Chapter 17

"I want you to accompany Lorne to the singing tonight," Mamm announced as she entered Melonie's room. "Your poor cousin is bored stiff."

Melonie had been lying on her bed with a book in her hands. She'd also been looking out the window while wondering why she was so attracted to Lott when he was the last person in the world she should have feelings for.

Lott ran hot and cold more often than water in the kitchen sink. It was really too bad he was easy to talk to. And so handsome. No man that handsome should be so bad for her state of mind.

That's why she thought she should be forgiven for blinking at her mother's sudden intrusion.

Mamm folded her arms across her chest—a sure sign that she was unhappy. "Melonie, did you hear me?"

"Jah." With reluctance, she set her book down.

Mamm tapped her toe.

Belatedly, her mother's words registered. They didn't make sense, though.

Lorne and his parents had arrived at the haus two hours before supper the day before. By the time their first meal together was over, she and her cousin both knew they had next to nothing in common. Melonie couldn't imagine anything worse than spending an entire evening by his side.

But she couldn't tell her mother that.

After sitting up, she straightened her kapp. "Sorry, Mamm, but I wasn't planning to go to the singing."

"It's a good thing I came in here to fetch you, then. You can change your mind."

"I don't want to change my mind."

"I think you should." Her mother took a step back and closed the bedroom door. "Since you now have a reason to go."

Even a year ago, Melonie would've caved. She was older now. Older and tired of living with the consequences of constantly being agreeable. "I don't want to go."

Her mother's eyes narrowed.

Melonie looked away but held her ground. Not only did she not want to go to yet another singing, she really didn't want to go with Lorne. Her cousin barely spoke, and when he did it was mostly judgments and gossip. She would be bored stiff. "Why are you making a big deal about this? Isn't he leaving tomorrow?"

"Not anymore." Her mother smiled like a cat with a full bowl of cream. "I've convinced Fran and her family to consider staying a few more days. I think they've just about made up their minds to do that."

"Mamm, really?" Lorne's entire family was staying in the dawdi haus, which meant that her grandparents were now sleeping in Seth's old room. They weren't happy about it, and neither was she. Worse, Lorne's family had found fault with everything about the dawdi haus. Actually, they found fault with most everything ... and that wasn't even counting how they felt about Seth.

"You need to have a better attitude about this, Melonie. It will give you and Lorne some precious time to get to know each other."

Precious time? What in the world? Every word her mother was saying felt like the buzzing of an annoying fly. "Why do you think Lorne and me need to know each other better? I barely see him once a year. I can't remember the last time you got together with your cousin Fran."

Her mother wandered to the window and peeked out. "While it's true that our families haven't always been close, that can be changed."

"Why?" As in, why would her mother want to see them more often?

"Well, we were talking. Fran and I, that is. We believe you and Lorne would be a good match."

Match? Melonie climbed off her bed. "What are you talking about?"

"You heard me." Her mother lowered her voice. "Melonie, Lorne is in the middle of a somewhat shy and awkward phase, but he's a good man. He would make you a fair and generous husband."

"I don't want someone fair and generous. I want to fall in love, Mamm."

"Falling in love is overrated. Stability is what counts."

Stability sounded like a poor excuse for unhappiness. "I disagree."

"That's because you don't know any different. When you are in an easy, stable relationship, the value will shine through. You need to give Lorne a chance."

Her mother had lost her mind. "Mother, you canna be serious." When her mamm just stared, Melonie waved a hand. "He's my cousin!" Wasn't that illegal or something?

After glancing at the door to make sure it was closed, her mother inched forward. "Keep your voice down and stop acting so shocked. Lorne is your second cousin."

"Same difference."

"I disagree. There's nothing wrong with second cousins marrying." She propped her hands on her hips. "It happens all the time."

"No, it doesn't. And even if it did, there are a lot of things wrong with this scheme of yours. First of all, he's my cousin, so eww. Second, we don't know each other. We're practically strangers." Before her mother could speak, she added, "Third, what I do know of him isn't good. Lorne and I have nothing in common."

"You two could, if you gave him a chance."

"We won't, because he's boring."

"Melonie, you shouldn't say such things." Mamm sounded so disappointed in her.

She reckoned her mother was right. She should be ashamed for sounding so heartless. But what could she do? Sometimes only plain speaking got one's point across. And she really needed to get her point across. Loud and clear. "Mother, this matchmaking serves no purpose anyway because ... because I have my eye on someone else."

A muscle in her mother's cheek jumped. "If you are referring to Lott Hostetler, we both know that you could do better."

"I'm not sure about that." At least she wasn't related to Lott.

Mamm shook her head. "Your father and I think you need someone older. Studious. More mature."

"I disagree. I ... I think I'm in love with him."

Her mother inhaled sharply, then quickly tried to gather her bearings. "You don't know the first thing about love or relationships."

"I do."

"I don't see how. Of course you have your father and me as role models, but your brother doesn't have anyone."

"There's a whole lot more people in our community besides just our family, Mamm. Besides, Seth does have someone. He's seeing Tabitha Yoder," she blurted.

Then of course wished she could take her words right back.

Mamm looked scandalized. "Surely not."

Shame poured through Melonie like black paint. She felt dirty and stained. What was wrong with her? Why did she need to defend herself so much that she'd willingly share Seth's personal life? "Never mind. Forget I said anything."

"That woman is older than him. Plus, she's divorced." Her mother said divorced like it was a curse word.

"Mother, even I know what happened to poor Tabitha. How can you blame her for not wanting to get beaten?"

"None of us know what really happened." She pursed her lips. "Why do you think Seth is interested in her? Do you think he doesn't feel worthy of another woman's love?"

There were so many things wrong with her mother's questions, starting and ending with how an upstanding woman like Tabitha wasn't good enough for Seth. "Mother, you might not believe in divorce, but you canna say that Tabitha is a bad person."

Mamm stilled. "I didn't say she was. I just think there would be a better match for your brother."

Her brother, the ex-Amish ex-con. Before her mother could start down another conversational path where all things Seth and poor Tabitha were dissected, Melonie decided to end the conversation, fast. Unfortunately, there was only one way to do that. "Mamm, I'll take Lorne to the singing tonight. Tell him we'll go right after supper."

Her mother's eyes lit with pleasure that she'd gotten her way. "Wear one of your new dresses, Daughter."

"Fine, but I'm going to have a cloak on, Mamm. No one will see it."

"Lorne will," she said and opened the door. "That's all that matters, ain't so?"

Melonie got up and closed it again, then threw herself on the bed. Thinking of one of the books she'd recently read, she decided her mother could've been a sought-after interrogator in another life. She was that good at gleaning information ... and getting her way.

Melonie sighed. She couldn't believe she'd said so much instead of keeping her mouth shut. And then she'd even agreed to put on a new dress and accompany her cousin to a singing. What was wrong with her?

Just when she thought her life couldn't get more confusing, it did. "Why, Gott?" she murmured as she hugged her pillow tight. "What do You need me to learn?"

She had an idea His answer would be that she still needed to learn quite a bit.

····

Three hours later, Melonie was walking next to Lorne down one of the winding shortcuts to the Bylers' farm. Overgrown plants and foliage brushed against their clothes, and damp leaves squished under their feet. When a squirrel chattered just to their right, she jumped.

Lorne looked just as appalled as she was about their evening's activities. With a grimace, he smacked his hand against his cheek. "I think something just bit me."

"It could be a mosquito."

"Great."

Sneaking a glance at him, Melonie tried to figure out if he actually was better looking than she'd thought. He was kind of overweight, had pale brown hair and a smattering of spots on his face, and his eyes were set close together. But worse, he always looked like he'd just smelled something bad.

She'd never liked him much, even when they were small. Even Seth, who'd always been a person to go out of his way to befriend someone in need, always ignored him.

Melonie had no idea who she could introduce him to at the singing. Not only would most of the people there be coupled up, most of the girls wouldn't be attracted to Lorne. Worse, she was pretty sure the men she knew would be bored with her cousin in five minutes. Worse yet, she'd probably have to spend most of her time making sure no one teased him too much.

"Where is this haus?" he asked. "We've already been walking fifteen minutes."

"The Bylers' place is another ten or fifteen minutes away."

"You said this was a shortcut."

"It is."

He sighed, like it was her fault they were walking in the middle of Kentucky. "What are the Bylers like? Are they good people?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I was close friends with Hannah Byler when I was in school."

"But not anymore?"

"We're friendly but don't see each other much. Hannah is a nanny for a Mennonite family on the other side of Marion."

"I hope she isn't expected to walk there."

Melonie wasn't sure if Lorne was joking or complaining. Not that it mattered. "I believe they pick her up and take her home whenever she works. She's a nice girl."

"I hope so."

What did that mean? "We can stay as long or as short a time as you'd like."

"I'll let you know what I want to do."

"Sounds good." It was hard not to roll her eyes.

He cast another dark look her way. "You know, doing this together wasn't my idea. It was our mothers'."

"I know. I guess we'll both have to get through the rest of the visit as best we can."

"I didn't mind. At least I got to come here. I'm looking for a spouse, you know."

His phrasing set her off, but she wasn't exactly sure what didn't sit well with her. Was it the term spouse? Or was it that he was looking for a wife instead of hoping to fall in love? She didn't know what to say to that, so she merely stuffed her hands in her cloak and started praying that the Bylers' haus would suddenly appear over the next ridge.

"I have no interest in you. I hope you know that."

She looked up at him. "I do now." She smiled, hoping he understood that this was a good thing. Only proper manners prevented her from telling Lorne exactly what she thought of him.

His lips didn't curve even a millimeter. "My parents are too polite to mention your brother, but he has tainted your reputation."

"Are you serious?" She couldn't believe he had the nerve to talk bad about Seth.

"To be sure. He's a murderer."

"Seth is not. The man he was fighting fell and hit his head on a rock. The death was an accident."

"Obviously the police and the judge thought differently."

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

"I have a better idea than you do." He scoffed. "Do you really imagine that any man of good standing would want anything to do with you now?"

Lott did. She held on to that feeling while cautioning herself to choose her words carefully. "Lorne, I think we should turn around and go home."

"No way. If we return right now, I'm going to be forced to sit in your family's living room and play cards."

At last—or maybe unfortunately—the Bylers' haus was up ahead. In the yard were a bonfire, some tiki torches, and a good-sized gathering. At least thirty people, most everyone holding a can of soda. The Bylers had gone all out. A long table with a tablecloth on it held an array of food.

Lorne straightened up and squared his shoulders—like he was anxious to charge in and meet girls.

"You better not embarrass me," she warned.

"The only thing that will be embarrassing is having to admit to people that we're related. Hopefully no one will hold that against me." Looking her over, he said, "After all, one can't help who one is related to."

"I was just thinking that very same thing," she said, her voice full of sarcasm.

But of course Lorne didn't catch it. He was already scanning the crowd.

Her footsteps slowed as she noticed several people turn her way but not acknowledge her. Had Lorne been right? Were people polite to her face but actually didn't want anything to do with her?

She felt her cheeks heat.

"Mel, what's wrong?"

A warm, tingly feeling swelled in her stomach. She would know that low drawl anywhere. Anticipation made her turn on her heel. "Lott! What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing. I thought you were staying home because you had family in town." His voice matched his eyes, which were gazing at her intently. Looking so soft and caring.

There was no doubt about it. She really was in love.

But when she opened her mouth to reply, she noticed that he was staring at Lorne with a very different expression. Lott wasn't happy. He wasn't happy at all.