Plain Paradise (24 page)

Josie heard a sniffle, and turned to Linda. Tears were streaming down her daughter’s cheeks, then she began to sob loudly. Josie ran to her side and threw her arms around her.

“Linda?” Josie held her tightly; she was trembling. “Sweetheart, are you all right?”

“Those people, they are dead, no?” Linda pulled away from her, swiped at her eyes, and pointed to the television. “The ones covered up.”

Josie gazed into Linda’s eyes as her daughter stared in horror at the disturbing images on the television, right about the time the newscaster said, “The death toll has now reached twelve hundred and twenty-two.”

“Yes. I believe those people are dead.”

Linda shook her head and covered her face with her hands. “I can’t watch any more. I’m sorry, Josie.”

“No, it’s all right. We don’t have to watch it.” Josie clicked the remote and the screen went black. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you would get so upset or I would have never turned it on, Linda. I’m sorry.”

“We read about 9-11 in the newspaper when it happened here, but it’s so much worse to see it on television. We need to pray.” Linda reached for Josie’s hand. “We need to pray for all those people in that place, and for all those families who lost loved ones.” Linda sniffled and bowed her head.

As Josie lowered her head, she squeezed Linda’s hand tightly. Maybe some of Linda’s faith would rub off on her.

P

Stephen scrubbed his courting buggy with soap and water so it would be nice and clean tomorrow when he picked up Linda to go swimming at the creek. Every time he envisioned the two of them in their swim clothes, and him without his elevated shoe, his stomach twisted with anxiety. But if he was going to marry Linda, this was something he knew he was going to have to get past.

He glanced over his shoulder when he heard a buggy pulling onto the driveway, then dried his hands and waited until his grandfather came to a stop.

“
Gut-n-owed
.” The elderly bishop stepped with care from the buggy, his gray beard spanning the length of his chest.

“Good evening to you,
Daadi
.”

“Where is the rest of the family?” His grandfather tipped his straw hat back as he approached Stephen, his back curved forward as he walked.

“Hannah and Annie are helping
Mamm
make supper,” Stephen responded about his only two siblings, “and I reckon
Daed
is bathing already.”

“
Gut
. We can talk before your supper.”

Stephen removed his hat, wiped sweat from his brow, then placed it back on his head. “Is something wrong?” Stephen recognized the expression on his grandfather’s face. Usually, it was directed at a member of the district who had displeased him. Stephen couldn’t think of anything he’d done to warrant it.

“No, nothing is wrong, but I have concerns, Stephen.”

Stephen’s brows shot upward. “About me?”

His grandfather stroked his beard. “I understand Linda is staying in the
Englisch
woman’s house for two weeks, no?”

“
Ya
, she is.” Stephen was wondering who told him but surmised it could have been anyone. Nothing stayed a secret around here for long.

“Does this concern you? Her being there?”

“No. Not at all.” Stephen’s stomach flipped a bit when he realized he’d just lied to his grandfather. “I mean, maybe a little. But Linda’s faith is strong, and she’ll only be there for two weeks.”

“Don’t underestimate the bonds of blood. That woman is Linda’s kin.” Bishop Ebersol stood taller as he spoke and lifted his chin. “Linda is at a time in her life when she can choose the life she wants to live.” His eyes narrowed in speculation. “Do you think she is continuing to practice the ways of the
Ordnung
?”

“
Ya, Daadi
. I reckon Linda just wants to get to know her mother. That’s all. Then she’ll come home.”

“Very
gut
then. I was just on my way home from the Miller farm.”

“How is Jonas?” Stephen knew that when Jonas passed, lots of people would be devastated. He was such a fixture in the community, such a wise soul, and everyone loved him. Linda would be very upset.

“Jonas is doing poorly. The doctor told the family that he is rapidly declining.” His grandfather shook his head. “He will be greatly missed.”

Stephen hung his head, not wanting to think about Jonas passing.

“I know it is almost suppertime. Tell the rest of the family I will be by with your
mammi
on Sunday for a visit.” He turned to leave, but turned briefly around. “Keep Linda on course, Stephen. This is a delicate situation, her being with the
Englisch
woman.”

“I will,
Daadi
.”

Stephen recalled seeing Linda in Josie’s
Englisch
clothes. He sure hoped he could keep Linda on track.

Linda couldn’t sleep that night. All tucked in under the covers of the princess bed, her mind raced with thoughts of what she’d seen on television. There was much in the
Englisch
world she didn’t understand. She’d enjoyed her bath for the second night in Josie’s big bathroom, but if all this sadness came with Josie’s world, Linda was sure she didn’t want any part of it for long.

She was disappointed that she’d been so caught up in her new surroundings that she’d forgotten to check the bridge for Stephen’s note. But at least they would have tomorrow, an afternoon swimming in the creek. Linda didn’t really care what they did, as long as they were together. Tomorrow, she’d reassure Stephen that the only things she wanted were to be in his arms and to be a member of the community. Maybe soon, he would think about asking her to marry him.

Linda closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but her mind was as restless as her body. She missed
Mamm
and
Daed
, even Luke and Matthew. She’d only been there since Tuesday, but it seemed longer.

Josie looked at the clock on her nightstand. Eleven thirty, and each minute seemed to be ticking by a hundred times faster than the last one. She’d never been more frantic to get her affairs in order than she was right now. She scanned the pile of personal mementos and keepsakes in front of her on the floor as her right hand began to shake again, something it had done several times during the course of the evening.

Linda had gone to bed early, and Josie sensed something was wrong. She wasn’t sure how much of it had to do with the tragedy on television, or if it was something else. Either way, Josie wanted Linda to know everything about her, and her entire life was poured out on the floor of her bedroom. With her left hand, she picked up a picture of her and her mother at the beach. Josie remembered her father taking the picture when she was about ten. She and her mom had made a sand castle together and were proudly displaying it for the camera.

Josie tossed the picture into the pile she didn’t plan to leave for Linda, but then picked it up again and wondered if her mother would speak to Linda at Josie’s funeral. Would they establish any kind of relationship after Josie was gone? Mom was not the kind of influence Josie wanted for Linda. All Mom cared about was status and what people thought, nothing like sweet Linda. Josie supposed she’d die without seeing her mother again, and sadly, that was all right with her.

Robert didn’t call again tonight, but he’d said it might be tomorrow, so she tried not to worry. She had the television volume in her bedroom on low, and at last count, fatalities were at fifteen hundred. She recalled Linda’s reaction to the news again and wondered if bringing her here was a mistake. Such innocence. And Josie was exposing her to life in a world she’d been sheltered from.

She slammed her right hand down hard on the carpeted floor, hoping the blow would jar some feeling into the numb limb. Nothing. She picked up a picture of her and Robert on vacation in Italy. It was one of her favorite pictures of Robert, handsomely dressed in cargo shorts and a white T-shirt, and she was wearing a yellow sundress and looked so happy. Robert was going to be a lost soul when she was gone. She recalled the first time she met Robert, through mutual friends, and the only blind date she’d ever been on. He’d stolen her heart on that first encounter at the Italian restaurant on Mason Boulevard.

Josie lay down in the middle of the floor, surrounded by tokens of her life lived thus far, a life soon to end, and she allowed herself to feel the pain in her heart, the fear of the unknown, and the absolute sense of loss she felt about not growing old with Robert and not being able to spend more time with her daughter. It was her most pitiful moment, she was sure, as she pulled her knees to her chest and sobbed.

“I don’t want to die.” She tucked her blue satin pajamas tight around her knees and hugged her legs. “Please, God. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I’m afraid. I’m so scared.” She sobbed hard, stifling her cries so as not to wake Linda.

And then she felt it.

His
presence.

And then she heard it.

His
voice.

I am here My child. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God
.

15

J
OSIE AND
L
INDA SPENT THE MORNING WATCHING
television, mostly sweet loves stories. Josie didn’t turn on the news, and while she tried to focus on the movies she and Linda had picked out, her mind wandered. Linda had asked her if she was worried about Robert, and she said a little bit, which was true.

Josie could tell that Linda was anxious to see Stephen, mentioning their planned swimming trip several times. Linda seemed nervous as well and explained that girls in her district wore either shorts and a shirt to swim in or a one-piece bathing suit. She also said some of the girls wore a two-piece swimsuit, but she didn’t own that kind and didn’t think she’d wear it if she did.

Linda had left to try on her suit for Josie, and when she entered the room wearing her swimsuit, Josie rose from the couch. “That looks really good on you.” Linda had chosen a dark blue, one-piece bathing suit.

“
Danki
.
Mamm
approved of this one when we went shopping in the city.”

“Are you going to Pequea Creek?”

“
Ya
.” Linda tugged on her swimsuit in an effort to cover more of herself. Josie remembered her own breasts being larger than most girls’ too.

“Sweetie, you’re all in there. I promise.” Josie smiled warmly. “Stephen will think you look great.”

Linda blushed slightly. “It feels strange not to have my
kapp
on.” She reached up and touched the clip that held her hair in a tight bun on top of her head. “What are you gonna do this afternoon, Josie?”

“Well, I thought I might take a little nap and then make us some dinner for later. Do you like lasagna?”

“
Ya
! I have that when we go to Paradiso.
Mamm
and
Daed
take us there about once a month. Do you know how to make lasagna?”

Josie smiled. “Actually, I make pretty good lasagna. So, I’ll make that, a salad, and some garlic bread for us to eat when you get home from your swim with Stephen. How’s that?”

“Sounds
gut
.”

Josie heard the clippety-clop of horse hooves.

“There’s Stephen.” Linda headed toward the door. “I’ll see you later.”