An Amish Wedding (27 page)

N
AOMI CLUTCHED THE APRON IN HER HAND AS
Z
EKE
turned around. His name had flown out of her mouth, and now she didn’t know what to say. Her gaze met his gorgeous hazel eyes, eyes that were filled with pain. And she realized he did understand, so much that he was willing to walk away because she asked him to. Now she suddenly didn’t want him to.

“Naomi?”

How could she ask him to stay when she’d made it clear she wanted him to leave? She glanced at the money on the counter beside him. “Your lesson,” she said, moving toward him. “Don’t you want your lesson?”

“I figured it was canceled, considering the circumstances.”

“But you already paid for it.” She snatched up the money before he could grab it. More confusion entered his eyes, mirroring her own. What was she doing?
Following my heart
. “And, uh, I don’t give refunds.”

“Okay.” He tilted his head, uncertainty edging his tone. When she thrust the apron at him, he hesitated, and she expected him to refuse. Instead he put it back on and walked over to the table. She thought she heard him release a quiet sigh.

“I see flour, sugar, and apples.” He picked up the edge of the plastic wrap covering the bowl of apples. “Apple pie?”

“Strudel.”

“Oh, even better.” But his voice lacked his usual enthusiasm.

She couldn’t blame him for that. And now that she had him here, she didn’t know what to say. So she focused on the lesson, something she could do in her sleep. He was a model student, asking questions at the right time and following her directions while they made the apple filling. By the time they’d finished rolling out the pastry dough, she realized he’d downplayed his cooking skills. “You could teach your own class,” she said.

“Nah. I don’t have the patience for it.” He looked at her, seeming a little more relaxed. A short while later they put their strudels in the oven, and Zeke helped her clean up. They had the kitchen put back to rights by the time the strudel was finished. As they pulled the desserts out of the oven, Zeke murmured his approval. “They both look perfect.”

“I can wrap one up for you to take back to Chester’s.”

“That would be
gut
. I’m sure my cousin’s
familye
would like to have some.” He looked at her. “I should get going.”

But she still wasn’t ready for him to leave. “Unless you want to try a piece?” she said, struggling to sound unaffected. “While it’s warm, I mean?”

His smile faded. “Are you asking me to stay, Naomi?”

She licked her lips. “
Ya
. I want you to stay.”

He faced her, looking directly into her eyes. “First you want me to
geh
, now you’re asking me to stay. I don’t understand.”

She opened her mouth to speak, fear nearly stopping her words. But she wasn’t going to give into it this time. The verse from 2 Timothy came back to mind, and she prayed for strength. “I’m afraid, Zeke.”

“I know.” He moved toward her, his voice low. “But you don’t have to be. Not with me.”

“I’m not.” She took a deep breath. “I’m afraid of me.” Before he could say anything she added, “When David left, I blamed myself. I thought it was my fault he didn’t come back.”

“It wasn’t your fault. He was the one who left you, Naomi.”

“Because I asked him to. When David and I started courting, he wanted to marry me right away. I’m the one who wanted to wait. I wanted to make sure we had enough money.” Her bottom lip began to tremble. “I’m the one who pushed him to
geh
to Florida. He wanted to stay here, but all I could think about was the money.”

Zeke’s eyes were filled with compassion. “You were being practical. Nothing wrong with that.”

“Maybe there is.” She moved away from him. “I’m always practical, Zeke. I’m always planning, always thinking ahead.”

“Except when it comes to yourself.”

She nodded. “When David didn’t come back, I was devastated. I loved him, Zeke. At least I thought I did. But if I’d loved him enough, I wouldn’t have put money above our relationship. I wouldn’t have pushed him away.”

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

“S
O HOW ARE THINGS BETWEEN YOU AND
Z
EKE
?” 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?”

“
Ya
. 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.