Naomi shook her head. “He’s not home. I’ll wait until tonight.” She looked at Margaret, her eyes suddenly going wide. “The bread twists!”
“I took them out already,” Margaret said.
Naomi breathed a sigh of relief. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Her friend’s cheeks pinked. “You’d do just fine.” She smiled. “All this baking has made me hungry.”
“Let’s break for lunch.”
A short while later Margaret joined Naomi on the back porch underneath the extended roof, a shiny red apple in one hand, a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich in the other. With the toe of her black lace-up shoe, Naomi pushed a chair toward Margaret and took a bite of her tuna fish sandwich.
It had rained most of the morning. Heavy drops fell from the edge of the roof, but there was enough shelter to keep the women dry.
“We won’t be able to sit out here much longer.” Margaret sat down and let out a small shiver. “Winter isn’t far around the corner.”
Naomi pulled her sweater closer to her body. “I’m surprised it’s so chilly. Must be because of the storm last night.”
Margaret polished the apple on the edge of her white apron. A few grease spots dotted the thin fabric. “How are the wedding plans going?”
“Other than what I’ve already told you, gut so far.” Naomi set her sandwich down on her napkin and took a sip of water from her glass.
“And to think those two wouldn’t be getting married if you hadn’t helped them find each other.”
“Oh, I didn’t do much.”
“You must have, because Priscilla said you convinced her to give Chester a chance. And I remember seeing you talking to Chester a few times. The next thing I hear, the two of them are courting.” Margaret sighed. “It’s all so romantic.”
Naomi smiled. “They are a perfect match, ya? My sister has never been so happy.”
“I know I shouldn’t say this, but I’m a little jealous.” Margaret rolled her apple around in her hand. “I wish I could find someone to love.”
“You will.”
“Sometimes I really doubt that. I’m almost twenty-four, Naomi.”
“What about Ben Hooley?”
“Him?” Margaret waved her hand as if she were batting away a pesky fly.
“But he’s picked you up a couple of times.” Naomi thought of the quiet, stolid man who had moved to their district a few years ago. “I thought you two liked each other.”
“He only gives me rides home as a favor to Daed. He doesn’t even talk on the ride home. Ben Hooley isn’t the mann for me, that’s for sure.” She leaned forward, her cheeks turning pink, her voice lowering to a whisper. “I’m kind of embarrassed to ask you this.”
“We’re friends, Margaret. You can ask me anything.”
Margaret’s light blond eyebrows formed a V over her pale blue eyes. “Could you . . . could you help me find someone?”
Naomi gave her an encouraging smile. “You don’t need my help to find a beau. Any mann would be interested in you. You’re smart and sweet and lovely.”
“I’m old.” Margaret’s frown deepened. “And I can’t be that sweet and lovely, because no one has been interested in me for a long time.”
“You just haven’t found the right mann. He’ll come along.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“I do. God has set apart someone special for you, Margaret. You’ll meet him in the Lord’s timing.”
“I wish the Lord would hurry up, then.” Margaret leaned back in her chair and put the apple on the desk. “I also wish I could be patient about this, like you are. I’m not at peace with being an old maid.”
Naomi flinched a little inwardly. She’d never considered herself an old maid, and at twenty-five, she was older than Margaret. But she’d never felt any pressure from her family to get married, and her life was busy and satisfying. She’d had little time to think about dating. Except for David . . .
She put her former boyfriend out of her mind. She’d come to terms with what he did three years ago. She even counted herself blessed that she hadn’t married him.
“It scares me,” Margaret said.
“What does?”
“That I’ll never know what it’s like to fall in love. To have a kinn.” Her gaze met Naomi’s. “I don’t want to be alone.”
Naomi reached out and patted her hand. “You won’t be.”
Margaret’s face brightened. “Does that mean you’ll help me? Like you helped Priscilla?”
“Ya,” Naomi said, glad to see the strain seep away from her friend’s expression. She didn’t know exactly what she could do to help Margaret find a beau, but she’d figure that out later.
Margaret smiled. “I knew I could trust you to understand.” She reached into the pocket of her apron and took out two cookies, offering one to Naomi.
“Are these the ones you just made?”
“Ya. They’re still a little warm.”
Naomi bit into the soft cookie. Chocolate and sugar flavors flooded her mouth. “Mmmm. I think these are the best batch you’ve made so far.”
“I could barely make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when I first started here.”
“Now that’s an exaggeration.” Naomi ate the rest of the cookie. “Truly delicious.”
“I have a gut teacher. Do you still like teaching your cooking classes?”
“I love it. I teach my last one this Saturday. I suspended the class for the rest of the month because of the wedding.”
“Have any men signed up?” Margaret wiggled her delicate eyebrows. “Amish mann don’t like to cook, but I’ve heard there are a lot of Englisch mann that do.”
“Nee. I never had a man sign up. Although it could happen someday.”
“Make sure you let me know when it does. I may drop in on the class.” Margaret grinned, popped the last bit of cookie into her mouth, and stood. “I’ll get started on the next batch.”
“All right. I’ll be inside in a minute.” Naomi sat in the chair for a few moments, thinking about Margaret’s request. I don’t want to be alone. Naomi had never thought about spending her life alone. She’d always been surrounded by family, friends, and students. But her sister Hannah was married, and Priscilla would be shortly. Naomi frowned, feeling a tiny twinge in her heart. What if she had to spend the rest of her life alone?
“WE’RE SO GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO COME FOR THE WEDDING, Zeke.”
Zeke Lapp looked at his aunt, seated beside him at the table. He selected a roll from the basket to his right. “Me too. I’m overdue for a visit. Sorry it took so long for me to come.”
“That doesn’t matter. You’re here now, and that’s all that counts.” She picked up a white dish and handed it to him. “Butter?”
“Danki.” He smeared a pat on the still-steaming roll.
“I hope you don’t mind eating so early.” Irma cut the last chunk of tender roast beef on her plate into four tiny pieces. “Normally we have supper around five, but I thought you might be hungry.” She glanced at her husband and son. “These mann are always hungry.”
Zeke grinned. “I don’t mind eating early at all. Especially an appeditlich meal like this.”
His aunt blushed, her gaze cast downward.
He glanced around the table at his uncle Emmanuel and his cousin Chester, whose upcoming wedding was the reason for Zeke’s extended vacation in Paradise. He hadn’t seen his Pennsylvania relatives since his family had moved to Middlefield, Ohio, more than fifteen years ago. Where had the time gone?
“How was the trip?” Emmanuel asked. “It’s been years since I rode on a bus.”
“Not bad. Took a little nap. A bit of a bumpy ride, though. Lots of construction in Ohio.” Zeke swirled the roll in the last of the thick brown gravy covering his plate. He had to stop himself from shoving the soaked bread into his mouth. He appreciated a good cook, and his aunt was one of the best.
“Don’t see how you could sleep on a bus.
” Chester looked up from his plate, fork in hand. “Those seats aren’t comfortable.”
Zeke started to say something, but just looked at his cousin.
Chester’s brow lifted. “What? Do I have food on my face or something?” He grabbed a napkin and rubbed his mouth and chin, which already showed a shadow of a beard.
“Nee. Just can’t believe my little cousin is getting married.” It sounded corny, but it was how he felt.
Emmanuel laughed. “He’s not exactly little, Zeke.”
“I know.” He’d been surprised to see that Chester was a couple inches taller than his own five-foot-nine height, and at least twenty pounds heavier. “I can still remember you following me around when you were a kinn.”
“Pestering you, I’m sure.”
“Ya, but not too bad.”
“I remember the time I nearly fell out of the tree in your backyard, trying to catch you.” Chester set down his napkin. “You were a climbing fool.”
“Still am.” Zeke grinned again.
“Guess you have to be when you’re a roofer. Business going well?”
“Very well. But I’m glad I could take some time off. I needed the vacation.” He’d spent the last ten years working almost nonstop as a roofer, mostly for Englisch—or Yankee, as they referred to them back home—construction companies. Chester’s wedding was the perfect opportunity to get away from Middlefield for a while. It wasn’t the city of Middlefield he was escaping, but the women in his community. He definitely needed a break from their constant matchmaking.
Emmanuel pushed away from the table. “Now that the rain’s stopped, we should check on the haus. After the storm last night and the rain today, I’m hoping it’s still in one piece.”
Chester scowled. “The way our luck’s been, I’d be surprised if it is.”
“Having problems with the construction?” Zeke asked.
His cousin filled him in, and Zeke nodded. “I’ll come with you, if you don’t mind.”
“Are you sure you’re not too tired from your trip?” his aenti asked.
“Thanks to that nap, I’m not.” Zeke put his fork and knife on his empty plate. He’d practically scraped the dish clean. “I’d like to see how the haus is coming along.”
Emmanuel nodded. “I’d appreciate your input, especially on how we did the roof.”
Chester stood. “I’ll hitch up the buggy. The haus is just down the road. We can stop by the Kings’ on the way. I need to drop something off at Priscilla’s.” He took his yellow straw hat from the peg near the back door of the kitchen and plopped it on his head before leaving the room.
Zeke carried his plate and empty tea glass to the sink.
“You don’t have to do that,” his aunt said, jumping up from her chair. She took the dishes from him. “I’ll clear the table.”
Zeke started to protest, then caught himself. Living as a bachelor, he was used to cleaning up after himself. And making his own meals. And doing his own laundry. But he didn’t want to overstep his bounds in his aunt and uncle’s house, especially after he’d just arrived.
Thirty minutes later he and Chester arrived at the Kings’. There was still enough light in the dusky sky that Zeke could see the large white house and small daadi haus behind it. At the end of the driveway a plain wooden sign hung from two hooks suspended from a wooden frame: Kings’ Baked Goods. Underneath the name, in smaller letters, were the words In the Back.
“The Kings have a bakery?” Zeke asked.
“Naomi, Priscilla’s oldest sister, does. Does gut business too.” Chester pulled the buggy to a stop next to the house. He reached into the buggy and pulled out a pie plate.
“That’s what you have to drop off?”
“Um, ya.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “She, ah, needs this pie plate.”
Zeke didn’t say anything, not wanting to tease his cousin about the flimsy excuse to see his future bride. He imagined he’d be the same way if he were getting married.
“We won’t be but a minute,” Chester added as they got out of the buggy.
“Take your time. I’m in no hurry.”
They walked up on the porch, and Chester knocked on the door. A woman opened it.
“Hey, Naomi.”
Zeke didn’t move. He’d seen plenty of pretty maed in his time, but this was the loveliest woman he’d come across. Her chestnut-colored hair peeked out from beneath her white prayer kapp, the deep brown color matching her wide, round eyes.
“Hi, Chester. Come on in. Priscilla’s in the kitchen with Mamm.”
The men stepped into the living room. Chester headed for the back of the house. Zeke cleared his throat, stopping his cousin in his tracks.
Chester turned around. “Oh, sorry. Naomi, this is my cousin Zeke Lapp. He’s visiting from Middlefield.” With that he disappeared.
Zeke grinned. “I think he’s in a hurry.”
“I think so too.” Her lips curved into a smile. “When did you get into town?”
“Earlier today.”
“Then you missed the storm. That’s a gut thing. I wouldn’t want you to get a bad impression of Paradise.”
“Actually, I’m originally from here. I’m remembering now how much I missed it when we first moved away.”
An older man walked into the room, shaking his head. “Naomi, I wish you would have told me about the roof sooner.” He stopped and looked at Zeke.
Naomi introduced the two men.
Mr. King glanced at Zeke. “Sorry. Having problems with the daadi haus.”
“The roof just started leaking today,” Naomi explained. “Otherwise it’s been fine.”
“That sag in the ceiling isn’t fine,” her father said. “It needs to be repaired before the next rain.” He tugged on his beard. “I guess I can get someone out here tomorrow to take a gut look at it, since I had to promise your mamm I wouldn’t get up there. She said I don’t need to throw my back out before the wedding.” He looked directly at Zeke. “Just so you know, my back is fine.”
“I’m sure it is.” Zeke took a step forward. “If it’s all right with you, I could take a look at it.”
“Wouldn’t want to put you to the trouble.” But there was a glimmer of hope in the man’s eyes.
“No trouble at all. I fix roofs for a living.”
“Then I’m glad you’re here.” He looked at his daughter. “Naomi, show him the leak.”
For the first time Zeke saw uncertainty in her eyes. It disappeared as she nodded. “Ya.”
Her father moved to leave the room. “Appreciate your help,” he added, glancing at Zeke.
Zeke glanced at Naomi and saw the hesitation return. While her father might be appreciative, he wasn’t sure she was.
Chapter Two
“SO YOUR SCHWESTER IS MARRYING MY COUSIN.” ZEKE examined the sag in the ceiling. “How did that come about?”
Naomi told him how Chester and Priscilla had begun courting. “She wasn’t too keen on him at first, but I knew he was a gut mann, and encouraged her to give him a chance. I’m glad she did.”
“So am I. He seems really happy.”
“I should hope so. If he wasn’t, they’d have a big problem on their hands.”
His low, throaty chuckle sounded in the room. “Ya, they definitely would. Speaking of problems.” He pointed at the ceiling.
Naomi stood beside the partially full bucket while Zeke inspected the damage. Since the rain had ceased, the drip had dried up. The only evidence of the leak was the water in the bucket and the dark, sagging spot above.
“Probably a few shingles blew off in the storm last night. Maybe the tar paper underneath them too.”
“Can it be fixed?”
He turned to her. His yellow straw hat was frayed at the edges and pushed back from his face, revealing a mottled port-wine birthmark above his left eyebrow. “Easily. Won’t take me long at all.” He strode toward the front door.
“Where are you going?”
“Up on the roof.” He
looked at her over his shoulder. “I need to see where the shingles and tar paper are missing.”
“It’s getting dark outside.” She tossed a quick glance at the window. “You don’t have to do this tonight.”
“There’s enough light to see by. It will only take a minute.”
“All right. I’ll get the ladder from the barn.”
He shook his head and walked to her. “I’ll get the ladder from the barn. Just tell me where it is.”
She did, and soon they were both outside. The ladder didn’t quite reach the eave of the roof.
“I’m sorry. I wish I had a taller ladder.”
“Doesn’t bother me any.” Zeke dashed up the rungs and, planting his palms on the edge of the roof, hoisted himself up with little effort.
Watching him traverse the roof as if it were a playground made her stomach flip. “Be careful,” she called, the words out before she could stop them.
“I always am.” He smiled down at her, his teeth bright in the dusky light.
Naomi watched as he continued his inspection. His birthmark was unusual; she’d never seen one like it before. Yet it didn’t detract from his looks at all; instead it drew her attention to his hazel eyes and the wrinkles that appeared in the corners when he smiled.
Which made her pause. Obviously he wasn’t in his early or midtwenties. But by his clean-shaven face, she knew he wasn’t married. Widowed, perhaps? She doubted he was a lifelong bachelor. Someone as kind and appealing as he would have easily found a wife.
Zeke shimmied down the ladder even faster than he’d climbed up and strode toward her. “The gut news is it’s an easy fix. Bad news is I’ll have to do it in the morning. By the time we’d get back to my onkel’s to get tools and supplies, it would be too dark to work today.”
Naomi nodded. “I agree. What should we do in the meantime?”
He looked up at the roof again. “You don’t have any plastic sheeting by any chance?”
“Nee. I don’t have much use for it.”
“Is it supposed to rain anymore tonight?”
“I don’t think so. The forecast in the paper this morning said the rain would discontinue in the evening, which it has. Tomorrow is supposed to be cloudy.”
An Amish Wedding Page 10
