A Reunion of Hearts Read online

  Becky waved to Ruth from where she was sitting next to her mother. All the chairs near them were taken, so Ruth chose one of the few empty chairs in the back row. As was customary, the men and boys were on one side of the room, the women and girls facing them on the other side, and the deacons and bishop were in the middle. The bride and groom were on the front rows, facing each other.

  Ruth was glad to be in the back when her eyes filled with tears. She hoped not too many people would notice. As Ben and Annie exchanged vows, she saw only her and Gideon. Two people madly in love, light-years away from tragedy and heartbreak.

  Thunder boomed outside as rain pelted the tin roof. Ruth had always heard that rain at a wedding was good luck and symbolized fertility and cleansing, and if there was a rainbow afterward, the union would be blessed with happiness. She prayed that Ben and Annie would have a good marriage and life together, a union blessed by God that would last forever. Ruth remembered the rain when she married Gideon. There was lots of rain, but no rainbow when the storm was over. She’d been blessed with happiness, but not for nearly as long as she’d hoped.

  A minute later, tears were streaming down her face. She dabbed at them with a tissue before she made her way to the kitchen. A few women hurried around putting finishing touches on the food. She kept her head down as she swept through them and went out to the porch.

  She covered her face and sobbed, wishing she hadn’t come. But she’d known Ben and Annie her entire life. It would have been wrong to miss their special day. For all her steps forward, there were still steps backward, tender spots in her heart that would take longer to heal.

  After allowing herself a good cry, she uncovered her face and sniffled. It was pouring now, and she stepped closer to the house to avoid the spray of water as the wind pushed the rain sideways and underneath the porch awning. She went around the corner to the front porch where an even larger spray of water blew under the rafters, soaking most of her dress.

  Ruth was almost at the door when she thought she heard someone call her name. In the distance, she saw a man. He was standing in the middle of the yard staring at her. Ruth didn’t recognize him with the downpour of water between them. She quickly swiped at her eyes so she wouldn’t be caught crying by a late guest. The man took a few steps toward her, and Ruth would recognize that gait anywhere. Gideon.

  Of course Annie and Ben would invite Gideon to the wedding. He had grown up with them too. But Ruth never considered the possibility that he might attend after his abrupt departure.

  She strained to see his truck, but there wasn’t a vehicle in sight. She went weak in the knees, but it didn’t stop her feet from moving toward him. She was soaked immediately, but her pace picked up until she was right in front of him.

  “What are you doing here?” Ruth’s teeth chattered. It was warm for October, but cool enough that being drenched caused her to shake. Or was it Gideon causing her to tremble? “You missed the wedding.”

  “I know.” He was breathless. “I ran most of the way here after my truck broke down on Lincoln Highway.”

  Ruth just stared at him, at a loss for words. As they stood in the rain, soaking wet, Ruth couldn’t move. She was afraid she’d lose the moment, the look on Gideon’s face, the way his eyes blazed with a passion she remembered well. But there was something different about his expression now, more determined.

  “I’ve spent so much time thinking about how we’re different people from who we used to be and how we can’t move forward together.” Rainwater poured down Gideon’s face, but he didn’t flinch. “We had to move backward before we could go forward as new and better people.” He shrugged. “Did we handle things the best way that we could? Probably not. But we lost a child. And we lost each other along the way. But the differences in our lives were more about what we had to face within ourselves. The people we were, the core of our souls never left us. We just had to find our way back. We both faced the challenges of a new life in the English world while grief gnawed at us from the inside. But we’re different in other ways too.”

  He took a step closer to her and put his hand over his heart. “We’re better. We’ve found ways to cope with our grief, and we’ve stayed in touch with God.” He pounded his fist lightly against his chest. “And inside, I am still the man you married, who fell in love with you, who had a child with you. I love you now just as much as I did then.” He shook his head. The rain was slowing. “I don’t want anyone else. I don’t love anyone else. I love you, Ruth.”

  Ruth blinked as she fought to control her tears, her heart pounding against the wall of her chest. Her face was so wet from rain that she barely noticed the tears pouring down her cheeks as Gideon latched his hands onto her shoulders.

  “So, Ruth Marie Beiler, will you be my wife again, to love and cherish forever? I know we might need to ease into things, but I know I love you.”

  She nodded and held on to him tightly when he pulled her into a hug. They stayed in each other’s arms for a while. The rain had stopped when he eased her away.

  Ruth couldn’t hold back the flow of tears as she nodded. “I’d like that.”

  Gideon kissed her with all the passion she remembered. “I leib you,” he whispered in her ear as he held her.

  “I leib you too.” Saying it in Deitsch sounded as natural as being in Gideon’s arms. She smiled when she saw a rainbow behind him. “Look.”

  Would blessings and happiness follow Ben and Annie on their wedding day and forever? Or was the colorful display God’s way of saying He was giving Ruth and Gideon another chance? Either way, she silently thanked God for this day, for this moment. She prayed she and Gideon would face the future together, no matter what it held for them, and that they would continue to pull their strength from God and each other.

  “Now, that’s what I call a reunion!”

  Ruth spun around just in time to see Esther lowering her hands from her mouth, evidently the person who yelled. She was surrounded by at least a dozen others who all began to clap.

  Ruth turned back around to face her husband.

  Thank you, Gott.

  EPILOGUE

  Beatrice Grace Stoltzfus was born three months later, and as Ruth held the tiny bundle in her arms, she could feel Grace smiling from heaven.

  “She’s beautiful.” Ruth gazed upon her new niece. She’d waited until Amos left, along with Becky and the midwife, and even her parents before she entered the bedroom. “I’m so glad I’m able to be here this time.” She looked up at her sister and grinned. “Becky got her wish for a girl.”

  “Ya. I didn’t want her to run away from home.” Esther smiled. “And I can already see the bishop baptizing her as Beatrice, but Amos decided we should call her Bea. Becky didn’t care for that idea, but we’re compromising. I remember you telling us what the name meant. I had to talk Amos into it a little, but he said he’ll get used to having a daughter named Beatrice.” She paused to take a deep breath. “This one was easier than Becky, but it still wasn’t a picnic.” Her sister lay a hand across her stomach.

  “Well, I hope my second pregnancy will be easier too.” Ruth smiled before she kissed Beatrice on the forehead, then she looked up at Esther, whose mouth was agape.

  “I know. We were as shocked as you are. It took so long for me to get pregnant with Grace that we didn’t see another child in our future.”

  “Gott is good,” Esther said softly. “What a beautiful miracle He blessed you with after all you’ve been through.”

  “But we’re going through it all together this time.”

  As Ruth thought about their journey, she was confident about her statement. She and Gideon had dated for a month, then they held a small ceremony to renew their vows. She and Gideon had been living in their home for almost two months as husband and wife. It wasn’t without adjustments, some serious, some funny.

  Gideon walked in his sleep now, which unraveled Ruth every time she heard him up and around during the night. Gideon said Ruth snored now, which she con
tinued to deny. Changing Grace’s room had been heartbreaking, and they’d argued a little about what to do with it. They agreed to leave it alone, but when they found out Ruth was pregnant, they tackled the project with a combination of bittersweet joy and sadness. Together it represented hope and faith.

  As Ruth gazed at her sister, she thanked God again for His many blessings. Then she chuckled.

  “I hope Becky won’t be mad if we don’t name a baby Beatrice too.” Ruth chuckled.

  “She’s going to be beside herself excited and happy.” Esther found Ruth’s free hand and squeezed. “We don’t always understand Gott’s plan, but He never forsakes us.”

  Ruth handed tiny Beatrice back to her mother and smoothed the wrinkles from her black apron. “Ya. I know. I’ll never forget Grace. She is in my heart forever. I was blessed to have her for ten years, and that’s how I choose to think about it. I didn’t lose her after ten years, I was blessed to have her for ten years.”

  “I’m so happy for you.” A tear rolled down Esther’s cheek, still rosy with exhaustion.

  “I need to go talk to Becky and tell her the news.” Ruth tapped a finger to her chin. “But first, there is one more thing I need to tell you.”

  Esther raised an eyebrow.

  “Becky may actually need to help us pick out two names.” Ruth’s eyes welled with happiness as her sister’s jaw dropped again. “The midwife thinks it could be twins, but it’s too early to know for sure.”

  Esther was in the middle of congratulating Ruth when a loud squeal came from the den. Ruth went to the closed door and peeked out to see Amos, their parents, the midwife, and other family members watching an excited Becky as she hugged Gideon. Ruth looked back to her sister. “Ach, well, someone beat me to it. Gideon must have told Becky and the rest of them.”

  Ruth smiled at her husband as Becky jumped up and down, then finally turned around and waved to Ruth. Her niece cupped her mouth with her hands and yelled, “I can already think of so many names!”

  Esther chuckled. “Oh, dear. I wonder what she’ll come up with.”

  Ruth gazed at her husband and niece, thanking the Lord again for an abundance of peace, happiness, and hope for the future. She turned back to Esther again, closing the door behind her. “I’m sure we’ll all settle on gut names.”

  “Ha. That’s what you think. She’s already mentioned Myrtle and Hilda for my future babies. She might suggest those for yours.”

  Ruth rested a hand on her stomach. “I have a funny feeling we are having boys.”

  Giggling, Esther rolled her eyes. “Our Becky has boy names picked out too. I’m hoping she outgrows this obsession with odd names that aren’t common to our people.”

  “I’m afraid to ask what boy names she has in mind.” Ruth winked at her sister. “But those names will be for your future kinner, I’m sure.”

  “She has six boy names. I’m sure I’m not having six boys.” She pushed her lips into a pout. “Well, I guess I can’t be sure about that. Amos is hoping for a lot of boys.”

  Ruth walked to the bed and kissed baby Beatrice on the cheek. “Be well, little one.” Then she kissed her sister on the forehead. “Well done. She’s beautiful.” Standing, she took a deep breath. “Now, I’m going home with my husband, and we thought we’d take our niece for a while so her mother can rest.”

  Esther nodded, then locked eyes with Ruth. “Gott is good, isn’t He?” Esther said again.

  “In so many ways.” Ruth blew Esther a kiss and opened the door that led to her husband and niece.

  Husband. It was a word she would never tire of saying. She thanked Gott for gifting her with more children and for this second chance at happiness with Gideon. She paused before stepping over the threshold and closed her eyes.

  I love you, Grace. Always and forever.

  In her mind, she heard “I love you too, Mamm,” and she smiled.

  Everything was going to be okay. Better than okay.

  Blessed.

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1.The loss of a loved one at any age is difficult, but especially when a child dies. Statistically, grief often causes the parents to split up. Has this happened to you or to anyone you know? Did the couple reunite or remain separated?

  2.What do you think would have happened if Gideon and Ruth had stayed together? Or what might the outcome have been if they had returned home sooner? Did they possibly need their time apart in an effort for each of them to heal before they were able to console each other?

  3.At the end of the story, I could almost see Grace smiling down on her parents. Did you have a sense of Grace’s presence throughout the novella? If so, what were some of the recollections and memories that led you to feel like you knew Grace?

  4.Ruth and Gideon both returned home to face people and painful situations they had avoided. But, in the end, it is people and situations that ultimately help them to continue the healing process. What are some examples of this?

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This was a difficult story to write, but one that God placed upon my heart. Much thanks to my publishing team at HarperCollins Christian Fiction. Special thanks to my editor, Kimberly Carlton, for encouraging me to go deeper with this novella. Your keen insight about the importance of a story like this led me to push myself harder in an effort to get it right. I always pray that my stories get into the hands of the right people, and it’s especially true with this novella.

  Raelyn, you are forever missed, but I felt your presence as I wrote about Grace and her family. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey. Dance with the angels, sweet girl, and save some Jelly Belly jellybeans for me!

  To Natasha Kern, my agent, you knew this would be a challenging story for me to tackle. Thank you for understanding how personal this novella is to me. And, of course, you continue to rock as my agent and dear friend. I’m blessed to have you in my life.

  To my family and friends, what an amazing ride this continues to be. Thank you for supporting me and loving me.

  And to God the Father, thank You for all that You are in my life.

  Read more from the Amish Reunion collection!

  Available as an e-book

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Photo by Emilie Hendryx

  Bestselling and award-winning author Beth Wiseman has sold over two million books. She is the recipient of the coveted Holt Medallion, a two-time Carol Award winner, and has won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award three times. Her books have been on various bestseller lists, including CBD, CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly. Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying country life in south central Texas.

  Visit her online at BethWiseman.com

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