The Wonder of Your Love - By Beth Wiseman Page 0,94
Everyone had gathered outside after the meal, and she’d already spotted Danielle and Levi underneath the big oak tree on the west side of the house. The two young people were deep in conversation, and Martha was thrilled. But when she saw Vera standing a few feet away from what Martha hoped was a blossoming new friendship, Vera stood with her mouth turned down and her arms folded across her chest, pretending to listen to Lillian but staring at Danielle and her son.
Hmm . . . Martha had wanted nothing more than for Danielle to find some nice Amish friends, mostly because the kids were just good folk, with a strong faith in the Lord. And none of them had their body parts pierced. But she felt a little protective of Danielle. Was Vera thinking that Danielle wasn’t good enough to be friends with her son? True, Danielle was a work in progress, but the girl had gone through a tough time.
Martha didn’t care if it was her wedding reception, she was going to find out if maybe she was wrong. She waited until Lillian walked away before she approached Vera.
“Glad to see Danielle is making some friends.” Martha nodded toward Danielle and Levi.
Vera smiled. “Ya, ya.” She paused and raised a brow, her voice unusually hopeful. “Has she made any friends with her own kind?”
Never before had Martha felt the invisible lines that divided them as strongly as she did in this moment. A taut reminder that, no matter the love and friendships—Martha and her people were not Amish. And for a group so dedicated to not passing judgment, Vera’s eyes were expressively judging Danielle for the Amish person she was not.
“She’s made a few friends,” Martha said casually. “But I was hoping she’d make friends with some of the Amish folks. You people raise good kids.” She grinned, hoping the compliment would make Vera lighten up a bit.
“We believe in hard work and discipline.” Vera pressed her lips together as she glanced over at Danielle and Levi.
“Danielle got a job at the Mountain View Restaurant.” Martha felt defensive, a place she didn’t like to be. “She’ll work hard, I’m sure.”
Vera smiled. “I’m sure.”
Martha wanted to give Vera a little shove and tell her to quit being so judgmental, that Danielle was just as good as Levi. But today was her wedding day, so she wasn’t going to let Vera spoil it.
“Where’re Eli and Katie Ann?” Martha scanned the crowd around her and didn’t see them. She looked back at Vera, who was now grinning from ear to ear.
“It was a wonderful idea for you to invite Eli. And with Hannah doing so well, he was thrilled to come.” She pointed toward the field where Katie Ann and Eli were still standing. “There they are.”
It warmed Martha’s heart to see them together. It was a picturesque setting as an orange glow rose into a deep blue sky, mountains in every direction. She took another look. Is Katie Ann crying?
KATIE ANN SEARCHED her heart, and she knew that she would travel to Ohio to be with Eli if he asked her to do so. It would break her heart to leave Canaan, to leave Lillian, Samuel, and the children. They were her family. And what about Martha?
“I can’t keep doing this, Eli.” She lowered her head as a tear trailed down her cheek. Eli lifted her chin and brushed away the tear with his thumb, keeping his hand on her cheek.
“I don’t want to be without you either, Katie Ann.” She was surprised when he leaned in and kissed her, but time stopped for a moment as she allowed herself a few moments in his arms. He kissed her again, then kissed her on the cheek, cupping her face in his hands.
“I love you, Katie Ann. I don’t want to be without you, but I’m not going to ask you to leave your family here. I wouldn’t do that.”
The tiny webs in her heart thickened and spread wider, enough so that she was sure she would never survive what was coming. She stared out into the open field toward the majestic mountains and silently prayed for strength. Eli smoothed back a strand of hair that had fallen forward and kissed her again.
“Marry me, Katie Ann. Spend the rest of your life with me.” Eli smiled. “Let me be a gut husband to you and a father to Jonas.”
She was confused. “But how can that be, Eli? What about your plans—”