Finding Love at Home (The Beiler Sisters) (40 page)

He nodded as if he understood. “We too have much we can give thanks for. Ida’s blessing our home with her presence. We all think
Daett
chose well in picking a new
frau
.”

“That’s nice of you to say,” Debbie told him. “Be sure to tell Ida that.”

He nodded again before saying, “I will.”

Conversation continued around the table as the turkey, dressing, potatoes, and cranberries were eaten. When everyone was finished, Debbie stood up to clear some dishes from the table and make sure Saloma kept her seat. Lois jumped up at the same moment to add her support.

Saloma gave in with a sigh. “I guess I am getting old.”

“
Nee
,” Lois said, patting her
mamm
on the shoulder, “it’s just your turn to be served.”

Debbie and Lois took the dishes to the sink and returned with some of the pies Lois had baked yesterday.

Reuben, the second of the Beiler boys, took his piece with wide eyes. “I need a pie maker like this at my house!” He glanced at Lois.

“Yep! No one can match Lois for pie making,” Wayne seconded.

“Now, now,” Lois chided. “You’re hurting your
fraus
’ feelings. And who said I made these?”

“We know you did,” Reuben said. “And our women are quite secure. They know that all men are attached to their family’s cooking.”

“They can outdo you in other things,” Wayne added, and Reuben nodded his agreement.

When the first pies were devoured, Debbie went to the cupboard and pulled out two more. After she took more empty plates to the sink, she picked up several pie crumbs from an empty pie pan with her finger. They melted in her mouth. No one could match Lois’s piecrusts. She deserved all the praise she’d received from her brothers and then some.

By the time the last pie had been passed around and eaten, everyone was talked out. The men took their seats again in the living room and leaned back for quick naps. Debbie helped the women and girls clear and wash the dishes. With so many willing hands, the task didn’t take that long.

Verna went upstairs to put baby Sarah Mae down for her nap. Debbie waited until Verna returned to bring up the subject of visiting her folks again. Lois was still in the kitchen, but the other women had pulled up chairs beside their husbands.

Debbie took a quick glance around before she asked Verna, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs, “Would it be okay to leave now? Or do you need to stay here for a while?”

Verna smiled. “
Mamm
can keep her ears open for Sarah Mae’s cry, and Joe can live without me for an hour or so.”

“You want to ask Ida then?” Debbie asked. “She’s already in the living room next to Ben.”

Soon the three put on their winter coats and were on their way
out the driveway. Wilma and John were in the yard, their horse hitched to a buggy. Ida hurried over to speak with them. Verna and Debbie waited at the end of the lane until Ida caught up.

“Wilma and John are leaving to visit their
mamm
’s folks,” Ida explained. “They want to keep contact with that side of the family. I think that’s a very
gut
idea.”

“As always you’re thinking of others,” Verna said with a smile. “I agree that is the right decision.”

“How do you know your parents will be home today, Debbie?”

“Unless they’ve changed their habits, they will be.”

“Old people rarely do,” Verna volunteered.

“We’re all getting older,” Debbie said.

Verna gave her a sharp glance. “You don’t sound so happy about it. I heard you sat with a very handsome man the other day. Tell me about him.”

Debbie laughed abruptly. “Phillip Kanagy. He was very good looking, but I’m sure he’s not going to call on me.”

“Are you sure?” Verna asked.

“Nothing’s happening with him,” Debbie asserted, looking the other way.

“She sounds bitter.” Verna glanced at Ida.

Ida nodded. “I know. I’m worried about her.”

Debbie frowned. “Stop it, you two! I’m resigned to being an old maid if I must.”

“That won’t happen!” Verna declared. “Look at the two of us! We’re married and some people thought we never would be.”

“Maybe we’d better stay out of Debbie’s love life this time.” Ida’s voice was sober. “I know I’ve meddled enough. I’m sorry, Debbie. I’ll pray instead that
Da Hah
will make His will known.”

Debbie nodded.

They walked in silence, and then Verna admitted, “I suppose my meddling hasn’t done any
gut
either. Look at the Alvin situation.”

When they approached Debbie’s old home, the front door opened before Debbie could knock. Her mother’s smiling face appeared.

“Herbert!” her mother called back into the house. “Our long-lost daughter has returned!”

Debbie wrapped her arms around her mother for a hug. Callie returned her hug and then greeted the other two girls, inviting everyone to come inside. Debbie’s dad rose from the couch to give Debbie a hug. He shook hands with Verna and Ida. He grinned from ear to ear. “If it isn’t the Beiler sisters! But where is Lois?”

“Back at the house,” Debbie said. “I asked Verna and Ida to come with me.”

“Why, Debbie? You’re not shunning Lois, are you?” Callie sounded indignant.

“Of course not, Mom. Lois was never a formal member of the Amish church, so shunning was never considered.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that. I just know Lois is sensitive about such things.” Callie motioned for them to take a seat.

“How have you been doing?” Debbie asked as she took her dad’s hand in hers.

A broad smile spread over his face. “Much better now that I’m seeing my daughter again.”

“I’m sorry.” Debbie tightened her hand on his. “I should visit more often. I’ve been so busy and life has been ruffled.”

Her dad just smiled at her.

Her mother responded though. “Amish life ruffled? Now I’ve heard everything!”

Debbie stroked her dad’s hand. “We’re human, Mom. Even if we live in a culture that doesn’t prefer technology, we still have plenty of issues to straighten out and work to do. That’s what makes it so busy. It’s not like what they show on TV.”

Verna must have thought it was high time the conversation
moved to safer ground because she jumped in. “Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?”

“The turkey was moist,” Debbie’s dad, Herbert, said. “Some members of my side of the family were here earlier. My brother Thomas and his wife, Emerald. They left about an hour ago.”

“Of course the turkey was moist! He just likes to make it sound like I can’t cook, ” Callie said.

As they all laughed, Debbie decided she was glad she’d come. Now that things had quieted down, she needed to visit her parents more often. And she would. Certainly at Christmastime—and hopefully several times before that.

Forty-One

T
wo Sundays after Thanksgiving, Debbie was sitting on the front row bench of the unmarried women’s section at the hymn singing. The last song had been given out, and through the living room window she could see the
Englisha
neighbor’s Christmas lights twinkling in the distance. They looked dreamy, Debbie thought, as she turned to the correct page.

Tonight she was the oldest single girl sitting on the front row. The wedding season had thinned out the line. It seemed like a dozen girls were gone, if you counted all the neighboring young people who attended the hymn singing in Bishop Beiler’s district on their “off” Sundays. But perhaps she was exaggerating. Right now she felt weary to the bone and glad the hymn singing was almost over. Hopefully Emery would leave right after the dating couples did so they’d be on their way home quickly.

For a few more minutes the sound of the young people’s voices hung in the air. Conversations started almost immediately after the last note died down. Debbie tried to join in, but she soon lapsed into silence. She just wanted to get out of there. The place was too empty with Ida and Verna gone. It even felt strange not to have
Alvin and Mildred on the front row, even with Mildred aglow over her anticipated wedding, which had happened last Thursday. They would be at home together tonight. She didn’t begrudge them their togetherness. She was long past that point.

There was one
gut
memory that lingered from Alvin and Mildred’s wedding. Emery had asked her to the table for the evening supper and hymn singing intead of his mystery girl, of whom he was still tight-lipped about. No one had looked crossways at them even though she lived with the Beilers. Maybe everyone thought they preferred each other’s company over some random matchup. Which was the truth—at least on her part. She’d been able to relax. There were no arguments or poundings of the heart—just delicious peace as she and Emery made small talk. To top things off, Paul had been matched with a visiting girl so his attention was elsewhere.

One thing Debbie knew for sure: Emery was a dear. At Alvin’s wedding he must have been trying hard to keep her spirits up. And he didn’t bring up the mystery girl either. Debbie had found out the girl’s name was Laura, and she was from Lancaster—according to Ida. Had Emery been interested in her?

Ida had said that what happened among the young people at Amish weddings didn’t usually mean a thing, but Debbie was realizing more and more that she hoped Ida was wrong. Tonight she was becoming more aware of her feelings for Emery Beiler. Could Emery ever care for her in a romantic way? The thought brought a quick lump to her throat. That was simply not possible. Would it even cross his mind?

Debbie pulled in a sharp breath when she saw Emery get to his feet. She hadn’t said a word in the past five minutes, and she didn’t want to. But if she sat here like a mute, she would soon draw attention to herself. Debbie got up to make her way to the washroom. Emery wouldn’t be ready with his horse when she got outside, but she’d help him hitch up. That wasn’t the usual Amish practice, but things were a little upside down right now. Besides, she and
Emery were like brother and sister, were they not? Right now she wished that wasn’t the case… but then she wouldn’t be free to follow him out to his buggy either. Well, she’d enjoy his company while she could. Emery was such a comforting presence. He’d eventually marry, and she’d deal with it like she had with all the other changes that had happened this year.

A few of the dating girls gave her warm smiles as she walked into the washroom, probably expecting she had a date with someone. Why else would she be out here this early? Well, she wished she had one—and they would never guess with whom! Not Phillip Kanagy, or Paul Wagler, or Alvin Knepp. No, someone more solid, more mature, more manly, and certainly more godly than all three of them put together. Debbie banished the thought as she absentmindedly returned the girls’ smiles. No one said anything as they searched through the clothing pile to pull out their shawls and weather bonnets. Debbie hung back until the first wave of girls went out the door. She found her own wrap and went outside. She left the line and crossed the lawn in the moonlight, only slowing down when she approached the long line of buggies parked along the back fence. The men with steady dates were busy hitching their horses to their buggies. They were too busy and focused to notice her. By the lights of the men’s lanterns, Debbie found Emery’s buggy. She stepped into the shadows to wait for him to come out of the barn. When he reached the buggy, she stepped out to meet him.

Startled he stopped for a moment. Then he grinned. “I don’t remember asking anyone if I could drive her home.”

Debbie reached down and lifted the buggy shafts. “Sorry. It’s just little old me. I can walk home if you want to take someone else. I’ll even ask her for you.”

His laughter was full and bright, just like the Christmas lights that flashed across the road. His words were gentle. “Why, I’d be honored to have you along for the ride.”

She went along. “Well, we
are
going the same way, and if there’s no one else… ”

“There’s no one else,” he said after he finished connecting the tugs. “Hop on in!” He helped her into the buggy and then handed the lines to her.

Debbie settled on the seat and handed the lines back when Emery joined her. They were both quiet as he maneuvered his horse past the buggies in line to pick up passengers.