A Season of Love (10 page)

“She’s not going to ask for it,” Junior said. “She only talks when she wants to. She’s very stubborn.”

Katie smiled at Junior. “Would you please share with your
schweschder
?”

“Ya
,
”
Junior said. “You can use it.”

“I think it’s nap time,” Lindsay announced as she entered from the kitchen, crossed the family room, and picked up Emma, who bellowed in protest. “You know the routine.”

Katie stood and reached for Daniel Junior’s hand. “May I walk upstairs with you?”

“Ya
,
”
he said, taking her hand.

While holding Emma in her arms, Lindsay smiled at Katie. “I appreciate all you and Lizzie Anne are doing for me today. It
helps to have you here with the
kinner
while Lizzie Anne and I do some cleaning.”

“Gern gschehne
,
”
Katie said. “I’m glad we can help. It was fun too. I love spending time with you and Lizzie Anne.”

Lizzie Anne appeared from the kitchen holding a tray of food for Rebecca. “I have Rebecca’s lunch ready. I’ll bring it to her.”

Katie followed Lindsay up the stairs with Daniel Junior in tow. After tucking him in his bed, she stepped out into the hallway and headed to Rebecca’s room. Stepping through the doorway, Katie found Lizzie Anne sitting on Rebecca’s hope chest while Rebecca sat propped up in bed eating from the tray on her lap.

“Katie,” Rebecca said. “Come in.”

Katie sank into a chair next to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

Rebecca nodded while chewing her turkey sandwich. “I’m feeling pretty well today,
danki.
I just wish I could’ve helped you
maed
clean the house with Lindsay. I appreciate all you’re doing for us.”

Lindsay appeared in the doorway. “We had a
gut
time. Lizzie Anne and I scrubbed the kitchen floor and bathroom while Katie played with the
kinner
and fed them lunch.”

“Many hands make light work,” Lizzie Anne sang with a smile.

“That’s very true,” Katie chimed in. “
Mei mamm
uses that expression all the time.”

“I’m glad to have the help.” Lindsay lowered herself onto the end of the bed. “I can’t possibly get it all done alone. I’m always worried the
kinner
will hurt themselves if I leave them alone.”

“That’s true. I worry when they are alone too.” Rebecca placed her sandwich on the plate. “I’m so glad you are here to help. It’s frustrating being stuck in this bed.”

“But the doctor said …” Lindsay began.

“I know. I know.” Rebecca sighed.

Katie smiled at her aunt.

“I need to hear some
gut
news,” Rebecca said. “Tell me what’s new with you
maed.
” She swiped the napkin across her lips and glanced at Lizzie Anne. “How is your family? I miss coming to church and seeing everyone.”

“Everyone is fine.” Lizzie Anne’s lips turned up in a wide grin.

“What’s that expression for?” Lindsay asked, facing her.

Katie raised her eyebrows. “You look like you have some exciting news.”

“I sort of have a secret.” Lizzie Anne’s cheeks glowed cherry red. “And Katie’s right. It’s something really exciting.”

Lindsay gasped. “You need to tell us,” she said. “You can’t keep this secret now. That would be teasing.”

“Well,” Lizzie Anne began, studying her black bib apron, “Samuel asked me something last night.”

“What?” Katie asked. “What did
mei bruder
ask you? He asked you to be his girlfriend, ya?”

Lizzie Anne shook her head.

“Oh my!” Lindsay shot up from the bed. “He asked you to marry him?”

Lizzie Anne nodded, and Lindsay launched herself toward Lizzie Anne, nearly knocking her off the hope chest as they hugged and squealed.

“But I thought you were going to take it slow,” Lindsay said when she’d calmed down. “That’s what you told me Sunday after the service.”

“He changed his mind.” Lizzie Anne laughed. “I’m just as surprised as you are.”

“Wait a minute,” Katie began, trying to comprehend this development. “Samuel asked you to marry him? How can this be?” She rolled the information through her mind, trying to make sense of it all.
Samuel didn’t discuss this with me. Why would he make a decision like this without telling his family?

“I know you weren’t expecting this, Katie,” Lizzie Anne said, her eyes filling with tears. “But it’s all true. He asked me to marry him, and he wants to get married this season.”

Katie glanced at her aunt, who looked as surprised as Katie felt.

“Congratulations,” Rebecca said. “When were you expecting him to propose?”

Lizzie Anne wiped her eyes while Lindsay sat next to her and looped her arm around Lizzie Anne’s shoulder.

“Not this soon,” Lizzie Anne said. “Like I said, I was completely surprised.”

“Don’t you think you’re a little young?” Katie asked. “I mean you’re only eighteen. Where are you going to live? It’s not like he’s built a
haus.
”

“He’s already thought of that.” Lizzie Anne’s expression darkened a little as if the question stung. “We’re going to live in the apartment attached to your parents’ house until we have our own place. Your
dat
is giving Samuel land, so we can build on the other side of the pasture.”

Katie stared at her. “Samuel discussed this with
Dat
already?”
How could he tell
Dat
and not me
?

Lizzie Anne nodded. “
Ya
, he did. He wanted to have it all set before he asked me.”

“Does
mei mamm
know too?” Katie asked.

Lizzie Anne shrugged. “I guess so. I’m not really sure.”

But neither of my parents told me.
Katie shook her head with disbelief. “I’m really shocked.”

“Katie,” Lizzie Anne said, looking hurt. “Aren’t you excited? We’re going to be
schweschdern
! We’ll be living together until Samuel and I have our own place!”

“This is
wunderbaar gut
,” Lindsay said, hugging Lizzie Anne again. “I’m so excited for you. Are you getting married in November or December?”

“
Mei mamm
and I were talking about that last night.” Lizzie
Anne angled her body toward Lindsay. “We have to get out the calendar and talk about it. I think we’re going to discuss it more tonight.”

“You have a lot of planning to do,” Rebecca said. “It’s a very exciting time. I’m so happy for you and Samuel.”

“Danki
,
”
Lizzie Anne said with a grin. “I’m so
froh.
I feel like I’m dreaming.”

Katie tried to force a smile. However, the idea of her best friend and her brother getting married in a couple of months made her feel confused. It was all happening so fast. She knew she had to stay positive, though. She was happy to hear Lizzie Anne would be her sister, and she did think Samuel and Lizzie Anne made a good couple. They complemented each other.

“I have news too,” Lindsay said with a smile. “Matthew asked me a question too.”

Rebecca looked concerned. “What did he ask you, Lindsay?”

Lindsay clasped her hands together. “He asked me to be his girlfriend.”

Lizzie Anne squealed and hugged Lindsay. “That’s so exciting! You’ll be the next bride, Lindsay.”

“Let’s slow down,” Rebecca said, grimacing. “There’s no rush. Let Lindsay and Matthew get to know each other better, Lizzie Anne. They didn’t grow up together like you and Samuel did.”

“That’s a
gut
point,” Lizzie Anne said.

Katie smiled and folded her arms across her apron. “I’m so happy for you, Lindsay. I’m not surprised. I thought he was only waiting for you to be baptized before he made it official.”

Katie watched and listened while Lizzie Anne talked about the upcoming wedding and how much she had to plan. She turned to Rebecca and found her aunt studying her while she broke apart a homemade pretzel. “Can I get you anything,
Aenti
?” she asked. “Do you need more water?”

Rebecca shook her head. “No, dear. I’m fine.”

Katie stood. “May I get you a slice of chocolate oatmeal cake? I brought a freshly baked one this morning.
Mei mamm
did some baking yesterday and told me to bring you one.”

Rebecca smiled. “That’s so kind of her. I’d love a piece.”

Katie placed Rebecca’s glass on the nightstand beside her and handed her the plate for the pretzel before lifting the tray. “I’ll go get you a piece of cake.” She turned to her friends. “To celebrate your exciting news, I’ll make some chocolate chip
kichlin.
I have a new recipe I put together which includes some nuts along with the chocolate chips.”

“Sounds
gut. Danki
, Katie,” Lizzie Anne said with a smile while Lindsay nodded.

When Katie arrived home later that afternoon, she found Samuel in the back pasture hammering a post into the ground as part of the fence repair. She approached him, relieved to find him alone. She felt disappointment and hurt bubble up inside her as she stood in front of him. “Hi,” she said.

“Hey.” Samuel dropped the mallet onto the ground and yanked off his work gloves. “Did you just get
heemet
from
Aenti
Rebecca’s?”

Katie leaned against a stable fence post.
“Ya.”

“How is she?” he asked as he lifted a jug of water.

“Doing well.” She folded her arms over her apron and watched him drink from the jug.

“Did you have fun?” He placed the jug on the ground and wiped his glistening forehead with a rag.

“I did. I helped clean, and I baked some
kichlin.
” Katie paused and studied him, wondering how long he’d been keeping the secret from her.

“What?” He looked confused. “You look upset.”

She gestured toward the pasture behind him. “Is this where you plan to build your
haus
?” When he didn’t answer she
pressed on. “Are you fixing the fence in preparation for the
haus
?
Dat
’s helping you get the land ready,
ya
?”

“Lizzie Anne told you.” He frowned. “And you’re upset you didn’t know first.”

“
Ya
, Lizzie Anne did tell me, and I’m upset the news didn’t come from you.” Katie stood up straight. “How long have you known you were going to propose? Better yet, how long have
Mamm
and
Dat
known?”

“
Mamm
doesn’t know,” he said. “You and I both know
Mamm
couldn’t keep a secret if her life depended on it. She’s ruined Christmas surprises more than once.”

“Only
Dat
knows?” Katie asked.

“Ya.”
He wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

She considered his words, feeling childish and hurt at the same time. “Why didn’t you tell me too?”

He grinned and shook his head. “You’re one of Lizzie Anne’s closest
freinden.
How could I trust you to keep it to yourself?”

“How could you not?” Katie pointed to her chest. “I’ve trusted you so many times in the past, Samuel. Remember when I was struggling with whether or not I should write Lindsay and tell her how
grank Aenti
Rebecca was? I needed someone’s advice, and I came to you. No one else — just you, Sam.”

He shook his head. “This is different.”

“How so?” She challenged him with a glower.

“This is a life-changing step I’m taking with the
maedel
I love, Katie. It’s not the same as trying to figure out whether or not you should go against an elder.” He shook his head with disbelief. “Why are you even upset with me? You were going to find out eventually.”

“But Lizzie Anne is one of
mei
best
freinden
, and you’re
mei bruder.
Plus, you’re going to be living in our house. This affects me.”

“But it’s my life.” He pointed to his chest. “This isn’t about
you. It’s about me and Lizzie Anne. Besides, she already told you. You have no reason to be upset. So you found out a day after she did.” He shrugged. “What’s so bad about that?”

Katie frowned while he put his gloves back on. She couldn’t understand why her brother didn’t feel the need to apologize. Why didn’t her feelings matter?

“Why aren’t you
froh
for us?” Samuel asked as he lifted the mallet. “I thought you were excited Lizzie Anne and I were together.”

“It seems like you’re moving awfully fast.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You think so?”

She nodded. “She’s only eighteen.”

“And she’ll be nineteen in January,” he said. “I’m almost twenty-two.”

“
Mamm
and
Dat
were older when they were married.” Katie leaned back against the fence. “Why do you need to rush into this when you don’t even have a
haus
? Why do you want to bring your bride
heemet
to your parents’
haus
?”

He frowned. “You’re awfully judgmental.”

“No, I’m not.” Katie lifted her chin in defiance. “You asked me what I thought, and I told you. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Samuel eyed her with suspicion. “Actually, I think you did. It seems like you are being spiteful because you’re upset I didn’t tell you first.”

“That’s not true.” But she knew her brother was right; she just wasn’t about to admit it. She was hurt, and it caused her to say unkind things.

“Katie!” Her father’s voice boomed from across the pasture. “Your
mamm
is looking for you!”

“I’ll see you later,” she said before she jogged back toward the house. She didn’t like how mean she was being to her brother, but she knew why she had said those hurtful things to him. For the first time, she felt alone while her two best friends moved on with their lives.

7

M
onday morning, Katie pushed the broom around the front area of the bakery, moving it past the small tables and display carousels as if she were navigating a maze. She hummed to herself while remembering the hymns she’d sung during the singing last night. When she’d found there wasn’t any room on the bench for her to sit with Lizzie Anne and Lindsay, Katie had chosen to sit with Nancy and her friends for a good portion of the evening. Later on, Lindsay had come and asked her why she wasn’t sitting with her and Lizzie Anne. When Katie told her that there wasn’t any room, Lindsay had insisted she join them and had made room.