A Joyful Break (Dreams of Plain Daughters) (22 page)

She took clothes out of the oak dresser to pack. Before folding them, she glanced at her surroundings. Falling asleep in a queen size bed to the sound of ocean waves had been heavenly. She’d miss seeing the beautiful sunrise over the ocean water.

Taking a break from her daily routine of working hard daily for her siblings and father had been crucial in facing what was lacking in her character. She’d worked through her negative feelings and been freed from her bitterness about her mother’s death.

She would never regret going on her
rumspringe
and experiencing firsthand the English way of life. Spending time on the beach with her relatives had been eye-opening. Watching how Violet liked to tweet about everything was fun, but it was not for her. She heard the little ping from Violet’s cell phone constantly, signaling each time she received a text message. Really, it seemed a waste of time to her. She’d done various English pastimes: experimented with a bit of makeup, wore English clothes, watched movies and television, used Violet’s laptop, and drove a car. It’d been wonderful and exciting to try each new item on Violet’s list. But none of these things were going to influence her enough to leave her Amish faith.

It surprised her to read about Bishop Amos telling their
daed
to consider getting married a second time. Was it because she had left Fields Corner to figure out if she wanted to be Amish? Or had the bishop thought she wasn’t doing a good job taking care of her family? No one could replace
Mamm
. She had tried but it was impossible. She didn’t regret giving up her full-time job at the bakery to try to do her best at taking over doing all the domestic work, but it was time to delegate a few of the household duties to Judith. She’d be done with teaching the end of May, so maybe during the summer months; she could even work more than two days a week at the bakery.

Violet entered the bedroom, wearing brown shorts with an orange T-shirt. She gave her an unhappy look. “You should roll your clothes instead of folding them. They’ll be less wrinkled when you unpack.”

“Thanks. I’ll do that. What’s wrong? Are you unhappy about leaving the beach?”

Violet started rolling one of her aprons. “Nick wants to see you again. I heard Adam on the phone give Nick your address.”

“Why would Adam do that? He knows I love Samuel.”

“Adam reminded Nick that you’re serious about Samuel.” Violet sighed. “Not only is Nick smoking hot, but he’s a good guy. I knew he’d end up falling in love with you but was hoping I’d be wrong.”

“He hasn’t fallen in love with me… you’re exaggerating. It’s just a passing infatuation on Nick’s part. I’m from a different world and that must be exciting to him, for some reason. Also he must feel a connection because we both lost our mothers.” She dropped her rolled dress in the bag. “I made it clear to Nick that I like being Amish. He asked me if I met the right non-Amish guy, if I would marry him. I told him that I love Samuel. You’ll be working with him this summer and he’ll see what a wonderful person you are. You’re funny, pretty and smart.”

Violet frowned. “There’s more. Nick tweeted he met the most wonderful girl who he wants to marry.” Placing the apron in her luggage, Violet continued, “When is your wedding to Samuel? Soon, I hope. When you’re out of the picture, maybe Nick will notice me, because he’ll have to forget about you becoming Mrs. Foster.”

“It depends when I get baptized. I have to become a church member before Samuel and I get married. Samuel already joined the church so we might get married in November.” She didn’t add it might be later because Violet’s brown eyes looked so sad.

Samuel had said in his letter they could wait until she was ready. Was she ready to get married in less than a year? She would be twenty-one next month.

Chapter Nineteen

Samuel couldn’t wait to get the milking done. When they arrived home from their trip to Kenton, he had right away checked their answering machine in the barn. He’d been happy to hear that Rachel was already home. He left a message on Aunt Carrie’s phone, saying he’d come over as soon as he finished milking their cows. Well, not right away. He didn’t want to smell like the barn, so he’d take a shower and put fresh clothes on.

While milking he thought how their English driver had asked if they milked their cows by hand. Their usual driver couldn’t take them to Kenton, but said his cousin would be able to make the trip. She had asked his family tons of question about the Amish life. She’d been surprised to learn that very few Amish milked their cows by hand. His
daed
explained to the young English woman that they used modern milking equipment and had modern refrigerated milk tanks.

“But I thought you didn’t use electricity,” she said while driving them in her parents’ minivan.

“We use gas-powered equipment for our barn and for our water heaters, stoves and refrigerators. Gas-pressured lanterns and lamps are used to light our homes, shops, and other buildings."

Milking wasn’t his favorite thing so Samuel was thankful to have a growing customer list for his furniture business. Having his own small farm would be perfect for him and his future family needs.

“Jacob and I’ll finish up here,” his
daed
said. “You go see Rachel.”

“
Danki
,
Daed
.”

* * *

Rachel smoothed her dark green dress before putting a clean apron over it. Judith had a chicken casserole in the oven for their supper, while she’d made a butterscotch pie for Samuel and peanut butter cookies for the boys. From her bedroom, she could hear both Matthew and Noah yell, “Whoopee.”

It was
gut
to be home, she thought, and to listen to her brothers’ happy voices. She hadn’t been gone for long but just the short time away made her look at her home life differently. Before she hurried out of her bedroom to see what the boys were excited about, she took
Mamm’s
picture out of her bureau’s drawer. She prayed, “Dear Lord, my gracious God,
danki
for my sweet
mamm
and my
wunderbaar
family.”

As she entered the kitchen, fragrant smells of baking bread filled the room. Aunt Carrie had gone to work instantly when they arrived home and made several loaves of bread.

Judith gave her a broad smile. “I see how it is. You made a butterscotch pie for Samuel and you have a green dress on. Doesn’t Samuel like both? I guess I better take lessons from my sister on how to please a man.”

“
Schweschder
, you need to get a boyfriend first. You aren’t staying home anymore when I go to Sunday singings. You’ll be eighteen in May. It’ll be a great time to start attending them.” The past year she hadn’t made enough of an effort to include Judith when she’d socialize with other young people. She’d invited her a few times and had given up when Judith expressed no interest in going. When it came to teaching a roomful of students, Judith wasn’t shy, but around young men, she was. She’d been surprised that no young man had been persistent in getting Judith’s attention. Her sister looked pretty in her deep purple dress. Her cheeks were rosy, probably from checking on the casserole in the oven.

“I’m worried about getting my GED. I’ll go to the Sunday singings after I pass my test. I should have already taken it.”

She knew it was important to Judith to receive the equivalent of a high school diploma. She loved being a teacher so had continued her studies after eight grade via correspondence schools. By educating herself, their parents had been happy to see their daughter keeping the Amish philosophy of staying apart from the world. Even so, they had worried at times that Judith might want to continue her education at college and not join the church. “I’m sure you will pass the first GED examination with one of the highest scores ever received in Ohio.”

She turned from Judith to look at her two brothers, eating their cookies. “Don’t fill up on cookies. Save some room for Judith’s casserole. I can’t believe I gave you permission to eat cookies so close to supper.”

“I know why. You missed us a lot. You make the best cookies, Rachel.” Noah took another bite of cookie

“
Aenti
Carrie said we can go to Outer Banks this summer.” Matthew smiled at his aunt. She was seated between the boys at the long oak table at one end of the big kitchen.

Noah’s green eyes widened, “She already asked
Daed
and he said yes.”

Judith laughed. “I think he has several summer weekend trips planned so he’ll be too busy to spend time with Bishop Amos’ sister, Barbara.”

Matthew leaned forward in his chair. “Will we take the bus to Outer Banks?”

Aunt Carrie shook her head. “No, we’re thinking of coming here to get you and drive you to Outer Banks. We haven’t worked out the details yet.”

“Would you like another cup of coffee?” Rachel glanced at her aunt’s empty coffee cup.

“Yes, please.”

After refilling her aunt’s cup, she glanced out of the window and saw Samuel hop out of his buggy. “Samuel’s here.” In one hurried motion, she grabbed her cape from the hook by the door and went outside. Samuel wouldn’t be able to show her any affection in front of her family. It was not the Amish way for a dating couple to kiss in front of others. No kissing was to occur while courting, but they had kissed in private and held hands frequently. But that was all. They respected each other and wanted to remain pure in God’s eyes before marriage.

“Hi, Samuel.” She put her cape on while he hitched the horse to their post. Samuel’s dark hair that barely touched his white shirt collar looked damp. He must’ve showered before coming to see her. When his gaze met hers, warmth spread through her body. Samuel must have felt the same way because his blue eyes brightened with pleasure.

“I’m glad you came out here.” He drew Rachel to him and his lips came down on hers.

She melted into his strong, muscled arms. Their mouths met for a long, sweet kiss. The joyous way Samuel’s lips covered hers revealed his own excitement at being together. When it ended, she looked up into his eyes and said, “Everything that concerned me before I left doesn’t now. I want to talk to you more about it after supper.”

“That’s
gut
.” He grinned. “Does that mean you might like to become Mrs. Samuel Weaver sometime?”

“Definitely.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her father closing the door to the barn.

“How about we go for a buggy ride to my land later and talk more?”

“I like how you think. Before we go, you’ll want to eat a piece of my butterscotch pie I made for you.”

“You just got home and you made my favorite pie.”

“You rate more than I do, Samuel. Rachel didn’t make my favorite cookies, but I’m sure she will soon. She’s a
gut
daughter.” Her
daed
winked at both of them. “She’ll make a fine wife.”

“I didn’t have any chocolate chips. I’ll get them tomorrow and make you a big batch of cookies,
Daed
.”

“Hey, it’s time to eat. Get in here,” Aunt Carrie called from the open door.

Her
daed
walked ahead of them to the house. “I timed that right. I just got done milking the cows.”

* * *

Although the March day had been sunny and gone up to sixty degrees, the night air was extremely chilly. While they talked in Samuel’s buggy on his land, she appreciated the blanket and hot chocolate in a thermos. She’d been surprised he still hadn’t seen the picture of her with Nick on the bench. But maybe that was for the best.

Samuel was a good listener while she explained how she’d been wrong to blame her
daed
for her
mamm’s
death. She mentioned how Nick’s mother died in her forties from a car accident. Tragic things happened to English and to Amish.

“It was a shock that my Aunt Susan died suddenly. No one expected the youngest one to go first.
Mamm
and her brothers all thought the world of their baby sister.”

“How old was she?”

“Thirty-seven. I’m glad we made the trip.
Mamm’s
grief was made lighter by sharing it with other members of the community there. Her sister was loved by everyone. The
kinner
will have a hard time in the days ahead, but we saw many people already trying to ease the grief for them and giving them lots of attention. ”

They didn’t stay long because she hadn’t gotten to talk to her
daed
a lot and wanted to before he went to bed. On the way back to Hershberger’s farm, Rachel gazed at the sky. “The night is clear with lots of stars.”

“So do you think you can live in boring Fields Corner instead of Cocoa Beach?”

She laughed. “You know I can. I loved the ocean but it’s
wunderbaar
to be home. I have so much to look forward to… working in your
mamm’s
bakery again will be
gut
. Judith feels more comfortable now about balancing her teaching job with helping a bit more at home so I can work at the bakery.” Samuel had said his
mamm
was
froh
she wanted to work a couple of days.

“I almost forgot. Katie wants to talk to you tomorrow. She told me to be sure to tell you. Apparently she has something big to discuss with you, but I have no clue what it is.”

“I wonder what’s on her mind.” Was it something more about Tim? He must not be the right man for Katie. God must have someone else for her friend to marry. Or maybe she’d never marry. Not all Amish women married. She felt sorry for Katie.
I know her love for Tim is deep and it hurts her greatly that he’s seeing an English woman.

“Are you going to see the bishop soon?”

“
Ya
. I want to see him tomorrow.”

“I still think we should go to the beach after we marry.”

Not this again, she thought. “Samuel, you know better. Amish newlyweds don’t go on a honeymoon. We’ll spend our weekends throughout the winter visiting our family and other people. That’s when they give us our wedding gifts. Don’t you want to receive our gifts?”