“SIS.” MARK APPROACHED THE VAN AS LAURA CLIMBED out of it the following Thursday afternoon. “I didn’t know you were planning to visit today.”
“Hi. I came to help Priscilla with her dresses for the wedding. She doesn’t have long to make them.” Laura balanced a cake saver in her hands as she hoisted her purse onto her shoulder.
“Give me that.” Mark took the container, and she paid the driver. “That’s nice that you offered to help her.”
“That’s what family is for, right?” Laura smiled up at him. “I’m so glad you’re marrying Priscilla. You’re going to be perfect for each other.”
“Ya, we are.” He gave a wry smile. “Where’s my favorite niece?”
“She’s playing at Irma Mae’s today. I thought it would be easier if she went there so I could concentrate on helping Priscilla.” She pointed to the cake saver. “I just might have brought over a chocolate kuche for you.”
“Really?” He grinned. “For me?”
“Maybe. But you have to promise me something.”
“I’ll do anything for your chocolate kuche.” He shrugged as they walked up the porch steps.
“You have to be extra nice to Priscilla and supportive of her while she makes the wedding plans. You know how stressful wedding planning can be. You’ve seen me go through it.”
He opened the front door, and she stepped through. “Okay.”
“Danki.” She smiled up at him. “You seem different since you made the decision to get married.”
“Oh. Do I?” He lifted his chin and posed. “Am I more handsome? Funnier? Less resistible?”
“Ugh.” She swatted his arm, and he could feel her irritation. “You’re hopeless.”
“That’s why you love me. Priscilla is probably upstairs since I hear the sewing machine going. Her mamm is in the utility room doing laundry.” He pointed toward the kitchen. “Would you like me to put the kuche in there for you?”
“Ya. Danki.” She gave him a little wave. “I’ll see you later.”
As Mark set the cake carrier on the counter, his twin’s words rattled through his brain.
I’m so glad you’re marrying Priscilla. You’re going to be perfect for each other.
He shook his head. How could his twin be so blind? This marriage was doomed to fail, but he’d make the best of it. At least Ethan seemed to like him. Ethan was a blessing for certain.
“I’m here to help.” Laura slowly sat down in a chair across from Priscilla and rested her hands on her belly, which looked like it already protruded a little more than it had the day before. “Put me to work.”
“I’m so froh you’re here.” Priscilla pointed to the notebook on her bed. “I have everyone’s measurements there. Do you want to start cutting out Cindy’s dress?”
“I’d love to.”
Priscilla gathered supplies for Laura and then returned to working on her own dress.
“How are things going for you?” Laura asked. When Priscilla met her gaze, Laura added, “With your dat?”
Priscilla shrugged. “Okay, I guess. He still doesn’t talk to me much at all, but he’s kind to Ethan, which I appreciate.”
Laura seemed to study her, and Priscilla looked down at the dress.
“Did Mark tell you I know the truth about why you’re getting married?”
“Ya.” Priscilla nodded, keeping her eyes focused on the dress. Was Laura going to try to talk Priscilla out of marrying her twin? If she succeeded, what would she say now that the announcement had been made to the community? How could she ever face the bishop again?
“I’m not upset, Priscilla.”
“Really?” Priscilla looked up, shocked to find her best friend’s smile.
“Why would I be upset? I’ve been praying for years that Mark would settle down, and he’s finally going to. You’re a blessing.”
“A blessing?” Priscilla shook herself. Had she heard Laura right? “How is being forced to marry me a blessing?”
Laura set the scissors on the desk beside the sewing table. “God has a reason for everything that happens, and he has the perfect plan for each of us. There’s a reason why your dat and the bishop found you both in the barn.”
Priscilla grimaced. “It sounds so bad when you say it that way.”
Laura chuckled. “Mark told me what happened, and I know it was innocent.”
But I wanted him to kiss me . . .
Priscilla dismissed the unwelcomed thought. “But I’m ruining his life.”
“What?” Laura shook her head. “No, you’re not. You’re forcing him to grow up, and it’s about time.”
“We should get back to work.” Priscilla turned her attention to the dress, and they worked in silence for several minutes.
“You know,” Laura began, breaking through the quiet, “Mark is a gut man, and he’ll take gut care of you and Ethan.”
Priscilla glanced at her.
“He uses humor and arrogance as a defense mechanism. Deep down, he’s just as humble as Jamie. And he’s a hard worker.”
Priscilla nodded. “I’ve seen how hard he works here, and he’s very kind to Ethan.”
Priscilla’s thoughts swirled as they turned their attention back to their work.
“I think he cares about Franey,” Priscilla blurted.
“What?” Laura’s forehead furrowed.
“I saw them talking at church yesterday.” Priscilla described their body language. “It was intense.”
Laura shook her head. “I don’t think he cares about her as anything more than a freind. When he told me he was going to marry you, he didn’t mention Franey or Ruthann. He talked only about you.”
Priscilla was unconvinced.
“What are you thinking right now?” Laura asked.
“I’m wondering how we’re going to adjust to living together. How can we be a gut example for mei sohn if we don’t love each other?”
“Give it time. It will all be fine. Just pray about it and ask God to guide your heart and give you patience.”
Priscilla nodded and turned back to her sewing machine.
“So what are you considering for table decorations?” Laura asked. “I was at the market yesterday, and I saw the most gorgeous red candles that would match this material.”
They talked about the wedding, and then Laura gave her updates about people they’d both known in school and youth group.
Later they took a break and had cake with her mother and Ethan in the kitchen before Priscilla walked Laura outside to call her driver.
“I had a great time,” Laura said as they stood in the driveway waiting for the van.
“I did too.” Priscilla hugged her. “Danki for helping with the dresses.”
“Gern gschehne.” Laura grinned. “Soon we’ll be schweschdere.”
Mark jogged up behind them, his dark trousers and gray shirt speckled with white paint, evidence that he’d been working in the daadihaus. “You’re leaving, sis?”
“Ya. I need to get home and start supper. Irma Mae is going to bring Mollie home soon.” Laura pointed to the house. “I left you chocolate kuche.”
“Danki.” He rubbed his hands together.
Laura turned toward Priscilla. “I have to warn you. You’ll probably find yourself baking a lot of chocolate kuche after you’re married.”
“Please.” Mark gave Priscilla an adorable smile. “I promise I’ll work hard to earn it.”
Laura snickered as her driver steered his van up the rock driveway. “I’ll see you two soon.”
“Danki again,” Priscilla said. “I’ll return the kuche saver.”
“No hurry.” Laura climbed into the van and waved before it headed down the driveway.
“Well, back to work,” Mark said when the van was out of sight. “The daadihaus isn’t going to paint itself.” He turned and started up the path to the small house.
“Mark,” Priscilla called after him, and he spun toward her. “Would you like to stay for supper?”
He studied her for a moment, and then his lips curved into a smile. “Only if I can have a piece of mei schweschder’s kuche.”
“Of course.”
“Great. Then I’ll stay.”
As he strode toward the house, she tried to imagine their marriage. Would it ever be filled with laughter and love as well as chocolate cakes?
No. A marriage had to be built on a foundation of love. How could love come later? That wasn’t how it worked.
With a frown, Priscilla walked back into the house and tried to put the negative thoughts out of her mind, but they lingered there, mocking her as she returned to her sewing project.
“Was mei schweschder any help today?” Mark asked as he sat on a rocking chair beside hers on the front porch later that evening.
“Ya, she started on Cindy’s dress while I worked on mine.”
“Gut.” Mark looked off toward the row of barns, and she longed to read his thoughts.
They had chatted about the wedding and Ethan’s day at school during supper, and then he’d helped her father and Ethan take care of the animals while she and her mother cleaned the kitchen.
“How is the painting at the daadihaus coming along?” she asked.
“I’m almost done with the first coat.” He rested his hands on the arms of the chair. “I’m hoping to finish the second coat before the end of the week. The walls look gut.”
“Great.” She moved the chair back and forth as her thoughts turned to Franey. While she longed to ask him what they had discussed on Sunday, she didn’t want to seem clingy or reveal the jealousy she’d felt. Instead, she stared out toward the barns and hoped he’d say something to kill the awkwardness between them.
“What’s bothering you?” he finally asked.
She strangled a moan. That wasn’t what she’d hoped he’d say. “Nothing.” She forced a smile. “I was thinking about the daadihaus.”
“No, you weren’t.” He swiveled toward her and smiled. “You were thinking about something much more interesting than my painting skills.” He sat up a little taller. “By the way, I am talented with a paintbrush, in case you were wondering.”
Her thoughts moved to Laura’s comment earlier that day. Did Mark use humor and arrogance as a defense mechanism? No, she doubted it. He truly believed he was talented and handsome, and he was right.
“Gut nacht, Mark.” Ethan appeared in the doorway, looking proud. “I said that right, didn’t I?”
“You certainly did.” Mark grinned at him.
“Mammi said I have to take a bath. I’ll see you tomorrow when I get home from school.” Ethan waved and then disappeared into the house, the storm door clicking shut behind him.
“I need to get going. Danki again for supper.” Mark stood and held out his hand. Not sure what else to do, she gently shook it. When his skin touched hers, she felt an electrical current zing up her arm. Had she imagined it? If not, had he felt it too?
“Gern gschehne.” Priscilla stood as Mark started down the steps, surprised she was reluctant to let him go.