A Season of Love (28 page)

“So … you and Katie Kauffman, huh?” Jessica asked. “I never would’ve guessed that.”

Jake glanced at Jessica. “It wasn’t planned. It just sort of happened.”

“I’m really surprised.” Jessica shook her head while steering onto the main road.

Instead of responding, he stared out the window and studied the farms they passed. He wondered if he could ever afford to buy a piece of property. And if he could, would he be able to convince Katie he wanted her to be his wife and help him run a little farm?

“Do you love her?” Jessica asked.

“Yes,” he said without hesitation.

“Jake, she’s Amish and you’re not,” Jessica said. “You know you can’t be with her. You’re playing with fire, and of course you’re going to get burned.”

He frowned at her, but she kept her eyes on the road. “I know that good and well, Jessica. I’m not stupid. I’m trying to find a way to make it work.”

“You are?” Jessica looked confused as she faced him. “How can you possibly make it work with her?”

“I’ll figure it out,” Jake said, wishing he could go back and relive the evening.

Slowing at a stoplight, Jessica sighed. “I’m sorry,” she said with a frown. “I never meant to interfere in your life. I made a mess of things with you and Katie.”

Her apology caught him off guard and rendered him speechless for a moment. “I forgive you,” he said. “You had no idea, and I was wrong to not call you back. You at least deserved a phone call. I was a lousy friend to you.”

“No, you weren’t, Jake. I know I hurt you too.” She accelerated through the intersection. “I hope you and Katie can work
things out somehow. I know my parents found a way, and your parents did also.”

“Thanks,” Jake said. “I appreciate that.”

They were both quiet as Jessica steered the Jeep into the driveway of his two-family house. Jake thought of Katie again and wondered how he could speak with her alone.

“Here we are,” Jessica said. “I’m sorry things didn’t go as you’d hoped today.”

“Thank you,” he said. “I appreciate the ride home.”

“It’s the least I could do.” She faced him. “I truly hope things work out for you and Katie. You deserve to be happy.”

“Thank you,” he said.

Jessica tilted her head in question. “Did you want me to give Katie a message for you? I’m sure I could sneak up to her room for you.”

He shook his head. “No, but thanks for offering. I’ll contact her when I’m ready. I don’t want anything misconstrued in the delivery of the message.” He wrenched the door open. “Have a good night.”

“You too,” she said. “Hopefully I’ll see you before I go back to Virginia.”

“I’m certain you will,” he said, climbing from the SUV. “Good-bye.”

Jake waved as Jessica pulled out of the driveway.

Turning, he faced his truck and the solution hit him like a bolt of lightning — Jake needed to make a sacrifice in order to be with the woman he loved. Jake needed to abandon his possessions and become Amish. It was the only way they could ever be together, and he couldn’t live without her.

He didn’t need his truck or his electricity. Yes, he would miss them, but he needed Katie more than he needed the modern conveniences. Becoming Amish was the only way for him to be with Katie, and he was willing to give up his English lifestyle all for her.

Closing his eyes, Jake sent a prayer up to God, asking if this was the solution God wanted for him. A calmness settled on his heart, and he knew this was the right path. It was as if God put it in his heart, just as his mother had felt when she left the church.

Pulling his keys from his pocket, he rushed over to his truck. He needed to go see Bishop Abner Chupp now and ask for permission to be baptized so he could finally begin his new life with Katie Kauffman.

Jessica stepped into Katie’s house and glanced around at the group of party guests, absently wondering whether anyone had noticed when she and Jake had left or that Katie had been sent to her room. She nodded and smiled at members of the Kauffman family and their friends and helped herself to another cup of cider. The spicy drink warmed her body while she sipped it and crossed the room.

“Jess,” Lindsay said, approaching her. “Where have you been?”

Jessica smiled at her and took another sip. “That, little sister, is a very long story.”

Lindsay glanced around before taking Jessica’s arm and tugging her to a quiet hallway off the kitchen.

“Slow down. You’re going to make me spill my drink,” Jessica muttered, balancing her mug in her hand.

They stopped outside the bathroom, and Lindsay looked past Jessica before meeting her gaze. “I haven’t seen you in a while. Where were you?”

“I had to drive Jake home,” Jessica said. “There was an incident outside, and he was told to leave.”

“Katie,” Lindsay said, frowning. “She’s upstairs sobbing in her room.” Her expression was accusatory. “You apparently stirred up things you shouldn’t have.”

Jessica held her hand up in protest of the accusation. “I didn’t mean to. I apologized to Jake while we drove to his house. I just wanted to tell him I was sorry about how things ended and I want to be his friend. I thanked him for all he did to help me through my adjustment when we moved here. I realized how much his friendship meant to me, and I wanted to tell him. I didn’t mean to come between him and Katie.” Her expression softened. “Is Katie okay? I feel really bad.”

“You need to tell her that the next time you see her,” Lindsay said. “She’s blaming you for taking Jake away from her.”

“I didn’t take him away,” Jessica said. “Jake and I both know things could never work out between us. We’re just friends.”

Lindsay shook her head. “She’s really worried her father is going to shun her.”

Jessica grimaced. “Do you think he will?”

Lindsay shrugged. “I don’t know.
Onkel
Robert is really strict, and he punished her quite severely when he caught them together once before.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Jessica said, shaking her head. “That’s a harsh punishment for talking to a boy. I hope he’s not hard on her this time. She didn’t do anything wrong. They were only talking.”

“But he told her not to see him. She disobeyed him. To make matters worse, Jake hugged her, and her father witnessed it.” Lindsay folded her arms over her blue frock. “I feel really bad for her. She loves Jake. Her heart is broken.”

Jessica sipped her drink and thought of everything Jake had said in the car. She hoped they could work things out.

Lindsay turned her eyes to the hallway. “I guess we better get back. Matthew wants to leave soon.”

“Do you need a ride?” Jessica said.

“No, thank you.” Lindsay smiled. “He wants to take me
heemet.
He said he has something for me.”

“Oh.” Jessica bumped Lindsay’s arm with her elbow. “Sounds serious.”

“I don’t know.” Lindsay’s ivory cheeks blushed a light pink. “I guess I’ll find out.”

“And then you’ll tell me,” Jessica said. “I’m your sister, so I’m first to know what his gift is.”

“I’ll see you later,” Lindsay said before heading back toward the party.

Jessica finished her cider as her sister walked away. She smiled while thinking of how happy Lindsay looked. The Amish lifestyle fit her little sister well, and she prayed Lindsay would have a life of happiness. She also prayed Katie and Jake could find the same happiness.

“Like I said earlier, I have to stop by
mei haus
for a moment,” Matthew said while they walked next door. He guided Lindsay toward the barn next to his sister’s house. “It shouldn’t take too long.” He glanced at her. “I promise I’ll hitch up my horse and take you
heemet
afterward. Does that sound okay?”

“Ya
,
”
Lindsay said, her stomach tingling with butterflies.
What does he need to get
?
Is it the gift he mentioned earlier
?
What could it possibly be
? Her thoughts swirled with possibilities — A small wooden trinket box? A set of tea towels? What would Matthew give her?

When they reached the barn, Matthew opened the door.

“Do you want me to come with you?” she asked.

He grinned. “Of course I do. The item I need to get is for you.”

“Oh.” She gnawed her lower lip with anticipation and followed him through the barn to his workshop in the back.

Matthew stepped through the doorway of the workshop and flipped on a few battery-powered lanterns that supplemented the low light seeping in through the high windows.

Lindsay entered the small shop. The sweet smell of stain mixed with the scent of wood dust reminded her of being in the furniture store. She glanced around at the array of tools cluttering the workbench and smiled. She enjoyed seeing Matthew in his favorite environment.

He pointed toward a cedar hope chest. “What do you think of it?” he asked with a sheepish expression.

Lindsay studied the beautiful chest that glistened with new stain. The brass lock and key were also shiny and new. “It’s a gorgeous piece of furniture. Are you going to sell it in the store?”

He shook his head. “No, Lindsay. This is for you and only you.”

She gasped. “Matthew, I can’t possibly accept anything so extravagant. You must sell this. I’m certain you worked hard on it.”

Matthew looked disappointed. “Lindsay, I worked hard on this for you. It belonged to
mei mamm
, and I refinished it for you.”

Her mouth gaped as she took in his words and their sentiment. “This belonged to your mother?” she asked, her voice small and unsure. “And you want me to have it?”

“Ya.”
He moved close to her and smiled.
“Frehlicher Grischtdaag, mei liewe.”

“Matthew,” she said, her mind swirling with the meaning of the gift. “This is such an elaborate gift. I never expected you to do something so tremendous for me. I only got you a couple of tools
Onkel
Daniel told me you’d needed.”

“Danki
,
”
he said. “I’m certain I’ll need the tools while I start to build my new
haus
this year.”

“Your new
haus
?” Her eyes widened. “You’re moving?”

“I won’t be far.” He gestured in the direction of the pasture beyond the barn. “I already told you
mei schweschder
is going to give me some land. I’m ready to start building.”

“Oh.” She studied his eyes, wondering what this all meant. “I’m
froh
for you.”

“I am too.” He took her hands in his. “But I need to know how many bedrooms you want.”

“How many bedrooms I want?” Her heart thudded against her rib cage and her mind raced with questions.

“Ya
,
”
he said. “How many bedrooms should our
haus
have?”

She swallowed a gasp.
Is he asking what I think he’s asking
?

His smile was wide. “You haven’t answered me. I need to know so I can start on the plans right away.”

“I don’t know.” Her response was a trembling whisper. “How many do you want?”

“I would like
mei fraa
to decide that,” he said, squeezing her hands. “That’s if you’ll be
mei fraa.
”

She couldn’t take this game anymore. Matthew had to say what he meant before she screamed in frustration. “What are you asking me, Matthew Glick?”

“Lindsay Bedford,” he began, “will you marry me next fall?”

“Yes,” she said as her eyes filled with tears and her heart pounded in her chest.

“Danki
,
”
he said.
“Frehlicher Grischtdaag, mei liewe
,
”
he repeated.

“Frehlicher Grischtdaag
,
”
she said. “This is the best Christmas ever!”

Lindsay couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as Matthew guided his horse into her uncle’s driveway. Lindsay was engaged! Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine Matthew would ask her this soon.

She climbed from the buggy just as her uncle appeared from the barn.

“Hello,” Daniel said. “I was wondering when you would be
heemet.
”

“We made a stop at Matthew’s house,” Lindsay said before turning to Matthew. “I’m going to go tell
mei aenti
and Jessica.”

Matthew smiled. “You go ahead. I’ll have Daniel help me with the hope chest.”

Lindsay hurried up the porch steps and through the kitchen. When she found the family room empty, she continued up the stairs. She found her sister and cousins visiting with her aunt Rebecca.

“Lindsay!” Rebecca said, sitting up in bed. “You look like you just ran a mile.”

“I feel like I did,” Lindsay said. Her heart pounded in her chest both from running and from the news she had to share. She sank onto the bed next to Rebecca. Emma held up her arms, and Lindsay pulled her little cousin onto her lap and kissed her cheek. “Hi, Emmy!”

“What took you so long to get home?” Jessica asked with a suspicious expression. She sat in the chair across from the bed with Junior in her lap.

“I told you I had to stop at Matthew’s
haus
,” Lindsay said. “He had something to give me.”

“Did he leave already?” Rebecca asked, adjusting her pillow behind her back. “I was hoping to see him and wish him and his
schweschder’s
family a
Frehlicher Grischtdaag.
”

“He’ll be up soon with my gift.” Lindsay sucked in a deep breath. “He got me something special. It’s heavy too. His bruder-in-law had to help him load it, and
Onkel
Daniel has to help him carry it into the house and up to my room.”

“What is it?” Jessica asked, annoyance sounding in her voice. “The anticipation is killing me.”

Lindsay smiled. “It’s a hope chest. It used to be his
mamm
’s. He refinished it for me.”

“Oh, my,” Jessica said. “That sounds pretty special. Like it has a hidden meaning.”

“That’s very extravagant,” Rebecca said. “Most Amish
buwe
don’t give a gift that expensive to their girlfriends at Christmas, Lindsay.”