Joseph sat on the small firm bed in his cell, his hands clasped together and head bent in prayer. A metal click drew his attention to the lock as a correctional officer opened the cell door. He stared at the officer wide eyed.
“Bail has been posted. You’re free to go until your trial,” the officer informed him.
Who posted bail for me? He wondered.
The officer walked him to the main booking office and they handed over his personal belongings. After he changed back into his street clothes, he was escorted to the outer waiting room.
Joe’s mouth dropped open. “Bishop Hostettler?”
“I was already on my way to see you when I found out what happened,” Judah said. “Kumm, I have somebody you might want to see. We hired a driver.”
Confusion displayed on Joseph’s face.
“I’m preaching this Sunday at the Girods’ place,” the bishop informed him. “Do you know them?”
“No. I haven’t met them yet.”
“I’ll be staying in their dawdi haus over the weekend. You have been granted permission to stay too.” Judah led the way out to the parking lot, where a van waited for them.
“I have?”
When they neared the van, an Amish couple stood beside it. Joseph examined them as he and the bishop came closer. He suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared in disbelief.
The woman rushed toward him, tears in her eyes. “Joseph?”
He gulped hard and his voice faltered. “Mamm?” His eyes wandered beyond where she stood. “Dat?”
“Jah, it is us, Sohn,” his father replied.
Joseph couldn’t take his eyes off of them. He stood in the cold, unaffected by the chill. “What are you doing here?”
The bishop spoke up, “Why don’t we talk about this on the way to the Girods’ place?”
Joseph, along with his parents, and Judah, all filed into the van. On the journey to their place of respite, Joseph’s folks filled him in on all that had happened since he’d left. They apologized for their harsh treatment of him and informed him that they, too, had eventually left the Swartzentruber Amish. He learned that Mary’s brother ended up going to prison after he was reported by someone else. His folks now lived in Southeastern Ohio, which was a lot closer to Bishop Hostettler’s district, than the other sect up North.
“How did you know I was here?” He wondered aloud.
His father pointed to Judah. “The bishop called and spoke with your Uncle John a couple of weeks ago; he’s still a minister up there. Judah asked about you and your standing in the church. John knew we were looking for you, so he contacted us right away.”
Joseph searched Judah’s face for more answers.
“Your Anna had contacted me a few weeks back. She asked about you being under The Bann and whether it was possible to lift it. So I did some investigating.” Judah’s eyes sparkled. “And, of course, after our conversation in Paradise and your meeting with Minister Fisher, I think we can safely say that the Bann has been lifted.”
Joseph shook his head in amazement. He felt like crying. He felt like yelling out “THANK YOU” to God. But he didn’t do either of those things. He simply bowed his head and whispered a humble prayer. God understood his heart.
God was so, so good!
<><><>
Anna had been happy, and disappointed at the same time, to learn that Joseph had already been released. What bothered her most is that she now had no idea where he was. The jail would not release that information.
They’d gone to the store to see if he was in the room he shared with Harv, but he was not there. Where could he have gone? Worry lines formed on Anna’s brow as she pictured him going back onto the streets. At her insistence, Linda drove around town in hopes of finding Joe. But it was for naught. He was nowhere to be found.
Regret clamped down on her heart once again. She should have known. She should have trusted Joe in the first place. She never should have allowed Aaron back into her life. How could she have been such a dummkopp?
<><><>
Joseph’s heart lifted as he sang songs of adoration to his Maker. Not only was this the first service he’d attended in many years, it was the first service he’d attended as a true child of God. This day would have been perfect if not for one thing.
His eyes meandered to the opposite side of the room where the women worshipped. Anna looked so depressed, it broke his heart. She scarcely allowed herself to lift her eyes to his. He understood what she must be feeling.
After the service, the bishop had introduced him and his folks to several people in the district. He determined to speak with Anna before she left for home today, and he set out to find her. He searched inside the barn and house, but didn’t see her. Upon going outside, he found her walking by herself out in the cold.
“Anna!” he called to her.
She halted at the sound of his voice and briefly glanced his way, but continued in the same direction.
Joe had to run to catch up with her. “Anna, wait! Stop, please.” By the time he caught up with her, he was nearly out of breath.
“What?”
Joseph was tempted to kiss away her frustrated tears, but he wouldn’t dare be so bold. “I…I want to talk to you.”
“Why? Don’t you see that I’ve already ruined everything? I don’t deserve your friendship, Joe,” Anna cried, turning away from him.
He stepped in front of her and lifted her chin. He gazed into her forlorn eyes. “Don’t you dare say that! Do you think I’ve forgotten how you came and brought Harv and I lunch every day when we were living on the streets? Did you forget that you gave us your father’s clothes to wear and brought us into your home and gave us shelter? If anyone is unworthy, it is me.”
Anna shook her head in denial. “I kicked you out of my home when you were trying to save it!”
“None of that matters to me.”
She stood speechless, eyeing Joe in wonder.
“Anna, will you come meet my folks?” Joe yearned to share so many things with her.
She shrugged in defeat. “Okay.”
He reached for her hand and she allowed him to grasp it. It seemed she’d relaxed a little by the time they reached the house. He quickly spotted his parents as they spoke with the bishop. “Anna, this is my mother, Bernice. And my father, Felix.”
Anna held her hand out. “Nice to meet you. I’m Anna.”
“We’ve heard a lot about you,” Bernice smiled.
Anna briefly smiled at Joseph.
Joseph’s father spoke up. “We’d hoped to convince Joseph to come home with us to Ohio.”
Anna frowned. “Ohio?” She looked to Joe for confirmation.
“I said I didn’t know. It all depends,” Joe said.
“On what?” Anna asked.
Joe lifted a brow. “Not, on what. On whom?”
Anna’s brow furrowed.
“Anna, will you marry me?”
“You…you want to marry me? Why?” Anna’s eyes widened before they filled with tears.
Joseph smiled and shrugged. “Because I love you.”