Where Love Grows (38 page)

“That was awesome, Dad!” Charles said. “You need to do that again. The second time is even more fun.”

“I'm not doing that again.” Donald groaned, moving each limb in turn. At least they all seemed to work.

Charles scrambled up the mound to peer into his father's face. “Are you okay, Dad?”

“I'm splendid!” Donald said. “Now I'm getting myself into the house before you children kill me for good.”

They slid down the haymow together. The two children on the floor still had smiles on their faces when he walked past them. Apparently they didn't see non-Amish parents airborne every day.

The barn was full of men when he walked into the next room. He paused to pull hay out of his hair. They grinned and offered to shake his hand. He couldn't remember all their names, but their welcome felt good. Almost like he was part of them, even in his outsider clothing. How amazing! he thought. Such a little thing like jumping off hay bales could break down such large barriers.

The men worked their way toward the house, speaking his language when they were close to him. In the house, the living room was full of women who gave up their seats when the men appeared. They paused to shake hands with Donald before disappearing into the kitchen. They all gave their names, their faces familiar from the wedding, but he had a hard time keeping track. He did remember the young man who said his name was Steve. Wasn't he Susan's boyfriend? He looked like the type of man she'd go for. Solid, kind, and tenderhearted.

“Not all the girls made it home today,” Menno said. “Some live out of state. But someday we hope to have the whole family here at the same time.”

Menno's face almost glowed with happiness, Donald thought. From their talk earlier in the barn on what Menno and Anna had been through, Donald looked for some bitterness to be present. But he saw no signs of any.

The morning passed in busy chatter about farming and how each of the men's families was doing. Donald looked up to see Anna standing in the kitchen doorway.

“Menno!” she called. “It's time to set up the tables.”

Menno surveyed the people in the room. “I think everyone can fit in here. What do you women think?”

A few of the women looked in from the kitchen, appraising the space with their eyes.

“The children can eat at the kitchen table,” Anna decided. “Let's bring up the large table from the basement. And with the leaves extended, we'll be set.”

Two men stayed behind and moved the living room furniture. Menno went with three others and Donald to the basement. While one man held the door open, the others collapsed the oak table and wrestled the main frame up the basement stairs and into the house. Once there, all the leaves were put back in.

The women spread out the tablecloth and set the silverware. Food followed. The turkey was placed in the middle with a large carving knife sticking out of the center. Behind that came the mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, cranberry salad, caramel sweet potatoes, and a five-layer salad. For dessert there were pumpkin and pecan pies.

Donald stared as his stomach growled.

Standing beside him, Menno laughed. “See! I told you. There's plenty of room left in a man's stomach for
gut
foot. Anna makes the best in the community, I'm telling you that much.”

“I believe you.” Donald was still staring. This almost outdid the spread at the wedding.

Anna was glowing and standing by the table. “We're ready, Menno. You can call in the children.”

“Time to eat,” Menno hollered through the open front door. Quick feet came running from outside. As they entered, the children were herded toward the washroom, where the women oversaw their hand and face washing.

Charles came in. “What on earth is this all about? I thought we ate a huge breakfast.”

“It's food, Charles!” Menno boomed. “
Gut
Amish food made by willing and able hands. It's the blessing of
Da Hah
.”

“Wow!” was all Charles managed as he stared at the overloaded table.

Outside the sound of another buggy pulling into the driveway reached them. All heads turned to look out the living room window.

“It's James and Teresa!” Menno said.

“Her mother is along, so that's probably why they're late,” Anna added, going to the front door. “Here I've been so wrapped up in my own work I hadn't noticed Teresa and her family hadn't arrived.”

Menno and Susan joined Anna at the door. They waited as their company approached.

“Hi, everyone! Sorry we're late!” Teresa called as she came across the yard.

Anna laughed. “We just have the food out. Hurry and come inside.”

“It's all my fault,” Maurice said, following Teresa. She gave Anna a hug on the porch.

“You still made it in time,” Anna assured them.

“Goodness gracious!” Maurice exclaimed as she entered the living room. Her hands flew to her face. “This spread! It's like heaven on earth!”

“Not quite,” Menno said. “But it sure looks
gut
.”

“Hello,” Donald greeted Maurice and Teresa. “So how are the newlyweds?” he asked Teresa.

“Splendid!” Teresa said with a blush. “Couldn't be better.”

Behind her the front door opened and James came in, shaking hands all around.

Anna took her place at the table again, repeating the announcement. “The adults will eat here in the living room, and the children in the kitchen. Would everyone please be seated.”

They found places, the men pretending to jostle for the best seats but ending up beside their wives.

“And now let's pray,” Menno said when the room had grown still. They bowed their heads as Menno led out. Donald listened to the German words, understanding only a few. It was an honor though, he thought. They were including him as if he were one of them. A prayer in English would have made him feel like a stranger.

“Thank You, Lord,” Donald whispered, “for bringing Charles and me among these wonderful people.”

The day passed with long conversations and much food. Donald and Charles spent the night again, and early Friday morning said their goodbyes. Even young Charles seemed reluctant to leave. He did manage to give
Mamm
a kiss on the cheek with a sincere “thank you.” He shook hands with Menno, and said, “It's good to have met you, sir.”

Menno tousled his hair. “You behave now, son.”

Charles grinned.

As the car pulled away,
Mamm
said, “
Da Hah
brings happiness out of sorrow…and even out of our own sins.”

“
Yah
, He does,” Menno said. “He surely does.”

T
he half-moon hung low in the sky as the buggy drove home from the Sunday night hymn singing. Steve allowed the horse to take his time, the lines hanging loose over the storm front. Susan was leaning out of the buggy door to look at the broad sweep of stars overhead.

“They look so peaceful,” she said. “So settled. Like they don't have a trouble in the world.”

“They're nice tonight, aren't they?” Steve pushed his hat back on his head to look out the other side of the buggy.

“Like the hymn sing was,” Susan said. “I thought everyone was extra happy tonight.”

“I know I'm happy tonight.”

“You should be. You're driving home with me!” Susan said with a laugh.

He joined in but didn't say anything.

“I'm glad you are.” Susan slipped her hand around his arm. “I'm glad so many things are behind us. Like Donald's first holiday visit, and the hard things, such as
Mamm
and
Daett
's
bann
. And Thomas too.”

“Forget Thomas. Another good thing to mention is your joining the baptismal class,” Steve added.

“But that wasn't hard. Not like I thought it would be anyway.”

“How's it going?”

Susan shrugged. “It's going okay. I'm staying within the
Ordnung
, and Deacon Ray doesn't bother people who are in the
Ordnung
.”

“I wasn't talking about keeping the
Ordnung
. I know you do that. I was asking about joining the church.”

Susan waited a few moments before answering. “I think I'm okay. I haven't had any doubts lately. Why? Are you trying to give me some?”

“No.” Steve laughed. “Of course not. I think you did really well during your
mamm
and
daett
's hard time. That could easily have driven you back into the world.”

“Do you think that's where I was…in the world….when I lived in Asbury Park?”

He stared at the lines, the silence long before he spoke. “It is the world, Susan. You know that. You could have been in great danger.”

“Of what, Steve?” She turned to face him, his outline faint in the light of the stars. Why did Steve have to bring up this subject tonight just when everything was looking so much better? She didn't want to deal with the memories and ramifications of her time in the city. Asbury Park was over, and she intended to settle into the community for
gut
. Steve was a decent man and would make a decent husband if he asked her to marry him.

Steve reached over to take her hand. “Tell me about that time. You've never told me much.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything,” he said.

Susan drew in her breath. “Are you worried I did something I wasn't supposed to? Like what
Daett
did?”

“No, I know you better than that.”

She took another deep breath. “Is this really necessary then?”

“I would like to know.” His fingers moved in her hand.

“Well,” she began, “I worked for Robby's mom in their bakery. I lived in an apartment above the bakery. Basically I minded my own business. Eventually Teresa came into my life and took up a large part of my time from then on.”

“You're an amazing girl, Susan. Have I told you that before? I'm glad you came back.”

She leaned against his shoulder and watched the stars outside the buggy.

“What else?” he asked in the silence.

“Okay…” Susan stayed where she was. “I'll tell you what might be considered ‘the worst.' I studied hard and passed a high school diploma equivalency test—what's called a GED. And…” she hesitated. “And I got my driver's license. In fact, it's hidden in my dresser. I also dated an
Englisha
boy a few times.” She looked up at his face to see his reaction. Would he be satisfied now or rush over to Deacon Ray with this information? If he did, would she have to make a confession in front of the community to continue with the baptismal class? She did trust him. He wasn't like that at all, she was sure. Still her hand trembled in his. When he didn't say anything, she asked, “Do you think I sinned while in Asbury Park? Are you going to talk to Deacon Ray?”

“I love you, Susan. I wouldn't do anything to bring trouble on you or your parents. It's us that I'm concerned about.”

“So you don't care that I got my GED and a driver's license?”

“Perhaps, but not for why you think I do.”

“What do you think is the problem then?” She sat upright on the buggy seat.

He sighed. “It's a matter of the heart, Susan. That's the only thing that troubles me. You're still looking back, remembering it as a good time and keep going back as an option, I'm afraid.”

She said nothing, not moving on the seat.

He studied her face until she looked over at him.

He took her hand again. “It's not words that you need from me, Susan. Your heart has been betrayed by Thomas and by your
daett
. I don't blame you for feeling the way you do. Yet even with such hurts, a heart must one day make a choice to go forward. Don't look back, Susan. That's not the direction to go.”