” Ida let out a long breath.

“We usually have supper at six,” Wilma offered. “And I did laundry on Mondays—when I got to it. The situation was getting pretty serious, believe me, with those three boys living here.
Da Hah
knows I love my cousins, but they are a rambunctious bunch. They needed a clean set of clothes every day!”

Ida smiled. “I believe you. We’ll have to see what we can do about sharing the load and corralling the boys.”

Wilma’s eyes widened. “You plan on taming them?”

Ida didn’t hesitate. “The truth is, I don’t know. I’ll consult your
daett
, and we’ll do what we can. Boys and girls can learn how to play without rolling in the dirt like farm animals.”

Wilma beamed. “You are a
wunderbah
woman!”

“Let’s wait and see how things work out,” Ida corrected. “I’m sure there will be bumps along the way.” Ida led the way into the house. “Shall we begin fixing supper then? I believe you and I handle things similarly, so let’s stick with that schedule for the time being. We’ll be flexible, of course. One must always be flexible because change happens.”

Wilma’s smile widened. “I think I’m going to like having you here very much.”

“You’re a
wunderbah
young lady,” Ida said. “Any handsome men knocking?”

Wilma turned all shades of red.

Ida gave her a quick hug. “I’m sorry if that was too direct. You don’t have to tell me. But I’m here if you ever want to talk or you have any questions or concerns you want to work out.”

Wilma shook her head. “I’m okay. Well, everything seems to be going okay…umm…I don’t have any questions right now.”

“That’s okay.” Ida gave Wilma what she hoped was a helpful smile.

Wilma looked at her pensively. “How did you marry
Daett
? I mean, how did it start? Was it a sudden thing?”