The Amish Baker

by Marie E. Bast

  Caleb talked to her about the farm and the progress of his crops. “They should yield a nice profit.” Sarah nodded at his announcement. She smiled at the notion that they acted like a married couple.

  When he pulled the buggy to a stop at the back of the bakery, she stepped out, foreboding churning in her stomach. If the bishop threatened her with discipline, she might not be able to see Caleb and his family again. And just when Mary seemed to be warming up to her...

  * * *

  The next Sunday, Sarah sat on the bench after the preaching, waiting for the publishing of the banns and the public announcements.

  The preacher glanced from side to side at the filled benches. “I have a joyous announcement to make. Turner Lapp and Naomi Flickinger will be married in two weeks.”

  Sarah grabbed Hannah’s hand and noticed a tear roll down her friend’s cheek. “I’m fine, Sarah,” Hannah whispered, as she flicked the moisture off her chin.

  After the meal, Sarah dropped Hannah off at home and then proceeded to her apartment. Maybe Turner would stop by to invite her to the wedding, as was the custom after the announcement in church. No doubt, they planned a small wedding since they’d both been married before. Finally at 8:00 p.m., she couldn’t wait for Turner any longer. She blew out the lamp and tucked herself in for the night.

  On Monday morning, Sarah waited as Noah Mullet, Naomi’s bruder, and two other men placed their morning orders at the bakery counter. One by one, each man took his sweet roll and coffee and sat at a table. When the shop had cleared of patrons, Noah called out, “Sarah, come over here and sit awhile. Your bruder will be here any minute.”

  Sarah could feel tension, excitement or something brewing with these men. Were they going to play a joke on her bruder? The men had all been friends with Turner for a long time, and often in school had included her in their pranks. What could they possibly be up to? She sat next to Noah. “What’s going on? You guys look like you are going to play a joke on someone.” When the bakery door burst open, the words caught in her throat.

  Turner hurried in and pulled up a chair. “Taking a break, sis?”

  “Jah. Noah asked me to join them. Sorry if I’m intruding on a buwe thing.” She started to stand.

  “Ah, come on, Sarah, stay and talk.” The guys at the table coaxed.

  “Jah, you’re not intruding.” Noah waved his hand in a motion for the others to quiet down. “Turner, have you told Sarah your surprise?”

  Turner shot Noah a frown. “Sis.” His voice shook. He started poking at a crumb on the table, until he slowly brushed it over the table’s edge.

  “What is it?” He was making her nervous.

  Then he let out a hoot. “Naomi and I would like you to help at the wedding, and she would like you to spend the night and get to know her family.”

  Sarah let the requests soak in. She felt like a traitor to Hannah, but Naomi was going to be her sister-in-law. Of course she would have liked it better if he’d picked Hannah for his frau. But she knew that would never happen. “Jah, of course I’ll help. Whatever Naomi wants me to do. I wish you had told me you were getting married. It seems others knew it before me.”

  Sarah stood and swept her eyes over the table of men. Guess it was a joke. She was probably the only person in town who didn’t suspect her bruder was going to marry Naomi. Even after Hannah mentioned it, she didn’t want to believe that he wouldn’t tell her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she headed for the kitchen. It didn’t feel like she and Turner were family any longer.

  She grabbed the rolling pin, took the dough she had resting, rolled it flat, scooped up the piecrust and lined a pie dish. She glanced at Hannah. “Did you hear?”

  “Jah. Now you will have a sister.”

  “You’ll always be my sister, Hannah.” Sarah heard heavy footsteps approaching the kitchen doorway. Turner slowly walked to her work area.

  “I’ll go out and watch the front,” Hannah said. “Turner, I’d love to help Naomi family’s get ready for the wedding, too.”

  “Danki, Hannah. That would be nice.” He waited until Hannah had left the kitchen. “Sarah, why did you run off like that?”

  Her heart pounding like a blacksmith’s hammer, she laid a hand on her chest as if to stop the banging sound that echoed from her chest to her ears. “Turner, everyone in town knew but me. Why the secrecy? You couldn’t tell me?”

  “Once I get married and we start a family, I won’t have much time to help do repairs at the bakery. I was hoping you’d marry Alvin, then I wouldn’t have to worry. But you seemed so against Alvin, I didn’t know how to approach it with you. As it is, I’m trying to save money, working every waking minute and taking extra orders. You should think about marrying Alvin so you will have someone to take care of you.”

  “I see. Someone to take care of me. Alvin has a big farm with hired help, six kinner that need caring for with lots of dirty laundry and meals that need cooking, but I am the one who needs taking care of!” She turned back to her pie. “Get out of here, Turner, and leave me alone.”

  Sarah trotted to the stove and stirred the pan of rhubarb that was simmering for the pie. Like the wispy plume of steam rising from the fruit, silence filled the air.

  “You’re a stubborn woman, sister.”

  Turner’s footsteps trailed off as he headed to the front of the shop. Sarah dropped to her knees and prayed. She took a long look at the height, breadth and depth of her problem, and knew what she had to do.

  Chapter Nine

  Sarah woke in a sweat and gasped. It was Turner’s wedding day. A shiver of fear swept over her heart. She’d have to dodge the bishop and Alvin all day. What if the bishop acting as Alvin’s Schtecklimann—go-between—tried to corner her to set a wedding date? Ach, she’d have to avoid them, or give a firm nein.

  She pushed herself out of bed and slipped into her dress. She’d promised to help her sister-in-law-to-be get ready for the wedding.

  It was time her bruder remarried. His frau had died several years ago. In school, he’d teased Naomi, but when they started to go to singings, Ethan had asked first to take Naomi home and Turner had lost his chance. Sarah remembered how he’d moped for months, until he met his late frau. Now he’d have a second chance at happiness with Naomi.

  Sarah placed the wedding cake she’d made in the buggy, hitched her horse, King, and stopped on the way to pick up her friend. “How are you doing, Hannah?”

  “I’m telling myself that Turner is my bruder and I must be happy for him and Naomi.” Hannah settled herself in the seat and set her cake on her lap. Her cake would be only one of many decorated cakes baked by close friends.

  She reached over and gave Hannah’s hand a quick squeeze. Sarah swallowed the lump in her throat, shook King’s reins and changed the subject. She pointed out yards with beautiful tulips, daffodils, snowball trees in bloom and bushes with bright red leaves.

  While Sarah turned the buggy slowly into the driveway, Hannah braced the cakes with her hands. Naomi’s daed ran over, helped them down and then climbed into the buggy to hand them the cakes.

  Sarah led the way to the living room, which was cleared of furniture, and set her cake on an Eck table—V-shaped tables, placed in the corner for the bridal party. Hannah hesitantly set hers down, too. Sarah glanced at her friend and noticed tears shimmering in her eyes.

  “I’m so sorry, Hannah. I know how this must hurt.”

  She drew a deep breath. “I’m fine.” Her voice shook a little as she swiped her hands down her apron as if fighting for composure.

  “Come on.” Sarah patted Hannah on the shoulder. “Let’s help in the kitchen until it’s time for the wedding. That’ll keep our minds busy.”

  Sarah helped prepare food and made sure the tables were set and the breads were sliced. At 9:00 a.m., the bridal party were already in their places and the singing had begun.

 
At the ceremony, Sarah watched the happy couple. Naomi looked wunderbaar in her new green dress that brought out the specks of jade in her hazel eyes. Turner gazed at Naomi with admiration, and joy radiated from her face. They made liebe look easy, Sarah decided. If only her liebe life were as simple as theirs appeared.

  After dinner, Sarah slipped off to the kitchen to help with cleanup and keep out of Alvin’s sight. When she ventured to the living room to clear tables, Alvin called her name, but she pretended she didn’t hear and dashed back to the kitchen, carrying plates.

  In the late afternoon, Sarah watched the happy couple visit with their guests. Naomi ran over to Sarah, hugged her and whispered, “Danki for helping, sister-in-law.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m happy for both of you.” Sarah gave each of them a kiss on the cheek when Turner strolled over to them.

  “Your wedding is next, jah? Then I can help you.” Naomi’s eyes crinkled with excitement.

  “It won’t be anytime soon.” Sarah shot Turner a smirk.

  He turned back to his frau. “We need to see other guests.”

  Sarah picked up empty cake plates and stacked them until her hands were full. The pile teetered and tipped toward her a little too much until they dumped crumbs on her apron. She set the stack on a table, pulled her apron away from her dress and brushed the crumbs onto a plate. Sarah noticed a man approaching and looked up into Alvin’s smiling face.

  Ach—caught.

  Laying her shaking and soiled hands on her apron, Sarah glanced into his eyes and their unnerving glint. She flashed a smile. “There you are, Alvin. I was wondering when I’d see you. I’ve promised Naomi and her mamm I’d stay here tonight to help with the cleanup and to get better acquainted with my extended family.”

  “Jah, I understand.” The glint disappeared from Alvin’s eyes and his chest deflated with a sigh. “I’ll see you later, Sarah.”

  She grabbed some leftovers and hurried to the kitchen before he thought of something else to say.

  A twinge of regret poked her. I must tell him soon I’m not going to marry him.

  “I heard that. You lied to him.”

  Sarah whipped around. “No, I didn’t, Hannah. They asked, and jah, I might stay.” She handed Hannah a stack of dirty dishes.

  “You need to explain to Alvin how you feel. He’s a reasonable man.”

  “Maybe, but I can’t chance it.”

  Hannah set the empty bowls and platters next to the sink and set glasses and silverware in the sudsy water. She pushed up her sleeves and began washing glasses. “What are you afraid of?”

  Sarah glanced at the ceiling and took a few steps closer to Hannah. “That the bishop and Alvin will set a date for the wedding, announce it in church and force me to marry him or leave town. You are a lot more trusting than I am, Hannah. Maybe because you’ve never been married and had someone make all your decisions for you.”

  The wood flooring squeaked behind Sarah.

  Hannah stopped washing dishes, turned around and gasped. Her eyes darted from someone behind Sarah to Sarah.

  Sarah placed a hand on her throat. It must be Alvin. Well, at least now he knows, but she didn’t mean to hurt his feelings. She pivoted slowly, like a rusty nut on a bolt.

  Caleb stood there, holding a tray of dirty glasses and plates. “I saw you dart through the house, picking up dirty dishes, and thought I’d help you out.”

  Sarah’s stomach twisted. “What are you doing here, Caleb?”

  “I know Naomi Flickinger’s daed. He even got me a gut deal with Turner on replacing my kitchen-cabinet doors. I’ve been thinking about sprucing up my house. It’s time. I thought I might bump into you here.”

  “Turner is my bruder.” Her voice squeaked.

  “Ah, with different last names, I had no idea he was kin to you.” His voice wavered.

  Several women bustled into the kitchen and interrupted Caleb, their arms and hands burdened with dishes and food to store. Sarah searched Caleb’s face, his eyes throwing an icy stare toward her.

  He nodded and set the tray on the table. “Nice to see you again, Sarah,” he said and walked out.

  * * *

  Caleb swallowed hard as he headed out the door. He glanced around at the cloudless deep blue sky. To him, the blue only reflected the bruising of his heart.

  His heart pounded against his chest, trying its best to punch its way out. His palms drenched in sweat, he’d almost dropped the glassware. He’d planned to toss out the dirty paper napkins, but all he wanted was to get as far away from Sarah as possible.

  So, the beautiful Sarah had an admirer. Alvin.

  Of course a woman like her, who could pluck a star from the sky, had someone courting her. Most assuredly, Alvin was Old Order, so there was no conflict with church affiliation. He knew that was the biggest problem for him and Sarah to overcome. She didn’t want to change churches, and neither did he. He’d thought he could convince her otherwise when he took her to Sunday school and Bible study.

  On his way to the buggy, Caleb tried to force a smile to all those he met. It was difficult to do so with a stabbing pain in his gut. Sarah had an obvious attachment to Jacob, and in befriending Caleb, had he mistaken it as affection aimed at him? His face still burned with embarrassment.

  “Fool,” he mumbled through gritted teeth as he climbed in the buggy. “You’re a fool.” He pointed Snowball toward home.

  He trotted Snowball a little faster than usual for a few miles. He lightly pulled on the reins to slow the horse. “Whoa there, settle down, boy.” The steed evidently sensed his agitation. Why should he take things out on his horse because he took a browbeating of his own making?

  It was time he stopped daydreaming about Sarah Gingerich and erased this infatuation from his head and heart.

  * * *

  Sarah knocked on the door to Caleb’s house.

  No answer.

  She knocked again.

  Silence.

  She hadn’t seen Alvin or Caleb in a couple of weeks—not since the wedding. Previously both of them had sought her out. Now neither one came around. Of course, summer meant hard work for farmers. Some vegetables planted early would be ready to harvest. She had noticed on the ride to his farm that trucks and wagons from canneries waited for produce. That roadside stands, farm markets and women wanting fruits and vegetables for canning and freezing would be waiting too. Caleb, no doubt, was very busy.

  One last knock.

  Sarah heard footsteps approaching the door, too light for Caleb, but too heavy for Jacob. The door swung open and Mary stood before her, looking frazzled and nearly worn out.

  “Your daed told me you’d like to learn how to make jam. It’s the perfect time, since strawberries are in season, if you’d like me to show you?”

  Mary shrugged.

  “Four hands are better than two.” Sarah raised her brow.

  “Could you show me how to can vegetables, too?” Mary asked.

  “Jah, be glad to help. Ready to start now, or is another day better?”

  Opening the door wider, she allowed Sarah to enter. They tackled the jam first. When they finished with that, Mary pointed to the big pot of string beans waiting in the corner.

  “I picked them yesterday. There should be enough for eight quarts.” It saved time that Mary had thought to wash and sterilize the jars the day before.

  “Do you have much experience with canning, Mary?” She replied that her mamm’s sisters had helped. When Mary asked questions to learn, Sarah tried to teach her all she could.

  An hour later Mary’s tongue had loosened. “Are you and my daed courting?” Mary kept her voice even. “He never mentions you anymore.”

  Out of the mouths of young’ins. Sarah stayed silent, hoping that would signal Mary to drop the subject.

  “Are you two still friends?” Sarah c
ouldn’t decide by Mary’s tone whether she was glad or not.

  Apparently she decided Sarah wasn’t going to answer, but Mary was in a mood to talk. “I’m fourteen on my next birthday.”

  “Oh? Not much longer until sixteen. Are you looking forward to attending your first singing?” Sarah held a jar as Mary filled it with beans.

  “I’m a little nervous.”

  “Is there a special bu you have your eye on?”

  “Nein. When I asked Daed questions, he said I’m too little to worry about it.”

  “He might not want to see his little girl growing up so fast. Give him time. He’ll get used to the idea.”

  “He and Mamm were so much in liebe. I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t want that for me.” She looked at Sarah thoughtfully. “Mamm was a good cook and a loving person. We all missed her terribly at first, snapping at each other and not wanting to touch anything in the house of hers. Then we decided it wasn’t what she would have wanted.”

  Sarah’s heart fell. Maybe Caleb wasn’t ready to recommit.

  “I know what you’re going through, Mary. I lost my mamm, my daed and my ehemann, Samuel, all within two years. It’s hard to lose loved ones. I felt like I was numb inside for a very long time. Nothing seemed right. Then one day, the grief lessened and I moved on.”

  “Exactly.” Mary held up the spoon dripping with hot liquid before dumping its content into the jar. “Mamm would have wanted us to get on with our lives. Last week, I finished some sewing she’d started. Before, I didn’t have the heart to move her mending, let alone finish it. Suddenly it just seemed like the right time.”

  Sarah nodded and sensed Mary was getting through the grieving process.

  Three hours later, heavy footsteps tromped up the porch stairs. Then stopped. Sarah straightened her back and squared her shoulders. Had Caleb recognized her buggy?

  The door opened and Caleb stepped in. Jah, he must be surprised to see her. She glanced over and met his gaze.