“It’s just for you and me. Maybe Libby. Anna has a little more time these days, but she’s been trying to help David more for me.”
And yet another adjustment.
“You don’t suppose David will ever get married?” Tillie asked. She had never remembered any one girl being interested in David. And she never knew why. He was as handsome as Jim. He had a good job, a place to live, a stable family in the Amish community. She knew he had struggled in school and had a few troubles reading. And that he considered himself not as smart as most. Was that reason for him to not live his life to the fullest?
“Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to change the subject?” Mamm asked.
Tillie laughed, then tilted her head to one side as a noise came from the front. “Are you expecting someone?”
Mamm dried her hands on her apron and smoothed them over her prayer kapp. “No.” She headed for the front of the house, Tillie on her heels.
Mamm stopped abruptly just a few feet from the front door. She caught sight of the buggy through the front window in the dining room. The same window they had opened the day before to release the wonderful, yet overpowering, Christmas scents they had been mixing.
Tillie drew up short. The time that she had been dreading was finally here. The horse and carriage out front were an undeniable testament.
The bishop had come to call.
Chapter Eleven
Amos Raber walked like a man on a mission.
Tillie’s breath caught in her throat as she watched the bishop make his way from his buggy over to the barn where her dat’s workshop was housed. Her brother Jim stood at the door, waiting to shake hands with the bishop. She supposed he had heard the rattle of the buggy as well and had come to investigate. A second after that handshake, David appeared, his own hand extended. Her father followed last.
She and Mamm stood there at the window and watched as the men conversed for a moment. They were too far away for Tillie to understand what they were saying; she could just hear the sound of their voices. But twice the men paused and looked back at the house.
They were talking about her. Tillie knew. She supposed there had been a lot of talk about her in the last three or four days. She had shown up at church. She had gone to a wedding. For all intents and purposes it looked as if she was staying in Pontotoc. She had hoped that with the holiday so near the bishop would delay coming to speak to her until after Christmas had passed. But she knew and had known all along that was merely wishful thinking. There were too many busybodies in their church for them to let it go.
If she had to guess who had complained about her, her choice would be Amelia Byler. She was some distant cousin of Gracie’s husband, Matthew. Though who knew how many times removed. Amelia was one of those people who, despite the Lord’s love, never seemed happy. Even as she thought the words, a stab of pain seared through Tillie. She had the Lord’s love too, but she wasn’t happy these days either. Maybe she should take a look at herself before she criticized. Though she wasn’t truly criticizing, Amelia had been that way for as long as anyone could remember. She was almost the watchdog for the community. She had been at the wedding, and Tillie had caught Amelia staring at her after church. But Tillie knew that if it hadn’t been Amelia, it would’ve been someone else.
“Here we go,” Mamm whispered.
The men shook hands once more, then Amos Raber turned on his heel and started for the house. The Gingerich men looked after him for a moment, then all three of them ducked back into the barn.
Tillie’s heart began to pound in her chest. Sheer anxiety. She looked down at herself as if somehow she could hide her condition. That was not happening. She looked around as if somehow there was an answer beside her. Mamm smoothed her hands over her ample hips and cleared her throat. Tillie supposed that was the least and the most either one of them could do. She should have changed her dress while the bishop greeted her father. Though the temptation to run into her bedroom and lock the door behind her, barricade it from the inside, and never come out was a little too strong. It was probably best she hadn’t chanced it.
“Lord, give me strength.”
Please, she added. Please give me strength.
All too soon, a knock sounded on the front door, then All too soon, a knock sounded on the front door, then it creaked open. Mamm bustled from the dining room and into the entry way. “Amos Raber,” she greeted. “Happy to see you today.”
Tillie was shocked at how easily the lie sprang to her mamm’s lips. They both knew this was inevitable, and they both hated it. Her mamm had told her as much.
“Eunice.” Amos Raber nodded his head and removed his hat. He hung it on the peg by the door. Then another quick nod to Tillie, and he removed his coat.
“I’ll get some coffee and pie,” Mamm said and motioned for Tillie to follow her into the kitchen. That was Mamm. Everything could be solved with pie. Tillie wished. She didn’t think she was going to be quite so lucky this time.
Amos hung up his coat and motioned for Tillie to go first. She did so, albeit reluctantly. She could already see the censure in his eyes. Amos Raber was a tough bishop. She supposed bishops had to be strict in the conservative districts. But she also knew that he was responsible for addressing the needs and concerns of his community. That couldn’t be an easy job.
