Plain Paradise (32 page)

“I don’t care, Ivan.”

Linda recognized the voice to be her
Aenti
Katie Ann.

“Please, Katie Ann . . .” her
Onkel
Ivan said. “I’ve said I’m sorry a hundred times.”

“And it wonders me if you mean it one bit. The fact that Lucy Turner is even here turns my stomach.”

“It’s a funeral, Katie Ann. I reckon it’s not like I invited her or nothin’.”

“She’s not even friends with Jonas. Barbie Beiler has been a wonderful friend to Jonas, and of course, she should be here. But that Lucy woman is only here for one reason, and you know what it is!”

Her aunt rounded the corner, and her eyes widened when she saw Linda. “Linda!”

“Uh, sorry. I was just trying to get away from the crowd for a few minutes.” Linda could feel the heat building in her cheeks, unsure if it was from being caught listening or from the conversation she’d just overheard.

Katie Ann folded her arms across her chest and marched past Linda mumbling something under her breath. Linda quickly followed before Ivan came around the corner.

Stephen drank a glass of tea out in the front yard following the meal. He watched Linda and Josephine walk to her car and get inside. It appeared they were enjoying some air-conditioning for a few minutes. Stephen sighed as he recalled seeing Linda in the fancy blue jeans and red blouse at Josie’s house.

Two more times, his grandfather had spoken with him about Linda and shared his concerns about her relationship with her birth mother and about stretching privileges during
rumschpringe
. Plenty of times, Stephen had watched his grandfather warn parents when their children were stepping outside the boundaries set forth by the
Ordnung
, but lately Stephen found himself worrying about Linda and her role within the community. Stephen had never felt the need to explore the
Englisch
world. His place was here. With Linda. Or so he’d thought.

He took another sip of tea. “Avoid getting too close to those who are unequally yoked,” his grandfather had told him.

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw Kade Saunders gathering the immediate family on the front porch. Most everyone else had gone home, but a few people were still cleaning up for Lizzie and Sarah Jane, including Stephen’s mother and sisters.

Stephen sipped his tea and held his position, not wanting to intrude. But he could hear from where he was standing. He could also see Linda included in the group.

“Jonas left some special instructions for me to share with those he was particularly close to.” Kade reached into a large envelope and began distributing smaller envelopes. When he was done, he addressed the entire group. “Before you open your letter, I have this note to read to you from Jonas.”

My dear friends and family,

I am a blessed man to have shared in all of your lives. I’ve watched many of
you grow up and have families of your own. We’ve celebrated the
gut
times and
struggled through the bad times together through prayer and fellowship. I reckon
each letter is my way of letting you know what you mean to me
.

Take care of each other through love and prayer
.

In His Name,
Jonas

Stephen regretted the fact that he wasn’t getting a letter and that he hadn’t been closer to Jonas, since Jonas was often called upon like he were the bishop himself. Everyone spoke of Jonas’s wisdom and fun-loving personality. Perhaps, that was why his grandfather had never encouraged his family to be close to Jonas.
Jealousy
? But that’s a sin. Surely
Daadi
wouldn’t think like that. Stephen watched each person walk away with their letter to a quiet spot. Linda went to the far side of the yard and sat down in the grass underneath a shade tree.

Linda peeled open her envelope and eased out the letter, knowing she would treasure Jonas’s final words for the rest of her life. She took a deep breath and read.

My Sweet Linda,

If you’re reading this, I’m dead and buried, six feet under. Everyone is
probably moping around, crying and the like. Now, no need for all that,
mei maedel.
I’m with our Lord, and I reckon by the time you get this, me and Irma
Rose will be sipping cider on the front porch of our heavenly home, looking down
on our loved ones, and hoping you folks can behave yourselves.

Although, it ain’t likely that you’ll disappoint me. What a fine young woman
you are. Always polite and eager to help others, much like your mother. You will
be a fine
fraa
and
mamm
some day, and I regret that I won’t be around to see
you in this role, but I will be smiling from above. I’m not sure if there is a greater
love than that of a mother, and as of recently, I reckon you have two. How blessed
you are, even though I know it is a confusing time. Somehow in all of this, I see
you as the strong one, the binding glue so to speak, in this threesome.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God.

May the will of God be done, and may you grow and prosper in His name.

Now, I have some final thoughts for you. I reckon you’ll end up marrying
Stephen Ebersol. Don’t let that scary grandfather of his get you worked up. You
young folks don’t see Bishop Ebersol as the man he truly is, with three times the
wisdom as your old friend Jonas here. Bishop Ebersol just ain’t all warm and
fuzzy like I am.

Linda grinned. She could picture Jonas roaring with laughter as he wrote the comment about his warm and fuzzy self.

Go to him, Linda, if you need to. For anything. He is a wise man who has
much to offer
.

I have always thought of you as one of my grandchildren, Sweet Linda.
You’ve always been precious to me
.

Loving thoughts from above
,
Jonas

Linda pulled her knees to her chest, then buried her head and wept.

She jumped and lifted her head when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Stephen brushed away a tear on her cheek.

“I wish I had received a letter from Jonas. I know he was a
gut
man.”

Linda swallowed back tears. “
Ya
, he was. The best.”

“Let’s go to the creek when we leave here and get away from all this sadness, and just be together for a while.”

“
Ach
, I don’t know. Josie is staying with us. I don’t know.” Although there was nothing she wanted more. She could tell Stephen wanted to kiss her, but there were too many people around, and public affection of that type was frowned upon.

“I understand. How’s it going with Josie at your house?”

“So far, so
gut
.” Linda felt tears building again. “I just can’t believe that we’ll be having a funeral for Josie. I don’t know how I’m going to get through that.”

He reached for her hand and squeezed. “I will be by your side, you won’t be alone. Let’s pray for Josie.” Stephen bowed his head and closed his eyes. Linda did the same.

Dear Lord, please don’t let Josie be in pain, and please let her stay with me for
as long as it is Your will. If You could see fit to let her stay with me for a long
time, that would be so
gut
. Say hi to Jonas for me
. Aamen.

They both lifted their heads when they heard footsteps.

“Hello you two.” Carley squatted down beside them. “Jonas will certainly be missed.”

“
Ya
, he will,” Linda said as Stephen nodded.

“Linda, I’ve already spoken with Josie, and there is something I want you to know. There are so many people praying for Josie. I know you don’t have a computer, but prayers for her are flying across the Internet and people of every denomination are praying for her. She is on our prayer list at church. Barbie Beiler has also added her to their church list, and tons of people you’ve never even met are praying for Josie. I just wanted you to know that.”

Linda let a tear spill over, then hugged her aunt. “
Danki
, Carley.”

“You’re welcome.”

Josie sat down at the bench in the kitchen when the strobes of light began to flash.
Please, not now
. A few women were finishing the cleanup, including Mary Ellen. Josie thought about what Noah’s wife, Carley, had said. About all the people praying for her. What a sweet gesture from so many people whom she’d never meet.

It had been a long day, and Josie could feel the weight of her emotions turning into a bad headache. But she had no regrets at coming. She didn’t know Jonas, but something about their one encounter propelled her to be present at his funeral.

“Josie, look at me.” Josie tried to blink her eyes into focus. Mary Ellen had a hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”

“I—I think so. It’s just my head. I’m sorry. I don’t want to cut your time short. I’ll be fine.”

“Nonsense. We’re done. I’ll find Abe and gather Linda and the boys.”

Josie watched Mary Ellen quickly walk away, and she pondered the oddity of this situation—Mary Ellen taking care of her. And, to her surprise, Josie welcomed Mary Ellen’s nurturing ways, something she’d never had from her own mother. Even though Mary Ellen was only a few years older than Josie, but she felt safe in her presence.
This must be how Linda has always felt. I wonder if I could
have been as motherly and nurturing as Mary Ellen
.

“Hi, Josie.
Danki
for coming. I’m Lillian.” The woman Josie already knew to be Jonas’s granddaughter sat down beside her.

“I hope I’m not intruding, but I met Jonas one time, and I just felt something . . . and I—I don’t know. I just wanted to be here. And also for Linda.”

Lillian’s eyes were swollen from crying. “Grandpa had that effect on people.” She smiled. “He would be glad to know you’re here.”

They sat quietly for a moment.

“Linda thinks the world of you,” Josie finally said.

“Linda is very special. When I first came to the community, after being in the
Englisch
world for most of my life, Linda was so welcoming. I liked her right away.”

Josie fought the pressure in her head. The strobe lights had stopped, but the pain in her temples was making her stomach churn. “Was it hard for you to leave, I mean, leave the
Englisch
world and become Amish?”

“Hmm. I wouldn’t say it was hard.” Lillian twisted her mouth to one side. “Challenging, perhaps. But once I realized that the only way to true inner peace was through a relationship with God, then it was easy.”

“So, you didn’t always believe?” This piqued Josie’s interest.

“No, I didn’t. I didn’t understand.” Lillian paused and twisted on the bench to face Josie. “My grandparents taught me about the
Ordnung
, about trusting in God’s will, and ultimately I became a Daughter of the Promise.”

“What is that?”

“It’s when a woman takes a spiritual journey to find the meanings of faith, hope, and love.”

Hope. I need that more than anything
. “It sounds wonderful.”