Seeing Your Face Again (39 page)

Melvin shrugged. “
Nee
, but why? Are you a dreamer?” A smile played on his face.

“I'm afraid not. But when Verna was home the other week, she told me about a dream she had. It was quite vivid. There was a funeral, and Verna thinks it was Joe in the casket but she couldn't really see. When she awoke, her heart was all torn up. She hasn't been able to shake the memory. Do you think there's any truth to that sort of thing?”

“Of course not.” His voice was confident. “
Da Hah
decides such things, and we shouldn't worry about them.”

“That's what I told Verna.” Ida settled into the couch.

“Was your sister talking about this in public?” Melvin had a look of disapproval on his face.

Ida hastened to answer. “
Nee
, it was in private. I don't think she's even told
Mamm
or Debbie. And Debbie usually gets to hear everything Verna thinks. The two of them have more schemes up their sleeves than one would think possible.”

Melvin laughed. “I can imagine that. What are they up to now?”

“I don't know,” Ida said, “but I suspect they have their heads together about Alvin Knepp. What they plan to do, I have no idea.”

“But he's in the
bann
.” Melvin was horrified. “Surely they're not reaching out to him—two women like that?”

Ida touched his arm. “Look, it's harmless I'm sure. The two of them set Alvin up with Debbie at Verna's wedding, and a lot of
gut
that did them. They probably would do the same thing at our wedding if they could.”

“They're not planning it, are they?” Melvin stared at her. “You know such a thing isn't possible.”

Ida gave a nervous laugh. “Verna wouldn't—once it comes down to it. What I'm really worried about is Lois. She's asked to take part in the wedding—as my witness for the family. I told her I'd ask you.”

Melvin was silent for a moment.

Ida worried that this had been the wrong time to mention this, but it was too late now. She finally ventured, “I understand if you don't agree to it.
Mamm
told Lois
nee
, but she begged so I consented to ask you.”

“Would she agree to dress Amish for the day?” Melvin's face was stern. “I hear she's been visiting in some worldly clothes.”

Ida blushed as she thought of how Lois must appear to the community. She did dress badly enough when she visited. Ida's voice trembled. “She said she would dress Amish the entire day. But maybe we'd better not even consider it.”

Melvin held up his hand. “Let's think about it. Maybe Lois's heart would be softened if she's allowed to be your witness—if she dresses properly, of course. And I'd like to have my brother Phillip as the witness on my side of the family.” Melvin thought for a moment again. “If he'll do it, which he might not. He has issues with our family—Ben mostly. Phillip has always made a lot of noises about leaving the faith.”

“I noticed you haven't mentioned him in a while.” Ida was all sympathy.

Melvin nodded. “Phillip lives in Lancaster now. Hopefully he's settling down. Maybe if he knows Lois is being asked, it'll help him decide.”

“I'm sorry about your brother.” Ida kept her voice steady. “And Lois too. She'll dress properly. I'll see to that.”

“Then why don't we ask both of them?” A smile crept across Melvin's face. “I kind of like the idea.”

“You're such a kind man.” Ida took both of his hands in hers. “I don't deserve you at all.”

His head bent toward her but Ida pulled back.

“Oh,
nee
! No more of that, remember?”

Melvin laughed. “You don't forget, do you? But not many more weeks now…” He gave her a meaningful look. “I guess I'll have to be satisfied with thoughts of kissing you goodnight when I leave.”

Ida didn't answer as heat rose up her neck. She jumped to her feet and rushed into the kitchen. She got out the pie and milk and prepared it for him. She carried his cherry pie on a plate and offered him a glass of milk when she got back into the living room.

He gave her another long look before he took the pie and milk and dug in.

“See, you were hungry!”

He grinned. “I just have to make sure you still know how to cook.”

Ida changed the subject. “So how's the farm coming along? Has the corn sprouted yet?”

Melvin finished the last bite of his pie before he answered, “I see you notice such things.” He appeared pleased.

Ida felt the heat rise again and glanced away. “I couldn't help but notice. You were in the fields with the planter when I came by some two weeks ago. And I did help you load the seed into the hopper after Lily fixed us lunch that day.”

Melvin nodded. “I remember. And the corn is up. Did you see the tender stalks last week?”

“I guess I was looking at you and didn't notice the corn.” Ida let the blush rush into her face this time.

Melvin reached for her hand. “That's sweet of you. Are you, perhaps, worried about the farm's financial condition? You've never asked, which is a compliment to your integrity, but what with the
kafuffle
going on with Alvin's
daett,
you must be wondering.”

“I wasn't really,” Ida protested.

Melvin glanced at her for a moment and then continued. “Either way, you have a right to know…what with six children and a hungry husband to feed. So here's how it is. All the loans are paid off
on last year's crops, though the mortgage on the place is still there. Growing smaller each year, I have to say.” A look of satisfaction crept across Melvin's face. “
Da Hah
has blessed me with a healthy body and a mind to work. Soon Willard will be big enough to work the fields by himself. That will mean we can finish sooner with the spring planting, and I can get more aggressive with the acreage. I could even turn that lower pasture into crops. We can always buy hay if we run short. Seems like I've had plenty each year now for a while, though a drought would cut back on that. But then a drought would hit everything hard.”

Ida stroked his arm. “I'm not worried, Melvin. Believe me. You're a
gut
man, and I'm sure you've always been a
gut
provider.”

“And you won't have to worry about the other children
Da Hah
might give us.” Melvin's hand tightened around hers. “We can manage.”

Ida glanced away as her face flamed. “I wasn't worried about that either.”

“And my children will accept ours with open arms,” Melvin added. “They all will be loved and prayed for.”

Ida met his gaze even with her bright-red face.

Melvin didn't seem to mind. His fingers were tight in hers. When his head moved closer, she pulled back. He laughed. “Nothing slips by you—even when you're blushing.”

She caught her breath and changed the subject again. “How bad are things with Alvin's
daett
?”

He studied her face for a moment. “You really want to know?”

“
Yah
, I'm concerned. Aren't you?”

He chuckled. “What a tender heart you have, Ida. You're quite some woman.”

Ida tried to keep her voice stern. “If you think your smooth tongue will get you more kisses tonight, you can forget it.” She surprised herself with her resolve. It just went to show how comfortable she'd become around this man. Not long ago she wouldn't have
dared deny him the kisses he wanted. Not that he'd asked for many. Melvin had always been the model of decency around her—as a
gut
man should be. Even now he wouldn't take advantage of her. But she didn't want to tempt him either.

Melvin settled back into the couch with a sigh. “Edwin's not doing well at all with the discipline the church is placing on him. At least that's what Ben told me, which I guess isn't something I should tell around. It's pretty common knowledge, or soon will be. An overseer was installed this spring. A young man—Arthur Yoder—from up near Mifflinburg. That was all they could find, being as funds were so short so they couldn't hire an older man. Edwin's not listening to his advice though. He's doing whatever he wants even with Arthur standing right beside him. Arthur moved onto the farm this week, but who knows if that will solve the problem. It's a crying shame really, the way that place has been run into the ground. Edwin is the problem now, and that's plain enough to see since Alvin has been out of the way.”

“Maybe that's why Alvin left,” Ida mused.

Melvin snorted. “That's complicated thinking. Getting put in the
bann
for that reason.”

“I'm sure you're right. I was just saying it's a possibility.” Ida nestled against him. “But let's not think about other people's problems tonight. I feel so happy with you, Melvin.”

Melvin shrugged. “You asked the question.”

“I know.” Ida smiled up at him. “And you told me, and there's nothing we can do about it anyway.”

“That's right enough,” Melvin said, beaming with happiness. “And on that note, I think I'll be off. I have that huge field of young corn to cultivate this week. Sleep is always in short order the way it is.”

Ida followed him to the front door. Melvin squeezed her hand, and Ida laughed. “Okay, just one kiss. But then you have to go.”

He drew her close and she didn't pull away.

“I said one,” she gasped when she finally pulled away.

“That
was
just one!” He appeared mischievous in the soft light of the kerosene lamp.

Ida shooed him off the porch. “Don't fall asleep on the way home, now.”

“I'll be thinking of you!” he said, glancing over his shoulder at her.

Ida waved and watched him go toward his buggy in the moonlight. He untied Red Rover and jumped in. On the way out the lane he leaned from the door to wave again.

She was so blessed, Ida thought as she closed the front door. She didn't deserve such a
wunderbah
man. And yet she'd been given one. It was too much for her to understand. Such blessings simply had to be received with thanksgiving! She was thankful.
Very
thankful!

Thirty-Eight

L
ate Wednesday evening at the Beiler household, Ida was humming a tune while she worked on the supper preparations. One of the young folks had led out the tune as the parting song on Sunday evening, and the memory of the words were still with her. One of the lines went, “God be with you till we meet again.” It seemed so appropriate right now as she thought of Melvin and remembered Sunday night.

During their time together Melvin had agreed to give Lois a part in their wedding. He didn't have to, but his kind heart had won out. Ida still hadn't told
Mamm
. She hadn't dared, but the news must be shared soon. Perhaps right after she had a chance to tell Lois. Perhaps this gesture would be the next small step in the struggle to win Lois back to the faith. Weren't weddings often that way? A time to connect with family and draw closer to the faith?

Ida couldn't be happier about her life right now. How strange things turned out when one gave
Da Hah
full control. Here she'd once dreamed that Paul Wagler would ask her home from the hymn singing, and now her wedding with Melvin Kanagy was only weeks away. Already
Mamm
had made
Daett
and Emery sweep the yard
clean of the few leftover winter leaves. And if the weather held, spring would be in full bloom about the time she entered her new life as Melvin's
frau
.

From the kitchen doorway
Mamm
's voice interrupted her thoughts. “I've been meaning to ask you, Ida, are things still going well with you and Melvin? You haven't said much lately.”

Ida allowed her feelings to show. “Things are going very well, thank you!”

“I'm glad to hear that,”
Mamm
said. “You're getting a
gut
husband, Ida.”