Loaves of Love

by Beth Wiseman

  She set the rolling pin aside, then reached into the cabinet and pulled out a whoopie pie. After staring at it a minute, she eventually placed the wrapped dessert back in the cabinet. Gorging on sugar wasn’t going to solve her problems.

  I just have to make it until Saturday.

  By the time Saturday rolled around, Henry was happy to have the day off and ready to see Clara again.

  Lena walked into the living room just as Henry put on his hat and was about to leave. She stopped and sniffed the air. “Are you wearing cologne?”

  He almost denied it, but he didn’t want to lie. “Ya. But keep it to yourself.”

  Lena giggled. “You must really like Clara to be breaking a rule.” She peered over her shoulder toward the kitchen where someone was clanging pots and pans. “You better hurry before Mamm gets a whiff of you. Even though you’re still in your rumschpringe, you know she wouldn’t like it.”

  Henry tapped his hat into place, told his sister bye, and headed out the door. Even though he anticipated seeing Clara, he was equally eager to see Katie. He hoped she’d been able to find some help or get more rest. Or both. His mother had asked him to stop by the bakery since he would be out and about.

  A short ride later, he picked up Clara and took her to the Railroad Café. They were about halfway through the meal when Clara picked up on the fact that Henry was present in body, but his mind kept drifting to other places.

  “Are you okay?” She leaned her head to one side and pressed her lips together. “You seem distracted.”

  Henry looked down at his half-eaten plate of chicken tenders. Normally he would have downed those by now and been looking forward to dessert, which in this case would be off-site. Clara had carried most of the conversation, telling him about her sister who was due to have a baby any day, and she had told him about selling two quilts this past week at a co-op where she sold handmade items.

  Henry had nodded and smiled. He’d looked forward to spending time with her, but his heart just wasn’t in it today. “Nee, I’m fine.” He picked up another chicken tender and saw that Clara had eaten most of her grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich. “Sorry I haven’t been better company. I didn’t sleep much last night.” It was true. He’d tossed and turned most of the night. “I promise I’ll do better next time.” He stifled a yawn, realizing he’d just committed to another date.

  Clara sighed. “I can see in your eyes that you’re tired. It’s times like this I wish phones were allowed. We could have rescheduled.”

  “Nee, I wanted to see you.” He’d thought he had, and now he was just digging himself in deeper. He really wanted to give himself a chance with Clara, but Katie always found her way to the forefront of his thoughts.

  Clara smiled, which lifted his spirits a little. She picked up the last of her sandwich. “It’s cute how the food is named. I had trouble deciding between the caboose, the conductor, or the engineer sandwich.”

  Henry nodded since he had a mouthful. After he swallowed, he said, “I was thinking we could go by the Swartzentruber Bakery when we leave here and get a fried pie for dessert. The owners are friends of the family, and mei mamm asked me to stop by to see if everything is okay. Katie, the daughter, is running things by herself while her mudder recovers from surgery.”

  “Ya, sure. I’m fine with whatever you’d like to do.” Clara was easy to look at, easy to be around, and she deserved someone who paid more attention to her. “I don’t think I’ve ever been to that bakery, but I’ve heard gut things about it. The one in town is closer for us, so we just go there, though we do most of our own baking.”

  Henry nodded, then sipped his tea. His mind was awhirl with ways to introduce Clara to Katie. This is mei freind, Clara. This is mei date, Clara. Clara and I just ate at the Railroad Café. Would Katie care that he was with another woman? Part of him hoped she didn’t care at all. Maybe that would put some closure on the ideas that had been formulating in his mind, notions of them as a couple. Then he could focus on getting to know Clara better.

  Katie finished checking out three ladies who had come all the way from Bloomington. They were dressed in brightly colored Christmas sweaters, which reminded Katie that she needed to put up the holiday decorations. She was disappointed David hadn’t shown up with her new oven yet. If plans had changed, he didn’t have a way to get ahold of her.

  Just then, he finally turned in, toting a small trailer behind his buggy. Katie felt lighter on her feet already. She thanked the women for coming, then followed them to the door, grabbing her coat from behind the counter first and putting it on as she walked.

  “Sorry I’m late. Mei neighbor was supposed to come help me unload, but he didn’t show up. Mei daed helped me load it, but it’s much too heavy for you.” David’s breath met with hers in the frigid air, then he pulled her close and kissed her.

  It caught Katie off guard, but she stayed in his arms until the clip-clop of horses got their attention, and they turned to their left.

  Henry. And he’d surely seen the kiss. Katie strained to see who was in the buggy with him. When he came to a stop, a woman she didn’t recognize stepped out and pulled a black coat snug around herself, her teeth chattering. Katie couldn’t take her eyes off the woman as she walked toward them. She was beautiful with long dark lashes that swept down on high cheekbones. But her smile and big brown eyes captured Katie’s attention. She immediately wondered what Henry’s relationship was with this woman.

  She extended a gloved hand to Katie. “Wie bischt. I’m Clara, a freind of Henry’s.”

  Katie took hold of the woman’s hand and introduced herself, then quickly turned to Henry. He walked toward David, and a few minutes later they had lowered the oven onto a rolling platform David had brought. Katie scurried ahead of them to hold the door open, and her heart pounded as she eyed her new appliance. It would easily hold the six pies she had ready to bake. She prayed they would taste the same.

  “It’s nice that you can use propane.” Clara slipped out of her coat as she walked inside with Katie. “I didn’t think this district used gas.”

  Katie forced a weak smile before she eased out of her own coat. “Ya,” she said, avoiding Clara’s curious eyes. “It’s allowed in some instances.” That was mostly true, but Katie’s temples began to throb. Was she going against God, or just her parents?

  “It’s not going to fit without moving at least one of these wood ovens.” David looked up at the ceiling, then ran his hand along the tubular chimney that trailed to the roof. “We can disconnect the chimney, then move it.”

  Katie was pretty sure that oven had been in the same place since her grandmother started the bakery decades ago, and it must have rooted itself to the floor by now. No matter how much Henry and David tugged and pushed, it wasn’t budging.

  There couldn’t have been a worse time for six Englisch women to come walking in. Katie recognized one of the ladies. She was here to pick up pies—the six sitting on the counter waiting to be baked.

  Katie wiped her hands on her apron. “Hello.” She took in a deep breath. “I’m sorry the pies aren’t ready yet, but you are a little early. Can you come back in about an hour? I’m sorry for any inconvenience.”

  The lady nodded toward the other women before she spoke up. “Actually, we were hoping to watch you bake them. My friends have never seen anyone cook with a wood oven. I was here once when you were baking, and it was fascinating to watch.” She paused, then flinched when the wood oven finally budged, and the chimney broke off when it moved. “Oh, dear.” Pointing to the other oven, she said, “Perhaps you can cook them in that other wood oven?”

  Katie took a deep breath. “It’s cooled down right now and would take a while to get the firebox up to the right temperature, but we should have this new propane oven in place soon.”

  Henry’s hat fell off as he tried to move the broken chimney out of the way, but it wasn’t moving either. David had already hit his head on it when he leaned over to try to move it.

  �
�Will the pies taste the same? They had a very distinctive flavor the last time I was here.”

  “Ya, they will.” Katie had no idea if they would. She’d never cooked with anything like this fancy oven. Surely, I just set the temperature, put in the pies, then wait for them to bake. She hoped God answered her prayer. He’d answered when the lady who ordered the red velvet cakes showed up. The woman happily accepted the chocolate cakes and even insisted on paying for them.

  “Okay, then.” The lady looked at her friends. “We can go do a little shopping, then come back. Does that sound okay?”

  Katie breathed a sigh of relief when the women all chimed in and said that would be fine. After the women left, she finally turned to Henry, whose hat was still on the floor.

  “Why are you here?” She rubbed her chin. “I mean, it was perfect timing to help with the oven, but did you need something else?”

  “Mamm wanted me to stop by and check on you.” He nodded at Clara. “I told her our families were gut friends. And we were going to get a fried pie. We just ate at the Railroad Café.”

  Katie glanced at Clara, who smiled. “Henry said the pastries here are the best.”

  “It doesn’t work.” David squatted down and jiggled the propane tank. “Daed said there was propane in it.”

  Katie stiffened and held her breath as she eyed the dangling vent, the propane oven standing diagonal behind the counter, and the other wood oven that was cold and useless at the moment. If David hadn’t shown up, she would have gone ahead and baked the pies one at a time in her two ovens. It would have taken three hours, but she would’ve only been a half hour late on the woman’s order. Now, she didn’t know what to do as she stood staring, wringing her hands.

  David stood, took off his hat, and ran an arm across his sweaty forehead. Then he looked at the clock on the wall. “I have to go. I have an appointment to bid a roofing job.”

  “What?” Katie walked closer to him. “We can’t just leave it like this.” She pointed to the oven that didn’t work and waved a hand at the vent. “Are you sure it has propane?”

  “Nee, I’m not. I can come back later and pick up the container, then go see if I can get it filled up.” He groaned as he threw his head back before he looked at her. “Ach, I hate this. I know how much you need this oven working, but mei boss will go ab im kopp if I miss this appointment.” He walked to her and kissed her gently. “I’m sorry. But I’ve got to go.”

  Katie’s eyes darted to Henry, but he looked away. She wished David would stop with all the public affection. Her cheeks were warm, and she was too embarrassed to even look at Clara.

  After David was out the door, Katie blinked back tears as she pressed her trembling lips together.

  She turned to Clara when the woman put a hand on her arm.

  “Don’t worry.” Clara looked at Henry, who had just picked up his hat and put it back on. “We don’t have any plans, do we, Henry?” She turned back to Katie and smiled. “I don’t know a thing about propane ovens, but I’m pretty handy with a wood oven. I think if we take the grill out of the oven they just broke, and put it in the other wood oven, we can get at least two pies in at one time. It might not be ideal, but we can give it a try. If the women are irritated when they get back, maybe you can discount the order or offer them some extra fried pies? Either way, let me help you get that grill removed.” Clara began to roll up her sleeves, and Katie felt silly for not thinking of that herself. “And let’s start getting that oven hot again.”

  Katie’s people were happy to help one another, but she didn’t even know this woman. When she subtly cast a glance in Henry’s direction, he was smiling from ear to ear. Clearly, he knew her. Katie didn’t know how well they were acquainted, but the way he was smiling, she suspected there was something between them.

  She looked back at Clara. “I can’t let you help me. You just came in for a pie, and I’ve got a big mess, and . . .” She paused when her voice cracked.

  Clara touched her arm again. “As I said, we have nothing else planned for today.” She glanced at Henry, then back at Katie. “Let us help you.” Her face was aglow with a smile so bright that Katie wanted to hug her. It was impossible not to like Clara right away.

  As she nodded, she glanced at Henry again. He wasn’t staring at Clara, though. His gaze was fixed on Katie. Her eyes clung to his, and something about the way he looked at her caused Katie’s heart to swell with emotion. She waited for him to look away, but he didn’t.

  7

  HENRY RETURNED TO THE BAKERY ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES later with a full tank of propane. He got straight to work hooking it up.

  Katie and Clara were side by side at a table they’d brought in from the back since Katie’s normal workspace was occupied with the propane oven still at an angle and the wood oven in the way. Clara was rolling out dough, and Katie was mixing some sort of filling in a bowl. They both looked up when Henry opened the oven door and lit the burner.

  “It works,” he said, breathless. “What temperature?”

  Katie rushed toward him, carrying the bowl with her and stirring. “Try 425. That’s the temperature I try to keep the wood ovens at.” She bent down, bracing the bowl against her stomach. She seemed in awe of the spacious new appliance. “Clara, we can put the other four pies in here and still have room left. Should we add the other two in the oven now? Nee, let’s don’t,” she said, before giving Clara time to answer. “I wouldn’t know how much longer to bake them.”

  Henry stepped aside as Katie put down the bowl and brought one of the pies to the new oven, pushing it as far back on the rack as it would go. Clara handed her the next one, and once all four were inside, the two women stepped back, looked at each other, and smiled.

  Henry had a queasiness in his stomach as he watched the woman he was dating standing next to the woman who made his heart flip. He could have kicked David for leaving Katie in a bind like this. David could have tried to reschedule his appointment and helped his girlfriend. He had a cell phone after all. Instead, he’d just taken off, seemingly unbothered by Katie’s predicament as he rushed out the door.

  Katie set the timer on the oven, smiled, and walked back to the temporary work area, chatting quietly with Clara. Henry wasn’t sure what he should do now. Maybe try to get the broken oven out of the way and move the propane one in place, but he couldn’t do that while the pies were cooking, so he leaned against the counter and sighed.

  They all looked up when the door swung open.

  “Jonas, what are you doing here?” Katie’s jaw dropped as her oldest brother frowned, his eyes widening at the sight of the propane oven wedged sideways between the cabinet and where it needed to be up against the wall.

  “Uh . . .” He slowed his steps as his eyes drifted up to the vent dangling from the ceiling, before he looked back at his sister. “What have you done?”

  Katie blinked a few times. “Jonas, what are you doing here?” she asked again. But her brother had noticed Clara, and his eyes were fixated on the woman. Katie glanced at Henry and wondered if he noticed the way Jonas was looking at Clara, but Henry only stared at Katie, grinning when he caught her looking at him. She smiled back, even though there wasn’t one thing to be happy about at the moment. Maybe Henry needed to keep an eye on Clara since she seemed to be gazing back at Jonas in much the same way he was looking at her. Or maybe Clara just smiled a lot and had the same mesmerizing effect on everyone she met.

  Jonas finally pulled his eyes from Clara after he’d introduced himself. He hung his head for a couple seconds before he looked at Katie again. “Mamm and Daed are going to go ab im kopp about this.”

  Clara set down the rolling pin she was holding. “I thought you said propane was allowed?”

  Katie cringed. “It’s not disallowed,” she said before she squeezed her eyes closed, then opened them. “It’s just frowned upon.”

  Jonas took off his coat. Her brother had a broad chest and muscular arms that filled out the blue long-sleeved shirt he was wea
ring. He grinned at Clara, showing off the efforts of his hard work from doing construction.

  Again, Katie glanced at Henry, whose eyes were still on her. She wanted to tell him, “You better watch out for Jonas.” Her brother was a good-looking guy and still unattached at twenty-four.

  Jonas excused himself and headed toward the bathroom.

  “What’s this?” Clara squatted and fumbled through an open red suitcase on the floor. She pulled out stems of imitation holly that were mixed in with other Christmas decorations.

  Katie looked at the timer on the propane oven. Thirty minutes left. The new oven was white and looked brand new. She couldn’t imagine why David’s mother would trade it for a smaller model, but she remembered him saying her new one was a convection oven. Katie was thrilled to have the hand-me-down.

  She joined Clara by the suitcase, squatting beside her. “I have no idea where this suitcase originally came from, but Mamm pulls it out of the storage closet every year, so I took it out this morning. I’ve been meaning to get some of these Christmas decorations up since the day after Thanksgiving, but I’ve been so busy that I just haven’t gotten around to it. I thought if I brought the suitcase out in plain view, I’d remember to make time.”

  Jonas emerged from the back and cleared his throat. “Um . . . there is a problem in the back. The sink is leaking. I think a strong arm and a screwdriver can fix it.” He gave a quick wave before he turned back around.

  Both women turned to Henry and smiled.

  He rolled his eyes. “Give it to me. I’ll take care of decorations.”

  Katie closed the suitcase, lifted it, and carried it to him. “There’s a wreath for the door, and we usually hang the garland along the windows inside.”

  “I know,” Henry said as he took the box from her. “I’ve seen it decorated since we were kids.”

  Katie smiled at him and fought the urge to tell him she’d had a crush on him since they were kids. A crush she was still trying to fend off. Clara had truly saved the day, and if Henry was going to be with anyone but Katie, it should be Clara.