Read An Unforgivable Secret (Amish Secrets - Book 1) Page 6
Chapter 3
Hannah scanned the occupants of the crowded restaurant. Their brightly-colored clothing seemed to mesh with the fifties décor that adorned the otherwise plain walls. Yep, once again, she was the only plainly-dressed person in the dining room. Of course, what respectable Amish person would be out at this hour anyway? Certainly not her, if she didn’t feel it was necessary to tag along with her sister. Why couldn’t Deborah just see her beau at the Amish gatherings and singings they attended?
They seemed to be sufficient for her and Christian. And now she was betrothed to her handsome beau! At first, she’d been a little surprised that Christian had asked. After all, they’d barely been courting for a year now. But she gladly said yes in anticipation of fulfilling all of her childhood dreams. She’d once read a storybook in the waiting room at the dentist’s office. Mamm had been busy with little Deborah at the time so she didn’t realize Hannah had sneaked over to the basket of books in the corner. She read all about a princess that longed to find the man of her dreams, her perfect prince. She just knew that one day a nice Amish boy, who was head-over-heels for her, would one day sweep her off her feet and they’d live happily ever after. And she’d finally found the one.
While she haphazardly perused the menu for the third time, she finally decided on a bowl of fruit and a small salad. She did not need to add on any extra pounds, especially in light of her upcoming wedding. As she studied a poster of a person called Elvis on the wall, pondering why he wore such a funny hair-do, more patrons came pouring in. Although the restaurant seemed to portray a bygone era, customers enjoyed the atmosphere. Hannah’s main gripe was the Englischers’ songs that seemed to get stuck in her head. It wouldn’t be so bad if she didn’t like them, but the love songs seemed to have a lasting effect causing her heart to flip-flop when she heard them. They just made her long for her wedding day even more.
“Deb, I don’t know why you and Peter insist on seeing each other every free moment you get,” Hannah complained when Peter had gotten up to ask for a refill of their ketchup bottle.
“That’s because we’re still in love. The flame hasn’t died out like it has with you and Christian,” Deborah teased.
“Christian and I are getting along just fine and you know it,” Hannah insisted.
Deborah suddenly shielded her face. “Oh my…don’t look now, Hannah,” Deborah warned. “But Christian is here with Englisch friends.”
“What?” Hannah couldn’t help but turn around after hearing that.
Sure enough, there was Christian dressed in Englisch clothes. His hair was combed differently, similar to the Englisch styles of some of the other young men in the restaurant. She had to admit he looked handsome as an Englischer. She quickly turned back around and placed a hand over her rapidly-beating heart.
What is Christian doing here? Discreetly, she turned around to look at the corner booth on the opposite side of the restaurant where he sat with three other Englisch dressed young people – another guy and two girls. Christian sat next to an immodestly dressed girl and…he’s holding her hand? Hannah heard Christian’s hearty laugh carry across the noisy restaurant and he leaned over and kissed the Englisch girl on the lips. Oh no, this cannot be happening!
Tears filled Hannah’s eyes. “Deb, I want to go home now.”
Deborah looked back over to the booth to see what was going on. “Oh Hannah, I’m so sorry. Okay, let’s go. I’ll tell Peter we need to leave. We’ll slip out so Christian doesn’t see,” Deborah said cooperatively. She hurried to the bar stools where Peter stood patiently waiting for the ketchup and quickly whispered something in his ear. He glanced over Deb’s shoulder at Hannah and nodded, then pecked Deborah on the cheek, causing her to blush. Peter had never been so forward in public. Perhaps it was his way of giving Deb his reassurance.
After a hasty exit from the restaurant, Hannah and Deborah set for home at a steady trot. “Ach, Hannah. What are you going to do?” Deb asked.
Hannah brushed away a fresh wave of tears with shaky hands. “I don’t know. I had no idea. Why would he ask me to marry him if he was seeing an Englisch girl?”
“I don’t know.”
“I can’t go to the singing now.”
“Oh yes you can and you will, Hannah Stolzfus! You are not going to let that…that dummkopp ruin your life. You are going to go to the singing and let him have a piece of your mind,” Deborah stated forcefully.
“Nee…I couldn’t do that,” Hannah replied to her strong-willed sister.
“Well, if you won’t then I will!”
“This doesn’t concern you, Deb. Please don’t say anything. I…I will talk to Christian,” she said unsurely as her stomach turned over. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. I don’t feel well.”
Deborah wrung her hands. “All right…ugh, that good-for-nothing, two-timing –”
“Deb, please.”
“Okay, then give me the reins because I need something to take my mind off that…that…man,” she insisted.
Hannah sank into her bed and wept into her pillow, hoping Deborah couldn’t hear her sobs in her bed across the room. Moonlight filtered in through the blinds illuminating their bedroom, but the bright glow couldn’t penetrate the darkness that surrounded her heart. All of Hannah’s expectations and dreams for the future had been crushed this terrible night. So many condescending thoughts had filled her mind and she couldn’t help but second guess herself. What’s wrong with me? Am I too boring for him? Am I so inadequate that Christian has to have an Englisch girl too? I must not be pretty enough. And I know my body could never compete with the Englisch girl’s perfect figure. Why, God? What did I do wrong?
Tomorrow she would find out. She didn’t know what she would say to Christian or how she’d confront him, but it had to be done.