“Good character—like good soup—is usually homemade.”
AARON SHCROCK
Would you like another piece of peanut butter pie, Walker?” Lydia asked after the rest of her siblings had left the table. “I’d be happy to get it for you.”
He patted his stomach. “Lydia, you know I can’t eat another bite. And if I do, I’m going to get so huge you won’t like me anymore.”
“You know that would never happen.”
“It might. You don’t know how I’ve been eating at my grandparents.”
Lydia’s mother stopped by their chairs on the way to the kitchen. “Have you been eating lots of gut Amish food, Walker?”
She smiled broadly, letting Lydia know that she was mighty amused by Walker’s quandary.
“My grandmother is a wonderful-gut cook,” he said with a grin. “Too good, I’m afraid.”
“Walker’s been working hard at their farm, Mamm,” Lydia said, feeling so proud of Walker. She’d always thought that he was a man to proud of. She loved the way he was so confident and easy-going. But watching him in the fields, seeing him with his grandparents, hearing praise from other people about how hard he worked, and how determined he was to learn things the “Amish way,” she’d never been more proud.
Her mother squeezed his shoulder. “I must say I’m amazed at how well you’ve been doing, adjusting to our ways, Walker. Living Plain is not easy.”
Looking at Lydia, he smiled slightly. “I’ll admit to being as confused about what to do as anybody. I was even hoping that Lydia would give living English a try. I was enjoying going to college and I thought she would, too.”
As Lydia expected, her mother became reflective. “But now?”
“But now I’m starting to feel like God has been guiding me toward my grandparents. I would never have wished for my grandfather to have heart trouble, but I can’t ignore how glad I am that I’ve started working at my grandparents’ farm.”
“He is guiding us both, Walker,” Lydia said with a gentle smile. “Together, we will find a way.”
“I hope so.”
She was vaguely aware of her mother leaving, giving them a few minutes of privacy.
“We just need to keep our faith and not try to rush things. I do think living Amish is in my future, but I think it’s going to take some time. I want to be sure.”
Lydia knew it would most likely take several years for Walker to feel comfortable enough to meet with the bishop and take his vows. Until then, she needed to be satisfied with their love, and knowing that they were headed toward future happiness.
Unlike other couples they knew.
She wasn’t anxious to bring up bad news, but Lydia couldn’t help finally mentioning what had been on both of their minds for the last twenty-four hours. “I’m so worried about Jacob. What if he goes to prison? What will happen to him? What will happen to him and Deborah?”
“I’m worried, too.” He pursed his lips. “Jacob wouldn’t talk to me. I went by his house last night. I’m really starting to fear for him, Lydia.”
“I know.” Darting a look at the open doorway, she lowered her voice. “I would have never guessed that he would have been capable of killing Perry.”
“I don’t think he did. All anyone knows for sure is that he and Perry were fighting.”
“Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Borntrager have said he admitted it.”
“Is that what Deborah told you? Is that what Jacob told you?”
“Of course not.” Deborah was defending Jacob with all her heart. But Lydia just wasn’t so sure that he was completely innocent. “My parents said that I mustn’t go to Schrock’s Variety until Jacob is back behind bars.”
“I’m still going to go there.”
“But Walker—”
“I don’t think he did it, Lydia. I worked side by side with that guy for months. We’ve been friends longer than that. He needs our support.”
“I’ve been friends with him since we were children,” she murmured.
“The last thing he needs is to think that we’ve all abandoned him. Lydia, we need to be there for him.” Turning to her, he said, “I think we should go see him tonight.”
“But I’ll get in trouble if I disobey . . .”
“Lydia, if you don’t want to come because you don’t want to, I’ll understand. But if you are refusing because you don’t want to disobey your parents, I think you should rethink that. You’re a grown woman, Lydia.”
“I know, but—”
“Lydia, I intend to ask you to marry me soon. I want to know that you’re mine, even if we have to wait months and months until I can enter the Amish faith. Are you prepared for that? Or will you be waiting to see what your parents say? It’s time to grow up, don’t you think?”
She was so surprised that he even thought she was acting like a child, she leaned forward and kissed him. It was quick, barely more than a light brush of lips.
But it finally shut him up. “Walker, I am a grown woman. Don’t worry about that anymore.”
“Um, all right.” He looked a little dazed and confused.
Standing up, she picked up their dessert dishes. “And if you would like to take me out for a drive this evening, I think I would even say yes,” she added, being very careful to not mention out loud that she was willing to follow his lead.
But Walker’s smile told her everything she needed to know. “I’d love to take you out for a drive, Lydia. It’s a beautiful night for a drive.”
Because her back was to him, she smiled broadly. “I’ll let my parents know. I’ll be back in a minute, Walker.” There. He might have some opinions about how to manage her . . . but she had opinions, too.
Lydia had a feeling they now had a chance for happiness. One day. When their lives weren’t so torn over the loss of Perry. When they weren’t all so exhausted from the investigation.
When they weren’t all so very aware that even when things were bad . . . they could still get much worse.