A Wedding for Julia

by Vannetta Chapman

  It was more important even than the café, though she heard his promise for that as well.

  When he took a step forward and softly kissed her lips, she didn’t move. Instead, she held her breath, wondering what she was supposed to do. He ran a thumb along her bottom lip, kissed her once more, and said, “We should go in. You’re shivering.”

  They might not love each other, but he was a kind man. He wouldn’t desert her.

  She knew that as he helped her gather up the dishes and they walked back into the house.

  Her life had come down to two choices—living here with Caleb or living in Pennsylvania with people she didn’t even know.

  Which meant her choice was made.

  Together they walked into the kitchen. She excused herself and hurried upstairs to check on Ada, who was fast asleep. She had come back down the stairs and was walking through the sewing room when she spied him, standing next to the calendar on the kitchen wall.

  Her hands shaking slightly, she pulled it off the small hook, and they carried it over to the table.

  “Fall communion is mid-October, and if I’ve heard the rumors correctly, there are already many weddings scheduled for the end of the month. Not everyone has published their intentions yet—”

  “Then how do you know?”

  “When you deliver groceries, you hear things.” Caleb rubbed his hand over his jaw. “And you see extra plots of celery growing.”

  “We’re the more progressive side of the district, but many traditions remain the same. Families still make the creamed celery for wedding meals and put it on tables as center pieces too.”

  “It’s the same in Monroe. Lydia’s schweschder Clara works at the cabins. She’s always full of news, and she has talked of nothing but announcements and weddings for weeks.”

  “I don’t hear that much during Sunday meals, but then I am usually serving food or helping my mother. I didn’t realize we had that many couples of marrying age.”

  Caleb nodded, still studying the calendar. “If we consider both the east and west side of our district, I suspect nearly every Tuesday and Thursday from here to here is full.” Caleb ran his finger down the daily squares through November.

  “We could have two in one day.”

  “Yes. We sometimes did that in Indiana as well. Or…” He turned the page back and tapped the first Tuesday after fall communion—the third Tuesday in October. “Or we could ask Bishop Atlee if this day would be acceptable.”

  “So soon …”

  “Ya. Do you need more time to prepare?”

  Julia brushed her palm down the length of her apron, pausing to touch the stitches on the hand-sewn hem. Then she admitted, “I’ll only have a few announcements to deliver.”

  “Same here.”

  “As far as a dress, mamm and I can whip that up fairly quickly.”

  “Doesn’t seem as if Ada can sew with the arthritis so bad.”

  “True, but she’s wonderful at giving me directions while I cut and pin and stitch the seams.”

  Caleb laughed. “I could have guessed she was very gut at directing. She also told me I needed to have my hair cut.”

  “I’m sorry about that. She shouldn’t have—”

  “She was right!” Caleb combed his fingers through his bangs, a slightly embarrassed smile playing on his lips. “I’ve been meaning to take care of it, but there’s been no pressing need until now.”

  Julia again touched the October square. “What of the field work? The crops will be in? Otherwise families wouldn’t be able to attend.”

  “Ya. Corn is coming in this week and next—I’ve picked up some extra work helping. Hay is nearly done as well. According to Aaron, it will be harvested a few weeks early this year.”

  “We need to ask Bishop Atlee to make the church announcement, and there’s no service this Sunday.”

  “Gut point. He could do it the following week.”

  “Ya.” Julia pressed her hand to her stomach, trying to quell the butterflies circling at full speed. She had to suppress the urge to run to the drawer in the kitchen, pull out her pad of paper, and begin making lists. “October then, the third Tuesday.”

  “A little over a month from today.” Caleb’s smile told her all she needed to know. They were actually going to do this. “It’s a date.”

  He smacked his hand on the table, as if he’d just won a hand of Dutch Blitz rather than settled on the day of their wedding. “That will give us plenty of time to see to the marriage license.”

  “I hadn’t even thought of—”

  “Aaron told me all about it.” He explained to her what documents they would need. “And we’ll have to go to Sparta.”

  “Sparta?”

  “Ya. That’s where the county clerk’s office is.”

  Julia pinched the bridge of her nose. Already there were complications. “How are we going to get to Sparta? It’s twenty miles away.”

  “I’ll handle the transportation, but we should go as soon as possible. I can get off early Thursday if that will work for you.”

  “I suppose I could go then, but I might need to bring my mother.”

  “No problem. The three of us will have dinner in town together.”

  “I don’t think—”

  Caleb stood and reached for his hat. “Our new life is an occasion to celebrate, and it will include all three of us. There will be much work to do before and after. For one afternoon, it will be gut to pause and enjoy ourselves.”

  Julia walked him to the door, her mind dizzy with dozens of details and questions. All of those faded when Caleb stepped out into the night. She thought he’d left, but he darted back across the doorway to squeeze her hand and kiss her once more on the lips.

  Without another word he was gone.

  She was left standing on the front porch, listening to the night birds, the beating of her heart, and his whistling as he walked toward the barn to retrieve Red.

  Chapter 12

  Though she was somewhat overwhelmed by the attention, Julia appreciated everyone’s kindness.

  Bishop Atlee had announced her and Caleb’s intentions to marry at the end of the church service that morning. It seemed a fairy tale that their wedding was to take place in a few weeks. Only twelve days had passed since they had spoken on her front porch and she’d agreed to marry this man standing a few feet from her.

  Caleb was still being congratulated by the men in their district.

  The women had been every bit as excited and had reluctantly left Julia to go and help with placing out the food. It was the last Sunday of September, and though the weather was warm and pleasant—easily reaching into the seventies—there was a hint of fall in the air. Soon they would be eating indoors instead of out under the trees. It seemed fitting that this Sunday the service was at Bishop Atlee’s home, the same place she had come to seek answers when she’d first learned of her parents’ decree.

  “Why aren’t you helping?” A young girl, not yet in her teens, with somber brown eyes and brown hair peeking out from her kapp stood in front of her. In the crook of her arm she held two objects—her Bible and what looked to be a drawing tablet.

  “You must be Grace.”

  “Ya. We live on the east side, but we came to Bishop Atlee’s church today because of my cousin. He’s my mamm’s nephew so I suppose Seth is my cousin.” She scrunched her nose at the last word. “Seems as though lots of folks are getting married.”

  “You don’t approve?”

  “I guess so, for someone like you.” Grace popped her hand over her mouth.

  “Someone older.”

  “That came out wrong.”

  “It’s all right.” Julia glanced over at Seth, who stood beside Caleb. There was more than twenty years difference in their ages. Bishop Atlee had made a comment about Seth not having yet turned twenty. Caleb had turned forty a month earlier. Atlee had reminded the congregation to pray for both men, for both couples, as they entered this new phase in their lives. He had
chuckled and said there was no guessing when the Lord would steer your path in a different direction.

  Looking at both Caleb and Seth, she didn’t envy Seth his youth. For Julia that had been a time of heartache and indecision. No, she much preferred the age she was and the man standing beside Seth. She was learning that Caleb was steady and dependable. Both were things she longed for in her life. His age, though? That had surprised her a little. She would have guessed him to be in his mid-thirties, not forty. In the last week, she’d replayed the scene in her mind several times—the moment when they had presented their documents at the county clerk’s office in Sparta.

  “Is forty old?” The look on Caleb’s face said he hadn’t given it too much thought.

  “I hope not. I’m thirty-seven, which is only three years younger. I certainly don’t feel old.”

  “But you were surprised at my age.” His smile proved he wasn’t offended.

  “Maybe a little.”

  Caleb reached for her hand and entwined his fingers with hers. They were walking out of the courthouse. Ada was sitting on a bench in the sun, waiting for them. He didn’t speak again until they were alone on the sidewalk, and then he stepped closer to her.

  “I think you are much more beautiful than the younger women, Julia.”

  Her eyes had widened at the compliment, and she’d felt heat rushing to her cheeks.

  He’d reached out and touched her face. “The age we are? It’s the age we are supposed to be. The age Gotte knew we would find each other.”

  She was certain he would kiss her, there in broad daylight standing outside the courthouse building. He’d wanted to. There was no doubt about it.

  But instead he looped her arm through his, patted her hand, and guided her toward the bench where Ada was sitting and watching some children play on the grass across the lawn. While they’d eaten at the restaurant in Sparta and even on the drive home, she’d caught him glancing her way, looking at her differently. She wasn’t sure how to react to his expression, one wavering between playfulness and desire.

  It still confused her, still sent goose bumps dancing down her arms, when she thought about that day.

  Turning to Grace, she aimed for a reassuring smile. “Seth is rather young, but sometimes young is all right. Occasionally people know what they want at an early age.”

  “That’s what my dat said. He said Gotte has different plans for different people.”

  Julia had been walking toward a large red maple tree that stood apart from the tables where they would eat. She’d hoped for some time alone and a moment or two of quiet, but she found she didn’t mind Grace’s company.

  “I know your mamm and dat. At least, I’ve met them before when they’ve visited our side of the district, but you’ve grown since then.”

  “Ya. My grossdaddi says I’m growing faster than a fawn in springtime.”

  “Indeed.”

  They walked in silence until they reached the shade of the tree. All of its leaves had changed to a vibrant red, but they hadn’t fallen yet. Their portion of the state would be awash with tourists in the next few weeks, coming to see the beauty of a Wisconsin fall.

  “So how did you get out of serving?” Grace held up her pad. “Not that I mind helping when it’s my turn, but I’d rather be drawing if I have the chance.”

  “Oh. I see.” Julia didn’t answer immediately. When the other women had first pushed her away from the serving line, she hadn’t known what to do. Now she realized they probably understood she needed a moment to catch her breath. “It seems when you’re about to be married, you’re given the week off from helping.”

  “So everyone can talk to you and tell you how happy they are about your marriage?”

  “Correct.”

  The girl was observant, maybe because she watched what others were doing before she took out her drawing pencils.

  “I suppose that’s okay, but too much attention makes me squirmy.”

  “That may be why I decided to take a walk.”

  Grace’s eyes rounded. “Am I interrupting your alone time?”

  “Nein.”

  “My mamm needs alone time every once in a while, especially now that Rachel is walking and into everything. Would you like to see a drawing of her?”

  “I would.”

  They sat down together under the tree, and Grace opened up her tablet and began turning pages, searching for a drawing of Rachel. She paused when she reached one of her mother. “I did this one last week.”

  The rendering was from the back as her mother hung laundry on the line. What was surprising was the detail in the drawing—right down to a rip in the cuff of a pair of men’s work pants drying in the sunshine.

  “May I?” she asked.

  “Sure.” Grace shrugged and handed over the tablet.

  Julia wasn’t sure what she expected to see. A child’s drawings, perhaps stick figures, with some shading if she were sophisticated. She certainly didn’t anticipate the type of artwork one might see in an Englischer’s book sold at Amish Anthem. Had someone mentioned little Grace’s drawing ability? If so, Julia hadn’t paid any attention. She’d been caught up in her own life.

  She flipped through the pages rather quickly, and then she went back to the beginning and moved slowly from one drawing to the next. Julia finally stopped at a page which showed Aaron’s cabins. “This is beautiful.”

  “Danki. I like catching the river in different lights. It seems…to me it seems like a living thing. Do you know what I mean? It’s like Rachel.”

  Grace reached over and turned the pages back to a drawing of her sister. It caught the back of the toddler as she attempted to climb up on a chair. “She looks different to me from one week to the next, though I know she’s the same. Parts of her are changed, though. When she was born I could hold her in my lap, and now she’s scrambling all over the place.”

  “You love your schweschder.”

  “I do, and I love Pebble Creek too. My dat and I lived in Indiana before, and that was nice. This is home, though, and Pebble Creek is one of the best parts. In some ways it stays the same throughout the year. Then again, when I look at it, I have the feeling it has changed from one moment to the next.”

  Julia glanced toward the tables. She saw Caleb shielding his eyes and looking for her. They were about to say the blessing, and she would need to sit with him today. It was, after all, the church service when they had announced their wedding plans. Her heart skipped, literally jumped over one beat to the other, at the thought.

  “We should go back.” After she stood, she checked the back of Grace’s dress to make sure there wasn’t grass and twigs on it. “You’re gut.”

  “And so are you, except for those beetles.” Grace laughed and pointed to the small red and black critters.

  Julia swiped herself clean, and then they walked back toward the group of church members, which was larger than usual—due to the wedding announcements, both hers and Seth’s.

  “Grace, if I asked you to draw something for me, would you do it?”

  “I could try.”

  “Caleb and I are going to open a café, and we could use some artwork on the menus. Also, I might like some flyers to post around town.”

  “Sure. I did something like that for Lydia and Aaron.”

  “Wunderbaar. I’ll talk with your mamm to see if we can set up a time.”

  Grace stopped and tilted her head. “Is your place near Pebble Creek?”

  “It is. Our back pasture goes right down to it.”

  “And I could draw that too?”

  “Certainly.”

  Grace’s smile widened. “Then I can’t wait.”

  Julia thought she would feel awkward during the meal, sitting with Caleb on one side and her mamm on the other. She didn’t, though. There was so much talking and good-natured teasing taking place that she didn’t have much time to focus on her emotions.

  How long had it been since she sat in the middle of a group rather than on t
he fringe? And was it because of the group, or because she had pulled herself out of everyone’s circle for so long? Regardless, the faces around her were all friendly now. No one seemed surprised at their announcement, but then why should they be?

  The Amish grapevine worked well.

  Plus, Caleb had taken off from work twice, and certainly people had noticed that. Once so he could go to Sparta for the license, and another time to pick up a load of supplies he brought to her house to begin work there. His buggy had been filled with paint, lumber, nails, and other items Julia couldn’t have named.

  When Julia and Ada had gone to Irene Gingerich’s home to see if she had wedding dress material for sale, the woman had met them at the door and congratulated Julia before they had spoken a word. Yes, it seemed everyone had already heard about their plans to marry, and everyone approved.

  Ada was the happiest of all. She sat in the fall sunshine, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders and her eyes nearly squeezed shut, she was smiling so. Julia and Caleb might still be finding their way, still answering the big questions, but Ada was convinced God had satisfied every need.

  With all the excitement, Julia was surprised to glance down at her plate to find she’d eaten nearly everything she’d placed on it. The way her emotions were hopscotching, she’d been certain she wouldn’t be able to swallow a bite.

  “We need to borrow Julia,” Lydia said, rising from the table by pushing both hands down on the seat. Her stomach protruded to such an extent that they’d had to place the bench back a little so she’d fit.

  “Borrow me?”

  “Ya. Wedding details.” Miriam patted Gabe’s arm as she dumped Rachel in his lap. “Watch this one, would you? She’s faster than that new mare you bought.”

  “My dochder? Fast?” Rachel reached up for a handful of his beard and laughed when Gabe kissed her on the cheek. “You can count on us, fraa. Three men can watch one boppli.”

  “Hmm. I may have heard that before.”

  “She only escaped the one time, and we found her sleeping next to a pile of fresh hay.”

  Miriam waved as she tugged Julia away from the table.

  “Where are we going?”