He stopped his buggy near the barn. When he had secured his horse, he patted him on his neck. “I won’t be long, boy. Hopefully, I won’t be coming straight back out, but you never know.” He walked briskly up to the front door. Before he knocked he took his time to take long slow deep breaths. Then he took off his hat and smoothed back his hair in case she invited him in. After he had knocked on the door, he heard scampering footsteps and whispers, then within moments, the door was opened and he was faced with Lucy. He tried to gauge her mood from the expression on her face. She didn’t look pleased to see him, but neither did she look horrified. "Hello, Lucy."
Lucy opened her mouth, but before she could answer, her mother appeared behind her and opened the door wider. A huge grin covered her face. "Levi, you’ve come to dinner after all. Lucy, you didn't tell me he was coming."
"That's because I didn't know," Lucy said quietly.
"I didn't come for dinner, Mrs. Miller. I just wanted to talk to Lucy for a few moments if I might."
“Jah, of course. Come in out of the cold," Mrs. Miller stepped back, holding onto Lucy’s arm. "Go on over and sit by the fire where it's warm, Levi.”
Levi saw Lucy’s two sisters sitting on the couch in the living room.
Mrs. Miller rushed over to them. “Girls, you come with me to the kitchen."
Levi smiled at the girls as they passed him. And then before he knew it, Lucy and he were alone in the living room sitting on a small couch by the fire. He glanced at her and she looked away. He put his hands up to be warmed by the fire. "It's a nice fire."
"It's just a fire," she said.
"We've been out chopping firewood for people."
"Who's we?" she asked.
"Joshua, Isaac and me."
"That's right, I forgot you three do that."
"The reason I'm here is that Isaac asked me if you would help Hazel paint tomorrow." His heart was pumping so hard he hoped she didn’t hear it.
"I told her I’d help her. Is she doing it tomorrow?"
"Jah, she is. You don't mind doing that, do you? If you do, I’ll tell them you were busy."
"Not at all. It’ll be fun."
He was relieved, and then he lowered his voice. "You haven't told your mudder anything about us?"
"Nee, I haven't said anything to anyone." She gulped when she remembered she’d told her sisters and Mary Lou. It wasn’t as though she meant to lie. The words tumbled out of her mouth before she realized they weren’t quite true.
He nodded. "That's good."
"You might as well stay for dinner now that you’re here—if you want to.”
"Really?" He was surprised she asked him. Now he felt there was hope for them.
"Jah, we’re having roasted meat and roasted vegetables."
"It smells delicious. You wouldn't mind if I stayed?"
"I don't mind. Mom keeps asking me to invite you for dinner and I kept putting her off."
"Did she get suspicious?"
"Nee. It was just after Hazel's dinner when Hazel and Isaac came back from visiting. I said there’d been too many dinners on lately. And there had been a lot."
He chuckled. "People do have to eat."
"That's just what Mamm said."
"Denke, it was nice of you to ask me, but I won’t stay. It would be a little awkward."
She nodded. "I guess it might be a little weird."
"I could collect you tomorrow and bring you home. Would that be all right? I’ll be helping Isaac with things over there."
"I suppose so. When are we going to tell people?"
He’d gone from hopeful to feeling that Lucy wanted their relationship to be over. He couldn’t go on without knowing what was on her mind. "Do you want to end things between us? Is that what you’re saying?"
"I don't know.” She bit her lip. “Do you?"
He didn't want to make it final, but neither did he want to feel vulnerable. He was a man and wanted to feel as though he was in charge of what would become of their relationship. If she didn’t care about whether they were going to be together, he’d feel weak if he told her how much he cared. He had to appear strong, or she might not respect him. “I don't know."
"You don't know about what you want, or you don’t want to be in a relationship with me?"
"It's not you, it's the situation I don't know about."
Chapter 14
Lucy swallowed hard. She had her answer. At least she hadn't wasted two years on him like Mary Lou had wasted on his older brother.
Suddenly, he rose to his feet. "I'll say goodbye to your mudder and sisters and then I'll go."
"Okay." She followed him to the kitchen and then when he was done saying goodbye to everyone, she walked him out to his buggy.
"Your vadder’s not home yet?" he asked.
"Nee. He'll be home any minute."
"I'll see you nice and early tomorrow, Lucy."
She nodded, too upset to speak. Then she forced herself. “Bye.” She tried to lift up her hand to wave, but it felt like a lead weight. Lucy could only watch Levi drive his buggy away and then her thoughts turned to her sisters and mother in the kitchen. She hoped that her sisters hadn't said anything to their mother about the status of her relationship. Her mother would make a dreadful fuss and probably scold her for letting a good man like Levi slip through her fingers.
When she’d seen Levi arrive at the house, she had hoped he was there to apologize and win her back. Things were as far from what she’d hoped as they could’ve been. But still, there was a glimmer of hope because he had wanted to collect her to take her to Isaac’s and Hazel’s and bring her home again. And it had seemed like he almost said yes to staying for dinner. If only he had.
Lucy walked back into the house and into the kitchen. Her mother didn't say anything about Levi. Instead, she just gave her instructions on what she had to do in the kitchen to prepare the dessert they were having that night.
When they heard their father arrive home, as usual, their mother hurried out to greet him.
"What's going on?" Adeline whispered when it was just the three girls in the kitchen.
"Nothing's changed. Everything is the same. And it doesn't look good. I'm going to Hazel's tomorrow to help her paint the grossdaddi haus for her mudder. She’s moving there to live."
"And will Levi be there?" Catherine asked.
Lucy nodded. "He'll be collecting me tomorrow and bringing me back home afterward. Now don't say anything more, or Mamm will wonder what we're talking about."
Levi drove home slowly, his thoughts a swirling jumble. Should he have stayed for dinner? Was that Lucy's way of trying to get them back on track? Or would that have been a mistake? Were they meant for each other or not? Once there had been no doubt in his mind that Lucy was the girl he’d marry. This was one decision in life that he could never go back on. Once a decision on a suitable marriage partner was made, there was no going back. He didn’t want to be one of those men who committed to marriage and got cold feet before the wedding—he knew of two of those.
If the things he was now finding out about Lucy were true, why hadn’t he seen them before? Had he been so blinded by wanting to be in love and happily married that he overlooked some serious flaws? She was a pretty girl, so maybe that was part of the problem. Had he liked the way she looked so much that he didn’t see the warning signs? He shrugged and then let out a loud groan. It was loud enough that his horse’s head rose and his ears turned around just slightly, which amused Levi.
What will I do, Heavenly Father? Please let me see the true Lucy.
Lucy made sure she was awake the next morning at first light. Levi hadn’t said what time he’d be there and she didn't want him to arrive when she was half dressed. She pulled on her oldest clothes, so it wouldn't matter if they got ruined by paint splashes.
When she was dressed, she pulled her brush through her long hair. Then she divided her hair into two sections and carefully braided each side before she pinned the braids against her he
ad. Lastly, she placed on her oldest prayer kapp.
Before she headed downstairs, she pulled the curtains aside and looked out to see if she could see Levi’s buggy approaching. Nothing, so she had time for a cup of coffee and a bite to eat.
As she sat drinking her coffee in the kitchen, she appreciated how quiet it was before everyone else woke. It was a Saturday, so everyone was sleeping a little longer than normal.
As soon as she heard a buggy, she poured the rest of her coffee down the sink, rinsed out her cup and headed out the door. Before she took a second step, a gust of icy wind bit into her cheeks, sending a chill through her body. She turned around and opened the door, grabbed her thick black cape, which was hanging behind the front door, and slung it around her shoulders.
“Good morning,” Levi said when she climbed up beside him.
“Hello. I wasn’t sure what time you were coming.”
“Me either, but I know they wanted an early start, so I came as soon as I woke up.”
“Did you have breakfast? I can fix you something here.”
He smiled at her. “That’s fine. I had something.” He clicked his horse forward.
She wished things weren’t still awkward between them, but they were. He was speaking to her as though she was a stranger. “What work are you doing there today?”
“Isaac hasn’t told me yet. I asked him and he didn’t want to say, so I’m guessing it’s something hard.”
Lucy laughed. “That figures.”
When Lucy and Levi approached the house, she couldn't believe her eyes. At the front door of Isaac’s house, talking to Hazel, was Mary Lou. How could this be? Lucy thought it would’ve taken a good year or two before she’d be friendly with either Hazel or Isaac.
She turned to Levi. "What's Mary Lou doing here?"
"Are you sure she’s here?”
“Jah, right there at the front door.” Lucy pointed to her and Levi looked over.
“That’s odd. I guess she’s here to help.”
“Oh, she's helping too?" Lucy hid her feelings about Mary Lou being there.
“I’m only guessing that’s why she’s here. I'll let you out here, close to the haus," Levi said.
“Denke.” She got down from the buggy knowing that Hazel and Mary Lou were watching her.
Hazel stepped down from the porch and walked over to meet her. "Denke for coming to help me. It means so much to us. And Mary Lou came to help paint, too."
"Jah, I can see that," Lucy said, smiling at Hazel.
"Have you had breakfast yet?" Hazel asked.
"I have. I was awake early this morning."
"Are you ready to get started?"
"I am. Are you painting with us, too, Mary Lou?"
"Jah. I already said I am. I'm here to help with anything I can."
"Excellent. Lead the way, Hazel."
Hazel took them through to the grossdaddi haus—a small addition to their own home. It had a bedroom and a small living room, plus a bathroom and a kitchenette. When they walked in, they saw it was all set up for painting with a ladder, old sheets on the floor, pans, trays and brushes.
“I can’t wait to get started,” Mary Lou said with a good measure of enthusiasm.
"When is your mudder arriving?" Lucy asked Hazel.
"As soon as we get the place ready, Isaac and I will go and get her."
"You’ll both go?" Mary Lou asked.
"That's right."
"Here's the paint." Hazel walked over to a tin of paint, picked up a blunt metal tool and lifted the lid to reveal a rich buttermilk color. “I stirred it earlier this morning. I don’t think I’ll need to do it again.” She tipped the tin just slightly to one side.
"Mmm, it looks good enough to eat—all thick and creamy." Lucy giggled.
"Jah, it looks nice. It’ll make the place nice and light. Isaac doesn't mind that your mudder’s going to be living here?" Mary Lou asked.
"Nee, he’s pleased. He was the one who suggested it when he asked me to marry him."
Lucy could feel the tension in the air at the mention of Hazel and Isaac’s recent marriage.
"That's so nice of him," Mary Lou said.
"My family is his family now too," Hazel pointed out in a sweet voice, totally unaware she was further upsetting Mary Lou—the woman who’d thought she would be the one to marry Isaac.
"Jah, I know that." Mary Lou’s voice was barely a whisper.
Lucy needed to get the subject of the conversation back to painting. "How are we going to paint this, with rollers or what?"
"We’ve only got brushes so do a good job.” Hazel giggled. “Try not to leave brush strokes. Oh, we need to put on our painting smocks." She raced to the other side of the room, picked up a white bundle, and then peeled off white shirts and handed one to each girl. "Put them on back to front.”
The girls giggled as they pulled on their large shirts. Then they helped each other button them up at the back.
"I hope nobody sees us like this," Mary Lou said with a giggle.
Hazel organized the girls to paint different levels and sections of the room.
A couple of hours in, Mary Lou was slowing down. "Are we going to have a break soon?"
"Okay, let's do that now, before I pour more paint in the tray."
"Good. My shoulders are aching," Mary Lou said, stretching awkwardly.
Lucy would’ve rather kept going until it was finished, but followed along with what the others wanted, or rather, what Mary Lou wanted.
After they had taken off their painting shirts, they headed out of the grossdaddi haus and into the main house. All the while, Lucy kept an eye out for Levi. She didn’t see anyone, but she heard men talking in the barn.
“I’ve made us some sandwiches for lunch.”
“Sandwiches? You didn’t have to do anything special, Hazel,” Mary Lou said.
Lucy hoped Hazel didn’t realize Mary Lou was being sarcastic.
“I wanted to, but I didn’t have time. You’re welcome to stay for the evening meal. I’ll cook something nice.”
“Nee denke. I’m so hungry I’ll enjoy these sandwiches.” She moved her shoulder in a circular motion. “I didn’t know what hard work painting was.”
“You’re doing a really good job,” Hazel said.
Just when they were sitting down to eat, Isaac and Levi came in for their lunch.
“What’s this? Are the rooms painted already?” Isaac asked.
The three girls laughed, but Mary Lou laughed the loudest.
“We’re halfway through,” Hazel said.
“And it’s looking good,” Lucy added. “It’s a lovely color.”
Two other friends of Isaac’s walked into the kitchen, and when the girls had finished their food they moved out of the kitchen and left the men to eat alone.
On the way back to the grossdaddi haus, Lucy excused herself and made a visit to the bathroom. When she walked back into the grossdaddi haus, it was only Hazel who was painting. Mary Lou was nowhere in sight. Had she gone home already? If she had, Lucy would feel bad for Hazel.
“Where’s Mary Lou?”
Hazel turned around. “She’ll be back in a minute. Levi wanted to speak to her just quickly.”
“Really? I didn’t think they’d have much to say to one another.”
“They’ve been spending some time together lately.”
Lucy pulled on her painting shirt, wondering how Hazel would know that. She figured Isaac must’ve said something to her. “Have they?”
“Jah.”
Her worst nightmare had come true. It seemed that Mary Lou had tried her hardest to come between herself and Levi and it looked like her wicked plan had worked. She picked up her paintbrush and touched it with her finger to make sure it was still damp. Then her head swam and she felt woozy.
“Excuse me a minute, Hazel. The paint fumes have made me feel a bit lightheaded.”
Hazel frowned and walked toward her. “Lucy, go out into the fresh air. I’m so sorry.�
�
“I’ll be fine. I’ll just go outside for a minute. I should be all right.”
“Okay. Take your time. I’ll open the other windows. Look, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I just wanted to spend some time with you. It wasn’t really about getting the rooms painted.”
Lucy knew she had to walk away quickly; she wouldn’t be able to stop crying if she started. “I want to do it. I’m having fun. I’ll be back. I just need a few minutes.”
“Okay.”
Lucy hurried away from the house, hoping no one would see her. With a quick look over her shoulder, she slipped into the thick blanket of trees behind the clearing near the barn. Her life was crashing down around her. Things had been good with Levi and then they’d gone so bad. Mary Lou had made things worse by throwing fuel onto the fire. To stop from crying, Lucy concentrated on walking and only stopped when she came to a creek. She leaned against a tree and watched the water trickle slowly as the wind swept along making ripples over the water’s surface. Lucy was still in the old white back-to-front painting shirt and knew she had to get back to Hazel and act normal, but how could she do that when all she wanted to do was cry?
Her stomach churned while thinking of what Levi might be saying to Mary Lou. Was he going to reassure Mary Lou that he would soon be free? It was odd that Mary Lou was there, but no, if Levi liked Mary Lou, he wouldn’t have collected Lucy and he’d even offered to take her home again. He hadn’t offered to collect Mary Lou and take her home. Now that she’d analyzed the situation and had applied some logic, she felt a little better.
Still, something wasn’t right with Mary Lou being there after how she’d talked about Hazel and Isaac. Lucy felt ashamed of herself for not being friendlier with Hazel when Hazel had gone out of her way to be nice to her. She’d let herself be influenced by Mary Lou even to the point of doubting her own feelings for Levi.
As she pressed her back against a tree trunk, she thought more about Mary Lou. It frightened her that another person could have so much influence over her decisions and over her life. Did that mean she was a weak person, to let herself be pushed around by Mary Lou’s whims? She had to become a stronger person and stand up for what she wanted. What she wanted right now was Levi—if she hadn’t left things too late.
His Amish Romance: Amish Romance (Seven Amish Bachelors Book 2) Page 8
