I wish Adeline had come with us.” Natalie couldn’t stop thinking about her odd behavior. She turned on the road Adeline said would take them to Levi’s house. Adeline told them she’d never been there, but she knew roughly where it was from Helen. “Do you think she really thinks she’s seeing Percy? Maybe she’s got the beginnings of Alzheimer’s.”
“I don’t know. She scared Levi and me once when she looked like she was having a heart attack, but she said it was esophageal spasms.” Mary paused. “I don’t think that could have anything to do with her confusion. I think we are the only people who visit her. I’m going to ask to cut back my hours at the bakery so I can see her more often.” Mary threw her hands to the dashboard when Natalie hit the brakes too hard, trying to avoid a big pothole in the road.
“Sorry about that.” She maneuvered her car around other dips in the gravel road. “This must not be a county-maintained road. It’s a mess.”
They were quiet for a while. Natalie pondered ways she might be able to see Adeline more often, but with her job it would be difficult. She cleared her throat.
“Levi’s family seemed nice. I talked to some of them while you were in the hospital room with Levi’s mother.” She paused and bit her lip for a few seconds. “Did you happen to notice the tall guy with the dark hair?”
Mary turned her way and grinned. “You’ll have to be more specific. They were all tall, except for the youngest boy, who I think is Abram. And all of the men had dark hair. Levi is the only one with light-colored hair—him and one of his sisters.”
“Yeah, I know. But this guy stood out in the crowd. He was just super good-looking.” Natalie hadn’t stopped thinking about him all week. She was glad she’d worn decent clothes underneath her overalls, which had paint all over them. She’d done a pretty good job scrubbing the paint off her arms and face, and she’d reapplied a little makeup before they left for Orleans, which was only about twenty minutes away by car.
“I’d never met any of Levi’s family before last Saturday. He’s talked about them some, but I can’t even remember all their names.”
“Maybe the cute one I’m talking about will be there today. I’ll point him out to you.”
Mary twirled the string on her prayer covering. “Be careful. Falling for an Amish man would surely complicate your life.”
“Yeah, I know. I wouldn’t let that happen.” Natalie wasn’t very religious. She prayed, but not as much as Mary and Levi’s people did. She hadn’t been raised going to church, so the whole religion thing was a bit of a mystery. “I’ll just look into his gorgeous brown eyes and pretend things are different.” She slowed down when she saw a white house with blue trim on the left, with four buggies out front. “Is that the place?”
“I don’t know. Get closer to the mailbox and see if there’s a name on it.”
Natalie pulled up to the mailbox. “Yep. Shetler. Wow. It’s kind of a small house for such a large family. But the yard is really pretty. Look at all the flowers.” She’d lived around the Amish her entire life. The women were responsible for the yard and landscaping, and most homesteads were pretty. Not all, but most.
She turned onto the driveway.
Mary tucked a few loose hairs beneath her kapp. Her chest was tight, her stomach churning. As much as she wanted to see Levi, they’d come unannounced and uninvited. Mary assumed that a family of twelve probably had to keep to a rigid schedule to keep order.
“Look.” Natalie pointed to a hand pump near the house. “Does that mean they don’t have indoor plumbing?” Her eyes widened.
“Maybe not. There’s an outhouse to the side of the house, more in the backyard really.” Mary couldn’t imagine that to be the case. “It’s probably left from a long time ago. Levi told me his family was very Old Order traditional. They don’t use propane or solar panels, and they don’t use phones at all. But I can’t imagine not having indoor plumbing.”
Natalie sighed. “I hope I don’t have to go to the bathroom while I’m here, if they don’t have a regular bathroom in the house. I’ve been in a few Amish homes, and they all had indoor plumbing. Some of the houses even had things that aren’t allowed, like wallpaper and fancy furnishings.”
“It depends on what district you live in. Some bishops are strict and some are more lenient. Where we live in Montgomery, our bishop overlooks a lot.” Mary was thankful for that, but an unwed pregnancy would not be overlooked by Bishop Miller.
They climbed the steps that led to the front door. Natalie knocked as Mary held her breath.
A tall, very nice-looking young man answered the door. Mary didn’t think he was as handsome as Levi, but based on Natalie’s dropped jaw and loss for words, Mary assumed this must be her guy. She was about to speak when Natalie found her voice.
“I don’t know if you remember us, but we—”
“I remember you.” Natalie’s heartthrob stared at her in much the same way Natalie ogled him.
Mary stifled a grin. Even though it was cute, it could be disastrous to encourage any spark that might be trying to fuse. Mary had seen it plenty of times, outsiders trying to convert to their ways. It rarely worked out.
“We’re here to see Levi.” Mary broke the silence, which finally got the man’s attention turned to her. “I’m Mary, Levi’s friend.”
He pushed open the screen door, and Mary smelled something delicious baking.
“And I’m Natalie.”
“I know.” Smiling, he ushered them into the living room.
Natalie tripped over the threshold and would have fallen if the man hadn’t caught her around the waist. He let her go right away, but Mary wondered if the act was intentional.
“I’m sorry. We met so many of you at the hospital. I’m embarrassed to say I don’t remember your name.” Mary breathed in the enticing fragrance.
“Lucas.”
Mary cringed when she realized it wasn’t cookies or cakes baking. It smelled more like meat in the oven. “I’m so sorry. I just realized that we’re intruding at the supper hour.”
Lucas chuckled. “Ach, I hope you’re hungry. Mamm is going to force you to stay and eat with us.”
Mary could hear loud voices coming from the next room. She hadn’t thought this through. She’d just been anxious to see Levi. “We might not have enough time to get back to Adeline’s before dark,” she whispered to Natalie. “Then I have to drive my buggy home.”
“Just stay at Adeline’s tonight.”
Mary thought for a few seconds. She would enjoy getting to know Levi’s family a little bit, but she would miss worship service or be late, even if she left Adeline’s at daybreak. She never missed church, so maybe it would be okay. “Ya, okay. And I can at least keep an eye on Adeline tonight.”
Natalie followed Lucas to the next room with Mary trailing behind them, taking in the living room. It was small and there were a lot of things everywhere. The stack of shoes by the front door was huge. The rack for hats and capes was three times as long as the one at Mary’s house. A load of towels was folded on the couch. Disheveled, but clean.
They turned the corner into the dining room where a long table stretched from wall to wall and was filled with men seated and ready to be served. They were all talking over each other, voices rising and falling as topics of conversation changed. Only their father was quiet at the head of the table. He watched his sons as if he were trying to take in every conversation going on.
“We have company,” Lucas said above the ruckus. It took a few seconds, but the room went completely silent. All eyes were on Natalie and Mary when Levi’s mother—Helen, Mary remembered—walked into the room.
She smiled and walked to Mary, giving her a quick hug, then she said hello to Natalie. “I didn’t hear anyone knock, but I knew it would take something pretty important for all my boys to go silent the way they did.” She waved an arm toward the men and the boy, Abram. “Carry on.”
Helen motioned for Natalie and Mary to follow her into the kitchen where three young women were scrambling with pots and bowls. “We have company.”
After greetings were exchanged, Mary apologized for interrupting the supper hour.
“We don’t get a lot of company,” Levi’s sister, who introduced herself as Hannah, said, smiling. “We’re happy to have you here.”
“And you must stay for supper.” Helen wiped her hands on her apron as sweat poured down both sides of her face. A small battery-operated fan was on the windowsill. It was almost unbearably hot in the small kitchen. Each time one of the girls opened a wood-burning oven to retrieve more food, the room got even warmer.
There were two ovens, and Levi’s three sisters and mother worked with amazing precision, as if every move they made was timed perfectly. Mary was in awe. She’d never used a wood-burning stove in her life. And like Levi had mentioned, there wasn’t a refrigerator either. Mary picked up her jaw when Helen said her name.
“I know you came to see Levi. He’s upstairs. It’s going to be a few more minutes until we’re ready to eat.” She smiled and shook her head. “Those boys expect supper every evening at four o’clock, and they all know it’s never ready by then.” She laughed. “But they like to gather and tell tales about their day. Never a quiet moment in this haus.”
“I can stay and help you in the kitchen in case Levi and Mary want to be alone.” Mary knew Natalie meant no harm with the statement, but it wouldn’t be ignored.
Helen and her daughters all stopped what they were doing and looked at Natalie. Helen wiped her hands on her apron again. “It wouldn’t be proper for Levi and Mary to be alone in his bedroom.”
Natalie pressed her lips together, and Mary couldn’t tell if it was to keep from laughing—Please don’t laugh, Natalie—or, if it was to keep from talking. She eventually said, “Of course. What was I thinking?”
Holding a wooden spoon, Helen pointed toward the living room. “Up the stairs, third door on the right. Please knock. And tell him I’ll bring him a plate up soon.”
Mary nodded and then followed Natalie past the dining room, into the living room, and up the stairs.
“Really? You can’t be alone with a member of the opposite sex?” Natalie whispered.
“Ya, of course we can. We’re allowed to date when we turn sixteen, and we don’t have chaperones. It would just be inappropriate since it’s Levi’s bedroom.”
“Well, I can sit in the hallway if you two want to smooch.” Natalie leaned over her shoulder, grinning.
“There’s not going to be any smooching.” Levi would never kiss her with Natalie there.
“You never know.”
They reached the third door on the right, and Natalie pushed it open before Mary had time to remind her to knock.
Natalie took two steps in, and two steps back out, pulling the door closed again.
“What are you doing?” Mary scowled. “Helen said to knock.”
Natalie pushed her lips into a pout, which quickly turned into a thin-lipped smile. “Yep. And I suppose we should have. I’ve always wondered if Amish guys wore boxers or briefs. Now I know.” She raised both shoulders, held them there, then lowered them and slapped her arms to her sides. “I have to go to the bathroom, if there is one. If I walk in Levi’s room right now, I might die of embarrassment.” She took a few steps farther down the hallway, then turned to face Mary and started walking backward. “It’s boxers, in case you were wondering.”
Natalie disappeared around the corner. Mary stood outside the door unsure what to do. She was about to knock when Levi opened the door, smiling. And dressed. He glanced both ways down the hall, then eased her into his bedroom, leaving the door open.
“When I saw Natalie, I figured you were with her.” He chuckled. “Doesn’t that girl know how to knock?”
Mary trembled when he caressed her face with the back of his hand, his fingers barely brushing against her lips. “Are you supposed to be out of bed?”
“Nee, I’m not.” He cupped her cheeks with his hands and kissed her. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too, and I’ve been curious to know what you wanted to tell me.” She’d been anticipating the kiss even more, but she was sure whatever Levi had to say was important too.
He took her hand and sighed. “Well, since I’m not supposed to be out of bed, you know what that means.” He tugged her toward the bed, and she broke free of his grasp, giggling.
“Levi!” she said in a loud whisper.
“It’s okay. I’m on medication, so I’m not really responsible for my actions.” He winked as he walked toward her and pulled her into his arms again. His lips touched hers like a whisper at first, then his mouth covered hers, and Mary’s knees went weak with a dreamy intimacy she’d never felt before.
“I knew there would be smooching!”
Mary pushed Levi away and turned to face Natalie, who was pointing a finger at them.
Levi laughed. “Don’t you ever knock?”
Natalie folded her arms across her chest. “Hey. This time the door was open.”
“Your mudder asked us to stay for supper.” Mary tucked her chin for a few seconds before she looked up at him. “I apologized for coming at the supper hour. And your mamm said to tell you she’d bring you a plate soon.”
“I can’t wait that long. Besides, I’ve been eating up here for a week. I’d like to share a meal with mei family, especially since you two are here.”
“It smells great. But you said you’re supposed to be in bed.” Mary put her hands on her hips.
Levi motioned for her to follow him as he stumbled his way out the door.
“Are you okay? You really are on medication, aren’t you?” She put an arm around his waist when he started to swerve on the stairs.
Natalie had rushed down ahead of them and was already on the landing.
“I think she might have a crush on your brother, Lucas.” Mary removed her arm from around his waist before they came in view of his family.
“Ya, I think it might be mutual. Lucas asked me about her after we left the hospital.” He stopped and looked at her with glassy eyes. “I hope Natalie brought you in her car or you’re not going to get home before dark.”
“I probably won’t anyway. My horse and buggy are at Adeline’s, so I will probably spend the night there. I rarely miss worship service, so I think it should be all right.” Pausing, she said, “What did you want to tell me?”
“Something happened to me when I was in the hospital. I’ll tell you when we have more time.”
“And I need to tell you about Adeline. I think something might be wrong with her mind.”
Levi stopped, the scar on his nose crinkling as he frowned.
“But on a happier note, Natalie did some painting today. She wanted to help, but she stayed off the ladder and touched up some places around the windows.”
“That was nice of her.”
“Ya. But we don’t want anything getting started with her and Lucas.”
“I agree, but I guess that’s up to them.”
Levi felt like he imagined a drunk person would, though he’d never tasted alcohol. The pain medication he was on kept him loopy. He still felt like marbles were rolling around in his head, but his ankle and back were better.
Until they joined the others, he hadn’t worried about what Mary would think of his family. He was just happy to see her. But as the voices grew louder in the dining room, he hoped his brothers didn’t embarrass him. Or his sisters. The girls probably already had him married off.
There were two extra places set at the table, one between two of his sisters and one between Jacob and Lucas. Natalie quickly took the seat next to Lucas. Even if Levi’s siblings embarrassed him, hopefully his mother’s cooking would make up for some of it.
“It’s nice you felt up to joining us, sohn.” Levi’s father smiled at him before turning to Mary. “And we are happy to have friends to share a meal with.”
His mother set a third place for Levi. After everyone prayed, Mamm filled Abram’s plate, and Natalie and Mary took offerings from two platters near them, the roast and a large bowl of carrots. Then the rush was on. Levi glanced at Mary, then Natalie. Mary waited patiently, but Natalie fought for spoons the same way Levi’s brothers did.
Eventually everyone had a plateful but Mary. She daintily served herself from bowls she could reach, then asked for others to be passed to her. He loved that about her. She was so patient and had great manners. Levi tended to talk with his mouth full, overeat, and had been known to push his peas onto a fork with his finger, a habit from when he was little. He would be a bundle of nerves dining at Mary’s house.
As Levi’s brothers refilled their plates, Mary held easy conversation with Levi’s sisters. They were talking about an upcoming wedding, and Mary said her sister was getting married soon. Levi thought her sister was several years younger than Mary, but maybe he’d misunderstood.
He couldn’t stop looking at her. Lucas seemed easily as fixated with Natalie, watching her, smiling at her. Trouble brewing. His folks would never allow one of their children to date an Englischer, baptized or not. Officially, Lucas could do what he wanted since he hadn’t been baptized yet. But house rules trumped the Ordnung in some cases, and Levi’s father was a stickler about certain things.
After the meal, Levi and Mary walked outside and sat on the swing. He wasn’t surprised when Lucas followed Natalie onto the porch. Levi’s mother had declined the girls’ offers to help clean up.
Lucas sat next to Natalie on the porch steps, but she seemed distracted by something else. Her face was red and scrunched up like she was holding her breath, and she kept wiggling, shifting her weight, and wringing her hands. All of a sudden, she bolted up and said, “I can’t stand it anymore!” Then she took off.
“Where is she going?” Lucas asked about the same time Levi did. They watched her run across the yard, then make a sharp turn around the corner.
Mary’s face turned a little red. “I guess she’s going to the outhouse.”
Lucas and Levi exchanged glances. “Why didn’t she just use the bathroom inside?” Levi asked.
Mary burst out laughing. “I guess she didn’t find one upstairs.”
“There’s one between two of the bedrooms upstairs and another one downstairs, but you have to pass through Mamm’s sewing area. She should have asked.” Levi slurred a little as he talked, and he flinched if the swing moved.
“You need to get back to bed.” Mary stood, taking Levi’s arm and helping him up.
“Ya, I guess I do. The doc said one more week of bed rest, and then I’ll be able to do light work around here and go back to Adeline’s on Saturdays. He suggested I stay off ladders for a while, but I finished most of the ladder work before I fell. I’ll finish touching up the paint and start on the yard.”
Natalie raced around the corner, her arms swinging at her sides. It was still a few hours until dark, so it was easy to see that her face was white, and once again, she looked like she was holding her breath. She started shaking her head as she neared them.
“I’m sorry. I really am.” She took a deep breath and brought a hand to her chest. “But I don’t see how your family uses that outhouse.” Cringing, she crossed her arms over her chest.
Lucas’s eyes captured hers as he grinned. “We don’t use that outhouse. We use the bathrooms inside.”
Levi chuckled. “No one has used that thing in decades. No telling what’s down that hole. Maybe snakes or critters.”
Natalie’s eyes were wide. “Well, someone should have told me!”
Lucas laughed. “Let’s go for a walk and give these two a little privacy to say goodbye.”
Levi turned to Mary. “I want to kiss you again so bad, but I feel like I might fall over, and someone is surely spying on us from a window somewhere.”
“I still want you to tell me what happened at the hospital.”
“Ya, ya.” Levi told her about his dream, and Mary seemed in awe of the details he could recall, her gaze never leaving his. “It was the most wonderful feeling I’ve ever had in my life.”
“I’ve heard of near-death experiences.” Mary touched his arm. “Do you think that’s what happened?”
“I don’t know. It was more like a dream. But, Mary, it was real. I know it was. It was a glimpse of heaven. Gott wouldn’t have shown me that piano if it wasn’t okay to play it.”
They turned toward the yard when they heard laughter. Lucas and Natalie were facing each other, talking and then laughing.
“It won’t be gut for either of them to take a fancy to the other.” Levi shook his head.
“It might be too late,” Mary said softly.