A Reluctant Bride (7 page)

“When can we see her?” Sadie asked.

“Not for a couple of hours. It will be a while before she'll come out of the anesthesia. If she's still in stable condition, you can visit her briefly before we move her to intensive care.”

After the doctor left, Sadie turned to Abigail. Tears were streaming down her sister's face. Sadie touched Abigail's cheek, wiping the tears away. “You heard the doctor,” she said firmly. “Joanna is all right.”

“But—”

“She's all right.” Sadie hugged her sister, choking back her own tears. “Don't worry, Abby. The three of us will be all right.”

The next afternoon, Sadie stood in the basement of her home, the bodies of her parents lying out on two tables side by side. For the past hour members of the community had filed by, offering their prayers and condolences. But she barely heard them, nodding numbly when she thought it was appropriate, saying thank you when someone paused during conversation, as if expecting her to respond.

The bishop and his wife made sure the viewing ran smoothly. Bishop Troyer stood at the basement door, solemnly greeting everyone as they came in, making quiet small talk with the ones who were waiting for their chance to speak to Sadie and Abigail.
Frau
Troyer was upstairs with some of the women, preparing simple fare for the guests after they were finished paying their respects.

Sadie wanted them all to go home.

“Sadie?”

She stiffened at the low, familiar voice. She met Aden's gaze with a steely one of her own. She knew he was here to keep up appearances. Sol had even walked by, barely acknowledging her and Abigail. She'd been grateful that she didn't have to pretend to be polite to him. Why didn't Aden ignore her too? It would be so much easier if he did.

Instead he remained in front of her, sorrow and sympathy punctuating each word he spoke. “I'm sorry about
yer
parents.” He glanced down at his feet before looking at her again. “How is Joanna?”

“She's fine.”

“Will she be coming home soon?”

Bile rose in Sadie's throat. Didn't he know the extent of Joanna's injuries? Or was he as deliberately cruel as his brother, only in a different way? “
Nee
,” Sadie said firmly. “She's not.”

“Oh.” He took a step back. “I will keep praying for her then.” He walked away, said a few words to Abigail, and went upstairs.

Surprised, Sadie didn't know what to think. He seemed genuine. Then again, he would have to be completely heartless not to be affected by what had happened to her family. He'd have to be like . . . Sol.

She put Aden and his brother out of her mind as she saw her friend Patience Glick approach.

“I'm so sorry,” Patience said, hugging Sadie. Her husband, Timothy, stood behind her, his hands folded together, his gaze darting to Sadie's parents' lifeless bodies. “I wanted to
geh
to the hospital yesterday, but I was worried I'd be in the way.”

“You're never in the way, Patience.”

“Then I should have been there.”

“It's all right that you weren't.” For the first time since the sheriff's deputy walked into the store, Sadie felt something break inside. She and Patience had been best friends since childhood. She had been Patience's maid of honor at her and Timothy's wedding last year. She was like a sister to Sadie, and she felt warmth and love from her friend's embrace. Tears burned at the base of her throat.

“What can I do to help?” Patience asked.

Before answering, Sadie looked at Abigail, who was wiping her eyes for the hundredth time that day.

Sadie forced down her own sorrow. She needed to be strong for Abigail. “
Nix
,” she said, giving Patience an even look. “We're okay.”

“Are you sure?” Patience peered into Sadie's eyes.

She nodded. “I'm sure.”

Patience took Sadie's hand. “If you need me, I'm here. Don't forget that, Sadie.”

Sadie squeezed her hand and nodded but didn't say anything else.

Finally, everyone left, with the exception of two older women who insisted on staying to clean up the kitchen and living room. They were also going to spend the night, saying she and Abigail shouldn't be alone. Sadie was too tired to argue. Exhausted, Abigail had gone upstairs to her bedroom. But Sadie couldn't bring herself to leave her parents. Not yet.

She walked over to them. Both were dressed in their Sunday clothing. Their eyes were closed, their hands folded across their bodies, their skin a grayish color that made Sadie's stomach churn. “I'll take care of everything,” she said, her voice sounding thick, unreal to her ears. “The store, the
haus
, Abigail . . . Joanna.” She touched her mother's shoulder, then her father's, saying good-bye the only way she knew how. “I won't let either of you down. I promise.”

CHAPTER 3

S
adie sat beside Joanna's bed, brushing back a strand of mahogany hair from her forehead. It had slipped from beneath her bright pink kerchief, which Abigail had put on her this morning after carefully brushing Joanna's waist-length hair. Three days had passed since the accident, and Joanna had been moved out of intensive care and into her own hospital room. A small vase of pink geraniums was on her nightstand, courtesy of Patience and Timothy. Joanna's favorite color. It was typical of her friend to be so thoughtful.

“Sadie?”

She stilled her movements as Joanna's eyes, the tender skin around them black and blue from the accident, fluttered open. A white bandage covered her right cheek. Sadie had seen the stitches, which ran from the top of Joanna's cheek to the midpoint of her jaw line. Her heart ached for her sister's lovely face, which would be forever scarred. But the skin would heal, as would her pelvis and her ribs. Joanna was alive. That was all that mattered. “I'm here,” she said, making sure to keep her tone as light as possible.

“Abigail?”

“She's getting a cup of
kaffee
. Do you need anything?”

Joanna started to shake her head, then grimaced. “Hurts.”

Sadie took her hand. “I know. I'm sorry.”

“Very . . . tired.”

“
Geh
back to sleep, then. You don't have to stay awake for me.” An IV tube trailed from Joanna's arm to what the nurse had called a medicine pump, which gave Joanna morphine on a regular basis. Sadie couldn't imagine her sister's pain. She also didn't know how much Joanna had understood when they told her yesterday about
Mamm
and
Daed
. Abigail had wanted to wait, but Sadie didn't see the point. They had to come to grips with the reality of the situation so they could face it head-on.

As Joanna drifted off, Abigail came into the room carrying two cups of coffee. The strings of her white
kapp
lay limply against her plum-colored dress. She gestured with her head to Sadie, whispering that they needed to leave the room.

Sadie glanced at Joanna, who was already asleep. She quietly rose from the chair next to the bed and joined Abigail in the hallway.

Her sister handed her one of the warm Styrofoam cups. “I ran into the rehabilitation coordinator as I was going to get the
kaffee
,” Abigail said. “She was at the nurse's station.”

“What did she say?”

“That Joanna should be going to rehabilitation by the end of next week.”

“So soon? She can barely stay awake.”

Abigail nodded. “But they think she'll be ready. It's a
gut
thing, Sadie. There's only so much they can do for her here. When she's at the rehabilitation facility, she'll get the care and therapy she needs to help her heal as fast as possible.”

Sadie nodded, both hands circling her coffee cup. “Where is the facility?”

“There's one in Middlefield.”

Her heart dropped. “That's the closest?”

“
Ya
.” Abigail took a sip of the coffee.

After their parents' burial she'd managed to pull herself together a little bit more. Sadie knew how difficult it was for her sister. She was the most carefree of the three of them, but she also had the biggest heart.

“Middlefield is far.” Sadie mentally calculated the cost of hiring a taxi to travel the nearly hour's drive to the city. Even without one of them visiting Joanna every day, it would be expensive. That plus the cost of the facility, the hospital bills . . . her temples started to throb.

“I have an idea, Sadie.” Abigail leaned her hip against the wall. “You might not agree with it, but I think it's our best option.” She paused. “I want to call Mary Shetler.”

Surprised by the suggestion, Sadie asked, “
Mamm
's cousin?”

Abigail nodded. “I'm sure once I explain the situation I can stay with her. I already looked up the facility's address, and it's a short taxi ride from Mary's
haus
.”

“I don't know . . .”

“I realize it will leave you shorthanded at the store.” Abigail's lower lip started to tremble. “I don't want to leave Joanna alone, Sadie. She needs one of us with her.”

She touched Abigail's shoulder. “It's okay,” she said softly and was pleased to see Abigail steady again. Remembering her friend's offer of help, she added, “I can ask Patience to work with me at the store for a little while. I'm sure Timothy won't mind.” She paused. “But what if Mary won't let you stay? We're not close to
Mamm
's side of the
familye
.” Her cousin had come
to the funeral but hadn't stayed long. Sadie barely remembered speaking with her.

“We have to try,” Abigail said. “If that doesn't work, I'm sure God will provide another way for me to be with Joanna.”

“
Ya
,” Sadie said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I'm sure he will.” She looked at the small placard beneath the room number.
J Schrock.
Her heart lurched as she thought of her sister's long recovery. She and Abigail wouldn't let Joanna go through the healing process alone. She needed family with her, even if it was only one sister and a cousin they didn't know.

“I'll
geh
make the call,” Abigail said.

As Abigail walked away, Sadie leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. “Make a way for her, Lord,” she whispered. “Please, make a way for all of us.”

On Friday of the following week, Sadie stood in front of Schrock Grocery and Tools holding the key to the door in her hand. The store had been closed since the day the sheriff's deputy had arrived, almost two weeks ago. The day her life had changed forever.

She paused before unlocking the door, biting her bottom lip and steeling her determination. She couldn't let her emotions overcome her, not now. Joanna and Abigail were on their way to Middlefield. Mary had agreed to let Abigail stay with her as long as she needed to. With her sisters somewhat settled, Sadie needed to make good on her promise to her parents, and that included making sure Schrock Grocery and Tools would be open for business on Monday. With a deep breath, she put the key in the lock and turned it.