EPILOGUE
“M ornings after a wedding should start at noon,” Kelsey moaned as she wandered into the Trailside Café. “It’s soooo early.”
“Stop complaining,” Jonny said. “I’m the one who’s a newlywed. I should still be in bed with my wife.” He grinned, liking both the way that sounded and how content he’d been lying next to his sleeping wife.
Beth covered her ears. “Jonny, you’re my little brother. That is the last time I ever want to hear you talk about being in bed with Treva.”
She had a point. “Fine.”
“You are also the one who said it would be no trouble for the four of us to meet before you and Treva take off on your honeymoon, so don’t blame me for this meeting,” Kelsey said as she headed toward the counter. “Anyone need anything?”
“I do! Get me another apricot bar, Kelsey,” Beth called out.
“And another scone for me,” Martin said. “Any flavor will do.”
“On it.”
Jonny glanced behind them at the counter. Treva’s aunt Ruth and one of Treva’s new hires—a petite English coed out of Wooster on spring break—smiled his way.
“Do you need anything, Jonny?” she called out.
“Yep. Put the total on my tab, Nance.”
“You got it,” she said with a smile.
“No way. I’ve got this,” Kelsey retorted.
Though it felt odd to accept his sister’s payment, he didn’t argue. Honestly, he didn’t think he would argue about much. He was still on his wedding—and wedding night—high.
“Look at you,” Martin said, teasing him. “I’ve rarely seen you ever look so pleased.”
“I have a lot to be happy about. I have Treva and the wedding is over.”
“It really was quite the to-do,” Beth said. “Four hundred people is a lot. Sometimes all I could see was a mass of people.”
“Between our grandparents and Treva’s, we’ve got a lot of Amish relatives.”
“Plus we had all of Mom’s and Dad’s crews from work and their neighborhoods and churches. Those people added up fast.”
“Who would have thought our father would’ve invited like two dozen of his work friends?” Kelsey asked. “Until recently, I thought everyone at his office was afraid of him.”
“I knew they weren’t afraid, but I hadn’t thought they were all so close,” Martin said.
“And that they’d all show up?” Beth asked. “I always thought they were all stuffy, but they were nice.”
“I think they had some of the best times out of everyone there,” Martin mused. “I’m pretty sure I saw Dad’s banker playing cards with some of Dawdi’s farming buddies.”
Jonny chuckled. “I was so worried about everyone getting along. I should’ve known better.”
“Here we are,” Kelsey said. “My large latte, Beth’s apricot bar, and Martin’s scone.”
“Thanks, Kels,” Martin said.
Jonny sipped his drink. Allowed himself to revisit some of his favorite moments of their wedding reception—all the toasts being one of the top five. He’d treasure them for the rest of his life.
Then, of course, his thoughts returned to his bride. “I love all of you, but can we now talk about whatever we were going to talk about so I can get back to Treva?”
“Yeah. And settle down. I’m the one who picked you up. I’ll drop you off,” Martin said. “And our topic is me and Beth.”
“Speak for yourself, Martin,” Beth chided.
“What does that mean? Have you changed your mind?”
“I’m not sure.”
Kelsey put her cup of decaf down. “Beth, I’m not going to pressure you to live with our grandparents if you don’t want to do that.”
“I’m not, either,” Martin said. “When we first discussed this idea, it all felt like a lark. I hadn’t really thought about much except not having electricity. But living Amish is so much more than that.”
“I know.”
“Richard always reassures me that there’s no ‘right’ way to be Amish,” Kelsey said, “but I do think that there’s some ways to do it wrong. Your heart needs to be ready to accept the faith.”
“I know that, too.”
“Okay.” Staring at his sister, Jonny was at a loss for words. Beth had always been the type of person to run into a new situation and shrug off any type of obstacles or doubts.
“What about you, Martin?”
“Well, I’m kind of at a crossroads. I love Patti and she loves me. We want to be together, but we’re still not sure what that life should be like. At the moment we’re straddling two different worlds, and that isn’t going to last too much longer.”
“Are you going to move back in with Mommi and Dawdi?”
“ Nee ,” Martin said. “I thought about it, but I decided not to. It just doesn’t feel right.” Turning to Beth, he said, “There’s no timeline on your future, Bethy. If you aren’t sure, you should wait.”
Kelsey nodded. “That’s right. It’s not like we all won’t still be brothers and sisters.” After taking a sip of her drink, she added, “And things can change. I mean, look at our father.”
“He has been the surprise,” Martin said. “He and Dawdi seemed to have patched things up.”
“He told me that living a life of unforgiveness would make him sad,” Jonny shared. “He didn’t want to do it.”
“That makes me proud of him,” Kelsey said. “I want to be close to our father again. To both of our parents.”
Beth cleared her throat. “Did any of you spend much time with Mom?”
“I think we all did,” Martin said. “She seemed good to me.” Glancing Jonny’s way, he added, “I know she really likes Treva.”
“She’s been sweet to her. Treva likes her, too.”
Beth nodded, but still seemed bothered by something. “I thought Mom was good, too, but I don’t know. Maybe she also seemed kind of lost?”
“Maybe,” Martin said as he took a bite of scone.
“No, I think Beth had a point,” Kelsey said. “Mom did seem a little bit at loose ends. But, who can blame her? I think last night was the first time she’s shown up for one of our events alone while Dad had a date.”
“That’s true. Mom always had someone with her,” Jonny said. “Some better than others.”
“Do you think that’s it?” Beth asked. “Do you think she was only having a hard time attending her son’s wedding by herself?”
“I’m not sure,” Jonny said.
“Maybe you’re overthinking everything, Bethy,” Kelsey said. “Mom seemed okay. And like we’ve all said, she did seem happy for Jonny and Treva.”
“Let’s all try and touch base with her more often,” Martin said. “What do you think?”
“I can do that,” Jonny said.
Kelsey lifted her cup and tapped Jonny’s. “Me, too.”
Ready to get up and get out of there, Jonny shifted in his seat. “So . . . like I said. I love you, but I want to go back to my wife.”
Martin laughed. “Go on, buddy. We’ll see you after the honeymoon.”
“No, wait!” Beth blurted. “Sorry, but I have something to tell you all.”
“What is it?” Martin asked.
Suddenly, his older sister looked a little pale and very nervous. “I . . . I’ve had a secret. I’ve been keeping something from you all.”
All of Jonny’s worst fears rose to the surface. “Are you sick?”
“No.” She bit her lip. “I mean, not exactly.”
He frowned. “Either you are or you aren’t, Beth.”
“Jonny’s right. Tell us,” Martin said.
“I’m pregnant.”
Jonny was pretty sure if he’d been holding his cup of coffee, it would’ve just fallen on the floor. “Beth? You’re sure?”
Looking miserable, she nodded. “Look, I know you all are shocked and have about a hundred questions, but hold onto them, okay? I need to say all this only once.” Staring hard at each of them, she added, “And . . . maybe realize that I don’t want to be grilled?”
The three of them exchanged glances. “We won’t grill you, Bethy,” Kelsey said in a soft tone.
Beth swallowed. “All right. Here goes. I did something stupid during a weekend with some girls from college and now I have a lasting reminder.”
“So, you don’t want a relationship—”
“Hush, Jonny,” Kelsey chided. “She doesn’t want questions.”
“No, Jonny, I don’t want a relationship with that guy,” she said quietly. As if gathering her nerve, she added, “As hard as this is to admit, what I did didn’t mean anything. I hope you all aren’t too ashamed of me.”
“Never,” Martin said.
“Never, ever,” Kelsey added, while Jonny reached over and kissed Beth’s cheek.
After taking a deep breath, Beth continued. “Anyway, what I’m trying to tell you all is that this baby . . . this baby means a lot to me.” Covering her stomach with her hands, she added, “I’m going to keep it. I know it might not make sense, but I’ve elected to wait a couple of weeks to tell Mom and Dad.”
“And our grandparents?” Jonny asked.
“Jonny, hush!” Kelsey said.
Beth smiled. “It’s okay, Kels. I ended up telling our grandparents last night. I figured they wouldn’t be able to say much with three hundred and ninety-nine other people in the area.”
“Wow,” whispered Martin.
“And . . . well, they were shocked, of course. But they didn’t say I wasn’t worthy. Actually, they said if I wanted to be a single mother here in Walden, the Amish community would probably accept me with open arms. I think that they’re right.”
“What do you mean?” Jonny asked. He glared at Kelsey before she could tell him to hush again.
“It means I’m going to go live with Mommi and Dawdi after all. I had a great job, but I haven’t been happy. I need to be happy. This baby is a gift from God. I think he or she is going to help me find my path in life. I’m moving in with them next week.”
For a good thirty seconds, everyone stared at each other.
Beth looked apprehensive, and Martin appeared to be trying hard to bite his tongue.
Kelsey smiled.
And Jonny? Well, he didn’t know what to do. Beth had surprised him, and that was no joke.
“So . . . did I just ruin everything?” Beth asked.
“No,” Martin said as he stood up. “Not even close.”
“You’re fine, Beth,” Jonny added.
And then something shifted. And once again, they became themselves again. The four of them together, no matter what. No matter how each of their parents acted. No matter if they were all at summer camp or playing at their grandparents’ farm.
“What am I doing?” Kelsey said as she jumped up. “Congratulations, Beth! I love you and I’m going to love this baby, too.”
“Yes, congratulations,” Martin said as he bent down, kissed Beth on the forehead, and whispered something in her ear.
“I love you, Bethy,” Jonny said. “I’ll be the best uncle you’ve ever seen.”
“Unless it’s me,” Martin joked. “I think I’ll probably be giving you a run for your money.”
With tears in her eyes, Beth smiled at them. “You all are the best. I couldn’t ask for a better family.”
“Right back atcha,” Jonny said.
And . . . that was that, Jonny decided after he hugged them all good-bye, promising to call when he and Treva returned back from their honeymoon.
Life was unpredictable and chaotic and filled with sweet spots but also challenges. But no matter what, morning after morning, if the Lord was willing, the sun rose and each day began again.
No matter what, life went on.
Just as important, no matter what happened, life was good. He had his family and his darling wife. The Lord had been with him, too. He was always good. So good.
And for that, Jonny gave thanks.