A Picture of Love

by Beth Wiseman

  “Dancing shadows,” she whispered.

  * * *

  Esther’s pockets were stuffed with tissues, and she’d already prayed several times that she wouldn’t have another episode during the wedding. Or ever again. She hadn’t slept much last night as she considered what might be ailing her. Cancer was the first thing that came to mind since her and Lizzie’s mother had died of breast cancer. But Esther couldn’t recall her mother ever coughing up blood. Gus was right. She was going to have to go to the doctor, no matter how terrifying the thought. She would go soon and get it over with. Then she’d know, and it would also mean fewer days she would have to take Gus a slice of pie. One of the women in their household was always making pies, so sharing wasn’t the issue. Seeing Gus daily was the problem.

  “Where is Naomi?” Lizzie was suddenly right next to her in the kitchen, which was filled with women preparing for the lavish meal to be served later.

  “I don’t know, but there are over two hundred people here. Some are out in the barn, and the men are still setting up tents outside.” Esther’s stomach rumbled, and without thinking, she put a hand across it.

  “Are you still having trouble with your tummy?” Lizzie pointed a finger at her. “You need to go to—”

  “Lizzie, where are your teeth?” Esther’s eyes widened.

  “Oops.” She reached into her apron pocket and fumbled around until she had the dentures in her hand. Then she began the process of trying to get them situated in her mouth.

  “I suggest you don’t bother me about a doctor until you go back to the dentist.” Esther shook her head. “What do you need Naomi for?”

  “I don’t need her.” Lizzie opened her mouth, twisting it from side to side, and miraculously, the teeth seemed to find their place. “I just wanted to make sure she was all right. I haven’t seen Thomas here. I asked around, but not even his closest kin know if he’s coming today.”

  “I feel sure it’s best for Naomi if he doesn’t show up.” Esther had worried about the possibility. “This has to be a hard day for her. Seeing Thomas would be very upsetting. That boy hurt Naomi badly, and I don’t think a reconciliation would be a gut thing. I think he would hurt her again.”

  Lizzie’s eyes had drifted away, and she was grinning. “You’re right. And maybe there is another prospect on the horizon.” She nodded to where Naomi and Amos were standing beside each other in the living room. The panels separating the den and dining room had already been removed and relocated. Most of the furniture had also been hauled to the bedrooms to make room for everyone in attendance. It was going to be a tight squeeze, likely with a few dozen folks standing. Some homes simply weren’t big enough to hold the service, and weddings would be held in the barn or beneath the tents. Suzanne’s house was just barely making an indoor wedding possible.

  “They look cozy,” Lizzie added, a perfectly straight smile lighting up her expression.

  Esther smiled. “I have to agree with you. He’s such a handsome man and seems so nice. But he doesn’t live nearby, and he and Anna Mae are leaving Sunday.”

  “That’s three days away.” Lizzie nudged Esther and giggled. “Besides, there’s always the basement.”

  Esther narrowed her eyebrows into a frown. “Don’t you ever do anything like that again. What if there had been a fire? If I had been home, I never would have allowed you to lock Naomi and that man in the basement.”

  Lizzie waved her off. “I was in the kitchen reading a book the entire time. They were never in danger.”

  “Still, it was a line that shouldn’t have been crossed. And from what I recall, there was no chance of them becoming romantically involved after you forced them to spend time together.” She glanced at Naomi and Amos. “But those two do make a beautiful couple, don’t they?”

  Lizzie nodded. “Ya, and we’ve got to find a way for him and Anna Mae to stay longer than Sunday.”

  “I will think on it.” Esther wanted romance for Naomi. The girl was still healing, though.

  “Now let’s just hope Thomas doesn’t show up and mess everything up.”

  For once, Esther agreed with her sister.

  Six

  Amos sat through the entire ceremony feeling like he was drowning, gulping air as his throat started to close up, and widening his eyes when he thought he might cry. He was a fish flapping around, the life slowly being sucked out of him. By the time the bishop placed a holy kiss on Isaiah’s forehead and the bishop’s wife did the same on Suzanne’s, Amos was spent. He wanted to leave. As he’d suspected, he couldn’t stop imagining himself and Sarah taking their vows, and the image was overwhelming. The tightness in his chest made him want to scream the code words and rush away with Naomi.

  He could barely see her. She was sitting behind a very large woman, but every now and then she peeked around the lady and locked eyes with him, a stoic expression on her face. Maybe she was tolerating the service better than he was. Or she just hid her emotions better than he did.

  Finally, the ceremony was over. The men began to mosey out to the barn. If the after-party was like those he’d attended back home, a few men would tell jokes and even smoke cigars while the women scurried about to get the food on the tables. Amos didn’t get in a hurry. He didn’t have much of an appetite, and the wedding party would be served first. He felt a sort of obligation to check on Naomi but lost sight of her once everyone dispersed.

  Outside, he wove in and out of the crowd under the tent, hoping and praying Naomi would find him and say she couldn’t take it anymore. Amos still didn’t know if Thomas was here.

  After another thirty minutes of casually speaking to guests he didn’t know, he found Naomi talking to a couple about their age, so he joined them.

  “Wie bischt,” he said as he looked back and forth between the couple. Naomi introduced them as Mary and John Lapp.

  “They rent the daadi haus on Esther and Lizzie’s property.” Naomi smiled, but he could tell it was forced, and her thick eyelashes swept over dark circles beneath her eyes. Still beautiful, but she looked tired and miserable. Say the words and we’re out of here.

  “It’s gut to meet you, Amos.” John extended his hand. Mary echoed her husband, then asked, “Are you enjoying your visit to Montgomery?”

  “Ya, it’s different from where we live in Ohio, much smaller. I like the quaintness of the town.” Amos glanced at Naomi, who looked a million miles away, her gaze drifting. Was Thomas here, or was she still looking for him?

  The conversation turned to the weather and how it had warmed up to be a beautiful day. The sun had taken its highest place in the sky, and a gentle breeze swirled amid the crowd. An atmosphere any bride and groom would cherish on their special day.

  Mary touched Naomi’s arm. “I’m sure this hasn’t been an easy day for you.”

  “Ach, I’m fine.” Naomi glanced at Amos. “It was a lovely ceremony. I’m so happy for Suzanne and Isaiah.” There was a tremble in her voice that fired a dagger of empathy straight into Amos’s heart.

  He knew she didn’t need a gentle touch on the arm. She needed a hug, and the urge to embrace her was strong but would be inappropriate.

  “Shadows . . .” she said a she scratched her head, her lip trembling.

  Mary frowned. “What?”

  Naomi shook her head. “I mean, maybe dancing . . . or . . .” She rubbed her forehead as Mary and John watched her with curiosity, waiting for her to make some sort of sense.

  Amos met her eyes. “I saw that early this morning, the way the moon cast shadows from behind the trees. Is that what you mean, dancing shadows?” It sounded ridiculous, but when Naomi nodded, Amos rubbed his chin, trying to think of a reason for them to excuse themselves.

  “Mary and John, again, it was nice to meet you, but we should probably go.” He tipped his hat before turning to Naomi. “I almost forgot. Mei mamm was looking for you. I can take you to her.” It was an outright lie but all he could come up with in the moment.

  “Ya, okay.” Naom
i’s expression fell. She obviously thought he was telling the truth. He started walking away, and Naomi followed. Before they reached the front porch, he veered left, gently taking hold of her elbow until they were behind the house.

  “I’m sorry. I lied. Mamm isn’t looking for you, but you seemed to be searching for our code words.”

  She had tears in her eyes. “Thomas isn’t here. He is seeing someone in the community where he lives now and didn’t think it would be appropriate to bring her. Mary had just told me when you walked up, and I got flustered, and . . .” She raised her shoulders, then dropped them slowly.

  Without overthinking it, he pulled her into his arms and held her. He needed the hug as much as she did. After gently rubbing her back for a few seconds, Amos eased her away.

  “How are we going to get out of here without causing a lot of unnecessary gossip? Everyone would see us leave in the buggy.” Amos peeked around the corner of the house. “Any ideas? I’m assuming you’re as ready to leave as I am.”

  She nodded. “Are you sure, though? I mean, do you really want to leave? You’re bound to be hungry.”

  “Are you?”

  “Nee.”

  “I’m not either.” Amos’s stomach grumbled in resistance, but he truly didn’t think he could eat a thing. He glanced around, then noticed the fields of corn that normally would have been harvested by now. A local man had told him a lack of rain over the summer had delayed the farmers from bringing in some of the crops. Where the cornfields began about fifty feet away from them, a small path had been cleared and stretched as far as he could see with large stalks on either side.

  “Where does that go?” He pointed to the opening.

  “I don’t know.” Naomi gazed into the distance with a curious expression. He reached for her hand.

  “Let’s go.”

  They jogged to the entrance, not looking behind them to see if they’d been spotted. Leaves from the cornstalks as long as Amos was tall slapped them in the face as they ran, each holding an arm up in an attempt to avoid the whipping branches. When they finally stopped, Naomi burst out laughing.

  “This is the silliest thing I’ve ever done.” Smiling and winded, she took a deep breath, then blew it out slowly. “That felt gut. And I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

  Amos gazed into her eyes, glad her tears had dried. He looked at her cheeks, red from running. But it was her smile, her lips, that drew in his focus. Slightly parted, full, and naturally pink. Amos hadn’t kissed another woman since Sarah’s death, but he wanted to kiss Naomi.

  Instead, he gently brushed several loose strands of hair away from her face, causing her cheeks to turn even redder. Perhaps he’d overstepped.

  * * *

  Naomi took a step closer to Amos, close enough to kiss him. As the wind blew through the cornstalks, sending the leaves in motion, the sunshine beamed down on them, on this beautiful, cloudless day. Amos was handsome, kind, and he was her hero today. But as she gazed into his eyes, all she saw was Thomas. She wondered if it would always be that way. Would she ever look at another man without thinking of Thomas? It didn’t really matter, she supposed, since she wasn’t willing to put her heart out there again.

  She cleared her throat and backed away from Amos just enough to make her point without having to say, “I can’t kiss you because I see another man’s face.” Maybe if she had kissed him, Thomas’s face would have faded. But she couldn’t do it. It would feel like a revenge kiss. She’d been praying for Thomas to come home since he left, but she had never considered he would become involved with someone else so quickly. The news had stabbed her heart, but she still believed Thomas would eventually realize Naomi was the one for him. He’d just gotten cold feet. And that’s what she would hold on to in an attempt to soothe her soul.

  She took deep breaths to collect herself, then recalled how Amos had no interest in a relationship. She realized she hadn’t given him any room for his own grief today.

  “How are you feeling?” She paused and bit her lip as she searched his eyes. “I mean, how did you do?”

  He shrugged. “It was about like I thought it would be. I saw Sarah and me taking our vows, and I thought mei heart might crack.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Naomi wanted to hug him. The first embrace had felt so good, but she was afraid. Her heart might be in shambles, but the rest of her body seemed to have a mind of its own.

  “We both knew it would be like this. We just weren’t ready to face a wedding.” Amos’s eyes captured hers, and an invitation seemed to appear in his sober expression as he edged closer to her. His dark eyes were probing her soul again, reaching into her thoughts. Then he cupped her cheek, and Naomi made no effort to stop him as she closed her eyes. “You won’t always feel like you do now, Naomi,” he said softly as he lowered his hand. “You’re a beautiful woman, and you’ll find love again.”

  She didn’t think so, but she owed him a response that would encourage hope. “So will you.” Her eyes melded into his again, and that feeling of oneness came over her. She’d only known him a couple days. Her attraction to him was tempting her to do things that would be inappropriate. Naomi’s heart belonged to another man. “And danki for the compliment.”

  He looked past her. “Should we see how far this path goes?”

  Naomi followed his gaze. “It looks like it goes on forever.”

  “Maybe it’s like a rainbow and there will be a pot of gold at the end.”

  She laughed. “Then Suzanne’s family has been hiding a big secret.”

  He motioned down the clearing between the cornstalks. “Shall we?”

  Naomi smiled. “Why not?”

  She followed Amos as he did his best to push away the leaves that hung in front of them, thicker in some areas than others. Naomi breathed in the sweet aroma of the corn and tried to let her thoughts drift to happy topics, like the blessings of the harvest, the fact that she had found a family with Esther and Lizzie, and that the Lord appeared to be blessing her with a new friend.

  They walked quietly for a long while. It felt good just to be.

  * * *

  Esther was clearing dishes from one of the tables when she saw Lizzie running toward her with the energy of a teenager. She huffed and puffed for several seconds when she finally stopped in front of Esther.

  “It’s happening!”

  “What’s happening?” Esther held four plates in her hands as she focused on Lizzie. “What are you talking about?”

  “Naomi . . . and Amos.” She struggled to catch her breath. “I watched them . . . go behind the haus together . . . and then . . . I saw them running through the cornfields on a path.” Lizzie latched on to Esther’s arm as her eyes grew moist. “Naomi was laughing, Esther. They both were.”

  Esther set the plates on the table and hugged Lizzie, her heart warm and full. “We can’t let that boy leave Sunday.” She leaned back and held her elbow with one hand, cupping her chin with the other and tapping her foot. “I have an idea.”

  Lizzie adjusted her teeth and bounced on her toes. “The basement?”

  Esther groaned. “Nee. I told you not to do that again.” She paused, still thinking out her plan. “Remember how Amos and Anna Mae said business was slow at his construction company?”

  Lizzie’s ears seemed to perk up as she grinned. “Ya.”

  “We have plenty of repairs that need to be done, enough to keep that boy around long enough to fall in lieb.”

  “I lieb that idea.” Lizzie tapped a finger to her chin. “The back fence on the far pasture is falling over.”

  Esther’s mind was reeling as well. “We’re missing some shingles on the roof from the last storm, and we have two dead trees that need to be cut down. Then there’s the barn door.”

  Lizzie named several other things that needed repairing. “This evening, we’ll talk to Amos about staying on to do some work for us.”

  Esther had a tickle in her throat, similar to what she’d felt last night on Gus’s porch. S
he hurried to grab a tissue from her apron pocket and quickly brought it to her face, pretending to dab at her nose while trailing it across her mouth. She was relieved when she pulled it back clear.

  “Then that’s the plan,” she said smiling.

  * * *

  “Do you hear that?” Amos stopped abruptly and raised a hand to his ear. He’d decided the path must go on for miles and wondered if they should head back, but he thought he’d heard something.

  Naomi stilled as Amos turned to face her. “Hear what?”

  “Just listen.” He lowered his hand but stayed perfectly still.

  “Ya, I hear something.” Naomi scooted closer to him as he tried to listen in the direction of the faint noise. “It sounds like a cat.”

  They inched toward the sound, then sped up when the meowing grew louder. It was certainly feline, and Amos hoped they weren’t sneaking up on something bigger than they could handle. He’d already seen one bobcat scurry away when he’d been visiting relatives with his mother.

  Naomi pushed her way between the cornstalks, her arms flailing. Amos stayed right behind her, dodging the leaves as best he could.

  “Oh no!” She squatted and placed her hand on top of a closed box trap. “Most farmers set traps for raccoons. I imagine they are all over these cornfields. Maybe that’s why the trails are here.” She placed her hand on the bottom of the trap door, about to open it.

  “Wait!” Amos went to his knees beside her. “That cat is probably feral and going to go crazy when you let it out.”

  “We can’t just let him go. He’ll die. Look at him. It’s just a kitten, and he’s starving. There’s no telling how long he’s been in there without water.” Naomi lifted the cage, reached inside, and picked up the kitten by the scruff of its neck. Even if it was feral, it was too weak to put up a fight.

  Amos had a soft spot for animals. He disliked trapping them, but he’d heard stories about raccoons and other critters wiping out entire cornfields. So, he supposed it was necessary.

  They stood, and Naomi lifted her black apron and draped it around the shivering cat. The temperature had warmed up throughout the day, but Amos wondered how the kitten survived however many nights it had been in that trap.