Plain and Fancy

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  Eli stood and moved to Laura’s side. “I think you were nervous for nothing. The cat and mouse game got everyone in a happy mood.”

  ***

  “So what did you think of Eli and his family?” Wesley asked his wife as they drove back to their hotel in Paradise later that evening.

  She shrugged, a small sigh escaping her lips. “They seemed like nice enough people, but I don’t understand how our daughter thinks she can ever fit in with them.”

  He drummed his fingers along the edge of the steering wheel. “She’s already one of them, Irene. Laura has joined the Amish church and is about to marry an Amish man.”

  “I know that, Wesley, but Laura is used to nice things—modern conveniences, pretty clothes, makeup, and pampering. It doesn’t seem right to see her dressed so plainly or watch her washing dishes over a sink full of hot water the way she did tonight after we ate dinner.”

  “Have you heard her complain?”

  “Not in so many words, but you saw how tired she looked, and I sensed her unhappiness.” She paused and released another sigh. “And what of that comment she made tonight about not wanting to get fat?”

  “She was feeling nervous about us meeting Eli and his folks. You mentioned that yourself.”

  “Maybe so, but I’ve got a feeling our daughter will be making a mistake by marrying Eli, and I’m afraid she won’t realize it until it’s too late.” She glanced over at him and shook her head. “The Amish don’t believe in divorce, you know. Laura mentioned that in one of her letters.”

  He shrugged. “I think you worry too much. It was obvious to me by the way Laura and Eli looked at each other that they’re very much in love. If our daughter loves a man so much that she can give up her fancy way of life and become Plain, then I say more power to her.”

  She clicked her tongue noisily. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you had a desire to join the Amish faith.”

  Wesley shook his head. “You needn’t worry about that. I like my favorite TV shows too much.” He grinned over at her. “It would be nice to live our lives at a little slower pace, though, don’t you think?”

  Irene leaned her head against the seat and closed her eyes. “Dream on, dear. Dream on.”

  CHAPTER 20

  “Today’s the big day,” Martha Rose said when Laura entered the kitchen bright and early Thursday morning. “Did you sleep well last night?”

  Laura yawned, reached into the cupboard for a mug, and poured herself some coffee from the pot sitting at the back of the stove. “Actually, I hardly slept a wink. I was too nervous about today.”

  Martha Rose pulled out a chair and motioned for Laura to take a seat. “I understand how you feel. I was a ball of nerves on my wedding day, too.”

  “Really? Except for that incident with the mouse the other night, I’ve never seen you act nervous or upset about anything.”

  “I wasn’t really nervous about the mouse. Just wanted to get it out of my kitchen.” Martha Rose got another chair and seated herself beside Laura. “I think all brides feel a bit anxious when they’re about to get married.”

  Laura took a long, slow drink from her cup. “I hope I can make Eli happy.”

  “You love him, don’t you?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Then just do your best to please him. Always trust God to help you, and your marriage will go fine; you’ll see.”

  Laura nodded, but she wasn’t sure it would be as easy as Martha Rose made it seem. Especially since she didn’t have any idea how she was going to put her trust in God.

  ***

  When Pauline heard a knock on her bedroom door, she pulled the pillow over her head. A few seconds later, the door opened, and her mother called, “What are you still doing in bed? We’ll be late for Eli and Laura’s wedding if we don’t get a move on.”

  “I’m not going.”

  “Not going?”

  Pauline pushed the pillow aside and groaned. “I’m not feeling so well.”

  Mom took a seat on the edge of the bed and placed her hand on Pauline’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever.”

  “Maybe not, but my head is sure pounding. It feels like it’s going to split wide open.”

  “Maybe once you’ve had some breakfast you’ll feel better.”

  “I’m feeling kind of iwwel, too. In fact, I’m so nauseated I doubt I could keep anything down.”

  “Are you sure you’re not just looking for an excuse to stay home from the wedding because you don’t want to see Eli marry someone else?”

  Unbidden tears rolled down Pauline’s cheeks, and she swiped at them with the back of her hand. “I can’t go to that wedding, Mom. I just can’t deal with it.”

  Mom offered Pauline a look of understanding as she patted her arm. “Jah, all right then. You stay here and rest in bed.” She slipped quietly from the room.

  Pauline rolled over so she was facing the wall and let the tears flow. She knew she had to find the strength to deal with this somehow, but if she stayed in Lancaster County, where she would see Eli and Laura so often, she didn’t think her broken heart would ever mend. Maybe she would consider going to visit Aunt Irma in Ohio for a while. She might even stay there indefinitely.

  ***

  The wedding began at eight thirty, with the bride and groom and their wedding party already sitting in the front row. The ministers then took their places, followed by the parents of the bride and groom, the groom’s grandparents, other relatives, and friends. The men and women sat in separate sections, just as they did at regular church services.

  When everyone was seated, Eli’s brother-in-law, Amon, announced a hymn from the Ausbund. On the third line of the song, all the ministers in attendance rose to their feet and made their way up the stairs to the room that had been prepared for them on the second floor. Eli and Laura followed them to the council room.

  Laura drew in a deep breath as she glanced down at her light blue wedding dress, which was covered with a white organdy apron. Am I really doing the right thing? Will Eli and I always be as happy as we are right now? I’ve given up so many things to become Amish, but can I be content to do without worldly things for the rest of my life?

  She glanced over at her groom standing straight and tall and looking as happy as a child with a new toy. He was so handsome, dressed in a pair of black trousers, a matching vest, and a collarless, dark jacket. Accentuating Eli’s white cotton shirt was a black bow tie, making him look every bit as distinguished as any of the lawyers who worked at her father’s law firm.

  Once they had entered the council room upstairs, Laura and Eli were instructed to be seated in two straight-backed chairs, where they received encouragement and words of advice from the ministers. Then Bishop Wagler asked if Eli and Laura had remained pure. With a solemn expression, Laura was glad she could answer affirmatively, along with Eli.

  The bride and groom were then dismissed, while the ministers remained for council among themselves. This would be the time when they would decide who would take the different parts of the wedding ceremony.

  Eli and Laura were met at the bottom of the stairs by their attendants. When they returned to the main room with the young men leading the women, the congregation sang the third verse of “ Lob Lied,” the second hymn sung at most Amish church services. The wedding party came to the six chairs reserved for them and sat in unison, the three women facing the three men.

  As the congregation finished “Lob Lied,” the ministers reentered the room and took their respective seats. Deacon Shemly delivered a sermon, alluding to several Bible verses related to marriage. When the sermon was over, they offered a silent prayer. All those present turned and knelt, facing the bench on which they had been sitting. Laura was relieved to see that her parents did the same.

  When the prayer was over, the congregation stood, and the deacon read a passage of scripture from Matthew 19, verses 1–12. When he was done, everyone returned to their seats.

  Next, Bishop Wagler
stepped forward and delivered the main sermon, which included several more biblical references to marriage. Then, looking at the congregation, he said, “If any here has objection to this marriage, he now has the opportunity to declare it.”

  There was a long pause, and Laura glanced around the room, half expecting Pauline to jump up and announce that she was in love with Eli and would make him a better wife than Laura ever could. However, there was no sign of Pauline, and for that, Laura felt hugely relieved. Maybe Pauline had stayed home today, unable to deal with seeing Eli marry someone other than herself. Laura couldn’t blame the woman. She would feel the same way if she were in Pauline’s place.

  “You may now come forth in the name of the Lord,” the bishop said, motioning for Eli and Laura to join him at the front of the room. Laura felt the touch of Eli’s arm against hers, and it gave her added courage. This was it. This was the moment she had been waiting for all these months.

  There was no exchange of rings, but when the bishop asked Eli if he would accept Laura as his wife and not leave her until death separated them, Laura felt as if the tie that bound them together was just as strong as if they had exchanged circular gold bands. As Laura answered a similar question from the bishop, she couldn’t help but notice that her groom’s eyes were brimming with tears, and the smile he wore stretched from ear to ear. She knew without question that he really did love her, and she hoped they would be this happy for years to come.

  ***

  When the wedding ceremony was over, Eli and Laura moved outside to the front lawn, while the benches were moved aside and tables were set up for the meal. Even though there was a chill in the air, the sun shone brightly, and the sky looked as clear and blue as the small pond behind his parents’ home. It was a perfect day for their wedding, and Eli was content in the knowledge that Laura was now his wife.

  Many who had stepped outside came over to offer Eli and Laura their congratulations, including Laura’s parents. When Wesley and Irene hugged their daughter, Eli noticed the tears in their eyes, and he felt a pang of guilt. He knew he was the cause of Laura leaving her fancy life and becoming one of the Plain People. Because of her love for him, she wouldn’t see her own family so much, and he wondered if she had any regrets about giving up all the modern things her wealthy father could offer and Eli couldn’t.

  When Wesley shook Eli’s hand, Eli smiled and said, “I’ll take good care of your daughter. I hope you know that.”

  Wesley nodded. “I believe you’re an honest man, and I can see how much you love Laura.”

  “Jah, I do.”

  “Please, let her keep Foosie,” Irene put in. “Our daughter needs a touch from home.”

  Eli grinned. “I’ll speak to Mom and Pop about the cat. I’m sure they won’t mind having a pet inside as long as it’s housebroke.”

  “Oh, she is.” Laura reached for Eli’s hand. “Foosie’s never made a mess in the house. Not even when she was a kitten.”

  Eli’s sister stepped up to them, along with Amon and little Ben. Martha Rose hugged Eli and Laura, then excused herself to go help in the kitchen. Laura bent down and scooped Ben into her arms, and he kissed her on the cheek. It was obvious that the child was enamored with her, and she seemed to like him equally well.

  She’ll make a good mudder , Eli mused. Lord willing, maybe we’ll have a whole house full of kinner.

  ***

  The wedding meal was a veritable feast. Wesley had never seen so much food in one place. Long tables had been set up in the living room and adjoining room, and the benches that had been used during the ceremony were placed at the tables. Eli’s parents invited Wesley and Irene to sit at a table with them, while Laura and Eli took their place at a corner table Laura had referred to as the eck. They were served roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, bread filling, creamed celery, coleslaw, applesauce, fruit salad, bread, butter, jelly, and coffee. Then there were the cakes—three large ones in all.

  “After eating so much food, I probably won’t sleep a wink tonight,” Wesley said, nudging his wife with his elbow.

  She grimaced. “Can’t you restrain yourself and practice moderation?”

  Johnny reached for another piece of chicken and snickered. “No man can practice moderation when there’s food involved.”

  “Our two children do look happy, don’t they?” Irene said, leaning close to Eli’s mother, who sat on her left.

  Mary Ellen nodded. “For a while, I wasn’t sure things would work out between the two of them, but now that Laura’s joined the church and has proven herself, I’ve come to believe things will turn out okay.”

  Johnny thumped Wesley on the back. “I’ll bet in another year or so, you two will be makin’ a trip back here to see your first grandchild.”

  ***

  As Laura and Eli sat at their corner table, eating and visiting with their guests, Eli eyed Laura’s plate and noticed that she hadn’t eaten much at all.

  “Eat hearty, fraa.” Eli needled her in the ribs with his elbow. “Today’s our wedding day, and this is no time to diet.”

  She turned to face him. “If I eat too much today, I might have to go without food for the rest of the week.”

  He snickered. “Jah, right.”

  Laura glanced across the room and nodded at her parents, sitting at a table with Eli’s folks. “Mom and Dad seem to be having a good time, despite the fact they hardly know anyone.”

  Eli nodded. “Want to sneak away with me for a bit?”

  “Sneak away? As in leave this place?”

  “Jah. I think it’s time for us to get a little fresh air.”

  They pushed away from the table and slipped out the back door.

  “I’ll race you to the creek,” Eli said, once they were on the porch.

  “You’re on!”

  Laura was panting for air by the time they reached the water, and so was Eli. She collapsed on the grass, ignoring the chill, and Eli dropped down beside her, laughing and tickling Laura until she finally called a truce.

  “So, it’s peace you’re wanting, huh?” Eli teased. “All right, but you’ll have to pay a price for it.”

  Laura squirmed beneath his hands. “Oh, yeah? What kind of payment must I offer the likes of you, Eli Yoder?”

  “This,” he murmured against her ear. “And this.” He nuzzled her neck with his cold nose. “Also this.” His lips trailed a brigade of soft kisses along her chin, up her cheek, and finally came to rest on her lips. As the kiss deepened, Laura snuggled closer to Eli.

  When he finally pulled away, she gazed deeply into his dazzling blue eyes. “I love you, Eli, and I always will.”

  “And I love you, my seelich, blessed gift.”

  ***

  Laura and Eli spent their first night as husband and wife at Martha Rose and Amon’s house so they could help with the cleanup the following morning. Then they would live with Eli’s parents until their own place was finished, hopefully by spring. The thought of living with her in-laws caused Laura some concern. Would Mary Ellen scrutinize her every move? Would Laura be expected to do even more work than she had while living with the Zooks?

  Forcing her anxiety aside, Laura stepped into Martha Rose’s kitchen. Eli had kissed her good-bye some time ago and left with his brothers to take the benches that had been used yesterday back over to the Hiltys’ place, where church would be held next week. Laura knew her folks would be here soon to say their good-byes, and she hoped Eli would be here in time.