Finding Love at Home (The Beiler Sisters)

by Jerry S. Eicher

  “I was going to tell him.” Ida nodded.

  Sadie shook her finger at Ida. “You tell Minister Kanagy you want all of Melvin’s children brought under his roof. Don’t assume he knows this. Men must be told, you know.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he’ll agree.” Ida’s voice trembled.

  Sadie’s voice was firm. “You tell him there will be no marriage vows unless he brings all these children home. I’ve seen the kind of person you are, Ida. You’ll be giving that man more than he deserves in a frau. So make sure you’re getting your end of the deal.”

  Ida glanced away as her face burned. “Yah, I’ll do what you say.”

  “You do that!” Sadie squeezed her arm and disappeared toward the kitchen.

  Ida followed, trying to collect her thoughts. With how Sadie said the words, Ida decided she would apparently need to stand up to Minister Kanagy. The thought sent chills up and down her spine. She could almost see his piercing eyes staring at her. Her insides would turn to jelly, but Sadie was right. She must insist on his agreement before they said the vows. If Minister Kanagy told her after the wedding that all of Melvin’s children wouldn’t live with them, she would wish to curl up and die.

  Sadie glanced at Ida over her shoulder. “And tell him you want to help me with delivering babies. That he has to agree to also!”

  Ida drew her breath in.

  Sadie laughed. “I’m only teasing. Looking out for myself, that’s all. But the offer still stands. If you wish, of course. And if you can work things out with Minister Kanagy.”

  Ida breathed evenly again. “I will pray about this. But now I’d better fix breakfast or Verna will think I’m up to no gut.”

  Sadie smiled. “You do that, and I’ll wrap things up in the bedroom. I might have to hitch the horse to pull Joe out of there.”

  Ida joined in the laughter as Sadie left the kitchen. Moments later, with an egg carton on the counter and a slab of bacon brought up from the basement, Ida paused to listen. She was certain that car tires had crunched in the driveway. But who would have stopped by at this time? Likely someone who had business with Joe. Sure enough, she heard Joe’s quick footsteps go past the kitchen doorway. Voices murmured on the porch, and then moved inside.

  It’s Debbie’s voice, Ida thought. She must have stopped by on her way to work to see how things were going with Verna. Her friend Rhonda still gave her a ride each workday into Lewistown. This was a pleasant surprise! Debbie would get to see baby Sarah this morning. Ida rushed into the living room just in time to see Joe ready to lead both young women back to the bedroom.

  “Good morning, Ida!” Debbie greeted her. “I just had to stop by and see for myself.”

  Rhonda gave Ida a warm smile.

  “I’m so glad you could both stop in,” Ida told them. “Little Sarah was born just an hour ago… after an all-night effort, of course.”

  Debbie smiled. “I can imagine! I can’t keep Rhonda for long, so let’s see what has come from God’s hand.”

  “A wonderful, beautiful boppli,” Joe told them. He waited near the bedroom door and motioned for them to hurry.

  “The happy daett can’t wait,” Ida commented. She felt the glow again of when Sarah Mae had been born. Sadie might be right that she loved this. But Ida doubted whether she could take on the extra work after her marriage to Minister Kanagy. Not with eight kinner in the house—and all of them acquired in one day.

  “Visitors already!” Sadie announced with a smile as they all squeezed into the room. “Now take it easy. This woman’s had a lot of excitement today already.”

  “Don’t pay her any mind!” Verna spoke up from the bed. “This is such a treat. Joe’s been busy enjoying our little wonder, and now you can share in it with us. She is such a darling, our little Sarah Mae.”

  Ida hung back as Debbie and Rhonda cooed over the baby. She would have plenty of time to give little Sarah Mae attention in the next few days while she stayed here to help Verna and keep house. These days would be such wonderful times, full of quiet joy. Then she’d have to face Minister Kanagy again…and the busy life that lay ahead of her.

  “Thank you, dear Hah, for this opportunity,” Ida whispered.

  Debbie and Rhonda had already moved away from Verna’s bed. Ida stepped back to let them past. Debbie pulled on Ida’s sleeve and gave her a quick look with a toss of her head toward the kitchen. Ida followed the two women out of the bedroom.

  “I’ll be right with you,” Debbie told Rhonda in the living room. “I promise. I just have to say a few words to Ida.”

  Rhonda glanced at her watch and shrugged. “We have some time, but hurry.”

  Debbie’s smile was gone when they arrived in the kitchen.

  Ida faced Debbie. “What’s wrong?”

  Debbie wrinkled her brow. “Minister Kanagy came by the house after you left last night. Is this really going to happen, Ida?”

  Ida looked away. “It’s a little soon, I suppose, but I wasn’t surprised.”

  “You have taken total leave of your senses! Do you know that?” Debbie’s voice was tense and loud.

  “We’ve spoken of this before, and I have to do what I think is right, Debbie. Can you understand that? We can’t have this conversation every time Minister Kanagy stops by the house.”

  Debbie let out a long sigh. “I hoped you’d changed your mind.”

  Ida shook her head. “And what about you and Alvin?”

  Debbie’s face fell. “Alvin wasn’t at the hymn singing last night. I’m not really worried about… well, Crystal. But Alvin’s disturbed about something, and I don’t know what I should do. I overheard Emery asking where Crystal is staying. I feel a little bit like the world’s falling sideways.”

  Ida reached over to touch Debbie’s arm. “Don’t worry about Emery. He never does anything wrong. Maybe you should be the one changing your mind about Alvin.”

  “Maybe we should both pray,” Debbie said. “We need it.”

  Ida didn’t hesitate. “I agree. That’s the first thing we should do instead of the last thing.” With her hand still on Debbie’s arm, the two bowed their heads together in silence.

  Almost at once Rhonda’s voice from near the front door interrupted them. “Debbie, time to go!”

  Debbie looked up and forced a smile. “Have a good day now. Enjoy that baby. I’ll keep praying for both of us.”

  “So will I!” Ida assured her.

  Debbie dashed out of the kitchen.

  “Dear Hah, help us all!” Ida prayed out loud. “We so need Your grace.”

  Eleven

  Early Friday evening Debbie rushed about the barn helping Emery and Bishop Beiler with the chores. Ida was still at Verna’s place, and Saloma was busy preparing supper.

  When Debbie arrived home from her job at Destiny, there had still been a glow on Saloma’s face that had begun Monday night when she and Adam had visited little Sarah Mae. Even Emery had harnessed up his horse and gone to visit his sister and new niece. Debbie smiled at the memory of how Saloma had exclaimed when she returned home, “The first of my girls to bear me a grandchild. I’m so blessed in my old age! And I’m still in gut enough health to enjoy the boppli. There was many a year I thought my eyes would never see this day. But not only has the day arrived, but little Sarah Mae is the sweetest thing.”

  Ida had been gone all week, but Debbie had handled Ida’s jobs and chores without much trouble. Thankfully, Ida would be back after the weekend so things could return to normal.

  What hadn’t been normal were the things going on in Debbie’s life. All week the problems had simmered, and now it was like they were bubbling to the surface with force. She was sure Alvin was in no danger from Crystal Meyers. The danger lay in some other direction, but from where? Alvin had been behaving so strangely. Could he be rekindling his interest in Mildred? Debbie sighed. No matter what, she planned to stick with Alvin and make their relationship work. She had come too far to bolt now. And where would she go? Alvin was the man she’d
hoped to date for so long and perhaps someday marry. She would have to pray more; that was the solution. But even as she prayed, her mind churned and whirled. A new wrinkle was that Emery had continued to ask her about Crystal, even though Debbie assured him she didn’t know the woman beyond recognizing who she was.

  What had possessed Crystal to pay the community a visit? Was she as innocent as she appeared? Alvin might not be in danger, but that didn’t mean Crystal had the purest of motives. Why had Alvin rushed out after church on Sunday morning without a backward glance? To make matters worse, Alvin hadn’t shown up for the hymn singing that evening. She would have liked to visit Alvin this week. That’s what she would have done not that long ago. But that was the old Debbie, the Englisha Debbie, the Debbie she wanted to change. Amish women didn’t throw themselves at men. No, she would just have to pray, and trust God, and hope Alvin had a decent explanation for his actions this Sunday evening.

  Debbie climbed down the haymow ladder. What did Emery think about all this? Surely he hadn’t fallen for Crystal. That would be way out of character for Emery. He needed a decent, steady Amish girl as his wife. One who would do him good all his days and not evil. Crystal would bring plenty of trouble with her, of that Debbie was sure. Maybe she should ask Emery what he’d seen about Crystal that interested him. Emery’s questions about Crystal had been brief but genuine.

  Surely Emery wasn’t… Debbie stopped short. Her mind had gone wild now. She’d thought too much about Alvin and what he might be up to. Emery wasn’t known for his rash decisions, so he couldn’t be serious about pursuing an Englisha woman. And the Beiler family couldn’t stand another shock like that. Not after Lois. And Debbie cared a lot herself—an awful lot about how Emery turned out. The thought that Emery might leave the faith for an Englisha woman turned her blood cold. He was Bishop Beiler’s youngest son, the heir to the home place, and Crystal was divorced. Alvin had told her that much. This could lead nowhere but to disaster—if there was any truth to her wild thoughts.

  Debbie took the last rung of the haymow ladder with a quick jump. This was enough thinking! Hadn’t she resolved only moments earlier to cease and desist? Debbie reached up to squeeze her forehead, but the thoughts still churned. She might as well have this out with Emery—if Bishop Beiler wasn’t around. Bishop Beiler didn’t need to hear her distress. Emery would tell her the truth, and that would clear up the whole matter. And she would even admit to him that her wild imagination was getting the best of her. Emery would laugh and understand. He was that kind of man.

  Debbie glanced around and caught sight of Emery as he turned the last row of cows loose from their stanchions. Bishop Beiler was nowhere in sight. She dodged the mooing cows and worked her way closer to Emery.

  Emery looked up with a grin. “Got all my hay bales down, I see.”

  “So you’re watching,” she said. “I might not be as efficient as Ida, but I try.”

  “You do gut.” Emery gave her a sweet smile. “Just like you make food.”

  Debbie glared at him. “That wasn’t necessary, Emery! I do try, you know.”

  “I’m just teasing,” he said with a laugh. “I like your cooking.”

  Debbie took a deep breath. “Tread softly when you talk about a woman’s cooking.”

  Emery slapped the last cow on the rump. “I’ll try to remember that.”

  Debbie stepped closer. “I need to ask you something, Emery. If you have a moment.”

  He gave her a questioning look. “What did I do now?”

  This was nonsense, Debbie told herself. She should back out of this before she said anything. Emery was Bishop Beiler’s youngest son, and he would never do what she had been imagining. But she didn’t want him to have an interest in Crystal. Not at all!

  “Hel–lo! Deb–bie!”

  Emery’s voice broke through her thoughts. Debbie rushed in. “I was wondering…since you’ve made a couple of comments about Crystal Meyers… although romance isn’t something you normally show an interest in… Emery, please tell me you don’t have an interest in that divorced Englisha girl.”

  “Hey, I like Englisha girls!” Emery’s tone was lighthearted. “I like you.”

  “Don’t tease me.” Debbie’s tone was tense. “And I’m Amish now, not Englisha.”

  Emery’s face softened. “You really care, don’t you?”

  Debbie tried to gather her wits. “I’m sorry, Emery. I know this is none of my business, but my nerves are kind of raw, what with Alvin and Crystal and Mildred… ”

  Emery regarded her with interest. “I kind of like this concern of yours. I didn’t figure you’d care one way or the other.”

  The world spun at Emery’s compliment. It was the nicest thing he’d ever said to her.

  He went on. “I guess I should be honest, Debbie. I did speak with Deacon Mast and told him I hoped he’d be encouraging if Crystal wanted to stay in the community. I’d heard that Crystal went over to speak with Alvin on Sunday night and received quite a rebuff, so I felt I should give my encouragement to Deacon Mast.”

  Debbie drew in her breath. “So that’s why Alvin wasn’t at the singing.”

  Emery shrugged. “Alvin told her not to come around again, if that’s what you’re worried about. But the community supported you with your decision to join the community, and I think they should do the same for Crystal. If she wants to make the same decision. It’s only right. Surely you of all people can see that.”

  Debbie tried to breathe evenly. What Emery said made sense, and yet it didn’t. That Crystal would seek out Alvin was no surprise. That validated her opinion of the woman. Alvin’s reaction was also expected. It was Emery’s interest in Crystal that bothered her.

  Debbie focused on Emery’s face. “I think you should forget about Crystal. She’s divorced.”

  Emery’s words came quickly. “That’s no reason to reject the woman out of hand. I hope she stays around and finds the peace she’s obviously looking for.”

  This was worse than Debbie had thought. Clearly Emery had spent considerable time thinking about Crystal. His conclusions could in no way be trusted. Not when it came to Englisha women.

  Debbie tried again. “There are dangers out there you might know little of, Emery. I care about the wife you end up with. You deserve better than Crystal. She’d be a disaster. You know that. Your faith would be at stake. You’d lose everything you love.”

  Emery laughed. “Now you’re thinking wild. Don’t be so suspicious. I’m not falling for a divorced woman, if that’s what you think.”

  Debbie ignored his comment. “Do you know what the woman’s up to this week? Has she left the community?”

  Emery hesitated. “How would I know? I just wanted to give my encouragement to Deacon Mast.”

  “But you do know.” Debbie couldn’t keep the edge out of her voice.

  Emery tried to smile. “Yah, I guess I do know. Deacon Mast told me. Crystal’s staying around for a while at her relative’s place, which is not far from here. And I did tell Deacon Mast I’d introduce her at our young-folk gatherings—if she came. And what’s wrong with that? Everyone deserves a chance, Debbie.”

  Debbie’s fingers dug into her palm. “You know none of that’s going to work, Emery. Crystal will no longer be welcome at the services once people find out she’s divorced. She’d have to work a long time to overcome that obstacle. Look at me! I barely made it, and I…”

  Emery moved away a step as the bishop appeared around the corner of a horse stall. “I know, Debbie. That’s why I’m going to help where I can. Help people understand that Crystal’s intentions are gut. Get them to trust her and give her a chance.”

  Have you told your father this? Debbie wanted to shout after him.

  Emery gave her a tense smile over his shoulder as he walked away.

  Clearly the man knew he was on dangerous ground in spite of his denials. Would Crystal be able to weave her spell completely around Emery’s heart? What hold did this woman have on Amish men
? First Alvin and now Emery. Her worst fears were indeed true.

  The bishop interrupted her thoughts. “Thanks so much for helping us chore this week, Debbie. I’ve been wanting to say something but haven’t gotten around to it until now. You’re almost like a daughter to us. But then you already know that.”

  “Thank you.” Debbie smiled. “I’m glad to help.”

  “How are you and Alvin getting along?” Bishop Beiler’s voice seemed to boom inside the barn.

  Debbie swallowed hard. “Okay, I guess. We have a few rough spots, but we’ve always had those.”

  Bishop Beiler appeared pleased. “I must say, I’ve heard nothing but gut things about Alvin lately—other than that deal with Crystal, which I hope is over with. He’s really taking care of his daett’s farm. The committee has disbanded now, having given Alvin full charge of everything. I’d say you’ve got a gut man there. And he’s getting a gut frau…if that’s how things work out between you.”

  Debbie felt heat rise up her neck. “It’s only been one date so far.”

  Bishop Beiler laughed. “I’m thinking you and Alvin have been working on this for a long time. But then who can question the ways of Da Hah?”

  That was true, Debbie thought, even if the bishop didn’t know the half of it. But his blessing was something she could be thankful for.

  “We’re trying,” Debbie managed.

  The bishop smiled and moved on.

  Debbie gathered her wits together and walked out of the barn and across the lawn toward the house.

  Saloma looked up in surprise when Debbie hurried into the kitchen. “Chores done already?”

  “Yep!” Debbie chimed. “May I help you?”

  “Certainly!” Saloma motioned toward the stove. “I’m almost done, but you can finish the bacon. I guess I drifted off thinking about Verna’s baby. What a blessing we’ve been given in our old age.”

  “I know.” Debbie bit back further words. She wasn’t about to spill the beans about Emery. And perhaps this was just an innocent gesture done out of the compassion in Emery’s heart. But she doubted it. Doubted it with all her heart. All she knew for sure was the Beilers couldn’t lose Emery to the world. They just couldn’t.