Always Close to Home

by Jerry S. Eicher

  She glanced up as Lester came in the door. “Howdy, girls,” he called out, his damp hair plastered over his forehead. “Lunch ready?”

  “Yah, it’s ready,” Laura grumbled from her pot of potatoes. She slammed the lid down and pushed the container off the hot part of the stove. “That’ll simmer while I nourish my exhausted body.”

  Lester grinned. “You couldn’t have worked that hard unless you were sending smiles to John all morning.”

  “Of course I wasn’t,” Laura snapped. “And John’s smiles cheer me up, if you must know.”

  “Sit down,” Mamm ordered when Nelson came in. Lester had crept up to the bowl of vegetable soup and craned his neck to look inside. He took a long breath over the pot before he seated himself.

  “Satisfactory?” Nelson asked as he pulled out a chair.

  “You know Mamm’s meals are always satisfactory!” Lester proclaimed. “I was taking a whiff for strength so I wouldn’t pass out before we were served lunch.”

  As Nelson grinned at his brother’s attempt at humor, Laura said, “You’re both spoiled brats!”

  That brought a laugh from Nelson. “You need to keep her away from those potatoes, Mamm,” he managed in between gulps for air.

  Lester sent a dark look Laura’s way. “She’d better not throw one at me. Those are hot.”

  “Then behave yourself,” Laura said as she sat down with an exaggerated groan.

  “The girl doesn’t work hard enough,” Lester said.

  “Boys, boys,” Mamm warned. “Enough has been said.”

  A slight smile lingered on Mamm’s face. Mamm clearly enjoyed this light banter they often had at mealtimes. Her warnings were as much a part of the mix as everything else. Lester now heeded Mamm’s words and settled into his seat, but not before sending a fake smile toward Laura.

  Laura made a face at him in response, but Mamm didn’t notice. She was looking up to greet Daett with a bright smile.

  “Lunch is waiting, I see,” Daett responded. He wore a smile of his own and paused for a moment to squeeze Mamm’s arm before he took his seat.

  Lydia ducked her head at this display of affection between her parents, though she never tired of seeing their love for each other. This was what she desired for herself someday, once she said the vows with a proper young man like Milton. Someone who the Lord—

  “Let us pray.” Daett interrupted Lydia’s thoughts. They bowed their heads in silent prayer until Daett said, “Amen.”

  Lester didn’t waste any time to holler out, “Soup, please, or I will die of hunger.”

  Daett grinned and waited until Lester filled his bowl before he took some for himself. That was another thing Lydia loved about her daett. He always allowed others first place, even when he didn’t have to. Lester wasn’t starving, but Daett humored him.

  “Lydia received a letter today,” Mamm announced.

  Nelson jerked up his head. “For a date? What kind of man would use a letter to ask for a date?”

  Laura gave Nelson one of her glares. “It wasn’t like that. Uncle Henry wants Lydia to help him with his roadside stand this fall—perhaps up until Christmastime.”

  “Whoa there,” Daett said. “Uncle Henry wants Lydia’s help?”

  “It sounds like it,” Mamm said. “I told Lydia she has to ask you about it.”

  Daett glanced across the table. “Does that mean Lydia wants to go?”

  “Yah,” Lydia said, before Mamm’s disapproval could be voiced.

  But Daett still looked at Mamm. “You don’t think this wise?”

  “Lydia should focus on other things, Yost,” Mamm said. “She still hasn’t been asked home from the hymn singing. Besides, it might not be safe. Who knows what all could happen to a young girl out there on her own.”

  “On her own?” A smile played on Daett’s face. “Lydia wouldn’t exactly be alone. She’d live with your brother, and—”

  “See?” Mamm interrupted. “That’s exactly my point. She would see Englisha people each and every day, and who knows? One of them might take an interest in a young Amish girl.”

  “Mamm!” Lydia exploded. “I’m through with my rumspringa time. Haven’t I demonstrated that well enough? I’ll be baptized in a few weeks.”

  “Then wait until you’re baptized,” Mamm said. “Henry lives all the way up near Kokomo Corner.”

  Daett intervened, his tone mild. “Henry will bring Lydia home for the Sunday of her baptism, I’m sure.”

  “I’ll be okay,” Lydia insisted. “I’m done with…and…” She didn’t have to finish. Her family knew her record.

  Despite what Mamm had implied, Lydia’s rumspringa had been a mild affair. Laura and she hadn’t even ventured up to Heuvelton, where the bulk of the Amish young people hung out. Nelson had taken them once, but he had also ended his rumspringa early. Mostly because of Emily, but also because Nelson wanted what was right. They were a decent family, so why was Mamm so fearful?

  “It looks as if you’ve made up your mind then, Yost,” Mamm said. “All before you’ve asked further questions.”

  “I’ve not made up my mind,” Daett protested. He took a spoonful of soup. “But I don’t think Lydia should be pushed into a relationship she doesn’t want here in the district. I don’t mind her being at home with us—”

  “As an old maid!” Horror filled Mamm’s voice. “That’s not happening, Yost. And having Lydia trotting all over the country will only make things worse. She’ll gain a reputation of being hard up. You can’t allow this.”

  “We’ll see.” Daett busied himself with his soup.

  Mamm didn’t back down. “It’s not as though I don’t need help here at home. I need Lydia worse than Henry does with his harebrained ideas. I told him this spring not to plant that acre of pumpkins, but you can’t tell him anything. Who knows what he’ll have Lydia up to if you give him half a chance?”

  “I thought you were trying to get rid of Lydia a moment ago.” Daett cracked a smile.

  “To a decent husband, of course,” Mamm huffed. “Not to that wild brother of mine.”

  “He’s always seemed decent enough to me,” Daett teased. “You always had kind words for him when I dated you.”

  “That was then,” Mamm shot back. “I had to snag you somehow.”

  Daett laughed. “I didn’t think you were that desperate, Lavina. You turned down Ezra Swartz and Willis Stoll before I asked you home. Henry’s okay. It’s just Lydia you’re worried about.”

  Mamm appeared ready to protest, but she leaned over to nestle against Daett’s shoulder instead. Daett as usual had found the heart of the matter quickly. Mamm was worried about Lydia and the lack of boys asking to take her home from the hymn singings. Finding a decent husband for Lydia was high on Mamm’s list of priorities, right below one’s relationship with the Lord Himself.

  But Mamm was right about Uncle Henry. The man was known for his impulsive ways, even down here in the southern districts. More than one conversation at the Sunday services had centered around Uncle Henry’s latest escapade.

  “He’s got a waterwheel at his place, I heard,” one woman proclaimed in horror. “Henry plans to grind his own grain to save money.”

  “I heard that Henry talked with the milk inspector himself, and persuaded the man into a kinder look at our affairs.” At least this was said with gratefulness. “The Lord knows things are difficult enough without the government involved like it is.”

  “Henry put up a little sign for his roadside stand right on the Heuvelton bridge,” another one had said with a laugh. “He brought in a lot of business until the sheriff took it down. At least Henry acted like a real Amish man on that one.”

  Was that what Mamm didn’t want? Her daughter exposed to her brother’s ways? But no doubt that was only part of the truth. Mamm’s real concern was the lack of a decent young man to court her. But how could Lydia control that part of her life? She had sent plenty of smiles Milton’s way whenever he looked at her, and she was willi
ng to ask Uncle Henry to hire Milton. What more was she supposed to do?

  Thankfully Laura smiled and spoke up. “Lydia does give someone plenty of attention at the Sunday services when she has a chance. It’s Milton Beiler, so don’t blame her.”

  “She does?” Mamm was all interest. “Milton’s a decent man, isn’t he?”

  Daett shrugged. “As they go, I suppose.”

  “That’s not a very hearty endorsement.” Mamm gave Daett a long look. “Do you know anything about him that we should know? But surely you wouldn’t hinder Lydia’s chances at marriage, Yost?”

  “Mamm!” Lydia protested. “Milton hasn’t even asked me home.” And won’t, she almost added, but she shouldn’t think such dark thoughts. After all, maybe she really could get Uncle Henry to help her out.

  “What I’ve heard is that Milton’s thinking about jumping the fence,” Lester said. “I just heard of his plan last week. He’s not coming back from his rumspringa.”

  “You don’t say!” Mamm exclaimed. “Well, that settles that.”

  Lydia tried to breathe. Was this true? Lester would be one to know. Yet, she couldn’t back down this easy. “Men say all sorts of things,” she managed. “I still like him, and I’m going to…” She stopped. The plan was for Uncle Henry’s ears alone.

  “So you do care about the man?” Mamm asked.

  “Yah,” Lydia admitted. She might as well tell the truth.

  Mamm glanced at Daett. “This doesn’t sound goot, but—”

  “She’ll be fine.” Daett gave Lydia a warm smile. “You need to relax, Lavina. The Lord will take care of things.”

  “I’m trying,” Mamm said. “I’m just worried. So I suppose this means you’ll be letting Lydia help Henry?”

  “I suppose it does,” Daett said. “The Lord doesn’t seem to be opening the doors to a relationship with a young man around here, so maybe Lydia should walk through the door that is open. Doesn’t that sound like the right thing?”

  Mamm didn’t appear convinced, but she kept quiet. Lydia could have hugged Daett on the spot. But what if Milton had really made up his mind not to return to the community? She had spoken up in his defense, but maybe Milton was serious about jumping the fence. She couldn’t date the man if he was, and neither could she go through with her plan.

  Lydia leaned toward Lester. “Is what you said true?” she asked.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Laura said before Lester could answer. “Even if Milton said that, you never know how things will turn out. Smile at him all you want. That’s what I say.”

  Laura should know, Lydia told herself. She had captured John’s attention and likely would have his promise of marriage soon. Lydia’s life had taken strange turns today, but she must not allow her emotions to get the best of her. She was getting nowhere with Milton in this district, and Daett was apparently going to allow her to accept Uncle Henry’s offer. Maybe this all was from the Lord’s hand. Didn’t He work in strange and mysterious ways?

  Chapter Three

  The Friday morning sun peeked over the horizon as Laura and Mamm emerged from the Mast home with a huge pot of mashed potatoes between them.

  “Look, Mamm!” Laura gushed as Mamm pulled the door shut behind them. “The Lord’s glory is showing all around us this morning, and I will see John today at the barn-raising. I’m so full of blessings I could burst.”

  “It is a beautiful morning,” Mamm said as they lowered the heavy pot to the porch floor.

  The first blaze of sunlight lit the red and gold leaves of the maple trees in the front yard with splashes of bright color. Mamm and Laura gazed in wonder at the sight.

  “Isn’t that just something!” Laura exclaimed. “I do think it’s a sign of things to come today. Look, the sunlight is streaming straight through the leaves. We came out just in time. If we’d come out a minute later we’d have missed the most beautiful part. The Lord is blessing us. I can feel it. I think that John might propose to me today at the barn-raising. Wouldn’t that be just like him? Right there with all those people around, he could ask me, ‘Will you be my frau, Laura? My precious and only one?’ Oh, Mamm, I know it will happen today.”

  Mamm grunted and reached for the handle of the pot. “Don’t get your heart too wrapped up in how it all happens. Just thank the Lord you have a man on the hook and that you’re about ready to reel in the line—unlike your sister.”

  Laura made a face. “Mamm! You take all the fun out. It’s not mechanical. I’m not reeling John in.”

  Mamm huffed. “Don’t deceive yourself, Laura. You did it quite well. You ought to give your sister lessons on how to capture a man’s heart.”

  “Lydia is a jewel in her own right,” Laura scolded.

  “But an uncaught jewel,” Mamm muttered. “Diamonds are useless if they only glitter at the bottom of the ocean.”

  “That’s pearls, Mamm,” Laura said. “And pearls don’t lie around. They grow in clams or oysters or something like that.”

  “Come on, grab your side of the handle,” Mamm ordered. “You shouldn’t be so educated in the Englisha ways. It won’t help with housekeeping and raising kinner. I’ve always said Nancy teaches dangerous things in that schoolhouse of hers. I’m glad my kinner made it safely past that woman’s fancy thinking—all of which comes from never having married. I even heard that Teacher Nancy read a piece in school the other week written by that horrible Englisha man, Shakespeare. She read it to the class after lunch, but most of the children couldn’t understand a word. Thank the Lord, but what a scandal!”

  Laura giggled so hard she almost dropped the pot handle.

  “It’s not funny!” Mamm gave Laura a glare as if she had read the offending piece herself. “The bishop’s frau, Rose, told me that Deacon William had to make a trip over for a talk with Teacher Nancy. But Rose said it won’t happen again now that Deacon William has spoken some sense into the woman.”

  “It was only the story of Romeo and Juliet,” Laura said as they arrived at the buggy. “Everyone knows that story.”

  “I don’t,” Mamm declared. “Or didn’t until recently. And what an awful ending, from what I heard.”

  Laura giggled again.

  “Stop that and help me lift,” Mamm scolded.

  Laura tried, but she was overcome by the giggles.

  “What’s so funny now?” Mamm demanded.

  “Oh, nothing.” Laura tried to keep a straight face. “I’d best not tell you how the story really goes.”

  “If they didn’t get married, that’s all I need to know,” Mamm said. “Now lift. That’s the kind of thing John will be impressed with.”

  Laura heaved upward. John seemed much more taken with her smiles than he was with any lifting she had ever done, but Mamm didn’t need to know that.

  “There!” Mamm exclaimed. The pot of potatoes fit in perfectly with the large bowl of vegetable soup. “Now for the plates and utensils, and then we can be on our way.”

  Laura closed the buggy door and followed Mamm back to the house. Her face grew warm at the memory of John’s light kiss on her cheek this past Sunday evening. She would want another one—a much longer one, if John asked her to marry him today.

  When they entered the kitchen, Lydia looked up from packing the large cardboard box on the table. “I’m ready. I think I got everything,” she said.

  Mamm appeared pleased. “Then let’s go.”

  Laura suppressed her grimace. “Don’t be so efficient,” Laura whispered as she took a firm grip on her side of the box.

  “What did you say?” Mamm asked.

  Laura shook her head. “Never mind, let’s go.”

  Mamm shrugged, and the twins wrestled the large box out through the front door.

  “What did you mean by that?” Lydia asked once they were outside.

  Laura pasted on a smile. “Nothing.”

  “I know that’s not true.”

  “I can’t breathe and talk both with this box,” Laura gasped.

  Lyd
ia kept silent as they made their way across the lawn and slid the box into the front of the buggy. Then her voice cut through Laura’s daze. “So tell me now.”

  What harm was there in telling her sister? Maybe it would help the situation. “Okay,” Laura said. “Mamm is worried about you. She thinks that I know how to catch men and that I should teach you how—so I just did. Be more womanly, Lydia. Don’t be so efficient. Let the soft side of yourself show.”

  “Mamm said that?” Lydia asked.

  “No, I did. And don’t be mad at me.” Laura reached over to touch Lydia’s arm. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have interfered.”

  Lydia’s face softened. “I know I’m a failure in Mamm’s eyes, but what can I do? It’s not easy like Mamm thinks it is—at least for me. Do you think men are different today from what they used to be? I mean, Mamm snagged Daett, and she’s not all cuddly and gooey.”

  Laura giggled at her sister’s description.

  “Come on, girls,” Mamm called from the washroom door. “Go get the horse. You can giggle tonight once you’re in bed.”

  “I think everyone has changed since then,” Laura said.

  “Yah, it’s a new generation.”

  “Do you think Daett kissed Mamm before they were married?” Laura asked.

  Lydia took a sharp breath. “Has John kissed you then?”

  Laura looked away, but her face betrayed her.

  “Oh, Laura,” Lydia whispered, before she turned and hurried toward the barn for the horse.

  Laura watched her sister disappear. They were of one heart on the inside, even if they were so different in their ways. She should have waited until Lydia had a boyfriend before she yielded to John’s advances, but that might have meant John would find someone else. No, she couldn’t help it that their ways had parted. Lydia would always be her twin, but they were different people. She was not going to put John off just because…