Chapter 11
— chapter eleven
Jeremy was nervous. After he and Becca talked again and cleared the air, she’d asked to come over.
Of course he’d said yes. But now that she was on her way, he had no idea what he was supposed to do when she got to his house.
Looking around the space, he tried to imagine how it would look through Becca’s eyes.
They didn’t have a television. Unlike half his friends who were also in rumspringa, he didn’t even have a radio.
In addition, it was kind of dark inside.
It was also sparsely decorated, almost austere looking.
Because they were Amish. She knew that, of course, but Jeremy was well aware of how different one’s idea of what things would be like could be from reality.
He’d learned that time and time again during his rumspringa.
Remembering the first time he’d gone to the movies, Jeremy rolled his eyes. He’d been so sure that sitting in a movie theater in the middle of a shopping mall would be so exciting. Instead, it had been expensive and kind of boring.
“Jeremy, you’ve got to calm down,” Russell announced as he walked into the living room. “You’re acting like a bomb is about to go off or something.”
“I’m not.” Though it did kind of feel that way. Becca might want to run out of their house after ten minutes. And if she did, he would be devastated. She was the first girl he’d ever really liked.
Russell sat down next to him on the window seat. Lowering his voice, he said, “Brother, you’ve got to get a hold of yourself. You’re acting all worried and nervous.”
“That’s because I am.”
“Then you need to figure out a way to settle down. If you don’t, your girl is going to think you’re upset about her.”
“But she hasn’t done anything.”
“I know that and you know that, but she won’t. She’s going to think you changed your mind about inviting her over.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Girls do that. They think the problem lies with them, not you,” Russell said in a firm tone. “If you can’t settle down, figure out how you can pretend you’re fine. Plus, you’re kind of freaking out Daed.”
“What did I do to Daed?”
“You are making him wonder if he gave you bad advice or something. He’s in the kitchen staring at all the food Mary and Katherine brought over.”
After darting a look down the hall to make sure they were alone, Jeremy said, “See, that’s what’s part of the problem.”
“What is?”
“Everyone is involved in my business. I asked you to come over, but Daed didn’t share that he decided to get Kurt and Trip involved. It’s all too much.”
“Hey, I get it, but don’t be mad at him. It’s not Daed’s fault.”
“Whose fault is it?”
“Mine. I’m the one who told Kurt and Trip about Becca’s visit. They told their wives, and they decided to make snacks.”
“It’s too much, Russell. Becca’s going to think we’re weird.”
“If Becca thinks we’re weird because your sisters-in-law care enough about you and her to make buffalo chicken dip, brownies, and a bunch of sandwiches, then she’s not worth your time.”
He shrugged. His brother might have a point, but Jeremy wasn’t going to give in that easily. He was trying to make a point too.
Russell nudged him with his elbow. “Hey, even if you could care less, those women went to a lot of trouble for you and Becca. Don’t forget to thank them for the food.”
“I won’t.” Even though he hadn’t wanted them to make anything in the first place. “Becca’s going to be here any minute.”
“Then look at me and take my advice.”
“Fine. What?”
“Stop worrying so much. Everything is going to be fine.”
“You don’t understand. I really like her.”
“If she really likes you too, she’s not going to care about the house or the snacks or even about me or Daed. She’s just going to want to be with you.”
“You sure?”
Russell nodded. “Listen, you probably don’t remember this, but after I told Mamm and Daed that I didn’t want to get baptized in our church, I had to beg them to let me go to the high school.
I played football. I already had some English friends, but suddenly I had a lot more.
One night a bunch of them came over. I felt the same way as you, except Trip was still here, and so were you and both Mamm and Daed. ”
“Well, what happened?”
“The first few minutes were rough because it was obvious that a couple of the guys had only come over to see what my ‘real’ life was like. But then Mamm smiled at them all, invited them into the kitchen, and asked if they were hungry. Next thing I knew, everyone was sitting at our table, bowing their heads in prayer, and eating 7-UP chicken like they’d never had anything so good. ”
“Mamm’s chicken was really good.”
“It was. But my point is that even though some of the guys came over for other reasons than just to see me, everyone had a great time. There’s no reason to hide who you or your family are, Jeremy. You’ve got a pretty good one.”
Russell was right. He was being stupid. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Standing up, he grinned. “And here she is.”
Turning back to the window, he saw Becca climb out of a car. He jumped to his feet and strode to the door. Just as he was about to pull it open, Russell called out to him.
“Hey, Jeremy.”
He turned. “What?”
“Becca is really pretty. I have no idea why she chose you.”
Jeremy bit back a smile as he opened the door and walked outside. If his brother was teasing him again, then everything was probably going to be just fine. “Hey,” he said. “You found it.”
“I took a wrong turn at that green metal barn, but yeah. I’m here.” She smiled up at him.
“You look pretty,” he said.
“Thanks.” Looking down at her clothes, she added, “My mom said I didn’t need to wear a dress or anything.”
“She was right. You don’t. If it counts, I’m glad you didn’t. You look like you.”
“It counts.”
And just like that, everything inside of him eased. She liked him too. He wasn’t the only one feeling that way.
Turning to stare at his house, her eyes widened. “You never told me that it was so big.”
“It’s not that big.”
“How many bedrooms do you have?”
“Six.”
“Wow, Jeremy.”
“I’m one of four boys,” he reminded her as they walked toward the front door. “Plus, when I was little, mei dawdi lived with us.”
“Who?”
“Sorry. My grandfather.” He opened the door. “Come on in.”
Watching her expression as she looked around the entryway, living room, and dining room for the first time, Jeremy realized that Russell had been right. She wasn’t acting like everything was weird. Just different.
“Everything smells so good,” she said. “Like lemon oil.”
“I guess it does. Want to meet my daed and brother?”
“Of course.”
“Come on, then.” He led her into the kitchen where his daed and Russell were leaning against the cabinets and sipping coffee. “Daed, Russell, this is Becca.”
“Hi,” Becca said as she stepped forward and held out her hand.
To his surprise, his father and brother shook her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world. “It’s gut to meet ya,” Daed said. “I really hope you’re hungry.”
A line formed between her brows. “Why?”
“Look behind you,” Russell said with a smirk.
“Holy cow,” she whispered. “Are you having a party?”
“My sisters-in-law decided to make us some snacks,” Jeremy said.
“This is all for us?” She still seemed stunned.
“Yeah.” Even though he was pretty sure he was bright red, Jeremy kept talking. “Like I said, I’m the youngest, so pretty much everyone in the family thinks they need to look after me. I know it’s a lot.”
“It looks amazing.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She giggled. “Maybe I should come over every Sunday.”
After exchanging a quick glance with Russell, Jeremy smiled. “Yeah. Maybe you should.”
“Can I see the rest of your house? And the barn?”
“Sure.”
“You show her around, Jeremy, then I’ll put some glasses of iced tea out. You can serve yourselves whenever you’re ready.”
“Thanks, Daed.”
His father nodded.
Heading toward the stairs, Jeremy said, “I’m really glad you came over, Becca.”
“Me too,” she replied with a smile.
Hours later, after Becca and Russell left, and Jeremy and his daed were sitting alone in front of the fireplace, Jeremy said, “Thanks for everything. Becca said she thought you were nice.”
“I didn’t do much, son. No reason for thanks.”
His father couldn’t have been more wrong. He’d gone above and beyond for Becca’s visit. For no other reason than to make him happy. “I think there’s plenty of reasons to be grateful.”
“She seems like a nice girl, Jeremy.”
“She is. She’s great.”
“I’m happy for ya.” Looking pleased, he picked up the newspaper.
“Hey, Daed?”
“Hmm?”
“What have you decided to do about Leanna?”
He put the newspaper down again. “There’s nothing to do. She isn’t interested in marrying again.”
“I think you’re giving up too easily.”
“You do?”
He nodded. Thinking about how his father wasn’t exactly the chattiest guy in town, he added, “Maybe you should write her a note or something.”
“A note?”
“Yeah. Tell her that you’d still like to call on her again.”
He rubbed the whiskers on his jaw. “There’s no point, son. She’s gonna say no.”
“Daed, I saw the way she was looking at you at the restaurant. I totally think she’s changed her mind.”
“Even if she has, I’m not gonna write Leanna Mast a note.”
“Then go over there again.”
“What, just stop by?”
Jeremy bit the inside of his cheek so he wouldn’t start laughing. His daed was helpless. “Yeah, Daed. Just stop by.”
“What if—”
“Daed, stop thinking of all the negatives.” Jeremy felt emboldened.
“I’m not doing that.”
“Sorry, but you kind of are. And I know that because that’s what I was doing before Becca got here.”
“Hmm. How did you calm down? Was it your brother’s doing?”
“Yep. Russell reminded me that we’re a really great family. Give Leanna another chance, okay? Give her the chance to change her mind.”
“I’ll think about it,” Daed said before lifting the newspaper in front of his face once again.
Jeremy didn’t reply, but he couldn’t help but grin.