“Your mom is always criticizing me,” she continued. “I can never do anything right where she’s concerned.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“Are you calling me a liar?”
“No, but I think I know Mom pretty well.”
“You don’t know her as well as you think. She scrutinizes my work, and she—”
“Enough! I don’t want to hear another word against my mamm!”
***
As the days moved on, Laura became more frustrated. Nothing seemed to be going right. Their house still wasn’t done; Eli wasn’t nearly so cheerful and fun-loving anymore; Foosie was an irritant to Eli’s mother; Laura dreaded the extra chores she was expected to do; and worst of all, she couldn’t stand that smelly outhouse! She was on her way there now and none too happy about it.
On previous trips to the privy, she’d encountered several disgusting spiders, a yellow jackets’ nest, and a couple of field mice. She was a city girl and hated bugs. She shouldn’t have to be subjected to this kind of torture.
Laura opened the wooden door and held it with one hand as she lifted her kerosene lantern and peered cautiously inside. Nothing lurking on the floor. She held the lamp higher and was about to step inside when the shaft of light fell on something dark and furry. It was sitting over the hole.
Laura let out a piercing scream and slammed the door. She sprinted toward the house and ran straight into Eli, coming from the barn.
“Laura, what’s wrong? I heard you hollering and thought one of Pop’s pigs had gotten loose again.”
Laura clung to Eli’s jacket. “It’s the outhouse ... there’s some kind of monstrous animal in there!”
Eli grinned at her. “ Kumme—come now. It was probably just a little old maus.”
“It was not a mouse. It was dark and furry ... and huge!”
Eli slipped his hand in the crook of her arm. “Let’s go have a look-see.”
“I’m not going in there.”
He chuckled. “You don’t have to. I’ll do the checking.”
Laura held her breath as Eli entered the outhouse. “Be careful.”
She heard a thud, followed by a loud whoop. Suddenly, the door flew open and Eli bolted out of the privy, chased by the hairy creature Laura had seen a few moments ago. It was a comical sight, but she was almost too frightened to see the full humor in it.
“What was that?” she asked Eli, as the two of them stood watching the critter dash into the field.
“I think it was a hedgehog,” Eli said breathlessly. “The crazy thing tried to attack me, but I kicked him with the toe of my boot, right before I walked out of the outhouse.”
Laura giggled as her fear dissipated. “Don’t you mean, ‘ ran out of the outhouse’?”
Eli’s face turned pink, and he chuckled. “Guess I was movin’ pretty fast.”
The two of them stood for a few seconds, gazing into each other’s eyes. Then they both started laughing. They laughed so hard, tears streamed down their faces, and Laura had to set the lantern on the ground for fear it would fall out of her hand. It felt good to laugh. It was something neither of them did much anymore.
When they finally got control of their emotions, Eli reached for her hand. “I’ll see about indoor plumbing as soon as spring comes; I promise.”
CHAPTER 22
Wesley sat on the couch, staring at the Christmas tree. The little white lights blinked off and on, and the red bows hung from the evergreen branches in perfect order—but this Christmas would be anything but perfect.
He glanced at the unlit fireplace. A garland of fake holly had been strung across the mantel, but there was no Foosie lying on the rug by the hearth.
The Christmas cards they had received were stacked neatly in a red basket on the coffee table, but the only card that mattered to him was the one they’d gotten from Laura and Eli. It had included an invitation to come there for Christmas, and Laura had even suggested they stay there with them. Wesley had wanted to go, and he’d even been willing to adjust his work schedule so they could, but Irene wouldn’t hear of it. She had insisted that she couldn’t leave town during the holidays because she had too many commitments.
“Yeah, right,” he mumbled. “She just doesn’t want to give up all the modern conveniences she’s convinced she can’t do without.”
“Who are you talking to, Wesley?”
He glanced at the doorway and was surprised to see Irene standing there holding a large poinsettia plant in her hands.
“I didn’t hear you come in. Did you just get home?”
She nodded and placed the plant on the end table near the couch. “I’ve been out shopping.”
“That figures.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
Irene slipped off her coat and laid it neatly on one end of the couch. Then she took a seat in her recliner and picked up the remote. “How come you’re not watching television? Isn’t it about time for your favorite show?”
“I get tired of watching TV.”
“Since when?”
“Since I came to the conclusion that there are better things I can do with my time.”
“You mean like sitting here staring at the tree?”
“Christmas is just a few days away. It seemed like the thing to do.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Are you being sarcastic?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Wesley, are you still pouting because we can’t go to Pennsylvania for Christmas?”
“What do you mean, ‘We can’t go to Pennsylvania’?” He stood and began to pace. “We could have gone if you weren’t so busy with things.”
“Those things are important, and I—”
He stopped pacing and whirled around to face her. “Don’t you miss our daughter? Wouldn’t you rather spend Christmas with her than go to some silly ball?”
“Of course I’d like to be with Laura, but I’ve been planning this gala affair for several months.” She released a sigh.
“How would it look if the person in charge of the Christmas ball wasn’t there to see that everything went according to plan?”
He grunted and started across the room.
“Where are you going?”
“Upstairs to bed. I’ll need to get my beauty rest if I’m going to escort Princess Irene to the ball on Christmas Eve.”
***
Laura stood in front of the living-room window, staring out at the blanket of pristine snow covering the ground and every tree in the Yoders’ yard. It looked like a picture postcard, and despite the fact that Laura missed her parents, she felt happier today than she had in weeks.
She moved away from the window and took a seat in the wooden rocker by the fireplace. Even though there was no Christmas tree inside the house or colored lights decorating the outside of the house, a few candles were spaced around the room, along with several Christmas cards from family and friends. Guess I did end up with an Early-American look after all. It’s just a little plainer than I had expected it to be.
Laura spotted the Christmas card they had received from her parents, along with a substantial check, and her heart clenched. I do miss Mom and Dad, and I wish Eli and I could have gone there for Christmas or that they would have come here. But Mom was involved with a Christmas ball she’d planned at the country club, and even though Dad sounded like he wanted to come, he never seems to get his way where Mom’s concerned. Maybe he should take lessons from Eli and his father. They don’t have much trouble making a decision, even if it goes against what their wives might want.
***
Eli had been looking forward to Christmas. He’d made Laura a special gift, and this afternoon, his sister and her family would be joining them for Mom’s traditional holiday feast.
“Life couldn’t be any better,” he said to the horse he was grooming. “Maybe later we’ll hitch you up to the sleigh, and I’ll take my beautiful wife for a ride.”
The horse wh
innied as if in response, and Eli chuckled. “You kind of like that idea, don’t you, old boy?”
Eli entered the house a short time later, holding Laura’s gift under his jacket. “Where’s my fraa?” he asked Mom, who was scurrying around the kitchen.
She nodded toward the living room. “Your wife’s in there. I guess she thinks I don’t need any help getting dinner on.”
Eli merely shrugged and left the kitchen. No point getting Mom more riled than she already seemed to be. He found Laura sitting in the rocking chair, gazing at the fireplace. “En hallicher Grischtdaag!”
She looked up and smiled. “A merry Christmas to you, too.”
Eli bent down and kissed the top of her head. “I have something for you.”
“You do? What is it?”
Eli held his jacket shut. “Guess.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I have no idea. Tell me ... please.”
He chuckled and withdrew an ornate birdhouse, painted blue with white trim.
“Oh, Eli, it’s just like the one you showed me at the farmers’ market the day we first met.”
He smiled. “And now you will have a place for it, come spring.”
She accepted the gift, and tears welled in her eyes. “Thank you so much. It’s beautiful.”
“Does my pretty fraa have anything for her hardworking husband?” Eli asked in a teasing tone.
“I do, but I’m afraid it’s not finished.”
“You made me something?”
She nodded. “I’ve been sewing you a new shirt, but your mom’s kept me so busy, I haven’t had time to get it hemmed and wrapped.”
Eli took the birdhouse from Laura and placed it on the small table by her chair. He pulled her toward him in a tender embrace. “It’s okay. You’ll get the shirt finished soon, and I’ll appreciate it every bit as much then as I would if you’d given it to me now.”
Laura rested her head against his shoulder. “I love you, Eli. Thanks for being so understanding.”
***
Silent prayer had been said, and everyone sat around the table with expectant, hungry looks on their faces. Mary Ellen had outdone herself. Huge platters were laden with succulent roast beef and mouthwatering ham. Bowls were filled with buttery mashed potatoes, candied yams, canned green beans, and coleslaw. Sweet cucumber pickles, black olives, dilled green beans, and red-beet eggs were also included in the feast, as well as buttermilk biscuits and cornmeal muffins.
Everyone ate heartily. Everyone except for Laura and little Ben. Their plates were still half full when Mary Ellen brought out three pies—two pumpkin and one mincemeat—along with a tray of chocolate doughnuts.
Ben squealed with delight. “Fettkuche!”
“No doughnuts until you eat everything on your plate,” Martha Rose scolded.
Ben’s lower lip began to quiver, and his eyes filled with tears.
“Being a crybaby won’t help you get your way,” Amon admonished.
“He’s only a child.” Laura pulled one of the pumpkin pies close and helped herself to a piece. “Surely he can have one little doughnut.”
All eyes seemed to be focused on Laura, and Ben, who had moments ago been fighting tears, let loose with a howl that sent Laura’s cat flying into the air.
“Now look what you’ve done.” Amon shook his finger at Ben. “You’ve scared that poor bussli half to death.”
Foosie ran around the table, meowing and swishing her tail. Laura bent down and scooped her up, but the pinched expression on Mary Ellen’s face was enough to let her know that in this house, cats didn’t belong at the table. Laura mumbled an apology and deposited Foosie back on the floor.
“You’re not settin’ a very good example for the boy, Laura.” This reprimand came from Eli’s father. “If you’re not gonna eat all your food, then I don’t think you should take any pie.” Johnny looked pointedly at Eli. “What do you think, son? Should your fraa be allowed to pick like a bird, then eat pie in front of Ben, who’s just been told he can’t have any fettkuche ’til he cleans his plate?”
Laura squirmed uneasily as she waited to see how Eli would respond. She felt his hand under the table, and her fingers squeezed his in response.
“Don’t you think maybe you should eat everything else first, then have some pie?” Eli’s voice was tight, and the muscle in his jaw quivered. Was he upset with her or only trying to please his father?
“I’m watching my weight, and the only way I can keep within my calorie count is to leave some food on my plate.”
“You could pass up the pie,” Mary Ellen suggested.
Laura grimaced. Why was everything she did always under scrutiny? Why did she have to make excuses for her behavior all the time? She pushed away from the table. “I’m not really hungry enough for pie, anyway.” She gave Eli a quick glance, then rushed out of the room.
CHAPTER 23
Spring came early, and the building of Eli and Laura’s home resumed as soon as the snow had melted. It couldn’t be finished soon enough as far as Mary Ellen was concerned. Ever since Eli had married Laura, she had tried to be a good mother-in-law, but it wasn’t easy when Laura seemed so distant and often touchy. Here of late, she’d been acting moodier than ever, and Mary Ellen wondered if she might be the cause of Laura’s discontent.
“Why don’t the two of us do some baking today?” she suggested to Laura one morning after breakfast. “We can make a couple of brown sugar sponge rolls. How’s that sound?”
Laura groaned. “Do we have to? I’m really tired this morning, and I thought it would be nice to sit out on the back porch and watch the men work on my house.”
Mary Ellen’s forehead wrinkled. “Are you feeling poorly?”
“I’m fine. Just tired.”
“Maybe a good spring tonic is what you need.” She opened the cupboard near Laura and plucked out a box of cream of tartar, some sulfur, and a container of Epsom salts. “All you have to do is mix a little of each of these in a jar of water. Then take two or three swallows each morning for a few days, and you’ll feel like your old self in no time at all.”
Laura’s face paled, and she coughed like she was about to gag. “I’m fine, really. Just didn’t sleep well last night. A few cups of coffee, and I’ll be good to go.”
Mary Ellen shrugged and stepped aside. “Suit yourself, but remember the spring tonic in case you’re still not up to par come morning.”
“Danki. I’ll keep it in mind.”
***
As they rode home from church one Sunday afternoon, Eli worried. Laura had seemed so pensive lately. Had someone said or done something to upset her? He offered her a smile. “Sure was a good day, wasn’t it?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Is there something troubling you? You seem kind of down in the dumps today.”
She shrugged. “I’m just getting tired of going to other people’s houses and seeing that they have indoor plumbing, while we still have none.”
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