Where Love Grows (33 page)

“I want to ask you something.”

“You see me almost every day. It couldn't wait?”

“
Nee
, it could not. Susan, may I take you home from the hymn sing tonight?”

Susan stared at him. “Like a real date?”

“
Yah
, of course.”

“You want to take me home?”

“Come on, Susan,” he begged. “I'm asking you, I'm standing here looking like an idiot with a bunch of girls giggling about it. Just say
yah
, please?”

A trace of a smile teased her face. “Maybe I have to think about this.”

“No, you don't!” He was glaring at her now.

She laughed. “Of course you can take me home. Now get out of here!”

He glanced toward the house. “Does that
Englisha
boy mean anything to you?”

“Who?” Her smile was teasing again.

“You know who. That Robby guy.”

“You wouldn't be jealous now, would you, Steve? I'm surprised at you.”

“Who is he, Susan?”

“Go!” She waved her hand. “I'll explain tonight.”

He smiled as she turned, went inside, and closed the washroom door behind her.

A
fter the Sunday night hymn singing, Susan came out into the windy night hanging on to her
kapp
. She waited as another girl came down the steps behind her, walked past her, and climbed into her boyfriend's buggy. There had been whispers and smiles among a few of the older girls during supper, with a few quick glances sent her way. Someone must have seen Steve and her talking after church today, and apparently everyone approved so far. Steve was a decent man. Not that she was planning to marry him or anything, but allowing Steve to take her home could lead, well, in that direction. But she ought not to think such things. She should just relax and enjoy the evening.

And here came Steve's buggy. Susan walked toward it and climbed in.

“
Gut
evening!” Steve's voice was muffled by the noise of the wind against the buggy sides. He pulled out and drove around the other waiting buggies until he reached the main road. When Susan still had said nothing, he glanced at her with raised eyebrows.

“
Gut
evening,” she said. “I was just teasing you.”

He laughed. “I thought the cat might have gotten your tongue. Or is your heart pounding so hard at my glorious presence that you can't breathe?”

Susan joined in the laughter. “How refreshing! A truly humble man.”

“Do you always verbally assault the boys who take you home?

“That was a compliment, really. If you only knew.”

“I think I do know,” he said.

Silence settled in the buggy. A comfortable enough silence, Susan thought. But then they had always been comfortable around each other since the beginning, although she had always thought of it more as a friendship. Not exactly
this…
She let the thought hang as the buggy was buffeted in the wind.

“Some night to take a girl home for the first time,” Steve said. “Well, it's my first time, so have a little mercy on me.”

“Is it really? I'm not sure I believe that.”

“
Yah
, it is. Are you going to hold it against me?”

“No, of course not. But why haven't you before now?”

“Because I've never really wanted to before.”

“Time to settle down maybe?”

“Now quit being so mean. You're much nicer during the week.”

“At least you're honest,” she said as another blast of wind shook the buggy.

He laughed. “I suppose that does count for something.”

“It counts for more than you know. Not like a certain man we both know.”

“At least he was dashing.”

“Maybe I'm tired of dashing.”

“Is that supposed to be a compliment? Me being boring and all?”

“No, it's just that…that…”

“You don't have to explain.” He slapped the reins as they went around a corner, and the horse ran into the wind for the first time.

“So am I really the first girl you've taken home?”

“
Yah
, but let me ask you a question now. Who was that
Englisha
boy who showed up today? You said you would explain.”

“You shouldn't be jealous, Steve. Robby has a girlfriend. They're getting married this spring.”

“So you never really dated him?”

“No, Steve.” She found his arm in the darkness. “We had some fun together, but I never thought of them as dates. I did date an
Englisha
man while I was away. Only he wasn't half the man you are.”

She listened to his breathing inches from her face.

“That's
gut
to hear, although I don't know about the last part being true.”

“It is true. All of it.”

He didn't answer as they pulled into the Hostetler driveway. A light still burned in the living room, casting a soft glow across the front porch and into the yard. Steve came to a stop by the hitching post.

For a long moment they sat on the buggy seat until Steve said, “I think we'd better go inside, don't you?”

Susan said nothing but climbed out of the buggy. Steve got out and tied his horse up. He took Susan's hand and they walked to the house. As they entered the living room, there was no sign of
Mamm
or
Daett
, and Susan seated Steve on the couch. “I'll get you something from the kitchen. I'll be back in just a minute.”

“I don't need anything really.”

“
Yah
, you do,” she countered.

She returned moments later with a piece of cherry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

He smiled. “Treats for a king, huh?”

“Of course!” she said as she sat beside him.

“You did
gut
today,” he said, eating his pie. “Joining the baptismal class. I'm glad you did.”

“Thanks.”

“There's so much about you I admire, Susan. How you stuck with your parents through this whole excommunication thing. And that you're still here after Thomas let you go. You could have run back to the
Englisha
world. Robby kind of made that point. You have friends out there.”

“Shhh…stop talking.” She nestled up to him. “I just want to be with you.”

“I'll be as mum as a bear in his winter sleep,” he murmured.

“You don't listen to a word I say, do you?”

“Nope. A man has to be the head of the house, you know.” He dipped his spoon into the ice cream.

“So already you're talking about being the head of the house? On the first date? Is that supposed to be a proposal already?” she joked.

He laughed. “Just sayin', that's all.”

“Ah…so it's like making sure your woman understands? No wonder you've never taken a girl home before.”

“You still don't believe me, do you?”

Susan shrugged. “I think I do, but I'm still surprised.”

“And why is that?”

“You could have any girl you choose. Well, almost. I guess you are a little plain.”

He made a face. “That cuts deep.”

“You asked for it.”

He laughed. “
Yah
, I guess I did.”

“Did I hurt your feelings?” She touched his arm.

“I'm smarting to the depths of my soul. Soon I'll have tears gushing down my cheeks.”

She laughed. “You're nice to be with, you know. I'm glad it's come to this, though I've always thought of you more as a friend.”

“Being a friend isn't a bad thing. It can be a solid foundation.”

She waited until his pie and ice cream were finished before turning to him. “Tell me about your plans, Steve. What do you have in mind when
Daett
lets you go?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Is he letting me go?”

“Well, you can't stay here forever. Something has to be done sometime.
Daett
's not getting any younger.”

“Perhaps, but I hadn't thought about it much.”

“Don't tell me you're after the farm. Is that why you're seeing me?”

He laughed. “Marrying the farmer's daughter to get the farm?”

“Well, they do kind of go together.”

“I'm not like that. Surely you're not thinking so?”

She shook her head. “Of course not. I was just thinking of someone else. Please forgive me.”

“It's okay, Susan.” He took her hand. “I understand. You haven't offended me.”

“Oh, Steve, you have no idea...”

“The worst is over now.” He squeezed her hand.

They sat in silence for a few moments until Steve said, “It's late. I'd better be going.”

She glanced up at the clock. “It's not that late.”

“Farming duties come early,” he said. “I don't want my work to suffer just because I'm seeing the farmer's daughter.”

He stood and walked to the front door. Susan followed. He turned, a smile playing on the corner of his face. “And may I come back next Sunday night? I think that's what I'm supposed to ask. Of course, I'm not sure—this being my first time and all.”

“Oh Steve!”

“So it's
yah
?”

Susan nodded, her face blushing now. Steve had never succeeded in so disconcerting her before. But then he had never asked her home either.

“Just checking.” He smiled, obviously enjoying himself. He turned and disappeared out the door.

Susan watched him go across the lawn, untie his horse, get into the buggy, and then she followed the shadow of his buggy as it drove out of the lane.

T
he following morning,
Mamm
and
Daett
were beaming as they sat at the kitchen table for breakfast—their first meal with Susan since the
bann
was lifted.

As soon as
Daett
left through the washroom door,
Mamm
jumped up, filling her hands with empty plates and utensils. The joy on
Mamm
's face brought tears to Susan's eyes. How deeply she must have felt the pain of the time they had just walked through.

On the way to the counter, a fork slipped off the stack and crashed to the floor.
Mamm
gasped, nearly losing her grip on the plates. Susan leaped to her feet and rushed to
Mamm
's side. She took the plates from
Mamm
's trembling hands and placed them on the counter.