Amish Sweethearts (17 page)

As the group sang the final words of “How Great Thou Art” Jenny elbowed Lila and said, “Want to help with the food?”

“Sure,” she answered, relieved the singing was over. She’d been attending them for almost three years. At first it had been fun to see the other Youngie and spend time together, but she felt as if she were outgrowing them now. She followed her friend to the back of the room.

Monika had a big pot of hot chocolate ready to serve. “Go on into the house and get the popcorn balls,” she said to Jenny. Lila followed her friend out the shed door and into the crisp cold. They walked briskly, their breath hanging in vapors, to the kitchen door. Bishop Byler came out with a tray of peanut-butter spread and crackers.

“Come on in,” he said, holding the door with his foot for the girls. Lila gave him a smile as she entered the house. When she thought of marrying Reuben, one of the things that appealed to her, along with having Monika as a grandmother to her
children, was having Bishop Byler as a father-in-law. He was kind and gentle and always made her feel valued.

The kitchen was warm from the roaring fire in the wood stove. Lila held her hands out to it for a moment. The area was large and even with just a lamp lit, the yellow walls brightened the room. She’d always been a little jealous of Jenny’s house—even though she knew it was wrong to covet what her friend had.

The girls had each lost a parent—Lila, her mother and Jenny, her father—within six months of each other. They had that in common. But within a year Jenny’s mother had married Bishop Byler. Lila knew that didn’t make up for Jenny losing her own Dat, but Jenny’s life returned to a new normal at least. Lila felt as if her life still teetered on the edge of chaos.

She grabbed the second tray of popcorn balls and followed Jenny out to the shed.

As the boys gathered around, Reuben stood at her side. Monika dipped hot chocolate from the pot into cups and encouraged everyone to “Eat yourself full.”

She wagged her finger at Simon. “I don’t want any leftovers,” she said. “They’ll ruin my girlish figure.” He laughed with her as she patted her middle.

Once everyone was served, Monika sought Lila out. “I heard about your Mammi’s diagnosis,” she said. “How is she doing?”

“All right. Her surgery is scheduled for next Friday.”

Monika made a
tsk-tsk
sound. “Does she have enough help? Is their new church treating them right?”

They’d been going to their “new” Mennonite church for nearly twenty years.

“Jah,” Lila said.

“I heard you might be working with your Mammi—helping her out.”

Lila shook her head. “I’d like to but . . .”

“What’s holding you back?”

Lila’s face grew warm, even in the cold shed.

“She needs to help Dat with the milking.” Simon had come up behind her. “Since I’m leaving.”

“Oh, goodness,” Monika said. “That’s right. Look at the position you’ve put your family in.”

Simon put his arm around Lila. “I didn’t know about Mammi when I signed up.”

Monika put her hand on her wide hip. “Can’t you get out of it?”

Simon shook his head and then pulled Lila close. “Sorry, sis.”

She wiggled away from him. He wasn’t helping her feel better, not at all. She’d have been miffed about having to help with the milking no matter what, but to not be able to go help Mammi when she was ill was maddening.

Monika must have sensed Lila’s pain because she said, “Don’t worry. Something will work out. God will provide for your grandmother.”

Thankfully Reuben didn’t mind leaving early, and soon they were on the road, bundled under layers of wool blankets. Lila sat next to him, closer than usual. It was the coldest night of the year so far.

“Do you want to go help take care of your Mammi?” Reuben asked.

“Jah,” Lila said. “Of course.”

“I could help your Dat with the milking, in the mornings.”

“No, that would be too much for you.”

“I’d be back in time to open the lumberyard. It wouldn’t be forever, right? Just until your grandmother is back on her feet.”

“That’s right,” Lila said.

“Were you and Rose going to split the work?”

“That was my plan,” Lila said. She could imagine Rose trying
to get out of her half of the milking, but no one would eat breakfast if Rose didn’t cook it.

“Then I could do it in the morning—for you—and Rose can take her turn in the afternoon,” Reuben said. “I could talk to your father about it.”

“Denki,” Lila said. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it, but I doubt Dat would agree to it.”

“I could ask him,” Reuben said. “Tonight.”

She paused for a minute and then said, “I’ll bring it up with him. Not tonight, but tomorrow.”

They rode in silence, as they often did. True, he didn’t make her heart race the way Zane did, and there were times she longed for a more meaningful conversation with him. But nonetheless he was comfortable to be around, and no one was kinder to her. He turned onto Juneberry Lane and then down her family’s driveway.

As they reached the house, Daniel’s pickup roared up behind them. Simon jumped out, waved, and then ran up the back steps. Daniel swung his vehicle around and then took off back down the driveway to the lane.

Lila groaned. “Want to come in anyway?”

“Sure,” Reuben said. They unhitched his horse and put her in the barn, out of the cold. As they hurried on to the house, Lila clapped her gloved hands together, trying to warm up her hands.

By the time they got in the house, Simon had the fire in the stove roaring. Dat was on his way to bed but stopped when he saw Reuben. “Good to see you,” he said. The two had worked at the lumberyard together for years, and Dat got along as well with Reuben as anyone, probably better.

“See you tomorrow,” Dat said to Reuben, and then he nodded his head at Lila before lumbering to the hall and off to bed.

Lila cut the cherry cobbler and first served Reuben and then
Simon. Rose poked her head into the kitchen. “I thought I heard Reuben’s voice,” she said.

Simon stepped behind her and mocked her words.

Lila smiled but Reuben didn’t respond. Rose joined them at the table.

“Can I have some of that cobbler too?” Rose pointed toward Reuben’s plate.

Lila sighed as she cut one more piece. How was Rose going to handle the milking every day when she expected others to serve her?

Reuben asked Simon where he’d do his basic training.

“Fort Benning,” Simon answered. “In Georgia.”

As Lila slipped Rose the plate of cobbler, she couldn’t help but be a little jealous of Simon. She’d always wanted to travel and see the places across the country that Zane had told her about. She wasn’t jealous as far as how hard Simon’s training would be though. Or what he’d be doing. Or that he’d be living permanently so far outside his community, both spiritually and physically.

“How do you think basic will be?” Reuben asked.

Simon laughed. “I’ve survived Dat all these years. I’ll be fine. I doubt any Army sergeant could be worse.”

Lila was sure he didn’t have any idea what he was talking about. Her brother was committing himself to a philosophy that was the opposite of how he’d been raised.

“I have no doubt you’ll survive the physical part just fine,” Lila said. “But I worry about the impact such a harsh environment will have on you.”

“Ach,” he responded. “I’ll be okay.”

Lila shook her head. Rose had a smirk on her face as she turned to Simon. “Dat said he wished you were more like Reuben.”

“Rose,” Lila said. “Dat didn’t say that.” Their father hardly spoke at all, and he never said anything negative about one
child to another. At least Lila had never heard him say anything like that.

“No, he did,” Rose said. “When I had to help finish up with the milking tonight because Simon ran out on him again.” Rose smiled at Reuben, nearly batting her eyes. Lila suppressed a smile when Reuben’s face turned pink. Rose had a presence about her that Lila lacked. She never doubted her little sister was attractive, but in the last year she’d become quite the flirt too. At sixteen she should be going to singings. Lila hoped Dat would allow it soon, even though he’d probably worry about Rose. It would save them all a headache—and perhaps heartache—if her sister married young.

Simon shrugged. “Dat can say what he wants. I know I’ve disappointed him.” He shoved a bite of cobbler into his mouth. “But he’ll get over it.”

Lila doubted he would.

Simon shoved another bite into his mouth and then reached over and slapped Reuben on the back. “You’re the man, Reu.”

Lila wanted to roll her eyes. Simon sounded so ridiculous. She served herself a portion of cobbler and then sat down. But Simon was right. Reuben was the man. Maybe Dat
would
let him help with the milking.

Simon kicked her under the table. “Whatcha thinking about?”

She kicked him back. “What a pain you are.”

Simon laughed and reached across the table for the cobbler pan, dragging it toward himself. “You’ll be bored when I’m gone—just wait and see.”

She hoped, if all went as planned, that she wouldn’t be around once he was gone. She wouldn’t stay at Mammi’s long though. Just to get her through her surgery and recovery. She remembered how much Mammi helped all of them when their mother was ill. If their mother hadn’t died she’d take care of Mammi now. It was the least Lila could do. Surely Dat would see that.

The next morning, after Dat finished breakfast, he asked Lila to get started on the taxes.

“I’ll do it,” she said, “after I take Trudy to school.” She worked at the restaurant in the afternoon and the laundry needed to be done. Rose would have to see to it.

“I’ll ride with you to take Trudy.” Dat pushed back his plate.

“You could just take her,” Lila replied.

“I’d rather ride along,” he answered and headed down the hall to his room.

Lila told Rose, who was reading the
Budget Newspaper
in the living room, to get started on the laundry and then told Trudy to meet her outside after she’d grabbed her lunch and books.

Lila slipped into her boots and coat and headed out to hitch the horse to the buggy. By the time she swung around to the house, Dat and Trudy were both waiting for her, all bundled up.

Trudy climbed into the back, and Lila handed the reins to Dat after he climbed into the front.

A light snow had fallen during the night, and the horse laid out fresh tracks as she sped along. Trudy asked Lila and Dat if they’d come in to say hello to her teacher.

“I expect so,” Dat answered.

After that, Lila and Trudy played I Spy until Lila said, “I spy a little white building.”

It was the school, of course. One of the saddest times in Lila’s life was her last day as a scholar. She’d been jealous of Zane that he got to continue, but at least he shared his lessons with her. She loved school so much that she’d considered becoming a teacher, but waitressing paid better. The money she made helped keep the family out of the red.

It was hard to make a living as a farmer. A few in their dis
trict had recently gotten rid of their dairy herds. One family had opened up a tourist shop instead and was doing quite well.

Dat would never agree to that sort of a business arrangement though. He’d hate having Englisch people traipsing all over the farm. And Lila couldn’t blame him.

Beth stood at the door of the school. She didn’t have a coat on, just a shawl wrapped around her lavender dress as she welcomed the children inside, smiling warmly at each scholar. The more Lila saw of the woman the more she liked her.

“Some of the kids have invited our teacher home for supper,” Trudy said as Lila stopped the horse. “Could we do that?”

Lila nearly shuddered. She couldn’t think of anything more uncomfortable. Dat wouldn’t talk. Rose would talk too much.

“I’d like that,” Dat said.

Lila nearly fell out of the buggy. What was her father thinking?

Trudy clapped her hands together. “When should we ask her?”

“Anytime you’d like to,” Dat answered. He never would have allowed any of the older kids to ask a teacher home. Of course their teachers had been in their early twenties. That wouldn’t have been of any interest to Dat.