Big Decisions by Linda Byler Read Free Book Online Page B

party, or in the Pennsylvania Dutch language, the nava-sitza . It was a very important assignment, and Emma’s cheeks glowed with anticipation as she laid out the table linens, china, silverware, and all the pretty cut-glass dishes they would use. Mandy was not allowed to see what Emma and the cousins were doing, because it was all a surprise for her when she sat at the corner table the day she was married.
    The women cut butter into fancy wedding-bell shapes, covering it carefully with plastic wrap and refrigerating it for the big day. They made special Jell-O dishes, fruit dip, and all kinds of delicious food for the bride and groom.
    “What beautiful china!” Emma gasped.
    Lizzie was hurrying past with a basket of clothes and turned to smile at her.
    “Isn’t it? I was so jealous of Mandy’s china for so long that it actually cured me. Kind of like getting a severe dose of the measles. Once it’s that bad, you’re immune to it.”
    Emma laughed. “Ach, Lizzie, you couldn’t be too envious of Mandy. She’s too sweet. Your turn will come.”
    Lizzie smiled as she hurried up the stairs with her basket of clothes. Dear, dear Emma. She had so much plain-down goodness and common sense, such a well-grounded attitude about everything. She never got too much in a tizzy about anything, just took it all in stride matter-of-factly, never questioning God or fretting needlessly.
    She probably didn’t even think there was anything to feel bad about if Mandy was married first. That was how God intended it, and Lizzie would just have to be patient and wait until Stephen decided to ask her. Mandy and Lizzie had laughed plenty, sitting in their rooms, trying to decide what you could say to your boyfriend to get him to ask you to marry him. But still, there was no getting around it, the ultimate timing, the big question was all up to Stephen, no matter how many broad hints Lizzie threw at him.
    She never said too many shameless things, just coyly suggesting the colors she liked for a kitchen or the style of cabinets. Typically, Stephen never answered or mentioned the fact that he liked a certain type of house or anything at all.
    The wedding day dawned bright and clear, a perfect late March day. Buses and passenger vans packed the driveway, mixed with teams of horses and buggies, people hurrying and scurrying everywhere.
    John’s family and friends were all from the Lamton area, so it seemed as if over half of the crowd arrived in vehicles. Lizzie liked John’s parents immediately, a nice-looking, friendly couple who were from an old Lamton family, obviously hard-working and very proper with impeccable manners.
    Lizzie told Mam they reminded her of the old Southern families she had read about in books. Mam said, yes, they were probably much the same. They were all well-to-do Amish farmers, though, and not plantation owners, although their ancestors, like the Southern families, probably came from a certain circle of people in England or Germany.
    Hmm, Lizzie thought. So now Mandy is marrying into the “gentry” from Lamton. Oh, dear. Next thing, I’ll just be her common servant, and she’ll snap her fingers to have my absolute obedience.
    When John and Mandy stood before the minister from Ohio, they looked so sincere and serious, pronouncing their vows with such quiet solemnity, that Lizzie was quite overcome by emotion. Unexpectedly, a huge lump formed in her throat, and quick tears sprang to her eyes at the thought of Mandy’s serious step, this embarking together on life’s river with John by her side.
    John was as handsome as he had been the first day Lizzie saw him. It had taken her a while to accept that John wasn’t interested in her, but instead in skinny, big-eyed Mandy. Lizzie glanced over at Stephen who sat straight and still on his bench. Well, things had worked out for the best, just as Mam had said they would.
    Still, Lizzie didn’t want Mandy to be married. First Emma, now Mandy. The thought of life without