As Landon continued to gaze at her, a bit of humor tingeing the interest that she’d spied in his eyes, she awkwardly sputtered. “Is that right?” she asked.
Completely unnecessarily.
Of course, she was already wishing it was possible to take those words right back and exchange them with something far more charming. And if she couldn’t manage charming? Well, coherent would be good!
His lips curved. Looking almost sheepish, he added, “Oh, I wanted to help Roman out with the farm however I could. But ever since we first said hello, I knew I wanted to get to know you.”
“I’m not quite sure how to respond to that.”
His brows rose. “Uh-oh. Did I say too much?”
“Nee,” she blurted. No, the problem wasn’t his saying too much. It was her saying too little!
Come on, Elsie, that little voice of reason coaxed in her head. Make sense. Quick-like. “Um, what I meant to say was that I had no idea you felt that way about me.”
Suddenly, simply sitting across from him felt impossible. “I need to take some towels and sheets off the line. Do you mind if we talk while I do that?”
“Not at all. I can even help you, if you’d like,” he said as they walked toward the back door.
After she slipped on a thick black cardigan over her dress, she pointed to a basket. “Would you like to carry the laundry basket?”
“I’d love to carry it.” He picked it up with one hand and a grin.
As they walked outside, she raised her face to the sun. The temperature wasn’t especially warm, only in the high sixties. But there was a warm breeze threading through the air, and it made her more aware than ever that spring had definitely arrived. “I’m so glad it didn’t rain today. I had to get some of the wash done.”
“Do you do all the laundry?”
She nodded. “Most of it.”
“That seems kind of a lot for one person.”
“I don’t mind the chore, especially since my mother is in the hospital.” She’d also taken over the chore because it was one of the few things she didn’t need perfect vision to do.
“I hope she gets better soon.”
“Me, too.” Reaching up, she unfastened a couple of pins and tossed them in the basket. Then she carefully folded a towel and handed it to Landon. He took the towel and set in the basket.
She wasn’t sure what else to say, so she repeated the process several more times, tossing clothespins, folding towels, and handing them to Landon.
He didn’t seem to need to converse much, either. In fact, he seemed to be fairly content just to be outside with her.
After four towels were neatly set in the basket, he spoke. “Elsie, you remind me a lot of my sister Mary.”
She hoped that was a good thing. “How so?”
“Mary is kind of a surprising person. She’s a tiny thing, doesn’t look like she’d amount to much . . . but she’s pretty tough. Even though I don’t know you all that well yet, I’m starting to get the feeling that you’re the same way.”
She was glad she was busy folding a sheet because otherwise she’d be forced to look at him, and that would be a disaster. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“I hope you will. I meant for it to be. Elsie, you aren’t seeing anyone are you?”
Holding the now neatly folded sheet, she turned to him. “No, I’m not. Are you?”
“Nee.” He looked like he wanted to add more, but then his gaze drifted behind her. “If I come back tomorrow, on Saturday, will you be home?”
“I’ll be here in the afternoon. I’m going to visit my mother in the morning.”
“If I did come by, and you were home . . . would you talk with me some more?”
His asking was clumsy. Stilted. Almost like an insecure teenager.
But maybe because of that, she found it endearing. It certainly made her want to see him again. “If I’m home when you come over, I’ll look forward to talking with you.”
He smiled as he picked up her basket of laundry, then handed it over to Roman who’d just joined them.
“What’s this?” Roman asked.
“Your laundry. Carry it in for your sister,” Landon said. Then, with a slight tip of his hat in Elsie’s direction, he walked off.
A line formed between Roman’s brows as he watched Landon walk away. “What was that about?”
“Nothing at all.” She shrugged. “I guess he had to leave suddenly.”
“I guess so.” Looking at the basket in his hands, he said, “I suppose you want me to carry it inside for you?”
She hid a grin. “Well, since you’re holding it and all? I do.”
On Saturday afternoon, after a short visit to the hospital followed by a quick lunch at a fast food restaurant, Elsie set about putting the house to rights. With the extra company in the house, along with everyone’s crazy schedules, the whole house was in constant disarray.
She’d taken over the majority of the day-to-day upkeep. Since she couldn’t do much cooking or sewing, she was glad of the chores and to be of use.
She just wished they wouldn’t be so constant.
She’d just finished dusting and sweeping the front room when Landon arrived.
Unlike the other times, today he’d come to the front door.
He was also looking remarkably clean, which made her smile.
“What’s so funny?” he asked after she led him inside.
“Oh, nothing. It’s just that I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to see you in clean clothes.” When he looked embarrassed, she held up a hand. “I meant that in the best of ways, Landon. I can’t help but admire a hard worker.”
His expression warmed. “I’m thankful to find you home . . . and alone. I’m starting to get the feeling that your family enjoys looking out for you. . . . Your brother especially.”
“That is true. Roman and I are pretty close. Actually, I’m close to all of my family. . . .” She fumbled, trying to figure out how to explain enough without having to explain her disability and how her family always babied her because of it.
“I mean that in the best way, Elsie,” he said, echoing her words. “Anyway, I’m mighty glad you were home today. I didn’t know how much longer I could just happen to stop by without a good reason. Roman’s already told me he’s run out of chores for me to do.” He grinned at his joke.
She tried to smile right back, but failed. It was becoming more and more obvious that she had few skills when it came to speaking with the opposite sex.
As he waited for her to reply, she felt his gaze settle on her face. Wishing she could see his expression a little bit better, Elsie began to really wish she and Viola were a whole lot more alike.
Funny, she’d never envied Viola’s good vision. But now she did envy her ability to chat with men. Over the years, Viola had had her share of beaus. Nothing too serious, but she’d been friends with enough boys in their church district to know how to respond to something like this.
As for herself? Well, she was feeling hopelessly out of her element.
Landon Troyer appeared to have no trouble. He seemed to be without the slightest trace of nervousness. Instead, it was as if he told girls he liked them all the time.
But now, she’d forgotten what he’d said. Perhaps it was best to move things along? Before they knew it, her family would be bustling in to get supper on the table. She got to her feet. “So, um, was there something special that you wanted to talk about today?”
“Jah.” He stood up. too. Then smiled again, obviously enjoying her nervousness.
“What was it?”
“Well, I came over to see if I could persuade you to go on a buggy ride with me.”
“You did?”
“Uh-huh.” He rocked back on his heels. He looked at her directly. “What do you think about that?”
What did she think? She’d never been asked on a buggy ride before. She had no idea how to respond. Was she supposed to act excited, or aloof, like she got requests
like this all the time?
“Well . . . ” she said, hoping to find a way to put into words everything she was feeling.
Landon Troyer had come over to ask her out. On a date. Elsie was so stunned, she was surprised her mouth wasn’t hanging open. He was interested in her, thick glasses and all.
She didn’t know what her brother would say about this. Sometimes he became too protective. So did Viola. And her parents. And her uncles and aunts and grandparents. Everyone around her seemed determined to focus on her dark future instead of her present.
And, she realized with a twinge of dismay, she’d even fallen into that trap a time or two.
For the first time since he’d entered the house, Landon seemed hesitant. “Elsie, does that appeal to you? If not, we can certainly do something else. It’s warm enough to go for a walk.” He paused. “Or we could go out for kaffi or something. I mean, it was just an idea.”
“I’d like that, Landon,” she blurted. “I mean, jah, I would like to go on a buggy ride with you. Verra much.”
His ghost of a smile turned into a full-fledged grin. “When?”
There were many reasons to put this off. They had a household of family visiting. Her mother was in the hospital. It would be best to wait. But she was tired of waiting. Waiting for her time, waiting for the right time. “Whenever you want.”
“How about later tonight?”
“Truly? Tonight?” That sounded very soon. She had no idea what to wear. Or what she was going to say. Plus, it was already almost time for supper.
“I’m afraid if we push it into the future, I’m going to have to track you down again, which is no easy task.”
She couldn’t help it; she laughed. “You wouldn’t have to do that.”
“Hope not,” he murmured. A little more loudly, he added, “So, may I pick you up tonight for that buggy ride?”
That sounded almost like a challenge, and it was exactly what she needed to remind herself that it was past time to take some chances. If she wanted to live her own life, she had to start somewhere. “Jah.”
He stepped toward the door. “I’ll be here at eight o’clock, if that’s all right?”
“Eight o’clock is perfect. Danke,” she said politely, and with far more finesse than she’d imagined just as Roman came out of the kitchen, Regina, Amanda, and their dog, Goldie, on his heels.
As her brother glanced from her to Landon and back again, his steps faltered. “Landon, I thought I heard your voice. When did you get here?”
“Only a few minutes ago. I merely stopped by to talk to Elsie.”
Roman’s eyes narrowed. “Elsie?”
“Yes, me, bruder,” she said dryly.
“What’s happening at eight?”
“Landon is going to take me on a buggy ride,” Elsie answered before Landon was forced to explain himself.
Roman’s expression was almost comical. “Landon, you’re wantin’ to take Elsie out?”
Landon looked at Roman strangely. “That’s what she just said.”
Roman looked even more perturbed, almost as if he had the right to have some say in whether Landon should be asking . . . or if Elsie should be going.
That was all the impetus she needed to get rid of the silly giddiness that had been plaguing her. “Landon, I’ll see you later,” she said firmly. Then she turned to her brother and gave him a look that said he better not say a word.
“I’ll be here.” Just as he turned the handle, he looked her way again. “I’m glad you said yes, Elsie.”
After they heard the back door open and close, Elsie sighed. For some reason, handsome, attractive Landon Troyer really wanted to get to know her. He’d gone to a lot of trouble to ask her out, too.
Her, when it was obvious that he could probably have his choice of many women in the area.
At last, she didn’t feel so different, so awkward, so ugly with her thick glasses and scary future.
Maybe now really was her time.
Then she realized that the other occupants in the room didn’t seem to share her excitement.
chapter five
“What is wrong?” Elsie asked nervously. Though Regina was playing with Goldie, rolling a tennis ball across the newly swept floor while the dog chased it, Roman and Amanda were staring at her in various stages of disbelief and concern. Almost as if she were a strange Englischer who had wandered uninvited onto their property.
After a moment’s pause, Roman started toward the door. “I think I’d better go talk to Landon.”
Stepping to her left, she grabbed his arm. “Don’t you dare.”
He stopped, but jerked his arm out of her grip. “Elsie, what is wrong with you? What could you possibly be thinking?”
“That I am going on a date.” At long last.
“Don’t be cute. Did you tell Landon about your failing eyesight?”
“I wear glasses, Roman,” she said sarcastically. “It’s pretty obvious that I can’t see too well.”
He grunted. “You know what I mean. Did you tell him that you’re going blind, Elsie? Did you tell him that?”
Though her eventual blindness was no secret in this family, hearing him discuss her disease like she was contagious was mortifying.
She didn’t want to have this conversation, and especially not in front of Amanda and Regina. “Nee.” She kept her chin up, but inside, she felt her earlier excitement quickly deflating.
“You should have. He needs to know before anything can happen between the two of you.”
“Landon asked me on a buggy ride, Roman, not to spend the rest of my life with him.”
“But your eyes—”
“He didn’t ask me to sew his clothes, either,” she countered sharply. “You might think differently, but I don’t happen to think that I need perfect vision to spend time with him. It’s just a buggy ride. That’s all.”
“But I saw the way he was looking at you.”
“And what did you see?” she countered. But despite her sharp retort, her stomach clenched. Had Landon looked at her in a special way, like he was truly interested in her? Or merely as a friend?
But instead of giving her some insight, Roman continued to be critical. “See, this is exactly what I’m talking about. If you could see his expression clearly, you would know how he looked. Which is exactly the problem!”
What had gotten into her brother? Normally the one member of the family who liked to avoid drama, here he was, instigating it. She turned her back on him, walking into the kitchen. Someone needed to get started on dinner. And as usual, it was up to her. Despite the fact they all seemed to think she was incompetent, she was the one running this house right now. “Roman, I’m not going to talk about this with you.” She sighed as she headed toward the sink to wash her hands. “Even if Landon does need to know about my poor vision, it’s not your place to tell him.”
“I agree.” Amanda finally spoke up. “Roman, you need to step back and stay out of your sister’s business.”
He shook his head. “Amanda, you don’t understand.”
“Oh, I believe I understand enough, Roman.”
As the tension rose, Viola joined the fray as she bustled into the kitchen, followed by their grandparents along with Beth and her children, Cale and Lindy. “What’s going on? What business is Roman poking into now?” she asked. “We were just outside. First we saw Landon Troyer leave, and then we heard your voices all the way from the back stoop.”
Elsie was so used to being on the fringes of family dramas that she had a whole new appreciation of just how awful it felt to be the center of so much unwanted attention. As the family filtered in, all eyes on her, looking anxious to get involved in the discussion, she knew she would have given just about anything to disappear. Immediately.
Luckily, Regina scampered over to Lindy’s side, then the three youngsters darted off to the living room, Goldie at their heels. Beth followed, probably recognizing that the kids needed to be out of the kitchen for a while.
> But everyone else stood quietly, looking from Elsie to Amanda to Roman.
But Amanda merely folded her arms across her chest. “This is Elsie’s business, not mine.”
“It was nothing,” Elsie said quickly. “I mean, it was nothing important.” She turned to her grandmother. “Mommi, we should probably get supper ready, don’t you think? It’s past time to get started.”
Her grandmother nodded, but her steady gaze remained on Elsie. “We’ll get to it, dear. In a minute.”
As the seconds passed like hours, Elsie made a shooing motion with her hands. “Um, Dawdi, maybe you could take everyone else out of here. I think this room is getting awfully crowded.”
“I will. Soon.”
“Come now,” Viola prodded. “Roman looks like he’s about to burst at the seams, and I don’t remember the last time I saw you look so worried. Did you call the eye doctor? Did he give you any idea about why your vision has suddenly gotten worse?”
Roman folded his arms over his chest. “Viola, what are you talking about?”
“She fell asleep yesterday afternoon,” Viola explained. “She said her eyes were tired.”
“They were?” he asked, as if she’d just announced that she’d started bleeding uncontrollably. “You didn’t mention that, Elsie.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Roman. Stop. I am not a child and you are certainly not my father.”
“Maybe we should get Daed involved.”
“We do not need Daed.”
As if on cue, their father peeked in. “You do not need me for what?”
“Nothing,” Elsie said.
Ignoring her, their father looked at Roman. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything is fine,” Elsie said through clenched teeth. If one didn’t mind living in the midst of far too many nosy people.
“Elsie is going out with Landon tonight,” Roman announced, frustration staining every word.
Cupping a hand around his ear, her father said, “Say again?”
“Landon is taking Elsie out,” Roman repeated.
“Landon is the new neighbor,” Mommi supplied.
“He’s taking her for a buggy ride,” Roman added with a scowl. “Just the two of them.”
The Days of Redemption Page 48
