“You shouldn't have opened your mouth about things like that. He probably wouldn't have considered her before now, and now he could think that she’s a possibility.”
Jane giggled. “Who's being negative now?”
Sadie smiled. “That's true. You’re rubbing off on me. It should be the other way around. Whatever is good, just and pure, we should think on those things.”
“I know. It’s true. Let's clear away the dishes and then I'll make you a nice cup of coffee.”
“Denke, Jane, that sounds lovely.”
Lanie looked over at the man beside her and wondered if he’d been sent to her from Gott. Matt only had eyes for Jane, so was this man meant for her? Only thing was, she was certain that he too was in love with Jane. She had to do her best to change his mind.
“My dochder is staying with my mudder tonight. I’m blessed I have her to help me out when I need it. I normally take her everywhere with me, but I had gotten a feeling that Jane might not be too fond of children.”
“That’s wrong. Jane loves children. She’s so good with Rosalee.”
“What a delightful name.”
“Thank you.”
“Jane might only like certain children, the ones she knows well then.”
“It’s possible, I suppose, but don’t we all like our own better than anyone else’s?”
She giggled. “I guess that’s true. If poor old Jane ever has her own, she’ll be a changed woman. She’d have to love her own kinner.”
“When did your husband die, if I might ask?”
“Just over a year ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“And your fraa?”
“She died when Rosalee was only two months old.”
“Oh, that’s seriously tragic.”
“It was influenza. A particular bad strain, they told me. Two others in our community died from it that year.”
“My husband had a heart condition. They didn’t know how long he had. He was here one day and gone the next. Even though I knew it could happen, it still came as a shock.”
“It’s good you have your family close by.”
“And you?”
“My family disowned me when I joined the Amish at nineteen.”
“Oh, how romantic. You joined for your fraa?”
“Nee. I didn’t know her then. I met her a few months after I'd officially joined, and got to know her over the next couple of years and then we got married.”
“So, you just up and joined … why?”
“Because I knew there was a better way, a better lifestyle. I wanted to put away distraction, work with my hands and concentrate on living a Godly life.”
Lanie was impressed. He was such a good man with good principles. It annoyed her that two men she liked were both in love with Jane. Which one would Jane choose? She guessed that was why Isaac had followed Jane all the way from Ohio. “Do you have any plans while you’re here?”
“Only to have lunch with Jane tomorrow. Apart from that, we’ve not planned anything else.”
“It sounds wunderbaar.” She steered the horse into the bishop’s driveway and drove the horse and buggy all the way to the house. “I hope you have a nice stay while you’re here, Isaac.”
He got out of the buggy. “Thank you, Lanie, and thanks for the ride.”
They exchanged smiles.
Lanie made her way back down the driveway. What she had to do was clear. She had to stick to Jane like glue. And, she had to get to know Isaac a whole lot better before he left.
Chapter 18
The next morning, Matt came to collect Jane, and Sadie was right there to keep Matt up to date with recent goings on.
“Jane had a visitor last night,” Sadie was quick to tell him.
“Oh? Who was it?” Matt asked, sinking into the couch.
“Someone from her community ... and he came with a proposal.”
Jane heard what was being said from the kitchen. She put the last dish away, and folded the tea towel over the tap to dry.
“For Jane?” Matt asked.
“Of course for Jane.”
Jane walked into the living room. “Sadie! I told you that in the strictest confidence.”
“Proposal for what?” Matt asked looking blankly between the two of them.
“Proposal for marriage, of course, what else would he propose about?” asked Sadie.
Matt tilted his head to one side. “Someone has proposed marriage to you, Jane?”
“That's right.”
“I thought you'd never marry.”
“Well, you were wrong. I will.” She noticed he gulped.
“So you said yes?” His eyes opened wide.
“She’s considering it,” Sadie answered for her.
“Sadie, please.” Jane then looked at Matt, and sat down beside him. “Please don't let anyone know about this. Isaac wouldn't want anybody to know.”
“Especially if she refuses him,” said Sadie.
Matt shrugged. “Who is this 'Isaac' person?”
“He’s a neighbor of mine.”
“Jah, and he chased her all the way over here just to make sure she wouldn't forget him. He wants to marry her.”
“You said that once or twice now, Mamm.” He looked from his mother to Jane.
“You never mentioned anyone called Isaac in any of the letters.”
“Well, I didn't tell you about everything just like you didn't tell me everything about your intentions with these five women.”
“I see.”
Isaac did make her feel special. He had followed her and stated his intentions. That was something she wished Matt had done.
Jane hoped that Matt was jealous, but she didn't even consider that possible. She'd seen the competition and all of them were far more pleasing to the eye than she was.
“Oh, did you have big plans for us today?” Jane asked. “I’m hoping that whatever it is won’t take too long.”
“Why?”
“I told Isaac I’d go to lunch with him.”
Matt’s shoulder’s drooped. “You’re here to see me. Not to go to lunch with someone you can see when you’re at home.”
“Ach, Matt, stop being such a boppli,” Sadie crowed.
Jane found that a little bit funny and couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “It’ll just be a quick lunch for the very reason you mentioned. I told him I was here helping you with something.”
“Did he ask what?”
“I don’t recall that he did. Anyway, I didn’t—and I won’t—tell him.”
“What time is he calling for you?”
“About eleven, he said.”
“Then you’re mine for two hours?”
“I guess.”
“Come on let’s go.” Once they were in the buggy and turning onto the road, Matt said, “Tell me about Isaac.”
“Like I said, he's my neighbor. A widower with a young girl.”
“You forgot the part about him being in love with you.”
Jane looked at the fields they were passing.
Matt continued, “I'm your friend. Haven’t I told you all the details about my life? Don't you think I should have that in return?”
“To tell you the complete and honest truth, Matt, I really don't think I know you anymore.”
He took his eyes off the road and stared at her.
“Why would you say that?”
She breathed out heavily. “All this about you not knowing who you want to marry. It's all a bit strange. Do you want to choose between these women as if one woman is practically the same as another? It seems a cold approach and I never saw you as a cold person.”
“I'm sorry you feel that way, but that's not the way I see it. I've come to a certain age and I do want marriage and everything that goes along with it. I want a family to look after, Jane, don't you understand that?”
“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said how I really feel. I wouldn’t have if I had known you’d get upset.”
“When does love come into it with you? Don't you think it's important to love someone before you are married?” Jane asked.
“That's the way I've always hoped it would be … love, marriage, bopplis.”
She smiled when he smiled at her.
“Don't you want that, Jane?”
“That's what I've always wanted.”
She saw him swallow hard. “Jane, have you ever been in love?”
“Jah, I have been.”
“And who is he, or who was he?”
Her heart froze. She didn't know what to say. When she opened her mouth, desperately hoping the perfect words would somehow spill out, she looked up the road and saw a buggy heading toward them.
He saw it too and squinted. “That looks like Lanie. I wonder what she's doing out this way.”
Jane was saved from answering the question. What a relief! She hoped he wouldn't ask it again. If he asked straight out, it would be hard to tell him a lie. But she might have to tell a quick lie to save everybody from embarrassment.
When the buggies came level to each other, Matt pulled his horse up and Lanie also stopped. “Where are you off to?” he asked.
“Back to your mudder’s haus. I think I left my coat there last night.”
Jane remember that Lanie had been wearing her coat last night. What was she playing at? “I think I saw you leaving in your coat.”
“Really?”
Jane nodded.
“That is strange. I can't find it anywhere at home.”
“Maybe I'm wrong,” Jane said, with a quick shrug.
“It won't hurt to ask her. Mamm’s home.”
“What are you two doing today?” Lanie asked.
“Nothing in particular. I just thought I needed to take Jane out give her a break from being home with my mudder all day.”
“I'll keep Sadie entertained for a while, then.” Lanie offered him a big smile.
Jane knew that Lanie was trying to get on Matt’s good side and his mother’s. If Sadie really liked Lanie it would make things easier for Matt. It was an obvious ploy, but probably a good one.
They said their goodbyes when a car appeared behind Lanie, and then the horses and buggies continued on their separate ways.
“What do you think of Lanie?” asked Matt.
“I like her. She's intelligent and mature and ready to settle down. She already has Mary-Lee and I'm sure she doesn’t want her to be an only child.”
“For sure.”
Jane waited for him to say more but that's all he said about her.
“Are you going to marry Isaac?” he asked.
“Do you really want to talk about this? I'm here now because of you and who you're going to marry not the other way around.”
He chuckled. “That's how it started out, I'm not so sure it's going to end that way.”
“What do you mean?”
“We could have all kinds of men coming to look for you, asking for your hand in marriage.”
“That is very unlikely.”
“I don't think so. You could have five, and maybe I’ll be helping you to choose between them.”
“Nee, that would never happen. I can make up my own mind. We are here to find you a fraa. That's all I want to think about.”
“So you haven't given an answer?”
Was he talking about Isaac? “About what?”
“An answer about marriage to Isaac.”
“Nee, I haven't given him an answer. And I’d rather not talk about myself or my life. I'll find you a fraa, I'll go home and then we may or may not keep writing to one another. Those letters will have to include your wife of course, once you’re a married man.”
“And your new husband,” he shot straight back at her.
She glanced over at him disapprovingly, and shook her head.
Chapter 19
Lanie stood on Sadie’s front porch and knocked on her door.
Sadie opened it, and Lanie was pleased to see a smile on her face. “Lanie, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Denke. Did I leave a coat here last night?”
“I don’t think so. Come in and we’ll take a look around.”
Lanie stepped through the door.
Sadie looked on the pegs behind the door. “It's not here. I'll take a look in the kitchen.”
Lanie followed her in, pulled out a chair and sat down.
“It's not here either.”
Lanie threw up her hands. “I've got no idea what I've done with it.”
Sadie looked at her. “Aren’t you wearing it?”
Lanie looked down at the black coat she was wearing. She’d been caught out. How stupid was she? “Oh! This is a spare.”
“Care for a cup of hot tea?”
“I'd love one. If you have the time to spare.”
“I do. Where is little Mary-Lee?”
“With my mudder. She wanted to keep her for another day. And, Mary-Lee just loves her grossmammi.” Lanie said. Sadie was possibly going to be her mother-in-law, so she wanted to start impressing her right away. “I’ll make it for us.” Once in the kitchen, Lanie pulled out a chair for Sadie to sit in. Then Lanie filled up the teakettle and popped it on the stove, talking as she moved. “What do you think of Isaac just coming here like that? No one was expecting him, were they?”
“Nee. He came here for Jane.”
“I thought so. He's in love with her. He came here to take her back with him it seems.” She turned on the gas and then sat down in front of Sadie.
“You might as well know as long as you don't say anything. He’s proposed to her.”
That ruled Isaac out ... maybe. Or, maybe she had to concentrate on Isaac before he left. “Is that right?”
“It certainly is. He seems a very nice man.”
“He does, but how will he cope with seeing Jane with Matt? I just saw them passing me in the buggy just now.”
“They’re just friends, they keep telling everyone that.”
“What does Jane think? Has she answered Isaac—accepted his proposal? Are they getting married?”
“All I know is that Jane was shocked to see him.”
Lanie leaned closer, “Has she said yes?”
“Nee. She hasn't said yes but they're going to have lunch together today. He will try to talk her into it for sure. “
“I've never seen Jane as the marrying kind,” Lanie said.
“Funny you say that because neither does my son.”
“You've talked about Jane with Matt?”
“I have,” Sadie answered. “So you want to marry my son?”
Lanie hadn't been prepared for that question—hadn't expected Sadie to be so open about this project. “I do like him and have made no secret of it.”
“Oh, so does Matt know?”
“I haven’t specifically told him.”
“Who have you told?”
Lanie giggled. “No one. I don’t intend to make a secret of it. Perhaps that’s what I should’ve said.”
“Are you prepared to marry again, so soon?”
“I think it will help take away the pain. He won't be a replacement for Desmond. The two of them are very different. Desmond was a very gentle man and Matt is more forthright. I think he'll make a wonderful vadder and wonderful husband.”
“Oh, there's no doubt about that. There are four other women who think the same, as you probably already know.”
“I found that out. The twins, and Marcy, and her cousin, Abigail.”
“It's not nice.”
“I know, but what am I to do?”
“I've been thinking of something and it’s kept me up all night. Both Jane and I thought you got along well with Isaac. Why don't you marry him and leave Matt for Jane?”
Lanie was horrified. Sadie didn’t like her; didn’t want her for a daughter-in-law. What’s more, she wanted Jane to marry Matt. This was drea
dful.
Leave Matt for Jane, echoed inside Lanie’s head.
“Sadie, are you saying that you don't think I'm a good match with your son?” She desperately wanted Sadie to take the words back.
“I've always thought that Jane and Matt would marry, and I'm having trouble ever seeing him with anybody else. It's nothing personal, Lanie. I am very fond of you.”
Lanie was pleased to hear it. Apparently she just wasn’t as fond of her as she was of Jane.
At that moment, the kettle whistled.
“I think I have some chocolate chip cookies in that blue cookie jar on the top of the counter.”
“Perfect, I’ll fetch us some.” While Lanie found the cookies and placed some onto a plate, Sadie got up and made the tea.
“Let’s take this and have it in front of the fire,” Sadie said once the tea was steeping.
“Jah, that sounds lovely.”
They sat down on the couch, and had a silent moment. Then Sadie poured them each a cup of tea.
“Sadie, I have to ask you something.”
Sadie looked at her, and then sat her teacup in the saucer. “Go ahead.”
“Do you think that Jane is in love with Matt?”
Sadie sighed. “That’s what I always hoped and then Isaac showed up. I did ask her and she told me she had someone back home.”
“So she mentioned Isaac to you when she first arrived?”
“Not right away, but his name did come up.”
Lanie wanted to be sure. “When you say his name came up, did she say she was in love with Isaac?”
“Not in so many words.” Sadie sipped on her tea. “Why? Are you afraid she’ll take Matt from you?”
Lanie giggled. Sadie could see straight through her. “Ach nee. I was just … I just want Matt to end up being with someone who truly loves him.”
“How can he fail when there are five women who say they truly love him?”
Lanie fixed a smile on her face. Sadie’s words reminded her to stick to the plan Matt and she had devised. Jane could marry Isaac, and she’d have Matt. “That’s true.”
“He’s very blessed.”
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