There was a knock on the door, and Mammi put her knitting aside and stood up.
“I’ll get it,” she said gently. “But remember, Sarai, when you feel like this—pent-up, frustrated—it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with your life right now. It doesn’t mean you’re making mistakes. It just means you’re ready for the next step in your life. This is actually a very good sign. You’re growing out of this little cocoon.”
Mammi made her way through the sitting room and toward the kitchen. Sarai heard the door open, and then Moe’s voice mingling with her grandmother’s. This was not a rare occurrence. The older people would often drop by and borrow things or just chat. And perhaps he wanted to recount the story of her inadvertent proposal in a way that would save her embarrassment.
Sarai pushed herself to her feet and headed in the direction of the kitchen, but as the voices became clearer, she stopped in her path.
“My grandson needs me to go home with him,” Moe was saying. “The truth is, Ellen, I don’t have enough money left to keep this farm going. Arden used his own money to pay my bills. I’m embarrassed. Truly and deeply.”
“Oh, Moe...” Mammi’s voice was low. “I hate growing old.”
“Me, too, Ellen.”
“Will you go with him, then?”
“I might have to, but the thought of leaving you behind... What if I picked you up and put you in my hat and brought you with me?”
Mammi laughed softly. “I wish you could.”
“Sarai came by—”
“She told me.” There was a smile in Mammi’s voice.
“I misunderstood. Arden explained. Apparently, she was hoping to plant the seed of marriage to you in my head.”
“Yah, she was.”
“Ellen, I don’t know quite how to say this. At my age, I should be sinking into my rocking chair.”
“Oh, pssht!”
“Well, I don’t want to leave you behind—ever! And I’ve grown to love you over the years, but I was afraid to say anything, lest it change our friendship.”
“Well, it certainly would,” Mammi said. “I’ve been waiting for you to say something, and you never have!”
“Wait...” Moe’s voice muffled. “Wait. Are you telling me you have...a special fondness for me?”
“That’s what I’m saying, Moe.”
“What if we did the craziest thing?” Moe asked. “What if we did just what Sarai is suggesting?”
“And got married?” Mammi’s voice shook.
“Yah.”
“Are you asking me to marry you?”
“Yah, I think I am. Ellen Peachy, would you marry me? I don’t know how we’d do things, exactly, but if we lived in one home instead of two, I think we might manage. What do you say?”
Then silence. Sarai held her breath, waiting for her grandmother’s answer, but there was nothing. She crept forward and stopped at the doorway to the kitchen. She peeked inside, and there, standing next to the kitchen table, was Mammi Ellen and Moe. Mammi’s hand was on her throat. Sarai pressed her lips together and tried not to make a sound.
“Yah, Moe... I will.”
Moe clasped her hand in his and drew it up to his lips in a trembling kiss.
“You might as well come in, Sarai,” Mammi said, not raising her voice or even turning. “I know you heard all of that.”
Sarai couldn’t say anything because there were tears in her eyes and her throat was tight. She crossed the kitchen, put an arm around each of them and pulled them into a hug.
“Thank you for the nudge, Sarai,” Moe said when she released them.
“You’re welcome, Moe,” Sarai said. “I’m just so happy for both of you.”
Mammi’s lips quivered, and tears shone in her eyes. “A bride, at my age!”
“At our age, the sooner the better,” Moe said. “We have details to discuss, my dear.”
And that was Sarai’s cue to leave the couple alone. They had plans to make together, and Sarai headed for the stairs to her bedroom, but as she passed Arden’s tool bag, she looked inside. The light fell just right for her to see a little piece of paper. She bent down and pulled it out. It had been crumpled and the blue ballpoint pen writing was obviously Susie’s because it laid out her name and address.
Sarai’s heart hammered in her chest, and she took the slip of paper with her as she hurried up to her bedroom. What did this mean? She’d just kissed this man! Had he lied to her? Had he been up to his old games after all?
She sank into the chair next to the window and looked outside.
She closed her bedroom door, her pulse hammering in her throat. Her mission was accomplished. Mammi and Moe would be together, and they’d be able to make each other happy for the rest of their days. Not only would Mammi and Moe want time alone, they’d need it. Even if Sarai stayed in Redemption, it would be time for her to move out of her grandmother’s house.
She looked down at the paper again. He’d said it was all Susie. He’d said it wasn’t him. Was there about to be another young girl sobbing her heart out over Arden Stoltzfus? Some might say Susie had it coming, but Sarai disagreed. Susie was young and foolish, true, but Arden should know better by now!
What was Sarai even doing? She’d always been smart and kept her head on straight. But whatever had been blossoming between her and Arden had felt real... It had felt like honest feelings between two people who truly cared for each other.
