The Restoration (44 page)

“I’m sorry, Elam, but it’s over.” Trembling, Priscilla dashed back to Elaine’s house, where the others were eating. Struggling to hold back tears, she sought her mother and said she needed to go home.

Mom looked at her with concern. “Are you
grank
?”

“I’m not sick. I just need to go home.”

“Maybe today has been too much for you.” Mom slipped her arm around Priscilla’s waist. “We’ll go as soon as your daed finishes eating. Why don’t you come over and try to eat something, too? You might feel better once you have some food in your stomach.”

Priscilla shook her head. “If you and Dad want to finish your meals, that’s fine, but I’m not hungry. I’ll wait for you in the buggy.”

Mom looked hesitant but finally nodded. “Okay, I’ll get your daed.”

Choking on sobs rising in her throat, Priscilla sprinted for the buggy. She needed to be alone to think things through. She was still in shock over Elam’s confession. Did he expect her to accept this news and go on as though nothing had happened?

“How are things with you, Ben?” Adam asked as he enjoyed vanilla ice cream and the brownies Leah had made for dessert.

“Guess you heard Elaine and I broke up.” Ben took the last bite of his apple pie.

Adam’s brows furrowed. “I didn’t know. Sorry to hear that, Ben.” Adam wondered if Leah knew this and just hadn’t said anything. “Since we’re done eating, would you like to take a walk?”

“Sure. It’ll give us a chance to talk in private.”

Adam and Ben got more coffee then ventured outdoors. No one else was around the corner of the yard they’d chosen.

“When did this happen with you and Elaine?” Adam blew on his coffee, waiting for Ben to respond.

“Around the end of May. It was the same night Priscilla got burned,” Ben answered. “With everything else going on, maybe Elaine forgot to say anything to Leah.”

“Could be.” Adam paused, searching for the right words. “Are you okay with all of this?”

“I’m good now, since I’ve had time to think about everything.” Ben took a deep breath. “I realize I was just fooling myself, thinking Elaine would marry me. When we talked that Saturday night, she said I could never be more than her friend. I pretended it didn’t matter, but truthfully, while we were courting, I’d hoped her feelings for me would turn into love. Guess it wasn’t supposed to be.”

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” Adam placed his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Are you and Elaine still on good terms?”

“Jah. Since Elaine was the first person I developed a friendship with after my family and I moved to Arthur, it would be hard to turn off our friendship, just like that.” Ben snapped his fingers. “I really have to wonder, though, if Elaine might still be in love with Jonah.”

Adam shrugged. From what Leah had told him, before Elaine’s grandmother became ill, she and Jonah almost got married. He wondered if Elaine had ever stopped loving Jonah.

“It’s good you can remain friends with Elaine.” Adam took a seat in one of the chairs on the lawn. Ben did the same. “It would be difficult any other way. Like today, for instance, seeing her here at church.”

“I’ll admit it was kind of hard seeing her this morning, knowing we’re no longer courting. Guess I’ll get used to the idea, though.”

Adam felt bad for his friend. He hoped someday Ben would find someone special who’d love him the way he deserved.

Ben extended his hand to shake Adam’s. “I’m glad we talked, but now I think I’d better head home.”

“I need to go, too, so I’ll round up my girls. See you at work tomorrow.” As Ben headed for his horse, Adam walked to the back of the house, where several people mingled. He spotted Carrie, Linda, and Amy playing with a group of children, and waved them over.

“Are you about ready to head home?” Leah asked, joining Adam and the girls.

“I am if you are.” Adam smiled. “How about you girls? Are you ready to go home?”

Amy bobbed her head. “We’ve gotta fill the hummingbird feeders. They were almost empty when we left this morning.”

“I wanna check on Chippy.” Linda hopped up and down, and Carrie joined in, squealing, “Chippy! Chippy! Chippy!”

Leah laughed as the girls raced to the buggy. “I helped Elaine clear the tables, and a few other women said they would stay to help her finish.”

Adam looked toward the girls to make sure they were out of earshot. “Did Elaine say anything to you about Ben?”

“She said he won’t be courting her anymore, but they’ll remain friends.”

Adam nodded. “That’s what Ben told me. It’s too bad, but hopefully things will work out for both of them.”

“I hope so.” Leah’s eyes glistened. “Oh, Adam, feel this.” She took his hand and placed it against her stomach. “The boppli’s been kicking up a storm since I ate. Maybe he likes those brownies I made.”

Adam chuckled. “You seem so sure it’s a boy.”

She smiled. “I have a feeling it might be, but either way is fine with me.”

“Same here.” Grinning, Adam’s heart overflowed with joy.

As they walked hand in hand, he reflected on the reasons he and Leah had gotten married and how their relationship had blossomed. Helping his wife climb into the buggy, where Amy, Linda, and Carrie were waiting, Adam couldn’t imagine life without Leah and those precious girls. God had surely blessed him.

Elam’s legs trembled so bad, he could barely remain standing. He’d struggled with the need to tell Priscilla what he’d done ever since she’d gotten burned, but he hadn’t been able to work up the nerve until today. Even then, he’d felt he had no other choice. This morning when the bishop preached on guilt and the need to confess one’s sins, Elam had fallen under conviction and had to tell someone. He’d chosen Adam, hoping for advice, but ended up confessing to Priscilla instead. If he’d been able to discuss it with Adam and there’d been more time before she’d shown up, things may have gone better. Since Iva had invited Elam over this evening, it would have given him an opportunity to be alone with Priscilla so they could talk privately. Now he wouldn’t be going to dinner at the Hershbergers’. Elam reminded himself that he’d had plenty of time since Priscilla’s accident to confess, but unfortunately, he’d blown it.

Elam started walking, kicking up gravel as he headed for his horse.
I should have told Priscilla right away. If I’d explained as soon as it happened, maybe she would have forgiven me, like she did when she thought it was David.

Tears blurred Elam’s vision so he could hardly see to hitch his horse to the buggy. If he could only go back and do things over again, he would never have turned the stove burner back on after David went outside. He’d have used the bathroom and waited for Priscilla to come back downstairs. He’d hoped to have the popcorn made so she’d be impressed that he’d done it for her. It may have given him an edge over David, who seemed to always be trying to win Priscilla’s favor.

If the accident hadn’t occurred, and Priscilla was given the chance to choose between me and David, I wonder who she would pick. Would she choose David or agree to become my wife?
Elam drew in a sharp breath as a new realization hit him:
Priscilla will never marry me now that she knows what I did. There’s nothing I can do to repair the damage.

As Elam climbed in his buggy and backed the horse from the hitching rack, he made a decision. Priscilla deserved to be happy, and he would make sure it happened.

S
helly Howe will be coming by to pick me up soon,” Priscilla announced during breakfast Monday morning. “I arranged it with her last night.”

“Oh? Where are you going?” Mom asked.

“To Chicago, to see David.”

“Priscilla, you can’t go running off to Chicago by yourself to see a man who doesn’t want to be here anymore.”

Priscilla thrust out her chin. “David didn’t want to go, Mom. He left because he believed he was responsible for my burns. He needs to know the truth.”

“What truth?” Mom glanced at Dad, as if looking to him for an answer, but he merely shrugged in response.

“What truth?” Mom repeated, this time looking at Priscilla.

“Elam left the stove on, not David.”

Mom’s fingers touched her parted lips as she let out a gasp.

Dad looked at Priscilla with a dazed expression. “Come again?”

“After church yesterday, Elam confessed that he’d left the stove on.” Priscilla paused to collect her thoughts and take a drink of water. “I’m not upset because he went to the bathroom and left the stove unattended. I’m disappointed that he didn’t admit it right away. Instead, he allowed David to take the blame.”

“I—I don’t know what to say,” Mom stammered. “I never would have expected Elam to do something like that.”

“Nor I,” Dad spoke up. “What in the world was he thinking?”

Priscilla stared at her plate of untouched pancakes. “He’s jealous of David and wanted to drive him away.”

Mom let out a little gasp. “Oh my!”

“Now do you see why I need to speak with David?” Priscilla lifted her hand. “I can’t let him go on thinking he did this to me.”

“You’re right. He does need to know,” Dad interjected. “You have my blessing to go.”

Mom pursed her lips. “What Elam did was wrong, but I still believe he loves you, Priscilla. If you choose David instead of Elam, I know he will be crushed.”

Priscilla shook her head. “This isn’t about choosing anyone, Mom. I’m just going to tell David the truth. If he does come back to Arthur, it’ll be his decision. Whatever happens after that will be in God’s hands.”

Dad gave a decisive nod. “That’s absolutely right.”

Priscilla glanced at the kitchen clock. “Shelly will be here for me soon, so I need to finish breakfast and be ready when she arrives. I have his parents’ address, and hopefully we’ll find him there.”

Mom looked at Dad. “Can’t you persuade her not to go?”

He shook his head. “Priscilla is not a little girl anymore, Iva. She’s a grown woman and can make her own decisions. If Priscilla thinks it’s important to visit David, then we should support her decision.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Mom reached over and gently touched Priscilla’s arm. “Are you sure you’re up to the trip?”

Priscilla nodded. “And even if I’m not, I feel it’s important for me to go.”

A short time later, a horn honked outside. Priscilla rose from her chair. “That must be my driver, Mom. Should I run out and tell her to come in while I help you do the dishes?”

Mom shook her head. “No, that’s okay. I’ll do them myself this morning.”

“Danki, Mom.” Priscilla gave both parents a hug.

“Have a safe trip,” Dad said as Priscilla grabbed her purse and moved toward the door. “We’ll be praying everything goes well when you see David today.”

As Iva washed the breakfast dishes, she couldn’t stop thinking about the things Priscilla had told them.
What will happen when our daughter gets to Chicago and sees David?
Iva wondered.
Will she convince him to come back to Arthur and join the Amish church? Could David try to persuade Priscilla to leave her family and faith and become part of his English world?

Iva continued to fret as she sloshed the soapy sponge over Daniel’s favorite coffee mug.
I wish Elam would have been up-front with Priscilla and told her right away that he was the one who’d left the stove on. Even though what Elam did was wrong, I hope he and Priscilla will get back together.
She’d known for some time that they cared for each other. It would be a shame if their relationship ended now. Iva felt sure Elam loved Priscilla and probably felt guilty for what he’d done. Surely, Priscilla knew that, too.