A Path Made Plain (27 page)

* * *

Rochelle, 19

“My grandmother’s turning eighty,” Belinda Miller announced. “Almost four times our age.”

“You make it sound ancient.” Rochelle shook her head, and laughed from her place at the sink. A few more dishes to wash, then she and Belinda could leave to go shopping for ingredients for Estelle Miller’s gigantic birthday cake.

“Well, eighty is ancient, almost. Momma says she looks great for her age, and Grandma says she doesn’t care how she looks for her age, she’s happy to still be here to keep Grandpa out of mischief.”

“There, I’m done.” Rochelle set the last plate in the dish drainer, then wiped her hands. Their fellowship would celebrate the birthday of the matriarch of the Miller family during the coming weekend, and both she and Belinda had volunteered to make the cake. Belinda had taken several cake decorating lessons at a local bakery supply shop, and she was eager to show off her skills.

Rochelle was just along for the ride on this one, she’d assured Belinda, who’d designed a three-tiered round cake, white frosting, and multicolored wildflowers made of sugar.

“Did I tell you John Hershberger is picking me up for the party?” Belinda’s cheeks flushed.

“So, you two
are
courting! And you didn’t tell me?” Rochelle threw the dishtowel at Belinda’s head. “I knew you’d been giggling and looking at him at youth meetings for months now.”

Belinda ducked. “No, silly. We’re not courting. Yet. I’m sure we will be soon.”

For the past few months, all Rochelle had heard was John Hershberger this and John Hershberger that. Rochelle had been tuning her best friend out, because her college studies had kept her busy. Too busy for many of the activities the young adults participated in at Hope Mennonite Church.

However, one meeting not long ago had captured her attention. A missionary group, visiting from overseas, told them all about the great need for workers. Teachers. Doctors. Nurses. Pilots.

At the word nurse, Rochelle’s ears had perked up higher than her father’s dog, Patches, did. She was already studying hard for her nursing degree at their local college.

“There is great need here in the United States for good nurses, and nursing care, but all members of the medical field are needed in Africa, especially in developing countries and where the gospel isn’t always welcome,” the speaker had said.

“Anyway,” Belinda continued, “John said his best friend, Silas Fry, is riding along with him. You should come too. We can all ride to the party together.”

Daring, riding together, just the four of them in a vehicle.

Rochelle adjusted her
kapp
, then smoothed her apron. “I know Silas Fry.”

Well, knew him in a roundabout way. Silas was the kind of young man everyone noticed. The other young men all liked to be his friend. The other young women liked to smile at him and the boldest struck up conversation. They’d grown up together and participated in the same youth group, but in the last couple of years, childhood friendships had changed into something different as couples began to pair off.

Rochelle had spoken to Silas recently, entirely by accident. She’d gone up to him, thinking he looked like her cousin from behind and called him by her cousin’s name. He swung around, with laughter in his eyes and she felt a tug of awareness in their blueness reminding her of a happy summer sky.

“No, I’m not Levi,” he’d said. “I hope you’re not disappointed.”

“No, I’m not.” She choked out the three words as her face flamed all sorts of hot. Belinda would tease her, probably as much as she’d teased Belinda about her budding romance with John Hershberger.

But nothing was budding with Silas Fry. She’d tried to keep herself from noticing him, because other young women couldn’t help but notice him. However, from this moment, she didn’t think she’d ever succeed at pretending not to notice Silas Fry, ever again.