“The rest of the way is flat,” she said with both relief and regret.
Was it her wishful thinking, or did he look disappointed?
When they got to the house, she led him into the kitchen. She smiled when his eyes widened.
“When d-did you have t-time to do this?”
She’d gotten up at four this morning and baked one pie after another. The granola and dog treats she’d made in the evenings or before going into the hospital in the mornings. “In my spare time.”
She picked up a few plastic bags. “These are the dog biscuits that broke. I’ve labeled them so we can see which ones your dogs prefer.”
Snickers whined and nosed Isaac’s leg.
Sovilla laughed. “Is it all right to give her one?”
“I need to d-do it.”
She held out two pieces. Their hands brushed, and sparks sizzled through her. Sovilla almost jerked back, but she forced herself to drop them into his open palm. She only hoped Isaac hadn’t sensed her reaction.
* * *
A jolt zinged through Isaac as her fingers grazed his palm. He’d struggled to breathe coming up the hill while holding her hand, but the intensity of this touch, of being so near her, constricted his chest.
Sovilla was speaking, but her words didn’t make sense to his jumbled mind.
“Huh?”
She repeated herself, “Can you see which one Snickers takes first?”
Her words sounded a little shaky, but maybe that was only his own unsteadiness. He held the pieces out, one on each hand.
Snickers sniffed both, then went for the hand Sovilla had touched. He didn’t blame his dog. Definitely the most desirable. Snickers’s rough, moist tongue lapped up the broken biscuit. Isaac regretted holding the treat in that hand.
“Looks like she prefers this one.” Sovilla marked the label on the bag.
Snickers snapped up the other one.
“She l-likes both.” Isaac needed to get out of the kitchen. They should get back so they’d have time to play baseball.
Sovilla picked up a pie. “You can carry this one. I’ll take that one.”
“What for?”
“Dessert. I hope everyone likes blueberry.”
“You d-don’t have to d-do that.”
“I want to. Your mamm will be feeding me twice. The least I can do is bring something.”
“But your m-market stand?” If she gave away the pies, she wouldn’t have them to sell.
“I can make more. Let’s hurry. I don’t want to make your family wait for their dinner again.”
Isaac wouldn’t mind them waiting all day if it meant spending more time alone with her. With regret, he shut the door behind him and followed her to the hill. He also had one more regret—he couldn’t hold her hand on the way down while they both were carrying pies.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The next week passed with almost the same daily schedule. On the days the market was closed, Mrs. Vandenberg arrived at the hospital at ten and sent Sovilla off to spend time with Isaac and his family. Sovilla always brought the Lantzes one of the treats she’d baked. And she enjoyed helping Isaac in the kennels.
On market days, Isaac arrived early, helped her pack the baked goods into the back of his buggy, and assisted her with unloading and setting up when the auction schedule permitted.
They had such good conversations on the way to work that Sovilla never wanted the trip to end. And she loved being around Isaac’s family too. His mamm treated Sovilla like one of her children. She especially appreciated the hugs, because she’d missed those from Mamm.
“Are you all r-right?” Isaac stared at Sovilla with concern in his eyes as she headed for the Bentley.
“I always hate leaving here. It feels so much like home. That makes me miss Mamm and my sisters so much.” The ache increased every time she left Isaac’s house.
“I’m sorry. It must b-be hard.”
Sovilla tried to smile, but her lips twisted.
With a sigh, she climbed into the car. She hadn’t told Isaac, because she’d been trying not to dwell on it, but the doctor had announced that Wilma would be going home in a day or two. She’d still ride to work with him, because Wilma couldn’t drive for four weeks. But once her aenti came home, the visits to his house would end.
When Sovilla reached Wilma’s room, Mrs. Vandenberg and her aenti were sparring.
“You’re not going to blame me for your slow recovery, Wilma Mast. If you’d listened to Sovilla and done what she said, you’d be home already.”
Wilma’s crossed arms and pouty lips showed they’d reached an impasse.
Sovilla hoped her happy “Hello” might thaw the chilly atmosphere.
“Did you have a good time?” Mrs. Vandenberg asked.
Seeing her aenti’s scowl, Sovilla tempered the smile that longed to break free. “It was nice.” She hoped Mrs. Vandenberg could tell it had been much more than that.
“I’m glad.” Mrs. Vandenberg winked and gathered her huge handbag. “I hope you’ll have just as much fun the rest of the day.”
She shuffled to the door. “Oh, in case Wilma forgets to tell you, the doctor says she can go home on Wednesday.”
“I’m perfectly capable of making my own announcements, Liesl Vandenberg.”
“Then maybe you should explain to your niece why you didn’t go home in a week the way you should have, Wilma Mast.” With that parting shot, Mrs. Vandenberg shut the door behind her.
Sovilla didn’t need her aenti’s explanation. Wilma had not healed as well or as quickly as she should mainly because refusing to do her therapy had prolonged her stay.
“That woman,” Wilma fumed.
“She’s been kind enough to come in and serve as your coach.” If Mrs. Vandenberg hadn’t taken over, Wilma most likely would be heading to rehab this week rather than going home.
“Humph. I’d rather have you. She’s the bossiest person ever.”
“At least you only have one more day here.”
“Thank heavens for that.”
Wilma might be grateful, but Sovilla wasn’t. Although she was glad Wilma had healed well, her aenti’s homecoming meant no Wednesday dinner and baseball game with Isaac’s family.
“Well, that news made you glum,” Wilma said. “I guess I’ll be putting an end to your fun and games and whatever else you had going on.”
Jah, that was for sure. With Wilma around, Sovilla’d have no time for fun and games. No time for Isaac.
* * *
When Isaac picked up Sovilla the next morning, he missed her bright smile and bouncy steps. As they loaded up her baked goods, she looked miserable.
“Are you all r-right?” he asked.
Sovilla fiddled with stacking the containers of pies and didn’t answer. Usually she responded to every question. Had something happened with Wilma?
“How’s your aenti?” He couldn’t take any joy in the full sentence. Not when Sovilla was unhappy.
“She’s doing well. Mrs. Vandenberg got Wilma to do her therapy, so she’ll be discharged tomorrow.”
That sounded great. Why wasn’t Sovilla excited? “What’s wrong?” Another triumph of speech he couldn’t celebrate. Not while he worried about her.
With a heavy sigh, she said, “I won’t be able to come to your house on our days off anymore.”
No wonder she was upset. Now he was too. He hadn’t thought about that. But her reaction offered a ray of hope. She’d miss being with him—or at least with his family.
“You’ll still n-need a ride?”
“Until Wilma can drive. The doctor said four weeks.”
At least they’d have that. Once Wilma returned to work, Isaac wouldn’t be able to stop by the stand several times a day.
“Isaac?” Sovilla squeezed in the last container. “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you haven’t been stuttering as much. You even had two sentences where you didn’t do it at all.”
She’d noticed. “I d-don’t mind.” He wished
he’d tried harder with that one, but he’d been so elated she’d been paying attention. “I’m practicing a l-lot.” Every spare minute when he wasn’t with her or with his family he’d been reading aloud with the gravel in his mouth or working on his breathing.
“I’m sure it’s not easy.”
Deep breath. “It’s not.” But it was worth it. She was his inspiration.
* * *
Several nights later, as Isaac hugged the last pup and put him back in the pen, the phone rang. He hurried to answer it.
“Is Sovilla Mast there?” a woman asked.
Sovilla? Only one person would be calling for her on this phone. Elvira Hess.
“She’s not here. Could I take a message?”
“I’m afraid not. I need to speak to her or her aenti.”
He was too startled to take a breath. “C-can she c-call you back?”
“Of course.” Elvira rattled off her phone number. “I’ll be up for another hour or so.”
Isaac had nothing to write on, so he committed the number to memory. This time he tried harder to control his breath and his words. “I’ll have her c-call you.”
The minute he hung up, Isaac checked all the pens to be sure he’d secured the locks. “C-come, Snickers,” he said as he shut the door and raced up the hill.
Sovilla wouldn’t mind him coming so late, would she? She’d probably want to return the call as soon as she could.
* * *
Sovilla had just doused the propane lamp in the kitchen when someone pounded on the door. All the surfaces in the dining room and kitchen were covered with pies or baked goods either packaged or cooling.
Should she answer at this time of night?
The banging came again. “Sovilla!”
Isaac?
She raced to the back door and pulled it open.
“H-hurry! Elvira Hess c-called.”
“She did?”
Isaac beckoned for her to come, and she stepped out onto the porch and closed the door. Then he reached for her hand and tucked it into his before dashing down the hill, Snickers on his other side. Sovilla managed to keep up with them, and they reached the kennel breathless and laughing.
He turned on the large flashlight he used at night and led her to the phone. He still hadn’t let go of her hand. Sovilla’s heart banged against her ribs, and not only from the exertion. She regretted that she’d need both hands for the phone.
With puppies yipping in the background, he recited the numbers as she dialed and then stood silently beside her. He tensed when she did, and his breathing mirrored hers. And after the call ended, she turned to him with tears in her eyes.
“Elvira’s mother remembered Wilma, and they placed her baby with an Amish schoolteacher who couldn’t have children. That mother has adopted several other children since then.”
“They know her n-name.”
Sovilla nodded. “And she said her son wants to meet Wilma.”
“That’s g-great!”
“I guess.” Sovilla had been waiting and praying for this call. Now that it had come, nausea rose inside.
Wilma had told her to forget it. What if she’d really meant that? What if she got angry about people going behind her back? What if she refused to meet her son?
“What’s wrong?” Isaac’s quiet question enveloped Sovilla in sympathy.
“Wilma might say no.”
“She c-could, but—”
“I’d feel terrible if her son has gotten his hopes up. I can’t even imagine how it would hurt him.”
“But you p-prayed.”
“You’re right. God helped us find him for a reason. We’ll have to trust Him.” Peace flooded through Sovilla. This was part of God’s plan, no matter how it turned out. “I dread telling Wilma.”
“I d-don’t blame you.”
Isaac’s rueful expression comforted her a little. If only she could have him there for support when she broke the news to her aenti. Unfortunately, Isaac’s presence would only make the situation worse.
As Sovilla stared into his eyes, her pulse picked up its beat. All thoughts of Wilma fled, and only the two of them existed within the small circle of light from the flashlight. Darkness surrounded them. Except for the soft snuffling and shuffling of sleeping puppies, they were alone.
* * *
Isaac inhaled. “Sovilla?” He fought the urge to lean in and touch his lips to hers. As much as he desired it, he shouldn’t. But he couldn’t step back, step away from her.
“I should go.” Sovilla’s words, harsh and abrupt, hung in the air between them. She stepped back into the shadows.
His spirits sank. She must have read the feelings in his eyes. He’d scared her with his intensity. They weren’t courting. He’d never asked her on a date. How could he?
As hard as he tried, he’d never be able to complete a full sentence without stuttering. He’d be much too nervous. Even if he could, how could he marry? His family needed all the money he made. Dating implied a commitment. One he couldn’t make. He had no way to buy a house or support a wife and a family.
“Isaac?”
Her small, frightened voice made him long to take her hand. To protect her, to care for her. He had no right do any of those.
“The hill’s n-not safe at n-night.” He didn’t want anything to happen to her. “I’ll h-hitch up the team.”
“I don’t want you to do that. I can go alone.”
“NEH! ” exploded from his lips.
She leapt back and stared at him with wide, wary eyes.
“I d-didn’t mean t-to scare you.” An explanation of his concern and need to keep her safe seemed impossible. Putting together the words without stuttering . . .
“I appreciate you worrying about me, but I don’t want you to hitch up the team to drive less than a mile. Now that I’ve been up and down twice, I think I can do it.”
He shook his head. “Too d-dangerous.”
Motioning for her to follow him, he exited the building. A crescent moon hung in the sky overhead, illuminating her with watery light. Sovilla looked even more beautiful out here than she had in the flashlight beam.
As he drove her home, he had no control over the galloping hoofbeats of his heart.
Chapter Twenty-Four
All day long, Sovilla wrestled her mind back to her customers, but that evening’s meeting loomed large. It had been more than a week since they’d found out about Wilma’s son. Mrs. Vandenberg had made the arrangements to drive David to Wilma’s house that evening.
Sovilla questioned Mrs. Vandenberg’s advice to wait to tell her aenti. Mrs. Vandenberg’s wisdom had been valuable in so many ways, but not letting Wilma know until David was already on his way seemed unfair—to her aenti and to David. What if her aenti balked or refused to see her son?
She didn’t want to dash David’s expectations. If he’d gotten his hopes up and Wilma turned her back on him, it would be horrible.
“Are you all r-right?” Isaac asked when he came to take her home from the market.
“Neh. I still haven’t told Wilma yet. I have to do that when I get home. Mrs. Vandenberg plans to pick up David in two hours.”
“Do you want c-company?”
“Would you come with me?” Maybe having another person there would make Wilma less volatile. “You can stay for supper.”
“I’d be g-glad to.”
Sovilla could have hugged him. She fidgeted during the whole ride and looked up in surprise when Isaac pulled into his driveway.
“I’ll t-tell Mamm.”
“Not about Wilma.”
“Neh. About s-supper.”
Snickers lifted her head from the back seat and whined. “Stay,” Isaac commanded.
A few minutes later, Leanne rushed out and greeted her. “I’ll take care of the horse and Isaac’s chores and the puppies.”
“I didn’t mean to keep him from all his work.”
“Don’t worry about it. Isaac’s so excited to be going with you.” Le
anne laughed. “Looks like you are too. You make a gut couple.”
A couple? Isaac had never said anything to indicate that, although he had stared at her from time to time and made her wonder.
Leanne leaned in and patted Sovilla’s hand. “Don’t worry. He’s shy, but he likes you.”
* * *
Isaac came up behind his sister in time to hear the end of her sentence. Likes you? Who had she been referring to? Him? Or someone else?
He shot his sister a warning side-eye.
She giggled. “Sorry, Isaac, but you know it’s true.”
“What is?” His face on fire, he spoke stiffly, shooting her a don’t-give-away-my secrets stare. “Are you r-ready to g-go, Sovilla?”
She climbed out and headed into the trees with him. When they reached the hill, he hesitated. He wanted to take her hand, but if Leanne had said what he suspected ...
Sovilla, her cheeks pink, held out her hand. “Would you help me?”
He reached for her hand, a song in his heart. She wanted him to guide her. The warmth of her small, delicate hand in his did strange things to his insides. Stepping carefully, he led her up one outcropping at a time, grateful for this opportunity to protect her.
When they neared the flat ground, she pulled her hand from his. “I don’t want Wilma to worry.”
He nodded but had trouble concealing his disappointment. Of course, they couldn’t go into the house holding hands. Even dating couples shouldn’t do that. But Isaac reveled in the memory of her hand in his.
After they climbed the stairs to the back porch, Sovilla halted and stood on the top step with her eyes closed, drawing in deep breaths. “This won’t be easy.”
“Should we p-pray?”
“Gut idea.”
They both bowed their heads, and Isaac asked the Lord to give Sovilla courage and to help Wilma to accept the news. He also prayed for David. This had to be hard for him too.
When he lifted his head, Sovilla had a slight smile. “Thanks for praying. It helps to have you here with me.”
If his heart had been full before when she’d offered him her hand, it now overflowed.
“I guess I should go in and get this over with.” As she turned the doorknob, her hand shook a little.
He wished he had the right to close his hand over hers. Staying as close to her as he dared, he followed her into the kitchen, through the dining room, and out to the living room, where Wilma was reclined in a chair with her feet propped up.
An Unexpected Amish Courtship Page 21
