Chapter 33
Arthur
WHILE EMMA SAT BESIDE RACHEL, as one of her witnesses, her scattered thoughts went everyplace except where they should be.
This was her sister’s wedding day, but all Emma could think about was Ivan and how she wished it was her getting married to him today.
If Maggie hadn’t shown up when she had, Ivan and Emma might be the ones sitting here listening to the bishop quote scriptures about marriage and preach on the importance and duties of husbands and wives.
But that’s never going to happen, Emma told herself. I need to accept that fact and move on with my life, just as Ivan is doing.
Emma pulled her thoughts aside and focused on the groom and his two witnesses sitting in chairs across from the bride and her witnesses.
David kept rubbing his hands down the sides of his pant legs.
Emma figured he must be nervous. Rachel was too.
Earlier this morning before the service began, she had expressed her feelings to her sister.
Emma felt sure that the bride’s and groom’s nervousness wasn’t because they had second thoughts about getting married.
Instead, they were both apprehensive about sitting here so long with all eyes upon them.
That would make me naerfich too, Emma thought. I’d be a nervous wreck.
Her mind wandered some more, and she reflected on the young people’s singing that had taken place in their church district last week.
It was Rachel and David’s last night to attend the event as an unmarried couple.
Rachel had tried to get Emma to join them.
But Emma had stubbornly refused to go. At least that’s what their mother had called it.
Emma thought it was just plain good sense, since she wasn’t comfortable socializing with so many already-paired couples.
And none of the single fellows appealed to her at all, so there was no point in going to a singing with the hope of finding a young man she might actually like well enough to begin courting.
Maybe one of these days she would attend a singing, just to keep the peace at home, so Mom and Rachel would stop pestering her about it.
And if by some chance she found someone in attendance appealing, and if he offered to give her a ride home in his courting buggy, Emma might be glad that she’d agreed to go.
Although it was doubtful that anyone would affect her the way Ivan had in the short time she’d known him.
Even so, what harm would there be in at least giving some nice-looking young fellow a chance?
Emma chanced a peek at the woman’s side of the room and spotted her grandmother.
How thankful she was that Grandma and Grandpa had hired a driver to bring them here to attend Rachel and David’s wedding.
The wonder of today wouldn’t seem the same without them here, celebrating with the rest of the family.
They had arrived last evening, and Emma had presented her grandmother with not one but four lovely pot holders that she’d quilted.
Grandma had said she appreciated the time it took for Emma to make the hot pads.
Emma appreciated the praise she’d received.
However, she would not allow herself to feel pride regarding the talent God had given her.
When the bishop called David and Rachel to leave their chairs and stand before him to respond to his questions, Emma’s private thoughts ended, and she gave her full attention to this important part of the ceremony.
Rachel was so excited to become David’s wife, she could hardly contain herself.
Yet, filled with anticipation, she forced herself to stand straight and tall, ignoring her sweaty palms and racing heart.
At the conclusion of the wedding ceremony and dinner that would follow, she and David would begin establishing their own life, with their own home and future family to look forward to.
Rachel’s attention was drawn to the bishop’s strong words as he looked at her and David and spoke with the presence of authority.
“Can you both confess and believe that God has ordained marriage to be a union between one man and one wife, and do you also have the confidence that you are approaching marriage in accordance with the way you have been taught?”
David and Rachel each replied affirmatively.
The bishop turned to David then, and he asked, “Do you also have confidence, brother, that the Lord has provided this, our sister, as a marriage partner for you?”
David’s head bobbed as he said, “Yes.”
Next, Rachel was asked, “Do you have confidence, sister, that the Lord has provided this, our brother, as a marriage partner for you?”
With no hesitation, she responded, “Yes.”
The bishop then asked David another question. “Do you also promise your wife that if she should, in bodily weakness, sickness, or any similar circumstances, need your help, that you will care for her as is fitting for a Christian husband?”
David, glancing briefly at Rachel, said, “Yes.”
The bishop turned to Rachel again. “Do you promise your husband the same thing, that if he should, in bodily weakness, sickness, or any similar circumstances, need your help, that you will care for him as is fitting for a Christian wife?”
“Yes,” she responded.
The next question he asked both of them. “Do you promise together that you will, with love, forbearance, and patience, live with each other and not part from each other until God will separate you in death?”
In unison, David and Rachel replied together, “Yes.”
The bishop bowed his head and prayed, and following the prayer, he took the bride’s hand and placed it in her husband’s hand.
As he did so, and while clasping both of their hands in his, he said, “The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you and help you together and give His blessings richly unto you, and this through Jesus Christ, Amen.”
As David and Rachel returned to their seats, now officially husband and wife, Rachel thanked the Lord silently for David, the only man she’d ever wanted to marry. She marveled at the fact that they were now one in God’s sight.
During the evening meal served especially for the young people, Nathan Byler, one of David’s witnesses, who was also his cousin, left his seat and came straight up to Emma.
With a light tap to her shoulder, he asked an unexpected question.
“I was wondering if it would be okay if I could come to your parents’ house one night next week.
Would that be all right with you, Emma?”
“Wh–what for?” Emma stammered, blushing and feeling rather foolish for almost choking on her water.
“I would like very much to pay a call on you.” The charming young man grinned at her. “That is, unless you’re already seeing some other fellow.”
Taken aback, Emma shifted on the chair with her mouth agape, unable to form a reply.
She certainly hadn’t expected this tall, blond-haired Amish man to pose such a question—especially here in front of all these people.
She hoped most of those sitting at the tables in this room were too busy eating and talking to have heard what Nathan said to her.
The fact that David’s cousin, visiting here from Paradise, Pennsylvania, wanted to pay a call on Emma made it even more surprising.
If Nathan planned to return to his home in Pennsylvania, why was he asking to call on an Indiana girl?
Could Nathan be looking for a wife, and did he hope to find one here who’d be willing to leave her home state and move to Paradise, Pennsylvania?
Was that what Nathan had on his mind? If so, then he could forget about Emma, for she was content to live right here in Shipshewana and didn’t have any plans to move.
Of course, Emma thought, if things had worked out well for Ivan and me, and he’d asked me to move to Arthur, Illinois, to be his wife, I’d have said yes with no hesitation. I’m sure Ivan would’ve done the same for me, wouldn’t he?
Nathan remained near Emma’s chair with his head tipped slightly to one side. No doubt he was waiting for her response, which she simply wasn’t able to give at the moment.
Suddenly, Rachel got up from her chair at the corner table, called the eck, walked straight over to where Emma sat, and whispered in Emma’s ear, “Say yes, Sister. Tell Nathan that you’d be happy to have him pay a call on you one evening next week.”
Emma’s face radiated with heat. Rachel’s words were an embarrassment to her, and she hoped her sister had spoken quietly enough that Nathan, or anyone else, hadn’t heard what was said.
The bold young man didn’t appear to have heard, as he continued to stand quietly with his arms folded, a few feet from where Emma sat with the other witnesses.
Emma’s mind raced with a slew of questions as she attempted to take in everything, while her eyes darted back and forth between the other young people chatting among themselves.
What would her parents think of this young man arriving at their doorstep?
Would they be thrilled for Emma, or would Mom and Dad agree that this was all too soon for her?
Her sister surely wasn’t opposed to the idea of Nathan taking an interest in Emma.
At least he seems to be a patient person, Emma told herself.
That’s a good virtue. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to let him come calling.
At least we could get to know each other, and it would give me a chance to find out why he chose me to call upon.
And maybe, if I ask the right questions, I can learn whether he is looking for a future wife who’d be willing to move to his home state.
Drawing from her inner strength, Emma looked up at him, smiled, and said, “One night next week would be fine for you to visit me, Nathan. Which evening would be best for you?”
“I was thinking Friday. Would that work okay for you, Emma?” he asked as a grin spread across his clean-shaven face.
“Jah, Friday would be fine.”