After they set up the stand with fruits and vegetables from the garden and a variety of fresh cookies and pies their friends had baked to sell, Tena hopped onto a stool and turned to Mandy beside her. “How are things with Ephraim?”
“Wunderbaar.” Mandy’s eyes sparkled as she gave a dramatic sigh. “They couldn’t be better.” She ran her fingers over the counter as she seemed to lose herself in thought. “It’s like I have another best freind. We talk for hours, and he’s kind and supportive. He’s just everything I’d always hoped I’d find in a boyfriend.”
Tena nodded and looked toward the land across the road. She’d once felt that way about Lewis Yoder. He’d been her friend in youth group before he asked her to be his girlfriend.
For more than a year, he’d seemed like the perfect boyfriend, and he became her closest confidant. When he asked her to marry him, she was over the moon with joy. But that all changed when she learned he’d been seeing an Englisher woman behind her back.
Tena had been so overwhelmed with grief that she’d jumped at the chance to visit Aenti Emma when her mother suggested it. Getting away from Lewis and their community seemed like the best medicine.
“What about you and Wayne?”
“What?” Tena spun to face Mandy.
Mandy smirked. “Oh, come on, Tena. I’m not blind. I see how you and Wayne seem to gravitate to each other. You’re so cute together.”
“We’re just freinden.”
“Right.” Mandy chuckled as she fished two bottles of water from the cooler by her feet. She handed one to Tena and then opened one for herself.
“I’m telling you the truth. I’m not looking for a relationship right now.” Tena opened the bottle and took a long drink, enjoying the cool water on her parched throat. “Besides, I’m staying here only until after Thanksgiving. Then I’m going back home to Indiana.” Why did those words make her sad? Bird-in-Hand wasn’t her home.
“Don’t say that.” Mandy touched Tena’s arm. “We’re all going to miss you.”
“Danki.” Tena smiled. “I appreciate that.”
“I know Wayne will miss you.” Mandy grinned. “I’ve never seen him so interested in a maedel, and I’ve known him since we were in school together.”
“Really?” Tena wanted to take back her question. She didn’t want to encourage Mandy, but at the same time, she wondered what it would be like to date a man as kind as Wayne.
I thought Lewis was kind too!
“I don’t think he’s dated much either,” Mandy continued.
Tena took another drink of water as she noticed a car slowing down on the road. “I think we have our first customers.”
“Great.” Mandy set down her water bottle and rubbed her hands together. “Let’s make some money to help the homeless.”
Tena squeezed mustard onto her cheeseburger and then added relish before taking a bite.
“These hamburgers are fantastic,” Katie Ann said as she sat across the table from Tena. “Danki for bringing the beef for them, Clara.”
Clara Hertzler shrugged as she sat beside Jerry Petersheim. “You’re welcome. And I’m grateful Jerry and Biena brought the chips and beans.”
“And I’m grateful Emma had enough buns.” Jerry’s cheeks blushed. “I forgot to put them on my list.”
“I guess that’s my fault,” Biena, his sister, added. “When we were at the store earlier, I should have asked him if we were supposed to bring anything else.”
“It’s no problem,” Aenti Emma said. “I had quite a few packages of buns left over from the last time you all decided to have a cookout.”
“How’s your burger?” Wayne asked the question close to Tena’s ear, sending chills cascading down her spine. What was wrong with her?
“It’s great.” Tena smiled up at him. “I always love grilled hamburgers.”
“I do too.” Wayne smiled and then took a bite of his.
Tena gazed across the long table to where Alex sat between Ephraim and Chris. He looked like a new person with his hair washed and his beard and mustache shaved off. He was handsome in a rugged sort of way, despite a puckered scar on his chin. When he smiled, he revealed those white teeth, which also added to his attractiveness. She now guessed he was in his late twenties. She was relieved to see he was wearing his own clothes and that Onkel Henry’s clothes were stowed away once again.
She’d been surprised earlier when she found him helping some of their friends weed the garden, and she’d been even more surprised when Clara invited him to stay for supper.
Why hadn’t he moved on? Was he going to spend another night in the barn?
Despite that question causing a ball of nerves inside, she took another bite of her hamburger.
“Would you like to join us for church tomorrow, Alex?” Katie Ann asked.
Alex finished chewing, swallowed, and then took a drink from his glass of water.
“That’s a wunderbaar idea,” Aenti Emma chimed in. “You can ride to church with Tena and me.”
Tena stilled and held her breath as she awaited his response. Please say no! Please say no!
“Thank you for the offer, but I don’t think so.” Alex shook his head and looked down at his plate. “I appreciate the invitation, though.”
“Maybe next time.” Aenti Emma turned to Clara. “How are your parents, Clara?”
Clara smiled. “They’re fine, thank you.”
Tena let out the breath she’d been holding as other conversations broke out around the table. When she felt someone watching her, she looked over at Wayne. His sapphire-blue eyes studied her rather intensely. She swallowed and then managed a smile.
“Do you like the beans?” she asked. “I love this honey flavor.”
“Ya, it’s gut,” he agreed. “Let’s talk later, okay?”
“Ya.” As she took another bite of her burger, her stomach fluttered with the thought of being alone with Wayne.
Tena sat on the glider on her great-aunt’s back porch and pushed it into motion as the cicadas serenaded her. The soft yellow glow of a lantern at her feet was her only light aside from the stars twinkling above her. She settled back in the seat and breathed in the warm air and scent of earth still moist from the rainstorm.
Footsteps crunched up the rock path, and Tena sat up. She leaned forward as the silhouette of a man approached the porch steps. She breathed a sigh of relief when Wayne’s handsome face came into view.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi.” He pointed to the glider. “May I join you?”
“Of course.” She scooted over to the far side of the seat, and he sank down beside her, the glider shifting under his weight.
“I just said good night to Alex out in the barn.”
She bristled at the mention of Alex’s name. She had to change the subject—fast.
“Did you fix the fencing today?” She angled her body toward him.
“Ya.” He rubbed his clean-shaven chin.
“Great.”
“Alex was a gut help too. And it seemed like the weeding we did was calming for him.” Wayne nodded toward the barn. “I think he likes it here with us.”
Tena’s smile faded as all-too-familiar apprehension churned inside her. She turned toward the barn as she imagined Alex sleeping on the mattress in there. Although all her friends seemed to trust him, she still couldn’t stop that niggle of worry at the back of her mind. Alex might try to take advantage of her and her aunt.
“Were you upset with me earlier?” Wayne’s question broke through her thoughts.
“No.” She shook her head. Although she was annoyed with Wayne for inviting Alex to eat with them and then stay—even though Aenti Emma had insisted as well—she didn’t want to argue with him before he went home. Not only did she enjoy spending time with Wayne, but she also felt safe when he was nearby.
“Okay.” He shifted closer to her, and his leg brushed against hers. “I was worried I had done something to make you angry, and it was killing me that you wouldn’t talk to me about it.”
She blinked as she looked up at him. Why would Wayne be so concerned about her silence?
It didn’t matter. She wasn’t staying here long, and she wasn’t interested in getting her heart broken again.
“You can always talk to me if something is bothering you,” Wayne continued, oblivious to her thoughts. “You can trust me.”
He touched her hand, and she jumped with a start, pulling her hand away from him.
“I’m so sorry.” His eyes widened. “I didn’t mean to be so forward.”
“It’s fine.” Tena stood, her heart thumping as she cleared her throat. “It’s getting late, and we have to be up early tomorrow for church. I really should head to bed.”
“Oh. Right.” He stood. “It was nice spending time with you.”
“Ya.” She shook his hand, and when their skin touched, a tingle raced up her arm. “I’ll see you in church tomorrow.”
“Gut nacht.” He pulled a flashlight out of his pocket and then jogged down the steps and up the path toward his buggy.
She picked up the lantern and headed inside, locking the back door before making her way into the kitchen, where she ran her hands down her face as her head swam with confusion. Why had Wayne’s touch affected her so much? She couldn’t allow herself to have feelings for another man. She couldn’t allow her heart to trust another man.
“Tena?” Aenti Emma called from somewhere in the house. “Is that you?”
“Ya, Aenti Emma.” Tena stood up straight and squared her shoulders. “I just locked the back door. I’ll check the front door before I go upstairs.”
“Come in here before you go upstairs,” Aenti Emma called.
Tena stepped into the doorway of Aenti Emma’s first-floor bedroom, where she sat propped up on her bed, reading a book.
Aenti Emma set it on her nightstand before looking at Tena. “You’ve seemed distracted all day. Are you all right?”
“Ya.” Tena tapped her finger on the doorframe. “I’m fine.”
Aenti Emma studied her for a moment, and Tena twisted one of the ribbons on her prayer covering around her finger.
“It’s obvious to me that you’re not happy Alex is still staying here,” Aenti Emma began, her expression pleasant. “I know you weren’t pleased when I let him wear your onkel’s clothes, but I felt in my heart that helping him was the right thing to do. In fact, I believe your onkel Henry would have done the same thing.”
Guilt, hot and searing, sliced through Tena, but she pushed it away. “What about what happened to Micah?”
“Not all Englishers are dangerous. You need to realize that. Also, Alex won’t be here forever. He’ll move on soon, but I’ll sleep well knowing I did my best to help him. I just need you to be patient until he leaves. Would you do that for me?”
“Of course.” Tena nodded. “This is your haus, so it’s your choice.”
Aenti Emma tilted her head. “While you’re living here, it’s your haus, too, mei liewe. Now get some rest. Gut nacht.”
“Gut nacht.”
As Tena got ready for bed, she hoped Aenti Emma was right that Alex would decide to move on soon. She wanted the reminder of how that Englisher had hurt her brother out of her sight for good.
Wayne smiled as Tena walked toward his table with a carafe of coffee after the church service. She looked radiant in a bright-yellow dress with her gorgeous hair peeking out from under her prayer covering. She was so beautiful.
“You’re staring at her.” Ephraim bumped his shoulder against Wayne’s. “You really need to look away before it gets awkward.”
“He’s way past awkward,” Jerry chimed in with a snort.
Wayne rolled his eyes and looked down at his plate.
“Have you told her how you feel?” Ephraim asked.
“No.” Wayne shook his head. “I tried to last night, but she cut me off before I could get the words out.” The truth was he’d chickened out. He had planned to ask her if she’d be willing to date him, but he just couldn’t seem to form the right words. His courage had evaporated as soon as he sat down beside her on the glider.
“Oh.” Jerry pretended to stab himself in the heart. “That’s harsh.”
“Be quiet,” Wayne muttered. “Here she comes.”
“Kaffi?” Tena held up the carafe.
“Ya, please.” Wayne handed her his cup. “You look nice today.”
“Danki.” Her cheeks blushed bright pink, and she looked adorable. She filled Ephraim’s cup and then reached across the table and filled Jerry’s. “I’ll see you at Aenti Emma’s haus later.”
“I look forward to it,” Wayne told her as she moved down the table.
“You need to ask her to date you,” Jerry said.
Wayne nodded, but he had to find the courage. “I have an idea for the garden I want to run by you before I bring it up at the committee meeting today.”
“What is it?” Ephraim took a sip of his coffee.
“I’m sure you noticed Alex worked hard in the garden yesterday,” Wayne began, and Jerry and Ephraim nodded. “I was thinking maybe we could pay him with meals and a place to stay if he worked in the garden every day. He could keep up with the weeding we have a hard time doing since we’re not there every day, and we’d be helping him by giving him food and a dry place to sleep. He could also do some of the watering Emma and Tena have been doing by themselves when we can’t be there.”
Jerry nodded slowly. “I think that’s a great idea. We’d be giving him the chance no one else has. It would be great for his self-esteem.” He tapped the table. “But you need to make sure Emma is okay with having Alex stay longer. It’s her haus and barn.”
Ephraim hesitated and then took another sip of coffee.
“I’ve known you since we were seven years old,” Wayne told Ephraim. “I can tell when you’re holding something back. What are you thinking?”
“I think you also need to discuss this with Tena before you bring it up at the meeting.” Ephraim set his cup on the table. “Mandy said she got the impression Tena isn’t too froh that Alex is living at her aenti’s haus.”
Wayne nodded. He couldn’t assume Tena had let go her fear of Alex. “I’ll get to Emma’s early and talk to both her and Tena before anyone else arrives.”