Chapter 1.
Hope was pleased her wedding day was getting closer.
Only weeks to go!
She couldn’t wait to get out of the house and stop being known as one of the Baker girls and become Mrs. Jenkins. Once she and Fairfax married, she’d be seen as a woman—someone who ran her own household and was an individual. She looked down at the cup she was washing. Being one of the Baker girls was just like being a cup in a matching set. That thought made her smile.
Hope looked around the kitchen where everyone was talking over the top of each other as they cleaned. She was used to so many people being around all the time.
What would her life be like once they were married?
Her mind wandered to spending the day making Fairfax a delicious meal for the evening. When they were finished eating, it would be just the two of them. It would be so peaceful, so delightfully and deliciously quiet.
The Baker Apple orchard was never quiet, and rarely peaceful. The last few weeks had been no exception. Krystal had finished her time staying with Levi and his blended family and she’d moved to live with Gertie Lauber. Krystal had also found a job selling quilts for Gertie and a group of Gertie’s quilting friends.
Debbie had settled in with the baby and was looking so much happier. She got along so well with Mamm and Ada that the three of them were now like best friends.
Matthew had decided to stay on for the wedding and go home afterward.
In the last two days, Hope had caught Ada and Mamm whispering about something twice, and Hope wondered whether they were organizing Mercy, Honor and their families to come to the wedding. They were going to surprise her with the news and that was why they were being so secretive. What else could it be?
If Mercy and Honor were coming to the wedding with their husbands and four young children between them, many arrangements would need to be made. Maybe they’d all stay at Ada’s house. It was nearly big enough for all those people. Or perhaps half of them would stay with Ada and the others would stay at the Baker Apple Orchard.
Mamm walked into the kitchen and looked at the clock on the kitchen wall. “She’ll be here any moment. She said six and it’s nearly six. She’s not a person who’s late. Hurry with the cleaning, you lot. We’ll all sit in the living room.”
“Nearly done,” Hope said as she washed the last salad bowl.
“What’s this about? Do you know?” Cherish asked as Hope passed her the bowl to dry.
“It’s about the farm manager. What else would Florence want to talk with us about?” Hope pulled out the plug in the sink.
Bliss looked up from her job of sweeping the floor. “She said that’s why she’s coming.”
Florence had been talking about finding a manager for her three orchards for weeks. Her idea was to have the manager look after the Baker Apple Orchard as well as her two smaller orchards either side of it.
Hope was confident that tonight Florence would announce that she’d given the job to Fairfax. What better news could she and Fairfax have right before their wedding? It would be a perfect start for their married life.
Besides that, Fairfax would be perfect for the job.
Hope had thought about it at length as soon as she heard Florence was going to appoint a manager. There was no one else who deserved the job, and Florence wouldn’t employ an Englisher, would she? No one would be comfortable with someone they didn’t know. Surely everyone would need to agree with such a big decision.
When they heard a car, Cherish pushed Hope out of the way.
“Is that a car?” Bliss asked.
“It is, but it’s not Carter’s car. Unless he’s got a new one. No, it’s an old car. A man is getting out.”
Hope took her turn at pushing Cherish out of the way so she could see too. “That’s one of Dat’s old friends. He helped Florence prepare the ground for her orchard.”
“I recognize him now. Is he the new farm manager?” Cherish asked.
Hope put her hand to her forehead, suddenly feeling like she’d faint. Surely he wasn’t the new manager. If that was so, that meant Fairfax had been overlooked.
Mamm called out. “Hurry, girls. Come and sit down.”
Hope, Bliss and Cherish left the kitchen and joined the others in the living room while Levi opened the front door.
Florence stepped into the house. “Levi, this is Eric Brosley. He’s given me a lot of help in the orchard over the past few years.”
“Nice to meet you, Levi.” The men shook hands and Levi brought Eric and Florence into the living room.
Hope’s stomach churned. She could tell this wasn’t going to end well. Her vision faded with strange dark shapes looming before her. She’d fainted once as a child, and she wondered if she would pass out. She took a deep breath.
Florence introduced everyone to Eric, but most of them knew him already. After that she announced, “It’s only temporary, but until I find someone permanent, Eric has agreed to step in and manage the orchard.”
Hope was relieved that the man didn’t have the job permanently. Now Fairfax just had to convince Florence he was the right man for the job. Hope hadn’t fainted, but if she’d had worse news, she might have.
Mamm insisted Eric and Florence sit and have tea or coffee. When they agreed, she sent Hope, Cherish and Bliss back into the kitchen.
After an hour of small talk over cake and coffee, Florence and Eric left.
Cherish noticed that Hope had stayed in the kitchen the whole time.
She sat down with Hope, who was sulking at the kitchen table. “I know you’re upset that Fairfax didn’t get the job.”
Bliss overheard as she brought the tray of tea items in and set them on the kitchen sink ready to wash the cups.
“Of course I am. He’s the logical choice. He’s the next generation,” Hope said.
Bliss turned around to face them. “He’s the same generation as Florence and you.”
“You know what I mean. He’s the next generation to my father, same as us. He’s the logical one to take over.”
Cherish said, “Oh you meant Dat is one generation then we are the next along with Fairfax?”
“Jah, we’re soon to be married too and that should make all the difference to Florence, but she’s totally overlooked him.”
Bliss suggested, “Maybe she thinks he’s not up to the job just yet. Maybe in a year or two...”
“He is up to the job, Bliss.”
Cherish knew that Fairfax wasn’t even managing his old family’s orchard yet, the one that Florence and Carter had purchased from his parents. It would be a huge leap for him to go straight from being a worker to overseeing the management of three orchards. “He should fight for it then. Tell him to suggest himself to Florence. Has he done that yet?” Cherish asked.
Hope shook her head. “He’d just say they would’ve thought about him and decided against him.”
Bliss moved to the table and sat down with them. “I disagree. He should go after what he wants. He’s that kind of person. He wanted you and he joined our community to win you.”
Hope laughed. “I suppose he did.”
“I agree with Bliss. He should approach the manager’s job just the same,” Cherish added.
“I haven’t talked to him about it. He might feel embarrassed that he didn’t get it.” Hope bit her lip, wondering what to do.
Bliss rested her hand lightly on Hope’s arm. “You should be able to talk with him because you’ll soon be husband and wife.”
Then Hope felt better. “Seeing you both agree, I’ll talk with him about it. Denke.”
Bliss got up and filled the sink ready to wash the dishes.
“Smile then,” Cherish told Hope.
Hope smiled and nodded. “I’m smiling on the outside, but on the inside, I feel Florence has let me down. It’s a real shock that she’s done this.”
“Nee. She’s just trying to make the best decision.”
“I know. That’s the problem.”
Wilma breezed into the room and looked down her nose at the girls. “I wish I had the time to sit and do nothing. One of you can dry and the other can sweep the floor.”
“We did that before, Mamm,” Bliss said.
Mamm looked around. “Oh. So you did. Good.” She then walked over and put the cover over Tommy and Timmy’s large cage. “Night, birdies. See you in the morning.”
Cherish pouted. “I wanted to do that, Mamm. I like to say good night to Tommy and Timmy.”
Mamm rolled her eyes. “You would’ve, and you could’ve, but you didn’t. It’s the same as always, all your jobs are left undone. You’re no better, Hope.”
Hope frowned.
“Hope’s upset.” Cherish wanted her mother to be nice to her older sister.
“What’s wrong?” Wilma hurried to sit next to Hope.
“Nothing.”
“Well, it must be something for you to be sitting here looking so glum.”
Hope huffed. “I’m just upset that Florence didn’t give the job to Fairfax.”
“You heard her. The job hasn’t been given yet. Fairfax is the logical choice. He already has the knowledge. He grew up on an orchard the same as all of you. But he was different because he actually worked in the orchard.” Mamm was having a jab at them all.
“I’m glad you agree he’s the best man for the job,” Hope said.
“I do. Did you tell Florence how you feel?”
“Oh no. It’s up to Fairfax to say something. Don’t you think so?”
Mamm looked away for a moment, deep in thought. “It depends on what he’ll say. I think he should wait, and he’ll get the job. Don’t worry so much. Everything will turn out how it’s meant.”
“But Cherish thinks he should say something to Florence, and that I should tell him to do it. What do you advise me to do, Mamm? Should I tell him to put himself forward for the job?”
Mamm smiled. “It depends on who you want to listen to. Do you take advice from someone young or from someone with life experience? I have been married to two men and neither of them liked me giving advice about something when they didn’t ask for it. Now if Fairfax asks you, you can tell him what you think. That would be okay.”
Hope bit her lip. “I’m not sure now.”
Mamm stood. “Gut nacht, all. I’m off to have an early night for once.”
“Good night, Mamm,” Bliss and Hope chorused.
Cherish just sat there, annoyed, while her mother walked out of the room. “What she says doesn’t even make sense.”
Hope stood up. “I probably will take Mamm’s advice. Good night.” Hope walked out of the room.
Cherish mimicked Hope. “I’ll probably take Mamm’s advice.”
Bliss giggled. “Oh, I shouldn’t laugh. Why don’t I make us some hot chocolate?”
“Not for me, I just had some.” Cherish walked over. “What I said was obviously right. Mamm is living with how things were two hundred years ago when she was young.”
“Best not to give anyone advice. What if Hope does what you say and then it goes wrong? She’ll blame you.”
“I didn’t think of that.”
“That’s why I keep quiet.”
“Oh. Is that right?” Cherish’s brain ticked over, thinking of the obvious rift between Debbie and Bliss. It’d been on her mind to find out what had happened between them. “So… did you once give Debbie some advice?”
Bliss frowned. “No. I don’t think so. About what?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did she say I gave her advice about something?” Bliss asked.
“No, but you two don’t seem to get along that well so…”
“Maybe we’d get along better if everyone stopped saying we don’t get along. I don’t know where that rumor started, but it’s got to stop.” Bliss huffed.
Cherish was a little surprised at Bliss’s outburst. It was way out of character for Bliss to raise her voice. Asking each cousin what they had against the other clearly wasn’t working so she’d have to find out a different way. She ignored Bliss’s comment and kept talking. “It’s weird that Debbie’s parents are so awful. You’d think her father would be like Levi since they’re brothers.”
“I guess so.” Bliss pulled out the plug and shook her hands. Water droplets went everywhere and some fell on Cherish.
“Watch it,” Cherish snapped.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do it.”
Cherish felt bad. “No, I’m sorry. I was rude. I know you didn’t mean it.”
“I might have an early night too.” Bliss hurried out of the room.
Cherish picked up a plate to dry, wondering when she’d find out about Bliss and Debbie. Maybe If Debbie’s parents ever visited their new grandchild, she’d get a chance to ask them. They might know something.
Now she knew what to do.
She’d write Debbie’s parents a letter and suggest that they come to Hope’s wedding as a good opportunity to make amends with their daughter. That would be great for everyone all around.
“Brilliant,” Cherish said out aloud. And so it wouldn’t backfire on her, she’d send the letter anonymously. “Even better.”
