“How many days do you work?”
“I just do whatever work comes in—the repairs and the sewing jobs that come in from people I know. It covers all my bills.”
It was eleven o’clock when they were seated in the café. Jane saw the time above the coffee machine. How much longer would she have to be with Lanie to be considered ‘enough’ time?
Jane looked through the menu and chose an open-faced sandwich of grilled cheese, ham and avocado on sourdough bread.
“I’ll have the same, and an iced chocolate.”
“That’s easy.” Jane got up and ordered at the counter. When she sat down, she said, “It is nice here.”
“I told you. Wait til you taste the food.”
“Lanie, what has Matt told you about me?” Jane figured she'd best get in a question or two while she could.
She noticed Lanie swallowed hard and a glazed look came over her face. “Nothing much. You’re a very good friend and he’s having trouble choosing a fraa.”
“How does it make you feel to know that he’s considering other women?”
“I’m fine with it. He should make a careful decision.”
Jane nibbled on her thumbnail. How could any woman be fine with knowing she wasn’t the only woman he was interested in? “Why are you the only one he’s told about why I’m here?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe that’s something you have to ask him.”
Jane shot back, “I’m asking you.”
“I don’t know.”
“If you had to guess, what would you say?”
“Maybe he knew they’d overreact. He knows I’m more calm.”
“Sounds like he knows you well.”
“Jah. He does.”
Jane’s coffee and Lanie's iced chocolate arrived at the table, interrupting them. “Your food won’t be long,” the waitress told them.
They were another hour at the café, and then they had to drive back to Lanie’s house to get her money because she insisted on paying for her own meal.
Then, when Lanie eventually drove up beside Sadie’s house, Sadie came right out to the buggy before Jane had a chance to get out.
“Lanie, come for dinner with us next week. Make it Monday. You and Mary-Lee, of course.”
“I’d love that, Sadie. I’ll look forward to it.”
Jane wondered whether Matt asked his mother to invite her. She’d soon find out. Sadie would tell her.
“Good. We’ll see you then.”
Jane got out of the buggy. “Denke for a lovely day, Lanie.”
“I can’t remember when I had such a good time. Denke for coming with me.” Lanie gave her a beaming smile and then waved to both Sadie and Jane as she moved her horse and buggy away.
They watched Lanie leave.
“Did you have a nice day?” Sadie asked, when Lanie was out of sight.
“I did. She’s so nice. It can’t be easy for her now that her husband’s gone.”
“I know.”
“Ach, I’m sorry. You’d know what that’s like.”
“Jah, but she’s lost him so early. Gott called him home and now she’s got Mary-Lee to raise all on her own.”
Jane nodded. Unless ... someone like Matt came along and became father to Mary-Lee. “Did Matt ask you to invite her to dinner?”
“Nee. I thought she should come so it’s fair. The others have had dinner here or will be here soon.”
“That’s true.”
“Have you seen Matt today?” Sadie peered into her face.
“Nee. Is he coming for dinner?”
“He was, but he stopped by earlier to tell me he couldn’t make it.”
“Oh.” Jane wondered what had kept him. One of the women perhaps? Since he’d now ruled out the twins, it had to be either Abigail or Marcy.
Sadie cleared her throat. “I’m sure he’s working on his business tonight. He does all his own bookwork you know.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Jah, and that would keep him up late at night doing that since he always works during the day.”
“I guess that’s right. It would be a lot of work.”
Jane gave Sadie a sideways glance as they stepped into the house. Had Sadie picked up that she was a tiny bit jealous, or that she'd been worried that he was with one of the other women?
“We’re not having much for dinner tonight. We’re having the same as we had last night, the leftovers.”
“I love leftovers. They always taste so much better the next day.” Janie's eyes went wide. “Ach nee!” She jumped back outside to see if she could stop Lanie.
“What’s the matter, Jane?”
“I bought so much food and left it in Lanie’s buggy.”
Sadie laughed. “You’re always enthusiastic about everything, Jane, but you’re still forgetful. You haven’t changed a bit.”
Jane smiled.
“You didn’t need to buy food. I have plenty. I’m just using the leftovers before they spoil.”
Jane sighed. “Hopefully, Lanie will remember the food’s in her buggy and bring it back.”
“I’ll make you a hot cup of tea and we can sit while you tell me all about your day.”
“Ah, that does sound good.”
“Now, don’t forget I did invite Lanie to dinner with us for Monday night.”
Jane giggled. “I know. I was there and I’ll remember.”
“Good. You can remember for the both of us.”
Jane smiled as she took off her coat and hung it on the peg by the door while Sadie headed to the kitchen.
Chapter 12
Lanie got five minutes up the road when it dawned on her—Jane had left everything in the back of the buggy, including the drawstring bag where she kept her money. Instead of turning around and taking it directly back, she pulled the buggy off the road and jumped out.
After she had a careful look up and down the quiet country road to make sure no traffic was coming, she opened the back. The drawstring bag lay on the top of the paper shopping bags. Lanie knew it was wrong to look inside, but it could contain some answers to the many questions she had about Jane and Matt.
There could be a secret note, or some kind of letter that had passed between them.
Matt had confessed he loved Jane, but Jane acted as though he was nothing but a friend. Why wouldn’t Jane love him? It didn’t make sense. There had to be a logical answer since both Jane and Matt seemed such logical people.
She took a big gulp as she took hold of the bag.
I’m doing this for Mary-Lee, she told herself.
Mary-Lee needed a father. If she knew how Jane really felt, it could help her find a way into Matt’s heart. Once she pulled the opening of the bag apart, all she saw was some bills neatly folded, and a few coins at the bottom
Lanie promptly pulled the strings of the bag closed.
She was none the wiser.
When Sadie and Jane were seated with hot tea in the living room, Sadie had an announcement to make. “One thing I do have to tell you before I forget is that Matt has arranged for Abigail and Marcy to come for dinner on Thursday night.”
“Oh! That's already tomorrow night.”
“That’s right. He drove me out to Marcy’s place to invite them both.”
“And Lanie comes to dinner on her own, next Monday. No wait, that was your idea. It was his idea for me to spend time with her alone today. He never mentioned us having dinner with Lanie, though.” She stared at Sadie. “Do you think he prefers Lanie?”
Sadie took a sip of hot tea. “It’s hard to say.”
“It’s just strange that she’s the only one he didn’t suggest come here for dinner.”
“Not really. I think you’re reading too much into it. The twins would naturally come for dinner together because they’re twins. Marcy and Abigail are cousins.”
“Maybe.” That made Jane feel a bit better.
“He’s given you an impossible task. I do have to apologize, Jane. I had no idea he w
as planning all this. You know why I thought you were invited here.”
Jane giggled to cover up that it was the exact reason she thought she had come, too. “We’ll get through it.”
“Jah, and it’ll be Christmas in no time. It’s my favorite time of year.”
Jane smiled. It used to be hers too as a child, but after so many lonely Christmases, she’d come to dread that time of year. It only reminded her she had no husband to love and no husband to love her in return. “He said he wants to be married by this Christmas.”
Sadie frowned and set her cup onto the saucer. “That’s only weeks away. I can’t see it happening. Can you?”
Jane shook her head. “I haven’t really given it much thought. I’ve been too busy trying to work out the woman best suited to him.”
Mr. Grover sauntered into the room and jumped on Sadie’s lap. “Mind the tea,” Sadie told him.
“He must be good company for you.”
“He is. Maybe you could get a cat.”
Jane sighed inside. “Perhaps.” Even Sadie thought she’d be single forever with only a cat to keep her company and share her home. Perhaps she should give up on Matt, go home and get herself a cat. At least getting a pet was something within her control. Having Matt fall in love with her was now beyond all reasonable expectations.
“So, what were your impressions of Lanie today? Ach, I feel dreadful asking you that, but I’m sure Matt will be asking you soon enough.”
“She’s very nice, just how I remembered her. It must’ve been so hard when her husband died.”
“It was expected. He’d always been ill.”
“I know, but they didn’t know when the time would come. He could’ve lived longer. They knew all along she might be left alone to raise their kinner. It wasn’t a surprise, I know, not really. Still, it’s not easy for her. Now she’s got a child to raise alone.”
“She has her mudder to help. Every time I see Lanie lately, Mary-Lee is nowhere around. She’s always got the child at her mudder’s. Seems to me that it’s Elsie who’s raising the child and not Lanie.” Sadie slurped her tea.
“Lanie is fortunate to have her help.”
“Is it helping her, though? Shouldn’t she be made to look after her own child?”
Jane took a sip of tea trying to figure out what Sadie was getting at. “Do you know something about Lanie that I don’t?”
“Nee, nothing. I just think that she’s got it easier than people think. Everyone’s feeling sad and sorry for her, but she has many advantages that other people don’t. She’s not too badly off.”
Reading between the lines, Jane figured that Sadie didn’t really like Lanie. That was surprising because Jane would’ve thought everyone would like Lanie with her easy-going manner and ready smile.
When they heard a buggy, Jane jumped up. “I hope that’s Lanie.” She opened the door to see that it was indeed Lanie. Jane continued down the steps to the buggy.
“I got halfway to my mudder’s and I remembered you didn’t get the food.”
“I know. I remembered when you had barely left, but it was too late.”
The two women giggled and then Jane pulled the bags out of the back. Lanie was right by her side to help her carry the bags into the house.
“Hello, Mrs. Yoder, I’m back again.” Lanie giggled.
Mrs. Yoder stood. “Do you have time for hot tea? It’s ready.”
“Nee, denke. I’ll have to get my dochder back from my mudder.”
“Okay.”
Lanie continued to the kitchen with Jane and placed the food on the table. “Is everything okay with Sadie?”
“Jah, why?”
“Oh nothing. I just thought she looked very tired. If it’s too much for her having you stay here, you can always stay with me.”
“I don’t think she’s tired. I’m helping her with everything as much as I can.”
“I know, but you know how old people can be. They think they can do it all until they can’t.”
“Denke, for the offer, Lanie. I’ll give it some serious thought. Perhaps I’ll ask Sadie what she thinks.”
“Nee, don’t do that. It’ll embarrass her. She’ll never admit to visitors being too much for her.”
“Jah, maybe you’re right. I’ll think about it.”
“I’d love it if you stayed with me. It’d be so much fun.”
Jane smiled, feeling good that she had the offer. Although, she’d much rather stay with Sadie. “I’ll give it some thought.”
“I hope you do.”
Chapter 13
Jane wasn’t looking forward to dinner with Abigail and Marcy. Not if it was going to be anything like dinner with the twins. Marcy was closer to Matt’s age, so Jane was certain that she was going to be the more suited between the two of them.
Sadie hadn’t mentioned the two women for the entire day, not even when they were cooking for them. It was as though she was deliberately and completely trying to put them out of her mind.
For dinner, Sadie had chosen to make cabbage rolls and bologna sausage. Everything was made from scratch. For starters they’d have a traditional and hearty chicken corn soup with fresh-baked buttermilk biscuits. Dessert was to be shoo fly pies.
It was good to learn from such an experienced cook, the recipes passed down from Sadie’s own great grandmother. If nothing else, Jane was learning some new recipes while she was here, as well as some interesting variations for old ones.
It wasn’t long before Jane’s mind traveled to a familiar negative place. What good were recipes if there was no one to cook for? No Matt to cook for, more precisely.
Jane set the table for four, trying to convince herself that the dinner mightn’t be that bad. At least she might find out why Matt was interested in someone as young as Abigail. Perhaps she had a startling personality to go along with her youthful good looks.
“That's them,” Sadie said in an excited voice—the first excitement Jane had heard today—as she removed her work apron.
Sadie hurried from the kitchen while Jane stood straightening the last fork on the set table and hoping the night wouldn't be too awful. While she was listening to the voices coming in the front door, she realized she’d already made up her mind. Out of the two, she'd assumed Marcy was most suitable simply based on age. That wasn't fair, she decided. She would clear her mind of biases due to age and do her best to give each woman an equal chance.
When she saw the sausages were sizzling too much on the stove, she turned off the gas, took the pan off the burner, and then headed out to greet the girls.
They each met her with a smile and a kiss on the cheek.
“Are we ready for dinner now, Jane?” asked Sadie as if Jane had done all the cooking.
“We are, if everyone would like to take their seats.”
“We’re a little late, and I'm sorry,” Abigail told them as they headed into the dining room just off from the kitchen.
“That was my fault,” said Marcy. “I'm always late, but I'm trying to improve.”
Sadie smiled kindly. “We all have our faults. All we can do is try to better ourselves.”
Although Sadie was being kind, Jane couldn't stop herself from taking a very different approach. Marcy was tardy. She knew that Matt was a very organized man. Would he cope well with a wife who was often late? Probably not.
When the two guests were seated, Jane and Sadie brought the food from the kitchen and placed it in the center of the table.
“Oh my, this looks good,” Abigail said.
“It certainly does.”
“Denke. It was a joint effort, but all Sadie’s recipes.”
Sadie smiled at Jane and then they closed their eyes and each said their silent prayer of thanks for the food.
Abigail opened her eyes.
Marcy giggled. “Denke, for cooking us a lovely meal.”
“You haven’t tasted it yet,” said Sadie as Jane passed the bowls of food around.
“I hear you're a very go
od cook, Abigail,” said Sadie.
Abigail giggled. “Where did you hear that from? My mudder, I guess.”
“That's right.
“Mamm thinks I'm good at everything. I’m just average.”
“Your mudder told me you got first prize at the shul open-exhibition day for your cooking. And again at the fair last year.”
A smile beamed on Abigail’s face. “That was for cherry pie. Anyway, you're embarrassing me.”
Marcy looked at Jane, “When was the last time you saw Matt, not counting this visit?”
“I haven't seen him for quite a few years. Since I left here, I guess. We’ve kept in touch through our letters.”
“He often talks about you.” Abigail seemed to hint at more than her words alone conveyed.
“Does he?” Jane’s eyebrows rose. She wanted to hear more. Why would Matt have mentioned her to Abigail?
“He talks about you all the time.”
“I didn't know.”
“Do you talk about him also?” Abigail fluttered her lashes innocently, but Jane knew the question itself wasn’t quite so innocent.
“To be honest, I don't think I do. That's probably because no one at my community knows him. So there probably wouldn't be much point talking about him because they wouldn't know who I was talking about.”
Jane smiled on the outside, but on the inside she wished Matt had never given her the ridiculous task of finding him a wife.
“Oh this food is delicious,” Abigail commented once more.
The girls were trying to be on their best behavior. It was just a simple meal of bologna and cabbage rolls.
“It's all just simple food,” Sadie commented, saying exactly what Jane was thinking.
“What brings you here, Jane?” Abigail asked.
Jane coughed. She couldn't tell them why she was there. “I thought it was time to visit old friends. As I just said, I haven't been back since I left years ago. It was time.”
“And do you have a boyfriend or anything?” asked Marcy.
Jane stared at Marcy. It was the kind of question she thought Abigail might ask.
“Kind of,” Jane said offering an embarrassed laugh to cover the awkwardness gnawing at her tummy.
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