Deborah studied Mahlon as he guided the horse and buggy toward Hope Crossing. It’d take them the better part of an hour to get there, so he’d slipped away from the shop before closing, hoping they could ride there and back before dark. They both wanted to see the place Ada would move into this Saturday.
The only noise was that of the horse’s hoofbeats and the creaking of the buggy. Deborah felt that Mahlon had grown quieter with each day that had passed since Ephraim’s shunning, and he seemed to be sharing less and less with her. He hadn’t even noticed when she came out of her house with something behind her back or when she tucked a package under the seat of the carriage. Maybe he just needed to find something to laugh about. She certainly did, especially after going by Anna Mary’s last night and finding out she and Ephraim had broken up.
A night out together before the weekend arrived would probably do both her and Mahlon some good. It had to be upsetting him that his mother had made a decision about a house without his approval. Now that her father was home from the hospital, the hardest thing for her to accept was that Ephraim and Anna Mary were no longer seeing each other. The shunning would end in time, but Ephraim had never changed his mind once he stopped seeing a girl. She held on to the hope that he would this time.
Ada had told her a little about what took place at the meeting last Monday after the bishop dismissed most of them. She wouldn’t say too much about that, but she told Deborah all about the house in Hope Crossing and that Cara was moving in with her. Knowing all the odds Cara had beaten to find Dry Lake, Deborah couldn’t wish she hadn’t come, but she was glad that in two days she’d be moving away from her brother.
Drawing a deep breath, she tried to relax. She touched Mahlon’s cheek, hoping to pull him from his thoughts too. “Where are you?”
“Thinking about all the changes happening in Dry Lake. It’s like everyone’s suddenly chosen to follow their own heart.”
“Everyone’s trying to do what’s best. Even your mother.”
“Maybe.”
“So what’s bothering you the most?”
“I stayed because I didn’t feel she could make it on her own. And now…”
“Stayed?”
He said nothing.
“As in stayed in her house or stayed Amish?”
He shook his head and sighed. “Stayed with her.”
“It didn’t hurt anything for you to live at home these extra few years, did it?”
“No.” He shrugged. “Do you ever wonder if after all this Ephraim will stay Amish?”
“Too often and too much. I think that’s the main reason I’m not more upset that your mother has decided to move to Hope Crossing. She’s getting Cara out of his place and out of his sight. I’m really sorry Ada’s moving so far away from our community, but maybe he and Anna Mary can work things out once Cara’s gone.”
“I had no idea Mamm had that kind of independence in her. I only wish I’d known it years ago.” He lightly slapped the reins against the horse’s back.
“Well, you’re free now. And you can find a place just for us. I’m so excited, but I’m nervous about all of it. Can you find us a place in ten days?”
“Just trust me. I’ll handle it.” Mahlon looked at the directions in his hand and brought the buggy to a stop in front of an old house.
“This is it?” Deborah asked.
He looked at the address on the paper in his hand and then to the mailbox. “Ya.”
They sat in silence, staring at the place. It looked like a haunted mansion. The absolute worst home in Hope Crossing. Mahlon pulled around back and into the driveway.
Deborah scanned the surrounding area. The place sat on a corner lot, with a cornfield to one side of it and houses nearby but not too close. “It has a nice little barn, pasture for her horse, and a huge backyard.”
“Ya, and a backyard so full of junk and fallen limbs she can’t use it for anything.”
“That can be changed with a bit of work.”
They both got out, and Deborah held his hand as they followed the sidewalk around the side of the home, up the front walk, and onto the wraparound porch.
The gray paint on the six-foot-wide porch needed stripping and redoing. The white clapboard sides held so little paint it wouldn’t require much cleaning, just fresh coats.
“No wonder your mother could afford this place.”
“She says she gets money taken off the rent for every bit of work done to the place.”
“I guess with Cara here to paint, your mother will be living free of charge for awhile.”
“One would think.”
Deborah slid the key into the lock and turned it. “I love the door. The old-fashioned mail slot, beveled glass, and tarnished brass knobs. They’re perfect.”
“Perfect for what?”
“For fulfilling your mother’s dreams. The old place looks full of potential.”
They crossed the black-lacquer floors. Wallpaper peeled from the ceiling, musty boxes of junk sat everywhere, and newspapers were strewn all about. They walked into the kitchen.
Deborah studied the room. “It’s certainly big enough for her to do her baking.”
Mahlon looked down the sink. “This place is just a hull; even the pipes are missing.”
“Ada said the plumber will return tomorrow, and the owners are covering the cost of that.”
They walked through the rest of the house.
Mahlon shook his head. “I can’t believe she wants this. It needs so much work.”
“Don’t all dreams need lots of work?”
He gave a half shrug. “Most dreams need to be ignored.”
An uneasy feeling came over her. “Ignored?”
“Forget it.” He motioned toward the front door. “I’ve seen enough. You ready to go?”
“I love this place, Mahlon. Can’t you see that it’s something she’s always longed for? You wanted to stay in Dry Lake while growing up, and she did so. But now she’s ready to try some things on her own.”
“Great. She’s making her dreams come true while I’m stuck doing Ephraim’s job.”
“Mahlon.” Deborah stopped. “Are you angry with your mother over this?”
He shook his head. “I’m just tired of it all. Aren’t you?”
“Tired of what?”
He closed the front door behind her. “I wanted to take one week to get away, and Ephraim needs me, and Mamm goes out and gets a rundown place, and…I…”
“You what?”
After locking the door, he shoved the key into his pocket. “Never mind.”
“Never mind? It’s like you’re trying to tell me something without having to actually say it.” As they walked down the porch steps, Deborah tugged on his hands. “I don’t want to get into an argument just because you’re in a foul mood, but if you keep dropping hints and saying they don’t mean—”
“Okay” he interrupted and then slid his arms around her. “You’re right.” He kissed her forehead. “I just need a few days away, but I shouldn’t take that out on you.” He kissed her again. “Sorry, Deb.”
She climbed into the buggy, hoping her present would help him feel better. She pulled it out from under the seat. “I special-ordered a gift for you from the dry goods store. It came in today.”
He smiled. “And how did you manage to hide it from me?”
“You’re not with me all the time. I’ve barely seen you the last few weeks.”
He lifted it from her hands. “You shouldn’t have done this.”
“You’re going to provide me a home soon. I think I can buy you one thing to go in it.”
He tore the paper, saying nothing as the clock came into view. It was the most gorgeous clock she’d ever seen and exactly like the one he’d pointed out to her a year ago, saying he hoped to own one like it someday.
“It plays music on the hour.”
“It’s beautiful, Deb,” he whispered as he removed the cardboard from around it.
“Flip that button, and we can hear every tune. There are twelve of them.”
He notched the button to On. The tinny music seemed to grab him, and he didn’t move. “That tune…”
“I don’t know it, do you?”
He nodded. “It’s everywhere I go lately. Every store. Every client’s home. In my sleep.”
“What do the words to the song say?”
“It’s based on a scripture: to everything, there is a season. Only the song says ‘turn, turn, turn a lot.”
“It’s a good tune, ya?”
He shrugged. “Except sometimes it feels like God is trying to tell me something. How do we get it to play another tune?”
“Press that little gadget.”
He did. The same tune started over again.
“That’s odd.” She pushed the button again. “The clock was working when I wrapped it.”
The same tune played every time she pressed the button. Chills ran up Deborah’s arms and down her back.
Mahlon passed her the clock. “Let’s just turn it off for now, okay?”
“Sure.” She flipped the knob to Off, but the music didn’t stop.
He retried the same switch, but the song played faster. “Try removing the batteries.”
She turned the clock over, removed the plate for the batteries, and paused. “What happens if it keeps playing?” Forcing a smile, she couldn’t ignore that her heart was thumping wildly. When she removed a battery the music stopped.
“We just won’t turn the musical part on, okay?”
“But that is the special part. We can pick songs to mean certain things over the years, and then no matter where we are in the house, when we hear it, we’ll remember our love.”
Mahlon’s hands trembled as he removed his hat. “Wherever I go, whatever I do in life, I’ll never forget your love. Ever.”
The oddest sensation ran through her.
He took her hand into his and kissed her fingers. “I love you more than you’ll ever know.” He stared into her eyes as if trying to tell her things he couldn’t find the words for. “Let’s go on home. I have work tomorrow, and you need rest so you can help Mamm pack.”
Feeling more anxious than ever, she jolted when Mahlon put his arm around her.
“I think I’ll take a few days off. Will you be okay if I do that?”
“But the shop needs you. It’ll get even further behind. And you’ve got to find a place and get moved.”
He rubbed her back. “I have relatives in Dry Lake I can live with for a week or two.”
“You always hated that idea before.”
“Things have changed. And the shop’s going to be behind no matter what I do. I can’t go from being the provider for Mamm to doing so for your Daed and all his children. That responsibility shouldn’t have been laid in my lap.”
“But that’s how things work with family. You know that. What about your mother? Have you told her?”
“No. I’ll write to her and explain. She’ll be so busy settling into that place, having work done, and building this dream business of hers, she won’t even think twice about it.”
“Where will you go?”
He shrugged. “Somewhere quiet where no one knows who I am.” He pulled her closer and kissed her head. “Your Daed is mending, and you’ll be busy helping Mamm and Becca. You won’t even have time to miss me.”
“Well, I’ve been missing you for awhile now. And I’d love to see you return with…you. Okay?”
“You are the most amazing girl any guy could have.”
“Now see, that’s the man I agreed to marry. So when will you leave?”
“Saturday.”
“When will you be back?”
“Wednesday, probably. That next weekend we’ll finish packing up my belongings that are still at the house.”
“Okay. But someday, when you’re ready, let’s talk. I want to know what you’ve been thinking about.”
“When I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know.”
She chuckled. “Fair enough.”