Plain Pursuit (40 page)

22

GOD BLESSED THEM WITH A PERFECT DAY. THE TEMPERATURE was below average by ten degrees, and the skies were clear and blue. A gentle breeze cooled the air, and Carley’s white cotton dress swirled at her knees. Delicate lace trim around the short cupped sleeves, princess neckline, and hem accentuated the simple dress. It was tasteful and elegant, but plain enough to go with her matron of honor’s simple blue dress, white apron, and white prayer
Kapp
.

Noah had never looked more handsome, wearing black slacks, a tailored white shirt, and a black tie. His wavy dark hair was neatly groomed, his face clean shaven, and his clothes ironed to perfection. Carley smiled in his direction as Pastor Marsh instructed the others as to their proper places.

The
others
were few. In addition to Carley and Noah, there were Dr. Bolton, Dr. Louis Sharp, Dana, Jenna, Lillian, and Pastor Marsh. Little Jenna was picture perfect, her blonde ringlets flowing around her beautiful face. Dressed in a pastel blue frock, her attire was also simple with a touch of elegance. She held a smaller version of the bouquet Carley was carrying—yellow roses.

Dipping meadows spanned as far as Carley could see. Amish farmsteads were visible in the distance, with towering silos stretching to the heavens. Faint sounds of the country could be heard—cows mooing, birds chirping, a faraway tractor, and—

Carley perked up.
Could it be?

They all twisted around, their eyes following the sound of horse hooves coming down the road. Spontaneously they broke formation and wound their way around to the front of the clinic to see one, two, three, four, five buggies. One by one, they watched them turn into the parking lot.

Thank You, God.

Carley recognized Mary Ellen, her husband, and their two children in the first buggy that turned into the clinic. Next were Ivan and Katie Ann. Then Rachel and her family, who also brought Esther. And Sadie was in her buggy. Lillian’s mother, Sarah Jane, had brought Lillian’s grandfather, Jonas.

Carley’s hands had landed on her chest. She glanced at Noah, whose dumbstruck expression was a sight to see. He was clearly overwhelmed, and his eyes radiated with warmth and appreciation. Carley reached for his hand. They walked around the building and greeted each new visitor with a hug.

Finally, while Noah continued to greet his family, Carley excused herself and headed back around to where Lillian was standing. Her friend looked like she would burst into tears at any minute. Carley knew why.

“I’m sorry, Carley,” Lillian said with regret. “I was hoping Samuel would change his mind. I see that all the others did.”

Carley embraced Lillian. “Don’t you be sorry. You can’t control what Samuel does. Besides, you’re responsible for getting the rest of the family here, and I know how much it means to Noah.”

Carley had already tried to pull at Samuel’s heart by leaving Noah’s letter to him in plain view. Even though Lillian had put the stack of books aside, surely Samuel had found the letter by now. It must not have had the impact she’d thought it would.

Several times she’d thought about telling Lillian about the letter, but then Lillian would know she had read it—something Carley wasn’t proud of.

It didn’t make any difference now. Whether or not he’d found the letter, Samuel wasn’t coming.

Everyone began to gather again. Noah was beaming, but Carley caught him glancing down the road. They faced each other. Pastor Marsh waited until everyone was settled, his Bible in his hands.

“Dearly beloved . . .”

Lillian had just left for the wedding when Samuel edged carefully around David, who was standing in the kitchen with a scowl on his face. He knew the boy wanted to attend Noah’s wedding, but Samuel just couldn’t see fit to defy the bishop.

Although . . . he knew what was going on all around him, with the clinic and all. And the bishop was turning a blind eye. Maybe Bishop Ebersol would turn a blind eye if he attended Noah’s wedding. Or maybe the bishop would just never know.

He’d prayed about it. But in the end, not only did it defy the
Ordnung
, but he just didn’t know how to go about going. Lillian had told him repeatedly he would be welcomed with open arms. But had he really done right by Noah by continuing to practice the shunning after what Noah had done for David?

That was his struggle, his question. Was doing right by Noah doing right by God? How could he do both?

Samuel trudged up the stairs with the weight of a suffering family on his shoulders, a family that should somehow be loving both Noah and God. He shook his head and walked into his bedroom.

“Tell me what to do, Lord.” He leaned into Anna’s crib and stared at his precious little one.

He took a deep breath and reckoned he’d better get started on some of the chores he’d told Lillian he’d work on today—household chores too heavy for her to handle. He glanced at the box of books in the corner of the room and knew he should have moved those to the storage shed weeks ago when Lillian asked him to. They wouldn’t be needing the books until Anna was of reading age.

He lifted the heavy box, thinking there must have been three dozen old books of David’s inside. The boy had long outgrown such books as the one on top.
My Family
by Bernard Day. Time to put them in storage and—

Samuel drew in a long breath, walked to the bed, and set the box down. He remembered. How could he have forgotten?

The letter from Noah was wedged between the pages, hanging over the edge about three inches. He’d given up looking for it weeks ago. And he hadn’t paid any mind to the box in the corner, forgetting that he’d placed the letter in his favorite childhood book.

He sat down on the bed and slowly pulled it out—the letter he’d been so desperate to find.

Carley was ready to take her vows, but once again they were interrupted. This time a car slowed at the entrance to the clinic. Carley strained to see who was pulling in. Barbie Beiler. Carley hadn’t invited her—she didn’t know the woman all that well—but she was a dear friend of Lillian’s. Of course she was more than welcome, even if a tad late.

Everyone held formation, waiting for Barbie to come around the corner of the building.

“Sorry we’re late,”
she said as she walked up to the group holding Anna.

Lillian walked to Barbie and joyfully accepted Anna.

But all eyes were on Samuel and David when they rounded the corner.

“Hi,
Onkel
Noah.” David wrapped his arms around Noah.

Carley could tell that Noah was having a difficult time keeping his emotions under control.

Lillian began weeping so hard to Carley’s left that Barbie came and retrieved the baby. Carley heard Lillian ask Barbie how she’d gotten her family to the wedding.

“I was dropping off your money from the bake sale. Samuel was dressed and readying the buggy. I offered them a ride,” Barbie responded.

“So you didn’t talk him into it? He was already planning to bring the children and come?” Lillian cried harder as Barbie reached down and latched onto Lillian’s hand.

“Yes, Lillian. He was.”

Carley hugged David when he made his way toward her, but she didn’t take her eyes off Noah and Samuel, studying them over David’s shoulder, wondering what their next moves would be.

Noah’s expression left no doubt as to his hesitancy to move toward his brother, who stood tall before him. Slowly Noah extended his hand to Samuel, who was equally slow to latch on.

“
Danki
for coming, Samuel,” Noah said cautiously while still clutching Samuel’s hand.

“
Gut
to be here.”

Samuel handed Noah a letter.

Carley watched as Noah slowly unfolded the paper. No one moved. No one said anything. And Noah read.

When he was through reading, Carley watched as the two brothers pulled each other into an embrace.

When they separated, there wasn’t a dry eye among them all. Samuel said, “I’d like to be your best man if you’d see fit.”

Noah merely nodded. Carley knew it was all he could muster up. Emotion flooded his face as he turned to Dr. Bolton, who smiled and stepped away.

“Are we ready to begin?” Pastor Marsh asked Carley and Noah.

They both nodded. And with Lillian and Samuel on each side of them, Carley and Noah professed their love for each other—with all of the family present to witness the blessed event.

Two weeks later, Carley was growing anxious, fidgeting on the couch. She looked at her watch, knowing Dana and Jenna would be there any minute. It had been with Noah’s blessing that Carley had redecorated the inside of what was now
their
home. Pleased with the results, she waited.

“Are you nervous?” Noah asked, taking a seat beside her on the couch.

“A little. But in a very good way.”

“Have I told you today how much I love you?” Noah kissed her on the cheek.

“I believe you have, but I never tire of hearing it.”

They sat quietly for a few minutes. Carley prayed, offering thanks and asking for guidance. Her new life was a blessing on so many levels.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Dana.” Noah smiled.

“And for us.”

Carley recalled the important conversation Dana had wanted to have with them the day before the wedding. She had seemed so scared, yet excited and hopeful. A full scholarship to college at New York State was something to be proud of. After everything Dana had been through, she deserved this opportunity.

“I’m nineteen years old,” she tearfully told Noah and Carley when she joined them that night at the Italian eatery. “I want to live my life.”

As she enthusiastically told them about the scholarship, the same thing was on everyone’s mind.

Jenna.

Dana had proceeded to ask Carley and Noah if they would keep Jenna while she attended school. Carley could still vividly recall the look exchanged between her and her husband-to-be as they both felt the presence of God bestowing this miracle upon them. A child in the house.

“Jenna is my sister, and I love her,” Dana had said. “But I’m not ready to be a full-time mother. If you don’t want to do this, then—”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Carley and Noah had said simultaneously.

And so arrangements were made. There wasn’t much time—the fall semester started this week.