When the family members had gathered, the men milled around talking and then claimed their spots at various tables. The young girls jumped rope, and the little boys played jacks on the back walkway, while the older school-age children darted amongst all of them, playing hide-and-seek.
Lena chatted with Tessa and Ada as they carried the many picnic items from the kitchen, taking note of all the side dishes the daughters and daughters-in-law had brought. Goodness, we’ll all be eatin’ leftovers for days! It was after she’d set down the potato salad that she noticed several more buggies arriving. Surprised to see Lydia Smucker and her parents, and then Melvin and Cora Ruth with their little ones climbing down from the back of the buggy, Lena turned to ask Tessa about it. But little Joey was fussy just then, so his mother hurried over to him, leaving Lena Rose to wonder all the more, especially when James Zook and Rebekah Petersheim drove up next, both dressed in churchgoing attire.
Are all the People coming?
———
Harley couldn’t help but glance at Lena Rose every couple of minutes, amused by her reaction to all the supposedly unanticipated guests—each family bringing more food to share. He hurried over to greet James Zook.
“Hullo,” he said, a grin on his face when he observed James help Rebekah Petersheim down from the carriage. “This was a wunnerbaar-gut idea you had, Rebekah.”
“I’ll say ’twas,” James replied with a smile at Rebekah, who didn’t look like she was going to abide by tradition and go help the womenfolk. Rather, she stayed right there with James, her face fairly glowing.
“You kept it a secret, jah?” Rebekah said, then asked if the preachers had arrived.
Harley nodded. “Haven’t seen the brethren yet, but they’ll be here soon. Not sure both preachers are comin’.”
“Well, we couldn’t have asked for a better day for this,” James said, standing taller, his cane at his side. He gave Rebekah a winsome smile.
“Was thinkin’ that, too,” Harley said, happy to stand there making small talk and enjoying the pleasant breeze.
A few minutes later, Bishop Amos arrived with Patricia, followed by Preacher Elam with his family, and then behind them, the deacon with his wife and little ones.
“Looks like we’re nearly all here,” Harley said, excusing himself to walk over to welcome the ministers.
———
“I thought this was a family picnic,” Lena told Eli quietly as she brought out glasses of iced mint tea for some of the older folk, including Solomon, who sat on the prayer bench with Blackie panting at his feet.
“Looks like it’s that and a few more.” Eli adjusted his straw hat.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said it like that,” she told Eli. “All of yous are my family.”
Eli grinned and bobbed his head. “We think of you thataway, too, Lena Rose. We really do.”
Later, when the bishop removed his straw hat and led the silent mealtime prayer, Lena folded her hands and thanked God for the bounty of picnic food before adding her gratitude for the wonderful Leacock community she was blessed to know.
Lydia, Tessa, and Ada, as well as Mimi and little Emily Ebersol, all chose to sit with Lena at a table under one of the oak trees. “Have ya ever noticed how much better food tastes when eaten outdoors?” Lydia asked after finishing a drumstick. Emily looked puzzled and asked how that could be, which brought a round of laughter to their table.
Blackbirds called from the treetops, and Blackie began to bark at them till Solomon spoke sharply to him in Deitsch. The German shepherd let out another muffled yip before lying back down again by the prayer bench, his eyes still on the birds.
Lena realized how much she was enjoying herself in that moment, not striving and yearning to be elsewhere with nearly every thought, like she often had since her first day here. Looking into the faces of the people around her, she realized she was finally at peace.
When they’d eaten their fill—a few of the men had thirds—Mimi invited everyone to have cake and ice cream, or any of the other tempting dessert offerings.
Lena declared she was too full but was tickled pink to spot Arden near the dessert table, although he hung back on the sidelines.
“Ach, ya must have a little something sweet, Lena Rose,” Lydia urged, inviting her to have a look-see at the spread of goodies over yonder.
Smiling, Mimi agreed. “Doesn’t hurt to have a look.”
So Lena Rose went along with Lydia. “I wish every day could be a picnic sort of day,” Lena said, meaning it.
“You do seem awful happy.” Lydia glanced at her.
Rebekah was standing near the pies and cookies and Mimi’s enticing chocolate cake. Grinning, Rebekah came over and gave Lena a hug, as sunny as a schoolgirl in love. “Wie geht’s, Lena Rose?”
“Doin’ fine, but even better because I get to see you today!”
“Ever so happy to be here.” Rebekah smiled sweetly. “Denki again for the birthday goodies and that card. It was nice of you and Mimi to remember me.”
Lena patted her hand. “We love ya.”
The older woman smiled all the more and asked if Lena was going to have some dessert or just look at it.
Lena laughed. “You sound like Mimi.”
At the far end of the table, Lena noticed an upside-down straw hat filled with envelopes and notes. Then it dawned on Lena: As radiant as Rebekah was looking today, this must be a spur-of-the-moment wedding, which would explain why the ministers were present. I had no idea they were doing this!
While they decided which dessert to choose, Lena kept mum about her suspicions. Does Lydia know what’s going on? she thought, wondering if she might find a discreet moment to ask her.
———
Lena had just finished eating Mimi’s delicious chocolate cake and a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream when Harley rose, hatless, held up his hands, and looked out at the
