drop it off at the Hostetlers’.”
As usual his thoughtfulness touched Emma, just one more reminder that Paul Esh would make a wunderbaar gut husband for someone. She knew, from the twinkle in his eye, that the someone in question, the one he had in mind to court, was none other than Hannah.
“Then I shall not delay,” Emma said cheerfully. “I’m just so grateful that you are able to take it, Paul.”
“My pleasure.”
Emma glanced at her sister. “Irene, mayhaps you might help me collect it? I’ll need help wrapping it.”
She had only just finished the final stitches the previous evening. Earlier that morning she had made Irene study it in great detail to ensure that she had not overlooked any area or that any stitches were loose.
Now they climbed the stairs to the second floor, leaving Paul and Hannah alone. Emma could hear them talking softly and wondered what they might be discussing. She hoped it was Paul asking to take her to the singing the following evening, for Hannah was not an official member of the g’may yet and therefore could not attend the communion service in the morning. This would be Paul’s only chance to ask Hannah to ride to the evening youth singing.
Carefully they folded the unbound quilt and set it upon Emma’s bed. If Irene suspected that Emma took more timethan she needed to wrap the quilt in a clean white sheet to protect it from dust along the journey, she said nothing. Yet Emma felt the heat of her older sister’s eyes upon her as she worked. She tried to ignore Irene’s inquisitive stare and began to hum a hymn as she went about her task.
When they finally returned to the kitchen, Emma was disappointed to see that Paul had retreated outside and was no longer keeping Hannah company. Carrying the wrapped quilt in her arms, Emma headed outside to where the men were gathered on the porch.
“Ah, there you are!” Paul said happily and reached to take the quilt from her. “Is this the most prized quilt that I have the distinct honor of taking to the Hostetler’s for binding?”
She flushed at his words.
“Now that I have it, I will make haste so that I can catch up with my family,” Paul said, unaware or merely oblivious to Emma’s discomfort. “I shall see you all at communion tomorrow, ja ?”
“Not all,” Emma quickly offered. “Hannah will not be there.”
For a moment Paul looked downcast and disappointed as if he had not previously realized that. “Such a shame that she will not enjoy worship and fellowship with us,” he said, a genuine inflection of sorrow in his voice. After a moment’s pause, just enough to pay proper respect to the mention of Hannah’s misfortune, Paul brightened and lowered his voice as he said, “But, of course, I shall look forward to seeing you instead.”
Her mouth fell open and she stared at him as he started to carry the packaged quilt to the buggy. She had expected more of a solemn response, not a quick recovery at her reminder that Hannah would be absent from worship. ButPaul seemed quite content as he walked a few steps then paused, glancing over his shoulder at Emma. “ Mayhaps you might assist me in putting the quilt in the buggy. I would prefer that you lay it the proper way so that it does not wrinkle or get mussed.”
Ignoring the amused look on Gideon’s face, she followed Paul, more out of curiosity than a need to actually assist him. Once she joined him at the buggy, she was surprised that he made no motion to leave. Instead he stood there by the buggy for a moment, fiddling with his hat and shuffling his feet.
“Paul?” she asked. “Is there something else?”
He glanced over her shoulder, making certain that no one was close enough to overhear.
“I have brought something for you,” he whispered, his eyes still roaming behind her to ensure that they were alone. “The other day, when we were in the carriage on our way to my aendi ’s, you asked for a Bible verse for the collection you and Hannah are
As usual his thoughtfulness touched Emma, just one more reminder that Paul Esh would make a wunderbaar gut husband for someone. She knew, from the twinkle in his eye, that the someone in question, the one he had in mind to court, was none other than Hannah.
“Then I shall not delay,” Emma said cheerfully. “I’m just so grateful that you are able to take it, Paul.”
“My pleasure.”
Emma glanced at her sister. “Irene, mayhaps you might help me collect it? I’ll need help wrapping it.”
She had only just finished the final stitches the previous evening. Earlier that morning she had made Irene study it in great detail to ensure that she had not overlooked any area or that any stitches were loose.
Now they climbed the stairs to the second floor, leaving Paul and Hannah alone. Emma could hear them talking softly and wondered what they might be discussing. She hoped it was Paul asking to take her to the singing the following evening, for Hannah was not an official member of the g’may yet and therefore could not attend the communion service in the morning. This would be Paul’s only chance to ask Hannah to ride to the evening youth singing.
Carefully they folded the unbound quilt and set it upon Emma’s bed. If Irene suspected that Emma took more timethan she needed to wrap the quilt in a clean white sheet to protect it from dust along the journey, she said nothing. Yet Emma felt the heat of her older sister’s eyes upon her as she worked. She tried to ignore Irene’s inquisitive stare and began to hum a hymn as she went about her task.
When they finally returned to the kitchen, Emma was disappointed to see that Paul had retreated outside and was no longer keeping Hannah company. Carrying the wrapped quilt in her arms, Emma headed outside to where the men were gathered on the porch.
“Ah, there you are!” Paul said happily and reached to take the quilt from her. “Is this the most prized quilt that I have the distinct honor of taking to the Hostetler’s for binding?”
She flushed at his words.
“Now that I have it, I will make haste so that I can catch up with my family,” Paul said, unaware or merely oblivious to Emma’s discomfort. “I shall see you all at communion tomorrow, ja ?”
“Not all,” Emma quickly offered. “Hannah will not be there.”
For a moment Paul looked downcast and disappointed as if he had not previously realized that. “Such a shame that she will not enjoy worship and fellowship with us,” he said, a genuine inflection of sorrow in his voice. After a moment’s pause, just enough to pay proper respect to the mention of Hannah’s misfortune, Paul brightened and lowered his voice as he said, “But, of course, I shall look forward to seeing you instead.”
Her mouth fell open and she stared at him as he started to carry the packaged quilt to the buggy. She had expected more of a solemn response, not a quick recovery at her reminder that Hannah would be absent from worship. ButPaul seemed quite content as he walked a few steps then paused, glancing over his shoulder at Emma. “ Mayhaps you might assist me in putting the quilt in the buggy. I would prefer that you lay it the proper way so that it does not wrinkle or get mussed.”
Ignoring the amused look on Gideon’s face, she followed Paul, more out of curiosity than a need to actually assist him. Once she joined him at the buggy, she was surprised that he made no motion to leave. Instead he stood there by the buggy for a moment, fiddling with his hat and shuffling his feet.
“Paul?” she asked. “Is there something else?”
He glanced over her shoulder, making certain that no one was close enough to overhear.
“I have brought something for you,” he whispered, his eyes still roaming behind her to ensure that they were alone. “The other day, when we were in the carriage on our way to my aendi ’s, you asked for a Bible verse for the collection you and Hannah are
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