A Place of Peace (29 page)

He raised an eyebrow. “What are you saying?”

“You’ve never noticed her.” She gave him a coy smile. “You’ve never paid her any mind at all.”

He grimaced and stood. “Please don’t play games with me, Miriam. I’m not in any mood to joke. I just opened my heart to you, and you stomped on it. I understand that you don’t want to court me, so let’s leave it at that.”

“Wait.” She popped up and grabbed his arm. “I’m not toying with you. There’s someone else who loves you. She’s always loved you. In fact, she was so jealous of your friendship with me that she broke up Timothy and me.”

Zach’s eyebrows knitted together. “What are you saying, Miriam? Who would do something like that?”

“Lilly.” Miriam hoped he would believe her.

His eyes widened, and his expression softened. “Lilly? Your sister?”

“
Ya.
” Miriam smiled. “She told me she’s always loved you, but you’ve never given her much more than a nod at services or at singings when you were younger. She said she was jealous of our friendship.”

“But why would she go so far as to ruin your engagement to Timothy because of her feelings for me?” He pointed to his chest. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“I know.” Miriam folded her arms. “And she’s very sorry and has learned from her mistakes. She and I have worked things out and renewed our friendship. I forgave her, which is the Christian thing to do.” She paused, gathering her thoughts. “Did you hear what I said? Lilly loves you, and only you. You should be courting her, not me. I can’t be more than your friend, but you should think about Lilly.”

He gave her a suspicious look. “Did she put you up to this?”

“No, no!” She shook her head. “She has no idea I’m telling you her feelings, and she would probably be upset if she found out I told you. She thinks you don’t like her, and she didn’t want me to interfere in her life.”

He lifted his hat and gazed toward Abraham’s house. “I had no idea. I never realized she was trying to get my attention.”

“Probably because you were so focused on me.”

Meeting her gaze, he smiled. “Ya, probably. You’ve always had me captivated.”

“Zach, you belong with someone like Lilly.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t see how I can just change my heart so quickly.”

Miriam nodded. “I know you care for me, but I can’t give you the commitment you long to have. Lilly can. You should give her a chance.”

He looked skeptical.

“You two have more in common than you think.” Miriam grinned. “You’d be surprised.”

“What do you mean?” He raised an eyebrow with curiosity.

“You both are crazy about books.”

His eyebrows shot to his hairline. “Really?”

“Ya!” Miriam nodded. “She had so many in our room when we were growing up that my dad once joked that she could open a used bookstore.”

He grinned. “You know, that’s always been my dream. I’ve considered turning part of my shop into a little bookstore.”

“Lilly would love that,” Miriam said. “I would imagine she has enough books stuffed in her bureau to start a little book corner in your shop, with the bishop’s permission of course.”

“That sounds doable.” He rubbed his chin and stared off toward the dark field. “Lilly Lapp has always loved me. I never knew it. I’m stunned.”

“Give her a chance, Zach. You have my blessing.”

He nodded. “I’ll talk to her.”

“Danki.”
She smiled. “I’d be
froh
to see you with my sister. You’d be a
gut
husband to her.” Stepping back, she smiled.
“Danki
for supper.
Gut nacht.”

“Gut nacht.”
He descended the stairs and climbed into the buggy.

Miriam stood at the railing and watched the buggy disappear into the darkness. Stepping into the cabin, she found a lonely lantern burning in the kitchen. She glanced toward Edna’s room and assumed Edna had gone to bed earlier. Miriam hoped Edna was feeling well. She snuffed out the lantern, retreated to her room, and changed into her nightgown.

Crawling into bed, she said her prayers, adding an extra special one for Zach and Lilly. As she fell asleep, she imagined celebrating Lilly and Zach’s wedding with the community.

T
wo weeks later, Miriam’s hands trembled as she sat on a bench near the front of the room during a regular Sunday service held in her father’s house. The walls in the downstairs were moved to make room for rows of benches. More than a hundred members of her church district were there for the service. Today was the day she would be baptized and would truly be Amish. Her heart thumped in her chest and her eyes filled with tears. Oh, how she wished her mother were here to celebrate this life-changing moment with her!

Earlier that morning, Miriam and her baptism classmates had met with the ministers one last time while the congregation began singing hymns. After their meeting, they filed into the church service together, first the young men and then the young women, and took their seats on the benches reserved for them at the front of the congregation near the ministers.

Miriam and her classmates bowed their heads and covered their faces with their hands as a symbol of their willingness to submit to God and the church.

She did her best to concentrate through the two sermons based on the book of Acts; however, her mind buzzed with thoughts of how much her life would change once she was a member of the church. She would follow in the traditions of her ancestors. She would participate in the fall Communion service coming next month. It felt so right, and her heart soared. This was her home. This was where she belonged, not in Indiana.

Once the sermons ended, the deacon left the room to retrieve the pail of water and a cup.

“Go down on your knees before the Most High and Almighty God and His church if you still think this is the right thing to do to obtain your salvation,” Bishop Gideon Swartzendruber instructed Miriam and the rest of the candidates.

The bishop stood by Miriam first. Her body trembled. The moment had come.

“Can you renounce the devil, the world, and your own flesh and blood?” the bishop asked.

“Ya,”
she said, her voice a quavering whisper.

“Can you commit yourself to Christ and His church and to abide by it and therein to live and to die?”

“Ya,”
she whispered.

“And in all the order of the church, according to the Word of the Lord, to be obedient and submissive to it and to help therein?”

“Ya,”
she said.

Miriam closed her eyes and tried to calm her heartbeat as the bishop moved to the next candidate. Once he was finished asking the questions to each one, he asked the congregation to stand. He read a prayer from the traditional Swiss Anabaptist prayer book before the congregation sat again.

The bishop, his wife, the deacon, and his wife stood before Miriam. The deacon’s wife removed Miriam’s prayer covering. Miriam’s body shook anew as the deacon poured water into the bishop’s cupped hands before it dripped onto Miriam’s head. The water was cool and refreshing; she truly felt reborn!

Bishop Gideon Swartzendruber then extended his hand to Miriam and she rose. She closed her eyes while he recited a prayer.

“May the Lord God complete the good work which He has begun in you and strengthen and comfort you to a blessed end through Jesus Christ,” he said. “Amen.”

The bishop’s wife kissed Miriam as a symbol of the “holy kiss” before Miriam placed her prayer
kapp
back on her head.

Miriam closed her eyes and prayed while the baptism was completed for the rest of the candidates. When the process was complete, the bishop reminded the congregation to be obedient.

Once the service was over, Miriam greeted her friends and family members and accepted their handshakes and words of encouragement. She was now a member of the church. Her eyes filled with tears as she thought of her mother and how pleased she would’ve been.

“I’m so
froh
for you,” Hannah engulfed Miriam in a warm hug.
“Mamm
would’ve loved to have been here.”

“I was just thinking that,” Miriam whispered into her sister’s ear while still holding onto her. “But it’s better late than never,
ya?”

“
Ya.
” Hannah kissed her cheek and then stepped back from the hug. “You look beautiful.”

“Danki.”
Miriam touched her new black dress.
“Aenti
helped me make the dress. We’ve been working every night for a week. I needed a few dresses of my own now that I’m back.”

Lena Joy sidled up to her mother. “Hi,
Aenti
Miriam. You look pretty.”

“Thank you.” Miriam touched her arm. “How are you feeling?”

Lena shrugged.
“Gut. Danki.
I’m looking forward to finishing up that dress we started last week. I can’t wait until you come over on Tuesday.”

“Me too.” Miriam touched her cheek. “I love spending time with you.”

“I do too.” Lena Joy glanced up at Hannah. “They need your help in the kitchen.
Aenti
Lilly asked me to come and get you. They need you to help serve the food.”

“Oh. I better go then.” Hannah smiled at Miriam. “Go talk to the other guests. I’m sure they want to congratulate you.”

Miriam shook her head. “No, I’ll help serve the food too.” She followed her sister and niece into the kitchen, where they served the lunchtime meal to the men first. Miriam and her sisters had spent days preparing to host the service in the house. They planted flowers, cleaned the house, and cooked. Miriam and her sisters wanted to make their mother proud by having her home perfect for the special occasion.

After the men were finished eating, they went outside to socialize and the women and children ate. Miriam sat with her sisters, and they talked and laughed while eating. After they finished, Lilly excused herself and went to check on Abraham, who had retreated upstairs for a nap.

Beth Anne approached Miriam and shook her hand. “I’m so glad you invited me to come and witness your baptism. I’m so very
froh
for you. Welcome to the church.”

“Danki.”
Miriam smiled. “I’m glad you came.”

“It was a beautiful service.” Beth Anne sat next to Miriam on the bench. “I enjoy coming to services at other districts.”

“I do too,” Hannah said while picking up a cookie and handing it to Mary. “It’s fun to hear another bishop speak.”

“Ya,” Beth Anne said, nodding. “Are you coming to work tomorrow, Miriam?”

Miriam nodded. “Ya, I’ll be there. Hannah is going to watch out for
Daed
tomorrow.”

“Gut.” Beth Anne smiled at Hannah. “Your sister is a
wunderbaar
baker.”

“Ya.”
Hannah agreed. “She learned from
Grossmammi
Lapp.”

Beth Anne and Hannah discussed their favorite recipes, while Miriam scanned the crowd of friends and family members. During the service and the meal, her mind kept wandering to thoughts of Timothy. She’d secretly hoped Beth Anne extended an invitation to him. Miriam also hoped Lilly had invited Naomi to come, and Naomi had invited him.

However, Miriam hadn’t spotted Naomi or Timothy, and she was disappointed. Today was the most important day of her life. Miriam had pledged her life to God, and she wished she could share her excitement with Timothy.

But Timothy is marrying someone else.

Shooing away the thought, Miriam glanced toward the stairs, where Lilly stood with a wide grin. Tilting her head, Miriam spotted what was causing her sister’s mirth—Zach standing across from her while talking and smiling.

Warmth flowed through Miriam. Although she might never have her true love, she was witnessing love in the making.

God is good.

Miriam turned back to Beth Anne, deep in a discussion about apple pie recipes with Hannah, who nodded in agreement about the best-flavored apples to use in the pies. They discussed recipes for a while longer until Beth Anne stood.

“I better get back home,” Beth Anne said.
“Danki
for inviting me. My
mamm
wanted to come, but she was hosting a social in her home today.”

“I understand.” Miriam gave her a quick hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Beth Anne headed through the crowd toward the back door, and Hannah stood. “I better go check on my
kinner.
Then I’ll get started cleaning up the tables.”

“I’ll get started out here.” Miriam collected the dirty paper cups and plates from the surrounding tables and then started toward the kitchen. She was approaching the doorway when a hand tapped her shoulder.

“Miriam,” Lilly said, her voice brewing with excitement. “You’ll never guess who just talked to me.”

“Who?” Miriam set the dirty cups and plates back onto the table and faced her sister, who was grinning ear-to-ear.

“Zach!” Lilly’s cheeks flushed. “He came over to me and told me I looked nice. He told me all about his business and how much it’s been booming. He told me he loves reading, and we spent about fifteen minutes discussing our favorite authors. He told me he always wanted to open a little bookstore, and I told him that was my dream too!” Her grin was electric. “He asked me to have supper with him tomorrow night. Can you believe it?” She bit her bottom lip. “He’s so handsome, Miriam. I can’t believe he finally noticed me.”

“That’s
wunderbaar.”
Miriam hugged her younger sister. “I’m so excited for you. I wish you all the happiness in the world,
Schweschder.”

Lilly pursed her lips and eyed Miriam with suspicion. “Wait just a minute. You don’t seem all that surprised.” She wagged a finger at her. “Did you have something to do with this, Miriam Lapp?”

Miriam shrugged and picked up the dirty cups and dishes again. “I would imagine Zach Fisher finally got his head screwed on right and realized what an amazing person you are.”

“Miriam …” Lilly grabbed her arm. “I have a feeling you’re playing matchmaker.”

Miriam gave her a knowing smile. “I may have suggested he talk to you, but he asked you to supper on his own accord. He is his own man with his own mind. His interest in you is genuine.”