I wondered if Mark knew how old I was or anything about my dicey past, or if he’d seen the newspaper today. Not that I’d done anything wrong. Yet if I hadn’t accepted a ride from Stephen, I never would have ended up standing at the side of the road with policemen for all the world to see.
“Then it’s settled.” Beatrice glanced down at my Nikes. “Unless you have other plans, Eva. Such as going jogging or shopping?”
“Nee. No more shopping sprees.”
Mark scanned my feet. “Hey, I like your new shoes.”
“This is their first day, and they’re already comfortable. I hope women are allowed to wear them in this district.”
“As far as I know. You can ask Bishop Harvey when he comes into the café,” Mark said. “He’s a godly man and fair.”
“If he says no, then of course I won’t wear them.”
“I can’t imagine he wants your feet to hurt. Harvey’s not as conservative as your parents’ bishop, but I’ve heard Jonathon Stoltzfus is so old he rarely leaves his house, so he’ll never see them.” Mark moved toward the door. “I’d better get back to work.” He tossed Beatrice a grin. “Thanks for your invitation. Can I bring anything?”
“Just yourself.” Her face showed satisfaction, her gray eyes animated as if she’d just pulled off an incredible feat. I glanced over her shoulder and saw Sadie looking despondent, her arms slack and hanging at her sides. Poor thing. No matter. After tonight Mark would understand he and I were not a good match. Or was I turning judgmental? In my mind, I prayed the Lord would steer me in the right direction and not allow Beatrice to orchestrate my world.
The café’s lunch rush kept me too occupied to worry about my social life. I was gratified when customers commented that they liked the soup, and I mentioned that Beatrice had helped me.
“No, Eva did most of the work.” Once again, Beatrice showed more humility than I’d expected. Maybe I’d misjudged her, but I cringed when I thought about dining in Glenn Yoder’s house with her and Mark.
When a tall, older man with spectacles and a voluminous salt-and-pepper beard sauntered in, Beatrice introduced us by first names, as was common. “Eva, come meet Bishop Harvey.”
He shook my hand, his grasp firm. “I heard you’re working here, Eva.” His stare probed into me. “How’s the new job going?”
“Couldn’t be better, thanks to Beatrice and Sadie.”
“That’s gut. I think you’ll find Glenn Yoder an excellent man to work for. Of course, we’re disappointed he didn’t join the church.” He glanced down at my feet but didn’t seem disturbed by my shoes. I was glad I’d chosen the black ones instead of the neon green.
“Eva, I hear you’ve not been baptized yet.” He was old enough to be my grandfather, and his crusty voice was deeper, more forceful than mine.
“Not yet, but I intend to.” I had just lied to a bishop. In fact, I wasn’t sure I would ever become baptized. Would God punish me if I didn’t follow through?
“Excellent,” he said. “Classes for new members in this district are starting soon.”
When Beatrice moved out of earshot to help a customer, I asked him, “Is it all right for me to eat supper in the main house?”
“Yah. I’m not concerned that Beatrice will lead you astray. She’s Catholic, but you’re safe with her as long as you don’t start attending her church.”
“Nee, I never would.” I lowered my volume. “About supper tonight. What if she has also invited a single man to join us?” I hoped he’d nix the whole idea.
“Is he Amish?”
I nodded.
“I foresee no problem as long as Beatrice is there. She’s not such a bad matchmaker. She’s introduced several Amish couples who later married.”
“Harvey, do you know I’m almost thirty?”
“Are you afraid you’re too old to start a family?”
My tongue felt as if it held a mouthful of peanut butter. I shrugged.
“I don’t think mei frau would have minded me telling ya that she didn’t give birth to our first child until age thirty-one. We prayed and waited like Abraham and Sarah until the Lord blessed us with children. Five of them.” His voice was kind and reassuring, but I couldn’t bring myself to look into his eyes.
He stroked his capacious beard. “ ‘Wait on the Lord; be of good courage.’ ”
I was saved from having to reply when a bevy of Englisch women bustled into the café and zeroed in on the glass case.
“I best be getting back to work.” I checked my kapp. Ach, I’d tossed its strings over my back in a casual manner. “Beatrice and Sadie need me at the cash register.”
“Yah, of course. Anytime you wish to speak further on this or any subject in private, please let me know.”
“Denki.” I spun on my heel and hurried away.
ELEVEN
Dread encompassed me as I primped for supper. I asked myself why I’d changed into my favorite sky-blue dress that matched my eyes, and why I’d spent an inordinate amount of time arranging my hair and positioning my kapp.
As I assessed myself in the mirror, I recalled Sadie’s forlorn expression when she left the café. She was a far better match for Mark than I was, but, apparently, he didn’t think so or he would have driven her home from a singing by now.
I stepped out onto my porch and was flabbergasted to see Mark standing at the bottom of the steps.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He tipped his straw hat.
“Um—I didn’t hear your buggy pull up or the dogs barking.” I tried to regain my composure while flattening my apron.
“Look, Eva, if you’d rather I didn’t stay for supper, I don’t need to.” He ran his thumbs up and down his suspenders.
“And disappoint Beatrice?”
“Well, now, it’s you I came to see. You must know that.”
I paused, trying to find the right words. “Perhaps we should speak before
