A Place of Peace (31 page)

Timothy turned back toward Bishop Abner Chupp when he resumed his sermon.

When the sermon was over, the congregation knelt while the bishop again read from the
Christenpflict.
After the bishop recited the Lord’s Prayer, the congregation stood, and the three-hour service ended with the singing of another hymn.

Once the ceremony was over, some of the men began rearranging furniture while others joined the women to serve the wedding dinner, which included chicken with stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, pepper cabbage, and cooked cream of celery. The bountiful desserts that followed were cookies, pie, fruit, and Jell-O salad. They served them in shifts. The newly married couple received the food first, followed by their wedding party.

Miriam stayed in the kitchen and helped prepare the food, hoping to avoid talking to Timothy and seeing him with Naomi.

Carrying a pitcher of iced water, Miriam set out into the large dining area. With the living room and moveable bedroom walls removed, the downstairs of Sarah Rose and Luke’s home was spacious. Benches converted to tables lined the open area, and the men ate and gabbed, their conversations a loud drone among the crowd.

Miriam made her way across the room, filling empty glasses while smiling and exchanging pleasantries. As she turned and headed toward a neighboring table, she heard loud squealing coming toward her. She took a step toward the table just as Ian and Mary ran past her, knocking her off balance and sending her crashing into the table. The pitcher slipped from her hands and landed in the lap of a man seated at the end of the bench while Miriam came to rest on the floor next to him.

The man hopped up from the bench and crouched next to her. “Are you all right?”

Her cheeks ablaze with embarrassment, Miriam turned toward him, pain radiating from her knees to her shins.

When she found herself looking into Timothy’s eyes, she gasped. She examined his soaked shirt and trousers, and she thought her face might combust.

“I’m so sorry, Timothy,” she said. “Hannah’s
kinner
ran by, and they tripped me.”

His grin was wide. “It’s all right. I won’t need a shower tonight.” He held out his hand. “Let me help you up.”

A crowd gathered around them, including Lilly and Timothy’s curious sisters.

“Are you okay?” Hannah asked.

“What happened?” Lilly asked.

“Why are you all wet?” Beth Anne asked Timothy.

“Everything is fine,” Timothy said, gesturing for them to leave the scene. “You can get back to whatever you were doing.” He then turned back to Miriam. “Let me help you up before we draw a bigger crowd.”

She grasped his hand, and heat raced up her arm. After retrieving the pitcher from the floor, he pulled her up to her feet, and she grimaced as the pain worsened on her shins and knees.

“Are you hurt?” His blue eyes simmered with concern.

“I’m fine.” She nodded toward his shirt that was dripping water. “Let’s get you cleaned up in the kitchen.”

Taking her arm, he steered her toward the kitchen. She cringed when the pain stung her legs.

“You really hurt yourself,” he said.

She waved off his empathy, despite the pain. “I’m just a klutz.”

“You might want to go into the bathroom and see if you need a bandage.” He led her into the kitchen and placed the pitcher on the counter.

“I’ll be fine.” She hobbled across the room and grabbed two towels.

When she turned, she found a group of women gathered around Timothy, providing him with towels. She placed her towels on the counter, feeling like a fool for rushing.

His gaze met hers, and he gave her a worried expression. “Go check out your legs,” he said over the chatter around him. “The bathroom is on the other side of the kitchen.”

“I’m really sorry about this,” she said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

“Don’t be silly. I can run home and grab something else to wear.” His eyes locked on hers, and the intensity caused her pulse to leap. “I’m more worried about your legs. Please go take care of them. I’m sure Luke has bandages since he’s known for hitting his fingers with a hammer.”

Unable to speak, Miriam limped across the kitchen to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She pulled up her dress and gasped at the sight of long, bloody scrapes and bruises turning purple on her legs.

“What an oaf,” she mumbled.

Opening the medicine chest, she grabbed bandages and salve. She winced as she applied the salve, all the while concentrating on the intensity in Timothy’s eyes. Why was he so concerned about her legs? And what was he thinking while he was staring at me during the service? She wished she could’ve read his thoughts.

If only he weren’t getting married …

She pushed the thought away and covered her legs with the bandages.

Timothy pulled on a dry shirt and pair of trousers. Taking the stairs two at a time, he hurried down to the kitchen. While he filled a glass with water from the tap, he glanced around the room, and his thoughts wandered back to when he’d built the house—for Miriam. They’d spent hours discussing the house—how many rooms it would have, how to set up the kitchen, and how many children they’d wanted to fill the bedrooms upstairs.

Shaking his head, he lifted the glass to his lips. When Miriam had left, she’d taken his heart with her, and he’d considered moving in with his parents and selling the house to one of his newly married friends. However, his pride had won out and he remained in the house —alone.

He glanced out the window toward Sarah Rose and Luke’s house, and he envisioned the expression on Miriam’s face after she’d fallen. While his first reaction was to laugh at the utter hilarity of the situation, his smile disappeared when he’d found she’d been hurt. He’d resisted the urge to pick Miriam up and carry her to the bathroom to help with her injury.

He dropped into a kitchen chair and rubbed his temple. He wished he could stop the memories of Miriam and feelings for her from assaulting his mind and wreaking havoc on his life. He planned to marry Naomi in only a month. He wished he could convince his heart that this was the best decision for his future.

However, he doubted his decision more than ever when he watched Miriam’s expression during the wedding service earlier today. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts, just as he was. Did she harbor the same regrets as he did?

But it was her choice to leave.

Timothy placed the glass on the counter and ambled to the kitchen. As he stepped into the living room, the front door swung open with a squeak, revealing a grinning Naomi.

“I heard you had a run-in with a pitcher of water,” she said with a laugh. “Are you all dried up now?”

He put his arm around her shoulders, escorting her to the door. “Ya, I’m all dried up. That’s for certain.”

Lindsay sank into a seat across from her sister. “The wedding was beautiful. I even understood some of the
Dietsch.”

Jessica snorted and gave Jake a sideways glance. “That makes one of us.”

Jake raised an eyebrow in response. “You don’t understand any of the
Dietsch?”

“Ya
and
gude mariye
are about the extent of my
Dietsch,”
Jessica said with a shrug. She lifted a glass of water to her lips.

Jake looped his arm around her shoulder. “I guess that means you need to spend more time here so you can learn more
Dietsch
words.”

“We’ve been through this how many times?” She rolled her eyes. “Consider yourself lucky that Trisha let me take time off from school to come here for the wedding. She wasn’t too keen on the idea at first, but my Aunt Rebecca had a long talk with her in order to convince her.”

“I know, I know.” Jake grinned. “I was just kidding. I’m very happy you got to come up for a few days.”

Lindsay glanced across the room and wondered if she’d ever find anyone who cared for her as much Jake cared for Jessica. The love was apparent in his eyes, and she questioned when her sister would realize how special he was.

Her gaze locked on Matthew Glick, crossing the room with Elmer Yoder. Elmer spotted Lindsay and stopped in his tracks. He said something to Matthew and pointed toward her. Her cheeks heated as Matthew negotiated through the crowd to the table. He was handsome, clad in a dark blue shirt with dark trousers and suspenders. A few deep brown curls escaped from under his straw hat.

She touched her prayer
kapp,
hoping her hair was still secure beneath it. Then she wondered why she was so worried about her appearance since she’d never even spoken to the guy except for their brief first meeting at Elizabeth’s during the summer.

Jake turned and waved. “Hey, Matt. How are you doing?”

Matthew shrugged. “All right.” He glanced at Jessica. “You’re back, huh? I thought you went to Virginia to return to school.”

“I’m just in town for the wedding,” Jessica said.

Matthew nodded.

Jake gestured toward the open seat next to Lindsay. “Pull up a seat.”

Matthew dropped onto the bench next to Lindsay and gave a slight nod of greeting.

Lindsay couldn’t keep from staring at his gorgeous golden eyes. She felt as if she’d been hypnotized. When he gave her a questioning expression, she cut her gaze to the surface of the bench that served as their tabletop, wishing her cheeks would cool.

“Where have you been?” Jake asked, lifting his cup of water. “I saw you just before the service started and then didn’t see you again. It was as if you’d disappeared into thin air.”

“I was trying to escape, but Elmer caught me.”

“Escape?” The question left Lindsay’s lips before she could stop it. “What do you mean?”

Matthew’s eyes were curious. “Why should I hang around here? I really don’t know anyone.”

“You know me,” Jake said.

“Don’t you want to get to know people in the community since you’re new here?” Lindsay studied his eyes, captivated by their unusual golden hue.

“Why are you so concerned about my social life?” Matthew’s voice was warm and smooth, reminding her of whipped butter.

Lindsay tried to appear nonchalant, even though the attention he gave her was causing her insides to scream with excitement. “I know what it’s like to be new, that’s all.”

“Maybe I prefer to remain anonymous.” His eyes challenged her as he glowered.

Speechless, Lindsay turned to her sister, whose eyebrows were raised in question.

While Jake and Matthew discussed their current carpentry projects at the shop, Jessica gestured toward the kitchen.

“How about we go get the guys refills?” Jessica asked, enunciating the words a little bit too much.

“Okay.” Lindsay followed Jessica to the kitchen, where they stood by the counter, away from the women who were cleaning up after the meal. “Why did you call me in here?” she asked.

A knowing grin grew on her sister’s lips. She pointed at Lindsay. “You like him.”

“What are you talking about?” Lindsay asked, jamming her hands on her hips.

“Matthew.” Jessica pointed toward the doorway leading to the living room, and Lindsay grabbed her hand.

“Stop it,” she ordered through gritted teeth. “You’re calling attention to us.”

“You
do
like him.” Jessica’s smile was conniving. “This could be good.”

“What are you saying? I hardly know the guy, and he doesn’t seem to like anyone. He said himself that he wants to be anonymous.”

“But that’s just a defense mechanism. Jake told me Matthew is shy. You and I both know how hard it is coming to a new place.” She smiled. “So that means that you and Matthew have tons in common. You can help him meet people and feel like he fits in with the youth here.”

Lindsay shook her head in protest, even though the words made perfect sense. “I don’t know, Jessica. He doesn’t seem interested in making friends.”

“You never know what could happen.” Jessica filled four cups with ice water from a pitcher. “Just be yourself, Linds. Everyone loves you.”

Lindsay sighed as they headed back to the table. “I’m going to miss you. I wish you could stay longer than the weekend.” She sighed. “It’s going to be too dull without you.”

Jessica smirked. “Not if you get to know Matthew.”

“Quit it.”

Jessica laughed. “Come on, Little Sister, let’s get these drinks to our thirsty guys.” They reached the table and distributed the water.

Lindsay’s cheeks burned with embarrassment as she sat next to Matthew. When his eyes met hers, he gave her a slight smile, and her pulse skittered. She wondered if she could possibly break through his icy exterior and become his friend.

Only time would tell …

Saturday night Jessica grasped Jake’s hand while climbing the steps to Rebecca’s porch. The crisp breeze whispering through her hair signaled that autumn had descended upon Lancaster County.

“I had a great time this weekend,” she said when they reached the porch.

He frowned. “You’re leaving me tomorrow.”

She touched his shoulder. “I know, but you’ll see me again soon.”

“How soon?” His eyes challenged her.

“The first vacation I get.”

“Which is when?” His expression softened. “I want an exact date.”

“I do too, but I don’t know the exact date. Let’s figure on Thanksgiving.”

Crossing his arms in front of his wide chest, he shook his head. “That’s not soon enough.”

She gave him a coy smile. “You’re going to just have to make do without me for a little while longer. You made it through almost two months without me when I went back to Virginia at the end of August, didn’t you? You’ll have to be a big boy.”

“And how will you do without me?” Putting his hands on her waist, he pulled her to him.

“I’ll be just fine.”

“Right.” He ran his finger down her cheekbone, sending shivers up her spine. “You’ll forget all about me and have fun with those high school boys.”

“Right,” she deadpanned, rolling her eyes. “As if they could compete with you.”

He grinned. “Good answer.” Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers, melting her insides. “Don’t forget me,” he whispered. He nodded toward the cross hanging from her neck. “The cross will remind you how much I care about you.”