The Photograph (21 page)

“Have yourself a restful night,” he said, looking up at her.

“
Denki
for lendin' your wife's ear.”

“Well, let's see once,” he said, getting up to look at Naomi's ear. “Ah, it's still attached.
Des gut.
”

“I do love talkin' to her.” Eva smiled at Naomi.

“Now, that's better. We like seein' our Eva smilin' again,” Abner said before he returned to his reading.

“Our Eva.”
The words were so dear and more comforting than the two of them could ever know. Best of all, Eva was grateful for Naomi's ongoing prayers for Lily
 . . .
and for herself.
Only heaven knows
what we're up against!

B
EFORE
N
AOMI
AND
A
BNER
FINISHED
BREAKFAST
the next morning, Lester Lantz dropped by. Abner waved him inside to join them, and Naomi greeted him, quickly excusing herself to pour Abner's brother-in-law some hot black coffee.

“Been hearin' some rumblings 'bout Omar,” said Lester as he rested one elbow on the table. “Anything I might do to help?”

“Ain't sure what ya might've heard,” Abner said, then went on to mention Omar's interest in voting.

“Wonder where he came up with that,” Lester said. “Sure isn't like there's any leaning toward politics round here. That's the world's business
.
”

Abner raised his coffee mug to take a sip. “'Tis the truth.”

Naomi returned to the table, bringing some fresh fruit and another plate of sticky buns, which both men reached for the second she set it down. Taking a seat herself, she decided not to have anything more to eat, just slowly drink the rest of her apple juice, surprised and heartened that Sylvia's husband was this concerned for their Omar.

“We've tried to steer Omar in the right direction, but ultimately it's up to him to make his own decisions.” Abner glanced at Naomi as though to cue her to say something.

“
Des gut,
really,” Lester agreed. “I'll admit that I regret the way I pushed our Tilly away, when all was said and done. Honestly, if I could do it over, I'd be gentler with her.” He drank some coffee; then, setting it down, he looked at first Naomi, then Abner. “I would caution you against using the same approach I did. It made Tilly even more determined to go her own way.”

The room was still for a moment. Knowing Lester as she did, Naomi was glad to witness the softening in his face when he spoke of his daughter—many were the times young Tilly had sought comfort from her and Abner.

Lester continued. “Omar's mighty fortunate to have a father
 . . .
and a mother who know how to talk to him 'bout something that other parents might take a hard line against. Some might even turn away from him, considerin' the controversy.”

Naomi nodded as she listened. “We're hopin' he'll submit to the bishop's authority and consider fasting and praying 'bout his decision.”

They talked further about the hardship of having Tilly and her younger sister, Ruth, out of the fold, yet wanting them to know they were welcome to visit anytime. “Sylvia and I wish the girls had made a different choice, but being they were never baptized into the church, we don't see any wisdom in shunning them. It's not going to bring them back.”

Naomi voiced her agreement before going down to the cold cellar for some stewed tomatoes for the noon meal as the men settled in to talk of crops and livestock.

“I'll keep Omar in my thoughts,” Lester said once he got up and made his way to their side door.

“
Denki
, means so much,” Naomi said. Abner rose, as well, and walked with her out to the backyard as Lester headed to his waiting horse and carriage.

“Well, wasn't that nice?” Naomi said, wiggling her bare toes in the grass.

“He's been through more than we can imagine with Tilly and Ruth,” Abner said. “A right
gut
man.”

Eva was pleased when Bena dropped by with two-year-old Katie Ann to provide Cousin Jeptha's mailing address for Lily's photograph. Bena hemmed and hawed, acting altogether curious to see the picture yet not coming right out to ask.

Frona's lips parted in a slight smile when Eva offered to show it to Bena, who quickly accepted.

Bena stared at it and shook her head. “I can't imagine what Lily was thinkin', can you?”

“Well, if nothin' else, this might help someone find her,” Eva replied.

“Oh, an' before I forget, Menno mentioned that your brother Stephen thought you should have a copy made, in case this gets lost,” Bena said, stroking Katie Ann's blond braids.

Frona spoke up from where she had returned to chopping carrots at the kitchen counter. “If it turns up missin', then so be it.”

“Guess we'll take the chance and just mail it as is,” Eva said, glancing at Frona, who clearly wanted to have the last say.

Bena seemed to accept that. She went to the pantry and got a box of blocks out for Katie Ann to play with. “I'm sorry I haven't been able to spend much time helping. What can I do?”

“There's always the mending,” Frona grumbled, moving to the sink to wash her hands.

So Bena sat right down and helped mend for a good hour before she and little Katie Ann left for home.

“That was kind of her,” Eva remarked to Frona. “'Specially when she has plenty to do at her place.”

Frona smiled faintly. “I still can hardly believe she'll soon be in charge of this kitchen.”

Eva went upstairs to address an envelope at her desk. She slipped the photograph carefully inside, wishing she were writing to Jed.
If he
writes, what would I say?
she wondered, recalling their pleasant conversation while walking with him at the pond. But that sense of ease had come to an abrupt halt the moment Lily's photo fluttered to the candy counter.

“As open as Jed was about his fiancée and all he's suffered emotionally, why couldn't he be open with me about the picture?” she murmured, trying to suppress her feelings of missing him.

The more Eva contemplated this, the more she felt it signaled a lack of trust on his part.
Would Jed have withheld the truth from Lydiann,
had she been in the same circumstance?

Somehow, Eva doubted it.

Discouraged, she headed outdoors to mail Lily's photo. Back inside, she went to the small sewing area in the corner of the sitting room and stitched on the facing, then set in the sleeves for Frona's new dress. All the while, she prayed for Lily.

That night, after supper, Eva was determined to finish writing her letter to Alfred. She'd taken time to read through the few sentences of greeting she'd already penned, still wondering how she could be anything more than his friend. Truly, she wished she might hold on to her dream for a very special kind of love.

In light of what had happened with Jed, she wondered if it was wise to cling so tenaciously to her desire. Wasn't it time to
abandon that hope and focus on her friendship with Alfred?
After all,
she thought,
he's the
one pursuing me.

Slowly, she began to write.

Honestly, Alfred, I'd feel better about all of this if we could talk directly. Letters can sometimes be confusing, so if you'd like to wait till you return this fall, that's all right with me.

Groaning inwardly, Eva hoped he wouldn't think she was impolite or putting him off. She really needed more time. Regardless of what it might mean for her immediate future, now wasn't the time to agree to court—at least not by mail. She folded her letter and placed it in the envelope, then picked up her Bible and read the first five chapters of Job before heading downstairs to hem Frona's dress.

“You really didn't have to do that,” Frona said when Eva mentioned the dress was for her.

“I wanted to surprise ya, since you're feeling blue these days.”

“Who's blue?” Frona looked about her comically.

“I just thought—”

“We're on pins and needles here. The whole family is.” Frona sat down at the table and pressed her thick fingers into her neck. “Menno's tryin' to think of how else we can hunt for Lily.”

“Well, that's why we sent the picture off to Ohio.”

“
Jah
, but if nothin' comes of it, what then?” Frona's head covering drooped to one side, but she didn't seem to mind. “The bishop wants our brothers to take action—not let any grass grow under their feet. He says he'll be checking up from time to time.”

Eva realized how difficult it must be for Frona to simply bide her time while they awaited word of Lily. Frona had always been somewhat in charge; Eva suddenly grasped that their parents had
looked to her as a mother's helper since Frona was only eight or nine years old.
They molded her into
being a fussy hen,
Eva thought. And in that moment, she wished with all of her heart she might lift the burdens poor Frona was expected to carry even now.

Admiring the newly sewn dress, even though it still needed pressing, Eva sighed—she had really hoped this gesture might go a little way toward cheering up Frona. Clearly, it would take far more than a new dress to do so.

Early Saturday morning, Naomi hurried out the door to thank Abner for hitching up the horse and carriage. “You're always so helpful, dear,” she said, patting his shoulder.

“It's the least I can do for ya,” he said, then offered to drive her and Ida Mae down to Paradise and drop them off for the day.

“
Denki
, but I don't see us bein' there all day.” Naomi laughed, adding, “Let's just say I'd rather not.”

“Cousin Connie's not bothersome, is she?”

“Ain't that. But I can just imagine the grapevine's trailed down there by now, and who knows what she'll say 'bout Lily.”

“Now, you can't expect the worse.” Abner sounded like he was scolding.

Naomi headed for the carriage, and he helped her in. When she was seated on the right side and ready for the driving lines, she turned to him. “
Ach
, I forgot my walkin' stick.”

“You gonna bop your cousin Connie to keep her in line?” Abner was chuckling as he went back into the house. A moment later, he returned and handed the stick to her. “Here ya be, my love. Now, watch yourself,” he teased.

“I'll be home well before supper.” She waved to him.

“Lord willin' and the creek don't rise.” Abner grinned as she left.