The Decision (32 page)

Since Mark seemed content to play with his toys, Sara made her way to the kitchen. She’d just opened the bread box and taken out a loaf of bread when she looked out the window and saw a horse and buggy pull in. Pleased to see that it was Jonah, Sara set the loaf of bread on the counter and opened the back door.

When Jonah stepped onto the porch, he smiled and said, “I came by to see how you’re doing. That was quite an ordeal you went through yesterday.”

She nodded, appreciating his concern. “It was, and I’m thankful you were there to help me through it.”

“Are you doing okay?” Jonah moved closer to Sara.

“I’m fine now. Still coughing a bit from the smoke I inhaled, but otherwise doing okay. However, I fear all of Harley’s tools have been lost.”

“You can worry about that later.” Much to Sara’s surprise, Jonah slipped his arm around her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I can even come over once the area has cooled and see what things might be salvageable.”

“You would do that for me after all you’ve already done?” she asked in disbelief.

“Sure, why not?” A blush of pink spread across Jonah’s cheeks. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

Sara nodded in agreement.

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, as though nervous about something. “Um…I know it’s short notice, Sara, but if you haven’t started supper yet, I thought maybe you and Mark would like to go out someplace to eat.”

“I haven’t started supper and going out does sound nice, but I’m worried that with us being seen together at a restaurant, it might cause some people to talk.”

“Talk about what?”

“Well, it might not seem right for you to be seen with me when you’re courting Elaine.”

“That won’t be an issue, because Elaine and I broke up a few months ago,” Jonah said. “With the way information travels around here, I thought you would have heard by now.”

“No, I hadn’t heard.” No wonder Elaine hadn’t been at Jonah and Jean’s birthday dinner. Sara wondered if Jonah had broken things off with Elaine, or if it was the other way around. Even though she was curious, she wouldn’t ask, because it just wouldn’t be polite. If Jonah wanted her to know the details, he would share them with her.

“So, how about it, Sara? Will you and Mark go out to supper with me?”

Barely giving it a second thought, Sara nodded. She looked forward to spending the evening with Jonah.

“I’m glad you were free to have supper with me,” Elam Gingerich said as he and Priscilla took seats at Yoder’s restaurant.

“It was nice of you to invite me.” Priscilla had known Elam since they were children and had attended the same school together. Her family worshipped in a different church district than his, but they’d spent time together during several young people’s gatherings. Priscilla had known for some time that Elam was interested in her, but he was kind of shy and hadn’t made his intentions known until last week, when he’d invited her to have supper with him tonight. Elam was twenty-five and had never had a serious girlfriend that Priscilla knew of. He had medium-brown hair, hazel eyes, an average nose, and ears that were a bit larger than most. But Elam wasn’t ugly; there was actually a handsomeness about him, and Priscilla found his quiet way and genuine smile appealing.

Elam worked part-time at his parents’ bulk foods store and also helped an English man in their area who was a roofer. Elam seemed to be highly motivated and had joined the church last year, so Priscilla figured he was secure in his faith and had no plans to leave his Amish heritage. He would probably make someone a good husband. But if Elam decided to pursue a serious relationship with her, could she see him as more than a friend?

“Did ya hear what our waitress said?” Elam’s question pulled Priscilla’s thoughts aside.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you’d come to our table,” Priscilla stammered, feeling foolish as she looked at Barbara Yoder, their Amish waitress.

Barbara smiled. “Would you like something to drink besides water?”

“I’d like a glass of iced tea,” Priscilla responded.

“And I’ll have a root beer, please,” Elam added.

“I’ll get those now and be back to take your order.” Barbara smiled and walked away.

“Sure is nice weather we’ve been having,” Priscilla commented after several minutes of awkward silence.

Elam glanced out the window. “Jah, and I’m glad for it, ‘cause my boss has a couple of roofing jobs that need to be done next week, and we sure don’t need any rain.”

“Do you enjoy roofing more than working in your folks’ store?” Priscilla asked.

He nodded. “‘Course when the weather’s bad and we can’t roof, it’s nice to have a second job to fall back on.”

Barbara returned with their drinks and asked what they’d like to eat. Elam ordered a burger and fries, and Priscilla said she’d like some fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and a small garden salad.

While they waited for their food, they talked about some of the things they’d read in the paper lately, like the accident that had taken place in the town of Sullivan, not too far away.

“At least that collision didn’t involve a horse and buggy.” Elam drew in a deep breath and exhaled quickly. “As bad as it was, if one of our people had been in a buggy and gotten hit by that truck, they probably would have been killed.”

Priscilla was about to comment when she glanced toward the door and saw Jonah enter the restaurant with Sara and her son, Mark. Priscilla was so surprised to see them together that she choked on the iced tea she’d just sipped.

“You okay?” Elam asked, leaning toward her with a look of concern.

Priscilla nodded, blotting her lips with a napkin. “I’m fine. Guess I must have swallowed the wrong way.” She watched with curiosity as the hostess seated Jonah, Sara, and Mark on the opposite side of the room. Had they seen her? Should she go over and talk to them? Maybe not. It might be best just to keep her focus on Elam and pretend she hadn’t seen Jonah with Sara and her little boy.

“How come you’re frying so much chicken?” Edna asked, peering over Elaine’s shoulder as she stood at the stove. “There’s just the two of us, and we can’t eat that much chicken for supper tonight.”

“This isn’t just for us, Grandma,” Elaine said. “We’re hosting another dinner tonight for a small group of tourists.”

Edna rubbed her forehead as she pondered this information. “Really? Did I know about that?”

“The tour director set things up with us a few weeks ago. Do you remember?”

Edna continued to rub her forehead. It was upsetting not to be able to recall something like this. “I can’t say that I do, but if it’s true, then we need to get busy, because there’s a lot yet to be done.”

“Not so much.” Elaine motioned to the hefty-size kettle on the back burner. “The potatoes are cooked, mashed, and keeping warm on the stove, and the salad is in the refrigerator.”

Still puzzled, Edna squinted. “Oh, really? I don’t remember making those.”

“Actually, you didn’t. I made them while you were napping earlier this afternoon.”

Edna slid one finger down the side of her nose, stopping at the tiny mole. “That’s right; I was kind of sleepy.” She smiled at Elaine, removing her finger. “Danki for doing all of that, Nancy. You’ve always been a hard worker. My son picked well when he married you.”

“No, Grandma, I’m not Nancy. I’m your granddaughter, Elaine.”

Edna’s cheeks warmed. “Of course. How silly of me to say such a thing. You look so much like your mamm; it’s easy to get you mixed up sometimes.”

Elaine nodded as she continued to fry the chicken.

Edna turned and moved slowly across the room. “Think I’ll go to the dining room and make sure the tables have been set.”
Sure wish I didn’t feel so confused. Makes me feel like I’m losing my glicker
.

Things went okay during the first half of the dinner, but when it was time to serve dessert, Grandma started talking to Elaine like she was a child, saying things like, “If you can’t be a little faster serving that pie, I’ll send you to bed without any dessert.”

Elaine merely smiled and tried to shrug it off, hoping none of their guests had heard what Grandma said. But when Grandma started talking about Grandpa and said someone had stolen his horse, Elaine became concerned.

“Grandma, could I speak to you in the kitchen for a minute?”

“Whatever you want to talk about can be said right here with my friends.” Grandma turned and smiled at their guests.

Feeling a sense of panic, Elaine gave Grandma’s arm a little tug and whispered, “Would you please come with me for just a minute? It’s important that I talk to you alone.”

“Well, okay, if you must, but we can’t be gone too long.” Grandma followed Elaine into the kitchen and pulled out a chair at the table. “What did you want to talk to me about, Nancy?”

“I’m not Nancy, I’m Elaine, and—”

“Are you jealous because I have friends here and you don’t?”

“No, it’s not that. You look tired, Grandma, and I think it might be better if you went to your room now and rested, while I serve dessert to our guests.”

“Well, if that’s the way you feel about it, then fine!” Glaring at Elaine, Grandma stood up and then tromped out of the room.

It nearly broke Elaine’s heart to see Grandma responding to her in such a negative, almost hostile, way. She wasn’t acting like the grandmother she’d always known.

Breathing deeply as she tried to calm her racing heart, Elaine returned to the dining room.

“Is there a problem?” the tour guide asked as Elaine approached the table.

“No, everything’s under control.” Elaine placed two pies on the first table and was about to set the other ones on the opposite table when she heard Grandma loudly mumbling while stomping around in her room.
This will be the last dinner Grandma and I host
, Elaine thought regrettably.
Tonight has been too difficult for us
.

T
he following day, Priscilla decided to stop and see Elaine. Rather than taking the time to hitch Tinker to her buggy, she rode over on her bike. Along the way, she rehearsed what she was going to say.

Last night at the restaurant, Priscilla had chosen not to speak with Jonah or Sara. They’d seemed to be preoccupied and didn’t appear to notice her, so she had simply concentrated on visiting with Elam.

Jonah couldn’t be in love with Sara; it hasn’t been that long since he was courting Elaine, and I know he was crazy about her
, Priscilla told herself as she pedaled along, keeping her bicycle on the shoulder of the road. The more she thought about it, the more concerned she became.
If Jonah and Sara are courting, will Elaine be upset?
Jonah had been good friends with Sara’s husband, so maybe he and Sara were just friends, too. But if Jonah was courting Sara, there was nothing she could do about it, so it did no good to fret.

Priscilla turned up the Schrocks’ driveway. After she’d parked her bike, she hurried up to the house. She was about to knock on the door when Elaine stepped out, quickly shutting the door behind her.

“I’m glad you’re here; I need some moral support right now.”

“Oh, what’s wrong?” Seeing the stress lines on Elaine’s face had Priscilla concerned.