LITMIR.BIZ

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must have noticed that Rosie wasn’t comfortable because she urged her to go sit on the front porch while she helped in the kitchen. Rosie gratefully took her up on that, not even minding that the sunlight made her headache a little worse.

      The front door opened and Jacob walked out, saw her, and

       came over to sit in a chair beside her. “Guder mariye.”

      “Guder mariye.” She smiled shyly at him. “Did you enjoy the service? This was your second time, right?” She winced inwardly. Should she have said that she noticed how many times he’d attended since he moved here?

      He nodded. “Very much. I liked what Abe Miller had to say about Matthew. How are you feeling?”

      “Wonderful. Fully recovered. Thank you again for the daisies.”

      “Glad you liked them.”

      Small talk, thought Rosie. But it was comfortable, pleasant, talking to him. She didn’t feel the overwhelming anxiety she’d thought she would

      A couple of people walked out of the house, descended the stairs and headed for where they’d parked their buggy. More people would be leaving. It was now or never. Taking a deep breath, Rosie turned to Jacob.

      “Would you—”

      “Rosie—”

      They stopped.

      “Ladies first,” he said with a smile.

      “Would you like to go for a drive?”

      “I was about to ask you that.”

      “You were?”

      “Ya. And lunch?”

      “Lunch would be wonderful. I’ll just go tell Katie.”

      “I’ll get my buggy. And Rosie?”

      She stopped, turned. “Ya?”

      “Do you have sunglasses? You look like the light’s bothering your eyes.”

      He’d noticed.

      “I do. They’re in my purse. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

      Rosie smiled as she went inside and found Katie walking toward the kitchen. She grabbed her hands and pulled her over into a corner of the hallway where they wouldn’t be overheard. “I asked him. I asked Jacob out.”

      “You did?” Katie grinned. “Gut for you! It wasn’t so hard,

       was it?”

      She shook her head. “I think he was going to ask me. Anyway, we’re going for a ride and lunch. I’ll see you later.”

      “I’m going to lunch with Daniel. Imagine, both of us have dates on the same afternoon.”

      “You always have a date. It’s me who never has a date.” Rosie retrieved her purse from the kitchen where she’d stashed her purse when she came in that morning and walked outside to meet Jacob. She felt little flutters of excitement like butterflies in her tummy.

      Unknown territory. That’s what she felt she was venturing into

       . . . unknown territory. It was a little bit scary and a little bit exciting.

      She tried to hide her surprise when Jacob pulled up then got out to open the door for her. She’d gone out with some other men and they hadn’t been as polite. Did that come from knowing each other since they were kinner?

      Maybe it would be good for her to go out with Jacob—he didn’t know how sometimes she’d been teased for being almost painfully shy at schul by boys and girls alike. She wanted to be more outgoing . . . not necessarily as much as Katie. But she just felt she missed out sometimes by being introverted and shy.

      She dug in her purse for her sunglasses, pausing to smile at him before she slipped them on.

      “I’ll let you choose the restaurant,” he told her as he guided the buggy down the driveway.

      She had no idea what kind of food he’d like. She knew that kind of thing about boys she’d grown up with but knew so little about Jacob. So she asked him and found out that when he ate out he loved Italian.

      “I know just the restaurant,” she said. “Turn left at the next road.”

      Chapter 6

      6

      It was gut to see Rosie looking well today.”

      Katie nodded. “She looked a lot better than she did last time you saw her, huh?” She shivered, remembering how scared she’d been the night they’d walked into the house and found Rosie unconscious.

      “Ya.” He glanced at her, then the road ahead. “’Bout time I got to see you.”

      She frowned. “You could have stopped by. I didn’t want to leave Rosie any more than I had to.”

      Daniel turned to look at her. “I know. I just missed you. That’s all.”

      Silence stretched between them. “Guess I’ll believe you next time you say you feel something is wrong with Rosie,” he said finally, reminding her of how she’d experienced that terrible headache the night Rosie had fallen down the steps.

      It was a sort of apology for his doubt that night. Katie studied him. Like many Amish men she knew, he didn’t say much, so this was really a surprise.

      “This thing you have with Rosie. Do you know every time something happens?”

      “Not every time. But if it’s something important we usually get a feeling.”

      “It’s not like you know if something really . . . personal happens.”

      “Like what?” When she saw him flush, she couldn’t help chuckling. “You mean, will she know when we kiss? I don’t know. Shall we find out?” She leaned over and smiled flirtatiously.

      Daniel backed away. “Katie, it’s not funny.”

      She reached over and patted his hand. “Nee, I’m sorry for teasing you.”

      They rode in silence for a time. She found herself wondering if Rosie was enjoying being out with Jacob. The two of them shared so much, but Rosie had such trouble feeling comfortable around men. Things seemed different between her and Jacob. And Rosie had taken her advice and asked him out.

      Surely this was a good sign. She loved her sister. She wanted both of them to marry and have kinner one day. That was part of God’s ultimate plan for His children, wasn’t it? To be married to someone who loved them and raise kinner together, to be part of a loving family here on earth? That’s why God set aside a mate for His kinner.

      “Katie?”

      “Hmm?” She dragged her attention away from her thoughts and realized he was pulling the buggy over to the side of the road.

      “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something for some time now. That night that we had to leave Rachel Ann and Abram’s home—well, I thought of talking to you about it then.”

      She turned and stared at him. “What is it?” she asked when he seemed to be searching for words.

      “Rachel Ann and Abram make a nice couple.”

      “They do.”

      “They seem very happy together.”

      “Ya.” Katie wondered where he was going with this.

      “They’ve known each other a long time.” He hesitated, then plunged ahead. “We’ve known each other for a long time.”

      “What are you trying to say?”

      “Katie, I have feelings for you,” he said at last. Turning to her, he looked into her eyes with an earnest expression. “I love you, Katie. It feels like I’ve always loved you.” He took a deep breath. “I think it’s time we

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