A Season of Love (17 page)

Jake frowned. “No, you didn’t. You didn’t deserve it at all.” He shook his head. “I want to be your friend, but I can’t risk your getting shunned. I don’t want to be the reason you get into more trouble with your father.”

“I don’t want to be shunned. I love my family too much. The mood in our house is already too difficult to bear.
Mei dat
wouldn’t even talk to me this morning at breakfast. I feel as if I’m already invisible, and I haven’t even been shunned.” Scowling, she shook her head. “We’re going to have to pretend we’re not
freinden.
It’s going to be so difficult, Jake.”

“I know.” He took a step back and motioned toward her house. “You’d better go. I’ll see you Monday at the bakery.”

“But we can’t eat lunch together anymore, not even with my cousins,” she warned him. “We have to keep our distance.”

“I know.” He gestured toward her yard. “I don’t want you to get into more trouble.”

“Good-bye, Jake,” she said.

Jake climbed into his truck, and Katie began to trot through the trees toward the barn. Her feet hit the grass on the other side of the property line as Jake’s truck came to life in the driveway. She started across the yard just as her father stepped out of the barn and shot her an accusing look.

“Where were you, Katie?” he demanded as he charged toward her. “Why were you over at Betsy’s
haus
?”

“I needed to go speak to Betsy,” she said, her voice trembling under his glare.

“What did you need to ask her?” He folded his arms over his wide chest as he towered over her.

“I asked her if she had any apples,” she said, her voice a mere whisper.

“Why did you need apples while you were planting mums in the garden?”

“I was going to make you a pie later,” she said. “Your favorite — apple pie.”

Robert looked past her toward where Samuel and Matthew stood watching with uncomfortable expressions. “Didn’t I see that Mennonite
bu
over with your
bruder
earlier?”

Katie hesitated, her heart thudding in her chest. She
shouldn’t lie to her father. Not only was it a sin, but she’d only get caught in it later on, which would make things worse.

“You don’t know the answer?” He looked past her. “I’ll find out then. Samuel! Matthew!” he bellowed. “Didn’t I see that Mennonite
bu
here earlier?”

Katie faced her brother and Matthew as she held her breath.
This is it. Starting right now, I’m going to be stuck at home for the rest of my life.

“You mean Jake Miller?” Matthew asked.

“Ya
,
”
Robert said. “That
bu.
Elmer’s grandson.”

“He was here earlier,” Matthew said. “He came to help me move a refrigerator.”

“I helped too,” Samuel chimed in. “But Jake’s gone now.”

Katie bit her lower lip as her father’s accusing eyes turned back to her. She knew she was in for it again; it was all her fault. When was she going to stop making stupid choices?

“You weren’t going over to see Betsy about apples, were you, Katie Joy?” he asked.

“No,” she said. “I wanted to tell Jake I couldn’t be his
freind
anymore. That’s it, Dat. I wasn’t trying to disobey you, I was simply—”

“You were simply disobeying me again!” His voice roared like thunder. “When will you learn?” He gestured toward the house. “Go! I can’t trust you at all. You’re to stay in the
haus
until further notice. And I’m going to talk to your
mammi
and tell her to watch over you at the bakery. You won’t leave the bakery under any circumstance, and you’re to stay away from that Mennonite
bu.
”

“But
Dat
, I—” Her voice squeaked as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“This conversation is over,” he said, interrupting her again. “You’re not being truthful, and you disobey me over and over again. Go now before I drag you into the house myself.”

With her tears flowing, Katie fled into the house, through the kitchen, and up the stairs, dodging siblings and her mother on the way. When she reached her room, she collapsed onto the bed and prayed for the Lord to give her a sign as to how she should handle her difficult father.

“Katie,” Nancy’s voice rang out over her prayers. “Katie, I’m so sorry. I tried to keep him in the barn.”

“I know you did.” Katie sat up and swiped her fingers over her fresh tears. “I never should’ve involved you.”

“It’s okay.” Nancy sat on the end of their bed. “I can’t imagine how hard it is for you to like a Mennonite
bu.
I feel so bad for you.”

“Danki.”
Katie forced a smile. “You’re very thoughtful, but I got myself into this mess.”

Nancy shook her head. “No, you didn’t. You didn’t mean to like him. It just happened,
ya
?”

“Ya.”
Katie sniffed. “It did. I never realized how kind he is until he came to work at the bakery. But we’re not allowed to like someone who isn’t Amish unless we leave the church. It doesn’t seem fair. Why can’t we care about someone who isn’t like us?” She blew out a sigh. “I know the answer to that. It’s because we’re all supposed to be loyal to the church and our community. I know what will happen if I keep disobeying
Dat.
I’ll be shunned, and I don’t want that. Having
Dat
ignore me at breakfast was enough to show me I need to be obedient from now on.” She shivered as more tears flowed from her eyes. “But I’m going to miss Jake so much. It’s just not fair, Nancy. I want to be his
freind.
”

“Oh, Katie.” Nancy moved closer and hugged her. “I hate seeing you cry like this.”

Katie leaned into her younger sister’s shoulder. “Why does this have to hurt so much?”

“I don’t know.” Nancy rubbed her back. “I wish I could fix it for you. You won’t feel this way forever. I promise you. Someday
you’ll meet a nice Amish
bu
who will love you and make you
froh
, Katie. I know it in my heart.”

Katie closed her eyes. “
Danki
, Nancy. You’re a
gut schweschder.
”

Frosted Carrot Bars

Bars

4 eggs

2½ teaspoons cinnamon

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

¾ teaspoon salt

2 cups sifted flour

3 cups grated carrots

1½ cups vegetable oil

1½ cups shredded coconut

2 teaspoons baking soda 1¼ cups walnuts

Beat eggs until light. Gradually beat in sugar. Add oil and flour sifted with baking soda, cinnamon, and salt alternately. Mix well. Fold in carrots, coconuts, and walnuts. Pour into 13x9x2 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cut into bars. Allow to cool.

Icing

1 tablespoon milk

3 ounces cream cheese

A pinch of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

2½ cups powdered sugar

Combine until smooth. Spread icing onto cooled bars.

12

K
atie was almost convinced Monday would never end. She’d been working in the kitchen since she’d arrived, and she hadn’t set foot in the front area of the bakery. Knowing Jake was out there working was driving her to distraction, but she’d been aware of her grandmother’s frequent glances throughout the day.

The whole situation was so embarrassing and heartbreaking that she didn’t want to discuss it anymore. Yet she couldn’t keep her thoughts from gravitating back to Jake Miller no matter how hard she tried to think of anything else. However, she was determined not to disobey her father.

“Katie,” her grandmother called. “It’s nearly one o’clock. You may go eat your lunch now,
mei liewe.
”

“Danki
,
”
Katie called. After cleaning up her workstation, she retrieved her lunch box and headed out to the bench by a little playground. She prayed and then pulled out her turkey sandwich. She watched her younger cousins play while she ate. She wished she had someone to talk to, but she knew it was best she stay alone with her thoughts.

Katie was finishing her sandwich when her grandmother sat down beside her.

“Your
dat
came to visit me yesterday,” her grandmother said. “I’m sorry he was so upset with you over the weekend.”

“Danki
,
”
Katie said, wondering what her father had said to her grandmother. How serious was the conversation?

“I defended you,” Elizabeth said.

Katie studied her grandmother’s face. “Why would you defend me?”

“Because I felt your
dat
was overreacting a bit.” Her grandmother patted Katie’s lap. “You had no choice but to get a ride
heemet
from Jake on Friday. It was my fault for not realizing you were still in the bakery. I thought you’d gotten a ride with Samuel again. The whole situation was an honest mistake that was blown out of proportion, but my son is very stubborn and very strict. It made me recall the heartache
mei freind
endured when she fell in love with the Mennonite
bu.
I wanted to try to soften the blow for you as much as I could.”

“Danki.”
Katie studied her grandmother’s expression. “I never said I was in love with Jake. He and I are simply
freinden.
I enjoy talking to him, and I think he likes talking to me too.”

Elizabeth smiled. “I’m not blind. I see how you and Jake look at each other, and I know there are feelings blossoming between you two.” Her expression then became grave. “I promised your
dat
I would watch out for you and keep you and Jake apart as much as possible. I need to keep that promise, Katie. You know that.”

“I know.” Katie pulled an apple out of her lunch bag and studied it for a moment while contemplating her grandmother’s words. “What happened to your friend who fell in love with the Mennonite
bu
?”

“She was shunned, Katie. She left the community and married him.” Elizabeth took Katie’s hands in hers. “Katie, you’re
mei grossdochder
, and
Ich liebe dich.
Of course I’m going to wish you a life of happiness. However, I’ve seen a situation like this end badly.”

“What do you mean?” Katie tried to contemplate her grandmother’s words. “How can falling in love end badly?”

“The repercussions of leaving the community will be difficult to manage,
mei liewe.
” Her grandmother squeezed her hands. “Could you really handle walking away from your family and
freinden
who love you so much? And how would you feel breaking your parents’ hearts?”

Katie swallowed as the reality of what she was doing trickled through her. “I see what you’re saying and what the results of my actions could mean.” She pulled her hands back. “I promise I won’t disobey
mei dat
, and I won’t talk to Jake ever again.”

“I just want you to be careful with your heart.” Elizabeth pointed toward Katie’s chest. “I know how sweet and sensitive you are, and Jake is a very nice
bu.
However, you need to think about what the consequences could be if you allow yourself to be swept away in the moment without a care in the world.”

Katie thought of her two best friends and frowned. “It’s not easy being the only one without a boyfriend when Lizzie Anne is getting married and Lindsay is dating Matthew.”

Her grandmother’s face assumed a sympathetic expression. “I know that has to be difficult, but your time will come. Have patience and faith.” She suddenly brightened. “Remember the verse from the service last week?”

Katie shook her head. “Which one?”

“It was from the second of Thessalonians, verse sixteen,” Elizabeth said. “ ‘May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.’ Keep that in mind, Katie. Always keep your faith and hope. Your time will come when it’s right. You’re very young. You don’t need to fall in love at eighteen, even though your friends have.”

“Ya
,
”
Katie said. “I know.”

Elizabeth waved to a few of Katie’s cousins who were climbing the jungle gym and laughing. “I remember when you were out there playing. It’s amazing how quickly
mei grandkinner
are
growing up. Soon you’ll be married and having
kinner
of your own. It will happen in God’s time.”

Katie frowned at the thought. Would she ever find an Amish boy to love?

Her grandmother looped her arm around Katie’s shoulders. “I wish I could take your sadness away. You’re so young, and you have your whole life ahead of you. Don’t let this situation color the rest of your youth, Katie.”

Katie bit into the apple. She knew her grandmother meant well, but the words seemed meaningless in her disappointment. All she knew was she and Jake had to go their separate ways and pretend they were never friends.

Elizabeth stood. “I’m going to go start making sandwiches for the
kinner.
”

“Do you need help?” Katie asked, wiping her hands with a napkin.

“No,
danki.
” Her grandmother smiled. “You enjoy your lunch. I’ll take my break when you come back in.”

Katie finished the apple, wrapped the apple core in her napkin, and pulled out a zipper storage bag filled with frosted carrot bars she, Janie, and Nancy had made Saturday. She glanced toward the parking lot and spotted Jake sitting on the tailgate of his truck and eating lunch. She wondered if he missed her as much as she missed him. He turned toward her, and their gazes locked. She wished she could speak to him, but she’d heard her father’s rules loud and clear. The last thing she needed to do was disobey him and have the word get back through one of her relatives.