Chapter 19
As Faith and her mother headed down the road in their buggy toward the Zooks’ house the following week, Faith found herself dreading the day ahead. Spending time with Barbara made her think about the past, something she would rather forget. But Mama had been insistent about them going to the quilting bee, and since they’d been getting along pretty well of late, Faith didn’t want to do anything to upset the applecart. Soon enough, she would tell her folks about her plans to leave Webster County, and she wanted the time they had together to be free of disagreements.
“I’ve sure been looking forward to the quilting bee,” Mama said, glancing over at Faith and smiling. “I’ve been cooped up so much since I broke my leg that I like any reason to get out.”
“Does that include going to physical therapy?” Faith asked.
“Jah. Even that.”
“Did the last session hurt much?”
“Some, but the therapist said it’ll get better as time goes on.”
“Then I’m sure it will.”
They rode in silence for a while. Mama pointed to the schoolhouse as they drove by and said, “It’s good that Melinda’s doing better in school.”
Faith nodded. “That’s mostly because of the help Noah has given her.”
“Noah’s a good man,” Mama said, reaching over to touch Faith’s arm. “He’s kind, trustworthy, and can cook better than most women I know. I think he’ll make a fine husband and father some day.”
“I’m sure he will.” Faith thought about the young woman she’d seen Noah with some time ago and wondered if she might be his future wife.
“I was wondering. . .”
“What were you wondering, Mama?”
“I was wondering if you’re feeling ready to take classes to prepare for church membership and baptism yet.”
Here it goes again. Faith’s teeth snapped together with an audible click. Maybe if she didn’t respond, Mama would drop the subject.
“Faith, did you hear what I said?”
“Yes, I heard; and no, Mama, I’m not ready.”
“Oh.”
They rode along in silence awhile longer; then Mama spoke again. “Melinda seems to like Noah a lot.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And I believe the feeling’s mutual.”
“You’re probably right.”
“How do you feel about Noah?”
Faith shook the reins to get the horse moving faster but gave no reply.
“Faith, are you listening to me?”
“I heard you, Mama. Just didn’t know how to respond, so figured it was best not to say anything.”
“You don’t know how you feel about Noah?”
Faith released a sigh and squinted as she looked over at her mother. “Noah seems like a nice enough man, but I don’t feel any particular way about him.”
Mama grunted. “Have you tried?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means, have you allowed yourself to get to know Noah well enough so you can tell whether you might have a future with him?”
Faith’s hands shook as she pulled back on the reins and guided the horse and buggy to the side of the road.
“Why are we stopping?”
“So I can concentrate on what I’m saying to you without worrying about driving off the road because I’m feeling so upset.”
Mama’s eyebrows furrowed. “Now why would you be upset?”
Faith curled her fingers into the palms of her hands as she resisted the temptation to pop her knuckles. “I’m upset because you keep bringing up Noah and listing his many virtues.”
Mama opened her mouth as if to comment, but Faith rushed on. “I’m not interested in a relationship with Noah or any other man, so please stop trying to match me up with him.”
Mama blinked a couple of times. “I—I just thought—”
“I know what you thought.” Faith drew in a deep breath to steady her nerves. “My husband abused me, Mama,” she blurted out. “And I—I don’t think I could ever get married again.”
Mama’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened. “He—he abused you?”
Faith nodded. “Greg had a terrible temper, and whenever he drank, he became mean and physically abusive.”
“Did he hurt Melinda?”
“No, just me. But I was worried that if she ever said or did the wrong thing, he might take his anger out on her, too.” Faith swallowed hard. “Our marriage was not a happy one, but Greg was a good agent, and he got me lots of shows.”
Mama touched Faith’s hand. “I’m real sorry. I had no idea you had been through so much.”
Faith took up the reins again. “I’d rather not talk about this anymore. It’s too painful, and the past is in the past.”
“Oh. Okay.”
In silence, Faith guided the horse onto the road again.
A short time later, she found herself sitting in the Zooks’ living room, surrounded by eight other women. Besides her and Mama; Barbara, and her mother, Alice; Noah’s mom, Ida; and four other women from the community attended.
The women enjoyed lots of friendly banter as they worked with needle and thread, bent over a quilting frame, making hundreds of tiny stitches that would hold the top of the Double Wedding Ring quilt together. Barbara’s mother, who was a left-handed quilter, sat at the corner of the frame. “I imagine it’s been awhile since you did any kind of quilting,” she said, looking over at Faith.
Faith nodded. “That’s true, but even when I helped my mother work on quilts during my younger days, I never did so well.”
“Quilting’s like anything else one wants to do well—it takes practice and patience,” Ida put in. “I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of working on a circular design such as this, but I didn’t learn to quilt overnight, that’s for sure.”
“One thing I like about this pattern is that the pieces are small so we can use a lot of scraps,” Barbara said.
“So true,” Faith’s mother agreed. She released a dreamysounding sigh. “I can still remember the five quilts I received for my wedding. Three were from my mamm, and the other two came from Menno’s family. Those quilts have been used on my family’s beds for a good many years now, even though some are getting pretty worn.”
Faith began to relax, and before she knew it, she was drawn into the conversation by telling a few jokes.
“Has anyone heard about the English man who met his wife at a travel agency?” she asked.
“Can’t say as I have,” Barbara said. “Tell us about it.”
“Well, he was looking for a vacation, and she was the last resort.”
To Faith’s surprise, most everyone laughed—except for her mother. She gave Mama a sidelong glance. Just accept my silliness. Can’t you understand who I really am?
“Tell us another joke,” said Ellen Troyer.
“Let’s see. . . . An English man approached the gate of an Amish farmhouse one day and was about to enter when he noticed a large dog lying under a bush. The dog seemed to be eyeing him in an unfriendly way, so the man called out to see if anyone was at home.” Faith leaned slightly forward, making sure she had the women’s full attention. “Now, both the Amish man and his wife came to the front door. ‘Come in,’ said the woman. ‘But what about the dog?’ asked the Englisher. ‘Will he be apt to bite me?’ ‘Don’t rightly know,’ said the Amish man. ‘We just got him yesterday, and we’re eager to find out.’”
Barbara howled at this joke, and Faith quickly launched into another tale.
“The same English man visited another Amish farm, and he was shocked to see yellow bundles of feathers zooming all around the yard. They were going so fast he couldn’t see them clearly. ‘What are those things?’ the man asked the Amish farmer who lived there. ‘Oh, those are my four-legged chickens. They’re pretty quick, don’t ya think?’ The man replied, ‘I’d say so, but why do you want four-legged chickens?’ The Amish man pointed to his wife, who stood on the front porch. ‘M
e, Nancy, and our two kinner all cotton to the drumstick. Now whenever we have fried chicken, there’ll be a leg for each of us.’ The Englisher pondered the Amish man’s words a few minutes; then with a nod, he said, ‘So does it taste like normal fried chicken?’ ‘Don’t know yet,’ the Amish man answered. ‘We haven’t been able to catch any.’”
Barbara’s mother almost doubled over with laughter at the end of that joke, and Faith smiled triumphantly. This was the first time she remembered feeling so accepted or appreciated among those in her community.
Barbara nudged Faith’s arm with her elbow. “Have you got any more jokes to tell?”
Faith nodded, as her confidence soared. “Does anyone know the sure sign that the honeymoon is over for a new bride and groom?”
“What’s the sign?” asked Barbara’s sister-in-law, Margaret Hilty, as she leaned closer to Faith.
“When the husband no longer smiles as he scrapes the edges of his burnt toast.”
More snickers and chuckles filled the room.
“I know one that’s true but not so funny,” Barbara piped up. All heads turned toward her, but she kept her focus on Faith. “It’s been proven that having a mate is healthy. Single people die sooner than married folks. So if you’re looking for a long life, then you’d best get married!”
Faith squinted at her so-called friend. Not another hint at me finding a mate? Won’t Barbara ever let up?
“Speaking of marriage, it won’t be long now until we have a few fall weddings,” Noah’s mother commented. “I’m thinking maybe my son Noah might be a candidate for marriage.”
Faith’s ears perked up. Noah was getting married? He hadn’t said anything to her. Could he have become betrothed to that woman she’d seen him with at Baldy’s Café?
The fun Faith had been having with the women drifted away like a leaf on the wind. She didn’t know why, but she felt a sense of loss. Noah had become a good friend, and if he married, everything between them would change.
It shouldn’t matter to me. I’ll be leaving soon, and what Noah does is his own business. I have no say in it, nor do I wish to have any. Even as the words popped into Faith’s head, she knew they weren’t true. She did care, and that’s what scared her. She cared too much.
As Faith and Wilma traveled home from Barbara’s, Wilma determined to keep the conversation light and cheery, the way it had been during the quilting bee. It had been wonderful to see the way Faith had opened up, laughed, joked, and shared stories with the other women. If only Faith could be that joyful at home, instead of acting so serious all the time. Of course, at home, Faith had responsibilities that kept her busy, especially since Wilma had broken her leg, making even more chores for Faith and the others to do.
“I’m curious about some of those jokes you told today,” Wilma said, glancing over at Faith.
“What about them?”
“Were those the kind of jokes you told when you entertained onstage?”
“Yes, and I have a bunch more up here,” Faith said, tapping the side of her head.
Wilma pushed her weight against the seat. She wished Faith wouldn’t look so wistful whenever she talked about her days as an entertainer. If Faith enjoyed being in the limelight too much, she might become dissatisfied with her life and head out on her own again.
Faith lifted one hand from the reins and held up her index finger. “I don’t know how many times I pricked my finger today, but I did better at sewing than I figured I would,” she said.
Wilma smiled. A change of subject—that was better. “Jah,” she said with a nod. “Your stitches were nice and even.”
“Not like when I was a girl and all my sewing projects turned out bad.”
“Guess you had your mind set on other things besides sewing.”
Faith nodded. “I always preferred to be out in the barn talking to the animals and yodeling.”
“Melinda likes to hang out there, too. Have you taught her how to yodel?”
“Not really. I figured if she learned how, she might want to. . .” Faith’s voice trailed off.
“Want to what?”
“Never mind. It’s not important.”
“Are you worried that Melinda might want to follow in your footsteps and take to the stage?”
“Maybe so, but that won’t happen, because she’s here with you now.”
Wilma was tempted to mention that Faith had been here once, too, and that hadn’t stopped her from running off to chase after her dreams in the English world. She thought better of bringing it up, not wishing to have any unpleasant moments on the trip home.
When Faith guided the horse and buggy up the driveway a short time later, Menno stepped out of the barn. As soon as Faith stopped the buggy, he began to unhitch the horse. “If you don’t mind putting old Ben away,” he said, nodding at Faith, “I’ll help your mamm into the house.”
“That’s fine with me.” Faith grabbed the horse’s bridle and led him to the barn.
“She had a good time today,” Wilma said as Menno assisted her into the house. “Fact is, our eldest daughter was the life of the party.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“Jah. Faith was real talkative, and she ended up telling one joke after another. Had everyone in stitches, she did.”
Menno frowned. “She didn’t try to entertain you with that awful yodeling, I hope.”
Wilma shook her head. “No, but she sure told some funny stories. At one point, Alice Raber almost fell off her chair, she was laughing so hard.”
“Oh, great,” Menno said with a groan. “Faith was showing off her worldly ways then, huh?”
“I don’t think so. I believe she just got caught up in having a good time, but I was kind of worried that all that joke telling might make her dissatisfied about not being able to be onstage entertaining English folks.”
“Did you discourage her from telling those jokes?”
“Well, no, but I didn’t laugh at them, either.” Wilma snickered. “Although it was hard not to when she was saying such funny things and had everyone else in stitches.”
“Guess no harm was done,” Menno said. “As long as she doesn’t start with that yodeling stuff when I’m around, I won’t complain.”
They entered the house, and Wilma took a seat on the sofa in the living room. “Whew! I’m all done in. Didn’t realize a whole day like that would wear me out so.”
“Why don’t you stretch out on the sofa and rest awhile?” Menno suggested.
She shook her head. “I’ve got to get supper going.”
“The girls can do that. Faith’s here, Grace Ann and Esther will be home from their jobs soon, and Susie and Melinda will be home from school shortly, I expect. There’s no reason they can’t get supper on without any help from you.”
She smiled up at him. “You’re right. We’ve got four capable daughters and one granddaughter to prepare the meal, so I think I will rest my eyes for a bit.”
“And your leg, too,” he said, helping her to lie down and placing a pillow under her leg.
“Danki, Menno. You’re a good man.”
He grunted. “Too bad our oldest daughter doesn’t think so.”
Wilma took hold of his arm. “Things have been strained between you and Faith since she came home, but after seeing how she was today, I think given some time, she’s bound to come around.”
Menno shrugged and headed for the door. “We’ll have to wait and see how it goes.”
Chapter 20
It wasn’t until the end of October that Faith’s mother finished her physical therapy. Only then was she able to get around well enough on her leg so that Faith felt Mama could handle things on her own.
As Faith got ready for bed one night, she made a decision. In the morning, she would tell Melinda and then her folks that she would be leaving at the end of the week. She had put it off long enough, and there was no good reason to stay now that Mama was better and Melinda had adjusted so well to Amish life. All she n
eeded to do was contact the agent in Memphis and let him know she was available. Until the agent got her a show, she would probably have to launch out on her own, doing one-night stands wherever she could find work. She’d done it before Greg came into her life, and if necessary, she could do it again.
As Faith glanced at the calendar on the wall, her thoughts went to Noah. November was almost here. He would probably be getting married soon. After church last week, she had overheard Noah’s mother telling his friend Isaac that Noah was interested in someone—probably the woman he’d had lunch with at Baldy’s. Faith had wanted to ask Noah about it, but she’d lost her nerve. Besides, it was none of her business. She had her career to think about, and Noah’s life was here in Webster County with his family and friends.
Faith stared out her open bedroom window at the night sky overflowing with thousands of twinkling stars. She drew in a deep breath, filling her lungs with fresh air. It had rained earlier in the day, and everything smelled so clean. She blinked away sudden tears. If only my soul felt as pure as this air. If I just didn’t feel so confused about things.
The following morning, Faith busied herself at the stove, helping Mama fix pancakes and sausage for breakfast, while Melinda and Faith’s three sisters set the table.
Who should I tell first about my plans to leave? Faith had intended to give her daughter some advance notice, but now she wondered if it might not be best to lay out her plans in front of everyone at once. Or maybe she should tell her mother first and get her reaction. If Mama didn’t shy from the idea of caring for Melinda in Faith’s absence, then Faith would inform the child.
Faith moved closer to Mama. “There’s something I need to tell you,” she whispered.
“What’s that? I can’t hear you, Faith.”
“I was wondering if. . .” She gripped the spatula in her hand. Why was it so difficult to say what was on her mind? “I’ve. . . uh. . .made a decision.”
Her mother’s eyebrows lifted high on her forehead. “What sort of decision?”
“I think it would be best if I—”
The back door swung open and Papa rushed into the kitchen. His face was flushed, and his eyes looked huge as silver dollars.
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