Planted with Hope (33 page)

“He did?”

Emma nodded.

“Well, I think your dat is special too. Does he know where you are?”

“He knows I was going to the garden. He said he'll meet me there and we'd walk to school together.”

“Well, in that case we should get back to the garden. I also have a feeling that more people will start showing up soon. We get a lot of visitors.”

Emma walked beside Hope, holding her hand. “Do you like visitors, Hope?”

“You know, it used to bother me, but it doesn't much anymore. God has helped me with that.”

“Did you pray about it?” Emma's eyes widened.

“
Ja
, I did. And I can tell God is at work in my heart, Emma.” Hope glanced down at the girl, wondering if she understood.

“I'm praying about something too.” Emma reached up, taking Hope's hand. She squeezed it tight.

From the look on Emma's face it was clear what she was praying for. Emma wanted a new mem. And she'd brought the funeral card to show Hope that she still had a place in her heart saved for her biological mother too.

Hope lowered herself onto one knee and allowed the young girl to wrap her arms around her shoulders. Hope took Emma into her embrace and squeezed. “I'll pray with you, sweet girl. I will pray that God gives you the desires of your heart, if that is in line with His perfect plan.” She closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of her, and it was only the sound of footsteps that caused her to open them. There, at the corner of the building, Jonas stood
watching them. Hope offered him a smile, and he smiled back. He looked like a pleased father, thankful that she was caring for his little girl. Yet deep inside Hope's question remained. Did he only want a mem for Emma? Or did he want her for himself as his bride? Would their relationship be moving at the same pace if it was just the two of them? Hope wasn't certain, but she liked to think so. She wanted to be loved by this man as a wife, not just someone's mother. As much as she loved Emma, she needed to know that Jonas was offering his hand not because of what she could provide for Emma, but what Hope could give to him—her heart, her life, her future. Until the last breath she breathed, just like Sarah had.

 

Hummingbird Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 cups granulated sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup vegetable oil

1½ tsp. vanilla extract

1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple (with juice)

1 cup chopped pecans

2 cups chopped bananas

Cream cheese

Butter

Powdered sugar

Vanilla extract

Combine flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add eggs and oil, stirring until moistened. Do not overmix. Stir in vanilla, pineapple, ½ cup pecans, and bananas. Pour batter into 3 greased and floured round cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans. When completely cooled, combine cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla to make icing. Spread over top and sides. Sprinkle top with remainder of pecans.

Chapter Twenty-Six

There is no beauty without purpose.

A
MISH
P
ROVERB

I
t was hard to believe that nearly two months had passed since Hope had first written her goals for the year, and now February was nearly through. She'd spent at least part of each day with Jonas and Emma. They had become as close to her as family. It seemed as if she'd known the two her whole life, and Hope didn't want it any other way.

The house was quiet, except for a slight shuffling in the kitchen, when Hope rose. It was late—nearly six o'clock. Back in Ohio the days had started early, spring, summer, fall, or winter. Dat had been up before four o'clock, feeding livestock and milking the cows. She and her sisters always helped with chores too. Sometimes they helped with the milking or gathering the eggs. Lovina usually stayed inside and helped in the kitchen, and when winter slipped into spring Hope found herself in the garden. In Pinecraft it seemed almost every day was a good one to be in the garden.

It was going to be a big day with the Gospel Express auction, and Mem was already up and making breakfast. Oatmeal was on the stove, and she was scrambling eggs. Hope considered
stopping by the auction later. It depended on who would show up at the garden. The children weren't coming today, but there were always new tourists in town. A smile touched her lips as she considered that. She still enjoyed her quiet and peace, but she'd made many new friends from Amish communities all over the United States.

Mem glanced over her shoulder as Hope entered. “Do you know what sounds good? Something we haven't had in a while: fried cornmeal mush and tomato gravy. Oh, or some Florida vegetable medley, especially with your home-grown tomatoes.”

Hope chuckled. “Oh, it'll be a while yet. I haven't even put in tomatoes, and I can't plant them for a while.”

Mem lifted her spoon into the air. “So you
are
going to be planting tomatoes?”

There was tension in her voice. Hopefully it was just that she was busy and in a hurry to get out the door.

Hope eyed her mom. “
Ja
. I hope so.”

But when Mem turned and caught her eye, Hope knew that the tension wasn't about the auction. There was something more.

Mem cocked an eyebrow. “You're telling me that you're definitely going to be planting tomatoes here in Pinecraft?”

“Well… I'm not sure where else I would plant them.”

“I imagine you don't. I've heard from two of my sisters that you've written to Eleanor, asking if they need a
maud
.”

Hope's stomach tumbled, and she again wondered why she hadn't said anything sooner to her parents. It wasn't a secret, was it? She was surprised Lovina hadn't said anything to Mem. “
Ja
, that is so. I wrote to Eleanor.”

Mem pointed to the kitchen table. “Do you have a minute to talk, Hope?” She turned off the burner on the cooked eggs and put the pan on a trivet.

“Of course. I was just going to the garden.”

Mem poured two cups of coffee, added cream, and carried them to the table. They settled across from each other, and Mem released a low sigh.

“Hope, it is no surprise that you want to move back. Dat and I considered this very thing when we decided to sell the farm and move. We were thankful when all five of our daughters decided to follow us down here. We knew that all of you were old enough that you could have made a different decision. We also knew that in comparison to Ohio, there wouldn't be much to keep you here.”

Hope released the breath she'd been holding. “So you're not upset that I want to leave?”

“
Ach
, no. I've lived my life, daughter, and I don't want to live your life too. I know that I sometimes stick in my nose where it doesn't belong. I also know that maybe I'm too concerned about finding the right husband for my daughters, and stirring up all sorts of worries, but I understand that you have your own dreams, just like Lovina had hers.”

“
Danke
, Mem. For a while I thought I'd be able to stay here. I thought the garden at Lovina's pie shop would be able to satisfy me. I thought it would be enough.”

“And it's not?”

“Well, for now it is. But I can't say it's what I'd want forever.” Hope shrugged. “I love the garden space, and I'm even starting to enjoy the community—getting to know everyone. But I can't stop thinking about spring on a farm. A real spring. If not this year, definitely next. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.”

“I understand, Hope. But are you honestly thinking of returning to Walnut Creek, or would you go someplace else?”

Hope lowered her gaze to the pattern of the wooden table, using her fingers to trace the lines. “I'm not sure what you mean.”

“Well, according to Lovina and Noah there have been many volunteers, but none as dedicated as Jonas Sutter.”

Heat rose to Hope's cheeks, and she folded her hands on her lap. “Of course. After all, the schoolchildren have been helping out. He's made the garden part of their lessons.”

“Of course he has.”

“Jonas is a friend, Mem, nothing more.”
At least not yet,
she wanted to add.

“Dat seems to think Jonas would like it to be more than that.”

“So Dat is talking about this, too?”

“Everyone is.”

Hope placed her elbows on the table and her hands on her forehead. “Which is another reason to move away from Pinecraft. This place is just too small. I can't even walk to Yoder's Restaurant without everyone knowing about it.”

“So you're
not
interested in Jonas?”

“I—I do enjoy being with Jonas very much.” She sighed. “I can see he has feelings for me too. It's just going slow. We're enjoying our friendship. Besides, there is much to consider for things to move forward, considering he is a widower.”

Mem was silent for a moment, as if she was considering her words. “There are many young women who marry widowers. I just don't know if it's right for one of my daughters.”

Hope sat up straighter, shocked by her mother's words. “Mem, I didn't know you thought that way. To be truthful I have wondered at times of Jonas's true intentions. Is he interested in me for himself—as someone to love—or does he just need a mother for his daughter?”

Mem nodded and took a sip of her coffee. “Surely there are other men—single men who've never been married—around here. Maybe getting to know a few of them better would help
with your decision. Have you spent time with any of those bachelors from Indiana who are here visiting?”

“
Ne
, Mem… and I'm not worried about finding a husband. God will show me in the right time.”

“It's true.”

Her mother's confirmation hurt, but Hope had to face reality. She cared for Jonas, and he cared for her, but was it enough to build a marriage on? They enjoyed spending time together, but was it love? She'd never really been in love before and didn't know how it was meant to feel. Maybe she'd been right when she first thought about moving. Maybe she did need to go back to Walnut Creek for a time, just to be sure.

Hope stood. She took a bowl from the cupboard and scooped up a helping of oatmeal. “So, since you've been talking to your sisters, do you know if any of them need my help as a maud?”

“I can write and ask. There are lots of your younger cousins in Ohio too. Maybe you should write a few more letters. Although they might feel that they'd need to pay you more because you're… ”

“Because I'm older?”

“Yes.”