The Parting (11 page)
He patted the pocket containing Nellie’s letter, glad Rebekah had intercepted the day’s mail and thought to bring him the much-anticipated reply. His heart beat more rapidly to think Nellie had said yes, but the problem of his father remained.
Guess one can’t blame him. Can’t be too careful during these troublesome times when so many are speakin’ out against our heritage
. These beliefs had defined them for hundreds of years.
Ephram’s wife brought out a jug of water. They stopped to take a swig, and Maryann fidgeted as if something urgent was on her mind. When they had drunk their fill, Maryann took back the jug, studying Ephram.
“What is it, Maryann?” asked Ephram.
“Word has it there’s a meeting over at Preacher Manny’s tonight. Both sides of the debate are comin’.”
“That’s enough.”
“Marrieds are welcome.”
“Well,
we
won’t be goin’!” Ephram fairly snapped.
The strong response to Maryann’s remark startled Caleb. Ephram had always struck him as rather fixed in his opinions, but before now, he’d always seemed fair. Why this sharp tone with his wife? Was Ephram privy to something? Or was it simply that he preferred his wife keep herself out of such discussions?
Ephram was quiet as they finished laying the last few boards on the inside of the building, nailing them into place. The woodshed complete, Ephram gave him a slap of appreciation on the back, and Caleb headed to the barn. He led out his fine horse and hitched it up to the black open carriage his father had purchased for him last year.
Caleb thought again of Nellie’s little sister. What was the truth about Suzy? With rumors still flying, he considered the more pressing question to him:
What’s the truth about Nellie Mae?
He had been lectured more than a few times regarding the importance of “marryin’ proper.” According to Daed, the apple rarely fell far from the tree. “You’re tying the knot with a family, not just the daughter . . . marrying into their reputation. We Yoders won’t be linked to wickedness.”
For sure and for certain, if Daed had any inkling of his interest in Nellie Mae, he’d be taking him aside and warning him but good. Evidently Reuben Fisher hadn’t been able to rein in his youngest girl. Was Nellie Mae born of the same foolishness?
Rhoda and Nan’s room was furnished much the same as Nellie’s, yet something seemed different about it as she and Rhoda sat talking after supper Wednesday evening. Nan was downstairs, seemingly eager to be out of her room now that she was feeling better, and Rhoda had perched square in the middle of the bed, her feet tucked under her. Loose strands of golden hair poked from beneath her head covering. Nellie sat across the room on the old cane chair beside the window, unable to put her finger on what she sensed. “Something seems amiss here.”
Rhoda chuckled and removed her glasses. “Nothing’s changed, sister. Or were you noticing my new necklace? See it over there?”
Nellie spotted the long yellow-beaded necklace draped on one end of the mirror. She rose and went to look. “Has Mamma seen it?” Even as she touched it, running her fingers over the firm roundness of the beads, the necklace wasn’t the only thing different.
“Mamma poked her head in and frowned.”
Nellie gazed at the delicate loveliness of the necklace.
Worldly, for sure. Where did Rhoda get it?
Here was more evidence that Rhoda’s working for Englischers was clearly a mistake, just as Dat had said from the start.
Stepping back, Nellie noted the attractive way Rhoda had looped it over part of the dresser.
Perty as can be
.
She glanced at her sister. “Oh, Rhoda, you’re not . . .” She paused.
“I’m not what?”
“Thinkin’ of goin’ down the path of . . . ?” Nellie stopped, refusing to say Suzy’s name. “What I mean is, you’re not thinking of goin’ fancy, are ya?”
Rhoda’s pretty green eyes shone. “Last thing on my mind.”
“Why the necklace, then?”
Rhoda’s face flushed. “I s’pose hanging it keeps me from wearin’ it. Just for show, that’s all.”
Nellie looked all around the room, still trying to determine what she felt. She went and sat again. “Did you spray something sweet in here?”
“Earlier this mornin’.” Rhoda pointed her nose in the air and sniffed. “I guess I do kinda smell it yet.”
“Perfume?”
She nodded, grinning. “Want some? I can get you the same thing . . . if you’d like.”
Nellie couldn’t deny the sweet scent was ever so tempting. “Honestly, that’s too strong for me if it lasts all day. I’ll stick with my lilac fragrance.”
“Suit yourself.” Rhoda smoothed her dress, shifting her legs beneath her. “I ran into Susannah Lapp on the way home from work today.”
“Oh?” The mention of Susannah’s name annoyed Nellie.
“She was full of gossip, more so than usual—said a whole group of folk came to the house last night. Men and their wives, of all things.”
Nellie nodded, looking Rhoda square in the face. “I heard from Rebekah Yoder there was a similar meeting the night before at Preacher Manny’s. What do you think’s goin’ on?”
Rhoda reached up to undo her Kapp. Then she began removing the bobby pins, her butter-blond hair cascading down over her shoulders, past her waist. “Seems more folks are demanding tractors and other modern conveniences—enough to form a fairly large group. The meeting at the deacon’s was pretty one-sided, as I understand it.”
“Which side?”
“Which do ya suppose?” Rhoda shook her hair free. “’Twas the side of the Old Ways . . . as we are now. But the other meeting, the one you mentioned, was open to people from both sides of the issue.”
Rhoda surely seemed to be the one in the know.
“Any idea why Dat and Mamma didn’t go?” Nellie asked.
Rhoda picked up the hem of her apron and fingered the edge. “I s’pose because they’re homebodies . . . like you, Nellie Mae.” Her sister gave her a teasing grin.
Nellie sighed. The fact she had only to walk a few steps to work must make her an oddity in Rhoda’s eyes. “I daresay there’s maybe another reason.”
“What’s that?” asked Rhoda.
“Dat’s ever so settled with the way things are.”
Like Caleb’s family
. The thought comforted Nellie. No matter how many folk betrayed their tradition, her family—and Caleb’s—would stand solid and true.
“Sure seems that way,” Rhoda said. “But change is coming, and you never know what might happen.”
Nellie wanted to tell Rhoda what she knew about the bishop’s trip—and how upset Aunt Anna had seemed—but she held her peace. It wasn’t her place to say what she presumed, and it was bad enough to hear of two meetings happening behind their backs. If Rhoda didn’t already know about Uncle Bishop, the grapevine would tell her soon enough.
Nellie Mae settled into her room for the night. She considered writing to her cousins, as the circle letter she’d been expecting had come in the afternoon’s mail full of news about who was published to be married last week after Preaching in Bird-in-Hand—Treva had written of the candidates for baptism, as well. Nellie always enjoyed collecting news to add to the letter before sending it along to yet another cousin down in Paradise. The ever-expanding letter would journey on to several others before Treva returned it to Nellie again in another ten days or so. A weekly journal of sorts, circle letters were one of the things Nellie most looked forward to.
This time she had been dismayed to hear from Treva about a group in Bird-in-Hand talking of getting cars and tractors. “Whatever’s happening among our people sounds as contagious as the flu,” she whispered to herself as she slipped into bed.
Thinking of what she might write back, she deemed it unwise to share the little she knew about the unrest here in Honey Brook.
Maybe I’ll wait and reply when things die down a bit
.
She felt somewhat guilty at the prospect of holding up the circle letter—it was no fun when others dawdled—but she wasn’t in the mood to write about the ordinary things of her life. And was it really anybody’s business what was going on here among the church brethren? Her greatest concern was that such gossip might simply fan the flames of discontent.
If only Rosanna lived nearer
. It would have been a relief to talk plainly with her friend, but it was too late in the day for that. Since Elias had found him and Rosanna a nicer house to rent, across from Ephram’s, she’d seen less and less of her. At moments like this, she could see how mighty nice it would be to be able to pick up a telephone and call her dearest friend.
Quickly, she dismissed the thought. While some bishops did permit families to install a phone for the purpose of medical emergencies, Nellie could not imagine Uncle Bishop allowing one. No, he and Preachers Lapp and Manny embraced the Old Order as much as any ministers she knew.
Bet Susannah Lapp hasn’t ever wished for a phone,
Nellie thought. Considering her rival now, Nellie wondered if she dared to flirt a little with Caleb this Saturday night. Unlike most boys who simply invited a girl during the Singing, Caleb had played it safe, planning ahead where Nellie was to meet him afterward. This way no one would likely see them together as a couple. Surely there was a reason for Caleb’s desire for such unusual secrecy.
But Nellie wouldn’t allow herself to fret over the details of their first date. She could trust Caleb Yoder to know what he was doing, couldn’t she? Still, she wondered if his reason had anything to do with Suzy.
Thursday evening Rosanna’s cousin Kate came striding into the utility porch at the back of the house. With a short knock and a soft “yoo-hoo,” she appeared in the kitchen, an enormous smile on her round face. She looked much bigger than last visit, Rosanna thought, trying not to stare at Kate’s protruding stomach.
“How are you feelin’, cousin?” she asked, quickly offering her a chair.
“Oh, not too bad, really.”
“Would ya care for something to drink? A tall glass of fresh milk, maybe? Whatever you’d like.”
Kate waved her off as she lowered herself into the chair. A refreshment seemed to be the furthest thing from her mind.
“Truth is, Rosanna, I’ve come to talk about the baby.” She fixed her gaze on the table before them. “John and I’ve been talkin’, and
we
think it would be a smart idea to let our baby—yours, really—know who his parents are. Or if it’s a girl . . .” Her voice trailed off, and she brought her eyes up to meet Rosanna’s.
Rosanna felt her stomach knot up, but she forced a smile. “Why, sure, I think that’s fine.”
Kate fanned herself, seeming quite relieved. “It’s not that we want to have much say-so in his or her life. It’s just . . . we think it would be nice for the baby’s brothers and sisters to know him, too.”
Again Rosanna nodded. “I have no problem with that, Kate. Doubt Elias will, either.”
“Well, that’s mighty good to know.”
“You sure I can’t get you something to wet your whistle?
You look all in.”
Kate’s eyes glistened. “Oh, I don’t know . . . maybe, jah.”
“Well, what’s a-matter? You all right?”
Kate nodded bravely, giving a weak smile. “One minute I have such get-up-and-go, and the next, I fizzle out mighty quick. Can’t say I’ve ever felt quite like this with my other babies.”
“Ach, maybe you shouldn’t have come all this way alone.” Rosanna glanced out the window, noting the gray family buggy parked outside. “You want someone to ride back with you?”
“No, no, I’ll be fine in a few minutes.” Kate breathed in slowly.
Rosanna couldn’t help but wonder if Kate’s now rosy cheeks had to do with the realization the baby growing within her would know the parents who gave him life. It was a reasonable request.
Elias will surely think so, too
.
“The midwife says the baby may be due sooner than we thought,” Kate commented as Rosanna poured her some warm peppermint tea.
“Before Christmas would be ever so nice.”
“Might be closer to the middle of December, seems.”
“Ah, right during wedding season, then,” Rosanna said.
“Jah, and what a busy one this will be.” Kate went on to say that several nieces and two nephews on both sides of John’s and her family were rumored to be getting hitched come late November or early December.
