Chapter 5 #2
Before Emma could form a response, Norma spoke up.
“Jah, you should come, Emma. It’s gonna be held at my friend Mary Sue Lehman’s house.
” Norma paused to brush a few cookie crumbs off the front of her dress.
“Actually, it’s Mary Sue’s parents’ home.
They live in a different church district from ours, but their place is only a few miles from here. ”
Emma wasn’t sure how to respond. She loved to sing, and had always enjoyed the singings held back home.
The problem was, she wouldn’t know the majority of young people in Arthur, and it would be hard to socialize with people she wasn’t acquainted with.
“Umm … well, I’ll have to wait and see how it goes.
Grandpa would have to drive me there, and my grandparents would need to give me their approval to go. ”
“No, he wouldn’t have to bother hitching a horse to his carriage to drive you,” Ivan interjected. “I’d be happy to come get you. I’ll be taking my sisters anyway, so one more person in the buggy won’t be a problem at all.”
“My brother’s right,” Jane chimed in, scooping up what was left of the ice cream in her bowl. “The more the merrier, and we’d love to have you at the singing.”
Emma looked over at Ivan and couldn’t help but notice his broad grin.
He rubbed one side of his reddish-brown hair, exposing a small mole on his upper neck.
How could Emma say no to the enthusiasm that these three siblings shared?
She licked the last of her vanilla ice cream from her spoon.
“All right, as long as my grandparents have no objections, I’d be happy to accompany you all to the singing. ”
On the way home that evening, Luellen noticed how quiet their granddaughter was in the back seat of the buggy.
Is Emma tired, or could she be upset with me for blurting out earlier that she didn’t know how to cook and had come here to learn under my tutorage?
Luellen’s stomach knotted as soon as she considered such a possibility.
Once they arrived home and Marlin had unhitched the horse and taken him to the barn, Luellen stopped walking.
She turned to face Emma and said, “About what I said earlier, I’m truly sorry for blurting out this afternoon that you’d come here to learn how to cook and sew.
” She took a deep breath. “It was not my intent to embarrass you. The words just came flying out of my mouth before I had a chance to think about what I was saying.”
Emma stepped onto the porch before replying. “What you said did upset me, Grandma, but I’m not mad and I accept your apology. I do embarrass easily, and I know I need to have thicker skin.”
Luellen nodded and followed Emma onto the porch. “Sometimes people say things without thinking, and unfortunately, I tend to be one of them. It’s an area in my life that still needs to be worked on, and I will try to do better from now on so I don’t embarrass you again.”
They entered the house, and before it became too dark to see in the dimly lit space, Luellen began lighting the gas lamps overhead in the living room, noticing how the shadows of her granddaughter’s body in the light from the lamp snaked along the wall of the entryway.
“Much better. We don’t need anyone tripping over anything in here.
Would you like something cold to drink, Emma, or maybe a bite to eat? ”
“No thanks, Grandma. After all I ate today, I’m really not hungerich. Also, the ice cream and cookies we had filled me up real good.”
Luellen nodded. “Me too.”
Emma yawned, lifting her arms above her head covering. “I am feeling mied, though, so I think I’ll head on up to bed.”
Luellen placed the empty basket she held, that had once been filled with cookies, on the accent table by her favorite chair. “I’m tired too, so as soon as your grandpa comes in, we’ll probably both call it a night.”
“All right, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Hope you sleep well, Emma.”
Her granddaughter stroked the tip of her upturned nose and said, “You too.”
Luellen watched as Emma left the room and headed up the stairs.
Overall, today was a good day, and it had been pleasant to visit with friends at the Yoders’ house.
It had also been nice to see Ivan visiting with Emma, which Luellen felt sure had helped to make her granddaughter feel welcomed.
She wondered if the young man was just being polite or if he had taken a personal interest in Emma.
Now wouldn’t it be something if Ivan and Emma began courting, and she ended up staying here in Arthur permanently?
Ivan reclined on his bed and settled in against the pillow with both hands behind his head.
Today was good, and he’d enjoyed visiting with Emma even more than eating his fill of ice cream and cookies.
A smile tugged on Ivan’s lips as he stared up at the ceiling.
There was a sweetness about her, and he looked forward to getting to know Emma even better this summer.
Ivan was glad his sisters had invited Emma to go with them to the singing next Sunday.
When the invitation was given, he’d noted Emma’s reaction.
Her cheeks deepened in a rosy shade yet still retained those prominent dimples, a fine mix of meekness interwoven with excitement.
Although Emma hadn’t committed to going, she had said she would ask her grandparents’ permission.
He really hoped that neither of them would object to him picking Emma up and taking her to the event.
After all, it wasn’t like they would be alone.
Jane and Norma would be along as chaperones, so to speak.
Ivan had considered asking Emma himself, but Norma had beaten him to it.
If Ivan had a chance to find some free time away from work this week, he might go over to the Herschbergers’ place and ask Emma’s grandparents if they would mind if he and his sisters gave Emma a ride to the singing.
Then he’d know for sure if Emma could go, and he wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore.
He sure didn’t want to wait until the evening of the singing and show up at the Herschbergers, expecting to give Emma a ride, and then be told by Marlin or Luellen that Emma did not have their permission to go.
That’s what I’m gonna do, all right, Ivan told himself.
The first chance I get this week, I’m going to head over to their house and ask the question myself.
Now that the problem was settled, Ivan’s eyes became heavier and the remembrance of what had taken place a few hours before lulled him to sleep.