Benjamin took a step back to allow Jacob room to join the conversation. “We’re talking about women.”
Jacob laughed. “And what would you know about women, Benjamin?”
“Enough. And if you know so much, why aren’t you married?” Benjamin asked Jacob.
“Jah, Jacob?” Joshua crossed his arms and stared at Jacob, glad the attention was off him for a change.
“Finding the right woman. I told you all this, Joshua. Why are you so jumpy all of a sudden?” Jacob looked back at the house. Adeline could be seen through the kitchen window. “Haven’t you asked Adeline out yet?”
He sighed. Now it seemed everyone knew he liked Adeline. “I’m still thinking about it. I’m worried that she’s too young, like you kindly keep reminding me.”
“Is she?” Benjamin smiled.
“I don’t think so. Not for me, but maybe for you,” Jacob said.
“You told me you wouldn’t compete with me.”
“Jah, well, depends how long you take, though.”
“And you were talking like you didn’t like her, or thought she wasn’t sweet. You said that just the other day.”
Jacob chuckled. “I can handle a girl who’s not that sweet and if you think Adeline’s perfect you’re setting yourself up for a fall.”
“You’re wrong about her. Anyway, I need to take my time. Everything needs to be perfect. I don’t want to scare her away by making a move too early.” Joshua’s ego was still bruised that she’d refused his offer to pick her up. He was too embarrassed to tell his brothers that.
“If you ask me, you should do something about it,” Benjamin said.
“Jah. She’s there alone in the kitchen right now. This is a perfect time to say something to her,” Jacob added.
“Nee, I can’t. I made a small move and things didn’t go how I expected.”
“You need to learn a thing or two about women—” Benjamin started saying.
“I need to?” Joshua asked thinking that was funny coming from the baby of the family.
“Jah. If you’re going to hold such a high standard that someone can’t make one mistake you’re never going to marry anyone.”
Joshua took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair.
“I guess the kid’s right. What are you waiting for?” Jacob asked.
“Okay. I’ll do it.” Joshua put his hat back on and strode toward the house. When he was inside, he made his way to the kitchen and peeped in. “Adeline.”
She turned around. “Joshua.”
He closed the distance between them. “I’m sorry for everything I said to you before, the other day.”
“You don’t have to be, you were right. I should’ve never let myself get into that position. It was uncomfortable but I thought I couldn’t say no. I felt I had to do it.”
“Why?”
“I was trying to help a friend, and now I think no one likes me anymore. Everyone seems upset with me.”
“I’m not.”
The corners of her lips turned up slightly. “You were before.”
“Well, I’m not now.”
“Good.”
“Can I get you something? Maybe some soda?” There was a table with food and drinks set up outside the house.
“That would be nice.”
“What are you doing in here alone?”
“I’m cleaning up the kitchen while Lucy’s supervising where things should be stored in the barn.”
“Come and walk with me. If I leave you alone, someone might talk to you and I’ll lose my place by your side.”
She giggled.
He laughed. “I mean it. Some of these men are ruthless, my bruders included.”
“I’ll remember that, but you must remember that my schweschder married your bruder, so you have to watch what you say about your brieder.”
“I will. Denke for the reminder.”
They both walked toward the table where the drinks were. Benjamin and Samuel were hanging colored lanterns in nearby tree branches, ready for when the sun went down. Jacob was nowhere to be seen and neither were Mary Lou, Becky, or Nella. Joshua carefully poured Adeline a glass of orange soda and then poured one for himself. When someone started hammering loudly on something, Joshua said, “Let’s walk over that way so we can hear ourselves speak.”
“Okay.”
Adeline’s insides felt like a light had been turned on; she was glowing. She was nervous talking to him and she hoped he liked her. She knew he’d been out with a few girls but had never had a long-term girlfriend. Most of the girls in her group of friends were in love with either Joshua or his next-younger brother, Jacob.
“Can I drive you home tonight? I know you’ve already said no to my bringing you here, but I’m hoping you’ll change your mind about me driving you home.”
Now she knew for certain he liked her. She’d refused his first offer, and now he'd gotten his courage up and asked again, so she knew his interest in her was strong. For once she thought about herself, and took her younger sister’s advice. She’d stepped aside for long enough, until she was certain that he didn’t like Mary Lou or Nella. She’d done the right thing as far as she could. “Jah. Dat drove me here and that would save Lucy from taking me home.”
He smiled at her and his eyes twinkled. “I wasn’t thinking of the practical aspects.”
She looked down and knew she was blushing.
“And maybe, we could do something sometime soon, just the two of us?”
Looking back up at him, she asked, “Like what?”
“Maybe I’ll surprise you. What do you think about that?”
Adeline couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “I’d like that.”
“Me too. Shall I collect you on Saturday morning? Would you like to spend the day with me?”
She nodded, suddenly too choked up to speak. All she wanted to do was jump up and down and holler. She couldn’t wait to get home and tell Catherine. Catherine had been determined to go to Lucy’s, but their mother still wasn’t convinced she was well enough to go anywhere without risking a relapse.
For the next few hours, Joshua barely left her side and she could feel Nella and Mary Lou glaring at her as they stood together talking. Adeline didn’t look at them. They’d each had their chance with Joshua, and she’d taken a backseat to them for long enough.
“Are you ready to go home now?” Joshua asked her.
If they left now, they would be among the first to leave. “Okay, I’ll just say goodbye to Lucy.
“Okay.”
As Adeline made her way through the crowd to find Lucy, she was confronted by Nella.
“What’s going on with you and Joshua?”
“He’s driving me home.”
“So, you like him?”
“I’ve liked him for a long time. Before you liked him.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Adeline swallowed hard. “I didn’t like to because you liked him so much.”
Nella nodded. “You should’ve said something.”
“Maybe I should’ve, but I didn’t know what to do.”
“Denke for being a good friend to me, Adeline.” Nella stepped in to give her a hug.
Adeline nodded, happy that Nella was pleased for her. She doubted she’d get a similar response from Mary Lou. “I’m going home now.”
“I’ll be waiting to hear what happens, and you must tell me everything.”
Adeline giggled. “Okay.”
When she spotted Lucy, she was shocked to see her talking with Mary Lou. She approached them both. “Good night. I’m going now.”
“Oh, I’ll find Levi to take you home. He’s also taking a few other people home.”
“Nee, Lucy, it’s fine.”
“How are you getting home?” Mary Lou asked.
“Joshua is taking me home.”
Mary Lou frowned. “Is that right?”
“Jah. Goodnight.” Adeline leaned in and hugged both girls in turn and then turn
ed to go back to Joshua. It had worked out well that Mary Lou had found out like that, when she was standing there with Lucy.
As she walked back to Joshua, she saw his face light up.
“Ready?”
“Jah.”
“Let’s go.”
On the drive home, Joshua asked, “Would you like to come to a family dinner on Friday night? Lucy and Levi will be there too.”
“I’d love to come. Should I come early to help your mudder? It sounds like there’ll be a fair few people to cook for.”
“I could ask. She’s a little possessive of her kitchen.”
“Oh, well, maybe don’t ask her.”
“Nee, I’ll ask. She’ll appreciate the gesture. I’m happy you agreed for me to drive you home.”
“Me too.”
“I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding between us.” He glanced over at her. “The truth is I’ve liked you for a while and I didn’t say anything, because I didn’t know if you’d think I was too old or too … something.”
“I don’t think you’re too old or too ... anything," she said with a cheeky grin, "and you know why I couldn’t let you know how I felt.”
“Jah. I understand.” When he pulled up at her house, he said, “I had a lovely night.”
“Me too. Denke for arranging it.”
“I’ll see you on Friday night.”
“What time? It’ll have to be early if I’m helping your mudder.”
“Make it five. I’ll collect you at five.”
Adeline knew from the time he’d chosen that she wouldn’t be helping Mrs. Fuller in the kitchen.
As though reading her mind, he said, “Mamm will say you’re a guest and shouldn’t help. But I'll still tell her you offered.”
“Okay.” She gave a little giggle. Then she stepped down from the buggy. “Gut nacht, Joshua.”
“Gut nacht.”
She hurried to the darkened house while listening to him turning his horse and buggy back around to face the road. When she opened the front door, she saw a small light on just near the fireplace. Beside it was Catherine, asleep. Adeline knew she’d fallen asleep waiting for her.
“Wake up,” Adeline said in her ear.
Catherine started moving, and then opened her eyes. “You’re home.”
“Jah, and guess who brought me home?”
She straightened up and opened her eyes wide. “Joshua?”
“Jah.”
“Sit down and tell me everything and don’t leave anything out.”
Adeline sat next to her and did just that.
As Joshua drove home along the moonlit street, he wondered how his mother would react to the news that Adeline Miller would be joining them for the Friday night family dinner. This was the first girl he’d ever invited home and his mother would know he was interested in her. He bit his lip, remembering the promise to his mother that he’d marry a girl that would be just like a dochder to her. His mother wasn’t happy with Hazel or Lucy, and Lucy and Adeline were sisters. It was a bad start. He didn’t want to disappoint his mother, so he knew he’d have to break the news gently.
Chapter 17
It was the next Monday evening after work that Joshua decided his mother should know about Adeline coming to dinner on Friday night. It was important that the dinner go well because Adeline had also agreed to spend the whole of Saturday with him and he didn’t want anything to ruin that.
He figured on Saturday he'd take her for a long buggy ride along the winding back roads and visit some of the historic covered bridges. Then, for lunch, a picnic by the river. He’d get Hazel to help him pack a nice lunch. She’d know where to get all the food and what he should take. Hazel and Adeline got along well, so surely Hazel would be happy to help.
As usual at this time of day, his mother was in the kitchen busily humming as she flitted from one side of the room to the other.
“Mamm, have you got a moment?”
She glanced at him. “Is anything wrong? You’re not ill, are you?”
“Nee, not at all. I just want to have a word with you.”
“Do I have to sit down or can I keep cooking?”
“You can keep cooking.” He thought she might take the news better that way. “I invited someone to dinner on Friday night.”
The saucepan she’d been holding landed heavily on top of the stove, and she swung around to look at him. “Who?”
“Adeline Miller.”
Her mouth fell open and her face immediately lost all its color. “Who?” she asked in a quiet voice as though she hoped she had heard wrong.
“Adeline, Lucy’s schweschder.”
She headed for the table, pulled out a chair, and then sat heavily. “You’re inviting Adeline Miller?”
He sat down next to her. “That’s right, Mamm.”
She looked into his face. “Do you like her?”
“Very much. I drove her home Saturday night from Levi’s new haus.”
“Oh. Hmm.”
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“Do you?”
“Jah, you said you wanted me to marry a girl you could think of as your dochder, and I know you don’t think …”
“Never mind what I said a few days ago. Sometimes I’m a selfish woman.”
Joshua gasped. “Nee, you’re not.”
“I am. I can’t choose who you marry. Now if I could choose, I’d choose Mary Lou. I didn’t like her at first and then she grew on me over time.”
He couldn’t believe his ears. “Really?”
“The point I’m trying to make is that you should choose someone who’ll make you happy. Someone who’s a hardworking girl, unselfish, and kind. And someone who’ll be a gut mudder and, if you think that girl is Adeline, then you should marry her.”
He stared at his mother, wondering whether she was doing some kind of reverse psychology thing on him. He’d never mentioned marriage, Adeline was only coming to dinner, but it was marriage he had in his heart. He wanted to marry Adeline, but he didn’t want to rush her, considering her young age.
“Denke for understanding, Mamm. I was a little afraid to tell you.”
“When I said that to you the other day, I regretted it when I played over the words in my head later that night. I just didn’t get the chance to tell you to disregard my silliness.”
“Well, if I do end up marrying Adeline, I hope you’ll feel she’s a dochder to you—the dochder you always wanted and never had.”
She chuckled. “That’s the one thing I want, but I might have to wait for that. Maybe it’ll be Jacob's fraa.”
Joshua was a little disappointed that she’d added that last bit. He had thought he was finally getting through to her. “Adeline offered to come early to help you cook.”
“Nee, I like to be the only one in the kitchen. I’m used to it by now, what with raising all boys, and I like things done just so.”
“It was nice of her to ask, though. Don’t you think so?” Joshua asked, hoping his mother might say something nice about Adeline.
“Jah, it was. Now, I’d better get a move on with this dinner.”
Chapter 18
On Friday afternoon, Adeline anxiously awaited Joshua's arrival to collect her.
“Stop pacing,” her mother said. “He’ll be here soon enough.”
“Yeah, it’s not even five yet. It’s ten minutes before.”
“I know, but did he mean he’d collect me at five, or should we arrive at his parents’ haus at five?”
“Relax and sit down,” Catherine said. “You’ll use up all your energy and you need to save it so you’ll impress Mrs. Fuller with some sparkling conversation and witty repartee.”
Adeline scoffed. “I don’t think I’ll have much of that happening. I figure it's best to keep quiet, so I don’t keep putting my foot in my mouth.”
From the couch, her mother turned to her. “You don’t need to impress anybody, Adeline, just be yourself. You're a sweet young woman. You can�
�t go wrong if you just be yourself.”
"Denke, Mamm." Adeline put her fingertips to her forehead. It was burning. “I think I’m coming down with something.”
“Nee you’re not,” Catherine snapped. “You’re just nervous, so your hands have gone cold. Pull yourself together. It’s only a dinner for crying out loud.”
“Stop getting yourself worked up,” her mother said.
Adeline wanted to get away from both of them telling her what to do and how to behave. But if she went outside, it would look like she was waiting for Joshua ... which she was, but she didn’t want to appear too anxious.
“I’ll get a drink of water.” She headed to the kitchen and as she took a swallow of water, she heard a buggy. It could only be either her father coming home from work or Joshua. Looking out the kitchen window, she saw Joshua’s buggy.
Catherine ran into the kitchen. “He’s here.”
“I know. I saw.”
“I’ll wait up.”
“Denke.” She hugged Catherine and then hugged her mother who was now standing behind Catherine.
Before she walked outside, she grabbed her black shawl from behind the door. It wasn’t cold, but she found comfort in her soft shawl. When she opened the door, Joshua was halfway from his buggy to the house.
“Hello, Adeline. You look lovely.”
“Denke.”
“Are you ready?”
“Jah.”
“Let’s go.”
They climbed into the buggy and Adeline pulled the shawl to her stomach. She had no idea how she was going to eat. Her tummy was churning.
As the horse pulled the buggy back out to the road, Joshua glanced over at her. “Are you cold?”
“Nee.” She giggled. “I guess I’m a little nervous. This is my 'security shawl."”
“Don’t be nervous. I’ll be there, and Lucy will be there too.”
She nodded feeling a little better.
“And don’t worry about my mudder. She looks fierce, but she’s not. She’s soft.”
“Is she?”
“Jah.”
Adeline wasn’t so sure of that.
“I might be getting carried away and looking too far into the future, but both of us can’t worry what people think about us being together.”
Joshua's Choice: Amish Romance (Seven Amish Bachelors Book 3) Page 9
