Seeing Your Face Again (32 page)

“She shouldn't!” Debbie exclaimed. “You're marrying the man.”

“It's just that I didn't want Lily to think we considered her incapable of…”

Debbie laughed. “I'm sure Melvin made things clear to his sister.” But Debbie's face darkened as her unspoken question returned. Finally she said, “Ida, I hope you're not being influenced to marry Melvin because he spoke to his brother on my behalf. Your mother does want you to use our visiting as a kind of trial run, you know. It's not too late for you to back out if it doesn't go well.”

Ida's voice was sober. “I wasn't influenced by Melvin's kindness to you. Well, except to love him more. And you shouldn't take
Mamm
too seriously. She's worried about all the work in raising six children, I suppose. And about me becoming a widower's
frau
since I've never been married. But those things don't bother me. I know I'm not Melvin's first choice in a
frau
, but he wasn't mine either.
Da Hah
has worked things out as He sees best.”

Debbie glanced at Ida. “Maybe your mother does have a point?”

Ida shook her head. “Now look who's on whose side.”

“You know I'm always on your side,” Debbie asserted. She motioned with her head. “Is that the place up there?”

Ida's face broke into a smile. “
Yah
. Pull up by the barn so we can unhitch.”

Debbie took the turn into the driveway with care. She noticed
a patch of freshly worked ground behind the house. Clearly Melvin had kept his word about the garden. She pulled the buggy to a stop, and the door of the house opened. Two small boys raced out.

Ida stepped down from the buggy and met the boys as they arrived. She greeted them cheerfully. “Hi! Is your
daett
around?”

The oldest dug his bare big toe around in circles in the driveway dirt. “He's in the back field now, I think. Although he was working on his tractor in the barn.” They had turned shy now that they'd finished their wild dash to the buggy. Ida gave both of them quick hugs, which brought embarrassed looks to their faces.

“We'll go talk with Lily first then,” Ida said as Debbie tied Buttercup to the hitching rack.

When Debbie finished, Ida was already on her way toward the house. She held the hands of the young boys, one on either side of her. She would make an excellent mother for these children, Debbie noted as she followed them. Ida obviously knew what was up. She was following her heart.
Just like I did in rejecting Paul's attention,
Debbie decided. Such things weren't always easy to explain or for others to see.

Lily met them at the door with a glow on her face. Melvin must have been right on that point also. Lily carried no hard feelings over this early foray of Melvin's
frau-to-be
into his home. Lily appeared frazzled, in fact, and tired. The woman probably wished her brother's wedding would be next week, if the truth be told.

“This is so
gut
of you to come,” Lily told Ida. “And for you to come along,” Lily said, turning her attention to Debbie. “That's such a special blessing.”

“Thank you,” Debbie replied. “It was Saloma's idea. I came along to help.” Lily certainly did her best to make them feel welcome, and her words seemed sincere enough.

“
Ach
!” A pleased look spread over Lily's face. “You know it would have been perfectly decent, Ida, since I'm here.”

Ida returned the kind look. “I know, but maybe we can get more
work done. Melvin said he'd get the garden ready, and I see it's all disked. Shall we start there?”

“You don't waste any time, do you?” Lily smiled as she tussled the hair of one of the boys. “You'll be making Melvin a decent
frau
. I don't think I could have made a better choice myself.”

Ida colored and dropped her eyes. “I hope
Da Hah
will bless our life together.”

“I'm sure He will! Let me show you around the house since you'll be moving in soon,” Lily continued. “And you can talk to the children—the ones who are home from school, anyway.”

Ida's neck burned bright red, but Lily didn't seem to notice. Both boys looked up at Lily with expectant looks on their faces. Lily laid her hands on the head of first one and then the other. “You know this is Amos, the oldest of these two. He's five and can't wait to attend school next year. This is Ephraim, the mischievous one. But aren't young ones all that way?”

“He's not the youngest!” Amos protested.

Lily didn't seem to hear as she led the way toward the kitchen. Ida followed, leaving the two boys with Debbie.

“She knows I'm not the youngest,” Ephraim spoke up. He gave his brother a pleased look.

“Let's go out and play,” Amos announced.

Both boys gave Debbie only the briefest of glances as she held the front door open for them. They dashed out and were gone. The two were nice enough children, Debbie thought. They seemed okay with the idea that Ida would be their new mother. Likely Melvin had told them all about Ida. Even then, she didn't envy Ida the task ahead of her. The responsibility of this household was immense. Ida had tackled more than Debbie would have. But then that was Ida.

Debbie found Ida and Lily in the kitchen with an even smaller boy on the chair beside them. He was all smiles as he listened to the chatter around him like his life depended on it. A little girl sat on Ida's lap—the same one Debbie had seen with Melvin at Sunday
meetings. Lily beamed above them all, obviously thrilled the children were taking so well to Ida's presence.

“I've been telling Lonnie and Lisa, as well as the other children, all about you,” Lily said. “And about my leaving this fall. I might even leave earlier now, which will be so much better than bringing in another relative who would only be here on a temporary basis.”

Lisa reached for Ida's
kapp
strings and pulled hard.

“Lisa, don't!” Lily intervened.

Ida motioned to Lily. “She's not doing any harm. She just wants to know me better.” Ida gave Lisa a quick hug.

Lily stepped back with a pleased expression. “Well, we didn't get very far around the house yet. Shall we go on? The children can stay in the kitchen.”

“Lisa's coming with me,” Ida cooed as she got to her feet. “Aren't you, my little girl?”

Lonnie leaped to his feet. Obviously he assumed the invitation included him too. Lonnie grabbed Ida's other hand. Both Melvin and his sister must have done their jobs well. Whatever they'd said about Ida had stuck. The children thought she was
wunderbah
.

Debbie followed the two as they toured first the downstairs with Lisa in Ida's arms. Lonnie tagged along behind. Debbie gave the little boy a smile when they reached the top of the stairs, but he didn't return it. He looked at her as if she were a stranger. Obviously no one had talked her up to the children, so she would have to turn on her own charm. Debbie kept up her smiles, and by the time they finished the tour of the upstairs, Lonnie had managed a shy smile in return. Ida was clearly better at this than she was, Debbie decided. Which was how it should be. She would not be these children's new mother. That would be Ida.

Thirty-One

D
ebbie dug the hoe into the soft garden soil as her friend worked beside her. Out of the corner of her eye, Debbie saw Ida pause.

“He's coming from the barn!” Ida whispered.

That could only mean one person—Melvin Kanagy! Debbie turned around to check as Ida rushed toward the approaching figure.

“I see you've come!” Melvin's deep voice rumbled. He reached out for Ida's hand.

Ida took it and stood for a few seconds to gaze up at Melvin's face. It was clear she loved him, Debbie thought as she looked away. This was Ida and Melvin's moment. She went back to work until the two came up beside her, still holding hands. Ida had a fading blush on her face.

“It's
gut
that you could come,” Melvin greeted Debbie.

“I was glad to,” Debbie responded. Should she thank Melvin for his kind words to his brother on her behalf? She decided she shouldn't. The Amish had reservations about speaking too openly about such things—at least to the person who had done the favor.
She was here to help Melvin and Ida with his farm, and he'd take that as thanks enough.

“Don't you have a job in town you have to be at?” Melvin asked, a puzzled look on his face.

Debbie laughed. “Yes. But my boss is allowing time off for…well…for your wedding preparations. One day a week is what I asked for, and Mr. Fulton agreed.”

Melvin grinned. “That's
gut
and kind of him. And I for one am thankful.” Melvin turned his attention to Ida. “And so you've really come. I'm still finding that hard to believe.”

Ida gave him a shy smile. “You shouldn't be. I was glad to come.”

After a brief silence, Melvin changed the subject. “Did you find the seeds in the basement? I told Lily where I stored them. Do you have any questions?”

“
Nee
, we're fine,” Ida said. “Just tell us where you want the different seeds planted.”

Melvin thought for a moment. “Well, I don't know much about garden planting. I can do the hard work, but managing the garden takes a woman's hand.”

Ida nodded, a touch of red back on her cheek, “I'll do my best then.
Mamm
taught me everything I know.”

Melvin grinned. “That's what I was hoping for—not that I ever had any doubts. It's just that some girls never learn these things.”

Ida didn't know what to say, so Debbie spoke up. “Ida, he's teasing you.”

Melvin chuckled.

Ida said, “Oh!” She smiled at Melvin.

Apparently Melvin didn't tease a lot on their Sunday evening dates, Debbie decided. Saloma's idea for these visits had already borne fruit. And from Ida's pleased expression, she liked what she'd just learned today of her husband-to-be.

“By the way,” Melvin said, “I hate to ask this of you women, but could you help me with something in the barn? I'd like to put on
some new tractor wheels, and I can't seem to manage by myself.” Melvin looked apologetic.

Ida wasted no time before she answered. “Of course we can! We're here to help you…whatever is needed.”

“I know this isn't women's work,” Melvin said as he glanced over his shoulder while leading the way to the barn. “Mary used to help me in the barn, but Lily has her hands full in the house. She does too much for the children and me already.”

“It's not a problem,” Ida assured Melvin, with a glow on her face.

Ida would flourish on this farm, Debbie thought. She'd feel fulfilled and satisfied as Melvin's
frau
in a way she never could have with Paul Wagler.

Melvin held the barn door for them and motioned toward the interior. “It's the back wheel. I have the jack under the axle, but I can't get much further. If the two of you would take one side, I can handle the other.”

Amos and Ephraim appeared from somewhere. Melvin shooed them back. “The women are here to help. There's not much a five-year-old and a four-year-old can do.”

Both boys were disappointed.

Ida patted their heads, but they still looked glum.

Debbie gave them both smiles before she turned to follow Ida's lead. Ida seemed to know what needed doing without instructions.

“Easy now, easy now…” Melvin said repeatedly as they maneuvered the heavy wheel. “Up, up just an inch, and there! We're in.”

There was a metallic click, and the wheel lurched forward. Melvin was all smiles as he rushed to turn the wheel fasteners. Amos had picked the nuts off the floor and handed them to his father. Ida brushed the dirt from her hands. She looked pleased. Debbie also rubbed her hands together.

“We'll be getting back to the garden then,” Ida said.

Melvin jerked his head up from where he was bent over the wheel. “Thank you so much, Ida…and Debbie. I so appreciate this.
I was struggling for a few days already. There's not that many of the community men who stop by that I could ask for help.”