CHAPTER 7
Stephen lifted the slow cooker lid and sniffed. “Wow, chili in summer? Now that’s a crazy idea.”
His red-haired, pregnant wife, Lisa, elbowed him.
“Summer chili,” Lil corrected.
“Then you should have served it cold.” Now why hadn’t she thought of that? Because her brain had malfunctioned after learning that Fletcher was coming to supper. That’s why. She’d have plenty of time to tweak recipes now. Plenty of unemployed time.
As usual, it was a major production to get the Landis clan all seated and situated. Everyone knew their places, for a natural pecking order had been established over the years. All the chairs around the extended dining room table would be filled, as well as the children’s table, and a high chair for Trish beside Michelle and her husband, Tom.
Hank’s wife, Sara Cyclone, made several trips to the kids’ table before she was satisfied that Scott’s ant farm was still intact and Sammy’s shoes were securely tied. Seated next to Sara, Lisa rested her arms over a bulging belly, and her errant red curls bounced each time her gaze followed Sara’s movements. Most likely, Lisa was observing and gathering future mothering skills in preparation for her own baby’s arrival.
Lil’s dad presided at one end. Sitting next to him, Mom wore a pasted but somewhat pleasant smile. Being single, Matt claimed a man-sized space which crowded into Lil’s. Across from them, a chair had been squeezed in for Fletch, who watched all the commotion with mild amusement.
Although it seemed to be a typical family gathering, it was anything but normal to Lil, whose heart hammered from its proximity to the good-looking Mennonite vet. The very idea that she had the next half hour to scrutinize him and, if possible, impress him with her feminine charms was too good to be true. Now if only she could breathe.
“I’ll ask the blessing,” Dad announced, still uncharacteristically happy, even after what must have been a draining half hour of getting Mom out of bed and dressed for the occasion. The prayer was spoken in that reverent tone the Mennonite heads of house used, barely audible except for a recognizable phrase or two.
Afterward, Lil gestured toward the crocks of chili at each end of the table. “Sorry supper is informal. We’ll just have to pass the chili and serve ourselves.” If Fletch thought it strange that the youngest daughter was acting hostess, he didn’t let on, but Lil still felt her face heat as Stephen lifted the ladle. Why had she kept things so casual? What would Fletch think of them? Better to underplay his presence, she finally concluded.
With Stephen’s help, Lisa passed a large citrus-and-lettuce salad that she had contributed, and Lil passed the rolls. Sara had brought cucumber salad, and Michelle had contributed zucchini bread. Thankfully it all went together wonderfully even though nobody had called to ask what to bring.
Michelle opened her cloth napkin and sprang to her feet. “Matt! You scoundrel!”
Lil bit back a smile and craned her neck to see what had happened. You’d think Michelle would be more cautious since Matt loved to single her out for his practical jokes, probably because she screamed the loudest and was the most gullible. She shook out her napkin, and straw floated to the floor. Her daughters giggled.
Michelle reseated herself, jutted her chin, and speared Matt with a fake glare. “You can sweep the floor.”
“Sure.” He shrugged. “Think we live in a pigsty?”
“But we don’t live here. Neither do you, Uncle Matt,” four-year-old Tammy pointed out from her place at the children’s table.
“No, sweetie. It’s just an expression,” Matt explained.
“Don’t pay any attention to him, girls. Better start eating,” Michelle warned with a smile.
When everyone had been served, Lil stole a glance at Fletch. His lean face, planed in masculine angles, sported a wide forehead and those dark expressive brows. She watched him taste the chili. His soft brown eyes lit with pleasure. He raised them and met her gaze with a slightly dimpled smile that made it hard to forget that there were more than a dozen other people in the room.
Stephen mumbled, “Delicious. Really good, Lil.” There were several affirmative murmurs around the table.
“Thanks.” She glanced at Fletch again. “Tell me about your work. Dad said you’re a veterinarian?”
“Not really. I’m still in school at OSU. But I’m doing what the course calls an off-site selective experience, working with Vic at his clinic. It’s a senior requirement.”
She tried not to blush as she asked, “How long will you be helping there?”
“Until next spring when I graduate.”
On learning that Fletch would be around for a significant length of time, she did a mental garbanzo bean dance, her personal way of celebrating ever since childhood camp days.
He leaned forward and said softly, “I’m glad you didn’t go to work after all.” His expression was seductively smug.
“I—I hadn’t seen my nieces and nephews for a while. They’re hard to resist. I guess when they came in, I had a change of heart.”
“Yes. Very hard to resist.”
The room grew stifling hot. What had she been thinking? Chili in summer?
“I met your family at the farm seminar where Vic was giving a workshop. Matt recognized me from church.”
Fletch Stauffer in the flesh was a gorgeous contradiction. Flirting one minute and in the next breath forewarning her that he was merely Matt’s friend. Was his flirtatious behavior part of a natural charm and not meant to be taken personally? She needed to tread carefully. After all, he attended a Mennonite church that didn’t hold to the same restrictions that her church maintained. She glanced warily at him. In the background, her dad cleared his throat. Fletch glanced down the table at him. The gesture reminded Lil that they had all gathered for a specific purpose. Hearing the big announcement.
Dad cleared his throat a second time. “I suppose you all wonder why we gathered you together on a weeknight?” It wouldn’t have been unusual a year earlier when Mom was healthy, but of late, they’d mostly gotten together for birthdays and holidays.
Lil glanced around the table, observing her family’s reaction. Sara’s blush meant that Hank had already filled the Cyclone in on the big secret, but Michelle seemed surprised that Dad had an announcement to make. A general hush fell over the gathering, except for Stephen’s nervous slurping. He wasn’t much on table manners; even now he had his bare arms resting on the tablecloth. Lil figured he tried to cover up his growing pouch by displaying his muscular arms. Beads of perspiration dotted Lisa’s pretty forehead.
Dad continued. “It’s time for change.” He explained about the farm’s decline. “I don’t know if I’ve told you lately, but I’m proud of all you kids.” Lil noticed Mom’s eyes get teary. “It’s time I let you modernize. We’re going to expand, put up one of those newfangled metal barns so we can handle more hogs. We’re going to contract with one of them big integrator companies. And I just wanted to get everybody together and make it official.”
Beside her, she felt Matt’s shoulders swell with pride over his modern ideas. His green T-shirt—that no Conservative farmer would wear—said it all: PROUD TO BE A FARMER.
All around the table, conversation buzzed with excitement and questions, mostly from the wives. Lil gave Fletch a curious glance, wondering why Matt had invited him and what he thought of their family’s modernizing plans. “How do you fit into this, Fletch?” she asked, softly.
He glanced at Matt with hesitation.
Matt shrugged. “Just thought it would be a good opportunity to get to know us better.”
As a friend or professionally? she wondered.
“Actually,” Fletch grinned, “I aim to do what I can to keep the Landis hogs happy.”
Matt broke into laughter.
Lil felt her face redden for Fletch, but he seemed impervious to his gaffe. Happy hogs? She could just envision the sort of practical joke Matt would play on him because of that foolish remark.
Whe
n Matt stopped laughing, he started the rolls around again. “I ran into Ivan Penner at the farm implement store. He said that Katy and Jake have returned from their honeymoon.”
The good news caused Lil to forget all about Fletch. She broke into a happy squeal and did a garbanzo-dance shoulder shimmy against Matt. “I can’t wait to see them. Thanks.”
She missed them so much and wanted to tell them all that had happened lately. As she thought about all the changes, she quickly sobered. Too many changes. It had hardly sunk in.
Beppe had fired her.
Across the table, their visitor grew quiet, perhaps overwhelmed by their large, talkative family. The conversation skittered in a million directions. Her brothers eagerly discussed a tentative meeting with the Plain City Bank.
Lil caught Mom’s gaze. Her face had become stoic again. “What’s for dessert, dear?”
“Strawberry shortcake.”
Over at the children’s table, Tate clapped her hands. “My favorite.”
Everybody laughed, surprised the six-year-old had been following the adult conversation.
“She’s been helping me in the strawberry patch.” Michelle smiled at Mom. “You should come over and spend a day with us, Mom. The girls would love to show you the garden—wouldn’t you, sweethearts?”
The tiny heads bobbed in agreement, and the children broke out in chatter which included a cute string of mispronunciations.
Mom let out a ragged gasp, her shoulders convulsing.
Dad scooted his chair back and draped an arm around her. “Honey?”
He looked over helplessly at Lil. She didn’t know if she should help Mom back to her room or let her cry. Nobody else knew either, because they were all looking at her to do something.
“None of us knew what to do,” Lil told Katy. “I’ve never been so thankful for my nieces’ spontaneity. When they saw Mom crying, they jumped up and crawled all over her, throwing their little arms around her neck. And it was so weird. Mom went straight from weeping to laughing. And when she started laughing, so did everybody else, including Fletch, even though I don’t think he had a clue what was happening. Honestly, he must think we are the strangest family.”
“Wait.” Katy shook her brunette ponytail, pushing a glass of lemonade toward Lil. “Who’s Fletch?”
“Oh, no. He can wait. You tell me about your honeymoon first.” Lil examined the glass. “Where’d you get this?”
“Jake’s mom. She adores sunflowers.” Katy pointed to the window. “See the sunflower chime?”
Lil giggled. “What’s it like to have a mother-in-law?”
“First I have to tell you what it’s like to have a husband.”
Widening her eyes, Lil hoped her friend wasn’t going to go into details about her cousin.
“Jake is the greatest.” Katy’s dark eyes turned dreamy. “Marriage is better than I thought it would be.”
Lil was relieved to see Katy so in love with the man who was like a brother to her, and probably even closer to her than Matt. “That chump?” she teased.
“We got sunburned on the beach, took a cruise that was so romantic.” Katy quickly highlighted their trip from sunset strolls to a reunion with her old employer—a sweet elderly woman who had played a big part in deepening Katy’s faith. Only a year earlier, she had been experiencing a personal winter. Lil couldn’t be happier that Katy had found happiness, even if her own future seemed uncertain.
“And Jake’s mom and I found some common ground.” Katy suddenly tilted her head. “I noticed you’re wearing your covering again.” Shrugging, Lil replied, “My dad said something to me about it.”
“So it’s just temporary?”
“I don’t know.”
Lil gazed wistfully around the doddy house, wondering if she would be able to move in, come September. So much had changed. The little farm table now sported Jake’s computer. Sunflowers splashed bits of new color. Only six months earlier, she and Katy had moved into the tiny Amish guest house, renovating it together. Their other best friend, Megan, had helped them and had planned to move in with them as soon as she graduated from Rosedale Bible College. It had always been the friends’ shared dream, but especially Lil’s. She came up with the idea all those years ago at camp—to room together and be each other’s bridesmaids.
But when Lil had moved home, Katy married Jake. The doddy house became their honeymoon cottage. Megan went on a mission trip as soon as she graduated. The new plan was for Katy and Jake to find another house. Megan and Lil planned to move in together in the autumn. September, to be exact. Lil was counting the days.
But now that she had lost her job, she would not be able to afford her part of the rent. And Mom was still struggling with depression. Moving back into the doddy house seemed impossible. How could she admit to her friends that she had been fired?
“Who’s Fletch?” Katy asked, returning to the earlier question.
“You’re never going to believe it.” Lil started telling the basics of the story: how they met, the farm problems, the farm seminar, and how Matt had invited Fletch to a family supper. But some important adjectives like good-looking, Mennonite, and veterinarian found their way into the narrative. Then Lil caved altogether and crooned on and on about his dark brows and soft suede eyes.
Katy’s mouth gaped. “How could so much happen in three short weeks?”
“Three weeks may seem short to somebody on their honeymoon,” Lil teased, “but they’ve been an eternity for me. I’ve missed you so much.”
“Well, it’s good to be home.”
“I’m glad you’re happy.” Lil hugged Katy.
When they drew apart, Katy brought the conversation back to Fletch. “But a cute guy delivered right to your back door. Now that’s amazing.”
Lil grinned, thinking that Katy made him sound like a brown UPS package. “He wasn’t exactly wrapped and delivered to me. He’s Matt’s friend.” And just in case Katy maintained the brown parcel image, she added, “Did I mention good-looking and charming friend?”
“I did catch that. Mennonite veterinarian. Got it. But just because he’s Matt’s friend doesn’t mean he’s not interested in you.”
“Matt told me later that Fletch was drumming up work at the seminar. Matt plans to use their practice for our veterinary services. Fletch’s interest in Matt might be work related.”
“Their practice?”
“He works for Vic Fuller. Fletch is doing some sort of internship.”
“Interesting. You never fell for a Mennonite guy before. This could be the one.”
“But he’s not Conservative Mennonite.”
Katy bit her lip.
Lil saw her friend’s hesitation and understood it. In their friendship pattern, Katy always tried to persuade Lil to be more conservative in her thinking and actions. In her black-and-white thinking, Katy closely adhered to all the church restrictions. But last year, her friend had learned forgiveness. She wasn’t as judgmental against the outsiders anymore. But would she approve of Fletch and his red tennis shoes?
CHAPTER 8
Fletch patted Buddy on the head, deliberating over his dinner at the Landis farm. Lil’s huge family was so different from his own. He and his sister had been raised on the mission field. Often it felt like his parents had been more involved with their ministry than concerned about their children. He and Erica had been close, but now she was married to a Canadian she had met in Africa. They lived in his country and were involved with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Erica and Fletch hardly talked anymore. Watching the Landis family interact had made him aware of his personal loneliness.
Sure, he was a friendly sort, and people were always around him, but that wasn’t the same. Right now, his closest friend was his mentor, Marshall. The man who funded Fletch’s tuition came from a wealthy family who had acquired money in Texas oil. He was a southern gentleman and a bit of an eccentric. Like Fletch’s own dad, Marshall was passionate about life. Not only did he support his favorite causes, b
ut he got involved in them.
Marshall had first discovered the Stauffers by visiting a Mennonite church to learn about their peace stance. That Sunday, the Stauffers were on furlough and reporting on their Congo mission work. Before Marshall left the church foyer, he’d pledged his financial support to them.
Marshall was the Stauffer family’s most consistent supporter. Over the years, he’d visited the mission field three times to see firsthand where his money was invested. On those visits, he’d noticed Fletch, especially his love for animals. Marshall shared this passion and had been influential in encouraging Fletch to chase his dreams and become a veterinarian. And now he was financing his schooling. Fletch owed Marshall. He missed him.
Acting on impulse and loneliness, Fletch pulled his cell phone from his jeans pocket.
Soon Marshall’s southern voice drawled, “Ya can’t throw in the hat now.”
Fletch grinned. “Don’t worry. I’m not calling for a pep talk. I just miss you.”
“So this isn’t one of them ‘I’m out of money’ calls?”
“Of course not. I’d call my dad if I needed money.”
They both laughed over that irony. “So how’s it going, working for Victor?”
“It was going great until I wrecked his wife’s car.”
“Oh Fletch, ya didn’t?”
“Afraid so. But it wasn’t my fault. A girl backed into me in a parking lot. But Vic’s been acting like he’s got a chip on his shoulder ever since.”
“Hm. His recommendations were excellent.”
“Don’t get me wrong. He’s a good guy. I like him, and I’m learning a lot.”
“Has he taken ya to the farm shelter yet?”
The shelter was a farm that took in abused livestock. “No. I’d almost forgotten about it. That’s one of your charities, isn’t it?”
“It’s more than a charity,” Marshall drawled. “Marcus is running that place now.”
Plain City Bridesmaids Page 39
