FORTY-SIX
The next morning, Harvey was one of our first patrons. “Eva, may I have a word with you?”
“Of course. What can I do for you?” I assumed he’d heard about last night’s altercation and about my sleeping in the Yoders’ house.
“I have a busy day ahead,” he told me, “but I wanted to get in here early to ask you to come over for supper this evening to meet my family.”
“Are you sure? Couldn’t we speak here?”
“Nee. My dochders wish to meet you.” He patted his beard the way Dat did when he was pondering a weighty subject. The two men must be near the same age.
“Ach, have you told them about me?” I served him coffee. “Or have they heard the rumors and want to check me out for themselves?”
“Nothing like that. I mentioned I’ve been coming in here…”
I couldn’t face more disapproval. He must have recognized hesitance in my demeanor.
“Please. They begged me to bring you home.” He sipped a mouthful. “So I suggested tonight. If you’re free.”
“I have no other plans. In fact, I was hoping you’d come in so I could talk to you about baptism classes.”
His smile lines deepened. “That’s wunderbaar news. Do you wish to become baptized in this district or your parents’? Although their bishop has been ailing with gout.”
“What do you think? I now live in this district, but would it be awkward for me to get baptized in one of your church services?”
He settled himself at a nearby table and beckoned me to sit across from him. “To answer your question, not at all. But if you prefer that one of the other ministers baptizes you, I can arrange that. I only want what’s best for you.”
I was touched by his kindness and consideration.
“Give it some thought during the course of the day,” he said.
“You said I’d have to wait—”
“Or show me that you truly want to join the church with all your heart. Getting baptized is like marriage. It’s a lifetime commitment. Are you ready to pledge yourself to obey the teachings of the Bible and the Ordnung?”
“Yah.” I would erase the Yoders’ guest room and the extravagant coat from my memory. I was done dabbling with the Englisch world. Ach, I was done with nonsense about driving a car and reading Englisch books that lured me to another continent.
He leaned closer to me, and I felt the force of his gaze. “I’ll come by at six o’clock and pick you up. We can discuss it more on the way to my home.” He looked right into my eyes as if trying to read my thoughts. Or connect with me? Maybe he’d always gazed at me with intensity, but I hadn’t noticed earlier. Maybe I’d been intimidated or been glancing away because I thought he was judging me.
“Oh.”
“Eva, you seem reluctant to join us for supper.”
“It’s just… You caught me off guard.”
“Tell you what. I’ll come earlier. If you’ve changed your mind, we’ll discuss your baptism. In any case, please don’t go to any trouble. Our suppers are casual. My dochders will be wearing their everyday clothes. Come just as you’re dressed today.”
I stuck out one foot, and he smiled down at my Nikes.
“Those shoes are fine. Well, not for your baptism. But as I said, suppers are casual in our home. We usually kick off our shoes when we enter the house.”
I saw my reflection in his spectacles and wondered how he viewed me. I hoped as another daughter and not a convenient surrogate mother to his children? Ach, he couldn’t harbor ardor in his heart, making him wish to kiss me with that huge beard. I could barely see his lips. But if Jake got baptized and we married, he’d be required to wear a beard too. For the rest of his life.
Harvey glanced up at the wall clock above the cash register and got to his feet. Our few Englisch customers watched him, and yet none dared bring out a camera. The man commanded respect.
“See you, Eva.” He replaced his black hat and pushed in his chair.
“All right.”
Minutes later, as Beatrice and I stood behind the counter, her face beamed as she arranged muffins on a plate and set it on a tray for Sadie to deliver to a table. I tapped my elbow against hers. “Did you put that supper invitation into Harvey’s head?”
“I can’t insert a random idea into a man’s brain that isn’t already percolating. He brought up the subject. And apparently you didn’t discourage him.”
My mind filled with apprehension. “How many children does he have again?”
“One married son with young children of his own, who lives in a small house near Harvey. Two of his four daughters are in rumspringa and of marrying age, and two are still in school and in need of a woman’s guidance. A ready-made family.”
Reality struck. “What have I gone and done? I don’t want to marry him and be a grandma yet or raise another woman’s children.”
“Sounds fun to me.” Beatrice cut a dill pickle in half and laid it on a plate as a garnish.
I lowered my volume. “But I want to have my own children.”
“I never could. Not for lack of trying.” For the first time I saw Beatrice blush, but I pretended not to notice. “Maybe Harvey’s girls don’t want their father to be lonely. Or they simply want to meet you. At least be courteous enough to go.”
That afternoon, a lanky Englisch man strode into the café asking for me. “If you’re Eva Lapp, I’ve brought someone to see you,” he said as I strolled out to greet him.
I couldn’t imagine who he was. I scanned the room and asked, “Where?”
“Out in the parking lot in my car.”
After all the uncertainty in my life over the last couple of weeks, I wondered if
