The Restoration (29 page)

Everyone nodded affirmatively, and Priscilla and Elaine set out the food.

The dinner guests consisted of an older couple, Tracey and Steve Munroe, and their four daughters with their husbands. The Munroes had gotten married fifty years ago, and Priscilla suspected from their tender expressions as they looked at each other that they were still very much in love.

As Priscilla stood beside Elaine, making sure the celebration ran smoothly, she enjoyed listening to the older couple share memories of the years they’d been together. As they did so, their daughters listened attentively, while casting loving glances toward their husbands.

Priscilla thought it was sweet when some of the couples held hands. They were all obviously in love.

Mrs. Monroe had tears in her eyes as she smiled at Priscilla and Elaine. “Early in our marriage, times were tough, but if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. God has given us a loving, caring family, and we certainly feel blessed.”

Mr. Monroe nodded in agreement.

Priscilla turned her back, using her apron to dab at the tears threatening to fall. When she turned back around, she noticed some of the others using their napkins to wipe their eyes, too.

Mr. Munroe stood, clearing his throat, and added some humor, as well. It was funny, hearing him recount how things had been growing up in a house with all brothers. “Now I know how my mother felt about being the only woman in a houseful of men.” But as he continued to speak, his eyes glistened with tears. “No man could be any happier than I, sharing a life with my special girls.”

Everyone clapped and wished one another many more years of happiness.

As the family ate heartily, laughing and talking, each had a story to tell about how they’d met. Priscilla enjoyed listening, although it made her long all the more for a marriage proposal. It seemed each of the Monroes’ daughters had chosen February fourteenth for her wedding day, with the hope of having the same special relationship her parents had. The youngest daughter was the last to share her story, and afterward, her husband stood up. Hugs and congratulations went around the room when he announced they were expecting their first child.

Priscilla sighed. Having a baby was another dream she hoped would come true someday.

They had just set the pies out for dessert, when someone knocked on the back door. Elaine went to answer it, while Priscilla poured coffee and tea.

When Elaine returned to the dining room, Priscilla was surprised to see David with her.

He grinned at Priscilla and handed her a gift bag. “I remembered you would be here helping Elaine tonight. So I came by to give you this. Happy Valentine’s Day, Priscilla.”

Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t really expected a card from him, much less a gift.

Suddenly, the room became quiet; all eyes seemed to be on her and David. “That was very thoughtful of you, David,” Priscilla whispered. Thinking it would be best not to open David’s present in front of their dinner guests, Priscilla suggested she and David go to the kitchen.

“Would you please excuse us?” Priscilla glanced at each of the guests. Grins and nods were given her as the room became alive with conversation again.

“Go right ahead.” Elaine stepped aside as David followed Priscilla out of the room.

“The roads are sure nasty tonight.” David leaned on the kitchen counter as Priscilla set the gift bag on the table.

“Our dinner guests said the same thing. I’m surprised they didn’t cancel.” Her brows puckered. “For that matter, how come you ventured out in this weather?”

David grinned at her as he shook his head. “Aw, I’d never let a little bad weather keep me from bringing you a Valentine’s Day gift.”

Priscilla felt the heat of a blush. Pulling her gaze away from him, she opened the bag. In addition to a card, she found a package of stationery and a pretty pink pen with her name on it.

“Danki, David. This is very nice.”

“Du bischt willkum. Did I say ‘you’re welcome’ right?”

She nodded.

David gestured to the card. “Go ahead, open it.”

Priscilla did as he asked, silently reading the card.
For Someone Special. I hope your Valentine’s Day is filled with lots of good things, because you’re someone very special to me. With Love, David.

Oh my!
Priscilla sucked in her breath.
Could others be right? Does David see me as more than a friend?

“You’re awfully quiet, Priscilla. Don’t you like the card?”

“Uh…” She felt tongue-tied and wasn’t sure how to respond. “It’s a nice Valentine, David.”

He stepped forward and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you like it, because it’s how I feel about you.”

Priscilla sank into the nearest chair, holding the card to her chest.

“I hope I haven’t overstepped my bounds.” He sat beside her.

“As you know, Elam and I have been courting for some time.”

David nodded. “Yes, and I’m not trying to come between you. It’s just that—well, I feel complete when I’m with you, Priscilla. In fact, I think I might be falling in love with you.” He paused, smiling at her. “I won’t pressure you to make a decision, but if you have any feelings other than friendship for me, maybe you should rethink your relationship with Elam.”

Priscilla sat quietly, mulling things over. She’d never expected such a bold proclamation.
Why didn’t I see this coming? Did I do something to encourage him? David has been pretty attentive since he came to Arthur. What do I really feel for him?

A
dam’s brows furrowed, and Leah noticed the determined set of his jaw as he clenched the reins. They had taken the girls out for supper this evening to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but now she worried whether they would make it home or not. The snow flurries that had begun earlier in the day had become thicker, and the harsh wind caused blizzard-like conditions. Huddled in the back of their buggy, the girls didn’t seem to notice the hazardous conditions as they giggled and chattered away like magpies. Maybe it was good the children didn’t realize how dangerous the driving conditions were. Leah didn’t want them to worry about such things.

Leah remembered how when she was a child she hadn’t worried about snow on the roads. She also recalled how much fun it had been to play in the snow.

Please, Lord
, Leah prayed,
help us to get home safely.

“Try not to worry,” Adam said, as though sensing her fears. “My horse knows the way home even without me guiding him.”

“But this wind, and the snow… It’s so fierce all of a sudden.” Leah lowered her voice so Amy, Linda, and Carrie couldn’t hear, as she clung to the edge of her seat. “It’s hard not to be concerned when our buggy is rocking to and fro. And what if the cars don’t see us in time?”

“We’re almost there.” Adam spoke in a reassuring tone.

“How do you know? I can barely see the road.”

“See how my horse is picking up speed? He always does when we get close to home.”

Leah had to admit it was true. Her horse did the same thing.

A short time later, they were turning up the driveway leading to their home. It was dark outside, but Leah could see a ray of light coming from the battery-operated lantern Adam had turned on and placed in one of the barn windows before they left for supper. Coal stood barking from the porch, and his greeting was like music to Leah’s ears.

Leah relaxed, sighing with relief.
Thank You, Lord.

“I hope anyone else who is out in this weather makes it home safely,” Adam said as he directed his horse up to the hitching rack.

Leah thought about Elaine and Priscilla and wondered whether the foul weather had kept people from coming to their dinner this evening. If they had come, she hoped everything at Elaine’s house was going okay.

“Oh my, we’ll never make it home in this weather!” Tracey Monroe, who had set up the dinner with Elaine, stood at the window, shaking her head. “I probably should have canceled this evening as soon as the snow started falling earlier today. I just had no idea it would get this bad. Why, I can’t even see where our cars are parked anymore.” Her voice was tight with worry. “I was hoping the snow wouldn’t amount to much—especially since we were all looking forward to this family celebration.”

“It’s okay, sweetheart.” Tracey’s husband, Steve, slipped his arm around her waist. “None of us could have known the weather would get worse. We all wanted to be here as much as you did.”

“I’d feel better if you didn’t try to drive home tonight,” Priscilla said. “It’s too dangerous to be out on the roads.”

Tracey turned to face her. “What other choice do we have?”

“You can spend the night here,” Elaine spoke up. She looked at Priscilla and then David, standing nearby. “That goes for both of you, too.”

“That’s very generous of you,” Tracey said. “But we couldn’t put you out. Besides, I’m sure you don’t have enough beds to accommodate all ten of us, plus the three of you.”

“There are six bedrooms in this house, so each couple can have their own room. Priscilla and I will share my room, and David can sleep there.” Elaine gestured to the couch in the living room. “Hopefully by morning, the weather will have improved. There’s plenty of food here for breakfast, too.”

“Guess we’d better start making some phone calls.” Steve pulled out his cell phone, and several others did as well, including David.

“I’ll let Gram and Gramps know,” he told Priscilla. “Should I call your folks, too?”

“I’d appreciate it.” Priscilla clutched the folds in her dress. “I hope one of them thinks to check for messages and, if they do, that they’re able to find the phone shack in all of this snow.”

Everything was done. The dishes had been washed, dried, and put away. All the bedrooms were clean and ready for the unexpected overnight guests who were here at Elaine’s house this evening. All she needed to do yet was get out some blankets for David to use when he slept on the couch.

Everyone settled in the living room for a while, and Priscilla made a big bowl of popcorn to pass around. As they sat visiting, where it was warm and cozy, the snow continued to fall, and the wind whistled eerily as it whipped tree branches against the windowpanes outside.

Steve Munroe had everyone’s attention as he recounted a winter from his boyhood. “I was one of nine brothers,” he said, grinning. “Much like this blizzard, it took all of us helping my dad to get the cows into the barn before the subzero temperatures set in.”

Elaine’s eyes grew heavy as she listened to his story. She recalled her grandparents telling her of a time, many years ago, when they’d lived through such a snowstorm.

Suddenly, a loud crash outside broke the silence, causing everyone to jump. It was followed by the sound of glass breaking, as the wind grew louder.

Elaine gasped. “What was that?”

“Don’t worry; we’ll take a look.” David jumped up, and he, as well as the other men, grabbed their coats and headed out the door.

“I hope there’s no serious damage,” one of the Munroe daughters said.

“I don’t feel any cold air coming in, so hopefully no windows were broken,” Elaine commented.

Several minutes passed, before David, Mr. Munroe, and his sons-in-law returned.

“One of the tree limbs broke off by the side of your house. Unfortunately, it busted a basement window,” David explained. “Until you can get the window replaced, if you have some wood in the basement, or something else we can cover the window with, it should help keep the cold air out.”

Elaine tapped her chin. “I believe there might be some plywood in the basement by my grandpa’s workbench. Could you use that?”

Steve nodded. “It should work out just fine.”

Elaine was glad she wasn’t alone here tonight. It was a comfort to be with all these good people during the frightening storm. Now all she had to do when the weather improved was to find someone who could replace the broken window downstairs.