by Molly Jebber
“She likes to clap her hands to make noise.” Maryann kissed Betsy’s cheek.
“She’s beautiful, and she mirrors you.” Lena gazed at them. “I’d like to have a couple of girls in the future. Don’t get me wrong. I love the boys. They took to me right away. It may have been because I lightened their load of work by cooking meals and doing their laundry. I go over each day and do chores for them. I love being a part of their lives. It gave me a chance to get to know them. Andrew told James you’ll be moving to Millersburg after the wedding. Consider me a friend, and I’ll be glad to help you with whatever you need.”
Maryann embraced Lena. “I’ll be more comfortable with the transition to Millersburg, having made a friend. Danki, Lena. When is your wedding?”
“Our wedding will be June first. I’ve been stitching shirts for the boys and James, and I’m making a wedding quilt for us. I didn’t want to rush, and there are three other weddings kumming up in the next couple of weeks. I’m helping those brides, and I wanted to give them my full attention and not squeeze our wedding in there.”
“You’re a busy woman. They are blessed to have you for a friend. This way, you’ll enjoy your wedding when June first arrives.”
She and Lena, alongside Aunt Dora, greeted more guests offering their condolences to the family. She appreciated Lena staying to help them, and she was glad Betsy had taken to Lena. The woman glowed, having Betsy in her arms. She said a silent prayer to God that Lena and James would have some girls in their future. She regretted not meeting Luke. His friends had nothing but favorable remarks about him. They shared precious memories and made her remorseful for having not had time to get acquainted with him.
The bishop raised his hands. “Please take your seats. It’s time for the service to begin.” He waited for them to sit and then he offered a prayer to God.
Maryann sat with Betsy on her lap, blinking back tears. It wasn’t long ago she’d sat on a similar bench and listened to her Bishop Fisher in Charm give Mamm’s service. She offered a prayer for Andrew’s family.
* * *
Andrew sat and scanned the sea of black hats and bonnets surrounding him on the benches filling the living room. He gazed over at the open pine box with Uncle Luke’s shell of a body inside. He pictured his uncle running free in Heaven, wearing a big smile.
Bishop Detweiler spoke about his uncle and then about how short our life on earth was and that finding eternity in our forever home was in Heaven. His uncle had set a good example for him in every way. He had no doubt Uncle Luke would’ve been glad to know he and Maryann would enjoy a fulfilling and happy marriage supporting and encouraging each other the rest of their days.
The bishop shared Bible verses and spoke on life in Heaven for the rest of his message. Two hours later, he closed his Bible. “Let us bow our heads.” He then offered another prayer to God. “Please now go to your buggies, and we’ll proceed to the burial grounds located about a mile down the road on the left.”
Andrew drove Gabe, Aunt Dora, Maryann, and Betsy to the cemetery.
Aunt Dora twisted a handkerchief in her hands. “I’m thankful you are all here with me.”
Betsy patted Aunt Dora’s cheek.
Aunt Dora took her hand and kissed it. “Especially this little one.”
Andrew parked the buggy, and they walked to where the men had dug the hole for Uncle Luke’s coffin. He stood on one side of Aunt Dora at the burial site and Gabe on the other as Bishop Detweiler said his final words. He stared at the pine box and then at the deep hole as four men lowered the box into the ground. He glanced at the gray clouds overhead and then at Aunt Dora. His sad mood and hers seemed to match the gloomy weather and slight coolness in the air.
Aunt Dora gave him a weak smile and pointed to the sky. “He’s above with our Heavenly Father. The bones in the box aren’t him anymore.”
Andrew was grateful to God He’d given his aunt peace for today. Her face was dry of tears, and she knew her husband had been ready to meet God for some time now. He’d known it, too. “We’ve got our memories.”
“Yes, we do. It’s all I need until I join him when my time kummes.” Aunt Dora rested her head on his shoulder. “I doubt the ache of him being gone will ever leave, but I do have the assurance he’s with God.”
The bishop offered a prayer and dismissed them.
Andrew drove them home, and some of their friends followed.
Dora and Maryann served guests, and then the last one left. He and the family filled their plates with food and enjoyed a light supper.
Andrew grinned at Betsy while he ate with his family. The little one entertained them with her cute smiles, attempts to talk, and learning to use her spoon instead of her fingers as they reminisced about Uncle Luke.
Maryann finished her last bite of food and stood. She carried her dishes to the sink and brought back a damp cloth to clean up Betsy. “I’ll take care of the kitchen.”
Andrew carried his plate to the sink. “Maryann, I’ll help you do the dishes.” He glanced at his bruder and aunt. “Do you mind watching Betsy? She loves to play with her blocks. We’ll join you in the living room as soon as we’re finished.”
Gabe lifted Betsy. “Kumme on, my sweet girl. I’ll help you build a haus with your blocks.” He swooped Betsy up and tickled her tummy.
She giggled.
Andrew noticed a faint smile on his aunt’s lips as they headed for the living room. He and Maryann cleaned the dishes, put them away, and wiped off the table. They went to the living room, where Betsy was asleep on her blanket and his aunt had nodded off but woke up as they approached her.
Aunt Dora picked up the tattered quilt Uncle Luke had used to keep warm in his favorite chair. “If you all don’t mind, I’ll retire to bed.”
“You go right ahead.” Andrew sat in the rocker.
Maryann lifted a sleeping Betsy. “She’s enjoyed your Aunt Dora, Lena, and friends.”
Andrew approached them and stroked Betsy’s cheek. “She’s a happy child. She brings joy to many people.”
Gabe sat across from him. “She loves me best.”
They laughed.
“I’ll put her to bed and return.” Maryann carried her out of the room.
Gabe said, “Maryann fits right in. It’s like she and Betsy have lived here all along. You picked a good woman. I’d like to find one like her.”
“You will.”
“Uncle Luke made Aunt Dora happy. I’d like to support my fraa like he did.”
“Me too.” Andrew sighed. “He had more patience with Englischers than Daed. I was there a time or two when he chided Daed for being curt with them. Uncle Luke had more patience than any man I know.” Andrew rolled his tired shoulders back. “He had a lot of Englisch friends who bought furniture from him.”
“The store provides quality furniture. Honest and a great conversationalist, Uncle Luke didn’t discriminate. He liked everybody.” Gabe chuckled. “I remember Daed telling him he shouldn’t be so open with the Englischers, and he told Daed he should be more receptive to them. Daed changed the subject to planting corn.”
“They were blessed to have each other, and we are too.” Andrew slapped his bruder’s knee.
“I agree. I’m sorry I robbed us of time.”
“Let’s leave the past in the past. We’re making new memories and holding on to the good ones.” Andrew closed his eyes for a moment. “Daed used to say, ‘Yesterday is gone, concentrate on today.’”
“I remember.” Gabe straightened in his seat. “An idea occurred to me earlier today.”
“What?”
“What was keeping you in this town has changed. You wouldn’t have to stay in Millersburg. You, Maryann, and Betsy can stay in Charm. You’ve grown roots in Charm, and Maryann would be thrilled to stay there. You can open a store there. When I was in town, there was a For Sale sign in the window of Mr. Kline’s furniture store. I forgot to mention it to you.”
Andrew stood and paced. “I do love Charm. If Mr. Kl
ine would sell his shop to me, I would be content with the space.” He stopped and wrinkled his nose. “But what about you and Aunt Dora? The store?” Andrew blinked and blinked again. What a wonderful idea if it could work. Maryann would be pleased, and they could be a part of her family’s lives. Gabe could take care of Dora.
Gabe motioned for Andrew to sit. “We’ll make the drive now and then to stay with you. Little Betsy stole my heart. I’ve got to visit her once in a while. Aunt Dora will kumme with me. I would enjoy taking over the store.”
“I could offer Toby a job at the store. He loves handcrafting.” Andrew’s heart raced.
“Toby has a heavy load to carry with his daed being sick. Their farm is small, and he and Rachael are responsible for their monetary needs. He told me you asked Liza and Jacob to hire him, and he was grateful, but I’m sure he’d rather work with you. He’s excited about building things. I sensed he was sad he wouldn’t have time to do it anymore, once your place sold. He enjoyed it more with you there.”
“This could work. Toby would be doing me a favor if he ran the farm and worked in the shop part-time. Having a friendship with him makes him a good choice. I don’t have to find a stranger who might not work out.” He raked fingers through his hair. “I hope Toby hasn’t sold my haus in the last couple of days. It’s got plenty of room for Maryann and me to raise a family, and for you and Aunt Dora to stay with us when you visit.”
Maryann strode into the room. “What’s this about keeping your haus?”
Andrew recounted their conversation. “What are your thoughts?” He was grateful she was with him and they could have this conversation face-to-face and not through letters.
“I’d be thrilled. I’d have my job at the bakery, my friends, and my family. What about Aunt Dora?” Maryann winced.
Gabe smiled. “We can visit, and you can kumme to Millersburg. Aunt Dora would want you and Andrew to live where you’ll be happy. If Uncle Luke could yell down from Heaven right this minute, he’d tell you to go to Charm.”
Gabe was right. Uncle Luke would tell him to do what was best for him and Maryann and Betsy. “The more we talk about it, the more I’d like to go through with this plan.” He’d miss Gabe. They’d just reunited, and he’d looked forward to being close again. Having him home, he realized time hadn’t destroyed their close relationship. He did miss Maryann’s family, and he loved the town and his friends in Charm. It would be the right decision.
“I’ll do whatever you want to do.” Maryann studied him.
He gazed at her. Her eyes were hopeful and excited.
“I’ll take you home, and I’ll talk to Mr. Kline. Let’s pray and ask for God’s guidance. He’ll open doors for us if it’s meant we’re to live in Charm.”
“Gabe, you’re a good bruder to suggest this. I appreciate you putting our happiness before yours. I’m sure you were looking forward to spending more time with Andrew.” She shifted her gaze to Andrew. “Your openness to this change is admirable. You could stay with your family, but you’re choosing to make Betsy and me happy. I can’t thank you enough.” She locked gazes with him for a moment.
“I’m being a little selfish. Our haus is waiting for us, if Toby hasn’t sold it. I could have a store there, and I’m close to your family and friends. It’s not a hardship for me to return. I love Charm. More importantly, I love you and Betsy. Let’s pray it works.” He gave her a warm smile. “You should get to sleep. We’ve got to get you and Betsy home tomorrow, and I have stops to make before I leave Charm to kumme back to Millersburg.”
Maryann nodded. “Good night, gentlemen.” She padded down the hall.
“Gabe, danki. It’s generous of you to offer to take over the store and watch after Aunt Dora.”
“I pray Mr. Kline sells you his store. Maryann’s eyes had hope in them, and her smile widened when you told her. She’s being a supportive partner, but her heart is really in Charm.”
“I’m excited about it. I’ll meet with Toby and then Mr. Kline tomorrow.”
“The space next to his, which looks larger, is for sale, too. You should expand and buy both.”
“Great idea. Again, danki.” Andrew bid him good night and went to his room, his mind whirling with all the things he had to do in Charm. He shouldn’t have mentioned the idea to Maryann until he had more information about his haus and store. He hoped he wouldn’t have to disappoint her.
Chapter Thirteen
Early Thursday morning at breakfast, Andrew told Dora his plan.
She touched his hand. “I want for you to have the strong marriage your uncle and I had, whether it be in Millersburg or Charm or wherever. You have my blessing. The door is always open for you, Maryann, and Betsy, in our home.”
Gabe smiled. “You still have me.”
“I love spoiling you, and I’m thrilled you’re here.” Aunt Dora managed a weak smile and then it faded. “I’m not myself. You’ll have to excuse me. It’s going to take time to adjust to Luke not being with me. I miss him so much I ache inside.”
Maryann bounced Betsy on her hip. “We understand. I remember Mamm each day.”
“My parents pop in my mind often. Memories are a gift to hang on to.” Andrew gave her a loving smile.
Gabe nodded.
“We should get going. I’d like to talk to Mr. Kline and Toby before I return.” Andrew stood.
“Stay as long as you need.” Gabe cupped a hand on his shoulder.
“I packed our things. I’ll grab our bag.” Maryann carried Betsy to the room they’d been staying in, and then returned with her dochder and her bag.
Andrew took the bag from her and slung it over his shoulder. He and Maryann bid his family goodbye and got in his buggy.
Betsy clutched her doll and babbled to it.
Andrew drove toward Charm. “Uncle’s funeral brought friends and family together, and you had the opportunity to meet them. A sad occasion where good things happened. I wish I could erase Aunt Dora’s pain. It’s hard to watch loved ones grieve. You and I have firsthand experience. The pain eases, but it never fully goes away.”
“No. I shed tears at moments of remembering Mamm’s hugs, finding something she made for me, or the fun we had making cookies and laughing at the mess we made. How tired we were after cleaning it up. Funerals do bring loved ones and friends together to share special memories. It adds a sprinkle of happiness to the sorrowful day.”
“Aunt Dora is holding up well. I didn’t want to tell her our possible change in plans today, but I thought it best to prepare her.” He’d been blessed to make close friends in both Millersburg and Charm. He’d prayed early this morning that God would open doors for them in Charm if it was meant for them to stay there.
Betsy wiggled on Maryann’s lap and fussed, and then she fell asleep.
“Your aunt is one of the kindest women I’ve met. I am confident we could get along fine until we found a haus, if Millersburg is where we make our home. I enjoyed meeting your friends. I really like Lena. She told me her wedding date is June first.”
“They must’ve just set the date. Good for them. We’ll kumme to their wedding.”
“I’d love to. I plan to write letters to her if we stay in Charm.”
“We’ll have to schedule visits so we don’t get busy and neglect Gabe and Dora and our friends.” Andrew was glad their wedding and James’s would bring his family and friends together again.
* * *
Close to three hours later, Andrew pulled the buggy in front of Maryann’s haus, and they went inside.
Maryann yawned.
Shem got out of his chair. “This haus was too quiet with my girls gone. Greetings, Andrew.”
Betsy held her arms out to Shem. “Pop! Pop!”
“Someone missed you!” Maryann grinned and passed her to Shem.
Andrew sat and told Maryann’s daed his plan.
“I want what is best for your family, but I would be delighted if you choose to stay in Charm. This is wonderful news.”
“It’s not a done deal. I have to speak with Mr. Kline first.” Should he have waited until after he spoke with Mr. Kline to tell Shem what he had planned? The man’s eagerness and relief were evident on his face.
He stayed and chatted with Shem, Maryann, and held Betsy another hour. “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll talk with Mr. Kline first and then Toby.”
He bid them farewell and drove to Mr. Kline’s furniture store. He went inside and greeted Mr. Kline. “Do you have a couple of minutes to discuss the sale of your store?”
Mr. Kline gestured to a young man standing next to him. “This is Kenneth Smithers. He’s agreed to work for me part-time until I sell the store. He’ll be moving to Canton, Ohio, next month. His friend is opening a store there, and he’ll work for him.”
“Nice to meet you.” Andrew shook Kenneth’s hand.
“I’ll oversee the store while you two talk.” Kenneth nodded to them and moved away.
“Danki.” Mr. Kline opened a door, ushered Andrew into a small office, and sat in a chair behind a worn maple desk. “Have a seat.” The man moved slowly, his shoulders slumped, and he had dark circles under his tired eyes.
Andrew sat on the other side of the desk in a matching chair missing two of its spindles and in need of a good staining. “I’m surprised you’re selling your store.”
“My bruder has bought a large farm in Mt. Hope. He’s offered us a home on his property. I’ve been more tired than usual, and I’ve been having a harder time catching my breath. The doctor doesn’t know why. Each day, I feel worse. My fraa and I are getting older, and it’s best we be near family. We’ll go as soon as I sell this place. Are you interested? I also own the space next door. I bought it with plans to expand my business before I got sick. Then I received my bruder’s offer.”
“I’m interested in both, and your present inventory.” Andrew’s pulse increased. It would be a relief not having to barter with two owners. Andrew couldn’t help but note the irony of both his uncle’s business and this one needing to have new owners for health reasons.
They discussed the price and bartered back and forth, and Andrew accepted Mr. Kline’s final offer. “When would you like me to take ownership?”
