The Photograph (27 page)

E
VA
HURRIED
OUT
TO
THE
STRAWBERRY
PATCH
to help Frona pick the fresh crop, enjoying the warm day. There seemed to be less humidity than yesterday, and the birds were chirping merrily, competing with Max, who was barking as he raced through the meadow with the pony.

“I wonder what Lily's doin' today,” Eva said, setting her large tin bucket down on the dirt near her bare feet.

Frona looked over at her, her blue bandanna keeping her hair bun secure. “Whatever she's doin' certainly doesn't include us.”

“I'm sure she misses us as much as we miss her, though.”

Frona moved to the next plant and stopped to get out a hankie to wipe her forehead. “I seriously doubt that.”

Frona's old mood had made a reappearance, and Eva didn't think now was the time to share Alfred's request to call. Sure as the sunrise, when next Tuesday afternoon came, she'd have to explain why she was leaving to head across the field.

“
Gut
thing we're out here before the birds decided to make a
Fescht
of the strawberries,” Frona said, then muttered something about nasty creatures.

When her pail was close to overflowing, Eva carried it to the house, careful not to spill a single berry. She drew some cold water and gently took handfuls of the bright red fruit and placed them in the sink, washing each one carefully before cutting out the stem.

By the time Frona came inside with her full pail, Eva was ready for that batch. They planned to make jam right away to lock in the freshness.

Later, as they were washing canning jars, Bena and little Katie Ann arrived with a casserole dish of tuna and noodles. Then, not ten minutes later, Naomi showed up with some pulled pork and scalloped potatoes.

“Well, isn't this somethin'?” said Frona, who thanked both women and invited them to stay for cold meadow tea.

“I thought you'd enjoy not having to cook with all those strawberries comin' on fast,” Bena said, setting Katie Ann on her lap at the table. “But I had no idea Naomi was thinkin' the selfsame way.”

This brought a round of laughter.

“It does get busy round here,” Eva said, realizing how much Lily had helped in the past. She took babbling Katie Ann from Bena and walked straight to the cookie jar to let Katie nibble on a treat.

“Not too many,” Bena warned, looking like she could use a few minutes to sit and rest.

“
Ach
, we got caught,” Eva whispered to her tiny niece. “Better just eat half, all right?”

Little Katie Ann frowned her disapproval, and Eva knew she was in a pickle, so she brought her niece back to Bena, who broke the cookie in half. The tot accepted the smaller portion and leaned her head on Eva's shoulder.

“She's such a dear,” Eva said.

“What do ya expect? You offered her a sweet,” Bena teased.

Eva asked Naomi, “Would ya like some more cold tea?”

“
Ach
, maybe so.” Naomi fanned herself with the hem of her apron.

Eva gave Katie Ann back to her mother. “I'll pour some milk for her,” Eva said, going to the fridge.

“As you can see, we're about to put up some strawberry jam,” Frona was saying while Eva poured the milk. “Can hardly keep up with that berry patch!”

Bena mentioned they were trying to eat at least some of their fresh pickings. “We've plenty of little mouths to feed.”

Katie Ann babbled in
Deitsch
, telling Bena she was ready for the other half of her cookie, and they all laughed about it.

“Sounds like she's got herself a mighty sweet tooth,” Naomi said.

“Like her Mamma,” Bena said, squeezing Katie Ann. “Ain't so
, Bobbli
?”

Katie Ann reached up a chubby hand, and Bena kissed it.

They talked of other things—an upcoming work frolic at the deacon's house, and another auction, too, this one a farm sale.

After a while, Bena said, as though she had been waiting for the right moment, “I have some news. Menno received another letter from Cousin Jeptha.”

Eva swung around, all ears.

“He's heard rumors 'bout a runaway Amish teenager livin' somewhere outside of Kidron,” Bena told them. “We're still lookin' into it. Not much to go on, really.”

Eva took a seat next to Naomi. “
Jah
, not very reliable at all. But hopeful.”

Bena nodded. “Jeptha assured Menno he's keepin' his eyes and ears open.” She held the milk glass up to her little daughter's mouth, and Katie Ann put her dimpled hands on top of Bena's.

“Makes ya wonder how many
Youngie
run off lookin' for greener pastures,” Frona said.

Or pastures that aren't so green,
Eva thought.

Naomi's eyes welled up. “Perhaps this is the beginning of the miracle we've all been hopin' for.”

Eva stared at Bena, not sure what to make of this news. Oh, she hoped Naomi was right.

It was unbearably warm and sticky in the buggy shop; the battery-powered fans hardly made a dent in the oppressiveness. Jed had been working all morning on the wooden dashboard for the two-seater surrey he was constructing.

His mind was occupied with several futile attempts to explore various leads about Lily Esch via the Amish grapevine, which could sometimes be so undependable. And he'd also placed phone calls from the carriage shop to Mennonite churches in the area, as well as to relatives. He even found the number for a halfway house for Amish runaways in Sugarcreek, and planned to call there, too.

Wouldn't someone, somewhere, have heard of
a former Amish girl trying to go fancy? Perhaps one
of the many scribes for
The Budget
might write about
it this coming week.
The thought spurred him on.

Needing something cold to drink, Jed walked the length of the shop to Uncle Ervin's office area, where there was a small refrigerator with chilled drinks. He reached for an orange soda and saw his uncle heading this way. “Say, I'm glad I caught ya.” Jed stepped aside at the doorway.

“Something on your mind?”

Jed waited for him to lower himself into his comfortable chair near the handcrafted credenza. “I've been thinkin' a lot about joining church come September.”

“Well, I'll be turkey feathers,” his uncle declared, crossing his arms. “That-a boy. Mighty glad to hear it.”

Jed smiled and nodded. “Ain't something I wanted to rush into, considering everything.”

“You're wise to take your time—to know for certain this is the life you want. The baptismal vow is the most serious promise you'll ever make.”

To God and to the
church
. “Later this summer, I'll begin my instruction with the deacon.”

Uncle Ervin leaned back, his gnarled hands gripping the arms of the chair, and closed his eyes. He was silent for some time; then suddenly his eyelids fluttered open. “Such
gut
news
 . . .
truly 'tis.”

Due to the high humidity, the office room seemed cramped with the two of them, despite its being a decent-sized space. Jed took another long swig of his soda and said, “I'll get back to work now.”

Uncle Ervin eyed him solemnly before Jed turned to exit. Over in Perry's work area, Jed strode past the partially built buggy and nodded cordially, then made his way to his own space.

As he worked, Jed recalled the latter part of his date with Marilyn Halverston. In all truth, Marilyn was just as pleasant as he'd expected, and things might have gone differently had Eva not been so heavily on his mind. He had felt so distracted that he wondered why he'd ever agreed to Levi's suggestion to double-date. Of course, the sundaes had been exceptionally tasty, given there were more than a dozen choices of toppings—various sliced nuts, miniature marshmallows, and chopped hard candies. Jed had chosen chocolate crumbles and walnut pieces, and Bettina had giggled as she pointed out the instability of the high mound atop his double dips, insisting it was all going to come rolling off.

Later that night, after returning home, he'd wandered out to the large pond overlooking the old ice house on his father's land,
juggling his conflicted thoughts. He relived the long Sunday walk with Eva, when they'd fed the ducks.
When I held her hand
 . . .

One thing was readily apparent: Not once since leaving Lancaster County had Jed longed for Lydiann, the woman he'd mourned a full year.

E
VA
WORKED
SIDE
BY
SIDE
with Frona at Thursday market, where they'd put out dozens of pint jars of strawberry jam for sale, along with a selection of nut brittles, almond bark, and other candy—taffy, caramels, and toffee. She had written the labels with her best printing, something Lily had always enjoyed doing for Mamma, and then Frona. Presently, Eva cordially engaged their customers, all the while holding her breath for Cousin Jeptha's contact to discover more so that a trail might begin to open and lead them to Lily. This was Eva's constant hope and prayer. Since hearing from Bena two days ago, she had awakened in the night several times after dreaming about her sister.

Jed Stutzman had also shown up in one of her dreams. It was strangely vivid, and Jed and Lily had been walking through a large milking parlor in an Amish barn, smiling as they strolled along. Eva had awakened with a start, feeling dreadfully annoyed, as if they'd both abandoned their affections for her.
How odd,
thought Eva, wondering how her longing for Jed had become tangled up in thoughts of Lily.

Later, when there were fewer customers gathered about their table, Eva walked to the fudge display where Jed had purchased her surprise gift. She stared down at the colorful wrappings and remembered how her heart had fluttered at the sight of the box.

Jed felt something for me
,
she soothed herself.

“Can I help ya make your choice?” asked the clerk.

“Just lookin'.”

“
Ach
, well, lookin's not tasting.”

“Believe me, I know.” She moved along the display case and admired how these candies were arranged, thinking of her own display.

She remembered again the last time she'd seen Jed. The tour she'd given him of her shop, his eyes so earnest, his smile infectious. “I'll have one of those,” she said suddenly, pointing to the same type of fudge Jed had given her.

To
relive that happy memory,
she told herself as she reached for her purse.

It was Frona who noticed the flag down on the mailbox when they neared the turnoff to their driveway. “Looks like the mail's come.”

“Are you expecting something?” Eva asked.

Frona shook her head and guided the horse to make the right-hand turn. “We're all caught up on circle letters, ain't?”

Eva said she was. “Your idea to spread the word to our Ohio cousins might be partly why Cousin Jeptha found out what he did. Have ya thought of that?”

“Like you, I'm leavin' it up to the Good Lord. Worryin' causes me an upset stomach anymore.”

Frona said it so seriously, Eva's heart went out to her. “Aw, sister.”

Then, halting Prince, Frona suggested Eva go and check the mail while Frona started to unhitch.

Eva hurried to the mailbox, since Frona could certainly use her help. It was no easy chore unhitching alone, and besides, it was beginning to rain.

She looked over at Masts' to see if either Abner or Naomi was in view. Abner was surely around someplace, given the work dairymen were required to do—sterilizing the milk house equipment, including scrubbing the bulk tank, and cleaning out the barn. All of it needed to pass muster with the milk inspector.

Eva opened the mailbox and pulled out a single letter with her name on the envelope. “Lily's handwriting,” she whispered.

“Oh, praise be!” she said again and again, running now up the long driveway toward Frona, clutching the letter to her chest to protect it from what was now a downpour. “It's from Lily! Oh, Frona
 . . .”

Frona brightened but stated, “First things first,” blinking through the deluge. The horse was still half in and half out of the harness and needed to be stabled and rubbed down and watered. Both girls were getting drenched as Eva returned from quickly putting the letter in the house for safekeeping.

Eva worked as fast and as efficiently as she could. With Frona's good help, they finally finished—the longest and soggiest twenty-five minutes ever.

Once Prince was settled in his stall and Dat's fine carriage was parked, Eva scurried into the house and washed her hands, waiting for Frona to do the same. “I'm soaked clear through to the skin,” she said, shivering.

They took time to change into dry clothes before sitting down at the table. There, Eva opened Lily's letter with trembling hands and began to read aloud.

“June 9

Dear Frona and Eva,

If I know you, you're probably both very concerned about me.

But happily, I am safe and staying with a large family who runs a dairy farm, helping out as I can to earn my room and board. In my free time, I often get to see my boyfriend—an Englischer. He's one of the reasons I came here to live, and oh, it's been wonderful to have so much time with him!

I should have told you what I was planning, except I feared you'd try to stop me. It was wrong, and I pray you forgive me.

It's taking some real courage to be accepted by English folks, but I'm doing my best, and you mustn't worry about me. Promise?

I love you, sisters . . . and my whole family back there in Eden Valley.

Yours always,
Lily Esch”

“She sounds quite settled,” Frona said, eyes misting. “Is there a return address?”

Eva showed her the front of the envelope. “The postmark is Wooster, for goodness' sake!”

“You don't see dairy farms in cities, so is she really where she says?”

Eva scanned the letter once more. “It's odd. I mean, if Lily was gonna write and tell us she's safe and happy, then why not reveal exactly where she is? I don't understand.”

“She sounds too happy 'bout her beau, if ya ask me.”

Eva nodded. “I hope she doesn't forget us.”

Frona slipped her arm around Eva, and they sat that way for a moment, the letter before them.

At last they rose, and Frona laid out their money on the table and began to count it quietly. Eva set to work making a light supper, since they'd snacked here and there at market, what with the many vendors offering free samples.

Lily's letter stirred up a feeling of helplessness in Eva that she found hard to endure. How could she feel good knowing Lily was struggling?
“It's
taking some real courage to be accepted.”

According to what she'd written, Lily might actually be living with Plain folks, Eva thought, considering the reference to a dairy farm. This was heartening, but it didn't line up with what Fannie had told them about Lily's plan to stay with her boyfriend's married sister.

Eva set to work chopping cabbage for slaw.

Frona looked up. “Still thinking 'bout Lily's letter?”

Eva admitted she was and set the knife down on the cutting board. “She's not interested in being found, is she?”

Frona shook her head. “She's made that clear.”

Hearing Frona's opinion out in the open like that made it seem all the more certain.

During evening Bible reading and prayers, Eva sat quietly, respectfully, noting Lily's regular spot. Eva's emotions were emerging in a new way, and while on one hand she sensed a burden roll from her shoulders in relief at finally hearing something, she was equally troubled—even angry—over Lily's apparent apathy toward her and Frona.
And everyone else in our family, too.
Eva had expected more from the sister she'd known her whole life.

Is this what happens—the world changes who you
are?

Her talk with Tilly had addressed numerous things but nothing like this, and Eva hardly knew what to make of Lily's letter as a whole. Still, she refused to doubt there was hope Lily might find her wits and come home.