GOODBYE to YESTERDAY (5 page)

“I’m sure it will all work out, Son.” Dad stopped grooming Dobbin long enough to give Luke’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “It never hurts to learn another skill. Leaving is the hard part, but once you’re home, you’ll be glad you made the decision.”

“Thanks, Dad. Talking to you always makes me feel better about things.”

Dad smiled; then he put the brush away, slipped out of his horse’s stall, and closed the door. “Let me give your horse some food and water, and we’ll head up to the house and see if your mamm’s got supper ready.” He grinned at Luke. “Don’t know about you, but I’m feelin’ pretty
hungerich
right now. And how about you, Fritz? Are you hungry?” he asked, pointing at Luke’s dog.

Woof! Woof!
Fritz bounded over, forgetting all about the cats for the time being.

Luke chuckled and thumped his stomach as it growled noisily. “Guess it’s pretty obvious that I’m hungry, too.”

“It was nice of you to invite us over for supper this evening,” Meredith said as she helped her mother-in-law, Sadie, set the table.

Sadie smiled, her hazel-colored eyes fairly twinkling. “We’re glad you could come.”

Luke’s mother was always so cheerful. In fact, Sadie’s radiant smile was contagious, and at the age of sixty-seven, she still had the cutest little dimples. Just being around her made Meredith feel at ease.

“I think Fritz was glad he was allowed to come with us. In fact, I believe the pup loves coming over here almost as much as we do.” Meredith had nicknamed Luke’s dog “the pup” soon after she’d married Luke.

“He sure is a good dog.” Sadie grinned as she placed a pitcher of water on the table. “That first night when the puppy was brought home, Luke slept on the floor next to the box he had fixed up for Fritz. After that, they were inseparable.”

“I can understand. I’ve gotten pretty attached to Fritz as well.”

“So, tomorrow’s the big day, jah?” Sadie asked.

Meredith nodded. “Luke’s pretty excited about learning a new trade from his uncle.”

“And well he should be. He’s been without work far too long, and engraving headstones is a needed thing.” Sadie’s tone had become more serious. “I think it’ll provide you and Luke with a good living and a job he shouldn’t have to worry about losing.”

“I hope so. If it were any other time of the year, I might be more comfortable with the idea of Luke traveling and being away from home. If only it was spring or summer. Then, too, I’d have more to keep me busy outside in the warmer weather, like gardening and yard work, so I could keep my mind off Luke being gone.” Meredith sighed deeply. “I just wish he didn’t have to travel in this cold, snowy weather.”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine, and you will be, too, Meredith,” Sadie said with a wave of her hand. “Those bus drivers know how to handle their vehicles in all kinds of weather. You have to remember they’re trained for that.”

Meredith nibbled on her lower lip as she looked out the kitchen window at the snow. “That’s what my friend Dorine said, too.”

Sadie slipped her arm around Meredith’s waist. “Just give your worries to the Lord, like the Bible says we should do.”

“I’m trying to do that, Sadie.” Meredith managed a weak smile. “I think I’ll feel better once I know Luke has arrived safely at his uncle’s place. Then I’ll just have to get through a few weeks before he comes home. There are days when I think I’ll be able to handle it and then other times when I get really scared just thinking about it.”

“Would you like to stay here with us while Luke is gone? You can bring Fritz along, too.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m sure I’ll be fine at home. I’ve already started a to-do list and plan to use the time he’s away to get some things done that I’ve been wanting to do. Keeping busy will be my remedy for loneliness.” Once Meredith found out whether she was pregnant, she planned to clean and organize the room that would become the baby’s nursery. But no way was she going to share her suspicions with Luke’s mom about being in a family way. Not until she’d told Luke.

“Keeping busy should help,” Sadie said, pushing her glasses back in place. She lifted the lid on the pot of potatoes, poked them with a fork, and turned off the stove. “You know, in the forty-seven years Elam and I have been married we’ve never been apart for more than a few days.”

“Really?”

“That’s right, and the few times we were apart was because Elam had to go away on business when he owned the bulk food store.”

Sadie carried the kettle over to the sink and poured the water out. “But even during those times it wasn’t so bad, because I had our
kinner
to keep me company. Of course, all the boys missed Elam, and everyone was glad when he returned home.”

Meredith sighed. “I’ll be glad when Luke gets back from Indiana.”

“Of course you will. Elam and I will be, too. With him being our youngest son and the only one living here in Bird-in-Hand, we’re kind of partial to him.” Sadie chuckled. “Course we love all five of our sons. It’s just that we feel a bit closer to Luke.”

“Is someone in here talkin’ about me?” Luke asked as he and Elam entered the kitchen. Fritz followed close behind with his nose in the air.

Sadie gave Luke a hug. “It’s a mother’s right and privilege to talk about her son whenever she wants.” She reached down to pet Luke’s dog. “Hey there, boy. I made something special for you to eat.”

Fritz’s short tail wagged enthusiastically. Luke grinned and gave Meredith a wink. She was glad he had such a good relationship with his parents.

“Sure is a nice clear night,” Luke said as he and Meredith walked hand in hand toward their house later that evening. In his other hand he held a battery-operated lantern to light their way. “Would you like to sit out on the porch awhile and look at the stars like we used to do when we were courting?”

“That sounds nice. I’ll fix some hot chocolate for us to enjoy as we watch for falling stars.”

“Sounds good to me. Would you like me to help?”

“No, that’s all right, I can manage.” Meredith motioned to the wooden bench that Luke had made last summer. “Just take a seat and relax. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Okay.” When Meredith went inside, Luke set the lantern on a small table, took a seat, and pulled the collar of his jacket up around his neck. It might be a clear night, but it sure was chilly.
Maybe I oughta go inside and get a blanket we can wrap up in
, he thought.

Luke was almost to the door when it opened suddenly and Meredith handed him a small quilt. “Thought we’d probably need this,” she said, smiling at him.

“Guess we’re thinking alike‘cause I was about to come inside and get one myself.”

“I’ll be back with the hot chocolate soon.”

When she disappeared into the house, Luke took a seat and stared up at the sky. Ever since he was a boy he’d enjoyed watching the stars. It was fun to look for the Big Dipper and all of the other constellations. The night sky was beautiful with the bright moon and billions of twinkling stars.

Luke was also captivated seeing airplanes whiz across the sky. If he was looking in the right spot, occasionally he’d see a satellite move silently across the night sky.
I can’t even imagine what it’s like to be up in the sky like that, looking down at the earth
, he thought.

Early on in their courtship, Luke had told Meredith how interested he was in flying and how he’d often wished he was a bird. He’d laughed when Meredith said she was keeping both of her feet on the ground, where they belonged. Luke knew he’d probably never get the opportunity to fly because taking trips by plane wasn’t allowed in their Amish community. But it gave him something to daydream about.

Interrupting Luke’s musings, Meredith reappeared, this time carrying a tray with two mugs of hot chocolate.

“Oh, good, I see you didn’t forget the marshmallows,” Luke said, grinning at her.

“Of course not. I know how much you love marshmallows.” Meredith set the tray on the table and handed Luke a mug. Then she wrapped her fingers around the second mug as she sat down beside him. “I heated the milk extra hot, so you’d better sip it slowly at first,” she cautioned.

He placed the quilt across both of their laps. “Are you warm enough, Merrie?”

“I’m fine. The hot chocolate will help warm our insides, too.”

They sat in quiet camaraderie, drinking their hot chocolate and watching the stars, as a hoot owl serenaded them from one of the trees in their yard.

Meredith giggled.

“What’s so funny?” Luke asked, blowing at the steam rising from his mug.

“You have melted marshmallow right there.” Meredith pointed to his upper lip.

Luke laughed and swiped his tongue over the sweet-tasting foam.

“I probably have some marshmallow on my face, too.” Meredith snickered and licked her lips. “Wow, the stars are so vivid tonight,” she said, pointing above. “Oh, look—there’s a falling star, Luke.”

“I’m not superstitious, but I’ve heard it said that a falling star is a sign of good luck and that seeing one means something good’s about to happen.”

“We need something good to happen, all right,” Meredith said.

“Guess we’d better not stay out here too much longer, though. I’ll need to pack in the morning so I’m ready to go when my driver comes in the afternoon to take me to Lancaster to catch the bus.” Luke reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his gold pocket watch.
“Die zeit fer ins bett is nau.”

Meredith sighed. “I don’t want it to be time to go to bed yet. Just a little while longer, Luke. I’m not quite ready for the night to end.”

“I know. I’d like nothin’ more than to sit out here with you, watching the stars clear into the wee hours of the morning, but unfortunately, it’s not an option. Not if I want to be awake and fully functioning in the morning.”

“Could we sit for a few more minutes?” she asked.

“Jah, okay, but just a few.” Luke was excited about his new venture, but he felt a bit edgy about things, just as his wife probably did. Tomorrow was a new beginning, but they’d also be saying goodbye. Even just a temporary separation made the situation that much harder for him.

“Mom said she invited you to stay with them while I’m gone,” Luke said as Meredith snuggled closer. “Do you think you should take her up on that offer?”

Meredith shook her head. “I’ll be fine here by myself, Luke. I’ll have the pup, and I don’t want you to worry about me, okay?”

He nuzzled her neck with his cold nose. “I won’t, if you promise not to worry about me.”

She gave no reply.

“Merrie, do you promise?”

“I’ll try not to worry,” she finally said. “I’m going to try and do as your mamm suggested and put my trust in the Lord.”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Now that’s the kind of talk I like to hear from my fraa.”

They sat awhile longer, reminiscing about their courting days. Although tonight was special, being on the porch in the quietness of the dark, it was hard not to think about what tomorrow would bring. It was strange, but Luke felt the same sense of loneliness as he imagined the hooting owl must be feeling—listening and waiting for an answer from its mate.

M
eredith sighed as she put the of Luke’s clothes in his suitcase and closed the lid. She wished he wasn’t leaving for Indiana. She wished she could talk him out of going. But all the wishing in the world wouldn’t change a thing, and it was pointless to keep dwelling on it.

Wiping sweaty hands down the front of her dress, she moved over to the bedroom window. The once-clear morning sky had turned gray, with thickening clouds, a heavy mist, and temperatures hovering near freezing, which could easily cause the roads to ice up. It appeared, from what she’d read in this morning’s newspaper, to be the leading edge of a storm front—perhaps a major one. Why today, of all days, when Luke would be traveling, did the weather have to turn sour? This only fueled Meredith’s anxiety over him leaving. Yesterday’s weather was most likely the “calm before the storm.”

Dear Lord, please keep Luke safe
, she prayed.
Let this trip be the right decision for our future
.

“What are you thinkin’ about, Merrie? You looked like you were a million miles away,” Luke said, stepping up behind Meredith and slipping his arms around her waist.