Grace's Forgiveness (32 page)

“I have trouble talking to young women my age, but I found conversation easy with Anna. I want to spend more time with her and learn more about her. I find her intriguing.”

“I understand what you mean, Noah. Grace had the same effect on me when we met.”

Noah grinned. “Your countenance changes around Grace. You beam like a full moon lighting the sky on a dark night.” He halted the horse in front of the Helmuths’ haus. “Whoa, boy.”

Levi stepped to the wagon and greeted them. “What a nice surprise.” He wiped sweat from his neck with a handkerchief.

“I hope this isn’t a bad time to stop by.” Mark took his time stepping out of the wagon.

“No, kumme in. You’re not as pale, but you’re moving a little slow. Are you getting better? Congratulations on your wedding date. I’m sorry for the difficult time you’ve been through.”

“I’ve put the unpleasantness behind me. I’m impatient and have pushed myself with chores, but I can’t sit still. I stayed out of the shop today, but I’ll open it tomorrow.”

Mark watched as Noah threw back the cover and exposed the cradle. “Do you like it, Levi?”

“This is such a beautiful cradle! Sarah will be so pleased.” He climbed in the wagon and stroked the edge then rocked it back and forth. “Mark, you’ve outdone yourself. It’s perfect in every way.” Levi and Noah carried it inside.

Mark led the way and held the door open for them. He gestured to Sarah. “I brought you a present.”

Sarah was dressed and had her legs outstretched on the settee with a quilt covering her. She put her hands to her open mouth in surprise. “Mark, Noah, kumme in and sit.” She cocked her head to study what they were carrying inside. “A cradle! Oh Mark, danki!”

Noah and Levi set it on the floor in front of her. She leaned over and stroked the wood. “It’s exquisite.” A tear trickled down her cheek. “This means so much to us, Mark. Danki.”

“I wanted you to have something special for your new addition to your family.”

“Hopefully, we’ll have more kinner and put it to good use. I love it. It’s perfect.”

Noah nodded. “Mark does very good work, but this is one of my favorite pieces. He’s going to teach me how to construct items for his shop after the harvest and his wedding.”

Levi slapped Noah’s shoulder. “The more knowledge and skill you have to earn money, the better. You’re blessed to have such a talented craftsman as Mark for guidance.”

“I agree.”

Mark’s face heated. “I could use a hand in making furniture for the store. Business has increased, and I have a difficult time keeping up with the demand. We’ll both benefit from this.”

“The cradle is our first piece of boppli furniture. It’s hard to believe we’ll be placing a newborn in it before long.”

“I’m impatient. I can’t wait to be a daed and hold the little one in my arms. I’ve always wanted kinner. I hope I’m as good a daed as mine was to me.” He looked lovingly at Sarah. “Sarah will be an excellent mamm. She takes wonderful care of me.”

Mark studied the couple. The bishop had been right. Their marriage was a good example for him and Grace to follow. The way they gazed into each other’s eyes, lifted each other up with kind words, and teased each other lovingly. He had no doubt his friends would be wonderful parents. “I’m relieved you and Sarah will have kinner before Grace and me, then you can educate us.”

Sarah smoothed the quilt on her legs. “I’m a little scared to raise kinner, but it’s thrilling, too.” She gave Mark a mischievous grin. “The love of your life and Anna were here earlier. They dropped off some fabric for me. Anna’s a delightful young woman. I’m happy she’s working for us.”

“Grace told me. Noah and I went to the shop before we came here to show her the cradle. She loved it. Noah and Anna got better acquainted.”

Noah’s cheeks pinked. “She’s a delightful maedel.”

“Delightful?” Sarah cocked her head. “What else do you have to say about her?”

“Uh-oh, I apologize, Noah. I opened up a can of worms. Sarah’s going to want details.” Mark chuckled.

Noah pursed his lips. “You’re not sorry. You and Levi are enjoying watching me squirm.”

Levi and Mark laughed.

Levi winked at Sarah. “Go easy on him.”

“Seriously, Noah, are you going to pursue your interest in her?”

“I’m sure Anna and I will have more conversations, but that’s all I have to say on the matter.”

“If you like Anna, you may not want to wait too long to tell her you’re interested in her. No doubt many available Amish men will approach her soon.”

Mark stifled the chuckle in his throat. Sarah had been direct the first time she’d introduced him to Grace. She loved to play matchmaker, and Noah and Anna would be her next project. She wanted everyone to find happiness like she had with Levi. He found it endearing.

Noah cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. “Enough talk about me. Mark has big news.”

Sarah crossed her arms. “Tell us! What is it?”

He liked being the one to deliver this information to Levi and Sarah, thankful Grace gave him the privilege. Saying it out loud heightened his joy even more. “Our marital counseling dates are set! All our plans with the bishop are in place.”

“The two of you must be ecstatic!”

“She would’ve told you, but when she found out I was coming here, she said I should tell you.”

Sarah grinned. “I’m glad the counseling didn’t interrupt having the wedding date you wanted. I stitched a kapp for Grace a day after the first time you asked her daed for her hand in marriage. I had a feeling things would work out. It’s tucked away in my clothespress for safekeeping.” She pressed a hand to her heart. “This makes my day! The cradle did too! We’re going to have a marked year to remember!”

Chapter Sixteen

Grace woke on November fifteenth. Her wedding day! The weeks had passed by quickly. The harvest meal in October had been delicious and an enjoyable celebration, but today would burn in her memory forever. Her wedding day had finally arrived. She lay in bed and hugged herself. She would become Mrs. King today. The bishop had announced their wedding date in a Sunday service, and weeks later, their meetings with Bishop Weaver were over. They’d met six times to discuss how to manage their finances and how to settle their differences.

The bishop encouraged them to compromise when a disagreement arose. He told them what God’s Holy Word has to say about raising kinner. He instructed them to continue honoring God in all they did. She and Mark had gotten even better acquainted with the bishop and appreciated his compassion for them and his guidance.

God had blessed her. Through scriptures, God hadn’t promised life would be easy and, at times, it had been difficult, especially concerning her birthmark and almost losing Mark, but she’d always found comfort reading her Bible.

God had given her Mark, more than she’d ever hoped or dreamed for in a husband. She was thankful to not have an arranged marriage but to have the opportunity to fall in love first. Her parents’ relationship had grown with Mark, and her friends had accepted him without question. Mark had earned his good reputation in their tight-knit community.

As she glanced around her room, her lip quivered. She’d created too many memories to count in this haus. It wouldn’t be the same ever again. She would miss Mamm clanging pans in the kitchen and Daed’s boots thudding on the floorboards as he crossed a room. Mamm and Daed couldn’t be quiet if they tried. Her family had a routine for daily living. She would miss it and her parents, but life was about to take on a whole new meaning. One she was eager to begin.

Mamm peeked inside her door. She was carrying a wrapped package. “Are you up? This is your big day.” She stepped in and sat on the edge of the bed. She stroked her dochder’s cheek. A tear trickled onto her apron. “I’m so happy for you, but sad, too. I’ll miss you.”

Grace covered her hand. “I was reminiscing about my life here with you and Daed. I’ve been blessed God gave me you and Daed. You’ve provided me with love, understanding, and advice. The example of your marriage has set the tone for mine. I’m thankful I’m only a short distance away. I’ll need recipes and advice, and we will have to keep up on all the gossip!”

She and her mamm laughed.

Grace lifted her mamm’s hand and kissed her fingers. “We’ll get together often.”

“I am relieved you’re staying here in Berlin, unlike some couples who move to another community. I’d be heartbroken.” She beamed. “I have no doubt God had it in His plan all along for you and Mark to marry. I’m always here if you need me for anything.” She passed her the gift.

“Danki, Mamm.” Grace untied the twine and pulled back the white cloth. She lifted out a stack of white sheets and pillow cases. Underneath the bundle lay a delicate white gown. She unfolded the garment and held it up. “Oh, Mamm, this is beautiful, and the sheets will kumme in handy. I appreciate all the time it took for you to stitch these presents. I will treasure them.”

“I wanted you to have something special for your wedding night. Do you have any questions?”

“No, I trust Mark.”

“Trust is all you need.”

Mamm took the gifts from Grace. “You must climb out of this bed and get ready for your big day. I have your dress hanging on my door.”

“Your chicken and noodles have scented the haus. They will be delicious.”

“Our friends are making enough food to feed two villages. I’ll leave you to get washed up.”

Grace got out of bed, rinsed her face and hands, and fixed her hair in a tight bun. She had packed her clothes, boots, brush, comb, toothbrush, and hairpins and placed them in a bag last night. It had been strange. The idea she wouldn’t stay here ever again as a single woman. At the same time, she was ecstatic to marry Mark and share a haus with him. It would be a whole new adventure and lifetime commitment she was certain about taking on.

She put on an older dress and strolled to the kitchen.

Daed sat drinking his coffee and had his Bible open. He patted the seat next to him. “Kumme sit with me.” He pulled out a wrapped gift and slid it across the table. “Open it.”

“Danki, Daed!” Grace peeled back the dishtowel and found a small, plain cedar box about the size of her hand. A tear escaped her eyes. She opened the lid and peered inside. “Daed! This is so sweet of you. I’ll think of you each time I use it.”

“Since you were little, I bought you hard candy each time I went to town to run errands. You made the pieces last instead of devouring it all at once. You place this box in your new haus, and each time I go to town, I’ll bring you back candy to fill it.” He patted her shoulder. “You’ll always be my little maedel.” His eyes wet with tears, he whispered, “I love you, Grace.”

Grace hugged him tight and listened to the beat of his heart. He held her, and then she raised her face to him. “This means so much to me. I like carrying on our tradition.”

“You’ve been a blessing to your mamm and me. You have a soft and forgiving heart. I treasure your forgiveness after the way I treated you and Mark regarding the incident with his bruder. Again, I’m sorry, Grace. It was wrong.”

Putting a finger to his lips, she shook her head. “God intervened. It’s all right. You did what you thought was best for me. We don’t ever need to discuss it again. I love you, Daed.”

“I’m having a difficult time letting you go. I’ll miss having you here. It will be quite an adjustment for your mamm and me.”

“You can visit us anytime. We’ll be close.”

“This is a bittersweet day for me, but I’m looking forward to having a son. Thankfully, he’s exactly the kind of man I’d choose for you. I have no doubt he’ll take care of you.”

Mamm hurried into the kitchen, leaned over her iron pot on the woodstove, and stirred her simmering chicken and dumplings. “We’re getting a late start. We must get ready and be on our way.”

Grace poured herself a cup of coffee, drank a couple sips, and then set it on the counter. Too jittery to drink anymore or eat anything, excitement filled her whole being. She’d be Mrs. Mark King in a few hours. “I’ll get my dress on. I’ve already pinned my hair.”

Mamm finished loading her baskets with containers of food. “Oh, this is so exciting!”

Grace walked to her Mamm’s room, removed her dress from the door, and closed it. Holding the material to her nose, she inhaled the fresh cotton scent. She removed her outer clothing then shrugged into her plain blue wedding dress with a short cape. This dress mimicked her others, but the material was crisp and new. She felt prettier in it. She put on her new kapp Sarah stitched for her and tied it in a tidy bow underneath her chin. Stepping to her room, she searched for her present for Mark, found it, and hugged it to her chest and grabbed her other bag. She carried both outside and climbed in the wagon, throwing her bag in the back and stuffing the wrapped quilt under the bench. “I’m ready.”

Daed jiggled the reins and the horse trotted down the lane. “I hope you have a wonderful day, Grace.” He cleared his throat and stared straight ahead. His voice quivered. “Don’t be a stranger.”

“I’ll be over often.” She gently patted his arm.

Mamm held Grace’s hand. The sun shined bright in the cloudless sky. The slightly cool crisp air, but warmer than normal weather, was comfortable with her shawl. God had provided the perfect weather for her wedding day.

On the way, her parents discussed the abundant harvest this fall and how it would be a good start for her and Mark. They chatted about the bountiful harvest meal they had in October. Mamm circled an arm around Grace’s waist. “I’ll help you with the winter canning.”

“We’ll help each other.”

Halting the horse, Daed handed the reins to the volunteer stable hand and helped Grace and her mamm out of the wagon. Tables and wooden benches stood in rows. Earlier in the week, Daed had asked his friends to bring their tables and arrange them for the wedding meal. Mamm had coordinated with the women in the community as to what food to bring. Grace admired the many baskets waiting for emptying after the service. It touched her heart her friends had gone to so much trouble to celebrate her special day.

Minutes later, Grace walked alongside her parents and watched her friends file in the barn.