There it was. That gentle flirting again. It made her smile . . . and made her want to flirt a little bit back. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“If I told you all my secrets you’d have no reason to want to see me again.”
“You would be wrong about that, Emma. I would want to see you soon, even if I knew every one. Gut naught.”
“Gut naught, Jay. Danke.”
With one last lingering smile, he turned and walked away.
And when she went inside, she could practically hear the pounding of her heart.
Chapter 21
By Saturday afternoon, Beverly was wishing she had called Eric on Friday evening, even if it would’ve meant waking him up. She was going to need his frank speaking and easygoing manner to get through her brother’s visit.
The moment Edward and Kathleen had gotten off the bus, they’d fussed over Tricia like she’d been away for years. That was understandable. But their constant questioning of everything Tricia did was becoming hard to watch. At first, Tricia had held up fine under their barrage. But now, after sharing a lunch at Yoder’s, Tricia looked as if she was about to burst into tears or lose her temper. Probably both.
As they walked back along the streets of Pinecraft toward the inn, Beverly knew it was just about time to step in. If she didn’t, it was very likely that Tricia was going to lose her very last thread of composure.
She wondered if Kathleen realized that.
Beverly decided she probably didn’t. Otherwise Kathleen wouldn’t have wrapped an arm around Tricia’s shoulders, keeping her firmly in her grip as she spoke. “Tricia, there isna reason for you to have the wedding here. You don’t know anyone and all of your family is in Sugarcreek. Besides, this Ben’s relatives are in Charm.”
Tricia pulled away. “But we are here in Pinecraft, Mamm. Ben’s family is here, too.”
Kathleen stopped right in the middle of the sidewalk. “We are not here,” she said sharply, oblivious to the attention she was drawing from everyone around them.
“I want to say my vows here,” Tricia retorted. “It’s important to me.”
“I don’t see why,” Kathleen huffed as she began walking again.
Tricia trotted to her side. “You will, once you spend some time here. Pinecraft is special to me. Aunt Beverly’s inn is special to me, too. It’s where Ben and I first met.”
“I understand that, but marrying here makes no sense.”
Tricia stopped again. “It does to me, Mamm.”
“Come along, Trish. I’ll arrange a date for next November, when things have gotten quiet on the farms.”
“Next November?” Tricia shook her head. “Nee, Mother. That’s over a year from now.”
“You need that much time.”
“Why?”
“To be sure of your feelings,” she said impatiently. After glancing at Edward, who Beverly noticed was pretending he wasn’t within earshot, she said, “You know what I mean.”
“Nee, I don’t know. Mamm, Ben and I have already talked with the preacher and the bishop. They have given us their blessing.”
“It also takes at least a year to plan a big wedding,” Kathleen said as she picked up her pace. “We’re going to have to pick colors for your attendants’ dresses, decide on flowers, think about a cake . . .”
“I don’t need all that. And Aunt Beverly is the best baker around. I’m sure she could make my cake.” Glancing at Beverly over her shoulder, she said, “Right, Aunt Beverly?”
Beverly gulped as she scurried to catch up. “Of course, dear. I would love to make you a cake.”
While Kathleen glared at her, Edward at last entered the discussion. “Tricia, no one is saying that you can’t marry this boy. We simply have to wait a bit. There’s nothing wrong with that.” Glancing at Beverly, he said, “Right?”
Oh, no. He was not going to rope her into his side. “This has nothing to do with me, Edward.” Seeing the inn in the distance, she said, “Perhaps we should finish this conversation at home?” Pointing in front of her, she added, “See? We’re almost there.”
“We might as well finish it right now,” Edward said. “It’s not like it’s going to get any easier.”
To Beverly’s surprise, Tricia smiled broadly. “That’s exactly what I’ve been saying! There is no reason for me to wait to marry. So I’m not waiting.” Tricia’s tone was firm. “I am getting married next month.”
“But that won’t work out for us,” Kathleen blurted.
“That is too bad,” Tricia said in an airy way. “I would have liked to have had you here.” Then she darted around a pair of Amish teens who’d been eavesdropping and strode toward the inn.