The Restoration

by Brunstetter, Wanda E. ;

  Cora spread her fingers out and pressed them against her breastbone. She had been prepared for Evan to blame her for what had happened tonight, but was Evan saying what she thought he was saying? Did he wish he’d never filed for divorce and married Emily? Did he regret the three of them no longer being a family?

  Except for the occasional calls over the PA system, all was quiet. It was nerve-racking to hear the muffled sounds of nurses walking past the waiting room. Only their shoes could be heard going down the spotless hallways, and each time the squeakiness drew near, Cora held her breath, wondering if someone was coming to give her bad news.

  CHAPTER 22

  The next several hours seemed like days to Cora, as she sat with Adam, Leah, and Evan, waiting for news on Jared’s condition. Several times she saw Adam and Leah with their eyes closed and heads bowed, but Evan either paced or sat impatiently tapping his foot. Cora had introduced Adam and Leah to Evan, but just as Amish friends. Now was not the time to tell Evan the truth about her previous life. It would upset him and probably make matters worse. Thankfully, neither Leah nor Adam made any reference to Cora being Adam’s mother. Right now, everyone’s focus was on Jared, hoping he pulled through.

  Cora shifted in her seat. She’d been trying to do as Leah had suggested and trust God, but the longer they waited for news on Jared’s condition, the more apprehensive she became.

  “Why don’t Adam and I get us all some coffee?” Leah rose from her chair.

  “Good idea.” Adam stood, too. “Four coffees coming right up. Is black okay, or do we need some cream and sugar?”

  “Black is fine for me,” Cora replied.

  Evan gave a nod. “Same here.”

  After Leah and Adam left the room, Evan turned to Cora. “Would you tell me exactly why our son was with Chad, driving around in bad weather?”

  “Jared lied to me, Evan. He was supposed to spend the night with his friend Scott. I had no idea Chad was still in Arthur. When he first showed up here and said his folks had kicked him out, I made it clear he needed to go back to Chicago and try to work things out. I thought he’d gone back, but I was wrong. Apparently he’d found someplace else to stay, but we won’t know any details until Jared wakes up.”

  Cora sighed. “But really, Evan, why does it matter now why Jared was with Chad? Think what Chad’s parents are going through, hearing their son was killed.” She gulped. “I just want our son to be all right.”

  “So do I, but something else is puzzling me.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You introduced those Amish people as your friends, but why would they be here at the hospital with you? I mean, it’s not like they’re family or anything.”

  “Actually, they are. Adam’s my son, and Leah’s my daughter-in-law.” Cora covered her mouth. She couldn’t believe she’d blurted the truth out, especially after deciding this was not the time or place.

  Evan blinked rapidly. “Have you lost your mind, Cora? Or are you so upset over Jared’s condition you’ve become delusional?”

  “I am not delusional.” Cora’s spine stiffened, but at the moment she felt quite brave. “I never told you this before, Evan, but I used to be Amish.”

  Evan sat with a stony face, then he snorted. “Of course you were. You drove to nursing school in a horse and buggy, wearing a dark-colored dress and a white cap.”

  “Very funny, Evan.”

  He crossed his arms. “Seriously, you don’t expect me to believe you used to be Amish.”

  “You can believe whatever you want, but it’s the truth.” It felt good to get this all out, instead of keeping it bottled up like she’d done since she met Evan. “My parents were Amish, and when I grew up, I married an Amish man.”

  “No, you didn’t; you married me.”

  “That was later. Ours was my second marriage.”

  Evan leaped to his feet. “What? You are kidding, right?”

  “No, Evan, I’m not kidding. I married an Amish man, and we had two children—Adam and Mary. We’d been divorced for some time before I met you.”

  “Adam is really your son?”

  “Yes, but I lost touch with him and his sister after I left.”

  Evan took a seat in the chair beside her. “What do you mean, ‘left’?”

  Cora’s heart pounded as she struggled to keep her composure. “I wanted a career in nursing, but I couldn’t talk my husband into leaving the Amish faith, so I left.”

  Evan’s eyes widened. “Without him?”

  She nodded slowly, swallowing around the lump in her throat. “Yes.”

  “What about the children? Did you take them when you left?”

  Cora slowly shook her head, feeling the shame of what she’d done. “Andrew wouldn’t allow them to go with me, and when I went back to see them, they were gone.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “My children’s father had sold our home and moved somewhere else.” Cora sniffed as tears filled her eyes. “I was shunned by those in my Amish community, and no one in the area would tell me where Andrew and the children had gone.”

  Deep wrinkles formed across Evan’s forehead. “And you think I’m a bad person. At least I don’t have a sordid past I never told you about. I didn’t abandon my children to seek a career, either.”

  Anger bubbled in Cora’s soul. “You may not have left to seek a career, but you abandoned Jared when he needed you the most.” She pointed a shaky finger at him. “You divorced me for a woman you thought was better.” Cora narrowed her eyes and looked around. “If Emily is so wonderful, then why isn’t she here with you right now? I’ve been meaning to ask about her since you first arrived.”

  Evan held up his hand. “Leave Emily out of this, shall we? She didn’t get much sleep last night and wasn’t feeling well after our New Year’s Eve party. Besides, Jared’s my son, not hers.”

  “She should have come to support you. I would have if the tables were turned.” Cora picked up a magazine and slapped it against the table in front of her. “We shouldn’t be having this conversation right now. Our thoughts should be on Jared.”

  “You’re right, and mine are.” Evan grunted. “But since we can’t do anything for our son at the moment, we may as well finish this conversation.”

  “What more is there to say?”

  “You can start by telling me how you happened to find your long-lost Amish son. Did you move here to Arthur on purpose, so you could reestablish a relationship with him and his sister?”

  She knew it was time to admit everything, even if it meant telling Evan about every bad decision she’d made. “I had no idea Adam lived here. I came to Arthur because of an opening for a nurse at the clinic.” She paused and drew in a breath. “And I have not connected with my daughter at all, because Mary is dead. I found out about my daughter after we moved here. She and her husband were killed in an accident. Now Adam and Leah are raising their three girls.”

  Evan’s eyebrows shot up. “So you’re a grandmother, too?”

  Cora nodded briefly, then she reached into her purse for a tissue to dry her tears. “I haven’t established a relationship with them, because Adam won’t let me. In fact, I don’t have a connection with him, either. He hasn’t forgiven me for leaving when he was a boy.”

  Evan scowled at her. “Can you blame him? Do you think any man would want a relationship with a woman who cared more about chasing after a career than being his mother?”

  Cora winced. Evan’s sharp words pierced her like a sword. “You’re right. I am a terrible person, and I probably don’t deserve a second chance with my son. But you can’t deny I’ve been a good mother to Jared. And right now, he’s my only concern.”

  A picture on the wall caught Cora’s attention. A beautiful wooden frame bordered the serene painting of a cottage surrounded by trees. In the background were deer feeding in a meadow. Cora wished she could transport herself into the scene, where everything looked so peaceful—a place where no problems existed.

&nb
sp; “Let’s take a seat here in the cafeteria and drink our coffee,” Leah suggested. “When we’re done we can take some back to Cora and Evan.”

  Adam’s eyebrows squeezed together. “Why don’t you want to go back now?”

  “I thought it would be good if we had some time to talk. Maybe Cora and Evan need time alone, too.”

  “That’s fine, but I don’t want to be gone long. The doctor might give us some news on Jared’s condition soon, and I want to be there to hear it.”

  “I understand, and we don’t have to sit here at all if you’d rather not.”

  Adam shook his head. “No, it’s okay.” He seated himself at an empty table, and Leah took the chair beside him.

  “Cora will be devastated if she loses Jared,” Leah said.

  “I will be, too.” Adam rubbed his forehead. “I haven’t even had the chance to really get to know my half brother.”

  “Once he gets better maybe we can have Cora and Jared over to our house so they can get acquainted with the girls.”

  Adam grimaced. “I’m not sure I want my nieces to know their grandmother.”

  Leah leaned closer. “Adam, you need to forgive your mother for what she did in the past.”

  “I know, and I’ve tried. I just don’t think I can let her back into my life.”

  “Ephesians 4:32 says, ‘Be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.’” She touched his arm. “Restored relationships aren’t easy, but by the grace of God they’re possible. Cora has expressed sorrow over what she did when you were a boy, and she’s asked your forgiveness.”

  Adam dropped his gaze to the table. “I thought I had forgiven her, but it’s hard to forget what she did.”

  “I’m not suggesting you forget it, Adam,” Leah said softly. “But you don’t have to carry a grudge.” She waited a few seconds then spoke again. “Your mother’s repentance and your forgiveness can be the glue that repairs your broken relationship.”

  Adam gave a slight nod.

  “Cora needs you right now. If you really think about it, you need her, too. I believe the young man fighting for his life right now needs a big brother.”

  “I’ve been praying fervently that God will spare Jared’s life.”

  “Cora has no one but us to help her through this, Adam. Her ex-husband doesn’t seem to be offering much support. I saw his attitude the minute he stomped into the waiting room. He’s only worried about himself and doesn’t care what Cora’s going through.”

  “You’re right.” Adam looked at Leah, tears shimmering in his eyes. “With God’s help, I’ll let my mother back into my life. Now I need to figure out the best way to tell the girls about her.”

  Elam’s footsteps quickened as he made his way across the yard to the Hershbergers’ house, where he’d been invited to share their noon meal. Several other buggies were parked near the barn, meaning the rest of Priscilla’s family were here, too.

  When he knocked on the door, Priscilla’s mother answered.

  “I’m sorry to tell you this,” Iva said, “but Priscilla has a headache and is resting in bed. She thought she’d feel better by now, but the pain has gotten worse. I don’t think she’ll be down at all today, but you’re welcome to stay and have dinner with the rest of our family.”

  “Danki for inviting me, but it wouldn’t be the same without Priscilla. Guess I’ll go on home and eat dinner with my folks.” Elam couldn’t hide his disappointment. He’d been looking forward to being with Priscilla today. “I hope she feels better soon. Please tell Priscilla I look forward to seeing her in church tomorrow morning.”

  Iva nodded. “I’ll let her know.”

  With shoulders slumped, Elam made his way back to his horse and buggy. This new year hadn’t started out anything like he’d hoped. Things will be better once I have some money saved up, he told himself. A few months working at my second job and I should be ready to ask Priscilla to marry me.

  When Adam and Leah returned to the waiting room with coffee, Evan sneered at Adam. “It’s about time. What took you so long?”

  “There’s no reason for you to talk to Adam like that,” Cora snapped. “Just be glad he brought us some coffee.”

  “Thanks,” Evan mumbled, taking the offered cup.

  “Sorry for the delay.” Leah gestured to Adam. “We sat for a while so we could talk. We thought maybe you and Cora needed some time alone to visit, too.”

  “It’s okay. We haven’t heard any news yet.” Cora forced a smile she didn’t really feel. How could she smile about anything right now?

  Evan drank his coffee and started pacing again. “I’m a doctor, for crying out loud. They shouldn’t keep me in the dark about my son’s condition.”

  “Waiting is the worst part,” Leah agreed, “but hopefully you’ll hear something soon.”

  Unable to drink her coffee, Cora placed the cup on the table and lowered her head into her outstretched hands. She was surprised when Adam took a seat beside her and laid his hand on her shoulder. “With God’s help, we’ll get through this—together.”

  Her head jerked up. “Really, Adam?”

  He gave an affirmative nod. “Let’s leave the past in the past and move on from here.”

  Tears sprang to Cora’s eyes and ran down her cheeks. The urge to reach out and grasp Adam’s hands was overpowering, but she held back, fearful of scaring him away. “Oh, Adam, thank you.” She gulped on a sob. “I can’t change the past, or make up for what I did, but I promise from this day forward to be the kind of person God wants me to be.”

  Evan looked at Cora and grunted. “Since when did you start talking about God?”

  “Since I realized all the things I’d been taught when I was a girl were important; I just wasn’t listening or putting them into practice. I was selfish and self-centered when I should have put God first and looked to others’ needs instead of my own.”

  A middle-aged doctor entered the room and walked over to Cora. “Your son’s stable now, and things are looking positive. He’s sleeping, but you and your husband are welcome to see him now.”

  Cora didn’t bother to tell the doctor that Evan was no longer her husband. All she could think about was how grateful she felt that Jared’s condition was stable and Adam had just agreed to begin again. Thank You, Lord, for answers to prayer.

  CHAPTER 23

  Cora had just come from the waiting room, where she’d gone to take another look at the picture on the wall. For some reason, after noticing the painting that first night, something about the tranquil scene drew her each time she went to the hospital. Whenever she stopped to gaze at it, Cora noticed things she hadn’t seen before—wildflowers of different hues where deer grazed, flower boxes on all the windows, and a glider swing on the front porch. Even a family of bluebirds splashing in a birdbath adorned this colorful painting. Cora almost lost herself in the beauty of the picture, but the cottage, nestled among a canopy of trees, tugged at her heart the most. If only I could find a place like that for me and Jared. But that type of home probably doesn’t exist in this area. If it did, surely I would have seen it.

  It had been two weeks since Jared’s accident. Even though his injuries were healing, he hadn’t responded well to any of Cora’s visits. In addition to being angry with her for not telling him about her past, Jared blamed Cora for the accident that had taken his friend’s life. He told her that if she’d let Chad stay with them, he’d still be alive. Cora had countered that Chad could have gotten in an accident no matter where he was staying. She’d also reminded Jared he had been dishonest with her about spending the night at Scott’s, when all along, he planned to be with Chad.

  As Cora headed down the hospital corridor toward Jared’s room, she lifted a silent prayer. Please, God, soften my son’s heart toward me, and let this be a good visit. I don’t know if Chad would be alive or not if he and Jared hadn’t been out joyriding, but I wish I hadn’t said yes to my son’s request to sp
end the night with a friend. I should have insisted he stay home with me on New Year’s Eve.

  Cora had a knack for blaming herself for things, and now was no exception. She’d messed up so many times in the past, it was hard to know sometimes when something was actually her fault.

  Her thoughts turned to Evan. He’d hung around long enough to make sure Jared was okay, but he’d hightailed it back to Chicago to resume his life. In all fairness, Cora reminded herself that Evan had a medical practice and patients to tend to. But she couldn’t help thinking Evan was most likely anxious to get back to his new wife. Why wasn’t Jared mad at his father? Evan was certainly no saint.

  Cora was glad she’d finally told Evan about her past Amish life. That day, Cora’s emotions had teetered between fear and bravery. It was getting easier to take Evan’s reactions, since they were no longer married, although she still missed what they’d once had. Right now, though, she had more important things to think about.

  The one bright spot in Cora’s life was that she and Adam had finally made peace. Due to her job and numerous trips to the hospital to see Jared, Cora hadn’t had the chance to visit her granddaughters yet, but she would do that as soon as she got the go-ahead from Adam. He wanted to talk to the girls first and prepare them for her meeting. Cora hoped they would welcome her into their lives.

  I can’t think about that situation now, either. I need to concentrate on Jared.

  Drawing in a deep breath to steady her nerves, Cora entered Jared’s room. She was surprised to see Adam sitting beside Jared’s bed, carrying on a conversation.

  When the door closed behind Cora, Adam looked her way and smiled. “I’m glad you’re here. I have to get to the store and I didn’t want to leave Jared alone.”

  “Why? Is there a problem?” Cora held her arms tightly against her sides.