A Season of Love (7 page)

“
Danki
for talking with us this evening,” Lindsay began. “I recently went to Virginia to take care of
mei aenti
Trisha who had broken her
beh.
”

Abner fingered his beard. “
Ya
, I’d heard that. How is she?”

“Better,” Lindsay said. “She’s walking with a special cast now.”

“That’s
gut
news,” Abner said. “Praise God.”

“Ya.”
Lindsay cleared her throat. It was time to get to the real purpose of her meeting with the bishop. No more small talk. “Before I left for Virginia Beach, I wasn’t certain where I belonged.”

“Where you belonged?” The bishop shook his head. “I don’t understand. Do you mean where you’re supposed to live?”

“Partly that.” Lindsay folded her hands in her lap. “What I mean is, I didn’t know if I should be in the Amish or the English world.
Mei schweschder
, Jessica, was constantly pressuring me to go back to school and join her at college, but that never felt right to me. However, I wasn’t ready to be baptized either.” She paused to gather her thoughts. “But after spending several weeks back in Virginia Beach, I realized I belong right here.” She looked at her uncle, who smiled. She was thankful he was sitting next to her.

Abner nodded. “I see. I’m glad God put that in your heart and you listened to Him.”

“He did put it in my heart, and I heard Him loud and clear.” Lindsay agreed with an emphatic nod. “I’ve come to accept that although
mei schweschder
and I had the same parents, we’re very different. She’s living a life meant for her, and this life here is meant for me.” She tapped the chair as she spoke.

“
Gut
. That’s very nice to hear.” The bishop glanced at Daniel. “I’m certain you, Rebecca, and the
kinner
are glad Lindsay is staying.”

“We are,” Daniel said. “She’s a part of our family, and we love having her with us.”

“Danki.”
Lindsay said. Seeing her uncle’s smile gave her the burst of confidence she needed to continue with what she wanted to say. She looked at Abner. “I want to be baptized with
mei freinden.
”

The bishop’s bushy gray eyebrows flew to his hairline. “Lindsay, you’ve missed too many lessons to make up at this point.”
His expression softened. “You can join another class with a neighboring district next year. I’ll speak to the bishop if you’d like me to.”

She shook her head. “I’d prefer not to wait on this, Bishop. It’s very important to me.”

“I realize that, but it will still be important to you next year.” He fingered his beard. “It wouldn’t be fair to the rest of the class after all of the lessons they’ve had.”

“Oh, I know that.” She sat up straighter. “I’ll make up all of the lessons.”

“I know Lindsay will keep her word and make up all of the lessons,” Daniel chimed in. “And I’m certain you remember you helped
mei bruder
Timothy’s wife, Miriam, make up her lessons and allowed her to be baptized with a class that had begun before she joined them.”

“Ya
,
”
Lindsay said. “I’ll do exactly as
mei aenti
Miriam did. I’ll come over and meet with you whenever it’s convenient for you, and I’ll do whatever I need to do. It means that much to me.”

The bishop paused for a moment with a thoughtful expression. “Why do you want to be baptized, Lindsay?”

Lindsay glanced at her uncle, and he nodded with another encouraging expression. She then turned back to the bishop. “I want to be baptized so I can live the life I believe God wants me to live. Being Amish is what I’m meant to be.” She thought of her experience volunteering at the nursing home. “While I was staying with my aunt and uncle in Virginia Beach, I volunteered in a nursing
heemet
on Saturdays as part of a church project. During my time there, I met an Old Order Amish woman from Pennsylvania who’d had a stroke and could only speak
Dietsch.
Her name was Mrs. Fisher.”

She pointed to her chest. “I was the only person who could communicate with Mrs. Fisher. She fell and I was there to help her tell the nurses she’d hurt her
beh
.” Tears filled her eyes.
“And I helped her write a letter to her estranged
dochder
in California before she passed away unexpectedly.”

“I’m
froh
you were there to help her, Lindsay,” Abner said with a sympathetic expression. “You were a blessing to her.”

“Danki.”
Lindsay sniffed and swiped her fingers over her tears. “I did what I felt God wanted me to do, and I came to realize my being Amish is the most important part of my life.” She folded her hands as if pleading with the bishop. “Please let me join the current baptism instruction session. It would mean so much to me and
mei freinden.
”

The old man rubbed his beard and looked out past the porch.

“Please, Bishop Chupp,” she added. “I promise I’ll attend the lessons, and I’ll do my very best to get caught up with the current class. I’ll be ready when the baptism day arrives.”

Meeting her gaze, compassion glimmered in the bishop’s eyes. “You’re absolutely certain about this, Lindsay?”

She nodded. “There’s no doubt in my mind.”

“This is a very serious decision,” he said. “It’s not one to be taken lightly. Once you’ve joined, you’re in for life.”

“I know,” Lindsay said. “My mom made
mei aenti
Rebecca our guardian because her heart was still here even years after she left the community to marry my dad. I feel I’m closer to her now that I’m here. That’s not why I want to join the church, but it gives me extra comfort in making this decision. I know in my heart it’s the right time for me to make the commitment to Christ and my community.”

“Abner,” Daniel began. “Rebecca and I each have talked to Lindsay about this, and we’ve discussed it at length with each other as well.” He placed his hand on Lindsay’s shoulder. “Rebecca and I both feel Lindsay is serious in her commitment to the church. If I didn’t feel this decision was right for her, I wouldn’t be here supporting her and talking to you right now.”

Lindsay smiled at her uncle. She was so thankful for his words of support.

Abner was silent for a moment. “Next week we’ll begin your instruction,” he finally said to Lindsay. “Be here next Monday at six.”

“I will!
Danki!
” With her own hands trembling with excitement, Lindsay stood and shook his hand.

“
Danki
, Abner,” Daniel said. He also shook the bishop’s hand. “This means a lot to our family.”

“Gern gschehne
,
”
the bishop said.

He and Daniel made small talk about the weather before Daniel started down the porch steps. “
Danki
again, Abner. I appreciate your time with us.”

“
Danki
so much,” Lindsay repeated. She started toward the buggy, her heart pounding with excitement.

“Gut nacht
,
”
Abner called after them.

Lindsay waved to Abner and then continued toward the buggy. She climbed in next to her uncle and smiled at him. “
Danki
for bringing me here,
Onkel
Daniel. And
danki
for all you said to the bishop. I don’t think I could’ve done this without you.”

“Gern gschehne
,
”
he said, gripping the reins. “I think it went very well. Now let’s get you to the youth gathering.”

“I’ll see you later tonight,” Lindsay said as she climbed out of the buggy in Lizzie Anne’s driveway.

“Have fun,” Daniel said.

“I will,” Lindsay replied. “I’ll get a ride
heemet
with Samuel and Katie.” She rushed toward the barn. She couldn’t wait to tell her friends the news. She’d left a message for Matthew earlier in the day telling him she was going to meet with the bishop before the youth gathering and found him waiting for her outside the barn.

He raised his eyebrows in question as she approached, and she couldn’t stop a smile from appearing on her face.

“Wie geht’s
,
”
Matthew called. “From the excited look on your face, I guess your meeting with the bishop went well?”

“It did,” she said, her voice bubbling with her excitement. She clasped her hands together. “I can’t believe it! He said yes! He gave me permission to make up the discussions I’ve missed, and I’ll be baptized with
mei freinden.
”

“That’s
wunderbaar
, Lindsay.” Matthew chuckled. “You’re really that surprised?”

“Of course I am.” Lindsay turned toward him. “He said I can make up the classes beginning next week Monday.” She shared the conversation she’d had with the bishop, and Matthew listened with interest.

“I’m so
froh
,” Matthew said. “What
wunderbaar
news.”

“Do you think I said the right things?” Lindsay asked, hoping for his approval.

Matthew’s face assumed a serious expression. “Lindsay, I’ve figured out a couple of things about you since we became
freinden.
”

She held her breath.

“First of all,” he began, “you’re very, very smart. And you’re always genuine. I don’t think you have a dishonest bone in your body. So please stop doubting yourself because I could never doubt you.”

Speechless, she nodded.

“Now,” he said, gesturing toward the barn door. “Let’s go see our
freinden
before we miss the whole event.”

“That sounds like a
wunderbaar
idea,” Lindsay said as they began to walk toward the barn door, where voices rang out in High German while the youth members sang hymns from the
Ausbund.

They stepped into the barn and Lindsay glanced around, finding Katie, Lizzie Anne, and Samuel sitting together on a bench. Lindsay dropped down next to Lizzie Anne, while Matthew sat beside Samuel.

“You look awfully excited, Lindsay. What’s going on?” Lizzie Anne asked with a grin.

Katie leaned toward Lindsay. “That’s what I was going to ask.”

“I went to see the bishop,” Lindsay said looking between her friends. “And I’m joining your baptism class.”

Both of her friends pulled her into a hug at the same time. Lindsay smiled and spotted several people turning around to see what the fuss was.

“We’re attracting attention again,” Lindsay said.

“I don’t care,” Katie said, smiling. “I’m glad you made this decision. It will be nice for us all to join the church together.”

“I agree,” Lizzie Anne chimed in. “This is how it should be.”

“Ya
,
”
Lindsay said, pushing her ribbons behind her shoulder. “It is.”

“This is
wunderbaar gut
,” Lizzie Anne said. “We’re all going to be baptized together. Can you tell me about your conversation with the bishop? I know it’s very personal, but I’m really surprised you went to see him. Would you mind telling us?”

“
Ya
, I can tell you,” Lindsay said with a shrug. “I’m not embarrassed. He was very nice.”

“Let’s go outside and talk so we don’t disturb anyone,” Katie suggested.

Katie stood with Lizzie Anne and Lindsay outside the barn while they listened to the story of Lindsay’s visit to the bishop.

“That’s
wunderbaar
!” Katie said, clapping her hands together. “I’m so glad you went to visit him.”

“Ya!”
Lizzie Anne hugged Lindsay again. “You were very brave.”

“I’m thankful
Onkel
Daniel went with me,” Lindsay said. “He really gave me strength. He also said some really nice things that I believe helped the bishop decide to let me make up
the discussions. I couldn’t have done it without
Onkel
Daniel.” She gestured toward Matthew and Samuel, who were standing together and talking several yards away. “Look at them. Isn’t it funny how Matthew and Samuel are good friends like you and I are, Lizzie Anne?”

Katie felt herself bristle at the comment. “Am I invisible?” she asked, forcing a laugh to try to make it sound like a joke.

“No,” Lindsay said quickly. “I’m sorry, Katie. I didn’t mean to make it sound like you weren’t here. I was just saying it’s funny how Samuel and Matthew are good friends, and Lizzie Anne and I like them. That’s all I meant.”

“Ya
,
”
Lizzie Anne chimed in. “The three of us are best
freinden
, like always. Best
freinden
forever.”

“I just need to find a
bu
to like, ya?” Katie asked.

“Ya!”
Lindsay and Katie said in unison.

Lizzie Anne pointed at a group of boys standing over by the fence. “How about Rueben? He’s nice.”

Katie scrunched her nose and shook her head. “No, he’s too hyper. He never sits still and he twitches.”

“How do you know he twitches?” Lindsay looked confused.

“I sat next to him in school, and his leg was always bobbing up and down. It was like he had too much nervous energy.” Katie frowned. “Trust me.”

Lindsay laughed.

Lizzie Anne pointed to another young man. “What about Jason? He’s handsome, no?”

“No,” Katie said. “Talks too loud. He used to give me a headache in school.”

Lizzie Anne and Lindsay both laughed.

Lizzie Anne gestured toward another young man. “Joey is nice. He always smiles at you.”

Katie’s expression transformed to disbelief. “Joey? His suspenders are always crooked.”

“What?” Lindsay asked with surprise. “Are you serious,
Katie? That’s ridiculous.” She nodded toward another boy. “What about Merv? He’s really nice.”

Katie shook her head. “He always misses a snap on his shirt.” She pointed toward the group. “And don’t even mention Titus. His one boot is untied. I’m surprised he hasn’t fallen yet tonight.”

Lindsay and Lizzie Anne burst into laughter, and Katie couldn’t help but join in. Oh, how she loved these fun moments with her two best friends! She wished they would last forever.