Love's Abundant Harvest (25 page)

“I thought it best to talk to you first.”

The bishop nodded. “You will need to do as if you are courting.”

Manny sat up straight in his chair at the thought of how difficult it would be not
to spend time alone with her. It wasn't like they were the young courting couples,
especially in their situation.

“It will be difficult to help Lucy in her condition, don't you agree?” Manny wasn't
sure of anything, considering their situation and wondered whether the bishop was
ill, or just not in a cooperative mood. Something definitely seemed amiss. “Are you
well, Bishop?”

The bishop raised his head a little higher and stared him in the eyes. It seemed
the man didn't blink, but that would be impossible. Maybe Manny was avoiding his
gaze and missed him blinking. “I am fatigued. Life has taken its toll, as it has
with my wife. But my disposition has always been the same. I am a strict man who
abides by rules—my own as bishop and those of the Bible.”

Manny nodded. “I understand.” He was about to say more, but the bishop started in
again.

“For my sake, if nothing more, use good sense as you move forward with your young
family.” His breath was labored, and Manny wondered whether it was his lungs
that
were ailing. The bishop hadn't given a long sermon for quite a while, now that he
thought of it. The minister usually gave the sermon, but the bishop had been more
vocal in the past.

“Thank you for talking with me. I'll pray for you and your wife's health.”

“And I will pray for your stamina.” He chuckled, but his voice cracked and turned
into a cough.

When Manny had first come into the
haus
, he had felt uncomfortable, but now, knowing
the bishop's strife, he took it all in stride. As he walked to his buggy, he knew
he'd done the right thing, even if it wasn't what he'd expected.

He didn't have much reason to know the bishop. Manny kept to himself most of the
time. Even on church days, he'd stay for the meal but scoot out and back to his place
at the first chance he got. It was that way even before Glenda passed away. She liked
to talk some, so he'd get comfortable in the buggy while he waited. Lucy was much
the same way, which made him think he must like being with those drawn to simple
company.

As he drove down the road, the wild plums drew his eye. The red color was similar
to ripe grapes bursting with sweet flavor. He thought he'd take advantage of the
opportunity, so he brought his horse to a slow stop. He didn't have anything but
a corn sack to put the plums in, but he figured if he brought back enough to wet
his whistle, Lucy would come back with him and pick some more.

As he plucked as many as he could get his hands on, he could taste the plum tingling
on his tongue. They had to be picked at just the right time—before they were overripe
with no taste, and not too early when they were sour.

As he picked the fruit, he thought of how Lucy seemed to be deep in thought lately.
It must be tough to be so close to the due date. Maybe the fresh plums would cheer
her up a little. There was nothing he liked more than getting a smile out of her.

When he'd filled the bag about halfway and his hands were purple, he decided that
was as much as he or Lucy would be able to handle. He carried the bag to his buggy
and wiped his hands on his trousers. He felt like a kid again, popping one of the
smaller plums into his mouth and letting the sweet juices entice his taste buds.
As he walked over to the driver's side of the buggy, he ate a couple more. By the
time he got to Nellie's place, he let out a belch and knew he'd had one too many,
if not three or four.

He fetched the sack and walked to the door. When no one answered, he opened the door
slightly and called out, but there was no response, so he walked in and laid the
plums down on the counter.

“Lucy.” He waited, but nothing stirred except for the hot water kettle that began
to boil. He was about to leave when Lucy walked into the room.

She startled when she saw him.

“How did it go?” A lock of her red hair hung down her forehead, and she quickly pushed
it up under her
kapp
.

He didn't recognize her tone or the straight face that was usually a bright smile.
She must be worried about the bishop. “I brought you some wild plums.” He gestured
to the counter.

“
Danke
. I'll make some more plum jam. We were getting low.” She grabbed an apron
and pulled it down over her head and straightened her
kapp
.

“The bishop gave his blessing, so to speak.”

“That doesn't sound very hopeful.”

He didn't want to worry her, so he tried another way to coax her back into her usual
ray of sunshine. He decided less was more. She seemed to be getting more anxious
about things— them and the babies. “It will work out in the end. The bishop and his
wife were both not feeling well; that's probably all it was.”

“
Ach
, I'm glad, but still worried.”

Manny knew she would worry more if he didn't tell her about the bishop's wishes and
decided to just tell her. “He wants us to court until the babies come.”

Lucy laid a hand on her chest and stared at Manny. “I have rarely seen such a thing.”

“Don't trouble yourself over it. He wasn't himself, and I'm hoping it will pass.”

“Is there anything else I should know?”

He could see the concern in her eyes and considered the best way to handle the situation.
“We'll deal with it when the time comes.”

She frowned but followed his lead to the work at hand.

He took a long look around the room and then back at Lucy, who was intently working
on something on the table. “What do you have there?” He walked over and read the
words on the wooden sign she'd made: .

Manny pursed his bottom lip and looked at her. “What inspired you to do this?”

“I'm going to set up a roadside stand. Plums will get them interested, don't you
think?” She looked at him and got close enough for him to brush her side and take
her hand like he usually did.

“What gave you this idea?” He was careful with his
questions, wishing he knew more
about plum jam. He was pretty sure he'd already heard from Verna and maybe others
too about her newfound investment.

“Truth be told, I can't stay in this
haus
even one more day.” She put a hand on her
back and stretched.

He thought he understood. She needed to get out and do something. But he wished it
wasn't something that involved her standing for too long. “Do you need some help
setting up?” It was the last thing he wanted to do, but he had to give her this;
the time was too close, and the twins couldn't come into the world soon enough.

She looked a little surprised but nodded her approval. “I need some sort of covering
and a chair.”

He went to the pantry and pulled out a folding chair and table he knew was there,
because he'd used them a time or two. “As far as a cover, how about the table umbrella?”

“
Jah
, that should work.” She paused for a moment and smiled.

He was so glad to see it, he didn't care what she said next. “Is that everything?”

“
Jah
,
danke
for not scolding me or trying to change my mind.” She looked away and
started loading up fruits and vegetables into small wicker baskets. Then she handed
him an armful of quilts.

They walked to the end of the road to an area where tourists often gathered, and
decided where to set up the stand. They had been sitting for only a second or two
before tourists started to slowly stop by the stand and compliment her quilts. It
was just enough to make Lucy smile.

A
re you sure you want to sell that quilt?” Manny ran his hand over the rainbow-colored
quilt that a customer was haggling over with Lucy.

“
Jah
, Manny, I can always make another one.” Lucy was just glad to get out and be
around people. She couldn't stay in the
haus
like a cooped-up chicken for another
minute, but she had nowhere to go and nothing to do that would keep her occupied
without overexerting her. She also thought about the money Sam's farm would supply
for her—blood money. She wanted her own income, even if it was trivial compared to
what she would have once everything was settled. She didn't expect Manny to understand
that and didn't want to bother him with it.

“Sorry, it's just one of my favorites.” He smiled politely to the tourist, an older
woman who seemed set on the quilt and held a wad of money out to Lucy.

“
Danke
.” Lucy thanked the lady and started packing up the stand. It would be dark
soon, and her feet were starting to swell. Lucy thought about Manny sitting contentedly
beside her. He was everything Sam wasn't, doting on her and taking care of her every
need. Maybe it was the hormones raging in her, or maybe she was gaining the confidence
she'd been lacking.

After hearing
Mammi
's story of her husband dying young and leaving her alone, and
Nellie's story about starting her own quilting business and how she never
married
due to the restrictions the bishop had put upon her, Lucy had begun to worry the
same thing could happen to her, and a surge of concern had filled her. But the one
she resonated with most was Rosy.

Lucy didn't want to be like her, but she was, lacking self-esteem, not speaking her
mind, taking mistreatment for years at Sam's whim—much like Rosy thinking she might
have married if only she'd been bold enough to pursue a relationship. After evaluating
their lives and situations, Lucy decided she would take from each of their strengths
and live a life she would be happy with.

“Lucy.” Manny was staring intently at her, concern and possibly confusion flashing
in his eyes. “What were you thinking right then?”

“Nothing important. I need to quit thinking so much.” She packed up what was left
on the table, and Manny took down the umbrella and folded down the table and chair.

“I would sure like to know what's on your mind.” His voice had an edge to it, and
she suddenly felt like she needed some time to breathe, and the harder she tried
to get it, the more she felt suffocated.

They walked back to the house and upon arriving put everything away. Nellie came
in the room, smiled, and turned around to give them some privacy. After she left,
Lucy saw the look on Manny's face. That was enough to make her realize how she herself
couldn't seem to stop worrying.

Manny watched Nellie walk out and stared at Lucy. “What is it, Luce?”

His pleading eyes and serious face made her sad.

Why do I feel so blue? It's not fair to anyone around me.

“I am worried about everything, as if there is a huge
weight on me. What if I'm not
a
gut mamm
or you're not a
gut daed
?” No one was in earshot, but even if they were,
Lucy didn't care; it had been all she could do to keep her mouth shut with him at
the stand.

Manny frowned, unable to answer. “What makes you think it will be so hard?” He took
her hand and looked her in the eyes. “You're going to be a
gut mamm
, and I'll be
an even better
daed
.” He grinned, and she smiled.

“How do you always know how to cheer me up?”

“I'm just that kind of guy.” He took her other hand as well. “I suppose I should
give you some time to rest.”

“You don't have to be by my side all the time. I know you have chores to do. And
we do have the bishop's request to think about.” She sighed, her strength giving
way. “It's not like you won't know when the babies come.”

“Are you saying you want me to actually get some work done?” He scoffed, but his
eyes told her he was confused. “I'm not sure how much to follow the bishop's requests,
but I don't plan to stay completely away from you.”

She balled her fists and tightened her lips. “
Jah
, I know.” It wasn't the dysfunctional
response that was deep inside her from the time spent with Sam. She'd accepted his
derogatory comments and condescending words, but she was now learning how to change
that.

Manny shook his head. “You and the babies have become as important to me as my own
family.” He caught her gaze, but then she looked at her boots. “Thank you for trusting
me and accepting me caring for you.”

She mumbled to herself, not daring to look in his eyes and let him see the gratitude
she felt for him. “I'm glad you did.”

The tears started to rise when she thought of him, but
she quickly brushed them away
so Manny wouldn't see. She didn't want to seem vulnerable and dependent on him. She
knew she didn't ever want to be that way again.