But first, he must talk with Leroy.
He found his boss in his office. Matthias closed the door behind him when Leroy invited him in. “I’ve been thinking about your offer.”
Leroy pushed aside the papers he had been working on. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“But a partnership usually means that each party puts money into the business, and I can’t afford to do that.”
“I don’t expect you to buy in to the business,” Leroy said. “We can talk about the details later, but the main part of it is that I thought you could work with me and learn how we operate. Learn the fine points of Heritage Amish Furniture while working here.”
“That’s what I was hoping you would say.”
“I look forward to working with you,” Leroy said. “You are everything I would have wanted a son to be.”
“What would you like me to do first?”
Leroy grinned. “Finish up the Christmas orders that are still pending so that we can take a few days off this week.”
Matthias spent the rest of the day following up on the tasks Leroy had assigned to all three of them. By noon, Amos and Vernon had finished everything on their lists and were out delivering the last-minute orders.
Finally, three o’clock came. Matthias went into the store, where Rose had just turned the sign on the door to Closed.
“It has been a busy day, hasn’t it?” he asked as he helped Ada straighten up the displays.
“But it was fun.” Ada smiled at him and his heart pounded. “Everyone was in good spirits. It makes the time go by quickly.”
“Rose.” Matthias cleared his throat. “If you want to go home, I’ll help Ada close up the store.”
“Are you sure?”
Ada waved her toward the door. “You have a date tonight. Go get ready for Johnny.” She leaned close to him, her blue eyes shining. “She thinks he might ask her to marry him tonight. Isn’t that romantic?”
“You’re glad she’s getting married?”
“For sure.” Ada moved to the display of rolling pins, straightening them on their rack. “It will make her happy, and that’s what I want for her.”
Matthias glanced at her. They were friends again, but would she be willing to consider more? He pulled her present out of his pocket.
“I have a gift for you.” He handed her the small bundle wrapped in tissue paper. “It isn’t anything as special as cookies, but I think you’ll like it.”
As she unwrapped the paper, she gasped. The cardinal he had carved for her lay in her hand, the colors perfect. She stood the little bird on the counter, and it seemed to cock its head, as if it was asking for some sunflower seeds.
“It’s beautiful, and so lifelike. I’ll treasure it forever.”
Matthias took her hand. “Will you? Do you really like it?”
Ada gazed into his eyes. Her expression was trusting and peaceful. “I like it because you made it. It will always remind me of you.”
He tugged at her hand, pulling her closer. “I’ve always liked you, Ada, even when we were in school together. Since I came back to Shipshewana and we’ve gotten to know each other better, I’ve found that I still like you. I treasure our friendship.” He paused. “Is it too soon to tell you that I think I love you?”
Ada’s voice shook. “It isn’t too soon. I have been so stupid, thinking that I wanted to be in love with Amos, but what I had in mind wasn’t love at all.”
Matthias leaned even closer. “I think love is looking forward to a lifetime together.” He kissed her cheek. Her skin was soft, and a sweet fragrance surrounded him. “And working together.” He kissed her other cheek. “And spending every moment together that we can.”
Ada hesitated, then wrapped her arms around his waist as he drew her closer. He tilted her chin up with one finger and looked into her eyes.
“Holding you like this feels very good.”
She smiled. “You are being very forward.”
“Someone told me that I shouldn’t wait to take hold of God’s blessings. I want to spend time with you, talk with you. Learn everything about you.”
“That might take years.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m ready to take as long as I need to.”
When she smiled again, he captured her lips with his. He was finally home.
Jam Thumbprint Cookies
(MY BEN’S FAVORITE) 1½ cups all-purpose flour¼ cup ground almonds, or commercial almond meal½ teaspoon baking powder½ teaspoon salt¾ cup butter, softened (room temperature)½ cup sugar1 teaspoon vanilla1 egg raspberry jam
Mix flour, ground almonds/almond meal, baking powder, and salt together in a small bowl. In a medium bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla. Beat the egg into the butter/sugar mixture until fluffy. Add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture and mix well.
Form the dough into 1-inch balls and place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes, or until the tops of the cookies are no longer shiny.
Remove the cookie sheet from the oven, then quickly and gently press your thumb into each cookie to make a depression. Put a scant 1/2 teaspoon of raspberry jam into the depression.
Return the cookie sheet to the oven for another 3–5 minutes. Let the cookies cool for 5–10 minutes, then remove them to a cooling rack.
Makes two dozen.
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CONESTOGA CREEK, LANCASTER COUNTY
OCTOBER 1842
Hannah Yoder stamped her feet against the October evening chill seeping through her shoes. Darkness already reigned under the towering trees along Conestoga Creek, although the evening sky had shone pale blue as she walked along the path at the edge of the oat field minutes ago. The north wind gusted, sweeping
