Free Finding Love at Home (The Beiler Sisters) by Jerry S. Eicher

his erratic behavior. He couldn’t explain Crystal’s presence, but Debbie would understand.
    Daett spoke. “Mildred tells me you’re getting along well with her at the barn in the mornings. She likes helping with the chores.”
    Alvin cleared his throat. “You really didn’t have to send Mildred out. I’m fine alone.”
    “A man is never fine alone,” Daett ’s voice rumbled, “You need a frau , Alvin. That house is mighty empty all by itself, especially with no kinner in it. But I suppose your mamm should be telling you this. She would if she could.”
    Alvin stared at the floor. “I took Debbie home last Sunday night.”
    Daett glared at him. “So Mildred told me. I had hoped you’d forgotten that girl after waiting all summer.”
    “Debbie was baptized the other Sunday,” Alvin said. “She’s Amish now.”
    “Water only goes in so deep, Alvin. That girl was Englisha once, and you know how them Englisha live. Will you take a frau who leaves you at the first sign of trouble coming down the road?”
    The words stung. Alvin was like his daett and hated to admit he had the same fears. But he wasn’t about to say so now.
    “You done thought the same thing, didn’t you, Alvin? So why don’t you follow your better sense and take Mildred as your frau instead? She seems like a real decent woman. She’s interested in you, if I don’t miss my guess.”
    “ Daett .” Alvin tried to smile. “ Daett , I love Debbie. And, well, Mildred and I have a bad history, and I’d like to just leave it alone.”
    “History is gut , Alvin.” His daett opened the oven door and touched the food with his finger. “Ouch! Ready to go, I think. Go bring Mamm .”
    Alvin had no plans to renew a romantic relationship with Mildred. That was certain, and his daett knew that. There was no sense in arguing about it.
    Alvin helped Mamm to the table. She had just sat down when headlights came down the driveway of the old farmhouse. Alvin was ready to go outside to see who it was when the car moved right up to the sidewalk of the dawdy haus . That made sense, Alvin thought, sitting down again. Some Englisha neighbor who knew his daett was calling. The person had seen that the farmhouse was dark but there were lights on further back. Daett could meet them and see what they wanted.
    Daett glanced at Alvin. “You can pray with your mamm. I’ll go see who it is.”
    Alvin nodded. He reached over to hold his mamm ’s hand. They bowed their heads and gave silent thanks.
    Mamm reached for her spoon when she was finished praying.
    Alvin was thankful Mamm could still feed herself. He dreaded the day when the indignity of not doing so would be heaped on her. But perhaps Da Hah would have mercy and spare Mamm that humiliation. He sincerely hoped so.
    Daett ’s voice from the front door filled the house. “ Gut evening. May I help you?
    And then the voice that sent shivers up his spine seemed to reverberate throughout the house. “Is this where Alvin Knepp lives?”
    Alvin was already on his feet when his daett asked, “What business do you have with Alvin?”
    “Well… ”
    Alvin rushed to the door and wondered how to handle this situation. He should have known she’d make contact. She hadn’t come just for the church service that morning. He’d hoped his rapid departure after the meeting would have sent the message that he had no interest in seeing her. Apparently the message wasn’t received. And now his daett was involved.
    “Excuse me,” Alvin said as he pushed past his daett . “I’ll speak with Crystal outside.”
    “What is this?” His daett sounded suspicious.
    Alvin ignored him and plunged on toward Crystal’s car. He figured Crystal would follow him, and they’d be out of earshot for whatever this conversation might entail.
    “Alvin, please stop! Have I done the wrong thing in coming here?”
    Alvin stopped and faced Crystal. He held his anger and tried to even his breathing. “We’re not in Philadelphia,