The next day, Jessica arrived to talk to Jane. While Sadie entertained her two granddaughters in the living room, Jane and Jessica sat in the kitchen having a serious conversation over coffee.
“Forget everything about feelings and such. What you've got to do is tell him it’s over,” Jessica told Jane regarding Isaac.
“It’s hard. I like him as a person. But I don’t think I’d be happy living with him. He’s too bossy and angry.”
“You want Matt, right?”
“Jah, always have.”
“Let’s think about this. He sees you as a friend, right?”
Jane nodded. “Most definitely.”
“How has he reacted when Isaac came here?”
Jane thought about his reaction. “He doesn’t like it.”
“Hmm. He’s jealous. What you’ve got to do is make out you’re as popular as he is.”
“Ach, I couldn’t do it. No one would ever believe it.”
Jessica laughed. “All you need is for Matt to believe it. Now, he had five women he was considering …”
“Only three now.”
“Whatever. So what you need is to pretend there are a few men wanting to marry you.”
Jane giggled at the thought. “Would he ever believe it?”
“Ach Jah! You're beautiful, Jane, and such a nice person. I’m surprised you’re not married by now but that’s only because you never got over Matt.”
Jane thought about what Jessica was asking her to do. “I can't do that. It would be a lie.”
“Nee, it wouldn't. You've got Isaac who’s interested in you, even asked you to marry him, and surely there’s someone else you might be interested back in your community.”
“Not really.”
“Think hard. How many single men are there?”
“Well, of all the ones over twenty-five, who are anywhere near my age, there would be three unmarried and I'm not counting all the old, old men.”
Jessica wasn’t about to give up. “Out of those you mentioned, who would be the best one?”
“I guess that would be Kevin Perdy.”
“Perfect and if you were interested in him, do you think he would be interested in you?”
“I guess so. Jah, I think he would be.”
“So tell Matt you have two men you’re choosing between. He’ll believe it because one even chased you over here.”
Jane considered it, and then shook her head. She’d never been comfortable with lying. “It's stretching the truth and it doesn't sit well with me. I feel I would be deceiving him and I don't want to do that.”
“Neither do I, but we need him to see that you have options as well and you’re not just his 'single friend with no hope' he's asking advice from. We need him to see you as a possible choice.”
It still bothered Jane that she wasn’t his only choice, and that was the way things should’ve been. “I don’t know if I could do it. He’d know I was lying. I mean, how would I tell him about this fake other man? How would that come up in conversation?”
“Tell him … tell him that you like his idea and you also have decided to marry before this Christmas.”
Jane put her hand over her mouth and giggled. Her friend always made her feel better. “You’re so funny, Jessica.”
“Hey, there’s nothing funny about it. Do you want him or not?”
“I do, but I want him to want me.”
Jessica banged her fist on the table causing Jane to jump. “That’s just your ego talking. You want him, yet you want it to be how you always pictured it. Well it’s never going to be how you pictured it, is it? Otherwise, you would’ve been married to him ten years ago!”
She stared at Jessica and realized she was right. “I do want him no matter what.”
“Good. Now, do exactly what I say.”
By this time, Jane was willing to do anything to be happily married to Matt.
That night when Matt came for dinner, Sadie disappeared from the kitchen saying she was having an early night. Of course, Jane had asked Sadie to do just that.
“I hope Mamm’s all right. She’s not sick or anything, is she?” Matt asked.
“Nee. She didn’t sleep well last night, so she’s just catching up on some sleep.”
“Ah, good.”
“I need to ask you something, Matt.”
He smiled. “Sounds serious.”
“It is. When you make your choice, could you spare some time to do the same for me?”
His eyebrows drew together. “What’s that?”
“Come and visit my community, and help me choose a man.”
His mouth opened but no words came out. Eventually, he said, “You want to get married?”
“Of course I do.”
“I just thought that you …”
“I don’t have as many as you to choose from. I only have two men who want to marry me. It’s so difficult to choose, that’s why I stayed to help you. I understand how daunting it can be. I had more than two, but I’ve ruled out the others and I’m down to two.”
“I do appreciate it. Jah, I’ll do whatever I can to help you like you’ve done for me.”
“Just wait until next year. After you’re married. You and your fraa can stay with my neighbors. They’re good friends of mine.”
His mouth twitched at the corners. “Tell me about these men.”
“Oh, there’s nothing much to tell. Both so nice, so hard working. They’re both more than I could ever have asked for. Gott has blessed me. Isaac is one of them.”
Slowly, he nodded. “You’ve never married or talked about being married until now. And at your age… well, I thought you would’ve married by now if you wanted that life.”
“I guess we’ve never discussed that part of our lives.” A giggle escaped her lips. “I’m not sure why.”
“Me neither.”
“It’s up to you of course, but I think Marcy is the one who suits you perfectly fine. She’s fun and lively and I’ve heard she’s such a good cook.”
“Marcy?”
Jane nodded enthusiastically.
“That’s funny. I thought you would’ve chosen someone else.”
“Nee. Marcy. The younger the woman the more likely you’ll be to have loads of kinner. She’s not the youngest, but I still think she suits you fine.”
He frowned. “I’m not choosing a woman based on how many children she can give me.”
“Marry someone my age and you won’t have as many.”
He rubbed his jaw. “I never thought of that.”
“Well, you have to think of these things. It’s only being practical.”
“I’m happy with whatever number of kinner Gott decides to give me.”
She nodded, pleased with that answer.
“What about love, though?” he asked.
“Love?”
A smile lit up his face. “Jah.”
“I can’t help you with that part. Only you know the true feelings in your heart. There’s no way I can tell you what you feel.”
He drew in a deep breath. “I’ve got a lot of thinking to do.”
“I hope I’m not putting you under too much pressure with helping me choose a husband?”
“Nee. Not at all. I’ll look forward to it.”
Jane smiled as though she didn’t have a care in the world. “Kaffe?”
“Jah, please.” As Jane got up to make the coffee, he said, “I know you’ve got Isaac here to see you, but could you spare the day with me tomorrow?”
“Okay. I explained to Isaac I was here to help you with something—he doesn't know what it is. He’s okay with only getting small bits of my time.”
“Good.”
As she filled the teakettle, she glanced over at him. He was looking down at the table, deep in thought as he traced and retraced the wood grain with a fingertip.