Renewing Hope (In Your World #2) (27 page)

Benjamin leaned in, drawing us close.

“So when am I marrying you two so we can see that house fill up?” he whispered, laughing when Nathan cleared his throat, embarrassed.

“Benjamin, I think you need to work on your subtlety,” I teased.

He rolled his eyes and looked between the two of us.

“It is my job to get your permission to have Nathan marry you, is it not?” he challenged, amused.

“I am supposed to ask you first before you formally ask her,” Nathan chided.

“Fine,” Benjamin replied, sitting up to clasp his hands between his knees, waiting on Nathan.

Nathan looked to me, and I to him before he laughed.

“Bishop Yoder,” Nathan said, grinning wide, unable to hide his joy. “Will you ask Katherine Berger for her permission to marry me?”

“Maybe you should go away so I can ask her in private,” Benjamin suggested with a gleam in his eye, laughing when Nathan huffed and rose from his seat. Under his outer frustration I could see his excitement, though. He winked at me and gestured toward the dessert table.

“I will see if they have any more of your pie while you speak with the Bishop alone,” he said and slipped away, a slight bounce to his step.

I turned to Benjamin and pretended to glower at him.

“You already know my answer, Benjamin,” I said.

He nodded gravely and put up his hand.

“That’s Bishop Yoder to you, Katherine Berger,” he said, fighting a smile.

I sighed and rolled my eyes at him, waiting for him to continue.

He cleared his throat dramatically and looked me in the eye and paused, suddenly very serious.

"Katherine Berger, I must ask you a serious question in regards to Nathan Fisher," he started, his lips trembling only slightly.

I pretended to act innocent.

"What of Nathan Fisher?" I asked sweetly.

He glanced over to Nathan, his eyes taking on a distant look for a second before turning back to me, all traces of humor from before gone from his face.

"I am here to ask you if you would consider him as a suitable husband," Benjamin said, his voice low.

"I would," I whispered, feeling the immensity of this conversation in that moment.

Benjamin nodded, patted my hand lightly, and suddenly stood.

“Very good,” he said, his grin breaking out across his face. “I shall go ask your father and we can plan to get you two married before the month is out.”

Before I could say anything, he was off to clap Nathan across the back as he marched off toward Jonah on the far side of the yard. It wasn’t long before the chatter brimmed with the excitement, the word spreading almost instantly. Nathan came back to sit beside me while we watched the news pass from family to family.

If I had learned one thing since coming to live with the Amish, it was that nothing was secret for very long. In less time than it took for us to share a slice of pie, everyone at the Sermon knew.

I was officially betrothed to Nathan Fisher.

~~~~~

I was exhausted when we finally made our way home. It was late, for we spent much of the early evening receiving congratulations from everyone at Sermon for the upcoming wedding. Apparently the wedding of Nathan Fisher and Katherine Berger was an eagerly anticipated event, especially when Benjamin announced that it would be in the coming week.

I was not shocked that Nathan had suggested it.

We were more than ready to move ahead with our lives, together.

With the Bishop’s blessing and my adoptive father’s permission, we would be married in a matter of days.

As I climbed the stairs to the bedroom, I was confused when Emma and Hannah snuck out of Hannah’s room to usher me out of the hallway.

"We are staying the night, Katherine," Emma explained when she closed Hannah’s door. "There is much to do in the next couple of days."

“I can’t sleep in my own bed?” I teased.

“I do not think Abigail should be involved in some of what we have to say,” Hannah said, grinning as she helped me out of my dress. I eyed her warily, afraid of what she might have to say to me that Abigail had no business hearing. I fought my yawns and climbed into bed, Hannah and Emma cuddling with me to get warm. I laughed at the idea that they might sleep there with me.

"Won't your husbands get lonely?" I asked.

Hannah waved off my question while Emma snorted.

"They can live one night without us. Perhaps we might even get a little sleep," Emma said.

"You're not sleeping?" I asked, concerned that maybe Emma was having troubles settling in to her new life.

She laughed again and pushed back some of the hair that had worked loose from my braid.

"It is difficult to sleep when John wishes to remain up with me," she replied.

Hannah snickered.

"Mark gets tired, but he is certainly energetic."

All at once, I knew why we had left Abigail in the other room. This conversation was a little embarrassing, and not something I really wanted to discuss with my sisters, knowing that my private time with Nathan was perhaps more intimate than they realized.

"You will see," Emma chimed in, giggling when she took in my shocked face.

"Yes, I am certain Nathan will be very attentive, if not a little too eager," Hannah said, biting her lip to keep from laughing.

"I don't think I want to talk about this," I mumbled, embarrassed.

"It would not be fair of us as sisters if we did not help you through what will be a stressful evening," Hannah replied, sitting up a little in the bed.

"It is true," Emma said, nodding. "With Nathan's lack of experience, you could be disappointed if you do not take certain precautions."

Precautions?

I was not having a sex talk with my Amish sisters!

"I can figure some of that out," I rebuffed, shifting in my covers to fall asleep.

Hannah shrugged.

"That is fine," she said, sighing dramatically. "It is too bad it will only last a moment, given his nerves."

Emma snorted again and settled in next to me.

"You will be lucky if it is a moment, and that it does not hurt."

I sat up and put my hands out to stop the conversation that had become most decidedly awkward.

"I know what to expect on our wedding night. I think we will be fine,” I huffed.

Hannah rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well I should hope you know. But he will not and will burst from the nerves when he first sees you," she said.

I looked at her for a moment, shocked by what she was alluding to.

"Although I am sure Nathan will rebound quickly," Emma said, chuckling. "He has always been one to complete a task.”

They both burst out laughing.

"Yes, I am sure he will be more diligent! Mark wanted to try for perfection."

I closed my eyes and shook my head, embarrassed.

"Please can we stop talking about this?" I moaned.

"Just think about helping poor Nathan that first time, Katherine," Emma said, hugging me close. "He has no one to tell him and if you want the night to be a good one, he will need to be calm when he takes you to his bed."

"Maybe then he will make it through the night," Hannah added, slipping off the bed with a grin when I moved to slap her.

"Okay, I get it. Calm his nerves! Can we please just go to sleep now?” I pleaded, mortified and desperately wanting to put the conversation behind me.

"Yes, you need your sleep," Emma said, trying to be serious until a giggle escaped her lips. "Because you will not be getting any sleep in a few days!"

She leapt off the bed and followed Hannah out of the room, the two of them laughing down the hall as I slunk down into the covers. I heard them giggling in my old room, enough to have awoken Abigail so that she whined, wanting to know what they were laughing at.

Served them right for embarrassing me.

Let them try to explain it all to Abigail.

I wrapped myself deeper into the covers, thinking over what they had said.

I had faith in Nathan. We had been close enough that we could help one another out that first night. But I wondered if perhaps they were right, that Nathan would be too nervous. He would be so upset if he had trouble on our first night together. I let out my breath and resolved to surprise him then.

I just hoped that I didn’t traumatize him. I grinned into the covers as my mind drifted, thinking about being Mrs. Nathan Fisher in a few short days.

My dreams were more vibrant that night, leaving me eager to spend a quiet moment alone with Nathan the next day. But I didn't see him much at all, the two of us so busy making preparations that we hardly had time to even speak to one another. Nathan stayed at his house to clear what remained of the barn, while I helped Fannie clean and make room in the basement for the next day's festivities.

Even when Amish weddings were simple, they were quite a lot to deal with. Emma and Hannah helped with cleaning the basement, a wide-open space often used for social gatherings in inclement weather. Since the weather had grown much colder with the coming winter, Jonah and Fannie both agreed that having the ceremony inside was better.

I had been with them for three months and had no idea the basement had even existed.

"Most of our homes have them, Katherine," Fannie explained as we mopped. "Even the Fisher house. We use it for canning, quilting, and laundry as well when it gets too cold out."

I made a resolution to look around my new home. I had a sneaky suspicion the Fisher clothes washer was somewhere in the basement I had not known existed.

Thoughts of moving in with Nathan flitted through my head all day, especially when I delivered lunch for the men at the Fisher farm. I laid everything out in the kitchen, smiling at the thought that in a day, I would be there instead of at the Berger’s. Looking around the kitchen, I knew I would love my new home. Where once there had been ghosts in the shadows, now there were possibilities.

Fannie didn't let me linger long, though.

After lots of cooking, ironing of tablecloths, and double-checking my dress, I was tired from the long day as night crept in. Nathan pulled me out onto the porch before he left, wanting at least a few quiet minutes alone before he retreated to his home. He pulled me to a darker part of the porch, arms wrapping around me to keep me warm in the chill air.

"Are you nervous?" he whispered against my cheek. I closed my eyes and smiled into the roughness of his jaw.

"A little," I whispered, refusing to admit what exactly I was nervous about. The ceremony was not really something I worried over.

This time tomorrow night, however...

"I cannot wait to take you home," he murmured, his face growing hot against me.

He chuckled softly and angled his head to catch the flush on my own cheeks.

"I did not mean it that way at first, but now I do," he said, looking down at me with those playful eyes of his.

I touched his cheek lightly and stretched to kiss him.

"Tomorrow will be a good day," I said and let him kiss me more firmly. My heart sped up with his lips on me, anxious and excited for tomorrow night when his lips would be allowed on me completely.

"I should let you sleep," he whispered. "Pleasant dreams, Kate. Until tomorrow."

He took a step back, so familiar now as he retreated into the dark.

For the last time.

Tomorrow, I would go with him.

I would never have to watch him walk away from me like that again. I smiled into the dark, his body disappearing into the night. I waited for a moment, hoping to perhaps see his silhouette on the hill. When I could not, I let out a breath and turned to go inside. I was rather tired, and I was sure to get more advice from my sisters tonight to make me more nervous. We said our goodnights, Hannah and Mark leaving for home. John and Emma walked upstairs with me. I watched as John slipped into Hannah's old room, leaving me alone with Emma for a moment.

"Any last questions, Katherine?" she asked, grinning.

I shook my head and reached for my door.

"I think I'll figure things out, Emma. You guys kept me up most of last night with too many thoughts," I retorted.

She hugged me tight, and when she eventually let me go, I could see tears in her eyes.

"I am so glad you chose to stay. I told you that you were meant for something. Tomorrow will be a new beginning," she said, smiling brightly.

She hugged me one last time, and then finally let me disappear into my room, joking about my need to sleep. She had no idea how much I wanted to simply collapse and get through the night as fast as possible. Of course my mind would not let me, regardless of how my body wished it.

Thoughts of Nathan and the following day made me restless, nervous and smiling at the idea of finally being with him.

Tomorrow.

CHAPTER 17

Tomorrow became today much swifter than I imagined.

It was the day.

What do they say about nervous brides?

Emma had drawn me a bath before dawn, scented in lavender and vanilla. The bath energized my tired body, and Emma's urging to get dressed woke up my drowsy mind. In a matter of a few hours I would be Mrs. Nathan Fisher.

Kate Fisher.

Mrs. Fisher.

Married.

I was getting married.

My stomach wrapped itself in knots.

I didn't eat much, sad that Nathan and Benjamin did not join us. I wanted to see if Nathan was as nervous as I was. Perhaps it was just how things were. Brides were always nervous. I swallowed and breathed the best I could, adjusting my new dress repeatedly. Had I stitched it wrong? Why was I fidgeting so much? The neckline felt strange. I was sure I had sewn it too tight. And it was hot in the basement as people began to arrive.

There was only one way out.

"Katherine?"

I turned to see Fannie coming down the stairs, a bemused look on her face.

"Come, Katherine," she whispered near my ear and took me by the waist, steering me to the small room near the back that stored all the Berger’s quilting and laundry supplies.