The Decision

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “Let’s get you cleaned up, and then you and Mamma can take a nap,” Sara murmured, holding her son tightly to her chest. Mark squeezed his arms around Sara’s neck, burrowing his face into her shoulder.

  Sara’s limbs felt weak, and her hands tingled as she made her way to the bedroom. Hopefully after sufficient rest, she would feel better.

  “Where are you going, Grandma?” Elaine asked when Edna put her black outer bonnet on and opened the back door.

  “I’m gonna head into town to run a few errands,” Edna replied, turning around.

  “Do you have to go right now?” Elaine asked. “I need to get the rest of the clothes washed and hung on the line, but I can go with you after that’s done.”

  Edna shook her head. “There’s no need for that. I’m perfectly capable of going to town on my own.”

  “But I thought—”

  “If you’re worried about me going out alone, please don’t. I’ll be fine.” Edna motioned to their wringer washer. “You go ahead and finish the laundry. When I get back, we can fix lunch and spend the rest of the day working in our vegetable garden.”

  Elaine hesitated a moment but finally nodded. “If that’s what you want to do, Grandma, but I’m willing to run errands with you.”

  “We’ll go shopping together some other time.” Edna smiled and stepped out the door. She didn’t want to hurt her granddaughter’s feelings, but the truth was, she was eager to spend some time alone. Ever since Lloyd had passed away, and particularly after she’d been diagnosed with diabetes, Elaine had been acting like a mother hen, always reminding Edna to take her medicine, check her blood sugar, eat this and not eat that. Even though it was a bit irritating, Edna realized her granddaughter meant well.

  Edna’s thoughts took her back to the past. In all the time she and Lloyd had been raising Elaine, it had been them telling her what to do, but now the tables were turned. It made Edna feel almost like a child again. Well, their roles seemed to be reversing, but for a few hours today she would be free as a bird, and she planned to enjoy this time to herself. She’d been feeling better these past few weeks and hadn’t had any dizzy spells or memory lapses, so she felt perfectly capable of running a few errands by herself.

  Elaine hummed as she hung the last batch of clothes on the line. It was such a beautiful June morning, and she was trying not to worry about Grandma but to keep her focus on positive things. The birds chirped joyfully in the trees nearby, and she watched with interest as a robin pulled a worm from the lawn. It was amazing how God provided for the birds with insects and seeds, and how their continual singing made it seem as if they were nearly always at peace.

  She glanced at the dying maple and felt sorry for the tree, knowing that next week it would be gone, for their closest neighbor had agreed to cut it down. The birds sure loved that old tree, even without its leaves. Maybe after it was gone, the stump could be left for a birdbath to sit on, or perhaps one of their feeders. Elaine and Grandma could plant some wildflowers around the bottom of the stump and finish it with some pretty-shaped rocks scattered among the flowers. That way, a section of the tree that held so many memories would still be a part of the landscape.

  Maybe I’ll even get a bit of painting done, making some of the rocks I’ve found look like different animals. Elaine sighed. She surely did miss painting. It was so relaxing, not to mention fun. Right now, she could use a good dose of that. It would be better than any medicine she could take.

  Elaine thought of the words of Matthew 6:26: “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” It was a timely reminder that, despite any hardships she or Grandma might face in the future, God would take care of them.

  Elaine’s thoughts switched gears as she reflected on the fact that Jonah hadn’t come around much lately. Was he avoiding her, or had his visits lessened because he was too busy in his shop? “But if he is staying away on purpose, what could be the reason?” she wondered aloud. I hope because I haven’t given Jonah an answer about marrying him yet, he doesn’t think I’m not interested. Elaine remembered, not too long ago, when she’d seen Jonah watching her after church one Sunday. But Grandma had been in a hurry to get home, so unfortunately, Elaine hadn’t been able to talk with him.

  Elaine loved Jonah and was eager to become his wife, but she couldn’t say yes until she was sure that Grandma would be willing to move to Jonah’s house with her. “If only I could tell him how much I love him,” Elaine grumbled out loud. But the right time never seemed to happen. Elaine knew it was more than that, but it was easier not to admit how the words stuck in her throat every time she tried to tell Jonah the way she truly felt about him.

  Anyway, I couldn’t move and leave Grandma here by herself, she thought. I’d be worried every minute, wondering if she was taking her medicine and eating the right foods. If only Grandma wasn’t so determined to keep hosting the tourist dinners, I might be more apt to ask her to move. But is it too soon for another major change in Grandma’s life? Or am I justifying things because I’m afraid to make a change?

  Elaine picked up a towel and pinned it to the line. No, I can’t take the tourist dinners away from Grandma. She enjoys doing them. Besides, I’m not sure Grandma would be willing to move from this place, and I can’t expect Jonah to sell his home, which is close to the buggy shop—especially since he purchased his house not long ago and has been fixing it up for our future together. She frowned. Do we still have a future together? Maybe it would be best if I didn’t marry Jonah. He deserves to have a wife and family, and as much as it hurts to even think about it, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to give him that.

  Things went well for Edna as she made her purchases in several stores, and she’d even run into her long-ago friend, Cindy, who’d been shopping in one of the stores. Edna invited Cindy to come over in a few days so they could get caught up on each other’s lives, but when Cindy said she’d be going home later today, the women said good-bye and parted ways.

  Edna’s morning had been fun, but when she entered the Stitch and Sew and glanced at the clock, she realized it was way past noon and she should have been home already, eating lunch. She’d planned to bring a snack along, in case she got hungry. But she’d been in such a hurry to leave, she had forgotten about packing a snack.

  Maybe I’ll go across the street to the Country Cheese and More and get something to eat, she told herself. Then I’ll come back here and finish my shopping before heading home.

  Edna left the store and made her way across the street. When she entered the store, she spotted Leah and her mother, Dianna, sitting at one of the tables. They smiled and waved her over.

  “Is Elaine with you?” Leah asked.

  Edna shook her head. “She’s at home doing the laundry, and I came into town to do some shopping. It’s taken me a little longer than I thought, so I decided to come over here and get some lunch.”

  “Why don’t you join us?” Dianna suggested. “We’ve just barely started on our sandwiches, and it’ll give us a chance to visit.”

  “I’d like that.” As Edna started for the counter to place her order, a feeling of wooziness came over her. I probably feel this way because I need to eat, she told herself.

  After she’d ordered a sandwich and some iced tea, Edna took a seat across from Leah. Then she reached into her purse to get her medicine, which she was supposed to take before her meal. “Oh, oh,” she muttered, rifling through her purse.

  “Is something wrong?” Dianna asked.

  “I can’t find my medicine.” Edna’s hands trembled and perspiration beaded on her forehead. “I—I must have forgotten to put it in my purse before I left home this morning.”

  “Are you feeling all right?” Leah asked. “You look pale, and…”

  Leah’s face blurred, and her words faded. A wave of dizziness descended on Edna, and she spiraled into darkness.

  CHAPTER 17 />
  Elaine glanced at the kitchen clock and frowned. It was an hour past lunchtime and Grandma should have been here by now. What in the world could be keeping her? she worried, pacing the floor. I wonder if she stopped somewhere to eat lunch.

  Elaine looked at the shelf where Grandma kept her medicine and gasped. There sat the bottle. Oh dear, Elaine fretted as she reached for the medicine. Grandma forgot to take it with her this morning.

  If I knew all of the places Grandma was planning to shop, I’d go looking for her right now. Elaine went to the door, hoping to see Grandma pull in. But I might not find her, and what if Grandma came home while I was out searching for her?

  Elaine drew in a deep breath and tried to relax, realizing that fretting about this was getting her nowhere. What she needed to do was stay right here and hope that Grandma was okay and would be home soon.

  Taking a seat at the table, Elaine bowed her head. Heavenly Father, I’m worried about Grandma because she’s been gone so long and didn’t take her medicine. Please be with her, wherever she is, and bring her safely home.

  Elaine heard a car pull into the yard, and her eyes snapped open. Thinking it might be someone who had seen the sign at the end of their driveway advertising the dinners they hosted, Elaine hurried to the door. When she opened it, she was surprised to see Leah get out of her driver’s car. She only lived a few miles away and always came over by horse and buggy or on her bicycle.

  Leah hurried to the house and approached Elaine with a worried expression. “I came to tell you that your grandma’s in the hospital.”

  Elaine’s heart pounded and her mouth went dry. “Wh–what happened?”

  “Mom and I were at Country Cheese and More, having lunch, and your grandma came in. She ordered something to eat and sat down at our table. A few seconds later, she blacked out.”

  Elaine covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. “I just discovered a few minutes ago that she forgot to take her medicine along when she left home this morning, so I’m sure her blood sugar was probably out of whack.”

  “We called 911, and the paramedics came soon after,” Leah explained. “As soon as they put her in the ambulance, I called our driver to bring me here. I knew you’d want to get to the hospital right away.”

  “I certainly do. Danki, Leah, for coming to tell me. I’ll get my purse and be right with you.”

  Sara had been avoiding the picnic area where she and Harley used to relax under the trees at the back of their property, but this afternoon she’d felt the need to go there. She had felt better after sleeping awhile and soon after started doing housework. Mark played contently after his nap and seemed well rested, but eventually he lost interest in amusing himself. Sara was more than ready to get some fresh air and figured Mark was, too. So she packed a picnic lunch, set her work aside, and decided to take a break. After being at Betty and Herschel’s, she needed a little downtime with her son.

  As they sat together on the blanket she’d brought along, eating the last of their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Sara felt her body relax for the first time in many weeks. It did her heart good to see her little boy’s contented expression. She hoped he was enjoying this time with her as much as she was with him. Being in this area, near where Harley had been killed, didn’t bother Sara as much as she’d expected it to. In fact, she felt a sense of peace. Although she didn’t understand the reason her husband had been taken from them, she’d finally come to terms with his death, accepting it as God’s will. For His ways are not our ways, she reminded herself.

  When they’d finished eating and Sara had washed Mark’s face and hands with some wet paper towels she’d packed, she decided that it might be nice to take a walk. “Should we go walking awhile?” Sara asked Mark in their traditional Pennsylvania-Dutch language.

  He bobbed his head.

  Sara clasped the boy’s hand as they strolled along their property line, stopping every once in a while to listen to the birds, look up at the lofty trees, and pick a few wildflowers. June was such a beautiful month. Adult birds were busy feeding their young, crickets had begun chirping, and the tiger lilies bordering her land were just beginning to bloom.

  After a while, Mark stopped walking and said he wanted Sara to pick him up. So she lifted him into her arms and headed back to the blanket. She’d no more than laid him down when his eyes closed and he fell asleep.

  The warm sun shining down on them made Sara feel sleepy, too, so she curled up on the blanket beside her precious little boy and closed her eyes. Lying there, she felt the gentle breeze as it blew across her face. That, along with the sweet melodies the birds sang, made her relax even more. Sara opened her eyes and watched as a flock of quacking ducks flew over. She glanced at her son and could tell by his even breathing that he was sleeping soundly.

  Sara smiled and closed her eyes once more. The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was an image of her husband’s face the final time they’d come here together.

  “Can you hear me? Can you open your eyes?” From a faraway distance, Edna heard a stranger’s voice.

  Where am I? she wondered, trying hard to open her eyes. People were talking. A child cried. A strange beeping noise kept going in the background. Nothing seems familiar to me. I don’t think I’m at home in my bed.

  Slowly, Edna’s eyes opened. She blinked at the middle-aged woman dressed in white, standing beside her bed. “Who are you?” she murmured through parched lips.

  The woman offered Edna a drink of water. “I’m a nurse. Do you know where you are?”

  “I—I’m not sure.” Edna moistened her lips after drinking some water. It helped to quench her thirst.

  “You’re in the hospital.”

  Edna’s head ached, and she reached up to touch the lump on her forehead. “Wh–what happened to me? Why am I here?”

  “Some of your friends followed the ambulance to the hospital,” the nurse explained. “They said you passed out, and they alerted us to the fact that you’re diabetic.”

  “Oh, yes, I am.” Edna remembered going into the restaurant and ordering something to eat, but that was all.

  “I’m going to leave you for a few minutes,” the nurse said, touching Edna’s hand. “The doctor will be in to see you soon, and your granddaughter will come once she gets here and has finished filling out the necessary paperwork.”

  “Okay.” Edna took another sip of water and closed her eyes, trying to remember the events that led up to her being taken to the hospital. It was frustrating not to be able to recall the details of passing out, much less to be brought to the hospital and not know it until now. I must have bumped my head when I fainted, she told herself, touching the knot on her head. That must be why I can’t remember much of anything right now.

  “Sara, wake up!”

  Sara’s eyes opened suddenly, and she sat up with a start. Harley? She’d been dreaming about her husband, and then she’d heard his voice. That must have been part of the dream, she realized, rubbing her eyes as she became more fully awake. It had been such a nice dream until she’d heard his alarming voice.

  Remembering that she’d lain down beside her sleeping son, Sara glanced at the spot where he lay. “Ach, Mark! Where are you?” she cried, seeing that her little boy was gone.

  Sara looked this way and that. Mark was nowhere to be seen. Fear enveloped her, and she shivered involuntarily. Had he woken up and wandered off, or…God forbid, had someone come along and taken her child? She couldn’t believe that she’d fallen into such a deep sleep and hadn’t heard her son wake up.

  Heart pounding and perspiration rolling down her forehead, Sara scrambled to her feet and cupped her hands around her mouth. “Mark, where are you? Please, answer me, Mark!”

  No reply. As if life was normal, the only sounds were the wind whispering gently through the tops of the trees and several birds calling to their mates. But for Sara, life was far from normal.

  She called her son’s name over and over, running up and down the length of
the property line as she did so. There was still no sign of the boy. To add to her mounting fear, thunder rumbled loudly in the distance, and the sky turned darker toward the west. “Help me, Lord,” Sara prayed aloud, her panic mounting as she headed toward the house, hoping her little boy had gone there. “Please help me find my son. I lost Harley; I can’t lose Mark, too.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Come on, Sassy, I know you can go faster than that,” Jonah called to his temperamental horse. He was heading over to see Elaine this afternoon and was anxious to get there. They hadn’t visited in a while, and he wanted to see how she and Edna were doing. Despite the fact that marrying Elaine was all he’d been thinking about, Jonah wouldn’t bring up the topic and had come to accept the fact that Elaine might not be ready until next year perhaps. Well, Jonah was a patient man, and he would wait for as long as necessary. After all, what other choice did he have?

  As Jonah continued on down the road, he noticed the sky was darkening in the distance. Then he heard a far-off rumble of thunder. Jonah liked listening to thunderstorms, especially the gentler ones. When he was a boy, he’d enjoyed lying on the floor upstairs in his room and listening to the pouring rain pelt down on the tin roof of their home in Ohio. He remembered a few wicked storms, where the lightning was actually pink, and the air felt like it was charged with electricity. Constant lightning with claps of thunder, one right after the other, caused him to hide under the covers back then. Those kinds of storms, Jonah could do without.

  This afternoon, Jonah could smell rain in the air, but fortunately, this approaching storm didn’t sound violent, and hopefully he would arrive at Edna’s place before the skies opened up.