My first transaction of the morning had gone smoothly, but I looked up to see more Englischers entering. “Don’t worry, Eva. Beatrice will help you until Sadie arrives,” Stephen said.
“Sure, if you need me.” Beatrice seemed tickled. “I’m glad I fed the dogs first thing. I’ll let them out so they don’t mess the house and then come right back.” Beatrice followed Stephen out the door.
My, he was an attractive man and two years older than I was. A shame he wasn’t Amish. Would I leave the Amish church if I fell in love with an Englisch man? No, I wouldn’t break my parents’ hearts the way Jake had broken his. At least I didn’t think I would.
I’d often wondered if Jake had jumped the fence into the Englisch world. I’d have to see him to know. Or perhaps it was better if I never set eyes on him again—especially if he was married and had children. Olivia must have thought he was married to suggest I not go see him.
His poor parents. I felt the weight of sadness in my chest as I thought about his father’s injury. His dat was a rigid, standoffish man, although maybe he’d have mellowed if he ever woke up again. No matter his personality, no one deserved a paralyzing injury. I wondered why God allowed such tragedies. For the same reason he let me remain single and lonely all these years?
“See, I told ya’ll,” a plump woman with fringes on her suede jacket’s sleeves said to her two Englisch friends. “The Amish don’t need electricity to make things work.”
Rather than explain we were working our cash register off a generator, I smiled at the three women as they strolled to the side of the case filled with pastries. The generator was not connected to the electric grid that expanded across the world like a spider’s cobweb, thus earning the bishops’ approval.
I served the women tea and muffins. They were pleasant until one brought out her smartphone. “May I take your photo?”
“Nee.” I put out my hand to block my face. “Please, it’s forbidden.”
“Oops, too late.” Grinning, her face crinkled. “Never mind, honey. I won’t show it to anyone.” She held up the phone again and I spun away, retreating into the kitchen just as Sadie arrived through the back door. Her face was flushed, I assumed from the arduous trek on her scooter.
“One of those women took my picture.” I grimaced. “This type of behavior seldom happened in the fabric store.”
“We need to put up a sign saying no photos allowed.” Sadie was ten years my junior but obviously wiser in other ways. “I’ll ask Mark to make one when he comes in for his morning kaffi.”
Ah, she was wiser in the ways of men too. No wonder she’d hurried to get to work so quickly despite roads littered with branches.
“Susie’s bruder?” I asked.
“Yah.” Her eyes brightened.
A steady stream of people came in, mostly Englisch, who were delighted to find we had warm food. By noon, we had served the soup, which was tasty. Customers raved about it, and Beatrice beamed, but she did not claim she’d prepared it. She was helpful taking food to the tables, but not clearing them. Fortunately, most of the customers brought their used plates and bowls to a plastic tub—or Sadie did, and then she swabbed clean the tables’ surfaces. Any tips left were dropped into a jar near the register. Most were coins, but I noticed a few dollar bills, which I assumed would be given to Sadie.
During a lull I served myself a cup of soup and stepped into the kitchen. Beatrice had indeed produced a delicious meal, better than mine would have been. I doubted she would ever reveal her secret ingredients, but I could ask.
Sadie stood at the washbasin, vigorously scrubbing the dirty dishes, rinsing them, and then setting them in the dishwasher or drying rack. I asked her if she wanted a break, but she shook her head. I figured she was still waiting for Mark, who had not arrived for his morning coffee.
“You step outside for a few minutes before Beatrice leaves,” she said.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked.
“Yah, I can work the cash register. Well, gut enough.”
“I was just on my way out.” Beatrice untied and removed her apron. “If you two can’t handle the café without me, let me know and I’ll come back. But I have plenty to keep me busy in the main house.” There went my chance for a short stroll and an opportunity to ask Beatrice about her soup recipe. Which reminded me I needed to make sure I had the ingredients for tomorrow’s soup, plus hand in my order for vegetables and meats, not to mention fresh milk, butter, and other staples.
As Beatrice marched toward the door, Mark strode in and held it open for her. Sadie bustled over to pour him coffee. He thanked her and then turned to me. “How ya doing, Eva?”
Sadie stood at his elbow, but he didn’t seem to notice her. Only me. His gaze honed in on my face, and his intense expression conveyed appreciation. He found me attractive?
“I was wondering if you’ll start attending this church district on Sunday.” He sipped his coffee. “I’d be honored to drive you there and later to our singing.”
I glanced at Sadie and saw her demeanor slump. She pressed her lips together and hung her head.
“I hadn’t given it much thought.” Not true. I’d pondered the upcoming Sunday, a nonpreaching Sunday in my parents’ district. It was a family time of socializing and visiting neighbors, who would probably riddle me with questions about my new job and maybe tell me about Jake’s reappearance—if Olivia was right that he was coming.
“Let me know and I’ll pick you up.” Mark polished off his coffee. “I’m happy to drive you there or anywhere. If you haven’t heard about my standardbred, I
