What was it that she’d said about her stepdaet, that he’d needed to learn how to be a father in their home, and the kinner needed to learn to love him, too? Something like that... Was there any chance she felt the same way about her own home?
Delia had her back turned now, and she was rummaging around in a cupboard, pulling down some snacks for the kinner. It wasn’t a bad idea—they’d all be hungry after that excitement, and Violet moved off to talk to Aaron and Thomas, where Thomas was loudly stating his unfavorable opinion about Liam Speicher.
Ezekiel came to where Elias stood, and the teenager scrubbed a hand through his unruly hair. “Elias, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry I let you down earlier. I should have gone after your daughter right away, and—”
“Ezekiel, you’re a fine young man,” Elias said, interrupting him. “You made the best choice you could in the moment, and you put your mamm’s worry first. That was a good choice. I’m glad you take good care of her. Man to man? I respect that.”
Ezekiel looked startled, then he nodded. “Danke, Elias. I do try to help Mamm out as best I can. She doesn’t like me to do it, but someone has to.”
Someone, indeed, but there was no one Elias wanted to be taking care of Delia except himself. He wanted the job more than anything...if she could see a way forward with him.
“What if there was another man who wanted to help in that mission to make your mamm happy?” Elias asked.
“You?” Ezekiel guessed.
“Yah...” His heartbeat sped up, and suddenly the opinion of this seventeen-year-old kid mattered to him a great deal.
“What about me and my brothers?”
“Well, I know there’s no replacing your daet, but I’d like to be a different kind of daet. I’d want to help you, and give you advice if you’d take it and support your mamm in what she wants you four to do. I always wanted some boys of my own, and I’d be honored more than you can imagine if you’d let me treat you like my own.”
“Then I guess you’d have to convince Mamm,” Ezekiel said with a small smile. “And Moses will probably give you some grief over it, but if Mamm agrees, I could talk him into it.”
“And Thomas and Aaron?” Elias asked.
“They’ll be okay if I’m okay.”
That was exactly what Elias had thought. “Then maybe I’ll have a word with your mamm.”
“Mamm?” Ezekiel said, raising his voice. He headed over to where his mother was setting out plates, and there was a muted exchange. Ezekiel took the plates, and Delia came over to where Elias stood.
“Elias?” she said. “Please stay to eat. You aren’t leaving now, are you? I’d hoped, I mean...” She swallowed.
“Can we talk alone?” he asked in a quiet voice. “Outside, maybe?”
She nodded and looked over her shoulder. The boys weren’t even looking in their direction, and Violet was in an animated conversation with Aaron. Ezekiel gave them a sidelong look, and then pointedly ignored them.
“Sure,” Delia said.
They slipped out the side door, and Elias caught her hand and led her away from the house a little ways. Then he slid his hand around her waist, drew her in close and kissed her. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she exhaled a sigh. When he pulled back, she looked anxiously toward the house again.
“I love you,” Elias said.
“I know! I love you, too, but the kinner—”
“Don’t always know what they need,” he said. “You said that before, didn’t you? Delia, my daughter doesn’t think she’s ready for this, but if it weren’t for you, I would have mishandled everything tonight. Violet needs you. She does! I need you, too. And I talked to Ezekiel, and he figures he could get his brothers on board with this if I could only convince you.”
“Really?” Delia stared up at him. “You won over Ezekiel?”
“Sure did.” He shot her an exultant smile. “But I only did it with honesty. Delia, if you’d marry me, I’ll treat your boys like my own. I’ll love them and guide them and sacrifice anything I have to in order to give them the life they deserve. If you could love Violet the same way...”
Tears welled in Delia’s eyes, and she nodded. “I already do!”
“Marry me,” Elias pleaded. “Let’s make this real. Let’s plan a wedding, and make all of us one big family. It won’t always be easy, but I’ll promise to make all six of you my very top priority on this green earth. What do you say?”
The side door opened then, and Moses appeared in the doorway.
“What’s going on, Mamm?” Moses called.
“Get back inside,” Ezekiel said from behind him.
“No! Something’s wrong,” Moses said.
“Nothing’s wrong, Moses,” Delia said.
“Then what’s happening?” the boy demanded.
“I’m asking your mother to marry me,” Elias said, raising his voice.
There was silence, then the faces of the other kinner appeared in the doorway, backlit with that soft glow of kerosene light. Maybe it was only fitting that all of them were here together, because if she said yes—and he prayed that she would—they’d be a package deal, all seven of them!
“What did she say?” Violet asked.
Elias turned back to Delia, and he looked down at her, his heart hovering in his chest.
“Yah, what do you say?” he whispered.
Delia nodded. “Yah. I will marry you, Elias!”
