Winter Blessings Read online

  “Rhoda!” Mamm called. “Grab a box of tissues and bring it to the mudroom. Dummle!” Then she turned back to Mandy and placed her hands on her arms. “Whatever it is, I promise it’s going to be okay. We’ll get through this together.”

  Mandy shook her head. No, she’d never get over this. Never.

  “What happened?” Rhoda appeared in the doorway holding a box of tissues. At sixteen, her sister was petite like Mandy, and she’d also inherited their mother’s same sunshine-colored hair and bright-blue eyes. Those eyes widened as she kneeled beside Mamm.

  Mandy took deep, shuddering breaths, trying to stem her sobs.

  “Shh.” Mamm mopped up her tears with a tissue. “Just calm down and talk to us. We can help you if you tell us what happened.”

  “I’ll put on tea.” Rhoda popped up and hurried into the kitchen.

  “Gut idea.” Mamm held out her hand to Mandy. “Kumm.”

  Mandy took her mother’s extended hand and let her guide her into the kitchen.

  “Sit.” Mamm nodded to Mandy’s usual spot at the table.

  Mandy sat down and swiped a few tissues across her face. How had this happened?

  Tears filled her eyes anew.

  “Mandy.” Mamm sat down beside her and took her hands. “Talk to me.”

  Mandy sucked in a deep breath. “I think Ephraim broke up with me.”

  “What?” Rhoda came to stand behind their mother.

  “We had an argument on the way home from his parents’ haus. I told him I thought we should delay the wedding. He got upset and accused me of things that aren’t true.” As she explained everything, it was hard to keep her voice steady, but she managed to keep her tears at bay. “I can’t believe it. I just asked to delay the wedding, but he made all kinds of assumptions and blew everything I said out of proportion.”

  The kettle whistled, and Rhoda poured water over tea bags in three mugs and carried them to the table.

  “Danki.” Mandy wrapped her hands around her mug and stared into the hot liquid.

  Rhoda sat down across from her and shook her head. “I don’t know what to say, except I know Ephraim loves you. I can tell every time he looks at you. Maybe he needs a day to think about everything, and then he’ll realize you’re right.”

  “But I don’t understand why he’s so upset. What’s wrong with waiting a few months until his family has adjusted to their new situation? What’s wrong with giving me enough time to get ready? As I thought about both needs, it dawned on me that delaying the wedding made sense. What do you think, Mamm?” Mandy looked over at her mother. Surely she would have some words of wisdom to make everything better.

  Mamm took a sip of her tea and then set down her mug. “I think you’re right.”

  “So how do I convince Ephraim?”

  Mamm tapped her finger against her chin. “What if you propose a new plan to him?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t think Ephraim realizes how much Darlene’s needs change everything for his family. I’d take your concern about moving into Marlin’s house further. Even if you delay your wedding for a few months, you still won’t have your own haus for some time. Maybe years. And I’ve always thought privacy is best for a young couple. It’s not selfish to want that.

  “What if after the wedding Ephraim moved into our home? The one drawback is that he’d no longer be on-site to work on his father’s dairy farm, but he could work for your dat’s brickmasonry company. Then I’m sure your dat would want to build a haus for you here.”

  Mandy blinked. “That’s a brilliant idea!” She leaned forward. “Do you think Dat would agree to it?”

  “Would I agree to what?”

  Mandy turned to find her father stepping into the kitchen. With his light-brown hair and gray-blue eyes, Mandy had always thought he was the most handsome older man she knew.

  “Ephraim’s older schweschder and her family have fallen on hard times, and they’re moving in with Ephraim’s parents,” Mandy began. “Their haus will be crowded now, and I suggested we delay our wedding, at least until Marlin builds a house for Darlene and her family next spring. Now Ephraim is upset with me.”

  Dat took a seat across from her at the table. “I don’t see why he should be upset. It sounds like a mature idea to me.”

  “Danki.” Mandy cupped her hands around her warm mug. “This also means Ephraim and I won’t have our own haus for some time. Mamm came up with an idea to make this whole situation a little easier on everybody. What if Ephraim moved in here after we’re married and went to work for you?”

  Dat nodded as he touched his beard. “Of course. Your husband would always be welcome to live here until you find a place, and I’ve been thinking about hiring someone else.” He looked at Mamm. “We could also build them a haus here. We have plenty of land.”

  “Ya.” Mamm nodded and smiled. “I thought you’d say that.”

  “Do you both think Ephraim will agree to this plan?” The question leapt from Mandy’s lips before she could stop it.

  Mamm ran her fingers over her mug as she nodded. “I think it’s a possibility. If Uria and Darlene are going to live there, and Uria will help run the dairy, then his becoming a brickmason is a great plan for him and for you.”

  Dat’s smile was warm and encouraging. “I’d love to have him as my apprentice.”

  “I think it’s a great idea,” Rhoda chimed in.

  “You and Ephraim need to calm down and talk this out, though.” Mamm’s voice was gentle but firm. “You can’t make this decision for him. Really listen to each other and think about your future.”

  Mandy’s lower lip began to tremble, and she held her breath. She wanted to marry Ephraim, raise a family with him, and grow old with him. But she wanted to get married when the time was right. Would he change his mind? Would he even consider living with her family and changing his vocation for her?

  “What are you thinking, mei liewe?” Mamm rubbed her arm. “I hate to see you so troubled.”

  “I’m still confused, and anxious.” Mandy slumped back in her chair. “It seemed like everything was perfect two weeks ago when Ephraim proposed to me. But now I don’t understand why he can’t see things from my point of view. Tonight it felt like God was saying we should slow down. But when I suggested it, Ephraim accused me of using Darlene’s circumstances as an excuse. He said maybe I’m having doubts about marrying him. Then he said I was just feeling inconvenienced because Marlin’s haus would be crowded, plus we wouldn’t have our own haus next spring. Why is he making these things up? Why is he so defensive?”

  Dat leaned back in his chair. “Probably because all these changes are out of his control. He feels like he should be able to provide a better life for you, but he can’t right now. He’s doubting himself, not you. Just give him time to think and calm down. Even if he’s not willing to move here and work with me, he’ll realize delaying the wedding makes gut sense.”

  “How long do you think that will take?” Mandy rubbed the back of her tightening neck as she waited for her father to calm her worries.

  “I think Ephraim can be a bit stubborn,” Dat said. “Am I right?”

  “Ya.” Mandy nodded. “He can be very stubborn.”

  “He might need a few days, but I believe he’ll come around.” Dat smiled. “Trust God.”

  “Exactly,” Mamm said. “Just pray about it, and then talk to Ephraim. God will lead you both to the right answer.”

  “Ya, Mamm is right.” Rhoda nodded, and the ties to her prayer covering fluttered around her slight shoulders.

  “I will.” Mandy picked up her mug and took a long sip. She silently prayed her family was right, that Ephraim would agree to delay the wedding rather than throw away their love. But she had to admit, she also hoped he’d be willing to alter their plans and live with her family. That just seemed like the best idea for everyone.

  “Dat?” Ephraim’s entire body shook as he walked toward the light he saw glowing near the back
of his father’s largest barn. “Dat, are you in here?”

  “Ephraim?” Dat walked toward him, carrying a lantern. “Are you all right?”

  “No, I need to talk to you. Are you alone?” Ephraim set his lantern on the ground. Then he lifted his straw hat and pushed his hand through his thick hair.

  “Ya, I’m alone. I was just checking on the animals.” He pointed toward the stalls. “Darlene, Uria, and the maed went home. What’s going on?”

  “I think Mandy and I may have just broken up.”

  “What?” Dat’s dark eyes widened. “Why would you break up? You seemed fine earlier when she stopped by with you.”

  “Ya.” Ephraim scowled and looked toward the barn doors as confusion swamped him. Had he made a mistake? None of this made any sense.

  “Why?”

  “We argued on the way to her haus. She wants to delay the wedding. She thinks she doesn’t have enough time to get ready. She also thinks our family has too much going on with Darlene and her family moving in, and if she moves in, the haus will be too crowded.” Ephraim rubbed at a knot on his shoulder. “I got upset. I don’t want to wait a few months to get married. I think we have plenty of time to get ready, and I’m okay if the haus is a little crowded. She disagrees with me. We argued, and we said some horrible things. I told her we both needed some space. I guess we kind of broke up.” He grimaced as doubt edged his words.

  Dat touched his beard and looked past Ephraim.

  “What, Dat?” Ephraim touched his father’s arm. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  “I’m surprised. You two seemed so froh. Do you really want to break up over this?”

  “I don’t know.” Ephraim sat down on a hay bale. “There’s more. I accused her of making excuses to delay the wedding because she’s having doubts about our relationship, and because she’s feeling inconvenienced by the prospect of sharing a haus with so many of us. Unless that’s true, I just don’t understand why she wants to delay the wedding. Her excuses don’t make sense to me.”

  Dat sat down beside him. “Maybe she really does just want to wait for things to settle down.”

  “Maybe, and maybe she does still want to marry me. But this feels like she doubts the strength of our relationship.” Ephraim kicked a stone with his shoe. “Then she said I’m stubborn and bossy and controlling, and that makes me doubt our relationship.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, where a headache brewed. “I’ve been looking forward to starting our life together, but now . . . How did you know when it was time to marry Mamm?”

  “Well, your mamm and I had known each other for years, like you and Mandy have,” Dat began. “We started dating when we were in our early twenties, and then I just knew when it was time.”

  “You never had any doubts?” Ephraim held his breath in anticipation of the response.

  Dat grimaced, and Ephraim groaned, covering his face with his hands.

  Ephraim rubbed his eyes as doubt and heartache pummeled his chest. The pain in Mandy’s beautiful face and eyes kept replaying in his mind.

  Had he just made the biggest mistake of his life?

  He thought he heard hay crunch, but he kept his face covered. It must have been one of the horses moving in a nearby stall.

  “Talk to me, Ephraim,” Dat said. “Holding in your emotions isn’t healthy.”

  “If she means what she says, I think Mandy’s overreacting. Her family, our family, and her freinden will help her with wedding preparations.” He looked up at his father. “You’re going to build a haus for Darlene in the spring, right?”

  Dat sighed. “I’m going to have to.”

  “Will you still build our haus next?”

  Dat hesitated. “Ya, but it might be a few years before I can afford it.”

  “That’s what I thought. But we can live with you and Mamm until then, right?”

  “Ya, you can. It’s going to be chaotic for a while, though.”

  “Why isn’t that gut enough for Mandy?” Ephraim’s voice echoed in the barn.

  “You need to respect her point of view, even if you don’t understand it yet,” Dat said. “You’ve just broken Mandy’s heart by breaking your engagement. If you try to apologize now, she may not forgive you. Even if she does forgive you, she might not agree to marry you.”

  “You broke your engagement?” Katie Ann’s voice called from nearby.

  Ephraim spun to face his sister. She gaped at him, and he knew his father would elect to stay out of this confrontation. He’d always let his children sort out their own conflicts.

  “How could you do that? She loves you.”

  “It’s a long story.” Ephraim was suddenly exhausted. All the fight had drained out of him, and he was certain his bed was calling him. “I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

  “No.” Katie Ann shook her head. “You’ll tell me now.” She pointed to the barn floor. “Mandy is my best friend. She adores you. How could you hurt her like that?”

  “And I’m your bruder,” Ephraim snapped. “What about my feelings?”

  “You loved her yesterday!” Katie Ann pointed at him. “What could she have possibly done to make you break your engagement?”

  “It’s complicated. We had an argument after we left here earlier. She wants to delay our wedding, and I got upset.” Ephraim let his arms fall to his sides. “I’m going to bed.” He tried to walk past her, but she blocked his way. “Katie Ann, please let me by.”

  “Not until you tell me everything that happened.” She looked up at him, her eyes looking as if they might spark with her anger.

  “It’s none of your business.” Ephraim picked up his lantern and then slipped past her before stalking toward the house.

  “Wait!” Katie Ann rushed after him. “You have to tell me what’s going on.”

  “I don’t have to tell you anything.” Ephraim marched up the back-porch steps and into the house, where he took off his coat and hung it on a peg. He hung his hat next to it and then carried his lantern into the kitchen.

  “Why are you acting like this?” Katie Ann trailed after him. “What’s wrong with you?”

  He spun to face her. “All I told her is we need a few days to cool off. But I guess she considers that a broken engagement. This is between us. Stay out of it, Katie Ann.”

  She opened her mouth and then closed it, her face lined with confusion.

  Ephraim took a step back. “I’m going to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. We have to move Darlene and her family here. It’s going to be exhausting, and we both need rest. Gut nacht.”

  Before his sister could respond, he jogged up the stairs and into his bedroom, and then he dropped onto his bed as his mind spun with questions.

  All he knew for sure was that his heart was breaking. Right now, though, he needed sleep. He’d figure out his problems with Mandy tomorrow.

  CHAPTER 4

  I’ll get it!” Mandy rushed to the back door the following evening, praying the knock she’d heard was Ephraim’s. She’d spent all day thinking about him and worrying that their relationship was truly over.

  When she pulled open the door, her worries evaporated. Her handsome fiancé stood on the porch, holding a lantern.

  “Hi.” She pushed the door open wide.

  “Hi.” Ephraim spun his straw hat in his hands. “Can we talk?”

  “Ya. Just let me get my coat.”

  Once outside, she pointed to the glider where they’d spent hours talking. It seemed like just yesterday Ephraim had asked her to be his girlfriend, and now they were facing a crossroads in their relationship—delaying their wedding or calling it off. Her chest constricted at the possibility of losing his love forever.

  “How was your day?” she asked. They both sank onto the cool, wooden glider, and then she gave it a gentle push with her toe.

  “Long and exhausting.” He set his elbow on the arm of the glider and then rested his head on his hand. “Katie Ann helped Uria and Darlene pack at their rental while Dat and I made sp
ace for their belongings at our haus. Then two men Dat hired met me at the rental while Dat stayed behind to take care of the cows. We had to load it all into their truck, and then unload it.” He paused and cupped his hand over his mouth to shield a yawn.

  “We had to carry a lot of it up the stairs. We set up Uria and Darlene in the former sewing room, and we got the girls situated in Katie Ann’s room. They’ll have to finish unpacking all their stuff during the week. We put a lot of boxes in the attic and basement, and what extra furniture didn’t fit in the attic or basement had to be transported to one of the barns.” He rubbed his eyes and then yawned again. “I think every muscle in my body hurts.”

  “Ach, Ephraim. You should have gone to bed, then, instead of coming over here.” She rubbed his shoulder.

  “No.” He looked at her, and the intensity in his eyes sent a tremor through her. “I couldn’t leave things unsettled between us.”

  She held her breath, and her pulse tripped.

  “You were right. Our haus is not just crowded, but chaotic. But we’re family.” He swiveled toward her. “I love you, and I can’t wait to start the rest of my life with you, to make you part of my family. There’s room for you, too, even before mei dat builds Darlene a haus. He can’t guarantee when he can build our haus, but I don’t care where we live. I just want to be with you, Mandy.”

  She swallowed against a swelling ball of emotion. “If you don’t care where we live, then I have an idea for us.”

  “What?” His expression seemed skeptical.

  “What if we lived here instead of at your parents’ haus?” She pointed to the porch. “There’s plenty of room, and mei dat said—”

  “Wait a minute.” He held up his hand, silencing her. “I can’t live here and work for mei dat. It would take me too long to get there for the morning milking, and I’d have to make too many trips back and forth.”

  “I understand. I have a solution to that too. Mei dat says you can come work for him at his brickmasonry business. You could be his apprentice.” When Ephraim looked unconvinced, she spoke faster. “Dat said he’d love to have you work for him, and he would even build us a haus here.”