“Well, I thought it was supposed to be food.”
Arden frowned a bit humorously, as if giving it some thought. “Jah, you’re right, food’s first.” His laughter was cheering, and she wanted to memorize its sound.
Expertly, Arden tied a fly on the end of his line and explained that one of the best times of the day for trout fishing was just after the sun dropped below the tree line, when the mayflies appeared in swarms above the creek, knotting and mating in midair. “When they land on the surface, the trout rise out of the water to feed on them,” Arden said very quietly as they continued to sit in the long, soft grass, waiting with their fishing rods—dry flies on their fly lines. “It’s fun to watch.”
She smiled for him, capturing each moment in her memory for always.
“Mayflies can be fickle. Sometimes they show up, and other times not,” he said, then added, “Mayfly swarms are a sign of clean water. But the water temperature and the air have to be just right.”
The sky was still light, but only a patch of it could be seen through the thicket of trees on either side of the clear stream. Recently, she’d taken notice of the beguiling twinkling lights at dusk as the lightning bugs came out. What joy it was when Harley and Mimi’s grandchildren came over for supper, then went out to chase after them, giggling and having themselves a wonderful-good time.
A chorus of crickets and katydids were the music of twilight, there in that private haven. And Lena thought about the news she must share with Arden.
It’s time, she thought, hoping she wouldn’t stumble over her words.
But at just the moment she’d worked up the courage, Arden stood up and offered his hand, helping her to her feet.
“Watch now,” Arden whispered, leaning closer and pointing out the first two or three mayflies as they quivered a few feet above the water. As dusk tiptoed in, dozens more mayflies joined them, tethering and hovering close to the rippling stream before unknotting and flitting away.
Following Arden’s lead, she moved silently to the edge of the creek bank.
He glanced at her, gesturing with his pole as if to remind her of what he’d shown her to do. “Get ready to cast your line,” he said barely above a whisper.
A thrill rushed through her as his arm brushed against hers. She nodded as Arden took his position several yards from her. And in this moment, just as she was gathering the courage to reveal her plans to return home to teach school, she realized that somewhere along the line they’d become more than friends. What Tessa said was true. We are a couple. She blinked back tears. Ach, what have I done?
Lena turned to watch the mayflies come to rest on the creek’s surface. She felt anxious, her eyes fixed on the flies and the surface of the water, wondering if she could catch a fish to take home to the woman who thought of her as a daughter. Can I? she hoped now.
Then, in that instant, she saw the trout rippling the surface of the water, some rising above it . . . ever so many.
Quickly, she cast her line.
———
After they had removed the string of trout from the cold water and placed them in a bucket, Lena still hadn’t gotten the nerve to tell Arden. After these many months here, wouldn’t she be foolish to outright reject his offer to court her? After all, Hans hadn’t looked at her the way Arden had. Yet she’d done her best to keep any feelings of romance at bay while here in Lancaster County. Until recently, Lena thought she’d succeeded . . . at least on her part.
Truth was, fishing with Arden tonight, catching his joyful glances and sensing how appreciative he felt, she was torn. Torn between her growing feelings for him and knowing she would never return to Michigan if she agreed to be his sweetheart-girl.
She sighed and was aware of the lump in her throat. Oh, but it was going to be so hard to walk away from this most wonderful friend!
Minutes rushed by, and they gathered up their belongings and the bucket of fresh trout, then headed past the dense underbrush near the creek, toward his father’s meadow.
She made herself finally say, “Arden, I’m real sorry . . . but I have somethin’ to tell ya.”
He stopped walking, his features visible in the fading light. “You’re apologizing for somethin’ you haven’t said?”
“My heart aches for my family. You know that.” She managed to take a breath. “I’m goin’ back to them.”
Arden set down the fishing rods and the bucket. “Soon?”
She nodded as tears stole down her cheeks.
His eyes searched her face, and then he was reaching for her, gently consoling her and taking her into his arms. “You love your family,” he whispered against her hair. “And they love you.” He pulled away to look at her. “I understand that most of all.”
And then he wrapped his arms around her again. She felt breathless, scarcely able to think of her next words, let alone enough to push Arden away as she must. Because, wrapped in his tender embrace like this, she longed to stay there, his heart beating against hers, her head on his shoulder. To step away from him seemed unthinkable . . . the last thing she wanted to do. “Arden, I . . .” She moved slightly to look into his face.
“What is it, Lena?” he asked, still holding both of her hands. “Talk to me.”
“I’ve accepted a teaching position at the Centreville Amish schoolhouse,” she said, her voice breaking. “But now . . . being here with you . . . I’m wondering if—”
“Ach, you need to take it,” he said, to her great surprise. “Without a doubt.”
Feeling confused, she looked down at their hands—the way they were entwined seemed so right. Of course I’ll take the job.
But she needed to
