Chapter 18
T hat night as Phoebe settled Malachi in bed, Leanna opened the bedroom door. She was holding a book. “This was mei favorite growing up.”
Phoebe straightened and took the huge children’s book from her. “ The Very Hungry Caterpillar ?”
“The colors are gorgeous and the story is cute. I thought Malachi would enjoy listening to it.”
“I’m sure he will.” She glanced over her shoulder, but he was fast asleep. “Another night, though,” she whispered. Blue was curled around him. “I’m sorry Malachi’s taken over Blue.”
“It’s okay. That cat needed to socialize more anyway.” When Phoebe tried to hand back the book, Leanna shook her head. “Keep it in here. For tomorrow night.”
Nodding, Phoebe put the book on Jalon’s dresser, then left the room and quietly shut the door.
Leanna had already gone downstairs. She was almost as swift as Malachi, and like Phoebe’s son, she never seemed to be still for long.
Phoebe went into the kitchen, wondering where Jalon and Adam were.
Leanna was standing at the back door in the mudroom, looking out the window.
“Those buwe are finally talking,” she said.
She turned around, looking satisfied. “Jalon calls me bossy, and I know he thinks I cross the line sometimes, but sometimes you have to take matters into yer own hands. Adam and Jalon were best friends when they were kinner . It’s past time to renew that friendship. ”
“I have a feeling they will. Jalon is ready to put the past behind him.” So am I.
“Do you want some tea?” Leanna asked.
“I’d love a cup.” She sat down and waited while Leanna ran water from the tap into the kettle.
After Leanna set the kettle on the stove and lit the burner, she turned to Phoebe. “So exactly what are yer intentions toward mei brother?”
Phoebe laughed, glad she could find the humor in such a straightforward question. “We’re taking things slow.”
“Oh.” Leanna frowned slightly. “I thought you two might be getting married by fall.”
“Are you in that big of a hurry to marry him off?”
Leanna nodded. “I love Jalon, but he’s twenty-five now. Past time to get married.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-four, but that’s not the point. Now that Jalon has bought this house and farm, he needs to make something of them.
” She smiled, and it softened her angular features somewhat.
“Jalon changed when he started writing to you. He was happy, something I hadn’t seen in him for a long time.
Of course, that didn’t keep me from teasing him mercilessly.
” At Phoebe’s questioning look, she said, “Don’t worry.
We didn’t talk about you at all. Jalon’s very private.
I think he wanted to keep you to himself. ”
Phoebe understood. She had kept Jalon to herself, partly because of Aunt Bertha’s reaction to everything she did, but mostly because Jalon was special.
He was hers, and she knew that deep in her heart.
Yes, they planned to build their relationship slowly, but she didn’t see her feelings for him changing anytime soon.
“Malachi’s adorable, by the way.” Leanna pulled two mugs out of a cabinet. “Blue clearly has good taste.” She set the mugs on the table. “Karen said you’re going to geh to yer cousin’s in Ashtabula.”
“That’s ... the plan,” she said, barely getting out the words.
“I don’t see a reason why you can’t stay. Jalon’s out in the dawdi haus , I’m here, Adam’s here ... I think between the two of us we can make sure you two don’t get into any trouble.” She waggled her eyebrows and winked. “Although mei brother could use a little trouble every once in a while.”
Phoebe didn’t laugh. “I ... I’m not like that.” Not anymore.
“Oh, that’s not what I meant.” Leanna hurried to her.
“I was making a joke. A very bad one, apparently. What I mean is, Jalon needs to loosen up. He’s spent years beating himself up over what happened to Adam.
He was ... he got involved in something he shouldn’t.
But he’s turned that around, and he deserves to be happy.
” She put her hand on Phoebe’s shoulder.
“I think you’ll be a big part in that happiness. ”
Blushing, Phoebe said, “I hope so.” She thought about how she’d felt when she and Malachi first arrived in Birch Creek.
She’d been here because she had no place else to go.
Now she was staying here because she wanted to.
She was falling in love with Jalon, and it was deeper and more intense than any fantasy she’d had of the two of them together.
But she had also fallen in love with the people of Birch Creek, and the idea of moving somewhere else didn’t appeal. “Malachi and I want to stay.”
“Exactly what I wanted to hear.” She smiled, then put tea bags in the mugs.
She brought the hot tea kettle and poured the water.
Steam curled into the air. “If Jalon’s going to make a geh of the farm—and I hope he does—it’s going to take a group effort.
Between you and me, I’m hoping to convince Adam to stay too.
” She glanced at the window. “I wonder what they’re talking about out there.
Not that it’s any of mei business. Wait.
It actually is mei business since I’m the one who got Adam here. ”
Phoebe chuckled. She couldn’t help it. Leanna was the most unusual Amish woman she’d ever met. She was also easy to like and feel comfortable around.
Her decision was made. Tomorrow she would write to her cousin and thank her for the invitation to stay at her home, then let her know that she and Malachi would stay in Birch Creek. She’d write to her parents and assure them she was all right and that she would be here indefinitely.
And maybe, hopefully, Leanna would be right ... and one day her brother would be a married man.
“But I don’t like broccoli.”
Phoebe sighed. Nearly a week had passed since she had decided to stay at Jalon’s.
He’d suspended his job search, and he and Adam had explained how the two of them were going to be business partners.
Leanna had been thrilled and had taken partial credit.
“I knew this was going to work out,” she’d said, giving her brother a kiss on the cheek and Adam a hug around the shoulders.
Jalon wiped off the kiss, but Phoebe had seen his small smile.
Jalon had spent the rest of his time finishing up the dawdi haus .
He planned to add an extra bedroom, and when it was finished, he and Adam would live there.
Phoebe thought if he was half as good a farmer as he was in construction and carpentry, the farm would be a huge success.
He worked with singular focus from dawn until dusk.
She hadn’t seen much of him, but she also understood.
There was work to do, lots of it, before the warm weather arrived.
Jalon and Adam were also making plans for spring planting, while she and Leanna were put in charge of the garden.
Now they were discussing the planting in the kitchen, and of course Malachi overheard them and had to give his opinion. “Broccoli is gut for you, Malachi,” she said. Not only was it nutritious, but Jalon loved it, so it was definitely going in the garden.
He wrinkled his nose while Blue did figure eights between Malachi’s short legs.
Phoebe put down her pencil, glancing at Leanna, who didn’t even bother stifling a smile.
She’d gone back to work at the Rabers’ earlier in the week, but was off today.
“I’ll probably get more work soon,” she’d said, “now that Daniel’s brother Roman has left.
” When Phoebe asked her why, she shrugged.
“Don’t know. Don’t care. More work for me, and that’s what matters. ”
Turning to Malachi, Phoebe asked, “What else should we plant in the garden?”
“Marshmallows.”
Leanna laughed. “Sounds good to me.”
“And pizza.” When that got another laugh from Leanna, Malachi laughed with her. “And cookies! And pie! And brownies—”
“Now you’re just being silly.” But Phoebe was smiling, and it felt so good to be here in the warm kitchen, fresh bread baking in the oven, making plans for the future.
A knock sounded on the back door. “I’ll get it,” Malachi said as he ran through the mudroom to the door. She could hear him fling it open.
“Good morning.” Karen walked inside, holding a cake carrier. This wasn’t the first time she’d brought by a dessert since moving back home. “I brought a little something for—”
“Adam?” Leanna arched a knowing brow.
Karen’s cheeks pinked, but no one would miss the sparkle in her eyes which had coincidentally appeared the same time Adam showed up in Birch Creek.
“He’s at a livestock auction with Jalon,” Phoebe said.
“The cake isn’t just for Adam. I baked it for everyone.”
“Orange Bliss?” Malachi said hopefully.
“That’s right.” Karen smiled at him. “You remembered.”
“Jalon likes it a lot.”
“So do I,” Leanna said, eyeing the cake.
Phoebe reminded herself to get the recipe from Karen.
“I’ll set this on the counter,” she said.
“ Danki. ” Leanna took the paper and pencil from Phoebe. “Here, Malachi. We’re going to plant a row of beets just for you.”
“Beets? Yuck.”
“We can pretend they’re marshmallows.”
Malachi frowned, deep in thought. “Okay, but I still won’t eat them.”
That brought a laugh from everyone. Malachi grinned, but by the confusion in his eyes he wasn’t sure what everyone thought was so funny.
“Phoebe,” Karen said when they regained their composure, “I saw the mailman on mei way here.” She held out a letter to her. “The return address is Fredericktown. I thought you’d want to read it right away.”
Phoebe stood and took the envelope from Karen. She recognized her father’s handwriting. Quickly she opened it.
Dear Phoebe,
Your mother is real sick. The doctor says she has Lyme disease. She’s on medicine, but the symptoms aren’t getting better. She’s too tired and sick to take care of the little ones. We need you here. Whatever made you leave, we can work it out. Right now we all want you to come home.
Dad