Read Online A Wedding for Julia by Vannetta Chapman - Free Book Online
Authors: Vannetta Chapman
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feet.
When she raised an eyebrow, he added, “Something my grossdaddi always says.”
They were quiet on their walk back, but Caleb stopped short of the group of families waiting at the picnic tables.
“You can tell me it’s none of my business, but…was Aaron asking you the same? Asking you to marry him?”
“Aaron Miller? Nein . He was offering to work in my garden.”
The smile that covered his face caused her pulse to race.
“Take your time deciding, though from what you’ve said it sounds as if you don’t have long. But there’s one more thing I wanted to tell you. I don’t know if it will make a difference. It’s what gave me the courage to speak to you today.”
Julia stopped fidgeting with the strings of her prayer kapp , and though she felt the eyes of some of her freinden on her, she stepped closer to hear what Caleb was about to say. He seemed more embarrassed even than when he’d first brought up the subject of marriage.
“I’m a believing man, Julia. I try to follow the Scripture, and of course I’m baptized and a member of the church. I don’t pray as I should, though. I can’t say I actually know how to do it well.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and stared down at the ground. “On the day I was delivering your groceries—”
“Last Tuesday?”
Caleb looked up now, directly into her eyes.
“ Ya . Last Tuesday. As I was driving to your house, I was praying. Maybe because while everyone is very friendly…” he waved a hand to encompass the group of people milling about, “I haven’t made close freinden other than Aaron and David, and they are busy with their families. Whatever the reason, I clearly remember my prayer.”
“What—”
“I prayed for a freind . That was it. I told Gotte I needed a freind , and He led me to you, in the garden, with tears in your eyes and a burden on your heart. Maybe, Julia, maybe friendship isn’t a bad place for a marriage to begin.”
Squeezing her hand once again, he turned and walked away to his buggy.
Julia didn’t mention the conversation to her mother or anyone else. She ate a little cold ham, helped to put up what was left of the food, and stayed close to Ada for the remainder of their time there. The ride home was pleasant in the fall afternoon, but Ada began to shiver next to her on the buggy seat, so Julia called out to her mare and pulled up on the reins. Missy slowed immediately. Once Julia had stopped the buggy, she hopped out to retrieve a blanket from underneath the backseat. It hadn’t been cold enough to need one since winter, but Ada plainly could use one now.
“ Danki .”
“ Gem gschehne .” Julia positioned the blanket until it fit snugly around her, and the image flashed through her mind of Anna, David’s wife, tucking a quilt around her baby. In so many ways, on so many occasions, Ada was now like a child.
They were silent except for that brief exchange as they continued their journey home. The quiet was peaceful and comforting and allowed Julia to comb through Caleb’s words again.
When she’d helped her mother up the stairs, changed her clothes, settled her into her bed, and fed her some soup, she thought to darken the room in the hopes Ada would go to sleep early. The day had worn her out, and Julia wondered if they should have foregone the church service and had their own Bible study at home instead. In such cases, Bishop Atlee was happy to stop by the next day to pray with them. Julia had long suspected it was also his way of checking to see if the people under his care needed anything else in the way of ministering to.
She reached out to pull down the shade. The sun had set, but there was still light outside the old house’s window, and she wanted her mother to rest. She tugged on the cord of the shade, but Ada touched her arm, causing her to pause with the shade half closed. The light from outdoors gently bathed the room.
“This is the day the Lord has made, Julia.”
“Ya, mamm . It is
When she raised an eyebrow, he added, “Something my grossdaddi always says.”
They were quiet on their walk back, but Caleb stopped short of the group of families waiting at the picnic tables.
“You can tell me it’s none of my business, but…was Aaron asking you the same? Asking you to marry him?”
“Aaron Miller? Nein . He was offering to work in my garden.”
The smile that covered his face caused her pulse to race.
“Take your time deciding, though from what you’ve said it sounds as if you don’t have long. But there’s one more thing I wanted to tell you. I don’t know if it will make a difference. It’s what gave me the courage to speak to you today.”
Julia stopped fidgeting with the strings of her prayer kapp , and though she felt the eyes of some of her freinden on her, she stepped closer to hear what Caleb was about to say. He seemed more embarrassed even than when he’d first brought up the subject of marriage.
“I’m a believing man, Julia. I try to follow the Scripture, and of course I’m baptized and a member of the church. I don’t pray as I should, though. I can’t say I actually know how to do it well.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and stared down at the ground. “On the day I was delivering your groceries—”
“Last Tuesday?”
Caleb looked up now, directly into her eyes.
“ Ya . Last Tuesday. As I was driving to your house, I was praying. Maybe because while everyone is very friendly…” he waved a hand to encompass the group of people milling about, “I haven’t made close freinden other than Aaron and David, and they are busy with their families. Whatever the reason, I clearly remember my prayer.”
“What—”
“I prayed for a freind . That was it. I told Gotte I needed a freind , and He led me to you, in the garden, with tears in your eyes and a burden on your heart. Maybe, Julia, maybe friendship isn’t a bad place for a marriage to begin.”
Squeezing her hand once again, he turned and walked away to his buggy.
Julia didn’t mention the conversation to her mother or anyone else. She ate a little cold ham, helped to put up what was left of the food, and stayed close to Ada for the remainder of their time there. The ride home was pleasant in the fall afternoon, but Ada began to shiver next to her on the buggy seat, so Julia called out to her mare and pulled up on the reins. Missy slowed immediately. Once Julia had stopped the buggy, she hopped out to retrieve a blanket from underneath the backseat. It hadn’t been cold enough to need one since winter, but Ada plainly could use one now.
“ Danki .”
“ Gem gschehne .” Julia positioned the blanket until it fit snugly around her, and the image flashed through her mind of Anna, David’s wife, tucking a quilt around her baby. In so many ways, on so many occasions, Ada was now like a child.
They were silent except for that brief exchange as they continued their journey home. The quiet was peaceful and comforting and allowed Julia to comb through Caleb’s words again.
When she’d helped her mother up the stairs, changed her clothes, settled her into her bed, and fed her some soup, she thought to darken the room in the hopes Ada would go to sleep early. The day had worn her out, and Julia wondered if they should have foregone the church service and had their own Bible study at home instead. In such cases, Bishop Atlee was happy to stop by the next day to pray with them. Julia had long suspected it was also his way of checking to see if the people under his care needed anything else in the way of ministering to.
She reached out to pull down the shade. The sun had set, but there was still light outside the old house’s window, and she wanted her mother to rest. She tugged on the cord of the shade, but Ada touched her arm, causing her to pause with the shade half closed. The light from outdoors gently bathed the room.
“This is the day the Lord has made, Julia.”
“Ya, mamm . It is
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