Where Love Grows (5 page)

“Oh!”
Mamm
said. “I guess we'll have to see what can be done then. Susan, why don't you drive on down to Ada's and see if she can spare a few dresses. Maurice looks about her size.”

“Would that be a compliment?” Maurice asked with a hint of a smile.

“Believe me, it's a compliment,” Susan said. “Shall I go now,
Mamm
?”

“Yes. Take the buggy; don't walk. You won't want to carry any dresses Ada gives you. They might be too heavy for that distance. While you're gone, I'll show Maurice her room.”
Mamm
reached for the suitcase sitting on the ground.

“Oh no you don't.” Maurice shook her head. “No maid service in Amish country, I'm sure. I'm starting this visit off right.”

Mamm
smiled and backed up. Maurice picked up the suitcase and the two women went toward the house.

“Looks like those two hit it off well,” Teresa said, watching them cross the lawn. When they made their way onto the porch,
Mamm
held the front door while Maurice entered. They shared a laugh about something as they disappeared inside.

“Don't you just love when mothers get along?” Susan commented as she walked to the buggy, Teresa at her side.

“Beats them not getting along. Especially when she's going to stay for at least a week.”

“Maybe longer,” Susan said. “Too bad Yost has an Amish girlfriend now.”

“Stop it!” Teresa laughed. “You're something else, Susan!”

“Well, it was a thought,” Susan said with a wry smile. “Are you going with me to Ada's?”

“I'd better stay and get back to work,” Teresa said. “See you in a little bit.”

Susan climbed aboard the buggy and drove out to the main road, heading south a short distance before pulling into her sister Ada's driveway. She left Toby by the hitching post without tying him up. He was tired enough to stay put while she dashed into the house.

“Good afternoon!” Ada's eldest girl, Joan, greeted Susan at the door.

“Hi,” Susan said. “Is your
mamm
home?”

“Upstairs.” Joan pointed. “Shall I call her?”

“I'll just run up.” Susan opened the stairway door. “What are you doing on this nice summer afternoon?”

“Baking cookies.” Joan beamed. “Do you want one?”

“I'd better pass, but they do smell wonderful. I'd better get upstairs and see your
mamm
.”

“Hello!” Ada called from the top of the stairs.

“Don't come down,” Susan said, taking the steps up two at a time.

“What's going on?” Ada asked.

“Teresa's
mamm
arrived, and she's asking for Amish dresses to wear.
Mamm
sent me over to ask if she can borrow several of yours. She's about your size.”

“
Yah
, of course.” Ada followed Susan downstairs and then led the way into the main bedroom. “What's Teresa's
mamm
like?”

“About as nice as Teresa, if that's possible.”

“Is she divorced?”

“I don't know. Neither she nor Teresa have ever said.”

“Well, it doesn't matter,” Ada said. “Here, take one of my dark-blue dresses, this dark-green one, and maybe my light-blue Sunday dress in case she wants to come to services.”

“Thanks!” Susan said, her arms full.

“Do you want help carrying the dresses?”

“No, I've got it. And thanks again.”

“Can I give you at least one cookie?” Joan begged as she followed Susan to the front door.

Susan stopped and opened her mouth. Joan popped a cookie in. Susan chewed while Joan waited for the verdict, her hands twisted behind her back.

“They're wonderful! Now stop worrying, silly,” Susan said, giving Joan a big smile.

Joan looked relieved and opened the door.

Susan exited the house and hurried across the yard, placed the dresses on the backseat of the buggy, and then climbed up. She waved goodbye to Joan who was still on the porch and then urged Toby forward. He shook his head, and then they were off.

When she arrived home, Steve came out of the barn to help her unhitch. He had a curious look on his face. “So you have a visitor in the house? Teresa's
mamm
?”

“
Yah
, just in for the wedding. Teresa hopes she'll stay a little longer.”

“Is she as nice as Teresa?”

“Now look here, Teresa's already taken,” Susan teased.

Steve laughed. “She's still a nice girl. Let me take Toby to the barn for you.”

“Thanks.” Susan held the shafts while Steve led Toby forward.

“And I guess you're pretty nice too,” Steve said over his shoulder before marching toward the barn and leading the horse by the reins.

“What's that supposed to mean?” Susan shouted after him. “You
guess
?”

“Just teasing,” he said looking at her as he opened the barn door. Without a backward glance, he disappeared into the dark interior.

“Well,” Susan said, turning to walk toward the house, “such a tease.”

T
he evening supper table lay spread with mashed potatoes, gravy, meat casserole, green beans, creamed corn, and a garden salad. Pecan pies had been cooling on the counter since early morning. Susan took one last look around before hollering, “Supper's ready! Will someone call
Daett
in from the barn?”

“You can go,”
Mamm
called back from the living room. “I'll run upstairs and get Teresa and her
mamm
.”

As she walked out the washroom door, Susan glanced toward the barn. Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of a figure coming down the lane. She looked closer. “Joan!” she exclaimed. “What brings you out this time of the evening?”

Joan ran toward her and handed Susan a brown paper bag. “
Mamm
said to bring this dress up. I guess she thought of another one Teresa's
mamm
could use.”

“That was nice of her. Isn't it suppertime by now?”

“
Yah
, soon. But there's plenty of time to get back.
Mamm
said to ask if the dresses fit.”

“I don't know. Teresa's upstairs right now with her
mamm
, who is trying them on. I think we would have heard by now if they didn't fit.”

“Okay, that's good. I guess I'll see you then.” Joan turned to go, but Susan stopped her.

“Tell your
mamm
that if Steve doesn't come home for supper, he's here. I'm going to invite him to eat with us since we already have company tonight.”

“Okay. But tell Steve not to rush if he does come home.
Mamm
's running late, and he always arrives hungry.”

“I'll tell him.” Susan waved as Joan ran across the yard and headed toward home.

Young people!
Susan thought. They have so much energy. But she wasn't that old herself. It must be Teresa's wedding coming up that made her feel so ancient. The wedding was a reminder that she was old enough to be married…and even have children of her own by now. Most Amish girls were married soon after their twenty-first birthdays. She was well past that now and growing older by the minute. Should she marry Thomas? But nothing could be done about marriage unless she agreed to Thomas's plans. Maybe she would yet…perhaps next fall, but not sooner.

Susan walked toward the barn, glancing up at the setting sun in the west. Bright red and orange colors were splashed across the sky. She didn't slow down to take it in. Supper was on the table, and this wasn't the time to stare at sunsets and ponder problems. After supper and with the dishes done there would be plenty of time for dark thoughts.

“
Daett!
” Susan called, opening the barn door. “Supper's ready!”

There was no answer, so she walked in. Moving past the horse stalls, she noticed one of the back barn doors was swinging on its hinges in the breeze. She could see into the open barnyard where her
daett
and Steve were lying on their backs under a hayrack.

“Supper's ready,” she repeated. “Steve, you're invited to join us, if you wish.”

“I'd like to, but Ada will wonder where I am.” Steve scooted out and stood, stretching his back.

“I sent word with Joan that if you didn't show up in time for dinner it's because you accepted our invitation to eat with us.”

Steve smiled. “Then I'll stay. If nothing else than to get an earlier supper.”

Susan laughed. “Joan said you always arrive starved.”

“That's me,” he agreed, his smile broadening.

“We'll be right in then,”
Daett
said, still working under the large machine. “As soon as I get this bolt in.”

“Supper's on the table now,” Susan said. “Remember, Teresa's
mamm
is here. Joan came by to bring some dresses for her. Maurice doesn't want to draw attention to herself, so she asked if she could wear Amish clothing. We borrowed some from Ada.”

“Looks like we'd better get inside, Steve. We can't have the women waiting,”
Daett
said.

“That's what they say,” Steve said as he handed Menno an adjustable wrench.

Susan hurried back to the house, holding her apron off to the side so it wouldn't flap against her legs. She arrived at the washroom door breathless, thinking she ought to run more often. It felt good to move like a young girl again. Entering the kitchen, she uncovered the dishes, transferring the lids to the sink with one hand held underneath to catch any drips. When she turned around, Teresa was in the doorway, a smile on her face. “You have to come and see Mom in her Amish dress! She looks absolutely darling.”

“Ada's dresses fit then?”

Teresa beamed. “Perfectly. I didn't have to adjust anything. Come!”

Susan following Teresa into the living room where Maurice stood by the front window. She was clutching her hands together. “How do I look, Susan? It feels strange to be dressed this way.”

“You look great!” Susan walked around Maurice. “I almost wouldn't have known you.”

“I agree, Maurice,”
Mamm
said. “Ada's dress fits you perfectly. You look good enough for Sunday services.”

“Thank you.” Maurice's face glowed. “That makes me feel so much better.”

“You look so good you'll set old Yost Byler's heart pounding right out of his chest!” Susan said with a laugh. “Even if he's already made other plans.”

“Susan!”
Mamm
gasped. “Don't say things like that.”

“Who is Yost Byler?” Maurice asked.

“He's an older bachelor in the community. He has a history, let's just put it that way for now,”
Mamm
said. “Susan, you shouldn't tease like that.”

“Never mind Yost,” Susan declared. “If we don't eat soon, supper is going to be cold…and moving toward frostbite.”

“You're my kind of girl,” Maurice said. “Lead us to the food!”

Susan laughed. “This way to the kitchen!”

“Where's Menno?”
Mamm
asked, pausing to listen for sounds coming from the washroom.

“I told
Daett
to come right away, and I invited Steve to join us. I hope that's okay.”

“That's fine with me. But isn't Ada expecting him?”
Mamm
stepped outside the washroom door and hollered, “Supper!”

“I sent word back with Joan that he might be having supper with us,” Susan explained after her
mamm
stepped back into the kitchen.