A VOW for ALWAYS Page 7

  When Luke was about to leave the restroom a short time later, he stepped up to the sink to wash his hands. He took a quick look in the mirror, and more memories came flooding back. He remembered going to the restroom at the bus station in Philadelphia and seeing a rugged-looking man approach him. The fellow had asked for Luke’s clothing and then his wallet. That was the guy who had assaulted him and put him through months of pain and rehab. In those few minutes, Luke’s life had changed. The only thing good that had come from the attack was the new friends he had made during his recovery.

  I wonder where the attacker is now? Luke thought. Guess I really don’t need to know, now that I’m finally heading home.

  Bird-in-Hand

  “What are ya doin’ out of bed?” Elam asked Sadie as she stood in front of their bedroom window, staring into the darkness.

  “I couldn’t sleep,” she replied, turning to face him.

  “How come?”

  “I was remembering the day Luke and Meredith got married. It wasn’t that long ago, but it seems like forever.”

  Elam stepped up to Sadie and slipped his arms around her waist. “It’s hard not to look back and remember our youngest child’s wedding day. Especially since this is the eve of Meredith and Jonah’s wedding.”

  “Jah. Levi is a part of our Luke, and I know Meredith and Jonah will make sure Levi knows his father, even though he never had the opportunity to meet him.”

  “Meredith and Levi are lucky to have Jonah in their lives.” Elam paused. “I’ve seen with my own eyes how Levi looks at Jonah and wants to be held by him.”

  “You’re right. It’s hard not to see and hear the love Jonah has for Meredith and Levi.” Sadie sighed. “It couldn’t have been easy for Jonah to come here and approach me about his feelings for Meredith and Levi some months ago, but I saw right then that Jonah was a sincere, genuine person. How could I fault him for loving Meredith, or deny her and Levi the happiness they deserve?”

  Elam gave her a hug. “Luke would be happy to know that his wife and son will be well taken care of. Tomorrow, when we go to the wedding, let’s make sure we let them know how happy we are for them, okay?”

  Sadie nodded and leaned into her husband’s embrace. For the first time in a long while, she felt a true sense of peace—like everything was right in the world.

  CHAPTER 11

  Ronks

  Lying in bed that night, Meredith was having a hard time falling asleep. Was it the anticipation of tomorrow? Was it from all the week’s activities? Her whole family was exhausted, but everything was ready for tomorrow.

  So why wasn’t she asleep? Was she getting cold feet? She didn’t remember feeling this way the night before she and Luke got married.

  “Stop it,” Meredith murmured into the darkness of her room. “I can’t compare the way things were with Luke to how they are now; it wouldn’t be fair to Jonah.”

  But could she extract Luke from her heart, even now on the eve of her marriage to Jonah, and go forward? While Meredith wouldn’t admit it to Jonah, deep down, she knew she’d never love another man like she had Luke.

  After what seemed like hours, she felt her eyelids growing heavy. Please Lord, she silently prayed. Please let this be right, and help me not to be afraid.

  Afraid of what? she asked herself. She knew the answer but couldn’t say it out loud. You’re afraid of making the wrong decision.

  She rolled over and punched her pillow. I will not let my doubts get in the way of my happiness—or Levi’s. Tomorrow morning I will marry Jonah, and that’s the end of it.

  Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

  The ride to Lancaster went faster than Luke imagined it would. As they got closer, Henry and Norma became more talkative. Listening to them gave Luke a reprieve from practicing what he would say to Meredith. He still didn’t know how he would explain everything.

  Soon, they were pulling into the driveway. “This is my house,” Luke said, opening the car door and getting out. He could hardly believe it, but he was finally home!

  “After I speak to Meredith, I’d like you to come in and meet her,” Luke said, leaning in the open window of the driver’s side.

  “Take all the time you need,” Henry assured him.

  Norma and Susan nodded their agreement.

  Luke didn’t want to scare Meredith, so he knocked softly on the door. Even so, he expected to hear Fritz bark, like he always did when someone came up to the house.

  He was surprised, when a middle-aged English man answered the door.

  “Can I help you, sir? Are you lost?” the man asked, looking at Luke with a dubious expression.

  “Uh, no, I don’t think so. This is my home.”

  The Englisher shook his head. “My wife and I have been renting this place for a couple of months, so you must have the wrong house.”

  Luke was completely baffled. Why would Meredith rent out their house, and where was she now? Something wasn’t right. Maybe he did have the wrong house. He quickly thanked the man and headed back to Susan’s car.

  “My memory must not be as clear as I thought it was,” he said, opening the car door. “I’ve gotta be at the wrong house.”

  “When we pulled in, you said this was your home,” Susan said.

  “It’s the middle of the night,” Norma interjected. “Luke, maybe you mistook the place for your own.” She motioned to the house. “We saw you talking to a man. What’d he say?”

  “Said he and his wife are renting the place.”

  “Now what? Where do we go from here?” Susan questioned.

  With the dome light on in the car, Luke could see how tired she looked.

  “Let’s head up the road a ways,” he said, getting back into the car. “My folks don’t live too far from here. At least, I’m pretty sure this is the road their place is on.”

  After they’d driven past a few homes, Luke pointed to a mailbox up ahead. Susan pulled over, and Luke got out. It was hard to see in the dark, but using the flashlight Henry had brought along, he was able to see the name on the mailbox: STOLTZFUS.

  It was after midnight, and Luke was anxious to see his folks. He didn’t want to scare them, yet by the time he got to the door, he was almost desperate. He needed to see someone from his old life—family, friend, anyone.

  Luke removed his ball cap and pounded on the door.

  After a few minutes, his dad answered. He looked at Luke as if he were a complete stranger.

  “Oh, Dad, it’s so good to be home.” Luke could hardly hold back from throwing himself into his father’s arms. He needed to be held, comforted as if he were a little boy again.

  Dad pointed the flashlight he was holding at Luke and said, “Who are you?”

  “It’s me, Luke.” Luke knew his voice had taken on a raspy sound from the injury he’d sustained when he was hit in the throat by the mugger, but he was sure his own father would know it was him.

  “You’re not Luke. Who are you, and what kind of a trick are you playin’ on me? My son is dead.”

  “I’m not dead, Dad. It’s really me—your son Luke. I was beat up real bad at the bus station in Philadelphia, and I didn’t know who I was until recently.” Luke stood, squeezing the red ball cap in his hands.

  Dad took a step closer to Luke, studying his face. “Ach!” he shouted, with a catch in his voice. “You’ve got turquoise eyes just like my son.”

  “That’s right, Dad. I do have turquoise eyes, and I’m telling the truth. I am Luke Stoltzfus, and I’m very much alive.”

  Dad’s eyes widened as though seeing a ghost. Finally, he reached out and grabbed Luke in a hug.

  From behind his father, Luke heard a gasp. Mom stepped onto the porch, threw her arms around Luke, and sobbed. “Praise be to God! Our son has been brought back to us!”

  “I can’t believe I’m sitting here in my kitchen with my son and husband on one side of me and the wonderful people who took my boy in and nursed him back to health on the other side,” Sadie said, dabbin
g at her tears. “It’s a miracle beyond belief.” She could hardly pull herself away from touching Luke’s arm and making sure this was real. Luke was really sitting beside her.

  For the last hour, they had listened as their son told of his ordeal—getting mugged, never making it to Indiana, and being in the hospital all those months with no memory of who he was. Susan, Luke’s nurse, explained about the surgeries he’d had and the weeks of rehab in the hospital and as an outpatient.

  Sadie quickly realized that Luke had been in good hands, treated as if he were part of the Baileys’ family. She and Elam owed them a debt of gratitude for taking such good care of their son.

  Then Sadie and Elam explained to Luke what they had endured since he’d left. They said the bus he was supposed to have been on had crashed and that all the bodies were burned in the collision.

  Henry remarked that the mugger who’d assaulted Luke at the bus depot may have died on that bus, since he’d taken Luke’s clothes and his wallet, which held Luke’s bus ticket to Indiana.

  Elam described the memorial service for Luke and how everyone in their Amish community had grieved, especially Meredith.

  Luke nearly jumped out of his chair. “Meredith thinks I’m dead?”

  Sadie nodded. “We all thought that, Luke.”

  “Oh, no,” Luke groaned. “I went to my house to see Meredith and was greeted by an English man who said he and his wife were renting the place. Did Meredith move out after she got the news that I was dead?”

  Elam shook his head. “Not right away. She had a hard time financially and has been living with her folks for the last couple of months.”

  Sadie clasped Elam’s arm and mouthed something Luke couldn’t understand.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” he asked. “Is Meredith all right?”

  Sadie swallowed hard. “Do you want to tell him, or should I?” she asked, looking solemnly at Elam.

  He shrugged. “Whatever you think’s best.”

  Sadie moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “A few hours from now, Meredith plans to be married.”

  Luke’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean, Mom? She’s already married—to me.”

  Sadie drew in a quick breath and started again. “As we said, Luke, Meredith believed you were dead, and she grieved for many months until a man named Jonah Miller came into her life. Now she’s—”

  “Meredith’s planning to marry this man?” Luke shouted.

  Elam and Sadie nodded. She glanced over at the Baileys and could see the shocked expressions on their faces.

  “Luke, you’d better get over to the Kings’ place right away,” Dad said. “You’ve got to tell Meredith you’re alive!”

  CHAPTER 12

  Luke couldn’t believe it. Meredith, believing him dead, was on the brink of marrying another man and starting a new life with him. Even though it was the wee hours of the morning, he had to get to his wife!

  Dad offered to hitch his horse to the buggy and take Luke to the Kings’ house, but Susan said she would take Luke, as it would be faster by car.

  Luke’s mother had insisted the Baileys stay with them for the night, and his dad was quick to agree. So while Norma and Henry were shown to their room, Luke and Susan headed to the Kings’ place.

  Luke was excited to let Meredith know he was alive, yet he was fearful of her response. What if Meredith loves Jonah now? What if she loves him more than me?

  When they arrived at Philip and Luann’s place, Susan said, “Luke, there’s something I need to say.”

  “What’s that?” he asked, turning to look at her.

  “I want you to know that I’m happy for you—happy that you’re getting your life back.”

  Luke was tempted to give Susan a hug but thought better of it. Instead, he touched her arm and said, “Thanks, Susan. You’ve become a good friend, and that means a lot to me.”

  She smiled and motioned to the house. “You’d better go now. I’ll see you before we head back to Darby.”

  Luke hesitated a moment, then he opened the car door, raced up to the house, and pounded on the door with all his might. “Wake up! Somebody, please answer the door!”

  Was she dreaming, or was it time to get up already? Meredith felt like she’d just fallen asleep.

  It couldn’t be her wedding day already, could it?

  Someone was pounding on the front door. Had there been an accident? Did a neighbor need help? Was there a fire somewhere?

  She quickly got up when she heard her parents heading down the stairs. Her brain was still fuzzy from waking out of a deep sleep, but Meredith was alert enough to check on Levi. Oblivious to all the noise, her son was sound asleep under his warm blanket.

  Meredith slipped into her robe and looked out the window. She couldn’t see any blinking lights or flames in the distance. Fritz was whining and waiting for her in the hallway.

  Meredith walked to the head of the stairs and went down quietly, as her parents had done minutes ago. She saw them standing at the doorway, but no one was saying anything.

  “Mom…Dad,” Meredith said. “What is it? Who’s at the door?”

  Her parents turned to face her with unreadable expressions on their faces. Fritz started barking, his tail wagging.

  Meredith looked beyond them. A young man stood on the porch. He looked English, right down to the red ball cap he wore on his head. For a fleeting moment, the image of the guy in the hot air balloon she’d seen several months ago crossed her mind. Silly to be thinking of him at this moment, she thought.

  “What’s going on?” Meredith asked, reaching down to grab Fritz’s collar.

  The young English man hesitated then stepped in front of her.

  She clasped her robe tightly, watching as the man removed his ball cap. His hair was short and very blond. She’d never seen hair that blond before, except on Luke.

  “Meredith,” he said in a raspy voice, “it’s me—your husband, Luke.”

  The ringing in Meredith’s ears and Fritz’s frantic barking blocked out all other sounds. She glanced quickly at her parents and then looked back at the young man. All she saw was some guy who didn’t look or sound like her husband, proclaiming that he was Luke. Who was this man, and why was he playing such a cruel joke?

  Speechless, Meredith looked long and hard at the blond-haired man, and that’s when she noticed the color of his eyes. Deep turquoise. Her eyes widened, as realization slowly hit—it truly was her husband, Luke. She tried to fight the dark veil of blackness as it came over her from some far-off place. The last thing Meredith remembered was the sensation of being scooped up and looking into those beautiful eyes she’d thought she’d never see again.

  “Merrie, wake up!”

  What a wonderful sound! She had to be waking up from a dream. Meredith reached out, following the voice. Although a little different, she was sure now that it was indeed her husband’s voice.

  Slowly she opened her eyes and gazed into the pool of blue that was looking back at her.

  Luke had carried her to the sofa and held her in his lap as she came to from her fainting spell.

  “How are you feeling, Merrie?” Luke smiled, running his fingers gently over her face.

  Meredith smiled back, knowing this was not a dream. No one but Luke had ever called her Merrie. It was like music to her ears.

  She sat up quickly, and the most wonderful, euphoric feeling—something she hadn’t felt in what seemed like eons—filled her spirit and bubbled over. “Luke, oh Luke! I thought you were dead.” Meredith went into her husband’s arms and didn’t care if she stayed there forever. It felt wonderful being in Luke’s warm embrace; she held him so tightly she could hardly breathe.

  “Everything’s going to be all right now, Merrie.” Luke murmured as he held on just as tight.

  Meredith leaned back and held on to his precious face, looking into those brilliant eyes. She thought of Psalm 30:11: “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, a
nd girded me with gladness.” Yes, God had certainly turned her mourning into gladness today.

  “I don’t know where to begin,” she said softly.

  “Neither do I,” he whispered against her ear. As Luke held Meredith’s hand, he relayed to her all that had transpired: the assault at the bus station; his memory loss, surgeries, and rehabilitation; and the time spent with the Baileys. Luke also mentioned how the Baileys, all except for Anne, had driven him home all the way from Darby.

  Meredith leaned into Luke’s hand as he gently cupped her face. “I’d like to meet them.”

  “You will,” he assured her.

  Meredith shed tears, hearing what Luke had gone through, but now she had something wonderful she wanted to share with her husband. Something she knew would erase the weeks and months of pain they’d both endured.

  Before she could voice the words, Luke lifted her chin so she was looking into his eyes and said, “Meredith, I need to ask your forgiveness for the things I said to you before leaving on my trip.”

  She sniffed deeply. “I forgive you, but I need to apologize for my part in the disagreements we had, as well.”

  “No more regrets,” he told her. “It’s just you and me now, and we have our whole lives before us. We can start over with a clean slate.”

  “It’s not just you and me anymore,” Meredith said, feeling so happy she thought she’d burst. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” She reached for Luke’s hand. “Come with me to my room.”

  When they entered Meredith’s bedroom, she led Luke over to the crib that held her precious surprise. She watched Luke’s expression as he looked from Meredith to the little angel sleeping soundly while sucking his thumb.

  “Luke,” she whispered, “meet your son, Levi.”

  Luke drew in a sharp breath. His face broke into a wide smile. “We have a little bu?”

  She nodded. “I suspected I was pregnant before you left on the bus, but I didn’t want to tell you until I knew for sure. I was planning to give you the news as soon as you returned from Indiana.” Her voice faltered. “Of course that never happened.”