Loaves of Love Read online

  Henry glanced down at his white undershirt, then frowned at his sister. “There’s nothing worse than a blind date.” He grunted. “And what if Katie had accepted my invitation? Your match-making plan wouldn’t have worked.”

  Lena’s shoulders slumped as she bit her lip for a few seconds. “True, but I was willing to chance it based on your history with Katie. You should make yourself available and look forward to meeting someone new.”

  “I’m not sure you’re the one who should be counseling me about relationships.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “No offense. But you’ve gone out with just about everyone in our district, and you’re still single.”

  “I’m the perfect person to talk to you about this. I’m waiting for the right person. He’s out there, and I don’t plan to settle.” She tucked a leg underneath herself and twisted to face him. “And you shouldn’t either. What if you’ve thought Katie was the one for you all this time, but it hasn’t come to pass, because she’s not the right person for you?” She touched his arm. “Please. I’ve never meddled in your love life or tried to set you up before because I wouldn’t want you doing that to me. But I feel strongly that you might hit it off with Clara. And she is anxious to meet you. It will be embarrassing for me if you disappear and don’t join us.”

  Henry grunted again, then slowly rose to his feet.

  “Keep an open mind. Clara is a beautiful woman,” Lena said as he shuffled across the living room toward the stairs.

  He’d do this for his sister, but his thoughts would be on Katie. And David. The latter causing his stomach to churn. He wondered how it was going.

  Katie sat across from David in his parents’ dining room. It was odd to have only four people at a family meal. Katie was used to her family of eight eating together, but David was an only child. He lived in the daadi haus, the smaller house on the back of the property usually reserved for grandparents. If he married, he would likely take over this main house, and his parents would move to his place.

  Katie glanced toward the kitchen, which resembled an Englisch kitchen. There was a full-sized refrigerator, a shiny white gas range on top of the oven, marble countertops, shiny wood floors, and decorative curtains adorning the windows. David told her the refrigerator and oven were powered with propane. Katie thought about the ice blocks they collected from their neighbor to keep food cold. She and her mother cooked in a wood oven at home, just like at the bakery. She wished she could open every cabinet and drawer to see what other fancy gadgets David’s mother might have. Outside, she’d noticed solar panels that David said his father used for his power tools in the barn.

  What if her relationship with David progressed? Would she be expected to embrace the modern technology that so many other Amish communities had succumbed to? She’d been raised to live as simply as possible.

  After David’s mother placed a loaf of bread on the table, she took her seat across from her husband, and they lowered their heads to say the blessing.

  “It’s so lovely to have you in our home, Katie.” David’s mother smiled. “We’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “Danki for having me.” Katie wondered what David had told them about her. After three dinners, he knew she and her mother worked at a bakery, and it seemed obvious that he was attracted to her. But there was still so much they didn’t know about each other.

  Had he told his parents that her Old Order district was much more conservative than his? They probably assumed, since Katie’s last name was Swartzentruber and she lived in Orleans. Old Order Amish groups as conservative as Katie’s were often referred to as Swartzentruber Amish, even if a person didn’t share the last name.

  “Katie’s running her family’s bakery while her mother recovers from surgery.” David reached for a slice of roast beef that had been making Katie’s mouth water since she sat down.

  “I’m sure this is a busy time of year for you,” Caroline said, smiling.

  “Ya, it is. Mei cousin, Ella, is watching the bakery so I could be here today.” Katie hoped Ella wasn’t having any problems. Katie had been able to keep up with the orders throughout the previous week, but she worried what she might walk into when she returned later. Ella had her six-year-old daughter with her, which would slow down production. Especially Ella’s daughter, who was precious as she could be, but a bit hyper. Even so, Katie was grateful her cousin could help for a while.

  “And how is your mudder doing?” Caroline took a small bite of peas before she raised an eyebrow.

  “Gut. She is getting better each day.” Katie thanked God for that often.

  The remainder of the meal was filled with small talk about everything from the weather to what kind of crops they would plant in the spring. In addition to David’s roofing job, his family farmed hay. Katie explained that her family grew only corn, while she and her mother kept a large vegetable garden.

  David’s father gave a courtesy nod of agreement from time to time but was mostly quiet. David didn’t contribute much to the conversation either. Caroline kept the continuous line of questioning rolling forward with barely a pause.

  “I’ve heard Bishop Lehman is very strict.” Caroline glanced at her husband, but Enos didn’t look up at her. He was busy cutting into a slice of roast beef.

  “Ya, I suppose he is stricter than most.” Katie liked Bishop Lehman. He might be strict, but he was fair. Then it occurred to her that, despite Caroline’s politeness, she might not be in favor of her son choosing to date Katie. It was uncommon for the Amish to intermarry with someone from a more liberal district, due to the differences in their beliefs and lifestyles. Not that marriage had been mentioned in the short time she’d known David. But she was aware of at least one couple from vastly different districts who had married.

  “I just can’t imagine using a wood oven to cook.” Caroline smiled as she tipped her head slightly to the side. “I’m surprised he hasn’t bent that rule to allow some of the technology upgrades that other districts have embraced.”

  Katie dabbed at her mouth with her napkin as she tried to buy herself some time. Her parents had stressed the need to stay detached from the outside world. They’d also explained that with every new piece of technology that was introduced and allowed, eventually they’d be no different from the Englisch. Katie thought it would be rude to tell that to Caroline. Her heart raced as she struggled to come up with a response.

  “Mamm, quit interrogating Katie.” David grinned at Katie as he spoke. Then shot his mother a smile as well.

  Caroline chuckled. “Katie, mei sohn doesn’t mince words, does he? I hope I haven’t made you uncomfortable. I’m just curious about how other communities live, especially since we don’t live very far from you.”

  Katie had been uncomfortable from the moment she walked into the Hostetlers’ fancy house. The dinner conversation had only increased the feeling.

  “Nee, not at all.” She said a quick prayer and asked God to forgive the white lie. Meeting the parents under normal circumstances, following a much longer courtship, induced enough nervousness on its own. This meeting seemed too soon, and the family home was so different from what Katie was used to. Caroline’s questions weren’t helping.

  After everyone finished the main meal, Caroline served peach cobbler with homemade vanilla ice cream. Katie savored every bite. She never had ice cream at home because it was too hard to keep frozen in the icebox.

  “Mamm, danki for the great meal, but I should probably get Katie back to the bakery.” David wiped his mouth with his napkin and stood.

  Katie did the same. “Ya, Caroline, it was a wonderful meal, and it was very nice to meet you both.”

  David’s parents stood as well and walked them to the door.

  “We hope to see more of you,” Enos said.

  Katie nodded, thanked them again, and went with David to the buggy. She was grateful it wasn’t snowing and the afternoon sun was warming things up.

  “Your parents are nice.” Katie pulled the blanket around hers
elf when they turned onto the main highway and picked up the pace.

  David glanced her way, grinning. “Ya, they’re all right.” He paused. “Do you have time to make a quick detour? I want to show you something.”

  Katie really didn’t want to make Ella stay at the bakery any longer than necessary, but she supposed being a little late might be okay. “I-I can’t leave Ella for too long.”

  “It’s only about five or ten minutes out of the way.”

  “Where are we going?” She hoped it wasn’t somewhere they would be alone. As it was, he was a little too affectionate for Katie’s taste so early into their relationship.

  He flicked the reins and picked up speed. “I just want to show you something.”

  “Show me what?” She playfully nudged his shoulder.

  He glanced her way again, smiling broadly now. “You’ll see.”

  As she pondered where David was taking her, she also wondered how Henry was spending his Saturday. Did he shoe the horses at the Troyer place? Did he dine alone? She wished she had gone with him.

  4

  HENRY’S BROTHERS WERE ALL OUTSIDE. LENA HAD FED them early, and their parents were gone to an auction in Shoals. It was just going to be Lena, Clara, and Henry for dinner—an awkward meal that was an obvious setup. Henry wished he hadn’t agreed to this. He’d thought maybe it would stop him from thinking about Katie and David, but so far, the vision of them together continued to race through his mind.

  When Clara arrived and was ushered into the den by Lena, Henry burst out laughing. Then Clara chuckled too.

  “What’s so funny?” Lena raised both eyebrows, looking surprised as she glanced back and forth between her brother and her new friend.

  Henry extended his hand to her, and when she accepted his gesture, he put his other hand on top of hers. “Wie bischt. It’s gut to see you.” He finally dropped both arms to his sides and grinned. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

  Lena cleared her throat. “Ach, what’s happening here? You two know each other?” His sister gave her head a quick shake. “How?”

  “Well, not really.” Clara laughed again, keeping her eyes on Henry. “But I never forgot about the time I, uh, bumped into you.”

  Henry turned to Lena. “It’s been a couple years, but Clara and I ran into each other at Dinky’s Auction.” He laughed again, and so did Clara.

  “We literally slammed into each other so hard that we both fell down.” Clara looked back and forth between Henry and Lena. “I was running through the crowd back to the table because I had forgotten my auction paddle, and I wanted to bid on some old books that were coming up.” She paused and took a breath. “I got my paddle and took off running back to where my friends were.” She turned to Henry, smiling. “This man, who I now know to be Henry, came around the corner carrying two trays filled with lots of hot dogs topped with chili, along with chips, drinks, and I don’t know what else. But the timing couldn’t have been worse. I knocked everything out of his hands.”

  Lena put her hands on her hips and laughed. “Well, I can see you must have had fun during your little mishap.”

  Clara held up a finger. “Ach, but here’s what made it so memorable.” She cut her eyes at Henry, grinning. “We were both covered in chili, and in all the commotion, when we got up, I threw my hands in the air.” She mimicked the memory with her arms. “When my hands went up, so did my paddle.” Laughing again, she finally caught her breath. “Those auctioneers are very unforgiving. If your hand is the last to go up, you own whatever it is you bid on.”

  Henry couldn’t stop laughing.

  Still giggling, Clara added, “And I became the proud owner of a portable generator for three hundred and fifty dollars.”

  Lena gasped. “Oh, nee. What did you do?”

  “I had to call mei daed. Mei friends and I couldn’t come up with that much money.” She turned to Henry. “After I got cleaned up and paid for my new generator”—she paused, blushing—“I looked for you.”

  Henry couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was so animated when she talked, and he’d always wondered what happened to her. He’d looked for her for over an hour. “I tried to find you too. But there are always hundreds of people at Dinky’s.”

  “I didn’t even know your name.” Clara put a hand to her chest, smiling sweetly. “And now I do.”

  Lena let out an exaggerated sigh. “Goodness! What a story. And everything happens according to Gott’s plan.” She folded her hands in front of her. “And here you both are.”

  Here we both are. Henry couldn’t wipe the smile off his face even if he wanted to. He’d thought she was pretty when they knocked each other off their feet, even covered in chili. But he didn’t recall her being this lovely. Her big, brown doe eyes grew even larger as she’d enthusiastically told the story, and her smile was flawless.

  “Well, let’s eat.” Lena motioned for Clara to follow her into the kitchen, and Henry walked behind. When Clara looked over her shoulder and smiled at him again, Henry was sure this meal was going to go much better than he could have ever hoped.

  Katie wasn’t sure why David wanted to take her to the bakery on Main Street, but he said she needed to see something. She’d been here plenty of times before, even though her last visit was a couple years ago.

  “Why are we here?” She stared through the large window and saw two Amish girls sitting behind a counter. One had her head buried in a cell phone, and the other flipped through a magazine.

  David tethered the horse and met her at the entrance. “Just look around and see how they do things.”

  Katie didn’t appreciate what she thought he was implying and stifled a frown. Was David saying her way of doing things wasn’t the correct way? He opened the door for her, and she walked into the bakery as the girls stowed the phone and magazine behind the counter.

  “Wie bischt.” The older one, maybe about Katie’s age, stood. The other girl didn’t look like she could have been out of school for long. “Do you need something special?”

  “Nee,” David said as he approached the counter. It was filled with four times as many baked goods as Katie had at her bakery. “We just came to browse, if that’s okay.”

  Katie was sure the woman wouldn’t deny David a look around. His charming smile and charisma would see to that. Her hair prickled on the back of her neck when the woman batted her eyes at him. She got over the jealousy quickly when David brushed off the gesture by turning to Katie and smiling before he whispered in her ear.

  “You look beautiful today, in case I didn’t tell you earlier.”

  A flush worked its way up her neck until she was sure her cheeks were a rosy shade of red. She was glad he didn’t kiss her, even on the cheek, out in public. “Danki,” she whispered.

  They looked around just enough not to appear impolite, then made their way to the door. After they were back on the road, David turned to her.

  “Did you see how those girls were just sitting around?” He pulled the horse to a stop, waiting for a car to pass. “I had to bid a job to repair their leaky roof last year, and I had access to the entire place. I’ve been in the back where they do all the cooking. They have two huge propane ovens. They’re probably putting out four times as many pastries and pies as you are, and in half the time.”

  Katie stiffened beneath the blanket and took in a cool breath.

  “I always see you rushing around. If you had a propane oven, even just one, it would speed up production for you. Especially now, while you’re running the bakery by yourself.”

  Katie was no stranger to this subject. She’d asked her parents repeatedly if they should purchase a gas oven. Her mother always said they didn’t need it, so Katie hadn’t badgered them about it, suspecting it might be unaffordable. They weren’t forbidden to use propane, but it was frowned upon, and most folks in Katie’s area adhered to the unspoken rule and considered it part of the Ordnung.

  For a few brief moments, she allowed herself to fantasize about w
hat it would be like to put two or more pies in an oven that didn’t require her to maintain the temperature constantly. How nice it would be to turn a dial and set a timer. Katie was pretty good at pulling out a perfect pie or sheet of pastries. But she’d had her fair share of burnt pies too.

  “I-I don’t think mei parents would allow a propane oven.” Katie tucked the blanket tighter around her neck. “I’ve asked them about it before.”

  “I only bring it up because I hate to see you rushing around and working so hard.”

  “I don’t mind,” she quickly said. “Hard work is good for the soul.” She remembered what Henry said about the wood ovens affecting the taste of the pies in a good way. “I-I think our pies might taste better because of the wood ovens.”

  David waved a dismissive hand toward her. “I don’t think anyone would notice the difference. When I told mei parents you were using wood ovens in the bakery, mei mamm insisted I offer you our old one that’s in the basement. It has double baking compartments.” David chuckled. “Mamm loves to bake, and when she and Daed purchased that one years ago, she got it because it could accommodate a lot of food cooking at once—thinking they would have a large family. Since that wasn’t in Gott’s plan, she downsized and bought a propane convection oven recently. The one in the basement is older, of course, but it would be a step up from what you’re using now.”

  “Nee, nee. I couldn’t do that.” Katie felt herself blushing as she spoke.

  “If it’s about money, Mamm said you could have it. It’s not doing anyone any gut in the basement.”

  Katie faced forward, wondering if her face was red again. It seemed David had a way of embarrassing her.

  “Nee, it’s not about money.” She didn’t want David to think finances were driving their decisions. “It’s just that this is the way we’ve always done things, and I don’t want to change anything while mei mamm is recovering.”