An Unbroken Heart (13 page)

“Neither do I.” Asa ran his hand over his face. “You're going to think I lost
mei
mind. Everyone else does.”

Andrew gave him a steady look. “I'm sure I won't.”

“God spoke to me, Andrew. Like, in words. I heard them in
mei
head, plain as I can
hear you talking to me now.”

“Okay.” Andrew nodded. So far his friend didn't sound crazy.

“There's more. God said I had to leave everything and everybody behind and come back
to Birch Creek. Do you know how hard that was?
Mei
life was perfect. A great job,
an amazing girlfriend,
mei familye
, lots of friends . . . and he wanted me to walk
away from it all.”

“Why?”

“I don't know!” Asa started to pace. “This was right after Christopher contacted
me about the
haus
, and I came to check on the place. I figured I was homesick and
all the stuff I was hearing was in
mei
head.” He stopped and looked at Andrew. “I
meant to let you know I was in town. I was looking forward to seeing some old friends,
checking things out around here, and then returning to Indiana and
mei
girl. But
the
daag
I arrived, God spoke to me, right in the middle of piles of rotting garbage.
He told me to stay. That I
had
to stay.” His voice cracked. Then he cleared his throat
and gave Andrew a half-grin. “Told you. Crazy.”

Andrew didn't know what to say. Sure, he'd felt God's presence in his life. Had thought
he'd even “heard” his voice, although it wasn't in words. His mother had talked about
God speaking to her, so he wasn't completely taken off guard. This seemed different,
though, and whatever Asa had heard had upset him. Andrew put his hand on his friend's
shoulder. “Couldn't you and
yer maedel
have gotten married and moved here?”

Asa shook his head, pain in his eyes. “When God told me to leave everything, he meant
it. I had to come here with nothing. That sleeping bag I've got upstairs? I found
it in the
haus
with the rest of the trash. I don't have a job, a horse, or a buggy.
I sold everything I owned.”

He was sleeping on the floor? “Asa, I can get you a bed. You can borrow
mei
buggy
when
you
need it. Whatever is mine is
yers
until you get back on
yer
feet.”

“I can't borrow anything. Or take charity.”

“It's not charity.”

“That's not how this works. I have to allow God to provide.”

Now he really wasn't making any sense. “How do you know for sure this is what you're
supposed to do?”

“Because I tried to ignore God. I went back to Indiana and got fired from
mei
job.
Mei
boss didn't tell me why, just said I wasn't needed anymore. The
haus
I was building
for Susanna and I to move into after we got married? Burned down to the ground. The
axle on
mei
buggy broke, and
mei
horse went lame . . . but I didn't start listening
until Susanna got sick.” His eyes welled up with tears, something Andrew had never
seen before. “Pneumonia. She was in the hospital. For three
daags
. I prayed for her
to be healed, and she wasn't getting any better. That's when I heard God again, and
I knew if she was going to get well I would have to do what he said. I ended things
with her. I broke her heart.” He swallowed. “When I left for Birch Creek, she came
home from the hospital.”

Andrew couldn't believe what he was hearing. Then an uncertain thought entered his
mind. Was he following God's will by marrying Joanna?

“I know what you're thinking,” Asa said.

You have
nee
idea.

“You're wondering how I bought the
haus
if I don't have any money. I used all
mei
savings, including what I'd put aside for the wedding.” He wiped at his eyes, and
when he looked at Andrew the tears were gone. “I don't know what I'm doing here.
All I know is that God wants me in Birch Creek. Don't tell anyone what brought me
here. I don't want people to think I've gone off the deep end. I didn't even explain
it to
mei
parents.”

“I won't say a word,” Andrew promised, still trying to wrap his head around what
Asa was saying. If God told Andrew to leave everything and everyone he treasured,
could he do it? After almost losing Joanna and now knowing they would be married
soon, he didn't think he'd have the strength, even if it meant ignoring God's will.
But when he joined the church, wasn't that what he'd promised? To follow God's will?
Asa was doing just that, and it cost him everything. Andrew gained a newfound respect
for his friend.

“Enough about all that,” Asa said. He leaned against a graffiti-decorated wall. “What's
been going on in
yer
life?”

Glancing away, Andrew wasn't sure what to say. How could he tell Asa about Joanna?
It would be like tossing salt into a gaping wound.

“Now look who's dodging the subject. What aren't you telling me?” Asa crossed his
arms with a wry grin. “Let me guess—you're getting married.”

Wincing, Andrew said, “Um . . .
ya
.”

“Congratulations,” Asa said, sounding genuinely pleased. “Who's the lucky
maedel
?”

Taking his cue from Asa, Andrew finally smiled. “Joanna Schrock.”

“Really?”

His smile dimmed. “You sound surprised.”

“I guess I shouldn't be. You were always looking out for her in school.” He frowned.
“I was such a jerk to her.”

“You weren't as bad as Christopher and Thomas.” His jaw twitched at the memory of
how his friends used to pull pranks on her. Even though that was in the past and
Christopher and Thomas were both really great guys, he could still remember the shame
on her face and the pain in her eyes as she'd tried not to show how deeply they hurt
her.

“I still feel terrible about it. She's a nice
maedel
and didn't deserve the teasing.”
Asa tilted his head to the side. “I heard about the accident while I was in Indiana.
Is she okay?”

“She was hurt pretty bad.” He grimaced at the thought of her on crutches and the
scar on her face. “She's healing, though.”

“And she's okay with having the wedding so soon after the accident?”

Andrew nodded, pushing away another niggle of unease. “
Ya
. We didn't want to wait.”
I kept her waiting long enough.

Asa clapped Andrew on the shoulder. “When's the big event?”

“Two weeks. I'd like you to stand up for me, Asa.” He hadn't given much thought to
the details of the wedding. But now that Asa had returned, his friend was the natural
choice to stand by his side while he married Joanna. Still, he was unsure Asa would
agree, considering his own broken engagement. “I'd understand if you don't want to.”

“Of course I want to.” He grinned. “Looks like I returned just in time.” He glanced
down at his clothes, which were covered with a coating of dust. “Don't worry. I
did bring
mei
church clothes.”

His words brought Asa's circumstances back in focus. “Are you sure I can't do something
for you?”

“I'm sure. I've got to follow God's will. I learned the hard way what happens when
I don't. I am looking for work, though.”

“What did you do in Indiana?”

“Factory work. I learned some machining at
mei
old job.”

“Barton Plastics opened up three years ago in Langdon. Several men in the community
have jobs there.” Andrew paused. “That's not giving you too much help, is it?”

“Nope. I have to get the job myself.”

Andrew was glad to see Asa's typical good humor was back. A miracle, considering
what had happened to him. “Can you come to supper Monday?
Mamm
would like to see
you.”

Asa paused, as if mulling it over. Finally he said, “
Ya
. I can do that.”

“
Gut
. I'll let her know.”

With a relaxed smile Asa said, “Looking forward to it.”

As Andrew walked home from Asa's, he realized his friend would be okay despite his
struggles. And although Asa believed he had to do everything on his own, Andrew vowed
to be there when or if he needed him.

When he reached his house, Andrew stopped by the barn and took care of Jack and Fred,
his two horses. The chickens were roosting in their boxes for the night, and Andrew
noticed they now had a new one. One of Freemont's sons must have brought her over.
He patted Fred's flank, made a mental note to purchase hay for the winter soon,
then started to go inside. He paused. It was dark now, but a sliver of moonlight
shone on the property. He surveyed the backyard and thought about the addition he'd
told Joanna he would build on the house. Maybe he could hire
Asa to help him until
his friend found a job. He'd have to start soon if he was going to have the place
ready in two weeks. He rubbed the back of his neck, wishing he had more time. Then
he halted his thoughts. He couldn't keep second-guessing himself. He'd work around
the clock if he had to.

His mind full of building plans, Andrew walked into the house. His mother was sitting
in the living room, hand sewing the edges of a small lap quilt. She removed her reading
glasses as he shut the door. “How is Asa?” she asked.

“He's doing well.” Andrew would keep his promise to Asa and not reveal his secret.
“I invited him for supper on Monday.”

“Why not tomorrow?”

He took off his hat. For some reason his nerves twanged as she looked at him expectantly.
“I'm bringing Joanna by in the morning. We, uh . . . we have something to tell you.”

“Oh.” His mother didn't move, and Andrew noticed an unusual wariness in her eyes.
She looked at him for a long moment before finally speaking. “It will be nice to
see Joanna.”

His brow furrowed. Strange. He hadn't expected that response. Surely she knew they
were going to tell her they were engaged. Why else would he bring her over to make
an announcement? Yet she seemed more unsettled than happy.

She placed the folded quilt in a large basket on the floor next to her chair. “Andrew,
whatever
decision
you and Joanna have made, I hope you have both prayed about it
and
thought
it through.”

He hesitated. “We have.” Not exactly the truth, but he had prayed he'd have the chance
to make up for hurting her. And God had given him that chance.

“Andrew, marriage is a serious responsibility. You have to make sure you're making
the right decision.”

“Like
Daed
did with you?” He squeezed his hands into fists, then quickly unfurled
them. The accusation wasn't fair. His mother wasn't to blame for his father leaving
them. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.”

Mamm
rose, her back straight, her chin lifted. “
Yer vatter
and I have both made mistakes.
Neither of us would want you to repeat them.”

Andrew clamped his mouth shut before he said something else he would regret. Bartholomew
Beiler had made his choice, and it wasn't his family. Wondering why his mother wasn't
bitter stumped Andrew.

The hurt and defiance still in her eyes,
Mamm
said, “
Gute nacht
, Andrew.” She went
upstairs, not waiting for him to answer.

He dropped onto the hickory rocking chair. He should go after her and apologize again.
She didn't deserve his anger. His father did. Of course the man wasn't here to face
his broken family. Coward.

His hands clenched the arms of the chair. Most of the time he was able to keep his
resentment toward his father hidden, buried away so he didn't have to feel the anger
or betrayal. But every once in a while those emotions vaulted to the surface. He
forced them down again.

Once he and Joanna were married, he would be devoted to her. He would never hurt
her. Never leave her. He would be the man his father should have been.

Naomi shut the door to her bedroom, then placed her hand over her chest. Andrew's
words had stung, but that wasn't what upset
her. She understood his and Irene's pain.
Both her children kept their feelings about their father bottled tight. But sometimes
they leaked out, like they had with Andrew tonight. Over the years she wondered if
she had made the right decision, if she had handled their father's departure correctly.
She would probably second-guess herself for the rest of her life.

She couldn't focus on her doubts now. She had something more pressing to deal with.
Andrew and Joanna were getting married. She couldn't have picked a better wife for
Andrew. He and Joanna were perfect together, but not now. This was the worst possible
time for them to get married. What was either of them thinking?