“Oh, my... He has male pride,” Mammi said.
“That’s what I told him. It’s awful.”
Arden’s pride stood in the way of simply sorting things out. She could understand him, but why must he be so stubborn about it?
“Oh, my dear, I don’t mean it in a bad way. A man’s holy pride is what makes him stand next to you with his shoulders back and his eyes blazing. His Gott-given pride is what makes him work his fingers to the bone to provide for his wife and kinner. It’s what makes him choose the right instead of the wrong when it’s easier to go wrong. There’s a good kind of pride, and it gives a man backbone.”
“Well, it’s going to take both of them back to Ohio,” she said.
“It might,” Mammi agreed.
“And I think you and Moe love each other!” she said.
Mammi nodded. “We might.”
This was it. Sarai had to do something. She picked up the pie on the counter.
“Mammi, I’m taking this pie over to Moe’s place,” she said. “We promised the men pie, and I intend to deliver on that.”
“I’m doing dishes, dear,” Mammi said. “And I think that Moe has made his peace with this. He’ll miss me terribly, but he knows what he has to do.”
What he had to do. What was being forced upon him. Was that a man’s pride making him do what he thought he had to, even when it broke his heart? Mammi might see the noble side of it, but there was a foolish side, too. Pride certainly did go before a fall, and before heartbreak, too.
“I’ll go alone,” Sarai said.
“You want to see Arden,” Mammi said with a sad smile.
“Yah, I do.” That was part of it, at least.
“All right. Go ahead.”
Besides, Sarai had to lay this out for Moe. It was time to shake these two old-timers and make them face their feelings. They loved each other—Sarai was certain of it. But Mammi would never speak first. So Sarai would have to do it for her.
As she marched out the door, Sarai realized she’d left Arden’s tool bag behind. That was okay. This visit wasn’t about Arden, anyway. It was about Moe and his feelings for Mammi.
Sarai arrived on the Stoltzfus step with a pie in a basket, which she held in front of her. She’d never been nervous to pop by Moe’s house before, but suddenly, her heartbeat was skipping along like a stone across water. She was still sure that she was right about this, but Moe wasn’t a man who welcomed intruders into his life, either.
She knocked, and the door opened after a minute to reveal the old man wearing slippers. He looked sad and tired, too.
“Sarai,” he said. “Hello. Come inside. How are you?”
“I’m doing pretty well,” she said, following Moe in. “How are you?”
“I’m quite tired this evening,” he said.
Obviously, Moe wouldn’t talk about this, but she might be able to get him to open up. She handed him the basket.
“I come bearing pie,” she said.
“Danke.”
She stepped into the kitchen, and she spotted Arden at the table, a boot in one hand and a jar of black polish open in front of him.
“Hi,” he said, starting to stand.
“It’s okay,” she said. “I actually came to talk to your grandfather a little bit.”
“Should I give you privacy?” he asked hesitantly.
“No, no,” she said. “Stay where you are.”
Arden sank back into his seat and picked up his rag again, rubbing the boot with the blackened cloth.
“What can I do for you, Sarai?” Moe asked kindly.
“Well, Moe, it’s this...” Sarai took a quavering breath. “I think—” She swallowed. “I really think—”
But, staring at Moe, bringing out the words was a lot harder than she’d imagined it would be. Moe raised one eyebrow. She might have to come at this sideways, she realized, and she pulled out a kitchen chair opposite Arden and sat down in it.
“Moe, it’s like this,” she said. “I think you’d make a wonderful husband to...to someone. You’re still very strong, and you’re smart, and you’re funny, and I’ve seen firsthand how very kind and attentive you are.” She might be wise to pause and see how this was landing, but she didn’t dare. If Moe stopped her now, she wouldn’t be able to finish her speech. “Older men understand how to keep a home happy. They have wisdom and intelligence. Younger men really could learn from a man of experience like you. And I don’t think you should be shuffled off to a bedroom with family. I’m just going to say that, and I’m sorry, Arden—” she looked over at Arden helplessly “—it’s just how I see it. And I’m not going to pretend otherwise. Arden wants you to go home with him because they love you. I daresay everyone wants it very badly, but what do you want, Moe? You deserve a choice! And my family will be very happy to help support you and your...your wife.” She smiled hesitantly. “If you were married, Moe, you’d have support. You wouldn’t be alone, and I know what a truly remarkable husband you’d make. I know I’m young, but I’m able to see it.”
Moe stared at her, his mouth open. He seemed to realize it, and he shut it. She glanced at Arden, and he looked equally amazed at her speech. Had these men never seen a woman speak her mind before?
“Moe, I just want you to think about it,” Sarai said. “There is a woman who loves you. You know that—you aren’t blind. And if you leave, she’ll miss you so terribly, you have no idea. But she’s afraid to say it.”
“I think you’ve spoken quite eloquently, young lady,” Moe said at last.
“Have I?” She smiled. “Good! I’m glad. Moe, you aren’t used up yet. You have a lot of life and love left in you.”
