“I hope not.” Ezekiel pursed his lips. “From the moment I met that man, I had an uneasy feeling about him.”
Michelle came over and kissed his cheek. “You’re such a schmaert man.”
He pulled Michelle into his arms and held her close. “I don’t know how smart I am about other things, but I was schmaert enough to talk you into marrying me.”
She tipped her head back and looked up at him. “You didn’t have to talk me into anything. Besides, I was the schmaert one for saying yes to becoming your fraa.”
Strasburg
When Sylvia opened the front door to her house and stepped inside, she dropped the cardboard boxes on the floor in the hallway. As she entered the living room, memories overwhelmed her like water from a broken dam. In spite of her efforts to stay calm, tears started flowing. “Oh Sister…” She gulped on a sob. “It’s so hard for me to be here anymore.”
“It’s okay. Let the cleansing tears fall.” Amy led Sylvia over to the couch, and they both took a seat.
“I…I’m sorry for being such a big bawling baby.” Sylvia took a tissue from the end table beside the couch and wiped her nose. “It’s just so hard being here in the home I shared with Toby and knowing I’ll never have that kind of happiness again.”
Amy clasped Sylvia’s hand. “I understand how coming here must make you feel sad. Have you considered selling the place and staying with Mom permanently?”
Sylvia scooted back against the couch and rested her head. “I have given it some consideration, but the idea of letting the house go to strangers doesn’t sit well with me.”
“Maybe you could find a suitable renter. Have you thought of that as an option?”
“No, not really, but it might be a possibility.” Sylvia blotted the tears from her cheeks with another tissue. “My biggest concern with renting the house would be who might want to rent it. I’ve heard terrible stories about people renting homes and leaving the owner with a big mess when they moved out. Some folks don’t pay their rent on time or at all. So it might be a bigger challenge to become a landlord than to just sell the house and be done with it.”
“I understand. My advice is to pray about the situation and ask God to help you decide what the best course of action would be.”
Sylvia gave no response as she massaged the bridge of her nose. The truth was, she saw little help in praying. Even after so many months had passed since the accident that took their loved ones, her faith in God had not been restored, and she doubted it ever would be strong again. There was a time when she did have faith, and believed in miracles, but it seemed so long ago.
She glanced around the room at all the familiar furniture. “What would I do with all these things if I did sell the house?”
“You might be able to take a few things over to Mom’s, and maybe Jared and I could buy some pieces of your furniture and other items to put in our new home.”
Sylvia blinked rapidly. “Now there’s a thought.”
“You mean about us buying some of your things?”
“No, I mean what if you and Jared bought my house, or even rented it from me? Nothing’s been decided about where you will live yet, right?”
“Well, no, but…” Amy’s voice trailed off, and then she picked up her sentence again. “Wouldn’t it be difficult for you to come over here and visit? You said a few minutes ago that it was hard for you to be here anymore. I would feel bad if you didn’t want to come over to my place to see me, and if we had a family function here you would not be left out.”
Sylvia leaned forward with her arms against her knees. “I—I hadn’t considered any of that. You’re right, Amy, it would be most difficult for me to come to the home that had been mine and Toby’s and see you and Jared living here happily together. It would be a reminder of how much I have lost.” Sylvia rubbed her forehead. “Am I being eegesinnisch to think this way?”
Amy gave Sylvia’s back several light pats and made slow circles with her fingers in a gentle rub. “You’re not being selfish at all. Only you know what you can and cannot deal with. Besides, since Jared and I will be just starting out, we can’t really afford to buy a home yet. We’ll most likely look for something inexpensive to rent.”
“Which could be my place, if I wasn’t so emotional about being in this house.”
“Don’t worry about it, Sister. Even if you were willing to rent your home to us, our wedding’s over seven months from now, and you’d have to continue to leave the house unattended all that time.” Amy continued to rub Sylvia’s back until she sat up.
“I’ll give this some more thought. Maybe I’ll end up selling the place and be free of all the memories that haunt me. Right now, let’s get busy and gather up all of the things I want to take back with me today. I don’t want to be here any longer than necessary.”
“Let’s go outside and get some fresh air.” Belinda bundled her grandkids, as well as herself, in warm attire. Allen and Rachel seemed eager to head out with Grandma as their voices raised a couple of octaves.
Once outdoors, the sun provided some warmth. They walked around the yard where snow had concentrated in more of the shaded areas. Allen’s boots crunched in the snow as he made his way over to the frozen birdbath. He touched the solid water and slid his gloved fingers across the surface. “Look, Grossmammi—I’m skating.”
“You sure are.” Belinda smiled as she pulled Rachel across the yard on the wooden sled Sylvia had used as a child. I wonder how my daughter is doing right now. She gets so emotional whenever she returns to the home she and Toby shared.
Belinda was well aware that Sylvia still struggled with the past, but she tried her best to raise the children with love and tender care.
She stopped pulling the sled and bowed her head. Lord, please keep mending Sylvia’s heart and allow her to find peace and joy in her life again.
Belinda’s eyes opened and she looked at her precious grandchildren, so innocent, and with no knowledge of the inner struggles their mother faced on a daily basis. I must keep hoping and praying that each member of my family will heal a little, day by day. The Lord has provided for our needs, despite each one of the setbacks and the vandalism on our property. Even so, I will continue to trust Him in the days ahead and not give in to despair.
“Being here this evening and sitting around the bonfire talking and singing is so much fun. Danki for inviting me and Rudy to join you.” Amy’s friend Lydia spoke with excitement as the two of them carried hot dogs and buns from the house to the area where the fire had been started by Jared and the other young men present.
Amy smiled. “I’m glad you could both come. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.” She leaned closer to Lydia. “I’m real happy that you agreed to be one of my witnesses at Jared’s and my wedding.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Now I have a question. Will you be one of my witnesses?”
Amy’s fingers touched her parted lips. “Are you and Rudy planning to be married?”
“Jah, but not till November.”