Chapter Fourteen

A fter the final hymn resonated through the quaint chapel, Erna folded her hands demurely as she and Joel stepped out into the bright light of the afternoon.

“Shall we get home then?” Joel’s voice cut through the lingering church bells, his tone practical yet tinged with an underlying warmth.

“Absolutely,” Erna replied, dusting off her skirt gently. They made their way back to the modest homestead they had been nurturing together.

Seated at the sturdy kitchen table, papers and figures spread before them like a map of their journey, Erna pulled out the worn ledger while Joel leaned in, a pencil poised between his fingers.

“Let’s see here,” Erna murmured, her eyes scanning the columns of numbers. “With the market takings and what we’ve saved, I think...”

Joel nodded along, calculating silently. His brow furrowed not from worry but concentration.

“Looks like we can cover the bank payment next month,” he said finally, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

Erna’s face brightened, a flush of relief and joy coloring her cheeks. She reached across the table, placing her hand atop Joel’s calloused one.

“And if the bakery keeps doing well at the market...” Her words trailed off, but the hope in her eyes completed the sentence.

“Then we’ll be more than all right,” Joel finished for her, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “We’re a good team, Erna.”

“Joel,” she began, her voice tinged with a mix of amazement and tenderness, “I just knew we could make it work.”

He looked up from the papers, his sharp eyes meeting hers. A small, proud smile tugged at the corner of his lips, a rare sight that never failed to quicken Erna’s heartbeat.

“Is that so?” Joel asked.

“Sure is,” Erna affirmed, her hands folding over her apron. “That day at the dance, when I first saw you... I had no idea then.” A blush crept up her cheeks as she spoke, “But I’m so happy it’s you I walked up to. Never in my life did I think I could love someone the way I love you.”

Joel pushed his chair back and stood, crossing the distance between them in two long strides. His hands found her shoulders, strong and reassuring. “Erna,” he said, his voice low and full of emotion, “I love you too.”

In that simple confession, a weight lifted off both their hearts. They embraced, holding each other close, the world outside their little haven momentarily forgotten.

“Everything’s gonna be all right,” Erna whispered against his chest.

“Everything’s already perfect,” Joel whispered back, sealing their moment with a kiss atop her head.

And just like that, as they stood wrapped in each other’s arms, they knew. All was indeed well with the world.