Sewn with Joy (2 page)

“How did you guess?”

Elizabeth's face registered surprise. “You are? I didn't think…I mean, I never thought Matthew Slagel would find someone who met his high standards.” Her white hair was tucked neatly into her
kapp
, and her face was a map of wrinkles. Of course, Elizabeth didn't call them wrinkles—she called them smile lines. And at Joy's confession, Elizabeth's smile was wider than Joy had ever seen.

“How could you
not
know this is where things were heading, Elizabeth? You know how much I've been talking about him. You know how often he's stopped by the store in the last few months.” Joy lowered her voice. “Then three weeks ago he talked to my
dat
. He just wanted to know if he could call once in a while, but there hasn't been a day since that we haven't spent time together. And last night he made his intentions known.”

His intentions to spend as much time with her as possible. His intentions that they'd marry, perhaps next year. “I've nearly been floating, and I can't stop smiling.”

“Well, I'll be.” Elizabeth placed a hand on her cheek. “And it makes sense. I've never seen such a devout young Amish woman. No wonder he's chosen you. The way you act, think, dress, care… I'm sure his parents are pleased. Everyone expects so much from the bishop's family, you know. And to think that my prayers were being answered unbeknownst to me. And the Lord let me live to see it.”

“Your prayers?”

Elizabeth's face softened. Her eyes widened and in the inner corners Joy saw a hint of tears.

“Dear Joy, I pray about many things. You know that. God put it on my heart to pray for that building Lovina now owns. I prayed for the pie shop even before the warehouse came up for sale. I prayed for a garden too, even before Hope had a glimmer of an idea that she could make anything grow in the hot Florida sun. And you, my dear, are like the daughter I never had. Of course I've been praying for your future husband. I started within the first weeks you worked here. I'll continue to pray for you.” Elizabeth nodded eagerly and closed her eyes. “I'll pray for you, that you will become the woman you need to be in marriage. I'll pray that Matthew will discover God's true purposes for his life too.” Elizabeth opened her eyes, and they sparkled with conviction.

Sunlight stretched its fingers through the store and slanted on the counter where Elizabeth sat. The woman's face glowed, and Joy was certain she had a direct line to God. Joy hoped she'd be as devout someday. She wanted a faith that couldn't be shaken and a love for others that couldn't be challenged. Mostly, she wanted to trust God as Elizabeth did. She wanted to learn to pray about everything, knowing God's answers were always best.

I'll pray for you.
The words penetrated Joy. Elizabeth spoke the truth. “I'll pray for you” weren't words the older woman spoke lightly. If the Amish woman said it, then she meant it.

“
Danke
for praying.
Danke
for caring.” Joy offered a soft hug. “My whole life I've wanted this one life more than anything—to be a wife, to have many kids, to sew for them.” She touched her neck with the tips of her fingers and turned to meet her friend's gaze. “Does that sound silly, Elizabeth, just to want to live an Amish life? I mean, Lovina longed for a pie shop. Hope finds her calling in a garden. Yet I just want to have a family, a home, and a buggy, and to live the way my family members have been living for generations.”

“Well, there's nothing wrong with that…” As Elizabeth's voice trailed off, her brow furrowed and the grooves in her forehead deepened. She opened her mouth as if to speak and then closed it again, pressing her lips into a tight, thin line.

“What's wrong, Elizabeth?”

“Oh, it's nothing really.”

“
Ja
, there is something wrong. I've been working for you for a long time—there's
ne
fooling me.”

“Joy, I know your family is so thankful that you have never thought about leaving the Amish life—that it is your dream. But, well, out of all those desires you listed, you never mentioned God. Not once.”

Joy's mouth opened slightly. She dropped her gaze and looked away. A tight ball formed in her throat. She attempted to swallow it away, but it wouldn't budge. “That's a given.”

Elizabeth's gaze penetrated deep, but the older woman didn't say a word. Elizabeth didn't continue, didn't press. Instead, she rose and leaned heavily on her cane. She shuffled to the front of the store to finish the new window display she had started
yesterday. It didn't matter that it was easier for Joy to set things up—Elizabeth always insisted on taking care of the front window. She wanted the first view of her store to be just right. Picking up a spool of dark orange tulle, Elizabeth released a heavy sigh.

“I best get going before…” Joy tried to think of an excuse for not continuing the conversation, but she knew Elizabeth would see through it. She decided to speak the truth. “If I want to see Matthew during his lunch break, I don't have much time.”

“You better hurry then,” Elizabeth called, disappointment clear in her tone.

The bag was heavy in Joy's hand as she hurried out, and a strange weight settled on her heart. She tried to swallow her emotions to keep tears from springing up, and her thoughts skittered from anger to a deep knowing that Elizabeth told the truth. How could Elizabeth's one comment cause such a reaction?

I do care about God…I do.
The words pounded, matching her quickened steps. God was why she was Amish. Why she dressed this way, lived this lifestyle. Wasn't He? Her whole life as an Amish woman was meant to model devotion to God in heaven.

Yet even as she tried to convince herself, the lump of emotion expanded in her throat. The truth was, with Matthew Slagel's attention, she'd thought little of God lately. She lived her life for Him as she always had, but she'd not given much time to Bible reading and prayer. The wonder and holiness of God hadn't crossed her thoughts. But that was to be expected, right? The newness of any romantic relationship was all-consuming. And surely God understood. He brought Matthew into her life. Surely staying true to her Amish beliefs with someone who cared strongly about the same was God's plan for her.

Wasn't it?

 

Sewing Enhances One's Character

Outside of the practical advantage of being able to use the needle, the mental training through hand and eye has proved to have a permanent effect on the character. The training of the hand makes it dexterous in other employments. Habits of thrift, cleanliness, patience and accuracy are inculcated, economy taught, and the inventive faculty developed…

An enthusiastic and progressive teacher can, through sewing, make freer and more capable beings of her pupils and help round out their characters.
*

*
Mary Schenck Woolman,
A Sewing Course for Teachers
(Washington, DC: Frederik A. Fernald, 1893), 3.

Two

Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it's better to be alone than in bad company.

A
MISH PROVERB

T
he sun beat down on Matthew Slagel's hat, shoulders, and back as he framed the new bedroom being added on to one of the quaint cottages in Pinecraft. It was warm today—a warmth that didn't seem right in late October. Still, the heat was nothing like it was in the summer. On summer days the humidity made it hard to breathe, hard to work.

He'd been doing construction in the three years since he'd moved back to Pinecraft to be close to his parents. His only respite during the summer months was retreating into the small workshop he'd set up in their garage. With the cool air of the air-conditioning blowing on him, he often lost himself in the wood, in the grains and designs. It was a clean-smelling work, and the sounds of his tools were his music. In his workshop he moved at a slow pace, with no worries about construction deadlines, work crews, or deliveries. He had found his greatest peace within the workshop until recently, when something—or rather someone—drew his attention away.

Matthew smiled at the changes in the last few months. Smiled
at the emotions he didn't think he'd ever feel. A love was growing deep for a woman, and for the first time in his life something mattered more than his workshop. It was unexpected. It was wonderful.

He glanced at his watch. A hint of excitement urged him to hurry, but he held himself in check. Joy said she'd try to meet him during his lunch break at his parents' house. She was delivering his mother's new curtains, and they'd have time to see each other, to chat. It hadn't been hard to talk his
mem
into new curtains—a gift from him for her birthday. He'd urged her to order what she wanted and he'd cover the bill. It was a good excuse for Joy to spend more time with his mother—time both women seemed to appreciate.

With sure fingers, Matthew placed one last nail against the two-by-four, sank it with one hit, and then stepped back, figuring this was as good a place as any to stop. He took a deep breath. The aromas of ocean breezes, citrus, and the gardenia bush on the side of the house were welcoming.

On the other corner of the addition, Abraham John still pounded nails in a steady beat. Abraham whistled one of the gospel songs he'd heard on Birky Street the other evening, and Matthew hated to interrupt his friend's work.

Matthew dropped his hammer into the top of his toolbox and strode toward his coworker. “I'm heading out. You should get yourself some lunch.”

“Yep. I will. Just want to finish this header.”

Matthew moved toward the framed section that would soon hold a door. Abraham's eyes followed him.

“You have an extra hop in your step today, if I say so myself. Off in a hurry too.” Abraham was Matthew's age—late twenties—and was also still single. But unlike Matthew, Abraham
sometimes acted more
Englisch
than Amish, heading down to Siesta Key Beach to play beach volleyball and flirt with the
Englisch
girls. Abraham had a mischievous look in his eye, and Matthew was almost afraid to tell him about Joy. The last thing he wanted was for Abraham to show her attention—the wrong type of attention.

Matthew took a handkerchief from his pocket, pulled off his hat, and wiped his brow. “It's a
gut
day, that's all. And I'm ready for lunch.”