by Beth Wiseman
Aaron ignored the comment. “I’m startin’ to think that everyone’s not been real truthful with me about your cooking. This is the best chicken salad I’ve ever had. And I mean that.”
Leah took another bite of her sandwich, chewed, then swallowed. She smiled. “It really is good, isn’t it?”
Aaron nodded.
When they’d finished, Leah pulled out the two pieces of apple pie and handed one to Aaron. “Compliments of Kathleen,” she said. “Sorry my tomato pie didn’t turn out.”
“Not everyone can make tomato pie like Hannah.” He grinned, then raised the piece of pie to his mouth and took a big bite.
Leah felt her face reddening. Oh, you just wait. I will be making you a tomato pie—better than Hannah’s.
“I reckon not,” she responded curtly. “Now, tell me why you assaulted me in the field.”
Aaron held up one finger, indicating that she wait. He finished chewing, then slowly licked a pie crumb from his mouth. Leah watched his tongue slide across his bottom lip, and her pulse quickened. She put a hand to her chest, as if that might slow her heart rate.
“Let’s finish eating first,” he finally said.
When they were done and everything was loaded back into the picnic basket, Aaron stretched out on the blanket, leaned back on his elbows, and crossed his ankles. Leah sat Indian-style beside him, arms folded across her chest, facing him.
“Well?”
Aaron sighed, and his mouth twitched on one side. “I know it’s gonna sound dumb, but I thought—well, I thought maybe something was wrong with you.”
“What?”
He shook his head. “Auntie Ruth, who is a little nuts, told me a few days ago that she thinks she’s gonna die soon, and that she hopes it’s in a field full of wildflowers. And when I saw you there, you weren’t moving, and I guess that was on my mind, and—and, I don’t know. It just made me fearful for a minute.”
Leah laughed out loud. “You thought I was dead?”
“I told you. It was dumb.”
Then Leah gasped. “Ach! Is something wrong with Auntie Ruth?”
Aaron shook his head. “No, she ain’t sick or nothing. She’s just—just off in the head sometimes.”
She smiled again. “You thought I was dead.”
Tongue in cheek, Aaron sat there quietly for a moment. “Ya. As dumb as it sounds, I guess I did for a minute.” Then his expression turned serious. “It ain’t funny, Leah.”
Leah stifled her grin, both amused and touched by his chivalry. “Okay,” she said.
They were both quiet for a few moments.
“I like Auntie Ruth. Tell me all about her,” Leah said after a while.
For the next hour, Aaron filled Leah in about Auntie Ruth— everything from the ferrets and motorcycle to her almost joining a convent. They’d both laughed, and eventually Leah had gotten comfortable on the blanket, resting her head on her hand as she lay on her side and faced him. Aaron wanted to hold her hand, but it had taken her this long just to seem relaxed and comfortable.
“Well, I just love her,” she said, when Aaron took a break from telling stories. “She is an odd Englisch person, for sure. But I wish I could spend more time with her while she’s here.”
Aaron’s mind began to work on ways to make that happen. It couldn’t be a quilting, sisters’ day, tea party, or other event for only the ladies. He wanted to assure himself another day in Leah’s company.
“Auntie Ruth loves to go eat pizza at Paradiso. Maybe we can take her there for supper one night?”
Leah laughed. “Or maybe she can take us in that fancy car of hers?” Her eyes twinkled. “Even if her driving is a little scary.”
Aaron chuckled, thrilled at the opportunity to spend more time with Leah. Even if it did mean they’d have Auntie Ruth in tow.
They decided on Wednesday night. Leah said she’d have to clear it with her father, since she’d been doing extra chores since Edna got sick, but Aaron was hopeful that James Petersheim would give his permission. They spent the next two hours talking about Leah’s books, and Aaron loved the way her face glowed when she described her characters. He relished the warm sensation he had when he was in her presence.
Chapter Fourteen
JAMES WATCHED MARIAN STOMP ACROSS THE FRONT YARD and toward the barn, her expression familiar. Those beautiful lips of hers were pinched together and curved into a frown. She was about to scold him for something, and James strained his mind to think what he might have done to irritate her.
He finished washing his hands at the pump outside the barn, flung them a few times in the hot air, then wiped them on his pants. “And what brings mei lovely fraa out to the barn when it’s nearly suppertime?” He raised his eyebrows and grinned, hoping to lighten her mood.
Marian stopped in front of him and planted her hands on her hips. “James Petersheim, you cannot punish Leah to the house when it suits you, then allow her to go out with Aaron. She just told me that you said she could go out with Aaron and his aunt tonight.” She pulled off her black sunglasses and stared him down. “It ain’t right to keep the girl from her other friends but agree to let her spend time with Aaron.”
James tugged on his beard for a moment. “She likes to run with those Englisch girls, and when she ain’t doin’ that, she ’s writing those stories. I like it better when she ’s here working, like she ’s supposed to be. She ’s been slacking with her chores again, and you know that.”
“Yet you allow her to go out with Aaron?”
James hung his head slightly, then looked back up at her. “That boy might be Leah’s only chance for marriage. How can I say no?”
Her look softened, but not much. “James . . .” She shook her head. “Finish up out here. Kathleen has supper ready.”
Screeching tires pulled their attention to the Cadillac turning onto the driveway, and they both watched the automobile come barreling down the drive as if there was some sort of emergency. The car pulled to a halt with a jerk.
“That looks like Aaron in the front seat,” Marian said. “I reckon that big-haired woman driving is Ruth?”
James shrugged as he and Marian waited for their visitors to exit the vehicle.
“Hello, hello!” The woman was dressed most peculiarly, and James recognized her right away as she crossed the yard and came toward them, waving.
He cautiously waved a hand in her direction. She was wearing bright pink breeches that hit her about midcalf, and her blouse sported more colors than a full rainbow. She had on big gold fancy rings and loud dangly bracelets to match.
Ruth.
“James and Marian, how gut to see you both!” She thrust her hand at James, and he hesitantly took hold, thinking it just didn’t sound right for her to be using the Dutch. “Been a long time. I didn’t see you at the hospital. That nurse wouldn’t let us in the back where you were with Edna. And I don’t think I saw you during my last couple of visits. So gut to be here.” She finally released his hand and offered Marian the same forceful handshake.
James saw Aaron shuffling up behind her, his face red as fire. Poor boy. He needn’t be embarrassed for his aunt.
Aaron extended his hand to James. “Hello, sir.”
James shook hands with the young man he hoped to be his future son-in-law. He was sure praying about it. “Leah’s inside, Aaron. I reckon she’ll be out any minute.” He glanced at the car. “Pretty sure she heard ya comin’.”
“Isn’t it dandy that these two young people invited me to Paradiso for supper?” She nudged James, enough to cause him to lose his footing. “Not sure why they want me around.” She chuckled.
Normally James might have found her comment offensive, but it was Ruth. He’d known Ruth since he was a boy. She had already converted to Englisch by the time James was born, but she was always at family gatherings and continued to make her trips to Lancaster County.
“I’m sure the three of you will have a lovely time,” Marian said.
James could tell by hi
s wife’s expression that she was surprised to see Ruth accompanying the young people to supper, and so was he.
“Are you enjoyin’ your visit, Ruth?” James glanced toward the house but saw no Leah. Leave it to that girl to be late for her own funeral someday.
Ruth puckered her red lips into a circle, sucked in an abnormal amount of air, and then blew it out extra slow. “For as much time as I have left,” she said, her brows drawing together.
“What . . .” James scratched his forehead.
“There’s Leah!” Aaron yelled over James. He grabbed his aunt by the arm. “Let’s go, Auntie Ruth.” He pulled her toward the car. “Nice to see you both.” Aaron tipped his hat in James and Marian’s direction.
James nodded as Aaron opened the car door for his aunt, then walked around to open the front door for Leah. “I’ll sit in the back,” he told Leah, who giggled.
“You think it’s safer back there, no?” James heard his daughter say to Aaron, who smiled. They were clearly getting along, and James knew he’d made the right decision to allow Leah to spend time with Aaron, with or without his nutty aunt.
James and Marian watched Ruth maneuver the car down the driveway in the same fashion as she’d arrived, and James could see heads bobbing.
“Do you think they’re all right in a car with her?” Marian clutched his arm. “That woman has never been quite right.”
James smiled. “I think they’ll be just fine.”
Leah braced her hands against the dash when Auntie Ruth pulled into the parking spot at the restaurant. She twisted her head around and grinned at Aaron. This was great fun already, and they’d only just arrived. Not much was said on the short drive to the restaurant. Auntie Ruth mostly sang to the radio and danced in her seat.
Paradiso was her parents’ favorite place to go on the rare occasion that they ventured to town for supper. Leah had only been here twice, so this was a treat on several levels. A good meal. Some time with Auntie Ruth. And she had to admit she was looking forward to being around Aaron. But the bonus was that she’d gotten word to Donna and Clare that she would be here.
Leah knew to clip a note to the mailbox when she needed a message to reach one of her Englisch friends, and Charles the mailman would deliver it. Usually it was just a note requesting a car ride, but the system worked just as well for something like this. She grabbed the plastic bag she’d brought with her and reached for the handle on the car door just as Aaron pulled it open for her.
“Whatcha got there?” He eyed the plastic bag, and his expression took on a hint of worry. “Leah, I haven’t finished the second book yet.”
Leah rolled her eyes but grinned. “It’s not for you.”
“I can smell manicotti!” Auntie Ruth slammed her car door, threw a big pink purse over her shoulder, and headed toward the entrance, where Leah and Aaron met up with her. “Do you eat manicotti, honey?” She clutched Leah’s arm, and before Leah had a chance to respond, Ruth said, “You must. It’s the best here.”
Leah nodded, since the way Ruth advised her about the manicotti seemed a matter of life or death. The only Italian food Leah had ever heard of was pizza.
Aaron pulled the door open for the two of them. A Seat Yourself sign met them in the entrance, and Ruth made her way down the middle aisle of the restaurant, lined with booths on both sides and tables in the middle. It probably wouldn’t be considered fancy to the Englisch, but Leah thought it was very nice. There were colorful placemats on the tables, and televisions in opposite corners of the room. The patrons were mostly Englisch, but Leah noticed two Amish families dining to her left.
They’d only taken a few steps when Leah saw Donna and Clare in a booth against the wall to her right. You made it! Ruth passed by the girls, but Leah stopped at the booth, whispering to Aaron that she would join them in a minute. Ruth chose a table for four in the middle aisle.
“We got your note!” Donna said. “Where’ve you been? I left a message on the phone in your barn, but I didn’t hear back. Is everything okay?” Donna moved over to make room for Leah to sit beside her.
Leah put the plastic bag on the table and eased in beside her friend. “Ya, everything is all right. But mei daed has made me stay around the house since Edna got sick.” Leah briefly filled them in about Edna’s asthma.
“Who’s the Amish hottie over there?” Clare nodded toward Aaron. “He’s a babe. Are you two dating?”
“No. We’re just friends. Daed allows me to go out with him because I think he’s hoping we’ll start to court, but you know how I feel about that. Too soon to be tied down.”
Clare cocked her head to one side and gazed at Aaron. “I don’t know, Leah. I think I’d have to give it a try. He’s too cute not to.”
Leah looked toward Aaron, who was chatting with Ruth. Then she turned her attention back to Clare, who was still mesmerized by Aaron. “I reckon he’s not bad looking.” The image of Aaron’s arms around her waist in the pasture flashed in Leah’s mind.
“Is he nice?” Donna sat up a little taller and eyed Aaron. “And who is that with you guys?”
“Ya, he’s nice. We’re friends. But that’s all.” She paused and pulled the stack of handwritten papers from the bag. “And that’s his Aunt Ruth. She’s visiting from Florida.” She slid the story sideways until it was in front of Donna. “This is the book I was telling you about.”
“Oh.” Donna eyed the title. “A Walk in My Shoes. Sounds nice.”
“It’s about an Amish girl and her Englisch friend, and there’s also a love story.” Leah smiled. “But the best part is the way that the Englisch girl finds her way to the Lord, and how her life changes when that happens.” Leah couldn’t wait for her friends to read the book. “Aaron read it, and he seemed to really like it.”
“He read it?” Clare’s eyes grew wide.
“Ya, why do you look so shocked?” Leah rested her elbow on the table and supported her chin.
“Oh, I don’t know. He just doesn’t look like the reading type.” Clare shrugged. “He just looks more—more the manly type.”
“He said he loved the book. And I think both of you will too.” She glanced back and forth between the two of them. “I can’t wait for us to be able to talk about what you think after you read it. I think there are so many messages, messages that God wanted me to put in the book. It just felt so right to put the story into words, and—”
“Okay. Sure.” Donna put the book back into the plastic bag and pushed it to the edge of the table, next to the wall. “I’ll read it first.”
“I better go to my table.” Leah gently touched Donna’s hand. “I’ve missed you both. Hopefully, it won’t be long until mei daed will not be so strict with me. I’d love to meet you for a movie soon.”
“Call us,” Clare said. “We’ve missed you too.”
Leah excused herself, stood up, and joined Aaron and Ruth. “I’m sorry. Those are two of my dear friends that I haven’t seen in a while.” She sat down in the chair in between Aaron and Ruth. Her eyes drifted in Aaron’s direction, and she saw his mouth twitch a bit. He’s nervous. Leah felt a little nervous herself, all of a sudden, as their eyes met and held for a moment.
“Manicotti for everyone!” Auntie Ruth bellowed when the waitress walked up.
“Auntie Ruth, don’t you think we should give Leah time to look at the menu? She might not want manicotti.” Aaron looked up at the waitress and smiled.
And Leah found it bothersome the way the Englisch waitress smiled back at Aaron, her light-colored hair draping down around her shoulders and framing her bright blue eyes. Leah suddenly felt even plainer than usual. Stop looking at her.
Leah silently scolded herself for allowing such feelings of jealousy into her mind. And it had been happening a lot lately.
“Mani—manicotti—is fine for me.” She could feel a flush in her cheeks. “Did I say that right?” She turned toward Ruth, who was gathering up all their menus.
“Yep. You did. Here, hon.” Ruth handed th
e menus to the pretty girl who couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of Aaron. “Three teas too.” Ruth leaned toward the waitress. “That’s all, dear.”
“Sorry,” Aaron said to Leah. Then he turned to Ruth. “Auntie Ruth, you didn’t even give Leah a chance to pick something.”
Ruth puckered her red lips as her eyes widened. “Now, Aaron Lantz, why in the world would Leah want to order something else when the manicotti is the best thing on the menu?” She shook her head and turned toward Leah. “Honey, you wouldn’t have wanted to do that, now would you?” She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her large chest. “I mean, think about it . . . Aaron and I would be having the manicotti, and you would have settled for something not nearly as good. Wouldn’t have been right.”
“I might have chosen something besides the manicotti too,” Aaron mumbled.
Auntie Ruth didn’t seem to hear him. She pulled her big pink bag from where it hung on the back of her chair and slammed it down on the table.
“Now, prepare yourselves, young people.” Ruth leaned in closer and in a whisper said, “I have something to show you.”
Chapter Fifteen
AARON BRACED HIMSELF FOR WHATEVER RUTH WAS ABOUT to show them, and wondered if using her as an excuse to see Leah was really going to be worth it. No telling what she might pull out of that bag of hers.
He glanced at Leah. Her smile stretched across her face, and somehow Aaron knew that whatever it was, Leah wouldn’t be offended or embarrassed. She seemed in awe of Aaron’s crazy aunt.
Ruth eased her hand into the bag and, as if to build tension, glanced back and forth between Aaron and Leah. “Are you ready?” She batted long black eyelashes at them. Then she took a deep breath and pulled her hand from the bag with a jerk.
Aaron thought he might fall out of his chair. He put a hand across his eyes and shook his head. But when he heard Leah giggle, he spread his fingers and viewed the object again.
