Reuben finished his workday and was eager to get home. To Ellie. The fact that she acknowledged that she was considering his marriage proposal gave him hope. He loved her. He never thought he’d fall this hard and quickly in love with anyone, but he had with her. He knew there were problems to overcome, solutions to discuss. She wanted another child. Could he go through the worry and fear again while waiting for her to give birth?
He would. For Ellie. He loved her too much not to give her what she wanted. And the thought of their tiny baby in his arms brought him joy. As long as nothing went wrong during the baby’s birth or shortly afterward—he couldn’t imagine raising two children on his own. If something happened to Ellie, he’d never marry again. Even to have a mother for his children. He’d just have to rely more on help from the community. Accepting help. Something else he had to work on.
The more he thought about his life with Ellie, the more he wanted it. He would give her children. He would love them and Ellie. But he knew she had concerns—his Ellie. He just had to convince her that it would be all right.
He pulled into his driveway and up to the house. He hurried inside, eager to see her, talk with her and confess his change of heart. Would she believe him? Would she look at him with joy? He caught his breath as he secured his horse and approached the house. Would she gaze at him with love?
What if she didn’t love him? He realized then that he wouldn’t marry her if she didn’t. As he reached for the door, he offered a silent prayer to the Lord. Please, Lord, let Ellie love me. I want to marry her and I need Your blessing. And Your guidance to do the right thing when the time comes.
He stepped inside the house, his gaze searching. He heard sounds from the great room and went inside. But he didn’t see the blond-haired woman he loved. He found someone else instead—her red-haired sister. He experienced a burning in his belly as he studied Charlie, who was changing his son’s diaper.
“Charlie,” he said.
Her gaze rose as she regarded him with a smile. “You’re home! Gut.” She lifted the soiled diaper and set it in the diaper pail. Then she turned to face him.
“Where’s Ellie?”
“She had to houseclean for a client, so she asked me to watch Ethan.”
Reuben nodded, keeping his expression polite, but inside he was struggling to understand why Ellie had left again. Because she couldn’t bear to face him after their parting words?
Charlie, unaware of his turmoil, picked up Ethan, then handed his son to him. “I think he misses his vadder. Ellie heard it and so did I—your soohn was calling you today. We’re sure we heard him say Dat.” She grinned. “See? Even while you’re at work, he thinks of you.”
He held Ethan close to his chest, studying Charlie as she got ready to leave. “Will Ellie be back tomorrow?” he asked casually, attempting to hide his feelings.
“I’m sure she will. What time do you need her?”
“Does she need to help your mudder?”
Charlie shrugged. “She likes to help her, but I doubt she’ll need to tomorrow. I’ll be there, and my sisters are coming. We’ll be cooking food together for Sunday.”
“I’ll see her tomorrow, then. She can come when she likes. I have a few things I need to fix around the house, and I’d appreciate it if she’d watch Ethan while I work.”
Charlie studied him thoughtfully. “I’ll tell her,” she said. Then she left.
Reuben couldn’t help wondering if Ellie was avoiding him again, even though he thought their lunches together had gone well. Every moment they’d spent together had been good.
He would ask her tomorrow for the truth. If Ellie sent someone in her place, then he’d know what her decision was.
“Da. Da. Da.” Ethan patted his cheek and repeated his sounds.
He gazed at his son, saw that Ethan had his eyes on him as he continued to say, “Da. Da. Dat.” He distinctly heard the t on that last word. He grinned. His baby had just spoken his name.
The next day he got up early, showered and dressed. Would Ellie come at the regular time? Or send someone else?
He hoped not. He wanted her to come, but more than that, he wanted to spend time with her.
Shortly afterward, after he’d taken Ethan from his crib, then gone downstairs ready for the day, Reuben heard the sound of buggy wheels. He resisted the urge to peer out the window. If it was Charlie instead of Ellie, he’d find out soon enough. He heard the doorknob rattle, then turn.
Ellie entered the house with her head down, unaware that he sat at the table watching her.
She was lovely in a bright purple dress with white apron and prayer kapp, her blond hair golden. He realized that she was struggling to carry in two huge bags. He immediately went to her.
“Ellie, let me help you.”
She gasped and jolted. “Reuben, I didn’t see you.”
He regarded her with amusement. “You were busy trying to carry too much at one time.” He tugged on one bag, and she released it into his care. He lifted it to test its weight. “What do you have in here?”
She blushed, avoided his glance. “Just a few things.”
He stared at her. “What things?”
“I cooked last night. I brought food to share.” Her gaze met his, then skittered away. “And I stopped for a few groceries.”
Her thoughtfulness made him feel warm inside. “Picnic food?” he teased.
She carried the other bag and lifted it onto the kitchen counter. “That depends,” she murmured, “on what you consider picnic food.”
Reuben carried the other bag and placed it next to the one she’d set down. “Picnic food is anything we can eat outside.”
Ellie turned then, and he felt the impact of her beautiful blue eyes. “Then I guess we have picnic food.” She bit her lip. “You’re not angry?”
Reuben stilled. “Because you shopped for me?”
She bobbed her head.
“I want to pay you for the food.”
“You may pay me for the few groceries but not what I cooked.”
“Oll recht,” he said agreeably. She was wonderful. It took all he had not to ask her again to marry him. He wanted, needed an answer. He stood for several minutes, watching her put away the food. He could sense that she was growing tense. He frowned.
She shot him a glance. “Don’t you have work to do?”
“Ja, I thought I’d install new flooring in the bedrooms upstairs.”
She arched an eyebrow. “All of them?”
“I’ll start with the largest room, then go from there.”
“Did you eat breakfast?” she asked.
He nodded. “I ate a bowl of cereal.”
“I’ll fix you lunch when you want it. Just let me know.” She bent to kiss Ethan’s smooth baby cheek.
Seeing them together reminded him of Ethan’s recent words. “He said Dat,” Reuben said with a wide smile. “He said Da-da first, but then I heard the t sound at the end of the last one. He said Dat. He said my name.”
Ellie regarded his son with a softness that Reuben yearned to have aimed at him. As if she’d heard his inner thoughts, she met his gaze, her eyes crinkling with enjoyment, her lips curving into a soft smile. “Congratulations, Dat. Your son recognizes how special you are to him.”
Am I special to you?
“Go to work. Ethan and I will be fine.” She went to the refrigerator for a cup with two handles containing milk.
“I didn’t know he could drink out of that.” His lips twisted. “He’s growing fast.”
Ellie nodded. “Now will you go to work?”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
She blushed but didn’t say anything. Why? Because it was the truth?
“I’ll be upstairs in the master bedroom,” he said gruffly, then he left her before he said something he didn’t mean. She hadn’t stayed yesterday afternoon because she’d worked. He wanted to ask her why the sudden need to houseclean. But he didn’t. He didn’t want to be at odds with her. It was all right to have disagreements, but he didn’t want them while he waited for Ellie’s decision about marriage. Until then, he’d try to woo her so she’d realize how deep his feelings were for her. And hope that she’d begin to feel the same way.
He had brought up the flooring yesterday after Charlie had left and Ethan was in bed for the night. He went upstairs and got to work. And tried not to wonder why Ellie had found it more important to houseclean for somebody than spend time with Ethan. And me.
Ellie frowned as she watched Ethan eat his breakfast. She had put away the food she’d brought and made herself a cup of tea, then grabbed a fresh muffin before she sat next to her charge.
“Da-dat!” Ethan said.
She grinned. “Gut boy!” She broke off a piece of sweet muffin and placed it on his tray. He’d already eaten his cereal. She eyed him fondly as he picked up the broken-off bit and put it in his mouth. As he chewed, his eyes got big. Ethan loved the new food.
She wasn’t sure what to do while Reuben was upstairs working. There was a new added tension between them. She urged him to work because she’d needed some space. He’d reminded her of his marriage proposal. She wasn’t sure what to do. She loved him, but should she marry him? There was still so much between them—the memory of his late wife, his avowal that he would marry only for Ethan, her parents’ well-being. She no longer worried about her business, having decided that she’d had enough. And then there was Meg. The fact that he and her sister had once had a relationship, if a short one. Would Meg be upset if she accepted Reuben’s marriage proposal?
There was only one way to find out. She’d visit Meg and ask.
There was also the fact that Reuben didn’t accept help well. Her family would want to be there for her new family. They would want to pitch in whenever there was a construction project or if they needed someone to watch their children.
Ellie closed her eyes and had a mental image of what it might be like to marry Reuben. It would be wonderful if he loved her. She could see herself large with child, Reuben’s concern as the midwife arrived to deliver their baby. He would look anguished but he would kiss her, tell her he loved her, and he would wait downstairs with her father and other family members while her baby was born. It would be hard giving birth, but Ellie could see her joy after the midwife placed a little girl into her arms. No, wait! There was another one—a baby boy. Twins!
She gasped and opened her eyes. Why on earth did she envision twins? Because it would mean less stress if Reuben had to worry through only one pregnancy and birth?
She loved him. She wanted a life with him, but she couldn’t decide what to do.
Ellie took Ethan outside after breakfast. It was warm, but it was still early enough to enjoy the day. She studied the backyard. Green filled the empty spaces left by the rusted junk after it was removed. Reuben had put up a clothesline, and Ellie decided that she’d do the wash later in the afternoon. Just like a wife, she thought.
She took Ethan for a walk about the property. Carrying him on her left hip, she showed him a honeysuckle bush with its rich fragrance, keeping him far enough away so the bees wouldn’t bother them. It was quiet, peaceful. A good day to think about the future. To silently pray to God.
The morning flew by as she explored the grounds with Ethan. She glanced at her wristwatch and gasped. It was nearly noon. She had been teaching Ethan to walk by holding on to his hands, a great way to strengthen his legs for when he could walk by himself.
As she entered the kitchen, she saw that Reuben had come downstairs. He seemed harried, upset. It looked as if he’d run his hand through his hair, for it was tousled.
“Where were you?” he asked sharply.
Ellie stiffened, not liking his tone. “We were outside, enjoying the day.”
“You could have told me.” The tension had left his frame.
“I didn’t want to disturb you.” She looked away and carried Ethan to his high chair. He had missed his morning nap. He was sleepy. Ellie debated whether to feed him or put him to bed. “Is Ethan’s room done?” She met his gaze.
“Nay, but the other rooms are.”
She nodded. “After lunch, I thought I would take Ethan to my parents’ for a nap.”
Reuben narrowed his gaze. “He can sleep here.”
“Actually, he can’t. He doesn’t sleep well with noise anymore.” She went to the refrigerator and took out a piece of American cheese, then broke it into pieces, which she set on the little boy’s plate. “Do you want lunch? I brought cold roast beef. I can make you a sandwich.”
He was silent, so Ellie turned. There was an odd look in his expression, which he quickly masked when he caught her gaze. “I could eat.”
She nodded, then prepared lunch for the three of them. She made sandwiches for her and Reuben after asking if he wanted mayonnaise on his. She took potato salad and pickles out of the refrigerator and set them on the table, poured them each a glass of iced tea and gave Ethan a serving of cooked cold peas.
As the three of them ate their lunch, Ellie thought it felt as if they were a family. Reuben had let go of his sour mood. He ate with enjoyment, praising her for the food, thanking her again for caring for Ethan.
“I don’t mind if you want to take Ethan to your parents’ haus.”
Ellie was surprised at his change of heart. “We don’t have to go. I just thought it would be quieter there for his nap.”
“Ja,” he agreed. “By the time you get home, I’ll have finished the flooring.” He hesitated. “What time do you think you’ll be back?”
She thought of Ethan’s usual nap time and factored in that Reuben’s son had forgone his morning sleep. “Three thirty? He didn’t nap this morning so I don’t know how long he’ll sleep.”
“Three thirty is fine.” But there was something in his gaze that made her wonder if, despite his agreement, he was disappointed that she and Ethan were leaving.
“If he wakes up sooner, I’ll bring him home,” she said.
His expression warmed. “That would be gut. Danki.”
After she cleaned up, she and Ethan left while Reuben went back to work. The thought occurred to visit Meg before heading to her parents’. Peter and Meg’s house was a little out of the way, but not by much. Her belly burned and she was nervous. How would Meg react to Reuben’s proposal to her?
She turned onto the dirt drive leading to the house. Her heart started to hammer hard. This was her sister. How could she consider marrying Reuben if Meg had a problem with it? And that was assuming she knew that she wanted to marry Reuben, despite the problems that seemed insurmountable between them.
Her breath hitched as, with Ethan in her arms, she climbed Meg’s front porch. She lifted a hand to knock but the door swung open, revealing her sister, who grinned at her. Then her blue eyes dropped to the child in her arms and her expression changed.