The Courtship Basket (19 page)

Rachel stared out the window as Emily talked on about their friends. She wondered what Mike was doing and if he was thinking about her.
Mamm
was right when she said Rachel was falling in love with Mike. A feeling of dread slithered through her. Rachel had been determined not to give her love away so quickly, but she'd managed to do it anyway.

Now what am I going to do?

As she turned back toward her smiling sister, Rachel hugged her arms to her chest as if to guard her heart. She longed to be more like Emily, the sister who smiled no matter what life threw her way.

If only Rachel could turn off her feelings for Mike. She bit her
lower lip. Maybe she wasn't supposed to turn them off. What if she was meant to teach Mike how to love despite all the challenges he had in his life?

Her stomach fluttered as the thought came into focus. God could have brought Rachel into Mike's life for a reason, a reason that went beyond helping his brother. Rachel could be the one to show Mike what true love with a partner in life could be like.

She would take her mother's advice and give him time, but she would also continue to reach out to him and encourage him. She gripped the buggy door as excitement overtook her. Maybe, just maybe, she and Mike could find happiness together.

“T
HANK YOU
.” M
IKE PAID THE POST OFFICE CLERK AND
pocketed the book of stamps. “Have a good afternoon.”

As he walked toward the exit, he heard a familiar voice. He glanced toward the mail slots and saw Rachel and Emily talking as Emily placed stamps on envelopes. A smile spread across his lips. It had been two long weeks since he'd gone on the picnic with Rachel.

He'd missed her. Although they hadn't spoken, Rachel continued to send delicious meals to them in her basket and write encouraging notes in John's journal about his progress at school.

“Rachel,” he said as he stepped toward her.

Rachel glanced up from the stack of mail, and her eyes widened with surprise. Was that also excitement he saw?

“Mike.”

She looked beautiful in her teal frock and black apron. He'd forgotten how gorgeous her deep brown eyes were. Why hadn't he made the effort to see her during the past two weeks? He'd longed to spend time with her, but he'd been too preoccupied with keeping up at work and caring for
Dat
at home.

Or was it because he feared the deep emotions that had taken root inside of him the day of the picnic by the pond?

“Hi, Mike.” Emily gave him a little wave, yanking him from his thoughts. He nodded a greeting, but his eyes were immediately pulled back to Rachel.

“How have you been?” he asked her, resting a hand on the counter where they were working.

Rachel smiled, and her face lit up. Oh, how he had missed her smile.

“I've been fine. How about you?”

“
Gut, gut
. We've enjoyed the meals you've sent home,” he said. “
Danki
.”

A look passed between the sisters, and Rachel's cheeks blushed a bright pink. She was adorable.

“I'm glad you liked them,” Rachel said. “Emily and I have had fun preparing them.”

“You've done most of the cooking, Rach,” Emily said. “Don't give me any credit.”

Mike pointed toward the envelopes. “So are you here for stamps too?” He pulled the book from his pocket and held it up.

“
Ya
, that's right.” Rachel nodded. “We were running a few errands, so we thought we'd mail the bills for our
mamm
.”

“I was doing errands too.” He jammed a thumb toward the door. “I'm actually working today. Ever since it got warm, we've been overloaded with orders. The May weather has done wonders for our business. We can't seem to get caught up, so I'm working for the next few Saturdays.”

“What time do you get off work?” Emily asked, and Rachel shot her an incredulous expression.

“I'm hoping to leave at four. Why?”

“You should come over for supper tonight,” Emily said.

Rachel's eyebrows careened toward her hairline as she stared at her sister.

“Our
schweschder
Veronica and her husband are coming,” Emily continued, ignoring her sister's alarmed expression. “You can meet them.”

The sisters seemed to share a silent conversation with their eyes, and then Rachel suddenly smiled.

“That's a great idea,” Rachel agreed. “Can you go home and
pick up your
dat
and John? We'd love to have your family meet our whole family.”

Mike was surprised by Rachel's hopeful expression. “Are you sure? I don't want to impose on your family time.”

“Don't be
gegisch
,” Rachel said, waving off the comment. “It will be fun.”

“
Ya
,” Emily chimed in.

“All right.
Danki
.” Mike rubbed his chin. “I'll arrange for my driver to bring us over to your farm. Do you need me to bring dessert or anything?”

“No,” Rachel said. “We'll take care of all that. You just bring your family. We're going to eat around six.”

“Sounds great.” He stuck the book of stamps back in his pocket. “I'll see you then.”

Mike walked out the door as a smile turned up the corners of his mouth. He couldn't wait to see Rachel later this evening. He was thankful their paths had crossed today. He just hoped
Dat
would feel well enough to go.

R
ACHEL WATCHED AS
M
IKE DISAPPEARED THROUGH THE
post office door and then turned toward Emily. “What made you invite him over for supper tonight?”

Emily shrugged as she stuck stamps on the remaining envelopes. “I'm tired of seeing you mope around the house, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.”

“I haven't been moping,” Rachel insisted. “I've just been giving Mike some space. And I've been busy sending the meals over so he sees I care about him and his family.”

“That's great, but you have to see him too.” Emily stamped the last letter and then slipped the pile into the slot.

“I know that,” Rachel said with annoyance. “But I didn't want
to invite myself over to his
haus
. That would make me look too eager.”

“That's why I did it. There's nothing wrong with inviting him to have supper with our family,” Emily said. “And I invited him instead of you, so that makes you look like you're not too eager.”

Rachel grinned. “
Danki
.”

“
Gern gschehne.
That's what
schweschdere
are for.” Emily shrugged. “I'm glad I can help you. I just want to see you
froh
like Veronica is.”

Rachel tilted her head and studied her sister. “Why are you so worried about helping me get to know Mike if you aren't dating anyone? You always take care of everyone else, Em, but you never worry about yourself. Shouldn't I help you find someone special too?”

Emily shook her head. “I'm not really looking. I feel like it will happen when the time is right.”

“But you've never had a boyfriend. There has to be someone you like at youth group,” Rachel pressed.

“No, there really isn't anyone. I want a boyfriend I can really talk to, but I haven't met anyone at youth group I connect with. But it's okay. Like I said, I'll find the right person when it's my time to date.” Emily looped her arm around Rachel's shoulder. “Now, let's get to the grocery store so we can pick up the ingredients for supper.”

“H
ELLO, HELLO
!” V
ERONICA
'
S VOICE RANG THROUGH THE KITCHEN
later that afternoon. She hefted a large tote bag onto the table.

“Veronica!” Rachel called from her place standing at the counter. “
Wie geht's!
”

“It's so
gut
to see you.”
Mamm
rushed over to her and hugged her. “Where's Jason?”

“He went out to the shop to talk to
Dat
.” Veronica gestured toward the bag. “I brought four pies. You have your choice of
chocolate, lemon meringue, shoofly, and rhubarb custard. I did quite a bit of baking this week now that my bake stand is up and running.”

Emily began to unload the pies from the bag. “I'm glad you brought four. We're having company for supper.”

“Oh
ya
?” Veronica looked surprised. “Who's coming?”

“Mike Lantz and his
dat
and
bruder
.” Emily elbowed Rachel.

“Stop, Em.” Rachel's cheeks were hot with embarrassment as Veronica placed her hand on her hip and her eyes twinkled.

“Do you have a new boyfriend, Rach?” Veronica touched Rachel's arm. “Tell me all about him.”

“He's just a
freind
,” Rachel said with a noncommittal shrug. “His
bruder
is in my class.”

“They're really
gut freinden
,” Emily said. “She's not telling you the whole story.”

“I'll make tea,”
Mamm
said, moving to the counter. “The pork roast is in the oven, so we can talk before we make the mashed potatoes.”

Veronica dropped into a chair at the table and gestured for Rachel to sit beside her. “
Kumm
. Tell me all about Mike.”

Rachel shot Emily an annoyed expression, but Emily only smiled as she brought four mugs to the table.

“Stop glaring at me, Rach,” Emily said, handing her a mug. “Veronica is going to meet Mike tonight, so you might as well fill her in.”

“Mike is a very nice young man,”
Mamm
chimed in as she delivered the sweetener and cream to the table. “He's caring for his ill father and his little
bruder
, who is in Rachel's class.”

“Oh,” Veronica said with interest. “Where does Mike work?”

Rachel shared where Mike worked, explained his father's illness, and talked about working with John on his studies. “John has really improved on his schoolwork and his behavior. I enjoy having him in my class.”

“It sounds like you really like teaching,” Veronica commented.

“I do.” Rachel sat up a little taller. “I want to keep teaching there next year. I'm so grateful Malinda asked me to work with her.”

“I can't wait to meet Mike and his family.” Veronica set her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her palm.

Emily brought the kettle to the table and filled their mugs. “I think Mike really likes Rachel. He seemed excited when I invited him over for supper.”

Rachel's stomach pitched with both excitement and dread when she thought about supper. She hoped it would go well and Mike would want to continue their friendship. Had he missed her as much as she had missed him during the past two weeks?

“So how have you been?” Emily asked Veronica.

Rachel swallowed a sigh of relief when the focus was taken away from her. She stirred sweetener and cream into her cup. She was thankful to share tea with her mother and sisters.

“I've been
gut
.” Veronica lifted her mug. “Jason has been really busy at the shop, and I've been baking lots of pies. Quite a few people have come by to give me orders. I'm really
froh
with the bake stand Jason and his
dat
built for me. I get a lot of traffic on Saturdays. I already have some regular customers.”

As Veronica continued to talk about her bake stand, Rachel lost herself in thoughts of Mike. The sweet aroma of the spring breeze coming through the open windows mixed with the smell of the baking pork roast permeated the kitchen. She hoped Mike's father was well enough to come to supper tonight and that their families would enjoy their time together.

M
IKE HURRIED UP THE BACK STEPS SHORTLY BEFORE FIVE
o'clock. He had rushed through his projects at work as quickly as he could in hopes of getting home early. When a customer came
in at a quarter to four to discuss ordering a set of planters for his business, however, Mike's plans to leave early went up in smoke.

He rushed through the mudroom and entered the kitchen, where Marie was sitting at the table and looking at a book with John.

“Hi, Mike,” John called.

“How was work?” Marie asked.

“
Gut
.” Mike gestured toward the doorway behind her. “How's my
dat
?”

Marie frowned. “He's been napping all afternoon in his recliner.”

“Oh,” Mike said as dread settled heavily on his shoulders. “I ran into Rachel and Emily at the post office, and they invited us over for supper.”

“Rachel invited us over for supper?” John asked, his expression brightening with excitement.

“
Ya
, she did. Do you think
Dat
is well enough to go, Marie?”

“I don't know.” She looked skeptical. “I tried to talk him into sitting on the porch with me since it's so
schee
outside, but he insisted he was too weak.”

Mike cupped his hand on the back of his neck. All afternoon he'd wondered if
Dat
would be well enough to go out to Rachel's house for supper. He didn't want to disappoint John, and he also didn't want to disappoint Rachel. And he'd been looking forward to seeing her ever since the day they'd gone on the picnic.

Of course he would never risk his father's health, but he wanted his family to enjoy an evening with Rachel's family too.

“I'm going to check on him,” Mike said, crossing the kitchen floor. He stood in the doorway to the family room and found
Dat
with his eyes closed. “
Dat
,” he said quietly. “Are you awake?”

“Michael.”
Dat
's voice was barely a whisper. “How was work?”

“It was
gut
. Busy.” Mike sat in the chair across from his. “How are you doing?”

“Tired.”
Dat
ran his hand over his graying beard. “I was
hoping to maybe sit outside. Marie wanted me to. But I just don't have the strength.”

Mike scowled as his dream of having supper at Rachel's house dissolved. He tried to shove away the disappointment. He had to take care of
Dat
, which was why he had to stop dreaming of dating Rachel and having a future with her.

“What's on your mind?”
Dat
asked.

“Nothing.” Mike shook his head and forced a smile. “What would you like me to make you for supper?”

“You're making supper?” Mike looked up to see John pouting in the doorway. “I thought we were all going to Rachel's
haus
for supper.”

“John,” Mike began, “what have I told you about eavesdropping? You shouldn't listen in to conversations when you're not invited.”

“Why aren't we going to Rachel's
haus
?” John crossed the room and glared at Mike. “You said we would all go.”

Mike blew out a frustrated sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He couldn't stand disappointing his brother. “No, I didn't say that. I said we'd been invited.
Dat
isn't feeling well. We can have supper with Rachel and her family another time, all right?”