A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn (13 page)

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.

W
hat a commotion three girls and one boy could make while running down the street! As her girls and William ran toward her, all smiling as bright as you please, Emma quickly stepped out of the flower bed she was weeding and dusted off the front of her dress.

“Mamm!” Lena called out. “Mamm, guess what?”

“What? I canna begin to guess,” she teased, looking just beyond the four
kinner
at Tricia and Ben, who were walking far more sedately behind them. Ben had offered to get the children from school from time to time as a simple way to thank her for helping William with his homework. Carefully, she scanned the children's expressions, looking for signs that one of the kids was in trouble or that something unexpected had happened at school.

“It's
wonderful-gut
,” Mandy said as she practically skidded to a stop in front of Emma. “The best.”

After giving her, Annie, and William hugs, she straightened and looked at Ben and Tricia again. “Now that all of you are here, please don't keep me in suspense any longer. What happened?”

“Ben and Tricia are going to get married!” William said.

“Oh!” Looking at the young couple, she felt tears prick her eyes. “Mandy was correct, this is
wonderful-gut
news. The best! Congratulations to you both.”

Before Tricia or Ben could get a word in edgewise, Lena added, “And Mommy, guess what? They're going to get married at the Orange Blossom Inn!”

“Truly?”

“In four weeks' time!” Mandy exclaimed as all three girls joined hands and began jumping around again.

Emma sat down on the front step and reached a hand out to William. “And congratulations to you, too, William! Soon, you will have a new sister.”

His eyes widened. “I never thought of it like that.” He clutched her hand and made her very happy when he sat down right by her side.

“I'm sure Tricia has thought of that. Ain't so?” she asked the young lady.

Smiling softly, Tricia nodded. “I have a sister but no brothers, William. I'm glad you and Mark will be my
bruders
. It's a lovely blessing.”

“Indeed, it is,” Emma said. “Happy news is always a blessing, to be sure.” When both Ben and Tricia sat down on her small front porch, she smiled. “Tell me how your parents took it.”

“My
daed
was surprised but pleased, too,” Ben said. “He married my
mamm
when they were young, so he remembered what being in love at our age felt like.”

“I married at eighteen, so I remember that feeling, too,” she
said softly. Suddenly, all the years of building a home and a marriage flashed in her mind. Those had been busy years, stressful years. She and Sanford had been so young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. Luckily for them, though, they hadn't had time to wonder if they were doing things right. They'd had Lena almost ten months after the wedding and Mandy and Annie followed soon after.

Then, of course, came Sanford's heart attack. And after that? Well, her life had changed forever.

The rush of emotion she felt was an unwanted surprise. She didn't want her past heartache to interfere with the happiness Ben and Tricia were experiencing.

Suddenly she realized that she'd been staring off into the distance and that the couple in front of her was simply waiting for her to continue.

“I'm sorry. I guess my mind flew away with me. Ben, I'm so glad Jay is happy for you.” Exhaling, she said, “Tricia, what did your family say?”

Tricia bit her bottom lip. “They were pretty shocked, of course. My parents don't know Ben and last they heard, I moved here to discover myself, not fall in love.”

Emma noticed that Tricia looked a little hesitant but not devastated. “Will they let you get married?”

After a pause, she nodded. “At first they wanted me to go right back home, but after talking to them for, oh, hours, they began to understand how I felt.” Looking sweetly bashful, she peeked at Ben. “I don't think a person can keep themselves from falling in love. It just happens whenever it's the right time.”

“It sure does seem that way,” Emma mused. “I'm glad your parents didn't forbid you to marry or demand that you return home.”

“Me, too, though I wouldn't have agreed to move back no matter how much they yelled.” Clasping her hands together, she said, “I'm so happy. I feel like everything in my life is coming together. I can't wait to get married!”

Beside her, Ben looked like he was trying not to start laughing. He held it together, letting her shine.

Emma smiled at the pair. She briefly wondered what Beverly's reaction had been but decided not to ask since Tricia hadn't mentioned her. “Soon, I'll have to have you two over for supper. We'll celebrate your
wonderful-gut
news.”

When everyone started laughing, even the children, she giggled, too. “I know the last meal didn't go so well. But one can only hope that the next will go better. I'm sure it will. Well, with the Lord's help.”

Ben leaned back on his hands. “Now, what I really want to know is what
you
are going to do, Emma.”

She wasn't following. “What am I going to do about what?”

“You know, when my
daed
asks you to go courting.” Lowering his voice, he said, “Will you say yes?”

“He wants to court me?” Her voice sounded as giddy as Tricia's. No doubt her cheeks were just as flushed with excitement. Remembering herself, she hesitantly asked, “I mean, what makes you think Jay and I would ever start seeing each other?”

Tricia wrapped her arms around her knees. “Miss Emma, I'm sorry, but it's kind of obvious that the two of you like each other.”

Emma glanced to her left and right, worried that her girls were listening in. But they were currently bringing William through the back gate. Once she knew the coast was clear, she shook her head. “I don't know what to say.”

“You could answer Ben's question. What would you say if Jay came calling like a proper suitor?”

“I don't know,” she whispered. And her answer was true. Yes, she'd noticed that Jay Hilty was handsome. And she had spent an evening or two imagining what it would be like having someone special in her life again. To have a man who cared for her the way that Sanford had.

But there was a vast difference between wondering about something happening one day and what Ben and Tricia were talking about. Frankly, just the idea of Jay knocking on the door to see her was exciting. And it gave her a giant knot deep in the middle of her stomach.

Tricia looked at her closely. “Have you ever thought about marrying again?”

“I have,” she said cautiously. “Well, from time to time. But I've always thought about it in a vague way, like when I wonder what it would feel like walking on the streets of Paris or Rome. I never truly thought I would find another man I would want to date.”

“Never?” Tricia asked, her eyes wide.

“I loved my husband very much.”

After darting a hesitant look at Ben, Emma said, “Now, I don't know what to think. My family and Sanford's family are very close. I suppose all of them thought I'd simply raise the girls on my own.”

“I used to think my father should stay alone,” Ben said. “But now I would feel bad if he did that. I would feel sorry for you, too, if you never considered courting again. Being alone forever is a mighty long time.”

Emma was pretty sure Ben had no idea how true his statement was. “
Jah
. It is.”

Tricia stood up. “Emma, I know you have been through a lot more than me, but I have recently learned that the Lord has put a whole lot of people on the earth and given us a whole lot
of places to live and walk and explore. It would be a shame to ignore the chance for happiness because you were afraid you might like having a new man in your life.”

Well, Tricia's words were certainly direct.
“Danke,”
she said slowly. Half of her was ready to disregard what the girl said. However, the other part was more than willing to accept Tricia's advice. After all, hadn't she been thinking just the same thing over the last few days? Clearing her throat, she changed the subject. “I should probably feed these
kinner
now. School gives one quite an appetite.”

“I'll be back in two hours to get William,” Ben said.

Just as Emma was ready to nod, Tricia's words reverberated in her head some more. She could either stew on them a little bit longer or do something.

Right then and there, she knew how Sanford would have reacted to such a statement. He would have grasped hold of it and held on tight. Furthermore, he would have convinced his parents to see his point of view. He would have not let anyone talk him out of doing something that was important to him.

And Jay was becoming important to her.

She knew what she had to do. “Wait. Ben, would your
daed
be upset if the girls and I brought William home?”

“Not at all.”

“You sure?”

“If we don't need to stay around Pinecraft for William, I'll take Tricia back to the farm and tell my
daed
you're going to stop by. If it seems like he would be mad, I'll simply come right back to retrieve William.”

“That's a lot of trouble.”

“It's no trouble. Besides, I'm almost positive my father is going to be really happy about your visit.”

“It's going to be fun. I'll make everyone supper,” Tricia added with a happy smile.

“
Nee
, you don't need to do that,” Emma said quickly. “I'm not planning to stay there long.”

“Just long enough to say hello to Jay?”

Feeling like she was practically leaping off a cliff, she nodded. “
Jah
. I think, well, I think maybe I should give this courting idea a try. Just to see what might happen.” She darted a look at Ben and was relieved to see that he looked pleased.

Tricia's green eyes sparkled. “Miss Emma, have
you
decided to be the one going courting?”

“Maybe. After all, the Lord doesn't say anything about women having to wait for the men to always make the first move. I think I would like to see what it feels like.”

She only hoped Jay wouldn't be too shocked.