A VOW for ALWAYS Read online

  “Shall we get our coats?” Jonah asked, motioning to the jackets hanging on the wall pegs in the utility room.

  Meredith nodded and rose to her feet. “Let me tend to Levi first, and I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”

  When they stepped outside a short time later, Meredith sucked in her breath. “It’s been such a lovely day, Jonah. See how the snow glistens?”

  “Jah, it’s beautiful,” Jonah whispered, leaning close to her ear. “Pretty as a picture, just like you.”

  Meredith shivered, feeling his breath blow against her ear. Hearing his laughter as he skipped over the last two porch steps and jumped into the snow, she, too, felt lighthearted. Then, as he beckoned her to follow, she went quickly down the porch steps and out into the yard.

  “All I have to do is hitch Dobbin to the sleigh, and we’ll be on our way,” Jonah said. “Dad’s horse is more accustomed to pulling a sleigh.”

  Before Meredith knew it, they were heading over the back fields and breaking through new snow. The only disturbances they could see in the snow were a few animal tracks and areas where deer had pawed away the snow, uncovering vegetation to eat.

  During the ride, they laughed, visited, and watched the sun set in the west. Meredith enjoyed listening to the sound of the sleigh bells. Hearing them brought back happy childhood memories when Dad used to take the family on winter sleigh rides.

  “Are you warm enough?” Jonah asked, looking over at Meredith.

  “I’m fine. It’s warm and toasty under this thick wool blanket.” She smiled, noticing how relaxed Jonah seemed to be, loosely holding the reins. He was obviously having as much fun as she was.

  “Look over there!” Jonah pointed across the way. Four deer stood warily watching near a clump of trees, but as the sleigh approached, they turned and ran over the hill.

  When the sleigh reached the knoll, Jonah halted the horse. Dobbin pawed the ground a few times as the steam puffed out of his nose and rose off his rich auburn coat. Meredith looked at the view and thought she’d never seen a prettier sight. The blanket of snow gave everything a quiet look, as stillness lay over the land. Smoke coming from chimneys hung heavy in the air, and silos stood tall and visible in every direction.

  Jonah reached for Meredith’s hand and held it firmly in his. “Meredith, I was wondering if you’ve had enough time to think about my marriage proposal.”

  She nodded slowly. “I have, Jonah, and I will marry you.”

  His face broke into a wide smile. “Now that’s the best Christmas present I could ever receive!”

  She giggled as Jonah jumped out of the sleigh, ran around to her side, picked her up, and twirled her around. Dobbin whinnied, pawed at the ground some more, and nodded his head as though in agreement. “I was thinking we could be married in early March, if that’s all right with you,” Meredith said as he gently set her on her feet.

  “I wish it could be sooner, but I have no problem with March.” Jonah leaned close, and she thought he might kiss her. Instead, he reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.

  “I don’t think we should tell anyone yet,” Meredith said. “I’d feel better about waiting until my year of mourning is up.”

  Jonah’s smile faded. “Not even our folks? Don’t you think we ought to tell them now?”

  Meredith shook her head. “I’d rather wait.”

  Although disappointed, Jonah smiled and said, “Whatever you think is best.”

  Darby

  “You three women certainly outdid yourselves preparing this meal,” Henry said, giving his stomach a thump. “I think every year Christmas dinner tastes better.”

  “Thank you, Grandpa,” Susan spoke up, “but Grandma did most of the cooking.”

  “That’s not true,” Grandma said, handing Susan the platter of juicy ham. “You mashed the potatoes, and Anne made the fruit salad.”

  “That’s right, Grandma,” Anne said in a teasing tone. “Susan likes to lick the beaters when she’s done mashing the potatoes. But you prepared everything else.”

  Grandpa smiled. “That’s ’cause my wife likes to cook.”

  “That’s right, I do, and you like to eat my cooking.” Grandma chuckled and poked Grandpa’s arm playfully. “I’ve had lots of practice over the years to perfect my cooking skills.”

  Grandpa forked a piece of ham into his mouth. “Mmm…this is so good. Don’t you think so, son?” he asked, looking at Luke as he took a bite of the bright red cherry and pineapple ring that had been on top of the glaze, adding flavor to the ham.

  Luke nodded.

  Susan pursed her lips. It wasn’t like Luke to be so quiet. Normally he was quite talkative during a meal. At least that’s how he’d been the last couple of months. He’d joined in the conversation early today, too, when everyone had opened their presents.

  Susan had been pleased to see how well Grandpa liked the chair she and Luke had picked out for him, and Grandma said she appreciated the Crock-Pot, sweater, and perfume the girls had given her, too. Luke had even made gifts for everyone—a “WELCOME TO OUR HOME” plaque for Grandma, a feeder for George the squirrel for Grandpa, and jewelry boxes for Anne and Susan, all of which he’d managed to make when no one was around. They’d given something to Luke as well: a nicely framed photograph of the four of them. Grandpa said it was so Luke could always remember them.

  Could Luke be thinking about his past—maybe wondering what he’d been doing last Christmas, and who he was with? If that’s what he was thinking, Susan couldn’t blame him. She’d be doing the same thing if she were in his situation. In fact, such questions would probably be constantly on her mind.

  Maybe Luke’s hoping for a Christmas miracle, Susan thought. Oh, I wish I could give him the gift of getting his memory back. If there were any extra miracles to be given, she hoped with all her heart that Luke would regain his past life.

  CHAPTER 7

  Ronks

  By the end of January, Meredith felt ready to announce her engagement but wanted Jonah to be with her. So they’d decided to have a joint family dinner where they could share their good news.

  Too bad Laurie and Kevin won’t be here, Meredith thought as she set the table. They’d left the first week of January for Missouri, where they were ministering to a Native American community. In Laurie’s last letter, she’d described how much she and Kevin were enjoying their life together and said that working with kids during several church events had made them eager to have children of their own. She’d also mentioned how good it felt to help the elderly with transportation to and from their doctors’ appointments.

  Meredith smiled. Laurie sounded happy and would be a wonderful mother someday. It would be nice for Levi to have a little cousin to play with, but they might not get to see each other much, with Laurie and Kevin going on missionary trips. Well, at least her son would have his uncles and aunts to shower him with attention, not to mention the love he would continue to get from his doting grandparents. Meredith’s siblings, especially the younger ones, loved spending time with Levi. In fact, Katie, Arlene, and Owen were keeping him entertained in the living room while she prepared dinner.

  “Is there anything I can do to help you?” Grandma Smucker asked.

  “No, thanks, Grandma. I told Mom a few minutes ago to relax in the living room with the kinner and that I had everything under control, so you ought to do the same.”

  Grandma slipped her arm around Meredith’s waist. “You look well rested and happier than I’ve seen you in a long time. Is there something going on we should know about?”

  Meredith’s face heated with embarrassment. Was her excitement really that obvious? “I’m just happy to be able to serve my family a nice meal this evening,” she said, avoiding her grandmother’s question.

  Grandma studied Meredith. “I notice you’re not wearing black today. It’s nice to see you in that blue dress.”

  Meredith glanced down at her dress and matching apron. “Luke has been gone a year now, Grandma, so it was t
ime for me to put my mourning clothes aside.”

  Grandma smiled with a knowing expression. “And it’s good to see that you’re moving on with your life.” Did she suspect that Meredith was planning to marry Jonah? The whole family probably suspected what was going on. After all, Jonah visited her a lot these days, and everyone knew they were courting. In any event, Meredith was confident that everyone would be happy for them and offer their blessings.

  As Jonah sat beside Meredith on one side of the Kings’ dining-room table that evening, his palms grew sweaty. When should I make the announcement? he wondered. Should I tell them during dinner while we’re eating? Or would it be better to wait till we’re eating dessert?

  Jonah felt like a silly schoolboy. How would he say it? He hadn’t even prepared a speech. Should he tell everyone, kids included, or should he and Meredith take their parents aside and only announce it to them for now?

  No, he decided. We should tell everyone at once. Maybe now would be a good time.

  Jonah cleared his throat and wiped his sweaty brow. A shiver ran through him. Why was he so nervous, for goodness’ sake?

  “Are you okay, Son?” Dad asked. “You look like you’re not feeling so well.”

  “I–I’m fine,” Jonah stammered.

  Meredith, as if sensing his predicament, tapped her water glass with her fork and said, “Jonah and I have an announcement to make.”

  All heads turned in their direction.

  She looked over at Jonah and gave him a reassuring smile, then she said in a clear tone, “Jonah asked me to marry him, and I said yes. We plan to get married in March.”

  Jonah held his breath, waiting for the response.

  “Congratulations!” the Kings and his parents said. “That’s great news,” Meredith’s father added. And the smiles around the table showed Jonah that everyone agreed.

  Darby

  “What a beautiful night for stargazing,” Susan said as she and Luke took seats on the Baileys’ back porch.

  “You’re right,” Luke murmured, staring up at the sky. “The sky’s so clear I can see most of the constellations.”

  They sat in quiet camaraderie for several minutes, and then Luke reached over and took Susan’s hand. She looked at him and smiled. He didn’t know why, but he felt like he’d done this before—maybe in his previous life with someone else. It was very disconcerting and seemed all too familiar. Maybe he was just remembering a few months back, when one evening he and Susan had watched for falling stars. They stayed that way awhile longer, then Luke shivered and said, “Sure is cold out tonight. It felt really cold like this before I got on the bus, too.”

  “What bus?” Susan questioned, tipping her head and staring at him.

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Just remember being cold and riding on a bus.” He groaned as he leaned forward and cradled his head in his hands. “This not being able to remember things about my past is nearly driving me crazy. It’s kind of like trying to put together a difficult jigsaw puzzle and nothing seems to fit.”

  “I know it has to be hard,” Susan said, gently squeezing his arm. “But you’re remembering a few more things all the time, like just now when you remembered getting on a bus.” She paused. “You had to be going somewhere, Luke, because you were found badly beaten in the Philadelphia bus station.”

  He lifted his head and offered her a weak smile. “I wonder what I did to make someone mad enough to beat me up.”

  “Maybe you didn’t do anything,” Susan said in a reassuring tone. “It might have been some maniac who just liked to push people around.” Her expression sobered. “Or maybe the person responsible for your injuries needed money, and when you said no, he beat you up and took your wallet. Remember, there was no wallet or any identification found on you, Luke.”

  He shook his head forcibly. “No, I don’t remember. If I did, I wouldn’t be here right now, trying to put the pieces of my life together.” Frustration welled in Luke’s chest, and he fought to keep his emotions in check.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,” she said. “I guess I didn’t word things quite right. What I meant to say was, remember what I told you the police said to those they spoke to at the hospital when they brought you in?”

  “Yeah, I know what you told me, but it’s not the same as me actually remembering what happened in that bus station.”

  “Luke, I have an idea.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Do you think it might help you remember if we went to the bus station where you were found?” she suggested.

  “I don’t know. Guess it’s worth a try.”

  “All right then, we’ll take a ride over there on my next day off.”

  Sometimes Luke couldn’t get over how sweet and accommodating Susan was. He was falling harder for her all the time and wished he could express his feelings. But that would have to wait until he knew for sure who he was and what had transpired in his past.

  CHAPTER 8

  Ronks

  When Meredith looked at the kitchen calendar on the second Monday of March, she couldn’t believe it. In just three days, she and Jonah would be married.

  A few weeks ago, Jonah had taken Meredith to see a farm he hoped to buy. He’d put money down on the place, and if all went well, the deal would close the day before their wedding. Jonah had put away sizeable savings from working in Ohio and then with his Dad. He’d wanted to use the money toward buying a place when the time came for him to marry. With Jonah’s job, plus the rent money they would receive from Meredith’s house, they should be able to live quite comfortably. Everything seemed to be falling into place, and she was almost sure that marrying Jonah was the right thing to do. Why then, did she feel a sense of apprehension this morning?

  Staring out the window, as her breath steamed the glass, Meredith looked beyond the yard and into the fields. She pictured the day a little over a year ago when she and Luke had been eating breakfast and talking about the business offer Luke had gotten from his uncle in Indiana.

  Meredith sighed, resting her forehead against the cool window, as she remembered how her suspicions had been true of being pregnant with her and Luke’s firstborn. With the window still fogged over from her warm breath, she drew a happy face with her finger. She had been blessed in so many aspects of her life. Looking up, she said a brief prayer of thanks for the time, however short, that she’d had with Luke, and now their most precious gift, little Levi.

  “Guder mariye,” Mom said, entering the kitchen. “Did you sleep well last night?”

  “Good morning,” Meredith replied, turning away from the window. “I slept okay. How about you?”

  “With your daed’s snoring and the incessant howling of the wind, I didn’t sleep so well,” Mom admitted.

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Mom yawned. “It’s okay; I’ll catch a catnap this afternoon and be good as new.”

  She moved across the room to the propane stove and picked up the teakettle. “Are you getting naerfich about the wedding?” she asked, filling the teakettle.

  “Not really nervous; just kind of anxious is all,” Meredith replied. “But I guess that’s to be expected when one is about to get married.”

  “Were you anxious before you married Luke?”

  “Not really. I was excited and couldn’t wait to be his bride.”

  Mom set the teakettle on the stove and moved to stand beside Meredith. “Are you sure you’re doing the right thing marrying Jonah?”

  Meredith stiffened. “I thought you liked Jonah and had given us your blessing.”

  “I do like him, and so does your daed. I’m just concerned that you might be rushing into things.”

  Meredith shook her head vigorously. “I’m not. Jonah will be a good husband to me, and an equally good daed to Levi.”

  “I’m sure that’s true, but if you’re feeling—”

  “I’ll be fine, really. It’s just a bit of pre-wedding jitters.”

  Bird-in-Hand


  “I think I ate too much,” Jonah said, pushing away from the table. “Danki, Mom, for fixing such a tasty breakfast.”

  “Jah,” Dad agreed. “The ham and eggs were real good.”

  Jonah rose to his feet and went to get the coffeepot. After he’d poured himself a second cup of coffee, he sat back down and listened as his folks talked about the buggy business and the strong March winds they’d been having.

  Leaning back in his chair, Jonah’s thoughts went to Meredith. In just a few days his dream of settling down with someone he loved would begin. Who knew that his teenage friend from years ago would one day become his bride? Meredith was everything he’d ever hoped for in a wife. He admired her parents and the close relationship they had, and looked forward to becoming part of that family as much as he longed for Meredith and Levi to be a part of his.

  Jonah smiled, thinking about the other night when he’d stopped by to see Meredith. He’d watched Levi sleeping soundly in his mother’s arms and felt overwhelmed with the love he had for that precious little boy. The deep abiding love he felt for Levi’s mother was something Jonah had only wished for before. Now it was a reality, and he felt confident that Meredith loved him, too. Maybe not in the same way she’d loved her first husband, but he was certain her feelings were genuine. Jonah looked forward to becoming a father, not only to Levi, but to any other children he and Meredith might be blessed with.

  “So what do you think, Son?” Mom asked, breaking into Jonah’s thoughts.

  Jonah jerked, nearly spilling his cup of coffee. “Uh—about what?”

  “About the weather,” Dad said before Mom could reply. “Do you think this awful wind we’ve been having will let up any time soon?”

  Jonah shrugged. “I have no idea, Dad. I wasn’t even thinkin’ about the weather.”

  Mom poked Jonah’s arm playfully. “That’s because your mind was someplace else, and I bet I know where. You were thinking about your upcoming wedding, am I right?”