Seasons of Sugarcreek 03. Autumn's Promise

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Though she’d seen the dress on Gretta a dozen times, it felt strange in her hands. “There’s no buttons.”

  “I’ve got pins, Lilly. Let’s just see how you look. Jah?”

  “All right. Sure.”

  She went into the bathroom and removed her jeans and T-shirt, then slipped on the dress. When Gretta wasn’t pregnant, she and Lilly seemed to be almost the same size. Lilly was easily able to hold the front together. She opened the door. “You better come pin me up.”

  Gretta chuckled as she easily fastened the dress together. Lilly couldn’t do much except stare at her reflection. Already, she looked different. Almost like a stranger.

  Beside her, Gretta examined Lilly’s reflection. After a moment, she frowned.

  “What’s wrong?” Lilly asked.

  “You need a kapp. I’ll be right back.”

  Hastily, Lilly dug in the pocket of her jeans that were lying on the floor and pulled out an elastic. Quickly, she pulled her hair back, fastening a ponytail at her neck. Gretta clucked a bit when she returned. After handing the kapp to Lilly, she smoothed Lilly’s hair back and then tucked the bottom of Lilly’s ponytail under, making a bun.

  Then, she stepped back. “This is my kapp for gmay, for church. Slip it on.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “In for a penny, in for a pound, yes?”

  “I suppose so.” Taking a deep breath, she carefully slipped the white kapp on her head, smoothing out the ties over her shoulders.

  Then she looked in the mirror again. “Oh, my!” Gretta said, her voice filled with wonder. “Look at you.”

  Lilly couldn’t seem to do anything but look at herself. “I look Amish,” she whispered.

  “Almost. All you have to do is take off your makeup.” Gretta tilted her head to one side. “The kapp suits you, I think.”

  It felt funny, wearing something on her head. It felt strange wearing the loose dress. But as she examined her reflection, she said, “This is what I would look like, being Robert’s wife.”

  Next to her, Gretta stiffened a bit. “Nee, Lilly,” she murmured. “This is what you would look like when you join our church. When you become Amish.”

  Lilly’s mouth went dry. Gretta was right. She wasn’t just going to be Robert Miller’s wife. She would be leaving behind everything she’d ever known…and adopting a new way of life.

  Before making her vows to Robert, she would have to take vows to Robert’s community. To be baptized. To hold their way of life close to her heart. She would be making promises to God.

  Could she even do that?

  Slowly, she pulled off the kapp and handed it back to Gretta. “Thank you for letting me try this on. I think I’ll change back to my jeans now.”

  “Yes. Perhaps that would be best.”

  As Gretta closed the door behind her, Lilly felt a disturbing, awkward knot settle in her stomach.

  She tried not to notice that she didn’t dare look at herself in the mirror again.

  Not until she was back in her jeans and T-shirt.

  Chapter 22

  Caleb was ringing up Miriam’s sale and preparing to lock up the store for the evening when Joshua bounded down the stairs from his apartment in a panic. “It’s happening!”

  “What is?” Caleb asked. Lately, every single thing Gretta did was cause for his brother to panic. In addition, when he wasn’t climbing stairs to check on his wife, he was distracted and moony. He sometimes forgot to do tasks. Other times, he spent double the time needed to do the most basic of chores.

  Everyone had noticed Joshua’s new, terribly unfamiliar distracted nature; and it had become a great source of amusement for their parents.

  Not so much for Judith and Caleb. They had to deal with the bulk of the work their brother now never completed. Between Joshua’s forgetfulness and Anson’s lazy ways, Caleb and Judith were fostering their own frustrations.

  Then, of course, were the looming worries about what the family was going to do when Caleb left. If Joshua didn’t get his head back on straight, their father was going to have to ask Tim to start working at the store, which would be a disaster. Tim was a farmer, not a merchant.

  “Gretta,” Joshua sputtered, bringing Caleb back to the present. “Her baby’s on the way!”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Oh, yes.” A line of moisture formed on his brow.

  “She’s got pains. And her water broke.”

  Miriam clasped her hands together. “Oh, my! This is exciting!”

  Now it was Caleb who felt the hard clench of panic deep inside his belly. Daring to look up at the ceiling, he was almost afraid to see Gretta standing there looking down at them. “What do you need?”

  “Her sister Margaret is with her now, but she wants to go to the hospital.”

  There had been some talk of Gretta delivering at home with just a midwife in attendance, but because she was especially big—and her blood pressure elevated—everyone had been in agreement that the labor-and-delivery center was the best choice.

  As Caleb stared at his brother like a dunce, Miriam took charge. “Who have you asked to drive you, Joshua?”

  “The Allens said they would.” Running a hand through his hair, he muttered, “But I’m not sure who is home.” He looked at all of them wide-eyed. “What…what do you think we should do?”

  Finally Caleb was able to start functioning again. “We need to call them, don’tcha think?”

  “Joshua?” Gretta called out from up above. “Josh!” All three looked at the stairs. Joshua paled. Caleb’s stomach knotted.

  Only Miriam seemed to still be able to think. “Come now, boys. Let’s get busy,” she said, clapping her hands to bring them out of their stunned silence. “What do you need done?”

  Caleb spun into action. “I’ll go to the back room and use the business phone to call the Allens,” he pronounced, thankful once again that they were allowed this convenience for emergencies. “Josh, you go back up to Gretta and help her get ready to go to the hospital. Miriam, would you shoo the last of the customers out of here for me?”

  “I’d be happy to,” she said.

  Less than twenty minutes later, Caleb was standing at Miriam’s side, waving off Lilly Allen, his mother, Joshua and Gretta, and Margaret. As Lilly’s car rolled out of sight, he murmured, “Have you ever seen Joshua more out of sorts?”

  Miriam chuckled. “Never. Gretta looked calm as a cucumber, though.” With a superior look, she said, “Girls always can be counted on in a crisis.”

  “Hardly. When I called the Allens, my mother was in their kitchen having coffee. By the time we got off the phone, she sounded as flustered as a turkey in November.”

  Miriam grinned at his comparison. “I guess you have a point. It is terribly exciting, though. Imagine, a new baby in your family in just a few hours!” She looked behind her at the quiet building. “Caleb, the store is empty and locked up. Do you need any more help?”

  “Nee, danke. When I talked to Judith, she said she was going to go home and gather everyone. I’m going to do some chores around the farm then go up to the hospital later with Tim and Clara.”

  “I’m going to go tell everyone at the inn about Gretta. I’m sure Mrs. Kent will be so excited; she might end up going to the hospital with me.” With a look of delight, she added, “I have a feeling we’ll all be going to the hospital as soon as we hear the joyful news.”

  Caleb wasn’t surprised to hear her statement. Joining together wasn’t an unusual occurrence for them. It was simply what they did. Community was everything.

  Though, things were changing. One day, it might not be his community.

  That knowledge dampened his spirits. Shouldn’t he be resenting all these obligations? Shouldn’t he be wishing he was free? What was wrong with him?

  “See you later, then,” he murmured.

  All smiles, Miriam reached for his hands. “Bless you, Caleb. Best of luck to your brother and his wife. I’ll spread the word that there’
s a need for praying, and soon.”

  “Danke.”

  He watched her walk away, and was just about to go to the stables and hook up Jim to the rig when a Jeep pulled up.

  “Hey! Hey, Caleb!” the driver called out. “Look at you, all dressed Plain. What’s up?”

  Caleb approached the trio. Jeremy, his buddy Blake, and Jeremy’s girlfriend Paige were Englischer teens from the local high school. He’d joined them a time or two at a few kids’ houses for parties. As the three of them gaped at him from the inside of the vehicle, he felt completely conspicuous.

  Though Jeremy and his friends knew he was Amish, he’d taken care not to let any of them see him in his usual clothes. It had felt too different, and he desperately just wanted to fit in with them.

  A part of him waited for them to tease his way of dressing as he approached. But, instead, they were looking at him like they always did, with easy acceptance.

  “Hey. I was just closing up the store. My brother left for the hospital a couple of minutes ago. He and his wife are about to have a baby.”

  “Your brother’s already going to be a dad?” Blake frowned. “How old is he?”

  “Twenty.”

  “That’s just two years older than I am.” Jeremy grimaced. “There’s no way I’d want to have a baby right now.”

  Caleb was in no hurry to point out any more differences between his family’s life and theirs. “What are you guys doing?”

  “Driving around. Hey, are you free? A bunch of us are going over to Callie’s. She’s got some of her parents’ beer.”

  He knew Callie, too. Though she might be a little wild by his sister Judith’s standards, she was really nice. And she’d flirted with him a time or two as well.

  But he knew he shouldn’t be going anywhere but home and to his chores.

  “Say you’ll join us,” Paige said. “Callie thinks you’re cute.”

  Jeremy waved off her comment. “She thinks every guy is cute. But, hey, you’re welcome to come along. There’s room in the car. Come on.”

  The pull to join them was strong. Though he’d never really enjoyed their company all that much, the three of them symbolized everything he’d been searching for. It was a chance to stop doing everything that was expected of him and have some fun.

  To be normal.

  But if he decided to stay with Cassidy and Eric, he was going to be in Cleveland in just a few weeks. It would be best if he stuck to his obligations.

  “I better not…I really should go home and later to the hospital with everyone.”

  Blake looked at him like he was crazy. “Why? All you’re going to be doing is sitting around.”

  Paige chimed in. “My cousin Katrina had a baby last month. She was in labor for ten hours.”

  “Yeah. No one will care if you show up in two hours or four. No one’s even going to be looking for you, anyway.”

  What they said made sense. “I don’t have any other clothes with me.”

  “I think you look fine. Kind of handsome, in a weird, old-fashioned way,” Paige said. “I’m sure Callie will think so, too. Come on.”

  “Yeah. It’s not like your brother’s going to care whether you’re standing around or not. Come with us and I’ll drop you off at the hospital later.”

  Everything they said had a point. Plus, if having a baby took as long as they said, he could see his friends for a while, then go to the hospital just like he’d planned. “Move over, Paige. I’m coming with ya,” he said.

  Jeremy smiled. “We knew you would. After all, even though you dress funny, you’re just like us, right?”

  “Right,” he replied as he jumped in the car. Jeremy gunned the accelerator and they sped through the traffic light.

  As the store and Jim and his family’s buggy faded into the distance, Caleb forced himself not to think about what he was leaving behind.

  And what his parents were going to say when they realized that he hadn’t come right home.

  Chapter 23

  From the moment Caleb had called her house and delivered the news about Gretta going into labor, Lilly felt like everything around her was spinning out of control. Elsa and her mom had been in a panic, and Judith flashed between giddy and a nervous wreck.

  It had been up to Lilly to get things organized. “Mom, I’ll drive them; you stay here and wait for Ty. Elsa, I’ll pick you and Toby up in ten minutes. Go tell Judith to wait for Maggie, Anson, and Carrie. Caleb should be back soon. When everyone gets home, either my dad or my mom can take the rest of your family to the hospital.”

  Unbelievably, neither woman had questioned a thing; had just hugged and parted within seconds.

  After slipping on a sweater and boots, she drove over, picked Elsa up, and then drove as fast as she could to the Grabers’ store. Ten minutes after that, her car was filled with Elsa, Margaret, a panicked Josh, and a very big Gretta.

  The forty-minute trip to the hospital had felt surreal. Hardly any of them talked. Instead, all eyes and ears were focused on Gretta’s every move. By the time they got to the hospital, Lilly had been sweating. She’d felt like the whole car had experienced each one of Gretta’s contractions together.

  After dropping off Josh and Gretta, she parked the car and walked into the lobby with Margaret and Elsa by her side. Margaret’s nerves had led her to speak only in Pennsylvania Dutch, but Lilly didn’t mind. The pleasant sounds of the unfamiliar language soothed her nerves.

  As did the knowledge that one day she would be speaking the same words, too. Perhaps she would even be making this trip with Robert, but for reasons of their own.

  The idea made her feel all shimmery and warm.

  But as she wondered who she would call to drive them to the hospital, that same familiar lump of dread appeared in her stomach again.

  Three hours later, the waiting room was crowded with Grabers, Lilly’s parents, Gretta’s sister Margaret and her folks. They all looked up expectantly when Josh appeared in the doorway.

  “It’s going to be a while longer,” he said. “Gretta’s doing fine, but the doctor said the baby is going to take its time. Maybe you all want to leave for a while?”

  “Not a chance,” Mr. Graber said. “We’ll be here until the baby comes.”

  “But it might be hours.”

  He held up a crisp Budget. “I’ve got a paper and I’m comfortable. Don’t fret now, son. Believe it or not, I’ve waited for babes to arrive a time or two.”

  Everyone chuckled as Josh turned beet red. “I guess you have. I’m going to get back to Gretta now.”

  “I’m sure she’s looking for you, dear,” Elsa said over a pair of knitting needles. “Don’t you worry about us.”

  Josh was just about to leave when he turned to them all in surprise. “Hey, where’s Caleb?”

  “Not here,” Anson said.

  “Where is he? At the store?”

  “I don’t think so,” Lilly said. “I bet he’s just goofing off. Don’t worry.”

  Her mother saved the day. “Lilly’s right. Teenage boys don’t have the patience for hospital waiting rooms.”

  “Yes. It’s fine, son,” Mr. Graber murmured. “Don’t you worry. Go back to Gretta, now. I’m sure she’s lookin’ for ya.”

  When he was out of sight, Elsa looked at Lilly. “Where do you think he is?”

  “I honestly have no idea,” she murmured.

  Four hours later, Josh came out, beaming with pride.

  “We have a son!”

  Everyone stood up. Running to his side, Elsa kissed his cheek. “That’s wonderful-gut! And he’s okay? Gretta’s fine, too?”

  “Oh, sure. She is just fine. I can’t believe I was so worried. Gretta delivering a baby is no trouble at all.”

  He only looked puzzled when laughter greeted his statement.

  Walking next to Mr. and Mrs. Graber as they left the hospital, Lilly found herself smiling as they fielded questions from Carrie and Anson about Gretta and Josh and the adorable, tiny baby—Willi
am.

  “Yes, Carrie,” Mrs. Graber said. “I promise, they will be coming home tomorrow.”

  “What time?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Moments later, it was Anson’s turn to quiz his parents, and it was Frank Grabers’ turn to do the careful answering. “I don’t know why Gretta needs that needle in her arm, but the doctor seems to think she does.”

  “Does it hurt?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Even little Maggie chimed in. “I love William.”

  That earned their youngest girl a swing up into her father’s arms. “I love him, too.”

  Lilly smiled as she watched Maggie whisper into her father’s ear and heard his touching reply.

  “Yes, William is a verra fine bobbli, and sure to have wonderful-gut parents, indeed.”

  When everyone stopped in front of Lilly’s car, Anson threw out another question. “Can we get ice cream?”

  “Please?” Maggie and Carrie called out.

  Mrs. Graber turned a put-upon expression to Lilly.

  “Why is it that kinner think that every special occasion should be celebrated with a sweet treat?”

  Lilly winked Anson’s way. “I don’t know, but I might be the wrong person to ask. I love ice cream.”

  Mr. Graber chuckled. “Just down the road is an ice cream shop. Lilly, would you have time to drive us?”

  “Definitely.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Graber, Anson, Maggie, Carrie, and Toby and Lilly were all licking ice cream cones. The kids scrambled into their own booth while Lilly scooted into another one across from Mr. and Mrs. Graber. “Mr. Graber, I would never have guessed you would have an ice cream, too.”

  Elsa looked at her husband and grinned. “I doubt he would ever pass up such a treat. My Frank has always had a sweet tooth, Lilly.”

  He looked shame-faced. “I suppose that’s true.”

  Lilly noticed they were attracting more than a few stares from other patrons around them. The hospital was in Mansfield, not Sugarcreek, so the Amish weren’t as familiar a sight. The stares and the thoughts made her realize that she might one day be classified as different—if she became Amish.