A Place of Peace (32 page)

“Don’t you forget me either.” She cupped his cheek in her hand. “If you do, I’ll beat you up.”

He snickered. “Jessica, I could never forget you.” His expression became serious. “I meant what I said about college. You should apply to all of the nearby schools so we can actually be together.”

She shook her head. “Let’s not argue on our last night together.”

He sighed with frustration. “I don’t even see why this is an issue. You tell me you care about me, but you won’t tell me you want to stay here. It doesn’t make sense.”

“I’m just not ready to make this decision right now. It’s going to be difficult enough to figure it out without my parents’ help. I can’t make a snap decision that’s going to affect the rest of my life. Don’t you understand that?”

“But what about us?” His eyes pleaded with her.

Her expression softened. “There will always be an us. You have to be patient with me.”

“I have the patience of Job.”

“Good, because you’re going to need it.” She glanced up at the sky. “Look at all of those stars. How about we sit on the swing and enjoy them for a little bit?”

He gave her a surprised expression. “Isn’t it past your curfew?”

Grabbing his hand, she pulled him toward the swing. “It’s my last night here. What’s Daniel going to do—ground me?”

Jake chuckled. “You’ve got a good point.”

Lowering herself onto the swing next to Jake, she laced her fingers in his and leaned against his shoulder. She closed her eyes and smiled.

“I wish this moment could last forever,” she said, breathing in his musky scent.

The gentle whisper of his lips on the top of her head warmed her heart. She silently prayed Thanksgiving would come quickly.

1 cup almond paste

3/4 cup sugar

3 egg whites

Pinch salt

Rub paste until smooth; gradually work in sugar until well mixed. Add a pinch of salt and beat in one egg white at a time, mixing thoroughly. Let stand for 20 minutes. Drop by tea-spoonful on lightly buttered baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes until surface is dry. Keep in cool place overnight.

M
iriam placed an apple pie on the counter and wrapped it in plastic wrap. Once it was ready for the counter out front, she wiped her hands on a rag. “Order up!” she called to Beth Anne. “What do you need next?”

“Danki.”
Beth Anne retrieved the pie from the counter and started toward the front. “How about a shoofly pie?” she called over her shoulder. “Lizzie said we’re out.”

“I’m on it.” Miriam fished the recipe out of the binder on the shelf and then started pulling the ingredients from the cabinets.

“What a busy week,” Elizabeth said, sidling up to her. “I can’t believe it’s Thursday.”

“Feels like it was just Monday, ya?” Miriam began adding the ingredients to a large mixing bowl.

“Miriam!” Beth Anne called from the front. “Telephone for you.”

Miriam hurried out front. “Who is it?” she asked, taking the phone from Beth Anne.

“Hannah.” Beth Anne gave a serious expression. “You might want to talk in there.” She nodded toward the back office. “Go pick up in the office, and I’ll hang up out here.”

Her heart racing with worry, Miriam rushed to the office and picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“Miriam!” Hannah’s voice was urgent. “We’re on our way to Pittsburgh.”

“What?” Miriam gasped, sinking into the desk chair. “Oh no. Is Lena Joy okay? What happened?”

“She’s fine. They got her a liver!” Hannah’s voice quaked with emotion. “The doctor said it’s a perfect match. We’re so blessed, Miriam. We got the call and then got a ride right away.”

“Oh my goodness.” Tears filled Miriam’s eyes. “It’s a miracle. Do you need me to stay with the
kinner?
Where are they?”

“Lilly has the
kinner.
She’s keeping them at
Daed’s
house.” Hannah paused. “Is there any chance you can come to the hospital? I spoke with Aaron’s parents for a while earlier, and they aren’t well enough to make the trip to the hospital with us. His
daed
is still recovering from his bout with pneumonia last month. Would you please come and stay with us, Miriam? I need you. Lena Joy needs you too. She specifically asked for you.”

“Ya, of course.” Miriam wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I’ll see if I can get a ride right away. How close are you to Pittsburgh?”

“We have another two hours. I’m sorry I didn’t call you right away, but we were making calls to Aaron’s family. It all happened too fast. I was hanging out laundry when the cell phone rang. I didn’t even hear it. Lena Joy heard it, thankfully. We had to pack everything up and get on the road right away. We’re blessed that Aaron was close to home. I’ve been making calls since we got in the van. The bishop allowed us to have another cell phone on hand, so we left it with Lilly. That way we can keep in touch and let her know what’s going on,” Hannah continued. “Aaron’s parents have one too since his
daed
is still having health problems. I’m sorry they can’t be at the hospital, but we can keep them updated with the surgery.”

“I can’t believe it’s finally happening, Hannah. Lena Joy is going to get her liver!”

“Ya.
I know.” Hannah sniffed. “I need you with me, Miriam. You’ll be my rock.”

“Of course I will, Hannah. I want to be there for you and Aaron.” Miriam cleared her throat and stood. “I’ll talk to Beth Anne and get a ride out there. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Danki, Schweschder,”
Hannah whispered. “I’ll see you soon. It’s a four-hour drive. Just ask the nurses at the front desk to direct you to our waiting room when you get there.”

“Okay,” Miriam said. “I’ll be there soon. I love you.”

“Love you too,” Hannah said before hanging up.

Miriam hurried out to the kitchen and approached Beth Anne, who was standing with Elizabeth. “Hannah got the call.” She grabbed Beth Anne’s arm. “There’s a liver for Lena Joy. They think it’s a perfect match. She asked me to come to the hospital in Pittsburgh. Aaron’s parents can’t come because their health is bad, so I need to go and sit with her and Aaron. They need me.”

“Oh, you must go!” Beth Anne said. “I’ll get Nina Janitz to take you right away.” She started for the office. “I’ll call her now.”

“Oh, Miriam!” Elizabeth hugged her. “We’ll be praying for her. You must let us know how she is doing.”

Kathryn walked over. “What’s going on?”

“There’s a liver for my niece.” Miriam swallowed a sob. “She’s going to get her health back.”

“Oh! Praise God!” Kathryn hugged her. “We’ll be praying, Miriam. What a miracle.”

Lizzie and Ruthie joined them and also hugged Miriam.

Beth Anne returned from the office. “Nina should be here in five minutes.”

Miriam glanced across the kitchen. “Would you finish that shoofly pie for me, Kathryn?”

Kathryn laughed. “Please don’t worry about the baking, Miriam. You just go take care of your sister and her family.”

“Danki.”
Miriam hugged Kathryn again.
“Danki
for everything.”

Timothy sat across from Naomi at the break room table. “You’ve outdone yourself,” he said with a smile. “Chicken salad and chow-chow?”

“I hope you’re hungry because there’s chocolate cake for dessert.” She pulled out a large container. “It’s nice outside, no?”

He nodded. “It is. Not too brisk and not a cloud in the sky. The perfect October day.”

She poured him a cup of water from a thermos and handed it to him. “I thought we could make a toast.”

“Oh?” He held his cup up. “What are we toasting?”

She poured herself a cup and held it up. “Our wedding is three weeks from today.”

“It is?” He shook his head. “Time is passing quickly.”

She grinned. “It is. I can’t wait. So, let’s toast.”

“Timothy!” Daniel’s voice boomed from the doorway behind them. “Telephone call!”

He put his cup down and stood. “Excuse me.”

Naomi shrugged. “Take your time.”

Timothy faced his waiting brother. “Who is it? I’m at lunch.”

“Ya,
I know, but it’s Beth Anne. She said it’s urgent.” Daniel led him to the office. “Take it in here so you have some privacy.”

“Danki.”
Timothy sat at his father’s desk and lifted the receiver to his ear. “Hello?”

“Timothy?” Beth Anne asked.

“Ya,
it’s me.
Wie geht’s?”
He absently twisted the telephone cord around his finger.

“It’s uncanny how much you sound just like
Dat
and Daniel,” she said. “I had to talk to you. It’s about Miriam.”

“What is it?” he asked. “Is Miriam all right?”

“Ya,
she’s fine. It’s her niece,” Beth Anne said. “They found a liver for her, a perfect match. Miriam’s on her way to the hospital to be with Hannah and Aaron during the surgery. I had a feeling I should call and tell you. I thought you would want to know.”

“I’m glad you called,” he said. “I can pray for her and her niece.”

“Timothy, I know you care for her. I think you should go and be there for her.”

“I can’t go and be with her,” he said.

“Why?”

“Because I shouldn’t. She wouldn’t want me there.”

“Ya, she would. She’s going to be there for Hannah and Aaron, since his parents can’t go. You should be there for her. You could be her strength through this.”

“Beth Anne, you know I’m with Naomi.”

“But you love Miriam. I can see it in your eyes every time someone says her name. You love Miriam, and you should be with her.”

He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose where a migraine brewed.

Beth Anne is wrong.

“I know you mean well, and you think you know what’s best for me, but Miriam is with Zach Fisher,” he said. “She made her choice.”

“I don’t think so,” Beth Anne said. “I have a feeling she’s not with Zach. She never talks about him. I truly believe they are just friends. She only has eyes for you.”

Timothy sighed. “Beth Anne, I don’t think I should go to the hospital. I think if Miriam wanted me there, she would call me.”

“Would she really, Timothy? Or would she hope you would get the news and surprise her?”

He leaned back in the desk chair, and it squeaked under his weight. “I don’t know, Beth Anne.”

“Well, think about it. But remember it’s a four-hour drive. You should get on the road soon.”

“Danki
for calling, Beth Anne.”

“Call me later,” she said. “I want to know how the surgery goes. We’re all praying for Lena Joy.”

Timothy set the phone back in its cradle and then rested his face in his hands. While he was glad Beth Anne had called him, he didn’t know what to do. If he went to the hospital to be with Miriam, he would hurt Naomi for certain. It wouldn’t be appropriate to ask Naomi to go with him either. However, to the very depth of his soul, he knew he wanted to be with Miriam.

He wanted to be with her, to hold her hand, to comfort her.

What should I do?

He sighed and sent up a silent prayer asking for guidance.

The sound of a sniff behind him startled him back to the present. Turning, he found Naomi standing in the doorway with tears rolling down her pink cheeks.

“Naomi?” He popped up and crossed the room, reaching for her.

“Don’t.” She stepped back, holding her hands out to stop him. “Don’t touch me, Timothy.”

He tilted his head. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “You don’t need to pretend anymore. I already know the truth.”

Taking her hand, he pulled her into the office and closed the door behind her for privacy and to drown out the sounds of the tools whirling and the hammers banging in the shop. “What do you mean?” he asked. “You know what truth?”

“I’m not blind, Timothy.” She swiped away her tears with the back of her hands and sniffed. “I can see what’s going on here. You don’t love me. You’ve never loved me. You love Miriam Lapp.”

“Naomi, I don’t—”

“Yes, you do,” she said. “She’s the reason why you’re so quiet and completely shut me out after you see her. You did it after Bertha Lapp’s funeral. And you were quiet after we went to Abraham’s house and again after Sarah Rose’s wedding. You see Miriam, and the rest of the world fades away.”

She closed her eyes for a few moments as if collecting her thoughts. “I heard the conversation. Miriam is heading to the hospital to be with Hannah during the liver transplant?”

“How did you—?”

She gave a knowing smile. “You forget I’m best friends with Lilly Lapp. Lilly called me at the farmer’s market as soon as she got the news. She’s staying with their
daed
and Lena Joy’s younger siblings while Hannah and Aaron take Lena Joy to Pittsburgh. I guess Hannah called Miriam and asked her to go too. And now you’ve heard the news from Beth Anne, and you want to go be with Miriam.”

Naomi sighed as more tears spilled from her sad eyes. “It makes perfect sense. Of course you want to go comfort the woman you truly love with all your heart.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything.” Reaching out, she cupped a hand to his cheek. “I love you, Timothy Kauffman, but I can’t make you love me.”

“Miriam is my past.” He placed his hand over hers. “You’re my future.”

“No.” Her voice trembled as more tears fell. “She’s your past and your future. I can’t marry a man who will always long for someone else. I want to marry a man who loves me and only me.”

Clearing her throat, she wiped her eyes with her free hand. “When I really think about how I feel for you, I wonder if it’s true love or if it’s just infatuation. I’m in love with the idea of being in love. I’ve been searching for a husband without really slowing down long enough to find the person who is the right fit for me. I’ve been immature and too focused on getting married.” She pulled her hand back from his gentle grip. “I release you, Timothy. Go to her. Be with her. Be with the
maedel
you love.”

“But Naomi, I made a promise to you.”

She shook her head and wiped more tears. “I can tell your heart belongs to Miriam Lapp, not to me. I’m sure the promise was made with
gut
intentions, but you can’t force true love, Timothy. I don’t think our marriage is part of God’s plan for me. I think I’m meant to wait for someone else.”