Red, White and Blue Weddings: Red Like Crimson, White as Snow, Out of the Blue

by Janice Thompson

  “No kidding.”

  “What about you?” he asked. “Did you go to college?”

  Katie released a sigh. “My story is a little different. For all of my bravery—slipping out of that window and running away—I have to admit I was pretty scared. . .of everything. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to run back home those first couple of years. But, instead, I stayed with Hannah. Listened to her talk about her dream of becoming a Realtor. She really had the real estate bug.”

  “She’s a broker now, right?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Katie grinned. “But it took awhile. She wanted a home, a family, and a job. Doing all of that takes a lot of work.”

  “I’m sure she had a lot of help from you.” Karl gave her a warm smile.

  Katie shrugged. “I’ll admit, helping out with the kids— once they started coming along—was easier than facing the real world. But somewhere along the way I overcame my fears. Went to junior college for a couple of years. Got my associate’s degree. Then”—she paused, remembering—“I guess it was watching Hannah that did it. She’d get so excited about the houses she’d sold. It wasn’t just the money. . .it was the whole thing. Realizing she could balance a job and a family.” Katie shrugged. “She’s the true modern-day woman. Sort of the polar opposite of the ideal wife and mother we grew up with.”

  “And you wanted to be like that?”

  “Well, I wanted to try my hand at a career, and Hannah was willing to walk me through the process,” Katie explained. “I took the classes, got my license, and she set me up at Bucks County Realty.” She looked over at Karl with a shrug. “The rest, as they say, is history.”

  The waitress made her appearance with their food, and Karl offered to pray. As they bowed their heads, Katie heard the same passion in his voice for the Lord that she had loved as a youngster. Surely leaving the Amish country hadn’t diminished his faith. If anything, it seemed stronger now than ever.

  As they began to eat, Karl dove into a discussion of particular interest to Katie, one near to her heart, in fact. “Practicing real estate law has really opened my eyes to some of the atrocities taking place in the industry,” he said. “I’ve never seen so many get-rich-quick schemes in my life. And I can’t tell you how many clients have been taken advantage of—both buyers and sellers.”

  “I hear you,” Katie concurred. “I’ve seen more than a few scams since I started in this business myself. Everything from overpricing houses to mortgage fraud. It’s shameful.”

  Karl nodded. “I’ve seen a lot of other things that break my heart, too. Like all of the farms being bought up right and left by people who have no interest in the land itself. They just see it as a potential apartment complex or strip mall.”

  Katie’s eyes grew wide as she listened. How interesting that their feelings were so similar, and on such a sensitive subject. “I feel the same. It seems like every day some investor sweeps in and buys up farmland, turning it into a parking lot or shopping center.”

  “I’m doing what I can to prevent that.”

  He spent the next fifteen minutes explaining his plan of action to save the farms in the area, and Katie listened with genuine interest. So. . .his love for the land hadn’t died after all. In fact, he seemed more passionate about it than ever.

  His faith had grown. His love for the land had grown. His desire to do the right thing had grown. Clearly, Karl had entered the world of the English without letting it consume him. He was living proof that one could be in the world but not of it.

  As she nibbled at her salad, troubling thoughts rolled through Katie’s mind, and she had to wonder, despite her earlier comments to the contrary, could the same thing be said of her?

  FOUR

  The following morning, Katie received a telephone call that shook her to the core. Her mother’s tremulous voice conveyed the bad news. Her father had suffered a massive heart attack. He refused to be taken to the hospital. Would Katie come home right away?

  She flew into action, packing a small bag and then telephoning Hannah. “I don’t know how long I’ll be,” she explained. “But I want to stay as long as they need me. And it must be bad, Hannah. Otherwise, Mamm would never have used the telephone.”

  Hannah cried. Something she rarely did these days. “Tell your parents I love them and I’m praying. And tell my mamm. . .” Her voice trailed off.

  Katie finished the sentence for her. “I will tell her that you love her and miss her.”

  “Thank you.”

  She made another quick call—this one to Aimee. Though she hated to think about business on a day like today, she needed to make sure someone took her calls and covered any potential showings. Saturday was a busy day for Realtors, after all.

  Aimee listened to her explanation then responded with deep concern in her voice. “I’m here for you, Katie. Anything you need. And I’m praying for your father.”

  Katie pushed back the lump in her throat as she thanked her for being such a good friend. Then she ended the call.

  The journey to Paradise was made with only the sound of a worship CD playing in the background. Katie offered up prayer after prayer for her father, pleading with the Lord to spare his life. Surely he would recover and go on to live many more healthy years. Right?

  She contemplated many things as she wound through the familiar back roads of Lancaster County. Her father’s condition. The sound of fear in her mother’s voice. The fact that she’d only been home a handful of times over the years. Oh, her family had always welcomed her back with open arms, but she felt like an outsider every time. It seemed the trips back to Paradise were fewer and further between. Staying away was just. . .easier. A shiver ran up her spine as she contemplated today’s trip. Surely it would cause her two worlds to collide once again. Was she ready for the collision?

  Katie’s thoughts drifted to her older brothers, Daniel and Amos. They were both happily married with children. As was often the case in Amish households, they had built their homes on the Walken property to be close to the family.

  Katie smiled as she thought about her younger sisters, Emily and Sara. They were both married, as well, and Sara was expecting a baby in a few short weeks. Of course, the girls and their husbands lived inside the main house with Mamm and Datt. What would that be like—to be a newlywed living in your parents’ home?

  More curious still, what would it be like for Katie to spend quality time with all of her family members again, and under such sad circumstances? Would they still feel connected, even after all this time—and distance?

  Her sisters’ days were filled with washing clothes, sewing, scrubbing floors, cooking, and other such household chores. Hers were filled with clients, meetings, and bidding wars.

  Her sisters knew nothing about the crazy, fast-paced world of real estate. Would they have anything in common at all, or would their conversations be strained, painful?

  Thinking of the stark contrast between the two worlds reminded her of Karl and the conversation they had shared last night over dinner. She contemplated his apparent love for the Lord and his ability to live in the world without letting it consume him. And, after a bit of thought, she decided the same could be said of her.

  I’m doing a pretty good job with that, too, she reasoned. After all, her love for material things hadn’t gone too far. Sure, she loved great clothes. And having nice things in her office was a given. She had clients to impress, after all. But, as for letting her possessions mean too much to her, had she reached that point? She hoped not. She prayed not.

  The appearance of a farm market and several small roadside stands let Katie know she would soon be home. She glanced down at the speedometer and slowed her pace as she drew near.

  Off in the distance, a particular piece of property nearly took her breath away. The lush rolling pastures—greener than she remembered—seemed to be endless, and the white wood-framed farmhouse had a familiar feel to it. However, the For Sale sign out front told a different story. How sad t
o think the owners would have to leave such a lovely piece of land.

  On the other hand, how wonderful for the Realtor to list an amazing property.

  Katie was reminded at once of her recent lakefront listing and offered up a quick prayer that it would sell for the best possible price. Still, pretty as it was, it could hardly compare with the breathtaking beauty of Lancaster County’s Amish farmland.

  As she took it all in, Katie couldn’t help but see the glaring irony. What were all of her possessions in comparison to the beauty of God’s creation? Had she really traded this for a condo in the city? Sure, she’d filled it with great furnishings and artwork, but nothing would ever compare to the simple beauty found here, in the very place where she had started.

  Odd, now that she thought about it. All of those years living in this breathtaking place, and she had missed the beauty all around her. Now she had replaced it with other things—also beautiful—but in a different way.

  Hmm. Maybe her possessions had grown to mean too much to her, despite her earlier thoughts on the matter.

  As Katie drew near her parents’ home, she took a few moments to pray. Maybe, in the midst of the chaos and the busyness, she had set her sights on more worldly things. Getting her priorities straight might be in line, after all. She asked the Lord to forgive her and to redirect her thinking. Take me back to the place where I don’t care so much what people think—about how I look, what I own, where I work.

  Katie arrived at the farm around noon, her thoughts shifting at once to her father. As she contemplated his heart issues, she couldn’t help but offer up another prayer on his behalf.

  Pulling her car into the driveway felt odd. Of course, she had driven up the driveway many times as a teen—in a buggy. Often with Karl at her side. But only a few times in her adult life had she returned to the scene of the crime, the place where she had stolen away. Her gaze shifted at once to the window— the corridor she had slipped through into another life.

  A shiver ran down her spine as she thought back to that cool summer night. The moon had been full, casting a more-than-adequate amount of light on the area outside her bedroom window. She had taken a small bag—not much bigger than the one she carried today. After easing the window open, she had tossed the bag out first then climbed through the small opening and out onto the lawn.

  A trip to town on foot had proven difficult, in spite of the moonlight. She’d hidden out behind the store, knowing the place well and feeling safe there. When the sun had risen, she’d slipped into a telephone booth to make the call to Hannah. Her cousin had agreed to come and fetch her but insisted she leave a letter for her parents. Katie had mailed it that same morning.

  Oh, but how she had missed her parents and her brothers and sisters those first few days. How she wanted to turn around and run right back to the safety of their arms. To the farm, the only life she’d ever known.

  And now, as she eased her way from the driver’s seat, as she made her way toward the front porch of the house where she’d grown up, Katie longed, once again, to run into the safety of her father’s arms. Overwhelming guilt took hold, and she almost stopped in her tracks. Would she ever be able to do that again?

  A few more moments of reflection might very well have sent her running in the opposite direction, but ironically, she was distracted by a golden retriever leaping up to greet her and licking her in the face.

  “You must be a new one.” Katie gave the pup a scratch behind the ears.

  Just then, the front door of the house opened and her mother came running toward her. “Katie, oh, Katie!”

  Mamm shooed the dog away then stopped short, possibly confused by Katie’s appearance. After all, she had changed a lot since the last visit. A new haircut. A change in wardrobe.

  A different approach to makeup. Yes, she continued to morph into quite the city girl, no denying that.

  “Mamm.” Katie wrapped her arms around her mother and gave her a warm hug. “How is he?”

  Her mother shook her head and her eyes watered. “Not good. The doctor just left. He says it’s in the Lord’s hands.”

  “And Datt refuses to go to the hospital?”

  “Yes. He wishes to be here, with his family. We cannot change his mind.”

  “The boys?”

  “Your brothers are working in the fields today. We will send for them if we need them.”

  “Emily and Sara?”

  “They have stayed close to the house, though Emily has just taken the buggy to town to fetch some items from the store. Sara is resting. This has been difficult on her.”

  Katie swallowed hard at that last comment. Had she been here, perhaps her sister’s load would have been lifted. Once inside the house, Katie greeted her younger sister with a smile. Sara glowed with maternal happiness, and her extended belly showed that her time would not be long.

  “You look wonderful,” Katie gushed.

  Sara put her hand on her stomach and shook her head. “Hardly. And one rarely speaks of such things. But thank you.”

  They embraced in a warm hug, and then Katie turned her attentions to the reason for her visit. After a few more brief questions about her father’s condition, she drew in a deep breath and followed her mother to the bedroom.

  There she found her father lying still in the bed. “Datt?”

  “Katie?” His eyes fluttered open, and his trembling hand reached for hers. She sat on the edge of the bed, doing all she could to prevent the tears as she wrapped her healthy hand around his frail one. Oh, how the tables had turned. How many times had he reached for her with strong hands, held her safe?

  What could she offer him in exchange?

  ❧

  Karl paced the living room of his small house and prayed. All afternoon he had waited for word about the Chandler place. His original offer had been countered by the owners. He offered a bit more, in the hopes that they would accept quickly.

  Surely Aimee should know something by now. He picked up his cell phone and punched in her number. She answered on the third ring.

  “No word yet, Karl.” Her opening line drew a sigh out of him.

  “Let me know the minute you hear something?”

  “I will.” She laughed. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you were anxious about this one.”

  “Not anxious, really,” he said. “I’ve just heard rumors that other investors have been looking to build a new subdivision out there, and I’d hate to see that. The property is some of the best farmland in the area and could be productive with the right owner.”

  “Are you a farmer, Mr. Borg?” Aimee asked.

  Karl paused a moment before answering. “I used to be. But I’m not buying the property for myself. I have a list of clients who are interested in keeping Pennsylvania farmlands alive and well.”

  Aimee conveyed her satisfaction at his answer then shifted the conversation. “Before I let you go,” she said, “I heard from Katie awhile ago. Her father is very ill.”

  “Oh?” The news startled Karl. He had only known Katie’s father to be a healthy, sturdy man—one in love with the land and with his family.

  “Yes. Apparently he had a heart attack, and the prognosis is pretty grim.”

  “That’s awful.” Karl felt the pain acutely. Mr. Walken had treated him like a son, after all. “Thank you so much for telling me. I’ll give her a call right away.”

  Without so much as a pause, Karl pulled Katie’s business card from his wallet and dialed her cell number. She answered on the third ring.

  “Katie?”

  “Karl, is that you?” He heard the catch in her voice and knew she’d been crying.

  “Yes, it’s me. I just talked to Aimee. How is your father?”

  “Oh, Karl, he’s not good at all. The doctor has been here off and on all day because Datt won’t go to the hospital. He says he wants to be here, with his family. But his heart is so weak, and Doc Yoder says he might not have long.”

  “I’m glad you’re there.
He needs you now, Katie.”

  “But. . .I need him, too.” She began to cry in earnest now. “I don’t know what I’d do if he. . .”

  “I’ll be praying,” Karl said. “And I’ll put in a call to my church so that others will be praying, too. In the meantime, I wonder how you would feel if I came out there. I could spend the night at Ike Biden’s place. I think he would have me.”

  “You would do that?” Katie asked. “Drive all the way out here?”

  “Your father has always been so wonderful to me,” Karl said. “And I want to be there for him.” He swallowed hard and added, “And for you.”

  Her quiet “Thank you” warmed his heart.

  “I should be there by nightfall.” He hung up the phone and threw some clothes in a bag, then settled into his car for the ride, praying all the way.

  Going back to Paradise wouldn’t be easy—not after all he’d been through. But going back, at least for now, certainly felt like the right thing to do.

  FIVE

  Katie spent the first night at her parents’ house at her father’s bedside. She didn’t want to leave him, even for a moment. He had rarely awakened since her arrival, though at times his eyelids fluttered and his lips would move as he recognized her voice. His breathing remained labored throughout the night, giving her great cause for concern. According to Doc Yoder, her father’s heart and lungs were slowly shutting down.

  If only she could talk Datt into going to the hospital, perhaps the doctors could do something to help him. But he would not be persuaded. Katie knew his decision to remain at home had nothing to do with rules and regulations. The Amish had no problem receiving medical care. No, her father’s logic came from someplace else. She could sense it as the hours wore on. He knew his time was near.