Where Love Grows (15 page)

“He's a little sweetheart,” James said. “But when he misbehaves, we'll have to spank him just like our other children.”

“He's already gotten a few spankings when he was naughty,” Teresa said. “
Mamm
saw to that. But it made him the sweetest boy afterward.”

“That's how it works with children. That and loving them.”

“I know.” Teresa sighed. “Do you know how long I've waited for this day? How I thought it would never come? How many things stood in the way?”

“Those things are past us now,” James said. “When
Da Hah
allows us trouble, we'll bear them again, just like we've borne the ones so far—with humility and grace in our hearts.”

“And together,” Teresa added.

“Hello there again!” Maurice called as she approached. “If it isn't the happy couple themselves. Beautiful sunset! How could the day end any better?”

Teresa and her mom embraced. Then Maurice turned. “James, you'll make my daughter happy. Teresa couldn't have done better if I had handpicked her husband myself!”

“Well, thank you.” James smiled. “I'm honored indeed.”

“I don't know how you Amish men do this, but is it okay if I give you a hug?” Maurice opened her arms.

“From my mother-in-law? Of course!”

Maurice hugged and then kissed him on the cheek.

James laughed.

“That's enough, Mom!” Teresa said. “Things are done a little differently around here.”

“I will kiss my son-in-law at least once on his wedding day,” Maurice declared. “Regardless of what country I'm in.”

“I guess no one is staring.” Teresa looked around.

“Of course not,” Maurice said. “So what happens for the rest of the evening? I hear there are more festivities to come. And here I'm thinking I'll collapse from all the goings on so far.”

“Well,” James said, “there's a hymn singing with supper for the young folks starting at six. The old folks just tag along. Then the singing starts at seven-thirty, going until nine. Afterward, we sit around and talk for a few hours yet. So the whole celebration might end by midnight.”

“That
is
making a full day out of it!” Maurice exclaimed.

James grinned. “For most of us, this only happens once in our lifetime. So we celebrate newly married couples as much as we can.”

“That's a wonderful thought,” Maurice said. “So what does the mother-of-the-bride do to help? I feel like I'm doing nothing but stuffing myself with delicious food.”

“That's exactly what you're supposed to do, Mother,” James said.

Maurice looked at him. “Did you just call me mother?”

“
Yah
, that's what you are to me now. And if it will help keep you here a while longer, I'll call you
Mamm.
”

“Well, for that you get another hug!” And with that Maurice took James in another embrace and squeezed tight.

“Mom, that's enough!” Teresa said with a laugh. “Any more hugs will be given at home, not here where people are watching.”

“Oh, all right,” Maurice conceded.

Teresa turned to James. “I'll walk Mom into the house and be right back.”

As they walked across the lawn, Maurice asked, “So you really aren't going on a honeymoon?”

“No.
Mamm
and Susan will take care of baby Samuel for our first night together, and then it's back to normal. That's how the Amish do things.”

“Well, if that's their custom, okay. I guess everybody looks happy around here with or without honeymoons.”

“Husbands and wives love each other for all their lives.” Noticing her Mom's frown, Teresa said, “I'm sorry, Mom. I wasn't trying to make you feel bad.” Teresa took her mother's hand as they walked.

“I've never even had a wedding, let alone a honeymoon,” Maurice said. “So yes, I do feel bad. Or perhaps just sad.”

“Mom, don't cry. God can change everything if you will trust Him. Why don't you stay around for a while and see what it's really like here? James won't mind if you use the upstairs bedroom. And you can help us get settled into the house.”

“That's very sweet of you.” Maurice's wiped her eyes. “I will certainly consider it. After I've been around you and baby Samuel this week, I don't want to go back to Asbury Park.”

“Then don't!” Teresa let go of her mother's hand and held open the washroom door.

Susan was standing inside by the sink, her face tear-stained. Maurice smiled at her as she moved into the kitchen.

Teresa lingered behind and took Susan's hand. “Mom thinks you're happy for me, but I know you, and this is about something else. You're crying your heart out. Tell me why.”

“I saw Thomas talking with one of the visiting girls earlier at our house.” Susan broke into more sobs.

“Oh no!” Teresa groaned. “Are you sure? Maybe it was someone he knew. Perhaps you're jumping to conclusions.”

“That's what I keep telling myself, but I can't stop crying. He's betrayed me before, Teresa, and it feels likes he's doing it all over again.”

“Shall we go find Thomas? Let's just ask him and clear this up.”

Susan smiled through her tears. “I don't think that would be wise. I'll try to gather myself together. We have to go in for supper before long. And you'd better go back to James. It's
your
day, and I don't want this time to become something about me.”

“Susan, I care about you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even be having this wonderful day.”

“I'll be okay.” Susan squeezed Teresa's hands and motioned her back out the washroom door. “I'll see you in a little bit.”

Teresa gave Susan a hug. “It'll be okay.”

Susan nodded as Teresa left.

Why did trouble have to haunt this day, Teresa wondered. Hopefully Susan was imaging things.
Please help Susan, dear God
, she prayed, pausing to watch James talking with an
Englisha
man. Her husband's back was turned toward her. The final rays of sunshine had broken through the thin clouds and were blazing over James's shoulders.

As she approached, James turned slightly toward her and then back to the
Englisha
man. “Dennis, please meet my
frau
, Teresa. Teresa, this is Dennis, who is visiting today.”

“Hi,” Teresa said with a nod, her gaze immediately turning back to James's face. She could almost kiss him right here in front of everyone. He looked so handsome and so glad to see her.

“I'm glad to finally meet you, Teresa,” Dennis was saying. “I saw the others going up to shake your hand, but, not knowing you, I wasn't quite up to that in the crowd. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Teresa said.

“Dennis came looking for Menno and was asked to stay for our wedding,” James explained. He's doing some sort of research on the Amish and wanted to see how we do things. A wedding was a good place to start.”

“Yes, it was,” Dennis agreed. “And thank you for allowing me to share your day. I thoroughly enjoyed myself! It's getting a bit late, though, and I do need to be going.”

“You were going to ask Menno some questions,” James said. “Were you able to do that?”

“No, but I'll return and do so at a quieter time.”

“You're welcome to stay the evening yet,” James assured him. “We have supper and then hold a hymn sing.”

“Thank you very much, but I do need to leave. I did get to at least meet Mr. Hostetler. I've arranged to come back tomorrow to speak with him at length. With his daughter getting married today, it didn't seem quite appropriate to take up very much of his time.”

Teresa laughed. “I'm not really his daughter. I've just kind of grown into the family.”

“There's nothing wrong with that,” Dennis said. “And, James, you take care of this lovely bride of yours.”

“I'll do that.” James slipped his hand around Teresa's shoulder. They stood watching the last of the sunset as Dennis left for his car.

Moments later someone hollered from behind them, “Supper's ready!”

Teresa smiled and pulled James toward the barn.

“Someone's in a hurry for supper,” Minister Emery Stutsman muttered as they passed. “I hope the rest of the young people get themselves here this quickly.”

“I'm sure they will.” Teresa pointed toward the barn. “See, the boys are already coming.”

“I hope the girls agree.” Emery laughed. “It sure makes my task a lot easier.”

By the time they were seated at the center table, Susan and Thomas had appeared. Teresa looked over at Susan. Was she still upset or had Thomas said something to soothe her fears? She was smiling at least, but then Susan was always able to put on a front if she felt she needed to.

Ben and Mary appeared moments later, taking their places on James's side of the table. The young people continued to file in through the doorway, the steady couples first, followed by those who had been paired up for the evening by the “hook and crook” of the matching team. Emery Stutsman didn't have to do any hard work to get people gathered, regardless of how much he complained.

Teresa smiled at the obviously nervous young couples. She hadn't attended many Amish weddings, and now she would never have to face the matchmaking boys again as they came around on wedding afternoons, carrying their pencils and notepads, taking all the girls' names down who still were without a date for the evening and then retreating to where the boys were scattered throughout the premises. There they began asking the boys which girls they wanted to be paired with. First come, first served, was the rule of the day. The girls' only option was to say no if the choice was too onerous. And few did. Susan had warned Teresa of the process at the first wedding she attended. It was better to appear submissive and swallow whatever distaste one experienced if the boy chosen wasn't your favorite. This was only for the evening. It wasn't like one had to be alone with the boy or endure long conversations. Some couples said only a few words to each other all evening as they sat at the tables.

Since James had been taking her home from the hymn singings, he had also escorted her to the tables at weddings. Now he would be her husband wedding nights and regular weekday nights! Teresa leaned against his shoulder and looked up into his face. He looked down at her, his eyes shining with happiness.

Minister Emery interrupted Teresa's thoughts by announcing the prayer time in a loud voice. He led out after they had bowed their heads. Then supper began. As soon as Henry and Lucy, the servers for the center table, appeared carrying their plates of food, the other servers began waiting on their tables to the eager smiles of the hungry young people.

As they started to eat, Teresa gave her mom a smile across the room. She waved, not knowing that Amish didn't wave at weddings. At least no one was looking at Maurice strangely. People were being so wonderful and understanding. Teresa took another bite as she looked across the gathered group of guests.

Soon the years would roll on, she thought. Someday Samuel would be sitting here at his own wedding with a lovely bride by his side.

Giving up all hope of keeping back the tears of joy, Teresa let them run down her cheeks. James kept on eating with one hand and, with his other, holding her hand under the table. No one stopped eating to stare, even though they had to have noticed.

Did Amish brides usually break down on their wedding day? Teresa wondered. Well, if not, they were being introduced to a new tradition. The weeping bride at the wedding-night supper before the hymn singing.

T
he hymn singing had ended an hour ago, but James and Teresa were still inside chatting with the guests, many who were wishing them a last “God speed” on their married life. Susan waited in the front yard. The gas lantern shining through the front window of the house sent warm light streaming across the lawn and up the side of the washhouse. Susan studied each buggy profile as the long line approached. Thomas's buggy hadn't appeared yet.