The Decision (43 page)

“I’m truly sorry, and I wish there was more I could do to help you through all this.”

“It helps every time you or Leah drop by.” Elaine motioned to the sofa. “Why don’t you have a seat while I go check on Grandma? I won’t be gone long. Just want to see if she’s awake or needs anything.”

“No problem. Should I make us some tea?”

“Jah, that’d be nice.” Elaine hurried from the room, thankful for friends like Priscilla.

When Elaine entered Grandma’s bedroom, her body tensed. Grandma wasn’t in her bed.
That’s strange. Could she have gone to the bathroom without me hearing her walk down the hall? Oh, I hope she didn’t make her way outside somehow
.

Elaine was about to leave the room and investigate, but she decided to go to the window and look out first. As she started around the foot of Grandma’s bed, she froze. There lay Grandma on the other side of her bed, stretched out on the floor.

Elaine dropped to her knees and reached out to touch Grandma’s hand. It felt cold. Grandma’s eyes were open, as if she were staring at the ceiling.

“Grandma! Can you hear me, Grandma?” Elaine shouted, vaguely hearing Priscilla’s footsteps in the background, running toward the room.

No response.

Elaine’s muscles jumped under her skin as she felt Grandma’s wrist for a pulse. She found none. There was no movement in Grandma’s chest or breath coming from her mouth. This seemed like a dream—a horrible nightmare.

Elaine’s thoughts became fuzzy. She couldn’t think—could barely breathe. It wasn’t possible. Grandma couldn’t be dead.

J
onah stood at the side of the bed, looking down at his new bride, who’d taken sick with the flu during the night. “Is there anything I can bring you right now? Maybe some soda crackers or a cup of mint tea?” he asked, pulling the covers up to her chin.

Shivering, Sara shook her head. “I don’t think I could keep it down, Jonah.”

“Maybe later then.” He felt her forehead and was thankful that it wasn’t as hot as it had been earlier this morning.

Sara’s eyes fluttered. “I’m sorry we couldn’t go to Edna Schrock’s funeral today.”

“It’s okay,” Jonah replied. “I’m sure there will be plenty of people from our community to offer Elaine support.”

“Now that Edna’s gone, Elaine is free to marry,” Sara said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Are you sorry you didn’t wait for her instead of marrying me?”

Jonah reached under the covers and clasped Sara’s hand. “No, Sara, I made the right decision and have no regrets about marrying you.” He squeezed her fingers gently. “I’m looking forward to the days ahead and seeing what God has planned for our lives.”

“Me, too. And Jonah, I have no regrets about marrying you.”

“Onah! Onah!” Mark hollered from across the hall.

“I’d better go see what our little guy wants, but I’ll be back to check on you soon. Oh, and there’s a glass of water on the nightstand for you. You need to sip it so you don’t get dehydrated.”

“Okay, but please keep Mark out of our bedroom. I don’t want him to get sick, too,” Sara called as Jonah exited the room.

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t come in.” Jonah hurried into Mark’s room and lifted him from the crib. “Let’s get you some breakfast, little buddy.”

After Jonah had Mark settled in his high chair with a bowl of cereal, he made a pot of coffee and took a seat at the table. He, too, felt bad about missing Edna Schrock’s funeral, but his first obligation was to Sara. He sure couldn’t leave her alone when she was this sick.

Jonah had gone to Edna’s viewing the other day, and it tugged at his heartstrings to see the look of despair on Elaine’s face. As difficult as it had been for her to be Edna’s caregiver, it would be even harder for Elaine to cope with the loss of her grandmother. It had been a rough year for Elaine, losing both of her grandparents.

Jonah wished once more that she would have allowed him to help her through it. Of course, that was out of the question now. He was a married man, and it wouldn’t look right for him to go over to Elaine’s by himself to help with chores or anything else she may need to have done. But Elaine’s friends would be there for her, helping in whatever way they could. Eventually, Elaine would meet someone special, fall in love, and get married.

“Onah! Onah!”

Jonah jumped at the sound of Mark’s voice. He looked over at the boy and laughed when he saw that Mark had turned his empty bowl upside-down and put it on top of his head.

Jonah was glad for this lighthearted moment. It wasn’t good to think too deeply about things that were out of his control.

Removing the bowl from Mark’s head, Jonah cleaned Mark’s face and hands with a wet paper towel. Then he lifted Mark out of the high chair, returned to his seat at the table, and held the boy in his lap while he waited for the coffee to perk.

Mark burrowed his face into Jonah’s chest, and Jonah’s throat constricted. The love he felt for the boy was beyond measure, and Jonah had no doubt he would love and nurture this child as if he were his own flesh and blood.

Elaine’s throat burned as she struggled not to break down. She, along with several others from their church district, had arrived at the cemetery a few minutes ago. It had been determined that Grandma’s death was caused by a heart attack, just as Grandpa’s had been. Her somber funeral had taken place inside the Otto Center earlier this morning, and afterward, the mourners had come to the cemetery to lay her body to rest.

If I’d found her sooner, could she have been saved?
Elaine winced. Hadn’t she thought the very same thing when Grandpa died? All the wishing for what she might have done would do her no good now. Grandma was gone, and Elaine was alone. Now she needed to find the strength to go on.

“We’re here for you,” Leah whispered as she and Priscilla slipped their arms around Elaine’s waist.

Elaine’s forehead broke out in a sweat, even though it was a chilly day. Oh, how she needed their friendship—more now than ever before. The anguish she felt over losing Grandma shook Elaine to her very core.

She shivered as Grandma’s simple coffin was placed inside the rough pine box that had been set in the opening of the grave. Elaine felt certain that Grandma was with Jesus and Grandpa now. Her dear grandmother was no longer bound by any illness, and in that, Elaine found some measure of comfort. She really wouldn’t wish Grandma back with her, suffering and confused. But someday she would see her grandparents again, when it was her turn to be called to heaven. What a joyous reunion they would have—the three of them.

A group of men from their church district began to sing as the grave was filled in by the pallbearers. With each shovelful of dirt, the heavy feeling in the pit of Elaine’s stomach increased. At one point, she felt as if she might faint, but the support of Priscilla and Leah kept her standing firm. As the last shovelful of dirt was placed over the coffin, she remembered the promise she’d made to Grandpa before he’d died—to take care of Grandma.

I did the best I could
, Elaine thought.
I only wish I could have done more
.

Bishop Levi asked the congregation to pray the Lord’s Prayer silently and concluded the graveside service. It was time to head back to Grandma’s house for the funeral meal her friends and neighbors had prepared. Eating at their table wouldn’t seem right without Grandma to share in the meal. Elaine would miss all the times she and Grandma had together—even on Grandma’s bad days—but somehow she must learn to cope.

As all the people turned from the grave site and began walking back to their buggies, Elaine made a decision. She would try to make the best of her situation and look to God for answers concerning her future. She would claim and cling to His promises to help get her through the grieving process. And she would call upon her special friends, Priscilla and Leah, whenever she had a need. No more trying to do everything in her own strength, for she had tried that and failed. Elaine could count on her dear friends—not just for today, but in the days ahead. And someday, if the Lord willed it, she might meet someone special, fall in love, and get married. But until then, she would put her trust in the Lord.

Six months later

H
ow are you feeling today?” Jonah asked, stepping behind Sara as she stood at the sink, washing their breakfast dishes.

“I’m good. In fact, I feel better than I have in a long time.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“And remember, the doctor said there is no evidence that MS is linked to any problems with pregnancy.” Sara leaned her head against Jonah’s chest. “He also said that most women experience relief from many or even all of their MS symptoms during pregnancy, and I’m happy to say that I seem to be one of those women.”

Jonah slipped his arms around Sara’s waist and gently patted her slightly protruding stomach. They had only been married two months when Sara became pregnant. At first, Jonah had been concerned for Sara’s health because of her MS, but Sara had been feeling quite well, for which he was thankful. Their child would be born in November, and Jonah could hardly wait to introduce Mark, who was now three, to his baby brother or sister. Life was good for Jonah, and he was happier than he’d been in a long time.

To add to his joy, the last time Mom and Dad came to visit, Dad had informed Jonah that he was going to sell his buggy shop in Pennsylvania and move to Illinois to be partners with Jonah. Mom and Dad were even going to buy Sara’s old house. They would also see that the barn was rebuilt once they’d moved in, but other than that, not much else needed to be done. Having his parents living closer would make Jonah’s life complete. Without question, he’d made the right decision when he’d moved to Arthur. At first, he’d thought his future would be with Elaine, but the Lord had other plans for Jonah, and every day he thanked God for bringing him and Sara together.

As Elaine sat on the old swing Grandpa had hung for her when she was a girl, she looked up at the crystal-clear June sky and thought of all the changes that had taken place during the past year. She’d lost both of her grandparents, inherited their house, and with the help of her friends, had learned how to cope with the changes.

In addition to hosting dinners for tourists again with the help of a neighbor girl, Elaine now had a suitor, Ben Otto, who was a cousin of Melvin’s wife, Sharon. Ben and his family had moved from Sullivan to Arthur a few months ago. Elaine wasn’t sure what she felt for Ben was strong enough to develop into anything serious, but she enjoyed his company, and it was nice to go out to supper with him once in a while.

Hearing a bird chirp overhead, Elaine looked up and saw a bright yellow finch sitting on one of the feeders. She didn’t know why, but the beautiful golden bird made her think of Grandma’s parakeet, Millie. Grandma had been so upset after the bird had first disappeared. But after Elaine had given Grandma the painted parakeet rock, Grandma became convinced that Millie had come back. It was nice to know that a simple little thing like that rock could have brought Grandma happiness during her last days on earth.

Elaine still missed her grandparents, but she had learned to take one day at a time and be content. Life was full of disappointments, but there were lots of good things, too. Elaine looked forward to seeing what the future held for her, and as she continued to watch the finch, she whispered a prayer. “Heavenly Father, may Your will be done in my life. Please give me the wisdom to make good decisions in all things.”

Ingredients:

8 cups peeled and sliced Yellow Delicious apples (or other sweet variety)

1 (12 ounce) can frozen apple juice concentrate

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

4 tablespoons tapioca

1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked

In a saucepan, cook apples with frozen apple juice concentrate. Add butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and tapioca. When apples are tender, pour into baked pie shell. Cool and serve with whipped topping or ice cream.