Lucas made his way through the crowd of family at Levi and Mary’s house, but he couldn’t find Natalie.
“Psst.”
He turned in the direction of the sound just as Natalie poked her head around the corner and motioned for him to follow her. She looked so pretty. Her blonde hair was curled and hanging just past her shoulders, and she was wearing black slacks and a long-sleeve dark blue shirt. Lucas glanced around, then moved quickly behind her until they were about halfway down the hall. She looked over her shoulder before she opened the door to her left and pulled him into the guest bedroom, closing the door behind them.
Lucas had never been alone in a room with Natalie, and there was a tingling in the pit of his stomach as he tried to keep his eyes from drifting to her lips. He wondered if he would have been so nervous if the towel incident hadn’t happened. Now he knew what it was like to have her touch him, even in the most innocent way. He shivered as his thoughts took him to a place he shouldn’t go.
“Nice outfit,” he said as he looked down at his own black pants and dark blue shirt, willing his pulse to get back to normal.
“I’m trying to blend.” She put her hands on her hips. “Don’t look so scared. I’m not going to keep you in here long. I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever, and I didn’t want anyone to interrupt us.”
“At least we got to talk on the phone during the week and last night.” Lucas stood taller, trying to figure out how she’d picked up on the fact that he was nervous being alone with her. Because she knows me better than anyone.
“I know. But it’s not the same as seeing you. Like I said on the phone, my class schedule was kinda messed up the whole week.” She rolled her bottom lip under in the familiar pout Lucas used to think was so cute. Now all he could think about was kissing her. “No lunches, and I missed the four of us having supper last night.” She paused to take a deep breath. “I know we have to hurry. Your folks wouldn’t like us being in a bedroom by ourselves.”
That’s an understatement. “What’s wrong?” He kept his eyes fused with hers and hoped they wouldn’t stray back to her lips. This was Natalie, his best friend. He needed to harness this new and unexpected warmth that surged through him when he was around her.
“My mom is with me, and I can’t leave her unattended for too long. She doesn’t know anyone but Levi and Mary, and she’s only been around them a couple times.” She rolled her eyes. “I never know what might come out of her mouth.” She took another deep breath. “I lost my phone somewhere this morning. I’ve called it, used my phone locator thingy, and nada. I’m sure it’s dead, wherever it is. I can’t find it anywhere. But can you meet me at the library Tuesday? I wanted to ask you now in case I don’t find my phone.”
“Ya, I’ll meet you at the library Tuesday. Same time, around three?” She nodded as Lucas looked past her at the closed door. “But find your phone. I look forward to our talks at night.” Hearing her voice helped him sleep.
She groaned as she pressed her gorgeous lips together. “It’s got to be somewhere, but if I don’t answer tonight—or tomorrow night—or Monday night—that’s why.” She reached for the doorknob. “You’re going to have to meet my mother.” Sighing, she said, “I hope she behaves.” Then she thrust the door open, stepped into the hallway, and bumped right into Lucas’s mother.
“Oh, Helen. I’m sorry.” She inched around her and scurried down the hall, leaving him to stand off with his mother.
He was a grown man, but as his mother’s expression twisted into a look she used to get before he got a spanking, he didn’t feel even half of his twenty-two years.
Lucas waited for her to say something about the inappropriate meeting, but she continued walking to the bathroom at the end of the hallway.
Her silence was usually worse than a scolding.
Lucas sighed and headed back toward the crowd.
* * *
Cecelia felt like a butterfly among the moths in her pink slacks and pink-and-white sweater. Black slacks for the men. Black aprons for the women. Black shoes for all. And a dozen black buggies with horses tethered to the fence outside. As she breathed in the aroma of freshly baked bread and a host of other offerings that smelled delicious, she knew the day wouldn’t be a complete bust. There was a nice fire in the fireplace, and she’d introduced herself to a few people since Natalie had disappeared not long after they arrived, but she’d yet to meet anyone named Lucas.
“Sorry, Mom.” Cecelia jumped when Natalie whispered in her ear.
“Where’ve you been?”
“I had to find Lucas to let him know I can’t find my phone.”
Cecelia crinkled her nose. “I thought the Amish weren’t supposed to have phones.”
“He’s in his rumschpringe, Mom. That’s when—”
“I know what it is. But isn’t he a little old to still be in his running-around period? I mean, it starts at sixteen, right? Shouldn’t he be baptized by now?”
“I wondered about that, too, but he said it would be nice to share the experience with his future wife. Guess he hasn’t found the right person yet.”
“Well, his future wife might already be baptized. It sounds to me like maybe he just wants to indulge in forbidden activities as long as he can, before he has to give those things up for good.”
When Natalie glared at her, Cecelia wished she’d kept the thought to herself.
“It’s his choice when to be baptized. There probably aren’t a lot of women to choose from in his small district.”
As long as he doesn’t choose you. “Well, I’ve introduced myself to some of these people, although I doubt I’ll remember all of their names. I usually attach names to what a person is wearing, to help me remember, but they’re all dressed the same.”
Cecelia wasn’t sure her daughter even heard her. Natalie nodded at a man coming toward them. “Well, here is my good friend Lucas now.” The radiance in Natalie’s eyes matched the dreamy way she sounded every time she said the boy’s name.
Uh-oh. Cecelia blinked a few times. If not for the Amish clothing, suspenders, and cropped hair, he could have been on the cover of a magazine. He was tall with dark hair, broad shoulders, and gorgeous green eyes. When he smiled Cecelia was happy to see his teeth weren’t perfectly straight. But it didn’t take away from his stunning looks. This is trouble.
“Lucas, this is my mother, Cecelia.” Natalie nodded at her just before Lucas extended his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Cecelia.” His voice was deep and steady.
“Likewise.” Cecelia glanced at Natalie, and once again her daughter’s face was aglow. Her friend was harder to read. His casual stance suggested confidence, but his inability to keep his eyes from drifting all over the room made him seem nervous. “I’m happy to meet another friend of Natalie’s.”
Her daughter pointed across the room. “There’s Mary’s sister, Lydia, with her new baby I haven’t seen yet.” She motioned for her mother and Lucas to follow, but Cecelia waved them ahead. “You two go.” She pointed to the bathroom at the end of the hall. “I’m just waiting my turn.”
Natalie and Lucas walked away chatting, and Cecelia wanted to push the worry from her mind. She had enough problems to focus on. But she wasn’t convinced her daughter wouldn’t get too cozy with a man she couldn’t be with.
Finally the bathroom door opened at the end of the hallway. An Amish woman limped toward her, and Cecelia didn’t think she’d met this lady yet. Maybe she could slide by without an introduction. The woman had a scowl on her face. But just as Cecelia gave her a courteous nod and moved to her right to walk around her, the woman stopped to face her.
“Are you Natalie’s mother?” The woman’s eyebrows knitted into a frown, her expression tight with strain.
Cecelia really needed to get down the hallway, but she leaned forward a little and raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, have we met?”
“Nee, but I asked mei sohn Levi who you were earlier.”
“Yes, I’m Natalie’s mother, Cecelia.” She wasn’t sure whether to extend a hand to the woman or not, so she waited, hoping to get the introduction over with before someone beat her to the bathroom. If there was a second powder room, Cecelia hadn’t found it.
“I’m Helen.” The woman leaned slightly to her right, peering around Cecelia, enough that Cecelia looked over her shoulder. Natalie held the baby as Lucas leaned down and smiled at the child. A fog settled around Cecelia like a warning cloud that might not lift.
When she returned her eyes in the direction of the bathroom, Helen caught her gaze. “I think our kinner—children—have become gut friends.”
Cecelia liked to think she was good at reading people. Helen made the statement as if it were poison on her tongue. Cecelia forced a smile, glancing down the hallway again. “I suppose a person can’t have too many friends.”
“As long as they remain friends.” Helen raised her chin a little, her lips set in a thin line.
Cecelia stood taller when she sensed a confrontation coming on. She was tempted to defend her daughter, to ask Helen if she thought Natalie wasn’t good enough for her son. But as Helen kept her eyes locked with Cecelia’s, she decided to go a different route.
“I couldn’t agree more.” Cecelia folded her arms across her chest, and as Helen’s expression softened, Cecelia realized she had an ally, just in case Natalie and Lucas stepped across the friendship line.
“A pleasure to meet you.” Helen gave Cecelia a conspiratorial smile before she moved around her, still limping.
Cecelia scampered down the hallway to the bathroom. Finally.
* * *
Natalie helped Mary replenish empty snack trays. As she spread pickles and olives on one platter, Mary laid out her homemade pretzels from this morning and refilled a bowl with her special cheese sauce. Natalie was sure she could eat the entire plate of pretzels slathered in the yummy cheese, but she’d already had two and was trying to use some restraint.
“Lydia’s baby is beautiful.” Natalie placed the jar of pickles back in the refrigerator. The crowd was gathered around the food on the dining room table, so this was the first time Natalie had been alone with her friend. “Do you think Lydia and Samuel are doing okay?”
“Ya, they seem better. I guess they are making it work. Being forced into a marriage because you’re pregnant isn’t ideal, but a boppli needs two parents. Thankfully neither of them ran away.” Mary turned around and leaned up against the counter. “It happens, people leaving our district when things didn’t happen the way they planned.”
Helen walked into the kitchen but quickly turned around when she saw Natalie.
“I don’t think Helen cares for me.” Natalie leaned against the opposite counter as Lucas’s mother walked away. “It feels weird to call her Helen. But when I called her Mrs. Shetler the first time I met her, she told me to call her Helen.”
“Why do you say she doesn’t like you? You’ve been around her a couple times, and she’s always been pleasant to you. We even ate supper in their home before Levi and I got married last year.”
Natalie hung her head for a few seconds, then bit her bottom lip as she looked up at Mary. “It might be because she caught me and Lucas coming out of your extra bedroom earlier.”
Mary winced before taking a deep breath. “Was the door closed?”
Natalie nodded. “Yep.” Flinching, she said, “I lost my phone today, and I wanted to let Lucas know in case I don’t find it, so he can meet me at the library on Tuesday.”
Mary slammed a hand to her forehead. “Why did you close the door?”
“I don’t know.” Natalie shrugged. “Privacy, I guess. We weren’t in there very long, and what are the chances that Helen would walk by right at that moment?” Natalie squeezed her eyes closed before she looked back at Mary. “I know I boo-booed. Helen probably thinks I’m trying to seduce her son.”
“Natalie, this is nothing to play with. My mother-in-law is a kind and loving woman, but she is fiercely protective of her family. If she thinks you and Lucas are getting too close, she might encourage him to end the friendship.” She paused. “It would be sad, but possibly for the best.”
Natalie tossed her head back before she looked at Mary. “Are we back there again? I thought you understood that Lucas and I are just friends. We don’t have any romantic notions at all. And more and more people are getting worked up about nothing when it comes to me and Lucas.”
Mary tipped her head to one side. “Who else is worried about your relationship with Lucas?”
Natalie pressed her lips together. “Can we please use the word friendship and not relationship?” She paused, sighing. “My mother seems a little concerned about it, but my mother worries about most everything.”
Natalie walked to the pretzel tray and took one, then dipped a corner into the warm cheese. So much for restraint.
Mary waited until one of Lucas’s sisters passed through the kitchen. They exchanged pleasantries before Mary spoke in a whisper. “Does it not worry you that several people have concerns about your friendship?”
Natalie stared into her friend’s eyes. “Mary, you know I love you like my sister. You, Levi . . . and, yes, Lucas, have taught me how wonderful a relationship with God can be. And you’ve instilled in me that everything that happens is God’s will. So why aren’t you trusting God now?”
Mary folded her hands in front of her before she shrugged. “You’re right.” After a few seconds, she went on. “But we are human, and we have fear and worry like everyone else. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”
Natalie smiled gently at her friend. “Fear and worry are sins, designed to throw us off course.” She walked to her friend and put a hand on Mary’s arm. “I learned that from you. Just trust in the Lord, and all will be well.”
Someone cleared their throat, and Natalie turned around to see her mother. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything important between you two, but, Natalie, I need to speak with you for a moment.” She looked at Mary. “Could we borrow your extra bedroom to speak privately?”
Natalie grinned.
“Of course,” Mary said, smiling back at Natalie. “It’s very popular today.”
Mary picked up the pickle tray and winked at Natalie before she left the kitchen.
“Mom, if you are going to question me about Lucas, then—”
“This has nothing to do with your friend.” She spun around on her heel. “Follow me.”
By the time they reached the extra bedroom and her mother had closed the door, Natalie was ready to unload on the next person who said something about her and Lucas, but maybe her mother was upset about something else. Or had done something.
“Mom, did you upset someone here? I asked you to be nice.” Natalie folded her arms across her chest.
“Why do you assume that I did something or upset someone? Did it ever occur to you that someone might have acted inappropriately to me?” Her mother raised both eyebrows as she lifted her chin.
Natalie was used to drama from her mother, though it was usually directed at something to do with Natalie’s father. “And what exactly happened to you?”
Cecelia walked closer to Natalie as her eyes widened. Then she spoke in a whisper even though no one was around and the door was closed. “There is an Amish man flirting with me.”
Natalie pressed her lips together so she wouldn’t laugh. “Mom. I’m sure that’s not the case. Most of the people here are from Levi and Lucas’s side of the family, and I assure you that any man here wouldn’t flirt with an outsider. There are a few relatives, a couple of uncles, and maybe a few cousins who came, but they are all super conservative.”
“Natalie, it hurts my feelings when you always assume that I am in the wrong or identify things or actions incorrectly. You did that with your father and me throughout the course of our divorce, always siding with him and not seeing him for the cheater he is, and . . .”
Here we go. Natalie let her mother ramble on for a few minutes before she interjected. “Do you see how you go full circle and everything, no matter what it is, ends up back at Dad?”
Her mother clamped her mouth closed and stood silently for a few moments before she spoke. “You’re right, Natalie.” Her bottom lip trembled a little. “I’m sorry.”
Natalie was still getting used to this new side of her mother, a woman who apologized and admitted her mistakes. It was an improvement, and Natalie was trying to better her relationship with her mother.
“It’s fine.” Natalie turned to go, but her mother reached for her arm, halting her.
“Don’t you want to hear what happened?”
Natalie lifted a hand to her forehead and forced her lips to turn upward. “Sure, Mom. What happened?”
“This man”—her mother took a deep breath—“has been following me around the house. Every room I’m in, he’s there.”
“I’m sure it’s a coincidence.” Natalie still had her hand on the doorknob and hoped this conversation would wrap up soon so she could get back to her friends.
Her mother shook her head defiantly. “No, it wasn’t. He finally approached me and struck up a conversation.” She pointed a finger at Natalie. “And before you say that he was just being friendly, he wasn’t. He was hitting on me.” Her mother’s indignant tone was almost comical as she raised her chin. “He’s Amish, for goodness’ sake.”
“So you said.” Natalie decided to play along since her mother was in such a tizzy. “Who was it?”
“He said he was Helen’s neighbor, that his wife had died recently, and that Helen invited him to come along.” She squeezed her eyes closed and shook her head. “It was so awkward and unsettling.” When she opened her eyes, she pointed to herself, first at her boots, then her pants, and finally her blouse. “Couldn’t he see that I’m not Amish and that flirting with me would be inappropriate?”
Cecelia Collins rarely lost her composure even when she was being dramatic, but with every word, she became more unraveled. Even her neatly combed and sprayed shoulder-length blonde hair was tousled from shaking her head so much.
Natalie took her hand off the door handle, deciding this was going to take longer than she’d hoped it would. “What exactly did he say?”
Her mother took a couple deep breaths. “He told me I was pretty and . . . and that I smelled nice.”
Natalie covered her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing. It didn’t sound like something a conservative Amish man would say.
“Go ahead and laugh.” She pointed her finger at Natalie again. “And his wife only died a few months ago!” She spoke in a loud, hysterical whisper.
“Mom, he was probably just being nice. And even if he was flirting, maybe he was just practicing since the Amish are encouraged to remarry quickly after the death of a spouse. I’m surprised you don’t know that since we’ve lived here forever.” Natalie put her hand back on the doorknob. “You’re overreacting.”
“Natalie Marie Collins, it’s been a long time since a man has flirted with me, but I can still recognize it, whether he’s Amish or not.”
“Well, I think that in this case you misread the man’s intentions.” Natalie opened the door, only to have her mother push it closed.
“Oh, really? Did I? Then why did he ask me to dinner—or supper as he called it—for next Saturday night?” She raised her chin even higher as her eyes widened. “Isn’t that against their rules or something, dating a non-Amish person?”
Sometime during the past few seconds, Natalie’s jaw had dropped, so she slowly closed her mouth.
“Now what do you have to say, smarty-pants?”
Natalie opened her mouth to speak, but she was at a loss for words. Finally she said, “Well, what did you say?”
Her mother huffed. “I’m surprised you even have to ask me that.” Then she opened the door and stomped down the hallway, the heels of her white boots clicking against the hardwood floors.
Natalie was too stunned to move.