Susan drove the buggy on the main road, across the small one-lane bridge in the hollow, and continued until the fields opened up again. She looked at a red barn that belonged to the farmstead. It stood framed by the trees in the yard, their green leaves hanging over the roofline. In the background, a small, white, two-story house sat back from the road. A small front porch protected the front steps, and a broken concrete sidewalk led up to it.
“What a beautiful, beautiful, little place,” Susan gushed. “I’ve been here several times now, and it still makes me want to move in! Even if the barn roof sags a bit.”
“I still can’t believe James and I are going to live here!” Teresa said, her voice catching. “Do you think it’s all a dream, Susan? I live in horror I might wake up some morning and find it all gone.”
“It looks pretty real to me,” Susan said, pulling into the driveway. “I’d be more worried about all the work you still have to do on the place.”
“James will work on it when he has the time. Right now it’s good enough for me. And getting the farm going is more important than how the place looks.”
“At least the barn and house roofs don’t leak.” Susan brought the horse to a stop by a small tree.
“You sure aren’t very cheerful this morning,” Teresa said, climbing down from the buggy. “Is something troubling you? I’ve been so wrapped up in my own world, I’ve about forgotten you. Is it trouble with Thomas again?”
“Not really.” Susan tied Toby to a tree branch. “It’s just not quite like old times. I suppose I’ll get used to it.”
“I know Da Hah will bless you, Susan. Look how He’s blessed me beyond my wildest imagination. He’ll do the same for you. I know He will.”
“I hope so.” Susan took the cleaning supplies out of the back of the buggy.
“You know Da Hah will,” Teresa insisted. “Look at what kind of shape I was in when I arrived in the community. That wasn’t so long ago. And just think, I could easily be marrying old Yost Byler instead of James—if Da Hah hadn’t intervened.”
Susan laughed and then frowned. “It’s not funny, really. In fact, I have shivers running up and down my spine even now just thinking about it.”
“He’ll make that widow from Geauga County a good husband,” Teresa said.
“Yah, he’ll make someone a good husband. Just not you. I’m glad you came to your senses in time.”
“I still claim Yost isn’t all that bad. All he wants is someone to cook and clean for him. You know, we should go back and clean his house again just to be nice. Perhaps right before his wedding.”
“I don’t think so,” Susan said, making a face. “One afternoon in his house was enough for me. Let his new wife take care of that.”
Teresa laughed. “Poor man. But I do say, I’m glad things didn’t work out between us. James needs cooking and cleaning like any other man, but there is also this wonderful love between us. I never thought it possible, Susan. I never felt such a feeling as this. Not even between Samuel’s father and me. Da Hah is very kind. I don’t deserve any of this.”
“You’re right. Da Hah has blessed you!” Susan opened the front door. It squeaked on the hinges, the sound echoing through the house. “Looks like you need oil on this door.”
“I’m leaving it like it is unless James objects. That way I can hear the door every time he comes into the house so I can come running from wherever I’m working. Oh, Susan! I can’t believe this is happening!” Teresa paused and tears sprang to her eyes.
Susan set the supplies on the hardwood floor and went to stand beside her. “I’m so glad you’re happy, Teresa. You don’t know how worried I was about you those first few months here. I thought Deacon Ray and Yost were going to mess your life up with their scheming. And you went along with their plans, having such a sweet attitude about what you couldn’t control. I’m sure that’s why Da Hah has chosen to bless you.”
“He has blessed me,” Teresa agreed. “And I’m not going to rest or stop praying until you’re as happy as I am.”
“You’re a very precious friend, Teresa. I can never tell you that enough. If my attitude toward life’s trials can become as pure as yours, I’m sure I’ll be okay.”
“I’ll always be your friend, Susan. Please tell me if I ever do something that harms our friendship. I don’t want marriage, or children, or busy days and nights to keep our hearts apart.”
Susan wiped away her own tears. “Life changes things, Teresa. But, yah, I hope we will always be sisters in heart. In many ways you are much more of a sister to me than my eight real ones. They think I’m spoiled, pampered, and hardheaded. And they’re probably right…which is why I like you—you’re so nice to me in spite of how I act sometimes.”
Teresa gave Susan a quick hug. “You liked me for some reason long before I was ever nice to you. I shudder to think how I must have looked going into Laura’s bakery in Asbury Park. I was all swelled up and pregnant with Samuel. And then I asked you to help me arrange for my baby to be adopted by Amish parents when he was born. It’s a wonder you didn’t throw me back out on the street.”
“Your beautiful heart was clear to me, Teresa. I could see it in your face. You just didn’t know it. It would have taken a heart of stone to send you away. And mine wasn’t quite frozen over. And now here we are. You have a beautiful baby boy and a soon-to-be wonderful husband.”
“In some way I’ll pay you back.” Teresa sighed. “I’m going to do all I can to help you and Thomas get together. I want both of you to have what James and I have. Love is too wonderful to keep to myself, Susan.”
“I won’t object,” Susan said. “Now, I suppose we’d better get to work.”
“Yes…I mean yah,” Teresa corrected. Both girls laughed.
Teresa continued. “I want to thank you and Thomas for agreeing to be an attending couple at the wedding. If you wouldn’t have said yes, I have no idea who I would have gotten for my side of the family. James said it absolutely had to be one couple from each side.”
“I’m glad to do it.”
Teresa tilted her head. “You’ll be a better-looking couple than James and I when you wed. I’m almost jealous.”
Susan laughed. “You have nothing to worry about. Really you don’t. The joy on your face will make you look like an angel. Okay, we really do need to get started. ”
“First I want to take you upstairs,” Teresa said.
“I’ve already been up there.”
“Not today you haven’t. Come. Samuel’s little room is ready!”
Susan followed Teresa up the steps and listened to the squeaking of the old farmhouse. The noises of these old homes soothed her spirit even after all these years. As a young girl she’d raced up and down stairs like this, just as Samuel soon would. How quickly time passed, and oh how the little things in life grew in value.
Teresa pushed open a door and walked into a light-blue room. A small bed was set up against the wall facing the window. A dark-brown knitted rug was on the floor. On the bed, a Texas star quilt lay. Teresa tossed back the quilt edges to reveal plain white pillows.
“It’s adorable,” Susan cooed. “Samuel will grow up exactly like you imagined before he was born.”
“And he’ll have a real father,” Teresa whispered. “James has so taken to him. Samuel already calls him Daett.”
“That’s so wonderful.” Susan ran her hand over the quilt.
“Come!” Teresa motioned for her to follow. “I want to show you the other three bedrooms.”
“You have redone them already?”
“No, and we may not get to them for a while. That is, we may not need them for a while. You know what I mean…when we have…um…other babies.” Teresa’s cheeks turned bright red.
Susan laughed. “You already are a wonderful mamm, Teresa.”
“I hope so. But these will be James’s children. And what if I mess things up for him? What if I don’t give him healthy children? Susan, do you really think I’ll make a good Amish mother?”
Susan gave Teresa a warm smile. “Don’t worry about it. Da Hah will give you grace just like He did with you and baby Samuel. You don’t see James or anyone else in the community complaining about him, do you?”
Teresa took a deep breath. “No, I don’t. But I wonder sometimes if people might be covering for my mistakes.”
“Mamm and I would tell you if you were doing something wrong.”
“Thank you. That so helps with my nerves. You have no idea how much.” Teresa opened another bedroom door. Bare white walls and a high ceiling greeted them. Cracks ran everywhere across the plaster.
“Phew! This room does need work,” Susan said.
“I know. What color would you make this room?”
“Hmmm…okay.” Susan stepped inside. “The window faces the east, so the first sun rays every morning will be coming in. That will make everything look brighter. I’d go with a darker color. Maybe a nice blue…or red even.”
“But those are boy colors,” Teresa said. “Our first child together is going to be a girl.”
Susan laughed. “You’re awful sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
Teresa blushed. “Just hoping. So I suppose we have to stay with neutral colors just in case. And I don’t want to make it pink, right?”
Susan gasped. “Most certainly not! That would be very…well, it certainly wouldn’t be Amish.”
“Then a cream color, maybe a little on the dark side. I think I’d like that.”
Susan turned to face the window. “I’d still go with a darker red or blue. Either way, it’ll be wonderful.”
“I know.” Teresa beamed. “So many choices, but they can wait. There will be plenty of time after the wedding. Come on downstairs. I want to show you the main bedroom.”
“Have you already fixed that up?” Susan asked as she followed Teresa down the squeaky stairs.
“Only the bed is in. I haven’t brought over any bedding yet.” Teresa pushed open the door, leading Susan inside. “We haven’t painted in here yet, but that can also wait. I might not even bother right away. There’s so much to do.”
“But you have to!” Susan said. “You can’t leave it looking like this. I’ll come over and help with the work.”
“You and Mamm have already done so much. I can’t ask for more.”
“But there are cracks all over the walls.”
“I know, but it’s an old farmhouse. James understands.”
“I’m coming over this week to work on this. My sisters can help Mamm at home. Betsy and Edna were offering more of their time just last Sunday.”
“Oh!” Teresa exclaimed. “Your help would be awesome. James is so wonderful. He deserves a fixed-up bedroom.”
Susan laughed and glanced out of the window. “There’s James coming now. I’m sure I didn’t see his buggy when we arrived.”
“He works here on the farm when he can get away. His buggy could be in the barn.” Teresa was all aflutter now. “Oh, Susan, my neck and face are burning. He’ll think I’m a total scatterbrain.”
“He won’t think anything like that.” Susan took Teresa’s hand and pulled her toward the living room. Teresa gathered herself together, smoothing her apron with little swipes of her hand.
“You just saw him Sunday night,” Susan commented and giggled. “You’re acting like a schoolgirl.”
“You don’t know how much like a schoolgirl I feel,” Teresa confessed.
James burst through the doorway. “What have we here?” he said. “Well, if it isn’t my lovely bride!”
“Not yet, she isn’t,” Susan corrected.
James laughed.
“Where were you?” Teresa asked.
“I was working in the back field,” James said, sweeping Teresa into his arms. He kissed her several times on the cheek. “James, there’s someone here!” Teresa whispered.
“I suppose Susan’s seen boys and girls kissing before.” James laughed and let go of Teresa. “I heard Thomas took you home again on Sunday, Susan. I’m glad to hear it.”
“Thank you,” Susan said. “Everyone does seem happy about it.”
“So what do you plan on doing today?” James asked as he turned back to Teresa. He smiled ear to ear.
“Clean the house,” Teresa said. “Or at least the parts we can get to. I don’t know, though, if this house will ever be good enough for you.”
“Ah, you’re wonderful enough for me. Don’t worry about the house,” he said.
“I am going to worry about the house,” Teresa retorted. “And I’m keeping it clean for you.”
“I’m sure you will.” James was still smiling. “Let me get back to my work before the horses take off. I left them standing in the field.” He turned and headed toward the door. They watched as he opened it, walked through, and then shut it behind him.
Several moments later Teresa was still staring after James.
“Earth to Teresa!” Susan called. “Come on, girl! We have work to do.”
“Oh, isn’t it just a dream, Susan? A total dream. One from which I hope I never awaken.”