Part 24 (1/2)

The a.s.sembly line for the applesauce-making frolic was in place by eight-thirty Sat.u.r.day morning. Rose and Mattie Sue worked together to remove the stems, while Dat and Dawdi Jeremiah rinsed the bushels of apples, and Barbara Petersheim and her daughter Verna cut them in quarters. Aunt Malinda and Mamm removed the seeds, preparing them for the Victoria strainer.

Throughout the long process, Nick and Christian alternated turning the handle of the strainer as the other carried away the apple skins. Rarely were they in the same proximity at the same time. Will their feuding ever cease? Rose wondered. Christian's mouth had been in a sharp line all morning.

”I'm having so much fun!” announced Mattie Sue, looking up at Rose with her bright eyes and long lashes.

She realized then that her young niece would have missed out on this family tradition if Hen hadn't returned home when she did. With all of her heart, Rose hoped the delicious meal Hen had planned for tonight might set the right mood for Brandon's visit.

Rose had her own reason to look forward to this evening, since she and Silas would be riding under the stars. Still, she wouldn't fail to send up silent prayers for Hen and Brandon, trusting that their love might be saved. Somehow!

After a time, Dat and Dawdi got the canners going on the woodstove as the womenfolk chattered like magpies about the upcoming canning bee. It did Rose Ann's heart good to see her sister fitting in so well. Goodness, but Hen could already make hearty breakfasts that rivaled Mammi Sylvia's, and she'd only been back home less than a week.

”I'm gonna eat applesauce at dinner ... and for breakfast tomorrow, too!” said Mattie Sue, who was getting quick at twisting off apple stems.

”You can do like your mother always did when she was growing up,” said Rose.

”Put whipped cream on top?” asked Mattie.

”Well now, how'd you know that?”

”Mommy always does.”

”With cinnamon sprinkled on first?” asked Rose.

Mattie Sue nodded her cute little head. ”Mommy taught Daddy to eat it that way, too.” Her lower lip trembled just then.

Rose thought it best to change the subject. Leaving home was surely the most harrowing thing poor, dear Mattie had ever experienced - drastically changing her way of life.

By the time they were finished, Mamm reported that they had canned over a hundred quarts of the applesauce. Barbara's face fairly glowed; she'd gotten her wish to make a light-colored sauce.

When the many jars were out cooling on the summer porch, Rose Ann followed Hen back to her Dawdi Haus and sat with Mattie Sue to reread the picture books aloud to her for at least the fourth time.

Remembering Brandon's stipulation that dinner be just the three of them, Hen sent Mattie Sue out to the back porch to watch for him at a quarter to five o'clock. Mattie carried Foofie with her, talking to her stuffed animal while she waited.

Mattie looked like an Amish girl, her hair parted evenly down the middle and swept back into the bob. She hadn't wanted to wear the little white Kapp so she could show her daddy how ”big Amish girls” twist their hair on the sides.

Hen had never felt so nervous about serving a meal to her husband and daughter. It was as if the years at their house in town had faded into oblivion. This night had to count toward getting Brandon interested in the Plain community. My people. Their life together depended on it.

So with the bishop's words of admonition still echoing in her mind, Hen stood at the door as Brandon's car pulled into the lane and Mattie ran out to greet him.

When he opened the car door, Hen saw that he was dressed in one of her favorite casual sweaters and dress slacks. Her heart did a flip as she opened the screen door to welcome him. ”Hi, Brandon.” Her voice sounded tense even to her.

”h.e.l.lo, Hen.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek before stepping inside the house, still holding Mattie's hand.

”I helped Mommy set the table,” Mattie Sue announced, showing him where to sit.

Brandon c.o.c.ked his head slightly and smiled down at her. ”Thanks.”

”Can you say 'Denki'? That's Amish for 'thank you,' ” Mattie Sue told him in a singsongy voice.

Hen flinched. ”Mattie Sue ... please wash your hands.”

Without blinking an eye or whining whatsoever, Mattie hurried to the rustic washroom around the corner.

”Impressive,” Brandon remarked. ”She's been in obedience training, what ... less than six days now?”

Hen felt the color rush to her face. Her expectation of immediate obedience had been one of the many disagreements they'd had over rearing their daughter. Brandon was much more lenient, and his brusque comment wasn't a good sign. There was no sense in taking the bait.

Trying to remain unfl.u.s.tered, Hen lifted the thick steak out of the large black skillet and spooned the gravy on top. Mattie Sue appeared again just as Hen dished up Brandon's favorite scalloped potatoes, then another one of his favorites - baked beans with bacon, onions, dark brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, and mola.s.ses.

”Looks like you outdid yourself.” All of a sudden his smile seemed genuine.

She and Mattie Sue sat down, and as Brandon picked up his fork to dig in, Hen bowed her head and Mattie Sue folded her hands in prayer. Together, they offered the silent prayer, just as her own father was doing undoubtedly at this moment in the main house. Josh and Kate and their family, along with the bishop and Barbara, were gathering there for a small celebration following the applesauce frolic. Mattie Sue's eyes were still closed when Hen raised her head and said amen.

”Hungry?” Brandon asked Mattie when her eyes flew open. A big smile followed.

”We say two blessings at the meal now, Daddy. One right before we eat and one afterward.”

Hen noticed Brandon's controlled smirk. They ate for a time without anyone speaking, and Hen breathed another silent prayer for G.o.d's blessing on their time together.

”After we finish eating,” Brandon told Mattie Sue, ”I have something to show you.”

Her eyes literally sparkled at him across the table. ”What is it?”

”You'll have to wait and see.”

”Where is it?” Mattie Sue pressed.

”Outside ... in the car.”

”Why didn't you bring it in?”

Hen intervened. ”Mattie Sue.. .”

Brandon shook his head. ”It's okay. Let her play along.”

Backing down, Hen let him have the upper hand.

”Give me a little hint, okay, Daddy?”

Brandon shook his head. ”After you're done with your meal, I'll take you out to see it.”

Hen cut into her steak, pleased with its tenderness. She'd marinated the meat since early morning.

”What did you do today, Mattie?”

”I twisted the stems off lots of apples,” answered Mattie Sue, her mouth still full.

”Wait to talk until you're finished chewing, honey,” Hen prompted her.

Brandon ignored the comment. ”You weren't making candy apples, were you?”