A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn(51)

But there was a vast difference between wondering about something happening one day and what Ben and Tricia were talking about. Frankly, just the idea of Jay knocking on the door to see her was exciting. And it gave her a giant knot deep in the middle of her stomach.

Tricia looked at her closely. “Have you ever thought about marrying again?”

“I have,” she said cautiously. “Well, from time to time. But I’ve always thought about it in a vague way, like when I wonder what it would feel like walking on the streets of Paris or Rome. I never truly thought I would find another man I would want to date.”

“Never?” Tricia asked, her eyes wide.

“I loved my husband very much.”

After darting a hesitant look at Ben, Emma said, “Now, I don’t know what to think. My family and Sanford’s family are very close. I suppose all of them thought I’d simply raise the girls on my own.”

“I used to think my father should stay alone,” Ben said. “But now I would feel bad if he did that. I would feel sorry for you, too, if you never considered courting again. Being alone forever is a mighty long time.”

Emma was pretty sure Ben had no idea how true his statement was. “Jah. It is.”

Tricia stood up. “Emma, I know you have been through a lot more than me, but I have recently learned that the Lord has put a whole lot of people on the earth and given us a whole lot of places to live and walk and explore. It would be a shame to ignore the chance for happiness because you were afraid you might like having a new man in your life.”

Well, Tricia’s words were certainly direct. “Danke,” she said slowly. Half of her was ready to disregard what the girl said. However, the other part was more than willing to accept Tricia’s advice. After all, hadn’t she been thinking just the same thing over the last few days? Clearing her throat, she changed the subject. “I should probably feed these kinner now. School gives one quite an appetite.”

“I’ll be back in two hours to get William,” Ben said.

Just as Emma was ready to nod, Tricia’s words reverberated in her head some more. She could either stew on them a little bit longer or do something.

Right then and there, she knew how Sanford would have reacted to such a statement. He would have grasped hold of it and held on tight. Furthermore, he would have convinced his parents to see his point of view. He would have not let anyone talk him out of doing something that was important to him.

And Jay was becoming important to her.

She knew what she had to do. “Wait. Ben, would your daed be upset if the girls and I brought William home?”

“Not at all.”

“You sure?”

“If we don’t need to stay around Pinecraft for William, I’ll take Tricia back to the farm and tell my daed you’re going to stop by. If it seems like he would be mad, I’ll simply come right back to retrieve William.”

“That’s a lot of trouble.”

“It’s no trouble. Besides, I’m almost positive my father is going to be really happy about your visit.”

“It’s going to be fun. I’ll make everyone supper,” Tricia added with a happy smile.

“Nee, you don’t need to do that,” Emma said quickly. “I’m not planning to stay there long.”

“Just long enough to say hello to Jay?”

Feeling like she was practically leaping off a cliff, she nodded. “Jah. I think, well, I think maybe I should give this courting idea a try. Just to see what might happen.” She darted a look at Ben and was relieved to see that he looked pleased.

Tricia’s green eyes sparkled. “Miss Emma, have you decided to be the one going courting?”

“Maybe. After all, the Lord doesn’t say anything about women having to wait for the men to always make the first move. I think I would like to see what it feels like.”

She only hoped Jay wouldn’t be too shocked.





Chapter 18


Danke for coming to the farm,” Jay said to a man about his age wearing a ball cap. “We appreciate your business.”

“Are you kidding? We’re glad y’all are open again. This is the best place in the county for fresh organic fruits and vegetables.” Looking around, he pointed to the new display cases Jay, Ben, and Mark had built in the evenings. “I had heard you had opened a stand on the road, but this place is terrific.”

“Thank you,” Jay said, glad that the old building on the edge of the property had turned into such a perfect place to sell all their produce. With its quaint features, it looked like a cross between a gingerbread house and a rustic barn. The boys had painted it brick red and ordered a sign from a local woodworker declaring it the Hilty Organic Market in black and gold. The building had turned out to be a far better stand than Jay could have imagined. And its unusual, charming quirkiness had caught the eye of many locals.