A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn (17 page)

Ben nodded. After a moment, he said, “I can't tell you how hard it was to watch my mother get weaker. I hated to see her suffer. I prayed with everything I had that she would get stronger and recover. Get healed by a miracle. But it was God's wish that she go up to heaven early.”

This was the most he'd ever shared about how hard his mother's illness had been for him. She was so proud of him for open
ing up to her. She hoped she would always be worthy of that trust. “Maybe we were never meant to meet in Ohio but to meet here,” she said softly. “Maybe we had to go through our own trials in order to appreciate the happiness that we've found in each other.”

He smiled. “I'm glad the Lord gave me you, Tricia. And at the perfect time in my life.”

“I feel the same way,” she said as she laid her head on his shoulder and enjoyed the feel of his strong body against hers. If she closed her eyes, she was sure she could hear his heartbeat, steady and sure. She never wanted the night to end.

A few minutes later, he shifted and pulled away from her. “Tricia, as much as I want to stay here with you, I think I need to go. The shuttles don't run all night, you know.”

“I know.” She got to her feet, hating to say good-bye but finding comfort that in just a month their late-night farewells would be a thing of the past.

Reaching out, he brushed a finger along her cheek. “I'm going to be at the farm all day tomorrow, which means I won't see you until you bring your parents over to my house in the evening.”

“I know.”

“Are you sure you won't change your mind and have me be by your side when the bus arrives? Mark and William can work the market without me.”

“As much as having you there would comfort me, I think I need to face them by myself. Plus, if they say anything mean, I don't want you to hear it.”

His expression hardened in the flickering light. “If they say anything mean to you, I want to be there to make sure they stop.”

Tricia knew he would, too. Ben was used to looking out for
his brothers and he'd already shown her that he was the type of man who looked out for his fiancée. He wouldn't be happy if her parents made her cry.

“Let's keep things the way we have it. I'll bring them to your house at five o'clock tomorrow. We'll grill chicken and sit in your kitchen and talk.”

“I'll see you then. But first, let me do this,” he murmured, just as his lips brushed against hers.

She closed her eyes, wrapped her hands around his neck, and gave herself over to his touch and his kisses. Now, this, she thought, was one of her most favorite parts of being engaged.

One of her most favorite parts of all.

T
RICIA AND
B
EN WERE
kissing again.

That had been a mighty close call! Beverly quickly stepped back and turned around. Thank goodness she'd had the foresight to peek through the back door's window before pulling it open and reminding Ben of the time. Just imagining how awkward it would have been for all of them . . . It would have been
worse
than awkward.

Beverly decided to wait a minute or two. Or five. Ben needed to catch that shuttle but she didn't want Tricia to think she was spying on them. Hopefully, they were simply kissing each other good night. With great, um, enthusiasm. It certainly was becoming obvious that Tricia and Ben were very much in love. It was also obvious that she had completely misread their situation. She'd been looking at Tricia through her own fears and worries.

But now she was realizing that what was happening was meant to be. Surely no couple as happy as they were could be making a mistake.

Suddenly she felt not just alone but lonely. And maybe a little
envious. Oh, she wasn't jealous of Tricia's romance, but envious that she didn't have anyone in her life that she was as close to. Except, maybe, Eric.

Just then the back door squeaked. Realizing that they were about to come inside, Beverly sat down abruptly on the chair by the phone.

“Aunt Bev, what are you doing, sitting down here in the dark?” Tricia asked.

She turned the light switch on the battery-powered lamp. “I, um, was thinking about calling Eric.”

“This late?”

“
Jah
. I had forgotten how late it was. That's why I'm sitting here. I decided not to call.”

“Um, okay,” Tricia said as she slipped her hand in Ben's. “Well, I'm going to walk Ben to the front door.”

“All right. Good night, Ben.”

“'Night, Beverly.”

Feeling even more foolish, Beverly opened the drawer under the phone and pulled out a pen and paper. Since it was too late to call, she decided to give in to temptation and write Eric a letter. It wouldn't quite ease the ache she was feeling, but it wouldn't wake him up, either. That was something, she supposed.

W
HEN THEY'D GOTTEN OUT
to the sidewalk, Jay had pulled out a sheet of paper listing a couple of restaurants that were within easy walking distance but were outside the heart of Pinecraft. They had ended up having Italian food. Emma had wanted to take the SCAT and dine someplace where it was unlikely that they'd see anyone she knew.

And they hadn't.

Therefore, instead of feeling like she and Jay were being ob
served, they were able to simply enjoy each other's company. Instead of wondering what the gossipmongers would say or rush to tell her parents, she'd focused on herself and her feelings and slowly let down her guard.

And they'd talked. Oh, how they'd talked! About childhoods and school while eating Caesar salads, about hobbies and what they'd done during their rumspringas, while eating far too much of the chef's delicious baked ziti. They'd talked about favorite foods and foods they hated as they split a decadent plate of cheesecake with a fresh strawberry sauce.

And as each course came and went, Emma found herself opening up even more. She laughed a little more easily, shared more personal stories. And she listened to Jay a little more closely. She soaked in every sweet look and kind gesture.

Now, after taking the SCAT bus back to Pinecraft, Jay was walking her home down Kaufmann Avenue. She felt flirty and giddy. Found herself smiling whenever he glanced her way . . . and discovered she couldn't seem to stop gazing at him. None of this felt especially mature or anything like the behavior a mother of three should be exhibiting! Actually, she felt just like one of the teenagers she saw off in the distance—light and carefree.

“You've gotten quiet all of a sudden,” he said. “Did I talk your ear off?”

“Not at all. I guess I was simply thinking about what a nice time I had with you tonight.”

“I enjoyed myself, too.” He looked like he was tempted to add something more, but he said nothing else. “You're easy to talk to. I, um, shared more with you tonight than I have with anyone in the last year.”

“I feel the same way. I was actually hoping you didn't think I was talking
your
ear off,” she admitted, “or that I'd revealed
too much about myself.” Maybe she'd told him too many stories about being a single mother.

“I liked hearing all of it from you.”

“It's been a long time since anyone wanted to know so much about me.”

He smiled. “That's the price of parenthood, I guess. It's never about us anymore. It's about the
kinner
.”

“It's always about the
kinner
,” she agreed. “And that is as it should be. Though sometimes . . .”

“Sometimes it is nice to remember that there is more to us than just being someone's father or mother.”

“Exactly.” She was glad he understood.

But as she looked around, she realized they were just steps from her house. After all that worrying and fretting she'd done, her date was finished and she felt slightly empty. “I canna believe it's over,” she murmured.

“What is?”

“Our date.”

He held out a hand to help her up the steps. She liked the way it felt in hers, liked the way he seemed to enjoy her touch as much as she enjoyed his. “I'm sorry it's over, too. But maybe we'll do it again sometime soon?”

“Are you asking me out again?” She really hoped he thought she was merely teasing.

“
Jah
, though it seems I'm doing a poor job of it. Will you go out with me again?”

“Yes.”

“What about your parents? Are you willing to go up against them again?”

Until that moment, she hadn't been sure if she was strong enough. But now she knew she wasn't going to let anything stop
her from having another night like this. “I'm willing. They are going to have to find a way to accept my decision.” Just as she was going to have to find a way to convince them of it.

He smiled as they walked up the steps, her hand still securely clasped in his. When they reached her front door, he held out his hand for her keys. She handed them to him and stood quietly while he unlocked the door. Then she felt a moment of panic. Did she invite him in? Did he expect to kiss her good night? Would he be shocked if she actually
did
kiss him good night?

His expression was warm as he watched her. “It's okay, Emma. All I'm going to do is say good night to you right here.”

“You knew what I was thinking?” She wasn't sure if she was mortified or extremely relieved.

He nodded. “As clearly as if you were saying it out loud.” Folding his arms over his chest, he grinned. “I know what you were thinking because I'm pretty sure I was thinking the same thing.”

“Which was?”

“That I don't want to leave you yet. I would love for you to invite me in, but I'm afraid every one of your neighbors is watching quietly from their windows. I don't want to do that to you.”

Feeling a little sheepish, she said, “I fear you are right. My neighbors are wonderful, but they're not exactly afraid to be nosey, either.”

“I don't want tonight to end because I like being with you. But the only remedy I can think of for easing our unhappiness is to make plans to see each other again. Will you go out with me again soon?”

“Jah,”
she answered. She didn't know how she was going to manage it but she would make it happen.

“I'll see you soon, then.” Reaching out, he ran a finger along
her cheekbone. “If we weren't likely being observed, I'd try to kiss you good night. Would you let me?”

There it was. That gentle flirting again. It made her smile . . . and made her want to flirt a little bit back. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“If I told you all my secrets you'd have no reason to want to see me again.”

“You would be wrong about that, Emma. I would want to see you soon, even if I knew every one.
Gut naught
.”

“Gut naught
, Jay.
Danke.”

With one last lingering smile, he turned and walked away.

And when she went inside, she could practically hear the pounding of her heart.

B
y Saturday afternoon, Beverly was wishing she
had
called Eric on Friday evening, even if it would've meant waking him up. She was going to need his frank speaking and easygoing manner to get through her brother's visit.

The moment Edward and Kathleen had gotten off the bus, they'd fussed over Tricia like she'd been away for years. That was understandable. But their constant questioning of everything Tricia did was becoming hard to watch. At first, Tricia had held up fine under their barrage. But now, after sharing a lunch at Yoder's, Tricia looked as if she was about to burst into tears or lose her temper. Probably both.

As they walked back along the streets of Pinecraft toward the inn, Beverly knew it was just about time to step in. If she didn't, it was very likely that Tricia was going to lose her very last thread of composure.

She wondered if Kathleen realized that.

Beverly decided she probably didn't. Otherwise Kathleen wouldn't have wrapped an arm around Tricia's shoulders, keeping her firmly in her grip as she spoke. “Tricia, there isna reason for you to have the wedding here. You don't know anyone and all of your family is in Sugarcreek. Besides, this Ben's relatives are in Charm.”

Tricia pulled away. “But
we
are here in Pinecraft, Mamm. Ben's family is here, too.”

Kathleen stopped right in the middle of the sidewalk. “We are
not
here,” she said sharply, oblivious to the attention she was drawing from everyone around them.

“I want to say my vows here,” Tricia retorted. “It's important to me.”

“I don't see why,” Kathleen huffed as she began walking again.

Tricia trotted to her side. “You will, once you spend some time here. Pinecraft is special to me. Aunt Beverly's inn is special to me, too. It's where Ben and I first met.”

“I understand that, but marrying here makes no sense.”

Tricia stopped again. “It does to me, Mamm.”

“Come along, Trish. I'll arrange a date for next November, when things have gotten quiet on the farms.”

“Next November?” Tricia shook her head. “
Nee
, Mother. That's over a year from now.”

“You need that much time.”

“Why?”

“To be sure of your feelings,” she said impatiently. After glancing at Edward, who Beverly noticed was pretending he wasn't within earshot, she said, “You know what I mean.”

“
Nee
, I don't know. Mamm, Ben and I have already talked with the preacher and the bishop. They have given us their blessing.”

“It also takes at least a year to plan a big wedding,” Kathleen said as she picked up her pace. “We're going to have to pick colors for your attendants' dresses, decide on flowers, think about a cake . . .”

“I don't need all that. And Aunt Beverly is the best baker around. I'm sure she could make my cake.” Glancing at Beverly over her shoulder, she said, “Right, Aunt Beverly?”

Beverly gulped as she scurried to catch up. “Of course, dear. I would love to make you a cake.”

While Kathleen glared at her, Edward at last entered the discussion. “Tricia, no one is saying that you can't marry this boy. We simply have to wait a bit. There's nothing wrong with that.” Glancing at Beverly, he said, “Right?”

Oh, no. He was
not
going to rope her into his side. “This has nothing to do with me, Edward.” Seeing the inn in the distance, she said, “Perhaps we should finish this conversation at home?” Pointing in front of her, she added, “See? We're almost there.”

“We might as well finish it right now,” Edward said. “It's not like it's going to get any easier.”

To Beverly's surprise, Tricia smiled broadly. “That's exactly what I've been saying! There is no reason for me to wait to marry. So I'm not waiting.” Tricia's tone was firm. “I am getting married next month.”

“But that won't work out for us,” Kathleen blurted.

“That is too bad,” Tricia said in an airy way. “I would have liked to have had you here.” Then she darted around a pair of Amish teens who'd been eavesdropping and strode toward the inn.

Beverly groaned under her breath.

Edward got the same look on his face that he'd had at age eight, when he didn't get his way. Raising his voice, he said, “Tricia, you are my daughter—”

“I know that,” she said over her shoulder.

“Let's talk about this later, Ed,” Beverly interrupted, “when you aren't still recovering from a long bus trip.” And, well, when half the residents of her street weren't witnessing their argument.

“Stay out of it, Beverly.”

“I'm afraid I cannot.”

Edward glared. “Now I'm starting to understand why Tricia is suddenly sounding so headstrong.”

Oh! “Just as
I
am starting to understand why she got on that bus to come here in the first place!” she snapped. “Tricia, please stop,” Beverly called out. There was no way she was going to deal with Edward and Kathleen without her right there. To her relief, Tricia did stop.

When they were by her side again, Tricia quietly said, “Mamm, Daed, I truly feel as if the Lord has been listening to my prayers. I've been asking and asking him to give me a partner who can love me for me. Ben does. He doesn't want me to change. He isn't asking me to obey him or to be different. He simply wants me in his life.” After a pause, she looked at all three of them, one by one. “Why would you expect me to ignore this blessing?”

“Oh, Tricia,” Beverly said, feeling incredibly humbled by Tricia's faith.

“I . . . I don't want you to,” Kathleen said as she looped an arm through Tricia's. Looking tired but also far more at peace with the situation, she added, “Edward, I think it might be time to take a little rest. We have a lot of thinking and praying to do.”

Edward stared at her blankly. Then, to Beverly's amazement, he nodded. “You know we only want you to be happy, Tricia.”

“Then please listen to what I am saying. Ben is wonderful and I love him.”

Her parents gazed at her, then at each other.

“You
are
happy, aren't you, Tricia?” Edward murmured.

“
Jah
,” she answered just as quietly. “I am as happy as I've ever been.”

“All right then.”

“
Danke
, Daed.”

When Tricia started chatting to her mother about how much she liked the scent of the magnolia blossoms on the tree they were passing, Edward stepped to Beverly's side.
“Danke,”
he whispered.

She slowed her steps to put some distance between them and Tricia and Kathleen. “For what?” She was genuinely surprised. “I thought you were mad at me.”

“I was. But maybe it was more that I'm simply used to getting my way.”

“Some things never change,” she teased.

“That seems to be true. It's also true that you still have that ability to simply see what is important in most every situation. You have done that with Tricia.”

“I appreciate your words, but I honestly don't know if I've done anything right. I haven't raised any
kinner
, you know.”

“She is so much more confident and sure of herself. So happy.” Lowering his voice, he added, “While I believe what Tricia said about the Lord answering her prayers, I must admit that I, too, have had many long conversations with the Lord about why my daughter went running to you instead of reaching out to her mother and me. Now I understand that He knew you would have the right words for her.”

Edward's words practically took Beverly's breath away. She hadn't expected to ever be thanked. She hadn't expected anything. Hadn't even thought that far ahead. “What you just said, Ed . . .”

“Yes?”

“It . . . It means the world to me.”

He turned his head and smiled. There was a sweet, new warmth in his eyes. “I am so glad we came to see you. So very glad,” he said at last.

And truly, there was nothing else that needed to be said.

A
S
T
RICIA WALKED BETWEEN
her mother and father up the long, winding, graveled driveway to Ben's house, she suddenly realized that the nerves she'd been sure would be jangling in her stomach were nowhere to be found. Instead, all she felt was happiness and excitement. She was looking forward to introducing Ben to her parents and talking about their wedding.

Much of the change had to do with the shift in her parents' attitudes. She was so glad they'd finally listened to what she had to say. Maybe Mamm and Daed could finally see how happy and content she was.

“You look as bright as a penny, Tricia,” her mother said. “I don't know if I've ever seen you so happy. Are you that excited about seeing Ben?”

“I am,” she admitted. “But I am even happier that you and Daed don't seem as cross with me. I hate it when I disappoint you.”

“You have not disappointed me or your father,” her mother said quickly.

“I know you were disappointed when I left Ohio.”

“We were concerned,” her mother corrected. “We also weren't happy that you left without letting us know first.”

Thinking back to the first time she'd talked to them on the phone after arriving in Pinecraft, Tricia thought that was putting things mildly. “You were rather cross.”

Her father looked down at her and frowned. “We were caught off guard.”

“You still weren't happy when you got off that bus.”

“There is no reason to go over everything again. Though I haven't made up my mind about this Ben of yours, I listened to what you had to say.”

“I'm glad you are following your heart,” her mother said. “Though, at times, I've often wished you'd be less impulsive, I also think it's a blessing that you know your mind.”

Tricia hoped her mother was being honest. She knew there had been times in her life when her mother had been quite put out about her nature. More than once she'd advised Tricia to be more reserved.

They were on the front steps now. “I hope you will like Ben.”

“I hope we will like him, too,” her father murmured.

Though it was too late to worry about such things, a momentary panic rushed through Tricia. Was there anything about Ben that she should have warned them about? Anything she could do in order to make this first meeting go more smoothly?

Her mother gestured toward the door. “Knock on the door, child. No doubt they are wondering why we are simply standing here.”

Her father raised a brow. “Unless you want to argue about that, too?”

Practically rolling her eyes, Tricia stepped forward and knocked three times. Immediately the door was opened . . . by William.

“Hiya, Tricia,” he said with a smile. “Daed, Ben, and Mark are still washing up so I said I would answer the door.” Looking on either side of her, he puffed up his chest. “Hi. I'm William Hilty. Ben is my big brother.”

That seemed to be all that was needed to endear her parents
to him forever. Her mother rushed inside and shook his hand, then brushed her hand across his blond hair. Her father shook his hand, too, and patted him on the back.

“You want to see what we got today?” he asked, his blue eyes shining with hope.

“Of course,” her mother said, immediately following the boy into the living room.

Sharing an amused glance with her father, Tricia followed them. She was learning that William was an excitable boy but also surprisingly sensitive. She was glad he'd seen something in her parents that drew him to them.

When they entered the living room, William pointed to a large cardboard box in the center. Inside was a thick fleece blanket and on top of that was a cat and two squirmy black-and-white kittens.

“Oh, look at that,” Tricia gasped.

William grinned. “Yep. We've got kittens!”

Just as Tricia was about to caution William to lower his voice so he didn't frighten the babies, her mother knelt by the box and peered inside.

“My goodness! Aren't they sweet?” She reached in the box and gently petted one. “Where did they come from?”

“We were working in the store this morning and saw their mother carrying them by the scruff of their necks to a little nest she'd made,” Mark said, stepping down the stairs. “She was so sweet, Daed said there was no way we couldn't adopt the three of them.”

“Plus, I knew that Tricia would be mighty upset with me if we didn't rescue them,” Ben said as he entered the room.

Waiting with bated breath, Tricia felt the tension in the room heighten as her parents turned to Ben.

“Mamm, Daed, please meet William's
bruders
. This is Mark and Ben.” She could practically feel her skin flush when she heard how her voice changed as she said Ben's name. It was full of bright happiness.

Mark stepped forward and shook their hands, as did Ben. After greeting Mark politely, her father focused completely on Ben. So much so, why there might as well have been no one else in the room. “So you are the man who has claimed my daughter's heart?”

Without missing a beat, Ben replied, “I hope so. She has certainly claimed mine.”

“I'm Kathleen,” her mother said with bright pink cheeks.

“Pleased to meet you, Kathleen.” Looking at both of her parents, he said, “I'm sorry I wasna downstairs when you arrived. Time got away from us, I'm afraid.”

“I understand about work. But not so much about adopting three cats at once,” her father joked.

Tricia exhaled. If her father was joking, everything was going to be all right.

“My father said the same thing,” Ben replied. “But they are cute, and we'll always need mousers.”

“And a sweet cat for our future home,” Tricia said.

Ben's expression softened. “Indeed, we will need that, if it will make you happy,” he murmured and kissed her forehead. Right in front of everyone!