Chapter 29
Almost two weeks after Beth’s first “real” date with Junior, Martin asked for all of them to get together. All of them had meant the four of them, plus Treva and Richard. And Patti, too.
After much discussion, they’d ended up going to the Trailside Café. The restaurant had a large oak community table near the back. A dozen people could sit there easily, which meant their group had plenty of space to arrange their coffee cups and assorted pastries.
Even though it was after hours and past time for Treva to be working, she still was manning the counter and making everyone’s favorite coffee drinks—all in decaf so none of them would be up all night.
Sitting next to Patti, he shared a smile with her. When the group of them all got together, it got pretty loud. They all chatted like it had been weeks since they’d all seen each other.
Patti was always a bit taken aback by the chatter, but it was as comforting to him as the faint chirps of crickets in late summer. Both things were familiar.
“Anyone need anything else?” Treva called out over the low din. When no one answered immediately, she raised her voice. “Last call!”
“We’re good, Trev!” Jonny yelled to his wife. “Come sit down.”
“Okay, but I’m serious. It’s now or never, gang.”
Beth chuckled. “In another life, Treva would have been a fantastic bartender.”
“I’ve thought the same thing,” Jonny said with a laugh. Looking down the row at the lot of them, he said, “Treva might disagree, but for my sake, please say you’re good. She’s been serving people all day.”
“I think we’re good, Jonny,” Patti said.
“Richard and I are fine, too,” said Kelsey.
“I’m fine, too. Come join us,” Beth half shouted.
Treva placed her elbows on the countertop. “Are you sure, Beth? You looked pretty tired when you came in. Feel free to ask for something.” When Jonny looked ready to interrupt, she shot him an impatient look. “Don’t start. You know this is different.”
Beth smiled. “Thanks, but I really am fine.”
“We’re all good, Treva,” Martin said. “Come sit down.”
“Yes,” Kelsey added. “Plus, before we leave, we’ll help you wash all the dishes and set you up for the morning.”
“That isn’t necessary.”
“Of course it is,” she retorted. “We’re family, right?”
Treva smiled, transforming her already pretty features into something really lovely. “Right.”
Five minutes later, after she took the vacant chair next to her husband, Kelsey’s husband, Richard, cast a sympathetic glance toward Patti, who’d been appearing more and more apprehensive as each minute passed.
“I’m happy to hang out with all of you as long as you’d like, but if there’s a specific reason you asked us all to join you, maybe it’s time to do that, Martin. ”
“Richard’s right,” Beth said. “Patti, at first I thought all our noise was making you uncomfortable, but it’s something more, isn’t it?”
She nodded.
Kelsey cleared her throat. “Say something, Martin. Please put Patti out of her misery.”
Wishing that he’d thought things through a bit more, Martin wrapped an arm around Patti’s shoulders. “What do you think? Are you ready?”
“Nee, but I don’t think I’ll ever be ready,” she whispered.
He hated to hear that. Starting to fear that he’d rushed her into a big announcement before she was truly ready, he said, “Do you want me to do it?”
“Nee. I’ll be okay.”
She didn’t sound close to being “okay,” though. Beth, who was sitting across from her, studied her carefully.
“You’re starting to worry me,” Kelsey said. “Are you okay?”
“Jah. I mean, I think so.”
“You think?” Kelsey, never one to sit around and wait for an answer when she could take charge, frowned. “What is wrong? Are you sick? Martin—”
Richard covered one of her hands with his own. “Patience, love.”
“I’m trying.”
Kelsey and Richard’s exchange seemed to give Patti the burst of bravery that she’d been trying to summon.
“I’m ready, and nee, I’m not sick.” When she looked his way again, Martin nodded.
“All right, then.” She leaned closer to Martin’s side, took a fortifying breath, and then finally lifted her chin. “I’m in love.”
One second passed. Two. Then, like the appearance of fireflies on a hot July night, bright grins and laughter surrounded them.
“Tell me that you’ve finally put Martin out of his misery,” Jonny teased.
“I have. I mean, I’m hoping I have.”
“You have,” he whispered. Turning back to everyone else, Martin grinned. “Absolutely.”
Treva beamed at them. “This is wonderful news. Wunderbar! Right, Jonny?”
“Very much so.”
Martin wrapped his arm around Patti. “We have even better news. We’re going to get married.”
Looking shy, Patti reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a ring.
The ring he’d handed her just the night before.
A small gasp was heard, just seconds before applause, whistles, and a chorus of “congratulations” rang out.
Richard and Kelsey stood up and hugged them, followed by Treva and Jonny, and then Beth.
“Now you tell us?” Beth teased as she finally got her turn to hug them. “One day someone needs to teach you how to break good news. The way you both were dragging your feet made us all afraid that something was wrong.”
“I concur,” Kelsey said as they all returned to their seats. “Wait. Patti, you don’t look relieved.”
“Patience, Kels,” Richard murmured.
When Martin met his eyes, he realized his preacher brotherin-law knew exactly what that ring signified. “That’s because we haven’t finished telling you what we need to,” he said. “We have something more to share.”
“I know,” Jonny said. “The two of you are going to live on Patti’s beautiful farm, right next to Mommi and Dawdi?”
“No, that’s not what’s going to happen,” Martin admitted.
“What is?”
“Yeah, what are you going to do? Where are you going to live?”
“In Cleveland,” Patti said in a rush. She’d spoken a bit loudly. She’d needed to because of the way his family couldn’t stop interrupting each other.
But those two words seemed to echo in the room and reverberate.
And little by little, all the meaning behind her statement permeated the room.
And with it, the happy, excited smiles faded.
As well as the lighthearted teasing.
Richard, most especially, looked somber. “You’ve decided to leave the faith, Patti.”
His voice had no doubt been carefully judgmental, but the way Patti’s eyes filled with tears made Martin want to lash out at him. Yes, he was a preacher, but couldn’t he have simply acted like a future brother-in-law for a moment first? Didn’t Richard see how nervous and scared Patti was already?
“Yes.”
Concern filled his features as he turned to Martin. “I’m assuming you understand what this means?”
“Of course I do. You don’t honestly think I don’t, do you?” Looking at each member of the family, Martin wasn’t afraid to let his feelings show. “Look, I think each of you understand what Patti and I have been going through. Especially Beth, Jonny, and Kelsey.”
“We do,” Kelsey said.
“If you do, then you might remember a specific conversation the four of us had in the car on the way to our grandparents’ house several years ago.”
“Of course we do,” Jonny added. “We all agreed to give this decision a try but to understand and support every one of our choices.”
“Each one of you has made one. Each one of you has upended your life. And I’m talking about Richard and Treva here, too. The Lord knows I tried my hardest to leave everything behind. I just couldn’t. I couldn’t.”
“And I didn’t want him to,” Patti blurted.
When they all turned to face her, her voice grew stronger.
More determined and confident. “I didn’t make this decision lightly, but I love Martin with all my heart.
I’m going to be able to make a life by his side.
I’m going to be just fine, because he loves me just as much.
” Her voice turned strained, but she continued.
“Please. I know a lot of people in this community aren’t going to support my decision.
Maybe they never will. But I’m hoping that you will.
Please put your love for Martin ahead of your personal opinions. ”
“No, Patti,” Beth said. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”
The collective group inhaled sharply.
As Patti stared at her with a wide-eyed expression, Martin felt his temper flare. “Do you hear yourself, Beth?” he bit out. “I suggest you apologize now.”
“Just listen, will you?”
Jonny groaned. “Sorry, but you’re off track, Sister.”
“Yes, the guys are right, Beth. You’re out of line,” Kelsey said. “What has gotten into you?”
Just as Martin was about to heap on more criticism, Richard cleared his throat. “Let’s allow Beth to speak.”
“Danke, Richard.” Turning back to Patti, Beth said, “What I’ve been trying to say is that we all love you, too, Patti. I don’t want to only think of Martin. We want to put our love for you and Martin first.”
“Thank you,” Patti said. “I’m very touched.”
“And I apologize,” Martin said. “I guess—”
“That you want to protect your girl from hurt? I get it.”
“What’s going to happen now?”
“Well, since I’ve already spoken to the bishop and my extended family, I’m going to put my house on the market.”
“When is the wedding?”
They exchanged glances again. “We were thinking sooner than later,” Martin said. “Something private and small. Maybe at the courthouse.”
Kelsey gasped. “Martin.”
“I know it’s not ideal, but I also know that any service is going to be filled with some hurt feelings.” Reaching for Patti’s hand, he said, “I intend to spare her that.”
“What about Pastor Donovan in Cleveland?” Jonny said. “I always liked him. He might be able to give you some ideas about your ceremony.”
“Who is he?” Treva asked.
“He was the pastor of the nondenominational church near my university,” Martin said. “Now he’s head of a church in Wooster.”
Beth nodded. “That’s a good idea. Hmm. Or I could see if the chaplain from my college might officiate. Maybe you should think—”
Martin interrupted. “Everyone, I love you, but it needs to be our choice. Especially Patti’s choice. I want her to be comfortable.”
“What do you think, Patti?” Jonny asked in a soft voice.
“I think that I’d like to visit with your pastor. Your family is right. There are a lot of ways to involve the Lord in our wedding. We should investigate that.” Turning to look into his eyes, she added, “That is, if you think so, too, Martin.”
“I want whatever you want.” Unable to help himself, he pressed a kiss on her brow. “As long as you’re happy, I’ll be happy.”
When Patti’s smile lit up the room, everything in his world finally felt right.