His New Amish Family Page 14

  “So you are going to move in with Charlotte?”

  “She has offered, and I’m hardly in a position to object. Apparently, Clyde is in favor of the idea, too. Juliet did not voice her opinion.”

  “That’s great. Charlotte is a little odd but she’s a wonderful person. You could do a lot worse. Would you like to take a walk with me?”

  The offhand tone of his voice belied the intensity in his eyes. She wanted to hear what he had to say. She wanted to get to know him better but was she risking a heartache?

  Chapter Ten

  Paul held his breath as he waited for Clara’s answer. Surrounded by his family and the happiness they all seemed to share, he became aware of how empty his own life seemed. His brother and all of his cousins were working to secure the future for their children and the children of others. How many good marriages had he seen in comparison to the one unhappy marriage that he remembered? He wondered if Clara’s marriage had been happy. Was she still in love with her husband?

  “I would love to see the inside of the covered bridge if you don’t mind showing it to me,” she said at last.

  He smiled with relief. “I’ll be happy to give you the tour.”

  Together they walked to the far side of the house and climbed up to the roadway. She paused. “Where does this road go?”

  “The river makes a hairpin bend not far from here. There are farms, both Amish and Englisch, inside the bend. This bridge is the only way in or out. Actually, there is a place where a horse and buggy can cross the river if the water is low but it’s seldom used. Our school sits inside the bend, as well. Timothy and Lillian both teach at the school.”

  “A man teaching school? A husband and wife both teaching? You have a very progressive congregation over here.”

  “I reckon that is true. We use a limited amount of solar energy. Some of our businesses use electricity from generators but no one is connected to the world by power lines.”

  She giggled. “I reckon you could say you are a wireless community.”

  He chuckled and started to relax. She didn’t seem uneasy in his company, and that gave him the courage to continue their walk.

  She glanced his way. “Tell me about your uncle’s business.”

  “My uncle builds high-end furniture. It’s sold in stores across several states. He has a business partner who is Englisch. He is the one who installed the computer for us and had a website built. He also pays for the upkeep of my uncle’s website. It’s a fine line we walk but our goal is to remain true to our Amish values and still provide employment for the young men and women in this area. Farming is becoming more difficult.”

  They entered the covered bridge. The sounds of the countryside became muted. He could hear the wind in the trees and the murmur of the water running under the bridge. It felt cozy and personal.

  “I know how difficult farming has become for many Amish. My husband was unable to purchase farmland in our community. He ended up going to work for a carpet-manufacturing business. It wasn’t ideal but it kept us fed. Eventually, he saved enough to start a part-time harness-making business.”

  “How did he die?” The Amish did not often talk about those that had passed on but he couldn’t stem his curiosity about Clara’s life and what made her who she was.

  “It was an industrial accident. There was an explosion and fire at the factory. Three men were killed, including Lawrence.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Danki, it was God’s will. I have learned to adjust because I had to.”

  “Why did you leave that community?”

  She didn’t seem to mind talking about herself. “Several reasons. There wasn’t employment for me. My mother sold her house to help pay for Sophie’s medical bills. She moved to Maryland with a friend. They are happy to be making quilts and exploring the beach. After Mamm left, I didn’t feel connected to the people there. I knew Sophie would need more medical care. Our community was a poor one. They were unable to raise the money needed for Sophie’s surgery. There were five children with severe genetic diseases in our church district alone. When my Uncle Eli wrote and invited me to stay with him, I was happy to come. I’m sure it must’ve been my mother’s idea. Some people thought Eli was a grumpy old fellow but he was truly a kind man to me and my children. I’m happy I got to spend many of his last days with him. What about you? Did you grow up here?”

  “Nee, like you, I am from Pennsylvania. My mother and stepfather still live there along with my five sisters.” His words echoed back from the darkness overhead.

  “Are you and Mark the only boys?”

  “We call each other brother but we are not related. My father died when I was six. My mother married Mark’s father a few years later.”

  “Do you remember your father? I often wonder how much Toby will remember about his daed.”

  “I recall vague things. He wasn’t a happy man. I don’t think my parents had a good marriage. At least not according to him. I do remember he said we were like two peas in a pod.” He stopped talking as an old memory surfaced. His mother scolding him for being just like his father. Never satisfied with what he had. Always looking for something better.

  It wasn’t that he was afraid to commit to a woman because she might not be what she seemed. He was the one who would never be satisfied.

  Clara glanced at Paul from the corner of her eye. “What are your plans after the farm sale?”

  They walked out into the sunshine on the other side. He drew a deep breath as he considered his answer. “I will pay back my brother and then the bank for the money I borrowed and invest the rest back into my business. Then I might sleep for a day or maybe go fishing.”

  “It has been ages since I’ve been fishing. You must go often with the river in your backyard.”

  He turned to the side and led the way to the narrow pedestrian walkway that ran the outside length of the bridge and started back across. It was easy to look over the railing and watch the water rolling beneath his feet.

  “Not as often as I should. Why haven’t you been fishing lately?”

  “You’ll laugh at me.”

  “I won’t.”

  “I know you and you will. You are always looking for an excuse to laugh at me.”

  “That’s not fair. I don’t need an excuse to laugh with you, not at you. Tell me the reason you haven’t been fishing.”

  “Forget I mentioned it.”

  “Now how can you say a thing like that? You know I can’t let it go. I’ll guess. You haven’t been fishing because you hate to touch worms.”

  “Don’t be silly. I don’t mind worms.”

  He leaned back a little. “You don’t have time because the children keep you too busy.”

  “They do keep me busy but that’s not the reason.”

  “You haven’t been fishing because you don’t own a fishing license.”

  “I don’t have a fishing license because I haven’t been fishing. I don’t see the point of paying for something I don’t need.”

  “I’ve eliminated a lot of things. Is it because you don’t own a fishing pole?”

  “Now you’re getting a little warmer.”

  “I know. You lost your bobber and you’re afraid you’ll never know if you have a fish on the line or not without it.”

  She chuckled. “Now you’re very warm.”

  “Not a lost pole, not a lost bobber. I think I have to give up.”

  “I don’t know how to put more line on my reel.”

  He sat forward to look at her more closely. “Are you serious?”

  “Toby was playing with the rod and reel and he pulled all of the line out and it broke. I don’t know how to put more line on it.”

  “It’s a closed reel, right?”

  “I guess. What other kinds are there? It has a compartment that the string goes
into when you crank.”

  “You take hold of the front part and you unscrew the cap.”

  “It unscrews?”

  He almost laughed at her shocked expression but he managed to keep a straight face. “Ja, the cap comes off and then you can see where to tie on the new string. Make sure you thread it through the hole in the cap before you tie it. Screw the cap back on and crank on your new line.”

  “Now I feel utterly foolish, and I give you permission to laugh at me.”

  He stopped walking and leaned on the railing to watch the water flowing underneath. “I don’t want to laugh at you. I respect you too much for that.”

  “Now you’re making me wonder where’s the catch?”

  “No catch. Can I ask you a personal question?”

  She dropped a leaf into the water. “You can ask. I may not answer.”

  “Fair enough. Was your marriage happy?”

  “I’m not sure how to judge happiness. Did I love my husband? I did. Was he a perfect man? He was not. He struggled with accepting Sophie’s condition. Especially after we learned that more of our children could be born with the disease. He believed God was punishing him. Instead of embracing the marvelous gifts God had given us, he withdrew from the children. I don’t think he meant to hurt them. I think he didn’t want to be hurt when he lost them.”

  “It explains Toby’s hero worship of me.”

  She chuckled. “I hoped that you hadn’t noticed.”

  “He sometimes resents Sophie for the attention she gets from you, and he feels guilty about it.”

  “I don’t know what I can do to change that.”

  “I’m sure you don’t feel like taking advice on child rearing from someone who’s never gone on more than three dates with anyone but I understand the need to have a parent’s attention. Find something that you and he can do together.”

  “Like fishing?”

  “That would be a wonderful starting place.”

  “How did you end up being an expert on children?”

  “It’s easy. I’m really just a big kid myself. My family will help you move to Charlotte’s place whenever you want.”

  They started walking again and soon left the bridge. “I don’t want to go but there is no reason to drag my feet. I will feel bad if you help me move and then must return all my things when it turns out that I do own the property.”

  He stopped to gaze at her. “We will all rejoice when that happens.”

  * * *

  On Monday, at least half the people who had attended the party showed up to help Clara pack up and move to Charlotte’s home. Her clothes, the children’s clothes and Sophie’s special canopy bed were all easy choices. The hard choices were the little things. Should she take the cookbook that had belonged to her grandmother or should it stay with the house? Her uncle’s desk was hard to part with, as was the couch in the living room.

  Clara sat down on the sofa and closed her eyes. “Are you all right?” Paul asked.

  She looked over to see him watching her with the worried expression. She was the one who worried about everyone else. It was nice to have someone worry about her. “I’m fine.”

  “You don’t look fine.”

  She ran her hands over the worn blue fabric. “This is where I read bible stories to my children every night. I have not lived here for that long but there are many good and tender memories here.”

  “Those you take with you. Ralph cannot sell memories. Have you heard from Opal Kauffman?”

  “Only that her father is holding his own.”

  “He is still not able to communicate?”

  “She says he is not. I can only pray that a few more weeks will make all the difference for him and for me.”

  “In the meantime, are there any of the books that belong to you?”

  She smiled. “They all belong to me. Eli did not like reading except for his farm journals.”

  “Of course I would pick the heavy task.”

  “Never fear, I shall help you.”

  As they worked side by side, Clara was struck by how natural it felt. She was more at ease with Paul than with any man she could remember.

  Charlotte was as excited as a small child on Christmas morning when Paul stopped the wagon in front of her house. She clapped her hands with delight. “I’m so glad you are here. I do hope you’ll be happy with Juliet, Clyde and me.”

  “I’m sure I will be. Let us put Sophie’s room together first since getting her lights set up and working are the priority.” It turned out to be easy enough. Samuel and Paul had the bed moved in without any trouble while Luke worked on a stepladder to secure the hooks in the ceiling that would hold the light canopy. The long lights were unpacked and installed one by one. Isaac and Mark set up the generator on the back porch, where the fumes wouldn’t be drawn into the house. When they started it, Clara held her breath as she flipped the switch and all the lights came on. A small cheer went around the room.

  “Ooh, they are so pretty.” Charlotte held her hands clasped beneath her chin.

  Clara and Paul shared a speaking glance as they both struggled not to laugh out loud.

  Paul’s smile faded as his expression grew serious. Clara looked away first. She recognized the look of longing in his eyes, and she didn’t know how to respond.

  * * *

  Two days later, Paul decided to see how Clara and the children were getting along with Charlotte. He had avoided seeing them sooner because he wanted to give them time to settle in and because he needed time to examine his changing feelings toward Clara. He was falling for the widow and her family but he wasn’t ready to admit it out loud.

  As he approached, he saw Clara wrestling with a large sheet of plastic film and something that looked like a frame for a greenhouse. He stepped down from his buggy. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m building a playhouse for Sophie out of some lumber Charlotte had in a shed and this special plastic sheeting. It’s a way to let the sun lower her bilirubin levels without giving her a sunburn.”

  “Interesting. Your carpentry skills are impressive. Where is Charlotte?”

  “Baking cookies.”

  “Can I give you a hand?”

  “I thought you would never ask.”

  He began to clap loudly.

  She rolled her eyes. “Paul, help or go away.”

  “Okay.” Paul took the roll of plastic film from her. “Let’s get Sophie’s new playhouse finished. You are blessed to have me as a friend.”

  “I do know that. Your friendship has been an unexpected gift, and I cherish it and you.”

  “That’s good to know. I didn’t want you to think I was interested in... Wow, this is more awkward than I thought it would be.”

  “In courting me?” she offered.

  “Yeah.”

  “Paul, I am older than you are.”

  “A couple of years. That doesn’t matter.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “You didn’t let me finish. I am older than you are. I have a child with a serious illness to care for. I am not looking for a man to court me. That is the furthest thing from my mind. If I can somehow arrange the surgery and know that Sophie has a chance at a normal life, then maybe I will think about myself. Maybe. So you don’t need to tippy-toe around me.”

  “I figured that you would understand.”

  Clara was grateful for his candor even as she struggled to hide her disappointment. Her attraction to him wasn’t returned. That was a good thing. She needed a friend more than she needed a boyfriend.

  “It can’t go in the shade.” Clara walked ahead of him to the backyard and surveyed the grounds. An old tree held a tire swing and four railroad ties formed the border for a sandbox. The children came running outside to greet him.

  He looked at Sophie. “Where do you like to play?”
/>
  “I like the sandbox. Toby likes the swing.”

  “What do you think, Clara. Shall we put it over the sandbox?”

  “If she is occupied, she will be more likely to remain outside in it.”

  “Over the sandbox it is.”

  It took them an hour to put the frame together. Stretching the plastic film over it was easier. When they were done, all of them stepped inside. Sophie immediately sat down in the sand and began to scoop it into a toy wagon. After about five minutes, Clara and Paul looked at each other. She said, “It’s too hot in here.”

  “You’re right. Shall we leave the ends open? Or should we leave the sides open?” He walked outside and studied the frame.

  Clara joined him. “I say leave the ends open.”

  He cupped a hand over his chin. “I think keeping the sides open all the way around will provide better ventilation. Plus, we can cut a small opening in the roof to allow hot air to escape.”

  “As long as the unfiltered sun doesn’t shine directly on her skin I think we will be okay.”

  “This spot is going to be in the shade until ten or eleven in the morning.” He glanced at the sun and judged its position. “It will get hot fast.”

  “Maybe moving it to the other side of the house would work better. That way, it will get sun all morning and shade in the afternoon.”

  “I was going to attach it to the railroad ties so it wouldn’t blow over.”

  “There’s nothing preventing you from moving the railroad ties to the other side of the house.”

  He made a disgusted face. “Do you know how much these things weigh?”

  “You have big horses. I’m sure they can move four railroad ties.”

  “Very well. I will move the ties and you can move the sand.”

  She placed her hands on her hips. “How am I going to move all this sand by myself?”

  “You’ll come up with something. You’re pretty smart.”

  She chuckled. “I’m glad you have confidence in me. I sometimes wonder if people don’t see me as a hopeless case.”