Lanie got five minutes up the road when it dawned on her—Jane had left everything in the back of the buggy, including the drawstring bag where she kept her money. Instead of turning around and taking it directly back, she pulled the buggy off the road and jumped out.
After she had a careful look up and down the quiet country road to make sure no traffic was coming, she opened the back. The drawstring bag lay on the top of the paper shopping bags. Lanie knew it was wrong to look inside, but it could contain some answers to the many questions she had about Jane and Matt.
There could be a secret note, or some kind of letter that had passed between them.
Matt had confessed he loved Jane, but Jane acted as though he was nothing but a friend. Why wouldn’t Jane love him? It didn’t make sense. There had to be a logical answer since both Jane and Matt seemed such logical people.
She took a big gulp as she took hold of the bag.
I’m doing this for Mary-Lee, she told herself.
Mary-Lee needed a father. If she knew how Jane really felt, it could help her find a way into Matt’s heart. Once she pulled the opening of the bag apart, all she saw was some bills neatly folded, and a few coins at the bottom
Lanie promptly pulled the strings of the bag closed.
She was none the wiser.
When Sadie and Jane were seated with hot tea in the living room, Sadie had an announcement to make. “One thing I do have to tell you before I forget is that Matt has arranged for Abigail and Marcy to come for dinner on Thursday night.”
“Oh! That's already tomorrow night.”
“That’s right. He drove me out to Marcy’s place to invite them both.”
“And Lanie comes to dinner on her own, next Monday. No wait, that was your idea. It was his idea for me to spend time with her alone today. He never mentioned us having dinner with Lanie, though.” She stared at Sadie. “Do you think he prefers Lanie?”
Sadie took a sip of hot tea. “It’s hard to say.”
“It’s just strange that she’s the only one he didn’t suggest come here for dinner.”
“Not really. I think you’re reading too much into it. The twins would naturally come for dinner together because they’re twins. Marcy and Abigail are cousins.”
“Maybe.” That made Jane feel a bit better.
“He’s given you an impossible task. I do have to apologize, Jane. I had no idea he was planning all this. You know why I thought you were invited here.”
Jane giggled to cover up that it was the exact reason she thought she had come, too. “We’ll get through it.”
“Jah, and it’ll be Christmas in no time. It’s my favorite time of year.”
Jane smiled. It used to be hers too as a child, but after so many lonely Christmases, she’d come to dread that time of year. It only reminded her she had no husband to love and no husband to love her in return. “He said he wants to be married by this Christmas.”
Sadie frowned and set her cup onto the saucer. “That’s only weeks away. I can’t see it happening. Can you?”
Jane shook her head. “I haven’t really given it much thought. I’ve been too busy trying to work out the woman best suited to him.”
Mr. Grover sauntered into the room and jumped on Sadie’s lap. “Mind the tea,” Sadie told him.
“He must be good company for you.”
“He is. Maybe you could get a cat.”
Jane sighed inside. “Perhaps.” Even Sadie thought she’d be single forever with only a cat to keep her company and share her home. Perhaps she should give up on Matt, go home and get herself a cat. At least getting a pet was something within her control. Having Matt fall in love with her was now beyond all reasonable expectations.
“So, what were your impressions of Lanie today? Ach, I feel dreadful asking you that, but I’m sure Matt will be asking you soon enough.”
“She’s very nice, just how I remembered her. It must’ve been so hard when her husband died.”
“It was expected. He’d always been ill.”
“I know, but they didn’t know when the time would come. He could’ve lived longer. They knew all along she might be left alone to raise their kinner. It wasn’t a surprise, I know, not really. Still, it’s not easy for her. Now she’s got a child to raise alone.”
“She has her mudder to help. Every time I see Lanie lately, Mary-Lee is nowhere around. She’s always got the child at her mudder’s. Seems to me that it’s Elsie who’s raising the child and not Lanie.” Sadie slurped her tea.
“Lanie is fortunate to have her help.”
“Is it helping her, though? Shouldn’t she be made to look after her own child?”
Jane took a sip of tea trying to figure out what Sadie was getting at. “Do you know something about Lanie that I don’t?”
“Nee, nothing. I just think that she’s got it easier than people think. Everyone’s feeling sad and sorry for her, but she has many advantages that other people don’t. She’s not too badly off.”
Reading between the lines, Jane figured that Sadie didn’t really like Lanie. That was surprising because Jane would’ve thought everyone would like Lanie with her easy-going manner and ready smile.
When they heard a buggy, Jane jumped up. “I hope that’s Lanie.” She opened the door to see that it was indeed Lanie. Jane continued down the steps to the buggy.
“I got halfway to my mudder’s and I remembered you didn’t get the food.”
“I know. I remembered when you had barely left, but it was too late.”
The two women giggled and then Jane pulled the bags out of the back. Lanie was right by her side to help her carry the bags into the house.
“Hello, Mrs. Yoder, I’m back again.” Lanie giggled.
Mrs. Yoder stood. “Do you have time for hot tea? It’s ready.”
“Nee, denke. I’ll have to get my dochder back from my mudder.”
“Okay.”
Lanie continued to the kitchen with Jane and placed the food on the table. “Is everything okay with Sadie?”
“Jah, why?”
“Oh nothing. I just thought she looked very tired. If it’s too much for her having you stay here, you can always stay with me.”
“I don’t think she’s tired. I’m helping her with everything as much as I can.”
“I know, but you know how old people can be. They think they can do it all until they can’t.”
“Denke, for the offer, Lanie. I’ll give it some serious thought. Perhaps I’ll ask Sadie what she thinks.”
“Nee, don’t do that. It’ll embarrass her. She’ll never admit to visitors being too much for her.”
“Jah, maybe you’re right. I’ll think about it.”
“I’d love it if you stayed with me. It’d be so much fun.”
Jane smiled, feeling good that she had the offer. Although, she’d much rather stay with Sadie. “I’ll give it some thought.”
“I hope you do.”