* * *
Dearest Gabbie,
I hope you are well. I have some news and had to write immediately to inform you of something, which will no doubt make you rush back to us all if you are able to do so. Joseph is no longer engaged to Ilsa! You must be here to catch him before someone else gets to him first, or before he changes his mind and takes Ilsa back.
Come home, dear friend. Come home quickly.
All my love, your best friend,
Sally
* * *
Gabbie dropped the letter. Her heart beat so fast, and her throat clenched tight; she thought she might pass out from the intensity of her emotions. “I have to get home. I simply must get home.” Moving into the light, allowing the sun to warm her cheeks, she sighed. “Oh, Joseph, I always said we were meant to be. And now, fate has given me an opening, a chance, and I will use it. I will.”
A grin consumed her face; She part ran and part skipped back to Martha's house. Determined to write to her parents and beg them to allow her back home, she composed the perfect letter in her mind, ready for when she held paper and pen.
She'd been away from her home for long enough, and would convince them that she was worthy of forgiveness, had earned their respect, and had changed. She would do this by groveling, begging if she had to, because she must have Joseph at any cost.
But I'll need to convince Martha's family of it too, otherwise, they'll tell them what they think I'm like and I'll never see Joseph single again.
On her return, everyone was waiting for her on the porch. Gabbie started talking before they could. “Before you say anything…” She raised her hands. “Please let me apologize. My behavior over the mail was atrocious, especially taking off with my letter like that.”
“Stop right there.” Martha’s mother frowned and her lips turned down. “There's no use misbehaving only to offer a quick apology. This is not the way to behave. This is why I keep telling you to stop and think before you act and speak.” Irritation creased her face and reddened her watery eyes, but her husband patted her hand, offering silent comfort as always.
Where's my comfort? I won't get that until I return home and find Joseph. “Absolutely.” Gabbie had to work harder, be more persuasive. “You're right. I shouldn't have allowed my utter sadness, and my silly homesickness to impede good behavior and good manners. I do so want to be better than this, and I feel as though this outburst has helped me to turn a corner.” Gabbie lowered her head, but peered up at Martha and her parents, judging their expressions.
Mr. and Mrs. Yoder looked at each other and then Mrs. Yoder said, “If you're telling the truth, I'm both relieved and pleased to hear it.”
“I'm so grateful for everything you've done for me, and for the advice you've offered. Truly I am. I need to write home. I need to write to my mudder and vadder. I’m ready to go home.”
Mr. Yoder had been silent up until now. “Write your letter while I discuss a fitting punishment for your bad behavior.”
Gabbie nodded. “I will.” She ran to Martha’s bedroom and closed the door behind her. She took paper and pen from her suitcase and sat on a chair near the window to write:
* * *
Dear Mother and Father,
It's been a very trying time without my family, but I've faced up to harsh truths during my time away. My bad behavior is altered and I admit that I was a terrible girl back when you first sent me here.
At first, I resented you for it. It felt unfair. But now I realize you did what you had to do. After all, I left you with no choice.
I want you to know that I've benefitted immensely from your decision, and I thank you for making it. However, I now feel ready to face up to things, to become the young woman you need me to be.
If only I'd listened to you back then. The fact is, now I can appreciate this simple fact with hindsight to guide me, and I will bow to your greater wisdom from now on, without old resentments or hostilities.
For these reasons, and because I miss home so very much, I pray you make another wise decision by allowing me to return home as soon as you feel it is correct and good.
Gabbie.
* * *
When Gabbie finally went downstairs, she hoped her sorrowful apology resulted in a kinder, less severe punishment. She sought out Mr. and Mrs. Yoder who were in the kitchen.
“You’ll not be allowed to a singing or any outings for a week,” Mr. Yoder said.
Gabbie nodded. “Okay.”
When she left the kitchen, Martha was waiting for her. “Gabbie, I’ll post the letter for you now.”
Her eyes widened. “Would you?”
Martha nodded.
“I’ll go upstairs and get it. When you get back, I’ll tell you what Sally said in the letter.”
Now it was clear to Gabbie how important it was that letters got to people. She put herself in Amy’s shoes and felt dreadful for throwing Amy's letter to Onkel Andrew away. As soon as Martha had gone, Gabbie sneaked out of the house and called her uncle at his timber mill. She confessed everything to him, not only had she thrown Amy’s letter to him away in a fit of temper, also that she knew Amy had always loved him and was suffering being away from him.
There was silence from the other end of the phone and Gabbie hoped he still liked Amy. “Well, are you pleased?”
“I’m not pleased with what you’ve done, but I’m pleased you’ve confessed. You’ll have to tell Amy what you’ve done.”
“I will.” Yes, she would, but not just yet. “But are you happy she loves you. Do you love her? I know you did once.”
“My private life is my private life, Gabbie. I thank you for letting me know.”
Gabbie heard the back door shut and didn’t want anyone to know she was using the phone. “Gotta go.” She promptly hung up the phone’s receiver.
Chapter 31
Gabbie was more polite and refined three weeks later when another letter arrived for her. It was from her parents.
* * *
Dear Gabbie,
We were very glad to hear you have grown from this experience and will return to us a young woman befitting this household and our good name.
It is with great pleasure we allow your return home at the Yoder family’s earliest convenience. We have sent the required sum to purchase the train ticket and once we have secured the schedule for your journey, we will arrange to meet you here at this end. Hope to see you in a couple of weeks.
With love,
Your loving parents
* * *
Gabbie squealed, “Home, I'm going home.” She ran down to see her hosts, smiling and waving the letter around.
“I know.” Holding onto a bank note, Mrs. Yoder said, “Your parents wrote me too. Looks like we have a train ticket to purchase. Get your coat. We'll make the arrangements now.”
The following week, while waiting for her departure day, Gabbie made the best of the time and spent it trying to learn about being ladylike from Martha, her sisters, and their mother. Mrs. Yoder had been livelier lately. Gabbie preferred the old Mrs. Yoder, the one who had little to say; she was more likable when she’d been tired and unwell.
On the last day, Gabbie was packed and ready to go hours before she’d needed to be. She reminded herself that to misbehave now would mean to lose Joseph, and her chance of going home. As annoying as it was, she would have to be meek, be grateful, and be patient.
Once at the station, she offered a hurried goodbye to Martha and Mr. Yoder. The rest of the family had stayed at home.
“We’ll all miss you, Gabbie,” Mr. Yoder said.
“Me especially,” Martha said, hugging her tight.
Gabbie was a little surprised they seemed upset when she boarded the train. Perhaps they were telling the truth and they would miss her. All Gabbie cared about was getting on with the daylong journey.
She found her seat and looked out the window. Gabbie opened the window and called to the Yoders who were waving at her. “Denke for welcoming me into your hom
e, Mr. Yoder.” She looked at Martha. “You've been really great.” If a little boring. “I’ll miss you, Martha.”
“Write to me, Gabbie.”
“I will. For certain, I will.”
“Be gut at home so you don’t get sent back soon,” Mr. Yoder said with a laugh. “I’m joking. You’re always welcome, Gabbie. Come and visit us again soon.”
Gabbie waved out of the window as the train left the station. Her long journey to her true love, Joseph, was just beginning.
After dinner that night, there was a knock on the door, and Martha held her breath and hoped it was Michael. She made sure she got to the door first and she flung it open to see her hope fulfilled; Michael, standing on the porch.
“Can you come outside and talk, Martha?”
Martha looked over her shoulder and her father gave her a nod. “Jah, for sure.”
They both walked down the steps of the porch and headed away from the house.
“I’ve heard Gabbie went home today.” He stopped still and turned to face her.
Martha smiled and looked up into his face. “Jah, we’re not that long back from the station. She was excited to go home. I was going to come and tell you tomorrow.”
“Do you remember what you said to me in the hospital, and our secret?”
She nodded. She had not forgotten one word of what they said that day.
“Do you still mean it?” Michael asked.
“I do.”
“I told you I’d wait for you, and here I am. I want to see more of you, Martha.”
“I’d like that.”
“You are the nicest woman I’ve ever known. I’ve never known a woman to be so caring and kind.”
Martha giggled. “What about your mudder?”
“Well... jah. Except for my mudder.” Michael chuckled.
“You’re making out I’m something special, and I’m not. I love Gabbie and I didn’t want to hurt her, that’s all.” Martha had done what she thought only fitting for a Christian woman to do and no more. If she had been selfish, things might not have worked out so well.
“You’re so sweet, Martha. I don’t want to leave here and go back to Ohio unless you come with me.”
Martha swallowed hard. She had thought she might lose him and was glad that he waited for her. She knew he was a good man. He’d left his construction job he loved, and came from Ohio to help out on his sick uncle’s farm.
Michael took hold of her hands and held them close to his heart. “I’ve thought about nothing else other than you these past few weeks. There are so many things I have to stop myself saying to you. I don’t want to rush things; I want to take things slow.”
They gazed into each other’s eyes for a moment.
“I know you don’t speak much, Martha, but you know how I feel about you. I never want to change you from being the quiet person you are. If you feel the same about me as I do about you, just tell me.”
“I do, Michael, I do.”
Michael laughed as if relieved and squeezed her hands tight.
They gazed into each other’s eyes. Martha was thankful that everything had worked out for everybody. She was still good friends with Gabbie, and Gabbie was going back to see Joseph. Things couldn’t have turned out any better. Martha said a silent prayer of thanks. She learned that when God is put first, all things find a way of falling into place.
Now, would Gott work a miracle for Amy? Amy was still desperately in love with Andrew. Where was he?
The trip from Lancaster County to Augusta had been a long one, and now, Gabbie Miller was nearly home. The letter bringing the good news that Joseph had broken off his engagement with Ilsa had not left her hand all day. As Sally had advised in her letter, she’d better get home fast before someone else snapped him up. Everyone had always said Joseph was handsome, and the best catch in the community.
When the bus pulled into the stop at Augusta, Wisconsin, Gabbie threw her suitcase to the ground. She followed it by jumping off and landing right next to it.
Her parents were there, waiting to collect her, and her mother tut-tutted at her. “Come now, what happened to the more ladylike behavior you told us you were committed to?” her mother asked, even before she said ‘hello.’
“Ach, sorry. I was so desperate to have my feet on solid ground that I clean forgot myself.” Gabbie remembered that things went well for her when she told people what they wanted to hear. “Forgive me; I’m just an eager daughter happy to return to the bosom of her familye.” The smiles on her parents’ faces told her she hadn’t lost her touch.
After playing the adoring daughter for half an hour during their buggy ride home, it was time; she had to find out about Joseph. “What's been happening? Any news from within the community?”
“Just the usual. Nothing noteworthy,” her mother drawled. “You'll catch up on everything soon enough.”
“Nothing startling happened then?” Joseph dumping his fiancée was enormous news for a small community such as theirs, so how could they not tell her? Her mother wasn't a gossip, but Gabbie knew a few who were. “Nothing new has rocked the community lately?”
“Nee. Whatever do you mean?” Her mother leaned back, folded her arms, and scrutinized her. “Everything is as it was before you left. Why on earth would you think otherwise?”
Her father rolled his eyes, uninterested in tales and idle gossip.
Gabbie soon grew irritated by her mother's lack of comprehension. “Sally wrote to tell me about Joseph breaking off his engagement to poor Ilsa.” Gabbie attempted to show sympathy to a jilted woman, as it was proper to do so. “That's a big deal, isn't it? I thought the community would be troubled over that sort of thing.” She smiled and blinked her large hazel eyes.
“That's not so at all.” Gabbie's mother waved a disapproving finger at her. “Sally couldn't have been more wrong. They’re still very much together.”
Nausea cramped Gabbie's stomach and made her woozy. “What?” she gulped. “What does ‘very much together’ mean?”
Her mother turned her eyes to the road ahead. “Ach, I shouldn't have to paint a picture for you, Gabbie dear.”
Hoping against all hope, Gabbie suspected her mother misread Joseph's kindness for adoration. “You mean he talked with her, showed her compassion after the breakup? Because if that's what you were referring to, then everyone who talks and has compassion can easily be misread.” Gabbie knew she was grasping at anything to make sense of the situation.
Her mother frowned and shook her head.
Gabbie continued, “They could have broken up as Sally told me but stayed friends. Joseph is very good like that; he’s very kind.”
“Is he really?” Gabbie’s father asked, turning his head away from the road to look at her.
Gabbie screamed inside when her cheeks burned. “So I've heard, Dat.”
“Being the bishop, your vadder would be the first to know if something like that had happened. Either way, it’s none of your concern, Gabbie.”
“Your mudder is right, Gabbie. Keep your nose in your own business, and out of other people’s business.” Her father sighed and turned his attention to the road ahead, away from Gabbie and his wife.
“Well, Dat?” Gabbie asked.
He shook his head. “Stop it, Gabbie. They’re still together. I didn’t know you were so interested in other people.”
“I am.” Gabbie’s voice softly trailed away as her imagination tortured her with images of Joseph and Ilsa being a couple. Sick, I need to be sick.
“And it'll be your turn to be engaged soon.” Gabbie's mother nudged her arm. “Now that you've learned how to behave like a lady, we can look into getting you married off … er, I mean married too.”
Gabbie gasped. What had she done? Her deceptions had gotten her home for what? To be 'married off?'
“Are you well, Gabbie dear?” Her mother waved her handkerchief in her face. “You're awfully red.”
“Fine, I'm fine.” Gabbie grabbed her mother's hand, p
ut it into her lap, and patted it. This did not satisfy her need to scream one bit, as she imagined herself throttling Sally for her lies. “I'll just be glad to get home, that’s all. It's been a long day.”
Her mother peered into her face. “Of course, you must be exhausted. We'll be home soon.”
Gabbie's father said, “In around ten minutes I expect.”
Gabbie stared into the darkness outside the buggy, her stomach so crippled with rage that it twisted like a hurricane.
Joseph is still not mine, my best friend is a liar, and they will try to make me marry someone else.
Chapter 32
The following day, Gabbie couldn't eat breakfast. Her stomach was still churning, and all she could think about was seeing Sally. She had to get to the truth of the matter. She found her mother in the living room and said, “Mamm, I'm going to visit Sally.” Gabbie wore her oldest dress and an over-apron that was once white but was now gray with age and wear. What is the point in looking my best if Joseph is still engaged to Ilsa?
“Are you, now?” Her mother looked her over, disapproval was written on her face. “Don't you mean to ask permission to leave this haus? Something like: ‘Mamm, may I visit Sally at some point today?’”
Gabbie stopped herself short before giving a cheeky response, knowing it would make her mother regret allowing her back home.
“Quite right, Mamm.” She sat down on the couch, spine erect, hands folded in her lap. “I won't go then.”
Her mother grinned. “Excellent. You can see her soon enough. Today we need to give your room a good cleaning. It hasn’t been cleaned since you left.” Mrs. Miller wrinkled her nose as she looked at her daughter’s clothes. “What you're wearing can go in the rag basket. Go upstairs and change. You’ve got so many clothes, I don’t know why you chose those.”
The Amish Deacon's Daughter Page 17
