Until Then by Cindy Woodsmall & Erin Woodsmall

Author:Cindy Woodsmall & Erin Woodsmall [Woodsmall, Cindy & Woodsmall, Erin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / Contemporary, FICTION / Amish & Mennonite
ISBN: 9781496454287
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Published: 2023-09-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

DECEMBER 1985

Josiah listened, his blood boiling. He sat on a hard bench inside the Lapp home—not that he knew the family very well, but they were part of Celeste’s district, and their bishop was his uncle. The house was already set up for church services tomorrow with living room furniture moved out and rows of benches on two sides with an aisle between them. Men were on one side and women on the other. Celeste wasn’t here, but Eli, Vin’s dat, was.

The bishop nodded as another naysayer finished his speech. “Denki, Brother Matthew.”

Matthew sat. He’d spent nearly five minutes sharing his thoughts on why Vin shouldn’t be buried in an Amish cemetery.

Where was their mercy and grace for Celeste?

Josiah tapped his fist against his lips, trying to keep his mouth shut. This was not his district. He had no say, even though he’d joined the Amish faith last summer in preparation to marry Lois. A brief thought of Lois grabbed his heart and squeezed it. But he understood now that he was grieving who he’d thought they were together. In reality, he’d let go of a figment of his imagination wrapped in the body of a beautiful woman. He hoped the best for her, but her leaving him was the best for him.

His attention returned to the meeting. His beliefs were different from many who were here tonight voicing their overwrought concerns. He didn’t believe that joining the church equaled being faithful to God. Only by faith was he saved. If he’d died before he joined the Amish church, he wouldn’t have cared where his body was buried. His soul would be with God. But it mattered to Celeste where Vin was buried because of Steven and Drew. Those little boys would become black sheep in their school. Steven would begin this fall, and he would be ridiculed by his peers, as would Drew in a few years, if they had a deceased parent who’d been buried with the Englisch.

But Josiah had to remain quiet. His uncle allowed him to sit in and listen, and he’d been a kind, giving bishop to Celeste and her sons. Still, his uncle had yet to speak up today. Where did Mark stand on this subject? Surely someone would bring forth mercy and some common sense to this meeting.

The bishop looked out at his flock. “We’re almost done for tonight. We appreciate knowing your thoughts before we make the final decision. We aren’t in a rush, so after tonight, we may take weeks or months to decide.”

“Won’t he need a resting place fairly soon?” a man asked.

“The detective explained that there’s a bit of a lengthy process. Just routine procedures.”

Eli stood. “My son deserves to be buried in the cemetery of our ancestors, the resting place of our parents and grandparents. His body has lain in the elements for five months!” His voice cracked as he fought tears. “I don’t have much good to say about Celeste. Maybe she helped him over that cliff but—”

“Wait.

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