Where Love Grows (13 page)

Menno tried to ignore the jolt he felt. Surely this wasn't his…son! “How old was he, do you think?”

“Forties somewhere, I'd say. I told him you were in the middle of wedding preparations. But that he should stop by if he wanted to speak with you. I gave him directions to your place.”

“Did he say what his name was?”

“Dennis…Dennis White, I think.”

Menno looked away as he shook another hand held out to him. The
Englisha
man wasn't his son. The name was wrong. Besides, he had just written his letter this morning. It still waited for the postman to pick it up.

Behind Menno more buggies poured into the yard, stopping by the house for the women to climb out. As they made their way into the house, the men drove the buggies into the field. Menno forced himself to think of something other than an
Englisha
man asking for him. He should be helping somewhere instead of dwelling on his worried thoughts.

Minutes later, a dark-colored car pulled in and parked beside the long-distance vans. This was not a relative of James's coming in from out of state, Menno decided. None of them would hire a car in which to travel. And Teresa hadn't mentioned having any family other than her
mamm
. Menno watched as a man in a dark suit got out and looked about the yard. Pain returned to his stomach.

“That's the
Englisha
fellow,” Deacon Ray said, poking Menno in the ribs and nodding toward the car.

Menno jumped. “Did you invite him to the wedding?”

“I guess he could have taken it that way,” Deacon Ray said. “You're giving the wedding, perhaps you ought to make him feel welcome.”

Menno took a deep breath and walked across the lawn. What was he to say? What if this man was his son? “Good morning,” Menno said when he was near the man. He offered his hand. “I'm Menno Hostetler.”

The man met his eyes as a smile spread across his face.

“I'm Dennis White. I hope I'm not intruding.”

“Of course not.” Menno swallowed hard. “I believe you met Deacon Ray the other day. He's the father of the groom.”

“I believe so.” Dennis glanced over at the fast-approaching Deacon Ray. “I also wanted to speak with you. A little research I'm doing on the Amish. Hopefully we can talk after the wedding, if that's okay. I wasn't quite sure how to do this. I only arrived here yesterday, and then I found that a wedding was taking place this morning. I hope I'm not intruding.”

“I understand,” Menno told him. “And you're welcome to stay.”

“Well, hello, hello!” Deacon Ray interrupted, coming up to offer his hand in greeting. “I see you made it.”

“Yes, and thanks for the information yesterday.” Dennis offered a smile. “Will I get to see a real Amish wedding?”

“
Yah
,” Deacon Ray said. “My son's wedding!”

“And you're the father of the bride, is that right?” Dennis asked Menno.

“I claim her as my daughter,
yah
,” Menno agreed.

“As part of my research on the Amish, I'd certainly enjoy witnessing an Amish wedding. Do you mind?”

Deacon Ray laughed. “Observe all you wish. We're different on the outside,
yah
, but the same on the inside. We have lunch afterward, so don't forget to stay for that.”

“That's kind of you, sir. I certainly will.”

“Come!” Menno motioned with his hand. “The service begins soon.”

Dennis followed Menno back to the barn. Already Bishop Henry was leading the line of men into the barn.

“Just follow me,” Menno told Dennis.

The
Englisha
man stayed close as they moved down the tight rows of benches and found places to sit. They were no sooner seated than the washroom door opened and a line of women appeared and walked toward the barn. Behind them came a line of unmarried girls. Finally, when everyone else was seated, the wedding party came out.

Thomas and Susan were in the lead, with Teresa and James following behind them. They were followed by James's cousin Ben and his girlfriend, Mary.

Menno held still, wild thoughts racing through his head. Who was this man sitting beside him really? Could he be his son? But it couldn't be. It couldn't happen just like that.

“Was the girl in the lead your daughter?” Dennis leaned over to whisper.

“
Yah
…” Menno jumped on the bench. “Susan.”

In front of them the wedding party paused, waiting. The boys stood, facing the girls on the other side. Only when James began to sit down did the others follow. When all were seated someone shouted out a song number, and the singing began.

Menno watched the
Englisha
man out of the corner of his eye. He seemed to be soaking in every sight and sound. His eyes watched the ministers as they filed in towards the house, followed by James and Teresa.

“They're going in the house for some last-minute marriage counseling,” Menno whispered above the sound of singing.

Dennis smiled. “Nowadays everyone can use that.”

Menno smiled at the comment. He shared the songbook with the
Englisha
man as the singing continued. Deacon Ray acted strange this morning, Menno thought. Did he suspect anything about his past? But how could he? After all, Deacon Ray had been there with him in St. Louis during those days, and he hadn't known about Carol. Menno settled on the bench, letting the memories from those days return.

Deacon Ray and he had both served their alternative service in St. Louis, their time overlapping by a few months. Deacon Ray hadn't been a deacon back then. He was simply a homesick boy who went out a few times with the sister of a boy Ray was friends with at the hospital. Menno wasn't supposed to know that, just as Ray wasn't supposed to know about Carol. Likely Ray had never found out his secret, let alone how deeply he had been involved with Carol. If Ray had known, he would have assumed it was the same innocent flirting with the world he himself was involved in. So he must be imagining things, Menno decided. Guilt was that way. It drove a man to extremes, forcing him to flee shadows when they were but tree limbs moving in the moonlight. Menno glanced over at Dennis. He was watching Teresa and James coming back across the lawn, walking side-by-side, smiling at each other, seemingly oblivious to all the people in the barn who were watching them.

“They're a sweet couple,” Dennis whispered.

Menno nodded. Teresa and James
were
a sweet couple.

The two took their seats as another song number was given out. The music ended minutes later when the ministers appeared and walked single file across the lawn. They took their seats. Then the first minister stood and gave his sermon. He spoke in hushed tones of the great love
Da Hah
had for mankind. How that love is lived out in the relationship between husband and wife. How all should go home after the services and practice the love of
Da Hah
with their family members.

With the sermon ended, the Scriptures were read. Bishop Henry rose. He told the story of Abraham sending his servant to find a wife for Isaac. At the well, the servant had prayed that
Da Hah
would reveal to him in a special way which girl was to be the chosen woman for Isaac.
Da Hah
had shown His will, moving Rebecca to offer water for all the camels. This was no small task, Bishop Henry said, and was an example to all that
Da Hah
loved those who were willing to aid others, whether they were men or women.

Menno watched Teresa's face as Bishop Henry finished his sermon and asked the couple to stand.

The questions began at once. “Do you promise, Brother James, to take this woman, our Sister Teresa, to be your beloved wife? To cherish, protect, and care for her through sickness and health until death do you part?”

James smiled and answered with a firm “
Yah
.”

Teresa had tears running down her face when she whispered her answer to the question about taking James as her husband.

Dennis shifted on the bench beside Menno as Bishop Henry continued the questions and listened to the answers. He then joined James and Teresa's hands and declared that they were now man and wife. The couple sat down. Teresa was wiping her eyes with her handkerchief, her face glowing with happiness.

Behind them the last song was given out and begun. When it ended, Bishop Henry dismissed the service.

Menno turned to Dennis, “I hope you enjoyed your first Amish wedding.”

“I did.” Dennis smiled with great warmth. “Even though I didn't understand much, it was very wonderful. You're a tenderhearted people, I see.”

“Thank you,” Menno said. “I hope you'll stay for lunch. It's being served at the next place down the road. It looks like the women are already rushing over there to help get things going.”

“I would be honored to stay,” Dennis said. “Thank you.”

“I'm available anytime you wish to speak with me,” Menno added, wondering what questions he'd be asked.

“Ah, perhaps I'll wait on that,” Dennis said.

“Okay,” Menno nodded. “If you need anything, let me know.” He turned and walked over to Deacon Ray.

“Well, they're married!” Deacon Ray said. He laughed. “I think they make a wonderful couple, Menno.”

Menno nodded, his gaze on the
Englisha
man's back as he moved through the crowd, shaking hands and talking with the men. He seemed to be a natural people-person, Menno thought. Could this be his son? It seemed very possible.

A
n hour later the wedding party was seated at the center table surrounded by relatives and friends, some already sitting at the tables that had been set up in the pole barn at Reuben and Ada's place. Susan sat to the right of Teresa, and Thomas was beside her, smiling at every opportunity, obviously enjoying himself fully.

Well-wishers were filing past the table, shaking hands with Teresa and James. In moments the call for dinner would be given. Already one of the ushers was coming toward them and directing people to their seats.

Tears were still falling down Teresa's cheeks making her look, if possible, even more beautiful than she had this morning. All was well now, and Susan breathed a sigh of relief. Her thoughts turned to wondering where
Mamm
might be. She hadn't been around since they walked down the road to Ada's. Her place was still empty beside
Daett
on the bench reserved for the family.
Daett
, too, seemed at a loss as to
Mamm
's whereabouts. The worried look on his face gave evidence of his concern. Likely
Mamm
was keeping baby Samuel out of sight so Teresa would have the full enjoyment of her special day. Susan relaxed at the thought.

Maurice's glowing face was a close second to Teresa's, Susan decided. She was glancing often toward her daughter. This day was going as Teresa had dreamed but often thought impossible. Yet
Da Hah
had brought them all through it—especially Teresa. Her faith had been behind all of this. And Teresa was now a married Amish woman. Wiping tears from her own eyes, Susan leaned over to whisper to Thomas, “What a wonderful day this is! And Teresa looks so happy.”

Thomas jumped, quickly turning his gaze toward Susan and away from the spot across the room he'd been staring at.

“Yah
,” Thomas managed. “They sure are. And I'm happy for James.”

“Do you know those young people?” Susan had followed the direction of Thomas's gaze.

“A few of them are James's cousins,” Thomas said as a long line of young people filed in to find places to sit. “The others I don't know.”

Susan watched the boys and girls split off to different sides of the room. Why was Thomas watching them so intently? Her thought was broken as Thomas looked over at James and Teresa. “Good things do happen in this world, Susan.” He reached under the table to squeeze her hand. “And they can also happen for us. I really do believe that.”