The Promise of an Angel (A Heaven On Earth 1) (27 page)

A
ndrew turned the horse into the Kings’ driveway. He stepped out of the buggy and helped Clare down.

She dipped her head into a slight bow. “
Denki
for the ride home.”

“No problem.” He walked her to the front door. “I hope we made it before ten.”

Clare gazed toward the barn. “My parents are not back yet.” She pointed to the empty lean-to joined to the barn.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I should be heading home. Are you going to be all right here alone?” He glanced over the yard but didn’t see any sign of Timothy’s buggy.

Her smile turned into a frown. “I thought you’d like to sit on the porch swing with me.” She motioned to the two-seater bench suspended by chains.

“I, uh . . .” He looked at the dark house. It would be rude for him not to wait until her parents returned home. “Sure.” He motioned for her to lead the way to the swing.

“I had a nice time at the singing tonight.” She sat and tapped the bench beside her.

Seeing the narrow section, he hesitated until she tapped her hand against the bench again. Andrew sat down but bounced back up to his feet when he realized there wasn’t enough space for his arm other than around Clare. He moved to the porch railing. “I’ll be over here.”

He leaned against the post. He could breathe easier with some distance between them.

“I wouldn’t mind your arm around me.”

He crossed and uncrossed his arms. “I’m
gut
,” he explained, tapping the wooden rail before crossing his arms again.

“Isn’t the moon large tonight?”

Andrew turned to look at the moon, and when he turned back, Clare was beside him.

“I like it when the moon is full, don’t you?” She nudged her shoulder against his side.

“It sure sheds light.” Enough light, he tried telling himself, that she shouldn’t be frightened to sit alone.

“Andrew.” Her arm came up under his. “You can kiss me if you want.”

He blew out a breath. Her parents wanted her home by ten, and they weren’t even home to receive her. He glanced at her as she closed her eyes and puckered her lips.

He turned and tilted his head toward the sky. “Maybe we should count the stars.” That would keep them busy.

Clare sighed. “Wouldn’t you like to kiss me before you ask?” She leaned forward.

He leaned back. “Ask what?”

Her eyes widened, and she planted her hands on her hips. “Andrew Lapp.”

He cringed. With her back against the moonlight, her face was shadowed. But the frustration in her tone wasn’t masked.

“My parents gave their permission.”

So much for counting stars. “Clare, I’m not sure what we’re talking about.”

“Don’t you want to kiss me before we’re married?”

He lifted his hands to his face and massaged his temples. He hadn’t even held her hand all night. How could she think . . .

“Clare, could I have a drink of water, please?”

She looked annoyed, but she disappeared into the house and came back with a glass.

He gulped the water down. “
Denki
,” he said, handing her the glass.

“Do you want more?”

“Sure.” He’d be waterlogged at this rate if her parents didn’t arrive soon.

When she returned, Andrew sipped the water, prolonging the silence. “We don’t know each other well enough to kiss.” He couldn’t say the word
marriage
. She needed to know he wouldn’t be kissing her tonight or ever.

Hearing buggy wheels grinding on the gravel driveway saved him from any further discussion. Clare’s mother stepped out of the buggy and climbed the porch steps. Andrew wanted to tell Mrs. King he delivered her daughter on time.

Instead, he looked at Clare. “
Denki
for attending the singing with me.”

“I enjoyed myself very much, Andrew.”

“Guder nacht,”
he said, already stepping off the porch. He wasted no time climbing onto his buggy seat and driving off without looking back. It wasn’t until he was home and putting the buggy away that he noticed her rice pudding dish on the floorboard. His stomach sank at the thought of having to return it to her.

As he entered his house, he met the Fischers leaving. Their long faces startled him. Why were they here tonight? As a baptized member of the church, he would have known about a special meeting had one been planned.

“How was the evening singing?” his father asked.

“Fine,” he replied and walked straight to his bedroom. He had too much on his mind for conversation.

Judith had made it clear that she didn’t need his protection from Levi. She might be strong enough to resist Levi’s charm, but what worried Andrew was, did she
want
to? She had a soft heart. Maybe she was ready to give him another chance. Andrew’s gut tightened. He’d seen the determined look in Levi’s eyes before. Levi intended to move back into her good graces.

Andrew needed to close himself off and pray. Judith might not have wanted his physical support, but spiritually, he was going to intercede on her behalf.

He prayed into the early morning hours, until sleep released him. In his dreams, he and Judith knelt together, seeking God.

Chapter Twenty-Four

J
udith swallowed. Levi had steadied his eyes on hers, awaiting her answer. Every hope she’d had revolved around planning a wedding. Celebrating an event, rather than concentrating on the holy union between two people—joined by God. The doleful truth choked her airway. She hadn’t been told by God to marry Levi. Freed of the misconception, a shiver traveled through her.

“I can’t.”

He leaned closer. “But . . . but we’ve always planned to get married. When you turned nineteen. I thought—”

“I thought that’s what I wanted too.” Her voice broke and she bowed her head.
Lord
,
please give me the words to say
. “I was in love with the idea of marriage.” Judith looked into his eyes. “I can’t marry you, Levi. I don’t love you.”

Her dreams of marriage and children were no longer reachable now that her eyes were opened. She could never marry someone she didn’t love.

“
Ach
, here you are, Levi.” Martha stepped out from the house and onto the porch. “I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?”

Judith groaned at the sound of her sister’s sarcastic voice.
Father, I pray Your grace that enabled me to forgive Levi will also extend to Martha
. She stood. She’d given Levi her answer, and she wasn’t about to hang out on the porch explaining anything to Martha.

Levi followed her up the steps. “Judith, I wanted us to talk more.”

Judith turned, but from the corner of her eye, Martha glared at her. “I have
nay
more to say, Levi,” Judith said, reaching for the doorknob.

Martha walked up the steps. “Levi, you promised on the
nacht
we spent together we would go away.”

Levi tossed his head. After a quick sheepish glance at Judith, he turned to Martha. “We can’t leave. What would we do? Where would we go?”

Judith pushed open the door. “I’ll let you two work out your plans.” She escaped into the house and leaned against the inside of the door to catch her breath. How could Martha speak so boldly about her sin? At least Levi had the decency to appear ashamed. Martha seemed to take pride in her blatant transgressions.

“Lord, I pray for my sister’s soul. I don’t think she sees herself sinking into a miry pit, yet the scriptures are clear. In the last days some will fall away . . . Please, show her Your hand that she might turn from her wicked ways and follow You.”

The doorknob jiggled, and Judith stepped aside.

Martha entered. “What were you doing, trying to listen through the door?” She smiled. “We’ll probably get married. After everyone hears about us spending the
nacht
together, I’m sure Levi will speak to the bishop.”

Judith’s breath caught in her throat. “You threatened to tell everyone?”

“Well, Levi says
nau
that he doesn’t want to leave the community. He had some kind of experience on the road that frightened him into keeping the faith, or something like that.
Nau
he won’t leave.”

Maybe Martha hadn’t realized it yet, but to speak with the bishop regarding marriage meant Martha and Levi would have to be baptized and live according to the
Ordnung
. Judith only hoped that her sister’s words of commitment would be toward God and not to tickle Levi’s or Bishop Lapp’s ear.

Martha sauntered toward the kitchen. “Who would have guessed I would marry before you.” She glanced over her shoulder. “This is probably what happened to Ellen’s sister Katie. I wonder if she fell in love with men who wanted other women too. What was the name of that girl Andrew took home from the singing?”

“Leave Andrew out of this.” Judith clasped the back of her neck.
Keep your words . . . Don’t take her bait and sin
. She wouldn’t have guessed Martha was capable of such cruelty. Following her sister into the kitchen, Judith realized that losing Levi wasn’t what hurt. But the profound awareness of her love for Andrew weighted her heart.

Lord, help me, please
.

Judith sucked in a deep breath and released it slowly. “I forgive you, Martha.” She paused, giving Martha a chance to respond. When she didn’t, Judith continued. “I’ve held resentment toward you, and I asked God to cleanse my heart.”

Martha turned to leave the kitchen.

Judith raised her voice. “I’m
nett
letting
mei
bitterness separate me from God’s plan.”

Her sister still made no response.

Judith heated a pot of water to soak the dishes. Even if Martha continued to ignore her willingness to mend their relationship, she had followed God’s word and forgiven Martha. When she heard her parents’ voices, she met them at the door. Rebecca was asleep in
Mamm’s
arms. Her mother carried her sister to the bedroom, while her
daed
placed his hat on the wall hook.

“There’s apple pie left over. Would you like a slice?” Judith asked.

He looked up at Judith and paused before removing his boots.

“Nay.”
He stood and tapped his stomach. “I’ve eaten plenty.”

“I could warm some cider?”

He shook his head. “I’m going to bed.”

It wasn’t unusual for her father to retire early, but tonight he seemed distracted. Before they left for the Lapps’ he’d commented on how good her pie smelled and how he hoped she’d save him a piece. Now he seemed anxious to retreat. Her mother, too, hadn’t come out to the kitchen after putting Rebecca to bed.

Judith rinsed the last dish and placed it on the towel to dry. It was good that her parents were tired. If her mother had come out to the kitchen, she would have asked how the evening went, and Judith didn’t want to slip and say something about Martha’s problems.

She paused at Martha’s room. Under the door, a hint of light meant her sister wasn’t asleep. Judith raised her hand to tap on the door, then stopped herself. God would have to deal with Martha’s situation. Until then, Judith would pray for her. Pray for them both, Martha and Levi.

When she moved away from her sister’s bedroom, Judith heard weeping. She moved to her parents’ door. It was wrong to eavesdrop, she knew—but what was wrong? Was there worse news about Samuel that she hadn’t heard?

“I’ll put in a larger garden this year,” her mother said.

“That won’t raise much money,” her father replied. “At our age, we might never return the money to the district for the hospital bills.”

Judith hadn’t given much thought as to what delayed her parents, but now their reason for going to the bishop’s house was clear. They needed a community offering to pay for the medical bills.

“If we hadn’t built the barn, we would’ve had the money.”

“Be thankful we had the money to replace the barn. If we can’t take care of our livestock, our entire income will be devastated.”

“I don’t want to believe we’ve fallen into disfavor with God like Bishop Lapp suggested.”

“Hush
nau
.”

Her mother mumbled something Judith couldn’t make out, and then the room fell silent. Judith slipped into her bedroom and changed into her nightdress, deep in thoughts of how she could earn money. Pulling the covers up around her neck, she had her answer. She would sell her quilts. It wouldn’t bring in much, but she had to do something. Judith jumped out of bed and knelt to pray.

“Father, You have cattle on a thousand hills and supply the sparrow its food. You will provide for us too. We need money to pay for the medical expenses. I pray I will find favor with selling my quilts.
Aemen
.”

She went to her closet and pulled the stack of quilts down from the shelf. She folded the quilt she’d made for her wedding and placed it on the pile, then grabbed it back up and draped it over her shoulders. How could she part with this quilt?

She drew in a deep breath. Her parents needed the money. Besides, she had no use for a wedding quilt. She wasn’t getting married anytime soon.