A Perfect Match (10 page)

Zeke looked at her. “Or maybe you pushed him away because deep down you knew you weren't right for each other.” He took a step toward her. “Maybe this wasn't your decision alone.”

Naomi mused on his words for a moment. Could he be right, that she'd been reluctant to marry not because of money but for some other reason?

“Maybe this was part of God's plan all along. Because if you had married David, I wouldn't be able to do this.” He touched her cheek. “Or this.” He leaned forward, his lips brushing against hers. He pulled back, his gaze meeting her eyes. “I wouldn't be standing here, enjoying every moment I spend with you.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. Something was happening to her heart. The ice encasing it started to melt away. She shivered as he wiped his thumb across her cheek.

He grinned. “So does this mean you'll
geh
on that buggy ride with me?”

She started to nod, then paused. “But what about the future? What happens to us when you
geh
back to Middlefield?”

“Naomi,” he said, his voice low. “Whatever God's plan is for us, I promise . . . I won't hurt you.”

She wanted to believe him. And for the most part, she did. But even though she tried, she couldn't completely erase the doubt.

Chapter Eleven

“So how are things between you and Zeke?” Margaret pushed the white thread through a thin silver needle, then knotted the ends.

Naomi looked at her friend across the table, then back at the quilt laid out in front of them. Because of time constraints she wouldn't be able to make the quilt the size of a bedspread like she wanted to, but it would make a decent lap quilt. She had also abandoned the wedding ring pattern for simple white and blue blocks. With Margaret's help over the past couple days, she'd made good progress. At least she would have a wedding gift to give to Chester and Priscilla. She was pleased with the result.

She adjusted the thimble on her right middle finger and began making small quilting stitches through the two layers of fabric and the batting. “Things are going . . . well.”

“Hmmph.” Margaret stuck the needle into the underside of the fabric. “That didn't sound too confident, Naomi.”

Naomi pressed her lips together. While she had seen Zeke several times this week, including the buggy ride they'd taken last Saturday afternoon, she still couldn't dispel the doubt that their relationship was too good too last. Knowing he would be returning to Middlefield two weeks after the wedding didn't help. They had avoided talking about that, and she tried not to think about it. But she couldn't help it.

“We're fine, Margaret. We enjoy each other's company. There isn't more to tell than that.”

“Okay, I won't pry.” She paused, looking at Naomi. “I'm glad you're not angry with me about the cooking lesson.”

“
Nee
. How could I be? You were just giving me a taste of my own medicine.”

“I was trying to help you. And Zeke.”

“I know.” She grinned. “And it worked.”

Margaret nodded, her eyes filled with satisfaction. Then she bent her head down and started stitching in earnest. Suddenly she chuckled.

Naomi looked up. “What's so funny?”

Margaret's cheeks flushed. “Oh,
nix
. Just thinking about something Ben said the other day.”

“Ben? Are you talking about Ben Hooley?”

With a nod, Margaret looked up.
“Ya
,”
she said softly.

“I noticed he picked you up a couple times last week.” Naomi tried to hide a smirk, but failed. “I suppose he's still trying to appease your
daed
.”

“Maybe.” Then Margaret put down the needle and leaned forward, the ribbons of her prayer
kapp
brushing against the quilt. “Oh, Naomi. I think Ben might be the one.”

“What?” Naomi raised her eyebrow. “Four weeks ago you couldn't stand him.”

“I know, but things have changed.”

“What happened?”

“He started to talk.” She held her hands up and shrugged. “When he picked me up on Monday he asked me about my day. Then before long he was telling me all kinds of things. Like what a troublemaker he was in school.”

Naomi couldn't imagine a man as polite as Ben being a trouble­maker. It gave her hope for Sarah Mae. “So that's it? He started talking, and you fell in love with him?”

“I'm not saying I'm in love.” Margaret looked away, but her smile widened. “I'm just saying that I think I . . . might be.” She looked back at Naomi. “I feel ridiculous even saying it out loud, but he's so different from anyone else I know. I can be myself around him. I don't even get tongue-tied, and I haven't tripped over my feet once.”

“Does he feel the same way?”

Margaret nodded. “Last night he admitted that he'd had a crush on me for months, but he thought I didn't like him, so he kept it a secret. All this time I thought he was being quiet because he didn't like me. Turns out he did all along.”

“Do you know what made him admit that to you?”

“He'd heard about me having supper with Zeke. Fortunately he didn't know how the evening ended.” She cringed. “But he realized he couldn't sit by and let me slip away.” She sighed, leaning her elbow on the table and cupping her chin in her hand. “Isn't that the most romantic thing you've ever heard?”

Naomi's heart soared. “I'm really happy for you, Margaret.”

“I'm happy for both of us.” She reached over and took Naomi's hand. “To think, we both might be getting married next year!”

“I wouldn't plan any weddings yet.” Naomi pulled her hand away. “At least not for me.”

Margaret's smile disappeared. “Why not? You and Zeke are a perfect match.”

Naomi couldn't help but smile. She thought the same thing herself.

A knock sounded at the back door. Naomi answered it, pleased to see Zeke standing there. But her pleasure turned to worry when she saw the stricken look on his face. “Zeke. Is something wrong?”

“I need to talk to you.” He looked over her shoulder at Margaret, giving her a curt nod in greeting. “Alone.”

Margaret stood. “I'll see if your
mamm
needs any help, Naomi.” Her gaze flashed from Zeke to Naomi before she hurried out of the room.

Naomi stepped to the side. Zeke strode to the table and took off his hat, but didn't remove his coat. He slid his fingers through his bangs and pushed them away from his brow, revealing his birthmark.

She moved toward him. “You're worrying me, Zeke.”

“I don't mean to.” He put his hat on top of the table, covering one corner of the lap quilt. “I just got a call from one of my
schwesters
.
Mei
daed
had an accident today.”

She put her hand on his shoulder. “Oh
nee
. What happened?”

“He was chopping wood with his ax.” Zeke swallowed. “He's getting too old to do that, and his eyesight isn't real good. I had split plenty of wood for my parents before I left, but I should have known he would try to cut more.” He glanced at the ground, then looked at Naomi again. “He missed the wood and the blade landed in his shin.”

Her hand covered her mouth. “Is he all right?”

“
Y
a
. He will be. Lots of stitches, and he's on crutches.
Mei
schwester
Barbara said he's home now. But he and
mei
mudder
need my help.” He pressed his lips into a grim line. “Naomi, I have to
geh
home. I have a taxi waiting outside to take me to the bus station.”

Her stomach twisted into a double knot. He was leaving. She knew this day would come, but she didn't think it would be so soon. “I understand.” She fought to keep her voice steady. “You have to be there for your
familye
.”

He nodded. “I don't know how long I'll be gone.”

Naomi's head started to spin. She took a step back. David had said almost those exact same words before he left for Florida.

“But I'll be back. I promise.”

It was happening all over again. The doubt she'd tried to suppress for the past week came rising to the surface.

“Naomi?” His brow furrowed, and when he walked toward her she moved away, until her back was against the counter.

He tilted his head to the side and let out a breath. “Naomi, I'm not going to go back on my word. I told you I wouldn't hurt you like David did.”

“I know.” She could barely get the words out.

“You say that, but I don't think you believe it.” This time when he took a step forward, she had nowhere to go. “I didn't want to do it this way. I thought I'd have more time.” He threaded his fingers through his hair again. “I even planned to stay in Paradise after the wedding, so we could keep seeing each other.”

“You did?”

“
Ya
. But now that's changed.” He looked up at the ceiling and groaned. “I didn't want to rush this, but I have no choice.” His gaze met hers again. “Remember our conversation at the Pantry?”

She nodded.

“You asked me how I would know if I found the woman God set apart for me. Do you remember my answer?”

Her throat thickened with tears.
“
Ya
,
”
she said thickly. “You said you'd feel it in your heart.”

He took her hand and pressed it against his chest. Even through the thick wool of his navy blue coat she could feel his pounding heartbeat. “I love you, Naomi. And I probably sound
ab
im
kopp
, because we've only known each other for a short time, but I know what I feel. I know my heart.” He ran his work-roughened thumb over the back of her hand. “I'm coming back to Paradise, Naomi. You have to believe that. I'm coming back because I love you. I want to marry you.”

His declaration not only swept away her breath but robbed her of speech. She opened her mouth, only to close it when he shook his head.

“I don't expect an answer right now. I didn't say those things to pressure or scare you. I said them because I want you to trust me. Most of all, I want you to trust God.” He let go of her hand, then brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. “I'll be praying for you while I'm gone, Naomi. I'll be praying for
us
.” He retrieved his hat from the table and walked out the door.

Naomi turned and stared at the open door. Cold air rushed over her. Yet that wasn't what chilled her heart. She heard the crunch of car tires on her parents' gravel driveway, the sound of a car engine as Zeke sped away. Back to Middlefield. Away from her.

Slowly she closed the door, then leaned against it, closing her eyes. She couldn't do this again. All those days and weeks and months without hearing from David, checking the mail every day for a letter, her heart cracking every time she didn't receive one. Then finding out he'd found someone else. She couldn't live through that pain. Not again. And it would be worse this time, because she loved Zeke, more deeply than she'd ever loved David. But Zeke hadn't even given her the chance to tell him. He disappeared, just as David had.

Her fists clenched as she fought for control of her thoughts. She wasn't being fair to him. She was the one who had urged David to leave. Zeke was leaving because of his family; she couldn't fault him for that. But she couldn't deny the sense of betrayal growing in her heart.

Zeke's words echoed in her mind. Not his words of love. Or even his proposal.

“Most of all, I want you to trust God
.
”

Zeke trusted God in everything. She thought she did too. But somehow this man had seen deeper into her heart than she had ever dared to look. Did she truly trust God? If she did, why did she allow her doubt over Zeke's promise to overshadow everything? Why did she think she would fall to pieces if he didn't return?

She had to surrender this. Everything—her past with David, her future with Zeke.
Lord, show me how
.

•••

The night before the wedding, Naomi folded up the finished lap quilt and placed it in its box. She'd used every minute of spare time to complete the quilt. As she fitted the lid over it, a sense of peace settled through her spirit. She had fretted over this quilt, and in the end she had finished it. Although it wasn't the size she had intended it to be, it was still beautiful. Her worry about Priscilla's gift had been for nothing.

She sat down in her living room and closed her eyes, tired but content. The soft hiss of the gas lamp filtered through the room. She hadn't heard from Zeke. At first it had been a struggle to keep the doubts at bay, to not worry that she'd never see or hear from him again. But through prayer she was able to see thin beams of hope. Instead of expecting Zeke not to return, she chose to trust that he would come back. She opened her eyes and smiled. It might not be in her timing, which would be right now if she had her way. But in God's time. And she was content to wait on that.

She yawned and got up to turn off the lamp. Earlier that day she had finished up Priscilla's cake, but she planned to get up early and add a few finishing touches to the frosting. She had started for her bedroom when she heard a knock on the front door. Probably Sarah Mae sneaking over to the house again. She'd become more of a handful than usual as Priscilla's wedding approached. Naomi turned the light back on low and answered the door. “Sarah Mae, it's too late for you to be out—” The words froze in her mouth when she saw Zeke.

He looked himself up and down. “Last time I checked, I wasn't Sarah Mae.”

“Zeke!” She started to throw her arms around him, then stopped. “Wait, what are you doing here? How's your
daed
?”

“Can I at least come in? It's a little cold out here.”

“Of course. Sorry.” When he crossed the threshold, she clasped her hands behind her back, forcing herself to stay calm. He'd come back much sooner than she'd anticipated. “I can't believe you're here.”

He shook his head, frowning.

“
Nee
, that's not what I mean. I knew you'd come back.” She smiled. “Just not so soon.”

“To answer your earlier question,
mei
daed
is doing great. Seems
mei
schwester
exaggerated a little bit about the injury. He's still on crutches, but he's going to be fine.”

“I'm so relieved.” She brought her hands to the front and held them together. “I've prayed for him.”

“That means a lot to me.” He looked at her intently. “Did you pray about anything else?”

She gave him a teasing glance. “Was I supposed to?”

He grinned and took off his hat. “Very funny.” Then he grew serious. “I meant what I said before I left, Naomi. I love you.”

“I know.”

“And I want to marry you.”

“I know.” She moved to close the space between them. “I love you too, Zeke Lapp. And I want you to know, I would have waited for you to come back. One week, one month, or even a year, I would have waited. Although if you'd stayed away that long I would have come to Middlefield a few times.”