A Joyful Break (Dreams of Plain Daughters) (4 page)

Judith giggled. “Samuel wouldn’t stand for it anyhow. He’s so smitten with you that he’d probably organize an Amish caravan of buggies to get you and convince you to come home.”

“You aren’t fooling me.” She decided to tease Judith. “You want me to behave so you get to visit Aunt Carrie sometime.”

“How did you know that’s my main reason for lecturing you? You and our cousin, Violet, better be good and not get into any trouble. And you mentioned that Adam will be at the beach. If he brings any guys with him, be careful. Enjoy your change of environment but not too much.” Judith stood. “I better get some papers graded before we eat.”

She opened the oven door and carefully removed her shoofly pie.
I wonder if Aunt Carrie ever makes shoofly pies for her family.
Tourists seemed to enjoy eating this type of pie when they visited the Weaver’s Bakery.
I do miss working in the bakery and seeing Samuel daily. It was fun when he came to eat lunch with me.
She enjoyed hearing about the furniture he was making. Sometimes she took a break from baking and waiting on customers to run to his shop to watch him work.
Working at the bakery was the perfect job for me. But I did the right thing when I quit my job. I needed to take care of everyone after Mamm passed on.

While Rachel put the pie on a rack to cool, she realized in a short time that she’d be miles away from everything familiar in her life. Funny, her younger sister should be the one warning her about the English. She’d been around them more than Judith with working at the bakery. But she was afraid that waiting on English customers in the bakery was different from associating with them in an informal non-business atmosphere.

She prayed silently,
Dear Lord, Help me to have a safe trip to Kentucky and to Florida. Please give me the peace and answers I need to move on with my life. You’re so good to me to make all this happen for me. And help Judith learn how to cook.

Chapter Three

Lexington, Kentucky

“Don’t mention to anyone that my niece is visiting,” Carrie said to her husband Scott as she watched him eat his
dippy
eggs. Although she seldom spoke in her Pennsylvania Dutch language, sometimes she used a few of the words interspersed in her regular English conversation. Scott loved to tease her about using the word
dippy
to describe his cooked over easy eggs. “Not even your administrative assistant. I don’t want photographers around Rachel.”

He nodded. “Mum’s the word. I’m glad Rachel’s going to visit. It’ll be good for her to have a break and have a chance to relax. Rachel and your other relatives work hard all the time.”

“Well, you put a lot of hours in serving our country.”

He shrugged. “That’s different. I love what I do. The only thing I dislike is being away from you while I’m in D.C. during the week.”

She smiled at him. “You have something in common then. Plain people love their work. They find great satisfaction in each small thing they do.” She noticed his cup was empty so she picked it up. Before pouring his coffee, she glanced around at all the electrical appliances in the kitchen. She saw her Cuisinart coffeemaker with grind and brew feature, microwave, toaster, and blender. “I wonder what she’ll think of our home with all the electrical appliances. It’s definitely a big difference from an Amish house. Of course, it’s not like Rachel isn’t familiar with an English home. I’m sure she’s been in the Maddox home. Irene was good friends with Mrs. Maddox. They used to visit back and forth.”

“The difference is Mrs. Maddox was never Amish, so it wasn’t a surprise to Rachel to see electricity used in their neighbors’ house.”

Scott always cut quickly to the point. That was one of the many reasons he was an excellent senator. Of course, it also helped he was handsome with just a little gray in his brown hair. He had the clean-cut and rugged look that seemed to inspire confidence in the voters. She sighed. “You’re right. Rachel might question me how I could be born and raised Amish, but I adapted to a whole new and completely different lifestyle. I never used electricity or had a cell phone. Now, look at me. I have everything technical and I even text. I know she’s looking for answers before she decides to join the church. I want what’s best for her, and I feel fairly certain it will be for her to stay Amish. Switching to English would be hard for her.”

He leaned across the table and patted her arm. “I’m sorry. I know it’s never been easy for you. I still feel guilty that you gave up so much to marry me. You left your family and your faith, but I can’t imagine you not being in my life. We belong together.”

“Even though I’m lousy at giving speeches,” she asked. When Scott first ran for political office, she’d begged off giving speeches. She cited her lack of education, which was true. As an Amish student, she’d only completed the customary eighth grade education. However, she’d received her GED before they married. After hearing some nasty comments made by women in Scott’s campaign office, she took a few classes at the local community college. They probably realized she was in the back office but maybe not. They’d made fun of her and she remembered the cutting comments, especially made by one woman.
What a hindrance she is to Scott’s career. Why would a college educated man marry someone like Carrie…a simple Amish woman with no higher education or skills?

“That’s not true. You speak with sincerity and the audiences like you.”

She twirled a long lock of her hair around her finger. “Is that why your campaign manager looks terrified when I get behind the podium?”

Looking amused, Scott said, “He did in the beginning. But he doesn’t now because you’ve done great.”

“I guess it’s easy to go up when you start at the bottom. My prayer group has been awesome. They pray each time I give a speech. Since I can’t be a teacher’s assistant any longer, I’m thinking of going to college to become a reading specialist.” For a couple of years, she had liked being a teacher’s assistant in the elementary grades. When she took off to help Scott with his last campaign, she wasn’t able to resume her job. Requirements had changed, and teacher assistants had to have at least two years of college to be hired in the school system.

When their landline phone rang, she left their breakfast nook to answer it. The caller ID showed it was her friend Marlene’s husband Greg. It was nice how they were both friends to their next door neighbors. “Honey, it’s Greg,” she said while handing the receiver to Scott.

“He mentioned playing golf this morning,” Scott said, before taking the call.

I should hit the treadmill when Scott goes golfing. One thing about being Plain, you never have to worry about exercising.
Physical work was part of daily life so you definitely could eat more. Without electricity in the houses, Amish women burned more calories as they did their household chores.

While Scott talked on the phone, she tidied up the kitchen. Talking about giving speeches to Scott reminded her of reporters.
I hate it when they pester me about being raised Amish.
They seem to enjoy asking the same old questions. Do you regret giving up your Amish faith? Are you shunned by your family?
They want to hear dirty details of being rejected, but fortunately I met Scott before I was baptized and joined the church. Would I have given up my close-knit community of relatives and friends if I’d already been a member?
It would’ve been even harder because then shunning would’ve occurred.
I don’t think I could have married Scott and risked losing my family.
The questions about her background had died down, but with the deaths of her parents and sister, the whole situation with reporters had flared up again.

The media mustn’t find out about Rachel visiting and going to the beach with them. Not only would it be upsetting for her niece, but she hated to think what David would do. She was still surprised that he was allowing Rachel to visit her. Nothing must ruin their time together. She’d promised David that she’d protect Rachel as much as possible from the outside world.
With Scott not going with us, we should be safe.

And she definitely wouldn’t give any speeches at Cocoa Beach.

* * *

Fields Corner, Ohio

“Katie, thanks for changing your party to today so I could attend. The brunch was
wunderbaar
.” Rachel had never been to a Pampered Chef party before, so was glad her friend changed it to Saturday. She bought a deep dish pie plate but nothing else. Maybe later she could purchase a few more things when she had a paying job again.

“It worked out for us to have it today instead of next week. The house was already clean for tomorrow’s church service. Samuel’s disappointed that the weather changed and you can’t have a picnic, but you two lovebirds will have this evening to spend time together.”

“And we’ll have time tomorrow after church.”

“I’m glad everyone’s left. I need to talk to you.” Katie stopped wiping a dish to look at her. “I need your advice.”

Rachel finished washing the last plate before smiling at her friend. “That’s a change for me. Everyone keeps giving me advice about visiting Aunt Carrie. My
daed
has given me lots of instructions. Samuel has too. Your mother even did today. What’s the problem?”

“Timothy told me that we should put off getting married in November.”

“What reason did he give?”
Timothy and I seem to be on the same page about needing more time to think about marriage.

Katie’s blue eyes looked troubled. “He’s vague. I’m worried because Samuel saw him talking to an English woman in town. Maybe he doesn’t want to marry me now. ”

Rachel let the water out of the kitchen sink and squeezed the excess water out of the dishrag. “I’m sure he’s not interested in an English woman. She was probably a tourist asking him questions. You know how the English are always full of questions for us. Timothy loves you.”

Katie sighed. “I never expected this delay. I thought we both were ready. He just acts different around me now.”

“Getting married is a big step.” She paused for a moment. “Have you ever wanted to experience something new? And see what else is out there before settling down to married life?”

When Katie shook her head, a lock of brown hair slipped from under her
kapp
. “No, I haven’t. I want to get married and have
bopplin
.”

She grinned. “I guess I can’t talk you into going with me to the beach. I can’t wait to feel the rush of seawater on my feet and just gaze at the vastness of the ocean.”

“We went once to a lake that had a sandy beach. I didn’t like the sand, so going to the beach doesn’t sound like fun to me.” Katie tucked the stray lock of hair under her
kapp
.

“Well, I’ll bring you back seashells anyhow.”

“If Timothy and I don’t get married in November, then you and Samuel can have November for your wedding. My silly brother mentioned getting married in October just so he could get married first.”

“Samuel mentioned November to me.”

“What’s this about weddings?” Katie’s mother asked as she entered the kitchen with a broad smile on her face.

Katie said, “I was just telling Rachel that she could have a November wedding.”

“December is a nice month too.” Mrs. Weaver’s expression softened. “I married your father in December.”

“I’m glad you married
Daed
or I wouldn’t be here.” Katie pulled out a chair. “
Mamm
, rest a bit. Rachel helped me and everything’s been washed and put away.”

Rachel noticed Mrs. Weaver’s face looked tired as she walked slowly to a chair. It was time-consuming getting the house and grounds ready to host church services. Each church district had approximately one hundred members, so it was a big gathering. When they had it the last time, they spruced up the house by painting all the rooms and cleaning up the yard.
It’s a good thing it isn’t our turn for a few months. I couldn’t leave if it was our turn to host the church services, she realized.

“I think I will.” After Mrs. Weaver sat, she said, “Why don’t you two rest, too, and we’ll enjoy a cup of coffee.”

Rachel nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

While Katie poured coffee into three white cups, Mrs. Weaver said, “Talking about weddings reminds me of Irene. Your
mamm’s
grandparents moved to Fields Corner when Carrie was thirteen and Irene was eight. Esther and Jonas fit in our community immediately. Irene became my best friend…just like you and Katie.” She smiled at both of them before continuing, “Rachel, when your
daed
left his district, he bought land close to Fields Corner. Your
daed’s
friend, Amos, moved around the same time. They’d grown up together but their district had reached its limit. So they both decided to move. They didn’t want to move too far from their families, though. And, of course, now Amos is our new bishop. It’s
wunderbaar
your Grandma and Grandpa Hershberger are close enough to travel by buggy to visit. Your
daed
fell in love with Irene at first glance.”

Rachel carried her cup to the table and sat across from Mrs. Weaver.
Had it been a good thing for her mamm?
She wanted to believe it had been, but felt doubt about her mother’s husband.

“It must have been fun to be pregnant the same time as your best friend,” Katie said.

“You could share a lot about your
kinner
. Especially when you both had such great daughters.” Rachel grinned at Mrs. Weaver.

Mrs. Weaver took a sip of coffee before continuing with her reminiscing. “It was fun having
kinner
the same ages. When Irene got pregnant with the twins, I was disappointed that I wasn’t.”

Rachel laughed. “Some days I’d say it was a blessing. Both Matthew and Noah try our patience at times.”

“I think it’d be fun to have twins but a boy and a girl,” Katie said.

A sad look crossed Mrs. Weaver’s face. “I’m sorry Irene won’t see you get married, Rachel. We were both pleased when Samuel started courting you.”