Ellen and I are on the train, heading toward our final destination. It’s been difficult sitting all day and then sleeping in seats, but we didn’t have enough money to pay for a sleeper car this time. Poor Ellen is especially glad to be off the ship, as the waters were quite rough coming back to the mainland, and she got seasick again.
Mandy paused from writing in her journal to glance out the window. Several buffalo were silhouetted against the setting sun. It was amazing to view such big animals grazing on the plains.
Shortly after noon, they’d left Albuquerque, New Mexico, and entertained themselves playing a few games until it was time for supper. Now, while Mandy caught up on her journal writing, Ellen nodded off.
Mandy had written in a previous journal entry about the things they’d seen on the Big Island. The volcano was interesting, but after being on Kauai, she couldn’t help comparing the two islands. The area near the volcano on the Big Island looked so barren and full of lava rock. Although curious about the volcano, Mandy kept thinking about the beauty of Kauai. Even now when she closed her eyes, she visualized swaying palms, lovely flowers, and sandy beaches.
She thought about her Hawaiian friends—especially Ken. He’d looked so handsome in his Hawaiian shirt the evening he’d taken them to a luau. And even more handsome when he’d come to say goodbye the night before they’d left Kauai. Memories of the times they’d been together would stay with her forever.
Ken was so patient and kind when he taught me to swim, Mandy mused. I could trust him with my fear of water, and he helped me relax and keep trying.
At times, Mandy wished she’d never met Ken. But she was grateful for the opportunity to get to know him. If only I could have the best of both worlds—the Hawaii life with Ken, and my Amish life with …
Her thoughts swept her back to when their ship departed Kauai’s tropical paradise. She’d stood on the deck, tearfully watching until the island became a tiny dot against the huge horizon and then faded away. The farther away they got, the sadder Mandy felt. The ocean’s vastness seemed to swallow her up, leaving a huge hole in her heart.
Desperately needing to focus on something else, Mandy turned to the journal page she’d written the day the ship stopped at the harbor in Mexico. Since she didn’t have her camera anymore, it was important to fill her journal with as many remembrances as possible. She jotted in a short note about something she’d forgotten to mention—seeing several sea lions on the rocks and platforms. The creatures looked silly, flapping their flippers as they carried on with loud barking.
Mandy remembered her amazement at seeing so many brightly colored buildings in Ensenada. Some were chartreuse. Others were painted in bright pink, green, and blue. They were certainly in sharp contrast to the plain white of most Amish homes where she came from. It was interesting how each culture varied in their architecture, style of living, and food choices. Many things had been different in Hawaii than what she was used to at home.
Different is good when you fall in love with it, though. Mandy drew a deep breath and closed her eyes. Maybe I ought to follow Ellen’s example and sleep.
Monday, April 25
We’re in northeast Indiana and almost home. The scenery alongside the tracks looks familiar. Mom and Dad will be waiting in Elkhart for me to get off the train. I wonder if Gideon will be there, too.
Hoping to quell her nervous stomach, Mandy reached for the tote bag at her feet, placing her pen and journal inside. She glanced at Ellen, whose nose was pressed against the window like an eager child. No doubt she was anxious to get home.
“You know something?” Mandy lightly tapped her friend’s arm.
“What?” Ellen turned to look at her.
“Since we’ve been gone so long and both lost our jobs, we’ll need to start looking for some other employment as soon as possible.”
Ellen groaned. “I sure hope we can find something.”
“I can still do volunteer work at the thrift store in Shipshewana, but since the restaurant in Middlebury replaced me with someone else, I won’t be returning there unless one of the other waitresses ends up quitting for some reason.”
“Maybe your daed will have an opening at the meat-and-cheese store.”
“I’ve worked there before and didn’t like it much. I’d rather be waitressing, where I can visit with people.” Mandy sighed, maneuvering in her seat to get more comfortable. “But I guess if it’s all I can find, I’ll do it, because I want to pay Mom and Dad back the money they spent on my cruise ship and train tickets to bring me home from Hawaii.”
“I plan to pay my folks back, too.” Ellen clasped Mandy’s hand. “I’m sure we’ll both find something, even if it’s not our first choice for a job.”
Elkhart
When Mandy stepped off the train, she spotted her parents right away. Ellen’s folks were there, too, but she saw no sign of Gideon. She’d expected him to be at the train station, waiting for her. Giving Mandy little time to think about it, Mom quickly enveloped her in a hug. “It’s good to have you home, Daughter. We’ve missed you so much!”
“I missed you, too.” Mandy hugged Dad next, blinking happy tears from her eyes. Despite missing her friends on Kauai, it truly was good to see her family again.
“Do you have any luggage besides what you’re carrying?” Dad asked.
“We each have a small suitcase Luana and Makaio gave us,” Ellen spoke up.
“I’ll walk over with your daed to get it.” Dad hurried off.
Ellen leaned close to Mandy and whispered, “Where’s Gideon? I’m surprised he’s not here.”
Feeling a bit guilty, Mandy replied, “Maybe he’s upset because I didn’t give him much of my time whenever he called while we were on Kauai. He may think I was trying to avoid him. Perhaps he doesn’t want to court me anymore.”
“I couldn’t help overhearing, Mandy,” Mom interjected. “I seriously doubt he would think such things. Every time Gideon has seen your daed, he’s asked about you, and he said on many occasions he couldn’t wait for your return. I am fairly certain he had to work this afternoon. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he doesn’t drop by our house this evening.”
Mandy’s emotions swirled as she thought about seeing him again. Would she still have feelings for Gideon, or had they faded when she met Ken?
Middlebury
Since Gideon had been at work when Mandy’s train arrived in Elkhart, he hadn’t been able to greet her at the station. It had been disappointing, but at least now that work was over he could stop by the Freys’ house to welcome her back.
Filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, he clutched his horse’s reins so tightly the veins on his hands stuck out. Maybe it was good his horse, Dash, was taking his sweet time. What if Mandy wasn’t excited to see him? What if during her absence she’d changed her mind about being his girlfriend? Gideon didn’t think he could deal with her rejection—especially after waiting all those months for her return. It would be one thing if she’d been here and they’d drifted apart, but if the miles separating them caused Mandy to forget what they once had, Gideon would be distraught. After all, he hadn’t wanted her to go in the first place but had no way of stopping her. Of course, he had foolishly given Mandy his blessing, which he saw now as a big mistake.
“Take a deep breath and calm yourself,” he mumbled, guiding his horse up the Freys’ driveway. “In a few moments you’ll see Mandy face-to-face.”
After Gideon tied Dash to the hitching rail, he reached inside the buggy and took out the gift he’d bought for Mandy. He was especially eager to give it to her, since the birthday present he’d sent in January had apparently gotten lost in the mail.
Racing for the house, he took the porch steps two at a time and lifted his hand. But before he could knock, Mandy’s brother Melvin opened the door.
“I heard your horse whinny and knew we had company.” The boy looked up at Gideon and grinned. “Figured you came to see Mandy.”
Gideon gave a quick nod. “Is she here?”
“Jah. She’s in the living room, teaching everyone some words she learned from her Hawaiian friends.” Melvin stepped aside. “Go on in. Bet she’ll be glad to see ya.”
Gideon followed him into the living room, where he found Mandy sitting on the couch, with her mother on one side, and her brother Mark on the other.
He cleared his throat and took a step forward.
“Look who came to see you, Mandy.” Melvin pointed to Gideon.
Mandy stood and a bit awkwardly reached out her hands. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you, too. Welcome back.” He clasped one of her hands and put the paper sack he held in the other. “I brought you a little welcome-home gift.”
“Danki, but you didn’t have to.” Mandy’s gaze darted from Gideon to her little brother and back again. She seemed nervous, reminding him of a skittish colt.
“I wanted to give you something. Go ahead and open it.”
Mandy opened the sack. When she withdrew a pair of binoculars, her eyebrows lifted.
“I remembered how much you’ve enjoyed watching the birds in your yard. With spring being the time so many birds are around, I thought…”
“It’s a nice gift, Gideon. Danki for thinking of me.” Mandy’s expression relaxed as she motioned to the only free chair in the room. “Please, take a seat.”
Course I would think of you. I thought about you every day you were gone. Gideon sank into the chair. This isn’t how I’d planned to welcome you home, Mandy. I’d hoped we could spend some time alone this evening, and I could express my feelings without others listening. He shifted uneasily, grasping the arm of the chair. Maybe I should offer to take her for a buggy ride. It would give us a chance to spend some time alone. But then, her folks might think I’m rude and that I want her all to myself. I’m sure they’re eager to visit with her, too.
Staring at a stain on the hardwood floor, Gideon continued to fret, unsure of what to say or do. He’d never felt awkward around Mandy before; but then they usually didn’t have all of her family sitting in the living room, staring at them.
As if by divine intervention, Mandy’s mother stood and gestured to the other room. “Mandy, why don’t you go with me to the kitchen and bring out some refreshments? Oh, and Gideon, if you’d like to join us, you can fix the kaffi. As I recall from your previous visits, you know just the right amount of grounds to put in the pot.”
“Jah, sure, I can take care of the coffee.” Gideon followed Mandy and her mother into the kitchen. He still wasn’t alone with his best girl, but at least he didn’t have her dad and three younger brothers staring at him. Gideon had noticed that Mandy’s older brother, Michael, wasn’t here this evening. He figured Michael and his wife, Kathryn, must have other plans and couldn’t be part of their family gathering. Or maybe they’d be here later. Surely they would also want to greet Mandy.
While Gideon got the coffee going, Mandy cut up some apples and arranged the slices on a platter. She glanced at him a few times but didn’t say a word. Her silence made him feel even more uncomfortable. She used to be so talkative when they were together.
“I’ll take the cookies I made earlier into the other room.” Miriam smiled, giving her daughter’s arm a tap. “After the kaffi is ready, you and Gideon can bring the fruit and coffeepot in.” She picked up the cookie tray and some napkins, then hurried from the room.
I wonder if Mandy’s mamm left us alone on purpose, so we could talk. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he moved closer to the counter where Mandy stood. “I’ve missed you greatly, and I’m so glad you’re back.”
“I missed you and all my friends, too.”
Friends? Is that all we are, Mandy?
He shuffled his feet a couple of times, searching for something else to say that might break the tension. “So, how was Hawaii? I heard you liked it there a lot.”
Her eyes lit up for the first time since he’d arrived. “Oh, I did. I liked everything about Hawaii, except for the vog.”
“What’s a vog?”
“It’s sort of like fog, only it comes from the volcano on the Big Island. It was worse than normal for a few days while Ellen and I were staying on Kauai, and it bothered my allergies. Fortunately, it didn’t last long, and it never occurred again during my stay,” she quickly added.
“I see.” Gideon didn’t know why, but he was at a loss for words. It may have been his imagination, but things seemed even more strained between them—almost like they were strangers. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he noticed a change in Mandy. She was dressed the same way as she had before, but her enthusiasm in seeing him just wasn’t there. It seemed as if her mind was someplace else.
Should I give her a hug or kiss? It might help break the barrier between us. Heart pounding, Gideon stepped up to Mandy and boldly drew her into his arms. He lowered his head, and was about to kiss her, when she pulled away and reached for an orange. “Maybe I should cut some orange slices to go with the apples.”
He couldn’t help noticing her cheeks had turned red. The old Mandy would have hugged him back and would certainly not have pulled away from his kiss. The young woman standing before him was not the same person as she had been before her trip. Gideon had a sinking feeling the old Mandy had been changed by her experience on Hawaii. The question was, could he bring her back?