Chapter 25
THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, SHORTLY AFTER the noon hour, Emma stood with Grandpa and Grandma beside the car her sister would soon be taking for her return trip to Shipshewana.
She watched as Grandma gave Rachel a tearful hug, and Grandpa, in his usual good-natured way, said, “Have a good trip, and be sure to let us know that you got home okay.”
“I definitely will,” Rachel responded, and then she tapped an index finger against her bottom lip. “I’ll ask our English neighbor to call your non-Amish neighbors who have a telephone, so you can receive a message from them.”
“Yes, yes, please do.” Grandma’s words came out in a rush. “We’ll be praying for you and your driver while you are on the road.”
Rachel smiled. “Danki, I appreciate that.” She turned to face Emma and gave her a hug. “I wish you all the best with Ivan and will look forward to you returning home at the end of the summer, which isn’t too far off.”
Don’t remind me, Emma thought after releasing a sigh.
If I had my way, I’d stay right here with Grandma and Grandpa so Ivan and I could see each other often and continue our relationship.
I want to have faith that Ivan and I could have a relationship that is miles apart, but if our courtship can even move forward to the point where we can eventually be married, one of us will have to relocate.
These thoughts had played in Emma’s head before, but she couldn’t keep them from returning, no matter how hard she tried.
While Rachel and Emma were still hugging, Emma whispered in her sister’s ear, “I hope you take your time deciding what to do about David and don’t make any hasty decisions.”
“I won’t,” Rachel said quietly. “He needs to prove himself.” When that had been said, Rachel told them all goodbye again, opened the car door, and climbed into the passenger’s seat.
With a wave and a toot of her horn, Rachel’s driver drove out of the yard and turned onto the road out front.
“It’s hard to see her go.” Grandma slipped her arm around Emma’s waist. “And since you’ve been with us a lot longer than Rachel was, I’ll feel even sadder when you go home. Your grandfather and I have loved having you here.”
“That’s right,” Grandpa agreed. “We’ll miss your smiling face, not to mention those great-tasting pancakes you’ve learned to make.”
“You could stay another month or so past summer, if you like,” Grandma said as the three of them began walking toward the house. “But then I guess your folks might not appreciate that. I’m sure they’re missing you very much and are eager for both you and Rachel to return home.”
“I miss Mom and Dad too,” Emma acknowledged. “There’s plenty that I miss from back home. Even so …”
“I bet you’re gonna miss your old grandpa’s teasing.” Grandpa chuckled. “Right, Emma?”
She nodded. “Jah, I will.”
Emma had a feeling that both of her grandparents knew she would also miss Ivan, but she kept quiet about that.
Rachel closed her eyes, hoping the bumps in the road would not keep her from sleeping.
There were still a few hours until they would arrive in Shipshewana, and she’d quickly tired of trying to make conversation with her female driver.
After all, there really wasn’t much to talk about, other than the warm weather and the heavier-than-normal traffic.
Although Rachel felt tired, she couldn’t sleep, as her mind was consumed with thoughts about David.
She desperately wanted to believe that the things he’d said to her outside of her grandparents’ house were true, but the nagging feeling she couldn’t let go of was that David couldn’t be trusted.
Logic said he’d hurt her once and would be likely to do it again.
Woe is me, Rachel thought ruefully. I want him back in my life, but I’m not sure it’s possible for me to trust him again. Emma’s told me several times that I shouldn’t listen to David, and she’s probably right.
She opened her eyes and looked out the side window, trying to keep her focus on the passing scenery, but it was no use.
All Rachel could think about was David’s apology and promises, and all she could picture in her mind was the way he had looked at her last week, with sincerity in his voice and a softness in his expression that had left her feeling breathless and weak in the knees.
Was David really missing her as much as she had missed him all this time that they had been apart?
There was no doubt about it—Rachel had some serious thinking and praying to do. She knew without a doubt that the next time she and David came face-to-face, she would have to give him an answer about whether he could start over and court her again.
Shipshewana
“For goodness’ sake, Dianna, would you please sit down and relax?” Philip joined her at the living room window, where she’d been standing for the last several minutes. “Watching out the window will not bring Rachel here one minute faster.”
“I know, but I’m excited that she’s coming home today.” Dianna’s shoulders lifted as she drew in a deep breath. “And I’ll admit, I’m also a bit concerned.”
Philip leaned closer. “About her driver, or the fact that there might be more traffic on the road than usual, which could mean that Rachel will be late getting here?”
“Those are all concerns,” Dianna admitted, “but my biggest worry is whether David will show up here again after Rachel gets home.”
Philip’s brows lifted. “If he does, I’ll run him off.”
Dianna gave a slow shake of her head. “Now, Philip, please don’t get yourself worked up. I feel sure that if David does return to our house after Rachel comes home, she will refuse to see him.”
“I certainly hope so.” He frowned. “The last thing our daughter needs is a cheating ex-boyfriend trying to worm his way back into her life.”
Dianna placed a hand on her husband’s arm, hoping to calm him down.
Philip had always been one to become riled easily—especially when it came to one of their daughters.
She could still see the fire in his eyes when he’d argued with their eldest daughter the night before she’d left home.
There were times when Dianna struggled not to feel bitterness toward Philip.
It wasn’t that he’d forced Betty to leave home, but he hadn’t handled it well when she’d announced that she didn’t want to join the Amish church and was striking out on her own.
Philip had even told Betty that if she left home, she wouldn’t be welcomed here again.
I’m sure he didn’t mean it, though. Dianna clenched and unclenched her fingers into the palms of her hands.
Betty made her choice, and there’s nothing Philip or I can do about it, so we’ve put all our effort into raising our two youngest daughters, and tried to do a good job.
If Betty ever were to step foot on our porch, I would welcome her with open arms, and no doubt Philip would do the same, despite what he said to her.
Dianna was thankful every waking moment that both Rachel and Emma had joined the Amish church and seemed content to be members and had never even mentioned leaving home permanently or walking away from the Amish life they’d been raised in since babyhood.
It would have broken her heart if she’d lost another daughter to the English world.
“I’m going out to the kitchen to make a pot of kaffi,” Philip said, scattering Dianna’s thoughts like papers lost in a gust of wind. “Would you like a cup?”
She gave a gentle shake of her head. “No thanks. I’ve already had my share of coffee today, and too much caffeine makes me jittery.”
“Okay, no problem. I can bring you a cup of tea or glass of milk if you like.”
“I don’t need anything to drink right now, but danki for asking,” she replied.
Philip gave Dianna a quick peck on the cheek and strolled out of the living room.
Dianna’s gaze remained fixed on the window she’d been looking out, the worry of her daughter lingering. She really hoped Rachel would get here soon so she could stop fretting.
Rachel had no more than stepped out of the driver’s car when the front door opened and her mother rushed out. Rachel met her halfway as she hurried over to her, leaving her belongings along the walkway up to the house.
“Oh, it’s so good to see you,” Mom exclaimed, throwing her arms around Rachel and pulling her close. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too, but you know, I was only gone two weeks,” Rachel teased while returning her mother’s embrace.
Mom pulled back slightly, and tears shone in her eyes. “I realize that, but with both you and Emma gone, it seemed a lot longer to me.”
“I guess it would,” Rachel acknowledged. “It won’t be long, though, and Emma will be coming home too.”
“That’s how it’s supposed to be, but what if she decides to stay in Arthur so she can remain close to her boyfriend?”
“I hadn’t even thought about that,” Rachel said. “She is quite smitten with Ivan, so I suppose it’s possible that she might want to remain there at Grandma and Grandpa’s.”
Her mother’s gaze dropped to the ground, and Rachel felt immediate regret. “Sorry, Mom. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. It’s quite possible that Ivan and Emma will be able to keep their relationship going even after she returns home.”
“I hope you’re right, Rachel.” Lifting her head higher now, Mom pinched the skin at the base of her throat. “Even though you and your sister are adults now, I still find myself worrying about you and hoping the right decisions will be made.”
Rachel managed a smile for her mother, but the comfort of her surroundings stood in stark contrast to the uneasiness of what had transpired in Arthur when David showed up unexpectedly.
After listening to her mother’s last words, Rachel decided it would be best not to say anything about David coming to see her at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.