Holding a Tender Heart (45 page)

Paul was currently seated across from Ida, who was the witness for Verna's side of the family. Ida had been blushing all shades of red ever since the service began. The poor girl! Ida had wanted this badly. This was her chance to do something with Paul since he clearly had no plans to ask her home from the hymn singings.

Today any couple could be paired up and no one would draw inferences. Verna had assured Debbie of this, but during the planning stage she had still refused to be seated with Paul. This probably also explained why Alvin was comfortable with the arrangement today…and why he sat beside her right now. Debbie wished Alvin
would
draw some conclusions, but his actions so far indicated he had no special interest in her. They'd met earlier in the hayloft with the other waiter couples, and beyond a smile and a
gut
morning, he hadn't made any attempt at conversation.

She would have to dig deep and find her charming skills, Debbie decided. There was no question about that if she was ever to get
past the walls Alvin had built between them. There had been a time when things had been much more open, but then Paul had come along and messed everything up.

Why couldn't Alvin put two and two together? Why couldn't he see that she could have chosen Paul for this day if she'd wanted to? But that likely wasn't how Alvin's thought processes worked. Ida was Verna's closest sister in age, and Paul was Joe's best friend. The two went together as naturals for Verna's wedding day.

At the moment, Alvin had his gaze on Bishop Beiler's face as he wrapped up his sermon. Debbie wished the boy would steal a glance at her once in a while, but he hadn't so far. She would find a way to thaw him out before the day was over! Surely somewhere inside of him Alvin held an inkling of interest in her. Why else didn't he date some Amish girl? Sure, his options were slim in the community, but he could visit other communities if he felt desperate enough.

Debbie drew her thoughts away from Alvin, and focused on the bishop as he finished his sermon and turned to speak to Joe and Verna. “Now if both of you still wish to enter into the holy state of matrimony, will you please stand to your feet.”

Joe stood first, with Verna right behind him. Verna dazzled today in her dark-blue wedding dress. The color deepened her skin color until it seemed to glow in the soft sunlight that came through the living room window. Joe's face was full of joy as he looked first at Verna and then at the bishop.

Bishop Beiler asked Joe, “Do you, our brother Joe Weaver, believe in your heart that this, our sister Verna Beiler, has been given to you as a
frau
by
Da Hah
?”

“
Yah!
” Joe's voice was firm.

Bishop Beiler repeated the basic question to Verna.

Verna reply was a softer “
Yah
.”

Several other questions and answers followed, and then Bishop Beiler joined Joe and Verna's hands. He proceeded to proclaim them man and wife.

Debbie waited for the kiss and almost laughed out loud when it didn't come. This was her first Amish wedding season, and the ceremony still wasn't totally familiar. At an
Englisha
wedding there would be a long and passionate kiss right now. Alvin stole a quick glance at her. She must have let some of the laugh slip out. This was just great. Now Alvin probably figured she couldn't be respectful in services. And what Amish man would want such a
frau
? Well, she would have to work all the harder to overcome this bad impression.

Joe and Verna sat down again, and a song began. At its conclusion, the couple stood and filed out first. The bench full of table waiters was dismissed next, and they spilled out into the yard. Several of the boys yawned and stretched their arms skyward, obviously bored with the whole thing. Alvin marched straight ahead, on his way to the barn where the meal would be served. Debbie kept up his fast pace. They were one of the first couples to arrive in the serving area, which was curtained off at the back of the hayloft. One of the cooks glanced up and smiled. “Did they get married off okay?”

“Yep!” Alvin said crisply. “Where can we begin work?”

“Hold your horses there,” another of the cooks told him. “Dinner's not served for a while yet, but I guess you can wash the pots and pans if you have all that energy.”

“Why not?” Alvin glanced at Debbie. “Are you willing?”

“You think
Englisha
girls don't know how to wash dishes?” she shot back at him. That wasn't what she'd intended to say—at least not in that tone of voice, but it had slipped out.

Surprisingly, Alvin appeared amused. “So you have learned how to work at the Beilers'?”

“Like I didn't know how to before?” she asked.

He didn't respond this time.

She followed him over to where the pots were piled high. Once there, she plunged her hands into the bowl of soapy water.

He cleaned scraps from the pots and handed them to her. “I guess you did grow up around the Beiler family.”

“You're more conceited than you look,” she told him. “I'll have you know that my parents taught me how to work. And I have finished college—and debt free at that. With Mom and Dad's help, of course, but I worked summers.”

“Sorry. I didn't mean any disrespect,” he said, sounding puzzled at her defensiveness.

She was supposed to charm him, Debbie remembered. And here she was practically in an argument with the man. She took a deep breath. “I'm sorry myself. Isn't this a beautiful day for Joe and Verna's wedding? I'm so happy for them! After what they had to go through with those false charges and all.”

“They did go through some rough spots,” Alvin allowed, his attention fixed on the spot where he was scraping a pan. “But all's well that ends well. That's what our people say.”

This was
not
going well, Debbie thought. She stole a glance at his face. She might as well make the plunge. It really couldn't get any worse. She blurted, “There's nothing between Paul Wagler and myself. I wish you'd stop thinking so.”

He gave a short laugh but said nothing.

Debbie kept going. “I used to drive past your place for a reason. I didn't stop doing that because of Paul. I stopped because I thought it might no longer be appropriate since I'm living at the Beilers' place.”

His face showed a flicker of interest. “Then why were you cavorting in town with Paul at Andrea's Pizzeria?”

“Did Paul tell you that?”

He shrugged. “I don't see that it makes any difference who said it. It did happen, didn't it?”

She took another deep breath. “The fact happened. But I was working on Joe and Verna's case. Paul requested the meeting.”

He seemed to process the information. “Well, then it's
gut.
”

Debbie pressed her advantage. “I'm planning to stay Amish, you know. Maybe I'll even join the spring baptismal class, now that Joe and Verna's problems are past.”

“I see.”

Debbie continued to wash as the noise of the crowd behind them increased. Alvin should be impressed with her work if nothing else. And perhaps she'd reached him with her direct approach. He looked less stern than he had at the morning service.

He didn't say anything more though.

Moments later a cook appeared. “Time to get ready, you two. My, you've done some work! But get those soap bubbles out of your hair, Debbie.”

Debbie wiped her hands on the offered cloth. She dabbed her face and hair with gentle touches. Were all of the offending bubbles off? There was no way to tell without asking, and the cook had vanished. Alvin solved the problem. He stepped closer and took the cloth from her hand before she even thought to ask him.

“Hold still,” he said. He touched her forehead in several places with the dishcloth. “There! All done.” He stepped back to give her a once over and smiled with satisfaction. “You look perfect now.”

A quick retort sprang to her lips, but Debbie kept it inside. “Thank you, Alvin.”

“By the way, I always liked it when you drove past my place in your car.”

“You did?” she whispered.

“Maybe you should do it again sometime.” His voice stopped as if a surprising thought had just occurred to him. “I suppose it's up to me now?”

“Alvin…” Debbie caught her breath. “Please understand that I…I…” She couldn't say the words. They seemed inappropriate now that the moment had arrived. She should let him take the lead. That was the Amish way. But, oh, this was hard. What if Alvin never fully understood the depth of her affection for him?

“We'll have to see then,” he said as he turned to lead the way back to the other waiters. They were milling around and peering out through the curtain at the long tables of seated guests. It was just as well they
all were busy, Debbie thought. Someone might notice her blushing face otherwise. But what did she care if they did? The advancement of one's love life on a wedding day was just about perfect. And she'd taken hers forward by great leaps and bounds, she was sure.

If Verna could think about anything other than Joe for a moment, she would be thrilled. Perhaps Verna would even notice her glowing face when they served the corner table. Why, she almost had a date lined up once she joined the instruction class! Alvin hadn't said so for certain, but he would get there before long. Debbie was sure of that. Her thoughts were interrupted by Bishop Beiler's voice calling for prayer.

When the bishop finished praying, the waiters filled their arms with bowls of food and spilled out from behind the curtain. Debbie led the way to Joe and Verna's table, which was set up at the far end of the hayloft.

Verna had insisted on a marvelous array of fresh fruits and vegetable arranged on the table around her—the only decorations allowed. Now with Verna and Joe beaming, the whole place seemed lit up with light and joy. The scene couldn't have been more perfect, Debbie thought…except for the sight of Paul, who winked at her.

Debbie set the bowl of potatoes down and gave Paul a quick glare before she spoke to Verna. “Congratulations! You finally made it.”

“
Yah
, we have. By
Da Hah
's grace.” Verna's face glowed. “And thank you, Debbie, for everything. You have been so
wunderbah
.”

“And congratulations to you!” Debbie told Joe while ignoring Verna's gushing praise. “Just tell us if you need anything. Alvin and I are at your beck and call.”

Alvin had set down his dishes and joined her, sharing his own congratulations with the happy couple.

Debbie turned momentarily when Paul sang out “living on love” in her direction. Then she tried to ignore him.

“They sure are a charming couple,” Alvin whispered as they left to pick up another round of filled-to-the-brim food bowls.

And so are we!
Debbie almost said. She gave Alvin a sweet smile instead. “Thank you for serving the tables with me today.”

His face also glowed despite Paul's inappropriate remark.

Debbie felt as if Verna's grace had overflowed onto her. Love was finally taking root in the right places!

“I was delighted to accept, Debbie.” Alvin reached over and brushed her fingers with his. His gaze lingered long on her face.

Discussion Questions

1. How do you feel about Debbie's mother wanting her to move out of the home now that she had finished college?

2. Is Lois's fascination with the
Englisha
world a wise choice to make for an Amish girl?

3. What is your reaction to Callie's concerns that Debbie will “wither” if she boards at the Beilers?

4. What do you think of Bishop Beiler's reasons to accept Debbie as a boarder at the Beiler home?

5. What are your feelings about the Amish practice of
rumspringa
for their young people?

6. Do you think Debbie's influence on Lois to remain Amish will last?

7. What lies at the heart of the Amish's reluctance to deal with lawyers and the law?