A Season of Change Read online

  Dedication

  To my sister Laurie

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Epilogue

  Discussion Questions

  Acknowledgments

  Glossary

  About the Author

  Acclaim for Beth Wiseman’s Amish Inn Novels

  Other Books by Beth Wiseman

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Esther resisted the temptation to rub her throbbing temples as she stood in the living room listening to Rose carry on about her date this evening. Esther was excited for the young woman, but not incredibly hopeful the blind date would be a success. Esther and her sister loved to give the young people in their district a gentle nudge when it came to matters of the heart, but finding someone for Rose was proving to be a challenge.

  Their employee had just recited a long list of things she’d purchased at the market, given a lengthy description of her trip there and back, along with who she saw and what they talked about, and then the girl dove right into a conversation about the weather.

  “Even though it’s only July, it’s going to be unusually hot. At least that’s what the Englisch man at the post office said.” Rose stopped and put a finger to her chin. “I forgot to tell you that—how I stopped at the post office to get more stamps.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Anyway, it’s going to be very hot, not just today but this entire month. Do you think it will have cooled down by this evening when Benjamin comes to pick me up?”

  Esther opened her mouth to tell Rose that the temperature was expected to drop by later this afternoon, but she didn’t get a word out before Rose continued.

  “I’m thinking I will wear mei green dress. Or maybe the maroon. But either way, I’m looking forward to meeting Benjamin.” Her exuberant expression fell. “I hope it goes well.”

  Rose was surely recalling her past dates, and Esther wanted to offer words of encouragement, but by the time she organized her thoughts, Rose was off and running again.

  “I’ve already roasted a chicken, prepared a salad, and cooked and seasoned the green beans for your and Lizzie’s supper. It’s all in the refrigerator.” Rose drew in a breath. “And there are two loaves of bread on the counter. I know we don’t have any guests right now, but we’ll have the extra loaf if anyone books a room at the last minute.”

  Esther nodded repeatedly as she usually did when struggling to focus on a conversation.

  “Okay then.” Rose bounced up on her toes and smiled. Sometimes she reminded Esther of a young child, as opposed to the twenty-five-year-old woman she was. “I’ll be upstairs if you need me.”

  As Rose bounded upstairs, Esther shuffled to the kitchen and sat across from Lizzie, her temples still throbbing. She propped her elbows on the kitchen table and cupped her chin in her hands.

  “Things aren’t going to go well this evening if Rose can’t control her chatter,” Esther said as she shook her head. “We’ve talked to her about being a better listener, but she obviously didn’t hear us because she talked over us, or she chose not to hear us because she can’t control herself when it comes to talking too much.”

  Lizzie sighed as she slouched into her chair. “The maedel has a gut heart, and she’s outwardly attractive and equally as lovely on the inside. I still think the herbal doctor might have something to hush her up a bit.” Lizzie scratched her cheek before folding her arms across her chest.

  Esther tucked away gray strands of hair that had come loose from beneath her prayer covering. “I already told you, we aren’t going to do anything to change Rose’s personality. The right man will love her for exactly who she is.” Esther thought back to something Lizzie had said. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Rose hadn’t come back downstairs for anything, something Esther should have done when they’d first started talking about the girl. “You mentioned that this fellow is perfect for Rose,” she said in a whisper. “What makes you think that?”

  “His mamm told me he is so shy that he barely says anything at all,” Lizzie responded, lowering her voice as well. “They’re new to Montgomery. They’ve been here less than two weeks. His mother, Catherine, said he has trouble communicating with women because of his shyness. And this will be a perfect match since Rose can carry enough conversation for both of them.”

  “I’m surprised Rose agreed to this supper tonight, but I’m glad she’s excited about it.” Esther lowered her hand and ran a finger around the edge of her glass of tea. “Our other attempts at playing matchmaker have failed miserably, and she’s been here a year.” She sighed. “I hope this man will work out for Rose. Sometimes I hear her crying in her room. She’s twenty-five and surely longing to find the man of her dreams, someone to marry and start a family with.”

  Esther sipped her tea as Lizzie took a napkin and dabbed at the sweat beads dotting her forehead. Spring had rolled into summer in what seemed like the blink of an eye. July felt hotter this year, but Esther thought that every year. Maybe it was because she’d just turned seventy-four and old age was fueling her lack of tolerance to the heat.

  “I have higher hopes that this fellow is going to work out.” Lizzie gave a taut nod. “He barely talks, and Rose never stops talking. So, they’re perfect for each other.”

  They continued to speak in a whisper so as not to alert Rose to their conversation from her room upstairs. Her responsibilities at The Peony Inn were to cook, help with the cleaning, and tend to the guests. Most of their visitors enjoyed listening to Rose carry on about most anything. Granted, there were some who politely excused themselves right after a meal. But the English tourists were usually fascinated to hear Rose answer their questions in lengthy detail.

  Esther and Lizzie loved the girl, but Esther often had a headache after a conversation with Rose. She’d never known another person who had so much to say. Maybe they hadn’t been firm enough when talking to Rose about rambling on, but neither of the sisters wanted to hurt the young woman’s feelings by bringing it up again.

  “We will just hope for the best,” Esther said. “At least she has turned into a gut cook.” When they’d first hired Rose, the girl couldn’t cook at all.

  Lizzie chuckled. “We’re pretty gut in the kitchen, but we have Jayce to thank for some of the fancier meals Rose prepares.” Their previous boarder hadn’t stayed with them long—just until he was able to get a place of his own. But the young man was an amazing cook and had patiently taught Rose some of his culinary skills while he was there. Jayce married a local girl, Evelyn, in November, and Esther and Lizzie were thrilled, even though English folks rarely converted the way Jayce had. True love. Esther wanted that for Rose.

  “At least the new fellow is Amish, and his mother said he has already been baptized,” Lizzie said. “And Rose has been baptized. Now they just need to fall in love and get married.”

  “If that happens, we will lose our employee. And Rose is meticulous at cleaning,” Esther said, smiling. “But the girl is deserving of the life she longs for, and God will provide us with someone else to help around the inn when the time comes.”

 
Esther and Lizzie had opened their family homestead as a bed-and-breakfast late in life, following the death of both their husbands. They loved catering to others and they loved the opportunity to play matchmaker when they could. Tonight was one of those opportunities, and Esther hoped Lizzie was right, that Rose and this young man would hit it off and fall in love.

  * * *

  Rose tiptoed up the stairs with an ache in her chest and tears welling in her eyes. She’d come back downstairs to retrieve some hand lotion she left on the coffee table, but she’d stopped halfway down when she heard her name.

  She didn’t hear anything past, The right man will love her for exactly who she is. Then Esther and Lizzie had started to whisper, and Rose hadn’t heard anything else. But she’d already heard enough. And she’d overheard the sisters talking about her more often than they were aware. Esther and Lizzie loved her, though. Their gentle conversations about talking too much had resonated deep within her, and they were right. She often struggled to be quiet. However, whether it was nerves or something else, she was going to force herself to be silent this evening. She suspected the “something else” was bothering her more than nerves, but when those thoughts surfaced, she forced them away.

  As the sisters had told her before, Rose needed to be a better listener. She knew Esther and Lizzie had her best interest at heart. However, even though Rose had been hearing how she talked too much her entire life, the comments still stung. If she didn’t change, she was never going to find a husband.

  Maybe Lizzie was right. Perhaps there was a medication to help her not talk so much. But the thought of being drugged, natural or otherwise, didn’t sit well with Rose. Wasn’t Esther right? Wouldn’t the right man love her the way she is? Still, after so many failed attempts to find her perfect match, Rose was going to have to change. No matter how nervous she was this evening, she was going to keep her mouth closed. Doing so would be especially hard since this was a blind date and already had awkwardness built in. But she was going to prove to herself, to this man, and to Esther and Lizzie that she could do it—unless she felt no attraction to her date. Then she wouldn’t worry so much what he thought of her. But recently, two nice men she’d found quite handsome had never asked her out again.

  Tonight she was going to force herself to be silent—be a better listener.

  * * *

  Benjamin walked into the living room in the house that he and his mother shared. Once again, they lived by themselves as they had in their previous home. Benjamin’s father died four years ago, and in the time since, both of his sisters had married and moved out to places too far to travel by buggy. His mother insisted that they move to Montgomery from the outskirts of Bedford for the quaint atmosphere of a smaller Amish community, also citing less upkeep on a smaller homestead. Benjamin was pretty sure her real reason was so he could meet new women. He was well aware of his shortcomings when it came to dating, and he didn’t have high hopes for this evening.

  “Stop looking so irritated.” His mother came into the living room, stopped in front of him, and put her hands on her hips. “I’m told Rose is a lovely woman with a very high-energy personality. You might actually enjoy yourself. Lizzie said this young woman is very pretty too.”

  Benjamin had been out with plenty of attractive women in Bedford, and lots of them had bubbly personalities. Even though he often had things he wanted to say, he couldn’t seem to find the words, nor did he want to. His fear of saying the wrong things squashed anything intelligent he hoped would come out of his mouth. No one seemed to know why he had so much trouble communicating, but he had been that way for as long as he could remember. He could still recall his grandmother concocting what she called a “potion” that would help him with his shyness. Benjamin was in second grade when he tried her magic drink, which didn’t help him with his shyness. It just made him throw up.

  “I told you not to set me up on any more blind dates. You did enough of that in Bedford.” Benjamin’s mother had good intentions, but he was still irritated at her for setting up this supper in cahoots with a lady named Lizzie.

  “This woman is different,” his mother said, sighing. “Please just give her a chance. Lizzie said Rose talks more than anyone she’s ever known, and that will make things easier for you.”

  Benjamin was a grown man. He could have refused to go. But buried beneath a lengthy number of failed dates, he hadn’t given up. There had to be someone out there for him, someone who didn’t expect him to talk a lot. Maybe Rose, who had a lot to say, would be that person. He owed it to himself—and his mother, for her effort—to at least meet the woman.

  “Mamm, I’m going to go.” He took his straw hat from the rack by the door, and after he put it on, he turned to her. “But no more blind dates if this doesn’t work out. And I mean it.”

  His mother smiled. “No more blind dates.” Catherine King was a romantic at heart. She’d introduced one of his sisters to her husband. “But I think this might be the woman for you based on what Lizzie told me about her. And I’m told she is a gut cook too.”

  Benjamin opened the front door, then mumbled, “We’ll see.”

  As he pulled out of the driveway, he offered up a quick prayer that maybe Rose really would be the one.

  * * *

  Rose sat on the edge of her bed and bit her bottom lip so hard it throbbed. Do not talk, be a better listener, offer short answers to any questions. She repeated the mantra in her mind over and over again. No matter how nervous she was or wasn’t, she was going to be quiet during this meal. She’d decided that even if she felt no attraction to Benjamin King, it would be good practice to stay silent. She scurried to the window when she heard a buggy pulling onto the gravel driveway.

  Before heading downstairs, she decided to have a look at the fellow and waited for him to step out of the buggy. As he got closer to the house, she gasped. Benjamin was tall with broad shoulders and a beautifully proportioned body, and as he neared, she caught a glimpse of his face under a head of dark hair. His olive skin stretched over high cheekbones, and his green eyes radiated warmth beneath his cropped brown bangs. She’d already been told that he was her age, twenty-five, and that he was a plumber.

  Rose’s mouth hung open. He is the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. She watched him walk up the porch steps to the front door as her heart hammered in her chest. She’d never wanted to make a good impression more than now. Don’t talk, don’t talk, answer questions with short answers . . .

  By the time she got downstairs, she was breathless and had plenty to say. So nice to meet you. I’ve been looking forward to our date. How do you like Montgomery so far? What about your job—do you like it? Where are we going to eat?

  But she bit her lip as the thoughts swirled in her mind. Esther had just opened the door when Rose stepped into the living room. Lizzie quickly made introductions, and Rose took a deep breath.

  “Wie bischt? It’s nice to meet you.” She smiled, unable to help herself. When Benjamin smiled, he was even more handsome. If a person could fall for someone based on looks alone, Rose was already in love. But she was wise enough to know that a person could be lovely on the outside without being so on the inside. Still . . . she was hopeful. And was going to be very quiet the entire evening.

  * * *

  Esther and Lizzie watched out the window as Benjamin escorted Rose to the passenger side of the buggy and opened the door for her.

  “Did you see how handsome that man is?” Lizzie pressed her face closer to the windowpane.

  Esther leaned in for a better look too. “Ya, he’s a looker for sure.”

  “I’m telling you”—Lizzie faced Esther, grinning—“they are perfect for each other. I have a gut feeling about this. He’s handsome and quiet. She’s beautiful and a talker.”

  “It takes more than that combination to make a relationship.” Esther scooted away from the window and sat in one of the rocking chairs. She picked up a calendar she kept on the table next to her. “So far, we don’t
have any rooms booked until Saturday night.”

  “Gut. I’m tired.” Lizzie sat down on the couch and closed her eyes. “And old. Besides, the Englisch don’t rent many rooms this time of year. They need their air-conditioning.”

  Esther placed the calendar back on the table and dabbed at the sweat beads on her forehead, despite the cross breeze in the room. “True about the Englisch. And you are two years younger than me. We’re not that old.” Her sister wasn’t just younger, she was also a tiny little thing compared to Esther, who towered over her. Unlike Lizzie, Esther had a heavyset build. She’d teased Lizzie for years that one of them must be adopted, which wasn’t true. The telltale sign was surely that both of them had the same shaped eyes and mouths, even if the rest of them appeared to have come from different genes. Esther had just closed her eyes and leaned her head against the back of the rocking chair when there was a knock at the door.

  Lizzie turned toward the window behind the couch, then moved quickly to the door. “It’s Amos with one of the babies.” She pulled the door open wide, put her hands on her hips, and huffed. “Where is the other one? You can’t just bring one baby. Esther and I each need to have one.” Lizzie eased Regina out of Amos’s arms, nuzzling the fourteen-month-old, who smiled. Esther was quickly on her feet and beside Lizzie in no time.

  “Sorry.” Amos chuckled. “Eve somehow got her diaper off, and uh . . . well, Naomi has a mess on her hands. I got out as quick as I could.” He handed Esther a vase he was holding in his other hand. “These got delivered to our house by mistake. The card has your name on it.”

  Amos and Naomi lived in the daadi haus on Esther and Lizzie’s property, along with their twin girls. The young couple had named one of the girls Regina after Lizzie and Esther’s mother. Eve was named after Amos’s great-grandmother. Naomi had lived with Esther and Lizzie, working in the same capacity as Rose, until she married Amos. Even though Naomi and Amos weren’t actually kin, they were family, and Esther and Lizzie enjoyed playing the role of grandmothers. Especially since they hadn’t been able to have children of their own.