LARRY ENJOYED HIS THIRD HELPING OF RASPBERRY YOGURT with a generous amount of fresh granola on top. Two other couples were just leaving when he sat down at eight forty-five. This seemed like a good time to inquire about Naaman Lapp.
“I just can’t seem to get enough of this yogurt. I sure would like to take some back to my wife, if I can stuff one more thing in my suitcase.” Larry smiled at Barbie Beiler as she placed a few fresh pancakes in the warming tray on the counter.
“I have a friend who makes and sells it. If you’re not traveling too far, I bet it would keep until you get home. I’ll call her if you’re interested in purchasing some.”
“Thanks. That’d be great.” Larry stood up, then helped himself to all the pancakes she’d laid out. “I’m looking for an Amish fellow by the name of Naaman Lapp. Do you know him?”
Barbie stopped wiping the counter behind the food trays. “I’m sorry. I’ll be right back. I need to check my pie in the oven.”
She stepped through the door to the kitchen and closed it behind her.
After about ten minutes Larry figured she wasn’t coming back. Maybe Barbie was avoiding his question because she’d heard he was a sheriff. He’d been sure to wear his street clothes after the first evening, but the woman who checked him in might have told her.
He opened the newspaper on the table, knowing he had some time to kill before church. He’d ask again about Naaman after he attended Mass and before he got settled in for his ball game on television. He looked down at his protruding belly, then he slathered butter all over his stack of pancakes before soaking them with maple syrup.
Patsy would have a fit.
LEVINA OPENED HER EYES SUNDAY MORNING, AND NAAMAN was propped up on his elbow staring at her.
“Guder mariye, mei lieb.” Naaman draped an arm across her. “How did you sleep?”
“Better than I have in . . .” She paused, not wanting to bring up the past. “In a long time.”
“I love you so much, Levina.” Naaman leaned down and snuggled close to her.
Levina chuckled.
“What?” Naaman sounded alarmed.
“I was just thinking . . . what kind of a girl does this . . . you know . . . on her first date?” Levina smiled. She didn’t think she’d ever been happier than at this moment. Last night there was an honesty between them that seemed new, fresh, and alive.
“Ya. Shame on you, mei lieb,” he teased as he pulled her closer.
They lay quietly for a while, and Levina was wishing they could lie there all day, but today was worship service—at Adam’s house.
“We have to get up and get ready, Naaman.” She eased away from him.
Naaman rolled on his back. “Ya. I know.”
“I’m sure everything will go fine with Adam. I’m hoping you get to talk to him alone. Maybe you can find out what is going on with him.”
“Levina, Adam doesn’t even want to be around me, so I reckon I don’t know why you think he’ll open up to me.”
Levina pulled her robe closed and lifted her chin. “Because you are his father. That’s why.”
Naaman scowled. “Can’t we just stay in bed all day and play sick?” He grinned as he folded his hands behind his head.
“We cannot. Now get up and get ready, Naaman Lapp.” Levina arched her brow. “Before I go bake you a shoofly pie and serve it to you for breakfast.”
Naaman let out an exaggerated moan as he climbed out of bed. “If I have to.”
“Up! Up!” She snapped her fingers and walked to the bathroom, humming.
Today was going to be a good day. The best day. She could feel it.
ADAM SET THE LAST OF THE CHAIRS IN THE BARN. FOUR rows of ten for the women, four rows of ten facing those for the men, and six chairs in the middle for the bishop and deacons. He dreaded having to face his father, but it was a day of worship, and he would be respectful of the day and the situation at hand.
“I wish we had a bigger haus so we didn’t have to have worship in the barn.”
Adam turned when he heard Hannah. “Our haus is fine. We only hold worship once every nine or ten months anyway.”
Hannah shrugged, and Adam fought the urge to say something. He started straightening the chairs in the rows.
“Adam, I hope things go gut with your daed today.”
He looked up at her as he moved one chair in line with the others. “I won’t be disrespectful, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Hannah didn’t say anything. She just stood watching him work, twisting the string on her kapp with her finger.
He put the last chair in line, then put his hands on his hips. “What is it, Hannah?”
She shrugged again, and Adam took a deep breath and glared at her. “I have work to do out here.”
“I was just checking on you, Adam. I just wanted to tell you that I hoped things went gut with your daed. That’s all.”
“Danki.” He got the broom and started sweeping around the chairs, but Hannah just stood there. “Anything else?”
“Adam, what is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?” Hannah’s voice cracked as she spoke.
Adam felt like a dummkopf. But he didn’t have time to get into this now. “Nothing, Hannah. Nothing is wrong.”
“Something is wrong, Adam. Something has been wrong for a while, and I don’t understand.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “It wonders me what is going on with you. Please talk to me.”
“Hannah . . .” Adam stopped sweeping and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he caught her brushing away another tear. He couldn’t stand to see her cry, but now was not the time to have a serious talk about anything. He leaned the broom against one of the chairs and went to her. “Hannah, can we talk about our problems later?”
“I didn’t realize we had any, Adam. We’re so blessed, in so many ways.”
Adam hung his head. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”
Hannah spun around and ran back to the house, crying. Adam wanted to go to her, to comfort her, tell her how much he loved her. But his feet were rooted to the wooden floor in the barn.
Lord, why am I so confused? What is wrong with me?
NAAMAN ENTERED HIS SON’S HOUSE WITH LEVINA. ALL OF his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren were already there when they arrived, and each greeted them when they walked in the door. Even Adam.
Adam’s greeting was forced, barely a nod and a hello, but it was better than total avoidance. But Naaman was confident that Adam would be respectful, no matter his ill will. He’d have his mother to answer to otherwise.
Naaman turned to Levina, feeling more in love with her than ever before. They were going to spend the rest of their lives living out their dreams. Going to Florida, flying kites, and—he smiled—no more shoofly pie.
Following the three-hour service, they all shared a meal on tables set up outside the barn. Then, as was customary, the men began to gather together on the far side of the barn to talk and tell jokes while the women finished cleaning up.
Naaman had heard enough jokes in his day. He didn’t want to leave Levina for one second. “Let’s just stay on the porch together,” he said.
Levina grinned. “And do what?”
Naaman grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. “I just want to be with you.”
Levina giggled like a schoolgirl as she playfully pulled her hand away. “Naaman, people are watching, and I need to go help the others make things tidy.”
“WHAT ARE THEY DOING?” ROSEMARY GRABBED FREDA BY HER sleeve and pulled her to the window. “Look. Just look at them!” She shook her head. “It’s embarrassing, them acting like this.”
“Let go of me.” Freda shook loose of Rosemary’s hold. “They’re just standing there.”
“Well, you should have seen them a minute ago. Daed picked up her hand and kissed it, right there on the front porch. No tellin’ who saw. They are acting like teenagers.”
“Ach, Rosemary, I’m sure it wasn’t as troubling as you’re making it out to be.”
“Oh no?” Rosemary grabbed Freda again and turned her toward the window. “Look at that!”
“Keep your voice down. Others will hear.” Freda parked her gaze on their parents, and Rosemary watched as Freda’s jaw dropped. “They’re kissing. In public!”
“I’m going to go out there and tell them that they are acting inappropriately, and that it’s embarrassing.”
“I think it’s sweet.”
Rosemary and Freda turned to see Tillie standing behind them, looking over their shoulders, a grin on her face.
“Sweet?” Rosemary folded her arms across her chest. “It’s not proper for two middle-aged people to act like that, especially in light of Daed’s absence the past year.”
“Maybe they have found their way back to each other and fallen in love all over again.” Tillie’s eyes glowed with romantic illusions, and Rosemary rolled her own eyes.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again . . . all this lost-and-found business is dumm.”
Freda gasped. “Look! He kissed her again. On the mouth!”
“I think it is beautiful to see our parents like this, and shame on both of you for not being happy for them.” Tillie scowled and walked toward the other room.
Rosemary tried to organize her thoughts. “Freda, you agree, no? They are behaving badly.”
Freda kept her eyes on her parents, who were now just gazing into each other’s eyes. “I don’t know. I want them to be happy, but maybe we should go and talk to them nicely about these public displays.”
“Ya. Let’s do that.” Rosemary moved toward the door and Freda followed.
“Hello, girls,” their mother said as Rosemary and Freda approached them on the porch. “Lovely service today, no?”
“And a lovely day,” their father added with a strange, dreamy tone to his voice. Rosemary looked at Freda briefly, then she lifted her chin and faced her parents.
“We—we just wanted to talk to you for a minute.”
“Of course, dear.” Mamm pushed back a strand of hair that had fallen from beneath her kapp and smiled. “What is it?”
Before Rosemary could answer, Mamm had already turned back toward their father.
Is she batting her eyes at him?
Rosemary searched the area to make sure no one was in earshot, then she leaned closer to her parents. “What are the two of you doing out here?”
Mamm narrowed her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
Rosemary let out a big gasp. “All this nonsense.” She raised her arms in frustration and waved them in the air. “This . . . kissing.” She glanced around again. “Someone is going to see, and it’s—it’s just not right.”
“Hmm. I see.” Mamm grinned at Daed.
“I’m not sure you do,” Rosemary said, folding her arms across her chest.
“Levina, I think the girls are right.” Daed latched onto Mamm’s hand. “Let’s go where we can be alone.” Then he winked at their mother.
“Where are you going?” Freda asked.
“Home.” Daed put his arm around Mamm.
Rosemary squeezed her eyes closed for a moment. Please, Freda . . . don’t ask any more questions.
“To do what? It’s still early. No one leaves so soon after worship service.” Freda glanced at Rosemary, who was too fearful of her parents’ answer to move.
Mamm glanced toward the sky. “Hmm. It’s windy.”
“Ya. It is.”
“Should we? What do you think?”
Rosemary and Freda watched the private conversation unfolding between their parents.
Then Mamm whispered in Daed’s ear.
“Ya. I reckon you’re right,” Daed said to Mamm. “We will be staying awhile longer.”
Rosemary looked back and forth between them and wondered if Freda was half as perplexed as she was. “Gut. Now try to behave yourselves, for goodness’ sake.”
Rosemary nodded, then she and Freda turned to walk back into the house. She’d almost cleared the distance between her and her parents when she heard her mother say, “Kiss me again, Naaman.”
Rosemary slammed the door behind her. Silly, silly parents.