Lena Rose curled up with Hans’s pretty card and the letter in her room, having waited till now to sit down to relish his words after a long, busy day. She felt cozy and peaceful, surrounded by the lantern’s light and Mimi’s warm handmade quilt—a Log Cabin pattern done in tans, blues, and browns.
The card was an attractive “I miss you” card with a farmland scene of Centreville, which stirred up more longings for home.
She smiled as she began to read the letter—his way of writing was such that she could practically hear him talking. It made her antsy to see him again.
Partway down the page, following his usual friendly greeting, Hans had written a little about the current weather there and what sort of winter The Old Farmer’s Almanac was forecasting. He’s always put stock in that almanac, she thought, chuckling to herself.
Hans also told what he had been doing since he last wrote. And then she read these words:
I realize this is something we discussed before you left, but it still bothers me, Lena. I’m discouraged about the distance between us, and every day I wish it had worked out for you to stay here, like you’d hoped.
Honestly, a long-distance courtship is harder than I thought.
At least it’s almost December. I’m really looking forward to seeing you at Christmas. What a good time we’ll have together!
She rolled over and sighed. Thinking of seeing Hans again, and the visit to her hometown, made Lena wish she had some photographs of Hans and her family all lined up across the dresser mirror. Even so, she knew better than to desire such forbidden things, and having photos might stir up even more yearning, now that she thought of it.
The small parcel of postcards she’d chosen as her remembrance of Dat and Mamma was still tucked away in a far corner of her locked suitcase, beneath the bed. She could have taken them out and read them by now, but Lena was hesitant, afraid she might hear her father’s words in her head as she read what would no doubt be his loving declarations to sweet Mamma while they were courting. She was not at all ready for that.
Lena outened the lantern and climbed into bed for the night; she could see the full moon’s radiance glowing through the shade. Frankly, she understood her beau’s frustration and felt the same way.
If only a family back home could take me in and I could get a paying job, she thought. Then things would be all right.
Tired, Lena Rose said her silent bedtime prayers and added one for divine wisdom. What more could she do?
Hans cares dearly for me, she thought, trying to quell her disappointment that things weren’t moving faster.
But after more minutes passed, she gave up on falling asleep, got up, and started walking down the hall to stand at the window. There, she stared at the big, round moon as it shone over nearby farmhouses and barns, as well as the barren fields below. I’ve got to see my beau, she thought, tears welling up.
CHAPTER
9
That last Saturday of November dawned cold yet sunny, and Lena rose early to write a thoughtful reply to yesterday’s letter from Hans. After penning her thoughts, she set the letter aside and brushed her long hair—Emma had always called it “dishwater blond” in jest—and wound it up in a braidless bun, the way Mimi and Lydia wore theirs. After that, she dressed and headed downstairs to help Mimi make breakfast, still wanting to write to her siblings, too. There would be plenty of time to do that and mail all the letters after the dishes were washed and put away.
———
After Lena and the Stoltzfuses, including Solomon and Eli, had enjoyed a generous meal of fried eggs and scrapple, potatoes, and plenty of coffee, they stayed around for Bible reading before Harley and Eli returned to the barn. The verse Harley had repeated after breakfast continued to echo in Lena’s mind. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” He had gone on to read a few other verses similar to this command from their heavenly Father. Lena appreciated Harley’s observations and pondered them while she tended to the dishes as Mimi sewed.
It was as Lena dried the coffeepot that a passenger van pulled into the driveway, coming to a stop near the back door.
Lena noticed it first; then Mimi came and looked out the window.
“Well, goodness’ sake, this must be Tessa!” Mimi exclaimed.
Lena Rose couldn’t help but take note of the dear woman’s delight. This was one of nearly a half-dozen visits from Harley and Mimi’s younger daughter that had taken place since Lena’s arrival, something Mimi had pointed out, telling Lena that they’d rarely seen Tessa before Lena came.
“I can’t wait to hold my little Joey!” Mimi remarked as she headed directly to the back door to greet her four-month-old grandson and Tessa.
Lena hung back as she had the other times they’d visited. It had been somewhat awkward since the very first time Tessa had stopped by, especially when Mimi mentioned that Lena was working alongside her in the sewing room and was nicely situated in Tessa’s former bedroom. At the time, Lena had felt a twinge of guilt at Tessa’s injured expression. That and Tessa’s cool demeanor toward her communicated that Tessa perhaps viewed her as a rival who was trying to take her place. Truth be known, Lena felt just terrible about it.
“Hullo, Mamm,” Tessa said as she came up the porch steps in her black coat and outer bonnet, a scarf around her neck and Joey in her arms.
Mimi welcomed her inside with a kiss on the cheek. “Kumme in, dear. It’s awful cold to be out with the little one.”
Tessa handed the bundled baby to Mimi, who leaned close to his tiny face and began to make over him.
Lena Rose joined her, curious to see how much Joey
