Chapter 21 #2
Phoebe popped up from the couch. What was he doing?
She peeked through the front window, but didn’t see him.
Had he been so angry he was leaving her?
But he wouldn’t do that to Malachi, not without telling him good-bye.
That gave her a small measure of comfort, which quickly disappeared when she realized she would eventually have to tell Jalon good-bye.
For good. And not through a letter, but to his face, where she would see the pain she’d feel reflected in his eyes.
Her decision would hurt both of them. Still, she couldn’t change her mind.
“Phoebe.”
She turned, surprised at the strength in her mother’s voice. Only then did she realize her mother hadn’t brought in the other drink. “ Mamm , you should lie down and rest,” Phoebe said, going to her.
“Later. We need to talk.”
Her mother almost sounded like her old self, and she walked into the living room and sat down on the couch with purpose. Phoebe followed her. Then she knew. Mamm had heard the whole thing.
“You have to geh with Jalon. That man loves you, and you love him.” Mamm smiled. “He also loves Malachi, and he’d be a terrific father.”
“ Mamm , I can’t. I won’t leave you and Daed and mei brothers.”
Mamm took her hand. “Phoebe, we’ll be fine. I’m getting better, and the older buwe can pitch in and do some of mei chores.”
“Which one of them is going to cook?”
Mamm laughed. “They can learn. The point is, we’ll be fine. I don’t want to hold you back from yer life, Phoebe. You deserve to be happy.”
“I’m as happy as I deserve to be.”
Mamm ’s eyes softened. “You don’t believe you can have more?”
Phoebe knew what her mother was doing. “I do, but I can be content helping mei familye .” There was a time she didn’t think so, when she was more concerned with her own selfish, foolish desires than her family.
But she’d grown up since then. She was a mother now, and she understood the importance of taking care of her own.
Jalon had shown her as much too. He was willing to sacrifice everything for her, but she couldn’t allow him to do that. It wasn’t fair to him.
“Phoebe, did you geh to yer aenti Bertha’s because of the bishop?”
Malachi and the other boys galloped down the stairs. “In the kitchen with you,” Mamm said. “Don’t forget to say yer prayers before you eat.”
“Where’s Jalon?” Malachi asked.
“He’ll be back soon,” Mamm said before Phoebe could answer.
After the boys left, Phoebe looked at Mamm . “How did you know about the bishop?”
“It’s hard to keep secrets around here, you know.
Sarah’s mamm asked me if there was a wedding in the future.
When I told her I didn’t know of one, she said maybe the bishop’s wife had been mistaken.
I started putting two and two together, but mei suspicions weren’t confirmed until I overheard yer daed . ”
“You’ve been eavesdropping a lot today,” Phoebe said.
“How else do I find out anything? I wish you would have come to us.”
“I didn’t want to be the cause of strife between you and Bishop Weaver.”
“If he was planning to do something so awful as marry you off? We should have known about it.” She softened a bit.
“Even before I got sick, yer father and I had been talking about the future. It hasn’t felt right being here since Bishop Kline died.
Bit by bit we’ve felt as though we’ve been slipping away from the community, especially spiritually.
We believe God is confirming that by what’s happening here— mei illness, the problems with the farm.
The challenge is finding another place we can afford.
We need farmland and it’s expensive. We need a large haus , and that costs money too.
But as soon as I’m back on mei feet, we’re going to figure things out.
If yer father has to give up farming, so be it.
God has another plan in mind for us, then.
In a couple of years some of yer brothers will be old enough to work jobs year-round, which will help. ”
Mamm put her hand over Phoebe’s. “What I’m trying to tell you is that we’ll be okay. We always are. God has us in the palm of his hand. Never doubt that for a second.”
“Phoebe!”
Both women jumped at the sound of her father’s raised voice. Daed walked into the living room from the kitchen, Jalon right behind him. While Daed looked furious, Jalon looked complacent. Calm, even, which confused Phoebe even more.
“You need to talk sense into this man.” Daed pointed at Jalon, who put his hands on his waist.
“Jesse, settle down.” Mamm got up and went to him. When Daed steadied himself, Mamm said, “Now, what in the world is going on here?”
“I simply told Jesse that you all could live with Phoebe and me. After we’re married, obviously. Of course, she still has to say yes.”
“Jalon.” Phoebe went to him. “Do you realize what you’re saying?”
“I do.”
“Have you counted all mei brothers?”
He chuckled. “I have. Phoebe, we can add on to the haus . There’s a parcel of land next door, and I was finally able to track down the guy who owns it.
He says he’s willing to sell, for the right price.
We can purchase that and build a new haus for yer parents and siblings. We’ll all be a familye .”
Phoebe couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and her heart soared with hope, only to come crashing down when reality hit. “All that costs money.”
“Have faith, Phoebe.” He moved closer to her. “Isn’t love worth taking a risk?”
“ Daed. ” She turned to her father, who had his arm around Mamm . She was leaning into him, and they were both smiling. “You’re agreeing to this?”
“I wasn’t going to a minute ago.” He tugged on his beard. “But I see he’s serious. Generous and maybe a little foolish, but serious.”
“Like I told you, he loves you,” Mamm said.
“I’ve told her that.” Jalon gently turned Phoebe to face him. “We can make this work, Phoebe. Together, we can do anything. Marry me ... please.”
Now all her brothers and Malachi piled into the room, filling it to the brim.
“Ugh, mushy stuff,” said Ezra.
“Does this mean we’re moving?” said Nelson.
“Malachi ate the last cookie,” said Perry.
“Did not,” said Malachi, crumbs circling his mouth.
Without a word, Phoebe took Jalon’s hand and led him upstairs and down the hallway so they could be as far from her family as possible. “Are you sure?” she asked him.
He put his arms around her waist. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in mei life. Yer familye is mine. Malachi, yer brothers, yer parents.”
“What about Leanna and Adam? Will they be okay with this?”
“Leanna practically shoved me out the door when I said I was going to see you. She also said I couldn’t come back without being engaged.
Adam agreed.” He tilted Phoebe’s chin upward.
“There’s nix standing between us anymore, Phoebe.
Not the past, and not the future.” He bent down and kissed her so sweetly and gently that tears welled in her eyes.
“Do I have to beg?” he whispered. “When it comes to you, I’m not above begging—”
She shut him up with a kiss, then said, “I love you. And I can’t wait to marry you.”