Going to sit on the wooden bench at the long table, Lena felt the disappointment deeply, but she also knew what the Lord wanted her to do. I’ll need to write a different letter to Aunt Mary, declining and asking her to thank Darlene for thinking of me. For now, Mimi must come first. . . .
After supper, as twilight tiptoed near, Lena strolled out to sit on Mimi’s old prayer bench, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders against the springtime chill. The sounds of horses and buggies on the road out front, and people talking as they passed by, continued toward sundown as Lena sat there. She stared at the broom she’d used earlier to sweep off the walkway, having left it out by mistake. Biting her lip, she wished she could just burrow away inside the nearby potting shed, close the door, and cry without being heard.
Hadn’t she prayed enough? She’d tried so hard to be patient as her relatives and the brethren worked out a way for her to return home, and now she could not even accept the first real opportunity she’d had.
The longer Lena sat there, the more frustrated she became. Her neck muscles were in knots, as was her stomach. She had not known that a person could go from such happiness to frustration within such a short span of time.
At last, she began to pray. O Lord, I give up. It’s just not working out the way I’d planned. She sniffled, holding back tears. I surrender my longings for home . . . every last hope and dream of returning. She paused for a moment, then, bowing her head in humility, she added, If I’m to return, it will have to be up to Thee, O Lord. Amen.
Sighing deeply, she felt a gentle breeze drift over her, like what Mimi described as the presence of the Holy Spirit. Lena felt the rigidity begin to leave her neck and shoulders, and she let her hands rest on the prayer bench on either side of her. I’m at peace, she thought. Whatever happens now is God’s will . . . and in His time.
CHAPTER
30
Harley had just returned from Manny and Arden’s shop, where he’d discussed the possibility of building on a smaller addition to the house for Solomon to move to eventually. Harley wanted to involve Manny as much and as early as possible, so he was getting the ball rolling with some initial conversation.
Presently, he sat down on the front porch overlooking the road and fields beyond. He thanked the Lord above for sparing his wife’s life, mighty grateful the doctors had acted so quickly.
He was encouraged by Mimi’s brave attempts now at becoming more mobile following the surgery—she was stiff and sore from the long incision, which impaired her ability to do the things she wanted. Still, she was far enough along to come home, and he could hardly wait for tomorrow afternoon’s discharge from the hospital.
Harley had actually thought of going around the backyard to sit on his dear wife’s prayer bench but didn’t want to encounter anyone coming or going. He wanted a few moments of complete solitude, enjoying the sound of the birds calling as they flew back and forth amongst the trees.
He hoped Mimi would still get the rest she needed once home. She’d inquired today for the umpteenth time about her sewing work, and Harley had been glad to let her know that Tessa planned to keep working with Lena Rose. Considering everything, Lena Rose had definitely been stretched thin. Thankfully, Lena’s burden had been made easier by a good many of the womenfolk, including Lydia Smucker and her mother, Fannie, who had stopped by with prepared food. There had been almost too much food coming into the house, although they had shared it with Solomon and Eli.
Regarding Tessa and Lena, he had no inkling how they were getting along—his younger daughter had always seemed standoffish toward Lena Rose. Even so, the fact that Tessa wanted to help, as well as the fact that she’d been spending time with Mimi, was mighty encouraging.
As of yet, Manny had not come around to the house for a visit on his own, though Harley had stressed several times lately that the door was always open. Of course now, with Mimi’s long recovery ahead, it would probably be a while longer. Even so, Harley knew it was only right to keep offering the hand of fellowship, attempting some sort of civil association. A relationship more like the ones with my other in-laws, he thought.
Stretching his arms high over his head, Harley drank in the warm, humid air and looked forward to Mimi’s feeling strong once again. His loving wife had maintained her sweet spirit in spite of this painful trial. And what fierce determination she had!
He thought of Lena Rose’s earnest desire to return to her siblings and realized that she, too, had that same admirable grit. Selfishly speaking, it would have been a bittersweet day for Mimi, and for him, too, if Lena had accepted the job as a mother’s helper back home. Lena had shared with him about it at supper yesterday. She turned it down to help Mimi through her recovery, he thought, more thankful than ever for the young woman the Lord had brought into their lives.
Getting up just then, Harley walked back around the house to assess the pasture fencing. Later, he would mow the yard, a chore Mimi or Lena Rose would normally do, but with everything else Lena Rose had to do, Harley didn’t mind temporarily taking on women’s work. Even Solomon had offered to help with something, but his uncle wasn’t in any shape to be walking behind a push mower.
Ada had mentioned coming over in the evenings when her husband was able to stay with the children. She also intended to keep Joey
