CHAPTER 31
As soon as Laban was safely out the door, Rachel squealed.
Deep chuckles came from Betty’s bedroom. “I thought that would make you happy, dochder. What date did you decide on?”
Josh was thrilled to know Rachel was as excited as he was to push the wedding date forward. He leaned close and whispered, “I’m going to do everything in my power to get the dawdi haus built as fast as I can.”
“I planned to finish Mrs. Vandenberg’s quilt before I sewed my wedding dress,” Rachel said as they headed down the hall to her mamm’s bedroom, “but I’ll change my plans around and do my dress first. I’m sure Mrs. Vandenberg won’t mind.”
“She’ll be delighted.” And so would he.
“And I’ll need to find out when the wedding wagon is free.”
“Well?” Mamm demanded, her face wreathed in smiles, when they reached her doorway.
Josh took the lead. “I told the bishop we’d wait until the dawdi haus is finished. And we’ll give you a week to move in and get settled. Unless you’d like more time, of course.”
He was relieved when Betty laughed. “A week is plenty of time.”
Heaving a sigh of relief, he turned. “I’d better get out there and get busy.” After a special glance for Rachel, he hustled from the room just as Barbara volunteered to help with wedding plans.
Barbara had been a godsend. Once again, Mrs. Vandenberg had made a perfect match. Not only was she an excellent caretaker, but she and Betty had become good friends. And Barbara loved to babysit. Both children had taken to her sweet, grandmotherly nature. Best of all, they were helping Barbara, who needed a place to live.
Josh jogged outside, whistling. He couldn’t wait to complete this building. Every board, every beam, every shingle they put in place would bring him closer to his wedding day.
“About time,” Adam groused. “We’re working on your mother-in-law’s house while you spend your time courting Rachel.”
Too thrilled to argue with Adam, Josh only said mildly, “Sorry. We had to meet with the bishop, but I’ll try to make up for it now.” And he would.
But Adam seemed determined to needle Josh. “What’d the bishop want? People report you for touching?”
“He started out by talking about forgiveness.” Which was partly true. Laban had mentioned Josh following the directive to ask Anna Mary’s forgiveness. But Josh had said that on purpose to remind Adam of Mrs. Vandenberg’s message.
To Josh’s surprise, his brother squirmed and turned away. And for the next two hours, Adam said nothing.
When Rachel brought out the meal at noon, Adam hung back. She waved him over. “I don’t know if potpie is still your favorite meal, but I made it today.”
Adam didn’t meet her eyes, but he did manage a gruff danke.
She and Josh went inside to wake the children for dinner. Before they went upstairs, she peeked out the window. “Your brother took a big helping, and he’s gobbling it down.”
“Heaping coals of fire on his head?” Josh teased, referring to the Scripture verse in Romans. “The Bible does say to feed your enemy.”
Rachel laughed. “I wasn’t thinking about that when I did it. I just want to have a good relationship with everyone in your family.”
“I don’t want to discourage you, but I don’t think Adam will ever come around.”
“That doesn’t mean I won’t keep trying.”
“You’re a wonder, Rachel Glick. I’m so lucky you’re going to be my wife.”
“Ach, Josh! Can you believe we can get married soon? I’m so excited. Mrs. Vandenberg is amazing.”
“Jah, she is. And I think we can finish in three weeks if all the supplies come in on time. So, in a month or so . . .”
Her eyes burned with a passion that matched his.
A knock at the back door interrupted them. Rachel was fixing Marianna’s bottle, so Josh went to answer it.
Adam stood there, twisting his straw hat in his hands. “I have something I want to say to Rachel.”
“Come in.” Josh tried to be as gracious as his future bride had been toward his brother. “I’m sure she’ll be happy to know you liked her potpie.”
But Adam frowned at Josh’s teasing tone. “It’s not that. It’s private.”
Private? What could his brother possibly have to say to Rachel that was private? Josh tamped down his jealousy. “I’ll just go outside until you’re done talking.”
“I suppose you can stay,” Adam said grudgingly, “since this kind of concerns you.”
Rachel set down the plate she’d been filling and headed for the door. “Would you like to sit down and eat with us? We have plenty more potpie.”
“Neh, but danke. It was good.”
“I’m glad you liked it.”
As Rachel headed toward that side of the kitchen, Josh tried to melt into the wall on the far side, out of his brother’s line of sight.
“I, um, have something I need to say to you.” Adam crushed the brim of his hat.
If he kept squeezing his hat that way, it might soon be unwearable. Josh wanted to reach out and take it from his brother’s hands, but Josh didn’t want to call attention to himself.
Rachel stood waiting, her eyes curious, but her expression open and welcoming.
“Guess it’s best to just spit it out.” Adam sucked in a ragged breath. “That old lady was right. I do have some apologies to make.” He stared at the floor under his feet. “It’s my fault your brother died.”
Josh’s chest constricted so much he couldn’t draw in air, and black spots appeared before his eyes. Rachel looked stricken. Josh wanted to reach out to her, to comfort her, but all his muscles had frozen. Never, ever had he heard Adam admit he’d done something wrong. But to confess something this huge?
Adam’s words came out pinched and tight. “Me and Marv and Lloyd was smoking in the old barn. Marv told us to be double sure we stamped out every bit of ash. They did. I didn’t. So, I’m the one what killed your brother.”
“It was an accident.” Rachel’s voice shook.
Adam plowed on as if he hadn’t heard her. “I never wanted anyone to know. But I shoulda owned up. Will you forgive me?”
“Jah,” Rachel said softly. “I forgive you.”
Her eyes brimmed with tears, and Josh broke the stranglehold that had kept him in place during his brother’s confession. He needed to get to her.
“I’m sorry.” Adam turned to go as Josh reached Rachel’s side. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, breaking the rules of the Ordnung, but he restrained himself. He didn’t want to damage Rachel’s reputation. Especially not in front of his brother.
Adam glanced sideways at Josh. “Guess you needed to hear that too, huh?” Then he rushed out the door, jammed his squished hat on his head, and went back to work.
Still in a daze, Josh laid a hand on Rachel’s arm. Her damp eyes tore at him. “I’m so sorry Adam brought that up.”
“I’m not,” she said. “Don’t you think it’s wunderbar that he confessed and asked for forgiveness?”
Josh could only nod.
“I hope telling us is the start of a new attitude for him. Maybe it’ll improve all his relationships.”
“I’m sure his wife will appreciate it if he apologizes. I don’t think he ever does.”
“Well, we can pray about that, but we’d better get Marianna.”
She’d started squalling.
“I’ll go get both of them,” Josh volunteered, “if you want to finish getting her bottle ready and set out lunch. I like when we both do it together, but I’m eager to get back out there and get to work.”
“And I can’t wait until it’s done.” Rachel sent him a joyous smile.
After he started up the stairs, she hugged herself. She could hardly believe everything that had happened so far today. They’d moved up their wedding date with the bishop’s approval, and Adam had apologized. That had been a huge step for him, and she hoped it would be a start on a mended relationship between him and Josh. And best of all, she only had to wait a month to be Josh’s wife.
By the time he came downstairs with their freshly changed dochder and still-sleepy sohn, Rachel had set out the food. She handed Josh Marianna’s bottle and helped Zak into his place at the table. When they were all seated around the table, heads bowed for silent prayer, Rachel’s heart was so full of thanksgiving, she couldn’t even put it in words. All she could do was tack a string of dankes to the end of her prayer.
* * *
And that gratefulness bubbled up in her as each day grew closer to their wedding day. Barbara and Mamm helped with the planning while Rachel sewed. Only one small detail marred her happiness.
Josh had many friends at church, and once they realized Anna Mary loved someone else and Josh intended to wed Rachel, they rallied around him. He’d already picked his two sidesitters for the wedding. But Rachel had none. After the girls in her buddy bunch realized she wasn’t after their boyfriends, their iciness thawed to a semi-friendly coolness. But none of them had become her friends. Perhaps some were still worried the “flirt” might break up with Josh before they married.
Rachel was lamenting this with less than two weeks to go before the wedding. Mrs. Vandenberg stopped by to see how the dawdi haus was progressing. She exclaimed over the lovely exterior as well as the interior layout. Josh had almost finished laying the hardwood floors, while Adam had started priming the walls his brothers had completed.
Rachel pointed out all the special details to make Mamm more comfortable. “And they added all the wheelchair accommodations you suggested,” she told Mrs. Vandenberg, still unsure why those were needed.
“Good, good. Perfect timing,” Mrs. Vandenberg said as they crossed the lawn back to the house. “I moved the appointment for your mamm to see the specialist until after the wedding. I think he can get your mother mobile enough for a wheelchair. He’s done some marvelous things.”
“That would be wonderful if he could help. And don’t worry about the cost.” With the money Rachel had from the house sale, she intended to pay for Mamm’s treatments herself.
“Sounds like everything is going perfectly.” Mrs. Vandenberg stopped walking and turned a searching gaze on Rachel. “So, what’s bothering you?”
“How could you tell?” Rachel had kept her bubbliness, gratitude, and happiness front and center every day. She’d prayed about the one tiny thorn in her side, but so far, no sidesitters had appeared.
Mrs. Vandenberg tilted her head to one side. “You almost bounce when you walk, and your words overflow with joy, but there’s a little quaver at the end of your sentences. A tiny pinprick of sadness. It’s not grief from missing those who’ve passed.”
Rachel did wish Daed, Tom, and Cindy could be here for her special day. But the cause for her quaver seemed so petty in comparison.
“Sometimes we blow up little things until they take a huge amount of mental and emotional space. And we fail to see there’s an easy solution.” Mrs. Vandenberg’s raised eyebrow encouraged Rachel to confess.
“Josh has asked his two sidesitters, but I don’t have anyone I can ask.”
“Well, that’s not hard. They have to be single, right?” At Rachel’s nod, Mrs. Vandenberg’s face glowed with sunshine. “What about Gloria? Isn’t she your second cousin?”
“Jah, but she lives so far away.”
“It just so happens I invited her and Annika here for a visit. I’m sure they’d love to attend your wedding. Annika can’t wait to thank you for the house. You’ll have to see the pictures I’ve taken.”
“They’ll be here the week of the wedding?”
“That’s the plan.”
Rachel couldn’t help wondering if this plan had also been a nudge from God. “Do you think they’d do it?”
“Let’s find out.” Mrs. Vandenberg rummaged through her purse for her phone. “I’ll call the B and B. They both should be working there now.”
Within ten minutes, it was all arranged. Both girls were delighted to be asked, and Annika insisted on speaking to Rachel. Annika’s multiple dankes reminded Rachel of her own prayer full of thanksgiving a few weeks ago.
When the call ended, Rachel was so excited she hugged Mrs. Vandenberg, almost knocking her off her feet. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for us.”
“It’s my pleasure. You’ll never know the joy I get from bringing together the couples God has selected.”
“You’ll be at our wedding, too, won’t you?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
* * *
And Mrs. Vandenberg was as good as her word. She arrived early on the Tuesday morning of the wedding with Gloria and Annika. The two girls went upstairs with Rachel to get ready, and Mrs. Vandenberg headed into the kitchen to help the church women prepare the meal.
Annika gushed about the Ohio house and her own wedding plans in November, both of which made her doubly thrilled about Rachel and Josh’s wedding.
Gloria’s eyes filled with tears, and she leaned over to kiss Rachel’s cheek. “I’m so happy to be here on this special day. Cindy talked about you and Josh so much, I feel like I’ve always known both of you. She’d be so happy you two will be parenting her children.”
Rachel’s eyes stung. She wished Cindy could have joined them. But having Gloria and Annika, Cindy’s two closest confidantes, brought Cindy’s presence to the gathering.
As Rachel descended the stairs, she trembled with nerves and excitement. Today, she’d marry the man she’d loved since she was nine years old. She’d dreamed about this day so often, but now it truly had arrived. And it was more beautiful than anything she’d ever imagined.
* * *
Upstairs in the nursery, Josh struggled to pull on his vest and jacket. Zak, overwhelmed by the crowds swarming into the house, begged to be held, so Josh switched his sohn from one arm to the other as he tried to maneuver his arms through the sleeves.
One more time, Josh explained that Zak and Marianna would sit with Barbara during the service.
“Nehhh!” Zak shrieked. “I stay with you.”
“You can’t,” Josh said patiently for the tenth time that morning. Setting Zak on the bed, Josh tugged his vest into place while Zak sobbed uncontrollably.
Lord, please help me to find a way to comfort him.
Josh picked up Giraffey. “Do you want to keep Giraffey with you?”
Zak nodded, clutching the stuffed animal to his chest. “But, but,” he blubbered, “I don’t want you dead.”
Josh stood stock-still. The last time they’d dressed in these clothes and had a crowd in their house had been for Cindy’s funeral. Even Annika and Gloria had come.
“Ach!” Josh dropped to his knees beside the bed to be at Zak’s eye level. “Are you afraid this is a funeral? That someone died?”
“Jahhh,” Zak wailed. He flung his arms around Josh’s neck and squeezed so hard, Josh could barely breathe. “Don’t be dead.”
Gently, Josh untangled Zak’s arms so he could look into his sohn’s eyes. “Nobody’s dying. Your mamm and I are getting married. Remember what we told you?”
They’d explained they’d be marrying, but neither of them had thought to describe the crowds and activities of the day. They’d just mentioned about him sitting with Barbara during the service. Most likely, Zak had never been to a wedding before. Not with his daed ill.
“This is a happy day. I’m going to be your daed and live in this house all the time. I’ll sleep here tonight and every night, so I can take care of you and Marianna.” And any other babies he and Rachel had.
Zak tilted his head to one side and studied Josh suspiciously. “You sure?”
“I’m positive. And after all these people go home, I’ll be staying here. I won’t ever have to leave at night again.”
“That’s gut.” Zak’s face relaxed into a rapturous expression, and he wiped his tears on Giraffey. Then he hopped off the bed and grabbed Josh’s hand. “Let’s go get married, Daed.”
A fond smile playing on his lips, Josh descended the staircase to find Rachel at the bottom. At her answering smile, his grin broadened until his cheeks ached.
“We have to get married, Mamm,” Zak announced.
Rachel laughed. “Jah, we do.” She leaned over to kiss him, then said to Josh, “Barbara’s in the back beside Mamm.”
Rachel waved toward the women’s section and the portable hospital bed Mrs. Vandenberg had rented so Betty could be in the room to watch her daughter’s wedding. Josh left Zak in Barbara’s care and patted Marianna as she lay in Betty’s arms.
“Danke for raising such a wonderful dochder, Betty. Rachel’s made me the happiest man ever.”
Betty’s eyes welled with tears. “And you’ve made her the happiest woman.”
Josh forced himself to take slow, dignified steps back to where Rachel waited. He’d have sprinted if no one had been watching.
When he reached her, her beauty inside and out left him speechless. Echoing his sohn’s words, Josh whispered, “Let’s get married, Rachel.”
Her eyes lit up. “I can’t wait.”
And neither could he. God had blessed him with his deepest heartfelt desire—the only woman he’d ever loved. And now she’d be his forever. And he’d be hers. Their childhood promise to each other had come true.