“I think Verena and Liz and the younger boys might be a little surprised, but they already like Arden,” Emma reassured her.
So the next day, an off-Sunday from Preaching, Lena went to visit Aunt Mary Schwartz and sat down with her in the cozy kitchen to have coffee and sticky buns. “I’ve been wanting to tell ya somethin’ real special, Aendi.”
Aunt Mary set down her sticky bun. “Oh?”
“I have a serious beau.” Lena explained that she’d known Arden as a good friend while living in Lancaster County. “He’s been courting me since last month—not long, really—just since movin’ to Indiana, where he works at the same RV factory where Dat worked.”
Aunt Mary’s eyes welled up with tears. “Such lovely news.”
Lena reached for her hand. “I’m relieved you feel that way.”
“You’ve seemed ever so happy lately,” Aunt Mary replied softly. “Honestly, it’s wondered me.”
“To think Arden works in the exact same department where Dat was the head.”
“Isn’t that somethin’?” Mary pulled a hankie from her dress sleeve and dried her eyes. “Does this fella love ya, Lena Rose?”
“Enough to leave behind his entire family and a successful business back in Lancaster County . . . jah. I can hardly think of what he’s giving up for me without getting a lump in my throat. It must be the hand of the Lord, that’s all I can say.”
“Aw . . . ’tis gut.” Aunt Mary patted her eyes with the hankie again.
“I have an idea.” And Lena began to share her hope of gathering all her siblings in one location, as well as Dawdi and Mammi Schwartz, in order for them to get better acquainted with her beau on Thanksgiving Day. “What do ya think?”
“Well, let’s do it right here in this kitchen,” Aunt Mary suggested. “Wouldn’t that be ideal?”
“Only if my sisters and I can help with the cookin’.”
Aunt Mary smiled. “We’ll just see about that.”
“Ach, I can’t have ya cookin’ all morning over the hot stove. Won’t ya let my sisters and me pitch in?”
Aunt Mary was quiet for several moments, an endearing expression on her face. “Honestly, since I wasn’t able to offer a home to any of yous when your parents died, this is what I’d like to do for you and your brothers and sisters.”
“Are ya sure?” Lena didn’t want her aunt to do this all on her own. “Let Emma bake some pies, at least. She’ll be awful disappointed if she can’t bring something.”
“All right, then, but only Emma.” Aunt Mary chuckled. She certainly liked being in control of her kitchen and her menu.
They lingered, quietly talking and drinking black coffee while nibbling on sticky buns. Now and then, Lena glanced out at the featherlight snowflakes dusting the ground.
“Your Onkel Noah will be real glad to hear all this,” Aunt Mary said as she sipped her coffee. “He’s been prayin’ you wouldn’t end up without the love of a husband, teaching school for years and years. And now just look at ya.”
“But I love teaching. I hope to ask the school board if they’ll let me stay on once I’m married, at least till I have children of my own. I know that’s unheard of, but I still can hope.”
“Time will tell.”
As comfortable as she felt with Aunt Mary just now, Lena decided to reveal more. “Arden hasn’t officially proposed yet, but he’s been droppin’ hints about getting married in a year or so. That should give him more time to accumulate some ‘real gut money,’ as he says. And time for us to find a house to buy or rent, since right now he’s livin’ in a small apartment near the factory.”
“I won’t breathe a word.” Aunt Mary was beaming, her eyes shining with tears again. “And if you’d like to have the wedding dinner here, that’d be just fine, too.”
Hearing this, Lena scarcely knew what to think. “I never would’ve asked.”
“Well, see? Now ya don’t have to.”
They had a hearty laugh, and this time Aunt Mary was the one to reach over and clasp Lena’s hand. “I couldn’t be happier for ya, Lena.”
Lena embraced the love she felt from her dear aunt. “You know, after Dat and Mamma died, I wondered if I’d ever feel such joy again.”
Aunt Mary nodded and smiled. “Your uncle Noah will want to give his blessing, at some point . . . in your father’s stead.”
“Oh, I really think he’ll like Arden as much as you will.”
Aunt Mary raised her eyebrows and smiled thoughtfully. “From the look on your sweet face this minute, I believe we surely will.”
Lena thought about Uncle Noah’s blessing in Dat’s stead. The dearest words. Her heart was ever so full as she headed on foot to the Yoders’ farm. A year from now, Lord willing, I’ll be making my home with my darling!
CHAPTER
39
Late Thanksgiving morning, Preacher Yoder loaned Arden his enclosed carriage, and he and Lena headed over to Uncle Noah’s. “So nice of the preacher, jah?” Lena said, knowing that Arden had already had a man-to-man talk with him about their courting, since Arden was from out of state. According to Clara, her husband had enthusiastically approved.
“Preacher Yoder seems mighty encouraging,” Arden said with a grin as they headed over to Uncle Noah’s farm. “It’s wise to have at least one preacher on your side.”
Lena smiled. “Tell me how Mimi seemed to you before ya left home.”
“As content with her life and her sewing as when you were there, seems to me.”
“Does Tessa work with her quite a lot, then?” Lena hoped the two of them were getting along at least as well as they had before Tessa married Manny.
“Far as I know from my Mamm, she’s over there three times a
