The Restoration (20 page)

Cora had been sleeping awhile, when a knock sounded on the door. Rising from her chair in a somewhat dopey state, she peeked out the window and was surprised to see the sheriff’s car in her driveway.

Cautiously, she opened the door.

“Mrs. Finley?”

Cora nodded. “What can I do for you, Sheriff?”

“I’m sorry to tell you this, but there’s been an accident involving two cars. Your son Jared was riding in one of them.”

Stunned, Cora remembered the news bulletin she’d seen on TV. “Pl–please tell me my son is not dead.”

The sheriff shook his head. “His injuries are serious, but the driver of the car he was riding in didn’t make it.”

Muffling a sob, Cora leaned against the door for support.
Dear God, please don’t take my son.

P
riscilla rolled over to look at the clock beside her bed. It was already 7:30 a.m.—well past the time she normally got up. Elam hadn’t gone home until well after midnight last night, and even though she’d gone to bed as soon as he’d left, she hadn’t fallen asleep right away. So many thoughts went through her mind as she pondered where her life was going. All these years she had assumed her future was pretty much set, but lately she wasn’t so sure.

Taking in a deep breath, all the smells drifting up the stairs told Priscilla that Mom had already started breakfast. Rubbing her pounding temples, she groaned and pulled the covers over her head. If she got up now, she’d never make it through the day without dozing off. She might even get sick because of her headache.

Priscilla wanted nothing more than to lie here, enveloped under the darkness of the covers, where most of the morning sounds were muffled. Regrettably, it wasn’t an option. Mom always counted on Priscilla helping with the breakfast, so she forced herself out of bed. After putting on her robe and slippers, she made her way down the stairs, where she found Mom in the kitchen, mixing pancake batter.

“I’m surprised you’re up so early, since you had a late night.” Mom turned from the stove and frowned. “Ach, Priscilla, you look
baremlich.
Did you look in the
schpiggel
at those dark circles under your eyes?”

Priscilla massaged her forehead. “I feel terrible—like I haven’t slept at all. And no, I did not look in the mirror. I came downstairs to let you know I have a koppweh.”

“Then you’d better go back to bed.” Mom gestured to the door from which Priscilla had entered. “If you sleep a few more hours you may feel better before your brothers and their families arrive. Elam’s still planning to come, too, isn’t he?”

Priscilla nodded, wincing at the beam of light shining through the kitchen window. At least it wasn’t snowing this morning. “Danki for understanding, Mom. A little more sleep is what I need right now.” She started out of the room but turned back around. “Please wake me before they get here. I’ll need to take a shower and make myself look presentable.”

“I’ll make sure you’re up.”

“By the way, what smells so good?” Even though Priscilla knew she couldn’t eat anything, whatever her mother had made smelled delicious.

“A scrambled egg and green pepper quiche. But don’t worry, once it cools, I’ll wrap a piece and you can have it later.”

“Danki, Mom.” As Priscilla headed back to her room, she thought about how strangely Elam had acted when they’d stopped to see David last night.
It almost seemed as if he was jealous of David’s attentions toward me. But why?
she wondered.
David and I are just friends.

Leah smiled as she stood at the kitchen window, watching Adam shuffle toward the phone shack, where he’d gone to check for messages. Last night it had snowed a bit, and the path was most likely slippery, since the sun wasn’t high enough yet to melt it.

It was still early, and the girls weren’t awake yet, so Leah hesitated to start breakfast. When Adam came back to the house, she would fry eggs and bacon. In the meantime, she may as well get some coffee started. One thing Leah had learned about Adam was that he liked to have a cup of coffee every morning to start his day.

Humming, she filled the coffeepot with water and set it on the stove. While she waited for it to perk, she took out a carton of eggs and a slab of bacon. Then she sat at the table with her Bible, to read a few verses.

She turned to Isaiah 26:3–4:
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the L
ORD
for ever: for in the L
ORD
J
EHOVAH
is everlasting strength.”

Those verses are a reminder of the importance of putting my trust in God
, she thought.
I need to remember His teachings, and trust Him to work things out between Adam and his mother.

Leah closed her Bible as Adam entered the room, blinking rapidly, elbows pressed tightly against his sides.

“What’s wrong, Adam?”

“Cora left a message on our answering machine. Jared was involved in an accident last night.” Adam swiped the palm of his hand across his forehead. “He’s in the hospital, in serious condition.”

Leah gasped. “Oh, no!”

“I’m going to the hospital, Leah. I called my driver. He will pick me up in twenty minutes.”

“I’ll go with you. We can drop the girls off at my folks’.”

“What if Jared doesn’t make it?” Adam asked. “What if I never get the chance to really know my little
bruder
?”

Leah wished she had an answer for Adam. All she could do was give him a hug, hoping to offer reassurance. Then she remembered the scripture she’d just read. “Trust God, Adam. The Lord Jehovah is our everlasting strength.”

Cora’s eyes felt as gritty as sandpaper. She’d been at the hospital all night, waiting for news on Jared’s condition. When she’d first arrived, she’d been told he had a ruptured spleen and some other internal injuries, as well as several broken bones. As soon as she signed the papers, he’d been taken into surgery. Two hours ago, when Jared was in the recovery room, he’d gone into cardiac arrest. They were trying to stabilize him and insisted Cora take a seat in the waiting room. All she could do was wait and pray. The waiting was difficult, but Cora hoped her prayers would be answered. She couldn’t imagine what her life would be like without Jared.

Cora had called Adam and left a message early this morning, and last night she’d tried to get in touch with Evan. He hadn’t answered the phone, nor responded to the message she’d left.
I’ll bet he was out partying with his new wife
, Cora thought bitterly.
If Evan’s suffering from a hangover this morning, it could be hours before he checks his messages.

Normally, Evan didn’t have a problem with alcohol, but Cora had seen him drink too much on a few occasions—like when they’d been celebrating some event.
Call me, Evan. Call me.

Cora ground her teeth together.
Evan should be here right now, waiting with me to find out whether our son is going to live or die.

Her focus switched to Adam, wondering what his response would be when he got the news his brother had been seriously injured and might not live.

Tears welled in Cora’s eyes, dribbling down her cheeks.
It’s my fault this happened to Jared. I never should have said he could spend New Year’s Eve with Scott.
Of course he hadn’t gone to Scott’s. Jared had been riding in Chad’s car, and now Chad was dead.

New Year’s Day was supposed to be a time for new beginnings and hope for the year ahead. She grimaced, turning in her chair in an attempt to find a comfortable position.

I don’t think I can go on if Jared doesn’t make it.
Cora struggled to hold herself together, even though she thought she might lose control at any moment. If she let the what-ifs take over, she would be devastated.
I have to think positive. Jared’s going to make it. Lord, please save my boy. I know I don’t deserve anything, but please spare him so I can have the chance to bring him up right and teach him to love You.

Cora’s thoughts turned to Chad. Deep down she’d always felt sorry for him but had focused more on her concern for Jared hanging around someone of his poor character. She’d seen it happen so many times with other parents during the years they’d lived in Chicago. Children who were brought up in a secure, happy home would get in with the wrong crowd and cause their parents to worry.

Thinking back on it now, apparently Chad had never gone home like Jared said. Cora had no idea where the boy had been all this time. Maybe all the missing food had been going to Chad. The food didn’t matter now. She only wanted Jared to wake up.

I wonder how Chad’s parents are handling the news of their son’s death.
Cora had been informed they’d been notified, but she hadn’t seen them at the hospital yet.
Please, God, comfort Chad’s parents, and don’t let me lose Jared, too.

Cora picked up her cell phone and was about to call Evan again, when Adam and Leah entered the room.

Leah moved swiftly across the room and gave Cora a comforting hug, while Adam stood off to one side with a strained expression.

“I am so sorry.” Gently, Leah patted Cora’s back. “Is Jared going to be okay?”

Cora sniffed deeply. “I don’t know. His heart stopped beating in the recovery room, but they managed to revive him. Now it’s just wait and see.”

“We can pray,” Adam spoke up. He looked at Cora with earnest eyes, as if reminding her of all she’d been taught.

“I have been praying. I just don’t know if it’s enough.”

“We need to pray and trust.” Leah spoke softly, leading Cora back to her seat.

“Where’s my son, and who are these people?”

Cora jumped at the sound of Evan’s deep voice as he bounded into the waiting room. Thank goodness he had come, but should she take the time to explain about Adam being her son and Leah his wife? It wasn’t important right now.

“I’m glad you got my message.” Cora moved closer to Evan, moistening her parched lips with the tip of her tongue. “Jared’s seriously injured, and he…” She nearly choked on the words. “He might not make it.”

Evan looked around the room, as though searching for someone. “I want to see him now.”

Cora nodded. “Me, too, but we can’t go in until they say it’s okay.”

Evan sank into a chair with a moan. “I never should have let you and Jared leave Chicago. If our son dies, I’ll never forgive you, Cora.” He clasped his hands behind his neck and stared at the ceiling. Cora could see his Adam’s apple moving up and down as he swallowed.

Cora spread her fingers out and pressed them against her breastbone. She had been prepared for Evan to blame her for what had happened tonight, but was Evan saying what she thought he was saying? Did he wish he’d never filed for divorce and married Emily? Did he regret the three of them no longer being a family?

Except for the occasional calls over the PA system, all was quiet. It was nerve-racking to hear the muffled sounds of nurses walking past the waiting room. Only their shoes could be heard going down the spotless hallways, and each time the squeakiness drew near, Cora held her breath, wondering if someone was coming to give her bad news.

T
he next several hours seemed like days to Cora, as she sat with Adam, Leah, and Evan, waiting for news on Jared’s condition. Several times she saw Adam and Leah with their eyes closed and heads bowed, but Evan either paced or sat impatiently tapping his foot. Cora had introduced Adam and Leah to Evan, but just as Amish friends. Now was not the time to tell Evan the truth about her previous life. It would upset him and probably make matters worse. Thankfully, neither Leah nor Adam made any reference to Cora being Adam’s mother. Right now, everyone’s focus was on Jared, hoping he pulled through.

Cora shifted in her seat. She’d been trying to do as Leah had suggested and trust God, but the longer they waited for news on Jared’s condition, the more apprehensive she became.

“Why don’t Adam and I get us all some coffee?” Leah rose from her chair.

“Good idea.” Adam stood, too. “Four coffees coming right up. Is black okay, or do we need some cream and sugar?”