A bolt of sadness struck Jacob hard. His father was right—Marc had been the one who loved making plans and getting together with other people. Jacob had always been the brother who had been perfectly happy to sit at home with a newspaper, book, or new project. Marc had loved being with other people and they’d loved being with him.
And now he was gone.
He pushed those dark thoughts away when he heard Lilly’s footsteps. Picking up the basket, he pretended to groan at its weight. “Lilly, how are your muscles?”
“They are good.” Eyeing the basket with a look of worry, she said, “Why?”
“Why? Well, I’m just trying to figure out if you’re strong enough to . . .” He paused dramatically.
“Strong enough to what?”
“Help me carry this here basket of your grandmommi’s? You’re young and strong.”
“I am young but not that strong.” Plucking off the loaf of bread from the top of the basket, she shook her head. “I think my arms are only strong enough to carry bread and rolls.”
“Daed, want to carry a pie?”
“I do not. Now, enough with your whining, son. Let’s go, and step lively.”
Jacob gestured for his parents and niece to go through first, then closed the door behind them. At last, they were on their way.
To his surprise, his parents strode ahead, practically race-walking toward the large Kinsinger property.
Lilly, however, stayed by his side. She was chatty, too. As they walked, stopping every ten minutes or so so he could switch the basket from one hand to the other, she told him about Meghan and her new textbook and Katie and something called inertia.
He nodded and tried to ask appropriate questions, but the truth was that she could talk about anything and he would think it was wonderful. She was just that happy.
When they climbed the crest of the last hill before they reached the Kinsingers’, Lilly smiled at him yet again. “I’m really glad we’re all together and going over there,” she said.
“I am, too, sweetheart. I am, too.”
“HONESTLY, THE WAY you are fussing over the table, you would think that we’ve never had company before,” Lukas griped to Darla and Rebecca.
“We haven’t had anyone over in a long time,” Rebecca said.
“Certainly not since I’ve been living here,” Darla added.
Lukas frowned. “Sure we have. Darla, we had Patsy and Gretel over two nights ago.”
“They weren’t company. They’re my sisters,” Darla said.
“They still count.”
“Not as special company.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Yoder are going to be here,” Rebecca tried to explain. Again. “That is different.”
“Why? They’re only Jacob’s parents.”
When Darla rolled her eyes, Lukas folded his arms across his chest and glared at Rebecca. “What? I thought we were simply being neighborly. Is there a certain reason we are hosting them that I don’t know about?”
If there was, she certainly wasn’t going to confess it to her brother! “I invited them over because it’s the nice thing to do.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sakes. You know why Rebecca invited everyone over, Luke,” Darla said with a playful slap on his arm. “Don’t fuss at her so much.”
Pressing a hand to his wife’s tiny waist, he smiled fondly at her. After she smiled back, obviously sharing some kind of special, silent communication, he turned back to Rebecca. “Care to tell me how serious the two of you are?”
“Uh, nee. I do not.”
“I’m your older brother. I should know these things.”
After darting a look at Darla, who shrugged, Rebecca decided to go ahead and be honest. “I don’t actually know how serious we are.”
“Why not?”
“Because neither of us have made any big declarations, bruder.”
“He’s been walking you home.” Lukas raised his brows, just as if Rebecca had been doing something so scandalous that the whole town should be worried.
“Jah. He’s been walking me home. But like I said, we haven’t had any big heart-to-heart talks in the middle of the alfalfa fields.”
“Tell me, then. Do you like him a lot? Are you falling in love? Do you think he’s the man for you?”
“Lukas, oh my heavens. Stop.” Looking at Darla for support, Rebecca exclaimed, “Do something!”
“He kind of has the right to ask,” Darla said. “I mean, he is the head of your household.”
Feeling like her cheeks were on fire, she turned to Amelia, who had just entered the dining room but had remained suspiciously silent. “Amy, help me,” she moaned. “Please.”
But instead of jumping to her defense, Amelia crossed her arms over her chest and glared. “Oh, no, Becky. You can handle Lukas on your own. Simon told me what you told him.”
As her younger sister continued to glare at her, Rebecca felt her insides twist into knots. “He shouldn’t have said anything to you.”
“Nee, you shouldn’t have said anything to him.”
“Hold on,” Lukas interrupted. “What happened with Simon, Amelia?”
Still looking mad enough to spit nails, Amelia said, “Don’t worry, Lukas. Nothing happened. Absolutely nothing happened. When he took me out walking the day I got Princess, he told me that it was likely nothing ever would, either.”
Now she felt terrible. “I’m sorry, Amelia. I shouldn’t have interfered.”
“Nee, you should not have. So, I wish you well with your romance with Jacob Yoder. But don’t expect me to hope that Lukas doesn’t interfere.” She flounced off into the kitchen.
When Rebecca started after her, Darla placed a hand on her arm. “Leave her be. She’s been upset for a couple of days now. She’ll be better now.”
“I hope so.”
“Do I even want to know what was said between Simon, you, and Amelia?” Lukas asked.
Rebecca shook her head. “Probably not.”
Lukas groaned. “Why did Levi have to leave me? I’m trying to do my best with you two but it ain’t easy.”
“Probably because we’re adults, Lukas. We don’t need you ‘doing your best with us,’” Rebecca bit out.
“You should have taken your own advice to heart!” Amelia called out.
“I’m sorry. You’re right!” Rebecca said. “I won’t interfere again.”
“Interfere with what?” Lukas’s voice rose. “What is going on with Simon and Amelia?”
“Nothing!” Amelia called out.
Darla held out her hands. “Everyone, calm down. The Yoders will be here any minute.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Darla smiled. “It looks like you were saved by the knock, Rebecca.”
“And not a moment too soon,” she blurted, just as Lukas strode to the door.
Rebecca was really starting to wonder why she thought this dinner party had ever been a good idea.
Chapter 22
Proving that Lukas could rise to any occasion, he smiled like he didn’t have a care in the world when he opened the door. “Good evening,” he said easily. “Wilcom.”
“Good evening to you, Lukas,” Mr. Yoder said as he entered, followed by Mrs. Yoder, Lilly, and at last Jacob, who was carrying an enormous basket.
Eager to put her little argument with Lukas behind her, too, Rebecca hugged Lilly and smiled fondly at Jacob.
As Darla led the group into the gathering room, Mrs. Yoder stopped and stared at the table. “Look at the tablecloth! And the fancy glasses and dishes, too! And the flowers in the center! It looks so pretty.”
“Danke,” Darla said.
“You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.”
Lukas met Rebecca’s gaze. “See,” he teased. “The girls were busy all afternoon, fixing everything up just right.”
“We had fun,” Rebecca said.
“I bet,” Mrs. Yoder remarked. “It mak
es me feel special, indeed.”
Amelia, Rebecca, and Darla all started laughing at once.
“What’s so funny?” Lilly asked.
“Only that this table has been a source of conversation for the last hour,” Rebecca explained.
When Lilly still looked confused, her grandmother wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Come into the kitchen, child. There, I’ll tell you all about what getting ready for dinner guests means to men . . . and women. They are two mighty different things, for sure.”
At last, Rebecca’s spirits lifted. Things might go just fine after all.
WHEN THE MEN were alone, they sat down in the living room and talked about the mill and the latest crops. Oscar waddled in, eyed Jacob’s daed, then jumped on the couch next to him.
To Jacob’s surprise, his father held the puppy with ease, cuddling him close. Jacob was about to say something about how everyone seemed to like puppies when he noticed that Lukas was eyeing him in a completely new way. An almost suspicious way.
“Rebecca was eager for you all to arrive,” he said.
“We were looking forward to the meal as well,” Jacob said stiffly.
“Huh,” Lukas said.
Eager to move the conversation forward, Jacob gestured toward the large fireplace in the center of the room. Its face was made of limestone and its mantel looked to have come from a redwood trunk. It was smooth and gorgeous. A true focal point.
It also looked like it had been in place for decades.
“That’s a fine-looking piece of wood,” he said. “Redwood?”
His expression relaxing, Lukas nodded. “It is. My grandfather had it shipped out by train almost fifty years ago. The story goes that it took him and three of his friends to wrestle that trunk into his shop and slice it in half. Then weeks to sand and polish it until it was good enough for my grandmother.”
“It’s big, I’ll give you that,” Jacob’s daed said. “I bet your dawdi needed half the workers at the mill to cart it in here and put it in place.”
Lukas laughed. “Just about.”
“Did you grow up in this haus, Lukas? Or did your grandparents stay here while you lived elsewhere?” Jacob asked.
“Nee, I grew up here. When my mother married, she and Daed elected not to build a dawdi haus for my grandparents, even though they said they wouldn’t mind moving into one.” Looking reflective, Lukas added, “My mother wanted to live close to her parents, and my father, well, he liked my mother happy.”
“Sounds like he was a smart man,” Jacob’s daed said.
Lukas grinned. “He was. But I think he enjoyed everyone living under one roof. My siblings and I sure did.” Resting his elbows on his knees, he said, “We made a lot of good memories here. Someone was always around and had plans for the rest of us. We were a noisy lot.” He paused, then shook his head. “It’s hard to believe there are only four of us in the house now.”
“More family will come in time,” Jacob’s father said. “Before you know it, you’ll have more feet running down the halls. It’s the way of it.”
Lukas nodded. “I know you’re right. God provides what we need when the time is right.”
Until that moment, Jacob had only thought of Lukas as the owner of an extremely successful business. Lukas’s admission about all he had lost made him seem more approachable. He was starting to understand Rebecca’s loyalty—not just to him but their company, too. The Kinsingers weren’t just close; their lives intertwined.
It was so different from his own upbringing. He and Marc had always gotten along, but Jacob had never considered them especially close. But maybe that was his fault? After all, when his parents had yearned to return to Ohio, Marc had gone with them, choosing to live close by, too. Jacob had been the family member who had elected to stay in Florida and work in carpentry. He suddenly wondered if he’d made the wrong choice all those years ago.
“That must be quite a feeling, knowing that you are continuing in your father’s footsteps,” he said.
To his surprise, instead of nodding, Lukas rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. “To be honest, I don’t know if I am following in Daed’s footsteps or not. My father was a wonderful man. I am . . . Well, I am simply trying to do my best.”
“Your father would’ve been proud of you,” his daed said.
Lukas stared at him. “You think so?”
“I know so. Don’t forget, I grew up in Charm and knew your father well. You are right, he was a gut man. Everyone respected him.”
“Truly?”
“Absolutely. Well, except for when we all went fishing together.” Shaking his head sadly, Jacob’s daed said, “I’m sorry to tell ya, son, but your father was a terrible fisherman. Talked nonstop, he did.”
Lukas laughed. “You’re right. My friend Roman told me that they’d only ask Daed to fish on every other trip.”
“That sounds about right,” his father said with a grin.
Lukas studied him. “I’m sorry, but I wasn’t under the impression that you and Daed had been close. I guess since you didn’t work at the mill I figured you two didn’t know each other well.”
“I never worked for him, but we visited with each other at church for decades.” He stretched out his legs. “Church is the great equalizer, jah? There, we’re all the same in each other’s hearts.”
“I suspect that is true.” Lukas exhaled. “Danke for sharing some of your memories with me.”
“No need to offer thanks. I miss him, too, son. It brings me pleasure to talk about him.”
Looking a bit overcome with emotion, Lukas smiled tightly. Then, with a sigh, he turned to Jacob. “Before we join the women, I’m simply going to ask. Are you courting my sister?”
Jacob didn’t know whether to burst out laughing or answer as quickly as possible. He decided on the latter. “I’m hoping to.”
“Hoping?”
“Rebecca is a busy gal. I’m trying to wedge myself into her life. At the moment, I’m only getting to walk her places. But I intend to push her a bit.”
Lukas looked thoroughly confused. “Why do you want to do such a thing?”
“Have you seen your sister?” his father interjected. “She’s a fetching thing.”
Jacob groaned. “Daed, stop.”
“I don’t lie. She’s pretty.”
“I know that. But that don’t mean you need to notice it.” Glancing Lukas’s way, Jacob said, “I’m sorry. I hold your sister in high esteem. I hope I have your blessing to court her.”
Lukas’s blue eyes danced. “I, uh, recently became aware that I need to sometimes be my sisters’ brother and not makeshift guardian. If Becky means that much to you, I wish you well.”
“Danke.”
After glancing at the closed kitchen door, Lukas lowered his voice. “And if I could, let me tell you a secret.”
“Jah?”
“Take her to the pond on the outskirts of our property. It’s her favorite spot.”
“She’s fond of water?”
Lukas winked. “Nee. She’s fond of turtles.”
As luck would have it, all the women came in just then.
Lilly looked the most puzzled. “Who’s fond of turtles, Dawdi?”
“Rebecca.” Smiling broadly, his father added, “We’ve had quite a lively discussion out here. All kinds of things are being discussed.”
Jacob inwardly groaned. His father couldn’t keep a single conversation to himself.
Looking as awkward as Jacob felt, Lukas climbed to his feet. “Before things get any livelier, I think this conversation should move on.” Turning to face the women, he said, “Amelia, please tell me that it’s time to eat.”
“It is, thank goodness. Come to the table everyone.”
As they crossed the room to take their seats, Jacob caught up to Rebecca, who looked beyond embarrassed.
Fearing she blamed him for talking about her, he leaned close. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how your name came up. But I promise, nothing bad wa
s said. We meant no disrespect.”
“I’m certainly not upset with you. Besides, I’m the one who should be apologizing to you, Jacob. Lukas sometimes takes his job as an older brother too seriously.”
“He can ask me all the questions he would like. It ain’t going to bother me none.”
“Why is that?”
“You know why. Because I do want to court you. What’s more, I’m planning to tell you that after supper on your front porch.”
She giggled. “You’re going to take me out to the front porch, just as if we are teenagers?”
“Of course, Becky. Why should they have all the fun?”
She giggled again, just as Lukas scowled over at them. “Are you two going to join us at this fancy setup so we can pray and eat?”
Rebecca tossed her head. “We’re on our way, Luke. Settle down.”
Chapter 23
Monday, September 21
Jacob considered himself to be a fairly smart man. He also considered himself to be a person who didn’t let a good opportunity pass him by. That was why he strode into the main office two days after Lukas had told him about Rebecca’s favorite spot.
She was sitting behind her desk, sorting through papers while Simon and a young woman argued with each other and her.
“Mercy, you need to own up to your mistakes,” Simon said. “You got my order wrong. Just admit it, then we can move on.”
“I didn’t make any mistakes. There’s nothing to admit.”
“Actually, there kind of is,” Rebecca interjected. “At the moment, we have three thousand extra three-inch nails.”
Simon crossed his arms over his chest. “Which is why Mercy needs to call them up and fix things.”
When Mercy raised her chin and looked prepared to plead her case again, Rebecca said quickly, “It ain’t that easy, Simon. They might not accept any returns.”
“Then she better get on the phone.” He glared at Mercy. “I’m hoping you can handle that phone call.”
Mercy placed her hands on her hips. “I can handle it just fine. But this ain’t my mistake. It’s yours, Simon. I said exactly what you told me to say. Either you gave me the wrong number or the distributer sent more than I ordered. It weren’t me.”
A Daughter's Dream Page 16
