A Simple Charity (43 page)

They talked for another hour or so, interrupted only when the doctor came in to tell her how the procedure had gone. When the surgeon asked if Jack should step out, Meg shook her head.

“He should stay. Pretty soon he’s going to be Mr. Meg Harper.”

That got the surgeon chuckling. It was the perfect segue to the doctor’s news of a successful procedure. “If Mr. Harper here is your ride home, you’re free to go. Get something to eat and take it easy for the next five to seven days. We’ll see you back in two weeks for a recheck.”

After the curtain whisked closed behind the doctor, Meg took Jack’s hand and held it to her cheek.

Good news, coupled with the joy of having Jack by her side after his mysterious disappearance. Meg felt something sweet and light glimmer through her. Happiness? Joy? It was all so fleeting, but such was the nature of life. When it shined on you, the moment had to be savored.

40

I
t was late. The children had gone off to bed hours ago, and Elsie and Caleb had just gone upstairs. Jack and Meg had also just left after an evening spent going over three different possible floor plans for the new birthing center—three maps of the future, Fanny thought. With Meg’s experience as a midwife, her feedback and suggestions were important. Now that they had a chance to start from scratch, it was a good time to improve the floor plan.

At the kitchen table, Fanny sat writing down figures in a notepad. It was a ledger, of sorts, for the new center. Zed and Mr. Hennessey at the hardware store had worked out estimates of what building materials would cost, and she was keeping track of everything. An estimate was coming in from the lumberyard, too, and Tim Ebersol was getting them a contractor discount.

Zed sat beside her, sketching out a revised floor plan based on Meg’s suggestions. Good with a pencil, he drew straight lines and had a knack for figuring out how to fit things into the plan.

“How about a scrub sink for the midwives over in this corner?” he said, pointing to the paper. “That way, it leaves more space in the hallway.”

“That would be good,” Fanny agreed, watching as he formed a handful of lines that resembled a sink. Amid the sweeping and shoveling, she had been watching him all day, but she hadn’t been the only one. Everyone had been looking to Zed for direction on the best way to clear the sad, crumpled building. In the past year, he had come to be a part of this community again, accepted and appreciated. He was so dear to her! She hoped and prayed for a lifetime of evenings such as this, with Zed by her side.

As she finished adding up some numbers in the ledger, her mind went back to the talk she’d had with the bishop earlier that day. Samuel had given his blessing for them to marry! Joy fluttered inside her at the thought of it. And all her worries over the rumors had faded in the light of the truth. There was no shame in a man and a woman who loved each other under Gott’s blessing of marriage.

“That’s a good offer from Tate and Zoey.” Zed kept drawing as he spoke. “Have you seen the cottages?”

The Jordans had said that one of the guest cottages on their property could be used as a birthing center if needed in the next few months. “I haven’t seen them, but Meg is going to show me. We’ll see.”

“Mmm. And I have one more question for you.”

She drew a little heart in the margin of the ledger. “And what is that?”

“Will you ever let me court you?”

She couldn’t help but smile. “Widows don’t go on dates like young people. There’s no time for that when you’re as old as me with a houseful of children.”

“Then marry me, Fanny.”

Letting the pen drop from her fingers, she turned to him coyly. Her heart was racing, but she couldn’t bear a repeat of what had happened on second Christmas. She rose from the table and extended her hand. “Kumm.”

He squinted at her, curious.

“I have an answer for you, out on the mud porch.” Leading him by the hand, they passed through the kitchen door and sank into the cold darkness of the porch. “It’ll be more private out here,” she whispered, although no one but Zed was around to hear. Leaning against a post, she peered up and waited as her eyes adjusted to the soft darkness and the smooth line of his jaw began to take shape. Some things were worth the wait.

“So, what was your question?” Reaching up in the dark, she found his shoulders and steered him closer. “The one I’ve been longing to hear.”

“The one I’ve been longing to speak: Marry me and be my wife.” His hands slipped around her waist, and she shivered with pleasure as he encircled her in his arms.

“Those are the sweetest words … like the song of birds. I do want to marry you. My heart is so full, brimming over with love.” She blinked back tears. “Gott’s blessings come to us in surprising ways, don’t they?” Amid the heartbreaking accidents, the sorrow and pain, Gott’s love kept shining through.

“The Almighty is a wonder.” His fingertips traced the line of her jaw, sending sweet shivers down her spine. “Only He can make a broken man whole again. Only He could join a lonely man with a loving family.”

“A family in need of a good man.” She sighed against his broad, firm chest. “I thank Gott for every day with you.”

“To be by your side through the night and wake up beside you in the morning, to raise your little ones to be good Amish men and women … it’s more than any man could dream of.” He leaned
down to tease his lips against her ear. “And Gott willing, we’ll have children of our own to teach.”

“Gott willing,” she said firmly. He lifted her chin and she swayed against him, feeling as if she could melt in his arms. Grateful for the privacy of darkness, she closed her eyes and lost herself in his kiss.

41

O
n her wedding day, Meg moved in a cloud of happiness. Zoey doted on her, straightening her bronze hair so that it gleamed. Her skin glowed porcelain under the makeup that Mom had applied for her. The dress Shandell had sewn was comfortable and so flattering that Meg had felt a jolt of surprise when she’d seen herself in the mirror this afternoon.

“I look like a bride.”

“A
beautiful
bride,” Zoey added.

“Oh, honey.” Mom’s eyes misted with tears, not for the first time that day. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Happy and surprised,” Meg said, giving her mother a reassuring hug. “Come on, Mom, we know those are tears of relief. Your spinster daughter is tying the knot. You thought you’d never see this day.”

“Don’t say that.” Vicki fanned her eyes, as if that could dry the tears. “You know I’ve always wanted the best for you. And now, you’ve found him. Jack was definitely worth waiting for.”

“Oh, yeah.” Meg took a moment to bask in the smiles of her mother and sister, her family’s joy a significant part of the celebration of life and love on this wondrous day.

Not one to fuss with hair, makeup, or clothes, Meg had smiled at the beautiful bride in the mirror. This was an unexpected blessing.

A delicate lace design seemed to border her thoughts in a whimsical, un-Meglike way that suggested that life as Mrs. Jack Woods was going to be full of surprises.

The first surprise had come that morning when Jack had appeared at her door with two paper cups and a paper sack of muffins. “Thought I’d bring my bride breakfast,” he’d said, leaning against the doorframe.

She had waved him in and taken a cup of coffee. “Isn’t it supposed to be bad luck to see the bride on the wedding day?” she’d teased.

“Nah. That’s just the dress.” He came around behind her and massaged her shoulders. “I just wanted to make sure you were feeling good and relaxed, and I figured it would be good to start things off with God’s blessing. Want to pray with me?”

“Oh, Jack …” She could not have imagined a lovelier, more reverent start to their lives together. She bit her lower lip as she turned to him with a nod.

With clasped hands and lowered heads, they had joined together to commit themselves to walk together in God’s love.

Waiting in the church vestibule, Meg sniffed the lovely white roses in her bouquet and paced the length of the vestibule. She wasn’t nervous about being married to Jack, but the idea of being one of the major players in this ceremony gave her pause.
All you have to do is walk down that aisle
, she reassured herself,
and Jack will be by your side for the rest
.

One of the big wooden doors opened and Sheriff Hank came through with his wife, Maybelle. “The big day!” he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Maybelle touched Meg’s sleeve. “You look gorgeous, dear.”

She thanked the couple, and then they disappeared through the open door to the small church, just as Zoey rushed in. Wisps of blond hair that had pulled loose from the twist fluttered around her face like a cherubic halo.

“Well. Your niece has decided that she does not want to attend the ceremony. That is, unless the pianist wants to play along with a shrill soprano.”

“Poor little thing. Where is she now?” Meg tipped her head to one side.

“With Elsie Lapp, bless her heart. That young woman has a magic touch. She’s walking Grace around in the parking lot. Fanny offered to take her, but I didn’t want her to miss the ceremony.”