Lindy's Choice (Lindy's Story Book 3)

  Lindy’s Choice

  Lindy’s Story #3

  Brenda Maxfield

  Copyright © 2019 by Tica House Publishing LLC

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Personal Word from the Author

  Dearest Readers,

  Thank you so much for choosing one of my books. I am proud to be a part of the team of writers at Tica House Publishing who work joyfully to bring you stories of hope, faith, courage, and love. Your kind words and loving readership are deeply appreciated.

  I would like to personally invite you to sign up for updates and to become part of our Exclusive Reader Club—it’s completely Free to join! We’d love to welcome you!

  Much love,

  Brenda Maxfield

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  Contents

  Personal Word from the Author

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Epilogue

  Continue Reading…

  Thank you for Reading

  More Amish Romance for You

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

  Isaiah 43:19

  Five minutes before midnight, Old Mae stood up from Berta Mast’s bedside. “Robert, take me home.”

  Robert scampered up from where he was keeping vigil on the other side of his mother’s bed. “Of course, Old Mae. I’ll hitch up the pony cart right away.”

  His twin brother, Reuben, stood. “Nee. I’ll take her.”

  Robert shook his head. “Let me. I’ve had more time with Mamm than you have.”

  “I…” Reuben hesitated, and Lindy saw the tears pooling in his eyes. “I can’t bear just sitting here doing nothing. I want to take her.” He looked at the district’s healing woman. “I’ll just be a minute, Old Mae.”

  Old Mae nodded.

  Reuben left the room, and Robert let out a heavy sigh and resumed his post. Then he looked at Old Mae and said, “Thank you. Thank you for staying with us for so long tonight.”

  “Nowhere I’d rather have been,” she stated. “But it’s going to be over right soon. And I need to rest these old bones of mine. I’ll come back tomorrow.” She walked around the bed Robert had set up for Berta in the front room. She laid her large, wizened hand on his shoulder. “It will be over by tomorrow, child.”

  “I-I know,” Robert stammered.

  Lindy’s heart squeezed. It had been a long road leading to this night, and she was wrung out. But she was deeply grateful for the privilege of caring for Berta these last months. She loved the woman like her own mother and already felt the pain of loss scraping across her heart.

  Old Mae shifted her gaze to Lindy. The lantern light cast a warm glow over the three of them as they lingered around Berta’s bed. “Lindy, you’ve been a blessing to Berta. She loves you.”

  Lindy’s eyes burned with tears, and her throat tightened. “I l-love her, too.”

  “Of course, you do, child. Now, I’ll be back tomorrow morning to help with things. Don’t try to arrange anything tonight. Tomorrow will be soon enough.”

  Lindy nodded. Robert stood again. “I’ll go check on Reuben.”

  “Nee, Robert,” Old Mae said. “Just walk me to the front door and wait with me on the porch.”

  Robert came around the bed and took Old Mae’s elbow, walking with her to the door and then outside.

  Lindy was alone. She rubbed Berta’s feet through the thin quilt that covered them. She stood and walked to Berta’s side. The woman’s face was calm. If Lindy didn’t know better, she’d simply think Berta was sleeping peacefully and would wake up in the morning perfectly fine. But Lindy did know better. Berta’s body was ravaged by cancer, and there would be no waking up. Old Mae was right.

  But then, Old Mae usually was.

  Lindy leaned over and kissed Berta’s cheek, her tears dripping from her eyes and onto Berta. She sniffed and wiped them away.

  “It’s just you and me for a minute or two, Berta,” she whispered, smoothing back Berta’s gray hair from her forehead. “I want you to know how much I’ve loved caring for you. I’ve loved being here with you. I truly have. You’re a wonderful gut woman. Thank you…” She paused, her voice faltering. “Thank you for letting me be with you…”

  Lindy blinked hard, trying to stop her tears. “You have two wonderful sons, and they love you so much. And I’m right glad Reuben got here in time for you to see him.”

  Lindy wondered whether Berta knew that she and Reuben had once courted. But Reuben had gone fancy in Ohio over the last few months, so Lindy couldn’t possibly accept his courtship any longer. But Berta didn’t know that part—not about him going fancy. And now, thank God, she never would. Berta wanted Lindy to marry her other twin son, Robert. But Berta also didn’t know that Robert was courting Lindy’s sister, Rachel.

  Lindy shuddered. Things in life could become so confusing. And things had happened that never should have happened. She had fallen for Robert during these last months. It was inevitable, she supposed, them being so close to each other all day long, working together to care for Berta. Lindy never intended for it to happen. In truth, she wished fervently that it hadn’t. For she could do nothing about it now but get over it. She would never betray her sister like that.

  And she still harbored more than a little confusion regarding her feelings for Reuben. He had disappointed her so bitterly that the ardent love she’d felt for him had withered, but there was still something there. Something she didn’t have time to analyze. Not while her dear Berta was near to breathing her last.

  “Berta, I know you want me to marry Robert. He’s a fine man. Both your sons are,” she said. Now what was she to say? Could Berta hear her? Understand her? Lindy didn’t want to disappoint the woman during the last moments of her life. What could she possibly tell her? She couldn’t promise to marry Robert. Nor did she want to tell her about Robert and Rachel.

  Goodness, but why did she open her mouth in the first place?

  Her mind swirled and then she said, “Any girl would be lucky to marry one of your sons, Berta. Thank you for considering me worthy.”

  There. That worked, didn’t it? She was ready to speak further when the front screen banged shut. She looked up and Robert entered the circle of light.

  “Reuben’s taken Old Mae. They’ve left,” he said. His voice was weary, and Lindy’s heart went out to him.

  “It was … nice of Reuben to take her,” she murmured.

  Robert nodded as if not really hearing her. He went immediately to his mother’s side again and sat down. He took the woman’s hand in his and rubbed his fingers over her nearly translucent skin.

  “Mamm, how are you doing?” he asked quietly. “I know your time is near. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.” His voice caught. “Thank you… Thank you for loving me and Reuben so well all these years.”

  Lindy began to weep, feeling both the pain and the love in Robert’s voice. He was such a strong man, so self-assured, so loyal, so giving. But his face was now ragged as he looked at his mother.

  “When you need to go, go in peace.” he whispered and then bit his lip, and Lindy knew he was holding back his tears.

  At that very moment, Berta smiled. Lindy jolted forward. Robert gasped and clutched Berta’s hand more tightly. And then Berta emitted a strange gurgling sound, and her smile faded to nothing.

  Lindy sucked in her breath, and Robert laid his head on Berta’s bosom and wept.

  The ticking of the grandfather clock suddenly echoed throughout the room like a clanging gong. Nothing else was heard. Even Lindy’s tears fell without a sound. And then it came. A low moan from Robert that ricocheted through the room. Lindy moved to his side and clutched his shaking shoulders.

  “She’s gone,” she said unnecessarily. “She’s at rest. She doesn’t hurt anymore.”

  Robert stood up and grasped Lindy to him, pressing her against him in a desperate embrace. “I-I’m happy for her, Lindy. Truly, I am. But… I’m going to… I will miss her.”

  She felt the hammering of his heart against her cheek. She closed her eyes. And then Robert went silent. She felt his weeping, or was it her weeping? They were both weeping, holding each other. Supporting each other, clinging to each other. The air was so still. The clock had quieted, its ticking fading now until it was barely heard in the silence.

  She opened her eyes and shifted slightly to gaze down at her dear departed friend. Berta’s face was so still, so calm.

  “Look, Robert,” she whispered. “Look at her face.”

  Robert loosened his grip on her and looked down at Berta, too. “She is beautiful…”

  “That s
he is.”

  “Lindy… is she in heaven?”

  “Where else would she be, Robert?” she asked softly. Lindy knew it was presumptuous to say so, for one couldn’t be sure, but if ever anyone should go straight to heaven, it was Berta Mast.

  “Nowhere else,” Robert answered. “Heaven. That’s the only place she would be.”

  “I-I loved her, Robert.”

  “I know you did. And she loved you.”

  Robert had dropped his arms and they both stood, side-by-side, gazing down at Berta’s peaceful expression.

  “Old Mae left too soon,” Lindy whispered.

  “Ach, and Reuben…” Robert cried.

  Lindy pressed a hand to her chest. “He missed her passing.”

  Robert sucked in a breath. “But Mamm saw him. That’s something, isn’t it?” He looked at her with a sort of pleading in his eyes.

  “That’s everything,” Lindy said. “Everything, Robert. But, I’m glad… I’m glad you were here. I’m glad you didn’t miss it.”

  Robert sighed. “I couldn’t have missed it. Not after everything… Reuben gave me that—when he offered to take Old Mae home.”

  “Jah,” she agreed softly. “Reuben gave you that.”

  “Should we do something?” he asked. “Should I go tell the bishop?”

  “Old Mae said to wait till morning. No need to rouse anyone now.”

  Robert sat down. “I want to stay here. Stay with her tonight.”

  “I want to, too.”

  Robert blinked. “But you should go home. You must be exhausted. I can take you. Or Reuben can when he gets back.”

  “Robert, I’m not leaving your mother. I’m not leaving her until her body is buried.”

  “But you’ve done so much. I need to take you home.”

  “Robert,” she said again, her voice more fervent. “I’m not leaving Berta. I’m not.”

  Robert studied her face, and then she saw his resolve soften. “All right,” he murmured. “She would want you to stay.”

  “I think she would.”

  Chapter Two

  Lindy and Robert sat silently by Berta’s body—it was only the sound of a buggy crunching the gravel outside that roused them from their thoughts. Robert stood and faced the door.

  Reuben came in, bringing a gust of cold night air with him. “I’ll unhitch Prince in a min—” He stopped short, and a look of knowing crossed his face and his expression crumpled.

  “She’s gone, Reuben,” Robert said. “She passed a few minutes ago.”

  Reuben strode into the room so quickly that Lindy felt the impact of his presence like a blow.

  “Nee,” he cried, dropping to his knees by her bed. “Nee! I didn’t have enough time with her.” He looked up at Robert, tears brimming his eyes. “I didn’t have enough time.”

  Robert put his hand on Reuben’s shoulder and simply stood beside him. Both sons went silent, and even the sound of Reuben’s grief stilled, but the air was heavy with it. Lindy backed softly away, feeling like she shouldn’t be there. She was standing on holy ground—ground that only had room for a mother and her sons. She pressed her back against the far wall and closed her eyes, praying silently.

  She didn’t know how long they all remained like that, none of them moving. And then, Robert coughed and looked around.

  “Lindy?” he said. “Oh, there you are.”

  She took a step forward. “I’m here. Shall I make some tea? Would you like some? Reuben, would you?”

  Reuben gazed up at her. His eyes searched hers, and she was instantly reminded of how he used to look at her when they were still courting. She glanced away, uncomfortable.

  “Jah,” he answered. “That’d be nice.”

  She scurried away, feeling her way through the dark house until she fumbled about on the kitchen table and found the lantern, lighting it. The room sprang to life—the room Berta had spent most of her life in. The room where she had cooked and cleaned and canned and cared for her boys. The room where she would never bustle in again.

  Lindy felt like an imposter there, which was odd. She’d spent the better part of the last three months within these walls, doing Berta’s job for her. It had felt all right then, when Berta was in the next room, waiting for her food or wanting to chat a bit between Lindy’s chores. But now, it just felt empty to be there. Wrong. Out of joint.

  Robert came into the kitchen. “Are you all right, Lindy? Can I help?”

  A man helping in the kitchen? Wanting to prepare tea? She smiled, feeling the reality of life reassemble itself around her.

  “Nee. But thank you, Robert. I don’t figure I’m ready to have a man help me put on a pot of tea.”

  He chuckled then, a soft sound, filling the room with some badly needed mirth. Lindy stuck the tea kettle under the tap and filled it. She flipped on a burner of the cook stove and set the pot on it. She took down three cups and reached for the fourth, stopping herself. She set the cups on the counter, and her tears blurred her vision. Then she got out three tea bags, dropped them into the cups, and took the jar of honey from the shelf.

  “The honey…” Still standing there, Robert gave her a bittersweet smile. “Remember when you bought that?”

  “I do,” she replied. “You thanked me for purchasing such a large jar of it.”

  He stepped forward and gently screwed off the metal lid. “Buying such a big jar was like a promise to me … that maybe Mamm would live long enough to use it all.”

  Lindy swallowed with difficulty. “She didn’t make it.”

  Robert took her hand and gave it a squeeze before quickly releasing it again. “Doesn’t matter. It meant a lot. It still does. And now…” he hesitated only briefly, “and now, we’ll use it.”

  “That we will,” she whispered.

  There were quiet for a few moments, each of them lost in their own thoughts. And then the kettle began to whistle. Lindy gave a jolt and turned off the burner. She poured the hot water into the cups and was about to spoon in the honey.

  “Let me do it,” Robert said, taking the spoon from her. She watched as he put a generous amount into each cup. Then he looked up at her, his eyes were dry now, yet they glistened with emotion. “Let’s go have tea with Mamm one last time.”

  She smiled. “Jah,” she said. “Let’s.”

  They carried the cups into the front room. Reuben was sitting in a rocker now, beside Berta, his expression dark and closed off. Robert handed him his tea.

  He took it without a word.

  “There’s a lot of honey in it,” Lindy said. It felt like she should say something; although, she wasn’t sure why. “Your mamm loved her honey…”

  Reuben cast her a look which clearly told her that her inane comments weren’t appreciated. She pressed her lips together.

  “You sit in the other rocker, Lindy,” Robert said. “I’ll sit on the end of the bed.”

  “All right.”

  They were quiet then, the three of them, sipping their tea. After around twenty minutes or so, Reuben roused himself enough to look at both Robert and Lindy. “Shouldn’t we take Lindy home?”

  Robert shook his head. “She wants to stay.”

  “Don’t you consider that odd? She should go home.”

  Lindy tensed. She didn’t want to go home, nor did she want Reuben taking over in this way.

  “She’s been here through it all,” Robert said. “She can stay.”

  “Meaning I haven’t?” Reuben asked, his voice harsh. “Is that what you’re trying to say?”

  A look of irritation flashed over Robert’s face, and Lindy knew he was holding back what he really wanted to say.

  “I’m saying nothing about you,” Robert said. “But I already told Lindy she could stay.”

  “So, you’re in charge? Whatever you say, goes?” Reuben stood abruptly. “I’ve only been gone a few months. I’m Berta’s son, too.”