By the time Elaine offered Jonah a cup of tea, he was able to get himself under control.
“When I was checking all your windows, I noticed some plywood covering one of the basement windows. I’d considered trying to break through the wood to see if I could get in that way, but it would have been my last resort,” Jonah said.
Elaine explained how the Valentine’s Day blizzard had caused a tree branch to snap and fall on the window. “Luckily, several people were here when it happened. Priscilla and my dinner guests had to stay the night, due to the roads being impassable. When we heard the crash, the men who were here investigated and put plywood where the broken window had been. I planned to ask someone to replace the wood with glass but never got around to it.” She sighed. “I’ve been so busy I didn’t even think about it until now.”
Before he could stop the words, Jonah blurted, “Would you like me to replace the window? I’m pretty handy at fixing things—including replacing broken glass.”
“I appreciate the offer, but you’re busy with your shop, and I’d hate to ask.”
“You didn’t ask. I offered.” Jonah smiled. “Actually, there’s a bit of a lull in the buggy shop right now. If anything new comes in, I’m sure Dad and Timothy can take care of it. Anyway, it should only take me part of an afternoon to replace the window for you. I may even have an extra window in my workshop or out in the barn that might fit. Anyway, I’ll come by soon to take care of it for you.”
“Danki, Jonah, and also for rescuing me today.” Unexpectedly, Elaine wet her thumb and wiped a smudge of dirt still smeared on Jonah’s face. Immediately she pulled her hand back and averted her gaze. The sweet gesture caused Jonah to think about a time when they’d been courting and she’d done something similar.
Don’t start thinking about the past, Jonah reprimanded himself. What Elaine and I once had is over. She made it quite clear the day she said she didn’t love me. Besides, I still love Sara.
As Cora headed home from work that afternoon, her mind replayed the events of the last two months. Not only had she received the money from the sale of her home in Chicago, but Chad’s mother and stepfather’s car insurance had covered Jared’s medical bills. They’d come by a few weeks ago to visit with Jared, saying they’d waited until they were sure he was ready to talk about the accident. They wanted to know what the boys had been doing right before the crash happened and if Chad had said any last words to Jared.
Cora remembered how Chad’s mother, Rita, cried when Jared told her what transpired right before the accident—how Chad had admitted he wasn’t a good son and wished he had been a better person. He was afraid his parents weren’t proud of him. While nothing could be done to bring Chad back, his mother said she’d found comfort knowing Chad had a friend like Jared who cared about him. It was sad for Chad’s parents, as it seemed so many things had been left unsaid between them and their son.
After Rita and her husband went home, Jared told Cora that Chad’s fears about his parents were one of the reasons he’d drawn closer to her and set the past behind. Jared didn’t want anything to come between him and his mom. Cora was glad Jared had been willing to speak to Chad’s folks. It seemed to give him a sense of release.
Her thoughts turned to Jared’s father. She felt relief knowing Evan had given up trying to get custody of their son. Apparently he realized Jared didn’t want to live with him, and perhaps in some ways, he was actually relieved. Between the responsibilities he faced as a prominent doctor in Chicago, his social commitments, and the need to keep his new wife happy, Evan had little time for anything else.
Thanks to the time Jared now spent with his big brother, he didn’t seem to need or miss what he’d once had with his father. Once more, Cora thanked God for the relationship she now had with her firstborn son.
When she rounded the next bend in the road, Cora’s breath caught in her throat as a quaint cottage came into view. She’d traveled this way many times and had never noticed this particular home until now. Today, what caught her eye was the FOR SALE sign posted at the end of the driveway.
What really captured her attention and made this house so special was it resembled the painting of the cottage she’d seen in the hospital waiting room—the same wildflowers of different hues, flower boxes on all the windows, and a glider swing on the front porch. The only thing missing were the deer grazing in the yard.
Cora pulled her car over and wrote down the name of the Realtor. The first thing she planned to do when she got home was call about this home. She sat awhile and looked over the property again. This time, she noticed a birdbath near the backyard with a few birds splashing in the water. Even without looking inside, she felt as if this place already belonged to her and Jared. She couldn’t help wondering if seeing this cottage was merely a coincidence or was meant to have happened.
CHAPTER 32
Danki for seeing me at the last minute like this.” Priscilla seated herself in Leah’s recliner. “I wasn’t sure if you’d even be home, much less available to give me a foot treatment.”
Leah smiled, taking a seat on the footstool in front of Priscilla. “Since my daed picked up all three of the girls after Linda and Amy got home from school, I’m free until Adam gets off work, closer to suppertime.”
“Did they go over to your folks’ for a special reason, or was it to give you some time to yourself?”
“A little of both.” Leah picked up the bottle of massage lotion and rubbed some on Priscilla’s left foot. “Mom said she planned to bake cookies and needed the girls’ help, but perhaps it was just an excuse both to give me a break and to spend time with them.”
Priscilla smiled. “Those children are fortunate to have so many people in their lives who love and care about them.”
Leah nodded. “So tell me why you’re here. Is it a buckelweh, koppweh, or something else?”
Priscilla sighed. “It’s not a backache or headache. I’m having trouble sleeping and can’t seem to relax. I was hoping you could help me.”
“Is it tender right here?” Leah pressed on a certain spot.
Priscilla’s fingers dug into her palms. “It definitely is.”
“It signals your adrenals aren’t up to par. Are you stressed about something?”
“Jah. I’ve never felt so stressed.”
“Want to talk about it?”
Priscilla nodded. It always seemed to help when she aired out her problems with Elaine or Leah. “I may have two suitors—or at least one who would like to be.”
Leah quirked an eyebrow. “David?”
“Uh-huh. I never mentioned this before, but he gave me a romantic card for Valentine’s Day. David thinks I’m special, and…” Priscilla paused. “He even said he may be falling in love with me.”
Leah gasped. “Oh dear! How do you feel about him?”
“I’m not sure. We’ve seen each other a lot since he came back to Arthur, and sometimes after I’ve been with him, I fantasize about what it would be like if we were married.”
Leah stopped probing Priscilla’s foot, and her mouth dropped open. “Are you saying you’re in love with David and want to be his wife?”
“I don’t know. I’m confused.”
“What about Elam? I thought you loved him.”
“I do. At least, I think I still do.” Priscilla sucked in her breath. “I’ve never been faced with anything like this before, and I really don’t know what to do.”
Leah’s lips compressed. “I’d say you have some praying to do. Why don’t you look up Matthew 6:33–34? God will make things clear if you seek Him and listen for His answers. I’ll be praying for you, too, Priscilla.”
“Danki, Leah, and believe me, I have already been praying and seeking answers from God, although nothing’s come clear to me yet. I’ll admit I tend to be spontaneous and don’t always think things through. So I need to make sure my feelings for David are real and not just a reaction to the attention he shows me.” Priscilla sighed deeply. “If Elam would h
ave proposed to me before David showed up, this wouldn’t even be a problem because we’d probably be married by now—or at least planning our wedding.”
Leah’s forehead wrinkled. “Speaking of Elam, maybe I shouldn’t mention this, but I heard something you probably don’t know.”
“What did you hear?”
“Several weeks ago when I was shopping at the bulk food store, I overheard your mamm talking to Elam’s mamm.”
“What’d she say?”
“She was asking Virginia if she had any idea why her son hadn’t proposed to you yet.” Leah started working on Priscilla’s foot again. “Virginia said she didn’t know, but it might have something to do with his financial situation.”
Priscilla’s spine stiffened, and she winced when Leah hit another tender spot on the heel of her foot. Won’t Mom ever stop meddling in my life? I need to talk with her about this, and I’m going to do it as soon as I get home.
When Cora arrived home from work she called the Realtor about the house. He said he’d be more than happy to show it to her and that she was the first to inquire about it. Because of what he’d told her, Cora realized she probably couldn’t get it for much less than the asking price, which was fine with her. She could pay cash for it with the money from the sale of her old home. Of course, it all stemmed on whether she liked the inside of the place as much as the outside. She really hoped the cottage was in good condition.
The Realtor set up a time for her and Jared to see it that evening. Cora could hardly wait until he got home from school so she could tell him about it.
Jared had gone over to Scott’s after school, but he should be home in time for supper. Since they would be seeing the house at six thirty, Cora thought she’d take Jared out for pizza after the showing. In the meantime, she had some laundry to do, as well as pay a few bills. It was a good thing, too, because Cora was so excited over the prospect of buying the special cottage she needed something to occupy her mind. She sent up a quick prayer. Please, Lord, let this be the house I’ve been looking for.
At five o’clock, Jared showed up, carrying something large, wrapped in brown paper. “What have you got?” Cora asked.
“It’s your birthday present, Mom.” Jared grinned and handed the item to Cora. “It’s a little early, since your birthday’s not till Saturday, but I wanted you to have it now. I’m excited to see if you like it or not.”
“Are you sure, Jared? I can wait a few more days to open it.”
He shook his head. “No, go ahead and open it now.”
Cora took a seat on the couch and tore the wrapping aside. “Oh, my!” She stared at the framed picture in disbelief. It was a similar painting—maybe a print—of the cottage she’d seen at the hospital. “Where did you get this, Jared?”
“Got it from Scott’s mom, as a thank-you gift for helping out at their yard sale last Saturday. It was something left over that didn’t sell.” Jared took a seat beside Cora. “Thought you might like it.”
“I love it!” Cora set the picture down and gave Jared a hug. “This is so uncanny I can hardly believe it myself.” Cora swallowed the lump in her throat before she continued to explain. “You won’t believe this, Jared, but a painting like this one hung in the hospital’s waiting room, and I fell in love with it. I even made a mental note of the artist’s name and searched for it on the Internet. I found nothing, so I assumed it must have been done by an unknown artist who doesn’t have a website showcasing his work.”
“Wow, Mom, it’s too bad you couldn’t find any information, but it’s so awesome how this painting was offered to me. Who’d ever guess Scott’s mom would have a picture like the one you saw at the hospital?”
“This frame is a little different,” Cora commented. “But I actually like this one better.” She ran her hands along the oak board framing the outside of the painting. “Where’d Mrs. Ramsey get it? Do you know?”
“Scott mentioned she found it at a thrift store.”
Cora stared at the picture, barely able to take it in. “You know something else really weird, Jared?”
“What, Mom?”
“On the way home from work today, I noticed a house a few miles from here. Unbelievably, it looks almost like the one in this picture. The best part is it’s for sale.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and I made an appointment to look at it this evening.”
“Are ya thinkin’ of buying it, Mom?”
Cora smiled. “Yes, I am—if we both like it, that is.”
As soon as Priscilla entered her house, she went straight to the kitchen, where she found her mother tearing lettuce leaves into a bowl.
Mom turned from her work and smiled. “Oh, Priscilla, you’re just in time to help me start supper.”
“Mom, I—”
“How’d things go at Leah’s? Was she able to give you a foot treatment this afternoon?”
“Jah, but while she was working on my feet, I found something out that has me feeling a bit umgerennt.”
“Why are you upset?” Mom started tearing lettuce again.
“Leah mentioned that she’d overheard you talking with Elam’s mamm awhile back.” Priscilla moved closer to the sink. “Did you tell Virginia you’re concerned because Elam hasn’t proposed to me?”
Mom’s face colored, and she quickly looked away. “I—I did mention it.”
“Why would you say such a thing, Mom? Didn’t you realize how embarrassing it would be for me?”
Mom turned to look at Priscilla again. “I’m sorry. I was only trying to help.”
“Help what?”
“I thought if Virginia knew you’ve been waiting for Elam to propose—”
“You told her that?” Priscilla smacked the palm of her hand against her forehead.
“Well, not in so many words, but I am sure she understood my meaning.”
Priscilla rested her forehead on her outstretched hands. “I can’t believe you would do something like that. If this gets back to Elam, he’ll think I put you up to asking his mamm.” She moaned. “How am I going to explain this to him?”
“You’re overreacting, Priscilla. My conversation with Elam’s mamm took place several weeks ago. If Virginia had told Elam, which I asked her not to, I’m sure he would have said something to you by now.”
“Why would you even take such a chance?” Priscilla took a few deep breaths, finally able to relax a bit. “Please, Mom, don’t say anything to anyone else about my situation with Elam. If it’s meant for us to get married, he’ll ask when he’s ready.”
Mom’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Priscilla strangely. “You don’t seem to care so much about this anymore. What’s happened, Priscilla? Is it David? Is he the reason you’ve lost interest in Elam?”
Priscilla cringed. How could she explain her feelings for David—especially when she wasn’t sure Mom wouldn’t repeat what she said.
Mom touched Priscilla’s arm. “Did you hear what I said?”
“Jah.”
“Is David the reason you’ve lost interest in Elam?”
“I haven’t lost interest in Elam. He’s still special to me.”
“And David? What are you feelings toward him?”
Priscilla blew out her breath. “I enjoy being with David, but I’m not sure whether I love him or not.”
“Does he love you?”
“I believe so. At least, he said he thinks he’s falling in love with me.”
Groaning, Mom pushed the bowl of lettuce aside and sank into a chair at the table. “This isn’t good, Priscilla. Not good at all. You need to discourage David, and as quickly as possible.”
Priscilla blew out a noisy breath. “What have you got against David? He’s always been polite when he’s come here to visit, and he has shown you and Dad nothing but respect.”
“This isn’t about being polite, respectful, or even whether he’s a nice person or not. It’s about him not being the right man for you.” Mom gripped the edge of the table until her kn
uckles turned white. “You’re not going to break things off with Elam because of David, I hope.”
Priscilla shook her head. “Of course not, but if Elam doesn’t show his intentions soon, I may take it as a sign that we’re not supposed to be together. Maybe God has other plans for both of us.”
“So you’ll choose David if Elam doesn’t propose?”
“I didn’t say that. I’m confused, and talking about this isn’t helping.” Priscilla pushed away from the table. “I’m going to wash up now, so I can help you with supper.” She started for the hall door but turned back around. “Please, Mom, promise you won’t say anything to anyone about the things we’ve just talked about.”
Mom gave a slow nod. “As you wish.”
When Priscilla headed down the hall toward the bathroom, she made a decision. Having grown up with Elam, she knew him quite well, but she needed to get to know David better. In order to understand how she really felt about David, she’d have to spend a lot more time with him.
CHAPTER 33
I can’t believe how homey this place is.” Cora smiled at the Realtor then studied the living room with a sense of awe. The inside of this home was even better than she’d imagined. The living room had a cozy fireplace and two large windows overlooking the expansive front yard.
What a great place for my granddaughters to play. Cora gazed out the window. She could picture a swing hanging from one of the trees and almost hear Carrie giggling as Amy and Linda took turns pushing her on it.
From the outside, the home appeared smaller than it actually was. As the Realtor showed Cora and Jared through the house, she grew more excited, seeing how spacious the rooms were. The open country kitchen, with an area for the table and chairs, as well as the cozy dining room were appealing. The three bedrooms had nice big closets, and hardwood floors ran throughout the home. The master bedroom had its own bathroom, and another bathroom located down the hallway could be used by Jared and guests.
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