Chapter 30 #2
Dianna clapped her hands. “That’s wunderbaar, Emma. What’s the name of the pattern? Is it a beginner’s patchwork quilt?”
“No, Mom. It’s a very unusual pattern called the Tree of Life.”
“Really? I’ve not heard of that one before. Can you show me what it looks like?”
“It’s upstairs in my room, in the bottom of my suitcase. It’s only partially finished, and I haven’t even taken it out yet.”
“You haven’t emptied your suitcase since you’ve been home?”
“I took out my clothes, but decided to leave the quilt in there to keep it safe.”
“Well, let’s go see—should we, Emma?”
Emma set the cookbook aside and followed her mother out of the kitchen.
When Rachel got off work, she walked to the small café on the other side of town, where she’d promised to meet David today.
She hadn’t told her parents yet, or even Emma, but she and David had gotten back together a week ago.
It hadn’t been easy at first, but David managed to convince Rachel that he truly loved her and wanted them to spend the rest of their lives together.
After declaring his love once again, David had said, “Why should we have to wait? I love you, and you love me, and there’s no point in us waiting till next year to get married. ”
It was true—Rachel did love David with all her heart.
They’d both agreed that their wedding should take place on the second Thursday of November.
That was only two months away, so there was a lot to do in a very short time.
Rachel could only hope that when David came to her house this evening to tell her parents about their plans, they would agree, and everything would go well.
Of course, she told herself as she picked up speed, there’s a good chance my parents won’t be happy about it. I can only hope David and I can make them understand how much we love each other and want to be married as soon as possible.
That evening after supper, a knock sounded on the front door. Rachel’s heartbeat picked up speed. She felt sure it was David, so she raced to the door before anyone else could and pulled it open. Seeing that it was indeed David, Rachel invited him in.
“You didn’t say anything to your parents yet, did you?” he whispered, leaning close to Rachel’s ear.
“No, of course not. We said we were going to tell them together, and I kept true to my word.”
David stole a kiss, which Rachel was perfectly fine with, since no one but the two of them were in the entryway right now.
When the kiss ended, Rachel clasped David’s hand and said, “Let’s go in the living room now. My parents are there, and so is Emma.”
Rachel had to admit she was more than a little nervous, but having her husband-to-be by her side gave her the courage she needed.
She found Mom and Dad in their favorite chairs.
They were both reading a book, and Emma sat on the sofa with a piece of material and a good-sized quilting hoop in her lap.
It was quiet enough in the room to hear a hairpin drop, and Rachel felt bad about disturbing them.
But they needed to hear what she and David had to say.
Rachel was glad when David was the first to speak. “Mr. and Mrs. Bontrager, Rachel and I have something we want to tell you.”
Dad’s head jerked, and his book nearly tumbled out of his hands. “What are you doing here, David? The last time you were here looking for Rachel, I thought I told you—”
“I know what you said,” David interrupted. “But I would appreciate it if you and Rachel’s mother would at least hear what I have to say.”
Dad leaned forward with both elbows on his knees. “I’m really not interested in anything you might want to say.”
Rachel was pleased when Mom touched Dad’s shoulder and said, “Philip, I think it would be good if we listened.”
He shrugged his shoulder and grunted before saying, “Okay, but please be short about it because I had been enjoying the book I was reading, and I’d like to get back to it soon.”
“This shouldn’t take more than a few minutes,” David stated.
Dad swatted the air with his hand and muttered, “Go ahead.”
David looked at Rachel. “Do you want to tell them or should I?”
“You go ahead.” Rachel glanced at her sister and noticed that Emma appeared to be absorbed in her project, because she never even looked their way.
Maybe it’s for the best, Rachel decided.
After all, what David has to say will be spoken to Mom and Dad and not Emma, who doesn’t need to give her blessing.
David cleared his throat a couple of times before he spoke. After wiping the sweat off his forehead, he blurted out, “I love Rachel, and she loves me.”
Dad’s lips moved, as if to say something, but David rushed on.
“As I said, Rachel and I love each other. And the thing is, we want to get married, and we’d like it to be on the second Thursday of November.”
Rachel held her breath a few seconds, until Dad hollered, “You must be kidding, young man. In case you’ve forgotten—you hurt Rachel deeply when you dropped her and starting courting her best friend. Have you forgotten that?”
“No, sir, and I’ve apologized to Rachel and explained my reasons.”
“Humph! I can think of no good reason for doing what you did!”
“Philip, please calm down,” Mom said in a pleading voice. “Let’s give David the benefit of the doubt and hear what else he has to say.”
“Fine then. I’m listening.” With brows lowered like a drawbridge, Dad folded his arms across his chest.
Rachel felt it might be her turn to speak up, and coming from her, she hoped Dad might be more understanding. “The thing is,” she began slowly, “David and I have known each other since we were in school, and he courted me for two full years.”
“Yeah, till he started seeing Alice.” Dad’s face reddened. “Admit it, Rachel. You were deeply hurt.”
She nodded while clasping her hands. “I was, but David apologized, and I chose to forgive him. We’ve talked everything out, and we don’t want to wait till next year to get married. We’re both church members, and I really feel that—”
“We need to give them our blessing, Philip. No one stood in the way of us getting married. Remember?”
Rachel was ever so glad when Mom cut in. She inhaled more air into her lungs, hoping Dad would listen to what her mother had said. Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait long.
“All right then, so be it,” Dad said. “I think the two of you are making a mistake, but I won’t stand in your way if you want to get married.”
“Danki.” David reached his hand out to Dad, and all tension in Rachel’s body was released when her father clasped David’s hand and gave it a shake.
“Treat her right,” Dad said in a most serious tone.
David nodded. “I will. You can count on it.”
Rachel studied Emma’s pursed lips and noticed that there were tears in her sister’s eyes.
Were they happy tears or ones of envy because poor Emma had lost the love of her life?
Rachel wished she could do or say something that would make her sister feel better, but that healing would take time, and perhaps even finding a new boyfriend who would treat Emma the way she deserved to be treated.
Rachel hoped that would happen soon, because it broke her heart to know that her younger sister was pining for a love she could never have.