A Season of Change

by Beth Wiseman

  Lizzie stomped a foot. “Ach, I can’t see Esther’s face, but Edgar is sporting a big grin.” She snapped her head in Rose’s direction. “What do you think that means?”

  Rose shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe he sent the flowers and he’s glad that she asked him about it.” She gasped. “What if he asks her for a date? Do you think she would go? I bet it’s been a long time since Esther was courted. Probably decades. I think it would be exciting, especially since she’s so upset about Gus. It would give her something else to focus on. But . . . he’s Englisch.”

  Lizzie laughed. “Hon, you’re as bad as we are—a true romantic at heart. I’m almost certain Esther isn’t in the market for romantic love, but who wouldn’t like to know they have an admirer? And it would put to rest any worry about her having a stalker.”

  “Here she comes.” Rose took a big step backward, wound around to the couch, and plopped down. Lizzie did the same, quickly picked up a magazine, and began thumbing through it.

  Esther walked into the living room, her expression giving away nothing. “First of all,” she said, “Lizzie, don’t act like you’re reading that magazine because you don’t have your glasses on and you can’t see a thing.” Then her accusatory eyes landed on Rose. “I saw you with Lizzie at the window.”

  “Tell us.” Lizzie tossed the magazine on the coffee table. “It’s Edgar, isn’t it? He’s in love with you. He sent the flowers, didn’t he?” She sprang to her feet. “Suspect number two!”

  Rose chuckled at Lizzie’s behavior, but Esther held her expression, revealing nothing as she sat down in the rocking chair and kicked it into motion.

  Lizzie scowled. “Was it Edgar or not?”

  Esther crossed one leg over the other and raised her chin. “Well . . . as for your suspect number two . . .”

  Rose put her hand over her mouth, stifling laughter. Esther was intentionally dragging this out, and Lizzie was so red in the face, she looked like she might burst.

  “Esther Ann Zook.” Lizzie thrust her hands to her hips. “Is Edgar interested in romance?”

  Esther batted her eyes at her sister. “Ya, he is.”

  Lizzie gasped so loudly, Rose feared she might choke. “I knew it.”

  “Ya, Edgar is very interested in romance . . . with June Livingston.” Esther laughed.

  “You mean, that Englisch woman who works at the funeral home?” Lizzie’s nostrils flared. “Are you sure?”

  Esther nodded. “Ya. I didn’t even ask him about the flowers. He told me he had been seeing her and asked if he could do the yard earlier in the day next week so that he could take her to a family gathering.”

  Lizzie groaned as she shuffled back to the couch and sat. “Before Edgar retired and started mowing yards, he was a taxidermist.” She shifted her dentures from side to side. “Guess they have something in common: death.” Lizzie scrunched her face up and shivered.

  Esther stood up abruptly. “I think I’ll lie down.” She didn’t look at Lizzie or Rose.

  “You just got up,” Lizzie said as she stood, then followed her. “Esther, I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

  “Nee, it’s fine.” Esther gently closed her bedroom door behind her, leaving her sister staring at it.

  Lizzie hung her head and went back to the couch. “Rose . . .”

  “Ya?”

  “At our age, Esther and I have attended a lot of funerals, more than we can count. And with our husbands and parents being exceptions, I can’t recall seeing Esther this upset about a person facing death.”

  Rose folded her hands in her lap. “I heard you crying in your room.” She squeezed her eyes closed, thinking maybe she shouldn’t have said anything.

  Lizzie didn’t speak for a few moments, then she looked at Rose. “One day, I’ll go, or Esther will go before me. No matter who goes first, it will feel unbearable. She isn’t just mei schweschder, she’s mei best friend. Esther is the best woman I’ve ever known. But, it’s not just that.” She smiled a little. “We have fun together. Always have. Even when we were married to Joe and Reuben, we still made time for each other and did a lot together. Esther is all the things I should be. She doesn’t have a bad word to say about anyone.”

  “I think you complement each other.” Rose wanted to tell Lizzie how much she would have cherished either one of them as a mother, but that would lead into a conversation she didn’t want to have.

  Lizzie patted Rose on the leg. “Hon, that’s kind of you to say.” She stared long and hard at her before she spoke. “But I assure you . . . mei tears were not for Gus Owens, they were for mei schweschder. When she hurts, I hurt.” She stood up. “I need pie. Join me if you’d like.”

  After Lizzie left the room, Rose thought about what Lizzie had just said. And for reasons Rose couldn’t wrap her mind around, she was pretty sure Lizzie was lying. Maybe Lizzie would stick to her convictions throughout this situation with Gus, but Rose couldn’t help but wonder if her emotions ran deeper than she let on. Love and hate were closer together than people thought sometimes. If anyone knew that, it was Rose.

  She laid her head back against the couch cushion again and closed her eyes, willing any thoughts about her parents to be replaced with thoughts of Benjamin. Saturday would be their third date, and she hoped to learn more about him. Even though he’d said he liked the person she was and how talkative she could be, Rose needed to tone things down, if only a little, and be a better listener. Benjamin might tire of her ramblings. Her father certainly had . . . more than once.

  Squeezing her eyes closed even more, she pushed the vision of her father from her mind’s eye and replaced it with Benjamin’s face. She wondered what he was doing right now.

  * * *

  Benjamin lay in bed Thursday night thinking about Rose and wishing she had a cell phone. Misuse of mobile devices was common in most Amish communities since they were permitted for business and emergencies only. Benjamin tried to follow that rule, but if Rose had a phone, he would be calling her right now. It had only been twenty-four hours since he’d seen her, but visions of her had whisked in and out of his mind since he left her. Each thought brought forth a smile.

  Her childlike enthusiasm was refreshing. Women he’d been out with in the past tended to be reserved, which meant they behaved the way a proper Amish woman should act in their opinion. It wasn’t just that Benjamin was shy. Those types of women bored him. He didn’t think he’d ever get bored with Rose around.

  He startled when his cell phone buzzed on the nightstand. Yawning, he reached for it, but when he saw the caller ID he was suddenly wide awake.

  “Wie bischt?” He sat up in bed. “Is everything okay?”

  “Did I wake you up?” Rose asked. “I’m quite sure I shouldn’t have called so late, but I just needed someone to talk to. Evelyn and Naomi are usually busy with their families right now, or they might already be asleep. I’m calling from the phone in the barn. You left your business card on the kitchen table.” She paused. “Did I wake you up?” she asked again.

  “Nee, not at all. I was just lying here thinking . . . about you actually.” He wasn’t sure if he would have been able to say that to her face, but it slipped out easily over the phone. He’d wondered if she might find the card.

  “What were you thinking? Were you wondering what we’ll do on Saturday? I’ve given a little thought to that since you aren’t familiar with the area. I’m really open for anything.”

  “Me too.” He wanted to tell her that he would be happy in her presence, no matter what the agenda was for the day, but he chose to hold on to that thought. “You said you needed someone to talk to. Is anything wrong?”

  “It wasn’t a gut day. Esther found out that Gus Owens—the man who rents the cottage by the inn—has leukemia and is probably going to die. He’s a very grumpy fellow who doesn’t really get along with anyone, except for Esther and a man named Jayce. He’s very hard to be around, but Esther took the news hard. It just got me thinking about some things. G
us has a grown dochder, but they don’t have anything to do with each other.” She paused for longer than Benjamin would have expected. “I remember you saying your daed died four years ago. Prior to his passing, were you close to him?”

  “Ya, I was. Mei schweschdere were too, but probably not as close to him as I was. Maybe because I was the only sohn.” When she didn’t say anything, he asked, “Were you close to your father?”

  “Nee, not really.”

  Benjamin recalled Rose’s reactions at supper when her family was mentioned. He rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to respond. “Maybe because you had a lot of bruders and schweschdere?”

  “Maybe.” Another long pause. “Tell me about your father. Was he stern? Did he play an active role in your upbringing? Was he a happy man? Did he laugh a lot?”

  He cherished the memories of his father. “Ya, he was a happy man most of the time. Things got him down, just like the rest of us, but he had a robust laugh that I can still hear in my mind sometimes. We did a lot together. On Saturdays, we usually worked half a day out in the fields, then spent the afternoons down at the pond fishing. He taught me what it meant to be a man, about hard work, and to always respect women.” Benjamin loved how easy it was to talk to Rose—he felt very comfortable sharing with her—but he sensed there was a purpose for her inquiries.

  “That’s lovely to hear. You respected him, didn’t you?”

  “Ya, very much. He was a gut man.” He rubbed the back of his neck again. “Rose . . . do you want to talk about your father?”

  “I thought I did, but nee . . . not really, I suppose. I think I’d rather talk about possibilities for Saturday. I’m afraid there isn’t a lot to do in the town of Montgomery. There are restaurants, as you know. I think there is a museum, but I’ve never been to it. Do you have a preference for an indoor or outdoor activity?”

  She’d quickly directed the conversation away from her father, but talking about his father had taken him back in time. “Do you like to fish?”

  It took her a while to answer. “I’ve never fished. Mei bruders did. That was another thing mei daed thought only the boys should do, but I don’t remember mei father ever going with them.” She sighed. “I can remember how much trouble they got into when they didn’t bring home a big stringer of catfish, though.”

  Benjamin’s father never would have scolded him for not catching fish. And both of his sisters loved to go fishing. “Have you ever wanted to go?”

  “Ach, ya. I would lieb to go fishing. Is that something you might want to do Saturday?”

  “Ya, if you’d like to. I know there must be several lakes nearby. Or ponds at least.” Benjamin thought about how fun it would be to see Rose fishing for the first time.

  “I have the perfect place,” she said. “There’s a pond tucked almost out of sight at The Peony Inn. You might have seen it. I’ve never been down there to fish, but I’ve seen Gus go there many times toting a fishing pole and carrying a stringer of fish to a little building back behind the cottage. I guess that’s where he cleans them. I could make us a picnic lunch, and we could fish, and . . . am I talking too much?”

  “Rose, I could listen to you talk all day long.”

  There was a long pause, then Rose let out a squeal.

  “What’s wrong?” Benjamin was on his feet in seconds.

  “Mice. I’m in the barn, and two mice just scurried across the ground.”

  Benjamin laughed. “Sorry, it’s not funny.”

  Rose giggled. “It’s a little funny. You would have thought so if you’d seen the way I jumped and scooted across the room. I almost yanked the phone cord from the wall.”

  And from there, Rose started talking about how she used to sleepwalk.

  “You danced in your sleep?” Benjamin laughed as he tried to picture Rose dancing like the English.

  Laughing, she said, “And I sang. Or so I’m told. I don’t remember, but I think it was unnerving for Esther and Lizzie the first time it happened at the inn. It took them a while to tell me about it. It hasn’t happened in a long time. Lizzie insisted that if I drank a warm cup of milk before bed I’d fall into a deeper sleep and wouldn’t waltz around at night. It seems to have worked.”

  Benjamin fluffed his pillows behind his back, then crossed one ankle over the other. “I’ve got a picture of you dancing in mei mind.”

  She laughed. “It’s probably not a very pretty picture. I’m sure I looked like a crazy person.”

  “Not at all. It’s a beautiful picture.” Benjamin closed his eyes and recalled their first night together and the way they had kissed.

  She was quiet. “I’m looking forward to Saturday.”

  “Me too. Do you have a fishing pole? I’m guessing not since you haven’t been to the pond. I have extras I can bring.”

  “That would be gut. I don’t have one. I’ve always meant to go fishing at the pond, but just haven’t. It seemed like it would be more fun with another person.”

  After another mouse scurried near Rose’s feet, they said their goodbyes.

  As Benjamin snuffed out the lantern on the nightstand, he thought about his father and the good man that he was. He wasn’t so sure about Rose’s father.

  Chapter 13

  Friday afternoon, Esther opened the door for their guest, the man who would be staying for a week. He was a young Amish fellow, maybe a little older than Rose and very nice looking. He didn’t have a beard so he was unmarried. If Rose wasn’t already smitten with Benjamin, Esther would have seen him as an opportunity to do a little matchmaking. But Rose needed a certain type of person, and considering she was going on her third date with Benjamin tomorrow, things seemed to be progressing nicely.

  “Wie bischt, and welcome to The Peony Inn.” She pushed the screen door open, and the tall man stepped over the threshold carrying one small red suitcase. “And what brings you to Montgomery?” It was a bit nosy, but Esther liked to have a feel for the type of people staying under their roof. Some people were very evasive. Others were happy to share.

  “I’m here for mei great-aunt’s funeral.”

  Esther struggled not to react. There’d been too much talk about death lately. “I’m sorry for your loss. May your aunt rest in peace.”

  “Danki. She was old. Just her time. Mei parents weren’t well enough to attend, so they asked me to come.” He sighed, as if the trip might be a burden for him.

  Rose walked into the room and approached the man. “Wie bischt. I’m Rose, and if there is anything you need during your stay, please don’t hesitate to ask.” She motioned toward the dining room. “I’ve set out appetizers and iced tea if you are in need of a snack.” She pointed to the stairs. “And your room is the second one on the right.”

  “You’re the woman I spoke to?” The man sauntered closer to Rose after she nodded, then he grinned. “You’re even prettier than you sounded on the phone.”

  Rose blushed immediately. “Danki.”

  “I’m Lloyd.” He turned to Esther and raised an eyebrow.

  “Ach, mei apologies. I should have introduced myself. I’m Esther Zook. Mei schweschder and I own the inn.” Esther’s mind had been in a fog lately.

  “I’m going to take mei suitcase upstairs, then I’d love some of those snacks you mentioned.” The fellow slowed his stride when he passed by Rose, so close he nearly brushed elbows with her. “Maybe you’ll join me,” he said over his shoulder as he took his first step up the stairs.

  Rose nodded and smiled, but not with the exuberance she usually displayed for guests. Cheerfulness came easily for Rose, but there was no twinkle in her eyes.

  After the door closed upstairs, Rose shook her head. “Something about that man makes me nervous. He looked at me . . . funny.”

  Esther had to agree but didn’t want to alarm Rose. “He probably just thinks you’re very pretty and that was his attempt at flirting.”

  “Well, I didn’t like it,” Rose said firmly. “But I’ll be polite and have a quick appetizer with
him.” She marched to the dining room.

  Esther went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. There were plenty of appetizers on platters for their gathering later. Esther dreaded having to tell Naomi, Amos, Evelyn, and Jayce about Gus. Everyone had mixed emotions when it came to Gus. Jayce would take it the hardest, though. They’d already decided to meet at the picnic tables near the garden so as not to disturb their guest.

  Lizzie shuffled into the room. “I heard a car door and saw that young man walking up to the house. What’s his business here?”

  Esther scowled. “He is here for a funeral. Can you please put your teeth in before everyone gets here?”

  “Why? They’ve all seen me without them plenty of times,” she sputtered, which often resulted in spitting.

  Esther waved a hand in front of her face. “Because you unintentionally spit when they aren’t in.”

  “Actually, I wasn’t planning on attending that little gathering.” Lizzie lowered her head a little but kept her eyes on Esther. “I’m guessing you’re going to make me.”

  “I’m not going to make you do anything, but it would be nice if our entire family was together for this announcement.” Lizzie considered their invited friends to be family also, but her sister didn’t want to attend because the topic of discussion would be Gus.

  Lizzie huffed. “I’ll be there.” She left for her bedroom. “And I’ll put in mei stupid teeth.”

  Esther shook her head, but a sense of dread was circling all around her. She was going to present Gus’s situation in the best light possible, hoping to come across as hopeful, despite what sounded like an imminent outcome.

  She walked to the dining room so Rose wouldn’t have to be alone with Lloyd.

  * * *

  “Everything is done.” Rose waved an arm across an elaborate spread of food. “I’m sure I made too much, but it’s been a while since we’ve had a guest and I think I went overboard. But we will enjoy any leftovers, and Lloyd might be one of those midnight eaters like we’ve had in the past.” Rose recalled the film crew who had stayed at the inn. Several of them were known to get up during the night for a snack.