As Cherish cooked eggs and toast, she hummed a melody. The tune was vaguely familiar, yet she couldn't recall where she'd heard it. All she knew was that it was a love song. Most likely, she had picked it up from her days working in the cafe. It brought back memories of the day when Malachi had kissed her for the first time.
She had gotten used to making Malachi breakfast while he attended to the chores outside. Despite their plans to work together, Cherish was content to stay inside on these cold mornings.
Everything was perfect between them now that all their secrets had been shared. He had opened up about his family and his parents’ issues. His parents had left the Amish community and got up to some strange antics, only to come back again, which would have made him insecure. Cherish didn't want to pressure her husband, but she hoped that in time, the wounds with his family would heal.
Cherish sensed the forgiving atmosphere between Malachi and his brother Jed; the two had been getting along much better lately.
She heard Malachi's boots on the floor as he entered the kitchen, followed by Wally, the goose, and Caramel, Cherish's dog. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled when she saw him.
Cherish took two glasses from the cabinet, set a gallon jar of orange juice in the middle of the table, and noticed his eyes twinkling. “What are you smiling about?” she asked.
“I’m just happy. Are you joining me for breakfast?” He put his hat on the table and sat down.
“Of course,” Cherish replied as she served up the eggs and toast on two plates and put them on the table. They shared a silent prayer of gratitude before they started their meal.
“I thought we’d drive over to Uncle Zachariah’s today and see when Favor’s house will be arriving,” Malachi said.
“Oh yes. I can’t wait. It’s funny that I haven’t heard from Favor lately. I thought she would’ve been nagging at me about something.”
Malachi placed some egg onto his toast and then cut a bite-sized piece. “I thought she would’ve moved here already.” He popped the morsel into his mouth.
“Me too. I’m not sure what the delay is. I’ll call her soon and see how they’re doing. I just hope they haven’t changed their minds.”
“Too late for that. They’ve already purchased the land and made their down payment.”
Cherish hoped Favor’s controlling parents-in-law hadn’t meddled again. Simon had already had such a hard time with them. Both Simon and Favor needed to be away from them.
* * *
Malachi ate quickly, and he was back outside in no time. After Cherish finished her breakfast, she walked outside and was hit by a wave of crisp air. She looked up and couldn’t help but notice the sun filtering through the trees, creating pockets of light.
The whole farm was beautiful, the old dairy barn and the woodshed, the silhouettes of the cows in the pasture, and the small grove of white pines off to one side of the partially snowy yard.
Cherish flung wide the hefty barn door and stepped inside. She left the door open to allow light to enter the barn's gloomy interior, and then she moved to the back wall where the phone was connected.
Cherish dialed the digits on the rotary phone, holding it to her ear as she waited for Favor to answer. It only took a moment before she heard the familiar voice.
"Hello."
"Hi. It's me," Cherish said.
"It’s about time you called. Am I your last priority, hmm?" Favor replied.
"Don't start with me," Cherish warned her.
"I've missed you," Favor said, and the sound of her laugh caused a warmth to spread through Cherish's chest.
"So, when are you coming? You are still coming, right?" Cherish asked.
"Yes. We're still in talks with Simon's parents.”
“In talks?”
“Put it this way… we’re negotiating.”
Cherish didn’t like the sound of that. "Negotiating what exactly?"
"Oh, just this and that. Nothing for you to worry about."
"The only thing I worry about is that you're still moving here. You are, aren't you?"
"Yes, we are. We’ll have such fun. We’ll be there in about two weeks. I wish I was already there.”
“Me too, but at least you’re coming.” Cherish let out a deep breath.
“I know. We’ll be there in no time, don’t worry.”
“Has it been hard for Simon to think about leaving his parents?”
“No, not when we told them they could move there too.”
Cherish gasped. She didn’t mean to have such a reaction, but she couldn’t help it. “They’re coming here too?”
“Eventually.”
“I thought the whole point of moving away was to get some distance from them.”
“I know, but I felt sorry for them. You should’ve seen their faces when Simon told them we were definitely going. It was heart breaking.”
Cherish didn’t want to say anything rude. All she did was shake her head. “So, they’ll be moving here too?”
“Eventually, when they find somewhere. I told them they couldn’t live too close, and they had to give Simon and me some space. They agreed to do that.”
“Okay. It sounds like you have everything under control.”
Favor laughed. “I hope so. I just want us to be alone like a normal married couple. I don’t know if it’s possible, but we’re going to try. At least we’ll be near you if things don’t turn out as we planned. That will make things bearable.”
“I know. I’ll see you in two weeks. Malachi said we’d go to the bishop’s house to see when your house is arriving.”
“Oh goodie. I can’t wait.”
“We might not get there today, though. Malachi often gets caught up with things, and before we know it, it’s dark. We will go soon. I’ll let you know as soon as we find out anything.”
“Thanks, Cherish. I appreciate everything you’ve done. And Malachi as well.”
Cherish chuckled. “We’re happy to help. I should get some work done.”
“Me too. Bye.”
“Bye.” Cherish hung up the phone’s receiver. Cherish didn’t mind Harriet and Melvin, Simon’s parents, but everyone knew how meddling they were in their son’s marriage. The whole point of moving was to get away from them. It was obvious that they’d worn Favor down.
Poor Simon was stuck in the middle of the two women in his life—his mother and Favor.
When Cherish found Malachi to tell him she’d spoken to Favor, she saw him admiring their soon-to-be mother cow, Sunshine. Wally and Caramel were also nearby, as usual.
Malachi rose and brushed off his hands. “This will be Sunshine’s first calf.”
“I know. Look at her udder. It’s practically bursting!”
He glanced downwards and smiled. “Any day now, we'll have a baby in our midst.”
Cherish laughed in anticipation. “That will certainly be an experience!”
Wally pecked at the ground, looking for bugs, while Caramel rolled in a patch of dead grass.
“Did you speak with Favor?” Malachi asked.
“Yes, and you’ll never believe what she said.”
“Let me guess. They’re not moving here now?”
“They’re still coming, but so are Simon’s parents.”
“What? Here with us?”
Cherish’s fingertips went to her mouth. “Oh no. I don’t think so. I’m sure that only Favor and Simon are staying with us while they work on the house. Favor said Simon’s parents are going to move here eventually. I’m not sure what that means. It sounds like Favor and Simon had to make some kind of compromise.”
“I thought Favor was going to put her foot down.”
“She felt sorry for them.”
Malachi looked down.
“It’s a lot to take in,” Cherish said. “I never counted on Favor’s in-laws moving here too.”
“Are you sure you can handle it? They’ll probably be here a lot of the time.”
Cherish smiled. “It’ll be fine. They don’t worry me. I can’t let my dream of living close to my family fall apart because of Simon’s parents.”
“I know. It’s just going to be strange. We’re enjoying our privacy and alone time, and now we won’t have it anymore.”
“We’ll be fine. It’s Favor I’m worried about. I don’t like to see her stressed.”
“Everything will work out just fine.” Malachi took his wife's hand in his. His hands were a little dirty, but she didn't complain.
Instead, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I’ll get back to the house and find something to do.”
“Okay. I’ll see you at lunchtime.”
Cherish headed back to the house just as the wind picked up.
