Treasuring Emma by Kathleen Fuller

Byler.”
    “ Ya . And your schwester took the kinner and went inside. Guess they kind of forgot about me.”
    She knew what that felt like. “I’m sure they’ll introduce you to everyone once lunch starts.”
    “Oh, it’s fine if they don’t. I get along all right on my own. I met you, didn’t I?”
    She released the hem of her jacket. Mark King had an easy manner, a confidence about him. She could see some resemblance between him and Peter. “ Ya . I guess you did.”
    “I should probably remind my cousin I’m still here. Are you coming inside for lunch?”
    “ Nee . I’m on my way home.”
    He frowned, but his eyes were still bright. “All right then. Maybe we’ll see each other soon. Being as we’re familye and all.”
    “Maybe.”
    “I would like that. Very much.”
    Mark headed toward the house, his stride as comfortable as his bearing. Just as she started to turn away, she saw him look over his shoulder. He grinned. Then he did something she’d never seen a man do, at least toward her. He put his hand over his heart, pointed at her, and walked away.

    Clara frowned as she watched Mark approach the men huddled outside the barn. Her gaze went to the end of the driveway, where Emma stood frozen in place. Even from the front porch of Rachel’s house, Clara noticed her sister’s red cheeks. And they weren’t rosy from the October air either.
    Clara had seen the gesture Mark made at Emma.
    Melvin tugged at Clara’s skirt, but she ignored him. She stared at Emma, then at Mark. He had joined Peter and Tobias and a few other men, as comfortable among them as if he’d grown up in Middlefield.
    When she looked at Emma again, her sister had started down the road in the direction of home. Clara felt another tug at her skirt. She looked down. “What do you want?”
    “I’m hungerich .”
    “You always are.” She sighed, brushing his brown bangs back from his forehead. “We’ll eat in a few minutes, ya ? Can you wait that long?”
    He nodded and scampered down the porch steps to join a few other boys his age as they ran around the front yard. But she quickly lost interest in the children and looked toward Mark again.
    Surely she couldn’t be jealous. Of Mark? Of Emma ? Yet his message to her had been clear. It was a romantic gesture, one that even made Clara’s stomach flutter the tiniest bit. He was interested. And he wasn’t afraid to let anyone see it.
    But why? Clara loved her sister, but Emma was plain, even among their plain people. She had always been round, and over the past year Clara noticed Emma had put on more weight, especially in her hips. Clara had remarked about it a few times, only to be met with a glare and an order to mind her own business.
    There were several other single girls in their church district. Unless Mark flirted with every woman he saw, why would he choose Emma over anyone else? Especially since he just met her.
    During the rest of the afternoon, Clara watched, waiting to see if Mark paid attention to any of the other girls. He talked to several single young women, all of whom were quite pretty. But she couldn’t tell if he’d made a connection with any of them.
    Later that afternoon they walked home. Peter lagged behind with a sleeping Magdalena pressed against his strong shoulder. The boys ran a few feet ahead. It amazed her that they still had energy left after spending the afternoon playing and dashing around. Melvin whapped Junior on the back with his hat. Peter admonished them, and Melvin stopped. Soon they started kicking at pebbles on the road.
    Mark moved up to walk beside her. “I met your schwester today,” he said. “Nice maedel .”
    “There are lots of nice maed in our district.” She stepped over a tiny puddle on the side of the road.
    “ Ya . I talked to a few.” He didn’t say anything for a moment. “Is Emma married?”
    Clara paused. “ Nee . She’s not.” She glanced at Mark. “Why do you ask?”
    “Just curious. I’d like to get to