Holding a Tender Heart (12 page)

Bishop Beiler squared his shoulders. “Then it will be taken care of. And you can give your regular confession the same Sunday he does. But the next time I will call for a knee confession. I'm warning you, Henry, so take this seriously.”

Henry didn't say anything, so Bishop Beiler headed back to his buggy. So this did involve Joe Weaver.
Well, confound it!
he thought as he untied Milo and climbed into the buggy. Joe would confess in front of the church or he'd never bring Verna home from a Sunday-night hymn singing again. He drove Milo down the road. Now he knew the answer to the question of the
Englisha
girl. Debbie could move into their place. If Henry was determined to make trouble for his family, then he'd better take all the steps to help himself he could. And having Debbie live with them might keep Lois at home. Who knew but that
Da Hah
had supplied this very answer for his problem and he'd been too blind to see it. What better help could there be for Lois than someone living in the house who knew the
Englisha
world so well and could warn against its dangers?

Bishop Beiler pondered the matter some more and felt a weight lift from his shoulders. This was indeed from
Da Hah
. The bishop hummed the Praise Song then allowed his voice to rise above the beat of Milo's hooves. Even when another buggy passed him, he waved and lowered the volume only a little. The day had turned
out pretty well after all. There was still the administration of church discipline that lay ahead, and what Verna likely would have to say when she heard about Joe's transgressions, but he could handle it. Verna would have to learn that he knew what he spoke of when it came to men. Maybe she would think twice about allowing Joe to bring her home again.

Ten

L
ater that evening Verna walked into the living room.
Mamm
was sitting on the couch with her hands clasped in front of her, a strained look on her face.
Daett
was in his rocker not smiling. Had she done something wrong? But what? “You called for me,
Daett
?” Verna asked.

Daett
cleared his throat. “A matter has come up that concerns you, and…”

“Me?” Verna sat on the couch. “I haven't done anything wrong.”

Her
daett
watched her intently and said, “If you'll let me finish, I'll tell you.”

Verna fell silent.
Daett
was about to tell her she couldn't see Joe Weaver again. But why? She felt the words to come would be like an ax falling toward a fallen tree limb, prepared to split it wide open. And she would split, Verna told herself. Her heart would tear at the seams. How could
Daett
do this to her? And for no reason at all! The date with Joe had gone so well.

Verna's thoughts hung in the air as her
daett
spoke again. “It has come to my attention that Joe Weaver is driving
Englisha
vehicles at the auction barn in Belleville. The ministry will be asking him to make a church confession on the matter. Normally you wouldn't be
told about these church matters, Verna, but since you're seeing the boy, I thought you should know.”

“But,
Daett
, Joe already told me”.

Bishop Beiler raised his eyebrows. “You knew of this?”

Verna clutched the side of the couch until her fingers hurt. “Joe told me in confidence as a confession, and it was intended to go no further.”

Bishop Beiler sighed. “I told you to stay away from the boy, Verna. Nothing
gut
is coming out of any of this. Perhaps you see now why Rosy dropped him. She probably found this out herself and had the
gut
sense to get out of the relationship. I wish I could say the same thing for you.” Bishop Beiler looked at Verna for a moment. “Or have you cut off the relationship and haven't told us?”

Verna struggled to find her voice. “No, I haven't…and I'm not going to. Something is going on here that's not right. Driving an
Englisha
vehicle isn't such a serious transgression of the
Ordnung
.”

“It's serious enough, Verna,”
Mamm
interrupted. “Were you not concerned when Joe told you?”

Verna winced. “Of course I was. But he's sorry,
Daett
. And he confessed on his own. Doesn't that mean anything?”

“Then he can say he's sorry to everyone,” Bishop Beiler told her. “Now I've said enough on the matter. Tomorrow when you see Joe, you can tell him what's coming. If he's really sorry, he can make his way over to Deacon Mast and save the poor man a trip on Saturday.
Da Hah
knows this church work wears us all down to the bone.”

Verna got to her feet and steadied herself with one hand on the couch. Her
daett
didn't seem to notice her discomfort.

“One thing more, Verna. There is a bit of
gut
news to come out of the day, I suppose. Debbie, your friend who wishes to board here and perhaps join the community later—I've decided to allow it. You can tell her whenever you wish. My house and heart are open to her request.”

You're trying to throw my boyfriend out of the house, but you're
welcoming in an Englisha girl?
Verna wanted to say. Instead, she whispered, “That is
gut
news indeed,
Daett
.”

“
Yah
, it is.” Bishop Beiler settled back into his rocker. “You know I work hard to keep my own family in
Da Hah
's will. But with Lois I seem to have failed completely. Perhaps we can do some
gut
to someone who sees value in our faith and, at the same time, maybe Debbie can help us with Lois.”

Right after noticing
Mamm
's sympathetic glance, Verna fled toward the stairs. At least someone was concerned about how she felt about Joe! And
Daett
hadn't demanded she cut off her friendship with Joe and send him down the road like Rosy had. So was
Daett
trying to understand? And she must likewise try to understand where he was coming from. In the church world certain things must be done, and her
daett
was only doing his duty.

Why hadn't she been born the daughter of an ordinary man? To some
daett
who sat on the church benches each Sunday, farmed during the week, and gave no thought to how people watched and criticized every move he made. How peaceful that life would be. But it was sinful to wish one were in a different place from what
Da Hah
had willed. That much she knew. “Please forgive me, dear
Hah
,” Verna whispered as she rushed into her room. “I'm trying to be content, but it's so hard. What if I lose Joe through this? It can't happen! It just can't!” She threw herself on the bed and buried her face in her pillow. She had to gain control of her emotions, but how? This was her first serious chance at love, and her heart would surely break if she had to stop seeing Joe. Should she tell Joe on Sunday night about the problem? Maybe that was the way out of this situation. She could act innocent and allow Deacon Mast to arrive the following Saturday afternoon and tell Joe himself. That way she could enjoy Sunday night with Joe, and they wouldn't have to speak about this church problem. On second thought, how could she be so devious? It would involve a front of cheerfulness all Sunday evening while her heart would be in an agony of suspense. And what if Joe found out
later that she knew and hadn't told him? Hadn't he taken her into his confidence about the incident to begin with? He would expect her to watch out for him.

Nee
, if their relationship had any chance of survival, she would have to tell him. It was the only honest thing to do. Surely Joe would understand. She'd explain what she'd been told, which wasn't that much.
Yah
, she would tell him, Verna decided, as she sat up on the bed. It was high time she acted her age. There were more profitable things to fill the evening with than tears. The first was the matter of
Daett
's decision on Debbie. She must be told, or rather her sisters should hear it first—Lois especially. Perhaps afterward they could all walk down and tell Debbie the
gut
news.

A faint smile spread over Verna face.
Yah
, that would be
gut
. They were sisters, and like sisters they should go together. Verna walked across the hallway to Ida's room and rapped on the door.

“Come in!” Ida called out.

Verna opened the door to find Ida on her bed, her nose in a book.

“Reading, huh?”

Ida looked up, her gaze searching Verna's face. “What have you been crying about?”

Vern looked away. “Nothing much.”

Ida didn't appear convinced. “I heard
Daett
's voice downstairs. Was that it?”

“
Yah
, but it doesn't matter now. What I wanted to ask…will you go with me down to Debbie's place to tell her
Daett
says she can move in whenever she wishes? I thought it would be nice if all three of us went—you, Lois, and me. Sort of like sisters inviting another sister into the family.”

Ida's face brightened. “That would be
gut
! I'm glad it's happening.” She got up and laid her book on the bed. “Let's go. I'll finish when I get back.”

“What are you reading?” Verna glanced at the cover.

“One of Christmas Carol Kaufman's books—
Light from Heaven
. It's
gut
reading.”

Verna grimaced. “Sorry, but the main character joins a more liberal church, so you'd better keep the book out of sight right now.
Daett
's on the warpath.”

Ida's hand reached out for Verna's. “Did
Daett
make you cut off your relationship with Joe? Is that it?”

Verna shook her head as they went out into the hall and headed toward Lois's room. Verna didn't knock before she stuck her head in. “Ready for a little jaunt, sister?”

“Where to?” Lois asked.

“Down to Debbie's.
Daett
just told me she can move in if she still wants to.”

“Of course I'll come!” Lois's feet hit the floor, and she quickly appeared in the doorway.

“Which room will be hers?” Ida asked.

“I think she should have my room,” Lois offered. “I'll take the guest room across from Emery.”

“You just want a new room!” Verna said as she snickered.

“I do not!” Lois protested. “It's for practical reasons. Debbie would feel more at home closer to the two of you.”

“I thought she was also your friend,” Ida said as they went down the stairs and stepped into the living room.

“She is, but…” Lois stopped as her
daett
looked up and saw them.

“Off to somewhere?” he asked.

“A sisterly stroll down to Debbie's,” Verna said.

He looked pleased as they went out the front door.

Lois ran on ahead once they reached the driveway. She did a little dance on the blacktop road. An
Englisha
car came from the west and slowed down. The passengers waved with broad smiles on their faces.

“I think I'm blushing bright red and pink,” Verna told Ida. “That was probably a sight no tourist ever saw before. An Amish girl doing a jig for them.”

“At least there were no cameras snapping pictures,” Ida pointed out.

Verna laughed. “They probably dropped them from their astonishment.”

“
Yah
, and broke the lenses to pieces.” Ida glanced at Verna, who broke into giggles.

“What are you two laughing at?” Lois hollered over her shoulder as she did another twirl on the road.

“
You
, of course! Stop it now,” Verna told her. “Debbie's parents will think we've all lost our minds.”

Lois held still and waited for the two to catch up. Then she deadpanned, “I think I'm leaving now that Debbie's moving in. That's the real reason I want the guest room. I won't be around much longer.”