“So you’re not going anywhere with him tomorrow afternoon?”
“I don’t know.”
“It seems complicated. Tell me again what happened?”
“Haven’t you been listening?”
“Jah, but I’m tired. Tell me again.”
“That was when Mark had the accident with the coffee. I need you to do me a huge favor on Sunday.”
Tulip leaned forward. “What is it?”
“I’ll introduce you to Jacob and I want you to get friendly with him and then maybe mention that the four of us might go somewhere together.”
“The four of us? Meaning you, me, him, and Mark?”
“Exactly! That way, I’ll get to spend time with him and it won’t look like I’ve asked him.”
Tulip pouted. “Nee, it won’t look like you’ve asked him because I would’ve asked him. That’s not what I’d normally do.”
“Well, will you do it? Do it for me?” Rose put her hands together and pouted, trying to make her sister feel sorry for her.
Tulip smiled. “Okay. I’ll do it if you want me to, but only if you’ll do the same for me one day, or something similar if I need you to.”
Rose nodded. “Jah. We have a deal. Gut! When we’re all together, just the four of us, you keep Mark talking and right out of the way so I can have time with Jacob.”
Tulip giggled. “I hope that will work.”
“There’s no reason why it won’t.”
“Shall we have a cup of hot tea?”
Rose shook her head. “Nee. I had an early start this morning. I’ll go to bed.”
“And think about Jacob?”
“It’s been hard not to think about him. I can’t keep him out of my mind. I only hope that he feels the same.”
“He does. I’m sure of it.”
“I hope so.”
Rose switched off the main overhead gaslight and carried a small lantern up the stairs to light their way. Then each girl went to her own room.
After she’d pushed her bedroom door open with her foot, Rose placed the lantern on her dresser and got ready for bed. She hoped that everything would turn out as she planned.
Once she was between the sheets, she imagined what it might be like to be married to Jacob and have children with him. Just like the twins often said, she too would like three sets of twins so there would only be three childbirths. The children would all have the golden flecks in their eyes, as Jacob and she shared that in common. Would Jacob be happy to stay on in this small community? Or would he go home in a few weeks? If he wanted to go back home, Rose would go with him if he asked her.
Once she was married with her own home, everyone would stop looking over her shoulder and trying to run her life. She’d be happy and independent. Rose drifted sweetly off to sleep while imagining she was married to Jacob, living in a clean, tidy house with their three adorable sets of twins. Life would be perfect.
Chapter 11
Rose was up early on Sunday morning, making sure she looked her best for Jacob. Still, she was the last one down to the kitchen.
“Quick! You better hurry,” Tulip said as she rinsed out a few dishes at the sink.
“I’m ready.”
“You haven’t eaten yet,” her mother said.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You’ll need something in your stomach,” her mother protested. She was always trying to force as much food into her children as she could.
Rose reached forward and grabbed an apple from the bowl in the center of the table. “I’ll have one of these,” she said before she bit into it.
“At least that’s something, I suppose,” her mother said.
“I’ll eat after the meeting. There’s always so much food.”
“Don’t look too hungry when you eat. I don’t want people to think we aren’t feeding you enough or that you wait for after the meetings to have a decent feed.”
“No one’s going to think that. Everyone knows we get fed.”
“You’re thin because you don’t eat enough, and there’s nothing natural about that. I don’t think men like women who are too skinny. You should keep that in mind. Men like women to have meat on their bones. And if you had more padding you wouldn’t look so tall. Men like women to be shorter than them.”
“Jah, Mamm.” Rose wondered how her mother knew so much about what men liked, since Mamm had married young, and Dat had been her only boyfriend.
Her mother looked out the window. “Quick, your vadder has the buggy hitched. Come on, all of you. Now!”
Rose wore her grape-colored dress in the hopes that Jacob would like it. She got compliments when she wore it from girls her age.
* * *
They arrived at the Fullers’ haus where the fortnightly Sunday meeting was being held. The twins hurried off to meet their friends while Tulip and Rose walked more slowly behind them.
“Don’t forget what I said to do,” Rose said.
“I remember. You’ll introduce me to Jacob, then I’ll get to talking to him and suggest the four of us go somewhere, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Got it. Do you think this will work?”
“I’m hoping so.”
“You look pretty today, Rose. What have you done to yourself?”
“It’s the fresh bloom of love.”
Tulip giggled. “Well, if you could bottle that, we could sell it at the markets.”
The two girls giggled again. Rose caught sight of Jacob heading into the house, and caught Tulip’s arm. “That’s him.”
Tulip stood on her tiptoes. “I can’t see anyone.”
“That’s because he’s just now gone into the haus.”
“Let’s sit down at the back, and then you can point him out to me.”
“Good idea, but you’ll know him when you see him. He’ll probably be the only stranger in the meeting.”
“I like sitting at the back anyway, then I can watch everyone.”
As soon as Rose walked into the house, Jacob was right there, smiling at her. She smiled back as she walked past him with Tulip beside her.
“Was that him?” Tulip whispered.
“Jah. What do you think?”
“He looks very nice. Isn’t he too old for you?”
“Nee, of course not.”
They slid into the back row.
“I’ve always seen you, in my mind, with someone more like Mark,” Tulip said.
Rose’s jaw fell open. “Don’t be ridiculous! Mark is just a friend. I wouldn’t marry a friend!”
“It’d be better than marrying an enemy.”
Rose whispered back, “I’m not going to do either. The person I’m going to marry is sitting right there in the second row from the front.”
“That’s where Mark’s sitting.”
“That’s also where Jacob’s sitting and he’s the one I’m going to marry. Don’t be annoying.”
“I’m just sayin’ the truth of what I feel.”
“It’s what I feel that’s important because it’s my life.”
“Okay.”
Rose whispered, “Don’t start getting to be like Mamm.”
Tulip dug her sister in the ribs. “I’m not like Mamm.”
“Well don’t speak like her.”
Tulip nodded. “I’ll help you in any way that I can.”
Rose looked at her sister and gave her a big smile. “Denke.”
The girls’ father stood and opened the meeting in prayer, and then Joseph Oleff sang a song in High German. When Joseph was finished, the bishop stood and began his sermon.
Rose always liked to hear what the bishop had to say. He usually told stories about real life situations, and then drew similarities from the stories in the Bible.
Rose’s mother was one of the women who got up during the last ten minutes of the service to set out the food. There was always a big meal served after the meeting, and the other ladies yielded to Mamm as the organizer. Since Sunday was a day of res
t, no one worked except to do the jobs that were necessities, such as feeding animals and the like, and the food for Sunday’s meals was prepared the day before.
Chapter 12
Rose was clever enough to arrange things so that the twins were helping their mother with the food after the meeting. And that left Rose and Tulip free to socialize, and talk with Jacob.
After the meeting had come to an end, people had walked out of the house into the yard where the food and refreshment tables were.
Rose whispered to Tulip, “Let’s go up to the drinks table and get a soda. And then, we’ll just wait there and hope Jacob comes over.”
The two girls got a soda each and stayed back from the table while they talked to one another. It wasn’t long before Jacob approached them and Rose introduced Jacob to Tulip.
“How long are you staying here for, Jacob?” asked Tulip.
“I’ll be here for quite a few weeks. I’m staying with Mark’s familye.”
“Do you know many people here in the community?” Tulip asked.
“Nee, I don’t.”
Rose stared at Tulip. This was the perfect time for her to say what they’d planned.
“The four of us should do something some time. The three of us and Mark.”
“What a good idea,” Rose commented as though she was hearing it for the first time.
“Okay, what do you think we should do?” Jacob asked with a smile.
Tulip answered, “I’m not sure. We could go on a picnic or something.”
“Why don’t we do it this afternoon?” Jacob asked, now turning to Rose. “Are you free later today, Rose?”
“Jah, I am. I guess we could do that.” While she was talking, she saw Mark walking to them.
Tulip saw him too. “Mark, we’re planning on doing something this afternoon. Can you join us?”
Rose couldn’t help smiling as she listened and watched her brilliant plan unfold.
“Unless you had some other plans, Mark?” Jacob asked.
“Why don’t we have a picnic?” Mark asked the girls, ignoring Jacob.
“A picnic sounds like a good idea,” Tulip said. “That’s what we were just talking about. I think it was my idea first.”
Mark laughed and was just about to say something when Jacob interrupted him.
“How about we collect you girls at, say, around two o’clock this afternoon?” Jacob asked.
Tulip and Rose nodded.
“That suits us,” Rose said.
“You don’t want to stay on for the singing?” Mark asked.
“You can stay,” Jacob said. “If I can borrow your buggy, I’ll go on a picnic with the girls by myself.”
“Nee, you won’t. I’ll go too. We’ll collect you girls at two.”
“We’ll be ready,” Tulip said. “So shall we bring the food?”
“We can bring the drink and the dessert if you girls can make some sandwiches,” Mark suggested.
“We can do that,” Rose said.
“Good. We’ll see you at two.”
Rose knew she’d have to do some careful negotiations with her parents. Of a Sunday, Rose normally took her parents home and then went back for the young people’s singing where she would drive the twins and Tulip back home.
Rose found her father and considered he’d be the easiest to talk with first. “Dat, Tulip and I would like to go on a picnic with Mark and Jacob this afternoon at two. Do you mind if you collect the twins from the singing just this once?”
He rubbed his graying beard. “Have you asked your mudder?”
“Nee, I’m asking you first. Please don’t say that I can if it’s all right with her.”
One dark eyebrow rose just slightly. “How did you know I was going to say that?”
Rose grunted. “Really?”
His mouth turned upward at the corners. “That’s what I was going to say. I don’t think she’ll mind.” He nodded his head. “There she is. Ask her.”
She glanced where he’d pointed his head and saw her, and then said to her father, “So, if it’s okay with her, I can go? You don’t have a problem with it?”
“Nee. If it’s okay with Mamm, it’s okay with me. Just don’t be late home.”
“I don’t know what time we’ll be back. What if we want to go to dinner somewhere afterward?”
“Don’t be later than eight thirty.”
“Okay. I won’t. I mean, we won’t. Tulip’s coming too.”
“Very good.”
Rose hurried over to her mother. To her surprise, her mother didn’t seem to mind in the least. Either that, or she wanted to appear trusting of her daughter to those who’d overheard Rose’s request.
Everything was falling neatly into place. Rose hurried to tell Tulip the good news.
By the time Rose, Tulip, and their parents got home, the girls only had an hour before Mark and Jacob were due to collect them. Rose sat on her bed while Tulip tried to calm her.
“Why have you gotten so nervous all of a sudden?”
“Because I really like him.”
“He likes you too or he wouldn’t have agreed to go on the picnic.”
Rose rubbed her forehead. “Do you think so?”
“Jah, I know it. Now, are you going to stay in that dress?”
Rose looked down. “Do you think I should change it? I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard. There is no reason to change the dress. It’s not dirty or anything.”
“You’re making me nervous the way you keep chewing your fingernails. Stop it!”
Rose placed her hands in her lap.
“A cup of hot tea will soothe your nerves,” Tulip said.
“Okay, but wait until Mamm and Dat leave to go visiting. It shouldn’t be too long now. And we have to make those sandwiches, which I nearly forgot about.”
Tulip giggled. “Me too. Anyway, that won’t take long. I’ll go down and put the teakettle on and find out how long it’ll be before Mamm and Dat leave. Then, I’ll see what we have to put on those sandwiches.” Tulip stood and headed for the door.
“Don’t make it obvious, or they’ll think we’re up to something,” Rose whispered.
“Nee. They already know we’re going on a picnic.” Tulip left the room before Rose could say anything further.
Rose was pleased she wasn’t nervous when she was with Jacob. It was only when she thought about him that she felt anxious. Her mother had told her whenever she felt like her head would explode, to take long deep breaths. She breathed in for ten counts and then out for ten counts. When she was on the third lot of repetitions, Tulip appeared before her and gave her a fright.
“They’re leaving now.” Tulip headed over to the window and looked down. “Dat’s at the buggy and here comes Mamm right now. Now she’s getting in.”
Rose got off the bed and joined her sister at the window. “Do you think a hot tea will work? My stomach feels like a bundle of butterflies trying to escape.”
“Jah, I’m sure it will. Come on.” Tulip walked down the steps and Rose followed closely behind her.
As they sat drinking tea, Rose made a plan. “You keep Mark occupied and Jacob and I will go for a walk.”
“How’s that going to happen? Will you do that in the middle or the beginning or at the end of the picnic?”
“It’ll have to be at the right time and I don’t know when that’ll be until it happens.”
“Should we have a signal word, or something?” Tulip asked.
Rose pursed her lips. “Nee. We won’t need anything like that. You won’t need to instigate anything. When Jacob and I go for a walk, all you have to do is keep Mark talking and keep him away from us. The worst thing would be if he wants to go for a walk as well and he gets in the way. Do you know what I mean?”
“Ah, I see. I can do that.” Tulip nodded.
“Good.” Rose was so determined that nothing go wrong that while Tulip made the sandwiches, she carefully tutored her on what to do and say in every scenario that c
ould possibly take place that afternoon.
When the girls heard a buggy, Tulip looked out the kitchen window. “It’s them.”
Rose jumped to her feet. “How do I look?”
Tulip looked her up and down. “Wunderbaar.”
“Really? Or are you just saying that because you’re my schweschder and you have to be nice?”
“You really do look good. Are you ready? We should go out and meet them rather than them come to the door. If they came to the door we’d have to ask them in and that wouldn’t be allowed.” Tulip bundled the wrapped sandwiches into a picnic basket and buckled it shut.
“I’m ready.” Rose licked her lips. She was so nervous that her mouth was dry already.
“Do you want to carry the basket?”
“Nee, you do it,” Rose said.
“Okay.”
The men were out of the buggy already when Rose closed the front door behind her. Jacob was smiling so much that Rose found it hard to keep her eyes from him.
“Sit in the back with me, Rose,” he called out. “Tulip can go in the front seat with Mark.”
Rose was only too happy to sit close to him on the backseat. As they traveled to the park, Mark made certain that he was not left out of Rose and Jacob’s conversation. That didn’t bother Rose so much, as long as she could have some private time with Jacob later.
“This looks like a nice place to picnic,” Mark said as he stopped the buggy at one end of the park.
“Looks good to me,” said Tulip.
“Did you bring something to sit on, Mark? I totally forgot about that,” Rose said.
“There should be a blanket in the back there just behind the seat.”
Jacob reached behind them and found a blanket. “Got it,” he said.
Rose hadn’t needed to plan so intensely because after they’d finished eating, Tulip got Mark talking and then Jacob sprang to his feet and suggested Rose go for a walk with him. Jacob had done it in such a way that Mark couldn’t have done a thing about it if he’d wanted to. It also helped that Tulip was distracting him by talking quickly and barely drawing a breath.
As they started on their walk alone, Jacob said, “Those were lovely sandwiches, Rose. Did you make them?”
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