“We’re fairly serious . . . though I hope it doesn’t make ya feel awkward.”
“Nee, you’re free to date who you want to, no matter who Ammon’s related to.”
Emma blushed. “He’s so gut to me.”
“That’s wunnerbaar, sister. Truly.”
As she and Emma walked, some folk waved and others called out a willkumm to Lena Rose.
“How’s it feel to be back?” Emma asked.
“Honestly, I’m afraid I’ll wake up tomorrow, and it’ll all be a dream.”
Emma frowned. “You yearned so to be home. You wrote so many letters!”
“That’s putting it lightly.” Lena laughed; it was wonderful to have this time alone with Emma. It seemed as if they were picking up right where they’d left off.
“Will ya keep in touch with Dat’s cousins back in Lancaster County?” Emma asked out of the blue. “You seemed so fond of Cousin Mimi . . . and your friend Lydia Smucker, too.”
“I’ve already written them both—can ya believe it?”
Emma seemed to be thinking about something else. And after a little while, she asked, “What about your friend . . . Arden Mast?”
Lena was surprised she brought him up.
“Is there anythin’ you wanna tell me?” Emma smiled, the wisps of new hair at her temples fluttering in the breeze.
“Well, ain’t you nosy?” Lena laughed.
“Ah . . . so you still like him?”
Lena sighed. “It’s all over between us, Emma.”
“But that’s not what I asked.”
I do like Arden, very much. Lena sighed inwardly. But we weren’t meant to be.
Once Lena returned to the Yoders’, she and Clara sat out on the front porch at sunset to watch the horses and buggies go by. Clara kept her entertained with stories of her grandchildren’s antics, and Lena kept hoping Wilbur might stop over. “I got another letter from Lillian yesterday,” Clara said now, mentioning her youngest daughter. “She seems to be enjoying it out in Berne. She wonders how the substitute teacher is doin’ here.”
“It’s hard moving to a new place,” Lena said, remembering her first days in Pennsylvania. “Is the dialect the same there as here?”
“Not sure. She hasn’t mentioned any difference.”
Nodding, Lena Rose noticed an open carriage coming this way, and when she looked closer, she saw that it was Wilbur. “Oh, Clara, will ya excuse me?” she said, rising quickly out of her chair and bounding down the steps and out to the road.
“Hop in,” Wilbur said, grinning from ear to ear. “I want ya to ride in my fine black buggy.”
She stepped right in, and off they went. “I s’pose ya got my note.”
“Well, I didn’t inhale my supper for nothin’.” He went on to ask a lot of the same questions Emma and the others had earlier today.
Lena filled him in on her life. “How about you? What’s goin’ on in yours?”
Wilbur’s straw hat had slid back, showing his thick bangs. “The factory where I work is short on employees right now, so I’ve been workin’ longer hours and getting overtime pay, which’ll help me save up for a place of my own.”
Lena was impressed with his maturity. She caught the scent of rain in the air.
Wilbur must have noticed it, too. “I have a big umbrella, in case you’re wonderin’.”
“You’re all prepared,” she said, thankful to be riding with him. “Any particular reason?”
He glanced at her, a smile creeping across his face. “I’ve got my eye on a girl but haven’t asked her out just yet. If I get up the nerve, maybe I’ll introduce ya.”
“Ach, you’d better!” she said, laughing.
“She’s real nice . . . reminds me of you, Lena Rose.”
“So . . . does this young lady have a name?”
“Not sayin’ just yet.” His chuckle made her smile. Ah, this brother of mine! she thought, wondering if he and Emma might just marry before she did.
But she pushed the thought away. What mattered right now was enjoying this splendid ride around Centreville in Wilbur’s handsome courting carriage.
CHAPTER
36
The next weeks intermingled work and play. Lena helped Clara in the kitchen garden or with indoor cleaning, as well as spent time with Chris, who liked to see her every day. So she put him to work alongside her, helping to weed or plant or hoe.
Chris had become more talkative, and it felt so good to hear him express his thoughts on everything from cleaning Tubby Tabby’s litter box to what kind of farmer he might be someday. Sometimes, he wanted to talk about the Bible verses Dawdi Schwartz had read after supper the night before. And through it all, Lena soaked up his attention—she’d missed so much during his first year of school that she was thankful to God for this time to catch up.
There were times when Lena missed seeing Lydia Smucker. Lydia’s first letter had indicated that things were very different without Lena around. But as the days flew by, Lena could sense that her friend was adjusting to the distance between them.
Lydia also hinted that she and Eli were talking about tying the knot this wedding season, if all continued to go well in his plan to take over the family farm. In fact, Manny and Arden will start building a smaller Dawdi Haus for Solomon in just a few days, Lydia had written.
“Sounds like Lydia will be a bride come fall,” Lena murmured, happy for her friend.
But as much as Lena missed Lydia, not being able to talk with Arden anymore had been the hardest. She’d even started a letter to him, but after writing two pages, she realized it was a mistake and tore it into small pieces, making sure no one could read what her heart had dictated.
There were nights, however, when she dreamed that she and Arden were out riding in his courting carriage or ice-skating . . . always laughing and having a lovely time. When she awakened, a sad, heavy feeling would fall over her, and she would miss him all the more. It was strange, really, because she had never dreamed about him while in Leacock Township. Why now?
Even so, Arden was many miles away, and she was
