Redeeming Grace by Emma Miller

Author:Emma Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2012-08-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“There will be no more kissing between you and David,” Hannah admonished, waggling her finger. “David is a friend, not family. We don’t kiss friends or strangers who are boys. And you aren’t old enough to get married.”

“Am, too! Ada-Ann said so,” Susanna flung back. She threw up all ten fingers. “I had my birthday. I’m nineteen. And...and King David is...is...” She seemed to struggle with her thoughts for a moment. “He’s old!”

“He’s twenty-three,” Johanna mouthed to Grace.

“I know Ada-Ann is your friend,” Rebecca calmly told Susanna. “But she isn’t your mother. She doesn’t know everything. And Mam says you’re too young.”

“But...I love King David.” Susanna giggled. “He kisses good.”

“You were kissing David, Susanna?” Grace asked, more to calm the situation than to clarify. “On the cheek or on the lips?”

Susanna patted her mouth with two fingers and giggled again.

“You see,” Aunt Jezzy declared, throwing up her skinny arms. “She’s an innocent. Susanna isn’t even ashamed of it.”

“She doesn’t understand,” Rebecca told Aunt Jezzy, “but she will if you explain it carefully.” She smiled at her younger sister. “Plain girls only kiss boys after they are married, Susanna.”

“Irwin kissed a girl at Spence’s. Sunday.” Susanna bounced in her seat. “An Englisher girl. I saw him.”

Grace tried not to laugh. If that were true, Irwin was in trouble. But it couldn’t have happened on Sunday because the auction was closed on Sundays. Susanna didn’t have a strong grasp of the order of the days of the week. When she related any incident, she always said it happened on Sunday.

Hannah rolled her eyes. “If Irwin did kiss a girl, that was wrong. I’ll have a talk with him, but we’re not talking about Irwin right now, we’re talking about you, Susanna. You are not allowed to kiss David anymore.”

“But...but we’re getting married,” Susanna insisted. “Sunday.”

“Not this Sunday,” Grace soothed, rising from her chair to stroke her sister’s arm. She glanced at Hannah, who nodded approval, and then back to Susanna. “It takes a long time. First Bishop Atlee has to give his permission, then Mam and David’s parents.”

“And bans have to be read for weeks at worship service,” Rebecca put in.

Hannah looked up at the clock and clapped her hands together. “Goodness, look at the time.” She rose. “Girls, set the table. The children must be starving.”

“But Mam...” Susanna whined. “I want—”

“You heard Grace. It takes a long time to get married. Now be a good girl and get the knives and forks.” Hannah headed for the stove. “Johanna made ob’l dunkes kucka and that’s your favorite.”

“Molasses shoo-fly cake!” Susanna clapped her hands. “King David likes cake!”

* * *

The Saturday morning after Thanksgiving, Johanna and Grace sat at a table in the crowded dining area of Spence’s Bazaar, a bargain-sale, auction and Amish market, and watched as Rebecca bought Jonah and Dakota ice-cream cones. Katie had remained home with Ruth and Susanna, while the two little boys enjoyed an outing with their mothers and Aunt Rebecca.

The boys loved going to Spence’s, and so did Grace.

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