by Amy Clipston
He passed a workbench where his older brother, Arlan, sanded a cabinet as a diesel generator hummed. Then Chris came to a stop at the doorway of his father’s office. Leaning on the doorframe, he waited for him to look up. He was sitting at his desk, peering at a large ledger, with his reading glasses perched on his long, thin nose. But when Dat’s attention remained on the numbers in the ledger, Chris knocked on the door, pushing it open wider.
“Christian.” Dat removed his glasses and tossed them onto his desk as Chris stepped inside. “I didn’t realize you were standing there. Is it suppertime already?”
“No.” Chris sank onto a nearby stool. “But all my work is done. I was wondering if I could leave early today.”
“Leave early?” Dat’s dark eyebrows lifted. “You never leave early. In fact, I normally can’t get you to come in for supper on time. Where are you going?”
“I have plans with Wayne.” Chris wiped the wood dust off his dark trousers. “I finished sanding those cabinets, and I can stain them first thing tomorrow. I’m ahead of deadline, so may I please leave?”
Dat touched his graying brown beard as he studied Chris. “What sort of plans do you have with Wayne?”
“We’re going to Emma Bontrager’s haus again to make more plans for the community garden project. You remember I told you about that, right? Wayne and a few of his freinden are building a community garden in memory of Emma’s husband. I’m going to help build the stand to sell the baked goods, fruit, and vegetables with the spare wood you said I could have.”
“Right.” Dat nodded as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. “You’re awfully excited about this community garden project.”
“Ya.” Chris shrugged. “I enjoy spending time with Wayne.”
“Is that the only reason you’re so eager to help with this garden?”
“No. I just think it’s a great project to benefit the Bird-in-Hand Shelter, and I want to be a part of it. It’s a wunderbaar charity. That’s what Jesus told us to do, right? We’re supposed to help each other.”
Chris hoped his expression didn’t betray his words. While he did believe in the project and wanted to spend time with his favorite cousin, those weren’t the only reasons he was excited to go to Emma’s house. He wasn’t exactly lying, but he wasn’t ready to tell his dat about the pretty blond he’d met at the meeting on Sunday. He’d spent the past two days thinking about Katie Ann Blank and wondering why she looked so sad when she left Emma’s house. For some unknown reason, he longed to find out what had upset her. He just hoped she also planned to be at Emma’s house tonight.
“All right.” Dat nodded toward the doorway. “Go on and have fun. Tell Wayne I said hello. Just be sure to get those cabinets stained tomorrow morning. We need to install them on Friday.”
“Danki, Dat.” Chris waved at his brother before heading out of the shop.
He breathed in the crisp spring air and strode past the two additional buildings that were part of his father’s business. A large building closer to the road served as a showroom, complete with a tall sign reading Lantz & Sons Cabinets. A smaller building beside it was the shop they used for staining. Chris started helping his father work on cabinets when he was old enough to hold a sanding block. Someday his father would retire and he and Arlan would take over the business. But surely Dat had many more years of work to complete.
Chris quickened his steps as he approached the back porch of their house. He had thirty minutes to shower and change before he had to head out to Emma’s. He’d love a chance to talk to Katie Ann alone. He’d been wondering if she had a boyfriend, although he didn’t want to ask Wayne. If she didn’t, then maybe, just maybe, Chris had a chance to win her friendship—and then her heart if she was the girl he thought she was.
Katie Ann pressed down on the lid of the large container with the taco casserole she’d made for everyone at Emma’s house today. Then she glanced up at the clock.
“You’re not late yet,” Mamm said. “It’s only three fifteen.”
“Gut.” Katie Ann had been rushing around all day, eager to complete her chores before it was time to go.
Will Christian Lantz be there again today?
Her cheeks burned at the silent question, and she quickly dismissed it. Why was she wasting a thought on a man she didn’t even know? Besides, he most likely had a girlfriend and would never be interested in someone as ordinary as her.
Returning her attention to Mamm, she pointed to another casserole dish on the counter. “I made an extra casserole for you and Dat. You just have to warm it up.”
“Danki. That was sweet of you. You know your dat loves your taco casserole.”
“Do you need me to do anything else before I leave?”
“No, but danki for offering.”
Katie Ann retrieved her notepad and tote bag from her bedroom and then hurried down to the kitchen. Ephraim stood talking to Mamm. Katie Ann slowed her steps as a frown overtook her mouth. Her anger from Sunday persisted despite Emma’s advice to forgive her brother.
Ephraim turned toward her and pointed toward the back door. “I loaded all our gardening tools into the buggy. Are you ready?”
Katie Ann shrugged as she fingered the strap on her tote bag.
Ephraim’s eyes narrowed. “Are you still angry with me?”
Katie Ann shrugged. “I’m just a little hurt.”
He blew out a loud sigh as he started for the back door. “I’ll be in the buggy. If you’re not outside in five minutes, I’m going without you.” Then he disappeared through the mudroom.
Mamm lifted her eyebrows as she turned toward Katie Ann. “Why are you being so rude to your bruder?”
“We had an argument on Sunday.” Katie Ann shifted her weight on her feet as embarrassment ignited her cheeks.
“Why did you argue?” Mamm’s honey-brown eyes seemed to peer right into Katie Ann’s soul.
“He forgot to pick me up. That’s why I had to take Dat’s horse and buggy to Emma’s.”
Mamm was silent for a moment. The ticking of the clock above the sink seemed somehow louder as Katie Ann awaited her mother’s assessment of the situation.
“You’re still upset about a mistake your bruder made two days ago?” Mamm asked.
Katie Ann nodded as guilt tightened the knots in her back. “He forgot about me.”
“It’s our way to forgive, Katie Ann. You know that.”
Katie Ann nodded.
“Besides that, you don’t realize how blessed you are to have your older bruder in your life. Mine moved to Ohio twenty-five years ago, and I miss him.” Mamm’s expression warmed. “You need to forgive Ephraim. We all make mistakes because we’re human and we fall short of the glory of God.” She gestured toward the mudroom. “Go before he leaves. And make sure you tell him you forgive him before this gets blown all out of proportion.”
“Ya, Mamm.” Katie Ann gave her a quick hug before grabbing the casserole dish from the counter. “See you later.”
In the mudroom, Katie Ann pulled on her sweater and then rushed outside to her brother’s waiting buggy, where she found him scowling. Her mother’s warning rang in her ears as she climbed into the back.
“I didn’t think you were going to come out,” he grumbled as he guided the horse down the driveway toward the road.
“I’m here.” She stared out the windshield. As much as she longed to clear the air between them, her pride strangled her words.
The clip-clop of the horse hooves and the whirl of the wheels filled the buggy as they made their way to Mandy’s house. Katie Ann hoped someday she and Ephraim would find their close sibling relationship again. Until then, she’d feel like the fifth wheel on his buggy.
Chris glanced around the large field behind Emma’s house, where a young man he didn’t recognize plowed the designated garden area with a team of horses. A group of young folks, including Mandy, Ephraim, Wayne, and Clara, stood together and talked. Chris searched the faces for Katie An
n’s, and his excitement dissolved when he didn’t find her.
You’re here to help your community, not find a girlfriend.
He gritted his teeth as guilt filled his chest. But when he spotted movement in his peripheral vision, he turned to his right and found Katie Ann sitting at a card table on Emma’s back porch. She had her head bent as she concentrated on something on the table.
She’s here!
He smiled as he made his way toward her. She was pouring seeds into a canvas bag. She stopped working and pushed back an errant tendril of golden hair that had fallen out from beneath her prayer covering. She turned, and when her gaze entangled with his, her pretty pink lips turned up. Her beautiful face seemed to glow.
“Hi, Chris,” she said as he climbed the porch steps. “Wie geht’s?”
“I’m great. How are you?”
“Gut.” She gestured toward the garden. “Earl Smucker was able to bring his father’s plow over. Clara brought the seeds, so we’re going to start planting as soon as he’s done. I’m just putting them in canvas bags to get them ready. It’s supposed to rain tonight, so it’s the perfect time.”
“Fantastic.” He rubbed his hands together. “Can I help you?”
“Ya.” She gestured to the chair beside her, and then she handed him a canvas bag and a bag full of seed packets. “You can empty these packets into that bag.”
“Okay.”
They worked in silence for several minutes, and he couldn’t keep his eyes from finding their way over to her. He took in her attractive face—her high cheekbones, her gorgeous honey-brown eyes, and her long, slender neck. Did she have any idea how pretty she was?
“How was your day?”
Her question caught him off guard for a moment, but he quickly recovered. “Gut. I got all my work done early so I could come help. How about yours?”
“The same.” She kept her eyes focused on the packets of seeds. “I helped mei mamm with the cleaning, and then I made a casserole to bring for supper.” She looked up at him. “Do you like taco casserole?”
“I’m sure I do.”
“You’re sure you do?” Her brow furrowed. “Does that mean you’ve never had it?”
He shook his head. “I haven’t, but I like tacos.”
“Oh, gut. I hope you can stay for supper and try it.” She returned to her work.
“I’d love to.”
“Great. Did you build cabinets today?”
“No, but I finished sanding some. I have to stain them tomorrow.”
“What do they look like?” She looked up, and her eyes sparkled.
He shrugged. “Well, they’re oak cabinets. They’re going in the kitchen of one of our Englisher clients.”
“They sound nice.” She ripped open another packet of seeds and dumped them into her bag. “How long have you been building cabinets?”
“All my life. Mei dat took over the business from mei daadi, and then he taught mei bruder and me how to build them. I think I started sanding when I was around four. What does your dat do?”
“He’s a dairy farmer.”
“That’s hard work.”
“Ya, it is. There’s always something to do on a farm.”
They worked in silence for a few more minutes, and his thoughts wandered back to Sunday and the sad expression on her face when she left Emma’s house. If he asked her what was wrong, would she feel comfortable enough to tell him?
“Has everything been okay?” he asked.
“What?” She pushed one tie from her prayer covering behind her shoulder as her brow pinched once again.
“You looked upset on Sunday when you walked out to your horse and buggy. I hope everything is okay.”
She studied him for a moment as her eyes widened and then went back to normal size. He’d crossed a line, and he longed to take back the comment. Now she’d never trust him.
“I’m fine. Danki for asking.” To his surprise, her expression was kind. Perhaps he hadn’t missed his chance to build a friendship with her.
“Gut. I know we just met, but if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m available.”
She smiled. “I appreciate that.”
“You two are getting a lot done.”
Chris looked up at Mandy, who was standing on the steps with Ephraim. He glanced at Katie Ann as her smile faded and her pretty face clouded. Could Mandy and Ephraim be the source of her sadness? But Ephraim was her brother. Why would he upset her?
Mandy pointed to Katie Ann’s canvas bag. “Which seeds are we going to plant first?”
“I’m starting with lettuce seeds,” Katie Ann explained. “I have a book on gardening, and it recommended planting lettuce this time of year.”
“Oh.” Mandy nodded. “I hadn’t thought to research what to plant first.” She looked up at Ephraim. “We should have picked up a book on gardening when we were out shopping the other day.”
“You’re right.” Ephraim nodded. “I hadn’t thought about it.”
Katie Ann pointed toward the field, remembering the plan Mandy laid out at their first meeting. “We want the lettuce planted in that section over there.”
“That’s right,” Mandy said.
Ephraim nodded at Chris. “It’s gut to see you. I’m glad you could come back today.”
“I am too.” Chris held up his canvas bag. “I’m helping Katie Ann get the seeds ready.”
Mandy turned to Ephraim. “Why don’t we ask everyone to come over here to help with the seeds? We don’t want to run out of daylight.”
“Ya. Let’s go tell them.” Ephraim took her hand in his as they walked down the steps and toward the group of young folks standing by the barn, watching the plow.
Chris was certain he heard Katie Ann sigh, and he opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong. Changing his mind, he closed his mouth. He’d already told her he was happy to listen if she wanted to talk. If she felt the urge to share her feelings with him, he had to allow her to do it when she was ready.
As he continued to empty seed packets into his bag, Chris was certain of one thing: something was bothering Katie Ann, and he was determined to find out what it was so he could help her.
CHAPTER 3
What kind of kichlin do you want to bake?” Katie Ann asked Mandy as they stood at the counter in her kitchen Friday morning.
“Hmm.” Mandy tapped her chin as she turned a page in Mamm’s favorite cookbook. “How about cinnamon roll kichlin?”
“Ooh! My favorite!” Katie Ann clapped her hands and smiled as happiness bubbled up inside her.
For the first time in a while, she felt as if she had her best friend back. When she invited Mandy over to bake, she at first thought she would refuse. Instead, Mandy sounded just as eager to spend time with Katie Ann as Katie Ann was to spend time with her. Maybe they could get their relationship back to where it used to be, when they would spend hours together baking and talking. Mandy had always been like the sister Katie Ann never had.
Katie Ann crossed the floor to the pantry. “I’ll get the ingredients. You read the list to me.”
“Let’s see,” Mandy said. She called out each ingredient—eggs, butter, vanilla, sugar—and Katie Ann brought them to the counter.
As Katie Ann began assembling the ingredients in a bowl, Mandy stared out the window and fingered the ties on her prayer covering.
“Are you going to help?” Katie Ann asked as she cracked an egg.
“What?” Mandy spun toward her, and her cheeks flushed bright red. “I’m sorry. I was looking to see if Ephraim was outside.”
Katie Ann swallowed a retort. “He’s probably in the barn with mei dat.”
“Oh.” Mandy gave a little smile. “Do you think I could go visit him?”
Katie Ann stilled. “You want to go see him now? Aren’t you going to help me?”
Mandy shrugged as her smile widened. “Only one of us can mix the ingredients, right?” She pointed toward the back door. “I’ll only be a minute.”
Befo
re Katie Ann could respond, Mandy slipped into the mudroom, and the sound of the storm door clicking shut came behind her.
Anger, sharp and swift, sliced through her. Today was supposed to be their day, but Mandy had chosen Ephraim over her once again. Furious tears stung her eyes as she mixed the batter with an aggressive strength. Once again she felt invisible and insignificant, instead of like Mandy’s best friend. While she was working hard to rebuild their friendship, Mandy didn’t seem to make any effort.
Pushing away her self-pity, Katie Ann began preparing the dough. She peered out the window above the sink and spotted Mandy and Ephraim talking outside the barn. Ephraim looked mesmerized as Mandy spoke to him. When she finished talking, they both laughed, and their smiles were nearly as brilliant as the morning sunlight.
Envy wrapped around Katie Ann like an itchy blanket as she watched Ephraim take Katie Ann’s hand in his and then steer her toward the house. Would Katie Ann ever find a man who would care for her the way her brother cared for Mandy?
She’d dated two young men from her youth group in the past, and neither of them had looked at her the way Ephraim looked at Mandy. Her relationships had been insignificant and short, lasting barely two months each. What did it feel like to have a man pay attention to your every word and hold your hand as you walked together? She’d never known that feeling. Would she ever be blessed with a relationship like that?
Guilt nipped at Katie Ann as she began to flatten the dough. Giving in to jealousy was a sin. Wouldn’t Mamm be disappointed if she heard Katie Ann’s thoughts?
“I found an assistant,” Mandy sang as she stepped into the kitchen with Ephraim in tow. “Ephraim wants to help me make the filling for the kichlin.”
“She’s going to teach me how to be an expert baker.” Ephraim kept his eyes focused on Mandy as he grinned down at her.
Katie Ann felt her lips twist downward. Once again she was a third wheel, the odd person out when her brother and Mandy were together. “Do you want me to leave?” The question leapt from her lips without any forethought.
