But this wedding wasn’t only about him and Patience, it was about Rue, too. This wedding was going to join Thomas and Patience as husband and wife, and Rue would get a mamm of her very own. And for this happy day, Thomas’s handiwork wasn’t what would matter most to his little girl.
So that morning, while the women put the last of the food into the refrigerated trailer, and while Patience got ready for the wedding in Mammi’s bedroom with the help of her mother and two of her sisters, Thomas sat with his daughter in the bedroom that used to be his. He was already dressed in his Sunday best, and Rue was wearing a pink dress just like the other women who were standing as Patience’s newehockers for the day.
“It’s a wedding quilt,” Thomas said as Rue unfolded the quilt that Patience had sewn late into the evenings, stitching together squares of Rue’s clothing from the suitcase. “But it’s a special one. Patience said it was more important that you have your quilt than we have a new one for our bed.”
Besides, his mother and Mary had been staying up late into the evenings, too, sewing some quilts to be used on their beds during that winter. Each stitch was sewn with love.
“That’s my unicorn shirt,” Rue whispered, running her fingers over the familiar fabric. “And that’s my striped dress—and my pink shorts!”
Thomas ran his hand over Rue’s pale hair.
“Do you like it, Rue?” he asked.
“Yah. It’s my favorite,” she said, and she hugged the quilt against her chest. “And today is a happy day. It’s the day you and Patience become a mister and missus.”
“Well, we Amish don’t use those titles, Rue,” he said.
Rue put her small hand on his knee and gave him a serious look. “It’s an important day, the day you become a mister, Daddy.”
Thomas laughed and scooped her off the bed and into his arms.
“I’ll explain all of that to you later. But right now, I want you to go into the bedroom where Patience is getting ready, because she’s going to need you.”
“And what will you do?” Rue asked.
“I’m going out to the tent. I have to wait there until you and Patience come. It’s what the men do when they’re getting married.”
Thomas carried Rue out into the hallway, and he put her down in front of Mary’s bedroom door just as his mamm came up the stairs. There were female voices coming from inside and a peal of laughter.
“Oh, no, you don’t!” Rachel said with a laugh. “The bride is to be left alone until the ceremony. You know that, son.”
Thomas bent down and kissed his mamm’s cheek. “I’ll leave Rue with you, then.”
He shot his mother a grin as she paused with her hand on the doorknob to Mary’s bedroom, refusing to open it even a crack until he headed down the stairs. And Rue stood there, standing tall and proud with a smile on her face.
“He’s gonna be a mister,” Rue told her grandmother seriously. “And I think then I’d better call him Daet.”
Thomas pretended not to hear, but he smothered a laugh. Was that the line for Rue when she’d finally let him be her Amish daet instead of a daddy—the day he married Patience? To finally be called Daet by his little girl would be the finest wedding gift anyone could offer him, and he sent up a prayer of wordless thanks to Gott for all of these blessings.
Patience was up there getting dressed, hearing all the last-minute advice from her married sisters and from her mamm. And they’d need all of it—all the advice and love and support that their families and their community could offer them.
As for Thomas, Amos and Noah didn’t have much advice for him between them except to say, “Remember how blessed you are in marrying that woman. And treat her like you’re grateful. We think that should cover it.”
It likely would. And he was grateful. Thomas paused in the kitchen and looked up the stairs. He couldn’t wait to say his vows and to finally claim Patience as his own.
“Out, out, out!” Mary said, flapping a towel at him. “Everyone is ready for you in the tent—they sent one of the kinner to tell me. Let’s get you wed, Thomas. It’s high time.”
Thomas headed out the door to where Amos and Noah waited for him under trees ablaze in golden splendor. The men rubbed their hands together in the chilly autumn air, their breath hanging in front of them as they hunched their shoulders up against the chill. It was colder than usual, and while there wasn’t snow yet, there would be soon. Noah grinned at him and Amos just stood there with a goofy smile on his face.
“Let’s go,” Thomas said. “I’m getting married today.”
Then the three of them headed for the tent, the golden leaves swirling free in a gust of wind. Today was his wedding day, and in the presence of his family and community, he’d vow to love Patience, to stand by her, to defend her and to honor her.
At last, Rue would have a mamm, and his heart would be filled right to the brim.
Gott was good.
Keep reading for an excerpt from Starting Over in Texas by Jessica Keller.
Dear Reader,
The idea for this book started with a child’s tantrum. All kids kick up a fit at some point, no matter how well they’re raised or how earnest their parents are. So what happens when a really stubborn little girl is introduced to the Amish family she’s never known? And who would be more panicked—the little girl, or the brand-new
