A Perfect Match
Authors: Kathleen Fuller
© 2011 by Kathleen Fuller
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansâelectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherâexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Publisher's Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.
ISBN 978-1-4016-8942-1 (eBook)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Long, Kelly.
An Amish wedding / Kelly Long, Kathleen Fuller, Beth Wiseman.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-59554-921-1 (trade paper)
1. AmishâFiction. 2. Christian fiction, American. 3. Love stories, American. I. Fuller, Kathleen. II. Wiseman, Beth, 1962- III. Title.
PS648.A45L68 2011
813'.6âdc23 2011035347
Printed in the United States of America
11 12 13 14 15 QG 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Thanks to my wonderful editors, Natalie Hanemann and L.B. Norton. Again, you've worked your magic on another story! To Beth and Kelly, for being such great partners in this writing journey. To Tamela Hancock Murray, for her friendship and support. Thanks to Jill Eileen Smith for reading the story and giving me wonderful advice. You're a treasured friend. And thank you to everyone who reads our stories, visits with us on Facebook, Amish Living, and Amish Hearts, takes the time write us letters and e-mails, and all the other wonderful things you do. You're the best!
ab im kopp
âoff in the head, crazy
achâ
oh
aenti
âaunt
appeditlichâ
delicious
benselâ
hard to handle; a handful
bruder
âbrother
daadi haus
âa small house built onto or near the main house for grandparents to live in
daag
âday
daed
âdad
danki
âthanks
Derr Herr
âGod
dochder
âdaughter
dumm
âdumb
dummkopf
âdummy
eck
âspecial place for bride and groom at the corner of the wedding table
Englisch
ânon-Amish
Englischer
âa non-Amish person
familye
âfamily
frau
âwife
freind
âfriend
geh
âgo
gut
âgood
haus
âhouse
hiyaâ
hello
kaffee
â
coffee
kapp
âprayer covering or cap
kinn, kinner
âchild, children
kumme
âcome
lieb
âlove
maedel
or
maed
âgirl or girls
mamm
âmom
mann
âman, men
mei
âmy
milchâ
milk
mudder
âmother
narrisch
âcrazy
nee
âno
nix
ânothing
onkel
âuncle
roaschtâ
bread stuffing and chicken baked in a casserole
rumschpringe
ârunning-around period when a teenager turns sixteen years old
schee
âhandsome
schwester
âsister
seltsam
âweird
sohn
âson
was in der weltâ
what in the world
wunderbaar
âwonderful
ya
âyes
Yankeeâ
non-Amish person, term used in Middlefield, Ohio
“Those cookies smell
appeditlich
.” Naomi King smiled at Margaret as the young woman pulled a tray of chocolate chip cookies out of the oven. She brushed a bit of excess flour from her hands. “Chunks or chips?”
“Chunks, this time.” Margaret put the cookie sheet on top of the stove and turned to Naomi. “I noticed the chunky ones sell faster than the chips.”
Using a knife, Naomi cut the freshly rolled bread dough into narrow strips, which she then manipulated into twists. “I'm surprised we ran out of the bread twists so soon.”
“They've been pretty popular too.” Margaret picked up a metal cooling rack and put it on the counter next to the stove. A knock sounded on the front door. “I'll get it.” She left the kitchen.
With quick, practiced motions Naomi put the pale twists on a baking sheet and popped them into the oven. She wound the timer and walked over to the sink to wash her hands. The window above the sink was open halfway, letting a refreshing cool breeze into her small kitchen. Not for the first time she said a prayer of thanks for Margaret's help with her bakery business. For the past three months, since Naomi started selling baked goods from the
daadi
haus
where she lived behind her parents' home, business had been brisk. She wouldn't have been able to keep up, not without Margaret's help.
A few moments later Margaret returned and handed Naomi thirty dollars. “Three loaves of bread, a gooseberry pie, and two pumpkin rolls. The
Englisch
woman was a repeat customer, by the way.”
“That's what I like to hear.” Naomi looked at the money. “
Geh
ahead and keep it.”
“But you already paid me.”
“I know. You've been working hard these past two weeks. You deserve a little extra.”
Margaret smiled and tucked the money into her purse, which was hanging on a peg near the back door. “Did you know you have a leak in your front room?”
“What?”
“A small drip in the corner, by the couch. I noticed it as the woman was leaving.”
“Nee
.”
Naomi hurried out of the kitchen, down the narrow hallway to the small sitting room. She saw several drips of water slip from a sag in the ceiling. Last night an intense storm had hit Paradise. Being a deep sleeper, she'd slept through the whole thing. But this morning Margaret had mentioned seeing several large branches littering the yards along the road, ripped from the trees by the harsh winds. The winds must have damaged the roof somehow.
Quickly she went to the back porch and retrieved a bucket. She moved the couch out of the way and put the bucket under the drip. After getting a towel from the linen closet she wiped up the water from the hardwood floor.
“How bad is the damage?” Margaret moved to stand next to her.
“I think the floor is all right.” Naomi looked up at the ceiling again. “I don't know about the roof.”
“Isn't the
haus
pretty old?”
“At least fifty years. My
grossvatter
built it for his parents.” She rubbed her fingers against her temple. “I hate to tell
Daed
about this, but I'll have to. He's so busy with wedding preparations; he doesn't need another thing to worry about.” She also didn't think her father needed to be repairing a roof, not at his age. “So many things have been going wrong lately. Like the house Chester is building for Priscilla and him to live in. The foundation didn't set right, the lumber they ordered for the frame was delayed, and Chester's brother Abraham broke his wrist when he fell off the roof. Now this.” She frowned.
“It's only a small leak, Naomi. It shouldn't be any trouble to fix. Do you want to tell your
daed
now? I can handle any customers that come by, and I'll whip up another batch of cookies too.”
Naomi shook her head. “He's not home. I'll wait until tonight.” She looked at Margaret, her eyes suddenly going wide. “The bread twists!”
“I took them out already,” Margaret said.
Naomi breathed a sigh of relief. “I don't know what I'd do without you.”
Her friend's cheeks pinked. “You'd do just fine.” She smiled. “All this baking has made me hungry.”
“Let's break for lunch.”
A short while later Margaret joined Naomi on the back porch underneath the extended roof, a shiny red apple in one hand, a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich in the other. With the toe of her black lace-up shoe, Naomi pushed a chair toward Margaret and took a bite of her tuna fish sandwich.
It had rained most of the morning. Heavy drops fell from the edge of the roof, but there was enough shelter to keep the women dry.
“We won't be able to sit out here much longer.” Margaret sat down and let out a small shiver. “Winter isn't far around the corner.”
Naomi pulled her sweater closer to her body. “I'm surprised it's so chilly. Must be because of the storm last night.”
Margaret polished the apple on the edge of her white apron. A few grease spots dotted the thin fabric. “How are the wedding plans going?”
“Other than what I've already told you,
gut
so far.” Naomi set her sandwich down on her napkin and took a sip of water from her glass.
“And to think those two wouldn't be getting married if you hadn't helped them find each other.”
“Oh, I didn't do much.”
“You must have, because Priscilla said you convinced her to give Chester a chance. And I remember seeing you talking to Chester a few times. The next thing I hear, the two of them are courting.” Margaret sighed. “It's all so romantic.”
Naomi smiled. “They are a perfect match,
ya
? My sister has never been so happy.”
“I know I shouldn't say this, but I'm a little jealous.” Margaret rolled her apple around in her hand. “I wish I could find someone to love.”
“You will.”
“Sometimes I really doubt that. I'm almost twenty-four, Naomi.”
“What about Ben Hooley?”
“Him?” Margaret waved her hand as if she were batting away a pesky fly.
“But he's picked you up a couple of times.” Naomi thought of the quiet, stolid man who had moved to their district a few years ago. “I thought you two liked each other.”
“He only gives me rides home as a favor to
Daed
. He doesn't even talk on the ride home. Ben Hooley isn't the
mann
for me, that's for sure.” She leaned forward, her cheeks turning pink, her voice lowering to a whisper. “I'm kind of embarrassed to ask you this.”
“We're friends, Margaret. You can ask me anything.”
Margaret's light blond eyebrows formed a V over her pale blue eyes. “Could you . . . could you help me find someone?”
Naomi gave her an encouraging smile. “You don't need my help to find a beau. Any
mann
would be interested in you. You're smart and sweet and lovely.”
“I'm old.” Margaret's frown deepened. “And I can't be that sweet and lovely, because no one has been interested in me for a long time.”
“You just haven't found the right
mann
. He'll come along.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“I do. God has set apart someone special for you, Margaret. You'll meet him in the Lord's timing.”
“I wish the Lord would hurry up, then.” Margaret leaned back in her chair and put the apple on the desk. “I also wish I could be patient about this, like you are. I'm not at peace with being an old maid.”
Naomi flinched a little inwardly. She'd never considered herself an old maid, and at twenty-five, she was older than Margaret. But she'd never felt any pressure from her family to get married, and her life was busy and satisfying. She'd had little time to think about dating.
Except
for
David
.
. .
She put her former boyfriend out of her mind. She'd come to terms with what he did three years ago. She even counted herself blessed that she hadn't married him.
“It scares me,” Margaret said.
“What does?”
“That I'll never know what it's like to fall in love. To have a
kinn
.” Her gaze met Naomi's. “I don't want to be alone.”
Naomi reached out and patted her hand. “You won't be.”
Margaret's face brightened. “Does that mean you'll help me? Like you helped Priscilla?”
“Ya,”
Naomi said, glad to see the strain seep away from her friend's expression. She didn't know exactly what she could do to help Margaret find a beau, but she'd figure that out later.
Margaret smiled. “I knew I could trust you to understand.” She reached into the pocket of her apron and took out two cookies, offering one to Naomi.
“Are these the ones you just made?”
“
Ya
. They're still a little warm.”
Naomi bit into the soft cookie. Chocolate and sugar flavors flooded her mouth. “Mmmm. I think these are the best batch you've made so far.”
“I could barely make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when I first started here.”
“Now that's an exaggeration.” Naomi ate the rest of the cookie. “Truly delicious.”
“I have a
gut
teacher. Do you still like teaching your cooking classes?”
“I love it. I teach my last one this Saturday. I suspended the class for the rest of the month because of the wedding.”
“Have any men signed up?” Margaret wiggled her delicate eyebrows. “Amish
mann
don't like to cook, but I've heard there are a lot of
Englisch
mann
that do.”
“
Nee
. I never had a man sign up. Although it could happen someday.”
“Make sure you let me know when it does. I may drop in on the class.” Margaret grinned, popped the last bit of cookie into her mouth, and stood. “I'll get started on the next batch.”
“All right. I'll be inside in a minute.” Naomi sat in the chair for a few moments, thinking about Margaret's request.
I
don't want to be alone
. Naomi had never thought about spending her life alone. She'd always been surrounded by family, friends, and students. But her sister Hannah was married, and Priscilla would be shortly. Naomi frowned, feeling a tiny twinge in her heart. What if she had to spend the rest of her life alone?
â¢â¢â¢
“We're so glad you were able to come for the wedding, Zeke.”
Zeke Lapp looked at his aunt, seated beside him at the table. He selected a roll from the basket to his right. “Me too. I'm overdue for a visit. Sorry it took so long for me to come.”
“That doesn't matter. You're here now, and that's all that counts.” She picked up a white dish and handed it to him. “Butter?”
“Danki.”
He smeared a pat on the still-steaming roll.
“I hope you don't mind eating so early.” Irma cut the last chunk of tender roast beef on her plate into four tiny pieces. “Normally we have supper around five, but I thought you might be hungry.” She glanced at her husband and son. “These
mann
are always hungry.”
Zeke grinned. “I don't mind eating early at all. Especially an
appeditlich
meal like this.”
His aunt blushed, her gaze cast downward.
He glanced around the table at his uncle Emmanuel and his cousin Chester, whose upcoming wedding was the reason for Zeke's extended vacation in Paradise. He hadn't seen his Pennsylvania relatives since his family had moved to Middlefield, Ohio, more than fifteen years ago. Where had the time gone?
“How was the trip?” Emmanuel asked. “It's been years since I rode on a bus.”
“Not bad. Took a little nap. A bit of a bumpy ride, though. Lots of construction in Ohio.” Zeke swirled the roll in the last of the thick brown gravy covering his plate. He had to stop himself from shoving the soaked bread into his mouth. He appreciated a good cook, and his aunt was one of the best.
“Don't see how you could sleep on a bus.” Chester looked up from his plate, fork in hand. “Those seats aren't comfortable.”
Zeke started to say something, but just looked at his cousin.
Chester's brow lifted. “What? Do I have food on my face or something?” He grabbed a napkin and rubbed his mouth and chin, which already showed a shadow of a beard.
“
Nee
. Just can't believe my little cousin is getting married.” It sounded corny, but it was how he felt.
Emmanuel laughed. “He's not exactly little, Zeke.”
“I know.” He'd been surprised to see that Chester was a couple inches taller than his own five-foot-nine height, and at least twenty pounds heavier. “I can still remember you following me around when you were a
kinn
.”
“Pestering you, I'm sure.”
“
Ya
, but not too bad.”
“I remember the time I nearly fell out of the tree in your backyard, trying to catch you.” Chester set down his napkin. “You were a climbing fool.”
“Still am.” Zeke grinned again.
“Guess you have to be when you're a roofer. Business going well?”
“Very well. But I'm glad I could take some time off. I needed the vacation.” He'd spent the last ten years working almost nonstop as a roofer, mostly for
Englisch
âor Yankee, as they referred to them back home
â
construction companies. Chester's wedding was the perfect opportunity to get away from Middlefield for a while. It wasn't the city of Middlefield he was escaping, but the women in his community. He definitely needed a break from their constant matchmaking.
Emmanuel pushed away from the table. “Now that the rain's stopped, we should check on the
haus
. After the storm last night and the rain today, I'm hoping it's still in one piece.”