Rachael's Decision, page 2
Rachael’s heart sank. She didn’t want to disappoint or hurt Joy, but this picture portrayed them as a family. Joy had drawn her and Nathan holding hands. “This is a wonderful picture. Did you show this to your daed?”
Joy nodded. “He liked it. Thad did too. I’m keeping it on my dresser. Is Eleanor kumming for supper?”
Rachael had invited Mamm often to the Waglers’ for supper, but she’d accepted the invitation only a couple of times. Mamm had friends who kept her busy. She worked hard, and she suspected Mamm would like for Nathan to take an interest in Rachael as more than a friend. Rachael stopped asking her to join them each time and told her she was always wilkom. Her mamm went to Magdelena and Toby’s a couple of times a week for supper.
“Not tonight. How was your day at school?”
“Thad and I played hide-and-seek with Peter and Charity at dinnertime. I slipped and fell in the mud chasing the yellow cat, and I had to change clothes when I came home.”
“We’ll wash your dress after supper. Accidents happen.” Joy stained her clothes with dirt or food more than Thad. Her favorite thing to do was make mud pies. Joy pumped water from the pump in anything she could find and then poured the water over the dirt to make mud to play in.
“Where are your daed and Thad?”
“Daed has a chicken plucked and ready to cook. He wanted to surprise you, so don’t tell him I gave away his secret.” She giggled and held her forefinger to her lips. “Thad and he plucked the feathers off the chicken together.”
“What should we have with our chicken?”
Joy often stayed by her side in the kitchen, waiting for tasks to do. “Mashed potatoes.”
Rachael tweaked Joy’s cheek. “You’d have mashed potatoes every day if you could.”
Joy laughed. “Yes, I would. They’re my favorite. You let me mash them when we cook, but Daed insists on doing it himself.”
They entered the house and went to the kitchen.
Thad grinned and pointed to the table. “I set the table and filled the water glasses.”
“The chicken is ready to kumme out of the oven, the potatoes are ready, and there’s brown bread sliced in the basket.” Nathan pulled out her chair. “We’ll serve you.”
She hadn’t expected this. He’d not made supper before this evening and he’d gone to a lot of trouble.
“I appreciate this. Danki.” Rachael sat, unfolded her napkin, and spread it out on her lap.
Nathan had readied a chicken for her to bake or fry in the past, but he’d not prepared the entire supper. He’d even changed the plain yellow tablecloth to a red one edged with lace. He had cloth napkins to match. Was this a danki or something more?
Nathan and the kinner took their seats. Nathan bowed his head and said a prayer to God for the food. “Enjoy. We’ll have enough food left over to have the same thing tomorrow evening. You won’t have to work as hard.” Nathan removed the chicken from the oven, cut and put the pieces on a platter, stirred the drippings into the gravy, and carried it to the table. He had the mashed potatoes warming on top of the stove, and he put the bowl next to the meat.
Thad placed the bread basket beside the butter, and raspberry jelly was already on the table. “Would you like bread?” He passed the basket to her.
Thad’s chocolate-brown eyes gazed at her. With his lanky build and wavy, light brown hair, he was a handsome boy. She loved his kind and wise demeanor.
“I want one.” Joy reached in and took a slice as Rachael accepted the basket. She wouldn’t call Joy bashful. The six-year-old always let you know what was on her mind.
“Will you bring home some iced sugar cookies for dessert tomorrow night?” Joy held a scoop of potatoes on her spoon.
Rachael traced the rim of her glass. She hoped they wouldn’t get upset. “I have plans tomorrow evening with a friend, so I won’t be joining you. You can have the leftover chicken and make sandwiches.”
Joy grinned. “We’ll kumme with you. Bring the cookies to your friend’s haus. We’ll all have dessert together.”
Thad shrugged. “Yes. Where does your friend live? What’s your friend’s name?”
“Caleb Yutzy. He’s new in town.” Rachael’s cheeks heated.
Nathan avoided eye contact with her. “Enough with the questions. You’re being rude. Rachael doesn’t expect to go with you when you go to a friend’s haus. It’s not proper to invite yourselves to tag along with Rachael and her friend.”
Joy pouted. “You want us to kumme, don’t you, Rachael?”
“I’m sorry. Your daed is right. It’s not appropriate for me to bring you. We’ll talk at church on Sunday.” She avoided eye contact with them.
Nathan and the kinner frowned and the room went silent.
She had to bring smiles to their sad faces. “Would you like to mix a batch of sugar cookies before we do the dishes? It wouldn’t take us long.”
Joy’s head bobbed. “Yes!”
Thad grinned. “I’ll stir the batter.”
Nathan put his napkin on the table. He’d left half the food on his plate. “I’ll be in the barn if you need me.” He left the room.
She pressed a hand to her nervous stomach. Nathan and she had no romantic relationship. They hadn’t flirted or hinted at even the possibility of courtship. Why had he acted hurt? She understood the kinner might get upset, but why Nathan? Or had he gotten used to their routine and didn’t want it interrupted? She wouldn’t confront him about his abruptness. She’d wait until he was ready to discuss it.
She instructed Joy on what and how much of each ingredient to put in the bowl.
“This is fun.” Joy followed her directions.
“Thad, you can stir.”
He waited for Joy to step aside, and he stirred the batter.
Joy stood close and watched his every move.
Rachael let them each scoop small amounts of batter onto the cookie sheet. She slid the cookies in the oven and put the ingredients away.
Joy slid her finger around the bowl and licked the batter from her finger. “I like the batter more than the baked cookies.” She giggled.
Thad took the bowl from her. “Leave me some.” He swiped out the rest of the batter with a wooden spoon and licked it. “So good.”
Rachael washed and let Joy and Thad dry the dishes.
Joy handed a plate to Thad to put in the cabinet. “I’ll miss you when you go to your friend’s haus.” She pouted.
Thad stayed quiet.
“I’ll miss you too.” She didn’t know if she’d resume their routine. She didn’t want to say too much. She wasn’t sure what the future held. She took the cookies out of the oven. “We’ll let the cookies cool while we wash Joy’s dress.”
She and Joy washed the muddy dress. Thad hung it up to dry.
Thad entered the kitchen and grabbed a container for the cookies. “I’ll put the cookies away and leave out four for us so we can each have one.”
“Danki, Thad.” Rachael waited for him to empty the baking pan and then washed and dried it. She put it away.
Joy reached for a plate on the counter and placed four cookies on it. “I’ll carry the cookies to the sitting room and choose a board game for us to play.”
Rachael and Thad followed her to the sitting room. Joy carried the plate of cookies to each of them, and they took one.
Joy sat on the floor next to Rachael. They finished their cookies, laughed, and had a good time.
Nathan came inside. His tone was stern. “Kinner, time for bed. Change into your nightshirts, and I’ll be in to say prayers and good night in a minute.”
“Daed, we saved you a cookie.” Joy pointed to the plate. “Do we have to go to bed now?” she begged.
“Yes, and don’t whine.” Nathan pointed to her room. “Go now.”
The kinner hugged her goodbye.
Rachael went to the door. “Sleep tight.”
“Rachael, danki for taking care of the dishes. You don’t need to wait if you’d like to go home.”
“Danki for the delicious food. Good night.”
“Good night.” Nathan headed to Joy’s bedroom.
Rachael drove home. Nathan wasn’t himself tonight. His mood changed from jovial to serious after she said she had plans tomorrow evening. Should she have asked him why he was upset? His extra effort with supper could’ve been a danki for taking such good care of them. She wasn’t sure what to make of it. Why would he avoid her and not talk about it? She went inside the haus and Mamm was reading her Bible.
“How was your evening?”
“Nathan cooked supper. He did a marvelous job. He’s never expressed interest in me. The supper could’ve been to show he wanted to reciprocate and not expect me to do all the cooking. I’m not sure. When I told him I have plans tomorrow, he became quieter than usual. I didn’t press him about it. Tomorrow evening, I’m having supper with a new family who moved to Charm. I’ll tell you more about them and introduce you to Caleb when he picks me up.”
“Who is Caleb? What’s his last name?” Mamm put her Bible on the end table. “I need more information.”
“Yutzy. Caleb lives with his bruder’s family. He came to the bakery and asked me to join them.”
“You’ve talked to him once and you agreed to go to his haus? Isn’t this too soon? If he’s new in town, no one knows much about him.” Mamm worried her brows.
Rachael shook her head. “We’ll be with his family. I can’t explain it, but I was drawn to him on sight. I haven’t gotten giddy over a man since John died. It’s been four years. I’m curious about Caleb.”
“Since his family will be present, I suppose it’s all right. When you told Nathan and the kinner you wouldn’t be with them tomorrow night, it was probably hard for them. They are used to you having supper with them. Nathan may have cooked to show interest in you. I’m uncertain, but it would explain why he was upset. What about the kinner?”
“Nathan should’ve said something instead of sulking. Joy and Thad were disappointed. I’m not sure Nathan and I will ever be more than friends. I love the kinner, and I’ll always be there for them if they need me. I’m taking this change one day at a time. Who knows what will happen with Caleb. This might be my first and last supper with him.”
“You’re right about everything you’ve said. There’s no reason not to get acquainted with Caleb and his family.” Mamm reached for her Bible and opened it. The binding was loose and she handled it with care.
“Mamm, do you have plans tomorrow?”
“Yes. I’ll already be at the Yoders for supper before you get home from work. I’m going early to help them cook and bake. Have a good time. I’ll look forward to meeting Caleb when you kumme home.” Mamm kissed her dochder’s cheek.
Rachael hoped it would be the first of many times she and Caleb would spend time together.
* * *
Caleb dried and put away the last dish from supper Friday evening. Rachael had occupied his mind since he met her today. She had beautiful emerald eyes and a pleasant voice. She had pretty, light brown hair where her kapp was set farther back on her hair. She didn’t seem put off by his questions or his interest in her. She had a positive attitude and a genuine smile. She had a limp. Was she born with it? He’d find out soon enough. He went to the porch and sat in the white-painted rocker near his bruder, Stephen, and his schweschder-in-law, Frannie, holding Lily on her lap. “What a beautiful evening. I’m glad we could switch from coats to light sweaters. I’m ready for summer.”
Frannie cocked her head to Caleb. “Danki for taking care of the dishes.”
“You’re wilkom.” Caleb hadn’t told them about Rachael.
Supper had been more chaotic than usual. Lily had been fussy, and Stephen had knocked over his water glass. He’d sent them to the porch to relax, hoping they’d be in a better frame of mind when he told them he’d invited company for tomorrow night. He prayed it would be calmer when Rachael was with them.
He braced himself. “I met Rachael Schlabach at the bakery in town today. I invited her here to meet you and have supper with us tomorrow evening.” He was on pins and needles waiting for Frannie’s reaction.
No surprise. Frannie raised her brows. “I’m not ready for guests. The haus is a mess most of the time with Lily’s toys, unfolded laundry, and dirty dishes in the sink. I can’t keep up with inside chores and take care of Lily too. The last thing we need is company. Take her to a restaurant.”
“Now, Frannie, don’t fret.” Stephen patted her hand. “Caleb and I will help you. We need to make friends in Charm. Be happy a girl has caught Caleb’s eye.”
“I’ll make potato soup and ham sandwiches. Easy to make and clean up.” Caleb bit his tongue. He didn’t want to say something he’d regret.
Frannie was a burden for Stephen. His bruder pushed himself hard to meet her demands and take care of the farm. Stephen had tired eyes and slumped shoulders most of the time. He stayed up late and got up early to straighten the haus or cook food for them. Frannie got plenty of rest. She was spoiled. Not the kind of woman Caleb wanted for a fraa.
Frannie waggled her forefinger. “I’m counting on you both to keep your word.”
* * *
Caleb woke early Saturday morning and hurried to do his chores throughout the day. Later, he made the potato soup as promised, and left it on the stovetop to keep warm. He was ready to fetch Rachael.
Frannie placed Lily in the playpen in the living room. “Did you set the table? Is the soup finished? When will you make the sandwiches?”
His stomach clenched. She was the most demanding woman he’d ever met. “The table is set and the soup is done. I’ll warm it when we’re ready for supper, and then I’ll make the sandwiches.”
“Did you slice the ham or do I have to?” Frannie sighed.
“The ham is sliced and in a container on the counter. I’ll be back soon.” He would’ve told her she was being unreasonable to not help prepare the food, but he didn’t want to start an argument. He wanted Rachael to feel wilkom when she met them.
Frannie pursed her lips and nodded.
He’d make it to Rachael’s haus right at six if he hurried. She lived about a mile from him. When he arrived, he found her waiting on the porch with a beautiful smile on her face, holding a white tin cake carrier.
“Good evening.”
She got inside the buggy and placed the cake carrier on her lap. “Danki for the invitation to meet your family. I brought a white double-layer cake from the bakery. It has vanilla frosting with pink roses on top.”
“I should’ve invited your mamm. It’s not too late to ask her. We have plenty of food.” Caleb shouldn’t invite Mrs. Schlabach without warning Stephen and Frannie, but he would take his chances Frannie wouldn’t be rude.
“You’re thoughtful to invite her. Mamm’s at a friend’s haus, having supper with them. I would like you to kumme in and meet her when you bring me home.”
“It will be my pleasure.” He flicked the reins and headed home. “I’m pleased and surprised you accepted my invitation. I should’ve spoken with you at the bakery and church a couple of times before I asked you to supper. But the minute I met you, I wanted to become better acquainted. At the bakery there are too many customers around, and at church you’re surrounded by friends. After supper, we’ll take a walk or buggy ride, if you’re all right with this suggestion.”
She chuckled. “I appreciate your forthrightness. I’d enjoy a buggy ride with you this evening.”
“I’m relieved. The last thing I want to do is offend you.” He halted the buggy near the haus and tied the mare to the hitching post. He patted the horse with affection.
Rachael stepped out of the buggy, holding her cake carrier, and joined him. “The wraparound porch on the haus must be a wonderful place to relax on the swing or rocking chairs.”
“It’s what drew all of us to this haus. The farm is about one thousand acres, and the barn and smokehaus mirror many of the structures of our Amish neighbors. The porch and layout of the haus is what sold Frannie on this place.” He didn’t want to warn her about Frannie. He hoped his schweschder-in-law would behave and wilkom Rachael as a new friend.
They walked to the haus and went inside. Caleb introduced Rachael to his family.
Frannie narrowed her eyes and balanced Lily on her hip. “Please take a seat.”
Stephen stood next to Frannie. “We’re glad you could join us this evening, Rachael.”
“Danki for having me.” She reached for Lily’s chubby hand. “What a pretty little girl with her light brown hair and big brown eyes. How old is she?”
“She’s two and full of energy. She wears me out,” Frannie harrumphed.
Caleb kissed Lily’s forehead. “She’s a cheerful little girl.” He addressed Rachael. “I’ll make the sandwiches and heat the soup. You stay and visit.”
Rachael shook her head. “I brought dessert. I’ll take it to the kitchen since Frannie has her hands full. I’d like to help.” She followed him to the kitchen and gestured to a container. “Is this the ham? May I use the bread in the bread box?”
He pointed to a covered plate on the counter. “You’ll find the ham on the counter, and the bread in the bread box next to it. You can make the sandwiches and pour water in the glasses, if you don’t mind. The pitcher is behind you on the other counter.” Caleb was relieved Frannie had kept the fire going in the stove. His soup was warm.
“I’d be happy to.” Rachael prepared the sandwiches and poured water into the glasses.
Caleb called out to Stephen and Frannie through the open archway from the kitchen to the living room, “Supper’s ready.” He poured the soup into a white porcelain tureen and added a ladle.
Frannie lowered Lily into her high chair, and the rest of them took their seats.
Caleb offered a prayer to God for the food. He stood. “Pass me your bowls and I’ll fill them for you.” Each of them did as requested.
Rachael’s eyes widened. “Caleb, you’ve outdone yourself with this soup. The parsley was a nice touch.”
He beamed. “Danki.”
Frannie mashed the potatoes in the soup and fed Lily. She then buttered a biscuit and tore it in pieces for her. “This should keep you busy while the adults chat.”
