An Amish Kitchen, page 24
Her mother pulled her hand away, then buried her face in her trembling hands and sobbed. “I’m afraid, Eve.”
Eve wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close, until her mother finally relaxed in her arms and cried. “I know you are.”
Elias climbed into bed following another day of not speaking to Amos. Daed had told Amos that he couldn’t sleep on the couch downstairs anymore, so Elias waited for Amos to come in from the bathroom down the hall. His brother hadn’t said a word about his conversation with Elizabeth, and prior to tonight Elias hadn’t cared to hear about it. He had gotten his answer the night she’d come over. When Elias walked outside and saw her talking to Amos, Elizabeth had run to her buggy. She’d clearly made her choice.
The betrayal by both his brother and his former girlfriend was gnawing away at him, despite the prayers he’d been saying daily for strength to forgive them both.
“You and Elizabeth planning your wedding?” Elias crossed his ankles and put his hands behind his head when Amos entered the room.
“Nee.” Amos pushed back his covers and got into bed. He snuffed out his lantern and fluffed his pillow.
Elias reached for his lantern on the nightstand and turned it up. “You ain’t going to sleep, Amos. We’re going to talk about this.” He swung his feet over the side of the bed and held the lantern high.
Amos sighed, but he sat up on his bed and faced Elias. “Fine.”
“How could you do this to me, Amos? I’m your bruder.” Elias dabbed at his swollen lip, not that his physical injuries were as important as the hurt in his heart.
“I-I’m sorry. I . . . really am.” Amos hung his head, sighing again.
“Ya, well, that’s all gut and fine, but I love Elizabeth. And you stole her from me.” Elias put the lantern on the nightstand, struggling with the feelings of rage and love comingling in his heart.
“If she was really yours, then I reckon I couldn’t have stolen her from you.”
Elias grunted, locking his one good eye with his brother’s. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Amos shrugged. “I-I’m just saying that if sh-she was so in love with you, she wouldn’t have had anything to do with me.”
“She thought you were me!” Elias spoke in an angry whisper.
“Nee. She d-didn’t. Fern’s herbs helped a l-little, but I still stuttered. She knew the first time that I saw her for lunch that I wasn’t you.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It’s true. And—and I know I hurt you real bad, Elias, and I’m sorry f-for that. But I love her too.”
Elias let out an exasperated huff. “She wasn’t yours to love.”
“She flirted with me. A-All the time. I think she liked some things ’bout me, and she liked other things about you. But she couldn’t have us b-both.”
“When? When did she flirt with you?” Elias swallowed hard as he tried to keep his emotions under control.
“Anytime she could. A-After church sometimes when you—you weren’t around. Other times too.”
“Well, now you’ve got her, bruder. Congratulations.”
Amos lowered his gaze. “She’s not the right girl for me.” He paused. “I—I figure she’d probably flirt w-with you behind my back.” He looked up. “I ain’t proud of the way I acted, but I’ve never had a girl really like me. I’m a-ashamed.” He sat taller, chin lifted. “But no maedel should come between us.”
Elias grunted. “She already did.”
Amos shook his head. “Nee. I told her I ain’t gonna date her, much less marry her.”
Elias rubbed his chin, cocking his head to one side. “Are you saying you could have had Elizabeth, and you turned her down?”
As Amos nodded, Elias wondered if he would have done the same thing if the situation were reversed. If Amos was right, and Elizabeth did like some things about each of them, then things were as they should be. He extended his hand to Amos. “I’m sorry I threw the first punch.”
“I’m s-sorry too.”
For the first time in days, Elias felt like he might get a decent night’s sleep. He snuffed out his lantern and crawled underneath the covers. His heart still hurt over Elizabeth, but Amos’s heart was hurting too. A huge knot formed in his throat, knowing what his brother had so unselfishly given up.
“Amos?”
“Ya?”
Elias dabbed at his eyes in the darkness. “Bruders forever.”
“Ya. Bruders forever.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“TWO WEEKS HAVE PASSED, AND IT STILL FEELS GUT TO wake up in mei own bed.” Eve rolled over and gently touched Benny on the cheek.
“It feels gut to sleep in on a Saturday morning too.”
Eve snuggled closer to her husband. “Ya, it does. We don’t do it often, but when we do, it’s nice.”
“Are you going to Our Daily Bread today?”
“Ya.” She poked Benny playfully on the arm. “And guess what? Mei mamm is going with me.”
She was looking forward to going to the prayer gathering. She hadn’t been in weeks. Today would be extra special since her mother had agreed to go, and Eve and her mother had something to share with the group.
“I’m glad Dr. Knepp’s medications are helping her,” Benny said. “You were right to keep pushing her to go to the Englisch doctor.”
It had been two weeks since Eve had hired a driver and they’d gone to see Dr. Knepp. There’d been good news and bad news. Mamm’s Parkinson’s disease was progressing, but the doctor had said that with medication she could better control her shaking, and he’d also prescribed something to help with her mind. Eve’s father had said just yesterday that Mamm was still putting her glasses in odd places, and sometimes she forgot things, but overall he could see an improvement.
Mamm had purchased a floor sweeper too, and Eve knew that was a big step—a statement, really, of not wanting to be so judgmental. It had taken a lifetime for them to see inside each other’s heart, but Eve was hopeful that she and her mother had begun a journey toward a better relationship.
Eve glanced at the clock by the bed. “I bet the boys are starving. You know they won’t get started on chores until they have some breakfast. It’s almost six thirty.”
Rosemary put on a freshly ironed kapp and one of her best Sunday dresses. For months she’d avoided going to the prayer gatherings at Our Daily Bread because she was self-conscious about all her shaking and twitching. Many times she would have stayed home from worship service for the same reason, but every time she was tempted, she reminded herself how much Jesus had suffered. Her aches and pains were of no comparison.
Today, however, was a good day. Very little trembling.
“You look pretty,” Joseph said when Rosemary walked into the living room.
“Danki.” She smoothed the wrinkles from her black apron as she looked around the room. “It still seems so quiet in here with all the kinner back in their own haus.”
Joseph pushed his glasses up on his nose and closed the book he was reading. “Been real nice having Eve over here so much, even after they moved back home. Good to see the two of you cooking together.”
Rosemary smiled. “That’s when Eve and I were always at our best. I guess it still is.” She walked to the door and put on her black sweater and bonnet, glad the pre-spring temperatures had arrived. Peeking out the window, she saw Eve’s buggy coming up the driveway. “See you soon.” She kissed Joseph on the cheek.
Eve followed her mother into the white cinder-block building where the local women had been gathering since well before Eve was born. As they walked down the aisle with the fabrics, Eve was reminded that she needed material for some new shirts for Benny and the boys.
She followed her mother up the stairs to the upper room of the store. Familiar faces lit up when they entered. Eve swallowed back a lump in her throat as she watched her mother hugging some of the women. What a blessing today is. She silently thanked God for her mother’s improved symptoms and that she and her mother were finally able to work on being closer.
After chatting in small groups for about fifteen minutes, the women settled into chairs and prayed for each other and their families. Then Ann Lapp offered prayers for all those who couldn’t be with them today. Eve knew that she had been on that list the past few weeks, and her mother even longer. Eve was thankful for so many things today. A restored home, her family, and a newfound relationship with her mother. When Ann was done, Eve bowed her head and spoke aloud. “I would like to thank the Lord for our newly repaired home.” She glanced around the room at the women.
“And please thank your husbands and sohns who took time when they could to help Benny, my boys, and mei daed work on the haus.”
Ann clapped her hands together. “I think it would be nice if we all said what we’re thankful for today.” She waved her hand toward the window, bright sunshine streaming into the room and onto the wooden floors. “It’s such a beautiful day in so many ways.” She paused. “I’m thankful that Hiram is almost completely recovered from the flu he’s been suffering from this winter.”
All of the women nodded, and then each one thanked God for something they were thankful for on this glorious day. Eve was relieved that Elizabeth wasn’t in attendance today. She would always wish Elizabeth well, but after what happened with the twins, she wasn’t ready to face the girl yet. The feeling was probably mutual.
“I’m thankful for my first taste of love,” Fern Zook said, her green eyes glowing. She reminded Eve of herself when she’d first fallen in love with Benny all those years ago.
Hannah King was the next one to speak up. “I’m thankful that God led Stephen to Paradise and our bed-and-breakfast.” Her wide smile was indicative of more new love in the air, and Eve was extra thankful—if that was possible—that she and her mother were here today.
Eve’s mother was the only one in the group who hadn’t spoken up yet, and she raised a trembling hand to her chest, then reached for Eve’s hand with her other one. “I’m thankful that mei dochder convinced me to go see Dr. Knepp for medication that helps with my shaking.” She glanced at Fern. “Not that Fern’s herbs weren’t gut . . .” She smiled. “I just needed something a bit stronger.” She squeezed Eve’s hand. “Most of all, I’m thankful for the time I spent with my family while their house was being rebuilt.”
Eve squeezed her mom’s hand back, blinking her eyes. After a deep breath, she eased her hand away and reached into her apron pocket. She unfolded the piece of paper, recalling fondly the time she and her mother had spent together in preparation for this moment.
“Mamm and I have been cooking a lot,” Eve began, smiling. “And we’ve been writing down all of our recipes so that future generations will always have them. On the back of some of the recipe cards, we wrote down fond memories we have of times we cooked together. And last week we created a recipe together that we would like to share with you.” Eve glanced at her mother, who dabbed at her eyes. “It’s a recipe for hope, and I’d like to read it to you.” She read aloud:
A Recipe for Hope
Ingredients:
A taste of faith
A spoonful of love
3 cups of prayer
1 cup of trust
4 ounces of kindness
2 cups of forgiveness
1 bucketful of laughter
Mix all of the above together—but be careful not to let judgment, bad attitude, pride, or bitterness mingle with ingredients. Adjust measurements as needed to fit your daily needs, and always have ingredients on hand.
Serve abundantly every day, sharing with as many people as you can.
Some of the women laughed, others smiled. Eve looked at her mother and felt God’s hand on them, revealing a love that had always been there, just hidden beneath the very human qualities that were a part of them all.
Reading Group Guide
Guide contains spoilers, so don’t read before completing the novellas.
For reading groups with five or more members, the authors will participate in the discussion of this collection. If you’re interested, go to www.Amishhearts.com.
A Taste of Faith
1. The earth and all of nature matter a great deal to the Amish culture. How could Abram’s initial thoughts of “the land as his wife” really be true for a single Amish man?
2. Grandmother Zook seems to know for several days in advance that her life is ending. Have you ever known such a premonition to be true in real life?
3. How does Fern’s self-image hinder her belief that she can be loved for who and what she is?
4. How does Joe’s discovery that he needs time alone with Emma parallel a need you may have in your own life?
5. Emma experiences a rather traumatic delivery, yet she remains relatively calm and at peace. How does faith help you face difficult circumstances in a similar manner?
6. How do Abram and Fern suit each other in both temperament and desires?
A Spoonful of Love
1. Throughout the story, Hannah struggles with admitting that she can’t control everything because God is always the one in control. She finally accepts this when her father has another stroke. Have you ever struggled to give control over to God? Share this with the group.
2. Rachel recites Psalm 130, verse 5: “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.” What does this verse mean to you?
3. Stephen moves to Paradise for a new start after losing his fiancée. He blames himself for her death and carries that burden in his heart. Have you ever blamed yourself for a tragedy? How did you come to grips with that guilt? Were you able to forgive yourself and move on? If so, then where did you find the strength to forgive? What Bible verses helped you through this difficult time? Share your experience with the group.
4. With which character do you identify the most— Hannah, Rachel, Stephen, or Saul? Which character seemed to carry the most emotional stake in the story?
A Recipe for Hope
1. Eve and Rosemary have spent much of their lives judging each other even though their actions adversely affected their relationship over the years. What are some examples of each woman judging the other?
2. Elias and Amos both fall for the same girl. Elizabeth believes that she can have her choice of either twin. Do you agree with Amos’s decision not to court Elizabeth in favor of brotherly love? Was Elizabeth really “right” for either of the boys?
3. Rosemary was so afraid of becoming like her own mother that she denied Eve both discipline and affection when Eve was growing up—which left Eve feeling unloved much of the time. But both women feel closest to each other when they are cooking together. Why do you think that is?
4. This story is largely about the mother-daughter relationship. What is your relationship like with your mother or daughter? Do you see areas that need work? Have you ever been guilty of judgment, either as a mother or daughter? What do you hold most dear about your relationship with your mother?
5. In many Amish settlements, folks are embracing more and more of our Englisch ways. Cell phones are widely accepted, propane lighting is found in most homes, and many of the homes are decorated much like our own. Do you agree with the changes taking place, like Eve does? Or do you think things should remain simplistic, like Rosemary prefers? Can the Amish have it both ways?
Amish Recipes
Recipes for Herbal Medicinal Treatments from A Taste of Faith
* * *
PROVIDED AND TESTED BY KELLY LONG
* * *
PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME OF THESE RECIPES ARE HOMEO-pathic in nature and should be used with caution or with the permission of your physician.
GROSSMUDER ZOOK’S ROSE PETAL TEA
2 cups fresh fragrant rose petals
(about 15 large roses)*
3 cups distilled water
Honey or granulated sugar to taste
Clip and discard bitter white bases from the rose petals; rinse petals thoroughly and pat dry. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, place the prepared rose petals. Cover with water and bring just to a simmer; let simmer for approximately 5 minutes or until the petals become discolored (darkened). Remove from heat and strain the hot rose-petal liquid into teacups. Add honey or sugar to taste. Makes 4 servings.
* All roses that you intend to consume must be free of pesticides. Do not eat flowers from florists, nurseries, or garden centers. In many cases these flowers have been treated with pesticides not labeled for food crops. The tastiest roses are usually the most fragrant.
ATHLETE’S FOOT REMEDY
Ah, an oldie but a goody . . . Pour equal amounts of bleach and cold water and 1 cup of powdered laundry soap into a basin deep enough for feet to fit into up to the ankles. Soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat as needed when itching occurs. Problem should resolve within 24 hours.
TREATMENT FOR AN ABRASION
Honey has many healing benefits. It works as a natural disinfectant, can help to clean out debris in the wound, and keeps the skin soft and moist to encourage healing. Simply apply enough honey to cover the abrasion and cover with gauze or an adhesive bandage.
NASAL CONGESTION REMEDY
Place 8 ounces of warm distilled water into a glass bowl or container, add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and then ¼ teaspoon of noniodized salt. Mix the solution together until the salt has dissolved. Gently tilt your head back and use an eyedropper or nasal bulb to put the solution into your nasal cavity. Breathe deeply with your head tilted backward, ensuring the solution is able to work to clear the congestion. Then blow your nose; this will help clear your nose of mucus and congestion.
WART REMEDY
(This truly works well . . . ask my son!)
Placing a small square of duct tape on a wart has been shown to significantly reduce the appearance of warts. This remedy is most effective on the hands and fingers. Simply place a small piece of duct tape over the wart and leave for at least 6 days. It may take longer to rid the body of larger warts. After 6 days, if the wart is not gone, soak the wart in warm water, dry it, and place another piece of duct tape over it for an additional 6 days. Repeat this process until the wart is gone.
