A Joyful Break (Dreams of Plain Daughters) (6 page)

His eyes narrowed. “I like landline phones better. It’s easier to keep the phone separate from the home when there’s a phone shanty or a phone in the barn. If teenagers have cell phones, they might be tempted to use them too often. Cell phones invade our Amish home life.”

“That’s true, but I’d use the cell phone just for emergencies.” She grinned. “And I’m not a teenage girl.”

“No, you’re a beautiful woman.” He tossed his cup into a bag and took her hand in his. “I hope you decide to join the church. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

“That’s a big concern of mine because if I decide to become English, I’ll lose you. I know you can’t marry me if I’m not Amish.”
Would Samuel leave his Amish faith if I decide not to accept the rules of the Ordnung? His family and friends would have to shun him if he did. But I can’t see him doing this even though, he loves me. Losing Samuel would break my heart, but I can’t commit until I experience living in the English world.

“God will direct your decision. It’s good you’re taking time to pray about why you can’t move on with your life and join the church. I’ll admit I’m a bit worried you might decide not to get baptized this spring. I keep thinking how your
aenti
became English.”

She hated seeing the worried look on Samuel’s face. “I’m sorry I’m difficult. Our situation’s not the same as my Aunt Carrie’s. She met Scott while living in our world. If she hadn’t met him, I’m sure she would’ve taken instructions and joined our church.”

“Exactly. You haven’t met an English man who makes you question your way of life.”

“Instead, it’s an Amish man who causes me to doubt.”

“I wish your
daed
had installed a phone in his barn or built a shanty, but if you become my wife, we’ll have a phone. I’ll take you to an English doctor whenever you’re ill. I’ll be a
gut
husband.”

She squeezed his hand. “I know. You’re perfect for me.” Had her
mamm
thought her
daed
was perfect before she married him? People changed sometimes during marriage. Maybe in her
daed’s
case he had too many responsibilities and couldn’t do everything a husband should for his wife. The Amish life was filled with hard work but shouldn’t her
daed
have paid more attention to the most important woman in his life?

“Enough talking.” He gently embraced her and kissed her with urgency.

When he broke their kiss, she murmured, “I’ll miss kissing you.”

“Kissing you is the best part of my day.”

“You say the nicest things, Samuel.”

“Remember that when you’re on the beach.”

She couldn’t resist kidding him a bit. “I’m sure I’ll have a few thoughts of you while I’m in Florida.”

Susie snorted.

Samuel laughed. “I don’t think Susie believes your comment.”

Chapter Five

“
Daed
, I’ll write the family.” Rachel thought her father’s eyes looked moist, but she couldn’t honor his request and write to him alone. She’d write a family letter and probably individual ones to her siblings. He was the main reason she felt a need to leave home. How could a loving husband ignore his wife’s request to see a doctor? Resentment also existed toward him for assuming she’d take her
mamm’s
place. He’d expected her to quit her job at the bakery to take care of their family. He didn’t expect as much from Judith, and she knew why. Judith was his favorite daughter. Why couldn’t Judith have made any sacrifices after their
mamm
died? She did appreciate her sister helping at home now so she could leave, but still for a whole year, she’d been responsible for the laundry, housework, cooking, garden work, and canning last summer. Well, Judith had taken over all the sewing of new clothes and mending.
That was something, I guess.

I hope my issues with Daed will be resolved by getting away from him.
Her stomach turned just thinking about her father.

It was the first time she’d ever gone on a trip without her family. She’d miss them but felt a sense of freedom and excitement that she’d never felt before in her whole life.

Her father cleared his throat a couple of times. “
Danki
, for baking enough bread for the week and making my favorite cookies.”

Aunt Carrie smiled. “When I saw everything Rachel prepared, I thought maybe Judith was coming with us too.”

He glanced at the cooler and bags in the car. “With all this food, it looks like you’re taking all my
kinner
. Did you leave any food for Weaver’s other customers?”

She agreed with her father. Aunt Carrie had bought a lot − pies, bread, noodles and cookies at Weaver’s Bakery. Then her
aenti
bought meat and cheese at Yoder’s Market to put in her cooler.
Will I ever get a chance to eat English food?
she wondered.

Aunt Carrie’s dark blond hair came loose from her bun, and she immediately redid the thick strands back into a neat chignon. “You know I always stock up on Amish food whenever I visit. The bad thing is I eat a lot of it and gain weight, but this time Violet will be home to help us eat some of these goodies. And I’m giving some to the women in my prayer group.”

He grinned. “I’m glad you and Rachel aren’t eating all of it. Have a safe trip.”

“Thanks, David.” Aunt Carrie briefly patted his arm. “I’ll be sure to see Peter, Judith and the boys when I bring Rachel home. I hope those two nephews of mine behave while Rachel’s gone.”

“
Ya
. Those two are something.” Turning to Rachel, his eyes became serious. “Remember to pray during your visit and stay close to God.”

His worn and wrinkled face touched a chord in her. She knew her father worried about her
rumschpringe
in the English world. “I will.” In spite of her unhappiness with her father, he did love her. She gave him a quick hug. “Take care of yourself.”

“We better get going.” Aunt Carrie opened the car door. “I don’t want to be late picking up Violet.”

“I can’t wait to see my cousin.” Violet’s flight was scheduled to land at four-thirty at the Lexington Airport. Rachel had never been at an airport, so she looked forward to seeing the big jets arrive and take off; she couldn’t imagine flying. She’d have to ask Violet what it was like to get on a plane and get some place so quickly. Driving by car was definitely faster than traveling by buggy, but she understood why her people couldn’t own cars. Avoiding worldliness and keeping the family close to home was essential to their plain way of life. The temptation to just hop in the car and go to town or farther places would expose them to a fast and glitzy world.
But it’s fun to ride in a car occasionally,
she thought.

Before Rachel shut the car door, she overheard Aunt Carrie speak in a lowered voice. “David, don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”

As Aunt Carrie drove away, her chest felt heavy leaving the only home she’d ever known. Glancing back at the white two-story house she grew up in, Rachel saw her
daed
staring at the car. She waved to him before whirling back around in the seat.

“I can’t wait until we get to the beach.”

Aunt Carrie grinned at her before turning on the road. “Violet and I adore going to the seashore. I hope you’ll like it too.”

“Will the beach be private?”

“We’ll have a private entrance to the beach, but there are other guests who might be vacationing at their nearby houses. I don’t think it’ll be crowded since the beach isn’t open to the general public. The swimming pool’s private, though. Each property has a pool.”

She smoothed her light blue dress. “The bishop allowed us girls to wear one-piece swimming suits when we took swimming lessons. I was twelve so my suit doesn’t fit now.”

Aunt Carrie drove slowly by Samuel’s furniture store, which was right next door to Weaver’s Bakery. She gave the horn a quick beep. “I told Samuel I’d toot the horn when we went by his furniture store, so he knows his girl’s on her way to Kentucky. I’m glad I got to talk to him this morning when I bought my goodies at his mother’s bakery. Sweetie, he’s definitely into you as Violet and Adam would say. You two make a cute couple.”

“
Ya
, he’s anxious for me to join the church so we can get married.”

Aunt Carrie stopped at the only traffic light in Fields Corner. “I’m glad you decided to take time to think things through before making a commitment. Even though I fell in love with your Uncle Scott soon after we met, I waited a few years to be sure.”

Suddenly, she had an urge to see Samuel before leaving Fields Corner. “Aunt Carrie, would you mind pulling over so I can run into Samuel’s store? I want to see the picnic table he just finished. I’ll hurry. I don’t want to make you late to get Violet.”

“I’ll just turn around so you won’t have to walk as far. It’s no trouble.”

While her aunt drove to the furniture store, she thought,
I can’t believe I haven’t even left yet, and I already want to say good-bye again to Samuel.

As soon as the SUV was stopped in front of the store, she opened the door and over her shoulder said, “
Danki
, Aunt Carrie. You’re the best.”

She hurried inside the store and looked around for Samuel. She found him at his desk. “I just have a minute. I asked Aunt Carrie to stop so I could see the picnic table.”

His blue eyes filled with amusement. “You sure it’s the table you want to see.”

“Why else would I be here? I just saw you last night.”

He stood, looking down at her. “I’m glad you’re here, even though it’s to see the table. It’s back of the lawn chairs.”

Following Samuel, she glanced at his rocking chairs and other pieces of furniture he had for sale. “Everything you make turns out so well.”

“I’m glad God blessed me with the furniture business. I wouldn’t want to farm full-time.” He stopped by an oval table. “I made it out of poly-wood so it will last forever with care.”

She saw four benches next to the table. “The table and benches look great. The dark green you used on the legs is nice too. I’m impressed.”

A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. “I’m glad it meets with your approval.”

“I better go. I don’t want Aunt Carrie to have to wait too long on me. We need to get to the airport in time to get Violet.”

He pulled her into his arms. “How about a quick kiss before you leave?”

“I guess I can spare one.” His kiss tasted of coffee and cinnamon. After kissing for a
wunderbaar
moment, she said, “You already had your morning coffee. I tasted it on your lips.”

He looked into her eyes. “I hope someday I’ll have my morning coffee with you before I leave for work.”

“I better go.”

“I’ll call you Tuesday evening to see how the road trip’s progressing.” Samuel walked with her to the front door and waved to Aunt Carrie.

“Bye, Samuel.” She gave his hand a squeeze before running to the car.

Aunt Carrie turned the key in the ignition as she buckled her seatbelt. “Samuel did a
wunderbaar
job on the picnic table.”

“Maybe I’ll have him make one for us. We could use another picnic table. Scott and I like to enjoy our backyard with family and friends. I miss not having my own Amish relatives to our house so I’m very glad you’re visiting us.”

“You were brave leaving everything you knew and taking a chance on an English man.” She glanced at her
aenti
. “That didn’t come out right. Uncle Scott’s always been a nice man.”

When the light turned green, Aunt Carrie stepped on the accelerator. “No, you’re right. I was taking a big chance. He could’ve rejected me later, which was always in the back of my mind. I couldn’t figure out what he saw in an Amish girl.”

“I see why he fell in love with you.” Her
aenti
was pretty with a charming and fun personality.

“Oh, we never finished the swimming conversation. I have some bathing suits you might want to wear, or I can take you shopping to buy your own. There are some cute bikinis on sale right now. You have a great figure.”

She swallowed hard. A bikini…what was
aenti
thinking? She couldn’t parade around in a revealing suit. “I won’t be buying a bikini. I was thinking of buying a modest one-piece swimming suit with a billowing skirt.”

Aunt Carrie giggled. “I’m sorry. I was teasing you.”

She smiled. “That’s
gut
. You had me worried for a minute.”

“I’m glad you’re able to wear a swimming suit. When your mother and I were kids, the girls were only allowed to wear old dresses in the water.”

“It’s allowed for a sad reason. There were several drowning accidents so the church made swimming lessons available for children. Judith and I took lessons for two summers. Matthew and Noah took them last summer and will again this year.”

“I remember Irene telling me how pleased she was about this very progressive approach. It’s definitely not found in every Amish community. She said how the bishop realized learning how to swim would prevent many water tragedies.”

For a few minutes, both women were lost in their thoughts. Rachel had a feeling Aunt Carrie was remembering her
mamm
too.

After driving on interstate for several minutes, Aunt Carrie broke the silence. “I’m glad you’re with me. It’s hard on me to visit because it doesn’t seem right that my
mamm
,
daed
and
schweschder
are gone. I know it was God’s will but I miss them so much. I usually cry a lot on the way back to Lexington.”

“Their deaths are one reason I haven’t been able to join the church.” She bit her lip, thinking how she might as well talk about her
mamm’s
death instead of waiting until later. “You laugh more than my mother. And you always have looked younger than she did, even though you are five years older. Do you think her life was too hard and that’s why she died from a heart attack?”

Aunt Carrie’s eyes never left the highway. After a moment, she changed lanes, then answered, “I couldn’t stand being behind that slow car any longer. Going below the speed limit is dangerous too. Irene did work hard, but she enjoyed taking care of her family. She loved you kids.”