November
Dear Diary,
Today was such an exciting day! The past several months have been too, which is why I haven’t written anything recently. Exciting, hectic, and so full of love. First, Daed and Wendy got married three weeks ago. No one was surprised about that, just like they weren’t surprised when she joined the church. And even though she had already started building her house, they barely had the frame up before she put a stop to it, knowing she and Daed would be together. The wedding was wonderful, and Daed is so happy. I’m tearing up just writing about it.
Two weeks later, Junia and Malachi were married. What a feast! I’m still marveling at how big their family is, and it keeps getting bigger. Charity and Katharine had their babies, and three of the other brothers are expecting with their wives. And there’s still Perry, Mose, Mahlon, and Elam to get married, although Perry is the only one who is of marriageable age. Junia and Malachi moved into our house, and he’s working with Nelson at his butcher shop.
Oh, the butcher shop! Nelson finished it in April, and he’s had customers out the door ever since, particularly since his reputation as an excellent butcher started picking up steam. I remember when he smoked his first ham in the smoker he bought—so yummy! He really is gifted when it comes to butchery and creating his own meats. I had no idea. Well, maybe a little. He did allow me to do a lot of taste testing.
And about me and Nelson
“Hey!” Ella’s pencil dragged across the diary page as Nelson came up behind her and scooped her up in his arms. “I was finishing my entry.”
He rolled his eyes and sat down on their bed, snuggling her in his lap. “I think it can wait, don’t you?”
“But I was just getting to the best part.” She laid her head on his shoulder, her fingers combing through the back of his hair. It had grown out a few months ago, and she’d cut it for him twice, being extremely careful both times. “About how our wedding was the most wonderful one—”
“That’s a little prideful.” Nelson leaned his chin against her forehead.
“Ya. Yer right. Oh, I need to mention how, before we got married, you proposed at our secret place.” Junia and Malachi were more than happy to give it up once they heard it was originally Ella’s. Then it became hers and Nelson’s, until the barn fell over the next day. Thank goodness no one was there. “And how you were so sneaky about your proposal. And nervous.”
“Me, nervous?” Then he nodded. “I was petrified.”
She sat up. “You never told me that before. What were you afraid of?” When he looked away, she put her arms around him. “My answer would always have been yes.”
He kissed her, taking her breath away. “So where will we geh to escape our chaperones?” He grinned. “Not that we need them, thank goodness.”
She glanced at the diary sitting open on the small desk across from their bed. They’d gotten married two days ago, and while everyone celebrated with as much enthusiasm as they had with the other couples, Ella was tired of festivities. They even talked about having a double wedding with Junia and Malachi to save some time, trouble, and expense, but Junia wasn’t having it. She still had a bit of her selfish side.
Now that the wedding was over, all she wanted to do was settle down with Nelson, run the grocery store and butcher shop—they were now combined—and when God willed it, have a family.
“I don’t think this is the best part,” he said, intruding on her thoughts.
She lifted her head from his shoulder. “What do you mean?”
He ran his hand over her cheek, something he did often in private, and she loved it. Then he leaned over and kissed her again, cuddling her close. “The best is yet to come, Ella Bontrager. Trust me.”
She did. Because deep in her heart . . . she believed it.