Plain and Fancy by Wanda E. Brunstetter Page A

porch, she had second thoughts about her decision to see Eli. What if he became irritated with her for coming over? Would he still be angry because she’d interrupted his picnic at the lake last Saturday? She had to know. She had to work things out with Eli. She needed to make him realize that she was right for him, not some Englisher who probably wanted to try and change him.
    Drawing in a deep breath, Pauline opened the door and stuck her head inside. “Anyone to home?”
    “I’m in the kitchen,” Eli’s mother called in return.
    Pauline stepped into the kitchen and spotted Mary Ellen sitting at the table with a newspaper spread out before her and a cup in her hand. “Are you busy?”
    “Just reading The Budget and having a cup of coffee. Come join me.” Mary Ellen smiled and motioned Pauline to take a seat.
    Pauline pulled out a chair across from Eli’s mother and sat down.
    “It’s good to see you. Did you come to visit with Eli or me?”
    Pauline’s cheeks warmed. Apparently Mary Ellen knew she had an interest in her son. “I came to see Eli. Is he here?”
    Mary Ellen shook her head. “Left a few minutes ago for the farmers’ market.”
    “Does he have a table again today?”
    “Not this time. Said he just wanted to browse around.” “I see. Did he go there alone?”
    “He left here by himself, but I’m not sure what happened after that.” Mary Ellen’s eyebrows drew together. “I may be speaking out of turn, but I’m a bit bekimmere about my son, and I’m thinking maybe you can help.”
    Pauline leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table. “How come you’re concerned, and how can I be of help?”
    Mary Ellen’s voice lowered to a whisper, although Pauline didn’t know why, since they were alone in the kitchen. “Eli has an English friend. He brought her here last Saturday.”
    “Does she have long reddish brown hair and a pretty face?”
    “Jah.”
    “Her name’s Laura, and Eli met her at the farmers’ market a few weeks ago. She was at his table looking at birdhouses when I went there to see if he was ready to have lunch.” Pauline nibbled on her lower lip as she contemplated whether to tell Eli’s mother about her encounter with Eli and Laura at the lake. As she thought it through, she came to the conclusion that if Mary Ellen had already met Laura and had some concerns, she might already know about the picnic.
    Pauline sat up straight. “I saw Eli with Laura at the lake last Saturday. They were having a picnic.”
    Mary Ellen nodded. “He told us about that, and I wasn’t pleased with the news. When I fixed a picnic lunch for him that morning, I figured he was taking you to the lake.”
    “I had thought Eli and I were drawing close—that we were officially courting.” Pauline swallowed around the lump that had lodged in her throat. “Now I’m afraid I might be losing him to that fancy English woman.”
    Mary Ellen reached across the table and patted Pauline’s outstretched hand. “We can’t let that happen. If we work together on this, I believe we can get my son thinking straight again.” Her lips curved into a smile. “Are you willing to help me?”
    “Jah, sure.” Pauline would walk across the country and back again if it meant getting her and Eli together.
    ***
    Laura stepped out of her car just in time to witness a touching scene. Eli stood in front of the variety store, holding a black umbrella over his head. The minute he spotted Laura, he stepped forward and positioned the umbrella over her.
    She smiled up at him, her heart pounding with expectation. “I’m surprised to see you.”
    “I said I’d meet you here.”
    “I thought the rain might keep you from coming.”
    “We Amish don’t stay home because of a little rain.” Eli steered her across the parking lot. “I brought one of our closed-in buggies today, but if you’d rather we take your car, that’s okay, too.”
    Laura’s heart beat a staccato rhythm, and when she felt the warmth of