Chapter 19
LOOK WHAT CAME IN THE mail,” Luellen called as she trudged up the driveway, waving the envelope she’d taken from the mailbox. When she approached the hammock where her husband lay, he groaned and opened his eyes. “Why did ya wake me, Luellen?” he asked. “I was nappin’ in peace.”
“We got a letter from Dianna, and I thought you’d be interested in hearing what she had to say. You don’t need to snap at me for telling you that.”
Marlin yawned and pulled himself to a sitting position. “You’re right, Luellen. Sorry for snapping at you. I am definitely interested in knowing what our daughter’s letter says.”
“Should I read it to you, or would you rather read it yourself?”
He slipped off the hammock and stood. “Let’s go up to the shaded porch, and you can read it out loud.”
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to come between you and your nap more than I already have.”
Marlin shook his head. “Truthfully, I slept long enough.” He extended his hand in her direction. “Come on, Luellen … please don’t keep me in suspense.”
They ascended the porch stairs hand in hand, and once they were both seated, she opened the letter and read it to him:
Dear Mom and Dad,
I’m writing to ask if you would be okay with Rachel coming to Arthur to stay with you a few weeks. She and her boyfriend, David, recently broke up, because he ended things with her and is now pursuing Rachel’s best friend. Poor Rachel has been moping around here ever since.
It was her idea to come there for a visit. She believes a few weeks away might help her come to grips with the breakup, and the time spent with you and Dad might help to heal her broken heart. Rachel also mentioned that she misses Emma and would like to spend some time with her too.
Luellen paused and looked over at Marlin to check his reaction.
He sat with his head lowered, while rubbing his forehead.
“Marlin, did you hear what I said?”
He lifted his chin and sat up straight. “Jah, I heard. Just thinking is all.”
“About Rachel?”
“Jah. That was not a nice thing her boyfriend did to her.”
“I agree. I’m sure she’s brokenhearted.”
Luellen waited to see if he would say anything further, but Marlin just rested in his chair, staring out into the yard. Finally, when she was on the verge of asking if her husband thought they should tell Dianna to hire a driver to bring Rachel here for a two-week visit, Marlin spoke again.
“Won’t having Rachel here cut into your time of teaching Emma how to cook and sew?”
“I don’t believe so. I’m sure Rachel will find some things to do on her own.”
“Maybe,” he said, “but if Emma’s sister is here, Emma will want to hang out with Rachel instead of paying attention to the instructions you give her in the kitchen and sewing room.”
Luellen tapped her foot against the wooden floorboards beneath her chair and frowned. “I suppose that could be a problem. Should I tell Dianna that when I write back to let her know we received the letter she sent?”
Marlin swiped a hand across his forehead. “I guess not. She might take it wrong and think we don’t want Rachel to visit us.”
Luellen turned the letter over. “Exactly. So I think the best thing to do is allow Rachel to come. It’ll only be for a few weeks, so even if having Rachel here distracts Emma from cooking and sewing lessons, I can get back in a routine of teaching her once Rachel goes home.”
“All right then. Go ahead and write Dianna a letter and tell her that we’re fine with Rachel staying here for two weeks.”
“Never mind, Marlin. I don’t need to do that,” Luellen replied as she pointed at what was written by her daughter on the other side of the page.
“Dianna has asked me to see about using our English neighbor’s phone to call Dianna’s neighbor and let her know if it’s all right for Rachel to come.
Dianna included her neighbor’s phone number in the letter too. ”
“Oh, I see. Then I guess you’d better take care of that right away.”
“This is such a nice park,” Emma commented as she and Ivan, along with Norma and her boyfriend, began walking toward a vacant, grassy spot.
As Emma strode alongside Ivan, she glanced up at the clear sky above, thankful for the lovely weather.
Her ankles were cooled by the morning dew–covered grass, but the rest of her body was plenty warm from the sun pouring down its warmth.
“I thought you might like it,” Ivan said.
“The park, here at the southwest edge of the village, was established in 1951 through a donation of nine acres from the Eberhardt family. It’s mostly used for picnicking.
Some people eat their meal while sitting on the grass, like we’re going to do, but there are three large pavilions and playground equipment available for gatherings. ”
“The park is also transformed into a winter wonderland during the Christmas season, with festive lights and decorations,” Norma put in. “Since you’ll be leaving at the end of summer, it’s a shame you won’t get the chance to see how beautiful it is here at Christmastime.”
A deep sense of sadness set in, and Emma had to fight the urge to allow the tears she felt pushing the back of her eyes to spill over.
Now that she and Ivan had begun courting, she was filled with doubts over whether she and Ivan could remain a couple once she returned to Shipshewana.
Emma shook the thought aside and told herself to concentrate on having a fun relaxing day, instead of focusing on something she could do nothing about and that was still a few months away.
When they reached a certain spot beneath some trees providing much-needed shade, Timothy pointed to it and said, “Let’s spread the old quilt Ivan brought along right here.”
Everyone agreed, and while Norma and Timothy took care of that, Emma stood beside Ivan, who held a wicker basket that had been filled with their picnic foods.
Once the quilt was in place, they all took seats. Emma hated to see any quilt thrown on the damp grass, but she kept quiet about it since Ivan had explained that his mother had given it to him for the picnic, stating that it was an old one, not fit to be placed on a bed any longer.
Norma opened the picnic basket lid and announced in a boisterous voice that, with the exception of the cupcakes Emma had made, she had put the rest of the lunch items together to share with everyone.
“Sounds like you’re filled with a bit of hochmut today, Sister.” Ivan nudged Norma’s arm.
She brushed his hand aside. “I’m not filled with pride. I was merely stating a fact.”
“Before this brother-to-sister conversation goes from banter to bicker, I suggest that we pray,” Timothy spoke up.
“Good idea.” Ivan lowered his head, along with the others. When they’d all finished praying, the food was removed from the basket and set on a towel in the middle of the quilt, where it could be reached by everyone.
Emma’s eyes widened as she surveyed the array of items to choose from.
In addition to the ham and sliced pineapple sandwiches Norma had provided, there were pickles, baked beans, cold fried chicken, pretzels, cut-up veggies, and slices of angel food cake, as well as Emma’s chocolate cupcakes.
Grandpa had eaten one for breakfast this morning and declared that they were delicious, so Emma felt confident in serving them as a dessert.
“I brought the beverages,” Timothy exclaimed, grabbing a small ice chest, while Norma and Emma passed out the paper plates, napkins, and silverware.
“Have you got any soda pop in there?” Ivan asked.
“Sure do. In fact, that’s all I brought to drink.” Timothy looked at his date and flashed her a big grin. “I have grape soda, orange, lemon-lime, and everyone’s favorite, root beer.” He pulled a bottle of orange soda out of the cooler and held it up. “Believe it or not, this is my favorite flavor.”
“Eww …” Norma wrinkled her nose. “I have an aversion to anything orange.”
“Even the color orange?” Timothy bumped Norma’s arm. “I thought you enjoyed watching sunsets.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “No, silly. I just don’t eat or drink anything with an orange flavor, so I’ll have a lemon-lime, please. Oh, and I do like to watch the sun set.”
He reached in and withdrew a bottle at her request. “Here you go, and just so you know, I was only teasing you. We all have our likes and dislikes.”
“True,” Ivan interjected. “It’s all right to not like certain things as long as there’s mostly common ground.” Ivan looked at Emma and winked.
She smiled in return and asked Timothy for a bottle of grape soda. Ivan did the same.
“See, that’s one more thing we have in common,” he whispered. “We both like the same soda pop flavor.”
She gave a brief nod and proceeded to help herself to the food, taking a small amount of each item. Picnics were fun, especially when shared with friends.
When they finished eating and had stowed everything back in Ivan’s buggy, he suggested that the four of them take a walk and enjoy the scenic surroundings within the park.
Everyone was agreeable, and as Ivan and Emma strolled along behind Norma and Timothy, he decided to be bold and reached for her hand.
And why not, he thought, glancing ahead at the younger couple. My sister and her boyfriend are holding hands, and they haven’t known each other as long as Emma and I have.
“I don’t know about you, Emma, but this relaxing day is just what I needed,” Ivan commented.
“It’s been a peaceful time for me as well. The meal we all shared was delicious too,” Emma added.
“You’re right about that,” Ivan agreed. “I especially enjoyed your tasty cupcakes. Way better than the ones you’d brought on our fishing trip.”
“Danki, Ivan. I’m glad you liked them. Though, I don’t want to ever think about that afternoon again if I can help it.”
“That’s understandable. I’m sorry for bringing it up.”