“Jah? What is it?” Had he finally come to ask her to marry him? Today might be the day when all her questions would be answered. “Do you want to sit out here on the porch, or would you like to come through to the kitchen?”
“Just here will be fine,” he said, gesturing to the two porch chairs.
She moved to sit in the farthest porch chair, and he sat next to her.
“What is it, Ed? You’re worrying me. You look quite disturbed about something.”
He chuckled. “There’s nothing wrong. I’ve received a letter from Rhonda.”
She couldn’t recall anyone called Rhonda. “Who’s that?”
“Rita’s schweschder.”
He didn’t seem happy. “Is she ill?”
Ed chuckled again. “Nee, she’s quite well. She wants to come here for a few months to see if she’d like to move here to live. Her husband died a few months ago, and she’s all by herself.”
“Oh. She never had any kinner?”
“Nee. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if she stayed with you.”
“That’ll be fine. I’ll be glad of the company, and it sounds like we’ve got a lot in common. We both lost our husbands, and we both have no kinner.”
He leaned back. “Denke. That’s a load off my mind. I feel better knowing she’ll be staying here with you.”
“When is she coming, do you know?”
“She said she’ll be here as soon as she finds a place to stay. She sent a letter to the bishop, but I thought you would be the perfect person for her to stay with.”
“Of course. Has she ever been here? I don’t recall her visiting.”
“She’s been here a couple of times over the years, but only stayed a couple of days at a time. Her husband had a lingering illness, and needed constant care, so it was hard for her to get away.”
“Ah, that must’ve been hard for her.”
He nodded. “It was.”
“I look forward to her staying here. I’ll clean out the spare bedroom and re-wash all the linen.”
“I didn’t mean to put you to too much bother.”
“It’s no bother.” Valerie laughed quietly, remembering her silly notion that he might be there to propose. “Would you like a cup of kaffe?”
“Nee, denke. I have a new apprentice starting today and I don’t want him to think I’m never around the place.”
“Okay.”
He stood up and gave her a smile before he placed his hat back on his head.
Valerie watched Ed’s buggy head back down the driveway. It was nice to have his friendship, but would they ever be more than close friends? What would it take for him to utter those words?
* * *
Later that day, on the way home from the markets, Valerie stopped by Nancy’s house to tell her friend that she would soon have a visitor.
As she sat at Nancy’s kitchen table after delivering the news, Nancy said, “The bishop has only just now asked Hezekiah and me if we would have Ed’s schweschder-in-law stay here, at our haus. We’ve got all those spare bedrooms now.”
“Oh, Ed mustn’t have realized that Rhonda was organizing things through the bishop. Come to think of it, he did mention that she had written to the bishop.”
“It’s all arranged. I spoke to Rhonda myself earlier today on the telephone.”
“Here I was coming to give you some news, and instead you’ve got the news.”
Nancy laughed, and then after she’d had a mouthful of tea, she said, “It would be a bit awkward, though, don’t you think?”
“What would be awkward?”
“To have her stay with you. Rhonda is Rita’s schwescher. Don’t you think it would be awkward if she stayed at your haus?”
“I can’t see why.”
“Because you and Ed used to be so close, and you’re still close.” Nancy shrugged. “Forget I said anything.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, Nancy.”
“It’s like this. What if Rhonda’s coming here in the hopes of marrying Ed? He’s a widower and she’s a widow.” Nancy wiggled her eyebrows.
Valerie gasped and covered her mouth. “Nee! I didn’t even think of that.”
Nancy lifted her chin just slightly. “She lost her husband a few months ago, and she has nothing to keep her at Lowville. Why wouldn’t she want to marry Ed? He’s a good man, he’s hard-working, and he’s got a good business. Even at his age he’s a catch.”
Valerie remained quiet, thinking about what Nancy had said. “But don’t you think that would be weird, marrying her late schweschder’s husband?”
“It’s not as though it hasn’t been done before, Valerie.”
Valerie slowly nodded, thinking of two marriages where someone married the sibling of their late spouse. “You’re right.”
Nancy put two elbows on the table and stared at Valerie. “So what are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing. What can I do about it?”
“Get a commitment from Ed before she gets here. A commitment of marriage.”
Nancy could’ve had no idea what she’d just said. Valerie had once had a commitment of marriage, but Ed’s commitment of marriage had been worthless. Even though it hadn’t been a verbal commitment, he’d given broad hints that they would marry and there was talk of creating a future together and buying a haus.
“Well, don’t you think so?” Nancy asked.
Valerie shook her head. “Commitments mean nothing.”
“Well then, marry him before she gets here.”
Valerie shook her head. “If Ed’s so easily swayed by another woman, then he and I are not meant to be.”
“Don’t you have any understanding of men, Valerie Miller?”
“Of course I do—I think. What do you mean exactly?”
“Men don’t know what they want most of the time. It’s up to us to decide for them what they want. If you really want Ed, and you’re in love with him—and I think you are—you must take steps to make it happen.”
“I can’t. Somewhere in my heart is the romantic notion that a man must want me and only me. If Ed doesn’t feel that, then I would rather live the rest of my life alone.”
“Surely not!”
“It’s not so bad by myself. I enjoy my own company and the solitude. I can do what I want when I want without having to ask a man anything, and I don’t have to compromise.”
That got Nancy talking and Valerie watched Nancy’s mouth open and close, open and close. There was no point listening to what she was saying. All Valerie knew was that if Ed chose Rhonda over her, it would be like him marrying Rita all over again. And if that happened, she would sell up and move back to Ohio where she’d lived as a girl. She still had plenty of family there, and that’s where she would spend the rest of her days.
Chapter 18
A week and a half later, Nerida visited Valerie and when Valerie saw her pull up at her house, she hoped Nerida had news of Rhonda, who’d arrived in the community two days ago.
Ten minutes later, Nerida suggested they both visit Nancy so they could meet Rhonda before the Sunday meeting.
“We might as well stop by,” Valerie said.
“You’ll do it?” Nerida stared at Valerie.
“I might as well meet her now. I’ll have to sooner or later.”
Nerida’s eyes opened wide. “Right now?”
“Isn’t that what you meant?”
“Okay, let’s do it.”
Valerie looked around her house at all the things she was going to do that day. There were the rugs that needed taking outside to be given a good beating. The gas light fixtures needed dusting, and then there was the washing. “I’ve got washing hanging on the line.”
“And it will be there when you get back. I’ll bring you home again. We only need be there for an hour or two.”
Valerie nodded, figuring an hour would be well and truly enough. “I’ll switch off the gas and we’ll have a cup of hot tea over there instead.”
“Okay. I w
onder what she’s like.”
“I thought you would’ve met her already.”
“Nee, I didn’t want to overwhelm her. I thought she might have too many visitors at the start. Now she should’ve settled in a little.”
Valerie switched off the gas and left the kettle on the stove. “Have you heard anything about her? It was the first time Ed had mentioned her to me when he asked if she could stay here.”
“I remember her visiting Ed and Rita many years ago. And she was here for Rita’s funeral.”
“What’s she like?”
“She’s a small woman and she looks similar to Rita.”
“Makes sense, I guess,” Valerie said.
* * *
When they knocked on the door, Nancy led them through to the kitchen where a small dark woman with elfin-like features sat on a chair at the table. Valerie guessed her to be around fifty. Even though her skin was smooth and wrinkle-free, the slight sagging of her neck and jowl area told the story of her age, as did the silver streaks running through the dark hair in front of her prayer kapp.
Rhonda immediately leaped to her feet and put her hand out. “You must be Valerie.”
She was a good six inches shorter than Valerie, and Valerie couldn’t help but wonder if that appealed to Ed, who was only an inch taller than herself. Valerie smiled and extended a hand. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Rhonda said with a charming smile. “And you’ve got to be Nerida?”
“Jah.”
Rhonda smiled and shook Nerida’s hand, and then looked back at Valerie. “I do apologize for not staying at your place, Valerie. Ed told me you had kindly offered, but before that, the bishop found me Nancy’s place to stay.”
The woman was attractive and polite. She seemed friendly enough, but it didn’t escape Valerie’s notice that the woman had only spoken three sentences and had already mentioned Ed.
“Would you two like hot tea?” Nancy asked.
Seeing they were already in the middle of a cup of tea, Valerie thought it was only polite to join them. “Jah, please. That would be lovely.”
“We can’t stay long, I’m afraid,” Nerida said to Nancy.
Once they’d sat down and Nancy was fussing around, making more hot tea, Rhonda turned her attention to Nerida. “You must be thrilled to be expecting another boppli. I was so excited for you when Nancy told me your news.”
“It was quite unexpected. I’d gone to the doctor for an entirely different reason and it was a big shock. John is extremely happy, but it took the girls a little while to get used to the idea.”
Nancy interrupted. “Nerida’s girls said their kinner, when they have them, would likely be only a year or two younger than their aunt or onkel.”
“Do you have kinner?” Valerie asked Rhonda before she remembered that Ed had said that she didn’t.
“Nee. Peter and I weren’t blessed with any. That’s why I was disappointed that Ed wouldn’t move back after Rita died. I could have been a bigger part of my nephews’ lives.”
“I don’t have any either, and my husband passed away a couple of years ago now,” Valerie said.
“Jah, I know. Ed told me.”
“And how long can you stay for?” Nerida asked Rhonda.
“I’m staying for a few weeks. I’ve got a vague idea in the back of my head that I might move here one day. I’ll look at places to buy while I’m here, to get a feel for what’s available.”
“That would be wunderbaar,” Nancy said as she placed a fresh teapot in the middle of the table.
“While I’m here, I’m going to keep myself busy. Ed’s been alone for so long and he needs someone to look after him.”
Valerie looked down into the empty teacup in front of her and jumped when Nancy poured hot tea into it.
“And exactly how are you going to look after him?” Nancy asked.
“For starters, I’m making him new curtains. That is if I can borrow your sewing machine, Nancy?”
“Of course you can.”
“Is it a treadle machine?” Rhonda asked.
“It is.”
That must’ve been the right answer because Rhonda looked happy about that, Valerie noticed. “What curtains are you talking about? Because I made him curtains just last year for the living room.”
Rhonda giggled. “Oh, I’m so sorry. They look like they’ve been there for many years.”
“Nee, they’re quite new. Did Ed say he wanted them replaced?” Valerie asked.
“Not at all. I spotted them and thought that was something I’d be able to do for him. Anyway, I didn’t want to make you feel bad, Valerie. It was a careless thing for me to say.”
“That’s okay.”
“Did you make him new bedroom curtains?”
“Nee, I didn’t.”
“Well, I’ll make him curtains for his bedroom, and all the bedrooms. How many bedrooms does he have in his haus?”
“Four, I think,” Valerie said.
Holding the teacup in both of her small hands, Rhonda brought the cup to her lips and took a delicate sip. “You’re a particularly good friend of Ed then, Valerie?”
“Ed and I have been good friends for many years.”
“He never mentioned you in any of his letters. I only heard your name when he said you offered a place for me to stay. That was very kind of you, denke.”
Valerie smiled and nodded politely, but remained silent, resisting the temptation to tell her that Ed had never mentioned her either.
Nerida cleared her throat. “What else do you have planned for your stay, other than looking at houses and making curtains?”
“I’d like to have another look around the area. Ed will be able to show me around when he’s not working. I told him he needs to stop working so hard.” Rhonda giggled. “At his age he should slow down, particularly since his boys are working in his business. Surely they can run the place—that’s what I said to him.”
“And what did he say about that?” Nancy asked.
“He said he likes working. It keeps his mind and body active. He said he’ll keep working as long as he’s able.”
“That sounds like Ed,” Nerida said.
“Don’t get me wrong, I like men who work hard, but there comes a time when a person has to take their age into account. Ed’s not as young as he thinks he is. Anyway, it’s not my place to tell him what to do.” After she drank some tea, she looked at Valerie. “What did your husband do?”
“He ran the farm.”
“Ah, the one you had to sell?”
“Jah. How did you know?”
“Ed told me. At least, I think it was Ed.”
“Dirk worked the farm by himself. We only had a small plot of land compared with others.”
“Working the land is hard. My husband owned four successful businesses before he fell ill. We had to sell two of them, but I’ve still got managers in the others.”
“What kind of businesses?” Nerida asked.
“Two Amish small goods stores, a bike shop, and we also had a block of storage units. We sold the storage units and the bike shop. And I might as well tell you that I’m selling the two small goods stores as well. I have a cousin looking after that for me while I’m here.”
Valerie couldn’t drink her tea fast enough and when she finished, she gave Nerida ‘the nod.’
“Denke for the tea, Nancy. I’ve got so many things to do today.”
“Me too,” Valerie said. “It was nice meeting you, Rhonda, and I’ll see you again at the meeting.”
* * *
Nancy and Rhonda stood at the door and waved as Valerie and Nerida drove away from the house.
“Well, what do you think?” Nerida asked Valerie.
“She seems nice.”
“What about what she said about the curtains?”
“I know, but she didn’t know I’d made them. You can’t blame someone for that. If she’d known, it might be a different story.”
Nerida shook h
er head.
“She seemed nice,” Valerie said again.
“I guess.”
* * *
After breakfast the next morning, Valerie was sweeping the boards of the porch when she saw a buggy heading to the house. When it got closer, she saw it was Nancy and she was by herself. Relief washed over her.
Rhonda made her feel tense for some reason. After she had rested the broom against the house, she walked over to meet Nancy who was now tying her horse to the fence.
“What’s going on? How did you get away without Rhonda?”
“She’s gone into town with Nerida. And what I thought was right. She’s here with one thing on her mind and that is to marry Ed.”
Valerie sighed. “That was plain to see yesterday. She couldn’t stop talking about him.”
Nancy fixed her eyes on her. “Valerie, I think it’s time you told me the whole story.”
“The whole story of what?”
“Why you and Ed didn’t end up marrying years ago when you were dating. I recall you lived in Ohio and Ed used to travel to see you and then you used to come here to stay with someone for weeks at a time.”
Valerie’s gaze fell to the dirt beneath her feet. “I’ll make us a cup of tea. It’s a long story.”
Once they were comfortably sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in hand, Valerie began, “This feels a little strange to tell you something that I’ve held so close for so long. I’ve never shared this with another person.”
Nancy’s eyes widened.
“Oh, don’t look like that. It’s nothing secretive or spectacular. It’s just a painful story of how a young girl was rejected by the man she loved.”
“I’m sorry,” Nancy said in a barely audible voice.
Valerie took a deep breath. “I was living in in Ohio, and Ed, as you know, was living here. I suppose that wasn’t good from the start, but we visited one another often. Even though we lived so far apart, we had an understanding that we would marry. He was saving up to buy a small plot of land and we talked of building a haus and a life together.” Valerie shook her head. “I can’t even tell you if his plans were six months or two years into the future; all I knew was that we were going to be together.”
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