Seeing Your Face Again (20 page)

Well, that about took the cake, Debbie thought as she took an empty seat. Wasn't that a little fast? She would have to speak with Ida the first chance she had. That chance came twenty minutes later when they'd finished the meal. Ida was standing by herself toward the back of the room.

Debbie stepped close. “So, Ida, what's going on with Melvin Kanagy?”

Ida didn't answer, but she turned pink and then red.

“You should have
told
me,” Debbie scolded. “When were you going to break the news?”

“Sometime.” Ida's voice squeaked. “Besides, he only asked me home this afternoon.”

Debbie gave Ida a quick glance. “Are you happy about this? You like the man?”

“Why wouldn't I? He's quite decent and godly.” Ida looked away. “It's just embarrassing, that's all. I've never gone home with a man.”

Debbie touched her arm. “Relax then or someone's going to notice you're nervous. You'll be okay.”

Ida took a deep breath. “I'll try.”

Debbie forced a smile. “So, I'm going home by myself with Emery tonight.”

Alarm flew into Ida's face. “That's not a problem, is it?”

“Of course not!” Debbie didn't hesitate. “I'm glad this is working out for you.”

A motherly look crossed Ida's face. “You know Paul can take you home if you're uncomfortable being alone with Emery.”

Debbie laughed. “I like Emery. Enjoy your evening, my friend. You have a right to, you know. That is—if you really want this man.”

Ida lowered her head.

She'd be okay, Debbie figured. Melvin
was
a decent man, if she was any judge of men.

Moments later Ida made a beeline for the kitchen to help with the dishes. Debbie knew she should offer to help too, so made her way to the kitchen. Girls were already lined up on both sides of the counter with towels and washcloths in their hands. Ida had somehow worked her way into the center of it all and was busy with dishes at the sink. She was so efficient and sweet. Debbie hoped Melvin Kanagy would treat her really nice. If he didn't, Debbie wasn't going to speak with him ever again. She sighed as she took a seat at a table again. She figured she might as well sit down rather than stand around while everyone waited for the hymn singing to begin. The clock on the wall showed the time to be a quarter after seven, so there was still fifteen minutes to go.

Thoughts raced through her mind. Why couldn't she date Paul and postpone the inevitable for a while? She'd been in a similar situation before with Doug and several others. The relationships didn't work out in the end—and this one wouldn't either, but Paul wouldn't know that. He was too taken up with his own world and what he wanted. Just like Doug and the others had been. Paul would have to deal with the shock down the road when she cut off the relationship. It might help Paul get over himself and give Alvin and her time to clear their names.

Debbie silently groaned. She couldn't live that way. She couldn't give a man encouragement when she knew she wasn't serious about him. It seemed okay out there in the world, but here in the community things were run by a different standard. And she wanted to live like they did, regardless of the cost. So what was to become of her if she didn't return Paul's affections? Nothing good. She'd be asked to leave. Something had to be done. She couldn't just stand by and watch her heart's desire to join the community go down the drain.

Debbie jumped when Paul whispered in her ear.

“Did you find out what Melvin's here for?”

“Nothing I'm going to tell you.” She glared up at Paul as he laughed.

“As long as it has nothing to do with you, I'm happy.” He smiled and moved on.

The man has nerve!
Debbie thought.
Such nerve!

Nineteen

I
da slipped out of the washroom, wrapped her shawl around her shoulders, and closed the door behind her. Emery had left some time ago, and Debbie had gone with him. Now she would be taken home by Melvin Kanagy. She'd never imagined life would turn out this way for her—that she would go home on her first date with a man who had been married. But many other girls had done so, and there was no shame in the matter since Melvin was a widower. It's just the way
Da Hah
worked things out sometimes.

Melvin's frequent glances toward her all evening had kept her feelings up, so there was no reason she should sink into despair now. For the first time she would get to speak at length with Melvin. He was a
gut
man, and though she might not love him yet, there was no reason that couldn't change. Maybe she'd get over her embarrassment soon and stop all the blushing. At least no one had teased her tonight. Maybe they hadn't noticed, although that was hard to imagine. Maybe the thought of her with a date seemed too impossible to imagine. Either way, she was now dating and might soon be a married woman, if she didn't miss her guess.

Ida made her way down the snowy sidewalks. A few snowflakes
brushed past her bonnet. She shielded her eyes with her hand and peered at the line of approaching buggies. Melvin drove a dark-red horse—if she remembered correctly. How embarrassed she would be if she climbed into a buggy with the wrong man. And with her nervousness, that might be exactly what she'd do!

“Chilly night,” commented Susie Schmucker, who stood in line beside her.

“
Yah
, it is,” Ida agreed. “A storm must have blown up suddenly.”

“It won't be too bad.” Susie smiled. “Well, here's Jonas with his buggy. You have a
gut
evening now.”

Ida allowed the warmth of Susie's words to run all the way through her. They certainly were meant to include more than the comment about the storm that brewed in the sky. Susie had noticed Ida and was telling her she cared and that she approved of her going home with Melvin.
What a
wunderbah
thought!
Ida told herself. It must be a terrible thing to have the disapproval of the community on one's head—like Alvin and Debbie had right now. She felt so sorry for them, but it couldn't be helped. Alvin had left the community, and Debbie should face the facts. But her friend was stubborn about such things. Paul had sent glances her way all evening during the hymn singing, but from what Ida could see, Debbie hadn't returned one of them.

For a moment Ida let a thought linger in her mind. What would it be like to have a man like Paul pay attention to you? She pushed the thought away. It was a dream out of her reach, and she would accept her lot. She must never think about such a thing again. Melvin was a decent man, and he was taking her home tonight. She would be grateful for his attention and seek to open her heart to his love.

Ida moved forward with quick steps as the next buggy pulled up. The horse was the right color, and the faint form of the man in the buggy had a beard. It couldn't be anyone but Melvin. Married men didn't pick up their wives and families this early in the evening.
With a quick pull of her hand on the side of the buggy, Ida was up and onto the seat.

“
Gut
evening!” Melvin's deep voice came from beside her.

“
Gut
evening,” Ida whispered back, lest her voice quiver. Melvin didn't need to know how nervous she was. Hopefully he didn't know she'd never done anything like this before.

Melvin gently slapped the reins against his horse's back, and they were off.

“The weather's turned kind of nasty,” he said as he pulled out of the driveway and onto the blacktop road.

“
Yah
,” she agreed. “I had snowflakes flying in my hair while I waited for your buggy.” He said nothing, and she glanced up at his face. Had she said something wrong? Was the comment about the snowflakes in her hair too personal? Did he think such an intimate image inappropriate for the first time in a long time that he took a girl home? She settled back in the buggy seat. Melvin had been married and had six children. He wouldn't think such a thing, she decided. “How are your children tonight?” Ida finally asked when Melvin still said nothing.

He smiled, obviously pleased with her question. “My
mamm
is taking care of them for me. My sister Lily's dating herself tonight.” He gave a little laugh. “Young people, you know. They have to see each other.”

What should she think of that comment? Wasn't she young? Melvin was taking a girl home tonight, but maybe he didn't consider himself young any longer.

“
Mamm
was most helpful when I asked,” Melvin continued. “
Daett
stayed too so I don't have to drive her home even though I offered.” He shrugged. “Old people don't mind lost sleep, I guess. But they don't want me to lose more of mine than necessary.”

It almost sounded like taking her home was a burden, Ida thought. But Melvin wanted another
frau
, so he must feel he had
to do certain things for her—like stay up later than he normally would and ask his parents for help. Ida stared off into the darkness. Her heart pounded. Perhaps this was a mistake?

“Is something wrong?” Melvin shifted in the buggy seat beside her.

Ida tried to speak but the words wouldn't come. Was she suddenly tearing up? She couldn't believe this! What would Melvin do with a girl who sobbed on their first date? He'd likely drop her off right here beside the road!

Melvin waited for her to reply. His voice finally rumbled in the darkness. “I'm sorry, Ida. I didn't mean that like it must have sounded. It's a great honor that you're allowing me to take you home tonight. The children just need…well…a lot of attention.”

Melvin's hand touched her arm for a moment in the darkness.

Ida rushed out, “Thank you. I understand. I really do. It's okay. And you don't have to stay late tonight if you don't wish to. I don't need much…much attention.”

His laugh was soft. “Don't undersell yourself, Ida. You're a
wunderbah
woman.”

“Don't say things you don't mean.” She glanced up at his face. His silhouette was outlined in the dim buggy lights.

His answer came at once. “I'm not, Ida. But
yah
, maybe I'm speaking too plainly for our first time together…” He let the sentence hang.

Ida hesitated. “It's not that, Melvin. I'm just not used to…things like that being said about me.”

“Then it's time to begin.” His held the reins in both hands. “You are easy to love, Ida, and my heart has already opened up greatly to you. I hope you will soon feel the same about me.”

Ida took a deep breath. This was plain talk and plain thoughts for a first date, but then she'd never been on one before. And Melvin had been married. And she was older than most dating girls. No doubt he'd said such things to his
frau
, Mary. No wonder Mary had always seemed so in love with him.

They rode in silence for a few moments until Melvin cleared his throat. “My children—they don't bother you?”

Ida jumped. “Of course not! I love children. Well, I don't know yours very well—yet. But the youngest, Lisa, she's a picture of cuteness. And she's so well behaved.”

“I have six of them.” He turned his head to look at her.

“That you have children makes no difference. Not for me. I know there are many problems that one can have with children in second marriages. But I'm okay with working through any that might arise.”

As he guided his horse onto the Beiler driveway, Melvin said, “I didn't know how you would react, Ida. I'm glad to hear your thoughts. I love my children.”

“They are
wunderbah
children.” Ida smiled as the buggy came to a halt beside the hitching post. She climbed out. In the light of the buggy lamps, Melvin gave her a kind look, and Ida felt heat burn up her neck. She waited while Melvin got out and tied up his horse. Her heart pounded, but not quite like it had before. He was a comforting presence. He wasn't stern like she'd expected—although he probably could be.

“What is your horse's name?” Ida asked as a gust of wind blew against her bonnet.