Emily had stayed with Titus for as long as was appropriate, which meant she’d slipped into bed around two that morning. In spite of not having to wake up as early as usual, she was still tired. No doubt, she’d be tempted to doze off if the farmers market was slow today. But that wasn’t likely to happen. Not during peak season. Certain folks in the surrounding communities relied on her for their fresh vegetables and fruit, especially the organic varieties.
She stretched and yawned and attempted to wipe the sleepiness from her eyes. She’d definitely be frequenting the downtown coffee shop today. She’d probably be their best customer. Which made her think about Titus’s peppermint coffee kisses.
Titus. Her future husband.
In all her exhilaration, she could scream. But her family members likely wouldn’t appreciate it. Especially since Susan hadn’t awakened yet. Where had she gone last night? Emily wondered.
“Gut to see you finally found your way home,” Dat said as her feet hit the bottom step.
“Did you wait up for me?”
“Only for as long as my eyelids would allow. Conked out around midnight, I’d say.” Dat sipped his coffee.
“I need to hurry. I’m running later than usual.” She’d have to take her breakfast at the farmers market today.
Fortunately, set-up didn’t begin until eight. The outdoor market ran from nine to twelve on Saturdays, from June till September.
“I’ll help you gather your things, dochder,” Dat offered. This was their Saturday morning ritual during the farmers market season.
Minus the cats. They were new to the equation. Which reminded her. “Mamm, could you see that the kittens get fed? I won’t have time to do it.”
“I’ll have your schweschder tend to it once she gets up.” Mamm replied.
Susan would be thrilled to hear the feeding duties had been dumped into her lap, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Denki, Mamm.” Emily slipped out the door behind her father.
She kept a small garden shed which housed the necessities for her roadside stand, her gardening tools, and farmers market supplies.
“Just one table today, Dat. And one chair. Since Susan won’t be helping out, I don’t think I’ll be able to manage more than that.” What had her older schweschder been up to lately, anyhow? No time to ponder that now.
Usually, they set up three tables in a U shape under a white canopy for shade. Since the farmers market closed at noon, they weren’t bombarded by the sun’s hottest rays, but the blacktop could get pretty hot on the exceptionally warm days.
She grabbed the pretty sign Titus had made for her and her display baskets.
“That’s new,” Dat remarked.
Emily smiled, thinking of her handsome man. “Jah, Titus made it for me.”
“I see.” Dat scratched his beard, in thought.
A driver pulled up just then, but not her driver. Her oldest brother Silas stepped out of the vehicle. He frowned when he noticed the farmers market supplies. “Oh no, I forgot about the farmers market,” he said.
Emily’s brow creased. “What are you talking about, bruder?”
“I told Titus Troyer that Shiloh would be able to watch his kinner today, but she already had plans. My next thought was you, but the farmers market totally slipped my mind.” He slapped his forehead. “Is Susan here?”
“She is now, but she has plans too,” Emily glanced at the vehicle. “Are they in the van?”
“Nee, at Titus’s. I was headed there next.”
“Well, I guess you could have the driver drop them off with me at the farmers market.” She turned to her father. “We’d better grab a couple extra chairs and the other tables.”
Just then, her driver pulled up. They were early. Early was usually a gut thing, but not for the farmers market. She wasn’t allowed to set up until eight, at the earliest.
Silas frowned. “Are you sure?”
“Well, I don’t know how little Benuel will do, but Ty and Rose will be fine. I could actually use a couple of helpers.” Emily smiled.
“Okay, great. Denki, schweschder.” Silas clapped his hands together once and nodded. “We’ll find you there then.”
She and Dat loaded up her supplies. Jah, she’d be early, but she could get her coffee first and take her time setting up her space. It would be fun teaching the kinner about the farmers market. Maybe in the future, they could sell there as a family—Titus with his woodworking and Emily with her produce.
She was on her way to a day that promised to be interesting.
~
Titus thought about canceling his agreement to go to the men’s fellowship today, but he hated to inconvenience other people. Especially when they were paying a driver on his behalf. He downed the remainder of his coffee, thinking of his date with Emily last night.
All of a sudden, warmth filled him from the inside out, as he relived the kisses they’d shared at the picnic site. And down by the stream. And in his woodshop. And in his kitchen. And in his sitting room. And in front of her home before he dropped her off in the morning. He released a breath. He wouldn’t deny the fact that he wished Emily would have stayed with him until sunrise, but that wouldn’t have been appropriate. As it was, their kisses had become quite passionate and he’d had trouble keeping his desires in check. The sooner they wed, the better, in his opinion.
A vehicle pulled up outside. His folks had dropped off the kinner about thirty minutes ago. He wasn’t sure if Silas had in mind for his dochder to come here or if she’d be watching the kinner at his house. Truth be told, he was a little worried about Benuel. He wasn’t separated from his dat very often, and when he was, it was usually with his grosseldern. He wasn’t sure how he’d do in his absence. Maybe he’d just keep the boy with him today. Sammy Eicher had said there were other kinner at the house.
At Silas’s knock, he let him inside.
Silas grimaced. “Okay, change of plans. My dochder wasn’t available today, so I enlisted my baby schweschder Emily to help out.”
Titus’s head snapped up at her name. “Emily?”
“Jah. You know who she is, right?”
Titus wanted to laugh, but instead he nodded.
“She’s going to be at the farmers market, so we’ll need to drop the kinner off there. She said she could use extra helpers.” Silas eyed him with caution. “Is that okay with you?”
“I’m sure the kinner will love being at the farmers market.” And I’ll love seeing Emily again.
“She said she wasn’t sure how the youngest one would do, though.”
“Not a problem. I planned on keeping Benuel with me.”
“Then it sounds like we have everything figured out.” Silas looked around. “Are we ready to go?”
“Jah. Let me inform the kinner of our plans.” He nodded toward the vehicle. “We’ll be right out.”
“Do you have car seats I can help carry?” Silas offered.
“Jah. They’re in the mudroom. Denki.”
~
Emily had barely set up one table, when a white van pulled up. She had trouble containing her smile when her beloved emerged from the vehicle. How she wished just the two of them were the only ones there and they could indulge in a sweet kiss. But that would have to come later.
“We brought your helpers.” Titus privily winked at Emily. “Do you need help with anything before we skedaddle?”
Ach, he seemed enthusiastic today. Gut. She knew how much her brieder enjoyed the men’s group. Hopefully, it would be a blessing to Titus as well.
She greeted Rose and Ty, who seemed excited to be there.
Titus came near and began assisting her as she unfolded the next table.
“If you could just help with the canopy, that would be wunderbaar,” Emily said, pointing to the nylon bag that held it. “I think the kinner and I can handle the rest.”
When her brothers Silas and Paul jumped out of the van and joined them, the canopy was up in no time. Without even the slightest touch, Titus disappeared with her brothers, leaving her longing for later this evening when they were sure to get in some couple time.
But now, she had a job to do. She turned to her helpers. “Okay, let’s put the tablecloths on and get those chairs set up, then the three of us will go hunt down some breakfast.”
“We already ate breakfast,” Rose said, receiving a nudge from Ty.
“I’m still hungry,” Ty said.
“Well, maybe we can find a little something to fill your belly, then. Just don’t forget that I do have some fruit for us to snack on, too,” Emily said.
“I hope it’s strawberries.”
Emily nodded to Ty. “I did bring a few strawberries.”
“Aren’t we going to put out the stuff you’re selling?” Rose stared at the containers under the table.
“We will when we get back. They don’t like us to set up too early. Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of time before the customers come.” She reached out a hand to each of them and they walked hand-in-hand toward the downtown center square in search of the café.
Emily knew the three of them would be eating much of the profits today, but she was fine with that. Just being out in town with other vendors and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine was enough. And since her special helpers joined her today, she knew they would all have a wunderbaar time.