When the room was finally cleared of the unnecessary items, Mark and Daniel moved on to tackling repairs and touch-ups in and around the house. All three women went to work scrubbing the basement floors, wiping down the walls and cleaning the windowpanes until they sparkled.
As they worked the two girls chattered away without missing a beat. The talk ranged from boys to Priscilla’s precious new nephew to upcoming Christmas preparations. At one point it rolled around to the fact that Annie was excited by the fact that all of her siblings, some of whom apparently lived quite a distance away, would be home for Christmas the following week. Apparently it would be the first time they would all be together in several years.
Annie wrung her cleaning rag out in a bucket. “Zilla is wonderful excited to be bringing her friend Fannie to meet Seth. Mamm says he’s been single too long.”
“Jah.” Priscilla wiped her brow with the back of her hand. “I just wonder why he couldn’t find someone right here in Sweetbrier Creek.”
Annie shrugged. “Who knows the ways of a man’s heart?”
“What do you know about Zilla’s friend?”
Phoebe wasn’t comfortable with gossip, but she was guiltily glad Priscilla had asked that question.
Annie paused a moment. “Zilla isn’t one to gossip, of course, but I understand Fannie is a widow and has a five-year-old dochder. Oh, and she was a schoolteacher before she married.” Then she went back to work. “The only other thing I know is that if she’s a friend of Zilla’s then she’s for sure and for certain a gut person.”
It sounded like this Fannie would be perfect for Seth.
Then Priscilla changed the subject. “Speaking of needing a fraa, I know Levi is only twenty, but I wonder if he’s ever going to settle down. As far as I know he’s never singled any girl out for his attention.”
Annie laughed. “Mark my words, when Levi finds the right girl he’s going to fall big. And that’s going to be one lucky girl.”
Phoebe missed the rest of that discussion as she tried to picture this household with the addition of a five-year-old girl. Having a little girl in the house would certainly change the whole set of relationships within the familye. But she could see the child bringing out a tender side in Seth. The oldest Beiler bruder would bring the girl into the fold as if she were his own, especially since he had had the same thing happen to him at a similar age. And the other Beiler brieder would take the kinner under their protective wings as well.
The little one would get a new daed and five doting onkels all at once. And perhaps she would soon be joined by some siblings as well.
Phoebe scrubbed the baseboard a little harder, doing her best to scrub those images from her mind at the same time.
When Seth stepped inside the kitchen at lunchtime he found Phoebe checking something in the oven. His cousins Annie and Priscilla were there as well, helping her get the table set and glasses filled for lunch.
When he said hello both girls gave him sly, speculative looks. It puzzled him at first and then he realized that they no doubt knew about the friend Zilla was bringing home and why.
Trying to mask his irritation at this intrusion into his personal life, Seth turned to Phoebe. “Something smells wonderful gut.”
Phoebe smiled over her shoulder. “Danke. It’s just a chicken and pasta casserole. And I’ve got stewed tomatoes and peppers on the stove to go with it.”
Before either of them could say more the rest of the group began arriving. Seth lent a hand and it only took a few more minutes for them to get the food to the table.
Once everyone filled their plates, Seth led them in a moment of silent prayer.
When everyone looked up it wasn’t long before the kitchen was filled with talk of what work had been completed and what remained to be done. Then someone complimented the wreath Phoebe and Jesse had made and the conversation turned from there to a discussion of Christmas preparations. This year Hilda was having a large familye gathering at her home.
Seth let the talk flow around him, enjoying the simple pleasure of having his home filled with the warm comfort of an extended familye gathering. That hadn’t happened in quite some time, not here in this kitchen.
And it didn’t escape his notice that Phoebe seemed to fit right in.
About halfway through the meal Phoebe turned to him, pulling Seth back into the discussion. “Daniel and Mark have been wonderful gut helpers this morning, but most of their work is done now if you need their help in the workshop.”
Seth shook his head. “Everything is done but the carving of a few more chess pieces, which I need to take care of myself. So feel free to take advantage of their help for whatever you might need.”
Mark groaned. “Don’t we get any say in this?”
“Of course you do,” Seth said drily. “You can say jah, you’d be glad to help.”
Mark rolled his eyes but smiled Phoebe’s way.
After lunch Seth found himself reluctant to leave the group and return to his workshop. But there was work to be done if he wanted to complete his orders on time. So as the ladies resumed their work he made his exit.
Trudy helped Phoebe clean the kitchen while the others resumed their work on the rest of the house. As Trudy wiped down the counter she studied the garland of birthday cards that was strung across the mudroom entrance. “That’s a lovely card,” she said pointing to the one Phoebe had made. “It’s quite unique. Do you know who sent it to him?”
Phoebe felt her cheeks warm. “I did.”
Trudy eyed her approvingly. “I’ve never seen one like it. Where did you get it?”
That question made her even more uncomfortable. “I made it.”
“Now I am for sure and for certain impressed. That is quite a talent you have there.” She finished wiping the counter and moved to the sink to rinse out the cloth. “Have you ever thought about selling them?”
“Nee. It’s just something I do for the enjoyment of it.” Then Phoebe wiped her hand on a dishcloth. “I think I’ll let the dishes soak for now so we can join the others and finish up the housework.”
To Phoebe’s relief, Trudy accepted her change of subject and no more was said about her papercraft skills.
The rest of the work was accomplished quickly and they were able to wrap things up within a couple of hours. Phoebe sent the ladies home with her thanks and tins full of cookies she’d baked the night before for just that purpose.
Then she turned to Edna. “Your familye is very generous with their time.”
