Loren radiated hospitality, and Cevilla could see that he would make an excellent innkeeper. They’d already eaten, but her curiosity got the best of her. How far along was the construction inside? She glanced at Delilah, who looked like she had downed a bottle of vinegar. Why were her petticoats in such a twist? “We’d love to.” Cevilla handed the peanut butter cookies to Delilah and stepped inside.
“Cevilla,” Richard looked perplexed. “We’ve already—”
“Come along.” Of course he was going to try to keep her from accepting Loren’s invitation, since neither of them were hungry. But unfortunately for Cevilla Schlabach, there were times when nosiness overcame common sense.
“The kitchen’s this way,” Loren said. “Don’t mind the dust.” Loren laughed as he gestured around the living room. “We’re under construction, as you can see.”
Cevilla hobbled through a living area that was neat but had seen better days. This house had been abandoned for a long time, so it was to be expected that it needed repair. She followed him to the kitchen, where the doorway wasn’t framed in.
When she walked inside, she froze. What have we here? She looked at the stunned faces of four young people and smiled. Martha and Seth were sitting next to each other, across from Nina and a young man she assumed was her brother, Levi. She hadn’t met Levi yet, but he had the same cheery face his father had. Nina didn’t look as sour as she had on Sunday, but she wasn’t as bright as her sibling.
Wait. Cevilla’s smile slid from her face. Martha, Seth, Nina, Levi . . . She looked at Delilah, who was putting the plate of cookies on the counter, shoving them far into the corner as if they were contaminated. Well, well, well. Cevilla recognized matchmaking machinations when she saw them. This supper was obviously a setup, and Delilah had to be behind it. This put a kink in plan B, which, as far as Cevilla was concerned, was still in play no matter what she’d led Martha to believe when she’d visited her at Hezekiah’s shop. At least Cevilla’s version of plan B.
This wouldn’t do. Cevilla wasn’t going to let this woman get in the way of Martha’s and Seth’s happiness—even though Martha and Seth had yet to discover said happiness. They never would if Delilah continued to interfere.
Levi stood. Even though he wasn’t smiling, he still looked welcoming and good-natured. “I’ll grab two more chairs.” Then he did smile at Cevilla and Richard. “Welcome to our home.”
“Danki, Levi,” she said, forgetting that she made a special effort to speak only English in Richard’s presence. She looked at Martha and Seth, their expressions resembling a deer staring down three sets of headlights. Don’t worry, dears. I’ll handle this. Then she turned to Delilah. “It appears I came just in time.”
* * *
Martha watched as the newcomers sat down in the chairs Levi provided, at the additional place settings Nina had made. Good gravy, what was Cevilla doing here? It was bad enough that Delilah had given them all assigned seats, with her sitting next to Levi. But Nina had skillfully bypassed that, taking her seat next to Levi when Delilah had her back turned as she stirred noodles on the stove. Martha had quickly sat down, practically yanking Seth down next to her. Delilah had looked shocked at the change in seating, and then she frowned. Martha was sure she was going to insist they go back to the original seating arrangements, but then they heard the knock at the front door.
“I’ll get it,” Levi had said, getting up from his chair.
“I’ll get it.” Delilah gave Levi a pointed look, and he sank back into his seat. Loren had followed her a minute later.
Then they both returned, with Cevilla and Richard in tow. Martha saw the sly look on Cevilla’s face when she saw her and Seth sitting next to each other. Then she saw it disappear when she glanced at Delilah. Now they were all sitting at a table too small for eight people, with Cevilla and Delilah exchanging narrow glances. Martha had known tonight was going to be difficult, even with Seth’s cooperation and then Nina’s, once she’d managed to get her alone earlier, just long enough to explain the plan. With the two older women glaring at each other, it felt like a powder keg was about to go off.
“Let’s pray.” Loren, who seemed oblivious to the tense undercurrent, bowed his head.
Martha followed suit. Lord, please don’t let this become a disaster. I promise I will tell Mamm and Daed everything tonight when I get home. She should have done that yesterday, but she’d avoided it. Mamm hadn’t said anything to her about Seth, which relieved her, but she couldn’t bring herself to admit that she and Seth had only pretended to like each other. Yet that was the least of their worries. With Cevilla here, how could she and Seth pretend to like each other? Cevilla would either know they were faking, or worse, she would believe them. Either way, she would take credit for thinking of the idea in the first place.
She felt a nudge against her leg and opened her eyes. Turning to Seth, she saw the tight smile on his face. Then she looked at the rest of the people around the table and saw they were all looking at her. “Needed a bit of extra prayer,” she mumbled, trying to smile. But she couldn’t pull it off, not with her stomach churning, her guilt growing, and, great, now she was sweating. It was hot in the kitchen, and that didn’t help. She tried to inconspicuously wipe the perspiration from underneath her eyes as Loren picked up the platter of fried chicken.
He turned to Cevilla. “White or dark meat?”
“Dark, if you please.”
He nodded, took the tongs, and then placed a chicken leg on her plate. He handed the plate to Nina, who was sitting next to her. Nina peered over the plate at Martha, looking as strained as Martha felt. Just get us through this, Lord.
“If I had known we would be having extra company,” Delilah said, picking up a basket of sliced bread, “I would have fried a few more pieces of chicken.”
“We don’t eat much.” Cevilla took the napkin near her plate and placed it in her lap.
“I appreciate your hospitality,” Richard said. He sounded polite and looked calm, but Martha thought she detected a glint of annoyance in his eyes. When he glanced at Cevilla, she could see it for sure.
“The more the merrier.” Loren eyed his mother. “We need to get used to this, Mudder. Lots of extra people will be here once we open the inn, the Lord willing. That’s the whole point of starting this business.”
Delilah sniffed and put two pieces of bread on her plate. “Not during our personal meals, sohn.”
Seth nudged Martha again with his leg. She turned to him, expecting to see that irritated scowl he so often wore. Instead, she saw amusement in his eyes. He leaned closer and said in a low voice that sent a shiver down her spine, “Would you like a slice, Martha?”
“Uh, ya.” She nodded, and he handed her the basket. She knocked her knee against his thigh. Didn’t he realize they had to abandon their plan now? She took the breadbasket and glanced at Cevilla, who was looking mighty pleased with herself. Oh nee. Now Martha would have to make explanations to her too.
“Martha, I didn’t realize you and Seth knew the Stolls so well,” Cevilla said.
“We don’t,” they said at the same time, making Cevilla’s smile grow wider. She looked so smug, they both chuckled, and for a moment Martha forgot this was the worst supper party she’d ever attended.
“I’m glad you came.” Nina gave the coleslaw to her father. “Martha and I have become friends.”
“Yes,” Martha said, smiling at her. “We have.” She was glad everyone was speaking English for Richard’s sake—even Delilah.
“It’s always nice to have friends over for supper.” Cevilla looked at Delilah. “Don’t you think?”
Delilah picked up a plump chicken breast. “Ya. Much better than wrangling for a free meal.”
Cevilla’s expression turned cold.
“The chicken is excellent,” Richard said, although he hadn’t taken a single bite of the wing he’d selected earlier. “I’m always impressed with Amish cooking.”
“I don’t normally cook for”—Del
ilah looked him up and down—“English people. But I suppose that’s another thing I need to get used to.”
“The inn was your idea, Grandmother.” Levi poured gravy over his mashed potatoes. “Remember?”
“I didn’t realize you knew that,” Delilah said tightly.
Martha and Seth exchanged glances again. While this was certainly an uncomfortable conversation, at least everyone seemed to have forgotten the matchmaking goal of the evening. Thank you, Lord.
“And it was an excellent idea.” Loren smiled at his mother. “I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”
Nina looked at her dad with a pensive expression. “You haven’t?”
“Your grandmother was right. It was time for me to make a change.”
Nina nodded and looked down at her plate, but she made no move to eat.
The table grew quiet, except for the sound of people eating. Martha saw Cevilla and Delilah glancing at each other, their expressions strained. Richard kept his head down as he nibbled on his chicken wing, while Levi and Loren, who both still seemed oblivious to the tension, ate their meal with gusto.
Martha looked at Seth. He was using his bread to sop up the leftover gravy on his plate, obviously enjoying the food. Maybe he didn’t notice the tension either.
“That was delicious, Mamm. You outdid yourself with this meal,” Loren said. He turned to Levi. “I think we can get the last of those boards up on the house before the sun goes down. Sol made a good dent in them today.”
Levi nodded.
“Wait.” Delilah set down her fork. “You haven’t had dessert.”
Loren pushed away from the table and stood. “No room for dessert.”
“I’ll have mine later,” Levi said, following his father toward the back door.
“But we have company!”
“Can I give you both a hand?” Loren and Levi halted, and Seth set his napkin on the table and looked at Martha. “You don’t mind, do you?”
She couldn’t figure out if he was serious or playacting. Either way, he didn’t need her permission to help Loren and Levi. “Not at all,” she said, giving it anyway.
“Thanks, Seth. We can use all the help we can get.” Loren looked at Richard. “Interested in supervising?”
“You bet.” He didn’t look at Cevilla as he took his cane and stood up. “I used to be in construction myself.”
“Richard—”
He turned to her. “Come get me when you’re ready to go.”
Cevilla clamped her mouth shut as the men left the room.
An eerie silence descended on the room as the women stayed in their chairs. Martha wasn’t sure what to do. Should she offer to clear the table? Make an excuse for leaving early? Crack a joke to break the tension? She looked at Delilah and Cevilla. No, a joke would be the wrong thing right now.
“Grossmutter made a chocolate cake,” Nina said, her voice barely above a whisper. “She was famous in our community for her cakes.”
“Oh really.” Cevilla sat back in her chair. “I make a pretty gut blueberry pie myself.”
“Pies,” Delilah scoffed. “Everyone can make a pie.”
“I can’t.”
They all looked at Martha. She shrugged. “I’ve tried, but the crust is always soggy. Cooking isn’t one of the mei strengths.”
Delilah frowned. “What about sewing?”
“I can make mei own clothes. That’s about it.”
“Cleaning?”
“Passable.” Why was she suddenly being quizzed like this?
“Martha has many admirable qualities. Homemaking isn’t the measure of a woman, anyway.” Cevilla’s gaze softened as she looked at Martha.
“It’s the measure of a wife,” Delilah said. “Then again, how would you know? I heard you’ve never been married.”
Martha jerked her head toward Delilah, who picked up her napkin and dabbed at the corner of her mouth. Martha didn’t appreciate her tone. “A woman doesn’t have to be married to be fulfilled.”
“Perhaps. But one also wonders what failings a lifelong single woman might have that would drive away a mann.”
“Cevilla has Richard.” Martha lifted her chin.
“Oh, right. An English mann.”
Cevilla spoke up. “An honorable English mann. One of the finest I’ve ever known.”
“Be that as it may, I didn’t realize this community was liberal when it came to couples cohabitating.”
“We are not cohabitating, as if that’s any of yer business.” Cevilla’s voice took on an ominous tone. She stood from the table and took her cane. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, mei friend and I will depart now.” She looked at Nina. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Nina. You have a lovely personality. Clearly you don’t take after yer grossmutter.”
“Cevilla.” Martha shot up from the chair, but she didn’t say anything else. Cevilla was being rude, but Delilah had asked for it with her distasteful comment.
Cevilla was already opening the back door. Martha had never seen her like this. She was really upset. Martha hurried and followed her outside. “Cevilla,” she said. It didn’t take long for her to catch up with the woman.
Cevilla turned around. They weren’t that far from the house, and there was a possibility their conversation would be heard, but that didn’t stop her from speaking her mind. “I have never met a more insufferable woman in mei life.”
Martha thought Cevilla had been insufferable, too, especially a minute ago. “That doesn’t mean you can be rude to her. We turn the other cheek, right?”
“Can’t you see what she’s doing? She wants to match you and Seth with her grandchildren.” She tapped her cane on the concrete patio. “How impudent.”
“You’re trying to do the same thing with Seth and me. We’ve figured that out, by the way.”
“That’s different.”
Martha put her hands on her hips. “How? You’re both trying to force something that isn’t there.”
“That’s not what I saw.” Her expression turned crafty. “Seems you and Seth are getting along quite well.”
“That’s because . . . Oh, forget it.” She was tired of this. Tired of everything that had to do with romance and relationships. “You need to apologize to Delilah.”
Cevilla paused, her heated expression dissolving into contriteness. “I do. But not now. I need to cool off before I say something I really regret.” She turned and yelled, “Richard! We’re leaving.”
Richard, who was talking to Loren near the front of the addition while Levi and Seth nailed plywood to the floor beams, turned to her. “One minute,” he said.
“Now!”
Richard’s bushy eyebrows went up, but he didn’t move. He continued to talk to Loren while Cevilla tapped her foot impatiently. Finally, he shook Loren’s hand and made his way slowly, walking more slowly than normal, in her direction. When he reached her, he looked at Martha. “Have a pleasant evening,” he said, a sweet smile on his face. But that changed when he turned to Cevilla. “Now I’m ready to go.”
Martha watched this interaction in shock. She’d never seen Richard lose his temper, or even raise his voice. But his eyes were steely cold as he faced down Cevilla. He wasn’t a man who would be bossed around.
Cevilla nodded, her lips in a thin line. Then she followed Richard to the driveway. When they disappeared around the corner of the house, Martha heard the back door open. She turned to see Nina walking toward her.
“That went well.” Nina sighed and stood next to Martha.
“I guess it could have been worse. And it spared Seth and me from having to pretend in front of yer grossmutter.”
Nina frowned. “Weren’t you pretending in there?”
Martha shook her head. “What do you mean?”
“The way you two looked at each other.” Her frown turned to confusion. “You even giggled at the same time.”
“We didn’t giggle.” She lifted her chin. “More like a small chuckle.”
“It was a gi
ggle.” A smile lifted at the corner of Nina’s mouth.
“Anyway,” Martha said, setting aside what Nina was insinuating, “I’m sorry about Cevilla.”
“And I’m sorry about Delilah.”
“Do you think they realize how alike they are?” Martha asked, finally able to crack a smile. Bossy, nosy, and both 100 percent sure they were right.
Nina laughed. “They have nee idea.”
Chapter 11
Seth nailed the last board into the floor of the Stolls’ addition, then stood up. His back was dripping with sweat, but he wasn’t as tired as he thought he’d be after another night of tossing and turning, then a full day’s work on the farm before coming here for supper. A supper that turned out to be more entertaining than expected. Cevilla and Delilah were two peas in a pod, all right. Hopefully they would get over their differences and become friends, but so far they were acting like sworn enemies.
Even better, he’d been spared from faking any romantic feelings for Martha. He also enjoyed the food. The fried chicken was perfect, and the gravy didn’t have a single lump. He was willing to lend a hand when it came to construction projects, so he felt good about helping Loren and Levi. Other than the questionable behavior of two women who should have known better, he had a decent time.
Still, he was ready to go home. He’d met Martha here, so he didn’t have to take her home. But he needed to talk to her before he left—alone.
“Danki for helping us,” Levi said, handing Seth a bottle of water.
He opened it immediately and drained it. “Nee problem,” he said, gasping a little. He’d put that away a little fast. “Glad to help.”
“Don’t worry. Next time you come over, you won’t have to pitch in.”
Next time? Did Levi have the same agenda his grandmother did?
Levi flipped his empty bottle in his hand. “I was glad Daed suggested working on the haus tonight. It’s bad enough that mei grossmutter is doing her matchmaking thing again, but her and Cevilla . . .” He shook his head and laughed. “I think Delilah has met her match. I didn’t think I’d ever see the day.”
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