Amish Promises (36 page)

 36 

I
t all felt so foreign to Eve, so different than the weekday morning weddings she was used to. Charlie had lamented that no one was walking her down the aisle, but she didn't feel alone. Not at all. God walked beside her.

The guests were all standing. All but one.

She gasped. Tim sat in the last pew, looking straight ahead, his hat in his hands. Shani stood beside him, holding Adam, smiling at Eve as if everything were fine. Eve kept on walking, searching for Charlie at the front of the church. She couldn't see him above the heads of their guests.

She forced herself to breathe and slowed her steps. Charlie was her partner. But God was her strength. Her refuge in times of trouble.

And that's what her brother was—trouble.

She took another deep breath. But Tim
was
her brother. Her only sibling.

She reminded herself he had no control over her anymore—especially not on her wedding day.

When she reached the halfway point down the aisle, she could finally see Charlie. He looked so handsome in his dress uniform,
bathed in the colored Licht pouring through the stained-glass window above him. His eyes lit up when he saw her.
Joy.
She felt it too. She smiled back at him. The music surged. She couldn't help but increase her pace. He stepped out to meet her, taking her hand and pulling her close. The pastor said, “We are gathered here today to witness the joining of two lives . . .”

She put Tim out of her mind and squeezed Charlie's hand, hoping he knew how much she loved him. How grateful she was for his love for her.

The ceremony proceeded. Karina took Eve's bouquet of roses. The pastor joined Eve and Charlie's hands together. First they said the Lord's Prayer together, in German.
“Vater unser im Himmel, geheiligt werde
dein Name . . .”
The recitation honored Eve's heritage along with Charlie's grandparents.

Then they repeated their vows—Charlie first and then Eve. She only thought of Tim in the back of the church once, when she thought of his and Abra's wedding day, of Lila and Daniel sitting between Eve and Leona, eyes wide, staring at their Mamm and her new husband. Of course they couldn't comprehend any of it. They were just over a year old. They had no idea how much their lives were about to change.

Tears began to sting her eyes, and Eve blinked. Then she locked eyes with Charlie, and the sense of harmony, as beautiful as the colored Licht, returned.

Joel handed Charlie her ring—a simple wedding band. It had been their compromise. He slid it onto her finger as the light caught the gold, causing it to shimmer like starlight.

Next Karina handed Eve Charlie's ring, and she held it in her hand as she repeated after the pastor. “I give you this ring, committing my heart and soul to you.” She slid the ring onto his finger and repeated, “I ask you to wear it as a reminder of the vows”—she met Charlie's eyes—“and promises we have spoken today.” They were promises to Charlie that she would keep. They weren't made out of fear or under duress. They were made of her own volition—based on her trust in God.

Charlie clasped her hand and held it tight. He grinned as the pastor declared them husband and wife and then said, “You may kiss the bride.”

Amish ceremonies didn't include a wedding kiss. Charlie raised her veil and gently brushed her lips. She squeezed his hand as they turned toward the congregation together. They'd have their time together, soon.

A moment later Eve and Charlie were sailing back up the aisle. She was aware of everyone she'd missed as she'd entered the sanctuary. Charlie's parents. Karina's in-laws. Charlie's chaplain friend, Ron, and his wife. Abra's parents. Shani beamed at her as Adam slept on her shoulder. Tim still had his head down, staring at the floor.

Eve and Charlie continued on to the foyer, and a moment later, Karina and Joel joined them. As the pastor invited the guests to move into the reception hall, Shani and Tim slipped out the door first. Tim had something in his hand—an envelope. Shani stepped aside, letting him go first.

Eve didn't budge, but by the time Tim reached her, she realized he hadn't come to shame her or drag her back. He'd brought her something. A card, perhaps.

He extended the envelope. “I found these the night I found the note from Abra. She wanted you to have these too.”

She took it from him and pulled out a small stack of photographs. Her heart stopped for a moment. The first photo was of her and Abra, the one Patrick took all those years ago. Abra wore her blond hair long, and her blue eyes sparkled with life. Eve had her arm around her friend.

She flipped to the next. It was Lila and Daniel as toddlers. Then one of Simon as a baby. And one of Rose. The next one was of Abra and Trudy, in the hospital right after the baby had been born. They were still hopeful then that the chemo would work. That Abra would live.

The last one was of Eve and Abra together at a distance, taken at Leona and Eli's just a few weeks before Abra died. Leona must
have taken all the photos, except the first, and given them to Abra. And now Tim was giving them to Eve.

She looked up at her brother. “Denki,” she said as guests made their way around the small group. She swiped at her eyes.

Tim inhaled sharply. “I'm sorry I didn't give you the note and the photos that night. And I'm sorry for being so harsh with you, even after I'd read what Abra wrote.”

“Denki,” Eve said again, slipping the photos back into the envelope.

Tim raised his eyebrows and said softly, “Even though it was written to you, it meant so much for me to read that she loved me.”

“She did love you,” Eve said. “I knew she did—even without the note.”

Tim tugged on his beard. “Knowing it inspired me to help the Becks—along with Christ's commandment to love our neighbors. But neither was enough for me to be honest with you. Or loving enough to release you of the promise you'd made.”

“Did Abra tell you about it?” Eve asked.

He shook his head. “I didn't know until I read the note. Once I did, I thought you'd stay. You caught me off guard when you said you planned to move away. I didn't know you had the note until then. I thought I'd lost it that night of the storm.”

Eve nodded.

Tim's voice was a near whisper. “The children miss you.”

“I miss them.” She wondered if Tim missed her too, but then she realized he did. He wouldn't have come if he didn't. The knowing of it made her heart ache.

“I heard you're moving back,” he said.

Eve nodded.

“
Gut
.” He clutched his hat again with both hands. “I hope, maybe, that you'll pay us all a visit.”

Relief flooded through Eve. It might be the most her brother would ever say to her, but it was enough. “Are you staying for the meal?” she asked. She'd organized the women in the church to make a traditional Amish wedding dinner.

Tim turned toward Shani. Both she and Joel, along with Charlie, stood only a few feet away.

Shani nodded. “Let's stay.”

Joel started toward the fellowship hall. Shani motioned for Tim to go ahead, and then she followed with the baby. Charlie stepped forward and took Eve's hand. She sank against his shoulder, tears stinging her eyes. He kissed the top of her head and pulled her close.

It would never be perfect with Tim—but he would let her see the children. That was all that mattered.

 37 

J
oel held the baby while Shani ate a piece of peach pie. She was stuffed after the roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, creamed celery, and yeast rolls, but she wasn't going to waste the most amazing pie she'd ever tasted. After she took the last bite, Joel said, “Let's go home.”

She smiled and then searched the hall for Tim. He stood along the far wall, arms folded, talking with Samuel's father. Karina and her mother-in-law, who held onto Samantha's finger as she practiced her standing, sat at a table nearby.

Charlie and Eve stood near the head table, talking with Leona.

Shani put her fork down.

“I'll tell Tim we're ready,” Joel said. “He can ride with me.”

“Thank you,” Shani said, reaching for the baby. “Maybe he'll actually talk with another man.”

It took a while for Joel to pull Tim away. He seemed to be enjoying himself. He didn't hug Eve, but he did pat her on the shoulder, and then he shook Charlie's hand.

Gratitude swept over Shani. And there was more to be thankful
for. Eve had passed her GED and her driver's tests. Charlie would start the new job in Lancaster in early July.

No doubt there would be more bumps in the road. In the meantime, she was thankful that the Lehman children were keeping Zane grounded and away from the drama of the Englisch world. He much preferred playing with them to video games and school dances.

Joel motioned toward the door, and Shani followed, stopping to hug Charlie and Eve on the way. “See you soon,” Eve said, holding her and Adam tight.

Tim walked with Joel to his pickup, and a couple of minutes later they pulled around by her van while she buckled Adam into his car seat.

Then she followed her husband toward home. By the time they reached Lancaster County, the baby began to cry. By the time she turned onto Juneberry Lane, he was screaming.

“We'll be home soon,” she cooed. “But first we need to stop at the neighbors.” As she followed Joel down the Lehmans' driveway, the children started to run toward the pickup, followed by Monika, who had Trudy on her hip. Shani took Adam out of his car seat and positioned him on her shoulder. He immediately stopped crying.

“How was it?” Monika asked Tim.

“Different,” he answered.

Monika searched Shani's face, and Shani smiled back at her, mouthing, “Everything's fine.” Then she said out loud, “I can give you a ride home.”

“Denki, but Jenny's spending the night with Lila—we arranged that with Tim beforehand—and I already have a ride.” The woman's eyes sparkled.

“Really?” Shani shifted Adam to her hip so he could see the others.

Monika grinned. “Gideon. He's taking me out to dinner.”

Shani couldn't help but smile back. She hugged Monika, and the older woman began to laugh. “Stop,” she said. “I don't want to make a big deal out of this. Not yet, anyway.” She pulled away and said, “You and Joel go on home. You've had a long day.”

Shani motioned to Zane and then asked, “Do you want a ride?”

“No, I'll run home.” But he didn't. He continued his conversation with Simon.

Tim turned to Joel and shook his hand. “Denki,” he said. “For everything. You and Shani have been good neighbors to my family—to all of us.”

Rose slipped to Shani's side and hugged her. Shani hugged her back. And then Lila. Daniel stepped closer and she hugged him too. Then Simon. Finally she kissed Trudy, still in Monika's arms, on top of her head, silently vowing to care for each of the Lehman children as much as Tim would let her. Joel and Tim didn't say anything but their eyes were both shining.

Tim's voice had a roughness to it—but not a sharpness—as he said, “I'm not saying everything's going to be smooth from now on.”

“Of course not,” Joel replied. “How could it?” They both laughed.

Zane took off running toward the field, and Simon and Daniel followed. Lila, Jenny, and Rose stayed behind.

Tim yelled, “Be back in fifteen minutes to do the chores!”

“Come down for supper when you're done,” Shani said, a little surprised by her spontaneous invitation. She had hamburger patties in the freezer. They'd barbecue. “The girls can come down now with Trudy—they can help me.”

Tim didn't answer for a long moment, and Shani's face began to grow warm. Maybe she was out of line to invite them. But then Tim said to Lila, “Go get Trudy's car seat. You girls go with Shani. The boys and I'll be down as soon as we're done.”

“Denki,” Joel said.

As she fastened Adam back into his car seat and Lila secured Trudy, Shani thought of Eve, after they'd first met, quoting the verse: “
Love thy neighbor as thyself
.” Shani would strive to love Tim and the Lehman children, Monika and Gideon, and Eve and Charlie as herself. To want the best for them. To support them. To pray for them.

And Joel too. Especially Joel. And her own boys.

As she drove the van down Juneberry Lane, the green canopy of the maple trees swaying overhead, gratitude flooded through Shani. Her grandfather's farm had proven to be a place of healing for her family.

It wasn't a perfect place—but it was the right place. They'd found a home where they could learn to love. A place where hope and joy and peace could grow, thanks to their Amish neighbors.