Hope Chest (27 page)

“My son? Which son?” Rebekah felt as though she were in a daze.

“Your daughter said his name is Perry.”

Rebekah covered her mouth with the palm of her hand and gasped. Daniel released a deep moan.

“How ... how bad is he hurt?” she squeaked.

“What happened?” Daniel asked at the same time.

The sheriff opened his mouth as if to reply, but Elizabeth bounded onto the porch just then. “Perry’s been hit by a car!” she shouted. “I’m sure he’s dead!”

***

The next several hours were like a horrible nightmare for Rachel, and she was sure the rest of her family felt the same way. Perry had been taken by ambulance to the hospital in Lancaster, and Joseph had ridden up front with the driver while the paramedics tended to Perry in the back. Mom, Dad, Rachel, and Elizabeth rode with the sheriff.

When they arrived at the hospital and spoke with the emergency-room doctor, he told them that Perry was dead. The sheriff had explained how the driver of the car that ran into Perry had hit a patch of ice and swerved off the road. All the other Amish children who’d been walking home from school with Perry and Elizabeth had witnessed the accident.

When they returned home later that night, Rachel offered to fix the family something to eat, but no one was hungry. Elizabeth, who appeared to be in shock, had to be carried to bed by Joseph. Dad was busy comforting Mom, who hadn’t stopped crying since she’d been given the news that her youngest son was dead.

Rachel took a seat at the kitchen table and let her head fall forward into her hands. She still couldn’t believe that young, impetuous Perry, who had been making jokes at breakfast that morning and talking about the things he wanted to do after school, was gone. She felt sure her little brother was up in heaven with relatives and friends who had gone on before him, but despite the knowledge that Perry was with Jesus, she would always miss his mischievous face. She knew the rest of the family felt the same way—especially Mom, who had lost her youngest child, born just fifteen minutes after Elizabeth had entered the world.

Rachel lifted her head and moaned as her thoughts went to Anna. She needed to be told about Perry as soon as possible. After all, Anna was still a part of their family, even if she had moved away.

***

Early the following morning, several women came to the house with food and offers of help. One of them was Martha Rose Zook, Anna’s friend.

The others joined Mom in the kitchen, but Rachel touched Martha Rose’s arm and nodded toward the living room. “Can I speak with you a minute?”

“Jah, sure.”

As soon as the two of them had taken seats on the sofa, Martha Rose turned to Rachel and said, “I’m so sorry about Perry, and I’d like to help in any way I can.”

Rachel forced a smile. If she smiled, maybe it would be easier not to cry. “I spoke with Mom this morning after breakfast, and we want Anna here for the funeral.”

“And well she should be.”

“The thing is ... we know your husband, Amon, has a phone in his place of business now, so we were wondering if you might be willing to call Anna and let her know what happened to Perry.”

Martha Rose nodded. “Of course I will.”

Rachel glanced toward the door leading to the kitchen. “It might be best if you didn’t say anything to my daed about this. No point getting him any more worked up than he already is.”

“I understand.” Martha Rose gave Rachel a hug.

Rachel found the gesture to be comforting, but having someone’s sympathy made it more difficult for her not to cry. Tears had been clogging her throat ever since she’d first seen Perry’s lifeless body lying by the side of the road, but she’d refused to give in to them. She needed to be strong for the rest of the family, and she knew if she started crying, she might not be able to stop.

“If Anna comes for the funeral, then Dad will just have to deal with it,” she murmured.

Martha Rose pursed her lips like she was thinking the matter over. She finally nodded and said, “I won’t say a word.”

***

Joseph couldn’t keep his mind on his chores. All he could think about was Perry and how much he would miss the little scamp. He could still picture the wild expression on Elizabeth’s face when he and Rachel had pulled up to the accident and seen Perry lying by the side of the road. She, along with several others from their school, had witnessed the accident, and seeing Perry struck down by the out-of-control car must have been a real shock for them all. Elizabeth and her twin brother had always been close, despite their constant bickering. It would be difficult for Elizabeth to get through the funeral, which was to be held at their house in a few days.

He ambled over to the bales of hay stacked against the barn wall and lifted one bale into his arms. He needed to feed the livestock, and other jobs waited to be done. Life didn’t stop because of a death in the family, even though he might wish it could.

Joseph tried not to think of anything but the job at hand as he forked hay into the horses’ stalls and filled their troughs with fresh water. He’d just finished with the last horse and was preparing to move on to the mules, when he heard the barn door open and shut.

“Joe, are you in here?”

“I’m here, Pauline.” He set his pitchfork down and hurried to the front of the building, anxious to see the woman he loved.

Pauline stood near the door with a grievous expression on her face. “I’m so sorry about Perry. Is there anything I can do? Anything at all?”

He nodded and moved quickly to her side. “You can give me a hug, that’s what.”

She opened her arms, and he went willingly into her embrace. Tears clogged the back of his throat as he struggled to remain in control of his raging emotions. “It’s not fair, Pauline. Life’s not fair. God shouldn’t have taken my little brother.”

She patted his back in a motherly fashion. “I’ve never lost anyone so close to me, and I don’t truly know how you’re feeling, but I do know that God understands your pain, and He wants to help you through this.”

Joseph tried to speak, but his words came out garbled.

“Let the tears flow, Joe,” she said, hugging him tighter. “I’ll cry right along with you.”

He knew he couldn’t fight the ball of emotions that threatened to suffocate him, so he gave in and wept until the shoulder of Pauline’s dress was saturated with his tears.

Finally, he lifted his head and stepped back. “Danki for being here for me.”

She nodded, as a film of tears swam in her eyes. “That’s what friends are for.”

“I—I was kind of hoping we could be more than friends.”

She tipped her head and blinked a couple of times. “Oh?”

“I’m in love with you, Pauline, and if you’ll have me, I’d like us to get married next fall.”

She smiled and wiped her eyes. “I love you, too, Joe, and I’d be honored to be your wife.”

CHAPTER 25

Anna stared out the window of Reuben’s truck, watching the passing scenery yet not really seeing it. She was finally going home to see her family, only this was not the homecoming she had wanted it to be. Instead of going to a family member’s birthday supper or celebrating some special holiday with them, she was going home to view the body of her little brother who had gone to heaven to be with Jesus. Would she be accepted by her family today? Would Dad, who had been determined that she not come home for a visit these past months, speak to her?

“You okay, Anna?” Reuben asked, as he reached across the seat to touch her arm.

She turned to face him and blinked against the stinging tears obscuring her vision. “I’m feeling a little uneasy about things.”

“Are you afraid you’ll break down when you see your brother’s body?”

“I’m concerned about that, but I’m also worried about how I’ll be accepted today.” She glanced down at the long, black skirt she’d chosen to wear for this somber occasion. It wasn’t a Plain dress, but at least she hadn’t worn slacks or a fancy dress that would draw attention to her clothes.

She reached up to touch the short curls framing her face and grimaced. “I wonder what my folks will have to say about my hair?”

Reuben grunted. “I think you’re worried for nothing, Anna. I’m sure everyone will be so glad to see you that they won’t even be thinking about your hair.”

Anna released a sigh and pushed her full weight into the back of the seat. Truth was, even though she’d said a few times that she wished she could cut her hair, she’d only done it to please Reuben. He had wanted her to do it before they’d left the Amish faith. Of course, she would never have done anything so bold or defiant then, especially since she had already become a baptized member of the church. Even after leaving the church, she’d been hesitant to cut off her hair, but Reuben had kept insisting.

Reuben took hold of her hand and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “It’ll be all right, Anna. Everything will work out just fine.”

***

The funeral for Perry was a solemn occasion. Friends, relatives, and neighbors quickly filled up the Beachys’ house for the service. The wall partitions had been removed so the speaker could be seen from any part of the three rooms being used. Perry’s plain pine coffin had been placed on a bench against one wall in Mom and Dad’s bedroom. Rachel’s immediate family sat facing the coffin, with their backs to the speaker, who stood at the doorway between the kitchen and living room.

It sent shivers up Rachel’s spine to think of her little brother’s body lying in that coffin. In this life, she would never again have the pleasure of seeing him run and play. Never again hear his contagious laugh or squeals of delight when a calf or kitten was born. Never hug him or ruffle his hair the way she’d often done whenever he’d been in a teasing mood. It wasn’t fair. Rachel wondered why God had allowed such a horrible thing to happen. Wasn’t it bad enough that they’d lost Anna to the English world? Did God have to take Perry, too? She had to keep reminding herself that even though her little brother’s days on earth were done, he did have a new life in heaven and was probably happier now than he’d ever been in this life.

Before Rachel had entered her parents’ bedroom, she’d seen Silas and his parents come into the house. Silas had offered her a sympathetic smile, but she’d only nodded in response and gulped back the sob rising in her throat.

Rachel was miserable without Silas as a friend, and she didn’t have Anna as a friend anymore, either. Even though Martha Rose had called Anna on the phone and told her about the funeral, she wasn’t here, which meant she must have decided it was best not to come.

Unbidden tears slipped out of Rachel’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks in rivulets that stung like fire.
If only things could be different. If only...

Rachel barely heard the words Bishop Wagler spoke during his funeral message. Her thoughts lingered on her sister and how much she had hurt the family by going English. Anna had hurt Silas, too, and because of it, he had spurned Rachel’s love.

The service was nearly over, and the assisting minister had just begun to read a hymn, when Rachel caught a glimpse of Anna and Reuben, who had slipped into the room. She had to look twice to be sure it really was Anna. Her modern sister was dressed in English clothes—a black skirt and matching jacket. The biggest surprise was Anna’s hair. She’d cut it short, just like Joseph had said, and it made her look so “English,” despite the little black scarf she wore on the back of her head.

When the service was finally over and everyone had vacated the rooms so the coffin could be moved to a convenient viewing place in the main entrance, Rachel and her family stood. As soon as the coffin had been set in place inside the living room, everyone present formed a line to view Perry’s body.

Rachel knew the funeral procession to the cemetery would begin soon afterward, and she wanted a chance to speak with her sister now, just in case Anna and Reuben didn’t plan on staying. So as soon as she had seen Perry’s body, she sought out her sister, who had already made her way out of the house, with Reuben at her side.

Rachel had only taken a few steps when she was stopped by Silas. “I’m sure sorry about what happened to Perry.” He paused, his gaze going to the casket, then back to her again. “It doesn’t seem right, him being so young and all.”

Rachel stood staring at him, feeling as if she were in a daze. When Silas said nothing more, she started to move away. To her surprise, he reached out and gave her a hug. She held her arms stiffly at her side and waited until he pulled back. She was sure his display of affection was nothing more than a brotherly gesture. Besides, it was too little, too late as far as she was concerned. Rachel knew she needed to weed out the yearning she felt for Silas. It would only cause her further pain to keep pining away and hoping for something that never could be.

She bit her bottom lip in order to keep from bursting into tears, then turned quickly away.

***

Anna and Reuben were about to step off the porch, when Rachel showed up. “Anna, hold up a minute. I want to talk to you.”

As Anna turned to face her sister, her eyes flooded with tears. “Thanks for asking Martha Rose to get word to me about Perry. I—I just had to come.” She glanced over at Reuben, and he took hold of her hand.