Seeing Your Face Again (27 page)

He grunted and pulled the tie rope tight. “You don't have to convince me, Ida. How's Lois doing?”

“Not well.” Ida caught her breath at the sudden change of subject.

Melvin shook his head. “I'm sorry for your family when it comes to Lois. These things cut deep when someone we love leaves the faith. And the community isn't always certain why it happens.”

Ida breathed easier again. “I appreciate your confidence, Melvin.
Daett
blames himself plenty, but I can assure you Lois was always this way.” Melvin might as well know their family troubles, she figured—if he planned to take her as his
frau
.

Melvin reached for her hand, and his fingers closed around hers. “I'm not trying to say anything, Ida. I don't doubt you or your
daett
. Let's be clear about that. I love you already more than I wish I did.”

Ida felt her hand tremble and figured Melvin must feel it too. He would know that she was timid on the inside—if he didn't already know that. And he would also know that she wanted this to work. She wanted it more every time she was around him.

He pulled her closer to him. “Let's not let church trouble keep us apart, Ida. I don't know much about Debbie, other than that you like her, and I trust your judgment of a person. But the ministry can take care of any problems should they arise. In the meantime, I love you, Ida.”

Her fingers tightened in his. “You know how I feel about you, Melvin.”

“Can you love me enough, Ida?” His voice caught. “Enough to want to spend your life with me and my children?”

She leaned against his shoulder. “Why else would I let you bring me home like this?”

He turned to face her. “I'm asking you to be my
frau
, Ida. Do you love me that much?”

Ida's head spun. Had she heard right? Had Melvin asked for her hand in marriage right out here beside the buggy?
Yah!
Her knees would buckle under her at any minute. Thankfully Emery and Debbie were already inside the house. What an embarrassment if a buggy pulled into the driveway right in the middle of a marriage proposal.

Red Rover neighed beside them, and Melvin's hand touched her face. “Will you marry me, Ida?”

Her voice shook. “Melvin,
yah
. Of course I will. I'm willing!”

“Even with my six children…even then you will have me?” Both of his hands found her face.

She trembled as his callused fingers gently touched her soft skin. “I will love you and them with all my heart, Melvin. It would be a great honor…to be your
frau
.”

His hand slipped around her waist, and he pulled her close.

She lifted her head to meet his. Wild thoughts raced through her mind, and time seemed to stand still. A man was ready to kiss
her. She would die from the excitement if it didn't happen soon. Ida closed her eyes, as his lips touched her. He smelled of Ivory soap and barnyard hay. It was sweet…and so was his mouth. She'd never imagined how this would be, but it was beyond her wildest thoughts. Even if she'd tried, she never would have come close to how
wunderbah
kissing the man who would be her husband would be.

His beard brushed her face as he pulled away.

Did he like her kiss? Ida searched his face for affirmation in the dim light. Had he enjoyed her touch? Even after he'd kissed Mary so many times over the years?

As if he heard the questions in her heart, he bent his head and whispered, “You're the sweetest woman, Ida. So fresh and pure.” His mouth sought hers again.

Now she would die, Ida thought. Even the thought of heaven had never seemed better.

“This is enough.” Melvin lifted his head. “You're too
wunderbah
for the likes of me.”

“I'm not!” she protested and tried to breathe.

“We must set the wedding date,” he said. “Tonight yet, if you don't object.”

She clung to his hand. “Of course I don't. I told you earlier…”

His hand touched her face again. “
Yah
, I know. But when will you wed me?”

She laid her hand on his chest. “I'm not one to boldly think of such things, Melvin. But I will say the wedding vows whenever you wish. I don't need pampering.”

He took her hands in both of his. “You're more than I could ever have hoped for, Ida. Shall we go inside?”

She laughed. “It might be easier to make plans there.” A great happiness swelled up inside her. How quickly things were moving along! But was that not
Da Hah
's way? Doing
wunderbah
things that no one thought possible.

“We will have to tell the children.” His voice was a little worried.
“I do so hope that won't be a problem. They're all small yet and shouldn't complain of whom I choose as a
frau
. And with you, I'm sure there shouldn't be any problem at all.”

“It'll be okay.” She opened the front door for him. “What's Willard's age—the oldest? About nine?”

“You're right, nine.” He was impressed. “You took the trouble to ask around to find out?”

“I'm a woman,” Ida told him. “That's what we do. Especially if we love children.”

She held the door for him, and he entered and sat at his usual place on the couch. When she made to walk past him toward the kitchen, he motioned for her to sit beside him. “I want to look at you right now, Ida. I don't think I can get enough of you.”

She sat down and knew heat was rising in bright streaks of red up her neck. He saw her discomfort and took her hand. “It's okay, Ida. I know I'm still a little strange to you, but I love you. I hope that's enough.”

She met his gaze. “It's all I need, Melvin.”

He grinned. “So about that wedding. When can it happen?”

“We can get ready by May perhaps,” she said. “Is that
gut
enough? Of course, I should speak with
Mamm
, but I'm sure she'll understand.”

He made a sad face. “I suppose I can wait that long.”

“You'll have to wait that long.” She jumped up as he looked ready to kiss her again. “I'd better get that food out in the kitchen.”

His fingers lingered on hers as she pulled away and scurried into the kitchen.

Twenty-Six

T
he following Monday Ida cleared away the breakfast dishes, humming as she worked. In the basement the washer motor had run since well before daylight.
Mamm
was down there now with a few more loads of the weekly wash ahead of her. The rest was already out on the line. Only minutes ago, Debbie had left for her job at Destiny Relocation Services with her friend Rhonda, who also worked there. Rhonda lived near the town of Penns Creek. She could easily pick up Debbie in exchange for gas money. The way Debbie made the adjustments necessary to her new life without an automobile was so
wunderbah
, Ida thought. Debbie had such a cheerful attitude, and
Da Hah
blessed her for it. There was no doubt about that.

Melvin's face was still in front of Ida's eyes as she worked. She could still see his smile after he'd kissed her goodnight beside the buggy. Ida blushed at the thought, and the dish in her hand clattered to the table. She bent over to pick it up, her thoughts still fixed on Melvin. He had asked her to be his
frau
! And in May already! How fast things moved. And how would they ever get ready in time? That's what she ought to be thinking about. Instead, her head was
up in the clouds, and all about a kiss. But that's what people in love did, didn't they? She felt the heat rise to her face again.

Ida rushed to clear the rest of the table. She must speak with
Mamm
about the wedding the first chance she had. Maybe after all the wash was on the line. Ida paused to catch her breath. She really couldn't be blamed for her mixed-up state this morning. A man had never kissed her before. Melvin wasn't as dashing as Paul Wagler, but Paul had only been a fantasy, not unlike a young schoolgirl's idle dream. Melvin, on the other hand was real, and he loved her. What more could she ask for than that? And he had already done the family a great favor when he stuck up for Debbie. That gesture alone made Paul look like a shadow of the man Melvin was. Paul was too consumed with himself to think of such a kind action.

With a quick step
Mamm
burst into the kitchen with an empty hamper in her hand. “Another load down and two to go, I think.”
Mamm
paused to glance at Ida. “You're awful dreamy this morning.”

Ida kept her face turned away. Now that the moment had come, she really didn't want to tell
Mamm
about the proposal. It had all been so sudden, and she wanted to savor it a while longer. But
Mamm
waited, so she had to say something. “Melvin spoke up for Debbie with his brother. That's why there hasn't been the trouble we expected.”

Mamm
didn't say anything for a moment. “I didn't know Melvin had so much influence with Minister Kanagy.”

“Apparently he does,” Ida said.

Mamm
muttered something Ida couldn't hear and disappeared toward the bedroom. She was back moments later with the hamper full again.

Ida stopped her. “I have more I want to say. The kitchen work is almost done anyway. And Melvin…”

“I guess I'll have to stop.”
Mamm
sank to a kitchen chair with a sigh. “These old bones don't take to work like they used to.”

“
Mamm
, don't you like Melvin?”

Mamm
shook her head. “It's not that, Ida. Just all the
kafuffle
that's been going on lately, with Lois and now Debbie's church troubles, has me distracted. But don't worry, Ida. I like the man—even though this whole thing of bringing you home seems kind of quick.”

“He needs a
frau
, and he has six children who need a
mamm
,” Ida said.

“
Yah,
but are his children reason enough to marry him?”
Mamm
regarded Ida for a moment. “You do love him a little, I hope?”

Melvin's face as he kissed her flashed before Ida's eyes. She must have turned bright red, because a slight smile played on
Mamm
's face.

“He must have made some kind of impression on you, it seems.”

“He's strong, and decent, and has a tender heart,” Ida managed.

“Okay, okay.”
Mamm
waved her hand. “You don't have to tell me the details. If you're happy, I won't complain. But I do wish people could keep church things out of love.”

“Melvin was just trying to help,” Ida said. “He asked me to marry him last night,
Mamm
!”

“I was wondering what this was all about. I figured it would come sooner or later. You accepted, I assume?”

“
Yah
.” Ida hesitated. She made no effort to keep the dismay from her face. This was not how she had imagined the moment when she would tell
Mamm
the news of her upcoming wedding. “You don't seem overly happy. You surely don't object?”

Mamm
reached over to touch Ida's arm. “Of course I don't object. Melvin's a
gut
man. I just want you to be happy. But he does have six children, you know.”

“I know that.” Ida paused. “That's why we're getting wed in May.”

Mamm
jumped up. “In May! Ida! That's in two months! What were you thinking?”

“It doesn't have to be a big wedding! It really doesn't.” Ida clutched
Mamm
's arm. “Melvin's perfectly happy with almost nothing. This, after all, is his second wedding, and he has his children's needs on his mind.”

Mamm
collapsed into her chair again. “Ida, it's just so much happening so soon.”

Her
mamm
seemed close to tears, so Ida thought it best to let the topic rest. “Here,
Mamm
. I'll take the hamper down and work on the wash. You sit and rest.