Redeeming Grace

“Ne, you haven’t. Martha, Reuben and their daughter, Dorcas, have gone to Lancaster to a Coblentz wedding. Reuben is a Coblentz.” Hannah brushed the wrinkles out of her starched apron. “Now we should eat our breakfast before it gets cold. It will be a busy day, and I don’t want to be late for school.”

“If you would tell me what you need done before you leave, I can—”

“Johanna knows. And I should be home before the Kings arrive. We don’t expect them until supper time. It all depends on what time their driver picked them up this morning. They spent last night with relatives in Ohio and still have a long drive today.”

“It’s good of you to have them stay with you.”

“Roman’s house is small, and they have children. Ebben is a second cousin of your father. They could have stayed with their daughter and her husband, but they live over by Black Bottom. Better Ebben be here to see to finishing their house. You’ll like Sadie, a sensible woman with a good heart. Full of fun. Always the jokes, Sadie.”

Pondering how different Amish life was than what she’d expected, Grace followed Hannah out of the bedroom. She’d thought her father’s people would be stern and solemn, sort of like modern-day Pilgrims. Instead, she’d found gentle ways and easy laughter, making her realize just how much she’d missed out on by not being raised as one of them. If I had, she thought, everything would be so different. And I wouldn’t have so much to ask forgiveness for....

When they reached the kitchen, Grace saw Rebecca, Susanna, Irwin, Aunt Jezzy and the children already seated while Johanna carried a steaming platter of pancakes to the table. Susanna was pouring milk for the little ones as Rebecca slid sausage onto Jonah’s plate. No one seemed to mind that Katie already had a mouthful of applesauce before silent prayer.

Dakota looked up at Grace and grinned. She stopped short and stared at him. Dakota’s handmade blue shirt and overalls were identical to the ones worn by Johanna’s

Jonah. Grace had been meaning to trim his hair. It grew so fast that it always needed cutting. But now, she saw that the style was just right. Black hair or not, Dakota looked exactly like any other little Amish boy. Fresh hope welled up inside her as she blinked back tears of happiness. She would make a life for them here. She had to. They could never go back to living as they had before.

“Coffee?” Johanna asked as Grace slid into an empty chair.

“Yes, please, but I can get—”

“I’m up. Mam?”

Hannah nodded, and Johanna returned with the pot.

The odor of fresh coffee assaulted Grace’s senses. She knew from every other cup she’d enjoyed in Hannah’s kitchen that the brew would be just the way she liked it—hot, and strong enough to dissolve a spoon, as her mother would have said. Johanna took her seat, and Grace bowed her head along with everyone at the table, including the children.

A moment or two later, everyone was digging into breakfast, more interested in the delicious meal than talking. It gave Grace time to compose herself and smile at Johanna. “I’ll be glad to help you get ready for your guests,” she murmured shyly.

“Willing hands are always welcome. Anna, Ruth and Miriam are coming over once they finish morning chores at home. Between us, we can roast a turkey, prepare enough food for company and get the house shining.”

“And me,” Susanna reminded. “I can help.”

“You’re always a good helper,” Johanna said. “And you’ll do us a big favor if you can keep Jonah, Katie, Dakota and Anna’s Mae out of trouble while we’re busy.”

Susanna giggled. “We’ll make oatmeal kichlin. With raisin faces.”

“Cookies!” Jonah chimed in. “I like cookies.”

“Me, too,” Dakota echoed. Katie clapped her hands. As Johanna had said, Katie was just learning English, but it was clear she understood everything being said at the table.

Grace was just accepting the platter of pancakes from Johanna when Irwin’s terrier began to bark. Surprised, Grace turned to look toward the door. Surely her sisters wouldn’t be here this early in the morning.

Hannah rose, motioning to the others to remain at the table. When a knock came, everyone stopped talking. Hannah removed her scarf and quickly put on her Kapp.

“I hope nothing is wrong,” Aunt Jezzy said. “The sun isn’t up yet.”

Hannah opened the door and laughed. “John, you are an early bird. Come in. We’re just sitting down to breakfast.”

Rebecca cut her eyes at Johanna and stifled a giggle.

“John!” Susanna cried. “It’s John.”

Everyone was looking at him, but John didn’t seem to mind. He stamped his feet and rubbed his hands together. “It’s cold out there. You don’t have a cup of coffee to spare for a frozen friend, do you?”

“Of course.” Hannah chuckled. “Take off your coat and come to the table. We have plenty.”

“I was hoping you’d say that,” John answered with a grin. “I’ve been up all night with one of Clarence Miller’s cows.”

“Bad off?” Johanna asked.

“Delivered safely of twin heifers,” John pronounced. “Although it was a near thing. The first one was breech. If Clarence hadn’t come for me, I’m afraid they would have lost all three.”

“Thanks be to God,” Aunt Jezzy said.

John tucked his gloves into his coat pockets and hung his coat on a hook near the door. “I didn’t come empty-handed,” he said to Hannah. “Clarence just butchered two days ago. He insisted on giving me a ham and a pork loin. I left them in the cold box on the porch. You’re welcome to them, and I know you can use them with company coming.”

“Grace.” Johanna nudged her. “Could you set a plate for John and pour him some coffee?”

Grace nodded. “Sure.” John smiled and winked at her as she got up, and she felt herself blushing. What was it about him that made her feel as if she had two left feet? She’d always been more at ease around men than women. But John Hartman was different. When he looked at her, her wits scattered like fall leaves in a windstorm.

“Don’t put yourself out for me,” he said. “I know where Hannah keeps the cups.”

“No,” Grace insisted. “You sit. You’re company.” Thinking about John was distracting, but it made her feel good that Johanna had asked for help. It made Grace feel warm inside to welcome someone into the house. For a few minutes she could almost convince herself that she had always been one of them.

“Look at you,” he said, making a show of staring at her. “Dress and apron, prayer cap.”

Grace’s throat clenched. Was he making fun of her? “Hannah gave them to me,” she said. It came out a whisper.

John saw that his teasing had upset her. “I think you look fine,” he said with another warm smile. “More than fine. I think you look...”

“Plain?” Hannah said, coming to his rescue.

“I was going to say pretty,” he answered. “And Plain. Nice. The blue brings out the blue in your eyes.”

Now everyone was staring at her. Woodenly, she walked to the stove and reached for the coffeepot.

“Watch it!” John warned, lunging across the room and throwing out a hand to block her arm. “You need a hot mitt. You don’t want to burn yourself.”

Grace yanked her arm back almost as fast as she would have if she had been burned. For a second, their gazes met, and she saw the real concern in John’s eyes. Then she took a step back. “Sorry,” she managed. “I didn’t think.”

“Ne,” Susanna said. “You don’t want to get a burn. Becca did. Becca burned herself on the stove. She got the blister. Mam had to put medicine on it.”

John found a hot mitt and handed it to Grace.

“Thank you,” she said. “That was dumb of me.”

“Not dumb,” he answered in a deep, rich voice. “We all make silly mistakes.” He opened a cupboard door, removed a mug and held it out to her. She forced her hands not to tremble as she filled the cup nearly to the brim. “Thank you, Grace Yoder,” he said.