Chapter 17
SUNDAY EVENING, RIGHT ON SCHEDULE, Ivan arrived at Marlin and Luellen’s house for the ice cream Marlin had promised to make.
The thought of dipping into the cold, creamy dessert caused Ivan’s mouth to water, but he was more excited to be able to see Emma.
In the short time they’d known each other, Ivan had developed strong feelings for her, and he hoped she felt the same.
Once Ivan had his horse and buggy situated, he meandered into the yard, where he was greeted by an overly eager pup. Fawn kept yipping and jumping up and down, until Ivan finally bent over to pet the rambunctious dog.
“You’re a determined one, aren’t ya, girl?”
Ivan was rewarded with a few swipes of the dog’s pink tongue on his hand.
“Better not get your face too close or she’ll lick you right on the mouth.” Marlin’s voice carried throughout the yard as he announced himself. He then approached Ivan after stepping down from the front porch. “I speak from experience too,” he added with a wrinkled nose.
Ivan couldn’t help laughing. He could almost visualize the look of disgust on Marlin’s face when the little dog slurped his lips. That won’t happen to me, ’cause I will make sure not to get my head that close, Ivan told himself, giving Fawn a final scratch between the ears.
“You ready for some homemade ice cream?” Marlin asked as the two of them went up the porch steps.
“Sure am.” I’m also more than ready to see how Emma’s doing this evening. He kept that thought to himself. His mind stayed set on Emma as he followed Marlin through the open front door. Ivan hoped that this evening, he could muster the courage to tell Emma how he felt about her.
Shipshewana
Rachel sniffed and blew her nose on the handkerchief her grandmother had sent with a birthday card a few months ago. In addition to the hankie, a $10 bill had been included.
Rachel envied Emma and wished she could also be at Grandpa and Grandma’s house in Arthur right now, instead of sitting up here in her room feeling sorry for herself.
She’d spent the last half hour crying and trying to figure out what had caused David’s sudden attraction to Alice. Or had it been there all along, and she’d been too blind to see it?
If David lost all feelings for me, then why didn’t he have the courage and decency to come right out and say so?
Rachel asked herself. And why did he let our relationship go on so long, leading me to believe he really cared for me and would likely propose marriage soon?
More tears trickled down Rachel’s cheeks, and she swiped them away with the back of her hand.
How could David have broken things off with me after two full years of courting?
Rachel’s thoughts turned to Alice then, her supposed best friend. Doesn’t she care how her betrayal has hurt me?
She got up from the end of the bed and strolled over to the window to look out, hoping the green grass and chirping birds in the yard might soothe her aching soul.
But the serene view below and the birds’ song on the verge of dusk did nothing to dry up Rachel’s tears.
She felt like a clock that had been wound up too tight and wondered if her heart would break and she’d never be the same again.
The laughter that used to pour forth from Rachel so easily was gone.
How could my mamm even suggest that I go to the singing this evening? Rachel’s fingers tightened as they curled into the palms of her hands.
Doesn’t Mom realize how difficult it would be for me to see David and Alice together? I don’t understand it, because Mom’s usually so sensitive and caring.
An unexpected thought popped into Rachel’s head. What if I were to take some time off from my job and go visit Grandma and Grandpa Herschberger? I’m sure they would welcome me the way they did Emma, and it would give me some time to heal from this horrible hurt that I feel so deep in my heart.
Rachel pushed her shoulders back as she made a decision. I’m going to pray about this, and if I feel the same way I do now in the morning, I’ll speak with Mom and Dad about the idea of me going to stay with Grandpa and Grandma for a while. It would be nice to spend some time with my sister too.
Arthur
While Emma sat at the picnic table with her grandfather and Ivan, her thoughts took her back to the day before, when she’d fallen into the pond.
Emma remembered the concern she’d seen on both Grandpa’s and Ivan’s faces after she’d been rescued and was safely on dry land. She also recalled the sensation of being carried in Ivan’s arms to the buggy. Despite her body being cold, she had felt secure and safe.
“This ice cream is sure appeditlich, isn’t it, Emma?”
Ivan’s comment drove Emma’s thoughts aside, and she nodded. “I’m glad Grandpa made vanilla ice cream, so we could choose our own toppings to put on.”
“That’s how I like it too.” Ivan reached for the bowl of fresh sliced, lightly sweetened strawberries and added a few spoonfuls to the ice cream in his bowl. Following that, he drizzled a little chocolate syrup on top and took a bite. “Yum! Homemade ice cream is so much better than store bought.”
Emma added the same toppings and passed the bowl of strawberries to Grandpa.
“No thanks. Think I’ll just enjoy the full flavor of vanilla this time.” Grandpa looked toward the house. “I wonder what’s taking your grossmammi so long to bring out a few kichlin. Maybe she needs some help.”
“I’ll go see.” Emma was on the verge of getting up when she spotted her grandmother coming out of the house carrying a plastic container.
Grandma ambled toward them, moving at the pace of a snail, and with a pinched expression on her face. Ivan must have seen it too, for he was quickly on his feet and racing across the yard before either Emma or Grandpa could react.
Emma watched as Ivan took the container, and Grandma, with one hand behind her back, inched forward until she was at the picnic table.
Emma compared Ivan’s quick reaction to Grandma’s evident pain to his act of kindness when he dove into the water after her.
Ivan’s nature to be attentive and help those in need without hesitation was evident.
“What’s the matter, Luellen? Your back still bothering you?” Grandpa asked.
“A little bit,” she replied with a frown.
“Well, sit on the bench and get off your feet for a while.” He motioned to the spot beside him.
“Did your back bother you this morning?” Emma questioned.
“Some. I figured that new mattress we bought would take care of the problem, but guess I was wrong.” Grandma eased herself onto the seat beside Grandpa, and Ivan placed the container on the table.
“I slept fine.” Grandpa pulled the lid off and reached in to grab two chocolate chip cookies.
“Grandma, maybe you should make an appointment to see the doctor about your back,” Emma suggested.
Grandma gave a vigorous shake of her head. “That’d be a waste of time. He’d probably say that aches and pains come with old age, and the only thing he would likely offer would be pills I wouldn’t want to take.”
“Maybe it won’t go that way,” Ivan chimed in. “The doctor might have some helpful suggestions for you, or suggest that you have an X-ray taken.”
“Ivan’s right,” Emma agreed. “You can’t keep living in misery. I really think you should see a doctor about your back.”
“Maybe these two young people are right, Luellen.” Grandpa reached for another cookie and dipped it in his ice cream. “A trip to see the doctor might be exactly what you need.”
“I’ll think about it,” Grandma replied. “If I’m not feeling better by tomorrow, I might end up going over to our English neighbors’ place and asking if I can borrow their phone to make the call.”
Emma smiled and passed Grandma the cookies.
When they’d finished their refreshing cold treat, Grandma and Grandma went back to the house, taking the empty ice cream container with them but leaving the cookies on the table.
Emma was too full for anything else. She’d eaten three of them, in addition to a full bowl of ice cream, and that was more than enough.
“How are you feeling this evening?” Ivan asked, leaning close enough to Emma that she felt his breath blowing against her left cheek.
“I’m okay. Just tired, and I’ve been trying not to dwell on what happened yesterday.”
“I know what you mean,” Ivan said. “It’s been on my mind as well. When you fell in the water, Emma, it really scared me. I was afraid I might lose you.”
“I’m fine now, thanks to you.” Emma traced her fingers along the table’s wooden surface, turning her head to look directly at Ivan, while offering him what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
Ivan scraped a hand through the back of his Dutch-bobbed hair. “There’s a question I’ve been wanting to ask you, Emma.”
“What is it?”
Ivan exhaled through his nose and reached for her hand before he spoke. “I would like to court you, Emma. Would that be all right with you?”
Ivan’s pupils appeared to be dilated as he sat waiting for her answer.
How could she say no to Ivan, especially since his presence provided her such comfort and joy?
After what had transpired at the pond, Emma felt sure that Ivan truly cared for her.
There was no doubt about it—Emma cared for him too.
Emma didn’t make Ivan wait long to give her response. “Jah, Ivan, I would be pleased to have you court me.”
“I’m so glad. I was afraid you might say no, or that you’re not interested in me as a boyfriend.”
I’m very interested, Emma wanted to say. Thinking that might be too forward, she murmured, “I enjoy being with you, Ivan, so there would be no reason for me to say no.”
They sat quietly for several minutes, as the sun began to set in the west, bringing a glorious sunset of pink and red hues. The lawn was enveloped in lengthy shadows from the waning daylight, and the evening breeze cooled Emma’s arms.
“I have another question to ask, if you don’t mind,” Ivan said, breaking the silence between them.
“Oh?”
“I was wondering if you would have any objections to us going in the house to tell your grandparents that I asked, and you agreed, to become a courting couple. Or maybe you would prefer to tell them after I leave.”
“I have no objection at all,” Emma responded. “In fact, I think we should do it together.”
Ivan nodded. “I’m fine with that, and then I really need to get home so you can get some sleep. I’m sure this day has been a long one for you.”
“It was, but I did take a nap this afternoon.”
“You probably needed it.”
“Jah, that’s true.” With regret, Emma let go of Ivan’s hand and stood. “Guess I’d better take what’s left of the cookies inside. Unless, you want to finish eating them.”
Ivan held his stomach and groaned. “I ate too many as it was.”
“Same here.”
As Emma walked beside Ivan up to the house, she felt a sense of weightlessness. Could this be happening to me? Did Ivan really ask to court me? Am I falling in love with Ivan Yoder, or is it too soon for that?