“It’s an important job,” she’d said. “I imagine it isn’t easy.”
He nodded, pressing his thumb against the top of the table. “You’re right about that. But it’s a necessary job, and I’m glad I can take care of it for people so they can have one less thing to concern themselves with when preparing for a funeral.” He waved his hand. “Enough depressing talk. Tell me more about the mission programs back home.”
It was well past sunset when Jerald offered to take her home in his buggy, and she accepted. Now she couldn’t stop smiling as she approached her friend’s front porch, her steps sure under the light of the moon. She had never met a man like Jerald. He wasn’t handsome, like Henry had been, but his charm and kindness made him good-looking in her eyes. He could converse on a variety of topics, and he’d asked her opinion on every one of them, something Henry had rarely done.
She hadn’t felt this full and happy in years, not since she and Henry dated. Her late husband had been kind at one time, or perhaps it was all an act. She wasn’t sure, and right now she didn’t care. She’d had a wonderful time with Jerald, and she hoped he’d enjoyed being with her.
Fortunately, the front door wasn’t locked, and Elva quietly opened it. She closed the door and clicked the lock in place, then tiptoed toward the stairs.
The gas lamp in the living room hissed to life.
“Sneaking into the haus, I see.” Sitting in a chair, Regina crossed her arms over her chest. She was still wearing the blue dress she’d had on earlier, but she’d taken off her kapp. Her hair was twisted in a long gray braid over her shoulder.
Elva cringed at Regina’s stern expression, feeling like a toddler caught escaping her crib. “I hope I didn’t worry you.”
“Were you with Jerald all this time?”
She nodded and looked down at her feet. She’d never been scolded for being out with a boy in her life, and now at sixty-four, she was getting dressed down by her friend. A woman who had become her best friend. Just another unusual event in a very unusual but very pleasant day. “I should have let you know I was staying longer.”
“Ya, you should have. Jerald has a phone shanty.” Regina pressed her lips together. “I started to get concerned when you were gone so long.”
“But you knew I was with Jerald.”
“That’s why I was getting worried.” She sighed, but her expression relaxed slightly. “I thought about sending Nelson out after you, but the poor mann was so exhausted from working in his shop that he fell asleep in his chair right after supper.” She paused. “I also realized that I’m not yer mamm. I can’t exactly chase you down and demand that you come home.”
Elva chuckled at the idea. “Nee, you can’t. But it’s nice to have someone be concerned about me.” Jerald came to mind again.
Regina sat up in the chair and pointed to the couch. “You can’t geh to bed until you tell me all about what happened today. I can’t believe you spent that much time with Jerald. How did he not drive you crazy?”
“He’s a nice mann.” Elva felt a little protective of Jerald. “We went fishing.”
“Fishing? That was his idea, I’m sure. The mann probably wants to be buried with his fishing pole.”
“I’d never been fishing, and I’ve always wanted to geh.” She told Regina how many fish they caught and about their delicious supper.
“And after dessert?” Regina’s brow lifted.
“We talked.”
“For a long time, I see.” Regina had a sly grin. “I can’t believe it.”
“Believe what?”
“That you’ve accomplished the impossible. The eternal bachelor Jerald Byler is sweet on you.”
Elva shook her head. “Nee, he’s not. Not in the way you think.” But she remembered how gentle his touch had been on her hand. The shiver that had gone down her back. The warm, secure feeling she’d had in his company that she’d never experienced with Henry. Did that mean Jerald liked her? Or just that he was being nice? She couldn’t tell, and she was woefully out of practice when it came to determining romantic intentions. Henry had been her only boyfriend, and she’d been married to him for ages. All she knew was that she’d been lonely for so long, and this afternoon, she hadn’t felt lonely at all.
Regina’s smile faded. “You’ve got that look again.”
Elva’s gaze shot up. “What look?”
“The one that worries me. You know how much I like to tease. If talking about you and Jerald that way bothers you, I won’t do it.”
She looked at her friend, and once again almost started to cry, this time from her friend’s kindness. “There’s nee reason to tease,” she said, her voice a little thick. “Jerald and I had a pleasant day together, that’s all. It wasn’t a date. There is nix romantic between us.”
Regina nodded. “Then I won’t tease you about him again.” She yawned. “Are you ready for another quilting session tomorrow afternoon? This time the bee is at Ada’s haus.”
“Um, about that.” When Regina gave her a questioning look, she said, “I’ve made plans to geh to Jerald’s. He suggested I make pies to sell at the auction along with the other food and baked goods that will be available. He said I can make them in his kitchen, and he would keep them there and then take them to the field house.”
“Why don’t you just make the pies here?”
Elva paused. “I already told him I would make them there.”
“I see.” Regina looked at her. “I have to say I’m a little confused.”
You’re not the only one.
“But if you want to bake pies at Jerald’s, you have mei blessing.” She yawned again and stood up. “It’s past mei bedtime. I’m not a night owl like you.” She winked and made a hooting sound. “See you in the morning.”
“Gute nacht.” After Regina left, Elva sat in the quiet of the living room, the hissing of the gas lamp the only sound breaking the silence. If Regina thought she was confused, she had nothing on Elva. Lord, give me clarity when it comes to Jerald. But God hadn’t answered any of her prayers about Henry or about having a child. Why would he listen to her now? Yet despite that, she had never lost her faith. Everything in her life had happened for a reason, even if she’d been hurt and disappointed. This time, she hoped it would be different.
Chapter 6
Jerald clasped the horse’s reins in his hands as he and Elva drove to the local scratch-and-dent salvage store to pick up ingredients for baking pies. Elva had agreed to bake them at his house this afternoon, the day before the auction. He didn’t know what had gotten into him by suggesting that she make the pies at his house when she could have prepared them at Regina’s. He’d been more surprised when she said yes.
He’d also been happy. Another day with Elva. He hadn’t been able to stop himself from smiling until it was time to pick her up. Then he tempered his expression. He might be unique, but he didn’t want her to think he was ab im kopp.
Now they were riding in the buggy together, the fall leaves starting to change color and the air a cooler temperature, and it all felt right, as if they had been riding in a buggy together for years. Even the silence between them was comfortable. Last night after he took her home, he’d been jittery but in a good way. The feelings swirling inside him were still foreign—and still confusing. But when he was in Elva’s presence, the confusion melted away.
“What do you think about me making a few chocolate pies, instead of just all fruit?” Elva asked.
His mouth watered at the thought. “I think that’s a great idea. I also think you’re making me hungry.”
“Didn’t you eat lunch?”
“I grabbed an apple before I picked you up.”
Her brow furrowed. “That’s not lunch. Nee wonder you’re hungry. It’s just going to get worse when we get to the store.”
He hadn’t thought about that, and he wasn’t about to tell her that he’d been so excited to see her again that he could barely choke down the apple, much less any breakfast. But she was right
. His stomach was rumbling a little.
“I’ll make you a gut meal when we get back home. Uh, I mean to yer haus.”
He glanced at her. A light blush was spreading across her cheeks. He wasn’t going to point out her verbal slip or tell her how it made him feel for her to refer to his house as home. He’d spent some time in prayer last night and listened for God’s still, quiet voice, trying to figure out what was going on between him and Elva. He didn’t get many answers, only the sense that he needed to enjoy their growing friendship.
“I received a letter from mei friend Deborah this morning,” Elva said as he turned on the road where the store was.
“Oh? How are things back in Michigan?”
“They’re fine. She asked me when I was coming back home.”
Jerald gripped the reins. “What are you planning to tell her?”
Elva paused. “I’m returning the day after the auction, so instead of writing her back, I’ll just see her at home.”
The leather reins bit into his hand. “That soon?” he blurted.
“I’ve been at Regina’s for weeks. I don’t want to overstay mei welcome.”
“I understand. And I’m sure you have things you need to take care of.”
She turned her head and looked out at the passing landscape. “Not really,” she said, her voice so low he barely heard her.
Yesterday they had talked a lot about different things, but he noticed that other than admitting Henry had verbally abused her, she mentioned him very little when she talked about her life in Michigan. He was glad to hear her life hadn’t been all bad, and she had really perked up when she talked about her community’s involvement with missions.
Still, he sensed she was holding back more personal things, though he had no idea what. He didn’t blame her. Of course, he was curious, but he didn’t have the right to be nosy. He was finding it hard not to be, though, and his keen and sudden interest in her unsettled him more than he expected. He wanted Elva to be happy, especially knowing she’d been so miserable for so many years.
They reached the store, and Jerald put aside his thoughts as he hitched up the buggy. He and Elva walked inside together, and while Elva shopped for the pie ingredients, he looked at the tools in the back of the store. The owner, Isaac, and his wife, Linda, were longtime friends, so he wasn’t surprised when Isaac walked over and started a conversation. After they chitchatted about the weather, Isaac said, “Well, I gotta be straight with you, Jerald. Linda wants me to find out something.”
“About what?”
“About you.”
Jerald rolled his eyes. “Why doesn’t she ask me herself, then?”
“Why do women do anything they do?” Isaac shrugged. “She saw you walking in here with Elva.”
Jerald frowned. “And?”
“She was wondering if . . .” Isaac rubbed the toe of his work boot against the concrete floor. “I know this isn’t any of our business . . . but are you and Elva . . . together?”
Jerald scoffed, but he should have known questions would start once he was seen with Elva in public. This wasn’t the only time people had talked about him after spotting him with a single woman, but the last time had been years ago, when he was younger. Maybe he should rescind his offer to take Elva to the auction. He didn’t want to put her in an awkward position. But he was old enough not to let other people’s nosiness and suppositions get to him anymore, and if Elva had seemed uncomfortable with his offer, she hadn’t let on.
“Elva and I aren’t together,” he said. “She’s baking pies for the auction, and I drove her here to get ingredients. That’s all it is.”
Relief crossed Isaac’s face. “Danki for not being put out by the question. You know I’m not one to pry into personal business.”
That was true, but Linda, along with a few other people in the district, was. Just like any community, he supposed, Amish or English. He frowned as Isaac walked away. Maybe he should warn Elva about this.
He went looking for her in the baking section of the store, and as he passed one of the aisles, he saw Donna Yoder and Marie Miller together, whispering. They suddenly stopped when they saw him. Oh nee. He’d forgotten about those two, who were always whispering to each other whenever they were together. Surely the gossip had already begun if these two middle-aged airbags were talking about him.
He quickly found Elva, who was placing two bags of flour into a cart half filled with other ingredients. “Ready to geh?” He glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone else was watching them.
“In a minute. I saw some almond extract and thought about making a pistachio pie too. But I can’t find any pistachios.”
“We can ask Linda to fetch a bag when we check out.” Without thinking, he tugged at her arm, just as Donna and Marie turned down the aisle. They gave each other a knowing look. “Hi, Jerald and Elva. How are you two doing?” Marie said. Jerald wanted to wipe off the foolish grin both women had on their faces.
“Peachy,” Jerald said. When they started walking toward him and Elva, he said, “We were just leaving.”
“We were?” Elva said.
“You two have a lovely day, then,” Donna said.
“Ya,” Marie added. “Both of you. Together.”
“Bother,” Jerald muttered under his breath. He glanced at Elva, who looked confused. “We should geh,” he whispered. “Now.”
“Will we still get the pistach—”
“Make an extra blueberry!” His voice rang out in the store, and when he looked over his shoulder at Donna and Marie, their eyes were wide.
So were Elva’s. “Why are you in such a hurry?” she said, as they rushed to the checkout counter at the front of the store.
Jerald didn’t respond and started tossing Elva’s ingredients onto the counter before Linda had even positioned herself behind the manual cash register.
“Hi, Jerald and Elva.” Linda smiled. “Fancy seeing you two here together.”
Jerald fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Just ring up the groceries, Linda.” He was frustrated, but he had only himself to blame. He never should have driven Elva here.
* * *
Elva climbed into the buggy as Jerald unhitched his horse from the post with such quick movements you’d think his pants had caught fire. He’d been behaving strangely ever since she’d seen him talking to Isaac. She had come to know most of the residents of the community, and this was her third trip to this particular store, although the other two times she’d gone with Regina. She’d also thought Linda had given her several strange looks as she checked them out. Then once she’d rung up the total, Jerald practically threw the money at her and ushered Elva out of the store.
She frowned as Jerald got into the buggy. “Is there a problem?” Elva asked as he guided the horse at a quick pace out of the parking lot.
He didn’t say anything until they were a short distance from the store. “Possibly. But I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“How can I not worry? You’re acting seltsam, and now you’re saying there might be a problem?” She twisted the hem of her apron. “Tell me what’s going on, Jerald.” She normally wouldn’t have spoken so firmly, especially to a man, but she needed to know what he was talking about. Maybe Regina was rubbing off on her a little.
He sighed. “This is mei fault. I should have realized that if we were seen together in public, people would draw conclusions.”
“What conclusions . . .” She blanched. “Oh. Oh. I can see how that is a problem.”
“Not for me.” He waved his hand. “I don’t care what people think. The folks here have been talking about me for decades. I’m immune to gossip. Except . . .”
“Except what?”
“Except when someone else is concerned.” He glanced at her. “Someone who doesn’t deserve to be gossiped about.”
Her heart warmed again. “Danki,” she said, looking at her lap, touched by his thoughtfulness once more. “You don’t have to worry about me, Jerald. I won’t be here
much longer anyway. But if you’re bothered by us being out together—”
“Nee, of course not.” He turned down a road she wasn’t familiar with. “I . . . I like spending time with you, Elva.”
She turned and looked at him. He was staring straight ahead, but she saw his Adam’s apple bobbing, and that made her smile. “I like spending time with you, too, Jerald.”
He turned and grinned. “I’m glad we straightened all that out.” He chuckled. “You gotta laugh at people’s imaginations sometimes. Us being together . . . How wrong could they be?”
Although she managed an awkward laugh, his words struck her. Was it really such a foreign concept, the two of them together? Then she shook her head. Of course it was. She was going home in two days, and he was a dyed-in-the-wool bachelor. Nothing was between them except some great conversation and good times spent together. She turned and looked out the buggy, then frowned. “Where are we?”
“We’re on our way home.”
“This road doesn’t look familiar.” She’d always had an excellent sense of direction.
Jerald glanced at their surroundings. “For the love of . . .” He let out another laugh, although this time he was the one who sounded awkward. “Would you believe I made a wrong turn?”
Elva smiled. He was clearly rattled, and she didn’t want him to be off-kilter. “It’s all right. I like sight-seeing.”
“We’re not going in the wrong direction, but it will take us longer to get back to the haus this way. Is that okay?”
“That’s fine.”
“You’re easy to please, you know that?” Then he paused. “That’s not because of Henry, is it?”
She understood what he meant. “Nee. I did have to watch what I said and did around him, but I don’t have to do that around you.”
“Gut. I don’t want you to ever feel like you can’t be yerself.” He glanced at her again. “Because the real Elva Gingerich is a great person to be.”
Elva smiled as she leaned back against the seat, taking in the rolling hills surrounding them, true happiness flowing through her. If only she wasn’t leaving and if only Jerald wasn’t set on being single . . .
Amish Generations Page 22
