A Place at Our Table Read online

  Kayla’s shoulders stiffened as she prayed Dat would say no.

  “What do you think, Marilyn?” Dat glanced over at Mamm, who sniffed as she wiped a napkin over her eyes.

  “No.” Mamm shook her head as she crumpled the napkin in the palm of her hand. “I’m not comfortable with the idea of Nathan training to become a volunteer. We need him at the restaurant.”

  Kayla nearly wilted with relief. Oh, thank goodness!

  “It’s settled then.” Dat turned back to Nathan, who glowered. “This is not a gut time for you to train. Let’s drop the subject for now.”

  Nathan ground his teeth together. “Ya, Dat.”

  Silence fell over their conversation like a dense fog. Only the sound of utensils scraping dishes and Junior’s gurgling while eating his food filled the large room.

  “How are the plans going for the barn raising?” Eva’s question broke through the silence.

  “They’re coming together,” Dat said. “The contractor is coming on Friday to clear the lot, so we can move forward with the barn raising next week. I’ve already ordered the supplies. The new barn is going to be a little smaller since we don’t need as much space. I think we’ll have plenty of help. I’ve asked people to put the word out to different church districts. I’m hoping for Tuesday.”

  “That’s wunderbaar.” Mamm smiled. “We can start talking about a menu for lunch and dinner.”

  “Ya, I was thinking that. I’ve also ordered a new buggy. I’ve made a list of everything lost in the barn, and I’ll start replacing what else I need the most right away.”

  As Dat spoke on about his plans, Kayla looked at Nathan. He was staring at his plate as he moved the remnants of his meal around with his fork. She felt a niggling of guilt mixed with triumph as her brother sulked. She dismissed her guilt. She was right to protect her younger brother, the only sibling she had left. But if she was right, then why did she feel so bad about it?

  After supper, Kayla carried dishes to the counter.

  “Nathan and I are going to take care of the animals.” Dat gave Mamm a quick kiss on her cheek before he and Nathan started for the mudroom.

  “Would it be all right if I gave Junior his bath?” Mamm unbuckled his baby seat and pulled the squealing baby into her arms.

  “Ya.” Eva swiped a wet cloth over Junior’s cheek, catching the blob of baby food that had escaped his mouth. “Be gut for mammi.”

  Junior squealed again and wrapped his arms around Mamm’s neck.

  Mamm laughed. “Oh, Junior. You remind me so much of your dat.” Her voice wobbled. “He would have adored you.”

  Tears threatened Kayla’s eyes as Mamm carried Junior into the addition where he and Eva lived. She glanced at the counter where Eva had just started filling the sink with water and soap. She waited for Eva to say something about Simeon or to wipe her eyes, but she continued to work as if Mamm hadn’t mentioned him at all. Was Eva masking her emotions? Or did it not bother her when someone mentioned him?

  Eva turned toward Kayla and smiled. “I’ll wash and you dry, okay?”

  “Ya.” Kayla gathered glasses from the table and carried them to the counter. She studied her sister-in-law, but she didn’t find any sign of grief.

  She considered Eva as she continued to clear the table. She always seemed to have her emotions in check. She was kind and sweet, and nothing ever upset her. Of course, Eva had sobbed the day Simeon died and during the service. She had also broken down frequently in the weeks following the funeral and again four months later when Junior was born.

  Yet one morning a few months ago, Eva awoke happy, and her pleasant mood had continued as she doted on her son and worked at the restaurant. Kayla was constantly astounded by Eva’s fortitude.

  Eva broke into Kayla’s thoughts as she scrubbed a serving bowl. “Was Simeon as eager to become a firefighter as Nathan is?”

  “Ya, he was.” Kayla wiped crumbs from the tablecloth into her hands. “He and his best freinden from his youth group all signed up for training together. They were inspired after the haus down the street burned down. Simeon and I had the youth gathering here that day, and they all went down the street when the fire department arrived. They watched the entire scene unfold, and Simeon said they were fascinated by how the members of the fire company worked together. The man who lived there at the time was injured, but overall he was okay.”

  Crossing the kitchen, Kayla brushed the crumbs from her palm into the trash can. “One of the men volunteering was Amish. When they talked to him, they realized they wanted to help people in the community too.”

  Eva set the serving bowl in the drain board. “Simeon told me he liked the brotherhood of the fire company too. He enjoyed being with the other firefighters. It was like another family to him.”

  “Ya, he told me that once.” Kayla grabbed a dish towel and began to dry the bowl. “He truly loved volunteering.”

  “Ya, he did.” Eva sighed as she washed a platter. “I was so taken by him when I met him at that youth group gathering over in Lititz. He was so handsome and he had the most electric smile. When he talked to me, I thought he was more interested in mei freind Ellie, but he said he liked me.” She set the platter in the drain board and started on the plates. “That feels like a lifetime ago now. So much has changed.”

  A comfortable silence fell between them, and the sound of Mamm singing to Junior as he squealed in the bathtub came all the way through to the kitchen from Eva’s apartment. Kayla lost herself in thoughts of Simeon and Eva—when they first began dating, their engagement, and their wedding. Kayla had admired their easy relationship. They often joked and laughed when they were together. Would she ever find a special relationship like that?

  Eva set a plate in the drain board and began to wash another one. “I think Junior looks like him. He has his smile. Sometimes I look at mei sohn and I’m sure I see Simeon staring back at me.” She glanced over at Kayla and chuckled. “You must think I’m narrisch.”

  “No, I see it too.” Kayla dried a plate and set it in the cabinet as she considered all Eva had gone through since marrying Simeon three years ago. “Do you regret staying with us instead of moving to Western Pennsylvania with your parents after Simeon died?”

  “No.” Eva turned toward her, her smile gone. “Why would you think that?”

  Kayla shrugged. “I guess I thought you might miss your parents.”

  “I do miss them sometimes.” Eva returned to washing the dishes. “But I love working in the restaurant and living in the apartment I shared with Simeon. It’s comforting to be here and around you, and I know having Junior here helps your parents deal with losing their sohn.”

  “I’m so froh you’re here.”

  “I am too.” Eva wiped her hands on a dish towel and hugged Kayla. “You’re the schweschder I never had.”

  Kayla laughed as tears stung her eyes. “It’s funny you say that. I’ve always thought the same about you.”

  SEVEN

  “Mei bruder is talented when it comes to attracting maed,” Jamie said to Noah as he leaned back against the pasture fence.

  They’d both noticed Mark sitting between two young women on the Riehls’ back porch. They were both watching him with rapt attention as he told some story. How had his younger brother learned how to attract so many women while Jamie hardly knew what to say when he found himself in a conversation with one?

  It was Sunday night, and since it was an off-Sunday without a church service, the Riehl family had invited friends to supper. Jamie took a long draw on his bottle of homemade root beer.

  Noah leaned against the fence beside Jamie and lifted his own bottle. “I guess your bruder was the only one to inherit that talent, huh?”

  Jamie started to laugh, began to choke, and spit out a mouthful of root beer.

  “Well, I’m certain all the women sitting nearby would be impressed by the disgusting sight of you choking on your drink.” Noah chuckled.

  “Danki, buddy.” Jamie swiped
the back of his hand over his mouth.

  Noah’s wife, Elsie, rushed over with their toddler. Christian was squirming in her arms. “Are you all right?”

  “Ya, I’m fine.” Jamie pointed at Noah. “Your husband decided to make a joke while I was drinking.”

  “He’s gut at making jokes at the worst time.” Elsie set Christian on the ground, and he took off running toward the porch. “I better follow him.” She hurried after the boy.

  “He’s always so busy. He keeps us running.”

  “I see that.”

  Christian stomped up the porch steps, where Laura sat with her boyfriend, Rudy Swarey, along with her best friend, Savilla Lambert, and Savilla’s husband, Allen. When Christian dashed to Savilla and held up his arms, all the women on the porch broke out in a chorus of “Aw.” Savilla lifted him onto her lap and rocked the boy against her protruding abdomen as Elsie sank down in the rocker beside Laura.

  “I suppose Savilla will have her boppli soon,” Jamie said.

  “Ya, I guess so.”

  “It’s hard to believe Savilla is going to be a mamm. I remember Laura’s first day of first grade. She sat next to Savilla and declared them best freinden for life. It seems as if it’s going to work out that way too. They’re just as close as they were when they were seven.”

  “And we’ve known each other that long too.”

  “That’s true.” Jamie set his empty bottle on the ground.

  “Do you think Laura will get married soon?” Noah jammed his thumb toward where Laura and Rudy were laughing. “They’ve been together a long time, haven’t they?”

  “Ya, I think it’s three years now. I’m sure he’ll ask mei daed permission to marry her before too long, and then Laura will be the first of us Riehl kinner to get married and bring a grandchild into the world.” And I’ll still be single.

  Noah turned toward him. “When are you going to settle down? You’re not getting any younger.”

  “You sound like Mark, but his advice is ironic since he has the attention of all the maed in his youth group but doesn’t want to pick one to settle down with.”

  “Has Mark been giving you a hard time about dating?”

  “He always does.” Jamie picked up his bottle and reached for Noah’s. “Would you like another one?”

  “I’m not done with this one yet, and I’m not done with our conversation.” Noah lifted his eyebrows. “I know you. In fact, I probably know you as well as you know yourself. You’re going to tell me you don’t have time to date. But it’s worth it.”

  “It may be worth it, but I have so much responsibility here on the farm.” Jamie made a sweeping gesture. “I’m the oldest, and I’ll take over this dairy farm someday. I need to show mei dat I can handle it, prove to him how serious I am about keeping this farm a success. Right now he won’t even go on a vacation with Mamm because he thinks I can’t manage the farm without him. Not even with Mark’s help.”

  “Everyone knows how serious you are. You’ve never done anything reckless.” Noah grinned. “Except if you count running into burning buildings. I suppose people could say that’s reckless.”

  “That’s another issue. I also volunteer once a week. I can’t add anything else to my life right now. How could I give a maedel the attention she’d expect?”

  “I’ve made it work. I have a job and volunteer.”

  Jamie shook his head. “You’re not a dairy farmer.”

  “So you think being a carpenter is less work?”

  “No, I didn’t say that.”

  “Jamie, just hear me out.” Noah stood up straight and faced him, his dark eyes serious. “I know it seems like you can’t find balance with dating and the other demands in your life, but you need to. You’ll be froh you did.” He nodded toward the porch, where Elsie was now rocking Christian. “Marrying Elsie and having Christian are the best decisions I’ve made in my life. I thank God every day for mei fraa and mei sohn. If you took the time to find the right maedel, you’d be just as froh and fulfilled as I am.”

  Jamie frowned. “Are you done lecturing me?”

  “Ya, I think so.” Noah took the last drink and handed his bottle to Jamie. “I’ll take another one.”

  Jamie snatched two fresh bottles of root beer from a cooler by the porch and carried them back to Noah. “Here you go.”

  “Danki.” Noah opened the bottle and stuck the cap in his pocket. “I heard Willie Dienner’s barn raising is Tuesday. One of the guys at my store told me Willie was already able to get the lot cleared and the supplies ordered. I’m surprised he did all that quickly, but apparently he has freinden who pulled some strings for him. Are you going to help build the new barn? I’m planning to.”

  “It’s on Tuesday?” Jamie asked and Noah nodded. “Ya, Mark and I will be there. Dat said he’d keep things going here so we can go, and I’m not on duty at the fire station then either.” An image of Kayla filled his mind as he recalled his last conversation with her at the restaurant.

  “You have a strange expression on your face. What is it?” Noah raised his eyebrows.

  “I was just thinking about Kayla.” Jamie leaned back against the fence again as he opened his bottle. “Mark and I saw her last week. We went to Dienner’s Family Restaurant, but I didn’t know her family owns and runs it.” He gave Noah the gist of what happened there. “She doesn’t want me to talk to Nathan, but I feel compelled to help out at the barn raising. Not only was Simeon a fellow firefighter, but we’re supposed to help each other.”

  Jamie turned his gaze toward the porch. Cindy was handing out plates with pretzels.

  “And you like her.”

  “What?” Jamie spun toward Noah.

  “You like Kayla.” Noah took a long draw on his root beer.

  “No, I don’t.” Jamie shook his head. “I suppose I do like her as a freind, but that’s it.”

  Noah grinned, and frustration boiled inside of Jamie.

  “Would you like some pretzels?” Cindy arrived and offered each of them a plate. They both thanked her and Noah smiled as he took one. “I’m surprised you’re not with your youth group tonight.”

  She fingered her black apron. “I didn’t feel like going since I knew we were having company.”

  Jamie took the other plate from her, and he was thankful for the distraction from his conversation with Noah.

  “How’s the store doing?” She swiped a pretzel from Jamie’s plate.

  “It’s gut. We’re getting a lot of orders for bedroom suites, and that keeps us busy.” They discussed the most popular items he, his father, and brother sold at their furniture store before their moving on to friends and acquaintances in their district. Soon the sun began to set, painting the sky with vivid splashes of red, pink, yellow, orange, and purple.

  Elsie sidled up to Noah with Christian fast asleep on her shoulder. “I think it’s time to go.”

  “Ya. It looks like he’s worn himself out.” Noah held out his hands and Elsie handed the boy to him. Christian continued to sleep, burrowing into Noah’s shoulder as he adjusted himself. “Danki for having us over. I’ll see you on Tuesday, Jamie.”

  The four said good night, and then Elsie climbed into the buggy before taking Christian from Noah’s arms. As they started down the driveway, Jamie picked up the two empty bottles and walked with Cindy toward the porch. Cindy hurried up the steps ahead of him, gathered dirty dishes, and carried them into the house.

  Jamie climbed the steps and waved to his siblings and their friends. “Gut nacht.” He yanked open the back door and started into the mudroom.

  “You’re going to bed?” Mark called after him.

  “It’s late.”

  “Ya, I know, but we’re having a gut time. You should stay here and talk to us.” Mark lifted his plate of pretzels. “Have another snack.”

  “Ya, join us,” Franey said. She was one of the young women sitting with Mark.

  “Ya,” Ruthann chimed in from his brother’s other side.

  “
No, danki.” Jamie shook his head. “I have a lot of work to do tomorrow.”

  “You need to relax and have more fun.” Mark stood and gestured for Jamie to sit in the empty chair beside Franey. “Come sit with us for a while. The night is young.”

  Jamie pressed his lips together and swallowed back the frustrated words that threatened to jump from his lips. Instead, he took a deep breath. “I’m going to bed. Work comes early in the morning.”

  “Ya, I know.” Mark shrugged. “We’ll get all our work done.”

  “Gut nacht.” Jamie nodded to the crowd on the porch and went inside. After saying good night to his parents, who were just leaving the family room for their own bed, he climbed the stairs to his bedroom.

  As he undressed and got under his sheets, his mind swirled with a list of everything he had to do the following day.

  Kayla yawned as she walked from the bathroom toward her bedroom. She stopped when she reached Nathan’s room, where a soft glow peeked out from under the doorway. Guilt crept over her. Nathan hadn’t said much to her since their conversation at supper Wednesday night. He had not only accused her of never letting him talk about firefighting, but he’d reminded her she wasn’t his mother. Ever since he had given her only one-word answers when she attempted to speak to him, and he glowered every time she looked at him.

  She blew out a sigh. She couldn’t bear the distance that had grown between them since the barn burned down. Kayla wanted to protect Nathan, but she didn’t want to lose his friendship in the process. After all, he was her only living brother. She wanted to have a relationship with him long after they both were married and had families of their own.

  That is, if she could ever give her heart to a man.

  She started to knock on the door but hesitated, her hand suspended in the air. If she attempted to clear things up between them, she had to do her best not to lecture him. She had to let him talk and to respect his point of view, even if she didn’t agree with it.