“I guess we are alike,” Katie said after a moment. Not that she minded. There were few people she’d rather be more like than her mother.
Mamm smiled. “There are so many things I could tell you. A few might even stun you.”
Katie turned to her mother, more curious than ever. “What do you mean?”
Mamm took Katie’s hands in her own. “Did you know that I left the Amish country when I was seventeen?”
“W–what?”
“Yes.” Mamm sighed. “I was in love. At least I thought I was.”
“With Datt?”
A moment of silence was long enough to convince her otherwise.
“With an English boy I’d met in school,” her mother admitted with flushed cheeks. “Back then, the Amish children were integrated into the public schools and learned alongside the English children. At some point in my mid-teens, I met this boy, Chuck, and fell head over heels.”
Katie could scarcely believe this story. Her mother. . .in love with a boy named Chuck? Why had she never heard this story before? “He wanted to take you away from the Amish lifestyle?”
“That’s just it.” Her mother sighed. “He didn’t want to take me away at all, but I was too naive to see it. I went to the trouble to run away from home, thinking he was interested in marrying me, and he didn’t even want me at all. Turns out the other boys in the school had put him up to it—making me think he liked me when he really didn’t.”
“Oh, Mamm, that’s awful.”
“It was humiliating. But here’s the funny part”—her mother’s eyes took on a faraway look—“I left late at night, planning to meet him in town. When I got there, he didn’t show up, so I located a public phone and called him.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing. He told me the whole thing was a joke. Apparently the boys had set their bait, and I took it. Anyway, I walked back home again, crying all the way.” Mamm sighed. “My parents never even knew I left, and I never told them.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, but the Lord knew, and He certainly had a lot to deal with in my heart. The pain and rejection, of course. And then there was the issue of my leaving to marry an English boy. I carried quite a bit of guilt over that.”
“Ah.” Katie understood such guilt.
“The next morning I woke up with huge bags under my eyes and I was congested from all the crying. My mamm took one look at me and assumed I had the flu, so she started doctoring me right away.”
Katie hung on her mother’s every word, mesmerized.
“My heart mended, and the funniest thing happened— your datt’s family moved to Paradise that same fall from Indiana. When I met that man. . .” Her eyes filled with tears. She took Katie by the hand. “I knew from the moment I met your father that he was the man for me. And I have thanked God every day since that Chuck Brower broke my heart.”
“Like I broke Karl’s heart,” Katie acknowledged.
“Oh no.” Her mother shook her head. “Karl was hurt when you left, of course. Like a wounded puppy for the first few months. But his wounds healed over nicely. Until his parents passed away. I think that was the thing that damaged him most.”
Katie looked out of the window with longing. “I was so foolish back then, Mamm. A silly young girl who didn’t know what she wanted.” Her eyes filled with tears. “But I know now.” She turned to face her mother. “Only, maybe it’s too late.”
Mamm grinned. “Oh, sweet girl, it’s never too late when the Lord’s in charge.” She gave Katie’s hand a squeeze. “You just commit this to prayer and see what the Almighty does. He has a way of turning pain into something quite beautiful.” Her eyes filled with tears as she gave Katie a kiss on the cheek. “If I hadn’t met your father, I wouldn’t have you. Don’t you see? You have Chuck Brower to thank for that.”
Katie giggled. “I guess.” Her eyes now filled with tears. “But I’m most grateful to you and Datt.” After a lingering sigh, she added, “I miss him so much, Mamm. And I regret not coming home more.”
“You’re here now.” Mamm stood and gave her a knowing look. “And that’s all that matters.”
As her mother made her way out of the room, Katie pondered her words. You’re here now. And that’s all that matters.
With a sigh, Katie realized the truth of it. She did feel at home in Paradise. But what in the world could she do about it now?
NINETEEN
Karl drove all the way to Lancaster, the nearest big town, stopping off at a local diner for breakfast. As he ate, he put together a to-do list. A lengthy one. He scribbled through a couple of things on the list, but the others could not be overlooked.
Buying a ring, for instance. He would have to do that, and quickly. Leaning forward, he looked at the paper, deep in thought.
The Amish didn’t exchange weddings rings, so offering one to Katie in the Walken house was out of the question. He’d have to find a spot. . .just the right spot. And then he’d have to think of something brilliant to say, something that would seal the deal.
At once, the plan came to him. He’d take care of it, and in the most remarkable of ways. Surely she would accept the ring and agree to be his wife.
Now for the second part of the plan—the compromise. The part where his world would merge with hers. The part where they would both learn to lean a bit, meeting in the middle. Surely he knew just how this would work.
After leaving the restaurant, Karl drove up and down the streets in search of a real estate office. Thankfully, he located one within minutes. He entered with a particular plan in mind and exited nearly an hour later, joy flooding his heart. At this point, motivation growing, Karl stopped in at a pricey jewelry store, locating the most exquisite ring he’d ever seen, one sure to make Katie’s eyes pop. Now to perform the deed. Karl drove to the Walken farm, praying most of the way.
As he drove, he thought about the love he now felt for Katie. Surely it was a love born of waiting, but time had only served to strengthen it, not the other way around. And besides, he could hardly compare today’s feelings to how he’d felt about Katie all those years ago. Maybe it’d been puppy love back then, the kind that would have blossomed into something more real in time. With the right circumstances. Maybe they both needed to see where life would take them as individuals before they could come together as husband and wife.
Was that the real message here? Had God used their time apart to grow them as individuals so that they would make a stronger couple? Karl chewed on that awhile. He’d grown so much since his parents’ deaths. Might not make much sense to those still living in the Amish community, but his faith had grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years away. And Katie had clearly blossomed into a mighty woman of God, too. One who was finally ready to be swept off her feet.
He hoped.
His heart soared as he thought about the ring burning a hole in his pocket. He could hardly wait to present it to his bride-to-be.
His heart swelled at the idea. She’d almost been his once before, but clearly God had a different plan. They were both just children back then, not ready for the changes ahead. Now, older and wiser, they could face the future together. Like-minded. In one accord.
He reached the farm and pulled his car into the driveway. Buddy greeted him, of course, but so did a host of Walken family members, appearing on the porch the moment his car pulled in.
“Uh oh.” None of them looked terribly happy. Maybe he shouldn’t have left without telling anyone. Did they think. . .
He drew in a sharp breath as reality hit. They thought I was running away—like Katie did. A delicious chuckle slipped out as he made his way from the car to the driveway. Oh, if they only knew!
As he meandered up the porch, Karl did his best to play it cool. “Hey, everyone.”
“Karl.” Katie’s older brother, Amos, gave him a stern look. “Urgent business in town?”
“I couldn’t have put it better myself.” Karl looked through the crowd to
find Katie, but she was noticeably absent. “Where. . .um. . .is—”
“You looking for Katie?” Mrs. Walken appeared in the doorway. “She’s in the field out behind the house. Want me to go fetch her for you?”
“No.” He did his best to hide the playful smile that attempted to rise up. “I think I’d like to fetch her myself.”
The twinkle in Amos’s eye let Karl know he understood. With a wink to all family members, Karl trudged around the side of the house, through the mud left from last night’s rainstorm, until he finally arrived in the backyard. He looked out across the field, finally able to catch a glimpse of Katie as she ran.
“Man, she’s fast.” He started to take off after her but decided to give it a moment. If she went out, she surely had to come back in, right?
A couple of moments proved the point. Katie turned and began to walk toward the house. When she saw Karl, however, her walk turned into a sprint. The sprint turned into a full-fledged run. And before he knew it, she stood directly in front of him, her breaths coming hard and fast.
He hardly knew what to make of the expression in her eyes. Pain? Betrayal? Hope? Excitement? Funny how a woman could say so much without uttering a word.
“Nice morning?” he asked.
Her smirk left little to the imagination.
“Feel like going for a walk?”
“I just went for one.”
She turned back toward the house and he reached to take her by the arm. “Oh no, you don’t,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not going to let you get away that easily. You’re coming with me, Katie Walken.”
Her eyes grew large as she responded. “Oh, I am, am I?”
“You are.” He took deliberate steps away from the house, and toward the creek. Once they arrived, he would set his plan in motion. Until then, he just had to figure out a way to keep her feet moving in unison with his.
❧
Katie’s heart thumped a hundred miles an hour as Karl led her beyond the field and into the clearing. Mud covered her sneakers. Nothing she could do about that. But after the prayer time she’d just had, her heart was as clean.
The first several paces were filled with questions. Why had he picked today, of all days, to run away and then come back? And what in the world was he doing, walking her through mud puddles? “Do you mind if I ask where we’re going?” she asked finally.
Karl simply shook his head. “Won’t you even give me a hint?” she tried. He responded by shaking his head. Then, as Karl’s hand reached down to grab hers, as he turned to give her a wink, all prior fears melted into one blissful thought. This is the hint. He’s not here to break my heart. He’s got something up his sleeve.
As they approached the creek, Katie held her breath. Fishing? Today? Surely they couldn’t fish, what with everything along the edge of the creek being so muddy. And besides, they had no poles. No bait. Nothing. Yes, something was surely up.
“Follow me, Katydid,” he whispered as he led her toward the bridge.
Hand in hand, they approached the center, the same spot they’d stood at hundreds of times as children. This time, however, one of them did not appear to be standing. Katie looked down in surprise as Karl dropped to one knee.
“W–what are you. . .”
He reached to take her hand. “Katie, a man doesn’t often get the chance to propose to the same woman twice.”
She groaned. “I didn’t exactly let you propose the first time, remember?”
He cleared his throat. “Um. . .no, you didn’t. And thanks for the reminder. But you’re going to let me finish what I’ve started this time, right?”
Katie felt her cheeks turn warm, and her hands began to shake in anticipation. Unable to say anything above the lump in her throat, she stared down into Karl’s love-filled blue eyes and simply nodded. As if she would stop him!
She watched in awe as he reached into his pocket, coming out with the prettiest diamond ring she’d ever seen. Her breath caught in her throat as she took it in. He’d chosen white gold, her favorite. And the marquis diamond was flawless, perfect.
But not nearly as perfect as the image of the godly man kneeling before her now. And certainly not as perfect as the grace of an almighty, all-loving God who had brought them back together in such a miraculous way. She blinked away the tears so as not to miss a thing.
“Katie, I love you even more now than I did twelve years ago, if that’s possible,” Karl said. “I know we have a lot of time to make up for, but I want to enjoy every minute with you. I’m asking you. . .” Here he lifted the ring, nearly letting it slip out of his hand into the creek below. He caught it before it hit the slatted bridge, but not before Katie let out a squeal.
“Whew! That was close.” Her heart began to beat faster than ever, knowing he would soon slip the beautiful ring on her finger.
Karl started laughing. “I can’t even propose without fouling it up.” He looked up at her with pleading eyes. “I’m trying to ask you to be my wife, but I’m not doing a very good job of it.”
“Oh, you’re doing a great job,” she said with an encouraging nod. “Don’t let me stop you.” Please don’t let me stop you.
“Katie”—he reached for her hand, slipping the ring into place—“will you do me the very great honor of becoming my wife?”
“Will I!” Katie let out a whoop, startling a flock of birds in a nearby tree. They soared away with their wings flapping in unison. “Karl, nothing would make me happier.”
He rose to his feet and swept her into his arms. As their lips met for a magical kiss to seal the deal, Katie felt as if her heart would not be able to contain the joy. What she had ever done to deserve this she had no idea.
TWENTY
So here’s what I’m thinking.” Karl took hold of his fiancée’s hand as they walked back toward her mother’s house. “I’m thinking we’re both a little homesick for Paradise.”
“Are you suggesting we come back here to live?” Katie asked. “Surely you don’t mean—”
“I’m suggesting we move to the area,” he said. “I wasn’t suggesting anything more than that. Returning to the lifestyle would be—”
“Tough?”
“If not impossible.” He sighed as he thought it through. “There are so many things I want to do for people, and I know God can use my skills as an attorney.” Here he paused, trying to work up the courage to broach the subject near to his heart. “But I’ve decided it doesn’t really matter where I practice. And for that matter, unless your heart is set on Doylestown, you could sell real estate here in Lancaster County.”
Katie’s eyes lit up as she gazed at him. “You’re really talking about moving back.”
“I am, but only if you’re in total agreement.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, unfolding it. “I stopped and picked this up at a real estate office in Lancaster. It’s a piece of property for sale not too far from here.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” She gave him an incredulous look. “I’ve been by this farmhouse twice. Both times it caught my eye.”
“Mine, too, but I didn’t want to admit it, at least not to anyone but myself.” He paused for a moment then added, “You know how I feel about the land.” Karl tried not to let his emotion take over as he spoke. “I’m always telling people I’m not a farmer, but in my heart I am. I’d like to try something on a small scale, something that would allow me to get my hands in the dirt and still run my own practice.”
“So you’re saying you want to be a dirty-handed lawyer?” The corners of Katie’s mouth tipped up in a playful smile. “You think that will go over well in this neck of the woods?”
After they both stopped laughing, Karl shrugged. “Why not? Maybe we’ll start a new trend. And you. . .” He took her by the hand. “You will thrive here in Lancaster County. There’s land in abundance here. Plenty to sell.”
Katie shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Well, I don’t k
now. Maybe I’ll turn out to be one of those women who prefers to have a houseful of babies. A stay-at-home mom.” She looked up at him with a fascinating look in her eye, one he’d never seen before.
“You?” He couldn’t believe it. “The girl who jumped out of a window in search of a bigger life? You’d be willing to stay home and change diapers?”
“Well”—she shrugged—“I’m not sure at the moment, of course, but maybe someday. And besides, raising children is a bigger life.”
“True.”
She leaned against him and kissed him on the cheek. “If our kids are half as troublesome as I was, they’re going to need a parent to stay with them full-time, don’t you think?”
“No doubt about that. But we’ll find a good church to raise them in, one we can both agree on.”
“Of course.”
“And speaking of parents being close to their children”—he paused before unveiling the rest of the story—“the primary reason I’m suggesting all of this is because your family is here.” A lump grew up in his throat and he did his best to squelch it. “My parents are gone, and now your datt has gone on, too. But your mamm is still here, and she needs you right now.”
Katie’s eyes filled with tears, and she gazed up at him with joy. “Yes, she does.”
“And with all of your brothers and sisters nearby, I just think we’ll be more at home in this area.”
“You don’t think it will be strange, since they now consider us Englishers?”
Karl shrugged and gave the matter some thought. “There will be hurdles to jump, no doubt, but they will be easier to jump from Paradise than Doylestown, wouldn’t you imagine?”
“Yes.” She gave him another kiss on the cheek. “I think you’re brilliant, Karl Borg.”
Red, White and Blue Weddings: Red Like Crimson, White as Snow, Out of the Blue Page 43
