Amy also greeted him, but Henry merely sat there, fiddling with his fork. He clearly did not care for Monroe and had told Sylvia so several times. She couldn’t blame her brother; Mr. Esh had some rather strange ways and was quite opinionated. He was also overbearing and obviously pursuing their mother.
Mom gestured to Ezekiel and Michelle. “Monroe, I’d like you to meet my son Ezekiel and his wife, Michelle. They live in Clymer, New York, but came down to celebrate the holiday with us.”
Monroe set the basket of fruit on the floor and extended his hand. “I should have introduced myself when you answered the door, instead of just asking to speak to your mudder.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Ezekiel rose from his seat and clasped Monroe’s hand. Michelle did the same.
“Your mamm and I were friends during our youth. In fact, I courted her before your daed came into the picture and stole her away.” He took a few steps closer to Mom. “Isn’t that right, Belinda?”
Her cheeks turned crimson as she nodded. “That was a long time ago, Monroe.”
“Seems like yesterday to me.” He cleared his throat a couple of times. “’Course, that might be because I never got married or raised a familye of my own, the way you did.” His gaze traveled around the table. “And what a fine family I see here right now.”
I wonder if Monroe’s trying to impress us or Mom by his compliment. Sylvia clutched both halves of her napkin. Well, I, for one, am not impressed. Monroe owns his own furniture store, but maybe he’s trying to acquire Mom’s business too. He could be what some folks call “an Amish entrepreneur.” Who knows? Since Monroe has no wife or family, he might be quite wealthy and could be looking to make even more money. Surely his interest in Mom goes deeper than just reminiscing about how they’d once courted. Monroe knows how much Mom loved Dad, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t looking to marry our mother so he could get his hands on the greenhouse.
Mom pulled out an empty chair and said, “Monroe, would you like to join us for pei and kaffi?”
His sappy grin stretched wide. “Why, jah, I surely would. Danki, Belinda.”
Sylvia rubbed her forehead. Oh great. This man’s presence at our table is not what we need today—or any other time, for that matter. She looked over at Amy, who had set her cup down and crossed her arms. No doubt my sister isn’t happy about Monroe being here either.
Sylvia’s gaze went to Ezekiel and then Henry. Neither of them looked the least bit pleased when Monroe took a seat.
“Looks like you have a variety of pies on the table,” the man said. “But I don’t see any minsfleesch. Weren’t those included in your Christmas desserts?”
Mom shook her head as she poured coffee into a clean mug and handed it to Monroe. “To be honest, none of my family cares much for mincemeat.”
His mouth opened slightly. “Not even you, Belinda?”
“I don’t mind it, myself, but it’s not one of my favorites.” She pointed to the pies on the table. “As you can see, we have apple, pumpkin, and chocolate-cream. Would you care for one of those?”
Monroe hesitated a moment, before pointing at the pumpkin pie sitting closest to him. “Guess I’ll have a slice of that.”
Mom cut a piece, placed it on a clean plate, and handed it to him. “Enjoy.”
Sylvia watched in disgust as he dug into it with an eager expression. She hoped he would leave as soon as he was done eating. The family had plans to play a few games after dessert, and it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun if Monroe hung around.
She got up and went over to check on Rachel, who had begun to fuss. After changing the baby’s diaper, she went to the bathroom to wash her hands, before returning to the table.
“What do you do for a living, young man?” Monroe’s question was directed at Ezekiel.
“I have my own business in New York, making and selling various products for people who raise bees for their honey,” Ezekiel replied. “I also have hives and sell my local honey to many people who live in our area. I used to raise bees and sell honey here before my wife and I left Strasburg.” He gestured to Henry. “My young brother has taken over that business now.”
Henry offered Ezekiel a smile that was obviously forced. “Oh, jah, and it’s my favorite thing to do.”
Sylvia felt the tension between her brothers as they stared across the table at each other. No doubt Ezekiel heard the sarcasm in Henry’s voice. The last thing they needed were harsh words being spoken, especially with Monroe here taking it all in.
In an effort to put a lid on things, Sylvia stood. “How about if those of us who have finished eating take our dishes into the kitchen to be washed?”
“Well, I’m definitely not done eating,” Monroe announced. “If no one has any objection, I’d like to try some of that apple pie now.”
“We’ve all had seconds, so I’m sure there would be no objections.” Mom reached for the pie pan right away and cut him another piece.
Sylvia groaned inwardly. Was her mother trying to be a polite hostess, or did she fancy Monroe’s company? Sylvia hoped that wasn’t the case. She couldn’t even imagine having Monroe as her stepfather.
“Now don’t look so worried.” Amy patted Sylvia’s arm as they stood in the kitchen getting ready to wash their dessert dishes. She kept her voice lowered and turned to check the doorway. “Mom was only being polite when she invited Monroe to join us for pie and coffee. She has no interest in him whatsoever.”
“How can you be so sure?” Sylvia filled the sink with warm soapy water.
“Because she’s told me so.”
“She has said that to me too, yet whenever the man comes around, she always welcomes him.”
“Our mamm welcomes everyone who comes to our door. She’s kind and polite, even to people like the homeless woman, Maude, who last summer took things without asking from our garden and helped herself to cookies that had been set out in the greenhouse.” Amy nodded. “I’ve let poor Maude get away with a few things too.”
“I wonder how that elderly woman is faring inside that old rundown shack during this cold, snowy weather.” Sylvia reached for a sponge and began washing the dessert plates.
“I don’t think she’s there anymore. Jared and I stopped by the shack last week with some groceries Mom wanted to give Maude, but there was no sign of her—just an empty cot and old table in the middle of the otherwise barren room.”
“Maybe she moved out of the area. Or perhaps, if she has any family, she went to spend the winter with them.”
Amy picked up the first plate to dry. “I asked her once if she had any family, and she said no.”
“I can’t imagine how it would be not to have any family at all.”
“Me neither,” agreed Amy.
“Do you two need some help with the dishes?” Michelle asked, joining them in the kitchen.
“If you don’t mind, you can put the dishes away once they’ve been dried,” Amy responded.
“I don’t mind at all.” Michelle moved closer to the counter near the sink. “Your mamm is keeping an eye on the kinner in the other room, while Monroe plies Ezekiel with more questions about his bee-supply business.”