SEVENTEEN

Linda stepped into the kitchen while Aaron held the door. “Danki for breakfast and helping me with the food shopping.”

“Gern gschehne,” he responded with a grin. “I enjoyed spending time with you.”

She set the bags on the counter, and he put the rest of the bags beside hers.

“What are you making for the guests tonight?” he asked.

“Hannah asked me to make chicken potpie, corn, potatoes, shoofly pie, chocolate cake, and a fruit salad.” She counted the items off on her fingers. “That’s what Hannah always likes to make for the guests. That gives them the flavor of a typical Amish menu.”

“I’m sure they’ll enjoy it.” Aaron pulled his keys from his pocket. “I have to get to my mamm’s haus. You should come by to visit her again. I know Mamm would love to see you, and I can show you how the bathroom turned out. I hadn’t finished the flooring when you were over the last time.”

“I’d love to see it.” Linda didn’t want him to go. She wanted to ask him to stay and spend the day with her, but she knew that wouldn’t be proper. It seemed as if their visits were always too short. “I’ll come to visit soon.”

“Promise?” He grinned at her. “You made me promise to come to church, so now it’s your turn to promise me you’ll visit mei mamm.”

Linda laughed. “You’re right. I promise you that I will come and visit your mamm.”

Aaron cupped his hand to her cheek. “I’m going to hold you to that promise.” His tone was warm and the look in his eyes was intense.

She closed her eyes and tilted her face into his touch. “I will keep it,” she whispered.

“Linda?” Hannah’s voice rang out through the house. “Are you back?”

“Ya.” Linda’s eyes flew open. “I’m in the kitchen.”

Aaron’s hand dropped to his side. “I better go. I promised Manny we’d finish the back ramp today.”

“Oh, hi, Aaron.” Hannah stepped into the kitchen, moving slowly. “How are you today?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” He smiled at her. “How are you feeling?”

Hannah blew out a deep sigh. “I’m doing all right. It’s getting harder and harder to even walk around.” She shook her head. “I’m hanging in there, though. I’m trying to keep moving. I know that’s the best thing to do at this stage.” She looked at the counter. “Do you need help putting away the groceries?”

“Why don’t you sit and supervise me?” Linda suggested. “I can put everything away.”

“That sounds like a gut plan.” Hannah smiled and sank gingerly into a chair at the table. “I’ll stay right here for the moment.”

“I need to get going.” Aaron jingled his keys. “I’ll see you soon.”

Linda smiled up at him. “Danki again.”

Aaron waved and then disappeared out the back door.

Linda began to unpack the groceries, only leaving out the nonperishable ingredients she’d need when she started cooking for supper.

“Did you have a nice breakfast?” Hannah asked.

“Ya, we did,” Linda said while she worked. “We ate at the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant. I had pancakes with syrup. They were so gut. We had a really nice talk too.”

“That’s gut.” Hannah’s voice seemed curious.

Linda looked over her shoulder at Hannah, who was grinning. “What are you smiling about?”

Hannah shrugged. “I guess I sense something between you and Aaron.”

“What do you mean?” Linda faced her, leaning back against the counter.

“There’s an attraction there.” Hannah held up her hands to illustrate her point. “I can actually feel the electricity between you.”

Linda inspected the toes of her shoes while the tips of her ears burned.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed, Linda. I’ve fallen in love before. Twice, to be exact.”

“Love?” Linda’s gaze moved back to Hannah.

“Don’t you have feelings for him?” Hannah asked.

“Ya, I do.” Linda slipped into a chair across from Hannah. “But I’m struggling with my feelings. I feel so torn. I look into his eyes and I feel emotions I’ve never felt in my life. I’m so froh when I’m with him. I feel confident, and I feel complete. I had no idea love could be this way. It’s more extraordinary and amazing than I ever dreamed it would be.”

Hannah grinned. “I know what you’re saying. I’ve been there.”

Linda’s smile faded. “But the problem is that I’m not supposed to fall in love with a man who isn’t a baptized church member.” She shook her head. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to happen.”

Hannah lifted her eyebrows. “You’re talking to someone who understands that problem completely.”

Linda felt embarrassed again. “I’m sorry, Hannah. I wasn’t thinking when I said that.”

“You don’t need to apologize.” Hannah rested her elbows on the table.

“His mamm asked him to stay,” Linda said.

“What did he tell her?”

“He hasn’t decided.” Linda frowned. “I’ve prayed that God’s will be done, and he knows what’s in my heart. But it’s hard when I’m so afraid Aaron is going to leave. I’ll be where I am now—all alone. And to make it even worse, I’ll also be heartbroken. I don’t think I’ll ever find someone else like him.”

“Don’t give up hope so easily, Linda.” Hannah touched Linda’s hand. “You’ve waited a long time to meet someone like him. I don’t think God will take him away so quickly. Just have faith.”

Linda nodded. “Do you think he’ll stay?”

“He might. I can tell by the way he looks at you that he really cares for you.”

“Do you think so?” Linda felt her smile light up with excitement and hope.

“Ya, I do. I think you need to follow your heart with Aaron. He’s a gut man. I know what he’s done for his mamm, and I also know how he’s struggling with his family.”

“How do you know about all that?” Linda asked.

“Aaron has been sharing his struggles with Trey, about his bruder,” Hannah said. “Aaron is working through it the best he can. But he has a really gut heart, and I think he’ll treat you well. He’s been through a lot in his life, just as you have with losing your parents and living with your onkel. I think you’re kindred spirits.”

“But I don’t want to leave the community.” Linda spoke slowly. “I’m sorry, Hannah, but I’m not ready to leave the church.”

“You don’t have to leave the church, Linda. I’m only telling you to not to give up on him. He’s been here more than three months now. That tells me he feels like he belongs here. I would imagine it’s starting to feel like home again.” Hannah tapped the table. “I have a gut feeling he’s going to stay. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

“I hope you’re right,” Linda said, putting all her hope into those words.

Aaron ran his paintbrush over the wood on the outside of the enclosed porch while Manny painted nearby. They had finished replacing the screen door, repairing the stairs, and building the additional ramp for his mother. The April sun was warm on his neck as he moved the paintbrush back and forth.

“You’ve been driving a car a long time, ya?” Manny asked while he worked.

“Ya, I have.” Aaron stopped, balanced the brush on the paint can, and took a drink from a cold bottle of water. “Why do you mention it?”

“I would imagine that you don’t remember how to hitch a horse to a buggy or guide the buggy.” Manny’s grin was taunting Aaron.

“Are you challenging me?” Aaron asked his nephew.

“I don’t know.” Manny shrugged as he dipped his brush in the paint can. “Do you want to be challenged?”

“I’ll take that challenge.” Aaron set the bottle of water down, put the cover on the paint can, and wiped his hands on a rag. “Where do you keep your buggy?”

“I’ll show you.” Manny started for one of the barns, and Aaron followed him.

As they moved past the back porch, Aaron spotted Linda helping Becky hang laundry. He waved at Linda, and she gave him a curious wave in response.

“You can use my dat’s buggy.” Manny pointed inside the barn. “I’ll go get the horse.”

Aaron looked at the buggy and the technique quickly came back to him. Manny brought the horse, and Aaron hitched it without any help while Manny watched.

“See?” Aaron asked his grinning nephew. “I hitched it just fine, and you had no faith in me.”

“I want to see you guide it now. Show me that you remember how to be Amish.”

Aaron laughed. “You really don’t think I can do it?”

Manny leveled his gaze at him as a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “I guess we’ll see.”

“All right.” When they took the horse and buggy outside, Aaron glanced toward where Linda and Becky turned to watch them with interest. He’d been trying all afternoon to think of an excuse to visit with Linda. Now was the perfect opportunity. He could take Linda for a buggy ride. If he played his cards right, it could turn out to be a nice, romantic visit for them.

Aaron walked over to the women. “Do you want to help me prove my nephew wrong?” he asked.

Linda looked confused as she stared at him. She glanced at Becky, who shrugged. “I don’t know,” Linda said. “What do I have to do to help you?”

“Do you think I remember how to guide a horse and buggy?” he asked her.

She still looked baffled as her eyebrows drew together, and he couldn’t help but think she was adorable.

“I suppose you can.” Linda leaned forward. “Why are you asking me these strange questions?” Her expression became concerned. “Are you okay, Aaron? Do you feel ill? Has the sun gotten to you?”

Aaron laughed. “Ya, I’m fine, Linda. I’m not ill or narrisch.” He pointed toward the buggy. “Manny thinks I don’t remember how to be Amish. He wants me to prove I can drive that horse and buggy as well as I drive a truck. Do you want to come with me?”

“Oh.” Linda hesitated and glanced at Becky again as if to ask for permission.

“Go.” Becky waved her off with a smile. “I’m eager to see how this turns out.”

“Okay.” Linda handed Becky the pair of trousers she was holding.

“Great.” Aaron clapped his hands together. “Let’s go prove Manny wrong.”

As Linda walked with Aaron to the waiting buggy, she noticed how handsome he was in his blue T-shirt, and she had a difficult time keeping her gaze off him. His unruly, blond curls peeked out from under a tan baseball cap.

“Do you need a wrap?” he asked. His adorable smile was back.

“No, it’s warm enough today.”

“Do you know what you’re doing?” Manny asked with a teasing expression.

“You’re going to feel gegisch for asking.” Aaron opened up the passenger side door and held out his hand to Linda.

She took his strong hand and climbed into the buggy, smoothing her black apron over her blue dress.

“We’ll see about that,” Manny commented.

Aaron climbed in next to Linda and shut his door. He inspected the inside of the buggy.

“Do you need help?” she offered, keeping her voice low so Manny wouldn’t hear.

“No, no.” He shook his head. “I was just thinking that it’s been a long time since I’ve sat in one of these. Once again, I feel like I’ve stepped back in time.”

“Does that feel gut or bad?”

He faced her and his eyes were sentimental. “It’s actually pretty gut.”

Her heartbeat thundered as she again hoped he was going to stay in Paradise. She couldn’t bear the thought of saying goodbye to him and watching him walk out of her life forever.

“All right.” He took the reins in his hands. “Let’s show my nephew how wrong he is about me.” He nudged the horse to move, and they began their journey.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“I haven’t figured that out yet.” He guided the horse onto the road. “Wouldn’t my nephew be shocked if we didn’t come back?”

Linda laughed. “It would at least surprise him.”

Aaron moved the buggy close to the side of the road so a car behind them could pass.

“I had forgotten how slow you travel in a buggy. You can’t just run up to the store for milk in a hurry.” He smiled over at her. “Our trip to the restaurant in Bird-in-Hand was much faster in the truck.”

“That’s true, but you miss how schee the scenery is when you’re moving fast.”

“Not always.” He gave her a serious expression. “I’m enjoying the scenery next to me right now, and it was just as schee in the passenger seat of my truck.”

She gave him a shy smile and then looked out the window. She still wasn’t used to receiving his compliments, but she never grew tired of them. The sweet and sincere way he told her she was pretty caused her heart to soar. She wondered if his feelings for her were as strong and deep as the ones she had for him.

Another car passed by, and Aaron laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Linda asked.

“I was wondering what the tourists are thinking when they drive by a buggy and see a guy in a T-shirt and wearing a baseball cap in the driver’s seat.” Aaron grinned at Linda, and she laughed. “They must be wondering if the Pennsylvania Amish changed their clothing guidelines.”

They continued down the road for a few more minutes.

“Do you think we should head back?” Linda asked.

“I was enjoying the break, but I suppose you’re right.” He guided the horse down a side road to turn around. “Danki for riding with me. I like how this feels.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“You and me in a buggy together.” He gave her a sideways glance. “We should’ve done this years ago when we were teenagers.”

Her mouth dried as she took in his attractive profile.

“Don’t you agree?” He looked over at her. “We missed a great opportunity.”

“There’s no time like the present,” she said softly.

“You’re so very right.” He nodded in agreement.

After Aaron steered the buggy back up the driveway to where Manny was waiting with Junior, he hopped out and opened the passenger door for Linda. Aaron then gave his nephew an I-told-you-so look.

“You won.” Manny shook Aaron’s hand. “Can you unhitch the horse now?”

“Of course I can,” Aaron told him.

Linda chuckled to herself as she made her way back to where Becky was hanging a second load of laundry. “Buwe,” she quipped with a chuckle. “They are so gegisch.”

She hung up a dress and then realized Becky was watching her. “What?”

“Do you have feelings for Aaron?” Becky asked with curiosity in her eyes.

“Why would you ask me that?” Linda reached for another dress to avoid Becky’s probing stare.

“You seem to enjoy being with him, and it’s obvious that he enjoys being with you. He was determined to get you to ride in the buggy with him.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Linda shrugged. “He’s very nice. We’ve been getting to know each other.”

“That’s gut.” Becky hung up an apron while she spoke. “I was wrong about what I thought about Aaron when he first arrived. I originally believed it wasn’t gut for our family when he came back. My dochder showed me how wrong I was. She helped me realize that our family needs Aaron. He’s not only helped Ruth with her recovery, but he’s also been a blessing to my kinner. I’m hoping Solomon will see that he needs his bruder too.” She faced Linda. “I’ve been hoping Aaron will decide to stay, and you could be the reason he decides to come home for gut.”

“Danki.” Linda picked two more aprons from the laundry basket and handed one to Becky. She hoped Becky was right, not only that Aaron would decide to stay in their community permanently, but that she could be one of the reasons.

Aaron helped Manny stow the buggy in the barn.

“You proved me wrong, Onkel,” Manny said with a smile. “You do remember how to be Amish.”

“I remember a lot of things,” Aaron said. “Danki. That was fun. I hadn’t been in a buggy in a long time.”

He watched his nephew turn toward the barn door and then freeze in place like a statue. His eyes widened.

“What’s wrong?” Aaron looked over his shoulder and found Solomon glaring at them from the doorway. He kept his expression calm despite his instant anxiety. “Hello, Solomon.”

“Knowing how to handle a horse and buggy doesn’t make you Amish,” Solomon groused. “All it proves is that you can command a horse, and just about anyone can do that.”

Aaron sighed. “You’re right. I get your point. I’m certainly not Amish.”

“Don’t you ever take my buggy out again without my permission,” Solomon barked.

“It was my fault,” Manny said. “I prompted him to use it, so don’t be angry with him. You can punish me.”

“You can go now, Manny,” Solomon instructed. “You’ve done enough. I need to speak to Aaron alone.”

“Ya, Dat.” Manny shot Aaron an apologetic look before leaving the barn.

“We were only goofing around,” Aaron explained. “Go easy on him.”

“I’m not going to punish him. My issues are with you.” Solomon leveled his eyes at Aaron. “You’re doing great work on Dat’s haus, but you need to take a step back from my family. Manny is getting too attached to you, and it’s not gut for him. I think it’s time for me to pull him away from you. I need him working with me, not playing games with you.”

“He’s a great bu,” Aaron said. “And he enjoys working with me. I’m teaching him a lot, and you may be glad I did someday if you need some work done on your haus.”

“If I need work done on my haus, the haus that I built, I can do it myself. You are not the only one who can do something besides run a dairy farm. I’m going to tell him tonight that he is forbidden to help you anymore. You’re on your own.” Solomon turned and started to leave the barn, and Aaron’s blood boiled.

Aaron made a quick decision—he’d hit the issue of their broken relationship head-on with a direct question.

“Solomon!” Aaron called after him, and Solomon turned. “What’s it going to take for you to forgive me? It’s been three months, man.”

Solomon shook his head. “If you want me to forgive you, then you would have to rewrite history, and that’s not going to happen.”

Solomon stalked out, and Aaron felt the last of his hope evaporate. After moving outside, he glanced to where Linda still worked with Becky. He wanted more than anything to be a part of his family again and ask Linda to be his girlfriend.

Yet at that moment he stood cemented in place, feeling lost and lonely, as he turned to watch his only brother walk away.