Seeing Your Face Again (34 page)

Did Saloma know Lois was dating? Debbie doubted Ida would have told her mom something like that. Ida would save her mother from that shock for a while yet. But it would only be a matter of time before Saloma found out. It seemed like Lois was a problem for which there never was a solution.

Debbie pulled on the lines and guided Buttercup down Verna's lane and pulled to a stop by the hitching post.

Joe came out of the barn, happiness written all over his face. “
Gut
morning, Debbie! It's great to see you again.”

“And it's good to see you.” Debbie climbed down as Joe waited by Buttercup's bridle. She tossed him the tie rope.

“On a Saturday morning, how did you get away?” Joe asked. “And with the wedding preparations in high gear too! Verna was talking of going over to help, in fact.”

“Then I won't stay long,” Debbie said. “When Verna comes over, we can chat some more.”

“Always talking.” Joe grinned. “I suppose the women have to get their time in together.”

“Well, we are female,” Debbie said.

The front door opened and Verna came out. She ran across the lawn and gave Debbie a hug. “It's so good to see you, Debbie! And on a Saturday morning at that. I was thinking of going home myself to help with the preparations.”

“That's what Joe told me, and you still can,” Debbie replied. “I shouldn't have come to begin with, but your mother insisted.”

A knowing look crossed Verna's face. “Then you must come inside. We'll talk while I finish cleaning the living room.”

“I'm helping!” Debbie said without hesitation as the two walked to the house.

“Have a good talk!” Joe hollered after them.

Debbie thought he was looking a bit forlorn when she glanced over her shoulder.

“Oh, he's not neglected, let me assure you.” Verna chuckled as she held the front door for Debbie. “He'd be bored with our chatter in minutes.”

Debbie doubted that. Unless she missed her guess, even a man would find his interest held by the intrigue swirling around the Beiler household at the moment.

Verna busied herself with the broom and pointed toward a
bucket of warm water with a damp cloth hanging on it. “You can wipe the furniture down while we talk.”

“Well, first tell me how the baby…er, the
boppli
is coming,” Debbie said as she tackled the rocking chairs first.

A pleased look crossed Verna's face. “I had my first visit from the midwife this week. She claims everything is fine. It's our first child, and everyone knows that can be difficult.”

“You'll do fine,” Debbie assured her.

“How was the baptismal class on Sunday?” Verna asked, resting her broom for a moment.

Debbie wrinkled her face. “Your father was nice enough. I think I'll make it.”

Verna grimaced. “Minister Kanagy wasn't so supportive, I assume. Minister Graber was probably noncommittal.”

“Minister Kanagy was okay. I shouldn't complain about one of the community's ministers, even to you.” Debbie gave Verna a quick glance. “You know that.”

Verna didn't back down. “You don't have to be coy with me, Debbie. I know enough already about the man. It's not going to be easy with him. It's just the way he is.”

“I suppose so.” Debbie sighed. “He did keep his eye on me Sunday, looking for any
Ordnung
transgressions, I think. But things seemed to go over well enough.”

“You spoke a few words to the ministers then?” Verna asked before continuing. “But of course you had to. They always ask the applicants their reasons on why they want to join.”

Debbie laughed. “I'm afraid I went a bit longer than maybe I should have. More than the others, that's for sure.”

Verna's eyes grew big. “In front of Minister Kanagy?”

Debbie shrugged. “He was there, and it seemed appropriate. I wanted to let them know where I came from.”

Verna's voice was tinged with horror. “You made a long speech? You're a
woman
, Debbie.”

“It wasn't
that
long. Besides, he seemed to like it.” Debbie shrugged. “Maybe Minister Kanagy has a softer heart than he lets on. His brother Melvin seems nice enough.”

Verna's broom swept the same spot on the floor repeatedly. “Now I've heard everything. You sticking up for Minister Kanagy!”

Debbie glanced toward Verna. “I'm just saying. The two men do come from the same family. Maybe they both have soft hearts.”

Verna's voice was clipped. “I don't believe that. Not after the way Minister Kanagy treated Joe before we were married. Remember? I went over to speak with the man myself. There wasn't a bone of softness showing in him that day.”

“Maybe it's because I'm
Englisha
,” Debbie offered.

Verna snorted. “
Nee!
That makes it worse, I'm sure.”

“You would think so, but maybe not,” Debbie defended. “I do know Melvin spoke to his brother on my behalf. But I don't think that would have been enough if Minister Kanagy hadn't been disposed to see me in a good light to begin with.”

Verna's broom moved again. “I must say you're seeing something in the minister I never saw. But maybe you have a point. I hope things go easy for you in the instruction class. It's not every day that we have an
Englisha
girl wanting to join us.”

“That proves my point!” Debbie pressed. For some reason she felt the need to drive home the fresh insight. Then she changed the subject. “Are you serious about returning home to help with the wedding preparations?”

“Certainly, if I'm needed.”

“I'd love that! And, yes, there will be plenty of work to do. But we should finish your work here first.”

“You're an angel!” Verna gushed. “We'll clean the basement yet and talk. I know you haven't told me why you really came.”

Debbie looked the other way as she began work on the second rocker.

Thirty-Three

D
ebbie swept the concrete floor of Verna's basement. She would like a house like this someday. It was built on a hillside but was surprisingly airy down here. Half the back side of the house overlooked a small yard and walkout. But a house needed a husband, didn't it? And she had little prospects on that score. Debbie brushed the thought aside. There were worse things than the life of a single Amish woman. And the Lord might have another plan for her that was just as exciting as marriage—although that was difficult to imagine. Amish life was designed around family and children.

Debbie's thoughts turned to Verna, who was across the room also sweeping. Her friend had been silent ever since they came down here. It was just as well. Debbie needed a breather. She knew Verna would start coaxing her to talk eventually. She wouldn't be satisfied until she got to the bottom of Debbie's troubles. Debbie gave a dry chuckle at the thought.

Verna looked her way. “What's so funny? Did I do something?”

Debbie laughed. “No, of course not. I was just thinking about my troubles, that's all.”

Verna paused. “Are you ready to talk then? You know I like to solve problems, including yours.” Verna chuckled too. “It's about Alvin, isn't it?”

“Partly.” Debbie sighed. “I've given up on Alvin. My trip to see him sure didn't do any good.”

“There's another one of my plans that went into the ditch,” Verna said. “Seems like nothing I came up with for you and Alvin worked. Getting the two of you together at my wedding, that failed.”

Debbie wanted to protest that Verna wasn't to blame, but her friend had already moved on. “Oh well. One must try again. If the trip didn't work, we'll come up with something else.” Verna was now sweeping the wall with vigorous strokes. “By the way, how did your meeting with Alvin go? He was bull-headed about coming home, wasn't he?”

Debbie looked away. Did she want to share this with Verna? It couldn't make things worse, could it? She blurted, “Alvin was walking with another girl when I got there. I never spoke with him.”

Verna gasped. “You don't say!
Nee
, Debbie! Oh, this is worse than I imagined.”

Debbie leaned the broom against the wall and wiped her eyes to head off the quick sting of tears. Memories of that morning in Philadelphia flashed through her mind. She saw again the scene as Alvin walked up the street with the
Englisha
girl and her dog. Debbie choked back a sob.

Verna appeared beside her and put her hand around her shoulder.

Debbie managed a wry grin. “It was just such a shock. I was waiting outside the apartment, and Alvin arrived…with…with this woman. She was
sooooo
pretty, Verna! And she had a dog—a big dog.”

Verna was dumbfounded.

“I know,” Debbie continued. “The dog should make no difference, but somehow it did. I guess that's one thing we didn't try. I should have gotten a dog.”

Verna made a choking sound. “You poor thing!”

“Listen to the two of us,” Debbie finally said, bursting out in laughter.

Verna soon joined in. “Are we losing our minds?”

“We could be.” Debbie wiped her eyes. “People who go insane don't know they're going insane, do they?”

“
Nee
, I guess not.” Verna composed herself. “This is terrible though. We have to do something.”

“Like what? I'm not throwing myself at him again.” Debbie's eyes blazed. She could still feel the fire of shame consuming her heart.

“You weren't throwing yourself at him. But never mind that.” Verna appeared resolute. “We must pray—hard!”

“I suppose so,” Debbie allowed. She didn't wish to insult the Lord's power. Perhaps she needed to be resigned to the fact that He might have other plans for her.

“
Yah
, you never know,” Verna said as she nodded, seemingly reading Debbie's thoughts. “There has to be something we can do.”

Debbie grabbed her broom again. “Right now I'm ready to forget the whole thing. I've already taken up way too much of your time today. I should be getting back home to help. Your mother was more than kind to allow me time to come in the first place.”

“But this is important!” Verna insisted. “You had to share what was on your heart. And this wasn't something you could have told me anywhere else. I'm thinking
Mamm
knew something was upsetting you.”

Debbie swept while Verna continued. “You know, there's so much about this situation that makes little sense, Debbie. I suppose I shouldn't be telling you this, but I think you have some right to know…since you do love the man.”

“Please, Verna…” Debbie shook her head. “I don't know what you're thinking, but don't make this worse by telling me something you shouldn't.”

Verna shrugged off the protest. “Joe's on the financial committee,
you know. The one that's helping sort through the Knepps financial mess.”

“Verna, you shouldn't.”

Verna ignored her. “Joe's the youngest member on the committee,” Verna said, her face glowing for a moment. “That shows you the quality of man I married! But that's not my point. Joe says there's no reason the Knepp farm couldn't be one of the most prosperous in the community. He says it's been seriously mismanaged for years, and that old Edwin is dragging his feet every step of the way about making the necessary changes. It makes no difference what the committee suggests, they get the impression Edwin is disagreeing and working against them every chance he gets.”

“What has this got to do with me?” Debbie asked.

“I don't know,” Verna admitted. “But it has something to do with Alvin. Joe is sure of it. The committee is talking about getting in a hired hand soon—to make sure Edwin implements their instructions. There are no funds for the hired hand, but something has to be done. I'm wondering if Alvin has been objecting to his
daett
's tomfoolery when it comes to farming for years now. Maybe that's one of the primary reasons Alvin left. Over the way his
daett
ran the farm into the ground.”