Chapter 22
RACHEL PUSHED THE BEDSHEET ASIDE, rolled over, and stood up.
After padding in her bare feet to the window to raise the shade, she yawned and stretched both arms over her head.
For the past two days, since Emma’s boyfriend had stopped by, Rachel had been thinking about his invitation for her to join him and Emma at the singing this coming Sunday.
With this being Thursday, it meant there were only a few days left in the week to decide if she should accept Ivan’s invitation or stay home that evening with Grandma and Grandpa.
In the two years Rachel and David had been courting, they’d never suggested that Emma go anywhere with them, so it wouldn’t seem right for her to tag along on Ivan and Emma’s ride to and from the singing.
It was a dilemma, and she didn’t know what to do.
If I went with them, I’d probably feel like a fifth wheel on a buggy, and Emma might not appreciate having her big sister along for the ride, Rachel told herself.
Her gaze came to rest on Grandma’s garden below, and she tried to focus on that.
Last evening, Grandma had mentioned that some of the bush beans were ready for harvesting.
Rachel figured that would probably be on her grandmother’s agenda for the day, and picking beans would involve both her and Emma.
She turned away from the window and went to open her suitcase, which she had placed on the cedar chest at the foot of the bed.
Her dresses were hung on wall pegs in the room, but she’d left stockings and undergarments in the suitcase.
There was no point in unpacking everything since she would be here for such a short time.
“Sure wish it could be longer, though,” Rachel murmured. “Emma doesn’t know how lucky she is to be able to spend the whole summer with our grandparents.”
Rachel hated feeling sorry for herself, but it seemed like nothing good was happening in her life right now, and everything was going so well for Emma.
During their breakfast of pancakes and bacon, which Emma had made, Grandma talked about the garden and what she thought might be ready to pick, while between bites, Grandpa read the local newspaper.
“Will it be just the bush beans like you had mentioned previously?” Emma asked while cutting a knife into her pancake. “Or are you wanting us to pick something else as well?”
With a thoughtful expression, Grandma rubbed her chin. “Let’s see now … when I went out to the garden last evening to check on things, I discovered that the zucchini and yellow crookneck squash are doing well, and I believe some of those are big enough to be picked.”
“Anything else?” Rachel asked, slathering a side of her pancake in raspberry fruit spread.
“It’s all that caught my attention,” Grandma replied. “But maybe you and Emma, who are more agile than I and don’t have bad backs, will be able to get down low and find more things that are ripe enough to pick.”
“How is your back feeling this morning?” Emma questioned after swallowing a bite of her buttery pancake. “You haven’t complained much about it lately.”
“It still bothers her some,” Grandpa spoke up for the first time. “She just hasn’t said anything about it.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Emma said, while gently patting her grandmother’s arm. “How bad is it?”
Grandma picked up her cup of tea and took a sip. “I have a few twinges sometimes, but it’s nothing to worry about.” She lifted her shoulders in a brief shrug. “It’s probably just old age setting in. It might not be long before I’ll need to walk around here with a cane in hand.”
Grandpa rolled his eyes. “Jah, right. Just admit it, Luellen, you need to see a doctor about your back.”
She looked at him and wrinkled her nose. “I’ll see a doctor when I need to, but not until then.”
“Okay then, suit yourself.” Grandpa flipped open the newspaper and started reading again, and Grandma continued to talk more about the garden.
Emma, on the other hand, had switched her thoughts and was thinking about the quilt lesson she would have this afternoon with Ivan’s mother. She hoped they could move on to something more challenging today than the simple patchwork pattern.
Once they had finished breakfast and cleaned the dishes, Emma ventured outside along with her older sister to their grandmother’s garden. The sun’s intense heat rested on Emma’s shoulders as she wandered the rows with the basket handle dangling from her wrist.
“I’d say the bush beans are definitely ready to harvest,” Rachel commented as she bent forward, snapping off a lengthy pod from the plant.
“Emma, look at how many sprouts there are. Without a doubt, our baskets will be filled in no time, and maybe there will be room for the squash and zucchini without making a second trip to the house.”
With her fingers sweeping the leaves away to uncover groupings of bush beans on the branches, Emma crouched next to her sister. “This will certainly keep us busy for a while.”
“I’ll say. We better get a move on before it gets too hot out here.” Rachel dropped several beans into the basket and began to gather more.
Following suit, Emma proceeded to pick the bush beans and plop them in her basket.
Except for the typical small talk, not much conversation was exchanged between the sisters.
Emma was scooping up a bush bean that had slipped from her grasp when she saw a lady-bug scuttling on the ground, its wings as vibrant as the raspberries growing near the blueberry shrubs.
Over time, Emma’s basket grew heavier, as did the humidity from the summer heat. She continued down the row to where her sister had gone, which was among the zucchini and squash.
“This is a lot of work,” Emma said as she set her basket down. “I’m glad we’re almost done since I need some time to freshen up before leaving.”
“Where are you running off to?” Rachel questioned. “Are you going somewhere with Ivan today?”
“No. I’m planning to go to Ivan’s house, though, for another quilting lesson with his mother.”
“A quilting lesson? That sounds like fun. Do you mind if I tag along, Emma?”
Emma whipped around to face her sister just as she was raising her arm to grab for a ripened squash. “Why? I—I mean, why would you want to? You already know how to quilt.”
“I do, but I’m not an expert and could use some pointers. Grandma told me that Ida Mae’s very talented, and I could maybe learn a thing or two from her.” Rachel smiled. “Besides, wouldn’t you like to have your sister’s company?”
Emma’s gaze fell on her basket, weighing her options along with her harvest of bush beans. It’s not like I can really say she can’t go with, she thought. I’m not exactly thrilled with the idea, but it’s easier to go along with it to keep the peace.
“I guess it would be all right if you went,” Emma said as she snapped off a squash and dropped it in her basket.
Rachel nodded. “I could give you some insight too, if that’s okay. I have plenty I’d like to share with you, and now that you’ve learned some of the basics, you should be able to understand what I’m talking about.”
Emma compressed her lips. I can’t wait.
“It’s nice to have you here with us today, Rachel,” Ida Mae greeted as they entered the Yoders’ home.
Rachel shook her hand. “I’m excited to be here and see some of your quilts.”
After guiding her and Emma to the sewing room, Ida Mae invited them to take a seat wherever they were most comfortable. Although the space was small, Rachel could see that Ida Mae made do with it, keeping all her supplies neatly tucked away and some on display.
“For today’s lesson, I believe we should begin with something a bit more advanced now.” Ida Mae spoke to Emma, but then she turned to face Rachel. “I’m assuming that you’re already familiar with quilting?”
Rachel nodded. “Of course. So what did you have in mind for us to do?”
“Let me think about it.” Glancing over her arranged display cases, Ida Mae smoothed her fingers on a quilt that hung on the wall. “This pattern right here is the Double Wedding Ring. Do you know that one?” she questioned.
“Oh yes. Our mother has a quilt with that pattern, which our grandmother gifted her for her wedding,” Rachel said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if your mother gives each of you young women a Double Wedding Ring quilt when you get married.”
“It’ll probably be Emma first before me.
” Rachel frowned. “I thought I’d marry David, but now I’m not sure if it’s worth finding someone else and risking having my heart broken again.
” Rachel bit the inside of her cheek. I don’t know what made me blurt that out.
I’m sure Ida Mae doesn’t know anything about me and David or our breakup.
“True love doesn’t always happen on the first try.” Ida Mae laced her fingers together. “But for most, first loves are not everlasting, and many people experience plenty of heartbreaks before they end up finding the right person to spend the rest of their life with.”
“All I know is, I’m not getting any younger, and having to start all over with someone new isn’t what I was hoping for.”
“You never know, Rachel. You might meet someone new while you’re here in Arthur.”
“I’m not sure about that. A long-distance relationship could make matters even more complicated. Besides, I’ll be returning to my parents’
home in Shipshewana soon.” Rachel’s gaze shifted to her younger sister, who sat by the window quietly fiddling with a sewing needle.
She hadn’t said a word since they’d arrived.
“Sorry, Emma. I didn’t mean anything by that.
Simply put, I don’t think I’d ever fall for a man from outside our community. ”