* * *
It was the middle of the day when Rose saw a dreadful sight. Her mother was walking toward her with the twins dawdling along behind.
Rose stopped and stared, waiting for them to get close. This wasn’t good. She was only there to see the interaction between herself and Mark. What other reason would she have for being there? “Mamm, what are you doing here? I could’ve brought something home for you.”
“Nee, I’m just looking around to see what I can see.” She turned her head, looking at nothing in particular, in a false manner, until she caught Mark’s eye. Then she waved to him. “Mark, it’s so nice to see you again.”
“Jah, we haven’t seen each other since—it must have been as long ago as last week!”
Her mother giggled. “You’re always full of jokes, Mark.”
“Not always,” Mark answered.
“Why don’t you come over for dinner tomorrow night, Mark? We’d love to have you there.”
He pointed to himself as his eyes bugged. “Me?”
“Jah, you. I can’t remember that we’ve ever had you to the haus apart from when we have the Sunday meetings there.”
Rose’s heart skipped a beat. As Mark stammered a response, he glanced at Rose who was trying to hide behind her mother. Meanwhile, Rose’s two youngest sisters were talking to each other, unaware of what was going on around them.
“I … I … I’d love to. Denke, Mrs. Yoder.”
“I’ll look forward to it. Mr. Yoder and I can get to know you better.” Nancy turned to her eldest daughter. “I’ll see you tonight, Rose.”
When Nancy and the twins were in the distance, Rose said to Mark, who was also staring after them, “This is a disaster.”
“Not really. It’s only dinner.”
“Don’t you see? She didn’t believe me and now she wants to question you.”
“She didn’t believe that you and I are in love?”
“I didn’t say we were in love. I kind of just made out that we have been on a couple of dates.”
“Did we enjoy them?”
“Mark, you agreed to do this for me. Don’t give me a hard time about it.”
“Don’t worry about things. Everything will go smoothly. You’re over-thinking things, besides, I’m a good actor. If you and I are dating, they want to see what kind of person I am. That’s only normal. My parents would do the same—I think—if I were a female and you were my pretend boyfriend. Going on that scenario, you’d have to be a man, which would be kinda weird.” He scratched his head. “Weirder still, me being female …”
Despite Mark’s assurances and nonsense babbling, Rose knew what she’d said previously was true. “This is dreadful.”
“What did you think would happen, Rosie? This is part of it—part of us pretending to be a couple.” He shook his head, looking serious, with lines appearing on his normally smooth forehead.
Rose knew Mark was worried and trying his best to hide it. There was no other way but to go through with it. It was better they believed Mark was her boyfriend rather than have them pushing her onto someone else.
“I guess it might go okay tomorrow night.”
He smiled. “Now you’re talking. Don’t worry so much.”
“I just hope they don’t ask you any hard questions.”
“If they do, I’ll answer them.”
Even if Mark was nervous, his confident words gave Rose a slight amount of comfort.
The next two hours passed by quickly, with many customers keeping the two of them busy.
Then, just as Rose pulled a sandwich out of her lunchbox, she saw him striding her way. He was a large young Amish man in a billowing white shirt, and nicely tailored black pants held up by black suspenders.
Chapter 7
Rose rubbed her eyes and looked at the Amish man heading toward her.
He was as she’d always imagined he would be. He carried himself with a confidence unlike the regular Amish men from her community. Her sandwich dropped from her hands and she dusted off the crumbs, all the while watching to see which way he went.
On he walked, directly toward her. To her absolute delight, he was clean-shaven, signifying he was a single man. This had to be her future husband; she could feel it in every part of her body. Did he know it too? He smiled at her when he stopped in front of Mark’s stall. To Rose, it was as though she’d waited all her life for this moment.
He turned his attention to Mark and Rose heard him whisper, “Do you know who that girl is?” He then nodded his head subtly in her direction.
Who was the man? Mark knew him, that was clear.
Clearing his throat, Mark moved away from behind his stall and closer to Rose. “Rose, come over and meet my cousin.”
Rose took a few steps toward him. It was when she was closer that the warm sunlight lit up his eyes and she saw the flecks of amber in the brown eyes that gazed back at her.
“Nice to meet you …” She glanced over at Mark, hoping Mark would say his cousin’s name.
The handsome stranger took her hand in his. His hand was large and warm, and easily covered hers.
“I’m Jacob.”
“Hello, Jacob.”
“Hello, Rose,” he said, still staring into her eyes.
“Where are you from?” Rose asked, amazed she could find her voice.
“I’m from Oakes County. I’m visiting for a few weeks, learning how to build buggies from Mark’s and my Onkel Harry.”
That was the best news Rose had heard for a long time. He released her hand and she dropped it by her side, still looking at him. She wanted to know more about the handsome stranger, but she couldn’t think what else to ask.
“Is this your stall?” Jacob nodded his head toward the flowers.
“It’s not mine, but I watch it. I look after it for the Walkers.”
“Rose’s flower stall,” he said, grinning.
He wasn’t the first person to comment on her name in connection to the flower stall.
She looked down at her feet and shuffled them. “I know. It’s a funny thing.”
Mark interrupted them. “Rose’s mother named all her daughters after flowers. There’s Rose, as you know, then there are Tulip, and the twins, Lily and Daisy.”
“That’s delightful.”
“Rose’s aunty, that would be her mudder’s schweschder, has two kinner and also called them after flowers. That made Rose’s mudder angry and now Mrs. Yoder doesn’t speak to her younger schweschder anymore—that would be Rose’s aunt.”
Rose frowned at Mark, wondering why he was jabbering on about things she’d told him in the strictest confidence. “Mark!”
Mark cleared his throat and appeared not to care in the slightest that he’d revealed something so sensitive. “Are you here to deliver a message to me or something, Jacob?”
Jacob frowned. “Nee, I just wanted to have a look around while I’m here.” His face brightened when he turned back to Rose. “It would be good if I could find someone who knew the area to show me around.”
From the way he smiled, Rose knew he was dropping a large hint. She wasted no time in responding. “I could show you around sometime if you’d like.” This was an opportunity too good to allow to slip away.
“I’d like that very much.”
“Gut! I’ll drive us,” Mark said. “You don’t have your buggy here, Jacob, and Rose doesn’t have a buggy of her own.”
Rose’s mouth dropped open and she stared at Mark. Why was he trying to ruin things for her? He was acting like they were dating for real.
“I’m sure I could borrow a buggy while I’m here,” Jacob said as he looked down on his cousin. He was a good six inches taller than Mark.
Mark frowned. “Rose and I are …”
“Ah, I’m sorry.” Jacob raised both hands in the air and took a step back. “I didn’t realize. I had no idea.”
“Nee, it’s not like that,” Rose shot back.
Mark swiveled his head and stared at Rose. He loo
ked hurt; she could see it in his eyes, but at that moment, Rose couldn’t let Jacob think that she was taken.
“I can show you around. Mark and I are only friends,” Rose assured him. “And nothing more,” she added for good measure.
“Enough said, Rose!” Mark raised his voice. “I’ll work out a time with you tonight, Jacob. Tomorrow night, I’m having dinner at Rose’s haus. Maybe you could arrange something for Saturday afternoon?”
“Sounds good.” Jacob turned to Rose. “I’ll see you again soon, Rose.”
Rose smiled, but was too upset to speak. Mark had picked the worst time to be so bossy. She’d never seen him like that and neither had she known him to raise his voice in that manner.
As soon as Jacob was gone, Rose knew she needed to find out what had been going through Mark’s mind. “Why did you do that? We aren’t really dating! You acted like a jealous boyfriend and embarrassed me in front of your cousin.”
“It was you who talked me into this, Rose. I have to go to your parents’ haus tomorrow, have dinner with you all, and pretend we’re in some kind of a relationship. How am I going to do that if we tell some people we aren’t and some we are?” He shook his head. “I don’t like being in a position like this. I respect your parents and I don’t like lying to them. Now we’ll both be found out, for sure and for certain.”
Rose didn’t know what to say. He had a point. Her father had always told her that no good came from dishonesty. Now she was learning her lesson in the worst way possible. If she hadn’t made up the lie about Mark and herself dating, she would have been able to be alone with Jacob without Mark getting in the way. She glanced over at Mark who was still fuming. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think the whole thing through.”
“We’ve got to stick to the story, Rosie. What do you want the story to be? You can go home today and tell your parents we ended things if that’s what you want. You tell me what you want to tell them and I’ll go along with it.”
If she did as he suggested, there was no guarantee that Mark’s cousin was just as taken with her as she was with him, but she had to try. Otherwise, Jacob might slip right through her fingers. He was the only man she’d ever been attracted to.
“Okay. I’ll tell them that we thought it best to end things.”
He raised his eyebrows, indicating he’d expected a different response. He nodded, and then turned away without saying a word.
Typical man, sulking, she thought. It would’ve suited Mark to pretend they were boyfriend and girlfriend, so he could be closer to her more often. After she’d given him time to cool down, she said, “I’m sorry, Mark.”
He looked over at her. “For what?”
“To drag you into my silly schemes.”
He laughed. “It wasn’t all your fault. It was my stupid idea. I’m telling you right now you should never listen to anything I say.”
“And why did you tell him all that private stuff about the spat my mudder is having with Aunt Nerida?”
“It’s a little more than a spat. Spats are over quickly. This has been going on for years.” Rose frowned at him, until he said, “I know; I’m sorry. It came out without me thinking.”
“Obviously! It was clear you weren’t thinking.” Rose shook her head.
“To make things up to you, why don’t you come to dinner one night at my parents’ haus while Jacob’s here?”
“He’s staying with you?”
“Jah, right there in the haus.”
He knew she liked Jacob. She didn’t want to hurt Mark’s feelings, but she was never going to marry Mark and he had to come to terms with that. She didn’t want to lead him on in any way. “I’d like that, denke.”
“Tell your parents about our demise tonight, adding that we’re still friends and you’re coming over to my haus for dinner tomorrow night instead of me going over there. If that’s okay with your mudder.”
“It will be. Denke. I’ll do that.”
“You might as well bring Tulip with you and that will look more believable.”
That last part wasn’t a good idea. What if Jacob fancies Tulip before he gets to know me? I can’t risk it. “I can ask her. She might not come along.”
He shrugged. “Suit yourself. If you want to, you can come home with me tomorrow night from here. Unless you need to go home to pretty yourself up, or something—not that you need to.”
Rose giggled. “I’ll let Mrs. Walker know she won’t need to take me home tomorrow night.”
The rest of the day flew by and Rose couldn’t wait to get home so she could tell Tulip all about Jacob, the man her instincts told her she would marry one day.
* * *
Rose usually arrived home when everyone was preparing dinner and this night was no different. She walked into the kitchen, hoping to have a private moment with her mother to tell her that things were over with Mark. Her mother looked up when she walked into the room.
“There you are. Can you set the table?”
“Sure.”
The twins were chattering amongst themselves while Tulip was busy making dessert. Rose opened the cutlery drawer and pulled out knives and forks. “Can I talk with you for a quick moment in the lounge room, Mamm?”
Her mother swung around and looked at her. “Right now?”
“Jah.”
“Lily, you’re setting the table now.”
Lily scowled as Rose handed her the knives and forks.
When Rose and her mother sat down on the couch in the living room, her mother started the conversation. “Is everything all right, Rose?”
“Everything is fine, but Mark and I decided to end things. It’s regrettable, but that’s how things turned out in the end.” She placed her hands in her lap and tried to look a little forlorn.
Her mother leaned back and her eyebrows drew together. “Over before they even began?”
“Well, they began and then they ended.”
“The whole thing doesn’t seem believable, Rose.”
“Mark and I decided we are more suited to be friends than anything else. And we decided to remain just that—friends. It would’ve been a big mistake if we’d continued our relationship.”
“Well, that is disappointing. I really like Mark.”
“That’s not what you said yesterday.”
Her mother’s mouth contracted into a straight line. “What I said was that I’ve always liked Mark. I distinctly remember that.”
“It’s probably not what you said, but how you said it. I got the feeling you thought we weren’t suited.”
“It’s what you think that counts, Rose.”
“Is that what you truly believe, Mamm?”
“Of course, it is.”
“Gut because today, I met someone I really like. He’s someone who’s staying with Mark.” She twirled one of the strings of her prayer kapp between her fingers as visions of Jacob came into her mind.
“Who is it?”
“Mark’s cousin; his name is Jacob. He’s come here to learn to make buggies from Harry. I think he might only be here for a few weeks.”
“That is very awkward for you, Rose.”
“Why?”
“Because of Mark.”
“Not really.”
“They’re cousins.”
“Oh, I see what you mean. Mark and I are such good friends that Mark invited me over to dinner tomorrow night and, well, he said if that’s all right with you. It wouldn’t be right for him to come over for dinner because we aren’t a couple anymore and that’s why you invited Mark.”
“What you’re saying is instead of Mark coming here for dinner tomorrow night for your vadder and me to get to know him better, you’re having dinner at his place because you like his cousin and you’re no longer interested in Mark?”
Rose carefully considered what her mother said. “Jah.”
Her mother tipped her head to one side. “It all sounds very suspicious. Are you sure you’re telling me everything?”
“I’m not ke
eping anything from you, if that’s what you mean.” At that moment there was a loud crash in the kitchen.
“I hope that wasn’t the roast,” Rose’s mother called out to her daughters in the kitchen.
“It was just Tulip being clumsy again,” Lily called out, which caused an argument in the kitchen between the three girls.
“As long as you know what you’re doing, Rose.”
“I do. I really like Jacob.”
“But that’s the thing I don’t understand. You told me there was no one, and then suddenly there was Mark, and now Mark is finished then on the very same day Jacob appears.” Her mother wagged a finger at her. “I know I’m not getting the full story here.”
When the argument got louder, her mother stood up and headed to the kitchen. “We haven’t finished talking about this, Rose,” she said over her shoulder.
“That’s fine, but can I go to Mark’s for dinner tomorrow night? It’s all been arranged.”
“Okay, but I’ll have to ask your vadder first. I’m not going to bother him with it until after dinner.”
Rose was relieved. Even though her mother didn’t quite believe her, Rose was certain her father would allow her to go to dinner. That meant only twenty-four hours to wait before she could see Jacob again.
After dinner that night, Tulip lay across Rose’s bed on her stomach with her chin cupped in her palms while listening to Rose tell her again how handsome Jacob was.
“He’s so tall, and his eyes are like dark liquid amber. They are dark with amber flecks.”
“Brown eyes?” Tulip asked.
“Brown, but with flecks of gold. He looked at me, and I knew he felt something too. He even asked Mark about me. I heard him.”
“Where was Mark?”
Mark? Rose was reminded she still hadn’t gotten the full permission to go to dinner tomorrow night. She needed both her parents’ approval.
“I feel bad about telling Mamm that I was dating Mark. It was a stupid thing to do.”
“There’s no real harm done,” Tulip said.
Rose pouted. “It makes me feel bad.”
Amish Rose Page 4
