facing the girls.
The tables didn’t contain flowers. Rather, stalks of celery had been placed in glass jars as decoration. Candy dishes, beautiful cakes and large bowls of fruit completed the simple but festive array. John searched for Karen in the rooms but didn’t see her anywhere.
Doctor White glanced at John. “Shall we start by asking the women in the kitchen if they know you?”
John’s eyes were drawn to the bride and groom and the loving looks they exchanged as they visited with their friends.
He nodded toward them. “No. This is their day. I don’t want to take anything away from them. We can speak to people outside after the meal is done.”
The doctor gave John a smile of approval. “All right.”
A strapping Amish man with a clean-shaven face approached them. He introduced himself as Adam Troyer and asked them to follow him. He seated them at one of the bedroom tables where Amber and a tall, handsome man already faced each other.
The man with Amber rose and held out his hand. His resemblance to Harold was unmistakable. He said, “You must be John. I’m Dr. Phillip White and this old rascal is my grandfather.” He clapped Harold on the shoulder.
“Who you calling old?” Harold grumbled.
“Behave,” Amber warned them both with a hard look.
The men grinned at each other, but took their seats. Amber and Phillip already had their food. John and Harold didn’t have to wait long. In another minute, a petite woman came in with a plate loaded with roast chicken and duck, mashed potatoes, dressing and creamed celery. She set the dish in front of Harold. John recognized her as the woman who ran the inn. She set down a second plate loaded with cookies and slices of cake.
Harold said, “Thank you, Emma. I hear the wedding was held in your home.”
“ Ja, Katie has no family here so we are her family now.” She smiled at John. “Your plate is coming.”
“I have it here.”
John looked over his shoulder to see Karen bearing a pair of plates for him. When she set them down, his eyes grew round. “You don’t expect me to eat all that, do you?”
“I do, and you will have more later. No one leaves an Amish wedding hungry.”
He pushed the dessert plate toward her. “At least help me with this.”
She patted her slender waist. “I ate before the wedding party arrived so that I could help serve today. I must get back to work. More guests will begin arriving shortly.”
Emma said, “Why don’t you take a short break? Ruby and I can handle serving for a little while. I’m sure Mr. Doe has questions about our customs. I will bring you a cup of tea.”
Karen grinned. “Then I will happily cover for your break when I am done here. You may tell Adam Troyer I won’t be long. I’m sure he is ready for a break, too.”
Emma’s flushed cheeks turned an even brighter red. She left the table without another word.
“So that’s the way the wind is blowing,” Harold said with a chuckle. “I wondered why Adam was always at the inn. I thought surely there couldn’t be that much work for a handyman to do around the place.”
Emma returned with a cup of hot tea for Karen but didn’t linger. Karen took a sip, then filched a cookie from John’s plate. John leaned toward her. “Should I go wish the bride and groom happy before I eat?”
Karen shook her head. “No congratulations are given at an Amish wedding. It is taken for granted that Elam and Katie have found the partner chosen by God for them. We have no divorce so marriage is forever. Today is a happy but serious day.”
In the living room, a young man with curly brown hair rose to his feet and spoke in Pennsylvania Dutch.
Dr. White said, “The first round of eating is almost over. It’s time for the singing to start.”
John sent Karen an inquisitive glance. “The first round of eating?”
“ Ja, we will start the wedding supper in an hour or so.Many of the older guests will leave soon, but the young people will stay. There
The tables didn’t contain flowers. Rather, stalks of celery had been placed in glass jars as decoration. Candy dishes, beautiful cakes and large bowls of fruit completed the simple but festive array. John searched for Karen in the rooms but didn’t see her anywhere.
Doctor White glanced at John. “Shall we start by asking the women in the kitchen if they know you?”
John’s eyes were drawn to the bride and groom and the loving looks they exchanged as they visited with their friends.
He nodded toward them. “No. This is their day. I don’t want to take anything away from them. We can speak to people outside after the meal is done.”
The doctor gave John a smile of approval. “All right.”
A strapping Amish man with a clean-shaven face approached them. He introduced himself as Adam Troyer and asked them to follow him. He seated them at one of the bedroom tables where Amber and a tall, handsome man already faced each other.
The man with Amber rose and held out his hand. His resemblance to Harold was unmistakable. He said, “You must be John. I’m Dr. Phillip White and this old rascal is my grandfather.” He clapped Harold on the shoulder.
“Who you calling old?” Harold grumbled.
“Behave,” Amber warned them both with a hard look.
The men grinned at each other, but took their seats. Amber and Phillip already had their food. John and Harold didn’t have to wait long. In another minute, a petite woman came in with a plate loaded with roast chicken and duck, mashed potatoes, dressing and creamed celery. She set the dish in front of Harold. John recognized her as the woman who ran the inn. She set down a second plate loaded with cookies and slices of cake.
Harold said, “Thank you, Emma. I hear the wedding was held in your home.”
“ Ja, Katie has no family here so we are her family now.” She smiled at John. “Your plate is coming.”
“I have it here.”
John looked over his shoulder to see Karen bearing a pair of plates for him. When she set them down, his eyes grew round. “You don’t expect me to eat all that, do you?”
“I do, and you will have more later. No one leaves an Amish wedding hungry.”
He pushed the dessert plate toward her. “At least help me with this.”
She patted her slender waist. “I ate before the wedding party arrived so that I could help serve today. I must get back to work. More guests will begin arriving shortly.”
Emma said, “Why don’t you take a short break? Ruby and I can handle serving for a little while. I’m sure Mr. Doe has questions about our customs. I will bring you a cup of tea.”
Karen grinned. “Then I will happily cover for your break when I am done here. You may tell Adam Troyer I won’t be long. I’m sure he is ready for a break, too.”
Emma’s flushed cheeks turned an even brighter red. She left the table without another word.
“So that’s the way the wind is blowing,” Harold said with a chuckle. “I wondered why Adam was always at the inn. I thought surely there couldn’t be that much work for a handyman to do around the place.”
Emma returned with a cup of hot tea for Karen but didn’t linger. Karen took a sip, then filched a cookie from John’s plate. John leaned toward her. “Should I go wish the bride and groom happy before I eat?”
Karen shook her head. “No congratulations are given at an Amish wedding. It is taken for granted that Elam and Katie have found the partner chosen by God for them. We have no divorce so marriage is forever. Today is a happy but serious day.”
In the living room, a young man with curly brown hair rose to his feet and spoke in Pennsylvania Dutch.
Dr. White said, “The first round of eating is almost over. It’s time for the singing to start.”
John sent Karen an inquisitive glance. “The first round of eating?”
“ Ja, we will start the wedding supper in an hour or so.Many of the older guests will leave soon, but the young people will stay. There
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