The Wonder of Your Love - By Beth Wiseman Page 0,9
about. She dabbed at another tear before it made its way down her cheek. Again she wondered if she’d been fair to her husband by not telling him she was pregnant. As the bishop blessed the union, Katie Ann wondered if visions of her life with Ivan would ever stop haunting her. She had believed that her marriage was sacred, a union blessed by God. Where had it gone wrong?
She bowed her head along with the rest of the congregation, but her communion with God was as it had been for the past several months—limited. Something had gone amiss after Ivan left her, and she was struggling to get it back. She missed God. The way it used to be. And no matter what the circumstances of their separation, she missed Ivan.
“Amen!” Martha said loudly beside her.
Katie Ann gently elbowed her friend.
“Don’t nudge me, Katie Ann.” Martha raised her brows. “You know how these long services hurt my back. Thank goodness you people have added some chairs to your worship services. I don’t know who started that whole backless bench thing, but it’s ridiculous.” She pointed a few rows in front of them. “Look at poor Lillian up there on the front row. She’s half my age, but I watched the poor girl rubbing her back on and off throughout the service. I say you should ban all those backless benches.”
Katie Ann sighed as she and Martha stood up. “Time to serve the bridal party.” She glanced down at Jonas, who was sleeping soundly in his baby carrier.
“How’d you get him to stop screaming earlier?” Martha now nudged Katie Ann. “I saw the Detweiler fella follow you out of the room. What was that about?”
“Keep your voice down,” Katie Ann whispered as she picked up the baby carrier. They followed some of the other women toward the kitchen. “As you pointed out, he’s raised six children, so he was helping me with Jonas.”
“Now that’s a good man, I tell ya.” Martha grinned. “You need to get to know him.”
“We talked about this. I’m in mourning.” Katie Ann frowned in Martha’s direction. “Besides, the man is a bit . . . prideful.”
“With his good looks, he’s got plenty to be proud of.” Martha cackled.
“That is not our way, Martha, and you know it.” Katie Ann moved toward the stairs. “I’m going to go lay Jonas down in Vera’s room.”
“Did you bring the baby monitor?”
“Ya. Tell Vera I’ll be back to help serve in just a minute.”
Martha rubbed her hands together. “Can’t wait to dig into that creamed celery.”
Katie Ann wound her way around the others in the room and went upstairs. After she had Jonas settled in the playpen in Vera’s room, she quietly made her way back down.
Martha was busily chatting with Eli in the living room. They both looked up at her, and Katie Ann could tell that Martha was up to no good.
Three
MARTHA QUIZZED ELI ABOUT HIS LIFE BACK IN Middlefield, and she listened intently as he told her about his children and grandchildren. He was certainly qualified to take care of little Jonas, so she mentally checked that off her list.
“And what kind of work did you say you do?” Martha batted her lashes at him. If only she were a little younger, she’d convert and snag this fine Amish man for herself.
“I worked construction for many years—and farmed, of course. But right now I’m just farming.”
A hard worker. Good. Katie Ann stayed busy, and like most of her people, she believed in hard work and love of the land. “How long will you be staying in Canaan?”
“I’m not sure.” He smiled, and Martha decided she was going to slap Katie Ann upside the head if she didn’t latch onto this handsome fellow.
“I’ve never been here before,” he added. “Since I was raising six children on my own, there was no time for travel. I guess you could say that this is like a vacation for me. Vera and Elam told me to stay as long as I like, but I don’t want to wear out my welcome. And my son, Jake, is tending to my farm. I don’t want to burden him for too long.”
The wheels in Martha’s head were spinning at full capacity when she saw Katie Ann heading her way. Katie Ann was so suspicious of men now, Martha feared she’d never give this nice man a chance. “Vera needs you, Katie Ann,” she said quickly and waved her away.