Chapter 18
L ydia was delighted she could throw a ball as well as her brothers. Thrilled to have garnered Alec’s attention. And yet she felt a pang of regret for leaving her brothers and her little sister, not to mention her parents. And Jonathan. Not that she wouldn’t be expected to get married, bear children, and then stay home to care for them. Wait a minute. Didn’t she want a family and children? Yes, eventually. But not yet.
A snowball flew past her like a missile. Her head snapped around to see Alec, as handsome as can be and laughing. She recalled Jonathan had always been the object of her desires. She’d known him since she was a little girl and had decided they would get married at the age of six. She’d even chosen the sky-blue fabric that matched her eyes for her wedding dress. She’d never wavered from her love for him until she’d taken her job in New Jersey caring for Amanda. Maureen had opened a new world for her like Pandora’s tantalizing box. She’d even taken her to get a driver’s license, meaning Lydia had to submit to having her picture taken. As well as a photo for a passport. If her father could see those photos, he would lose all respect for her. Her mam might not care as much. What was Lydia thinking? Her mother would be heartbroken.
Two of her brothers who had not yet been baptized had purchased a junker and had hidden it, but she figured her parents knew where the old car was stashed and turned a blind eye. But Dat had called Lydia the apple of his eye, meaning he was extremely fond and proud of her. To lose that esteem would be like losing her life. And yet that’s most likely what would happen when he found out she might leave the church. Not that she had been baptized yet. Thankfully. She’d put that lifetime commitment off, even though she’d told Jonathan she was planning to take the necessary baptismal classes.
She scanned the area around her and noticed that most of the people were headed toward the hotel again or climbing into their cars. Falling in with them, she found both guests and employees speaking at once and laughing. She didn’t recognize some of the languages. French, Portuguese, Italian? No one speaking Pennsylvania Dutch or German.
As she made her way to the hotel, Alec strolled alongside her. She longed to take his hand for stability but knew that would be wrong. As she considered this, her feet flew out in front of her, and she fell on her rear end in a most unladylike fashion.
“Whoops.” Alec helped her to her feet. The snow had turned into a white blanket of smaller particles. The ground was covered. These are the winters she had grown up with in Lancaster County, so she figured she could navigate her way. But when Alec offered her his elbow, she took it.
He said, “You have quite a pitching arm.”
“I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
“You wounded only my pride.” He massaged his cheek.
“Everyone, look.” Amanda dropped to the ground. “I can make a snow angel.”
“Wonderful, but it’s time to go inside.” Lydia knew how headstrong Amanda was but would not be sidetracked.
“But I want to stay outside and play all night.”
“Your mother would not approve of you being out here by yourself.”
Amanda finally stood, and Lydia brushed the snow off Amanda’s hair and jacket. At Amanda’s age, Lydia would’ve done exactly the same thing. Life was so much simpler and carefree when Lydia was a girl.
As they entered the hotel’s front doors and stepped inside the foyer, candlelight cast dancing shadows, reminding Lydia of home. Never living with electricity, she would not miss it in the slightest. She grinned at her advantage, and yet she had adapted to Maureen’s way of life. She reveled in it. She was as bad as Amanda when it came to watching TV. Some nights she’d stay up late to watch some silly show and fall asleep on the couch and yawn the whole next day.
Inside the front door, hotel guests stomped snow off their shoes and shed their jackets and coats while employees took and shook them. A man stoked the fire in the hearth, and people gravitated to it for warmth.
A clump of employees gathered around an older woman dressed in a kilt and a white blouse with a ruffle in the front, who was apparently in charge.
“How can we work in the darkness, and how can we prepare the next meal without electricity?” a young Scottish woman asked.
“Has anyone tried to start up the generator?” The older woman clasped her ample hips.
“Yes. Two of the men tried without success.”
“Thank the dear Lord, we have gas stoves for cooking,” one young woman said. “But will the morning crew be able to come to work tomorrow with all the snow?”
Lydia saw little problem. She moved over and spoke to the older woman. “I’m used to cooking on gas stoves. I could assist you with breakfast.”
“Looks like we could use the help,” the woman said. Lydia saw all eyes turning in her direction. “If you’re sure.”
Maureen strode forward. “This young woman works for me. Is there a problem?”
“I’m the night manager, Mrs. Ross.” The older woman, who must be Mam’s age, rubbed her hands together. “As you can see, our power is out. We usually serve hot chocolate and cookies in the evening and a full breakfast in the morning.” She looked distressed; the corners of her mouth pulled back. “And we can’t get the generator working.” She smiled at Lydia. “But good news. This young lady has offered to help.”
Maureen’s sculpted brows lowered. “I bet I can cook better than Lydia. Well, I know I can. I’m a professional chef.”
“But you came to us so that we could serve you not the other way around.”
“This will be fun for me, I assure you.” Maureen crossed her arms. “Better than sitting around feeling sorry for myself.”
Lydia couldn’t imagine why Maureen would feel sorry for herself, but she had come to understand that the Englisch life was still foreign to her.
When Lydia glanced over to the front door, she saw Denny and Alec chatting, their heads close together as if they were having a private conversation. Denny fluffed her hair and looked up to him with a flirtatious expression on her face. Lydia wished she were a fly on the wall so that she could overhear.
“How about hot chocolate?” Maureen’s voice bubbled with exuberance. “I have my own special recipe if you have marshmallows and whole cream. And if someone fetches me a bowl, I can whip up some of my award-winning snickerdoodle cookies. Doesn’t that sound yummy?”
“Yes, madam.” Alec’s laughter filled the room.
Lydia couldn’t help but admire Maureen’s outgoing personality. Her success. Why, Lydia wouldn’t think of speaking up like that. She was a nobody again. An assistant was what she would be for the rest of her life.