Chapter 1.
Wilma stared in shock as she saw Obadiah step out of Eli's buggy and come her way. She glanced at her plain dress, hardly fit to receive visitors. It had never crossed her mind that Obadiah would come to her doorstep, especially since it had been decades since they’d seen each other.
Obadiah stood below Wilma as she peered over the porch railings. "It has been a while," he said with a broad smile.
He was her first love, but he couldn’t have guessed at the magnitude of his effect on her. “You’re Obadiah,” was all she could manage to say.
He gestured behind him to Eli. "We apologize for stopping by unannounced like this, but Eli was certain you wouldn't mind."
Wilma smiled brightly. His words were spoken so effortlessly, as if he'd rehearsed them beforehand.
"I'm glad you did," she spoke warmly.
Obadiah moved nearer to Wilma, and her heartbeat quickened. He was as tall and attractive as she remembered him, only this time with a few extra strands of silver in his hair.
"You haven't changed at all, Wilma," he said.
Flustered, she murmured a humble thank you as memories of simpler times resurfaced; rolling hills beneath the sun's rays, delicious pastries like whoopie pies, and an uncomplicated life without struggles.
When Obadiah tenderly clasped her hand in his, unexpected vibrations coursed through her veins. His grip was firm yet compassionate simultaneously.
Eli's voice disrupted the tranquil moment. "Wilma," he said, "it is good to see you back. This is my cousin Obadiah."
"Oh yes, I remember him from years ago." She reluctantly withdrew her hand and smiled.
Eli ran his fingers through his beard pensively. "Ah yes, of course. He used to live around here.”
Wilma studied Obadiah closely, comparing the present version of him to the one she recalled from long ago. He had grown so tall in the meantime and was clean-shaven—leading Wilma to wonder whether he had ever married or if his wife had passed away. Without any words, she continued to look at him in awe, captivated by him.
Wilma felt uncomfortable when she thought about how shabby she appeared next to him in her tattered clothes. She rarely wore this dress anymore; it was fit for nothing other than the trash.
She couldn't allow them into her home; they would notice the dirty laundry strewn on her living room couch. It would give them the wrong sense that she was sloppy and negligent.
Not a good look!
Ada, Krystal, and Wilma had recently returned from Cherish's farm, and Wilma still had chores to take care of at home. Although Debbie had assisted while they were gone, the house wasn't in the condition Wilma wanted it to be.
Where was Ada this morning?
She usually would have already arrived by now; if she were here, the awkwardness Wilma felt would dissipate with her presence.
Eli chuckled upon seeing Obadiah and Wilma together. "You two look like you just saw ghosts from the past," he joked. Wilma felt her cheeks flush as Eli caught her staring at his cousin.
"Yes," she said quietly. "I didn't expect to see a ghost of the past."
Obadiah explained, "Wilma and I are old friends; we used to be close before my family moved away."
"You never said anything," Eli remarked.
"That's because I didn't know the widow from the apple orchard you mentioned was Wilma," Obadiah told him.
Eli nodded and said, "Well, we're all here now."
Now things were even more tense; Wilma didn't want to be described only as a widow from an orchard—she had her own life and story to tell. What had Eli meant by that and what had he told Obadiah about her?
Or had Eli mentioned her in such a way because he was interested in her as more than just a friend? Ada was always teasing her about that possibility.
Wilma glanced up the road, hoping again for some sign of her friend before she turned her attention back to the men. "What a beautiful day. How about we sit here on the porch, and I'll get some refreshments for us?"
"That will be fine, Wilma. Then you can think up some jobs we can do for you. We're both willing to do anything that needs a man's attention. Aren't we?" Eli asked Obadiah.
"Yes. We're ready for anything." Obadiah nodded.
Wilma chuckled. "Well, don't be concerned about the jobs. You can get ready for hot tea, or would you prefer coffee?"
"Coffee for me, please, Wilma," Obadiah said.
"I'll have the same." Eli gave a nod as he walked toward one of the porch chairs.
Once the men sat, Wilma set the broomstick she'd been clutching in one hand against the deck’s railing and entered the house.
While her stomach was flip-flopping, she filled the teakettle with water. It had been a long time since she had experienced this sensation, and she'd been sure she'd never feel it again.
Was it destiny bringing them back together?
Wilma dismissed the idea, reminding herself Obadiah could already be engaged, and he wouldn't be interested in her anyway. Maybe he was married and hadn't been able to grow a beard for some reason.
She was just a young teenager then, and he wouldn't have returned her love.
But she couldn't help her curiosity about why Obadiah was there.
Wilma shook her head, trying to push away her intrusive thoughts. She was being silly, wasn't she?
She couldn't wait for Ada to arrive. Ada would know what was what with her rational mind and straightforward ways.
Wilma placed small coffee cups on a tray. She'd already made sandwiches for herself and Ada to eat for later, so she put them on a plate, cut off the crusts, and cut them into bite-sized pieces. They could eat them as a snack, along with some of Ada's chocolate cookies, as long as Jared hadn't eaten them all.
Once she'd arranged the coffee and the food onto a large tray, she ventured out to the porch and placed the tray in the center of the tiny table.
After pouring the coffee, she sat opposite Obadiah.
She did her best to act normal, although she was sure something out of the ordinary was happening.
"So, Wilma, tell me about your trip to Cherish's farm." Eli lifted his cup to his lips.
Wilma smiled when she thought about everything that had happened at the farm. So much silliness and excitement always surrounded Cherish. She explained to Obadiah, "Cherish is my youngest daughter."
He nodded.
"It was great. She was delighted with the quilt we made for her, and it was lovely to see Malachi again too. Malachi is her new husband.”
"That's nice, and are all your children married now? You have the house to yourself?" Obadiah asked.
"That's right."
"Jah, she's all alone. That's why I come here to help as often as possible."
“Not quite.”
Both men stared at Wilma.
Then she realized she had to explain the rest of her statement. “I mean going back to your previous question. I don’t live alone. Debbie and Krystal live here with Debbie’s young son, Jared. Debbie and Krystal aren’t my daughters, but they feel like they are sometimes.”
Obadiah raised his eyebrows. "Oh, how wonderful. How many children do you have?"
"Six daughters and three stepchildren. Oh, I always forget Bliss," Wilma said with a laugh. "Four stepchildren." Wilma took a bite of her sandwich. She swallowed quickly. "Do you have children, Obadiah?”
Obadiah shook his head in response. "No, I was never blessed with any.”
Eli leaned forward. "He never married."
"I see." A curious expression crossed Wilma's face. What a surprise it was to find out Obadiah had remained single. Now she had to know why.
That was a job for Ada.
Where is she? Wilma wondered again. “So, you're just passing through, or do you plan on spending some time here?"
"I'm not sure yet. It depends on a few factors."
"He's had a failed romance and needed to get away." Eli took a bite of his sandwich and was unaware of the slight embarrassment that tinted Obadiah's face.
There was a woman around. As much as she expected it, Wilma couldn't help feeling disturbed by the knowledge. He was handsome; it made sense that at least one woman was trying to become his wife.
"He's always been looking for a special someone, but nothing ever panned out," Eli stated.
Wilma shot a glance at Obadiah, who was looking into his coffee. Eli still didn't appear to be aware Obadiah might not have wanted to reveal so much about himself. Wilma chuckled to herself.
"What about you, Wilma? Are you looking for love?" Obadiah asked. It was the last thing Wilma had expected him to say.
Obadiah eased closer to Wilma, setting his cup down on the table. The sudden movement startled her and she stiffened, causing both Eli and Obadiah to turn toward her.
She didn’t say anything in response to his question. Where was Ada? She wished desperately for her friend's presence at that moment.
Since Wilma didn't answer Obadiah's question, Eli said, "There will never be anyone else for me except my Frannie. I heard a saying, better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Eli smiled at Wilma and then looked at Obadiah. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that due to your circumstances.”
Obadiah chuckled. “Don’t be sorry on my account.”
She was glad she didn't answer Obadiah's question. They'd only just reconnected. She couldn't reveal everything about herself. "Eli has been such a blessing since my husband passed away. I'm so thankful for all his help around the orchard. It's so good to have friends."
"I'm so sorry for your loss, Wilma," Obadiah said. "I should've said that before. It must be hard for you. You said you have four stepchildren, so…."
"I was married twice," Wilma said.
It was evident Eli wasn't following what was being said. "I enjoy our conversations, Wilma. I'm grateful for someone who knows what losing someone irreplaceable is like."
Wilma felt a sense of guilt for her feelings for Obadiah. After all, Eli was shackled in his widowhood, desperately keeping his wife’s memory alive. In comparison, she was becoming open to the idea of another marriage. After all, she’d never pictured herself growing old alone.
Wilma was trying to think what to say when Obadiah ignored his cousin's comment and asked her a question. "How is your family, Wilma? I remember you have one older sister. Her name escapes me. I'm sorry."
"Thank you for asking," Wilma replied. "Iris passed away a few years ago, so now it's just me with my children and grandchildren."
"I'm so sorry for your loss. Iris was an amazing person."
"She was, and my stepdaughter, Florence, named her first child Iris."
Obadiah nodded. "Iris must've had a big impact on her."
Wilma looked down. There was so much Obadiah didn't know about her. The truth was Florence had never met Iris. Wilma had given the baby she'd had out of wedlock to Iris to raise, then blocked them both from her heart and mind. Wilma regarded her life as a tangled mess, whereas Obadiah's must've been much more straightforward. Would a man such as him accept her past mistakes as well as her failings?
"How is your family?" Wilma asked Obadiah.
"They passed away years ago now. It's only Tiger and me."
"Tiger?"
"Yes, my dog. I take him everywhere with me." He nodded toward the buggy, and Wilma looked over to see a large brown dog with his head out the window, panting.
Wilma's heart dropped. A dog? She knew how people got attached to their dogs, and it seemed Obadiah was that way with his. She could see it in his eyes the way he was looking at the dog. As much as she didn't like pets, dogs included, she wanted Obadiah to like her. "He's a lovely-looking dog."
"Thank you. He's a good boy. Do you like dogs, Wilma?"
"Of course. Who doesn't? I love them." The words had spilled out of her mouth before she could stop them. She'd just lied without hesitation.
"Do you have a dog?" Obadiah asked.
"Cherish had one. She took him with her when she left. We all miss Caramel, and Cherish also had two birds she took with her.”
As always, Eli's mind was stuck on Frannie. "It's peculiar how we get accustomed to bereavement at this age." Eli took a sandwich from the plate and bit into it.
"I'll never really get used to it, but who are we to question the Lord's plans?" Wilma took a sip of coffee.
Obadiah smiled at Wilma, and she had to stifle a cough as her coffee went down the wrong way.
Wilma wanted to know so much about Obadiah and his life, but she didn't want to sound like she was interrogating him. "How long are you here for? Oh, sorry, I think I already asked you."
Obadiah smiled. "For as long as I want. I closed up my house, and a neighbor is looking after things until I return."
Wilma sipped her coffee some more, thinking about the relationship Obadiah was trying to recover from. The woman must've lived close to him, and that's why he left. That was well and good, but what would happen when he returned? So often people broke up and got back together. The woman would realize how much she missed him, and they would reunite. No woman would let a man like Obadiah get away from her.
Wilma warned herself not to get too close. The last thing she wanted was another heartbreak due to loss.
As Obadiah talked, Wilma found herself captivated by his voice. It was deep and soothing; she could listen to him for hours. She wondered what it would be like to have him whisper sweet nothings into her ear.
But she quickly shook the thought away. She couldn't afford to indulge in such imaginings. She was a widow, and she had children and grandchildren to think about. She couldn't let herself be distracted by a man who could be in love with someone else.
As they chatted, Wilma's mind kept reverting to the idea of love and companionship. Debbie was marrying Fritz at the end of the year, and Krystal was in love with Jed. It was only a matter of time before those two married and then she’d be alone by herself in her large house.
Maybe she could take a chance on Obadiah if he was truly finished in the relationship with the other woman.
Her thoughts were jolted by Tiger barking loudly from the buggy.
Obadiah apologized and excused himself to tend to his dog. Wilma couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment as she watched him leave, even if he was coming back in a moment.
It was then she realized she was in trouble.
She felt something for this man.
