Kate's Song by Jennifer Beckstrand

the coast or, more likely, to Europe, and she would not see Mamm and Dat for months or years at a time. They certainly would not travel to visit her and never dream of actually seeing her perform. When she could come back for a rare visit, they would welcome her, but she would be a guest and not one of them. She would be a stranger in her own home, an interloper in the Amish community she loved so dearly. Only now was she beginning to see the stark reality. Her family would be lost to her forever.
    Elmer looked at her doubtfully. “I shouldn’t say this. I know it’s unfair, but…” He looked down at the churn in his hands. “Please stay, Kate. You have no idea how happy I’ve been since you came back. Remember how we used to sit out on the porch and talk until Mamm scolded us to get to bed?”
    “Or we’d hide from Aaron, and I’d sing to you?”
    “Or make faces at each other during services?” He frowned. “Kate, if I lose you, I’ll be devastated.” He stared at her, his eyes full of emotion.
    Kate felt a tear slip down her cheek. “I am sorry about all this.”
    “Now here I’ve made you cry, when all I wanted was to make you feel guilty.”
    They laughed, and Elmer handed her the churn. “I’ve got to get to the dairy. While I am gone, think on this. Some of the blessed apostles were nothing but humble fishermen—and the Lord Jesus, a carpenter. They did not need to be famous. Perhaps you do not need fame either.” He took his hat from the stand and opened the door. “Tell Joe and Ben that if they are not at the dairy in ten minutes, I will make them do the mucking out.”
    Wrinkling her nose, Kate took up the churning.
    Despite all her struggles, she took comfort in the thought that Elmer trusted her motives. So did Nathaniel. That was all the reassurance she needed.

Chapter Thirteen
    Kate opened the front door to see Nathaniel standing there with his permanent smile. He always sent her heart racing.
    “Ready?” he said.
    “Jah, denki for the ride.”
    She, Nathaniel, and Nathaniel’s mamm were taking a trip to La Crosse with an Englisch friend Nathaniel had met through his cabinet business. By buggy the ride would certainly be a long trek, but by car the trip took less than an hour.
    Nathaniel let her lead the way to the car and opened the door for her.
    “It is fortunate that your need to travel to La Crosse happened at the same time as my plan to visit a vendor in the city,” Nathaniel said.
    Kate inwardly vowed to be more careful about what she told Nathaniel. She had mentioned that she needed to go to La Crosse, and in less than a day, he had the entire trip arranged. She smiled at his readiness to do anything for her, and she would never willfully take advantage of his abundant kindness. But once the words were spoken, the trip to La Crosse became inevitable. Nathaniel would hear no objections.
    Kate climbed into the backseat with sheer dread. A ride to La Crosse sitting next to Nathaniel’s mamm—who, on good authority, did not approve of Kate—didn’t seem like a pleasant way to spend the morning.
    Nathaniel’s mother, Miriam, was as reserved as Nathaniel was cheerful. Kate remembered Miriam from her childhood as the woman who brought over foul-tasting concoctions when Kate or one of her siblings fell sick. Mamma would insist that Kate drink every last drop of the mixture that tasted like dandelion juice and rancid milk blended together.
    “Gute maiya, Miriam,” Kate said, hoping she sounded sufficiently humble and deliriously chipper.
    Nathaniel’s mamm nodded and forced a half smile.
    Kate busied herself fastening the seat belt. “Thank you very much for driving us, Dr. Delange.”
    “No problem,” said the doctor. “I’ve got to go in to the college for a few hours, so it’s no trouble at all.”
    Kate settled into her seat and glanced at Miriam out of the corner of her eye. Miriam seemed determined not to speak, and Kate nearly resolved to remain silent. If she did