“I s’pose Gloria gave you the town tour,” Adam said.
Leona nodded demurely.
“Is our town smaller than you imagined?” he asked.
“I didn’t have any expectations, to be honest.”
Adam nodded. “If you’d like to do more sightseeing tomorrow, just say the word. I have a friend who could loan us a Jeep to do some exploring at White Rock Mountain.” He paused. “Or maybe Gloria took you up there already.”
“We were too busy to hike,” Gloria said.
“Maybe another time, then,” he said.
Leona smiled at Gloria. “Really I’m just here to see your sister . . . not to be a tourist.”
“We had a great time baking together,” Gloria mentioned. In fact, now that she thought of it, she’d enjoyed it far more than driving around.
“What’re you two cooking up for tomorrow?” Adam asked. “And I don’t mean food.”
“We’re meeting Darren for lunch at the diner.”
Adam told them that he’d promised to take Jonas and James to play basketball with some other kids at a nearby park.
“I’m not sure yet what Leona and I will do the rest of the day,” Gloria said, “but I’m sure we’ll find something fun.”
“You don’t have to entertain me,” Leona said.
“Well, if I ever want you to visit again, I can’t have you sitting around here, right?”
The garage door rumbled open, and Adam got up from the floor. “Sounds like Dad’s home,” he said. “He likes to eat on time.” He glanced at Leona and headed toward the kitchen.
“I’m with Dad—I’m starving!” Gloria rose quickly, waiting momentarily for Leona to join her. “My father will be thrilled about the pie.”
“’Tis gut we made it. Jah?”
Gloria laughed as she linked her arm in Leona’s to make their way to the kitchen.
———
Leona picked up right away that everyone was going overboard to make her feel included at their first supper together. Jeannie made over Jonas and James, practically reintroducing them. The boys stood near the kitchen table, behind their chairs, Jonas shifting his weight, arms folded, and his younger brother glancing away, not making eye contact. Jonas, still blond as ever, handled the fussing better than James, whose round face turned bright pink.
Had Jeannie always been like this? Leona wondered. Or had she just never observed it before?
Joe looked tired from his day, a crease on his forehead where perhaps he’d worn some sort of protective helmet at the welding shop.
For a moment, as they gathered at the table, Leona recalled the camaraderie she’d experienced at their former cheerful haven. In fact, when they all sat down, she realized they were each seated in the same order as then. Leona was to twelve-year-old Jonas’s left, facing Gloria across the table. Some things are just ingrained, Leona supposed.
Arkansas Joe asked Adam to offer a verbal blessing before the meal. Evidently, Adam was as surprised at this as Leona, since he sputtered out a short prayer that contained only a few grateful sentences. It was his father who added the amen before asking quickly for the pot roast.
As the food was being passed, Joe again made a point of making Leona feel welcome. “I’m sure you can see how glad Gloria is to see you.”
Leona nodded at Gloria. “And I really appreciate your hospitality.”
“Any time.” Arkansas Joe smiled more broadly now.
“Denki,” Leona replied, embarrassed when she realized every eye was trained on her.
She was relieved when the eating commenced and the attention turned to Joe, who told about his day at work. From what Leona gathered, it sounded as if he and another man had become partners not many months ago. Adam and Jeannie interjected various questions while Jonas and James dug into their large helpings of food.
“Hill View is in the midst of a growth spurt, so there may be an opening for you at some point, son,” Joe told Adam.
“I prefer fixin’ cars,” Adam said politely, sitting straighter.
“Why’re you all dressed up, Adam?” James asked, glancing at Leona.
“We have a guest,” Adam replied before taking another bite of mashed potatoes and gravy.
“Um, you never look that good,” James added, grinning.
“Hush now, son,” his father said, reaching for more coffee. “Your brother’s got a girlfriend, and I’m sure Leona’s spoken for, pretty as she is.” He winked at Leona, who felt herself blush.
Gloria offered Leona a smile. “My guess is she’s well on her way to engagement.”
“I am,” Leona said, happy to share her news. “To Thomas, our neighbor’s son.”
Adam nodded. “If it’s the Tom I remember, he’s a good guy.”
“Tell us more,” Gloria said, smiling mischievously.
She forgot who Tom was, Leona realized.
“Well, Tom’s in partnership with his uncle at a construction firm,” Leona explained. “You might also remember that he’s our deacon’s eldest son.”
Joe’s expression dimmed. “You can leave Leona be with the questions. We should remember that Amish courtship is a private matter.” Abruptly, he turned back to Adam and asked a question about the car he was refurbishing.
Gloria looked terribly uneasy.
Listening to Adam talk animatedly about engines, Leona observed Gloria’s father, puzzled at his awkward response. Was it the mention of Deacon Ebersol?
———
When they’d eaten, Gloria suggested they read the Bible by passing it around the table, asking her father to go first.
Joe looked startled, then grudgingly went along with it, starting with verse one of Psalm 136. “‘O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.’” But after a single verse, he passed the Bible to Adam, who read the next verse, and so on around the table.
Joe’s hesitancy to participate didn’t escape Leona’s notice. Yet how can a life without faith be satisfying to a formerly Amish family?
Jeannie, however, read the seventh verse with expression, even lifting her eyes to look at Leona as she read, “‘To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever.’”
All of them continued the shared reading through verse twenty, and when it was Jeannie’s turn again, she read verse twenty-one. “‘And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever.’” Her voice broke at the final word, and she coughed quietly.
Leona tried to keep her attention on the reading, but when the Bible was closed and there was no time set aside for silent prayer, she felt sad. She could see a twitch in Joe’s jaw and wondered if he, too, had felt convicted by the Scripture.
———
Leona was pleased when Gloria asked the boys if they wanted to play Dutch Blitz with her and Leona following supper cleanup. Jonas bowed out, saying he was meeting a friend for a sleepover, but Adam and James remained. Gloria’s parents left for the living room, where the drone from the TV drifted into the kitchen. Leona had only seen Joe and Jeannie together for a short time since her arrival, but from what she had observed, things seemed very different between them. Gone, it seemed, was the affection she remembered, the couple they appeared to be in the framed photograph.
The familiar game was enjoyable, yet Leona kept recalling the former days, how they’d all sat around the table for hours—Joe and Jeannie, too—playing games and laughing about one thing or another, reveling in the fellowship. Was the draw of TV the only reason why Gloria’s parents hadn’t played the game tonight?
One by one, her best and fondest memories of this family weren’t adding up with what she was witnessing now.
When did all of this change?
A thought crossed her mind: Maybe the Gingeriches had never quite fit in with the People. After all, they’d changed church districts more than once. Had it been a struggle for more than just Joe to submit to the various church ordinances? Or was he too stubborn to come under the unwritten rule
s of the Ordnung? And if so, why didn’t I notice this before? she wondered.
Once Gloria had dressed for bed and slipped on her warmest bathrobe, she went over to the guestroom, and seeing the door open slightly, she looked in. There, in the soft illumination from the hallway, Leona was kneeling beside the bed, hands folded and her long blond hair, free of its bun, cascading down her back.
Gloria stared at the white cotton nightgown, similar to the ones she’d often worn, and the length of Leona’s hair, which, like all Old Order Amishwomen’s, had never been cut, only trimmed. A rush of recollections from a world away poured into her mind.
Is Leona praying for me?
She stayed a moment longer, touched by the tender sight, then tiptoed off.
Leona’s visit had stirred up memories of the best part of Gloria’s life, the years she’d tried to forget but hadn’t. Not like her family, who’d so easily adopted the fancy life.
Yet what can I do about it?
The thought filled her mind long after she, too, said her prayers before falling asleep.
CHAPTER
21
Tom Ebersol headed to Mahlon and Maggie Speicher’s house early that Saturday morning, taking some jam from his mother. Danny rode with him, asking along the way if Tom planned to inquire about Leona. Has anyone heard if she has arrived in Arkansas? Danny signed.
Tom shook his head. He’d hoped she might think to call and leave a message for him at Uncle Alan’s business, but so far, no word.
The sun’s rays bounced off the neighbors’ twin silos, and the fields absolutely glistened. The dew point was high, and as he drove, it crossed Tom’s mind to pray that Leona would have nice weather for her trip home tomorrow.
Danny poked his elbow. Are you worried about Leona? he signed.
Tom nodded and smiled, turning to him as he drove so Danny could read his lips. “Not too much.”
She will be back soon, Danny signed.
And hopefully her fascination with the Gingerich family will be a thing of the past, Tom thought.
When they arrived at Mahlon’s farm, Danny wanted to wait in the open buggy. Tom quickly carried the small box of blueberry jam, Mahlon’s favorite, to the back porch.
Maggie flung open the door and ushered him inside. “You’re out and about early for a Saturday,” she said. Her children were sitting around the table putting a puzzle together. “I’m glad ya caught me before I head to the shop.”
He placed the box on the table. “Mamm sent these over for ya.”
“Isn’t that thoughtful!” Maggie said, lifting one of the pint jars out of the box to show the children, who applauded. “Please thank her for us, won’t ya?”
“Dat will want some for snack,” Samuel said as he looked up from the puzzle. “Ain’t so, Mamma?”
“For certain.”
“Well, have yourself a nice day,” Tom said, turning toward the door.
“Oh, Tom, in case you wondered, we haven’t heard from Leona,” Maggie said. “Still, I’m sure all’s well. She wasn’t going to check in unless she had a chance.”
He smiled. “The Lord’s watchin’ over her.”
“Remember, the Gingeriches’ story isn’t finished.”
Tom agreed.
“The Lord might just honor Leona’s prayers—and her visit—and use her to remind them of His long-suffering nature,” Maggie added.
Hearing this encouraged Tom, and he thanked her. “Danny’s prob’ly wondering what’s become of me.” He waved and headed out the back door. “Denki!”
Though it was the weekend, Gloria’s parents left the house early for work, and Adam took Jonas and James to the park before Gloria had even budged from under her covers. She’d heard their voices coming from the kitchen, and then the sound of the garage door opening and closing.
Sitting on the bed, she wished she wasn’t scheduled to work that afternoon and evening, as well. But this was the busiest day of the week, and her boss was temporarily shorthanded. Hopefully Leona would feel all right about hanging out with the family until Gloria arrived home that evening.
At least she and Leona had the morning to themselves before they met Darren Brockett at noon. Leona intended to sit in one of the booths doing needlework or reading, whatever suited her, until Mom picked Leona up before supper.
Plumping her pillow, Gloria reveled in the stillness before dressing for the day, having showered last night. Once ready, she went out to the kitchen to mix up some batter for chocolate chip waffles. Mom never made them anymore, but she hadn’t forgotten their old recipe. Dad always piled whipped cream on his when we were Amish. . . .
Thinking of that, Gloria realized again how strange it must be to Leona to be in a houseful of newly minted Englishers. Leona’s as devout and certain of her path in life as ever. And Gloria couldn’t help but be envious.
Leona was on the lookout for a parking spot on South Third Street, leaning forward in her seat and scanning for available options as Gloria’s car crept along.
“Let’s talk more about you,” Gloria said, tapping on the brake when it looked like there was an opening, but they were mistaken. “Other than that you’re engaged, I don’t know much about what’s going on in your life.”
Leona noticed how gentle Gloria’s voice was, as if she didn’t want to sound nosy. “Well, I still enjoy workin’ for Maggie several days a week—I like to talk with the customers. Most of them are curious ’bout the Amish life, as you can imagine.”
“Do you still attend the Singings and other youth gatherings?”
“Most of the time.”
“Is your fiancé baptized yet?”
Leona nodded and smiled. “Tom joined church right after his twentieth birthday. He’s always known he wanted to be Amish.”
“Always knew . . . that’s something.”
“He wasn’t boastin’ about that, though. Tom’s not like that.”
Gloria spotted an opening and pulled into a parking spot. She turned off the ignition. “What about you—have you joined yet?”
“I did, the year after you moved away.” Leona said it softly. “You must’ve joined out here, then?”
Gloria shook her head as she slipped the keys into her purse. “I took a few baptismal classes here, but my father pulled the family out of the church district before I could finish.” A sad little laugh escaped her lips.
Leona didn’t bring up the fact that they’d always planned to take the lifelong kneeling vow together. “It was ever so special . . . nee, a most sacred experience for me.”
“I’m real happy for you,” Gloria said, sounding as if she meant it. “If only my own situation had been within my control.”
They got out and put money in the parking meter and walked around downtown, window-shopping and enjoying the warm breeze. All the while, Leona wondered why Gloria hadn’t stayed with the Amish community here when her father broke away.
“Did you find another church home, then, for yourself?” Leona asked.
Gloria sighed. “At first, my father felt strongly about us staying together as a family, so we had church at home, so to speak, taking turns reading verses from the Bible and singing some of the old hymns from the Ausbund. But after a few weeks of that, he decided we could visit a nondenominational church not far from our house. At the time, I felt like I might just wither up and die without going to worship somewhere, so I went along with it.” Gloria suddenly motioned toward a tearoom and antique shop. “Hey, let’s stop in there and rest our feet awhile.”
Leona agreed, thinking perhaps Gloria wasn’t comfortable talking where people could overhear them. Or maybe this is an excuse to change the subject.
The tearoom was charming, decorated with touches of soft pink and with abundant cream-colored lace at the windows, on chair backs, and on the paper doilies that graced the small tables.
“Isn’t this the sweetest place?” Gloria pointed out the large glass display case featuring pastries. “This is my treat, by the way, so choose wha
tever you’d like.”
Unplanned, they both ordered hot orange zinger tea and pastries at the counter. “Maybe we aren’t so different now after all,” Gloria remarked with a smile. She picked out a cozy table toward the back of the room, near a soothing water feature. A pink rose in a round glass vase was centered on the table beside the heart-shaped salt and pepper shakers. Only a few other customers were in the room.
“Perfect,” Gloria said, putting her napkin on her lap. “Now we can talk more privately, jah?”
Leona pricked up her ears at the jah she’d slipped.
“Oh dear.” Gloria laughed a little. “Bits and pieces of Amish life must still be lurking inside me.”
“I’d be surprised if they weren’t.”
Shortly, a server brought a tray with individual teapots, cups, and saucers, as well as a petite pitcher of cream and a small glass dish of sugar cubes with a tiny silver spoon.
When the delightful woman returned with their midmorning pastries, she mentioned the royal raspberry cake, saying she highly recommended the daily special, but both Gloria and Leona politely declined.
“This pastry is plenty for me,” Leona added, thanking her.
When the server left, Gloria turned to Leona. “Now, where were we?” She stirred a sugar cube into the tea in her floral teacup. “Oh yes . . . we were talking about church.”
Leona held back, letting her make the return path to the delicate conversation.
“We were all bored to death with the church Dad randomly chose. Eventually, my family stopped attending, and I pleaded to be able to visit other churches on my own. I settled into one where I attend now every Lord’s Day,” Gloria said, taking her first sip of tea. “I hoped my parents and my brothers might follow, but only Mom and my brothers have ever gone with me, and none of them regularly. It’s where Adam met his girlfriend, Donnalynn. But Dad . . . he never goes anymore.”
She glanced out the window and wrapped a lock of hair around her pointer finger. “I’m not like my father,” she said, returning her gaze to Leona. “I doubt you ever saw this side of him, but he really seems to chafe under New Testament teaching. It was the same with the expectations of the brethren. No wonder the Amish church was such a challenge for him.”
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