When she walked out of the store with her loaded grocery cart, she pushed it to the side where Seth had said he’d park the buggy, and sure enough he was already there. He leaned against the back of the buggy in a relaxed pose with his arms crossed.
But as soon as he saw her he straightened and marched forward, meeting her halfway and taking the cart from her.
“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”
“Nee, I’ve only been here a few minutes.” They arrived at the buggy and he started transferring the bags. “Did you have any problems finding anything?”
Phoebe shook her head. “This store is laid out a little differently from the one at home, but I’m confident I got it all.” She just hoped it was in the right form.
“Gut.” He unloaded the last bag. “I’ll put the cart away if you want to go ahead and climb inside the buggy.”
Once they were headed out of the parking lot, Seth spoke up. “It’s almost lunchtime. Why don’t we eat in town before we head back. We can pick up something to bring Edna as well.”
A warmth spread through her chest at the invitation. “That sounds gut.”
“There’s a place on our way home that’s quick and has tasty hamburgers if that’s okay with you?”
She nodded. “I like hamburgers but I haven’t had one in a while.”
He negotiated a turn. “Then you’ll enjoy this one,” he said without taking his eye from the road but with a smile in his voice.
When they arrived, Phoebe discovered the name of the place was King’s.
Once they were inside Seth waved to a menu board above the counter. “Those are your choices. Just let me know what kind of burger you want and then pick one for Edna.”
Phoebe didn’t bother to look at the menu. “I’m in the mood to try something new. Is there one that’s considered their specialty?”
“I like the western burger—it has bacon, cheese, crispy battered onions and barbecue sauce.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful gut. I’ll have one of those and I think Edna would like a plain bacon cheeseburger.”
Seth nodded and placed their order, adding sodas for the two of them and a large order of wedge fries to share.
When the burgers arrived, he led her to a small rectangular table. As they took their seats across from each other Phoebe thought that this felt almost like a celebration. Appropriate since she felt like celebrating—after all she’d survived her first solo shopping trip.
Seth found himself smiling for no particular reason except that Phoebe’s gut mood was contagious. And she did seem to be in wonderful gut spirits. Her demeanor was open and warm—her eyes sparkled, her smile made frequent appearances, and her hand gestures were light and expressive.
Was it just the change of scenery that had brought out this cheeriness in her? Or was it something else?
Whatever the case, her mood was infectious.
All through the meal and on the ride home she chatted away about anything and everything. And in the process, he learned a lot of little things about her.
Like how folding paper airplanes wasn’t her only paper-related talent—she had a fondness for origami as well as paper-cutting crafts.
Like the fact that her favorite color was yellow—the color of sunflowers and buttercups.
Like the fact that she liked to ride a bicycle when the weather allowed.
Of course, she hadn’t only wanted to talk about herself—she’d asked him questions about himself as well. And he found himself telling her things he’d never told anyone before—small, silly things.
Like how much he missed fishing in the springtime, a favorite pastime from his childhood.
Like the way he sometimes wondered if it mattered to his brieder that he was only their half bruder.
And how his favorite memory was of the day his future shteef-daed, a man he’d grown to love with all of his six-year-old heart, had asked his permission to marry his mamm.
He wasn’t sure why he’d told her so many deeply personal things. She was just so easy to talk to, so sympathetic and nonjudgmental.
Later, when they’d arrived back at the Beilers’ home and unloaded all the bags, Seth headed back to his workshop.
As soon as he was gone, Phoebe pulled the shopping list out of her tote and handed it to Edna. “I’m pretty sure I got everything on the list, but would you mind checking items off as I unpack the groceries?”
“Of course.”
Humming her favorite hymn, Phoebe held up each item as she unpacked it. Sure enough, she’d gotten the wrong brand of soap and she’d bought the wrong-sized box of rice, but that still didn’t darken her mood. She was sure she could explain that away if anyone remarked on it.
“Ach du lieva.”
Something in Edna’s tone made her stomach drop and her humming died away. “Is something wrong?”
Her friend met her gaze with a mix of apology and sympathy. “This wasn’t on the list earlier. Seth must have added it after we went over it this morning.”
That bad feeling in the pit of her stomach intensified. “What wasn’t on the list?”
“Rhubarb.”
