Seasons of Sugarcreek 03. Autumn's Promise (17 page)

From the moment Caleb had called her house and delivered the news about Gretta going into labor, Lilly felt like everything around her was spinning out of control. Elsa and her mom had been in a panic, and Judith flashed between giddy and a nervous wreck.

It had been up to Lilly to get things organized. “Mom, I’ll drive them; you stay here and wait for Ty. Elsa, I’ll pick you and Toby up in ten minutes. Go tell Judith to wait for Maggie, Anson, and Carrie. Caleb should be back soon. When everyone gets home, either my dad or my mom can take the rest of your family to the hospital.”

Unbelievably, neither woman had questioned a thing; had just hugged and parted within seconds.

After slipping on a sweater and boots, she drove over, picked Elsa up, and then drove as fast as she could to the Grabers’ store. Ten minutes after that, her car was filled with Elsa, Margaret, a panicked Josh, and a very big Gretta.

The forty-minute trip to the hospital had felt surreal. Hardly any of them talked. Instead, all eyes and ears were focused on Gretta’s every move. By the time they got to the hospital, Lilly had been sweating. She’d felt like the whole car had experienced each one of Gretta’s contractions together.

After dropping off Josh and Gretta, she parked the car and walked into the lobby with Margaret and Elsa by her side. Margaret’s nerves had led her to speak only in Pennsylvania Dutch, but Lilly didn’t mind. The pleasant sounds of the unfamiliar language soothed her nerves.

As did the knowledge that one day she would be speaking the same words, too. Perhaps she would even be making this trip with Robert, but for reasons of their own.

The idea made her feel all shimmery and warm.

But as she wondered who she would call to drive them to the hospital, that same familiar lump of dread appeared in her stomach again.

Three hours later, the waiting room was crowded with Grabers, Lilly’s parents, Gretta’s sister Margaret and her folks. They all looked up expectantly when Josh appeared in the doorway.

“It’s going to be a while longer,” he said. “Gretta’s doing fine, but the doctor said the baby is going to take its time. Maybe you all want to leave for a while?”

“Not a chance,” Mr. Graber said. “We’ll be here until the baby comes.”

“But it might be hours.”

He held up a crisp
Budget
. “I’ve got a paper and I’m comfortable. Don’t fret now, son. Believe it or not, I’ve waited for babes to arrive a time or two.”

Everyone chuckled as Josh turned beet red. “I guess you have. I’m going to get back to Gretta now.”

“I’m sure she’s looking for you, dear,” Elsa said over a pair of knitting needles. “Don’t you worry about us.”

Josh was just about to leave when he turned to them all in surprise. “Hey, where’s Caleb?”

“Not here,” Anson said.

“Where is he? At the store?”

“I don’t think so,” Lilly said. “I bet he’s just goofing off. Don’t worry.”

Her mother saved the day. “Lilly’s right. Teenage boys don’t have the patience for hospital waiting rooms.”

“Yes. It’s fine, son,” Mr. Graber murmured. “Don’t you worry. Go back to Gretta, now. I’m sure she’s lookin’ for ya.”

When he was out of sight, Elsa looked at Lilly. “Where do you think he is?”

“I honestly have no idea,” she murmured.

Four hours later, Josh came out, beaming with pride.

“We have a son!”

Everyone stood up. Running to his side, Elsa kissed his cheek. “That’s wonderful-
gut
! And he’s okay? Gretta’s fine, too?”

“Oh, sure. She is just fine. I can’t believe I was so worried. Gretta delivering a baby is no trouble at all.”

He only looked puzzled when laughter greeted his statement.

Walking next to Mr. and Mrs. Graber as they left the hospital, Lilly found herself smiling as they fielded questions from Carrie and Anson about Gretta and Josh and the adorable, tiny baby—William.

“Yes, Carrie,” Mrs. Graber said. “I promise, they will be coming home tomorrow.”

“What time?”

“I don’t know.”

Moments later, it was Anson’s turn to quiz his parents, and it was Frank Grabers’ turn to do the careful answering. “I don’t know why Gretta needs that needle in her arm, but the doctor seems to think she does.”

“Does it hurt?”

“I don’t think so.”

Even little Maggie chimed in. “I love William.”

That earned their youngest girl a swing up into her father’s arms. “I love him, too.”

Lilly smiled as she watched Maggie whisper into her father’s ear and heard his touching reply.

“Yes, William is a
verra
fine
bobbli
, and sure to have wonderful-
gut
parents, indeed.”

When everyone stopped in front of Lilly’s car, Anson threw out another question. “Can we get ice cream?”

“Please?” Maggie and Carrie called out.

Mrs. Graber turned a put-upon expression to Lilly.

“Why is it that
kinner
think that every special occasion should be celebrated with a sweet treat?”

Lilly winked Anson’s way. “I don’t know, but I might be the wrong person to ask. I love ice cream.”

Mr. Graber chuckled. “Just down the road is an ice cream shop. Lilly, would you have time to drive us?”

“Definitely.”

Fifteen minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Graber, Anson, Maggie, Carrie, and Toby and Lilly were all licking ice cream cones. The kids scrambled into their own booth while Lilly scooted into another one across from Mr. and Mrs. Graber. “Mr. Graber, I would never have guessed you would have an ice cream, too.”

Elsa looked at her husband and grinned. “I doubt he would ever pass up such a treat. My Frank has always had a sweet tooth, Lilly.”

He looked shame-faced. “I suppose that’s true.”

Lilly noticed they were attracting more than a few stares from other patrons around them. The hospital was in Mansfield, not Sugarcreek, so the Amish weren’t as familiar a sight. The stares and the thoughts made her realize that she might one day be classified as
different
—if she became Amish.

“Lilly, this is nice, getting a change to sit here like this,” Mr. Graber said, claiming her attention once again.

“Tell us what you’ve been up to—besides driving Caleb around Cleveland,” Mr. Graber said.

Though she knew she could just talk about work and her mother’s own pregnancy, Lilly decided to trust them with something more personal. There was something about this pair that had always inspired a real trust. Back when she’d been pregnant, she’d found it easier to tell them about her hopes of keeping the baby than her parents.

“Well, I’ve been spending time with Robert Miller,” she said haltingly.

“I knew that,” Mrs. Graber murmured. “I also know that he’s right fond of you.”

“I, um, know he is. Actually, I’m fond of him, too.” Suddenly, her words couldn’t be stopped. “Actually I’ve fallen in love with Robert Miller.”

Mrs. Graber looked at her husband. “Well, what do you know!”

Frank’s expression turned gentle. “And how did you fall
in lieb
, Lilly?”

“In love? I’m not really sure.” She tried to remember when she’d begun to view Robert’s actions in a different way. Was it months ago when he used to sit at the same table at the restaurant just to speak with her? Had it been when he’d bought her a kitten?

Or was it something much smaller, such as when he’d simply stop what he was doing whenever she showed up at his workshop…making her feel that she was very important to him? “All I know is that from, practically, the first real conversation we had, something clicked between us.”

“Love is like that, yes?” Frank swiped a wayward chocolate trickle from the side of his mouth. “Sometimes it just sneaks up on ya.”

Elsa clucked and handed him another two napkins. “Have you told your parents your feelings, Lilly?”

“Not in so many words. For some reason, I always feel more comfortable telling you two how I really feel.”

Mr. and Mrs. Graber exchanged glances. “We’re not your parents, yes? It’s always easier to tell other people difficult things.”

“I agree.” She thought for a moment, considering just why she hadn’t shared all her feelings with her mom. “The truth is, I’ve been afraid to hear what they thought.” Because that admission bothered her, she raised her chin.

“But it doesn’t really matter what they think, anyway. This is between me and Robert.”

“Yes. Everyone grows up sooner or later, don’t they?” Elsa carefully wiped the corner of her lip with a napkin.

“Well, I for one, can see how you and Robert Miller found each other. You two are a good match, I think.”

Though most of the kids were busy with their ice cream, Anson approached just in time to hear the end of their conversation. “Are you and Robert going to get married? Are ya going to become one of us?”

She loved how he said that.
One of us
. That was how she felt. Like she was just a few months away from fitting in again. “I hope so. But I’m not sure how to start.”

Anson worried his bottom lip. “I’ve never met anyone who wanted to be one of us. Only people who want to leave.”

His mother glared. “Anson. You watch your tongue.”

“Why? It’s true.”

“Still, this is not your conversation. Hush, now.”

Anson glared but sat silent as Mr. Graber carefully finished off the rest of his cone. “The way I see it, Lilly, I think you already have started.”

She looked at the obvious. At her jeans and sweat-shirt. Together, they looked as far from living Plain as anything could be. “Do you really think so?”

Fine lines appeared around the corners of his eyes. “It’s not the clothes that matter, child. Not really.” Pressing a hand to his chest, he murmured, “It’s what’s in our hearts that matters,
jah
?”

“Yes.”

“Say
jah
, not
yes
!” Anson chirped.

“Anson…” Mrs. Graber warned.

“Jah,”
Lilly said, surprising herself with the word. All she’d really wanted to do was make peace. But hearing the Pennsylvania-Dutch word come from her mouth jarred her senses.

Frank blinked, then slowly smiled. “Well, now. Perhaps you will be one of us before we know it. After all, you have what is most important, don’tcha think?”

“What is that?”

“You have a sincere want.”

His words had been spoken as a statement. Not a question. But she answered all the same.

Erasing any lingering doubts that had played at the edges of her mind. “I sincerely love Robert very much.”

But instead of bringing more smiles of satisfaction, Lilly noticed Elsa frowning at her husband. “What did I say wrong?” Lilly asked.

Anson scooted out of his chair to talk with Judith. With a bit more privacy, Elsa murmured, “Lilly, you must be sure about what I’m about to ask. This sincere want of yours…are you certain it is not
just
for Robert Miller?”

She was confused. “I’m not confused about Robert. I have fallen in love with him.”

“We understand that,” Frank murmured. “He is a fine man, and would make any woman a wonderful-
gut
husband. But…he needs an Amish wife.”

“Can that be you, Lilly?” Elsa asked. “Do you truly desire our way of life? Being Amish isn’t something you can do with a light heart.”

All of a sudden, Lilly felt as if she was back in high school, with great dreams and hopes and no idea about how she was going to achieve them. Had that been what she’d been doing with Robert? Fantasizing about a simple, idealistic life…without truly thinking about the difficult day-to-day changes she would have to deal with. “I guess I didn’t think about that, not really,” she said slowly. “Perhaps I should.”

Frank spoke up. “I think you should pray on it, Lilly. Prayerfully consider all you are reaching for…and all you would be giving up.”

“Giving up?”

“For example, we’ve certainly appreciated all the times you’ve been our driver. But if you were Amish, you would have to give up your car, which means some of your independence. You’d have to get used to waiting to go to the city for your needs, or planning to be gone for most of a day if you go by buggy.”

“You’d have to depend on others…and you’re a terribly independent woman, Lilly.”

Surprised, Lilly realized Elsa’s words were true. “I guess I have become independent.”

Elsa nodded sagely. “This…this jumping into love with Robert isn’t a bad thing, Lilly. It shows you’ve got a wondrous heart.”

Slumping against her seat, Lilly felt more confused than ever. It was amazing how her impressions had changed just during one candid conversation.

How could that be? If she was as in love with Robert as she thought she was, would she really have let her mind change so quickly?

And their talk about independence was especially true. She liked relying on herself, and she needed to be able to do that. She was a woman of her times. She was used to cell phones and laptops and her car. Just as importantly, she was used to using those tools as a means to get her places quickly. To provide for herself.

Now, could she give it all away?

She just wasn’t sure.

Just as she was about to try to redirect the conversation, her cell phone rang. Seeing that it was a local number, she picked it up. And then felt as frozen as the custard in her cup had once been. “Caleb? Caleb, where are you?”

Across from her, Elsa and Frank’s postures stilled. She felt just as alarmed when she heard his next words. “I’m in trouble.”

Trading glances with Caleb’s parents, she slowly said, “What’s wrong?”

“Everything…Lilly, I need your help.” He paused, then continued, his words coming out in a rush. “I’m at the police station.”

“The police station? What in the world have you been doing? We looked for you at the hospital. Your parents are sitting right here—”

“Lilly, stop! Stop and listen. I can only use this phone for a few minutes more. Can you come to the police station now?”