Bride of Second Chances Page 20

  His hands trembled as he blinked back his tears and read her last words.

  My dearest Jeremy,

  I suspect this is the last time I’ll write to you. I tried to tell you on several occasions what’s been pressing on my heart, but every time I mention the possibility I won’t keep living, you stop me. I know you don’t want to think of it. We had dreams of children and grandchildren. The day we married and you etched our names into the tree to show them is my most cherished memory. The time granted us was brief but wonderful. I couldn’t have asked for a better husband. I thank God every day for you.

  I want you to be happy, my love. I hope you’ll continue to dream of children and grandchildren. I want that for you. I know you’ll grieve my passing for a season, but once the season is done, my prayer is that you’ll marry again. What I couldn’t give you, I hope another will. As I write this, I keep thinking of Jane. If she hasn’t found a husband by the time you’re ready, I hope you’ll consider marrying her. She’ll be good to you.

  I love you, Jeremy.

  With all my heart,

  Rebecca

  This time he didn’t stop his tears. Of all the things Rebecca did for him, the letter was the best gift he ever received. He tucked the letter into the journal and placed it into the box. After he put the lid back on the box, he set it aside to pack. Before he tackled packing, he decided he should pay Rebecca a visit.

  He left the house and collected the wildflowers that grew along the path that went to the cemetery. The walk to Rebecca’s grave didn’t weigh him down this time. There was still the sorrow he’d gotten used to, but underneath it was a sense of relief.

  When he reached her grave, he removed a couple of weeds from around the headstone and set the flowers in front of it. “It’s been awhile since I last came here, but it wasn’t until today that I found the letter you wrote me in your journal.” Swallowing the lump in his throat, he smiled and touched the headstone. “Thank you, Rebecca. You have no idea how much it means to me…or maybe you do.”

  He waited for the urge to cry to pass before he continued.

  “Jane and I are expecting a child this September. We talked about names and think Rebecca would suit, should we have a girl. I’ll show your nieces and nephews your journal so they’ll know how wonderful you were. I’m afraid I can’t take them here to see you. I’ll be going to South Dakota to minister a church in a small town. I expect this to be for the rest of my life, so I don’t think I’ll be coming back. But some day, when my time comes, I’ll see you again. I love you.”

  He remained beside her grave for another few minutes before he stood and returned home. His steps were light, and he was content with knowing Rebecca was happy that he found love with her sister. It was one of the most freeing moments he’d ever experienced, and he was ready to fully embrace the future that loomed before him.

  ***

  When Jane came home from buying a few grocery items, she was surprised that Jeremy rushed to greet her in the entryway. He took the groceries from her and kissed her.

  “I have good news,” he said with a wide smile on his face. “We’ll be moving to South Dakota.”

  “We will?” she gasped. “When?”

  “In July.”

  “That’s wonderful!”

  “I thought you’d be excited.”

  She followed him into the kitchen. “I’ll write to Lucy and Eliza and let them know.”

  “I already did.”

  “You did?”

  Shrugging, he put the groceries on the table. “I waited for you, but you took so long in coming that I decided to make good use of my time.”

  “I’m sorry. I ran into Gerdy at the general store. She came to town to visit a couple of friends.”

  “That’s fine. I’m not complaining, though it was hard to wait since I wanted to see your face when you found out.”

  She helped him put the food away and grinned. “Was it worth the wait?”

  “It was. You look so beautiful when you’re surprised.”

  “If you say so…” She put the flour sack on the shelf and put the grocery sack away. “This will be a good change, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, and it’ll be nice to make up for lost time with my mother. But even better is knowing you’ll be with me.” He took her hand and kissed it, sending a thrill through her. “It’s a nice day. Would you like to go for a walk? Maybe we’ll see some squirrels playing around the trees?”

  “I’d like that.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a light squeeze. “How are you feeling?”

  She brought her hands to her belly where she was beginning to show in her fifth month. “I’m good. It’s exciting now that I can feel the baby move. Lucy was right. It’s one of the best experiences in the world.”

  He led her to the front door and opened it. “I don’t know. You’ll have to go through childbirth. I don’t think I could handle it. Women are definitely stronger than men.”

  She stepped through the doorway and he followed before he shut the door. He took her hand, and they strolled down the path that she came to associate with him and all the walks they’d enjoyed over the past few months.

  “I’m going to miss walking through here,” she said, motioning to the trees lining their path.

  “We’ll find another path to go down in South Dakota.”

  A squirrel ran up a nearby tree, and she smiled. “And they’ll have squirrels to entertain us, I’m sure.”

  “I’m sure. We’ll have lots of new memories to make up there. We have the future waiting for us, and I’m looking forward to each and every day with you.”

  She stopped and took a good look at him, noting the carefree smile on his face and the spark in his eyes.

  He halted and turned to her. “What is it?”

  “Well, you…” Uncertain, she continued, “You’re looking to the future.”

  “Yes.”

  Since he waited for her to speak, she shrugged. “I don’t know. I suppose it’s strange because I can’t remember the last time you seemed so certain about the future. You usually say you hope or want the future to be a certain way, but from what you just said, you imply it’s a sure thing.”

  With a chuckle, he took her in his arms and kissed her. “You’re right. I haven’t talked like this in a long time. But I’m ready to, Jane. The future spans before us, and I see you with me. We’ll have children and see our grandchildren.” Bringing his hands up to her face, he cupped her face in his hands. “I love you, Jane. You are the most important person in my life, and I’m going to savor each day we’re granted to together. I don’t know about you, but I’m planning for those days to span a lifetime.”

  Her heart swelled with excitement. He did love her, and it wasn’t a love where she had to be second to Rebecca. She had her own place in his heart and life that Rebecca didn’t. Blinking back her tears, she laughed. “Yes, we’ll have many years together. We’ll grow old and our hair will gray. We won’t walk so fast. We’ll fall asleep in the middle of the afternoon while we’re resting in our rocking chairs. And though our eye sight and hearing might grow dim, our love will burn brighter every year we’re together.”

  “Yes, that’s our future.”

  “I couldn’t ask for a better one.”

  He pulled her closer and kissed her, and she melted in his arms while the rest of the world slipped away.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  In late August, Jane sat next to Eliza, John, Brian, and Charlotte in church while Jeremy gave his sermon. She caught the glimmer of pride in Eliza’s eyes and reached out to squeeze Eliza’s hand. Even though Jeremy assumed his pastoral responsibilities a month ago, Eliza often commented that she couldn’t believe her son was a preacher. And as Eliza glanced at Jane with tears in her eyes, Jane smiled, glad that mother and son had been reunited.

  The movement in her belly brought Jane’s attention to the impending birth of her child. She rubbed her stomach and reminded he
rself in as little as two weeks, she might be holding a little girl or boy.

  Lucy returned to the pew with a sleeping baby boy. Jane caught the peaceful expression on Michael’s face and thought that for someone born two and a half weeks ago, he seemed surprisingly big. If it was up to her, newborns would stay smaller longer. She anticipated holding her own child and knew the time would be too brief before the child grew too big to cuddle anymore. Jane turned her attention back to Jeremy.

  “Sometimes,” Jeremy concluded, “we might not understand why God gives us a trial in our lives. Maybe we’ll eventually see His plan. Maybe we won’t. All He asks is for us to trust Him. He will work all things for our good. Now, I ask you to bow your head in prayer.”

  After the prayer ended, Jane joined Jeremy who did his usual round of greeting people. “That was a lovely sermon,” she told him.

  “It’s one I wanted to give a long time ago but couldn’t bring myself to do. Sometimes it’s hard to feel the blessings in a trial when we’re going through it.” Smiling, he glanced at her stomach and added, “I’m very blessed.”

  “Just wait until the baby is crying in the middle of the night,” she teased, recalling how tired Lucy was that morning.

  “I don’t mind lending a helping hand, and you know my mother loves spending time with her grandchildren.”

  “Yes, and it’s nice that Brian and Lucy’s children will be able to play with ours. I think our children will be lucky.”

  “I won’t argue that one.”

  Addy and Frank came up to them, and Frank shook Jeremy’s hand while Addy gave her a hug. “I bet you’re ready to give birth,” Addy said in a low voice so the men wouldn’t overhear.

  “I am, to be honest. I can hardly move without waddling, and I swear, I have to roll out of bed these days,” Jane said.

  “At least you don’t have heartburn,” Lucy commented as she came over to them. “I had to spend my last month sleeping while I sat up in bed. That’s not the most comfortable feeling in the world, but I will say it was worth it.” She looked at her baby and grinned.

  “Can I hold him?” Jane asked.

  “Of course, you can.” Lucy placed Michael in Jane’s arms. “It’s good practice for you.”

  Jane stared in awe at her nephew and thought about Hank and Irene. She recalled seeing them when they were this little, and for a moment, she wished she could see them but reminded herself that next summer, her brother said he and Susie would bring the children for a visit. The relationship she had with her brother and Susie wasn’t as close as what she shared with Rebecca, but they had at least started on the path and maybe one day, they’d be good friends.

  Addy said something that made Lucy laugh, and Jane’s attention shifted back to them. “What did I miss?” Jane asked.

  Addy chuckled and said, “I was just saying that poor Eliza’s going to have her hands full with grandchildren. She’ll want to dote on all of them, and I imagine they’ll be fighting over who gets her attention.”

  “That’s because Eliza’s easy to like,” Lucy replied. “People, no matter what the age, are attracted to her.”

  “It’s her gift,” Jane added. “She’s a lot like my sister.”

  They glanced at Eliza who was holding Charlotte while she talked to a few people. Jane didn’t know how Eliza did it, but the people seemed captivated by what she was saying.

  “Yes, she definitely has a gift,” Addy said. “The rest of us will have to be content in the shadows.”

  “At least there’s good company in the shadows,” Jane replied with a laugh. She stroked Michael’s cheek. “He’s so adorable.”

  “Yours will be, too. I don’t know of any babies who aren’t adorable,” Addy said, ruffling Michael’s thin blond hair.

  “It makes up for all the messes they make,” Lucy joked.

  Jane glanced at Jeremy who was talking to a couple whose children surrounded them, and if she guessed right, the man was Old Willy and the woman Daphne. The older children in the group looked bored, so Daphne told them they could go outside and play. As the eager kids hurried out of the church, Eliza expertly dodged them while she carried Charlotte over to Lucy.

  “Daphne and Old Willy are expecting another little one early next year,” Eliza said, chuckling. “I remember when Willy was all by himself, sad because his house was empty since his wife had passed on and his children were out of the house. Well, he’s got his hands full now. The poor man probably wishes for some quiet.”

  Addy giggled. “Considering all the grandchildren he’ll have, I doubt he’ll ever get it.”

  “Oh, he’s got a soft heart,” Lucy said. “I’m sure he manages just fine, as long as he stuffs his ears with something.”

  The women laughed.

  “What is funny?” Charlotte asked.

  “You’ll understand when you’re a mother,” Lucy replied, brushing Charlotte’s curls from her eyes.

  “Will you be coming over for lunch?” Eliza asked them. “I’ll put a roast in the oven. I used Lucy’s recipe, so it should be edible.”

  “We’d love to,” Jane replied, knowing Jeremy would accept the invitation if he was there.

  “Brian and I will come,” Lucy added.

  “Frank and I can’t this time,” Addy said. “We’re going to work on rearranging some things in the store.”

  “Do you want to hold Michael?” Jane asked Eliza when she noticed the way Eliza smiled at him.

  “I’d love to,” Eliza replied, taking him in her arms and cooing to him. “Lucy, I hope you don’t mind if I show him to Charity and Bethany. They haven’t seen him yet, and they asked about him when I came to town last week.”

  Lucy nodded her consent, so Eliza headed over to her friends.

  Jane watched Eliza so she could remember who Charity and Bethany were. It was still taking time to connect the names with the faces. Jeremy didn’t have that problem, something she envied just a little bit but figured it was a good thing he didn’t since it was his job to know who people were. She glanced at him again and caught him smiling in her direction as John and Brian approached with a couple of John’s brothers—more names she didn’t know yet. But at least she knew they were John’s brothers. And at least she didn’t have to stand around and wonder what to do after the service anymore. As Lucy and Addy continued to chat, she turned her attention back to them, glad she found a group of friends she could be comfortable with. Though a part of her missed Rebecca and Edith, she was happy. Just as Jeremy had said in the sermon, God had worked things out for good—not only for him, but for her as well.

  ***

  That Christmas, Jane put on her coat and gloves before she bundled her three-month-old daughter, Rebecca, in a thick blanket. She took her daughter in her arms. No one was more surprised than she was when Rebecca was born with a head full of red hair. It was the exact same shade as Eliza’s hair, and Jane thought it was nice to see that part of Eliza in her child.

  “Are you ready?” Jeremy asked as he came out of the bedroom, adjusting his tie.

  “Yes. Becky’s been changed and fed, so she’s ready.”

  He walked over to them and kissed Jane. “She’s not tired at all, is she?”

  Jane chuckled as Becky’s eyes shifted from Jeremy to her. “No, but that’s a good thing. Your mother will want to talk to her, I’m sure.”

  “Yes, I’m sure, too.” As he went to the closet to get his coat, he said, “I see you have a letter on the table over here to send to Edith. Didn’t she just write to you?”

  “She did, but I like to answer right away or I’ll forget.”

  “How is she doing?”

  “Good. Her son is sitting now, and Wilbur got a slight pay raise.”

  He slipped his coat on and buttoned it before he grabbed his hat. “That is good.” With a sigh, he added, “They say it takes longer for a woman to get ready, but I proved them wrong, didn’t I?”

  She chuckled as she headed for the door. “To be fair, you stayed up wit
h Becky so I could sleep. You are allowed to take longer to get ready this morning.”

  He opened the door and followed her outside. “So Charity has a Christmas get-together every year?”

  “That’s what your mother says.” Jane held Becky closer to protect her from the brisk wind. “She says that Charity goes all out for it, too. Apparently, it was one of the things Charity loved most about being back east.”

  They strolled down the road and passed the church that was on the corner of the main street. As a squirrel ran by them, Jeremy nudged her in the side. “There goes one of your squirrels.”

  “It’s not my squirrel.”

  “Every time I see a squirrel, I think of you and how you enjoy watching them run from tree to tree.”

  Another squirrel chased the one that darted in front of them before, and she giggled. “Well, they are cute, aren’t they? I can’t help but enjoy how they play together.” They turned down another road, and she saw the people gathered in front of Charity’s home. “Oh my, when Eliza said everyone in town came to this party, she wasn’t kidding.”

  “It can’t be everyone…I think.”

  Amused, she made eye contact with him. “I hope we don’t get lost in that house. It’s sure to be a maze of people.”

  “I have no worries about that. I could find you anywhere. You’re a part of me.”

  When they were two houses away from Charity’s, Eliza bounded down the porch steps from where she’d been talking to a few people and hurried toward them. “It’s nice to see you three,” she said as she hugged Jane, careful to not squeeze too tight. “How is my granddaughter treating you? Is she sleeping through the night yet?”