Witnessing his family’s coming together this way gave Harley the shot in the arm he needed to keep plugging along with his farm—at least till the time was right to turn it all over to Eli. One day, he and his bride, and their little ones, will live in this house, Harley thought, and went to return to the farm work.
Tessa stopped by to offer to continue helping Lena Rose with the sewing work, as she had done since her mother’s hospitalization. This was a welcome surprise to Lena. “Denki,” she said, finding it encouraging, because during the past three days with Tessa, hardly a dozen words had been spoken.
After bidding Tessa good-bye, Lena went for a quick afternoon walk and pondered all that had happened, especially the news from home. She knew she had done right by Mimi in turning down the offer, but it didn’t make things any easier.
Later that night, when Lena Rose was alone in her room, she found it hard to answer Mammi Schwartz’s recent letter, which reported how downcast Chris and the rest of the family were feeling about having missed the chance to celebrate with Lena on her birthday.
My thoughtful little brother. She wondered how he would react if he heard she’d rejected an offer to live and work but a mile from where he lived with Dawdi and Mammi Schwartz. The thought made her gloomy again, and she resolved not to be the one to tell him.
Before going to bed, she opened her Bible and read for a while, hoping it would free her mind from self-pity. Please work things out for me, Lord. For all of us.
“Can ya reach the pinking shears?” Lena asked Tessa the next morning. Friday had dawned with rain showers, and now that the sun was shining, the atmosphere felt heavy with humidity.
Tessa handed the shears to Lena. “I heard from Dat that you turned down an offer to work as a mother’s helper back in Michigan.”
Lena was startled that Harley had revealed this. “Jah.”
“Well, it took me by surprise.” Tessa looked at her, eyes blinking. “You must care a lot for my Mamm.”
Lena nodded. “She and your father took me in when no one else had room. I wasn’t just an orphan . . . I felt homeless, to tell the truth.”
Tessa was quiet for a time as she regarded Lena. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure how to take it when you first arrived,” she said. “And I didn’t like how I felt, bein’ so far removed from my hometown an’ all . . . away from my family and feelin’ like Mamm had replaced me in her sewing business. . . . Why, she even gave you my room.”
Lena had wondered if this had been at the root of Tessa’s coolness toward her. “No one could ever replace you, Tessa. I sure hope ya know.”
They set to work again, talking only occasionally, but something had shifted, and Lena felt that the ice between them was broken. Things would surely work themselves out now. And she would keep doing her best to let Tessa know how essential she was to her family.
After their midmorning coffee break, Tessa asked, “Do ya think it’s a gut idea to take on more orders, with Mamm unable to work for a few weeks yet?”
“Should we ask her, maybe?”
Tessa was quick to shake her head. “She has enough to think ’bout.”
“Maybe let’s just see how we do keepin’ up, then.”
“Well, if someone drops by with something they want Mamm to sew, I think we should just let that order wait,” Tessa added. “Or if the customer is willin’ to have you or me do it, that’s fine.”
“Sounds like a wise plan,” Lena agreed, and Tessa gave her a small smile in return.
That afternoon, Mimi was released from the hospital, though still a bit pale. Lena and Ada took great care to get her comfortably situated in the main level guest bedroom.
Later, Lena worked alone in the sewing room, where she thought about the things Tessa had shared from her heart. And an hour later, when the door opened and in walked Tessa to visit her mother, Lena was delighted, though not nearly as much as Mimi.
“It’s nice to have you here to fuss over me,” Mimi said after Tessa reached down to give her a gentle hug. “It’s great to be home.”
After Tessa and her mother had visited for a while, Mimi lay down for a rest, and Tessa checked in on Lena and the sewing. “I’ve got an hour to spare if you could use the help.”
Lena gladly accepted, and as Tessa sat down in her mother’s usual chair, she remarked, “You know, the days I’ve worked here with ya are the only ones I’ve ever been away from Joey,” she said, looking well rested and cheerful.
“Joey’s so cute,” Lena said, happy for the conversation. “He puts the G in go.”
“He’s a handful right now, for sure.” Tessa laughed.
“Oh, he’ll grow up fast enough.”
“You helped raise your little brothers and sisters, ain’t so?” Tessa asked.
“Well, some of them, but especially Chris, my youngest sibling.”
They talked about Lena’s family, and then Tessa mentioned Manny’s passion for cabinetmaking and remodeling work. “It’s goin’ amazingly well,” Tessa said. “He and Arden have more customers than they ever hoped for, at least for two men just starting up.” She paused a moment and glanced Lena’s way. “Manny’s told me that you and Arden are a couple and have been seein’ a lot of each other.”
Lena was a little shocked by this. “Nee . . . we’re only friends.”
Tessa gave her an odd look. “That’s not what Manny thinks. He says Arden’s determined to court you.”
Is this what Arden’s telling people? Lena wondered, realizing that more than just Manny might see their relationship that way. Maybe I should be more careful . . . not spend so much time with him, she thought, realizing she
