Neighbors Of Lancaster County: Amish Weddings Part 44

Lila swallowed hard at her words, reminding herself to trust. "Jah," she said. "G.o.d has been good to my family." And he was good to her and Zane too, regardless of what the future held. Through her hards.h.i.+ps, she had finally come to trust him more.

Soon the corner table was set up and covered with a tablecloth, and Zane and Lila took their places. The table directly in front of them was for their two families, with Dat at one end and Joel at the other. Tears filled Lila's eyes. Zane, right beside her, was her person. And now everyone she cared about most, her people-including those who were missing at breakfast-were all right in front of them. Her parents. Her siblings. Her sisters-in-law. Her nieces. Her grandparents and Eve and Charlie. Butch and Connie were seated in the middle of the table. Rose stood off to the side in her new blue dress, in front of the pie table-heaped with pastries she had made for the occasion.

As Lila surveyed them all, she even had a sweet sense of her Mamm's presence. She still missed her sometimes, but life and love had continued, and Lila was thankful.

Monika must have had everything under control, because as the cooks marched out with the food, she took the Bobbli from Rose, cradling her against her bosom as she swooped her away.

Dat motioned to Reuben and directed him to the family table. On his way, he paused beside Rose, and for a moment, Lila saw the old playfulness in her sister as she gazed up at Reuben, a hint of a smile on her face.

Lila nudged Zane as Rose and Reuben stepped toward the table and then sat down.

"Do you think we can believe what we see?" Zane whispered.

"I hope so," Lila answered. Nothing would make her happier on her wedding day than to know that Rose and Reuben were getting back together. Then again, maybe it was just Dat trying his hand at matchmaking. Perhaps Rose and Reuben felt nothing for each other.

Once everyone was seated, Dat stood and led the entire congregation in a silent prayer.

Thank you, Lord, Lila prayed, as Zane wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. For your blessings. For your miracles. May we see them each day.

28.

Rose sat on her bed, propped against the headboard nursing Abrie, when Lila came in.

"We're getting ready to leave," she said. "We'll be back first thing in the morning." Usually a bride and groom spent their first night at the bride's house so they'd be available to clean up the next day, but there was no need for that when Lila and Zane's home was just across the field. There wasn't a lot Lila could do to clean, but Zane would be a big help.

"You must be exhausted," Rose answered.

Lila nodded. "So must you."

Rose stifled a yawn and then smiled. "I am."

"Most everyone has left. Monika and Gideon are still here, having a last cup of coffee. So are Shani and Joel."

"What about Reuben?" Rose asked. He'd been playing horseshoes when she came into the house.

"Why do you ask?" Lila teased.

Rose shrugged but smiled. "I thought I'd corral him into walking Abrie if she's fussy. He has a knack for calming her."

"He does seem to have the touch." Lila sat down on the bed and scooted up against the headboard. She touched Abrie's dark hair. "I'm going to miss you two."

"You won't be more than a quarter mile away."

"I know," Lila said. "But it won't be the same. These last couple of months have been . . . the best ever."

Rose felt the same way and nodded. "I guess we've both changed quite a bit, jah?"

"Jah," Lila answered. "Hard times make us stronger."

"And kinder," Rose added, leaning her head against her big sister's shoulder.

"And more understanding." Lila patted Rose's arm and then scooted off the bed. "Come visit us."

"Oh, we will," Rose said. And then joked, "Especially during her fussy times."

Zane had already taken most of Lila's things over to their little house, but she had one more bag. Instead of picking it up though, she bent down and pulled her Mamm's quilt out from under her bed. She turned to Rose. "This is for you."

"Lila! That's yours."

She shook her head. "I want you to have it. We put the crazy quilt I made on our bed last night. Mamm would want you-and Abrie-to have it." Lila's eyes nearly brimmed over with tears as she unfolded the quilt and placed it beside Rose.

"I can't," Rose said.

Lila laughed. "You don't have a choice." Rose knew Eve had given the quilt to Shani, who gave it back to Eve, who gave it to Lila.

"Denki," Rose said. And she meant it. Somehow being given the quilt drew her into the circle of women she most admired. She was a part of them.

The Bobbli had finished nursing, and Rose transferred her to her shoulder. "I'll be right out," she said, patting Abrie's back.

Lila picked her bag up off the bed and said she'd see Rose soon. As her sister left the room, tears stung Rose's eyes. She would miss Lila too, more than she let on. Lila had been the constant in her life all these years-even when she'd taken her for granted. She'd done the same thing with Reuben. It had really taken being a mother for her to start valuing others the way she should. It was as if her heart had expanded. It was as if, like Gideon had preached, she'd started to look at what was inside of people instead of what was on the outside.

Before, she'd thought about Reuben's job and his house. Of his income. Of all the outward things. But she'd seen him as ordinary. She winced at the memory. But it turned out Reuben was extraordinary when it came to his character, to what mattered. She couldn't fathom what she'd been thinking last fall.

Lord, she prayed, help me to keep seeing what truly matters. She put the Bobbli on the bed, pinned her dress, and then picked up the little one, wrapping a blanket around her.

Abrie mattered. How she worked things out with Trevor mattered, and she was very thankful to have Dat involved with that. He would be fair but firm. If it were up to her, she'd never see Trevor again. She couldn't believe she'd been willing to talk with him that day.

She could only imagine how much she'd hurt Reuben-again.

He definitely mattered too. Next to Abrie, he mattered most. She was one hundred percent sure of that, but she couldn't tell him. Not after what she'd done. She didn't want him to feel obligated to her, or for him to think she felt ent.i.tled to him, as some sort of consolation prize. That wasn't it at all.

She left the room, stepped into the empty kitchen, and then slipped out the back door. A couple of tables still remained by the gate where Dat and Beth, the Becks, Zane's grandfather, and Monika and Gideon all sat. Lila stood with her bag, most likely waiting for Zane to come around with the buggy. Daniel and Jenny had already gone home. Simon and Casey, probably exhausted from their travels, had gone over to the Becks', and Butch and his mother had left hours ago. They seemed to have had a good time though, and it meant a lot to Lila to have them at her wedding.

Trudy and Adam swung on the gate. Surprisingly, Dat hadn't told them to stop.

Reuben wasn't in sight. Perhaps he'd gone home. Rose pulled Abrie a little closer. When she reached the others, both Monika and Beth stood to take the Bobbli, but then Monika laughed and deferred to Beth.

Reuben came walking out of the barn as Zane drove the buggy toward the group. Billie stopped, Zane hopped down, and then helped Lila up. Everyone clapped as they drove off.

"We better get the rest of these tables put away while we can still see," Dat said, standing. "And then it's off to bed for this old man." Dusk was falling quickly.

Rose sensed Reuben before she turned and saw him stopping behind her. "Could we talk?" he asked.

"Sure." She followed him over to the fence, expecting Abrie to start screaming any minute.

"I've been thinking . . ." Reuben said. "About us. Quite a bit."

She nodded. She had too.

"Do you plan to stay here, for good?"

"Are you asking if I plan to chase after Trevor?"

Reuben nodded.

"Never." She looked into his kind hazel eyes.

Reuben exhaled. "Would you consider courting me again then? In time?"

Rose's heart began to race. "First I have to know if you truly can forgive me for what I did and not hold it against me . . . or Abrie."

"I have forgiven you," he said. "I mean, I tried and tried, and I suppose I did-I just couldn't feel it. But that night in the hospital, when I saw you . . ."

"When you brought the flowers?"

"Jah, that night, I knew what forgiveness felt like." He smiled a little. "But to be honest the first time I held Abrie, I still felt hollow from what happened. But then the second time holding her brought healing. And every time I see the two of you, I feel more whole."

Rose took another deep breath. "Do you feel you could be Abrie's father?"

"Of course," he answered. "No second thoughts. Ever."

"Even if Trevor ends up visiting? Even if he gets, heaven forbid, some sort of custody rights?"

"Jah," Reuben said. "No matter what."

She believed him. He'd been through a process Dat had never experienced. And besides, Reuben wasn't Dat. He was an entirely different man. He was gentler. More aware of what was going on inside of himself-and inside of her too.

He took her hand. "So will you court me again?"

"Absolutely," she answered.

Reuben led her through the gate to the field and then to the other side of the poplars, where they could hear the melody of the creek. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her close, first kissing her forehead, then her lips. His mouth was sweet and sure, and Rose kissed him back.

But then the Bobbli's screaming interrupted them.

"I'll go get her," Rose said.

"No, you stay here," Reuben answered. "I will." She stepped out from the trees and watched him jog toward Beth and scoop Abrie into his arms. As the moon rose, he started back toward Rose, surefooted, singing a lullaby to Abrie. Rose met him at the gate. The Bobbli stopped screaming for a moment, staring up at her mother in the dim light, but then started again, full force.

"Let's walk toward the lane," Reuben said, pulling the baby close and patting her back. "The three of us, together."

Rose stayed close to his side. By the time they reached Juneberry Lane, Abrie had fallen asleep, and Reuben and Rose shared another kiss in the moonlight.

The two married on the second Thursday of November in Reuben's house. They hadn't had a chance to paint the inside, but they would. Someday. And they hadn't bought furniture yet either. But it didn't matter-they had everything they needed.

Only close family attended the service, and that morning, Lila confided she was pregnant. "I see the doctor tomorrow," she said. "He'll probably put me on bed rest."

"I'll help you, every day that I can," Rose said, hugging her sister. Nothing, besides marrying Reuben, could have made her happier. "You'll get through this."

Dat held Abrie through part of the service, and then pa.s.sed her on to Beth. By the time Rose and Reuben exchanged their vows, Trudy had the Bobbli in the back of the living room, walking her back and forth.

As Gideon prayed a blessing over them, Rose had never felt so supported, or so loved.

She had a good man. A home. And a Bobbli. She hadn't gone the route she should have, that was for sure. But through the paradox of G.o.d's love, he'd blessed her anyway.

And for that she was eternally grateful.

Acknowledgments.

A big thank-you, as always, to my husband, Peter, for his encouragement, medical expertise, military expertise, and research a.s.sistance. I couldn't do this without you. I'm also grateful to our children, Kaleb, Taylor, Hana, and Thao, for their inspiration and motivation.

I'm deeply indebted to Marietta Couch for sharing her Amish experiences with me and for her friends.h.i.+p, encouragement, and care. I'm also very grateful to Laurie Snyder for reading early drafts of this story and for her feedback and support, and to John Jolliff for answering my questions about accident liability, determination of fault, and insurance coverage. (Any mistakes are my own.) A big shout-out to my agent, Chip MacGregor, for taking a chance on me all those years ago and continuing to believe in my ability to tell a story.

I'm also very thankful for all of the good people at Bethany House, including my editor, Karen Schurrer. She adds so much to my stories, and it's always a pleasure to work with her. Thank you!

Most importantly, I'm grateful to G.o.d for inspiration, creativity, and endless grace.

Leslie Gould is the coauthor, with Mindy Starns Clark, of the #1 CBA bestseller The Amish Midwife, a 2012 Christy Award winner; CBA bestseller Courting Cate, first in the COURTs.h.i.+PS OF LANCASTER COUNTY series; and Beyond the Blue, winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice for Best Inspirational Novel, 2006. She holds an MFA in creative writing and lives in Portland, Oregon. She and her husband are the parents of four children.

Learn more about Leslie at www.lesliegould.com.

Books by Leslie Gould.

THE COURTs.h.i.+PS OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

Courting Cate.

Adoring Addie.

Minding Molly.

Becoming Bea.

NEIGHBORS OF LANCASTER COUNTY.