NAAMAN PARKED THE BUGGY OUTSIDE OF YODER’S PANTRY as Levina scanned the parking lot. There were four other buggies tethered nearby, but it was impossible to distinguish between them. She dreaded walking in with Naaman, not knowing who she might bump into. Equally alarming was that Naaman latched onto her hand as they walked through the entrance. He knew that members of their community frowned upon public affection. She wiggled free of his grasp and frowned at him before they walked in, but he just shrugged—and with that childish grin on his face again.
“Mamm! Daed!” Tillie rushed to the front door right away. “Give me one minute, and I’ll put you in our best seat by the window that faces away from the highway.” Tillie bounced once on her toes and lifted her shoulders. “I’m so glad you’re here!”
“That’s mei maedel,” Naaman said with a smile after Tillie skipped away.
“I hope she always keeps her childlike qualities.” Levina folded her hands in front of her—just in case Naaman got any ideas—and scanned the restaurant. “Oh no,” she whispered.
“What?” Naaman leaned closer.
“Eve Fisher is here, and she’s a busybody.”
“I know that I did not hear mei gut frau call someone a busybody.” Naaman grinned.
“Shh. Keep your voice down, Naaman.” Levina held her head high as she scanned the rows of jams and jellies on the shelf to her right. She picked up a jar of rhubarb jam. “You know, Ellie Chupp makes a lot of these jams and jellies. She’s dating Chris Miller— did I tell you he came back to the church? Tillie expects they’ll get married this November.”
She put the jar of jam back on the shelf and thumbed through various cookbooks, sundries, and of course, the large pretzels that Yoder’s Pantry was famous for, each individually wrapped and tempting those who were on their way in or out.
Naaman was spinning a rack of books by the door. “Look at all these books with Amish women on the cover.”
His puzzled expression caused Levina to giggle for a moment. Then she shrugged. “Lots of women in our community read these books. Who doesn’t enjoy a good love story?” She blushed and grabbed the books from Naaman. After she placed them back on the rack, she turned her attention to those dining.
She hoped to avoid Eve Fisher . . . although she reckoned she should probably get used to the stares and the questions. Everyone would eventually welcome Naaman back into the community, but folks were human, and Levina knew there would be some uncomfortable moments.
“I have your table all ready!” Tillie was carting two menus, and her contagious smile warmed Levina’s heart.
She hoped and prayed that Tillie would be in the family way soon. Levina wished that for both her daughters. Freda and her husband had been trying a bit longer to have a baby, but it was starting to feel like a race between the two sisters. Levina hoped that neither of them was disappointed. She recalled how easily she had become pregnant with Rosemary, Adam, and Jonathan, but it took a little longer to become pregnant with Freda. And Tillie was somewhat of a surprise. Levina had been doubtful that she could have more children, due to complications during Freda’s birth. She would remind both Freda and Tillie that all things happen on God’s time frame.
Once they were seated, Levina knew there was no way to avoid Eve, who was sitting only one table over. Tillie brought them each a glass of sweet tea and promised to return shortly. Seconds later Eve rose from her chair and headed their way.
“Hello, Levina.” She smiled warmly at Levina, then turned to Naaman. “And welcome back, Naaman.”
Eve, like Levina, was nearing the age of fifty—but for reasons Levina couldn’t grasp, the woman didn’t look a day over thirty. She reminded herself that physical appearance didn’t matter, while also realizing that she should have given some thought about how she was going to respond to comments about Naaman’s return. “Hello, Eve.”
Naaman tipped his head in Eve’s direction, and Levina saw the muscle in his jaw tense.
“Is this your first time here, Naaman?” Eve smiled. “I’ve seen Levina in here many times, but I don’t reckon many men come in for lunch. They are mostly working in the fields.”
Levina could feel her blood starting to boil. Naaman could run circles around most men in this community when it came to hard work, and she wasn’t about to let Eve Fisher suggest that he wasn’t a hard worker.
“Our fields are planted, and Naaman didn’t get much sleep last night, so I’m treating him to lunch out.” She raised her chin a bit and smiled at Eve, but when Eve’s eyes widened, Levina figured she’d better clarify her statement. “When it makes wet and thunders so much, I get nervous and can’t sleep. Naaman was tending to me, making sure I wasn’t afraid.”
“I see.” Eve bit her lip and raised her brow. “Well, I best be goin’ back to my table. Nice to see you both. I suppose we’ll see you on Sunday for worship at Adam’s haus.”
“Ya. See you then.” Levina gave a quick wave as Eve left.
“You don’t like her much, no?” Naaman took a sip of his tea but kept his eyes on Levina.
“Naaman, why would you say such a thing? I have no bad feelings for Eve.” Levina pressed her lips together, then took a deep breath. I will pray hard tonight.
Tillie came bouncing back to the table with her friend Abby. “Daed, remember Abby Kauffman? Only she’s Abby Lambert now!”
Naaman extended his hand to Abby. “Ya, I do. Solomon’s girl. Nice to see you.”
Abby shook Naaman’s hand, then turned to Levina. “Danki for letting me spend so much time at your haus.”
“We’re always glad to have you, Abigail. I enjoy it when Tillie brings you over and we all cook together.”
Abby turned to Tillie. “I guess I better get back to Anna.” She pointed toward a nearby table where she was dining with a friend.
Levina nodded, then she and Naaman each ordered the special— chicken and dumplings with a side of corn.
“Great choice!” Tillie waved to another patron across the room. “I’ll be back soon.”
After a few moments, Naaman leaned his head to one side and gazed long and hard at Levina. She thought she knew what was on his mind, but he surprised her.
“You mentioned that something is goin’ on with Adam. What do you mean?”
Levina wasn’t sure where to start. “I think there might be problems with him and Hannah. He won’t talk to me when I ask him if everything is all right, and Rosemary tried to talk to him too. He insists nothing is wrong, but, Naaman . . .” She paused. “Something is wrong, whether it has to do with Hannah or not.”
Naaman didn’t seem interested in looking Levina square in the eye anymore. He seemed to be looking everywhere but at her. “It saddens me to hear that.” He looked up when he heard someone scooting toward them. Tillie placed large platters in front of them. “Healthy portions.”
“Ya, the servings are always generous here.” Levina smiled at her daughter. “Danki, Tillie.”
Her baby girl folded her hands together as her eyes brightened. “I’m so glad the two of you are here—together.”
Then Naaman did the unexpected. He reached across the table and latched onto Levina’s hand, then spoke with touching sincerity. “I’m glad to be home.”
Levina’s eyes drifted to her left. Eve was straining her neck in their direction. It shouldn’t matter, but she wanted Eve—and the world—to know that everything was going to be all right with her and Naaman. It was wrong, and Levina knew that her choices were judged only by God, but when she looked up and saw a tear roll down Tillie’s face, she swallowed back her own emotions.
“I’m glad you’re home, too, Daed.” Tillie leaned over and kissed her father on the cheek before she turned to leave.
Levina watched him struggling to keep his own emotions from becoming a public display. She gave his hand a squeeze. Her heart was filled with love for her husband and hope for the future, but she couldn’t seem to conquer the distrust that threatened to destroy the moment and the future.
Would she always worry that he would leave again? How was she going to get past her own insecurities and move forward with the one man she’d always loved . . . but who had betrayed their union?
She started to pull her hand away but Naaman recaptured it.
“I will earn your trust, Levina. And I will never leave you again. Not ever.”
Dear Lord, help me to believe him. And trust him.