Read The Only Way (The Amish Millers Get Married Book 4) for Free Online Page B

white china, and perhaps white china with a
subtle pattern, but the pattern on this china was far from subtle.
The base color was the palest of pinks, and the china was decorated
with tiny, little pink rosebuds. Delicate leaves and fronds of
gently waving ferns provided the backdrop, but the worst thing of
all, Rebecca knew, would be the gold. A slender trimming of gold
edged each piece of china, and some of the leaves and fern fronds
themselves were actually gold. While the pattern might appear
subtle to an Englischer , Rebecca knew that it screamed Unacceptable Break With Tradition to Mrs. Miller.
    Mrs. Miller’s closest friend, Mrs. Yoder,
scowled as she walked past and directed a disapproving glare at the
china. Rebecca wrung her hands with concern. She hoped that the
divide between the conservative and the not-so-conservative in the
community would not cause any problems at Martha’s wedding.
    Aenti Irene left the china to arrange
the Eck Schissle on the table. The Eck Schissle were
gifts which were given only on the wedding day. Unlike Englisch weddings, most Amish wedding gifts were not given
on the day of the wedding, but were given in the weeks afterward
when the bride and groom spent the traditional post-wedding time
visiting other familyes , before returning to the Hostetler haus where they would live for several months. The gifts
would always be practical; farming tools, quilts, and herb and
vegetable seeds.
    As was traditional, the Hostetler familye , being the familye of the groom, were to
provide the place for the couple to stay for the first few months
after marriage, and the Miller familye , being the familye of the bride, were to provide the necessities for
the setting up of their household: the major appliances, furniture,
cutlery, crockery, linen, and quilts.
    The Eck Schissle were filled with
brightly colored candy of every description, covered with clear
wrap, and tied with colored ribbons. To each one was attached a
card with a message from the giver as well as the giver’s name.
    It was now time for the first shift of the
meal. The wedding party, Martha and Moses, Hannah and Noah, and
Esther and Jacob, walked into the barn. Martha took up her seat on
the left side of Moses. Mr. Miller, the vadder of the bride,
and Mr. Hostetler, the vadder of the groom, sat at the head
of the table, and the other male relatives sat on the same side of
the table. Opposite them sat Mrs. Miller, the mudder of the
bride, and Mr. Hostetler, the mudder of the groom, and the
other female relatives.
    Next filed in the young people who were still
single. The females walked over to take up their place on Martha’s
side of the room, and the males went to sit on Moses’ side of the
room.
    The Ecktenders at once served the
young people. Weddings were the only occasion where the youngie , the young people, were served first. Soon, everyone
was served a large meal, and most ate quickly so that the area
could be cleared for the next shift. Large platters of
mouth-watering roast chicken, roast turkey and baked ham, clouds of
creamy mashed potatoes, flavorsome gravy, and creamed celery made
with real cream were among the delicious items brought out, soon to
be followed by all manner of tasty desserts and copious amounts of
homemade ice cream. There were plenty of freshly baked bread rolls,
accompanied by freshly churned butter. There was an abundance of kaffi , water, and meadow tea. At the end of the meal, Martha
and Moses were each served a special tapioca pudding in a wine
glass.
    The rest of the day went by in a blur for
Rebecca: the singing, the games, and the conversation, even the
second meal which was served at dusk.
    By nightfall Rebecca found herself in the haus kitchen washing dishes with Aenti Irene. The
other women assigned to washing dishes were doing so in the mobile
kitchen. Rebecca usually enjoyed time spent with Aenti Irene; tonight, however, this was not the case.
    “So, Rebecca, how long before you’ll