Last Bride, The (Home to Hickory Hollow Book #5) (12 page)

On Friday afternoon, Mandy smiled when she looked up from behind the cash register in her shop and saw her sister Marta coming in the door, carrying chubby Mimi.

“I’m in need of two weddin’ gifts—don’t have time to do up anything right quick,” Marta announced.

Cousin Emmalyn had stepped out to get some hot cocoa up the snowy street, so Mandy showed Marta around the place herself, truly happy for the chance to do so. “Whose weddings are ya goin’ to?” she asked.

“Oh, two of Seth’s cousins on his mother’s side,” she said, shifting curly-haired Mimi in her arms. But the little girl began to squirm, and Mandy took her so Marta had the freedom to look around. “I’d thought of picking up something for Norman Byler and his bride-to-be, too,” Marta said, “but word has it she’s up and left.”

“Wha-at?” Mandy wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly.

“Apparently made a beeline back to Indiana. Any later, and Glenice would’ve stood up her groom on the wedding day.”

“Like Katie Lapp did,” whispered Mandy.

“Funny, I thought of that, too.”

“Wonder if Norm will stay around, then.” Mandy didn’t think she ought to make a big deal of this, not wanting to give her sister the wrong idea. Even so, in spite of Glenice’s impromptu visit, she was astounded at this bizarre turn of events.

“Evidently Norman’s movin’ ahead with his plans to work part-time with his brother-in-law. Seth says Norm plans to purchase some of Marcus King’s old furniture for his room at Lloyd and Maggie’s house. For the time being, though, he’ll stay on with his parents.” Marta shook her head and reached for a couple tatted doilies. “Now, these here are awful perty.” She held them up to inspect them.

“Made ’em myself.” Mandy laughed a little.

“Well then, I must have a
gut
eye for quality, ain’t so?”

“I guess I couldn’t agree with you more.” Mandy felt a little funny, boasting so.

They both laughed. Then Marta said, “Don’t get a big head, now, ya hear?”

“I promise not to.” Mandy’s thoughts were full of Marta’s astonishing news, and she wondered if Glenice’s visit might have been the turning point for the poor young woman. “Are ya sure ’bout all this business with Norm’s fiancée?”

“Sorry?” Marta turned to look at her.

“You’re not mistaken, are ya, ’bout Glenice leavin’?”

“Oh, I heard it from two reliable sources.”

“It must’ve just happened.”

“Jah, early this morning.” Marta looked at her with kindness and compassion in her eyes. Then she slipped her arm around Mandy, encircling dimpled Mimi, as well, and held
Mandy’s gaze. It was as if she were trying to say,
“I’m sorry I brought this up.”

“Must be for the best, then.”

Marta nodded, then releasing her, she asked, “How’s Tessie Ann doin’?” She carried her chosen items to the cash register.

“Well, her color’s better.”

“Didn’t know she was ailin’.” Marta reached to take Mimi from Mandy.

“Tessie misses Marcus,” she replied, wondering what Marta knew of their sister’s courtship.

“Ah, so that’s why she wore black to Fannie Sue’s wedding. It gave me pause—thought I’d missed something.”

“Jah, s’pose so.”

“And, Mandy . . . I hope you aren’t upset by what I said ’bout Norman Byler. Didn’t mean to—”

“Not at all,” Mandy said right quick. “It’s not like we were ever meant to be together . . . that’s for certain.”

“Sometimes we’re given precisely what we need no matter what we think at the time,” Marta said, her blue eyes sober. “The Good Lord knows exactly who that person is, as you surely know by now.”

Mandy nodded. She couldn’t agree more.

Marta opened her purse to pay the bill.

“Nee . . . no.” Mandy refused the money. “Consider it a gift.”

“Are ya sure, sister?”

“I insist.” She hurried around to the other side of the counter and kissed Marta’s freckled cheek, then cupped Mimi’s round dumpling of a face in her hands. “It’s ever so nice seein’ ya both.”

“You really have a lovely place here to sell your things,” Marta said and opened the door to leave.

Watching her sister stroll down the little shoveled walkway, Mandy recalled her words.
“Sometimes we’re given precisely what we need.”
She contemplated them long after, telling Emmalyn, when she returned, that she would not be at work for another week.

B
y early February, Tessie’s morning sickness had dissipated. Thankfully, there were no more probing remarks from Mamma, who’d accepted the rather cryptic explanation that Tessie had anemia. Tessie was taking some iron tablets to remedy that, as well as the prenatal vitamins her doctor had prescribed. She’d discussed with the doctor the possibility of acquiring a certified midwife, such as their own Mattie Beiler, Ella Mae’s daughter. Tessie was still considering that, though she wanted to wait until she told Mamma her news. The Amish grapevine would have a heyday with it.

Her mother had no idea Tessie had seen the doctor twice now or that he’d already spoken with one of the specialists at the Clinic for Special Children. She’d quickly learned that the ability to predict genetic diseases among the Plain community was complicated. And since aborting high-risk babies was not at all the Amish way, no prenatal testing would take place—only a preliminary consultation before the baby’s birth.

Tessie Ann spent most of her days cooking at home in her mother’s absence, since Molly needed Mamma’s help with her infant son, Michael Abram. As for herself, Tessie was needed more at the shop than at Sylvan and Mandy’s, since Mandy had quite suddenly decided to stay at home more often now. Sylvan had sketched out a blueprint for a small addition to the back of the family home to be built in early spring. This would make it possible to move Mandy and Emmalyn’s store when the short-term lease expired in April.

Mandy had told Mamma at a recent quilting frolic that the Amish bishops in the country, one hundred and eighty in all, had met at a conference not long ago, and the biggest issue of concern was the use of cell phones. Apparently Mandy had asked Sylvan if she could have an iPhone for her business, since Emmalyn used one quite often. Sylvan, however, was opposed to it and assumed Bishop John Beiler would be, too, so Mandy dropped the idea.

Tessie thought it was considerate of Sylvan to provide a spot for her sister and Emmalyn’s shop goods on the back of the house. Did that mean their marriage was back on an even keel?
If Mandy’s
not confiding in me, then all must be better,
thought Tessie.

“So . . . all’s well,” she whispered while gathering ingredients for a pumpkin chiffon pie. She’d heard others repeat such words when there was no way to know how things might turn out. Or worse, when intuitively they knew that
nothing
would ever be well again. But she wouldn’t reflect her own worries onto Mandy. No, it seemed that even with her sister’s former beau back and living in Hickory Hollow, things were going along just fine for Mandy and Sylvan. Tessie certainly hoped so.

On the day before Valentine’s Day, Tessie received another card from Levi Smucker and was thankful she’d opened it in private, because Levi had written a dinner invitation at the bottom.
If you’re willing,
he’d added.

She appreciated that he hadn’t pressed her for a date after his initial indication of interest at Fannie Sue’s wedding feast. She’d saved that previous card, unsure why, because if Levi had any knowledge of her condition, she was certain that both the correspondence and his interest would vanish instantly.

She pondered Levi’s dinner request for a couple days, feeling hesitant to accept. Soon, very soon, she would no longer be able to conceal her growing babe, and then what?

But she needed a friend, and perhaps Levi could be just that. So she got up and wrote a note, deciding to hand it to him discreetly after the shared meal following Preaching tomorrow.
If it works
out,
she thought as she reached for her black dress from the wooden pegs to inspect it.

Thinking of his kind attention, Tessie changed her mind about what to wear tomorrow. “I’ve looked dismal long enough.” She pulled out her best blue dress and white cape and apron, then went to the sewing room to let out the seams a bit.

During the Sunday common meal of cold cuts and snitz pie, Mandy overheard Sylvan talking with Norman Byler. Earlier, Norm had seated himself directly across the table from Sylvan
and Mandy, and she had spent most of the meal recalling the things poor Glenice had privately shared. Presently, though, Mandy heard Levi Smucker’s name mentioned—from the bits and pieces she was gathering, Sylvan and Norm had started to volunteer at the local fire company where Levi Smucker was assistant fire chief. Evidently Levi had given both of them beepers to alert them to a fire.

“Some Amish from more progressive churches are allowed to receive texts on their cell phones instead,” Norm informed Sylvan.

She hadn’t meant to snoop, although it was difficult to tune out all of their excitement over plans to raise money for the fire company at the April running marathon in Bird-in-Hand.

Deliberately, Mandy turned her attention to Tessie, who had sat down with their mother and Dawdi Dave near the end of another row of tables. Mandy was suddenly struck by her sister’s altered attire.
When
did this happen? And how did I miss it during
Preaching?

Mandy wondered what had precipitated the surprising turn and found joy in the prospect that Tessie was emerging from her grieving time.

After enduring as much talk between Sylvan and Norm as she could possibly manage, Mandy excused herself and strolled to the kitchen to offer some help, even though it wasn’t her turn. She had to get some breathing space, somewhere as far from Norm as possible.

When her help was graciously rejected, Mandy wandered out to the large utility room and located her coat, outer bonnet, and gloves. Donning them, she decided to venture out to the back porch for some air. It was there she noticed Tessie
outside now, as well, and standing near the thick clump of trees that formed a windbreak on the northeast side of the property. Mandy was surprised to see her sister had ventured out with little more than a shawl and gloves.

Then, out of the blue, Levi Smucker appeared, and if Mandy wasn’t mistaken, it looked like Tessie handed him something. They stood together for a moment; then Levi skedaddled off to join the other young men his age over near the corncrib. Mandy’s curiosity was piqued to high heaven as she watched him go.

Ah, so
Levi’s the reason for Tessie’s blue dress today
,
Mandy thought, grinning at the discovery.

She moved down the steps and wandered across the yard, breathing in the crisp air while observing her youngest sister. Presently, a
ferhoodled
look appeared on Tessie’s pretty face, and Tessie began to weave in and out of the trees before she finally stopped to lean against one of the larger trunks. She stared up at the branches.

Is she honestly thinking of
climbing up there on the Lord’s Day?
Mandy choked back a chuckle.

Still focused on Tessie Ann, she watched her sister slide her hands beneath her white Sunday apron and turn to face the north. The slightly rounded silhouette of Tessie’s belly was alarming at first. Then Mandy wondered if she was just getting a little chubby like some of the girls Tessie’s age who loved their mashed potatoes and gravy, and many sweet desserts.

But, no, the way Tessie held herself just now made Mandy wilt. For the life of her, it looked like Tessie was pregnant. Oh, she wanted to reject the notion, but it was impossible
not to wonder if Tessie and Marcus King had slipped up and made a mistake in a weak moment.

Tessie bowed her head just then and looked like she was struggling. Or was she praying? Her shoulders rose and fell as her upper body heaved.

Saddened and terribly perplexed, Mandy lifted her skirt and rushed across the yard. “Tessie Ann,” she called to her. “Schweschder!”

———

“Mandy, please keep your voice low,” Tessie pleaded, still shocked that her sister had confronted her in this way—and on the heels of Tessie’s short conversation with Levi, too.

“What’ll happen when Mamma and Dat put together that you’re expecting a baby? What then?” asked Mandy, looking altogether forlorn.

Tessie shook her head, scarcely able to take it all in. “Dat will hit the roof and then some.”

“Well, you’d better go to the bishop and confess to him first—and right away. He’ll find out sooner or later.” Mandy was staring at Tessie’s middle now.

“You don’t know what I’m goin’ through.”

“Nee, I don’t.” Mandy’s face fell. “I assume Marcus was the baby’s father.”

“Jah,” Tessie admitted, “but you daresn’t tell a soul.”

“Sister, you can’t hide this forever.”

Tessie sighed. “I’m just askin’ you to keep this quiet . . . for now.”

“Well, if you don’t go to the bishop yourself, someone has to!”

“It’s not your place, Mandy!”

Her sister exhaled loudly. “Whose, then?”

“Certainly not yours!” Tears began to spill down Tessie’s face. Oh, she wished Mandy hadn’t discovered her secret already. Yet she wasn’t surprised at her sister’s accusation, really. She should have known it was just a matter of time before all of this came to light.
But why today?

“Listen, I won’t be askin’ you questions ’bout what took place an’ all—mistakes can happen sometimes,” Mandy said, her tone softer now. “I’m not excusing it, mind you—not whatsoever. But ya can’t just wait till a baby comes to confess your sin.”

Tessie couldn’t stop the tears. “Ach, this isn’t what you’re thinkin’, I assure you.” Her heart thudded in her chest, and a wave of nausea threatened to overtake her.

“Well then, I don’t understand. Why wait?”

Tessie folded her arms. “You just keep it to yourself, ya hear?” With that, she headed for the east side of the barn, away from the stable, though she’d gone only a few steps when she turned back and called over her shoulder, “I mean it!”