Chapter 28: two rings

When Kaybri told Teri about the project, she pitched it as a way for Teri to help both dogs and humans at the same time. But Teri didn’t need to be convinced. “It’s perfect,” Teri said. “I love this idea. And with my experience running a nonprofit, I think I can pull this together pretty easily.”

   Teri did a ton of research and created a list of the steps they needed to take. Within a few weeks, she already had the paperwork done and was waiting for approval from the IRS. It was decided that Teri would be executive director of Canine Kisses, as she had the most time to put into it. When Kaybri and Teri looked at everything that needed to be done, they set a goal of having it up and running within four months. 

   Kaybri and Noah planned to serve on the board of directors. They took the lead on finding eight other notable members of the community to be on it as well. Dorothy immediately agreed to serve, but Frank felt he couldn’t take on any new commitments given his health. Noah told Kaybri that he had it in mind to convince at least two Amish men or women to serve on the board. His feeling was that it would help to unite the Amish and non-Amish communities and further validate the idea of dogs having value other than as breeding animals. 

   Meanwhile, Thomas Stoltzfus’s health finally—almost miraculously—started improving after Noah told him he needed to go back to the veterinary practice full time but promised to visit the farm twice a week. The old man got an excellent report from his new doctor and resumed most of his farm duties. Luckily, the proceeds from the sales of Phoenix’s puppies allowed him to hire some helpers to ease the burden. Noah then admitted to Kaybri that “Yeah, maybe he was malingering just a little, to keep me around.”

   The Sunday after the IRS approval came through, Kaybri and Noah celebrated with a champagne brunch, which they ate in bed. Later, once the effects of the alcohol had worn off, they took a drive out to Rolling Acres in Bayberry to speak to the staff about the idea of bringing dogs in to interact with the children. They brought a few puppies in the truck with them, hoping they’d be invited inside for a test run. It turned out “run” was the operative word, as one of the pups managed to wriggle its way outside, and the children had a swell time chasing it down. The exhausted pup then slept happily in the children’s arms even as they passed it around so that everyone who wanted could have a turn cuddling a limp furball. 

   Kaybri noticed one girl in particular, around eight years old, who seemed particularly delighted by the puppy. She made a point of showing the other children, who were all younger than her, how to hold the dog just so and how to make the puppy feel safe. Kaybri felt the pangs of some hard memories but eventually got herself to go over to the girl to encourage her. Kaybri plopped down next to her and introduced herself, then asked, “What is your name?” The girl squealed and said, “Oh, it rhymes with yours. My name is Kaylie.” 

   The staff were impressed, and the director told Kaybri she would welcome the program as soon as it was up and running.

*             *             *             * 

   Kaybri was working late, closing up an incision on a Labradoodle, when Noah came in and put his arms around her from behind—gently so as not to disturb what she was doing. She pretended to ignore him until he started to critique her stitching. “You missed a spot. You should close more carefully. The risk of infection increases if the stitch pattern is too wide.”  

   “What are you doing here? You didn’t come to watch me work.” Kaybri feigned an annoyance she didn’t feel.

   “Something I should have done months ago.” Noah reached into his pocket and pulled out a simple band of aged silver. “It was my grandmother’s ring. My mother gave it to me this evening. Do you like it?” 

   Kaybri thought for an instant that this might be the moment she had been dreaming of but then quickly brushed away the idea. He was just showing her a family heirloom.

   “Yes, it’s very pretty.” 

   Noah just stared at her. She felt as though she was supposed to say something else. 

   “So, what are you going to do with it? Sell it?” she asked. 

   A sputtering sound came out of his mouth. “Nooooo!” he said, elongating the o sound. 

   “Oh, well, what then?” The hopeful feeling came back. Could it be? 

   “Well, I think it would look beautiful on your finger. And…” 

“And what?” Kaybri turned around to look into his luminous brown eyes. “What are you saying?” 

   “I want you to marry me. I want you to be my bride. I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” Noah said quietly. 

   “You’re asking me right now? I’m in scrubs.” Kaybri continued to go with her annoyed demeanor. She was afraid she’d just melt into a big puddle if she didn’t keep up the act. “I can’t even put the ring on my finger.” She held up her glove-covered hands. 

   “I think we’ve lost enough time. It’s what I want. Is it what you want?” 

   Kaybri turned back to her canine patient to hide her tears of joy. She managed to place the final stitch and then pulled her hands free from the gloves.

   Without warning, she whirled around and threw her arms around her husband-to-be. 

   “Is this a ‘yes’ hug or a pity hug?” Noah asked. 

   “Kiss me, my love. We’re going to make a great team.”

*          *          *          * 

    The next day, Kaybri saw on her schedule that she had a whole bunch of patients between eight and eleven but then nothing. That sure was strange. When Kaybri asked Autumn why, she smirked and said, “Oh, sometimes you just get lucky.”  

   At five minutes to eleven, Noah pulled Kaybri from her office without any warning and playfully pulled her out the front door of the clinic. Kaybri’s mouth dropped because there were a dozen Amish buggies lining the street across from the clinic. Assembled in front of what was once Beiler’s Meat Market were the mayor, Judge Thompson, Autumn, Teri McGee, Dr. Beiler, Gerry Wockenfus, Amos Epps, Jakob Diener, the entire Stoltzfus family, and what looked like six or seven other Amish families. Altogether, there was barely room to stand on the small front lawn and sidewalk. 

   Two Amish carpenters were perched six feet apart on ladders above the front door. Thomas and Noah moved to the rear of one of the buggies and brought out a beautifully and intricately carved sign, which they handed to the carpenters who nailed the sign in place. Judge Thompson walked to the front steps, and in her loudest voice proclaimed the opening of Shoo-fly Puppies.

   All of the spectators cheered. Kaybri was ecstatic. She read the sign out loud to confirm for herself that it really existed. 

   Kaybri had chosen the name a few weeks earlier. She had been visiting the farm and was making a list of possible names for the store when two puppies snuck out of the barn and into the Stoltzfus house. Since no one was looking, they got hold of one of Elizabeth’s famous shoo-fly pies. The result was two white dogs covered in sticky brown crumbs. When they were found, no one could be angry at the puppies since the scene was too adorable for words. The name for the store was inspired by this bit of mischief. 

   Autumn asked Kaybri and Noah to come inside to help with the refreshments. “Everyone must be very thirsty. Let’s get some cold drinks out there.” She went in and admired the renovations as she helped Autumn pour iced tea and cold cider into plastic cups and place them on a tray.

   When she brought the tray out, she noticed that tables with bowls of food had been set up on the lawn and a barbecue had been fired up in a corner of the lawn. Everyone was still standing on the lawn looking up at her on the front porch. 

   “What’s going on?” Kaybri asked.

   Noah was on the stoop in front of her. He dropped to one knee and opened a velvet ring box that held an engagement ring with an enormous stone that looked like a diamond. “Kaybri, will you marry me?” 

   “I already said I would!” 

   The crowd laughed and cheered. Noah sprang up the steps and embraced her. The crowd cheered even louder. 

   Kaybri took the ring from Noah and inspected it. “Is that a diamond?”  

   “No. Diamonds are too ostentatious. It’s a polished piece of quartz I found on the farm when I was a boy.” 

   “That makes sense,” Kaybri said.

   Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Frank and Dorothy approaching.

   “Congratulations, you two.”  

   Right behind them were Noah’s parents. Kaybri had been worried about their reaction, but she saw they were smiling. Elizabeth embraced her. “You have our blessing.” 

   Kaybri slipped the quartz ring on her finger next to the silver ring she had received the previous day. The crowd on the front lawn erupted in applause and cheers as Kaybri kissed her husband-to-be.