Wanted(59)

As far as Katie could tell, Rebekeh was still living that same way. Marriage agreed with her. Duty and faith and family sustained her. To Katie’s knowledge, her older sister had never thought about any other path for herself.

Maybe that’s where Katie had gone wrong. She was too dreamy and had her head in the clouds too much. Her people wanted structure and predictability in their lives. They wanted faith and function and steadfastness.

Yes, Rebekeh would say Katie thought too much. Heaven knows, her mother had said that time and again. Always her father was more direct. “You are not in charge, Katie,” he liked to say. “God is, and it is His will you should be following. Trust Him, and all will be well.”

Katie, indeed, did trust the Lord’s presence in her life. Trusted His hand in all things. But she also felt He was probably too busy with life and death situations to worry about her mixed-up feelings concerning Jonathan Lundy.

Now, though, Katie would give anything for time to rethink the last two days. Though Jonathan hadn’t pressed her for an answer, Katie felt the burden of waiting just as strongly as if he was over her shoulder and watching her every move.

With Christmas just one week away, she kept herself busy with Mary and Hannah and did her best not to think about what could be or what might never be at all. Two days after the girls got out of school for break, Katie bundled them up and took them in the buggy to her parents’ home.

Funny how it no longer seemed like it was her place. Instead, it was her parents’ now. Yet, when she walked in the kitchen and smelled the wonderful scents of almond and vanilla and the sharp tang of peppermint, and oranges, Katie knew she was once again in her family’s tender care. Nothing smelled like her mother’s kitchen in December.

Anna greeted her with a floury smile. “Gude mariye,” she said cheerily. “Good morning.”

Hannah giggled at the awkward pronunciation, but for once, Mary wasn’t a picture of disproval. No, her lips twitched, too, finally bursting into an encouraging smile. “You learning more Deutsche, Anna?”

“I am. Well, I am, slowly. I want to surprise Henry tonight and only speak in Pennsylvania Dutch. What do you think?” Again, the words were awkward sounding and slow.

Little Hannah wrinkled her nose. “I think he will be eager for you to speak in your own English.”

Katie would have laughed more if her friend’s expression didn’t look so crestfallen. “You are certainly sounding much more like us, that is for sure. I, for one, am sorely impressed.”

“Jah? But what will Henry say?”

Katie knew she’d do her best to find Henry before she left and remind him to compliment Anna, no matter what she sounded like. “We won’t worry about what Henry says,” she said confidently. “I have a feeling he will tell you soon enough.”

Katie spied Anna looking longingly at her mother. “I hope he won’t be disappointed. I so want to be a good Amish fraa.”

Her mother reached out and hugged Anna with a chuckle. “Oh, Anna, what did we ever do without you? You make me smile so much. Dear, don’t you understand? Henry wants you, not an ideal woman. And, well, even we Amish women have our faults.”

With a wink in Mary’s direction, her mother added, “We Amish are not perfect, though sometimes we’d like to think so.”

Looking pleased to be included in such a grown-up conversation, Mary lifted her little chin. “We can only do our best,” she said solemnly.

“I supposed you’re right,” Anna replied. As if to give evidence to that, one fierce blond curl escaped from her kapp. Hastily, Anna tried to secure it but instead caused two other curls to break free and sprinkle flour over her cheeks and forehead in the process. “I don’t want to be perfect. But I do want Henry to feel proud of me.”

“He already does, child. We all do.”

For the first time, Katie realized she didn’t feel a bit of jealousy about Anna’s courtship. Instead, she found herself agreeing wholeheartedly with her mother. “Henry’s said more than once that he’s amazed at the amount of information you’ve learned. Our way of doing things can be quite daunting. I, for one, know you will make a fine Amish wife.” She’d chosen her words carefully, wanting Anna to be reassured.

“Thanks for saying that,” Anna said softly and with a grateful expression. “It means a lot.”

“We came to make cookies,” Hannah proclaimed importantly. “Can we help?”

Mamm nodded. “Yes, indeed.” Wiping her hands on a towel, she said, “If you’ve a mind to work in the kitchen, you’ve most certainly come to the right place. Grab an apron, wash your hands, and I’ll put you to work. We need to make cookies for us, our friends, and for our guests here.”