“Sounds like a weighty decision,” she said.
“It was all I could do not to give in to what Dat wants.”
Lena was curious why he was entrusting her with these rather personal details.
“You see, I’m starting a cabinetmakin’ business with Manny Beiler.” Arden went on to say that he and Manny had been working toward this decision for some months now, trying to keep it mum till the right time. “I needed to talk with my Dat about it, though,” he added, sounding almost sad. “Like I said, real hard to do, but necessary, so Dat can line up one of my brothers or someone else to go on with the farm when he retires.”
Lena held her breath, wondering how the conversation with his father had turned out.
“I wish I’d told Dat sooner . . . but I never had an opportunity like this before, and I don’t think I’d be pushin’ ahead without a partner. I’ve always liked makin’ furniture—kinda got the knack from Dat, who’s wunnerbaar with wood. I like making two pieces of wood look almost like they’ve grown together that way.”
She listened, caught by the rise and fall of his emotions in the space of only a few minutes. “I s’pose your father understands your keen interest in this work, then.”
“Well, he wants to discuss it more, no doubt to see if he can talk me out of it.”
“And can he?” Lena asked.
“Nee, I’m not a second-guesser.” Arden sped up, moving ahead of the other skaters now. “Do ya think I’m doin’ the right thing, Lena Rose? I haven’t told anyone else this yet.”
She had to stop and think about that. No other man had ever asked her opinion on an important issue. Most men just expected her to agree with them. “Do what you believe you’re s’posed to do. What God has put in your heart.”
“Jah, trustin’ in His guidance is best,” he replied.
The cold had seeped deep into Lena’s bones, and Arden suggested they go warm up near the big bonfire. Across from them, Lena could see Eli with Lydia, warming themselves, too.
“Cabinetmaking and remodeling are ideal for me—I can’t imagine myself as a farmer for the rest of my life,” Arden went on. “But I’m real sorry to disappoint my father.”
“Do your older brothers—or brothers-in-law—have farms of their own?”
“That’s the tetchy part. My brothers are all set, so we’ll see what happens.”
She understood now why Arden felt so stuck.
“I don’t mean to burden ya with this, Lena Rose. Sorry.”
“It’s not a burden,” she said quickly. “Not at all.”
Once they’d gotten almost too warm, Arden asked if she wanted to skate again, and she agreed, realizing how good it felt to be asked. This friendship with Arden was unlike any she’d had with fellows back home, including Hans, she thought as they walked toward the frozen pond once again. She appreciated Arden’s treating her as though her thoughts really mattered.
After the skating party, the youth were served popcorn, cupcakes, and hot cocoa at Calvin and Deb Grant’s farmhouse overlooking the large pond. There was much Deitsch chatter inside the comfortable home with its high-beamed family room and a wall of windows overlooking the snowy acres of land.
A tall Christmas tree stood over in one corner, shining with ornaments and white lights, and a large wreath with a silvery bow hung over the mantel. On either side of the wreath gleamed white and silver candles, and an antique-looking Nativity scene graced the coffee table.
Even though she had come here twice to use the phone, Lena felt nearly out of place in this house. She remembered how Harley had talked about the kitchen remodel that Arden and Manny had completed earlier this month. Arden must have been trying his hand at remodeling and cabinetmaking well before telling his father.
Because it was growing late, Eli came over and asked Lena if she was ready to head home.
“Whenever you’re ready,” she replied. “And if you’d like some time alone with Lydia, you can drop me at home first.”
“She says she’s tired.”
“Then I’m ready now.” Lena turned to say good-bye to Arden, adding, “I hope ya get things sorted out with your Dat.”
“Denki,” he said, giving her a wink. “I appreciate that.”
Ach, he likes me too much, she thought as she hurried out to Eli’s open buggy and climbed in next to Lydia. I need to be more careful around him.
CHAPTER
20
Lena worked with Mimi the following Friday until that afternoon, when she read with Rebekah Petersheim, noticing even more progress. She could tell that Rebekah was becoming more confident in reading aloud each week and wished someone had taken the time to help her long before now. The woman had known and understood far more than she’d given herself credit for, and she’d been working hard to practice in between lessons.
As Rebekah was preparing to leave, she hesitated at the door and, turning back, said, “Ach, Lena . . . last week I told ya some things, and I might’ve given ya the wrong impression.”
Lena didn’t want the woman to feel like she had to share more than she was willing. “It’s all right, really.”
Yet Rebekah seemed determined to forge ahead. “There are some rumors swirling. . . .”
At Lena’s nod, Rebekah continued. “I shouldn’t care what people think of me, ’specially if they don’t know the truth. But I do care what you think, Lena Rose.”
Lena smiled. “Remember, no one knows the troubled path other folk must walk.”
Rebekah blew out a breath. “Ain’t that the truth.”
“And I truly care about what happened to you.”
Rebekah’s eyes glinted with tears. “Then you’re one of the few, if I dare say it.” She seemed to steel herself, as though gathering pluck to say more. “Here’s what most folk ain’t willing to hear. You see, at the time I came to be with Cora Ruth and her family—nearly a year ago now—my husband had just been put under a severe Bann for his drinking habit. The ministers wanted
