Bishop Miller and his wife offered to have the worship service at their home since it would be a small gathering. Charlotte was dressed in a dark green dress, white apron, and her hair atop her head was covered by a kapp. As she looked down at her black socks and black leather shoes, she fought the urge to cry happy tears. She’d come a long way, and she was ready to commit herself to the Ordnung.
Jacob looked handsome in a black pair of slacks and long-sleeved blue shirt, wearing shiny black shoes and a black felt hat. Annie stood near him, glowing. Amos was standing behind Lena’s wheelchair as Lena softly wept. Hannah and Isaac were standing beside Amos. They’d waited a long time to see Jacob get baptized.
Charlotte kept glancing at the door, hoping and praying that Daniel would show up, even if it was just to be present for Jacob’s sake. Annie was planning to marry Jacob, and Daniel’s family had known Jacob his entire life.
But Charlotte chose to focus on the good things in her life today. She smiled at Andrea, who was holding Bella. Thank You, God, for gifting me with family.
Daniel had never heard Annie stand up to their father in that way, and he waited for Daed to go into a rage after Annie left. But he sat in the rocking chair, perfectly still and silent. Daniel sat on the couch near the baby seat where Gracie was sleeping soundly. He didn’t know what to say. His sister was right about their father.
“Your sister is right,” Daed said.
Danki, Lord for allowing mei father to see the error of his ways about the boppli.
Daniel nodded.
“You should be at that baptism.”
Daniel sat taller and started to speak, but his father cleared his throat and went on. “Charlotte has done many gut things for Annie and Jacob, taken them in like family when they were confused and lost. I was slow to accept her, but her goodness shines brightly.” He scratched his head. “Why, exactly, are you not going?”
Daniel wanted to redirect the conversation to his father’s inability to bond with his new daughter, but Daed wasn’t likely to move to another subject until this question had been satisfied. But Daniel didn’t feel like explaining himself. Then he might have to take action, and he’d rather lie around eating potato chips and sleeping. At least until he was able to drift to sleep without crying, his mother’s face the last thing he saw each night.
He’d have to explain to his father that Charlotte had spent a long time postponing a commitment, and how he feared she wouldn’t go through with the baptism today. Which meant she wouldn’t be able to marry him. He couldn’t take another hurt piled on top of his grief. “I don’t know,” he finally said.
His father sat quietly, running his hand the length of his beard over and over again. Hopefully, Daed was now thinking about his own actions.
“I do not know how to cook. Do you?” Frowning, he turned to Daniel.
“Nee.” Cooking wasn’t high on Daniel’s priority list right now, but not eating did cause a shiver to run up his spine. But only for a moment.
He began to picture Charlotte, dressed in Amish clothing for the first time, preparing to commit herself to the church for the rest of her life. As Daniel thought about everything she had been through to reach this point, his heart beat faster. How can I miss this? I love her.
But what if she didn’t go through with it? What if she wasn’t even there right now? Should Daniel go for Jacob and Annie, no matter what? Despite the lad’s waywardness at times, Jacob was a good lad and seemed to have put his worldly ways behind him.
Daniel thought about the life he’d longed for with Charlotte. And now she was taking the first step toward that dream. Was she doing it just for him? If he wasn’t there, would she change her mind and not choose baptism? That seemed like reason enough not to go.
His heart slammed into the wall of his chest. This was what he’d wanted—for Charlotte to commit to God and to him. She’d always said he gave her strength and confidence, and he wasn’t there now to provide that.
He bolted upstairs and minutes later he returned, hoping his father would have ventured over to Gracie, or at least paid the tiniest bit of attention to her.
“You’re right. I should be there. And I’m going!” He darted toward the door.
“Wait, wait, wait!” His father quickly closed the distance between them. “You can’t leave the baby. I don’t know how to tend to a child.” Scowling, he glanced at Grace, then back at Daniel.
“Annie was right about you too, Daed.” Daniel stared at his father. “Grace didn’t cause Mamm to die. She is a beautiful little person, and she’s your dochder. Go to her.”
His father’s bottom lip twitched, and Daniel wasn’t sure if he was going to yell or cry. Daniel didn’t wait to find out.
As he readied the horse for travel, he prayed that his father would take this opportunity to get to know his daughter.
Charlotte tried to corral the bursts of adrenaline coursing through her veins as butterflies fluttered in her stomach. The deacon had arrived a few minutes late, so they were starting a few minutes after eight o’clock. Charlotte had thanked the bishop and his wife for working in the baptisms before Christmas, instead of making Jacob and Charlotte wait until the spring. Charlotte suspected that Lena might be part of the reason the bishop had bent the rules.
Charlotte was grateful to the bishop—and God—for Lena’s presence. Lena had stood by their son as he tried to find his way in the world, but she’d wanted him baptized into the faith. And now it was finally happening.
As everyone took their places, their attention was drawn to the window. In the distance, a buggy sped up the driveway. Charlotte dared to pray that it might be Daniel, and when Annie let out a slight gasp, smiling, Charlotte’s hope soared as Daniel came into view. Everyone waited quietly until he was at the front door. As he stepped over the threshold, he blew cold air into the room, his teeth chattering.
“Sorry I’m late.” He smiled at Charlotte, and she forced herself not to break out in tears. She glanced around the room at all the happy faces, but Annie and Jacob exchanged glances, their disappointment also reflected in their expressions. They were surely hoping that Lucas would be here too.
Annie edged her way to where Daniel was standing. “You left Grace with Daed?” she asked in a whisper loud enough that everyone in the room heard her.
“Ya. It is too cold for the boppli.”
Annie stared at Daniel before she finally stepped back to her place.
Jacob and Charlotte kneeled before the bishop and deacons. Her life here flashed in her mind’s eye like a photo collage of pictures that had finally come together and made sense. She’d arrived in Lancaster County seeking answers to Ethan’s death. Her knowledge of the Plain People had been limited and inaccurate. But what had started as a divide-and-conquer mission had morphed into a beautiful path of discovery she never could have foreseen. And for the first time in her life, a sense of peace washed over her as she committed her life to God and the church.
Andrea smiled as she bounced Bella on her hip. Lena wiped her eyes. Daniel blinked a lot, surely wishing his mother were present to witness this blessed event.
The deacon poured water through the bishop’s hands and onto Charlotte’s and Jacob’s heads. Afterward Bishop Miller awarded Jacob with a holy kiss on the forehead as the bishop’s wife did the same with Charlotte.
Lost in the moment, Charlotte cried softly, thankfully, and with renewed hope and faith. A lot of hugs and blessings followed the ceremony, but Charlotte’s gaze kept drifting to Daniel.
“The weather prediction is not gut for later in the day. As much as I would like for you all to stay and celebrate this blessed occasion, I feel it best for everyone to get safely home,” Bishop Miller said.
Charlotte found Daniel’s eyes again and smiled.
Annie had never been more grateful for impending bad weather, an excuse to hurry home and check on the baby.
“I hope Gracie is okay,” she said to Daniel, followed by a sigh. “I’m happy you came, but I’m disappointed that Daed didn’t see Jacob and Charlotte getting baptized.”
“Give Daed and the boppli this time together.” Daniel leaned down to Annie’s ear as the bishop’s wife hugged Charlotte. “I need you to do me a favor. Can you follow me in your buggy to Charlotte’s house?”
Annie opened her mouth to decline but thought better of it since Charlotte’s house was on the way home. She wouldn’t lose much time. She nodded. What was Daniel up to? Whatever it was, she silently thanked God that her brother seemed to have come around.
Jacob sidled up to Annie and squeezed her hand. She wanted to jump into his arms, but that would be inappropriate, so she just held tightly to his hand.
“I want a life with you, Annie. I’ve never been so sure of anything before.” Jacob’s eyes locked with hers, and Annie was sure her future was with him.
“I want that, too, Jacob, and I’m so happy you’ve taken this step toward that.” She cupped his cheek in her hand. “I’ve got to follow Daniel to Charlotte’s house. I’m not sure why, but then I’ll hurry home to make sure Gracie is okay. I can come by later, though.”
Jacob shook his head. “Nee, stay at home. I will come there if the weather looks better by tonight, or I will see you tomorrow.” He blinked a few times. “And I will see you every day after that for the rest of my life.”
Annie threw caution to the wind and hugged Jacob. “I love you with all my heart.”
“And I love you.”
Annie eased away. “I’ve got to find Daniel.”
Jacob nodded.
It saddened Annie to have such worries about her own father tending to his daughter.
Daniel had plans to do something he’d dreamed of for a long time. He’d even planned for it to some extent. But then grief and fear had overwhelmed him, to a point that he’d almost missed Charlotte’s baptism—something he would have regretted for the rest of his life.
“Annie and I would like to stop by your house on the way home, if that’s okay,” he said to Charlotte as they said their good-byes to the others. “I won’t be able to stay long because Annie is anxious to get home, but I have a gift for you.”
Charlotte had been crying on and off since the beginning of the ceremony, overwhelmed with emotions Daniel understood. Committing to the church was a blessing not to be taken lightly, and Charlotte had done so even though she was unsure where her relationship with Daniel stood.
“I’d like that.” She smiled through her tears. “I’ve missed you.”
Daniel waited until they were out on the porch before he hugged Charlotte. The others hurried to their buggies, Andrea started the truck to let it warm up, and Amos bundled Lena up with a blanket before he and Jacob carried the wheelchair down the porch steps.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he clung to her tightly. “I want you with me for the rest of time, but for now, ride in the truck with Andrea and Bella so you’ll be warm.” He grinned. “You’ll be the passenger now.”
Charlotte sniffled, but another smile stretched across her face as she eased out of his arms.
“You look beautiful,” he said with a hitch in his voice. “That green dress and kapp suits you perfectly.”
A minute later Daniel followed Big Red the short distance to Charlotte’s house, with Annie following behind in her buggy. Once there, he stepped out of the buggy with his cold hands in the pockets of his coat as it started to drizzle, rain that would soon turn to ice.
He waited for Andrea to take Bella out of the car seat, then he carried her inside the house, telling Annie he would be with her shortly. His sister was antsy. Daniel was too.
Once in the living room, the remnants of a fire glowed, but a chill wafted through the room, so Daniel set Bella down and added a log.
“We’ll let you two chat.” Andrea scooped up Bella and started toward the bedroom.
“Nee, that’s okay, Andrea. I must go. Annie is going to take me home.” Daniel winked at Charlotte. “But we will talk later. Possibly tomorrow, depending on the weather.”
Andrea nodded, but she still walked into the bedroom and closed the door.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry, and—”
Charlotte put a finger to his lips, shushing him. “You’re here now, and that’s what matters.”
“I want to stay. But Annie and I are both worried about Gracie. Daed still hasn’t had anything to do with the boppli, and we are concerned about his being alone with her. I’m going to ride with Annie in her buggy.”
“I understand.” Charlotte nodded. “But why are you leaving your buggy here?”
Daniel smiled. He’d waited a long time to tell her. “Because it’s your horse and buggy now. I’ll put the horse under the old lean-to on the back of the property and make sure he has water. I’ll bring hay tomorrow after the weather clears, but he will be okay for tonight. I fed him heartily this morning.” He paused, smiling. “The lean-to needs to be replaced with a barn, so, once the weather allows, the community will come together to build you a proper barn.”
Charlotte’s eyebrows rose. “What?”
Daniel chuckled. “Maybe don’t go anywhere until after the weather has cleared and I’ve shown you how to handle the animal. I’ve had another horse and buggy on order for a while. But my buggy is worn in, along with my gentle horse, and it will be easier for you to handle.”
Charlotte jumped in Daniel’s arms and smothered him with kisses. “This is happening, isn’t it?”
He laughed. “Ya, it is.” He kissed her one last time. “I will see you tomorrow.” He cupped both of her cheeks. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
After he’d tended to the horse, Daniel got in Annie’s buggy, and they hurried off. Charlotte opened the bedroom door.
“Are you two back in the saddle again?” Andrea smiled as Bella played with a faceless doll on the bed next to her, one of the toys Dianda had sent over and symbolic to Charlotte at this moment.
“I do believe we are.”
“Excellent!” Andrea clapped. “Because I have a surprise for you.”
Charlotte brought a hand to her heart. “So many surprises today! Daniel just gave me his horse and buggy. It’s real.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “I’m Amish.”
Andrea’s eyes filled also. “I’m so happy for you.” She shook her head, grinning. “I don’t think I could do it.” She laughed, dabbing at her eyes. “But if it works for you, then I’m happy.”
Charlotte reached into the pocket of her black apron and pulled out the keys to Big Red. “I won’t be needing these anymore.” She tossed the keys to her sister, whose eyes rounded like saucers.
Andrea jumped off the bed, jumped up and down, and squealed. “I get the truck?”
“Ya, of course.” Relief swept over her that the truck would remain in the family.
Andrea ran to Charlotte and threw her arms around her neck as Bella clapped. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“Well, you need wheels to deliver jewelry and pick up your money.”
Andrea pulled away and gasped. “Speaking of. Come see your surprise!” She picked up Bella and led Charlotte across the living room to the kitchen. “I’ve been making payments on it.”
A shiny white oven was in the place of her old stove top, and it was attached to a propane tank.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I had to get rid of the cabinet underneath the stove top to make room for the oven.” Andrea glowed, and Charlotte didn’t think she had any more tears, but one slipped down her face anyway.
“You did this? But how . . . ?”
Andrea rolled her eyes as a hand landed on her hip. “Well, okay, I didn’t do everything by myself. I bought the oven, but Edna’s husband, John, installed it this morning. He helped me put it in Big Red and everything.” She raised a hand, palm facing Charlotte. “But I paid for it.” She frowned, but then grinned a little. “Well, I paid for most of it. Edna threw in some money she’d stumbled upon, deciding this was as good a use for it as anything.”
“Edna?” Charlotte was too overwhelmed to speculate why Edna had done such a thing, but as she eyed her new oven, she dabbed at her eyes. “I can’t believe this.”
“I’ll explain about Edna another time.” Andrea stared at Charlotte for a long time. “What you’ve done for me and Bella”—Andrea blinked back tears—“I can’t even really ever repay you. I hope you like the oven. And”—she bit her bottom lip—“I hope you will give Edna a chance too.”
Andrea sniffled, then clapped her hands. “But for now, let’s try it out!” She set Bella on the floor, walked to Charlotte’s pantry, and returned with a chocolate cake mix and a white cake mix. “I wasn’t sure if you liked chocolate or white cake.” She set them on the table, went back to the pantry, and filled her arms with tubs of icing. “And I thought we’d choose the right icing together.”
Charlotte brought a hand to her mouth to keep from sobbing openly as a river of tears poured down her face. “That sounds perfect.”
Annie sprinted through the yard and pulled the front door open. Her father was sitting on the couch holding Gracie, his eyes bright as he gave the baby a bottle.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever done this,” he said, smiling. “But I found the formula and warmed it in a pan of hot water. She’s a hungry girl.” He refocused on Gracie as Annie hurried to his side, needing to see for herself that the baby was okay. She brought a hand to her chest and smiled.
“Hello, Baby Gracie.” Meet your daed. She put a hand on the baby, then looked up at her father.
“She has her mudder’s eyes,” he said softly as he kept his eye on his younger daughter. Eyes filled with emotions that Annie suspected he hadn’t allowed himself to feel prior to now.
Daniel walked in a few minutes later, after tending to the horse in preparation for a freeze overnight. He strode across the living room, then squatted beside Annie and their father.
“She looks happy in your arms.” Daniel smiled.
Daed glanced back and forth between Annie and Daniel. “I am sorry. I just couldn’t . . .” His voice cracked as he tried to express his feelings. “I just . . .”
“It doesn’t matter, Daed.” Annie placed her hand on top of his as his shoulders shook slightly. “We are a family, and Mamm is looking down from heaven smiling.”
Annie wasn’t sure if life could get any more perfect, but then Daniel shared his hopes for Charlotte and him, and Annie bowed her head in prayer.
Charlotte, Andrea, and Bella had chocolate cake with strawberry icing for breakfast the next morning. Charlotte had already planned to take off work the day after her baptism. Daniel showed up later in the morning, after the freeze had lifted and left a sunny haze across dewy grass that glistened in the morning sun. Charlotte met him in the yard wrapped in her coat, donning black gloves and a black bonnet.
“I think I can get used to you dressing like this.” He pulled her into a hug before he kissed her with all the love Charlotte had dreamed of.
“Danki for my horse and buggy. I took the horse some dry oatmeal this morning. I figured it would do until you got here.” She smiled up at him.
Daniel nodded to the buggy he’d arrived in. “That’s Annie’s buggy. Mine won’t be ready for another week.”
“I guess I’ll be carting you around. After you teach me the ropes, pardon the pun.”
He laughed, but his expression turned serious. “I love you. I want my life to be with you. Is that what you want too, Charlotte?”
“More than anything in the world. I feel like I’m finally home. It’s not just my house, but a home.”
Daniel smiled. “You’ve been home all along. It just took you awhile to get here. To this place. And to me.”
She snuggled into his embrace just as their own personal ray of sunshine shone down on them from heaven, as if approving the life they were meant to share. Thank You, God.