He turned his attention back to Maddie. “You were wrong to tell your teacher that I’m looking for a wife. I’m not. Now what am I supposed to do?”
Maddie lifted both hands. “Just tell her you don’t want a wife. How hard can that be?”
Early the next morning Willis hurried to get the cabinet pulls installed on Eva’s desk and on the cupboards in the school. He glanced constantly toward the door, hoping she wouldn’t show up until after he was gone. He had no idea how he was going to face her. He tried to convince himself that it had simply been kindness that brought her over with a delicious supper last night and not because Maddie had said he was looking for a wife.
Maybe he shouldn’t even mention it except to thank her for the food. If he kept quiet, was he encouraging her or discouraging her? How could a six-year-old get him into hot water with her teacher in less than twenty-four hours?
He needed to make Eva understand that he wasn’t interested in marrying without hurting her feelings or embarrassing her. She wasn’t a giddy teenage girl. She seemed to be a mature and sensible woman. He would remember that and not beat around the bush with her. Maybe. Unless his courage failed him. These days it seemed in short supply.
He was fastening the final coat hooks in the cloakroom when he heard the outside door open. Maybe if he waited quietly she would go away without realizing he was in the building. So much for his courage.
He closed his eyes and listened for her footsteps. He heard her cross the room and open the drawers of her desk one by one. After a few minutes he heard her crossing the room again. Was she leaving? He held his breath.
“There you are. Goot morning, Willis. I didn’t think you were about.”
He opened his eyes. She was smiling at him from the doorway of the cloakroom. His heart sank. His courage had deserted him for certain. He couldn’t meet her gaze. “I’m almost finished here. I’ll get out of your way as soon as I can.”
“You’re not in my way.”
He concentrated on installing the next hook. Only three more to go. “I know you must have work to do. Don’t let me keep you from it.” How did a man broach the subject of not looking for a wife like a rational adult?
“Is something wrong?”
“Nee.” He pulled another screw from the large front pocket of his leather apron but fumbled the thing. It dropped and rolled across the floor to her feet.
She picked it up and held it out in her hand. “Maybe it’s just my imagination but you seem upset.”
“Nope.” He snatched the screw from her palm. “Danki.”
“Well, then, I’ll let you finish so you can get home to your family. Please tell Maddie that I said hello.”
He turned to face Eva. “I’m not looking for a wife.”
Her eyebrows rose. She tipped her head slightly. “Okay.”
“I know Maddie led you to believe that I am, but I’m not.” His neck felt as hot as his forge.
“What makes you think Maddie gave me that impression?”
“You know. The supper you brought over.” He rubbed his damp palms on the sides of his apron.
Her eyebrows drew together, creating a tiny crease between them. “I’m sorry, I still don’t understand.”
“Maddie told you I was looking for a wife who was a good cook.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, and you think I brought you supper to prove I had the culinary skills you are looking for? Sort of an audition for the position?” She covered her face with both hands and burst out laughing.
It dawned on Willis that he had made a huge mistake. He waited until she got a hold of herself. “This is the part where you tell me Maddie never mentioned I was looking for a wife who was a good cook, right?”
She broke into peals of laughter again but managed to shake her head. It wasn’t the first time in his life that he felt like a fool, but it was the first time he felt like laughing about it. He chuckled. “You are a pretty good cook.”
That set her off again and he was soon laughing with her. She wiped tears from her eyes. “I can see how it must have looked but I’m not angling for a husband with chicken and dumplings as bait,” she choked out.
“Your rolls were fine, but the dumplings were gummy.”
“They were not. I dare you to make better ones.” Her mirth subsided. “You poor fellow. Has this been on your mind all night?”
“You have no idea. I barely got any sleep trying to figure out how to let you down easily. I’m going to have to have a serious talk with Maddie.”
“She did tell me that you were a terrible cook and that Bubble believes you need a wife. I honestly made a batch of dumplings that was too large. I thought you and the kinder might enjoy them.”
“The children all but licked their plates.”
“I’m glad. Willis, I don’t intend to marry so rest easy. I may be an old maid all my days, but I intend to put the years Gott grants me to good use.”
He had a hard time believing she considered herself an old maid. He saw a mature, attractive woman who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or laugh at herself. He admired that about her. Any man would.
She folded her hands primly in front of her white apron. “In the future please don’t hesitate to tell me if Maddie has shared something you aren’t sure about. I shall do the same. That way we won’t need to tiptoe around each other. Agreed?” She held out her hand.
He was more relieved than he could express. He took her hand. It fit as if it had been made for him to hold. “Agreed.”
“One more thing. If you can quietly spread the word that I’m not interested in marriage I would appreciate it.”
“If anyone asks, I’ll let you know before I send them on their way. You might change your mind if the right fellow comes along.”
Eva’s fingers were swallowed inside Willis’s large, calloused hand. She didn’t mind the roughness of his skin. It was proof that he worked hard. She drew away reluctantly. “I appreciate the sentiment, but there is no need to check with me. I am excited to begin my career as a teacher and as you know, Amish teachers cannot be married women.”
His nearness was doing funny things to her insides. He smelled of smoke and leather and something more that was uniquely him. She inhaled deeply and took a step back. “I do have work I need to get done. I’ve been going over the curriculum Samuel Yoder gave me. I have to say, seeing my duties laid out in black-and-white is daunting.”
“Any new job is.”
“You’re right. I remember how much I enjoyed school. I want all my students to have the same feeling of happiness at gaining knowledge that I had. Maddie said Otto hates school. I hope that isn’t the case.”
Willis looked down. “Not everyone enjoys school.”
His dry comment told her he was one of those. “You didn’t? Why not?”
He still didn’t