Hope Chest by Wanda E. Brunstetter

want her to leave with this awful dissension between them. “Better wait and see what he wants,” she said, looking over at her husband.
    “Jah, okay.” Reuben put his foot on the brake, and Anna pushed the button to let her window roll down. But Dad went around to Reuben’s side of the truck, not hers.
    “Guess you’d best roll down your window then,” she said to Reuben.
    He grunted but did as she asked.
    As soon as the window was down, Dad stepped close to the truck and leaned over until his head was nearly inside. “Did Deacon Shemly come by your place this morning?”
    Reuben’s only reply was a quick nod.
    “I guess he didn’t talk any sense into you, or you wouldn’t be taking my daughter away.”
    “I’m not trying to cause any trouble for your family, but I’ve gotten used to so many modern things since I started working for Vern Hanson, and I’ve become used to having a truck that I don’t think I could do without.”
    Dad’s eyebrows drew together as a deep frown crushed his strong features. “Oh, but you think it’s okay for me to do without my daughter?”
    Reuben reached across the seat and took hold of Anna’s hand, which gave her added courage and made her feel just a bit better. “I love Anna, and she’s my wife now, so she belongs with me.”
    “If you love her so much, then you ought to be willing to join the Amish church and keep her from being shunned.”
    “This isn’t just Reuben’s decision,” Anna said, leaning across the seat so she could look her father in the eye. “I’ve been feeling kind of discontent here of late, and—”
    “And nothing!” Dad clapped his hands together. “You’re only doin’ this to please this young man, and apparently neither of you cares about who you’re hurting in the process of having what you think you want.” He stepped away from the truck and slowly shook his head. “Well, go on then. Go on out into the English world and forget you ever had an Amish family who cared about you!”
    Tears clogged the back of Anna’s throat and her vision blurred. “I love you, Dad. I love all my family, but my place is with my husband.” She looked over at Reuben and managed a weak smile. “Let’s go now, shall we?”
    Reuben took his foot off the brake and turned the truck around. As they headed down the driveway, Anna turned and saw Rachel standing on the porch, waving at them. Anna waved back as tears coursed down her cheeks. When Reuben pulled onto the main road, she lifted her hand in one final wave, and then they were gone.
***
    As Rebekah sat in front of the window overlooking the back porch, watching her firstborn child drive away, it was all she could do to keep from breaking down. All the expectations she’d had for her daughter had been dashed away in one fell swoop. She wanted to swaddle Anna in a blanket—keep her warm and safe. But it was too late for that now; her baby was gone.
    She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes as her mind took her back to that wonderful day when Anna had been born....
“It’s a girl,” Rebekah whispered, as Daniel entered the birthing room, wearing an anxious expression. “God has given us a miracle baby.”
Daniel bent his head to kiss Rebekah’s cheek. Then he reached out his finger and stroked the side of the baby’s tiny head. “She’s a miracle, all right.” He glanced back at Rebekah and smiled. “She’s a beautiful child, and she looks just like her mamm.”
Tears welled in Rebekah’s eyes. “All those months I spent asking God for a miracle, I never expected Him to answer in such a wunderbaar way.” She kissed the top of the baby’s downy head. “Let’s call her Anna after my dear grandma; is that okay?”
“That’s fine by me.” Daniel’s smile widened. “If the next one’s a boy, then I get to name him, though. Agreed?”
She smiled and nodded. “Jah, sure. If God chooses to give us another miracle, you can name the boppli whatever you choose.”
    As Rebekah’s