The Widower (Amy's Story Book 3) Read online

  His dad was blinking rapidly and for a split second, Peter feared he might cry. If his dad cried, he didn’t know what he’d do. His world would come unraveled—even more than it already had.

  “Fine, Dat. I’ll go. I’ll work hard up there, just see if I don’t. And I’ll send all the money I earn back to you.” He squared his shoulders and forced a smile.

  Zack let out a shaky breath. “Thank you, son.”

  Wilma reached out and squeezed Peter’s arm. “Everything is going to be fine. The gut Lord is watching over us.”

  Peter nodded. He could only pray that the good Lord would watch over him when he broke the news to Amy.

  Chapter Three

  Amy hadn’t slept well. Her mind simply wouldn’t stop. By dawn, she was exhausted and worried and in a real state.

  “You look awful,” Beulah said when she appeared in the kitchen.

  “Thanks,” Amy muttered.

  “Well, sorry, but you do. Are you sick?”

  Sick with worry.

  “Nee, I ain’t sick. I’m fine.”

  “You want to make the biscuits?” Beulah asked her. “Mamm went to fetch some jam from the larder.”

  “I’ll be glad to,” Amy answered, eager to be busy.

  Fiona returned and the three of them worked to get a hearty breakfast on the table. Her father and brothers came in shortly, and they all ate together. Amy was glad there was a lot of conversation at the table. No one but Beulah seemed to have noticed how horrid she truly felt.

  By mid-morning, Amy had pushed through all of her chores in record time. She was ready to head out to the garden to see what needed to be picked when she saw Peter arriving on his bicycle. She blew out her breath.

  It was odd that he’d be coming at this hour and doubly odd that he was coming right to the front door, but she didn’t care. The fact that he was there and could distract her from her troubling thoughts about Susie and Andrew and Mavis was enough to make her want to run down the front steps and throw herself in his arms.

  Which, of course, she would never do. But she did go out and wait for him on the top step. He rolled to the porch and got off his bike, lowering it onto the grass. He had a funny look on his face.

  “Peter?” she questioned. “You look like something’s wrong.” And he did. He looked as awful as she felt.

  “Hello, Amy.” He took off his straw hat and fingered the brim. “Can I talk to you?”

  She frowned and nodded. “Of course. Do you want to take a walk? Or would you like to sit on the porch swing?”

  He looked around as if nervous. “Uh, I s’pose the porch swing is fine.”

  She took a step back, and he came up the stairs and walked past her toward the swing. He sat down and looked up at her. She sank down beside him.

  “You’re making me nervous,” she said. “What’s wrong?”

  “Uh…” He sucked in a huge breath, increasing her dread.

  “Tell me,” she blurted. “It’s clearly bad news.”

  “It ain’t gut,” he said. “My dat had a talk with me.”

  “About what?”

  “I didn’t know it, but a couple years ago, he took out a loan.”

  “A loan? With an Englisch bank?”

  Peter nodded, and Amy’s stomach tensed.

  “There’s something called a balloon payment. He owes one, and if he doesn’t pay it, we could lose the farm.”

  “Lose your farm?” she asked, incredulous.

  “That won’t happen,” he was quick to assure her, “but when we make that payment, we won’t have enough to live on this winter.”

  “But the crops are gut this year. Everyone says so.”

  He nodded. “I know, but that money will go to the loan.”

  “I see,” she said, digesting the news. He would only be telling her this if it affected her. “What does this mean, then?”

  “It means…” he visibly swallowed, and Amy braced herself. “It means I’m going up north to work in the factories.”

  Amy gasped. “What?”

  “I’ll be living with my onkel and his family. All my wages will be sent back to the family here.”

  “Up north? But for how long? We’re going to be wed soon. Will I be moving up there, too?” Amy could hardly digest the news fast enough. And if she went with him, she would have no chance whatsoever of seeing Susie again. Or Andrew. Or any of her friends and family.

  Peter put his hand on her arm, and she took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

  “Nee. You won’t be going. I’m to leave in a week’s time. I’m not sure how long Dat needs me working up there. It could be for some months…”

  “But then, what about us?” she asked.

  “Um… Dat and Mamm think we should put off being wed. They think we should be engaged for a while. Wait until next wedding season.”

  She sprang off the swing. “Why, that’s over a year from now!” she cried. “That seems forever away.”

  “Please, Amy. Please sit back down.” Peter looked absolutely miserable. “That’s not all…”

  “Not all? What more could there be?” she asked, feeling as if her entire world had shifted.

  “Dat has sold Daadi’s buggy…”

  Amy frowned. “But I thought that was to be your buggy. Our buggy.”

  “It was.”

  She pressed her lips together and stared at him. He had nothing now. She knew how upset he must be. He was worried before about not having much to offer when they were married. Now, one of the few things he’d counted on had been taken away from him.

  She put on a smile. “It’s all right, Peter. We’ll get our own buggy in due time. I’m sure our parents will let us use theirs when there’s a need.”

  His hold on her arm tightened, and she saw a bit of worry lift from his face.

  “And if you must go work in the factories, then you must. It’ll be all right.” She said the words, wanting to comfort and reassure him, but she had no idea how it was going to be all right. She dreaded him being so far from her. She dreaded having to wait for more than a year to get married.

  She glanced away, out over the front yard. The sweeping willow tree touched the grass, creating a lovely spot to play and hide beneath. She and Beulah used to play under that tree for hours when they were little. It was like having a little house with branches and leaves for walls. Amy used to make up silly stories beneath that tree and tell them to Beulah, who sometimes sat still for the whole story. When she didn’t, Amy finished the story anyway, with only her faceless dolls as her audience.

  Over a year. How could she wait that long?

  In truth, she was afraid to wait that long. Fear wriggled through her, and she didn’t know why. Why should she be afraid? She had suspected from the beginning that Peter wasn’t ready. This would be the perfect chance for him to have some extra time.

  Only, not really. He wouldn’t be preparing for their union; he would be helping his family pay off debt—which of course, was only right. Still… where did that leave them?

  “Amy?” Peter said softly.

  She turned to him.

  “Are you all right?”

  She kept her smile fixed to her face. “Of course. Are you?”

  He shrugged. “I will be, I s’pose. I didn’t know. I want you to believe me. I didn’t know anything about the loan. Nothing at all.”

  “I believe you, Peter. Although, I’m puzzled why your dat kept it such a secret.”

  “I don’t know. Pride, I guess.”

  “Pride…?”

  “I know,” he said, dropping his hand from her arm. “I know what the Bible says about pride.”

  “I wasn’t going to quote Scriptures at you, Peter.”

  He shook his head. “I know. Sorry.”

  “I’ll tell Mamm that the wedding is off.”

  He looked panicked. “Not off. Just postponed.”

  “Jah. Just postponed.”

  “I’m sorry, Amy.”

 
“No need to be sorry. No need at all. Everything will be fine.”

  He smiled at her. “You sound like my mamm.”

  “Do I?”

  He nodded and stood. “I’ll write you.”

  She grinned. “You better.”

  “And you’ll write me?”

  “Jah.”

  “Before I go, we can have a picnic or something. How would that be?”

  “I think it’d be nice,” she answered. “I’ll make up a basket for us, and we’ll go to Edmund’s Pond.”

  “How about on Monday? I’ll come fetch you about six o’clock.”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  “Bye, Amy.” He stood, looking down at her. His expression was so tender that tears came to her eyes. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Soon,” she repeated and watched him leave. When he cycled to the end of the drive, he turned and waved to her. She waved back, and then he was gone.

  She sat very still, gazing into the trees. She followed the antics of two sparrows and then she shifted her focus to the barn where their buggy was stored. So. No more buggy from his grandfather. Likely, no pony, either, although Peter hadn’t mentioned that.

  And more than a year to wait.

  More than a year. What if their feelings changed? What if they waited for that long and something happened? She shook her head, wondering why she was painting such a dim picture of her future. God was in control, wasn’t He? Shouldn’t she simply be happy and trust Him?

  The screen door squawked, and Beulah came out to join her.

  “I heard,” she said and plopped down next to Amy.

  Amy reared back. “You eavesdropped?”

  “Not really. I was standing just inside the door, and I couldn’t help by overhear.”

  Amy groaned. “Just as well,” she said. “You’d know sooner or later, anyway.”

  “So, no wedding for quite a while.”

  “No wedding for quite a while.”

  “Gut thing you weren’t already published.”

  Amy chewed her bottom lip. “Maybe.”

  “It does give you time now.”

  “Time for what?”

  Beulah gave Amy a knowing look. “Time for you and Andrew to heal enough to see each other.”

  “See each other?” Amy said, suddenly weary. “I see him just fine.”

  “I know you do, but you don’t really know you do. And he certainly doesn’t know you do.” She got up. “I won’t say anymore.” She gazed toward the road. “I want to see Uriah tonight. I hope he comes by.”

  “He won’t come up to the house, will he?” Amy asked, alarmed. Her mother would shoo him away for sure and for certain.

  “Nee. He isn’t dumb, Amy. I’ll just go down there and wait. He’ll likely come.”

  “Do you go down there every night in the hope that he’ll show up?”

  “Of course, I do. And he often does show up.”

  “But why don’t you make actual plans?”

  Beulah sighed with clear impatience. “Why should we? This works.”

  “But you have to go down and wait every evening? I don’t know… It seems insulting somehow.”

  “Insulting? Ach, Amy.” Beulah shook her head. “What’s insulting is being engaged to someone who doesn’t make your heart flutter.”

  And with that, she waltzed back into the house, leaving Amy alone once again.

  Chapter Four

  Mavis faced Andrew square on. “I have my own house to see to, Andrew. You know that.”

  “I do know that, Mavis. But I can’t agree to this. I simply can’t.”

  “You don’t have a choice. You need me to care for Susie. She’ll have to come with me.”

  Andrew sighed heavily and sank onto the long bench beside the dining table. “Then, you can have her at your place during the day, and I’ll come and fetch her every night.”

  “That would be much too disruptive,” Mavis insisted. “I’ll simply take her home with me. You can visit whenever you like.”

  “Mavis,” Andrew said. “Nee.”

  Mavis shrugged and spread her arms. “It’s the only solution. Unless you want to come live with us, which I doubt.”

  “This is Susie’s home. If you can’t watch her for only the day, then I’ll hire someone.”

  Mavis went still, her features hardening. “Are you referring to Amy Yoder?”

  “I wasn’t thinking of anyone in particular,” he answered, only that wasn’t true. He was indeed thinking of Amy. He missed her. Missed her calming presence. Missed how content Susie had been with her.

  Mavis shot him a doubtful look. “It won’t be necessary.”

  “She’s my daughter, Mavis. I don’t think Grace would be too happy—” He cut himself short. He could see by the look in Mavis’s eyes that mentioning Grace had been a mistake.

  “Don’t you bring Grace’s name into this. She was my daughter. I knew her for many more years than you did. Grace would want this. She would want me taking Susie home and raising her there.”

  Nee. She wouldn’t. Andrew wanted to yell it out, but it would do no good. He didn’t like conflict, and he certainly didn’t want to have a fight with his mother-in-law. But he also didn’t want Susie living elsewhere. Susie was his daughter. She should be with him.

  “I know you’re upset, Andrew,” Mavis went on, her voice calmer and more rational now. “How about I just take Susie for a couple days, just so I can get caught up at home. I haven’t really been there since we got back from Pennsylvania. And Bart needs to be there. It’s not handy to stay here and go back and forth to work in the fields and tend the animals. Surely, you can understand that.”

  “Of course, I understand that,” Andrew said, feeling weary in every inch of his body. “That isn’t really the issue here.”

  “I know,” Mavis said quickly. She was trying to mollify him—he could clearly see that. “Just a day or two.”

  “And then I’ll bring her back here?”

  Mavis blinked and averted her eyes, reaching down to fuss with something on her shoe. Then she straightened again. “Jah. And we’ll discuss our options again then.”

  “All right. One day. Not two.”

  Mavis waved her arm as if that were a trivial detail. “So, will you take me? Bart doesn’t know the plan.”

  “I’ll take you.”

  And four hours later, he did just that. Mavis held Susie while Andrew drove the buggy to his in-laws’ home. He pulled up to their porch and secured the reins.

  “Don’t bother coming in, Andrew. I know you must be eager to get home and rest. I’m just fine taking Susie inside by myself.”

  Andrew leaned over to kiss Susie’s cheek, but Mavis was already climbing out of the buggy. Bart came out on the porch.

  “Mavis,” he said, his voice filled with pleasure. “You’re home. Gut. And you’ve brought Susie.”

  He hurried down the steps to grab her suitcase. He grinned at Andrew. “I see we’re having Susie for the night. Thank you, Andrew. Everything going all right?”

  Everything going all right? Andrew thought. Hardly.

  “It’s fine,” Andrew said. “I’ll be back tomorrow for Susie.”

  “Nee, don’t bother,” Mavis interjected. “I’ll have Bart bring me over. No need for you to hitch up. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She practically ran into the house. Bart waved and followed her inside. Andrew sat for a moment, wondering what exactly had just happened. He had a sudden bad feeling. He should go inside right now and take Susie back with him. He hadn’t even had the chance to kiss her good-bye.

  But how would that look? He needed to just let this happen and then tomorrow, he would force his preference. Because letting Susie stay at Mavis’s permanent-like was not a solution he favored. And despite what Mavis said, he was quite sure Grace would not be pleased.

  He let out a heavy sigh and snapped the reins, and his horse immediately went into action, getting Andrew home in record time.

  * *
*

  Andrew rose the next morning to a quiet house. It felt odd. Like he wasn’t even in his own home. He found himself walking to the nursery to check on Susie and then it all came back to him. Susie wasn’t there. She was with Mavis and Bart. A sour taste filled his mouth as he turned back from the room.

  Mavis would likely bring Susie back after Bart came in from the fields. She wouldn’t attempt to drive herself and Susie here alone. So Andrew could get in a good day’s work before Susie was back. Just as well, too, because working would keep Andrew’s mind off his absent daughter.

  Once dressed and downstairs, he cut two thick slices of bread and slathered them with butter and jam. Perhaps not the healthiest of breakfasts, but it would do. He went right outside, breathing in the cool morning air as he headed for the barn. He set to milking the cow and feeding the chickens. Then he took the pail of milk inside the house and returned to walk out to the fields.

  Andrew barely stopped to eat at noon. He couldn’t stand the quiet house and went right back outside as soon as he could. Funny how a house could go from full of life to a desert with such rapidity. He wanted Susie back. Needed her back. He made sure he tidied the kitchen, not wanting to give Mavis any ammunition as to why Susie shouldn’t be left with him.

  No matter what Mavis proposed, Andrew was now prepared to veto it. Unless, of course, Mavis was willing to spend the days there to watch Susie. He would also agree to have Susie spend the days at Mavis’s place if he could bring her home every afternoon.

  Chapter Five

  By the time evening came, Andrew couldn’t sit still. He kept pacing the front room waiting to hear the creak of buggy wheels outside his door. Then he took to pacing the porch outside, his eyes straining to the road that ran by his place. By six-thirty, he began to grow suspicious. Bart had surely returned from the fields by then. Susie should be back; it was going to be her bedtime soon.

  By seven-thirty, Andrew knew that Mavis wasn’t going to bring Susie back. His jaw set, he went to hitch up his pony cart. The agreement had been only one night. Mavis was not going to get away with this. Within forty minutes, Andrew was at his in-laws’ home. He didn’t bother knocking, he just went inside.