They stared at each other for several long seconds, both frozen in place.
“I’m just getting some meadow tea,” the man finally said as he began filling the second thermos.
“I can see that!” Grace let out a huff. “I think you may have the wrong haus.”
The man shook his head, causing several wood shavings to flutter down to the floor. “Nee, I work with Eli out in the woodshop. Just came in to refill our cups.”
Grace’s hand flew to her chest. “I guess that’s why you’re so dusty.” She took a deep breath then exhaled, allowing her heart rate to slow. “You really startled me.”
“Sorry about that,” he gruffly responded.
“Ach, no harm done.”
Grace offered him a friendly smile but the young fellow immediately dropped his gaze to the floor.
“My name is Grace Ebersol. I’m one of Eli’s kinnskind.” She stepped forward and held out her hand.
“Aaron King,” the man replied, with a small grin that looked more like a grimace. He accepted her hand and gave it a quick, half-hearted shake before placing the plastic pitcher of tea back in the refrigerator.
“It’s gut to meet you,” Grace replied, feeling some gritty sawdust on her palm. She inconspicuously wiped her hand on the back of her plum-colored dress. “I live over in Paradise, but I’ll be staying here with Daadi for a while.”
She expected Aaron to comment or ask a question, but he remained silent. Was there something that he didn’t like about her? Maybe he was just having a bad day and didn’t feel like chatting.
Grace kept her winning smile and pressed on. “Can I get you and Daadi something to eat? I’d be glad to make some sandwiches and bring them to the shop.”
“Nee,denki,” Aaron answered so quietly that Grace was barely able to make out what he’d said. He secured the lids of both thermoses, took one in each hand, and headed for the door.
Grace followed after him. “Are you sure? Maybe you’d like some...”
“Not now, denki.” Cradling one of the thermoses in the crook of his arm, he reached for the doorknob and stepped outside. “See you later.” As he closed the door behind him without waiting for Grace to reply, several more wood shavings fell out of his hair and clothing, leaving a mess on the floor.
Grace stood motionless, her hands on her hips and her mouth hanging open. She’d never met such a blunt, awkward fellow. Not only had he been short with her, but he’d also left a trail of wood shavings through the kitchen for her to clean up.
First my former beau, and now Aaron King. One inconsiderate man left my life and now another one shows up, Grace grumbled to herself, groaning inwardly as she went in search of a broom and dustpan.
Well, that could have gone better, Aaron King huffed to himself as he plodded back to Eli Ebersol’s woodshop and kicked at a small stone that lay in his path. Ever since his childhood days, Aaron had been the shy, awkward type. As a young boy, he’d hoped that he’d develop a strong sense of self-confidence by the time he reached his teenage years, but that didn’t happen. Even now, just after his twenty-fifth birthday, Aaron remained just as bashful and uncertain as he had been in his youth. He felt like a bumbling fool when interacting with someone he didn’t know well, and that feeling was magnified when in the presence of a beautiful woman.
Grace Ebersol was the definition of natural beauty, with her ebony hair, spattering of freckles, and the bluest eyes that Aaron had ever seen. More importantly, she seemed kindhearted and friendly, just like her grandfather.
I wish Eli would have given me a heads-up that he had company, Aaron thought as he passed through the woodshop’s storm door. Maybe I could have made a better first impression if we hadn’t startled each other.
Aaron walked across the woodshop and inhaled the scent of lumber and wood stain, two familiar odors that brought him comfort. He’d worked for Ebersol’s Country Furniture for nearly five years, after working several years for a Mennonite construction company. He loved being able to turn a few pieces of wood into a hope chest, rocking chair, or dining table, and he took great care in crafting the finest pieces under Eli’s tutelage. Plus, Eli always greeted and assisted customers, meaning Aaron could stay behind the scenes in the workshop, where he was most comfortable.
Aaron found Eli brushing cherry-colored stain onto a rocking chair that he had finished sanding earlier that day. The old man’s brushstrokes were somewhat shaky, so Eli made sure to go over bits where the bristles had previously missed.
“Here’s your cold tea,” Aaron said as he handed his employer one of the thermoses, holding it firmly until he was sure that Eli had a steady grasp on the cup.
Eli grinned and took a sip of the chilled meadow tea. “Denki. I needed something to wet my whistle.” He took another long sip before slowly placing the thermos on a nearby workbench. “You didn’t happen to run into my kinnskind, Gracie, did ya?”
Aaron placed his thermos next to Eli’s. “Jah, she was in the haus. We scared each other half to death.”
Eli’s eyes brightened behind his thick glasses. “Gut, I’m glad she made it here safely. She hired a driver to get here, and I always worry about folks riding in maschien, going way too fast for my liking.”
Aaron nodded, understanding Eli’s concerns. He picked up a paintbrush, dipped it into the can, and began applying even coats of stain on the back of the rocking chair, focusing first on the six spokes of the backrest.
“Gracie’s from Paradise, where most of my familye live,” Eli went on as he picked up his brush and resumed staining the front of the chair. “Her daed and brieder are working on building a daadi haus onto their place for me, which I’ll be moving into as soon as it’s completed.”
Aaron looked up from his work and stared at his employer, wondering if he’d heard that correctly. A buggy ride from Paradise to Bird-in-Hand was long and inconvenient to take daily, and hiring a driver to bring him to and from the woodshop would soon become expensive. He hoped Eli wasn’t thinking of moving the business to Paradise or shutting it down altogether. It would be disheartening to lose a job that he enjoyed so much.
“If it’s not overstepping my place, I’m wondering what you plan to do with the business,” Aaron quietly voiced, keeping his eyes trained on the spokes as he went back to brushing on the stain.
Eli chortled then coughed. “Worried about your job?”
“A little,” Aaron replied, feeling his face grow warm.
“Ach, no need to be,” Eli said, his voice full of familiar reassurance. “I’ve been thinking of the best time for us to have this conversation, but now that Gracie is here, the cat’s nearly out of the bag.” He waited for Aaron to look him in the eye. “I’m getting too alt to keep up with the demands of the woodshop, and I’d like to pass on the business to you, with a few conditions.”
“What?” Aaron exclaimed, dropping his paintbrush. He caught it before it hit the dusty floor, but covered his hands with stain in the process.
Eli chuckled as he rose from his seat. “You’re a fine yung craftsman, and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather pass along my business to.” He shuffled over to a cardboard box that was filled with clean rags, selected one, and tossed the cloth to Aaron.
Aaron caught the rag and wiped the sticky liquid from his hands. “Are you sure about this? Wouldn’t you rather pass on the business to one of your kinner or kinnskind?”
Eli lowered himself onto the squeaky stool beside the workbench. “I considered that, but the younger generation is keen on dairy farming. My sons both inherited farms from their wives’ familye, and their sons want to partner in those operations, except for one who is apprenticing as a blacksmith.” Eli smiled, causing his deep wrinkles to swallow his features. “You show great interest in carpentry and even greater skill.”
“I... I don’t have enough money saved up to buy the business from you,” Aaron admitted, using his financial state to cover up his feelings of inadequacy.
Eli waved his gnarled hand through the air, brushing away Aaron’s excuse. “I’m not looking to make a profit. I just want to retire and pass along Ebersol’s Country Furniture into capable hands, hands that would run the place just as I would.”
