A Blessing for Miriam (41 page)

Ivan’s gaze was steady on Miriam’s face. “You’re a
wunderbah
person. Do you know that?”

Miriam searched her thoughts but could find nothing to say.

Ivan didn’t seem to notice her silence. “We need to talk about us,” he said.

“
Yah
,” Miriam allowed. “I suppose we do.”

Ivan straightened in his chair. “You’ve been over to my house for supper twice now, which I really appreciate. And your
daett
has given his permission to…” Ivan waved his hand around. “At
least to seeing you, and you seem agreeable. But perhaps we should speak more…” Ivan stopped as if he didn’t know how to continue.

Miriam broke in. “It’s okay, Ivan. I understand. Maybe we don’t have to decide anything now. Maybe we can just go on like this.”

“I don’t know about that.” He glanced at her. “We used to be sweet on each other—once upon a time.”

“But a lot has changed since then.”

“
Yah
.” He hesitated. “I want to tell you something, Miriam. I admit now that I shouldn’t have allowed the news of your inheritance to make me uncertain after I was already seeing Laura. Thankfully Laura wasn’t offended, and she loved me through that time. She was who I needed her to be. I guess what I’m saying is that my marriage to Laura was no mistake.”

“I never thought it was.” Miriam kept her gaze away from him.

“Nor was your engagement to Wayne.” Ivan hurried on. “We just weren’t meant to be. The Lord had other plans at that time.”

Miriam looked at him, her eyes tear-filled. “I wish I could understand the Lord’s ways, but I can’t.
Daett
thinks a blessing could yet be made out of the tragedy we’ve suffered. Do you agree with him?”

“I don’t know.” Ivan looked away. “That’s too deep for me, but isn’t it enough that we’re here now and have another chance at love?”

“Do you love me?” Miriam studied his face.

Ivan met her gaze. “I’m not going to lie, Miriam. I admire you greatly, and you’ll make a
wunderbah frau
. But I haven’t forgotten Laura yet.”

“Nor have I forgotten Wayne.”

“Thanks for understanding.” Ivan’s gaze settled over the fields where the shadows had begun to lengthen.

After a few moments of silence, Miriam said, “On a lighter note, now how about that supper? Will you stay?”

Ivan appeared grateful as he nodded. “A man’s own cooking gets awful dreary. My family can only help out so much.”

Miriam stood. “I’ll check on the progress and be right back.”

A broad smile spread over Ivan’s face.

Shirley and Naomi’s questioning gaze greeted Miriam in the kitchen. “What’s up with the two of you? It looked like a heavy discussion you were having,” Naomi asked.

Miriam smiled. “Never mind that. He would like to stay for supper. How long till it’s ready?”

“Half an hour if you’ll help us,” Shirley said. “
Mamm
’s in the bedroom with baby Anna at the moment. That slowed supper down.”

“I’ll tell Ivan,” Naomi offered, her face a tease. “He can entertain himself with
Daett
and the boys in the barn until then.”

“You do that,” Miriam agreed.

“You just want to flirt with him.” Shirley made a face at her sister.

Naomi giggled and dashed out of the kitchen.

“How’s it going
really
?” Shirley asked once Naomi was gone.

“Okay, I think. We’re getting there slowly.”

Shirley gave Miriam a quick hug before she turned back to the stove. “But you’re trying to do the right thing. That’s
gut
.”

And that was
gut
, Miriam told herself. She took the bread out of the cupboard and began to slice it. They would take things a day at a time until both of their hearts had begun to heal. Love would come when the Lord willed it.

Chapter Forty

S
hirley slipped out of the washroom door and into the darkness of the summer night. Behind her the chatter of girls in the living room after the Sunday-evening hymn singing died away. She was now one of the dating girls, Shirley told herself as she searched the darkness for Glen’s buggy. She felt downright old and ready to settle down—a thought that made her giggle behind her hand. To be truthful, this was more fun than she’d imagined. Not as thrilling as a ride in Jonas Beachy’s convertible or an evening spent in a fancy restaurant, but certainly more wholesome. She might actually get to like this. And she’d almost forgotten about the scars on her face. She thought less about them with each hour she spent with Glen.

Shirley walked past two waiting buggies and pulled herself up to settle on the buggy seat beside Glen.

“I see you know how to find buggies in the dark.”

“Didn’t think I could?” Shirley gave Glen a fake glare and then
laughed. “Just because I used to ride in—” Shirley bit off the words. She didn’t want to offend Glen and revealing bitterness wasn’t necessary. “Actually, I like your buggy,” she finished.

“Glad to hear that.” Glen smiled as his horse took up a steady gait.

Shirley took a deep breath and rushed out the words she’d been thinking. “Glen, don’t you think we should both take the baptismal instruction classes this fall?”

Glen appeared startled at the sudden change in conversation. “What brings that up?”

“Well, we’re…” Shirley reached for his hand. “We’re both getting
old
, you know.”

They laughed together.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?” Glen regarded Shirley with a steady gaze.

“
Yah.
”

“I guess I’ve been thinking about it,” Glen admitted. “How did you know?”

“I didn’t. It was my own thought.”

“I like that.” Glen squeezed Shirley’s hand. “We think alike.”

Shirley looked up at him. “I feel all old and decrepit, but it feels okay.”

Glen made a face. “That’s not
gut
.”

“Oh, it is for me.” Shirley didn’t hesitate. “Believe it.”

“You? Old and decrepit?” Glen shook his head. “You’ll always be young and beautiful to me.”

Shirley clung to Glen’s hand. “Why do you say such
wunderbah
things to me?”

“Because they’re true!”

They traveled in silence for a while, and then Glen asked, “How’s Miriam doing with Ivan?”

Shirley leaned against Glen before she answered. “Okay, I think. She’s a great example to me. I know that.”

“They’re not dating though,” Glen said. “At least they weren’t last Sunday.”

“No,” Shirley admitted. “Miriam is coming home with Lee and Mark tonight as usual. Apparently Ivan wants a more informal approach. Not that Miriam has complained, but they do things a little differently. I do think they’ll be getting married, but not this fall since Miriam has her teaching job in Oklahoma. I don’t know how they’ll work that out. All I know is that Ivan needs a
frau
, and Miriam is the most decent woman available for him.”

“I wouldn’t disagree,” Glen allowed. “But I don’t understand the no dating part.”

“Miriam knows what she’s doing,” Shirley assured him.

Glen tilted his head. “I saw Mary Troyer making eyes at Ivan today. She’s been widowed for a year or so and has two small children. I’m sure she could use a husband and, unlike Miriam, quick like.”

Shirley groaned. “I hope not. I’d hate to see Miriam lose another prospect. Miriam is trying to follow
Daett
’s instructions since Wayne passed. I think it’ll work out this time.”

“
Yah
, I heard through the grapevine that your
daett
’s behind the whole thing. That he’s trying to set up Miriam to heal her heart and bring a blessing out of the tragedy.”

Shirley shrugged. “
Daett
did interfere at first, and I didn’t like that. But Miriam seems to think
Daett
was correct, and who am I to second-guess my eldest sister? And I’m tired of running my own life. Look where that got me! But then again, here I am…”

“With me,” Glen finished. “So I guess your logic must be right. I wasn’t trying to say I disagreed. I hope Miriam does find happiness with Ivan.”

“She will.” Shirley sat up as he turned into the Yoder driveway. “And here we are—home!”

“Yep.” Glen agreed. He pulled to a stop by the hitching post. Lee’s buggy pulled in behind them with Mark and Miriam. Glen
tied his horse and waited beside Shirley while Lee and Mark unhitched.

“Howdy there, stranger!” Lee hollered over to them.

“And to you,” Glen hollered back.

Miriam approached them with a smile. “It’s
gut
to see you here tonight, Glen. I’m happy for the two of you.”

“Thank you.” Glen grinned in the soft buggy light. “And the best to you and Ivan.”

Miriam lowered her head. “The Lord will guide us. And thank you for the concern. I’m going inside. Are you two coming in?”

Shirley stepped forward but Glen touched her arm. “The moon’s coming up. I thought Shirley and I could go for a little midnight stroll.”

Miriam chuckled. “Not till midnight, I hope.”

“Figuratively speaking, of course,” Glen said with a laugh.

“You enjoy yourself then.” Miriam moved on toward the house.

Once Miriam had left, Glen whispered, “She’s burdened about something.”

“She’s suffered a lot,” Shirley whispered back. “Suffering can do that to you.”

Lee’s booming voice interrupted them. “How’s the happy couple tonight?”

“Going for a moonlight walk,” Shirley chirped.

“Can’t get more romantic than that,” Mark smirked.

“I didn’t know the moon was up!” Lee peered around teasingly.

“Shows how romantic you are!” Mark pointed at the horizon. “Just coming up.”

“I have other sterling qualities,” Lee protested as the two moved on.

“He’s just teasing.” Shirley glanced at Glen. “Don’t take him seriously. Lee’s the kindest and humblest fellow around.”

“
Yah
, I thought so.” Glen’s gaze followed the two men as they entered the house. “I like your family a lot.”

“That’s
gut
, but come, let’s go.” Shirley pulled on Glen’s hand. “You were going on a romantic stroll with me, remember?”

“Oh, I remember.” Glen moved ahead of Shirley and pulled them both into a run.

At the pasture gate they paused, and Shirley undid the latch. On the other side, they walked hand-in-hand, pausing moments later to watch the moon rise. The globe inched upward and soon hung inches above the horizon.

“It’s so peaceful,” Shirley said softly as she leaned into Glen’s shoulder.

“I know,” he said. “But time moves on, and I guess our
rumspringa
time is about over if we join the baptismal class.”

Shirley pulled her head away. “Now what brought that up?”

“I guess the night and the seriousness of this.”

“Romance is serious,” Shirley mused. “I never thought of that before.”

“It’s the Lord’s way of pointing us in the right direction. Family, home, children, responsibility, hard work. He makes the way as pleasant as He can.”

“Now you’re going to make me cry. Stop it!” Shirley ordered.

Glen dug in his pocket and came out with his handkerchief. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” He touched her cheek lightly. “I think the Lord is leading the two of us together, Shirley. To spend our lives with each other.”

“Is this a proposal of marriage, Glen?”

“No,” he chuckled. “That would be a little rushed, but I can’t imagine myself with anyone else as my
frau
.”

“Hush, Glen. You’ve said enough.”

“I know. Scratch my denial and take this as a statement of my intentions.”

Shirley leaned against Glen’s shoulder again.

Why she always hesitated when Glen tried to deepen their relationship, she had no idea. But he was patient with her, and she
usually gave in. That meant they would likely be engaged before long. A thrill ran through her at the thought. Glen would be her husband someday! Not this wedding season, of course, but perhaps the next or the following. The possibility seemed very real and close. Like the moon in the sky. The large, glimmering globe felt like a person could touch it even though it remained far in the distance.