last couple days. Heâd made himself scarce every time he saw her. Did he not approve of her marriage to Nathaniel? âOur table seems too empty with my Bruder Isaacâs family gone. Weâd love to have you.â
âAre we going to stand out here all day?â Holly asked.
Esther could tell her daughter was irritated, but doubted their conversation was the source of her agitation.
She glanced up to the brewing sky, clouds crowding in from the west, and asked the Lord who was the right man for her one and only Holly. Mamm was dreaming if she thought Holly would dive into the Amish church and be content driving a horse and buggy. Nor would Holly pitch her cell phone and laptop. Yet this Armin chap didnât look so bad, though Nathaniel said he wasnât even baptized.
CHAPTER THREE
The four of us stood in the barnyard waiting for someone else to make the first move.
My mother, all moony-eyed, gazed up at Nathaniel, but his attention was riveted on Armin, who turned his head to watch an undulating flock of starlings. Mom patted her hair; her hands paused at her nape, her fingers searching for loose strands at her bun. Her cheeks wore a flushed girlish hue. She bore little resemblance to the independent woman who owned and operated the Amish Shoppe and had stated sheâd never marry again.
Against all logic, nausea snaked through my stomach as I envisioned Nathaniel King caressing her. My molars clamped together. Their courting, as the Amish called it, bothered me. I needed to change my immature attitude, but the child in me clung to my dream that Dad would returnâtalk about fairy tales. I should be thrilled Mom had found an upright and kind man who adored her. Iâd have to get over it: Mom was infatuated with Nathaniel, like my father never existed. Until recently, sheâd referred to my dad as the love of her life, a man no other could replace.
âYou coming in to join us?â Mom asked Armin.
âYah, Iâll stay. Ich bedank mich .â Thank you.
âUnless Lizzieâs waiting for you both,â Mom said, which struck me as odd.
A smile fanned across Arminâs face. âIâm not the man Lizzieâs hopinâ for, am I, Bruder?â Armin wore a goofy grin and Nathaniel scoffed.
âWeâll both eat here, thank you,â Nathaniel said.
âGut.â Mom rubbed her fingers against the palm of her other hand. âWeâve got plenty.â
Hey, wait a minute, why hadnât Zach called to say heâd miss lunch? How rude. An insult to my mother, whoâd prepared the meal, not to mention me.
Anger and frustration coiled through my mind.
Mom, Nathaniel, and Armin moved toward the back steps. I followed in their wake like a shriveled-up leaf on the creek behind the pasture. I didnât want Zach finding me standing alone out here looking desperate when and if he arrived. I increased my pace until Iâd caught up with them. In the kitchen I stepped into my suede moccasins Iâd brought from Seattle. Armin and Nathaniel left their boots in the utility room, washed their hands at the small sink just outside the kitchen, and entered sock-footed. They removed their hats and hung them on wooden pegs by the door.
âYou should bring over a pair of slippers,â Mommy Anna told Nathaniel, as he planted himself at the head of the table. âYou own this house now.â
âItâs on loan to you, Anna.â He scooted in his chair. âFor as long as ya want.â
âYouâre a generous man, Nathaniel,â she said. âIâll find you a pair of slippers myself, the next time Iâm out shopping.â
I pulled out a chair for Mommy Anna at the middle of the table, and Armin sat across from her as if avoiding Nathaniel.
In a flurry of seamless motion, my mother set the casserole and muffins on the table, and brought three-bean salad, sliced tomatoes, broccoli salad, and chow-chow from the