Chapter Thirty-Two
Regina gazed straight ahead, not really seeing the familiar buildings they were driving past. She hugged herself hard to keep from crying in front of Gabe, who was every bit as disappointed as she was. Just when they’d thought their plan for happiness had fallen into place, they no longer had a home.
“I don’t feel like going to work yet, do you?” Gabe asked.
Regina blinked. “We have a lot of furniture orders to—”
“The other folks can carry on without us for a while,” he interrupted, his voice tinged with bitterness. “I’m in no mood to deal with people right now—especially Dat. I was all ready to announce that we’d be living at your place because we’ll be getting hitched someday soon . . . ”
Regina’s eyes widened. “Um, that getting hitched part hasn’t changed, has it?”
Gabe hugged her close as the rig continued down Morning Star’s busy street. “Of course not, honey-girl! I’m just really bummed about this news. It seemed like everything was finally going our way—and I was hoping you wouldn’t have to move in with Clarence and Cora,” he added sadly. “I doubt your uncle would allow you to stay with Lydianne or one of your other friends. And it wouldn’t look proper if you took the guest room at our place.”
“Jah, that would be pushing it,” Regina agreed. She thought hard, hoping to lift Gabe’s spirits. “I’d be fine with living at your parents’ place after we marry, though. That’s how a lot of couples get started.”
“It’s not how I want to start out,” he shot back. He sighed, falling back against the seat. “Sorry I’m so cranky. Where would you like to go for a while, so we can get past this mood we’re in?”
“Let’s go home,” Regina insisted. “I’ll only be staying there until Friday—and I was so surprised by the sale, I didn’t ask Jessica when the new owners will take possession.”
Gabe turned the rig, and they were soon at the house on Maple Lane. It seemed odd to offer him lemonade and cookies from the bulk store this early in the day, yet the humidity and the lack of a breeze made coffee seem like the wrong choice. As they sat down in the kitchen, Regina turned on the small battery-operated fan on the counter.
“Here’s another example of my baking skills,” she teased. “I’d cook more, but with working at the factory—and my new embroidery projects—I don’t spend much time in the kitchen. Maybe that’ll make you rethink your decision to marry me.”
As she’d hoped, Gabe waved off her remark. He bit into an oatmeal cookie that was so stale it shattered between his teeth—and then he began to laugh. “I know just how that cookie feels,” he teased as he brushed its crumbs into a pile. “Soon enough you won’t be working at Flaud Furniture. You’ll be staying home with our babies, jah?”
Regina couldn’t help smiling at the pictures his statement brought to mind. “I never thought I’d see that day, and I’m looking forward to it, Gabe. You’ll make a wonderful dat.”
His eyes widened. “You think so? Sometimes—like yesterday when I was tripping over my tongue, telling you I loved you—I wonder if I can pull everything together and support a family,” he admitted. “It’s time to ask Dat for a raise, now that we’ll be house-hunting.”
“At least he’s still around, so you can ask him,” she pointed out.
Gabe grasped her hand. “That’s what I love about you, Red,” he said. “You see the gut in everything and you handle setbacks—like our shunning—with a positive attitude. You’ll be the anchor of our marriage, honey-girl. The rock I build my life on.”
Her cheeks tingled as he gazed at her. “I’m blessed to have you, Gabe. We’re two of a kind, even though we had no idea about that until the chips were down, jah?”
He finished his lemonade, appearing renewed. “What if we take the long way back to the factory? We could ask Jessica for information about lots or houses that are for sale, jah?” he asked, brightening. “And I could treat you to pizza before we make our entrance at work—which will cause a stir, most likely. Are you up for that?”
Regina laughed, feeling better already. “A stir? I can be the spoon—as long as you’re the hand that’s holding it.”
“That makes us an unbeatable team,” Gabe stated as he rose from his chair. “Let’s find another place to build our nest, Red. If we’re there together, it’ll be the best home ever, ain’t so?”
* * *
When he kissed Red lightly on the temple before she headed for the staining room, Gabe caught the speculative glimmer in his father’s eye.
“I was wondering if you skipped town, son,” Dat remarked as he fell into step with Gabe in the main workroom. “But when I realized Regina was gone as well, I got my hopes up. You won’t give me a different excuse for missing work, I hope?”
Gabe motioned for his father to follow him into the office, where they could speak privately. “Truth be told, we went to the Realtor’s office to take Red’s house off the market this morning, but somebody snatched it up on Sunday afternoon,” he began with a shake of his head. “So we’re regrouping. Drove around a bit, looking at other places that’re for sale—because now that I’m engaged, I need to provide my future wife a home. Which means we need to discuss a hefty raise in my pay, Dat.”
His father swiveled in his wooden desk chair, laughing—but it was joy Gabe heard in his voice, rather than ridicule. “Gut for you, son! Congratulations!” he crowed. “Your mother’ll be mighty happy to hear that. And I’m pleased that you and Regina are figuring out how to handle setbacks together. But I’ll not be raising your pay.”
Gabe blinked. A protest was on the tip of his tongue, because he’d worked for his father all his adult life without asking for more money—yet something in Dat’s expression made him pause. It was a fine sight, watching his father laugh as though he’d made the best joke ever.
Dat tented his hands under his chin. “So you talked to Jessica this morning? And she broke the startling news?”
Gabe frowned, wondering where this odd conversation was headed. “Jah,” he replied softly. “Red and I were so disappointed we couldn’t see straight—”
“Can you keep a secret?”
Gabe stared. Could his dat be having a reaction to his medication? Why else would he be downright giggly after learning that his son and future daughter-in-law had been dealt such an emotional blow—and after flatly turning him down for a pay raise?
Dat rolled his chair around the desk so he was sitting close to Gabe. “Your mamm and I bought Regina’s house for you, son,” he whispered. “We want the two of you to have it, so—”
“You paid cash, too!” Gabe shot back. “We could’ve saved you all that money, if you’d let us take it off the market.”
“But we took it out of Regina’s name, mostly so Clarence can’t cry foul,” his father explained. “Now she’ll be a traditional Amish wife, allowing her husband to support her, and you won’t have to spend your early years in a bedroom between your parents and your sisters. Your mamm thinks she’ll have grandkids sooner—and more of them—if you have your own place. If you get my drift.”
Gabe nearly choked. His mother never mentioned such things. “Mamm said that?”
His father shrugged. “She and I spent several months living with her parents before we could afford a home,” he explained. “What with her grandmother and two brothers in their twenties in bedrooms adjoining ours, it wasn’t exactly a newlywed couple’s dream.”
As Dat’s information sank in, Gabe’s heart swelled with hope. “Well—wow,” he murmured. “Wow. That’s quite a gift—way better than a raise, or any other place you could’ve picked for us. Denki, Dat. I’m—we’re—delighted!”
“But keep it under your hat,” his father insisted, suddenly serious again. “This sort of announcement—including your engagement—is best saved for after you’ve been reinstated into the congregation. If folks realize you’ve been courting and having such a fine time while under the bann, it won’t sit well with Clarence and Ammon. Those two preachers are starched so stiff, I wonder if they ever have any fun—or ever give their wives anything to smile about.”
“Even so, Red has to go to the Millers’ on Friday—”
“But not for long—and not forever,” Dat put in quickly. “Meanwhile, you and I can fix anything in Red’s house that might need attention, jah? Does she have hardwood floors that could use a face-lift?” he asked eagerly. “Or maybe the rooms need some fresh paint—and your mamm’s offered to sew new curtains. We could even build new kitchen cabinets, or fronts for them—”
“Out of the flawed wood in the scrap bin!” Gabe put in excitedly. “When Lydianne told me Red was so taken with that swirl-topped coffee table, I put a SOLD sign on it so I could give it to her as an engagement present. She’ll really sparkle if we replace her cabinet doors to include a few knotholes and irregularities in the grain!”
When Dat rocked back in his chair, he looked happier than he had in a long time. “You’re getting the idea, son. I can’t wait to see Regina’s face when she finds out about all these surprises you’ll have for her.”