The Matchmaker (17 page)

Wiping at her face, Hannah was the first to break the embrace. She pulled back and took a deep breath, as if seeking an inner strength that she did not feel. “I shall have to be brave and face this news with the strength of the Lord
behind me and know that some day He shall guide me to my proper husband, if that is indeed His will.”

Emma placed her hands on Hannah’s shoulders and stared at her, determined to show her own confidence in what she was about to say. “You will find your husband, Hannah. God will lead you to him; you can be sure and certain of that. You believe me,
ja
?”

Hannah nodded and sniffled at the same time.

“And I promise,” Emma added solemnly, reaching up to dry the tear that clung to the corner of her eye, “I will not meddle anymore.”

Both young women laughed at that statement and once again embraced in an affectionate, sisterly hug.

Despite the emotions of the meeting, Emma felt an enormous weight lift from her shoulders. She said a silent prayer, thanking God for granting her a second chance to prove what a right
gut
friend she was. Now she would rely on Him to help her refrain from meddling when her opinions and guidance were neither required nor needed.

Chapter Ten

T
HE SKY WAS
overcast, gray clouds hovering on the horizon and creating a gloomy feeling about the day. There was a chill in the air, carrying a hint of the impending change of seasons. Clearly the long hot days of summer were over, even if some days still were warm and sunny. Today, however, was not one of those. While the official start of autumn was still a few days away, Emma and Hannah both wore thick black sweaters over their dresses along with thin black knee socks with their shoes, an uncomfortable feeling after so many months of going everywhere barefoot. With yesterday’s drama behind them, they were on their way to attend their weekly visit with the widows.

Their visits with Mary Yoder and Katie Miller were very similar to the previous week: short visits with small talk and simple treats of cookies and tea that Emma had packed in a basket for the women. Both of the older women shared whatever letters they had received earlier in the week from friends and family, both near and afar. After twenty minutes or so Emma would excuse herself to wash and dry the dishes, taking care to put everything back exactly the way she had found it so as not to burden either Mary or Katie with having extra chores after their visitors left.

It was at their third stop, Sarah Esh’s house, that they encountered the first of two surprises for the day.

Sarah was a frail woman who used a walker to get around her small house. But she always greeted her visitors with a wide smile and a cheery invitation to come in and visit, sharing the rocking chairs in her sitting room. With great apprehension Emma knocked at the door, with a quick glance at Hannah to give her support to get through the visit. Both of them wondered if Paul would show up today to visit her. Neither one had talked further about what had happened with Paul, but they were nervous at the thought of running into him for the first time since he had proposed to Emma.

“Wilkum
!”

Emma smiled as the door was opened and Sarah’s face peered out, a big bright smile lighting up her face. “
Gut mariye
, Sarah! We’ve come to sit a spell, if that’s all right with you.”

“Come in, come in,” she insisted, showing a sign of surprise as if this was not a weekly routine and she had not seen them in months, then stepping back from the door so that Emma and Hannah could enter. “How right
gut
of you to come visit!”

“Now, Sarah,” Emma chided gently. “I wouldn’t miss our weekly visit for anything!” Her words caused Sarah’s smile to broaden even wider. “I brought along some sugar cookies that I made just this morning!” She lifted her arm, indicating the basket that she held. “And fresh meadow tea, too.”

Without waiting for an invitation, Emma quickly began to move toward the kitchen. She knew where everything was kept and quickly had a tray prepared with paper napkins, cups, glass jar of tea, and the covered plate of cookies.
“Shall we go sit, then?” She moved over toward the sitting area, waiting for Sarah to sit in her burgundy-colored recliner. “This will probably be the last tea of the season, I reckon,” she sighed, bending down for Sarah to serve herself.

“Concentrate!” Sarah announced forcefully as she accepted a glass from the tray that Emma held before her. The single word startled Emma, and for just a moment she wasn’t certain what Sarah had meant. “You must make concentrate tea syrup in order to have some in the winter months.”

Laughing, Emma set the tray on the oval coffee table and sat down in her assigned rocking chair. The glass of cool tea in her hands, she stared into it for a moment as if pondering over Sarah’s words. “I thought you meant I needed to concentrate better!” Both Sarah and Hannah joined her in laughing at Emma’s comment. Once everyone was situated and enjoying their refreshments, Emma finally responded to Sarah’s suggestion. “Anna and I made that tea syrup one year. I thought that it doesn’t keep as well and spoils my enjoyment of the tea.”

Sarah shook her head and clucked her tongue several times, before lifting her cup to her lips to taste the tea. “Well done, Emma,” she said approvingly. “Just the right blend of sugar and mint.”

“Danke
,” Emma said. “Anna taught me
vell
.”

A moment of silence fell over the three. Emma watched as Sarah reached for a cookie, taking a healthy bite as small crumbs scattered down the front of her navy blue dress. She was about to say something when Sarah carelessly wiped them onto the floor.

Clearing her throat, Hannah set down her cup and broke the silence. “I found a powdered formula at the Sharp
Shopper!” She smiled eagerly at Emma. “
Mayhaps
we could try that for the colder months?”

“Powdered? Oh, help!” Slapping her hand against her leg, Emma sank back into the rocking chair and shook her head in wonder. “Whatever would
Daed
have to say about
that
?”

Both Sarah and Hannah laughed, knowing full well that Henry Weaver would find something to say about such an unnatural version of a truly delicious, if not medicinal, potent drink. Emma was pleased with Hannah’s response. Contrary to her fears, Hannah had seemed to respond to the dreadful news of the previous day with a strong continence. She was proud of her dear friend for being so strong in the face of such a devastating loss.

After tasting the tea, Sarah set the glass on the small side table next to her chair. “You come to visit me every week and bring me news,” she said, a mischievous smile on her face. “Today I have news for both of you!”

Emma looked amused and raised an eyebrow, glancing at Hannah, who also appeared delighted in this unusually sassy side of Sarah Esh. “News? Oh my!” She winked at Hannah. “Do tell us! I can hardly wait!”

The older woman’s eyes sparkled and she leaned forward, her elbows on her knees as she lowered her voice, sharing her secret. “I don’t reckon you have both heard about my nephew Paul,
ja
?”

At the mention of Paul, the very man who had caused such angst for the two of them, Emma stiffened and glanced at Hannah. Her cheeks suddenly looked pale but she maintained her composure as if bracing herself for the worst news. Emma certainly hoped that he hadn’t told anyone about what had transpired between them. Even if he omitted her
name and confided in his family, such news would be devastating to Hannah.

“Nee
, Sarah,” Emma responded, choosing her words carefully and speaking slowly. “I can’t say that I have heard any news of Paul of late.”

Hannah merely shook her head.

Receiving the response that she wanted, Sarah looked delighted as she finally shared her gossip. “He went off to Ohio, he did! Just Monday last. Wanted to visit with a bishop out there, learn more about their
g’may
and different practices.” She smiled, unable to hide her pride in her nephew. “You mark my words. That young man will be chosen by the lot one day. Not a finer, more godly man has ever graced our church district.”

With a sigh of relief and ignoring the blatant pride in Sarah’s words, Emma pressed forward. “Monday after communion service? Was that an expected trip then?”

“Nee
, not at all. His
daed
said that Paul felt the calling from God to take such a spontaneous trip. Imagine that!” Another smile. “God touched him, that boy.”

Hardly likely
, Emma thought, still bitter at what she considered a clear deception on the part of Sarah’s ever-so-godly nephew. While Emma would never share the intimate details of that conversation with anyone, she did suspect that her rebuff had caught him off guard, and he had run to Ohio to hide his shame. If her entire opinion of Paul Esh had changed dramatically after that dreadful buggy ride home, her respect for him had now vanished at this unexpected announcement.

“And I wouldn’t be too surprised if he returns with a bann to be announced too!” Sarah giggled in delight.

Choking on her tea, Emma set down her glass on the
table and reached for a paper napkin to wipe at her mouth. Her eyes flickered to meet Hannah’s, and she wasn’t surprised to see that her friend was blinking rapidly as if fighting tears. Gone was that facade of strength she had been portraying. And, as startled as Hannah was, Emma was equally as shocked. Had he not just proposed to her five days prior?

“Banns?” Emma managed to ask with a shaky voice.

Sarah nodded her head emphatically. “That’s what I said.”

“Oh, I heard you,” Emma retorted. “I just didn’t believe what I heard.”

Sarah laughed at Emma’s reaction.

“That would be most sudden, wouldn’t it?” Emma asked.

What she really wanted to ask was how on earth Paul Esh could propose to her on one day, leave town the next, and then have rumors spreading that he would return from Ohio with a
fraa
! It was unthinkable. While Emma knew that she could never voice her opinion on the matter, she also knew that tongues would wag along the Amish grapevine. The speculation on such a situation had the potential to ruin any chance of Paul Esh ever being nominated to serve the church.

Waving her wrinkled hand at Emma, Sarah dismissed the question and shook her head. “You young people put too much emphasis on this courtship business. In my day . . . ” she began, a wistful look in her eyes as she fell back into her memory, a favorite place for many of the widows that Emma visited, it seemed. “Courtship was more direct. Select the partner on values and morals. God provides the rest over the years. Is it not better to marry a righteous and God-fearing man than to seek romance? What you call ‘romance’ and ‘love’ only comes with time, girls. Not during a few buggy rides. Mark my words on that.” She pursed her lips together.
“Is it any wonder that so many of you young folk are getting married later and later in life, and some not at all. Too particular you are, I’ll say!”

Hannah quickly stood up and excused herself, explaining that she needed to use the restroom. Emma’s eyes trailed after her, hoping and praying that the pain of her heartbreak was not more than her friend could bear.

But that was not to be the only surprise of the day.

In silence Hannah and Emma walked to their final destination: the home of Hetty and Old Widow Blank. Sarah’s announcement had seemed to take the wind out of their sails, and neither one knew what to say to the other.

“Why, Emma Weaver! How
gut
of you to come!” The door opened before she even had a chance to knock. Hetty grinned and reached for Emma’s arm, pulling her into the kitchen. “What a surprise we have for you! I just know that you’ll be as excited as we are!” She turned to her aging mother. “
Maem
! Won’t Emma be just thrilled with our surprise?”

The elderly woman leaned forward and cupped her ear. “Eh?”

Hetty repeated herself, louder this time. “Our surprise! Won’t Emma be excited?” But it was clear that her mother still could not hear her and she responded with a disgruntled shrug of her shoulders and looked away.