We approached the back door to the main house. I did want to sleep in that plush bedroom just once in my life.
Stephen fished his keys out of his pocket. “No, you stay here with the three dogs. It’s all arranged with Beatrice. I’ll give her a call and let her know our plan.” He wrangled the key into the lock. “Please promise to call me if anything happens. Anything at all. And don’t open the door to anyone, including Jake. He can wait another day to see you.”
“Yah, okay. I’ll open the door only if you or Beatrice come back.”
“I’m going to make a quick walk-through of the house to make sure no one entered while we were over at the barn.”
Stephen still wore his jacket. I got the feeling he was delaying his departure as he paced through the entire interior. I even heard him climb the second set of stairs to Beatrice’s room. Once he was back on the first floor, he rechecked the dead bolt on the front door and finally returned to the kitchen.
“Evie, that guest room you’re in has a phone right by the bed.”
“Okay. I hadn’t noticed.” Were phones in the house becoming second nature to me now? I’d been so dazzled by all the frivolous items in the room I hadn’t spotted it. I knew I was being sucked into the Englisch world. I might as well have been a dust ball being swept by a whisk broom. In the future, could I be satisfied living without its tantalizing amenities?
The moment Stephen left, I double bolted the kitchen door. Surely I would be safe tonight.
I mounted the staircase to the second floor still wearing the coat. Standing in the guestroom, I hugged myself. Never had I felt more luxurious fabric. Even the pockets were lined with satin. As I reluctantly removed the garment and hung it up in the closet, I glanced at its label. The cloth was half wool and half alpaca. Ach, I would never be permitted by the Ordnung to own such an extravagant coat.
Despite my determination to banish Jake from my mind tonight, my thoughts looped back to him. I envisioned his delivering Brandy’s baby and felt admiration for him. He was a capable man when he wanted to be. But the truth was, I had no control over his behavior. What would life be like living with an unstable man, as opposed to a conscientious man who had overcome his demon—alcohol—like Stephen? Who wasn’t Amish.
Where would I find my answer?
FORTY-FIVE
The next morning, crows outside my window woke me. For a moment I didn’t know where I was. Rays of light shone through the flowered curtains, illuminating the room with vibrant hues of plum and cerise. I was tempted to jump up and watch the sunrise, but I enjoyed my snuggly nest too much. I looked forward to having this time to myself.
My thoughts meandered as they wished. I decided when I finally built my dream house it would have a room with a view the way the home I grew up in did. My view had been of a cornfield and gently rolling hills and farms behind it for as far as the eye could see. But I should be content with my cabin for now.
Perhaps sleeping in this Englisch bed was akin to sinking into quicksand—soft and cushy but deadly. Never had I experienced such luxury. Would I ever be satisfied again sleeping on a bumpy old single mattress? I pulled the silky sheets up around my face.
I’d tried several new adventures recently.
After my one abysmal attempt at driving, would I ever give it another try? The answer was maybe I would. I figured I could handle driving with lessons from a real instructor. When I recalled everything I’d learned since working in the fabric store and then the café, I assured myself I could conquer anything. And I could learn to live without Jake.
Barking and yapping erupted from the kitchen, followed by the voices of Stephen and Beatrice. I’d meant to be dressed when they arrived, and now I needed to hurry.
I leaped from the bed. “I’ll be there in a minute,” I yelled down to the kitchen.
In the bathroom, I washed my face, but before I could get fully dressed, Beatrice knocked at my door. I opened it, and she said, “Yoo-hoo. Sleeping in?”
“Ach, I neglected to set the alarm clock.” I parted my hair and pulled it back into a bun. “Truth is, that bed is so comfortable I didn’t want to leave it.”
“Not content with your single bed in the cabin anymore?” Her question startled me.
“Of course. I’m fine.” But I was already questioning my statement as I envisioned tonight in the cabin.
Beatrice tilted her head. “I have to wonder about you. You’ve blamed Jake for everything. Is he really the reason you haven’t gotten baptized?”
“Ach, I don’t know anymore.”
“When Jake got home last night, he told us all about Brandy’s baby. How exciting is that? She named the little girl after you and Ruth. But mostly after you, Eva, according to Jake. I got the distinct impression he wants a child of his own now.”
I turned to her to assess her open expression. “But will he marry an Amish or an Englisch woman?”
“That is yet to be seen.”
“He didn’t say anything to you?”
“Maybe his parents will have more influence than you think. I was watching him out the window this morning, and he looked content plowing the field with the mules.”
“But would he rather have been plowing with motorized machinery?”
“That I cannot answer.” Beatrice drew up her shoulders. “He let slip he feels inadequate as a farmer compared to his father. Probably because Amos often ridiculed him in the past. But it seems as if Jake wants to stick around and learn.”
“I almost forgot to ask how Amos is doing.”
“He’s plopped on the easy chair again. I’m glad I stayed
