An Unexpected Amish Courtship

by Rachel J. Good

  Mrs. Vandenberg craned her neck. “Yes, it is, isn’t it? When I gaze at that beauty, I can’t understand how anyone could doubt God is real.”

  A reverent hush fell over them as the sun slid below the horizon and the sky slowly darkened and filled with stars. A deep peace descended like balm on Sovilla’s soul. She’d been fighting God’s will, refusing to accept that He’d brought her to Lancaster, possibly permanently. She placed Henry and the hurt he’d caused in the Lord’s hands. Even Wilma had been brought into her life for a reason. She only needed to trust His leading.

  Amelia came out bearing a silver tray edged with flickering votive candles. The center held a cake swirled with chocolate frosting and topped with raspberries. She set it in the center of the table.

  A fancy dinner, a candlelit table, a gorgeous sunset, the rippling water, a man close beside her—all hinted at romance. The dreamy atmosphere enveloped Sovilla in its enchantment. And the creaminess of chocolate melting on her tongue added to her bliss. She wished the evening never had to end.

  After Amelia cleared the plates, they all sat, quiet and contented, gazing at the stars. The expansiveness of the heavens, the stars sparkling in the blackness, flowed over Sovilla, washing away old hurts and replacing them with new beginnings.

  She sat upright in her chair. New Beginnings.

  Mrs. Vandenberg gazed at her in concern. “Are you all right, dear?”

  “I just remembered something.” Should she share her aenti’s personal secret? Maybe she could ask about New Beginnings without giving anything away. “Have you ever heard of a place called New Beginnings?”

  “Certainly. My charity helped them with construction funds for their new building. And we continue to help various girls. They take in teens who—” Mrs. Vandenberg peered at her across the table. “You don’t need their services, do you?”

  Beside her, Isaac sucked in a breath.

  Grateful for the darkness hiding her burning cheeks, Sovilla managed a strangled “Neh, of course not.”

  The worry lines in Mrs. Vandenberg’s face relaxed. “That’s a relief.”

  “So it’s still around?” Sovilla persisted.

  Wilma had said it closed. Maybe Sovilla could visit and get information.

  “Still? It opened rather recently.”

  Sovilla slumped back in her chair. This must not be the same place. “I thought it had been around for a while.”

  “The mission itself has been. I believe the present owner’s grandmother took girls into her home. Later, Elvira’s mother took over and expanded the house. Elvira and her husband built a much larger facility outside of Lancaster.”

  “Would Elvira have kept the older records?” Sovilla pressed a hand to her mouth. She hadn’t intended to ask that question aloud.

  “Most likely, I would think. I imagine government agencies would require that.” Her eyebrows raised, Mrs. Vandenberg studied Sovilla. “Any special year you were thinking of?”

  Staring down at her lap, Sovilla mumbled the year Wilma had mentioned. Her aenti would be furious at her for sharing a closely guarded secret.

  “I’m guessing this is for a certain person.” The compassion and understanding in Mrs. Vandenberg’s eyes made it clear she could be trusted. “Would you like me to make inquiries?”

  Sovilla hesitated. She’d prefer to keep it a family matter, but she didn’t want to hurt Mrs. Vandenberg’s feelings.

  “On second thought,” Mrs. Vandenberg said, “perhaps it would be better for you to handle the matter yourself.” She turned to Isaac. “You know where New Beginnings is, don’t you?”

  When he nodded, she smiled. “Perfect. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind driving Sovilla there on Wednesday.”

  “S-Sure.”

  “But Wilma—” Although Sovilla appreciated Mrs. Vandenberg’s thoughtfulness, she did have a habit of arranging people’s lives.

  Mrs. Vandenberg held up a hand. “I’ll take care of Wilma. And you can visit her later in the day. Besides, it’ll give you an opportunity to test your organic dog biscuits with Isaac’s puppies.”

  Sovilla shook her head. Leave it to Mrs. Vandenberg to connect so many different threads.

  Candlelight reflected the hurt look in Isaac’s eyes. Did he think she’d been rejecting Mrs. Vandenberg’s idea? Maybe he thought she’d shaken her head because she didn’t want to spend time with him.

  “I’d like to go with you, Isaac.” Sovilla cringed inside. In trying to soothe his feelings, her statement bubbled with enthusiasm. She didn’t want to give him the wrong idea. And no one had asked him if he wanted to take her. “If you want to, that is.”

  * * *

  “I d-do.” Isaac would accept any chance to be around her. He’d love to have her test her dog biscuits at his kennel.

  “That’s settled.” Mrs. Vandenberg dusted her hands together. “Isaac, I’d like to ask one more favor, if I may.”

  He’d be happy to do whatever she asked. She’d done so much for him.

  “I’d rather not bother my driver at this time of night. Would you be willing to drop Sovilla off?”

  A favor? Mrs. Vandenberg was doing him a favor. She’d planned this to give him more time with Sovilla. Leanne had been right. Mrs. Vandenberg was a skilled matchmaker.

  “I’d b-be happy t-to.”

  She leaned on her cane and pulled herself to her feet. “I’d love to sit out here longer and talk, but I find I’m rather weary.”

  Isaac stood. “We should g-go.”

  “Thank you for having us.” Sovilla rose from her chair. “Do you need help?”

  “No, thank you, dear. I’ll be fine.”

  They followed her into the house and waited while she locked up. Then she escorted them toward the front door. As they passed a carved wooden panel, she pressed a button. A whooshing noise came from behind the wall. Just before she closed the front door behind them, the panel slid open to reveal an elevator.

  Sovilla stopped on the porch. Isaac smiled as she examined the carved door, the lanterns glowing overhead, the perfectly manicured lawn with its illuminated fountain.

  “It’s all so beautiful,” she said in an awestruck voice.

  “I was t-too nervous t-to knock,” he admitted.

  “I can see why. The driver took me around to the back door. Even that stunned me.”

  Sovilla stayed beside him as he rounded the mansion and headed for the garages. To his surprise, the buggy waited for them. His horse had been hitched up, and the reins were looped around a decorative metal fence post.

  “Do you think she’s lonely?” Sovilla asked as she climbed into the buggy.

  “P-probably.” Mrs. Vandenberg had a cook and a driver and other people who worked for her, but he assumed they all went home at night.

  Having Sovilla so close to him left him exhilarated but edgy. If only they were courting. He could barely draw in a breath.

  “Can you imagine being all alone at night in a place like that?” she asked.

  Isaac shook his head. His mind couldn’t stretch that far. With twelve children, their large farmhouse always seemed to be bursting at the seams. You couldn’t walk through any room in the house without encountering a family member, a puppy, or visiting friends.

  “I guess not,” Sovilla said. “Your house must be busy.”

  “It is.” He’d done it. Two words in a row.

  Sovilla smiled at him but didn’t call attention to it. He liked that she acted as if it were an everyday happening.

  With a little thrill in his chest, he flicked the reins to start the horse down the driveway.

  “I imagine you always have people around.” Sovilla sounded wistful. “I miss being with my family.”

  Isaac couldn’t even fathom what it would be like to be so far from his parents and siblings. And with Wilma in the hospital, she’d be alone. No wonder she’d mentioned Mrs. Vandenberg’s loneliness.

  He couldn’t bear the idea that Sovilla would be lonely. Although he’d like to
invite her to stay at his house, he shouldn’t do that without checking with Mamm and Daed. Leanne often squeezed a friend or two into the bedroom she shared with three of the younger girls. She’d be happy to have Sovilla as company.

  Mamm never minded them inviting friends for meals. Tomorrow was an off-Sunday. Maybe Sovilla would like to spend most of the day with his family. Is that what she’d been hinting?

  “Would you l-like to come for d-dinner t-tomorrow?”

  She looked startled.

  His invitation must have sounded abrupt.

  A look of regret crossed her face. “That sounds nice, but the hospital brings Wilma a lunch tray, and I eat with her.”

  “S-supper, maybe?” Was that being pushy?

  “I usually stay with her until bedtime.”

  Was that a brush-off? He hesitated. “C-come anytime. Mamm l-loves c-company.” And so would I. If it’s you.

  “I’d like that.” Her words seemed warm and grateful. Or was he reading more into her politeness?

  “I’m p-praying for Wilma.”

  “Danke. She could use it. I wish I could get her to do her exercises.”

  “Mrs. V m-might help.”

  “True. If anyone can get people to do things, it’s Mrs. Vandenberg.”

  Isaac smiled to himself. She had managed to orchestrate many things, including a romantic dinner, several chances to drive Sovilla, and this ride home under the stars.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  After the magical night with Mrs. Vandenberg, Sovilla dreaded facing her aenti. Wilma would puncture the dreamy bubble Sovilla had floated in ever since. She longed to be headed to Isaac’s house for Sunday dinner.

  As soon as she entered the room, her aenti’s grumpy face drove all thoughts of last night from Sovilla’s mind.

  “Breakfast here is inedible.”

  “I can bring food when I come.”

  “Anything would be better than the slop they serve.”

  Maybe Wilma’s displeasure with the hospital would motivate her. “If you did your exercises, you could go home much sooner,” Sovilla pointed out.

  “Don’t start with the therapy stuff again. I get enough from that girl.”

  “You need to do it to heal.”

  “What I need is for you and everyone else to leave me alone.”

  “Hello.” A cheery voice interrupted their squabble.

  Mrs. Vandenberg limped toward them carrying a large picnic basket.

  “Let me get that for you.” Sovilla rushed over and took the basket.

  “Thank you, dear.” Somehow, by the time Sovilla set the basket on the wide windowsill, Mrs. Vandenberg had managed to maneuver into Sovilla’s spot by the bed.

  “Good morning, Wilma.” Mrs. Vandenberg exuded optimism and determination. “I’m taking over as your coach. You won’t bully me the way you do Sovilla.”

  Wilma crossed her arms and set her jaw. “Nobody’s telling me what to do.”

  “I didn’t expect to. I’m hoping your better nature will assert itself.”

  Wilma’s cynical laughter echoed around the room. “My better nature?” she said when she could speak again. “I don’t have one.”

  “Everyone has one. It just requires chipping away at the crusty exterior and”—she paused dramatically—“unlocking the steel door you’ve put in place to hide your heartache from the world.”

  “What do you know about that?” Wilma muttered.

  “You might be surprised.” Mrs. Vandenberg pressed on. “There’s one more step to bringing out your better nature, the most important one. But knowing how you feel about talk of God, we’ll save that until we’ve made some inroads on the first two.”

  “If you think you can come in here and chip away at anything, you’re sadly mistaken.”

  “We’ll see about that. But for now, we’ll concentrate on getting you walking again.”

  “You’re the perfect coach for that,” Wilma mocked. “You can barely hobble.”

  “I do quite well for a ninety-two-year-old who’s recovering from a broken hip.” Mrs. Vandenberg’s calm reply showed Wilma’s barb had no sting. “Is this what you want to walk like at your age?”

  Wilma rolled her eyes.

  “I’m still determined to coach you, although you might prefer your niece not to be a witness.” Mrs. Vandenberg turned to Sovilla. “My driver is waiting for you outside the front door.”

  “Neh, I should stay here.”

  Her aenti pinned her with a you’d-better-not-leave-me stare. “Yes, you should.”

  “Should? Do you hear that, Wilma? You both used the word.” Mrs. Vandenberg’s steely stare outdid Wilma’s. “Do you want your niece to stay out of obligation or because she wants to be with you?”

  “I want to stay with her.” The weakness of Sovilla’s words belied her protest.

  Wilma’s lower lip quivered. Then her face hardened. “Go on, Sovilla. Get out of here. You don’t want to be around me. Nobody does.”

  “I do.” Mrs. Vandenberg’s crisp words sliced through Wilma’s self-pity. “In fact, I’m looking forward to it.”

  Her aenti scowled. She obviously didn’t return the sentiment.

  “Please don’t keep my driver waiting. He’ll bring you back later. After Wilma and I have come to an understanding. No telling how long that will take.”

  Mrs. Vandenberg cut off Wilma’s protest and shooed Sovilla from the room. Dazed, Sovilla headed out to the car. What had just happened in there? Mrs. Vandenberg had come in like a whirlwind and turned everything upside down.

  Sovilla relaxed back against the seat, her head still spinning. She closed her eyes and prayed Mrs. Vandenberg could convince her aenti to cooperate. When she opened them again fifteen minutes later, the car had pulled into the Lantzes’ driveway.

  “I live on the lane back there.” Sovilla didn’t understand the driver’s mistake. He’d picked her up at the house before.

  “I know. My instructions were to bring you here. I understand they’re expecting you for Sunday dinner. I’ll be back later this afternoon to pick you up and take you to the hospital.”

  With a hesitant danke, Sovilla climbed out of the car.

  Before she could head up the hill to her house, the front door banged open, and Leanne rushed toward her. “I’m so glad you’re here. So’s the rest of the family. We’ve been waiting for you.”

  “How did you know I was coming?”

  “Mrs. Vandenberg called the phone in the kennel and talked to Isaac.” As she chattered, Leanne led Sovilla into the house. “Of course, Isaac said yes to her request. He wanted to have you.” Her smile implied a closer relationship than Sovilla had with Isaac. “And we’re all happy you could come.”

  The family had already gathered around the table. Mary Grace smiled shyly as Leanne indicated that Sovilla should slip in beside her sister. Leanne sat on her other side.

  “Welcome, Sovilla.” The warmth of their mamm’s smile included Sovilla as one of their family.

  They all prayed and passed around fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, applesauce, and gravy. Although this meal didn’t match the elegance of last night’s, the food tasted equally delicious.

  Everyone made her feel welcome, and soon she was joining in the bantering and teasing. Once, when she smiled over a joke, her gaze met Isaac’s. Andrew dug his elbow into Isaac’s side, and Sovilla forced herself to look away.

  She liked Isaac a lot, but she didn’t want his family, especially his brothers, to get the wrong impression. She tried to limit her glances in his direction, but with him sitting almost directly opposite from her, that proved to be difficult.

  After the meal, as she helped in the kitchen, Sovilla almost felt as if she were at home with her sisters and Mamm. Oh, how she longed for those family times. Since she’d been at Wilma’s, Sovilla had not only missed being with her loved ones, she’d also missed the friendly conversation and laughter. She loved being a part of this large, boisterous family.

&
nbsp; Isaac, with Snickers beside him, stood in the kitchen doorway when she finished. “Would you l-like to see the k-kennel?”

  Sovilla responded with a smile. She couldn’t wait to see it, but if she expressed too much enthusiasm, she worried his brothers would tease him.

  * * *

  Isaac assumed that was a yes. He didn’t want to force her if she’d rather stay here.

  “You’ll love the puppies,” Leanne said from behind her. “They’re the sweetest things.”

  “I can’t wait to see them.”

  So she was excited about the dogs, not about spending time with him. Once they left the house, Sovilla’s smile blossomed and tugged at Isaac’s heart. If only she’d turn that sunshine in his direction.

  “Danke for letting me see the puppies. I always wanted a dog, but with Daed being ill, Mamm had too many worries. After he died, we both went to work, so we didn’t have time or money for a pet.”

  “I’m s-sorry.”

  “That’s all right. It’s made me appreciate dogs more.”

  Isaac had intended his sorry to be because she’d lost her daed. And for all she’d missed. Trying to explain required too many words, so he only bobbed his head and opened the door to the kennel.

  He motioned for her to go inside first. Most of the dogs were outside in their runs, but he wanted Sovilla to see the building.

  She stared around her, taking everything in. “It’s so clean and neat. I’m sure your dogs are happy here.”

  When he opened the gates to a few of the cages, some of the pups and their mothers scampered in. Sovilla oohed and aahed, which filled his heart with joy. Not everyone enjoyed being around dogs the way he did.

  “How many dogs do you have?” She bent to scratch the mother dog under its chin.

  Could he get out a full answer? “Four mamas, thirty p-pups.” He’d almost done it.

  “That’s a lot to care for.”

  “It is, but I l-love them.” If Isaac wanted this to be a real conversation, he needed to speak, not only answer questions. “Most go to b-be guide d-dogs.”