A Beautiful Arrangement

by Beth Wiseman

  “I told Lydia she should stay away from the woman.” Samuel was seeing his wife in a new light today. They’d held each other again the night before, and after all this time, they both seemed to be finding a comfort zone. Samuel wanted more from Lydia, but he’d learned not to push her. Rebuilding a marriage that had been based on emotional detachment and resentment would take time. Baby steps, he reminded himself.

  “It must be miserable to live the way she does, to be alone all your life.” Lydia gave Mattie a bottle as she worked in bites of her sandwich.

  Samuel’s mother cleared her throat. “Ya, she’s been alone for decades, but up until she was sixteen or seventeen, she had a family.”

  Lydia’s eyes widened. “Really? I wonder why mei parents never mentioned that.”

  This was news to Samuel, too, but he’d never really taken an interest in the old woman.

  His mother chuckled. “We’re quite a bit older than your parents, dear. They were probably young kinner when Margaret lived with her parents and only schweschder.”

  “She had a normal life?” Samuel scooted closer to Lydia from where he was sitting near the coffee table. He eased Mattie from her arms, along with the bottle, so his wife could eat. “That’s hard to imagine.”

  “And some folks say she’s got a bunch of money buried on that property.” Samuel’s father shook his head. “The haus probably needs to be torn down. Last time I drove by the old place, it was engulfed in vines and weeds, the windows were busted out, and it had clearly been abandoned for a long time. I only happened by it one day because it was storming. I took a back road to avoid an area that floods down by the railroad tracks.” Sighing, he shook his head. “That was a couple of years ago, and I’d forgotten Margaret used to live not far from the Troyers’ place.”

  Heavy dark lashes that shadowed Lydia’s cheeks flew up as her eyes widened. “I just assumed everything she owned was in the back of her truck. What else do you know about her?”

  Samuel wished he could think of a way to change the conversation. His wife—and Beverly—had an unhealthy curiosity about Margaret. Bless their hearts for wanting to help the woman, but some situations needed to be left alone. Lydia had taken running into Margaret as a sign from God. Samuel had taken it as a reminder from God to keep his family safe.

  His father set his empty plate on the coffee table and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “We used to see them at worship service every other Sunday. The maeds were identical twins. I never could tell them apart.”

  “And Margaret’s mudder was active in the community,” his mother said. “She attended Sister’s Day and was known for her baking abilities, which seemed to rise above the rest of ours.”

  Lydia’s mouth was agape.

  His mother sighed. “But after the girls’ parents were killed in an accident, things began to get odd. It didn’t happen all at once. First, they both quit going to church. Then they distanced themselves from everyone in the community. And over time, we saw less and less of both girls.” She turned to Samuel’s father. “Then we found out Margaret’s schweschder just up and disappeared one day, right, Herman? I don’t even remember her name.”

  His father nodded. “Ya, I believe so. It was a long time ago, but I believe that’s what happened.”

  Lydia hung her head. She hadn’t touched any of her sandwich since Samuel’s parents started talking about the old woman. “Margaret’s heart must have been broken when her parents died. Then when her schweschder left, she must have just stopped living her life.”

  Samuel’s father glanced at Samuel, frowning, then cast his eyes in Lydia’s direction. “I’m going to have to agree with Samuel. Margaret Keim should be left alone.” He waved a hand in the air. “Whatever her reasons for choosing to live the way she does, it’s not normal. I’d just let her be.”

  Samuel’s gaze drifted to Lydia, whose eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Samuel’s father had just provided her with a missing piece of the puzzle—Margaret’s last name.

  * * *

  On Wednesday, Lydia’s heart thumped wildly as she paid her driver and hurried up the steps to where Beverly was waiting. Lydia was meeting her at the library in Bedford, and they’d each had to hire drivers to get there.

  “Samuel highly discouraged this trip,” she told her new friend. “But I’m so eager to learn more about Margaret and how she ended up where she is.” Lydia bounced up on her toes. “And mei mamm was both available and happy to keep Mattie this afternoon.” She paused. “Even though she didn’t think this was a gut idea either.”

  “I’m so glad you learned Margaret’s last name and a bit more information about her. I just can’t accept that she’s a lost cause.” Beverly touched her arm, and her enthusiastic smile faded. “Do you know how to use the internet?”

  “Nee. But surely it can’t be that hard.” Lydia had begun to second-guess her motives as she wondered if they were somehow going against God in their pursuit to help Margaret. Either way, she couldn’t wait to get into the air-conditioned building, which added a layer of guilt.

  After they found the computers, it took about thirty minutes and brief instruction from the librarian to know how to do searches on Google. The older woman seemed confused about why two Amish women needed to use the computers, but she’d been willing to assist them when she’d learned why—a background check on someone they wanted to help. Even though the librarian didn’t know who Margaret Keim was, she seemed to respect their quest.

  “I’ll be over by the children’s books,” Joan, as she’d introduced herself, said. “The little ones don’t tend to put the books back where they belong. Just come find me if you need help.”

  Lydia and Margaret thanked her and then started navigating this new and interesting world.

  “I thought you could find anything you need on a computer.” Beverly was the one doing the typing, which was slow.

  “That’s what I’ve heard, but we’re not finding anything about Margaret Keim. And I wish we knew her sister’s name.”

  They tried searching all the ways Joan had suggested. Margaret Keim Montgomery Indiana. Margaret Keim Indiana. Margaret Keim birth announcement. Margaret Keim Montgomery Indiana birth record. After several other combinations, they still didn’t have a match.

  “Now that I think about it, if she was born Amish like Samuel’s parents told you she was, it’s unlikely there would be anything here.” Beverly stopped typing and leaned back in her chair. “They might have published a birth announcement in an Amish newspaper, but I don’t think our newspapers are archived that far back, if they’re even archived at all.”

  “And we don’t really know how far back to go. I should have asked Herman and Fannie how old they think Margaret is.” Lydia slouched in her chair also, drumming her fingers on the small table.

  Both women were quiet for a while. Lydia wasn’t sure what they’d do with any information they found anyway, but Beverly was as interested in Margaret’s background as she was. Growing up, Lydia had just accepted Margaret as she was, and she’d stayed away from her as told. But something had changed, and this new interest in Margaret Keim’s past was niggling at her to not give up.

  Lydia felt a ripple of hope as an idea came to mind. “Herman said Margaret’s old haus isn’t far from the Troyers’ place and that the last time he’d seen it, he’d taken a back road to avoid an area that floods. I know where the Troyers live. I wonder if we could find Margaret’s haus?”

  Beverly gasped. “Do you think we could?”

  Lydia looked at the clock on the computer. “Maybe. But I can’t go today. It’s almost two, and I told mei mamm I’d pick up Mattie by three. Mei driver will be back in about thirty minutes. What about Saturday?”

  Beverly shook her head as she grinned. “I can’t on Saturday. I have a date with Joseph.” She lowered her eyes for a few moments, then looked back at Lydia all dreamy-eyed. “We’re going to have another picnic since the last one was cut short.”

  Lydia recalled whe
n she’d been smitten with Samuel. As she tried to see through Beverly’s eyes, her own relationship came into view. For the first time since she’d married Samuel, the spark she’d felt for him initially had rekindled.

  “You really like Joseph, ya?” Lydia smiled as she wondered what it would be like to have a romantic picnic with Samuel, just the two of them flirting and kissing, without changing diapers or distractions.

  “Ya, I do. Like I told you, though, I’ve dated only one other person since Enos died, and it didn’t work out.” Beverly’s expression took on a faraway look. “He wasn’t the man I thought he was.” Pausing, she met Lydia’s eyes. “You’re so lucky to have such a gut marriage with Samuel. It’s so easy to see how much you love each other.”

  Lydia almost said That’s because we’re masters at faking it. But she just smiled. She liked Beverly and enjoyed having a friend who saw her and Samuel the way Lydia wished they were. Those who knew her well thought she and Samuel had settled into a good life, but they were still aware of how they’d started their marriage. So far, Beverly saw them as a happily married couple who had done things the right way and in the right order. She wasn’t ready to confess that she and Samuel had to close a distance they’d created a long time ago. At least, Lydia hoped Samuel’s goal was the same as hers.

  Maybe in time she would confide in Beverly. Their friendship was growing, and it would be nice to have someone to talk to about her marriage. But Lydia wasn’t ready to get off the pedestal Beverly had her and Samuel on just yet.

  “Joseph seems like a very nice person.” Lydia glanced at the clock on the computer again, knowing her outing would be coming to an end soon.

  “And he’s so handsome.” Beverly blinked her eyes a few times. “I never believed in love at first sight, but he might make a believer out of me.” She giggled softly. “And he’s so funny.”

  Lydia smiled. Beverly had stunning looks, and Lydia assumed she could probably have any man she wanted. But Joseph was the one stealing her heart. Lydia sensed a warm glow inside as she listened to Beverly. It gave her hope about her and Samuel.

  They decided to meet at Lydia’s house a week from today, then take a ride down by the Troyers’ place.

  “I hope your date with Joseph goes well Saturday,” Lydia said as they stood outside the library waiting for their drivers.

  Beverly hugged Lydia. “Danki so much for introducing us.”

  Lydia wished she and Samuel would be accompanying them on another picnic. But Joseph and Beverly obviously wanted to spend some time alone. Maybe there was some way for her and Samuel to have a date with just the two of them.

  For now, though, she prayed Joseph and Beverly’s time together would go well.

  * * *

  Joseph held the fence post steady while his father poured cement around the wooden pole. It was the last thing he felt like doing after working all day at the furniture store, but Joseph’s only brother, John, had broken his ankle and wasn’t much help with anything at the moment. His three sisters helped his mother prepare the meals, take care of the laundry, and all the other stuff girls were supposed to do.

  “I’ll be glad when fall gets here.” His father tipped the wheelbarrow level again and took a handkerchief from his tool belt. After he took off his hat, he cleared the pooling sweat from his forehead.

  “Ya, me too.” Joseph removed his own hat and emptied what was left of his ice water on his head.

  “We can probably get one more post in the ground before your mamm calls us. I asked her to serve supper a little later than usual, so we’d have more time to work on this fence.”

  Joseph grumbled in protest as he put his hat back on and they moved to the next spot. He didn’t care if his old work hat got wet.

  The north segment of the fence had needed repair ever since they moved in two months ago, but they’d had to make other repairs before tackling it. Joseph, John, and his father had already replaced leaking water lines that ran to the troughs, repaired a section of the barn that was about to collapse, and cared for a host of other jobs inside the house. Joseph would be glad when his brother had recovered enough to work again.

  “Your mamm said you’re seeing someone, a girl from a neighboring district.” His father stirred the liquid cement before he tipped the wheelbarrow.

  Joseph held firmly to the post. “Ya. Her name is Beverly.”

  Normally, Joseph wouldn’t discuss his love life—or lack thereof—with his parents, but he wanted to scream to the world that he was courting Beverly Schrock.

  “We’re going on a picnic tomorrow.” Joseph blinked as sweat trailed from his forehead and into his eyes.

  “I’d consider taking the woman to a restaurant to avoid this heat.” His father set the wheelbarrow level again and reached for his glass of water on a nearby tree stump.

  Joseph should have thought about that. It was supposed to be a lot hotter tomorrow than it was last Saturday. “Maybe I’ll see if she’d like to go eat somewhere.”

  “Keep in mind it’s Labor Day weekend. There’ll be visiting kinfolk arriving and tourists filling the restaurants.” His father chuckled. “And there aren’t many to fill.”

  Joseph removed his hat again and scratched his still-damp head. “Ya, you’re right.” He wanted to be alone with Beverly as opposed to being in a crowded restaurant, but the heat would be brutal even in the late afternoon.

  After the post was upright and secure, his father collapsed into one of the two lawn chairs they’d brought out to the pasture. “Tell me about this maedel.”

  Joseph sat down in the other chair and smiled.

  “She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, for starters.” He loved to talk about Beverly. He was sure Samuel was sick of hearing about her since that’s all Joseph talked about at work. “She lives on her own and works at a bakery part-time. Her husband passed about a year ago.”

  His father hung his head. “Ach, that’s tough.”

  “Ya, but she doesn’t seem to dwell on it. I know she will soon, but she hasn’t even talked to me about him yet. I’m sure she loved him, but she laughs and smiles a lot. And she’s good with kinner.”

  His father chuckled. “Kinda like you. You laugh and smile a lot, and kinner always take to you.”

  “Ya, I guess so.” Joseph shook his head, grinning. “But other than that, I ain’t got a clue what she sees in me. Seems she could date anyone she wanted.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short, sohn. You’ve got a lot to offer a gut woman.”

  “Like what, so I can point these things out to her?”

  His father laughed. “Maybe be subtle about it, but you’re a hard worker, you never miss an opportunity to help a neighbor, and you have a gut heart. Those are all things women like in a man.”

  Joseph took both their empty glasses to the pump near the barn. After he returned and handed his father a full glass, he sat down again. “Do you think there’s such a thing as love at first sight? Because I’m sure I saw stars the first time I set eyes on Beverly.” He chuckled. “And I’m pretty sure the earth shifts beneath mei feet when I’m around her.” Putting a fist to his chest, he said, “She makes mei heart beat faster too.”

  “There’s nothing like being in lieb. I felt that way the first time I saw your mudder. She was with a group of girls at a Sunday singing. I knew I’d marry her.” His father smiled. “Sometimes you just know. Be yourself, sohn, and you’ll be fine.” He stood and stirred the cement again.

  Break over. Joseph lifted himself from the chair and picked up one end of another post, then steadied it into the ground. As they worked, he silently prayed, asking God to help him not mess up his chances with Beverly. He wasn’t going to change who he was, but he sure did want her to love the man he believed himself to be. This was the first woman he truly believed could shatter his heart if their relationship didn’t work out.

  Chapter 9

  Beverly awoke, startled, and sat up in bed. Her battery-operated clock said it was after
two a.m. It had been a long time since she’d had a dream about Enos. She reached over and touched her husband’s side of the bed, remembering how long she’d refused to wash the sheets or launder his dirty clothes after he died—anything that had his scent on it. She’d been furious with her mother for taking it upon herself to wash the sheets and clothes when Beverly was out. She’d been so broken then.

  But for the first time since she and Chriss had broken up, she’d let hope slip back into her life. She wasn’t going to allow a dream to affect her picnic with Joseph today.

  As she lay back down and closed her eyes, the dream replayed in her mind, even though she willed herself to forget it. Enos was scolding her, telling her she wasn’t being fair to Joseph by keeping secrets from him, much the same thing her sister had said lately. She really liked Joseph, though, and he seemed to really like her. Maybe he could even love her, so that by the time she told him the truth, it wouldn’t matter.

  She’d loved her husband, but didn’t she deserve happiness again? She pictured Joseph’s face as she recalled his gentle kiss on her cheek. People had often told her she was a joyous person to be around. She believed that was true, with the exception of her grief when Enos died. As much as she’d loved him, though, she’d always wanted him to smile more. Joseph couldn’t seem to stop smiling. Yes, words seemed to slip off his tongue without him thinking about what he was saying, sometimes to his detriment, but even when his face turned red from embarrassment, Beverly thought he was adorable. He made her insides feel warm. And safe. Something about Joseph felt safe.

  As she rolled onto her side, she tried to picture another man lying where Enos had slept for two years. She couldn’t. At least, not yet.

  She breathed in the scent of nightfall, a dewy aroma floating in on a warm summer breeze. In not so many hours, she’d meet Joseph for another picnic. They’d have more time alone.

  Her thoughts circled back to their interruption at the last picnic. She was looking forward to seeing Lydia again, along with their trip to find Margaret’s house. Redemption came in many forms. Perhaps helping Margaret was God giving her an opportunity to do something good. Maybe that would make up for not being truthful with her new friends.