A Wedding for Julia

by Vannetta Chapman

  David grunted as he picked up one end of a log. “Not so hard with the trailer we use for hay and my two best horses.”

  “That too heavy for you, dat?” Seth waded back across and shouldered the other end of the log.

  “I’ll let you know when something’s too heavy for me, son.”

  “Just checking.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  The grin that passed between them assured Caleb they were good-naturedly harassing each other. Then he realized that they were sharing their passions. Seth loved being outdoors. It was why he’d stayed with the job at the cabins for so long. And David loved working with wood, building all manner of things he sold in a shop next to his house. Caleb was guessing it was rare for those two interests to cross, but today they had.

  Tim wanted to use a drill, bolts, and nails to attach the twenty-foot logs to the footings on each bank, but Caleb, Aaron, and David all shook their heads. They showed him the Amish way, using wooden pegs.

  “For a bridge?”

  “They will hold a house together,” Caleb reminded him.

  “And a barn,” Aaron said.

  “They will hold this bridge longer than nails will.” David set to work as everyone else began laying out the three-foot split logs.

  They had stopped for lunch, but they were making good progress and didn’t linger over the delicious food Sharon brought down. Tim seemed surprised that they could finish in one day, and Jeanette had shown up once to take photos of the structure in progress—waiting until the Amish men were out of the picture to snap her pictures. She planned to use them for another blog post.

  What they were doing didn’t seem so different from any of the barn raisings Caleb had participated in. Fewer workers, smaller work space, same result.

  As the day’s light began to fade, the men gathered up their tools. Aaron and Seth walked across the bridge as they headed back to the other side of the creek.

  David cocked his head and shifted his tool belt from his left hand to his right. “You can ride home with me, son.”

  “Can’t. Sorry, dat.”

  Seth had stopped in the middle of the bridge, and he jumped up and down a few times, testing the structure. It was sturdy, as Caleb knew it would be.

  “I left my rig at the cabins,” he explained. Then he turned and followed Aaron across the water and around the bend in the path, out of sight.

  Tim turned to Caleb and asked, “When are you off again?”

  “Saturday.”

  “We can put the handrails on then.”

  “Sounds gut.”

  “I can be here for a few hours Saturday morning,” David said. “In the afternoon I promised to take the kids to town to give Anna a few hours alone.”

  “I appreciate any help you can give me, but you be sure to follow through on your promise to your wife. With six children, I imagine she can use a break.”

  “Soon to be five. She’s having a hard time with Seth leaving.”

  “He’s leaving?” Tim asked.

  “Not leaving. He’s marrying,” Caleb explained. “He’ll still be in Pebble Creek.”

  “Ya, but Aaron’s been able to buy more land adjacent to where he lives, and there’s an old house on it. He offered free rent to Seth if he’ll help with the harvest each year. So he and Clara will live there to begin with, which is a real blessing. Clara will be able to lend a hand with her dat—”

  “How is Menno?” Caleb asked.

  “Some days are bad. Others are better.”

  “I know both Lydia and Clara are a help to their mamm.”

  “Sure. And Clara will be able to ride into work with Lydia and Aaron. It works out well.” David stopped next to his buggy. “But it isn’t what Anna imagined. She thought Seth would bring his bride home. Sort of like I thought my oldest would follow me into woodwork.”

  “He did some fine work today,” Tim pointed out. “We all did.”

  They spent another moment slapping each other on the back and brushing off Caleb’s thanks. Their words echoed in his ears and in his heart as he climbed the steps of his home. The last of the day’s customers were leaving, and Caleb knew the bridge they were building would be worth the effort.

  Julia was amazed that they managed to finish the footbridge on Saturday. She could remember dozens of recipes without consulting her cookbooks, but she couldn’t fathom building a bridge over a creek in just two days.

  Sunday morning, after they’d had breakfast and rested, they had their Bible study in the sitting room. There was no church service that day, but Caleb, Julia, Ada, and Sharon were to attend a lunch social. They gathered their things together and prepared to spend an afternoon out in the fall sunshine. The luncheon happened to be at the cabins, which meant it was the perfect opportunity to try out the bridge.

  Julia clutched her casserole dish and stared at the wooden structure. She’d been meaning to find time to walk down to the creek and peek at it, but it seemed each day was busier than the one before it. Now all she could do was gawk and swivel her head from Caleb to the bridge and back again.

  “Do you like it?”

  “She loves it,” Ada said. “I’ve only seen that look on her face once before. It was when her dat made a stool for her so she could stand on it and cook. She was beside herself with happiness. Same look.”

  Ada raised her cane and thumped it against the first step. “Sounds solid.”

  “Ya, it is. Seth jumped up and down in the middle to test it. Nothing moved at all.”

  Finding her voice, Julia turned to her husband. “It’s beautiful. Danki.” She closed her eyes, not wanting to cry and ruin the moment or the morning.

  Caleb touched her shoulder and whispered, “Gem gschehne,” and then he moved forward to help Ada step up on the bridge.

  But before he reached her side, Sharon was next to his mother-in-law. “One hand on the ledge and one on your cane, Ada. I’ll walk close beside you in case you need help.”

  “It’s a nice view from here. Isn’t it? Wonderful are His works. My soul knows it very well.”

  “Ya, I know that one. My mamm used to say the first part of that verse every time a boppli was born in our district.”

  Ada smiled and supplied the words. “We are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

  As they walked on across the bridge, Caleb moved back beside Julia.

  “Ada and Sharon seem gut for each other.” He shifted the bag of supplies to his right arm and with his left reached for her hand.

  “And you’re gut for me, Caleb Zook.” Julia was surprised she’d found the courage to say the words. Many things she did surprised her lately, like when she’d twirled in his arms and kissed him the other night. She was not accustomed to being so open with her emotions, but there was something about being around Caleb, something about his care that was making her stronger and bolder.

  “I am?”

  “Ya.”

  “You’re just saying this because you like the bridge.”

  They paused in the middle and surveyed Pebble Creek. Some of the trees still held their leaves, but most had dropped them to the bank, which was now thick with colors of red and gold and brown. The water was still low, as there hadn’t been any rain, but Pebble Creek rushed on. Fish darted in and out of shadows. From the brush, a fawn stepped out, saw them, and darted back into the safety of some nearby cover.

  “I do like the bridge, very much, but I’m saying it because it’s true.”

  They turned and continued on their way.

  “Aaron is going to put a sign here reminding guests from his side what days and times the café is open and asking them not to cross when it’s closed.”

  “We make a good team, the four of us.”

  “We do.”

  “I’m excited about Lydia’s boppli.”

  Her husband squeezed her hand, and she realized she might have made him uncomfortable. “I’m not saying that I’m envious, Caleb. I don’t know if we’re to have children. We have
so much already that it’s hard to imagine Gotte blessing us with more.”

  “I’m a content man, either way.”

  They followed Ada and Sharon past cabin eight and on toward the picnic area. Julia had been worried about Ada walking so far, but Caleb had assured her someone would give her a ride home if she needed one. At the moment she was hobbling down the trail at an impressive pace.

  Julia decided Caleb was probably right about Sharon being good for Ada. There was no doubt Ada was helping Sharon to improve both physically and emotionally. She hadn’t been awakened by Sharon’s nightmares the last three nights. Of course, it could be that the girl was too tired to wake in the middle of the night, but Julia had a feeling it had more to do with Ada’s presence, her prayers, and her influence on the young woman.

  Julia could see that a fair-sized group had gathered at the picnic tables already—Lydia and all of her family, along with David and all of his family. They had also invited the Elliotts, and she hoped they would stop by on their way home from their church service in town.

  Though guests were at the cabins, they kept to themselves or walked down by the river. The picnic tables were a good meeting place for the Amish families, and Lydia had insisted their guests wouldn’t mind.

  “Ella and Menno came,” Julia said softly.

  “He must be feeling better.”

  “Do you know how long he has had farmer’s lung?”

  “Aaron said several years, since before Lydia finished school.”

  And then they were in the midst of everyone and there was no chance to talk privately.

  Lydia managed to waddle around and push casserole dishes into a straight line, but that was the most anyone would let her do.

  “I’m pregnant, not sick,” she muttered.

  “Yes, fraa, but we don’t want you tumbling into the water.” Aaron’s words were delivered with a small grin.

  Julia noticed that through the prayer and during the meal, Aaron often glanced up to check on Lydia. Even when the men went off to discuss whatever men discussed, he turned and looked for her—as if he needed to convince himself she was still okay.

  “Aaron seems a little nervous about the baby.”

  “We had false labor the other night,” Lydia explained. “I’ve had trouble shaking him since.”

  Ella was holding Anna’s baby. “Soon you will both be holding a precious boppli like this one. It’s natural for a father to worry, especially with a first child.”

  “David acted like a cat before a storm with each of ours.” Anna reached down and ran her hand across Pumpkin’s yellow fur. “Where did you get this kitty?”

  “He adopted us back when Aaron first came to the cabins. Now he’s a mascot of sorts. Returning guests come in and speak to him before they speak to us.”

  “I never could abide pets in the house.” Anna shook her head as if the idea was beyond her. “But I don’t mind a cat around the place sitting on the porch and sleeping in the yard. They’re good mousers.”

  “Pumpkin caught a mouse last week and left it on the mat in front of the office. Not exactly what I want to see when I show up for work.”

  “The Elliotts have a little dog,” Julia said. “You should see him. He wears—”

  At that moment a car drove into the parking lot and the Elliotts spilled out.

  “Speaking of the Bandit,” Sharon said, which was the first thing she’d said since they had arrived.

  “They must have gone home to change.” Julia rose and began to wave so Jeanette would see where they were sitting. “I hope the dog doesn’t bother anyone.”

  “Come one and come all,” Ella said.

  Tim walked toward the men, while Jeanette and the girls joined the women.

  Most of the teenagers had gone off to the barn. Clara hadn’t, because she was talking wedding plans. Sharon hadn’t, either. She didn’t seem to be talking much at all and had refused an invitation to play volleyball.

  Wess motioned for her to walk with him to the barn, but Sharon shook her head. Julia supposed she simply wasn’t ready to fall into a new group of teens yet, or maybe she was hesitant to make friends she might have to leave in a few weeks.

  Victoria and Zoey spied Sharon, though, and came running toward her.

  “My doll has a new dress. Do you like it?” Zoey plopped the baby doll into Sharon’s lap.

  “And Bandit has a new collar. It even has his name on it.” Victoria picked up the little dog and traced the letters with her finger.

  It seemed to Julia that Sharon looked a bit overwhelmed, but instead of shooing the girls away, she allowed Zoey to crawl up in her lap and leaned forward to study the lettering on Bandit’s collar.

  Pumpkin took one look at the dog, blinked, stretched, and lazily walked away.

  “Sorry we’re late,” Jeanette said. “They were having a potluck at church. We stayed to eat, but the girls insisted we leave before dessert so they wouldn’t miss seeing Sharon. I brought snickerdoodles. Do you think anyone will eat them? Or are you all full already?”

  “We have men and children. Your plate will be empty when you take it home.” Lydia scooted down on the bench to make room for Jeanette, who sat beside her.

  “A hen fest. This is just what I needed.”

  And a hen fest it was. They talked of laundry and cooking, wondered when the first real cold snap would come, hashed out all the details of Clara’s wedding, and made Lydia go over every item she had for the baby.

  At some point Victoria and Zoey tugged on Sharon’s arms until she stood and followed them down the path that led to the river.

  Clara left soon after that to join the volleyball game.

  Julia tried to keep her eye on Sharon to see if she were interacting with the other teenagers, but she only saw her twice. One time she was alone with the Elliott girls, and another time she was surrounded by all of the young children, apparently directing a game of duck-duck-goose.

  She tried to watch for Caleb, but then their conversation turned to men and how hard it was to steal a private moment in a houseful of children. Julia’s cheeks warmed, and though she didn’t make eye contact with anyone, they were soon questioning her about her first week of marriage. Ada dozed in the shade of the maple tree, but she had a smile on her face.

  Something in Julia’s heart began to believe that perhaps everything would be all right after all.

  Bishop Atlee had said there might be days where she and Caleb would have doubts because their marriage had begun a little unconventionally. He had called it a “strange and wunderbaar beginning.” Sitting with her friends and family and sharing a Sunday afternoon, Julia felt a peace settle into her heart. It was difficult to imagine doubting their decision to marry, and she couldn’t begin to imagine doubting Caleb’s love for her.

  Chapter 25

  On Mondays the café was closed, same as the cabins. Sharon was relieved to have the extra day of rest and time to help with the household chores, but she was also worried. Too much free time wasn’t good. With too much free time her mind drifted back and dwelled on things that had happened at home.

  So she was relieved when Julia asked her to search for any remaining elderberries in the bushes by the creek. Most had been harvested already, but some could usually be found that had ripened late. The day was sunny, though there was a hint of coolness in the air. Sharon eagerly pulled on her wrap and headed out the back door.

  She liked to stay busy. Busy was better.

  Besides, she sensed Julia and Caleb would like an hour alone. Ada was napping, and it wasn’t difficult to pick up on the looks passing between them. What was it like to have that sort of romance when you were so old? Maybe it was because they were recently married. Or maybe it was that they truly were in love. Did she even believe in such a thing?

  Her thoughts traveled down that path—thinking of married couples she knew who seemed happy, like Julia and Caleb, Miriam and Gabe, and Lydia and Aaron. Lydia was now so close to the delivery date of her baby
that she looked terribly uncomfortable and shifted from side to side when she walked. Still, Aaron’s eyes filled with adoration whenever he glanced her way.

  She’d also watched Lydia’s parents at the picnic the day before. Menno was having a good day, or so everyone said, but his good days seemed pretty poor to Sharon. Ella watched over him like a mama cat over a newborn kitten. For one moment, when he’d gone off with the men, Sharon had thought Ella might follow. Was that the kind of love a woman and man shared? Did it include a protective sort of love? She had thought about men protecting women by providing for their needs. Men planted and cleared the fields. They cut and brought in the wood. But she’d never thought to really consider that time in life when a woman might need to take care of a man.

  What she had felt for James was nothing like that, and she didn’t think he’d felt anything for her.

  Sharon walked the path along the creek, past the new bridge, and past the fishing spot Caleb loved. She found the elderberry bushes on the edge of a small clearing, exactly as Julia had described. Setting her pail down, she spied the dark berries that had yet to be harvested in the middle toward the back of the clump of bushes.

  She craned her head back. The bushes themselves were quite tall—easily ten to twelve feet in places. As they had grown up, their branches had lengthened over the years and become heavy until they draped all the way to the ground. If she crawled underneath, she could probably stand up inside the circle of bushes and reach the ripe clusters of berries.

  She’d certainly soil her dress in the process, but it was an old one—the one she’d brought specifically for cleaning day. Dropping to her knees, she pushed the pail in front of her and inched under the bush. Once inside, she found that the group of bushes acted much like a willow tree. The ground was smooth underneath, and the long branches formed a canopy she could see through. She could also stand up. Her head popped out through some of the lower branches when she did.

  Pulling her kapp back into place, she began gathering the nearly black berries and dropping them into her pail. They would make a fine dessert filling. There was enough for several pies.