On January sixteenth, Ellen stepped off the plane that had brought her back to her home state. The problem was, it didn’t feel like home. After being in the Aloha State almost seven months, sometimes she had begun to feel it was where she belonged. Already, she missed Mandy and everyone else who’d become like family to her.
Pulling her cape tighter around her neck, Ellen had almost forgotten how cold January could be here in the Midwest. A shiver went through her body, making those warm temperatures she’d become so accustomed to that much harder to leave behind. Her cape felt heavy and bogged her down. The gray and dismal sky had no life to it.
As her feet walked on Indiana soil, Ellen’s heart remained in Hawaii with Rueben. She’d thought of little else the whole trip home. Would she be able to shed the feelings that had grown within her for him?
Ellen made her way to baggage claim. The best antidote for thinking too much was work, and she hoped to remedy that by finding a job right away.
As Ellen approached the carousel to wait for her luggage, she spotted her mother and sister Ruby. Tears sprang to her eyes. It was so good to see them.
Mom enveloped Ellen in her arms with a hug so tight it nearly left her breathless. “Oh Daughter, we’ve missed you something awful. It’s wunderbaar to have you home.”
Ellen could barely get the words out. “I’ve missed you too.”
When she pulled away from her mother’s embrace, Ruby gave her a hug. “Ach, you’re so tan. And here it is the middle of winter.”
Chuckling, Ellen shook her head. “Not in Hawaii. Well,” she corrected herself, “technically it is winter there, but you’d never know it by the beautiful warm weather they have.”
“Bet you’re going to miss it.” Ruby pointed to the luggage, circling on the carousel. “Look, there’s your suitcase coming off now. I’ll go fetch it for you.”
While her sister raced off to get the luggage, Ellen grinned at Mom. “You’d think she was eiferich to get me home.”
Mom’s face broke into a wide smile. “We’ve all been eager for that, Ellen. You’ve been gone much too long. And since Ruby and Darla decided not to go to Florida this winter, it’ll be nice to have all of my daughters at home.”
“Jah, it will be nice, but I wouldn’t have felt right coming home sooner, when Mandy needed me so badly.” Gripping her tote with one hand, Ellen placed the other hand on her chest. “She and Ken have been through so much these past several months. They were ever so thankful for all the support they received—not just from me, but from everyone who helped with Ken’s hospital, doctor, and therapy expenses.”
Mom squeezed Ellen’s arm. “You did a good thing by going there.”
Ruby returned with the suitcase. “Are we ready to go?”
“Jah.” Mom slipped her arm around Ellen’s waist. “Our driver’s waiting outside the terminal, so we’d best not keep her waiting.”
“I assume Dad and Lenore must be working in the store this afternoon,” Ellen said as they all began walking.
Mom nodded. “You’ll see them at supper in a few hours.”
“What about Darla? Will she be there too, or is she scheduled to work at the restaurant this evening?”
“She’s there right now,” Ruby spoke up. “Darla was able to work the breakfast and lunch shift, so all our family will be together for supper.”
“I’m glad.” Ellen swung her tote bag as she stepped lightly. Despite missing her friends in Hawaii, it felt good to be home.
Middlebury
“How come you’re panting for breath?” Ezra asked when he saw Lenore coming in the back door of the shoe store.
“I was out in the storage shed putting some boxes of shoes away that a customer didn’t buy.” Lenore blew on her hands and hung up her shawl. “It’s cold out there, and I ran all the way back to the store.”
He gave a nod. “Guess that’s why your gsicht is red too.”
Lenore touched her nose and snickered. “Bet my naas is as red as my face.” She glanced at the clock on the far wall. “Oh, good. It’s almost quitting time. I can’t wait to go home.”
“Are ya doing anything special tonight?” he asked, grabbing a pen.
“Jah. Mom hired a driver so she and Ruby could go to South Bend to pick Ellen up at the airport. We’re gonna have a celebration supper tonight, and Mom’s cookin’ Ellen’s favorite meal.”
“That’s great news.” Ezra’s cheekbones almost hurt from smiling so hard. “Say, what is Ellen’s favorite iems?”
“Noodles over mashed potatoes.” Lenore took a seat on a nearby stool. “Why do you care about my sister’s favorite meal?”
Ezra couldn’t help noticing how Lenore eyed him with suspicion, but it didn’t stop him from blurting out what he wanted to do. “Think I may drop by later on to say hello.”
Lenore’s eyebrows squished together. “Are you sweet on my sister? Is that why you asked me about her so many times when she was gone?”
A warm flush crept across Ezra’s cheeks. After working with Lenore all these months, he’d learned that she wasn’t a bit shy about coming to the point. To his relief, some customers came into the store just then. Nathan began talking to one of the men, and Ezra quickly headed for the other Amish man.
He wasn’t about to answer Lenore’s question. The last thing he needed was Ellen’s little sister blabbing to Ellen about his intentions or spreading gossip around the community. If anyone did the telling, it had to be him. Now he needed to find the right time to do it.
“It’s sure nice to have you back home with us.” Ellen’s dad smiled at her from his seat at the head of the table. “Didn’t seem right with one of my dochder missing.”
Ellen returned his smile. It was nice to be missed, and it felt good to be home, sitting around the table with her dear family. From what she could tell, nothing had changed since she left.
Ellen took a bite of mashed potatoes. Rueben should be with his family as well, but he chooses an unyielding life.
“Tell us all about your time on Kauai.” Darla leaned forward as she gazed at Ellen from across the table. “Did you get to do anything fun while you were there?”
Ellen nodded, thinking about all the things she and Rueben had done. “But of course, most of my time was spent helping at the organic farm, and later, the B&B Ken’s mother bought from Luana and Makaio.”
“I imagine you enjoyed working at the bed-and-breakfast more than taking care of smelly hinkel.” Lenore wrinkled her nose.
Ellen laughed. “I didn’t mind helping care for the chickens, but you’re right—working at the bed-and-breakfast was more enjoyable.”
“What kind of fun things did you do when you weren’t working?” Darla asked.
Ellen blotted her mouth with a napkin. Could she tell them without letting on that she cared for Rueben? “Well, I got to see Spouting Horn again.” She paused for a sip of water. “Another time, I was able to tour a replica of an ancient Hawaiian village.”
“Did you go alone?” Lenore questioned.
Ellen swallowed hard. “No, I went with—”
A knock sounded on the front door, bringing their discussion to an end.
Mom went to see who it was, and returned to the dining room with Ezra. Holding a cardboard box in his hands, he moved toward the table. “My mamm made two apple pies today, and I brought one over to share with all of you.” His gaze moved to Ellen, and he offered her a wide smile. “Welcome back. I bet you’re glad to be home.”
She nodded.
Mom took the box from Ezra. “Tell your mamm we said danki. It was a nice gesture.”
With hands in his jacket pockets, Ezra rocked back and forth on his heels. “Well, um … guess I’d better head for home.”
“Oh, don’t rush off,” Mom was quick to say. “Have a seat at the table and join us.”
He glanced at Ellen again, then back at Mom. “It’s nice of you to offer, but I already ate supper.”
“That’s okay,” Mom said. “You can visit with us while we eat, and then we’ll have some of that pie your mamm made, along with hot coffee.” Grinning, she hurried from the room.
Ellen pursed her lips. It seems odd that Mom would be excited about a pie, when she made my favorite banana whoopie pies for dessert.
Ezra went over to one of the empty chairs at the table and sat down.
“How’s the weather out there?” Dad asked. “When Lenore and I came home from the store earlier it looked like it might snow.”
“No snow yet.” Ezra looked at Ellen again. “Think ya might come back to work at the store?”
She shook her head. “Dad has plenty of help with you and Lenore working there. I’ll start looking for a job elsewhere soon.”
Ezra cleared his throat louder than Ellen thought necessary. “There’s to be a young people’s gathering, with a bonfire, at your friend, Sadie’s soon. Think ya might go?”
Before Ellen could respond, Ruby blurted, “Darla and I will be there, and I’m sure our sister will go too. Right, Ellen?”
Ellen nodded. What else could she do? There was nothing like being put on the spot. She would most likely go because it would be nice to see all her friends again.
She rose from her seat. “Think I’ll see if Mom needs any help in the kitchen.”
Ellen had no more than entered the adjoining room, when Lenore showed up. “Know what I think?” she whispered to Ellen.
“What?”
“I think Ezra likes you. I’ll bet he’s gonna ask if he can take you home after the get-together.”
Mom gave a curious look their way, but didn’t say anything. Ellen noticed a faint smile on her mother’s face as she continued to cut the pie.
Hoping Ezra hadn’t heard their conversation, Ellen leaned closer to Lenore and whispered, “Why would you say something like that?”
“’Cause the whole time you were in Hawaii he kept asking questions about you.” Lenore rolled her eyes. “And didn’t you see the way he looked at you when he sat at the table? I’m certain that poor fellow’s in love with you.”
Ellen’s face warmed. Could it be true? Is Ezra interested in me? If so, what should I do?