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Though he didn’t believe himself capable of running such a successful business, Aaron felt honored that Eli thought so highly of him. “W-what are the conditions you mentioned earlier?”

“I’m glad you asked,” Eli said with what almost sounded like relief. “You will be completely in charge of things around here as of right now. I’ll watch as you talk with customers, order supplies, and keep up with the bookkeeping. You need to prove to yourself, and to me, that you have the confidence to run the woodshop. If you can’t prove this, I’ll have to ask someone else to take over for me, and I’d like to avoid that, if possible.”

Aaron couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He’d always dreamed of owning a carpentry shop, but he’d thought it nothing more than a pipe dream. He knew he lacked the self-assurance it would take to make important decisions, and due to his shyness, he lacked the people skills he’d need to interact with customers. Yet if he didn’t force himself to step up to the plate, he’d miss out on this opportunity, one that any young carpenter would jump at.

“Denki for believing in me, Eli. I think you’re the first person who ever has,” Aaron finally said after several minutes of internal debate. “I’d be honored to take over the business when you’re ready to retire.”

“Gut, that’s just what I wanted to hear,” Eli cheered, offering his unsteady hand to Aaron.

They shook hands and the deal was sealed.

Aaron was completely overwhelmed by Eli’s generosity, and for the first time in ages, he felt excited about the future.

“There’s one more thing I’d like to discuss,” Eli added as he peeked over his shoulder and scanned the workshop. “I have a small favor to ask.”

Aaron had resumed staining the rocking chair, more eager than ever to please his boss. “I’ll be froh to help in any way that I can,” he said with sincerity, willing to go out of his way to help Eli after the man had acted so selflessly.

Eli looked around the shop once more as if to make sure they were alone. “What did you think of my Gracie when you met her?”

Aaron felt some perspiration gather on his forehead. The way that Eli lowered his voice and asked such a direct question made him uneasy. The first thing he’d noticed about Grace was her beauty. Even in her plain Amish dress and apron, she was as lovely as the first flowers of spring after a bone-chilling winter.

“She seems nice,” Aaron finally replied without looking up from his work.

“Ach, she is. She’s as sweet as a sticky bun, and you won’t meet anyone with a gentler heart.” Eli took off his straw hat and ran his fingers through his thin, gray hair. “Gracie’s had a rough few months, and it worries our familye to see her so glum. She does her best to hide her sadness, but I can tell that she’s hurting something awful.”

Aaron peered through the spokes of the chair, which had now been stained on all sides. “What’s she so bedauerlich about?”

Eli placed his hat back on his head with a grunt. “That’s not my story to share, but she might share it with you...someday.”

“Oh?”

“I was hoping that you could befriend her. Maybe you could offer to take her out to lunch or invite her to one of the gatherings for die youngie. She’ll be living here for a couple of months, and she doesn’t know anyone around these parts except for her alt Daadi. Having a close-in-age friend, someone to confide in, does wonders for the soul, jah?”

Aaron fidgeted with the paintbrush. Why, of all things, was Eli asking him to befriend Grace? Asking him to enter a social situation was like asking a fish to walk on land. How was he supposed to get to know Grace when he barely dared to look her in the eye? He struggled severely when it came to opening up to new people, and for that reason, he’d given up on ever finding love and starting a family of his own.

How can I turn Eli down after he’s offered to give me his business? Aaron’s hands trembled as he dipped the paintbrush back into the can of stain. Perhaps he’d been too hasty when he’d agreed to take over the woodshop.

“I guess I can try to talk with her sometime,” he finally conceded as he began to stain the seat of the rocking chair, “though I can’t promise that she’ll be interested in talking with me. That’s probably a lost cause.”

Eli’s face glowed with the warmth of a gas lantern. “All I ask is that you try, but I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Gracie. She cares deeply for folks, and she’s easy to talk to.”

Aaron didn’t look up from his work but nodded his response. She’ll have to be a very special woman to make any sort of connection with me. Feeling prematurely defeated, he swiped the stain over the rocking chair’s seat, wishing he hadn’t felt so obligated to comply with Eli’s request.