Saturday morning, Adeline chose an outfit she thought would be appropriate for her surprise today. All she knew was that Natalie was driving them somewhere and they would be spending time outdoors.
She pulled on a pair of white cotton knickers that fell just below her knees and then chose a breezy pink blouse she hadn’t worn in a while. Adeline didn’t think the color was very becoming on her, but Percy had loved it when she wore pink.
Once dressed, she grabbed a large envelope from the desk and walked to the kitchen. The girls were packing an ice chest with sandwiches, drinks, and snacks they’d brought from home.
“Ah, a picnic is part of my surprise.” Smiling, she pressed her palms together. “Now are you going to tell me where we are going?”
Mary chuckled. “Natalie just told me, and I’m sworn to secrecy. What do you have in the envelope?”
“Just something I need to mail. Where’s Levi?” Adeline set the envelope on the table, then poured herself a glass of orange juice and selected a glazed donut from the box on the counter.
“Those are left over from the wedding Thursday. Glazed donuts aren’t a traditional offering at weddings, but they’re Lydia’s favorite, so I picked up some at the bakery on my way home Wednesday. Hopefully they still taste fresh.”
“Heavenly,” Adeline said after she swallowed her first bite.
“Levi is loading the car.” Natalie added a few bottles of water to the ice chest, then Mary dumped ice on top of everything and closed it.
Adeline meandered to the window but was stopped when Natalie gently caught her arm. “Oh, no you don’t. If you see what Levi is loading in the trunk, you might figure out where we’re going, and we want it to be a surprise.”
“All right.” She sighed before she turned to Mary. “Did Lydia and Samuel go through with their vows?”
“Ya.” Mary shook her head. “But it was hard to watch. Lydia’s bottom lip trembled, and she could barely look at Samuel. He didn’t look much different. It wasn’t the joyous occasion it should have been.” She waved a dismissive hand in the air, like she was ending the conversation. “Did everything go okay with Levi sleeping across the hallway the past few nights?”
The girls each took a handle of the ice chest and carried it out to the front door.
“Am I allowed to leave the kitchen yet?” Adeline grabbed the envelope and another donut.
“Ya, you can.”
She heard the trunk close and cozied up to the girls by the front door. “Yes, everything went fine with Levi.” She grinned. “But here are a few things you should know about your young man.” With the donut in one hand and the envelope tucked under that arm, she held up a finger with her other hand. “First of all, he offered to make supper, and I was tired, so I let him. But only the first night.” She frowned, shook her head. “Don’t ever let him do that when you’re married.”
“Married? We haven’t said anything about marriage.” Mary brought a hand to her chest, blushing various colors of red.
Adeline rolled her eyes. If the girls could do it, so could she. “Well, we all know it’s coming, so don’t look so shocked.” Pausing, she finished a small bite of donut. “He tried to make tuna salad.” The recollection caused her to cringe. “He made it on the stove and served it warm. I honestly don’t know what was in it, but I pretended to enjoy it. The boy can’t cook is what I’m saying. My old hands are too shaky to do much, but I could at least instruct him on how to make a couple of simple meals. And furthermore, he talks in his sleep.”
“What did he say?”
Adeline had Mary’s full attention. She wondered if the girl knew how much her feelings for Levi showed. Same with Levi. “I couldn’t understand all of it, but I know I heard mentions of pizza, hamburgers, and stew at various times of the night. It didn’t keep me up, but I seem to have to use the bathroom a lot during the night, and I’d hear him. You’ll need earplugs when you get married. Percy didn’t talk in his sleep, but he snored like a congested rhino. Earplugs will be your best friend.”
Natalie laughed. “My dad used to snore like that.”
The comment seemed a combination of sadness and regret.
“But only happy thoughts today.” Natalie slapped her hands to her hips. “Ready?”
Adeline nodded as she took in Natalie’s appearance. Her white capri pants and yellow T-shirt contrasted against Mary’s long maroon dress. And so did her white sandals against Mary’s black socks and black loafers.
Adeline looked outside and smiled when she recognized Percy’s pants on Levi, and he had on a short-sleeve blue shirt, suspenders, and his straw hat. Adeline felt for the Amish in the summer. It seemed to her they would have made some adjustments to their clothing over the years to allow for summertime apparel that wasn’t so hot. They’d sure made adjustments in other areas—mobile phones, solar panels, and working alongside non-Amish folks.
Adeline eased into the back seat with Mary after the group decided Levi would be the best navigator. A few minutes later, Natalie’s car was filled with cool air. It reminded Adeline how grateful she was for air-conditioning in the house again. She never wanted to complain, especially since her Amish friends lived without the luxury all the time. She was glad they were able to enjoy the comfort at her home and in the car now.
As she looked out the window and folded her hands in her lap, she remembered the envelope. “Natalie, can you pull into one of those standing mailboxes? I forgot to put this in my mailbox to be picked up.”
“Sure.” Natalie drove too fast in Adeline’s opinion, but maybe Adeline had just driven too slow.
After they pulled over at a post office and were back on the road, Adeline continued to wonder where they were going. When they took Exit 33 toward Princeton, her heart fluttered. She’d know in about ten minutes if she had figured out their destination.
“Do you know where we’re going yet?” Natalie couldn’t keep the childlike excitement out of her voice, and Adeline felt giddy too.
Even though she was pretty sure she knew where they were going, she only said, “It feels familiar.”
Mary looked over and smiled broadly at Adeline. Natalie’s bright eyes found Adeline’s through the rearview mirror. Even Levi was grinning like a child.
Adeline pressed her hand to the window, and memories flooded her mind as the lake came into view. Things looked different, more modern, more active. By the time they parked in view of the beach, Adeline was on the verge of tears.
“It’s not the ocean, but it has a beach. You’re always saying you love the beach.” Natalie put the car in Park, but the sweet child had no idea what she’d really done.
Levi opened the trunk and took out the walker he’d packed. He unfolded it and brought it to Adeline. She narrowed her eyes at him through dark-colored sunglasses. Then, just in case he couldn’t see or feel her frustration, she kicked the contraption. “Put that thing away before I clobber you with it.”
He took a step back. “It’s a long walk to the beach. I thought you might need it.”
“Levi.” Adeline took a step forward. “I have a brain tumor, not a broken leg. If and when I am unable to walk, I will let you know.”
He tucked his head for a moment, then shrugged. “Ya, okay.” He put the walker back in the trunk.
Natalie kicked off her flip-flops and ran toward the sand. “Come on!”
Levi stood rigid near Adeline as he motioned for Mary to go on too. She hurried out of her shoes and socks and took off. Adeline slipped out of her own shoes and waited for Levi to do the same, but he just stood there.
Perhaps she’d been too hard on him. She held out her arm, even though she could walk perfectly fine on her own. He looped his arm with hers and they made their way to where Mary and Natalie stood. The feel of the sand beneath her toes was a reminder of the good life she’d lived.
“How did you know to bring me here?” She couldn’t control the shakiness in her voice or the moisture filling her eyes.
“Uh . . .” Natalie stepped out of the line they were standing in and faced Adeline. “You said you like the beach. I thought about going to Dunes National Lakeshore, but I figured the five-hour drive would have been too long.”
Adeline closed her eyes and dug her toes into the sand as the breeze floated across the lake like a soothing reminder that Percy was waiting for her. “This is the perfect surprise. Percy and I used to come here all the time.” She opened her eyes, cupped Natalie’s cheek with a shaky hand, and said, “I never told you that, though, did I?”
Natalie’s eyes glistened as she shook her head.
“I haven’t been here in twenty years. When Percy got too sick to travel much, we stopped coming.” Adeline closed her eyes again. “We’d spread out a red-checkered blanket and have a picnic. We’d watch the children playing, often longing for our own, but always enjoying the laughter that surrounds little ones. Boats of all sizes passed in front of us.”
She opened her eyes when Mary linked her arm with Adeline’s. Standing at the water’s edge with her young friends, their arms linked, led Adeline to talk to God silently.
Tell Percy I’ll be ready to relive all the wonderful moments we shared over the years and to make new ones in Your heavenly paradise.
They stood quietly for a while.
Finally, Levi cleared his throat. “Can I go get the food now?”
Natalie slugged him lightly in the arm. “Is that all you ever think about?”
They all laughed as Levi jogged back to the car.
Mary sat on the blue blanket they spread out for lunch, Levi beside her. After they’d eaten, Adeline and Natalie went for a walk down the beach. Adeline stopped every now and then and pointed something out to Natalie. Mary was sure they just wanted to give her and Levi some time alone.
They’d all spent so much time together and seemed to read each other’s minds sometimes. Right now, though, she wasn’t sure what was on Levi’s mind. His legs were outstretched, hands behind him propping him up, and his hat on the blanket beside him. The breeze off the water, combined with the clouds overhead, cooled the temperature from the heat wave they’d been having.
“What are you thinking about?” Mary crossed her ankles in front of her and leaned back on her hands, pointing her face toward the sun.
“Life.” Levi sank back on his elbows.
And death? Mary hoped not. She didn’t want to think about Adeline dying. She wanted a happy, memorable day. Lydia’s wedding had been hard enough to endure, and she needed to fill up the sad places in her mind with something joyful.
“What do you want out of life? How do you see your future?” Levi turned his face toward hers and captured her eyes with the seriousness of the question.
Mary didn’t have to think for long. “I want to marry a man I love, to have a large family, to be the best person I can be, to live my life according to the Ordnung, and to accept all things as Gott’s will.”
Levi leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips, then gazed into her eyes. “How large of a family?” He grinned. “Please don’t say ten kinner.”
Mary’s heart fluttered. She wanted to ask him why he wanted to know. “Nee, maybe six.”
Levi sat up and rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “Would you like to do those things with me?”
Mary bolted upright, eyes wide, insides swirling. “Levi Shetler, is this a proposal?”
Grinning, he shrugged. “Do you want it to be?”
Mary huffed, even though she was still smiling. “Either it is or it isn’t.”
He kissed her again, longer this time, lingering as he kissed her temple, then her cheek, and her mouth again. “I love you.”
Mary had known for a while that she loved Levi, so it was easy to say it back. “I love you too.”
“Then, ya, I guess this is a proposal.” He stood up and pulled Mary to her feet, then he dropped to one knee and held her hand. “I guess I should do it proper. Mary, will you marry me?”
They were interrupted by a loud scream and both turned toward the sound. In the distance, Natalie was pointing at them and jumping up and down. Adeline waved both arms wildly over her head.
Natalie cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, “Say yes!”
Levi winked at Mary as she pulled him to his feet and drew him close. “Well?”
She stepped back, tipped her head to one side, and tapped a finger to her chin. “Hmm . . .” Levi’s jaw dropped, and Mary laughed. “Ya, I’ll marry you!”
Levi raised his arm high above his head and gave a thumbs-up sign to Natalie and Adeline. Natalie started jumping up and down and screamed again, which caused all kinds of people up and down the beach to look in their direction.
It was hard for Mary to believe she’d had even one ounce of jealousy toward Natalie when she first met her. Natalie was her best friend now, though Mary suspected she hid her pain sometimes. Mary did, too, at times, and she recognized it in others. She was sure Natalie’s parents’ divorce weighed more heavily on her mind than she let on.
Mary had a taste of those family problems. Her parents would never divorce. It simply wasn’t allowed. But as she recalled the look in her sister’s eyes the day before, she wondered if Lydia would be able to stay true to her beliefs and make a good life with Samuel.
She turned back to Levi and smiled. There would be challenges ahead, but they would face them together.
Natalie fell on the couch in the parlor after unloading the ice chest and checking on the propane for the stove and refrigerator. They had plenty. Adeline’s original refrigerator was in the garage, but no one had mentioned swapping them out since the electricity was turned on.
Adeline had to be exhausted. Natalie kicked her feet up on the coffee table and recalled the day’s events. A great lunch, wonderful company, and Levi and Mary were engaged. Amid those happy thoughts, she wondered if Adeline would be around to see the wedding. The Amish almost always married in the fall after the harvest. It was August.
“I feel better after my bath.” Adeline tightened the belt of her pink robe as she walked into the parlor. “I bet Levi was glad to go home. He stayed here three nights.”
“I’m sure he didn’t mind.” Natalie yawned. Levi’s schedule wasn’t as rigid as hers and Mary’s since he worked on his parents’ farm. Natalie and Mary had predetermined hours even though Mary worked part time. Mary had left when Levi did, each going in different directions. “It was a good day today. And Levi and Mary are going to get married.”
“Yes, and that makes me very happy.” Adeline’s gray hair was pulled back by a pink headband, just enough to keep it out of her face. She opened a white jar and started dabbing her face with white cream. “This is what you have to look forward to when you get to be my age.” She stopped, stared at the container, and put the lid back on. Only one side of her face had tiny dollops of white. She hastily rubbed them in and pulled the band from her head. “Why bother?” She looked at Natalie and chuckled.
Natalie didn’t understand how she could be so nonchalant about dying. “Aren’t you scared, Adeline?”
“About dying?”
Natalie nodded. “Yeah. The whole thing terrifies me. I mean, I believe in God, and I believe in heaven, but it still scares me.”
“I’m not afraid of dying.” She held Natalie’s gaze. “I’ll be going home and Percy will be there. Only two things worry me . . .”
Natalie pulled her legs from the coffee table and tucked them underneath her. “What?”
“First, I worry that you kids have bitten off more than you can chew when it comes to being my caregivers. I am beyond grateful. It would have been horrible to die in that hospital. But please promise me that if I become too much of a burden for the three of you, you will put me somewhere, whether it’s a hospital or hospice. I don’t have a lot of money, but there is enough to keep me in hospice, along with my Social Security checks. I worry that you won’t be strong enough to make that choice.”
“You’re not going to be a burden to us, but if you need to scratch it off your worry list, then okay, I promise.” Natalie was sure they’d never put Adeline anywhere unless they were jeopardizing her health further by not doing so.
“And the second thing is this.” She sighed. “I have been reading the information the hospital sent to me. My condition can cause terrible moodiness, along with the confusion, memory loss, and ultimately not being able to walk. It’s likely that all of these things will happen. What’s going to happen when I can’t control my bodily functions? Have you thought about that? Changing my diapers?” She shivered, then wrapped herself in a hug. “I hope I’m too far gone mentally to have to see that. I will likely pass on with very little dignity intact. I just think that maybe none of us thought this through all the way.”
Natalie had thought of all those things. “Adeline, I took care of my Mimi Jean when she was really sick. My mom and I did it in shifts. It was different because her mind was intact, but I bathed her, changed her diapers, and took care of whatever she needed while I was there. We love you. We don’t want anyone else doing those things. And you will be with us when you pass, so there will be no indignity about it. Please scratch that off your worry list too.” She smiled a little. “And by the way, you’re leaving all kinds of legacies. That chicken I made tonight—your recipe—it will live on forever because that was the best chicken I’ve ever had.”
Adeline smiled. “My grandmother’s recipe.” She tapped Natalie’s knee. “Now, young lady, I’m off to bed.” She stood and pointed a finger at Natalie. “You should do the same. It was a long but wonderful day.”
“Yeah, I will soon.”
Adeline blew her a kiss, and Natalie blew one back. Then she found her cell phone in her purse. One missed call. She walked into the kitchen where Adeline couldn’t hear her conversation. She hadn’t told anyone she was having a phone relationship, of sorts. She wasn’t sure how Levi would feel knowing Natalie and Lucas talked for hours every night. Levi didn’t even know Lucas had a cell phone. Nor did Levi or anyone else see Lucas slip Natalie his phone number after supper the night she and Mary visited.
She looked forward to their nightly talks. It kept her mind off Adeline dying, her father and Olive Oil moving, and her mother’s constant nagging.
“Hey, it’s me,” she said softly when he answered.
Natalie wouldn’t be going to bed anytime soon.