“I still think you should have told us that Enoch was back in the village,” Ruth went on.
“I didn’t even know until just before Zeke died,” I said.
“That’s no excuse.” Ruth sniffed.
I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t know that I had to report all the movements of my family.”
“A prodigal son coming back to the fold needs to be reported. I’m sure my husband would like to talk to him. The elders of the church will want to talk to him. One of our lost sheep is coming home.”
“He doesn’t want to join the church,” I said quietly.
“What?” Ruth asked. “Then why would he want to come back? There is no other reason to come back.”
“He told Edith that he was back because he missed his family and wanted to get to know his niece and nephews. That doesn’t mean he wants to live in the Amish way.”
“Well, he can’t be around the children if he doesn’t,” Ruth said decisively.
“Why not?” Lois said.
“We really shouldn’t have an Englischer here. She doesn’t understand our ways.” Ruth said this in Pennsylvania Dutch instead of Englisch.
“I caught the word ‘Englisher,’” Lois said, jumping to her feet. “I know you are talking about me.”
“Ruth just said that we shouldn’t discuss such things in front of someone who isn’t Amish.” I looked at Ruth. “Lois is my friend and she was your friend once upon a time too. Let’s speak English while she’s here so that no one is left out.”
“Fine,” Ruth said in Englisch, sounding much like a defiant teenager. “I still think some things should be kept close in the community.”
“Now, why don’t you think Enoch should be around the children?” Leah asked.
“Because his presence will corrupt the children and tell them that it’s all right to go the Englisch way. I don’t think that’s very wise.” She turned to me. “Millie, talk some sense into your niece and tell her why this is a terrible idea.”
“Enoch is their uncle. He has a right to see them. He wasn’t in the church when he left. He wasn’t shunned, no matter the difficult circumstances that precipitated his leaving all those years ago.”
She gasped. “Do you want him to lead the children astray?”
“Each child must make their own choice. Isn’t that what rumspringa is about?” I looked her in the eye. “Edith’s children will come to make that decision in their own time, and they can only fully commit to the Amish life when they know what the Englisch one is like. If they see the way the rest of the world lives and then commit to our ways, they are more likely to stay here. Wouldn’t you agree that it is far worse to change one’s mind after baptism?”
Ruth made a grunt-like noise, which told me I’d proved my point.
“But—” Ruth began again.
I knew she was going to change her approach. Ruth would do just about anything to win an argument. Most of the time she won because the person opposed to her view became too fatigued to go on. I thought that’s how she’d gotten her position in the district, acting as bishop of sorts, on her husband’s behalf. She just wore the church elders out.
“Ruth, stop it.” I stood up. “Enoch left before he was baptized, so there is no reason that Edith or anyone in our district should shun him.”
Ruth stepped back. “This is true, but I still don’t think he should be around the children.”
“Then that’s your opinion.”
Ruth sniffed. “I can see I am getting nowhere with you, Millie Fisher. You are the most stubborn woman I’ve ever known.”
“Coming from you, I take that as a compliment. I thought you prided yourself on being stubborn.”
“Pride? I have no pride. That is not the Amish way. In any case, as his aenti, tell Enoch that the bishop will want to talk to him now that he’s back in town. Even if he decides not to join the church, it’s important that he resolve the hurt left behind by his leaving all those years ago. He broke your brother’s heart when he left, and he must answer for that.”
“Umm,” Iris asked in a small voice, “shouldn’t we talk about how we can help with the bonfire now, since we no longer have to solve a murder?”
I sat back down. “I think that’s a great idea, Iris. Edith will appreciate the help.”
The ladies started listing the dishes they planned to make for Friday, and Ruth left not long after that. I was certain she was headed back to the bishop to report on all that she had seen and heard.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Friday and the bonfire finally came.
I was proud of Edith for continuing the tradition of the bonfire even when she was under so much strain. It was an annual event that her father had started at the beginning of every growing season. It was a celebration of the district and of a new season of Gott’s creation.
Tonight, children ran around the yard, squealing, while their mothers shouted at them to stay away from the fire. The children careened by the flames, and a father chased them way from the danger. They didn’t know that they were being protected and laughed as they were chased.
“I can’t believe how many people are here,” Edith said. “It just brings tears to my eyes.”
“They are here to support you.” I hugged her and watched as the lights from the fire played on the faces of my friends and neighbors. There had to be several hundred people there, both Amish and Englisch. They were all there to support Edith, her children, and the greenhouse. It warmed my heart.
“I can’t believe it,” she said again.
“Believe it. Look how many people from the district came to help you,” I said. “When someone in the community needs help, we band together. That is one of the best parts of being Amish.”
She nodded. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised they came out to help me, but a lot of it I owe to you and the Double Stitch ladies. You are the ones who got the community so involved.”
I smiled. “We all helped, but you need to give the greatest amount of gratitude to Ruth.”
“Ruth Yoder?” She placed a hand to her cheek. “But I thought she didn’t approve of me at all.”
“Ruth doesn’t approve of most things, but she’s still a softy at heart. I realize not everyone in this county believes that, but I have known her my whole life, and in my experience, when push comes to shove, Ruth always errs on the side of compassion.”
She nodded. “Then I will be sure to thank her. I’ll make a point to thank everyone from Double Stitch. I can’t tell you how much this bonfire means to me. It’s the first time I’ve held it since Daed passed on, and so much has happened since then. I don’t think he would be happy with how I’ve handled things. He wouldn’t like it that I gave Zeke so much control over the business when it was clear he didn’t know what he was doing. And now that I’ve learned he used the money to pay off an auto thief, I can’t even think about it.”
I reached for her hand and squeezed it. “The police are trying, but you may never see that money again. It’s best not to expect it, and move on from here. We all make mistakes. It’s what you do with those mistakes that matters. There is always a second chance and an opportunity to make better choices.”
“I hope so.” She smiled at her brother, who was showing her children how to roast marshmallows over the fire. “I am glad that Enoch has returned. He’s told me he wants to work at the greenhouse again. He wants to stay.”
“I’m happy to hear that.”
“It’s funny; the greenhouse would have been his if he stayed in the faith. I know that it must be hard for him to come back and have me as his superior in the family business.”
“He made his choice, and maybe neither one of you has to be the boss; perhaps you can have a partnership.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.” The firelight shone on her hair, making her look even more angelic.
“Will he rejoin the church?” I asked.
She shook her head. “He said that he was too hurt by the church over
what happened all those years ago.” She wouldn’t look at me because I knew it was impossible to think of that time without remembering the part I’d played in it.
“I am sorry,” I said.
“You have apologized before to all of us. We can’t ask you to do any more.”
I wished that were true, but I felt I was still being punished for a years’ old misunderstanding—and I deserved it. The Amish have long memories, and I knew no amount of wishing it away was going to help them forget what I’d done to Enoch all those years ago. “I think I will have a chat with Enoch. He said he forgave me, but the last time I was here, I sensed there were still hard feelings. I want us all to be a family.”
She nodded. “I think that’s a very gut idea, Aenti. It’s best to discuss it, and then let it go.”
“I’ll find Enoch and speak to him.” Before I let her go, I said, “I do have one more question.”
She frowned. “What Aenti?”
“The day you found the body, why did you lie to Deputy Aiden about having watered the plants in the greenhouse when it was clear to me they had not been watered that morning?”
She looked down. “I should not have done that. I regret it the moment I said it, but I didn’t want him to know the truth.”
“Which was?”
“I went into the greenhouse to hide from my children. I didn’t want them to see me cry. Even though I had broken the engagement with Zeke myself, I was still suffering from a loss and a failure. I was crying over that and my stupidity of giving him access to my finances. I was prideful to want to hide that from my children and from the police. It was the wrong thing to do, but when I said the lie, I could not think of a way to take it back without looking even more suspicious to the police.”
I hugged her again. “Danki for telling me. You go back to your party. Don’t worry about me. This is your night and you should enjoy it.”
She hugged me and went on her way.
I watched her go before turning in search of Enoch. I needed my nephew’s full forgiveness, and I realized for the first time, I needed to forgive myself for what I had done.
I felt responsible for breaking my family apart. It was as if when Edith and Enoch’s mother had died, their family had been held together by a thin pane of glass, and I took a hammer to it and shattered it into a thousand pieces. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to put those thousands of pieces back together again. There was no way to rebuild what was shattered, but what we could make was something brand-new, something that was different but stronger than before. That’s what I hoped for the very most. Edith and Enoch had lost both of their parents. I was the closest thing to a parent they had left, and they were the closest I would ever have to children. We needed each other. My hope was that Enoch would see that too. I wasn’t sure he would.
I turned to the spot where Enoch had been with the children, but he was gone. The children were still there, sitting with some other adults, laughing as they squished their marshmallows into s’mores. There were other children from the community with their sticks in the fire.
Phillip and Peter stood a few feet away, so that they were clear of the flames but close enough to sneak a s’more when one of the children or adults around the fire got distracted. I shook my head. Those goats. I probably should warn the people making s’mores about my boys. I had started toward the bonfire when someone reached out and touched my arm.
“This is amazing,” a voice said behind me. I turned to see Margot Rawlings standing there. She was holding a small paper bag full of Amish kettle corn. A few feet away Tucker was at the large kettle, popping the corn as he added butter and sugar to the mixture. “You should be very proud of yourself,” Margot said.
“Danki, but it wasn’t me. Edith did it almost entirely herself. My quilting circle helped get the word out, but she set up for the party and planned all the games for the children.”
“How very impressive. This makes me want more than ever for Edith to come back to the farmers’ market. I know her flowers would do very well there. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for her and for the village.”
“I think she would come back if you asked her. She is eager to rebuild Edy’s Greenhouse into what it was before . . .” I almost said before Zeke Miller got his hands on it. I’m glad that I stopped myself. There was no point in bringing up flaws in a man who could no longer defend himself.
“I’ll do just that before I leave. I can’t stay long because we are having a community meeting tonight about fall events in the village. I know that it’s just May, but autumn will be here soon enough and we have to be ready. There are so many wonderful things in store for Harvest that I can hardly wait to see what will come next for all of us.”
I nodded and said good-bye to Margot. I still needed to find Enoch. It was time for that talk. I walked around the yard looking for him and was surprised to see Bryan, the writer from the café, holding a plate of food and speaking to Darcy. Darcy laughed at something he said. Her blond curls looked like gold silk in the firelight. Bryan was relaxed and his pensive demeanor seemed to have melted away. Despite Uriah’s reservations about Bryan, I sensed a match in front of me and a gut match at that. Yes, he’d given her the note that told her about Zeke’s relationship with Edith, but he’d done it because he cared for her. I hoped that he would learn from the experience that there were better ways of going about showing your affection for another person.
I had to admit, I was slightly disappointed that Uriah wasn’t there. I’d made a point, when I worked up the nerve, to tell him about the bonfire, but he’d said he was headed back to Indiana this weekend for a short visit. I told myself it was for the best.
Ruth Yoder walked over to me. I could tell from the set of her jaw that she had something to say. I was starting to wonder if I would ever be able to find my nephew. I plastered a pleasant look on my face. “What can I help you with, Ruth?”
“Nothing.”
I raised my eyebrows. That was unusual for Ruth to say. She always wanted something. She had been that way since we were children. For her to say she wanted nothing caught me by surprise and made me suspicious.
“I was looking for Edith. I wanted to congratulate her on the bonfire. This is a very gut thing that Edith is doing. The bishop and the church elders are happy that the tradition is continuing.”
“That’s very kind of you to say,” I said, pleased. “She’s looking for you right now too, so I’m sure the two of you will run into each other soon. She wanted to thank you and the bishop for encouraging the other members of the district to come.”
“It was no trouble, and I think we all feel quite a bit better that someone has been arrested by the police for Zeke’s murder. The bishop, of course, is not happy that it is an Amish man, but at least it’s not an Amish man from our own district. It sounds to me as if Zeke made a lot of poor choices, and they finally caught up with him.”
“I would say that’s exactly what happened.”
She clucked her tongue. “To think he was stealing cars for so many years—it’s horrible, and to be doing such things as an Amish man!”
“The police said he had a higher success rate than other auto thieves because he was Amish. Who would suspect an Amish man of stealing cars?”
“Will the cars be returned to their owners?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. It didn’t sound as if they would be. Many of them are long gone or were taken apart right here in Holmes County. Deputy Aiden called it a chop shop.”
“I’m sure the deputy is happy to have this case wrapped up, and the sheriff too. I am guessing Sheriff Jackson is relieved that an Amish man was found guilty of the crime. This won’t make life for the Amish any easier in this county.”
I had to agree with her on that point.
One of the children at the fire listlessly held his marshmallow to the side to cool. Phillip was prancing nearby and struck without warning, snapping off the end of the wooden stick. He swallowed the marshmallo
w, stick and all, and took off.
“Hey!” the child called and raced after the goat. Three more children joined in the chase, and Peter, clearly thinking this was some sort of fun game, ran after Phillip.
“Look at that!” Ruth cried. “I can’t believe you brought those goats.”
“I’m not asking you to believe it,” I said with a smile. “And from what I can see, the children are having fun chasing the goats.”
“Millie Fisher, you haven’t changed a bit in all these years.”
“I take that as a compliment.” I held my tongue to keep from adding that she hadn’t changed either.
“Why on earth would you bring the goats here in the first place?”
“They were here last week, working on clearing land at the greenhouse, so Edith’s children invited them. As Micah said, it wouldn’t be right to have the bonfire without Phillip and Peter. Considering what the children have been through this week, I thought it would be a nice treat.”
Ruth made a grunting noise. She might appear tough, but when it came to children, she was a teddy bear. I had seen her with her grandchildren. She couldn’t be stern with them the way she was with everyone else.
With the children off chasing the goats, a group of teenagers made their way toward the bonfire with marshmallows and hot dogs on sticks.
A moment later, Phillip and Peter ran back around the greenhouse at a fast trot. This time, Peter was the one to steal a marshmallow stick from a teenager. Instead of biting off the end as his brother had done, he grabbed the whole thing. He then tripped over the end and did a somersault in the lawn, much to the glee of the children and the teens and a gut number of the adults too.
Peter jumped back onto his hooves and shook his head. When he saw everyone looking at him, he smiled and ate the marshmallow.
Ruth groaned.
I looked away from the scene for just a second, which was long enough to see Enoch disappear by the back of the greenhouse.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
In the commotion the goats had created, I was able to slip away and follow Enoch. I knew the bonfire might not be the best time to talk to him, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to have some peace between us, not just for our sakes, but for Edith and the children too.
Matchmaking Can Be Murder Page 23
