A Search for Redemption by Jo Ann Brown

Author:Jo Ann Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-06-07T20:33:08+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

The sample donation center had been set up in the red brick church’s basement multipurpose room. Flags leaned against the industrial green wall in one corner. In another corner, two stacks of plastic chairs were stacked almost to the ceiling. A large raised dais at the far end of the room had one bright purple curtain closed and the other open enough to reveal tables and boxes and a stack of what Joel guessed were hymnals. A movie screen hung against its back wall.

In the center of the room, the donations were being collected. There was a general hushed atmosphere, showing everyone was aware of the importance of what they were doing. Lives could be saved. Lives could be changed. Nobody knew which one among the volunteer donors might be the perfect match for someone who needed their bone marrow to fight a deadly disease.

Everything was as Joel had anticipated. The room was filled with plenty of plain people as well as Englischers. The two groups were mingling as they waited to be called forward one by one to do paperwork or to have the inside of their cheek swabbed.

“What a crowd!” Grace said as she stepped off the lowest stair and moved to stand beside him. “This is a wunderbaar blessing for all of those who will be helped by the samples given today.”

“Danki for coming,” Laurene said as she paused beside Joel and Grace. Handing them each a sheet of paper, she hesitated before she added, wearing a strained expression, “Gute mariye, Joel. It’s nice of you to come.”

“How have you been?” What a trite question, but standing in line at an event aimed at saving her birth mamm’s life wasn’t the place to start a long explanation about how he was sorry for treating her badly when they were kids.

“I’m gut. Adam told me you’d found a job and are staying in Bliss Valley for the foreseeable future.”

He glanced at Grace to bring her into the conversation. And as a bulwark against the past? He was shocked at that thought, but hurried to say, “I’m working for Harold Coffman, doing some maintenance work on his farm. I hear you are studying so you can be baptized.”

“I am.” Without another word to him, she said, “I’m so glad to see you, Grace. The sign you hung up at the shop has brought in quite a few possible donors and helped spread the word through the plain communities, too.”

Grace smiled. “I’m not surprised at the wunderbaar turnout. I had several of our quilters mention it when they came in over the past few days.” Her smile became a playful grin as she hooked a thumb in his direction. “And I convinced Joel to come, too.”

Laurene’s face remained frozen in its practiced smile. “We appreciate everyone who’s here today.” She didn’t say anything more as she continued along the line, but fired a glower at him before she spoke to the couple standing beyond Grace.

When Grace patted his arm but said nothing, Joel wondered if he’d been stupid to come to the event.

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