A Time to Love (24 page)

He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Josiah.

"How is she?"

"She'll be fine," he said and his voice sounded shaky. "Just some bruising and—a sprained wrist."

Josiah nodded. He stroked his beard as he stared at Matthew.

They watched another ambulance pull up at the emergency entrance.

"But being here makes you remember those last days with Amelia?"

"
Ya."
And there'd been the recent worries when Jenny had to have surgery. He'd failed her, not stood by her for the surgery or when she'd been worried about the extra tests. Matthew told himself that he hadn't been there to share her worries.

But Josiah didn't need to know all that. Matthew nodded, unable to speak.

"I don't like this place, either," Josiah said after a moment.

Matthew looked at him. "What?"

"My Ruth—" he stopped and stared at the hat he held in his hands.

"I'm sorry," Matthew said, feeling chastened. Josiah's wife had spent her last days here. It had to be as hard for him, too. But he'd only thought of himself. Not of Jenny. Not of this man who'd driven him here. Josiah might be a grumpy old man determined to cling to the way things had always been. He might have resisted Jenny being part of the community. But when Matthew needed a ride, Josiah had immediately given it to him.

"I need to go back in," Matthew said. He took a deep breath, let it out. Jenny might be frightened, too, being in a hospital after all she'd been through. He hadn't been there in New York. But he could be there for her now.

And just because he'd lost one wife early didn't mean that he'd lose another so soon. All was in God's plan, and he had to accept even as he didn't understand.

Straightening, he said, "I'll go back now."

"
Gut.
Do you want me to wait and give you a ride home?"

Matthew shook his head. "I'm hoping that they won't keep her. But thank you. Thank you for everything." He watched the older man open his mouth, then shut it.

"Is there something you wanted to say?"

"You can tell Phoebe to send me those articles she seemed to think I should read. That Jenny wrote."

"Okay," Matthew said slowly. "I'll do that."

"Doesn't mean that I think it's a good idea for you to be marrying an
Englischer.
Our worlds just don't mix."

"I guess we just have to agree to disagree."

Josiah nodded and turned to leave.

"Oh, Josiah?"

"Yes?" He turned back.

"If you could stop by my place and tell Hannah what happened and that I'll be home soon, I would appreciate it."

"
Ya,
I'll do that."

When Matthew walked back to see Jenny again, a nurse was explaining how she was to care for her wrist.

"The doctor is discharging her," Phoebe told him. "He doesn't think she has a concussion, but I'm to watch her tonight and call if I notice any symptoms." She held up the printed sheet of instructions.

When he continued to look at Jenny, she eyed him closely."Are you all right?"

He took a deep breath. "I am now."

Moving to the gurney, he bent to give her a hug, careful not to hold her too tightly. "I was so frightened when I saw you lying there."

"I'm sorry. I'm all right. But I want to go home. Please, can we go home now?"

"Let me go get us transportation." He cradled her cheeks in his hands and bent to kiss her. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Spring seemed over in a flash.

The season was so short in this part of the country, it seemed to Jenny, and then summer was upon them with a golden haze of heat.

She wiped the back of her hand over her forehead as she helped Phoebe with canning one afternoon.

"Hot work," Phoebe said, seeming unfazed by the heat. She lovingly lined up jars filled with summer's bounty—strawberry preserves, blackberry and blueberry jam, watermelon pickles, chowchow, bread and butter pickles, tomatoes, and more.

When they were finished, they sat and rewarded themselves with glasses of iced tea.

"What's your favorite season?" she asked her grandmother.

"The fall," Phoebe said instantly. "I love the colors of the leaves, the cooler weather. Looking at a harvest moon and knowing that soon the time of rest will come after all the hard work of harvesting has been done."

She took a sip of tea and smiled at Jenny. "What's your favorite?"

"I've always loved fall for the colors and the cooler weather. But I think I'll like this fall most of all."

"And would the reason be that you will be marrying Matthew?" Phoebe asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

Jenny laughed. "Of course."

She thought about how bitterly cold it had been when she came here. The weather had seemed to match her inner chill and misery.

The summer weather now reminded Jenny of when she'd visited her grandmother and developed a crush on Matthew. But this summer, when they went blueberry picking, they'd been a couple out with their children.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I've been here three seasons now," Jenny told her thoughtfully."Each has had something good and something that has been a challenge." She was silent for a moment. "Like the passage from Ecclesiastes: 'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.'"

Jenny tried to smother a yawn. She was not about to look tired when her grandmother still appeared to have the energy to go for hours.

"You should go rest," Phoebe told her. "We had a long morning."

"I'm not resting unless you do."

Phoebe chuckled. "You are a stubborn young woman."

"Hmm," said Jenny. "I wonder where I got that?"

"Fine, we'll have a rest." Phoebe got to her feet and started toward her room.

Jenny stood and stretched. The ache in her lower back was a good ache, from standing and working, not from injuries and surgeries. Still, it would be good to take a rest.

She got as far as her room when she heard the knock on the door.

"I'll get it," Jenny called to her grandmother.

She'd been getting stronger and stronger and taking more and more steps without her cane. So she started for the kitchen, and though her legs trembled with the effort, and she reached now and then to steady herself on furniture, she was elated when she reached the door without incident.

The man she loved stood on the porch.

"Matthew! I thought you wouldn't be by until much later. Come in."

He stepped inside, took off his straw hat, and hung it on the peg as she closed the door.

"Would you like some iced tea?"

"In a little while." He took her hands in his. "Jenny, I went to speak to the bishop."

Her heart stopped, then started again. She searched his face. "What did he say?"

"You may be baptized next month."

"Baptized? Really?" She held her breath.

He nodded and smiled. "And we'll be married the first Tuesday in November."

With a joyful cry Jenny threw her arms around him and held him. His arms came around her. They stood there for a long moment.

When she pulled back, she smiled up at him. "You said it would be worth the wait. You were right." Suddenly she swayed and reached for a nearby chair. "Oh, I think I need to sit down."

He pulled out a chair and helped her to sit, then took a seat himself. Frowning, he looked around. "Jenny, where's your cane?"

"In the other room," she told him, grinning. "I told you that I'm determined to walk without it at our wedding."

"I know you will," he told her quietly. "I know you will."

He kissed her and then he smiled. "Now, shall we share our good news with our family?"

J
enny woke before dawn on her wedding day.

Lying in her grandmother's house, she thought about how much her life was going to change after today. In a matter of hours, she'd be married to Matthew and become a wife and a mother all at the same time. She'd move into his house and into a life different from anything she'd imagined.

She fairly jumped out of bed with excitement.

The sudden move caused her hip to scream in protest. Reaching behind her, she felt for the bed and lowered herself to it. She took a deep breath, rubbed at her hip, and told herself to be careful. She'd worked too hard to get to this point, to be able to walk without her cane.
Now isn't the time to be careless and hurt myself and have to use that hated cane. Not today.
She wanted to walk with Matthew at their wedding.

So she sat there and let her hip rest until the pain subsided. She said her morning prayer and thanked God for this day, and then she got up slowly and went about getting dressed.

When she was a little girl she'd played Getting Married just like a lot of other little girls and worn a costume of a white satin dress and veil. She'd carried a bouquet of dandelions and persuaded a boy who lived next door to stand in as a groom. It wasn't hard to get him to participate when he found out she'd made a little chocolate cake with chocolate frosting in her Easy Bake oven.

Today, she combed her hair, parting it in the middle, then fastened it at the nape of her neck, and placed the black
kapp
worn for weddings on her head. Next she lifted the dress she and her grandmother had made, the fabric the color of morning glories, and slipped it over her head. The immaculate white organdy cape and apron that had been so carefully ironed were next. The outfit was Sunday best, in the tradition of
demut—
humility—not a fancy one like
Englischers
wore in weddings.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror over the chest of drawers. No feeling like a princess dressed in a billowy white dress and veil. No flowers. No wedding planners or near-hysteria about details.

She felt quietly content when she reflected on the preparations going on without her, what was happening just hours from now.

There was a knock on the door and her grandmother called her name. "Come in."

"
Lieblich!"
she murmured as she walked into the room.

"I'm hardly lovely," Jenny said with a self-deprecating laugh. "But I hope Matthew likes how I look."

"Don't argue with me," Phoebe told her with some asperity. But Jenny saw the twinkle in her eyes. "He would love you if you wore a flour sack, but happily, that's not necessary." She stood there studying Jenny for a long moment. "How I wish your parents could be here." Then tears welled up in her eyes, and she shook her head. "But your father—" she stopped and pressed her hands against her mouth.

"My father what?" When her grandmother didn't speak, she touched her arm. "What about Dad?"

Shaking her head, Phoebe searched in her pocket for her handkerchief and wiped the tears away. "Never mind."

She embraced Jenny carefully so she wouldn't wrinkle the delicate organdy fabric of the cape and apron, then stepped away. "I just wanted to come up and see if you needed any help dressing. But since you're ready, let's just say a prayer, shall we?"

Jenny nodded. "That would be wonderful."

After they finished, Phoebe squeezed Jenny's hands. "See you downstairs." And she was gone in a flurry of skirts, closing the door behind her.

Jenny looked in the mirror one more time, then she smiled and with a deep breath, left the room, carefully descending the wooden stairs.

Matthew stood waiting. He looked so handsome in his wedding clothes, the black suit, the white shirt, and black bow-tie accenting his tanned skin and deep blue eyes.

"You look beautiful," he said softly, and his eyes were warm on hers as he drew her to him for a kiss. It lasted for only seconds since they could feel the eyes of their family looking on, but it was warm enough to be an unspoken promise of time together later. "I love you."

For a moment, it felt like they were alone in a world that contained only their love. As always, tears threatened to flood Jenny's eyes. "I love you, too."

He took her hand and led her to the table—but she wasn't allowed to sit yet. Hannah swooped in, her eyes sparkling with tears. She hugged them, absorbing their love and support.

When she felt arms clutching her legs, Jenny looked down to see Annie looking up at her adoringly. Jenny leaned down to hug her and then held out her arms for Mary and Joshua.

Breakfast was just a quick bite since so much food was being prepared for all the feasting that would take place that day. Jenny had already attended several weddings and had eaten so much she'd wondered if she'd have to adjust her own wedding garments.

The aromas of food cooking wafted up from the basement: the rich scents of roasted chicken with bread stuffing that was traditional for a wedding—along with creamed celery, mashed potatoes and gravy, and all the vegetables and breads and desserts. After days of preparation, these scents clung to the air.

After breakfast, Matthew drew Jenny outside to the porch for a quiet word together.

"Should we be seen out here?" she protested, but he didn't have to convince her. She followed him, her heart beating fast.

"You look so beautiful," he said and then his lips swooped in for another kiss. She laughed, happier than she could ever remember being. Then she glanced around.

"What?"

"I keep wondering if Josiah will pop up and frown at us."

He chuckled and shook his head. "I think he's finally accepted you. I think he came to see how much I loved you after your accident. He understood that I was afraid I would lose you. I'm not saying he's still not the stern, traditional Old Order Amish
mann
who's concerned about change happening in the community or that he'll be here today. But I know his opinion of you has softened."

Matthew lifted her chin with his hand. "But it doesn't matter. Only God's opinion matters. And I believe He brought us together again." He embraced her, and then, when she shivered in a brisk autumn breeze, they went inside.

Soon helpers arrived to assist with the food and the seating. Jenny and Matthew greeted their guests before the service and the ceremony, a custom she thought was incredibly sweet. Acknowledging her pleasure at their attendance was so important—especially when she saw three of the first arrivals.

"Jenny!" The young boy's high squeal was a delightful surprise.

"Sam!" Jenny cried, reaching for him. "David! Joy! You came!"

The three of them took turns hugging Jenny and shaking Matthew's hand.

Joy moved closer and whispered, "Am I dressed okay? I didn't want to offend anyone."

Jenny stared straight into Joy's eyes, not even bothering to check out the outfit. "You're dressed just fine, and no one will judge you. I'm so happy you're here!"

"Sam promised he'll behave," David inserted, glancing at his son who was staring wide-eyed at the people milling about the crowded kitchen.

"Sam always behaves," Jenny said firmly. "I warned you that the service is long so if he gets restless, as children do, no one will think anything of you going outside for a few minutes. Just don't miss the big moment!"

"We won't," Joy promised. "David, let's go find a seat and get out of the way."

Church service started a short time later. The house was packed with friends and family from the community. Jenny and Matthew were seated together at the front with the ministers and the bishop, leaving for a brief time to meet with one of them about their marriage. Though her back ached a little from the hours of sermon and singing, she felt a sense of wonder that today, this service would end with a beginning —of her walking into a life with Matthew, a life with these people surrounding her, who had become as close as family.

And then it was time for her to join Matthew in a vow before God.

Jenny rose from her seat and, for a moment, wished she'd not been so caught up with the service that she forgot she still got stiff from sitting so long. She straightened, and as her friends and family watched, she walked slowly with Matthew to stand before the bishop.

Matthew glanced at the woman beside him and thought about how beautiful she looked, how radiant, in the traditional wedding clothes of his church.

Until today . . . well, if he were honest, until this moment, he wondered if Jenny would go through with it. Not because he didn't have faith in her or in his God. No, he had been afraid to believe he'd get this second chance at happiness with her.

He'd tried to assure himself that from the time she'd come home, broken in body and questioning everything she believed in, something seemed to be part of God's greater plan for them. But still, it was much like the work he did with his farm. He believed that all would be well when he planted and nurtured and prayed over his crop, but he still felt better when the harvest was safely in.

And so, as they stood side by side and were questioned about their marriage that was to be, he felt a peace settling over his heart.

There was a slight commotion and a gentle wave of laughter swept the room. When he looked to his side, he saw that Annie was bouncing on her toes as she watched the ceremony. Of all his children, she was the one who had fallen in love with Jenny first. Perhaps it was because she was too young to remember her own
mamm.
But he also thought it was because she and Jenny shared a difficulty in expressing themselves verbally. Both had improved so much since they worked hard with their speech therapy.

Now, when they were asked if they would love and honor each other in marriage, Jenny's voice was clear and fluid. "
Ya,"
she said, and she looked at him with love.

As he stood beside her and received this gift of her love from God, he thanked Him as a final prayer was said to bless their union. They faced the congregation as husband and wife—he felt the love of everyone in the room. He hoped that Jenny felt it too.

Married.

Jenny told herself to remember each and every moment of every minute that passed so she could tell her grandchildren what it was like the day she, a woman who'd come here as an
Englischer
and become one of the Plain People, had married their grandfather who was Amish.

But the day was long, filled with not one but two sumptuous meals and laughter and stories, and everything became a big happy blur. She smiled as she glimpsed young women seated at a table on one side of the room looking across at the young men on the opposite. She wondered if they dreamed of their own weddings. She and Matthew played matchmaker and paired couples up to sit at tables for the evening meal, a traditional wedding activity.

Jenny frowned when she looked for Hannah and didn't find her. Then, moments after the couples were seated, Hannah was once again in the room, but there was no one to pair her with.
Strange,
thought Jenny, wanting to ask Hannah where she'd gone. Then Hannah was moving away and the opportunity to ask her where she'd gone had passed.

Children raced around playing games, and it was nearly ten that night before things began to wind down. Hannah and Phoebe took Joshua and Mary and a very tired Annie to their home next door.

Since it was traditional for the newly married couple to stay at the bride's home, Jenny wondered if her new sister-in-law and grandmother were giving them privacy.

David and Joy and Sam left for a bed and breakfast. Some of the women stored leftovers and cleaned up the kitchen, then climbed into buggies with their families to leave.

"Are you tired,
mei fraa?"
Matthew asked as they stood in the doorway and watched their guests leaving.

Jenny watched the line of old-fashioned buggies rolling down the road. Only the twentieth-century addition of fluorescent triangle signs made it obvious that they weren't something out of time.