His honest talk with his grandfather about the financial realities couldn’t wait any longer. But just for one more moment, he allowed himself the indulgence of watching Sarai in her pink dress as she walked across the grass toward her own home, her head down and her white kapp gleaming bright in the sunlight.
Sarai hardly saw anything as she walked across the field. Her mind was spinning, and her lips were still a little moist from where Arden had kissed her. But he hadn’t just kissed her...she’d kissed him back! And he’d said he’d always remember that kiss, and the problem was so would she. Arden Stoltzfus was not the kind of man to take seriously—at least, he hadn’t been in the past—and here she was, longing to turn around and go back to him...longing for another kiss.
What was wrong with her? She wasn’t supposed to fall for Arden! His sweet words were supposed to be meaningless... And yet there was something much deeper there between them. Or was she just as foolish as every other girl who’d cried over him?
When Sarai went back into the house, she found her grandmother in the sitting room, her knitting on her lap. Her fingers were knobby from arthritis, but she still worked quite quickly, the needles clicking as she knitted.
“Hello, dear,” Mammi said. “Did you bring back the basket?”
“No.” She sighed and sank onto the couch next to her grandmother. “I forgot it. Sorry.”
“That’s okay. We know where it is. I’m sure Moe will bring it by.”
“Mammi, I went over there to tell Moe that you love him,” she said.
“You did what!” The needles dropped from Mammi’s fingers.
“Before you get mad at me, it didn’t work out that way,” Sarai said. “Moe was under the impression that I was the one in love with him, and he thought I was proposing marriage.”
Mammi started to laugh. “He didn’t!”
“He did,” she said.
“He didn’t...accept your proposal, did he?” Mammi asked, her smile slipping.
“No, he didn’t,” Sarai said. “He gave me a very lengthy talk where he told me that he was far too old for me and I needed to focus on men my own age.”
“He isn’t wrong,” Mammi said, and she started to laugh again, shaking her head. “You should focus on men your own age. I will talk to Moe when I’m ready, Sarai. I’m a grown woman. I know my own mind.”
“Okay,” Sarai said. “I’ll leave it alone.”
“Sarai, why does this matter to you so much?” Mammi asked. “Are you bored? I’d understand you wanting something more than this. I’ve been thinking for a while now that it’s high time you got married and started your own family.”
“My biggest reason is wanting to see you and Moe happy together,” Sarai said. “I do think you care for each other, and I wanted to see that blossom. But secondly... I was hoping to go to Shipshewana to see Uncle Jonah and Aunt Lovie. They want to start a flock of specialty hens, and I could help with that—”
“And meet some eligible men at the same time,” Mammi finished.
“Yah...” And it had seemed like a much rosier option before that kiss. She wanted to go find a respectable man in Shipshewana, not fall for the least appropriate match here in Redemption. But she’d fallen for Arden...badly.
“My dear girl, why didn’t you tell me this?” Mammi asked, reaching over and taking her hand.
“Because you need me here,” Sarai said. “And I won’t go anywhere as long as you need me.”
“That’s just plain silly,” her grandmother replied. “There are more members of this family than just you, and I won’t have your life held back because of me.”
“I knew you’d say that,” Sarai said. “That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
“So you think Moe will take care of me,” Mammi said.
“I think you and Moe would take very good care of each other,” Sarai replied. “I see how much happier you are when you’re together. I see how you deflate a little bit when Moe leaves after he’s come for dinner. How he gets a little hop in his step when he’s coming across the field to our place. I think you make each other happy.”
“We do,” Mammi agreed. “But that isn’t your problem, Sarai. I want you to go to Shipshewana and help your aunt and uncle with their flock and find yourself a wonderful man to marry. That’s what I want.”
Sarai was silent. Her heart suddenly felt very heavy at the thought. It would mean leaving whatever this was with Arden behind. She should. It was the smart thing to do... This thing with Arden had sprung up quickly, and she couldn’t let her heart lead right now.
“Isn’t that what you want?” Mammi asked.
“I thought it was,” she said.
“Well, I still think it’s a good idea,” Mammi said. “You need to get out there and experience some new things. I know Jonah and Lovie would enjoy having you there, as would your cousin. And there are plenty of eligible young men who are probably praying to meet a girl just like you. Sarai, I want you to go. I think it’s a good time for you to do it.”
“What about you?” Sarai asked. This had never been her plan, to leave her grandmother alone.
“I’ll be okay. Gott always provides something, and you don’t have to take everything onto your shoulders.” Mammi squeezed her hand.
“What if you have to move out of your house?”
“Then...I will face it.”
“But I don’t want you to face that!” Sarai said. “Maybe Gott will bring my husband here.”
“I want you to go to Shipshewana.” Mammi’s voice firmed. “Tell me you will.”
“Do you think it’s good for me?” Sarai asked. “Honestly?”
“I think it’s the right next step for you,” Mammi said.
Her grandmother was right, of course, but Sarai couldn’t promise. That had been her plan for a couple of months now, and every time she’d thought of it, she’d been excited about the possibilities. Arden had a life in Ohio, and he was needed there. He would certainly go back. Maybe it was better to go sooner, before her heart was any more entangled.
