The Timepiece

by Beverly Lewis

  Bishop John then asked for all the members to kneel in surrender to the heavenly Father and to pray for God’s will in the choice of their next preacher. When the silent prayer was finished, the congregation rose to take their seats, and the bishop requested the candidates to choose one of the five hymnals. The men did so in no specific order, then waited for the bishop to go to each one in turn and open the hymnal to search for the paper hidden inside.

  Four of these farmers will walk out of this service free of this tremendous responsibility, thought Earnest, holding his breath. But one will soon be ordained.

  The first three men looked altogether relieved when the bishop did not find the proverb in the hymnals they held. One man’s shoulders noticeably sagged as he blew air out through his lips, his cheeks puffing out.

  The bishop moved to the next candidate and opened his hymnal, and in that moment, the suspense was quickly over as the slip of paper was found. Bishop John announced that God had chosen Benuel Zook to be a shepherd overseeing and nurturing this flock. “I beseech you to be steadfast and true to this holy calling,” the bishop instructed Benuel before shaking his hand and welcoming him into the ministry with a holy kiss.

  Benuel stood there, looking rather shocked at the responsibility that so swiftly had been placed upon his shoulders—a responsibility he had promised to accept back when he was baptized as a youth, many years ago.

  Earnest felt for his friend and would keep Mahlon’s youngest son in his daily prayers. He’ll soon be my neighbor.

  During the ride home after the service, Rhoda had a little quiver in her voice as she asked, “How do ya think this will affect Andy’s interest in our daughter?”

  Her question hit Earnest like a rockslide. “Ach, I hadn’t considered that.” He groaned—this had the potential to repeat the grief Sylvia had experienced with Titus and his preacher father.

  But Earnest knew he must take the lead in trusting God on this matter. “Fretting isn’t what we’re called to do, dear,” he said. “We must look to the Lord for the outcome.”

  “So will you tell Sylvia that Andy’s father was ordained today?”

  “Jah, but let’s not make too much of it.” He meant it. Today was not a day to sow doubt but rather a high and holy day.

  “The same all-knowing God who chose Andy’s Dat to be a minister can also be trusted to choose Sylvie’s future mate,” said Earnest, patting Rhoda’s hand.

  CHAPTER

  thirty

  Ever since her visit to Hickory Hollow, Adeline had become conscious of a desire for a slower pace, especially on Sundays, as if her short time in Amish country had reset her personal rhythms. And although she hadn’t attended church since her visit with the Millers, she chose Sunday to write letters to Sylvia and Earnest and to touch base with her family and friends, along with doing some homework and even working on her pretty wall hanging.

  This being such a lazy Sunday morning, she reclined on her sofa and opened her laptop to Google the customs of the Lancaster County Amish, noting again that they accepted the Bible as their guidebook, like other Christians do.

  There were times that Adeline wished Sylvia was permitted to have email. Except, of course, that would require a laptop or a phone. Not exactly in line with their cultural expectations, she thought, smiling to herself. No, she understood and respected Sylvia’s not having a phone to text or use FaceTime and social media, but for Adeline, writing snail mail was like being forced to live in the Dark Ages.

  Recently, when sharing her opinion on this with Brendon, he had reminded her of how peaceful she’d said she felt being somewhat unhooked from social media during her time away, and that writing letters longhand to her Amish relatives was a great way to slow down and cultivate patience.

  He knows me well. . . .

  Adeline figured that Brendon must think the day’s more relaxed pace did her good, considering her hectic college life and near-endless hours of study. He knows I’m stressed with this heavy course load, she thought, sipping a can of sparkling water.

  Continuing her online browsing, Adeline read that, by not working on the Lord’s Day, the Amish believed they were honoring God’s instructions to Moses in the Old Testament.

  What would Brendon think of this? She knew she must talk with him at some point. But how should I bring it up?

  Eventually, she closed her laptop and, still contemplating the way the Amish approached Sundays, she went to her bedroom and opened her bedside table to remove her mother’s diary. Sitting on the bed, she plumped up her many pillows and got comfortable, then began to read.

  This diary entry was a mere thirty pages from the end, so Adeline read very slowly, taking in every word her mother had written. Several times she had already gone back to reread entries she had bookmarked.

  She looked up and gazed at the timepiece on her dresser, feeling a soothing warmth at the sight of it. If not for Earnest’s unexpected gift, she might have put off reading her mother’s diary, perhaps for years.

  On this particular page, Mom had penned a few thoughts about the need for a wise mentor who could act as a guide and an encourager. If you’re reading this, Adeline, I pray that you will meet or have already met someone who can explain things about faith better than I can.

  “I love how she’s writing directly to me in this entry,” Adeline murmured, finding it endearing when, some months ago, she would not have taken too kindly to it. I was in a different place then, she thought, knowing that meeting up with Earnest and his family had made all the difference. Spending time with them switched a light on in my head . . . and in my heart.

  She continued to read, surprised at what she was discovering. To this day, her mom had written, I carry deep regrets for hurting Earnest so terribly. And while I cannot change the past, I know it was wrong to keep your birth from him, denying both of you that special relationship.

  “Amazing,” whispered Adeline. And as she thought about it, she realized that God had somehow redeemed her past circumstances by leading her to Hickory Hollow.

  Earnest might appreciate knowing this, she thought, turning back to the page where her mother had addressed her and staring for a long time at the precious handwriting, so familiar.

  Choking up, she whispered, “I miss you, Mom. Every single day.”

  Getting up for a tissue, Adeline sat back down next to the diary. She caressed its cover, once again wondering what Brendon would think of all of the questions swirling in her mind. He loves me, she reminded herself. Surely he’ll accept my spiritual curiosity. Or is what I’m feeling more than that?

  Dismissing her worries, she directed her thoughts toward God. Adeline didn’t pray in the traditional way, but she closed her eyes and simply breathed in the quiet moment, thankful for this time alone with her mother’s diary . . . and her mother’s love.

  Sylvia followed her parents out to the back porch after they returned home and the horse was unhitched and stabled.

  “The congregation prayed for God’s will during the ordination service,” Dat began. “And the lot fell on Benuel Zook to take his father’s place.”

  Sylvia flinched. “Benuel, ya say?”

  Mamma put her hand on Sylvia’s. “I know what you must be thinkin’, but it’s our place to keep him and his family in our prayers.”

  “I will,” Sylvia said, thinking how things were going to change for Andy’s parents and his entire family. She looked at Mamma, then Dat. “I’m glad ya told me, instead of havin’ to hear it from the grapevine.” She glanced across the newly harvested cornfield, over to the Zooks’ big farmhouse. “Guess we’ll have us another preacher for a neighbor.”

  Dat smiled. “Jah, and it won’t be long now.”

  Rather shaken by the news, Sylvia didn’t feel like sitting there any longer. She needed to take a walk to settle her thoughts, so she politely excused herself.

  “If you see your Brieder out strolling about the pasture, send them home,” Dat called to her.

  She turned a
nd waved, nodding. It was apparent that Dat wanted to be the one to tell the news to the boys, and she would gladly honor that.

  Heading for the pasture gate, she opened it and closed it securely behind her. It would never do for any of their livestock to get out.

  As she walked away from the house, she could hear her brothers’ voices in the distance, leisurely calling back and forth to one another. And for a moment, she longed to be a child again. Oh, to be so carefree on a Sunday afternoon. . . .

  Thinking then of Andy and his family, she could only imagine how solemn it must be at their house right now. And she felt the same way, only for a completely different reason. She recalled that Titus had once shared how heavyhearted his whole family had been after his father’s ordination. It had taken weeks, if not months, for the reality to settle in, Titus had said—that he and his siblings were suddenly expected to be examples of godliness for the rest of the community.

  This thought made her shiver. Will Andy still want to take me out for supper? she wondered, not sure what on earth would happen now.

  Thankfully, Ernie offered to take Sylvia to Singing that evening. Having missed going to church because of the members-only communion and ordination, she was glad for the opportunity to be around her girl cousins—she doubted that Andy Zook would be present. As for Titus, it sounded from her father as if she didn’t have to worry about running into him, because he was in Big Valley working.

  The longer he’s gone, the better, she thought, guessing he needed a break from Hickory Hollow.

  Adeline unlocked her mailbox in the cluster of mailboxes not far from the walkway to her apartment. Within the few pieces of Wednesday junk mail was a letter from Sylvia, and she nearly let out a woo-hoo but quickly caught herself, surprised at her own reaction.

  Hurrying to her apartment, Adeline plopped down on the sectional, Sylvia’s letter in hand. Then, laughing at herself, she murmured, “I don’t get this excited about texts from Callie or Piper!”

  She opened the letter and began to read, smiling at Sylvia’s Dutchy way with words. Ach, Adeline, I miss you ever so much and hope you’ll think about coming for Thanksgiving here, just maybe.

  She gasped. The unexpected invitation to spend Thanksgiving in Hickory Hollow wasn’t as much a surprise as it was possibly a subconscious wish come true. And Sylvia went on to make a case for Adeline to return for a visit, insisting that there was nothing to worry about now. I’m truly over my breakup with Titus, Sylvia had written. Also, you might be happy to hear that Andy Zook asked me out for dinner on Saturday. It’s funny, but all of a sudden, I feel ready to date again.

  Adeline grinned at the mention of Andy. I always knew there was a reason to like that guy!

  I’ll go for Thanksgiving if Brendon’s okay with it, Adeline thought, since they hadn’t made any plans. Brendon had tossed around the idea of driving to Missouri to spend some time with his parents on his own, because they had some family matters to discuss.

  She would wait to contact Liam and her grandparents about the idea, giving Brendon first dibs. Since her mom’s death, Adeline had begun to realize that life wasn’t all about her choices and wishes. The world doesn’t revolve around me, she thought with a little laugh. What a shock!

  She got up to check on the slow cooker she’d purchased after returning from Hickory Hollow, her mouth watering as she lifted the lid on the chicken breasts and rice simmering inside. Brendon would have enjoyed this. She knew he was under a big deadline for a wealthy client and was holed up at his place to tie up loose ends. I won’t bother him with Sylvia’s invitation tonight, she decided, although it was all she could think about.

  Sitting at the kitchen table, Adeline read the passage in the book of John about Jesus washing his closest followers’ feet before their Passover meal. She wondered if the Amish patterned their foot-washing service after the one in these verses. But she was even more struck by the concept of water as a symbol of the cleansing Christ offered one’s soul. All of this was still foreign to her, but the more she read, the more she felt drawn to this way of thinking . . . and living.

  Later, when her dinner was ready, Adeline was happy to have made enough for a few meals. Sylvie would be proud, she thought, eager to write back ASAP.

  Sylvia tore into cleaning the house on Thursday with every ounce of energy she had. She tried to imagine what Adeline might be thinking, fairly sure she had received the Thanksgiving invitation by now.

  Outside on the back porch, a bushel basket of Rome Beauty apples waited to be processed for canning as Sylvia carried out the bedroom rag rugs to beat them on the clothesline. She could see Dat and Ernie out by the woodshed, assessing the amount of wood already stacked for the winter. Recently, Sylvia had spotted some fairly large mice out there and, come to think of it, the mares had sprouted an especially thick crop of horsehair. It was the time of year when farmers took into account the feed and bales of hay they’d stored for winter, while their wives added up the jars of canned goods and, if they were beekeepers, the gallons of honey.

  Sylvia sometimes wished they kept bees, too, because she had once tasted a fresh honeycomb dripping with honey over at Annie Fisher Lapp’s—sister-in-law to Katie Lapp Fisher. She still hadn’t forgotten how delicious it was, or how smooth the honey was in her mouth.

  Back outdoors after retrieving the broom from the kitchen closet, she pounded the broom against the oval-shaped rag rug on the line, relieved she hadn’t received a letter from Andy canceling their Saturday supper date. I shouldn’t borrow trouble, she thought, removing the rug from the line.

  Adeline brought up Sylvia’s Thanksgiving invite when she served leftover chicken and rice to Brendon Thursday evening. “What do you think, Bren?” she asked.

  “It’s fine with me if you want to go,” he said quickly. “I have a few things to do around here.” He paused, looking as if he had more to say. “You’ll return that Saturday night . . . or when?”

  She nodded. “That’s what I was thinking. But wait—you’re not going out to see your folks, after all?”

  “I talked with them at length by phone, and . . .” He paused. “Something has come up here recently, so I’m fine keeping things quiet and having a low-key day here.” He mentioned that some of his colleagues had invited him for Thanksgiving dinner. “Of course, that sounds far less fun than being with my family or you.” He paused. “I’ll definitely take you with me to Missouri at Christmas. How’s that?”

  “If we can fly,” she said, mentioning how iffy it might be driving halfway across the country in winter.

  “That’s a possibility, sure,” he said, adding, “My parents love seeing you, Addy.”

  She smiled at that. This man of hers was always so thoughtful. “Well, only if you’re sure you don’t mind my going solo to Hickory Hollow. I hate to abandon you.”

  “Hey, from what you’ve told me about the first visit, I think you’ll have a great time, especially with all your half siblings.”

  Adeline knew he meant it. “I’ll let Sylvia know I’ll arrive Wednesday evening, before the big day.” For a fleeting moment, she thought of telling him about how she was reading the book of John along with her father back in Hickory Hollow, but then she noticed Brendon’s frown, as though he was deliberating something.

  “Have you given any thought to inviting your newfound family to our wedding?” he asked unexpectedly.

  Surprised, she said, “Well, I doubt they would even come, as private as they are.” She paused. “I don’t want to embarrass them or expose them to public scrutiny. And don’t you think it would be awkward for Earnest and my mom’s parents to be thrown together?”

  “Fair enough.” Brendon shrugged. “But someday I’d like to meet your father and his family.”

  “I’d love that!” She smiled.

  Their conversation transitioned into a discussion about a garden wedding, and Adeline mentioned that she had nailed down a possible location, a beautiful place just south of Atlanta. “I checked,
and it’s available Saturday, May twenty-first.” She planned to call for a tour this coming weekend. “You’re still on board with an outdoor wedding, right? It’s not the destination sort of wedding we discussed, though.”

  He agreed and reached for her hand. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. I know how special saying our vows in a garden would be for you. No second thoughts, not even a smidgen.” He winked at her.

  “Check.” She smiled, loving this about him, too.

  “So it sounds like things are good: We have a plan for Thanksgiving and for our wedding.” Brendon picked up his coffee and took a sip. “Let’s keep the latter as uncomplicated as possible.”

  He hasn’t changed his mind about that, either, she thought. “Right. Skip the superfluous stuff.” She grinned now, looking forward to that day and their life together.

  Brendon stayed for another hour after dinner, and when he left, Adeline opened her mother’s Bible, there on the coffee table, eager to look up a couple of verses her mom had referenced in the latest diary entry. Did he notice it? she wondered. She still didn’t quite know how to approach him with her growing interest in all of this, but she hoped that Brendon would accept the news as graciously as he did everything else about her.

  CHAPTER

  thirty-one

  Sylvia walked up Hickory Lane to meet Andy Zook at the location they had agreed upon. Moving quickly along the roadside, she kept telling herself not to be surprised if Andy didn’t show up.

  Things can happen, she thought, recalling Titus’s bold declaration last May: “I’ll always love ya . . . be right by your side. . . .”

  “Empty words,” she murmured, pushing her hands into her coat pockets, aware of the changing temperature.