“It is.”
He smiled and looked back at the road. “Tell me where I’m going. I want to go somewhere we won’t be interrupted by people you know.”
“I should’ve packed us a picnic and we could’ve eaten it in the park.”
“Perfect, a picnic.”
“But it’s too late for that, unless you want to go back to Sadie’s.”
“Nee. We can get takeout burgers and fries and sit in the park.”
It seemed to Jane that he liked burgers and fries. That was what they’d had the day before. “That sounds wunderbaar. I know the perfect place to get food like that and there’s a park by the river a two minute drive from there.” What she didn’t tell Isaac was that Matt’s produce store was close to the fast food burger restaurant.
When they drove past it twenty minutes later, she had a good look and saw Matt’s horse and buggy out behind the building. If only she was spending the day with Matt and not her uptight neighbor from back home. Still, she was prepared to give Isaac a chance. It was the least she could do after he’d come all that way to see her. He'd gone to so much trouble.
They drove through the drive-through, one of only two in the district that could fit a horse and buggy.
Once they had their food, they continued on to the picnic area.
Isaac found a blanket in the back of the buggy and they spread it out and then placed all their food on it. “The only thing that ruins this day is that it’s so chilly.”
“It’s not too bad. I don’t mind the cold.”
“Well, you can’t feel it like I do if you say you don’t mind it.”
“That might be right. I could have a higher internal temperature than other people.” Or it could’ve been the double layers of thermal underwear she always wore under her dresses in the wintertime, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.
He tilted his face to the sky. “It’s miserable.”
She looked up at the dark gray sky that was scattered with clouds. “It’s not. I have to disagree. It’s a beautiful blue gray, such lovely tones. Gott is an artist, don’t you think so? Look at all the different colors and hues. Then He breathed in deeply, and slowly, calmly, blew the clouds across the sky.”
He looked up with his mouth open. “You’re right, Jane. It is pretty spectacular. I never stopped to admire the sky, not the way you did just now.”
“I always look for beauty everywhere. There’s beauty in all things. We just have to know how to see it.”
“When I’m looking at you, I don’t have to learn how to see it.”
She giggled at him being so corny. He was trying hard to give her a compliment. “Denke, Isaac. That’s a lovely thing to say.”
“It’s true. You are a true beauty, Jane, inside and out.”
She looked down and blushed.
“Now, let’s eat.” He was quickly distracted by the food, but Jane was pleased he’d taken the time to say nice things to her. She seldom heard such things. He unwrapped her burger and then his. “I know this is not grand, and you deserve a better meal than this, but …”
“Nee. It’s perfect.”
He smiled and then bit into his burger.
Jane continued, “It’s perfect to be among nature and the trees with the water just over there. It’s nicer than sitting in a building to eat. I’ve been to a few restaurants before and it’s not as good as eating in the outdoors or in someone’s home.”
“Mm, I’m with you there. I’d much rather eat and have fellowship in a brother’s home.”
Jane didn’t think she could take a bite without making a mess, so she ripped off some of the burger with the bun and popped it into her mouth.
“You must miss Rosalee,” Jane said when she had finished her mouthful.
“I do. Every minute I’m away from her.”
“I’m missing her too,” said Jane. “I’m used to seeing her every evening when I get home.”
“I’m sorry about that. You get home when I’m finishing off the milking. I’ve told her to stay indoors and leave you be.”
“I’ve told you that’s fine. I enjoy our talks. Where is she staying?”
“With her grossmammi.”
“Jah, that’s right. You told me that. That’s good. They’ll have fun together.”
“I wrote to her as soon as I got here. I told her what it was like and about the trip on the Greyhound. She’s never been on a Greyhound bus before.”
“You’ll have so much to tell her when you get home.”
He smiled at her. “Do you think so?”
As soon as she realized he had taken what she said the wrong way, she didn’t know what to do. All she could do was nod politely.
When they had finished their food, he tossed their rubbish into the trashcan and then folded up the blanket and they walked back to the buggy where he carefully replaced the blanket. “Would you like to go for a walk?”
“I was just going to suggest that.”
“Good. We think alike, and I agree with you now.”
She looked over at him. “What about?”
“It is a beautiful day even if it is a little cold and gray.”
“I'm glad you think so. What a boring world it would be if we had sunshine or rainbows every day. We need the dark and we need the light to shine in the dark.” Jane laughed at her own words.
“You make me happy, Jane. I want that for myself and Rosalee. Even just the few minutes she’s with you of an evening has enriched her life.”
His words made her feel good and she knew he was speaking from his heart. She was glad she could be a good presence in someone’s life. “I hope so.”
“She misses having a mother like all her friends, and I'm sure the time spent with you makes up for that in some way.”
“Thank you. That's a lovely thing to say.”
“You remind me of her.”
Now things were getting a little awkward. “Oh, I didn't know.”
“It's not a bad thing. In fact, it could be seen as a good thing.”
“Um, yes it could be a good thing. That's how I took it to be.”
“I hope you've given some thought to the question I asked you before.”
Jane nodded. “I have. I've been giving it some serious thought.”
“You don't have to give me your answer just yet. I know you wouldn’t have had much time to think about it.”
“Good.” Jane was longing to get back to Sadie’s place.
“I'm a patient man. I can wait.”
“It's good to know.”
“I don't want to wait too long.”
Jane stopped walking and looked at him. “I don’t understand. You just said you were patient.”
“Are you patient?” he asked.
“I am.”
“Jane, I love—”
“Don’t say it,” Jane blurted out before she started walking quickly to the water.
He followed after her. “I do.”
Jane had never been more uncomfortable. She threw a quick glance over her shoulder hoping no one was around to see them walking together, and misinterpret their relationship.
At that moment, the wind swept up and he looked up into the sky. “I think it's going to rain. Look how those rain clouds have come over.”
“Nee, I don't think it's going to rain.” As she too looked up in the sky, little sprinkles fell on her nose and cheeks. “Oh, I think that was rain.”
“Let’s go.” He grabbed her arm, swiveling her toward the buggy. Then he walked with her, fast. “I dislike getting caught out in the rain, and it happens to me so often. And it's so easy for me to catch a cold.”
“I'm used to the weather around these parts. It's not going to end up in a storm or anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I think it's just those few little sprinkles and that will be it. It could rain later tonight. This time of year, it doesn't usually rain in the afternoon.”
“I'll have to take your word on that.” He slowed his pace and let go of her arm, while he asked, “Are you cold?”
“I'm fine.”
“Because if you're cold I could take my coat off and give it to you.”
She giggled. “You've only just finished telling me that you catch colds easily.”
“I'll be fine,” he growled.
“I just don't want you to be uncomfortable.”
“I'm truly okay.”
Just as she was about to suggest they turn back, the sky grew darker and the heavens opened, and the rain pour down. He grabbed her and pulled her under a tree, but it wasn’t much shelter from the rain. It was still pouring through the branches.
“We’ll have to head back to the buggy.” He took off his coat and made a shelter over both of them as they made a dash back to the buggy.
Jane had realized their walk had taken them so far.
When they eventually got back into the buggy, he wiped the water off his face. “I'm drenched.”
“Me too,” she said taking off her black over-bonnet, which was thoroughly soaked by now.
He looked at her with a sour face. “You told me it wouldn't rain like that.”
“I didn't think it would. It's not the typical weather pattern here.”
He took hold of the reins. “Time to head back, and I just hope I don’t catch a cold.”
“Maybe there are towels in the buggy somewhere so we can dry off.”
“Nee, they only had the blanket. What did you think, they keep towels in the buggy in case they want to go for a swim?”
She knew he was upset over being caught in the rain, but did he have to be so sarcastic towards her? She remained silent, regretting having said it wouldn't rain. The buggy was an old one and didn't have a heater in it so by the time they got to Sadie's house, they were both shivering from being in their damp clothes.
“Do you want to stop here and see if Sadie might have some of Matt's or her other sons’ clothes tucked away somewhere? It's another fifteen to twenty minutes to the bishop's house.”
“I'll be fine. Forgive me if I don't get out and walk you into the house, Jane.”
“That's quite alright. Are you sure you won't —”
“Just get out of the buggy, Jane,” he said through gritted teeth.
Jane was taken aback and quickly got out of the buggy and because it was still raining, she ran to the house.
Sadie opened the door and looked horrified. “Jane! You're all wet.”
Jane burst out crying and fell into Sadie’s outstretched arms. She sobbed on Sadie’s shoulder for what felt like a good five minutes.
“Whatever is the matter?” Sadie eventually asked. “Let's get you out of these wet clothes, shall we?”
“I'll change. Oh dear, I’m sorry, now I’ve made you all wet too.”
“It’s okay.” Sadie walked to the cupboard and pulled out a large fluffy towel. “Dry yourself, get out of those wet clothes, and I'll heat you up some soup.”
“Denke, Sadie,” Jane sniffled. She’d had a terrible day. She had tried to talk herself into liking Isaac, but he had shown underlying anger the whole time.
After Jane took off her wet clothes, she arranged them on a hanger and hung them by the window to dry. Then she dried herself with a towel and pulled on some dry clothes. Her hair and prayer kapp were dry, thanks to her over-bonnet that had absorbed most of the water.
Once she had pushed her dry-stockinged feet into a pair of dry shoes, she collected her wet apron and stockings, and headed out the door to find Sadie in the living room.
“Where shall I put these, Sadie?”
Sadie jumped to her feet. “I’ll take them from you. You sit in front of the fire. I’ll put these in the laundry room and we can worry about them tomorrow.”
Jane moved to warm herself in front of the crackling fire. It was nice to be all warm and toasty again.
In a minute, Sadie was back with a bowl of steaming pea and ham soup.
“This was to be for dinner. It still can be if you don’t mind eating it again tonight.”
“Oh, I love pea and ham soup. My mudder used to make it all the time.”
When Jane had eaten the last spoonful, she became aware that Sadie had been watching her the whole time. Jane cleared her throat. “I suppose you’re wondering why I was upset.”
“Because you were soaked through to the skin?”
Jane shook her head. “Nee. It was because of Isaac. He wasn’t very nice. He seemed angry all the time. He said things that weren’t very nice. And don’t ask me what, because it was nothing in particular.”
“That’s okay you don’t have to explain anything. Men can be difficult sometimes.”
Jane sighed. “Then he said some nice things too. Some lovely things about me. Oh, I shouldn’t have said such mean things about him. He came all this way for me so I thought I should give him a chance. He seems so different when he’s at home.” Jane wiped a tear from her eye as a mixture of emotions swam in her head.
“I’m sorry, Jane. It can’t be easy for you.” Sadie leaned forward. “What did he do to upset you?”
“Nothing. Everything. Not much, really.” She shook her head. “Ach. Denke for the soup. It was lovely.”
“So, you won’t be marrying him?”
“Nee. I won’t. Today has made that quite clear to me.”
“Have you told him that yet?”
Jane opened her mouth, and then realized she should’ve told him. Although, she couldn't see when, given the rain and his stressed-out behavior. “I guess I’ve got a lot to think about,” Jane mumbled as she looked into the flames of the fire.
“Maybe you need to talk to a friend? What if I see if Jessica can stop by tomorrow?”
“Jah. I’d love that. Denke.”
Even the thought of telling Isaac ‘no’ made her feel uncomfortable, she didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
Also ... she needed someone to marry when Matt married someone else, didn’t she?