“Have you been here all day?” he asked.
“I’ve been here for a good while. I watched you for a little while at the auction. You did well.”
He grinned and looked down. “Think so?”
Once his eyes were fixed on hers again, she nodded.
“Are we allowed to be speaking with each other?” he said as he looked around.
“We’ll soon find out. Here he comes,” Anita said.
“There you are.” Amos said looking at both of them. “Let’s go and have lunch.”
Simon’s eyebrows shot up. “Me too?”
Amos slapped him on the back. “Of course. Why not?”
Simon looked at Anita, and then smiled. “I’d love to have something to eat.”
They both followed Amos to the food tent.
Hannah was having a break from the candy stall and had saved them a table. Ben and Sam were sitting at the table with her. They all sat, ate, and had polite conversation.
“Do you think you’d be able to take a look at that buggy wheel for me, Simon?” Amos asked.
“Jah I could. I’d be happy to.”
“Come over tomorrow and have a look at it.”
“What have you been using? You haven’t been using that buggy I hope.”
“We’ve got a second one, but it’s old.”
“I never knew you had a second one,” Simon said.
“He’s kept it at the back of the barn covered in burlap sacks. There’s nothing wrong with it, it was Amos and Anita’s vadder’s buggy,” Hannah said. “And you must come over to dinner tomorrow night just like old times.”
Simon glanced at Amos. “I’d like that, as long as it’s okay with you, Amos.”
When everyone looked at Amos, he then said, “That would be all right.”
When lunch was over, Hannah went back to her candy stall and Amos and the boys were ready to go home. “I’ve got to take the boys home for a sleep, Anita. Do you want to come home with me now? You could wait here and I’ll collect you when I come back to get Hannah at closing time.”
“I think I’d like to stay on,” Anita said.
Simon said, “If she gets tired I could bring her home.”
Amos looked at Simon and gave him a nod.
When Amos walked away with the two boys, Anita giggled. “That was very brave of you,” she said to Simon.
“Jah, I know. I wasn’t expecting him to agree. Have you said something to him to bring about his change of mind about me?”
“Nee, I haven’t.”
“You best stick with me, then. In case you get tired and I have to take you home.” He smiled at Anita and she smiled back at him.
Anita liked his company and she knew he felt the same way.
“Shall we walk to the far end and see what’s over there?”
“Let’s go,” Anita said.
They were making there way past one of the many tents where people were having tea and coffee when they saw the bishop’s wife, Fran, sitting by herself. “Do you think I should go over and ask why I wasn’t on that list?” Simon asked.
Anita’s fingertips flew to her mouth as she laughed. “Don’t you dare!”
He stopped walking and she stopped too. “And how are you doing with that list? Have you chosen anyone yet?” he asked.
“I completely forgot about the list, and I don’t even know where it is.”
“That’s very careless of you. Fran was good enough to go to the trouble to make a list for you; the least you could’ve done was given it some serious consideration.”
Anita saw Simon’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “Come on.” Simon held the back of her arm, and started walking toward Fran.
“Stop it,” Anita said with a laugh, but it was too late, Fran had looked up to see them walking over.
As they approached, Fran motioned to the spare chairs at her table. “Sit with me. I’m all alone.”
“Denke. We will,” Simon said, pulling out a chair for Anita.
When they sat down, Fran was quick to say, “Tell me how you two are getting along?”
Before Anita or Simon could say anything, Fran added, “I wouldn’t have placed you two together.”
“He’s my bruder-in-law. He’s Hannah’s bruder.” Anita looked over at Simon to see a huge smile on his face; it was clear that he was enjoying every moment of her embarrassment.
Fran shook her head and patted Anita’s hand. “He’s only a bruder-in-law by marriage. He’s once removed, or is it twice removed? I can never get these things straight. He’s no relative of yours, not directly, it’s only because his schweschder married your bruder.” Fran tapped on her chin. “I remember that Hosea Burkholder married Elsa King, and then her bruder married Hans’ schweschder. That kind of thing happens all the time. It’s not a problem. Do the two of you want to make a time to see John? You’ve plenty of time before the next wedding season and the boppli will be here by then, but it doesn’t hurt to have the wedding arrangements made a long time before. It’s always best to be prepared than wait until the last moment.”
Simon leaned forward. “Nee we’re not ready to talk to John yet, but you are right about us not being related in any way except by my schweschder’s marriage to Anita’s bruder.
Fran looked back at Anita. “See, my dear? There’s nothing to stand in your way. And he such a lovely young man.” Fran smiled adoringly at Simon.
“Thank you, Fran,” Simon said.
Anita had to put her straight. What would happen if Fran mentioned something to Amos? “You’ve got this all wrong, Fran. There’s nothing between us, we’re only friends.”
Fran smiled, and nodded. “I won’t say a thing. You can rely on me. Now are you two going to keep me company by having a cup of tea?”
Simon stood up. “I’ll get it. Will you have another cup, Fran?”
She shook her head. “Nee, I’ve not finished this one yet.”
Simon looked over at Anita. “Tea for you?”
“Kaffe please.”
Fran leaned over to her. “I don’t know if you should be drinking kaffe.”
“I think a little bit’s all right, and I haven’t had any today yet. Kaffe please, Simon.”
When Simon went to get the drinks, Fran whispered to Anita, “You’re quite blessed you know. I don’t know how many girls we’ve had crying over at the haus because he won’t pay them any mind.”
“Crying, over Simon?”
Fran nodded.
“He’s popular?” Anita stared after him. She could see why he’d make the young girls cry. He was handsome, hard-working, and he had a lovely and pleasing personality. “I guess I can understand why.” He’s everything that I would want in a man, if I were young again and single.
She was tempted to tell Fran again that she wasn’t interested in the man, but she knew there was no use.
“I know you’re thinking it’s too soon to tell anyone, but no one will mind. Judge not lest ye be judged, I’d say to them. There’s nothing wrong with marrying again after you lose one man. Gott made us to want company, and for every man to have a woman and every woman to have a man.” She leaned further over, and whispered, “It’s better to keep sin from the door rather than trying to shut the gate after the horse has gotten away.”
The shock of what Fran said made Anita giggle. She hoped Fran wouldn’t think she was being rude, but she couldn’t help but laugh. Simon came back with the hot drinks, and saved Anita from having to explain to Fran why she’d just laughed in her face.
“Denke, Simon.”
“What are you two laughing at?” Simon asked.
“Fran was just giving me something to think about.” Anita took a sip of coffee. “And I didn’t mean to laugh, Fran.”
Fran patted Anita’s hand, before she turned her attention to Simon. “How’s your business going, Simon? Thriving, is it?”
“Jah, it’s going really well. I can’t complain.”
“I’d think you wouldn’t want to complain.
Seems everything’s going well for you.” She looked at Anita. “And for you too.”
Anita smiled.
“And you just bought that lovely big haus. It’s way too big for just you, Simon, with all those extra rooms.”
“Jah. As soon as I marry, we’ll fill it up with kinner as fast as we can.”
Simon teasing Fran backfired, when Fran pointed to Anita’s tummy, and said, “And you’ve got a head start on the kinner already.”
Anita smiled and had to shake her head.
Fran pulled her attention away from them when she spotted someone she knew. “There’s Vera over there.” She looked at each of them in turn. “Mind if I leave you two here?”
“We don’t mind at all,” Simon said.
Anita knew that Vera and Fran were the best of friends. When Fran left the table, Anita leaned over, and said to Simon, “I hope she’s not going to tell Vera about our secret relationship.”
Simon looked over at Fran scurrying toward Vera. “Of course she is. What else would they have to talk about?”
Anita laughed. “She told me you’ve upset quite a few girls in the community, and made them cry. ”
Simon put his hand on his chest. “I have?”
“That’s what Fran said.”
He frowned. “How have I upset anyone?”
“It appears you’ve been ignoring them, or some such thing.”
Simon’s cheeks reddened, and he took a mouthful of coffee. When he set the cup back on the saucer, he said, “There’s not much I can do about that.”
Anita wondered why some girl hadn’t taken his eye. “You’ve not come across anyone in the community you like?”
“The truth is, I haven’t.” He looked into her eyes. “Not until now.”
Anita gulped hard. She hadn’t expected him to say that. She thought he might be fond of her, just as she enjoyed his company. Anita was both concerned and flattered at the same time. She put her fingers to her throat searching for something to say.
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I thought I should be honest about my attraction to you just in case you might feel the same one day, when you’re ready.”
How could she explain that she did like him, but it was too soon, and besides that she still loved Joshua?
He chuckled. “Forget I said anything. Let’s just enjoy one another’s company.”
Tears came to Anita’s eyes and she did her best to blink them back.
He handed her a paper napkin.
“Denke. I don’t know why I’m crying. I don’t normally cry.”
“I wasn’t even ignoring you. Apparently that’s usually how I make girls cry.”
Anita gave a laugh as she dabbed at the corners of her eyes with the napkin. “I’d like us to be friends, and I think that we can, now that Amos is letting you come back to the haus.”
“Now that I’ve opened my big mouth about how I feel, I might as well go the whole way. I know your husband has just been taken from you suddenly, and I’ve no idea how that feels, especially in your condition. I’m going to put myself forward to you and say that if you ever find you might be interested in marrying again, I’d like you to consider me.”
Anita laughed, but then saw that he was serious. “You’re so young, Simon.”
“Age is nothing but a number. Once someone reaches maturity, he’s an adult. I guess there’s something to be said for experience one gains with age, but experiences are nothing if one doesn’t learn from them. I’ve learned from all mine.”
Anita frowned. She couldn’t quite follow what he was talking about, but he made more sense than Fran had, when she’d been talking about horses and shutting gates. Anita breathed out heavily. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I know you don’t want to think about things like that right now, but I don’t want to miss out if, and when, you ever consider another marriage. Neither do I want to put any pressure on you. I hope by saying all these things I haven’t ruined our friendship. If we can only ever be friends, I’m more than happy with that.”
“We haven’t known each other long, but I do feel I’ve known you forever.”
“Don’t say anything further. I just wanted you to know how I feel. When Amos wouldn’t let us speak, I had an awful feeling I might find out one day that you were about to marry one of the Yoders, or someone else who Amos thought would be suitable for you.”
Anita nodded, pleased he wasn’t putting any pressure on her. She liked him too, but if she told him too much he might expect something of her, and she had nothing to give. She was emotionally drained from everything she’d been through. Besides, she couldn’t just switch off from one man and switch onto the next. Her heart needed to heal. “I’m glad you told me how you feel.”
“That’s all you need to say. I’m not asking for an answer.” He looked over to a crowed of people to the left of them. He nodded his head toward Fran and Vera. “They’re looking over at us.”
“Ach nee. It’ll be all over the community in no time.”
Simon laughed.
Anita drank the last of her coffee.
“Finished?” Simon asked.
“Jah.”
“Come on, let’s see what else there is to see.”
Simon and Anita spent the rest of the day together and when the Mud Sale came to a close, Simon walked Anita back to Hannah’s candy stall. When they got there, Hannah was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s, Hannah?” Anita asked Libby.
“You’ve just missed her. She’s just gone home.”
“Did she go home with Amos?”
Libby nodded.
“Looks like I’ll have the pleasure of your company while I drive you back home,” Simon said.
“Denke, Simon. I wonder why they didn’t wait for me. I said I was going home with them.”
“They most likely thought you’d already left.”
“I suppose so.”
When Simon took her home, he didn’t go inside the haus.
Anita pushed the door open.
“Anita, there you are,” Hannah said.
“I just missed you. I got there at closing time and Libby said you’d just left.”
“I’m sorry, we thought you’d gone home already when we couldn’t find you.”
“Where’s Amos?”
“He’s putting the boys to bed.”
Anita took off her shawl. “I thought that was your job.”
“He said he’d do it because I’ve been on my feet all day.”
Anita threw her shawl on her bed, and came back out to the kitchen. She grabbed one of the pieces of carrot that Hannah was cutting and popped it into her mouth. When she swallowed it, she picked up another piece, and said, “That was nice of Amos to put the boys to bed.”
“He’s been very thoughtful lately.”
“Gut.”
“I saw you spending a lot of time with Simon today.”
Anita sat down at the table. “Jah, he’s good company.”
“He does like to look at the funny side of things. He’s always been a joker.”
“What can I do to help, Hannah?”
“You could shell the peas.”
Anita walked over to the sink and brought the peas back to the table. She sat back down and began to shell them. “I’m glad that Amos and Simon have mended their differences.”
“I guess you would be.” Amos stuck his head around the kitchen door.
“Aren’t you supposed to be putting the boys to bed?” Anita asked.
“They’re already asleep. I couldn’t get them to sleep this afternoon. I think the Mud Sale had them too excited.”
Amos took a seat at the table. “I know I’ve been stubborn about Simon, but now I see that you two are just friends.”
“That’s good,” Anita said, not knowing why he’d come to think that and not game to ask. “We’re just friends,” she confirmed.
“I do think you should keep your mind open to the possibility of finding another mann
.”
“Amos! I think Anita’s had enough talk on that subject. You know she’s not happy about you trying to match her with Mark Yoder.”
He looked up at his wife. “I didn’t have Mark Yoder in mind. I’ve just heard that Eli Smith is coming back to the community.”
Chapter 12
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16:11
* * *
“Really?” Hannah pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. “Wasn’t he a gut friend of yours years ago, Anita?”
Anita was still a bit shocked; Amos had just announced that Eli Smith was coming back to the community.
Anita frowned at Hannah, wondering how she could possibly remember that she’d been friends with Eli. “Jah, he was a close friend before I married and moved away. Then I heard he married someone not long after and moved from here.”
“His fraa died nearly a year ago. He’s coming back.”
“To live, or for a visit?” Anita asked.
“He’s coming for a visit and he said he might stay on.”
“That would be lovely. Where’s he staying?” Anita popped a couple of fresh peas into her mouth.
Amos looked away from her and rubbed the back of his neck. “He’s staying here.”
Anita clenched her jaw. “How long have you known this?”
He looked across at her and blinked a couple times. “I got a letter from him today saying he’s leaving to come here in a few days.”
“I didn’t know you two were such gut friends.”
“Well, we are.” Amos gave a sharp nod.
“So he’s been visiting here since he left?”
“He’s been back for weddings and funerals and the like.”
Anita remained silent feeling a little guilty for not making the journey to come to Amos and Hannah’s wedding. “I’ll be happy to see him again.”
“That’ll be nice, won’t it, Anita? The two of you have both lost loves and you’ll have that in common too.”
Anita nodded. “Jah, it’ll be nice to have someone to talk to about things that you have to experience to understand.” Anita continued to shell the peas. “Does he have any kinner?”
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