Plain Paradise (37 page)

“But how—how in the world . . . I don’t understand.”

Josie hadn’t spoken when she’d heard the results. Within a few minutes, Robert’s and the doctors’ words had faded away, and all she heard was,
Live well, My child
.

“Sometimes, there is no medical explanation as to why these things happen,” Dr. Phillips had said. “It’s a medical mystery.”

But it was no mystery to Josie, and all the way home from the doctor’s office, she’d cried and laughed, unable to stop doing either. “It’s a miracle, Robert, and it’s the power of prayer,” she’d told him. “It’s real, Robert. It’s so real. My faith in my heart, the way I feel, it’s the most incredible feeling in the world.”

Robert had refused to open his mind to the possibility, even though she could tell that his heart kept slipping in that direction. Two weeks later, he remained confused—not just about the results, which of course he said he treasured, but about how he’d lived his life thus far if there was truly a God overseeing things. His befuddled thoughts dragged him further and further down, and only yesterday, he’d said he didn’t think he could attend Linda’s birthday party.

“What if—what if I’ve been wrong my entire life? Would I even be worthy to be in a room with all of them?”

Josie had tried to talk to him, to explain that it was never too late to reach out to God and His son, Jesus, but Robert just shook his head.

Now, as he stood before her, Josie knew that life as they knew it had changed. Perhaps a larger miracle than her own healing was her husband’s change of heart.

When Linda moved toward her, Mary Ellen pulled back to make room for their daughter.

“God is
gut
,” Linda said. “So very, very
gut
.” And she wrapped her arms around Josie.

Lillian looked around her and knew that this was not the right time for her and Samuel to share their news, but Samuel disagreed.

“Now is as
gut
a time as any, I reckon.”

“Samuel, this is Linda’s day, and Josie’s. I don’t think we should share today. It wouldn’t be right.” Maybe if they didn’t share today, it wouldn’t come to pass, and they’d never have to tell anyone that it was ever a consideration. “Besides, what if we change our minds?”

“Lillian, everything is going to be fine,” Samuel said, trying to assure her once again. The commotion in the kitchen had settled and folks had broken off into smaller groups. “I promise you.” He paused with a sigh. “You know we need to do this.”

David walked by them in the den, his eyes blazing in his father’s direction.

“Your son is definitely not happy with this news.” Lillian held the screen door open and motioned for Samuel to step onto the porch. She waited until the door shut behind him to ask, “Are you sure about this, Samuel?”

“Lillian, it makes the most sense.” He lifted her chin and kissed her. “I love you. Please don’t look so sad.”

Just then, Linda rushed out of the screen door and ran down the porch steps.

“Hey! Where ya going?” Lillian called after her.

Linda edged her way around the volleyball game her cousins were playing. “I have to go do something. I’ll be back soon, though!”

“Should we wait until she gets back?” Samuel pushed back the rim of his hat as he watched Linda kick the scooter into motion.

“No, Anna and Elizabeth are tired. I think we should go ahead and talk to everyone else so we can get them home.” Lillian let out a deep sigh as she sat down in the rocker on the porch. Samuel sat down in the other chair, and a tense silence formed a gap between them. Samuel wasn’t only her husband, but her best friend, so she resolved herself to support his decision and to be happy about it. “I love you.”

He turned toward her. “I love you too, Lillian.”

She smiled. “Then, let’s do it.”

Samuel nodded.

Linda was disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to share her news about Josie with Stephen until the next day, when she saw him at worship service, but she couldn’t wait to see what he might have left for her on the bridge. She pushed her scooter forward and felt a bottomless sense of peace and contentment.

Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you, God
.

She recalled a conversation she’d had with Jonas. It seemed like such a long time ago.

“Mamm and Daed will always be
mei parents,”
she’d told him. “That
will never change.

”

“Of course not. And I reckon they’d lay themselves on the train track for
you and both your brothers,
”
Jonas had said. “But here’s where it gets tricky.
”
He
squinted in her direction and then pointed a finger at her. “I reckon Josephine
would lie down on a train track for ya, too, give her life willingly for you. That
puts you in a unique position. All these people that love you. Do you have room
in your heart for all of them?
”

Linda stared upward. “I miss you, Jonas. And I have enough love in my heart for all of them. I love Josie, and I thank you, God, for leaving her here for now.” She scuffed her foot along the road even faster until the bridge was in sight.

Breathless upon arrival, she inched toward the special spot, then clenched her teeth. “Today’s my birthday. And no note!” It had been a more than perfect day up until this moment. She hadn’t expected a present, just one of his poems, maybe an extra long one. Something. She reminded herself how blessed she was, but anger and hurt still bubbled to the surface.

“You could have left me something!” She stomped her foot, knowing her behavior was childish. “A note, a poem. Something! If you really cared—”

“If I cared, I’d what?”

Linda spun around, her cheeks wet with sweat, but she could still feel the blush of embarrassment coming on.

“Stephen, where’d you come from?”

He squinted his eyes as he neared. “None of your business.”

“Don’t you talk that way to me, Stephen Ebersol.” She stood taller and folded her hands across her chest. “Today is my birthday.”

“Really? I had forgotten.” A smile tipped the corner of his mouth on one side as it quivered.

“What you got behind your back?” She inched forward, but he stopped.

“Nothing for you.”

“Then let me see.”

“No.”

Linda got within a couple of feet of him. “You have something behind your back.”

Slowly, Stephen produced a bouquet of roses.

Linda gasped. “They’re beautiful.” She reached for them, only to have him pull them back.

“These are for a very special someone.”

Linda raised her chin. “Really. And who might that be?”

Stephen’s lip began to quiver in a way that Linda had never seen. “What’s wrong with you?”

He dropped to one knee, pushed the flowers forward, and practically yelled, “Linda, will you marry me?”

Her heart sang as she accepted the flowers. “
Ya
, Stephen, I will marry you.”

He stood up, wrapped his arms around her, and Linda basked in the feel of his embrace.

“I love you.” He kissed her tenderly on the mouth.

“I love you too, Stephen.” Then she pushed him away, and he blinked with bafflement.

“What’d you do that for?”

“I almost forgot!” Linda jumped up and down on her toes. “It’s Josie! She’s cured. She’s well, Stephen! She’s not going to die.”

“But the tumor, what about—”

“Gone! It’s a miracle.” Her eyes clouded with tears. “Josie is not going to die. And I’m going to be Mrs. Stephen Ebersol. This is truly my most perfect day.” Linda threw herself into his arms.

Thank you, God
.

Linda was glad that all the family was still there when she and Stephen got back to the house. He’d parked his buggy out of sight a ways from the bridge, so they’d loaded up her scooter and headed to her house to spread the news. This wasn’t the typical way to do things. Normally they would keep it rather hush-hush and then publish it a few weeks before the wedding, but Linda couldn’t keep her joy to herself.

“Are you sure you don’t want to wait?” Stephen secured the horse and buggy.

“No. I can’t. This has been a perfect day, and I want to share this with my family today.”

“All right, I reckon.” He shrugged, but the spark in his eyes warmed her heart. They walked up to the house.

Everyone was gathered in the den. Linda heard a few mum-blings, but the room grew quiet when they entered.

“We have some news!” She ran to her mother’s side, still holding the flowers. Then she glanced at Josie and smiled. “Stephen asked me to marry him!”

“
Ach
, Linda!” Her mother hugged her as her father found his way to Stephen.

“Congratulations, Stephen. We’d be honored to have you in the family.”
Daed
shook Stephen’s hand, and then both Linda and Stephen made their way through the den, accepting congratulations from the family.

When she got to Josie, both of them started to cry. “I’ll get to see you get married.”

Linda threw her arms around Josie. “
Ya
, you will. We’re so blessed.”

“Yes. We are.”

Linda withdrew from the hug and glanced around the room.

Everyone was smiling, but Linda sensed an uneasiness. “Is everything all right?”

“
Ya
,” several people answered at once.

Her cousin David stood up and folded his arms across his chest. “No, everything is not all right.”

“David, that’s enough!” Linda had never heard her Uncle Samuel speak with such authority, and she couldn’t imagine why.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. “Honey, everything is fine.” Lillian gave her a pat on the arm. “We were just telling everyone that we will be leaving for Colorado after the fall harvest.”

Linda raised her brows. “How long will you be vacationing there?”

Lillian bit her lip, then turned to Mary Ellen.

“Linda, it’s not a vacation. Samuel and his family will be moving there.” Her mother glanced toward her right. “And your Onkel Ivan and Aunt Katie Ann are moving also.”

“Why?” It had been a day filled with so many blessings. Why in the world would they move to Colorado?

“There is a place there called Canaan, a beautiful place there that Jonas bought before he died,” her mother said. “And Samuel and Lillian have their reasons for wanting to move.” She looked cautiously at Ivan and Katie Ann and smiled. “As I’m sure your Onkel Ivan and Katie Ann do, as well.”

Aunt Katie Ann nodded, but Uncle Ivan just stared at the floor. Again, Linda recalled the conversation she’d overheard between her aunt and uncle.

“We won’t be leaving until after the fall harvest,” Samuel said. “And today is a day of celebration. Stephen and Linda are getting married!” He stood up. “I say we all go have another piece of birthday cake to celebrate.”

Linda chose not to let this news dampen the blessings of the day, so she followed everyone to the kitchen, her fiancé by her side. She grabbed Josie’s hand on the way, glad to see that Josie’s husband was better. Poor Robert had been quite a mess earlier.

She couldn’t help but wonder why Samuel and his family, along with Aunt Katie Ann and Uncle Ivan, would want to move to Colorado, but God works in mysterious ways, and whatever His plan was, Linda was sure His will would be done.