by Amy Clipston
By the time she reached the Troyers’ home, she was certain she might fall over. She headed up the rock driveway, past the main house and shop, moving toward the daadihaus. When she glanced over toward Bethlyn’s house, she spotted a lantern burning on the porch and a figure sitting in the rocking chair. Laurel lifted her hand in a wave as she kept moving.
“Laurel!” Dorothea’s voice sounded out over the loud cicadas. “Come tell me about your day.”
Surprised, Laurel stopped moving. “I’d love to.” She smiled at the idea of talking to Dorothea. After all, she missed her mammi so much! She strode over to Bethlyn’s house and up the porch steps.
Dorothea patted the empty rocking chair beside hers. “Sit, mei liewe, and tell me everything.”
“Danki.” Laurel set her overstuffed tote bag on the porch floor and then sank down into the chair. “Well, I was very organized and prepared, but I’m still concerned about doing a gut job. I’d love for you to come and see how I decorated the schoolhouse. I love to draw, so I drew a giant tree and leaves that have each child’s name on them. I also drew a dairy farm and told the class about my home in Pennsylvania. We did some drawings this afternoon.
“I tried to make the day fun. We sang and we had recess. But we also did our math and spelling. And I had so many papers to grade. Rena offered to stay and help, but I feel it’s really my job, you know?”
Dorothea grinned at her as she spoke.
“The kinner seemed to like me,” Laurel continued. “They were all well-behaved, except for one bu in the third grade.”
Dorothea’s hazel eyes lit up with excitement. “Was that the bu who brought a lizard into the schoolhouse? Levi and Lea shared a bit of the story at supper.”
Laurel laughed. “Ya, that’s right. He thought it was a gut idea to show the lizard to a maedel, and she started screaming. Then the younger kinner started yelling, and next thing you knew, we had total chaos.”
“Ach no!” Dorothea hooted. “How did you manage it?”
Laurel cupped her hand to her forehead. “I nearly lost control of the classroom, but I got it back again. I had him stay after and sweep as his punishment. I don’t think he’ll do it again.”
Dorothea patted Laurel’s hand. “You look worn out. Why did you work so late?”
“I wanted to make sure I’m ready for tomorrow.” She looked out toward the mountains, which were shrouded in darkness. “I want to do my best so the scholars like and respect me and the school board doesn’t regret hiring me.”
“Why would they regret hiring you?”
Laurel shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Well, you don’t need to get everything done in one day. I have a feeling you’re a perfectionist.”
Laurel felt her cheeks heat. “You’ve already figured that out?”
“Ya, I have. You need to remember we all fall short of the glory of God, and you’re doing your best, which is all we can ask.”
“That’s true.” Warmth swirled in Laurel’s chest as she smiled at Dorothea.
“How do you like it here?”
“I like it.” Laurel hesitated as she thought of her family.
Dorothea’s bright, intelligent eyes sparkled in the light of the lantern. “Is something else on your mind?”
Laurel looked down at her lap and brushed a piece of lint off her black apron. “I miss my family.”
“I’m sure you do, but you’ll feel at home here soon. I promise you that.”
“Danki.” Laurel covered her mouth with her hand to hide another yawn. “Well, thank you for the visit. I need to go find something to eat and then get some rest.”
“You have a gut nacht,” Dorothea said.
“You too.” Laurel stood and lifted her heavy tote bag. Then she stilled as Glen walked toward the porch.
He rested one foot on the bottom step and leaned on the railing as he smiled up at her. “There you are.”
“Hi, Glen,” she said. Her heart did a funny little flip as she took in his handsome face. She’d missed him today. Could he have missed her too?
Chapter 4
“I’ve been watching for you to get home.” Glen looked up at Laurel and took in her surprised smile.
“You were watching for me?”
“Of course I was. I’ve been thinking about you and praying for you all day.” He inwardly cringed when he realized how much he’d confessed. Surely, she’d think he was obsessed with her, but the truth was that he cared—and he hoped she cared for him too. “How was your first day?”
She set her bag down on the porch floor and shielded her mouth with her hand as she yawned. “Excuse me. It was gut but also very long.”
Mammi looked over at Laurel. “I think this young maedel is a perfectionist, and I told her we all just do the best we can.”
“Have you had supper?” Glen asked.
Laurel yawned again. “No, not yet.”
He stood up straight. “I can help with that. I’m sure mei mamm has leftovers.”
“Oh no.” Laurel waved him off. “I could never impose. I can make a sandwich at home.”
“Don’t be gegisch,” Mammi said. “You’re our community’s new teacher, and you traveled so far to come and bless us with your talents. The least we can do is feed you.”
“Exactly.” Glen climbed the stairs and lifted her bulging tote bag onto his shoulder.
Laurel hesitated. “I don’t want to bother your mamm. She’s probably getting ready for bed.”
“Glen knows how to warm up food, right?” Mammi gave him a pointed look.
“Of course I do.” He started down the stairs. “Let’s go.”
He glanced over his shoulder to where Laurel stood looking uncertain.
Mammi shooed her down the stairs. “Go on!”
Laurel shook Glen’s grandmother’s hand. “Gut nacht, Dorothea. I enjoyed talking with you.”
“Not as much I as enjoyed talking with you. Now, you go have a hearty supper after working hard all day.” Mammi beamed up at Laurel.
Gratefulness swamped Glen. He could see the admiration in his grandmother’s eyes for Laurel, and he was certain Mammi saw how special Laurel was.
Laurel sidled up to him, and they walked down the path that led to his parents’ house.
“Do you like grilled chicken and noodles?” He looked over at her as they approached his parents’ porch steps.
“I do.”
“Perfect.” He motioned for her to ascend the steps first.
She climbed up on the porch, and he followed her before opening the back door. Then they walked into the kitchen.
He set her bag down on an empty chair and then nodded toward the one beside it. “You have a seat, and I’ll warm up the food for you.”
“I can do it.”
“Nope. You’re my guest. Just sit, and I’ll be right back.” Glen entered the family room, where his mother sat reading a book. “Laurel just got home, and I invited her to come and have some leftovers.”
Mamm’s eyes widened as she set her book and reading glasses on the end table. “You invited her to eat?” Her whisper was laced with surprise.
“I can warm up the food. I just wanted to let you know.” He lowered his voice.
She pursed her lips and stood. “I’ll do it.”
“No. Sit.”
Mamm frowned. “I can help.” Then she crossed to the kitchen. “Hello, Laurel.” Her voice sounded too happy. “Glen told me he invited you for supper.”
Glen suppressed a sigh as he followed her.
Laurel looked embarrassed as she stood and crossed to the stove. “Oh, I don’t want to cause you any trouble, Magdalena. I’ll warm up the food.”
“It’s no trouble at all.” Mamm retrieved the container of chicken and noodles and then turned on the oven before setting the food in a pan. “I’ll just stick this in the oven for a few minutes.”
Laurel found a dish and utensils and set a place for herself while Glen poured her a glass of water from the
pitcher in the refrigerator.
“Tell me more about your first day.” Glen set the water on the table by her place setting.
“It was gut. I felt prepared.” Laurel moved to the sink and washed her hands before leaning back against the counter. She described the murals she’d made, the songs the students sang, and the story of the boy who brought the lizard into the schoolroom after recess.
Glen grinned as she talked on about her day while Mamm stood by the stove, keeping her back to them.
After several minutes, Mamm pulled the pan from the oven and emptied the contents onto Laurel’s plate. “Here you go.”
“I really appreciate this, Magdalena,” Laurel said as she sat down at the table. “I’m so worn out after today, and the thought of cooking made me want to just curl up in bed. But I’ll happily clean up the kitchen.”
“I’ll help clean up too,” Glen added.
“Danki. Enjoy.” Mamm disappeared into the family room once again.
Glen sat down across from Laurel as she bowed her head in silent prayer.
When she looked up, she smiled. “Now, why don’t you tell me about your day?”
“It was not as exciting as yours. We didn’t have any lizards in our shop—that I’m aware of, that is.”
She laughed as she forked a piece of chicken.
“I’m working on a curio cabinet now.” He shared stories of his work while she ate her supper.
When she was done, he located two pieces of chocolate pie in the refrigerator and brought them to the table.
“I feel bad eating your family’s food,” she told him.
“You’re our guest.” He took a bite of pie and swallowed it. “Did you want to call your family and tell them about your first day?”
She nodded as her smile wobbled. “Ya, please. I’m afraid my family is already in bed, but I’d like to leave mei mamm a message. My instinct is still to share everything with her even though it’s harder to reach her now.”
“I’m sorry you miss them so much.” His chest squeezed. “Do you regret coming here?”
“No, I don’t, but it’s an adjustment. That’s why I’m so worried about doing a gut job. I’m trying my best to focus on the Lord and my work. Still, I can’t stop thinking about my family.”
When they were done eating, Laurel called and left a message for her mom, then helped Glen clean up the kitchen before they walked together to her house. She unlocked the front door, and he set her tote bag just inside.
“Danki for supper,” she said.
“Gern gschehne. Sleep well.” He shook her hand and enjoyed the brief moment passing between them.
She gave him a little wave. “You too. Gut nacht.”
Glen looked up at the stars shimmering in the clear night sky. They seemed to smile down as if they felt the happiness soaring through him. How he had enjoyed his time with Laurel tonight! When he was with her, he felt his heart come alive!
Worry nipped at him as he recalled her homesickness. While he understood how much she missed her family, he also prayed she would fall in love with Colorado and choose to stay. If so, then he might have the opportunity to date her—with her father’s permission, of course. But only time would tell.
Glen’s head was still buzzing with thoughts of Laurel when he walked into the family room, where his parents sat reading in their favorite wing chairs. They looked up as he sat down on the worn, brown sofa across from them.
He looked at his mother. “Danki for allowing me to share our supper with Laurel.”
“I was shocked you invited her,” Mamm said.
“I saw her on the porch talking with Mammi and decided to invite her in to eat. She was so tired, and I thought she might appreciate not only the company but the food as well.”
“It was a nice gesture.” Dat folded up his newspaper and set it on the end table beside him.
Mamm studied Glen. “Remember what I said about not getting attached to her? You need to face the fact that she’s not going to stay here.”
“I’m enjoying getting to know her better. That’s all.” Glen stood. “I’m going to take a shower.”
“Your mamm is right,” Dat chimed in. “Laurel will most likely go back to Pennsylvania after a couple of years, so you shouldn’t set your heart on her. There are plenty of other maed in our community.”
But none of them are like Laurel. Glen kept his thoughts to himself. It was no use disagreeing with his parents. “Gut nacht.”
His parents told him good night, and then he loped up the stairs.
* * *
“It’s been a gut week,” Rena said as she and Laurel stood by the fence around the schoolyard Friday afternoon.
Laurel scanned where the children played during recess. The younger children enjoyed the swing set and slides while the older children played softball. “I agree! I couldn’t be happier with how it’s played out.”
At the sound of a crying child, Laurel stood up straighter. Her eyes roamed around the yard. Then she spun and spotted Lea on the ground beneath the swing set. The little one was gripping her knee, and Levi stood over her, his face twisted in worry and concern. “Teacher Laurel!” he called out. “Dummle!”
“Ach no!” Laurel rushed over to them. “What happened?”
Teardrops streamed down Lea’s pink cheeks. “I fell off the swing. My knee is bleeding.”
“Let me see.” Laurel moved Lea’s hands and found her knee was skinned. “Let’s get you inside, and I’ll clean you up.” She scooped the little girl up in her arms and headed toward the schoolhouse while Levi jogged beside her to keep up.
“Do you need help?” Rena asked.
“No, danki. Please watch the other kinner.” Laurel smiled down at Lea. “We’re going to fix you right up.”
Once inside the schoolhouse, Laurel set Lea down in a chair and then retrieved the first aid kit and a wet rag. When she returned to the twins, she found Levi standing beside Lea, holding her hand.
Laurel pulled over a chair and sat down beside Lea. “When I clean the wound, it’s going to sting a little. Can you be brave for me?”
Lea sniffed and nodded.
Levi’s expression was somber. “I’ll be brave for you.”
“Danki.” Lea looked up at him.
Laurel marveled at the siblings’ relationship and then turned her attention to the wound.
Lea cried out when Laurel cleaned it, and Laurel’s heart twisted.
“It’s okay,” Levi consoled his twin.
Then Laurel put salve on the wound and covered it with a bandage. “You’re gut as new now.”
Levi wiped his eyes and sniffed. “Danki for helping mei schweschder.”
“Gern gschehne,” Laurel told him.
Lea wrapped her arms around Laurel’s neck. “Ich liebe dich, Teacher Laurel.”
Closing her eyes, Laurel hugged her. “I love you too.” Then she stood and pointed toward the door. “You two run along and have fun now. Be careful on those swings.”
“We will!” Levi promised as he took his sister’s hand and led her out the door.
Laurel smiled after them. Taking care of these sweet littles ones was the joy of being a teacher.
Chapter 5
The following Saturday afternoon, Glen walked out onto his back porch just as Laurel climbed out of the driver’s van with an armful of groceries.
“Let me help you.” He ran down the steps and rushed over to her, gathering up her groceries in his arms.
“Danki.” She paid the driver, climbed the steps, and unlocked the front door before holding it open.
He carried the bags into the kitchen and set them on the counter. “Need help putting everything away?”
“I’d appreciate that.” She opened a bag and began putting away produce while he set a box of cereal in a nearby cabinet. “I thought you were working in the shop today.”
He turned toward her. “No, we’re caught up. I actually came over to see if you wanted to go fishing.”
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br /> “Fishing?” She turned to face him, her brow furrowed. “You want to go fishing this afternoon?”
“Why not? It’s a schee day, and all of my work is done.”
She blinked, looking surprised. “Oh. I was going to work on lesson plans and write a letter to my family.”
“If I know you, your lesson plans for next week are done, and you’re working on plans for October. And I know you write to your family nearly every day.”
With a gleam in her eye, she wagged a finger at him. “You caught me.”
“So, will you go?” He folded his hands, pleading with her. “I just have to hook the boat trailer up to my buggy, and I’ll be ready.”
“Okay. I’ll pack some snacks. Are the zwillingbopplin going to join us?”
“Bethlyn and Roy took them to see Roy’s family today, but they’ll be back around suppertime.”
She pulled a cheesecake out of a bag. “I bought this for your family. Would it be okay if I brought it over tonight to thank them for being so kind to me?”
A rush of gratitude overcame him. “That would be very nice.”
“Gut.” She smiled. “I’ll be ready to go soon.”
Glen’s heartbeat galloped as he hurried out to the barn and loaded up his fishing gear before readying his horse and buggy. He had just finished hooking up his jon boat trailer to the buggy when Laurel appeared with a small cooler.
She had changed into a blue dress, and her pretty smile was nearly as bright as the sun. “Are you ready?” she chirped.
They climbed into the buggy, and Glen pointed out landmarks along the roads as they headed toward his favorite pond. Conversation flowed easily between them, and he kept stealing glances over at her while he admired her long neck, pretty pink lips, and warm voice.
When they arrived at the pond, he unloaded the boat and gear. Soon they were out on the water, baiting their hooks and casting their lines.
The sun was high in the sky, and the sound of frogs croaking nearby mixed with the birds singing in the trees. He peered down at the murky water and spotted fish swimming by, shimmering in the light of the sun.
