Rebecca's Choice by Eicher Jerry S

Author:Eicher, Jerry S. [Eicher, Jerry S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Fiction, Amish, Christian, General, Romance, Fiction, Religious, Love Stories
ISBN: 9780736926379
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Published: 2010-01-31T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Rebecca felt frozen to the backless bench. The women stood up and moved toward the kitchen. Wilma turned to look at her.

“So you did it?” she whispered.

Rebecca nodded, the answer obvious. “I had to.”

“I know,” Wilma said.

Wilma would think something was wrong if she didn’t move soon. Rebecca forced herself to her feet, her legs still weak. John had not stayed back. Is Father to blame? His arguments surely made sense, but sense did not console her heart. Her heart was gripped in the horror of what lay ahead. Communion was in two weeks, and she would stay back alone.

Rebecca told herself John’s decision was understandable, but the pain wouldn’t go away. Her heart ached as she joined in with lunch preparations. She carried peanut butter bowls, refilled the pickle jars, smiled when spoken to, and finally got to eat, the food tasteless in her mouth.

John would soon pick her up at the end of the walk, and she knew her face would show the hurt. She could make an effort to hide the fact, but things were beyond that. The attempt might not work either. Since the accident John was different, more sensitive, and would know anyway. Why then did he not join me?

Wilma must have sensed her distress and seated herself beside Rebecca, even though she had eaten at an earlier table.

“I’m so sorry,” Wilma said, meaning one thing, while Rebecca really hurt over another.

“Thanks,” Rebecca whispered. She was thankful for what Wilma could give, knowing that her troubles with John were things she couldn’t share.

“This is all just so ridiculous,” Wilma said. “It’s not like it’s your fault at all.”

“Some of it is,” Rebecca said.

“Like what? Did you ask for the money?”

“No.”

“Did Emma offer it to you?”

“No.”

“Then tell me how you are to blame?”

“I broke some church rules.” Rebecca followed her urge to say it aloud. Chances were good that word would leak out. Not that she suspected the ministry, they wouldn’t spread confidential matters, but it happened anyway. Better that Wilma know now than hear it some other way. Their friendship might be saved, and she needed friends at the moment.

Wilma made a skeptical face.

“See I used to like a boy in school. His name was Atlee.”

Wilma nodded. “Don’t know him. I never lived in Milroy.”

Rebecca continued. “Anyway, his parents went Mennonite and moved away. Before he left he gave me a ring.”

“A ring?” Wilma’s eyes got big.

“Yes. I kept it until just recently, and then I threw it away.”

“You kept it.” Wilma spoke a little too loudly for Rebecca’s comfort, but she could do little about it. Several women glanced their way.

“Yes,” she said softer this time, in the hopes Wilma took the hint.

“All this time?” Wilma said whispering.

Rebecca nodded.

“Even when you were dating John?”

Rebecca let the look on her face answer.

“How could you?”

“I sort of forgot about it.”

Now Wilma’s face gave away her answer. She wasn’t swallowing the story.

“Really. That’s what happened.”

“So you strung two boys along at the same time?”

“I didn’t,” Rebecca retorted, causing heads to turn again.

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