It was close to eleven at night. Late, even for Ben, to still be out.
Sipping another cup of decaf, Jay tried not to watch the kitchen clock tick but he seemed unable to do anything else. Ben and Tricia had been together for hours now, ever since they’d left Emma’s house after their disastrous lunch—and Beverly’s rather insensitive comments.
Tricia’s reaction had surprised them all. It had been obvious that Beverly had been insensitive but not malicious. However, when the tears came, Jay had felt awful. Young ladies in love had tender hearts and it was a good thing to remember that and tread softly.
When Jay had seen Ben go still and his expression turn hard, he’d known Ben had been just as unhappy about Beverly’s words. Jay knew his eldest well; Ben was used to taking on the needs and worries of his younger brothers. Was he now trying to make Tricia feel better, too?
“Evelyn, I could sure use some help, here. What would you say if you were here?” he asked the empty room. He tensed, half hoping that her soft, sweet voice would come floating through the room, offering words of wisdom from up in heaven. But of course he heard nothing. Disappointment coursed through him, making him feel even more helpless. It was times like this, when there was no one to bounce ideas off of, that he missed his wife the most. Only the boys’ mother would understand what Ben needed from Jay right now.
Then he recalled how Evelyn had dealt with almost any conflict in the family. She’d been patient. Content to wait. Content to let others shine.
“I guess that’s my answer then,” he murmured. “I’ll wait and be patient and try not to meddle. Danke, Ev.”
“Who are ya talking to?” Mark asked as he wandered in. He had on an old pair of cotton plaid pajama bottoms, slippers, and a white T-shirt. The outfit made him look both like the towheaded eight-year-old boy he used to be and the man he was on the verge of becoming.
“Your mamm,” he said after weighing his answer.
“Really?” Mark raised his eyebrows. “Did she answer you?”
“Nee.” He smiled weakly. “I’m afraid you caught me at something I like to do from time to time. I ask Evelyn questions and hope she’ll tell me what to do. But she never says a word.”
“That sounds like Mamm,” Mark said as he pulled out a chair and sat next to Jay. “I don’t know how she did it, but Mamm could get Ben and me to do most anything without saying a word. And admit to anything we did wrong, too.” He shifted, then leaned his chair back on two legs, balancing on them. “It was uncanny.”
Jay opened his mouth to tell Mark to stop rocking on those back chair legs but then he decided to ignore it. His middle boy had taken to rocking in his chairs from the moment his legs were long enough to reach the ground.
Instead, Jay watched Mark’s face as he said, “But not William?”
“William is the baby. Mamm let him get away with everything.”
That was true. But Jay liked to think that maybe his frau had known she wasn’t going to be around for much of William’s life. She’d used their time together to give him love and attention.
“So, what are you still doing up, Daed? Besides talking to Mamm, I mean. Are you waiting up for Ben?” Mark asked.
“Jah.” There was no reason to pretend he wasn’t.
Mark looked at the clock above the oven. “Ben doesn’t have a curfew anymore.”
“You’re right. He doesn’t.”
“So, why are you waiting? Are you worried about him?”
“I know he’s old enough to take care of himself.” Jay shrugged. “But I guess some habits are hard to change.”
“Jah.”
As the quiet settled around them again, Jay studied his middle son. From the time he was born, Mark had been his easygoing child. He was generally the most agreeable and even-tempered. But because of that, he was also the one Jay was always a bit in the dark about.
“Mark, how are you adjusting to being here? Do you wish you were back in Charm?”
“Sometimes. I miss my friends.”
Glad that Mark was being forthright, he nodded. “Jah. It’s hard making new friends here, I bet. Seeing that you are out of school.” Before they’d moved, Jay had worried about Mark feeling lost and alone. He’d even told Mark he could attend high school here for a year or two if he wanted. It wasn’t the norm, of course—most Amish stopped school after eighth grade—but most Amish boys didn’t lose their mothers and move across the country, either. Mark had also been an excellent student. He’d loved to study history. Jay had thought letting Mark concentrate on his studies might also help him recover from his grief. But Mark hadn’t even considered it. Maybe he was having regrets now? “Do you want to think about going to the public high school? You might enjoy it.”
“I’m needed here on the farm, Daed. You, me, and Ben have more work than we can keep up with, especially because of all the rules and regulations about keeping things organic.”
“I’d rather hire some help than see you unhappy.”
“I’m not unhappy. I mean, not yet. My buddies from Charm will be out in November and I talk to them on the phone once a week. Plus, I’m meeting people. I played basketball with some guys at Pinecraft Park last week.”
“All right.”
Mark rocked back again, making the chair’s legs squeak their disfavor.
“You’re going to break that chair before long,” Jay finally said.
“That’s what you told me three years ago.”
“If you break it, I’m gonna make you pay to get it fixed.”
Mark smiled. “You told me that three years ago, too.”
“As long as you remember,” he warned.
“I’ll pay to get it fixed if I break the chair. Which I won’t.” He rocked back again. “Hey, Daed?”
“Jah?”
“Do you think Ben and Tricia are serious?”
“It sure looks that way.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“I think I need to be. Ben’s old enough to make his own decisions. He won’t thank me for interfering.”
Mark seemed to stew on that for a moment. Then he blurted, “So you think she’s the girl for him?”
Jay thought she might be, but he knew Ben wouldn’t appreciate his father speculating about his love life. “I don’t know if Tricia is or isn’t. Only Ben can answer that one.”
“She’s funny. Remember last week when she decided to make us supper?”
“I do. Macaroni and cheese and hamburger patties.” He smiled. It had been a simple meal, but tasty, too. William had asked for seconds.
“She made the mac and cheese from scratch. It was gut.”
“It was.” Unable to resist, he added, “Of course, our Ben made sure we knew that.”
“Oh, yeah, he did. Like eight times.”
“Mark, it wasn’t that many. Probably only seven.”
They were chuckling as the kitchen door opened and Ben stepped inside. Jay could tell Ben was startled to see them.
“Hey,” he said. “What are you two doing down here? I thought you’d be asleep.”
“I was just sipping a last cup of coffee when Mark came downstairs. We started talking.”
“Oh.” Ben’s eyes strayed to the doorway and the stairs beyond. Jay knew his eldest would like nothing better than to dart out of the kitchen and escape their company. But tomorrow’s focus would be the farm and all of the tasks that needed to be taken care of, and Jay knew he wasn’t going to be able to concentrate on any of that until he knew his eldest was all right.
“So . . . were you with Tricia this whole time?”
“Jah.” His cheeks flushed.
That took Jay by surprise. Ben was not a blusher. He was forthright and confident.
“Is she okay? I noticed she was a little upset with her aunt.”
“She’s fine.”
“Oh. Gut.” A dozen other questions were on the tip of his tongue, but for the life of him, he couldn’t imagine that any of them would be well received, especially not in front of Mark.
Luckily, Mark was not nearly so hesitant. “What did you two do? Where did you go?”
Ben sighed, pulled out a chair one-handed, and joined them. “I guess you two aren’t going to let me go up to my room without being grilled.”
“I was hardly grilling you, Ben,” Jay said. However, Ben was right. He did want some answers.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to share.” Mark’s grin turned sly.
Ben glared. “We went over by the river. To talk,” he said with a meaningful glare at his brother. “We did nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“Of course not,” Jay murmured.
After taking a deep breath, Ben added, “I asked Tricia to marry me tonight.”
“No way,” Mark said.
“Way.” Ben lifted his chin. “And just so you know, Tricia said yes. We’re engaged. Tricia Overholt is going to be my wife.”
Mark’s chair legs slammed to the floor and then, at last, one of the back legs cracked and gave way. With a bark of surprise, Mark jumped to his feet as the chair clattered to the floor.
Ben shook his head. “Looks like after three years of warnings, you finally broke that chair.”
“Sorry, Daed,” Mark said quickly. “I’ll, um, get it fixed.”
At the moment, Jay wouldn’t have cared if the chair had broken into a dozen pieces. All he could think about was Ben’s proposal . . . and the way he was so sure and certain about it. He was happy for his son but couldn’t help but be worried, too. The last thing he wanted was for Ben to be jumping feetfirst into a situation he wasn’t ready for.
Needing another second to gather his thoughts, he focused on the chair. “I’m not upset, Mark. I know you’ll get it fixed. As a matter of fact, I think Frank Kaufmann might be able to help you. He’s Zack Kauffman’s daed. I think you know Zack?”
“Jah, I know him. I’ll see him tomorrow,” Mark mumbled, staring at his brother. “Ben, did ya really propose?”
His brother waited a second, then nodded. “Jah. I can’t believe it.”
Jay had always known this day would come, but he’d imagined it would be one day far in the future. He’d also always imagined that he would have the right words to say. And, well, that he would be more prepared.
Therefore, he clung to Ben’s last words like the lifeline that they were. “You can’t believe it?” he asked hesitantly. “Does that mean you didn’t intend to ask Tricia to marry you?”
“Not at all. Tricia and I were sitting together, talking about her aunt Beverly. Then, next thing I know I’m telling her that I love her. Then she says that she loves me, too. And then . . .”
“And then . . . what?” Mark asked, leaning forward.
“And then I did it.”
Mark’s mouth was undoubtedly letting in flies, it was hanging so far open.
Jay could sympathize with him. It was something of a shock. But as he stared at his eldest, he saw something new in his expression. A contented happiness. And peace, too. He was happy about this. Really happy. “This is certainly big news,” he said at last, because Ben was staring at him, likely waiting for his father to say something of worth.
“Daed, that’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
“Nee. I’m simply trying to come up with the right words.” Jay was also wondering how much to react . . . or if Ben and Tricia had gotten so wrapped up in their romance that they had let the moment get to them.
But then he remembered how he’d just been asking for Evelyn for guidance and realized exactly how she would have reacted. She would have put Ben’s feelings first. Always, she put the boys’ needs first.
It was time he did the same.
“Congratulations, Ben. I’m so happy for you,” he said at last. “This is wonderful. Wunderbaar.” Standing up, he gave Ben a hug. “I love you and I hope you will be happy together. From what I know of Tricia, I think she’s a fine girl.”
“Danke,” Ben said.
“We’ll talk more in the morning, but for now I think it’s time I went to bed. Mark, move the chair out of the way.”
Mark silently did as he was asked. Then, just as Jay was halfway up the stairs, he heard the words he’d been waiting for from his middle son.
“I’m happy for ya,” Mark said. “Tricia’s really nice. And really pretty.”
“Jah. She is. Danke.”
Jay smiled to himself and as he climbed into bed he said a couple of prayers. Then, finally, he whispered into the dark, “You would have been mighty happy tonight, Evelyn. Our eldest is happy. God is very good.”
TRICIA WAS RELIEVED TO discover that the inn was quiet when she slipped in the back door. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss what had happened with Beverly. Or worse, discuss it within the hearing of one of the guests. Although she wasn’t eager to discuss what had happened earlier with Beverly, she couldn’t resist continually reliving every moment that she’d spent with Ben.
He loved her. He wanted to marry her.
He’d asked her to marry him!
And just as important, she’d wanted those things, too! In the span of a few hours she’d gone from unsure of her future to being engaged to a wonderful man.
The difference was truly miraculous.
She knew she was going to be spending quite a few hours that evening in prayer. She had so much to be thankful for. God had led her to Sarasota, to working at the inn instead of turning tail and running back home. He had brought Ben and his family to the inn, too.
He had given her so many blessings, in fact, that it was difficult to remember just how forlorn she’d felt when she’d first climbed on the Pioneer Trails bus. She’d truly thought that God had forgotten about her. Now she was ashamed that she’d had so little faith in His plan. But perhaps that was what she was supposed to learn—that sometimes she needed to remember that with faith, all things were possible.
After taking off her shoes and setting them by the back door, she filled a glass with water and headed to her room. Then stopped when she saw a light shining under her aunt’s door. Though she was tempted to tiptoe by, Tricia knew that her aunt deserved better than that. She’d taken her in when Tricia thought she’d had nobody. That overruled any hurt feelings she might have about Beverly not completely supporting her relationship with Ben.
With that in mind, she tapped lightly on the door. “Aunt Bev, I’m home.”
Almost immediately, the door opened. “Tricia, I’m so glad you stopped to tell me you were back,” she said as she reached out and gave her a warm hug. “I feared you were upset with me.”
“I was upset, but I’m better now.”
“Really?” Beverly searched her face. “I want you to know that I’m sorry for speaking my mind like I did. I shouldn’t have been so bold, especially not in front of Jay and Emma and their families.”
“It’s over now.”
Beverly sighed, obviously relieved. “Did you and Ben have a good night?”
“We did.” She debated the pros and cons of telling her aunt what had happened with Ben. It was true that she didn’t want any negative words ruining her moment. However, on the other hand, Tricia knew Aunt Beverly would have to know before she called to tell her parents the news. It would be best to get her announcement over with instead of worrying about how and when it was going to take place. “Something happened, Aunt Beverly.”
“Oh?” Her face looked impassive, like she was afraid to reveal too many of her thoughts. She patted the side of her bed. “Come sit beside me.”
Tricia hopped up on the side of the bed and curled her feet underneath her. Then she bit her lip.
“You can tell me anything, Tricia. You know that, yes?”
“I know.” Taking a deep breath, she said, “Ben asked me to marry him tonight and I said yes.”
Aunt Beverly froze. “Oh. Well, my goodness.”
Even though she knew her aunt was stunned, Tricia barreled on. “I know you’re surprised, and I understand that. But Aunt Bev, I’m really happy.”
Beverly smiled slightly. “Jah. I see that.”
“I love him.” Taking a deep breath, Tricia continued. “And don’t say I don’t know anything about love because I do. I know I love Ben Hilty. And I know this feels right. It feels as right as everything back in Walnut Creek felt wrong.”
When she noticed that tears were filling her aunt’s eyes, Tricia closed her own in frustration. Sliding off the side of the bed, she berated herself a dozen ways. She should have planned this announcement better. She should have thought more carefully about how to tell her aunt.
“I’m going to go to bed now. Good night,” she whispered.
“Tricia?”
It took everything she had to turn around and face her aunt. “Jah?”
“I’m happy for you.”
“That’s why you’re crying?”
“I’m crying because you’re happy. And because I am so very happy for you.” Scooting off the bed, she crossed the room and enfolded Tricia into a warm hug. “This is a wonderful-gut moment. I’m happy and excited, you sweet girl.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. My goodness! We will certainly have a lot to talk about tomorrow.”
“So much to talk about.” Unbidden, tears slid down Tricia’s cheeks. “This is the happiest night of my life,” she said.
“Jah, dear. Some moments are so beautiful, only tears can tell our joy.”
Tricia held those words close to her heart the rest of the night.