Chapter 35 #2
“I said that I’d been drinking heavily that night and didn’t remember being with Maggie.
” He moved to stand beside her. “You have to believe me, Emma. I would never walk away from Maggie and Stephen if I believed I was the baby’s father.
But I know now that I’m not, because I spoke to the man who owned up to having been with Maggie.
His name is Oba, and he’s agreed to accept responsibility for Maggie and the baby.
” Ivan leaned closer and said, “Don’t you see, Emma—Maggie tricked me into believing that I had been with her at the party. ”
“Why would she do such a terrible thing?” Emma still wasn’t fully convinced, although she wanted desperately to believe everything Ivan had said.
“Because soon after the baby was born, Maggie’s parents had told her to leave their house.
When Maggie first approached Oba, he turned his back on her.
She would’ve had to raise Stephen on her own, and Maggie was desperate.
So she convinced me that I was the one responsible for getting her pregnant. But now, all that has changed.”
Emma stood in stunned silence, trying to process all that Ivan had said and wondering how to respond. She wanted desperately to express to Ivan that she had secretly hoped to see him again, but the words wouldn’t come.
“I just needed to tell you. I don’t expect you to take me back, but you deserved to hear the truth.” Ivan took hold of Emma’s hand again, gently squeezing her fingers. “I’m here now, asking forgiveness for all that I put you through. And for no good reason,” he added.
“There was a good reason,” Emma assured him.
“You believed what Maggie said was true, and you did what you knew was right by agreeing to marry her and help raise the baby. You felt that you had no choice, which is why you broke up with me.” She paused to gain control of her swirling emotions.
“As much as it hurt when our relationship ended, I had to accept it and move on with my life.”
“Have you moved on, Emma? Were you able to forget about the feelings we had for each other?”
“I tried to,” she admitted. “But the memory of the times we spent together was never far from my mind.”
“I thought about you a lot too, even though I knew that I shouldn’t.” Ivan released Emma’s hand and pulled her close to his side. “I’m sorry for everything, Emma. Will you forgive me for all that I put you through?”
Emma leaned her head on Ivan’s shoulder. “You only did what you thought was right, and that’s an admirable quality. Maggie was the one in the wrong, Ivan. She should not have lied about who the baby’s father was. I’m sure she felt desperate, but what she did was dishonest.”
“You’re right,” he agreed, “but I was also at fault, because I should not have been at my friend’s party that night where there was drinking.
And most definitely, I shouldn’t have been under the influence of alcohol.
” Ivan groaned. “I wish there was a way to let all Amish young people know that their time of rumspringa should not have to include alcohol or taking part in wild parties.”
“I agree, Ivan, but unfortunately, some people have to learn things the hard way.”
“Jah, and I guess I was one of them,” Ivan responded.
“Anyway, I have chosen to forgive Maggie for lying to me. I hope you will too. What she did was terrible, but I understand why she did it, and I don’t hold it against her.
It’d be frightening for any young woman to raise a child on her own, especially when they’ve lost the support of their family. ”
Emma thought about the words of Luke 6:37, and she quoted them to Ivan: “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”
“Exactly, Emma. It is not our place to judge Maggie, or Oba, or even Maggie’s parents. Each of them must ask God’s forgiveness for what they’ve done and make it right with the ones they have hurt.”
They stood quietly for a few minutes, until Ivan spoke again. “If you’re okay with it, I would really like for us to start over, Emma.”
“I’d like that too, Ivan, but you live in Arthur, and your family does as well. Also, you have a job at your father’s harness shop,” Emma stated. “And as you know, my family lives here. We both are aware that a long-distance courtship would be difficult for us to manage.”
“It wouldn’t have to be long-distance,” Ivan stated.
“I could move here to Shipshewana and find another job. Then we could see each other often and make plans for our future together.” He turned to face Emma and brought her close.
“It might seem like it’s too soon to ask this question, but when the time is right, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? ”
“Oh yes, Ivan, I would be more than willing to marry you, after we’ve courted a bit longer.” She smiled. “Otherwise, our parents might object.”
“I have to admit that my folks may not be thrilled about the prospect of me leaving Arthur and moving here, but they know how much I love you, and I feel sure that they will give us their blessing.”
“Same with my parents,” Emma said, struggling not to give in to the tears pushing the back of her eyes. She’d never dreamed that things would turn out this way. She’d been convinced that she had lost Ivan forever and didn’t think she could ever love any other man the way she did him.
Emma closed her eyes and silently prayed: Thank You, God, for this unexpected turn of events. I look forward to seeing what plans You have for me and Ivan in the days ahead. And please, Lord, help us to remember to seek Your will in all things.
When Emma’s prayer ended and she opened her eyes, Ivan lifted her chin, lowered his head, and kissed her tenderly on the lips. “I will love you with every ounce of my being, Emma, right up until the day I die.”
Leaning into Ivan’s loving embrace, Emma hoped that day would not come for a long, long time.
But she would not waste precious time worrying about it.
The uncertainty of where her future would lead faded away, leaving nothing but Ivan’s comfort and assurance that he’d forever hold Emma in his heart.
However many days God gave them to be together, she would cherish each and every one.