Matthew 5:43-45.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you might be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
“How long have those raisins been soaking now, Sarah?”
Sarah looked up at Rebecca. “It would be three hours by now. Will we make the funeral pies now?”
Rebecca nodded. “Jah, we’d better hurry or we’ll be late. Good thing funeral pies keep well; there would be no time to make them tomorrow.”
“Is Mrs. Flickinger doing all right?” Sarah’s face was full of concern.
Rebecca tucked a stray strand of hair back under her kapp. “She is happy that her mudder is with Gott and has no more suffering, but she’ll miss her, of course.”
“And are you okay, Rebecca? I know you and Grossmammi Deborah were close.”
“Jah, denki, Sarah. It’s hard, but I know she’s better off with Gott; there’s no more pain or suffering.”
Sarah simply nodded and beat a bowl of eggs. “It doesn’t make it any easier at all for someone when they know that a friend or relative’s time is nearly up and that they could go to be with Gott at any time, but I suppose at least it was not a shock.”
Rebecca sighed and poured flour and sugar to a large mixing bowl. “Suppose.”
“I feel sorry for Nash, though,” Sarah said as she mixed the eggs with flour and sugar.
“Nash?”
“Grossmammi Deborah was Nash’s grossmammi. I think everyone’s misjudged Nash. I got into trouble when I was on rumspringa, and it’s not if he’s been baptized or anything. People judge him by the way he looks, and that’s really not fair.”
Rebecca decided it was best not to give her opinion; after all, Sarah’s mind seemed made up. Rebecca did not trust Nash, not one little bit. She always did her best to avoid him, but there would be no avoiding him today. Grossmammi Deborah had passed away the day before, and today everyone would go to the B&B for the viewing. Tomorrow would be the funeral.
Rebecca stirred the eggs, sugar, flour, lemon juice, lemon rind, cornstarch, cinnamon, allspice, and water over the stove for fifteen minutes, while Sarah finished making the pastry. Finally the pies were made, covered with slender lengths of dough in a crisscrossed pattern, and now had to be baked until browned.
“These will only take around twenty five minutes to go golden brown,” Sarah said aloud to herself.
“Are you okay, Sarah?”
Sarah looked up from placing the pies in the oven. “Jah, why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’re talking to yourself.”
Sarah’s hand flew to her mouth.
Rebecca chuckled. “You only do that when you’re stressed, I’ve noticed.” Sarah just smiled politely and ducked her head, so Rebecca decided not to pursue the matter.
On the buggy ride to the B&B, which was only a short distance, Rebecca noticed that Sarah grew more and more anxious. She wrung her apron between her hands.
When Mr. Miller drew the familye buggy up to the B&B, the first person Rebecca saw was Nash. He, like everyone else on this occasion, was wearing black, but in his case, they were not Amish clothes. Still, he seemed more toned down than usual, and even from that distance, Rebecca could see that he had taken out all his piercings. She was glad that he had chosen to be respectful.
The Hostetler familye buggy, Noah and Hannah’s buggy, and Moses and Martha’s buggy all arrived at the same time as the Millers, and pulled in behind them. They all walked in together. Rebecca’s heart leaped when she saw Elijah, and he gave her a warm smile.
There were no guests at the B&B, apart from Benjamin Shetler who was more or less a permanent resident, so there were no Englischers to interrupt the solemn proceedings. To Rebecca’s discomfort, Elijah accompanied Sarah into the reception rooms at the B&B.
The Miller and Hostetler familyes filed into the main living room, and greeted Mrs. Flickinger who was doing her best not to cry. Mr. Flickinger stood close by her side. Many other members of the community were already there, all dressed in black and sitting around.
Mr. Flickinger asked the Miller and Hostetler familyes if they would like to see the body. They all politely said they would, then lined up in single file. Mrs. Hostetler stayed back to comfort Mrs. Flickinger while Mr. Flickinger took them to the plain, six-sided, pine coffin, the upper half of which was opened. He pulled back a white cloth to reveal Grossmammi Deborah’s face.
Rebecca did not want to look at Grossmammi Deborah’s face, although she knew that Grossmammi Deborah was no longer there and that her earthly body was just a garment. Grossmammi Deborah was in her wedding dress, and her face showed she was at peace. After briefly viewing Grossmammi Deborah, Rebecca slipped away to the kitchen, hoping no one had noticed her.
Rebecca stood at the kitchen window looking out over the snow drifting over the fields. It’s going to be an early winter, she thought, wiping a stray tear or two away from her eyes. A noise behind her made her turn around.
“Are you okay?” Elijah was smiling down at her, his face full of warmth and concern.
Rebecca nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She had become quite close to Grossmammi Deborah and had enjoyed her conversations with her. Grossmammi Deborah’s passing had left a void in her world. Her older schweschders, Hannah, Esther, and Martha were all now married, and she had no one left to talk to. Sure, there was Sarah, but she did not feel she could confide in her, and her mudder was not someone she could talk to as a friend; rather, she was an elder to be respected. Rebecca at once felt terribly sorry for herself, and to her dismay, burst into tears.
The next thing Rebecca knew was that Elijah’s strong arms were around her. She took in his manly scent of honey and oatmeal soap, tinged with the woodsy scents of the farm. Rebecca did not want Elijah to let her go, but at the same time, was afraid someone would come upon them and think something untoward was going on.
Finally Elijah released her and held her at arms’ length. “Here, sit down, Rebecca. I’ll make you some hot meadow tea. I’ll put sugar in it. I know you were close to Grossmammi Deborah.”
“Denki, Elijah.” Rebecca sat down and sniffled. Her heart was racing from Elijah’s proximity. Was he being considerate because he cared for her, or simply because he was a good, thoughtful person? She had no way of knowing. If only Elijah would give her some sign of his feelings toward her.
Elijah placed the tea down in front of Rebecca, and sat opposite her, smiling. “See, I keep telling you that I’d make a gut husband.”
Rebecca could not help but laugh. “Jah, you would.”
Elijah was on the point of saying something further, when Sarah burst into the kitchen. She too had been crying. Rebecca had no idea why, as Sarah had not known Grossmammi Deborah. Benjamin Shetler hurried into the kitchen right behind Sarah, and Sarah and Benjamin both stopped and stood there with their mouths open when they saw Elijah and Rebecca.
Elijah stood up. “Sarah, is anything the matter?”
Sarah hung her head, so Elijah guided her to a seat. “I’ve just made Rebecca a meadow tea, so I’ll make you one too.”
“Denki.” Sarah’s voice was small and quiet.
Rebecca’s heart fell. So, Elijah was just being nice to me because he’s a caring person, she thought, and now he’s being exactly the same to Sarah too. Rebecca felt like a third wheel, and Benjamin had already left. Without a word, she stood up and left the room.
* * *
Elijah was a little upset. He had been about to ask Rebecca to go on a buggy ride, when Sarah and Benjamin Shetler had hurried into the kitchen. Why had Rebecca hurried out, straight after Benjamin Shetler? He hoped Rebecca did not have feelings for Benjamin. After all, he was just as handsome as Nash, although in a different way. What other reason would Rebecca have for charging out of the kitchen like that? He had wanted to follow her, but Sarah was upset. I need to speak to Rebecca as soon as possible, he thought, with growing urgency.
* * *
Nash Grayson was a little upset that his grandmother had died. She had never been mean to him, not like his own mother and father had, but on the bright side, he figured that there was a very good chance she had left him something in her will. Perhaps it was enough to pay off his gambling debts. If not, it might be enough for him to bet on just one more race to make some good money.
Nash wondered how long before the will would be read, and then after that, how long it would take him to be paid any inheritance. Then he could escape from this dreadful, dreary place. He’d go mad if he had to stay with these people too much longer. All they did was care about other people and God; it was just not natural.
Nash couldn’t believe his luck when he saw Rebecca, Elijah, Sarah, and Benjamin go into the kitchen, but only Benjamin and Rebecca come out. He sneaked to the door and leaned against it, straining his ears to hear what they were saying. To his great disappointment, Elijah appeared to be lecturing Sarah about God. All Elijah was doing was telling Sarah what the ministers had said.
Nash sighed, but then he had a thought. Rebecca herself had no idea what Elijah was doing in there with Sarah, and he could use this to his advantage. Nash smiled to himself as he headed to the closest plate of free food.