Melody?”
“No, Craig’s a big boy.”
Don’t wait until your plane is going down to make things right.
Craig’s words repeated in Gideon’s mind, then he thought, I knew before I left Hope Springs what I wanted to do. I reckon now is the time to do it. Craig will do okay without me. He has a good head for business. Roseanne will help him every step of the way.
“What’s the matter, Gideon? You’ve been different since you came back from Ohio.” Roseanne was studying him intently.
“I know.”
“This wasn’t your fault, if that’s what’s troubling you.”
“No, it’s not Craig. He’s going to be fine.”
A sudden rush of excitement mushroomed in Gideon’s body. Was it possible? Could he go back and make a life for himself within the Amish community? Could he humble himself before the church and admit he’d made a bad decision? Would he be forgiven and welcomed by his family after so long?
He’d gone into the outside world determined to leave his Amish past behind. Until he’d gone to Hope Springs, he didn’t realize what a hole leaving his faith made inside of him. Yes, he missed Rebecca, but he missed his family, too. He missed his father’s stern teachings and his mother’s warm-hearted kindness. He loved them, and he’d cut himself off out of false pride.
He missed feeling at one with God and his community. Yes, he’d become a successful man, but at what cost to his soul? He could go back. He could make amends for everything he’d done. If he didn’t go now, it might be too late.
It was a huge step. There would be no turning back if he took it. He had broken his vow once before. He wouldn’t do it again, but was he considering this only because of Rebecca? What if she wasn’t interested in sharing his life?
But what if she was?
He made up his mind and a weight lifted from his soul. He smiled at his secretary. “Roseanne, you’ve been a good friend as well as a good employee. When the insurance check comes in I want you to make sure Craig gets a good deal on a sound plane.”
“Sure, but where will you be?”
“I’m going back to Ohio.”
“For how long?”
“I’m going back for good.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “To the Amish? Why?”
“Because I made a mistake a long time ago. I feel I’ve been given a chance to make that right. When Craig is up and around, I’ll talk to him about buying out my half of the company. I know he can handle it. I’ve got to sell my car and get rid of the stuff at my apartment. You can have anything you like from the place.”
“Gideon, you can’t just leave us.”
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Keep the knucklehead in line.”
“Thank you for coming in today, Rebecca.” Dr. Harold White pulled his chair closer to her.
“I was surprised to get your message.” Rebecca, perched on an exam table in the Hope Springs medical clinic, couldn’t help wondering why she was here.
“I received a surprising call from my grandson yesterday evening.”
Dr. Philip White was completing his internship in genetic studies at the University of Cleveland. It had been Philip who mentioned Rebecca’s case to a visiting eye surgeon at the clinic. He had been instrumental in convincing the surgeon, Dr. Tuva Eriksson, to see Rebecca.
She said, “I hope Dr. Philip is well?”
“He’s fine. The reason he called has to do with you. It seems Dr. Eriksson’s clinic in New York has received a substantial donation of money toward your upcoming surgery. In fact, your procedure is now tentatively scheduled for the week before Christmas.”
“My surgery has been approved?” Rebecca couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Yes.”
Joy followed by abject terror poured through her body. “It’s all paid for?”
“The donation, along with the money that has been raised here, will cover the cost of your surgery and hospital stay. Dr. Eriksson has offered to waive her fee. You are all set.”
“Who has done this? Who
“No, Craig’s a big boy.”
Don’t wait until your plane is going down to make things right.
Craig’s words repeated in Gideon’s mind, then he thought, I knew before I left Hope Springs what I wanted to do. I reckon now is the time to do it. Craig will do okay without me. He has a good head for business. Roseanne will help him every step of the way.
“What’s the matter, Gideon? You’ve been different since you came back from Ohio.” Roseanne was studying him intently.
“I know.”
“This wasn’t your fault, if that’s what’s troubling you.”
“No, it’s not Craig. He’s going to be fine.”
A sudden rush of excitement mushroomed in Gideon’s body. Was it possible? Could he go back and make a life for himself within the Amish community? Could he humble himself before the church and admit he’d made a bad decision? Would he be forgiven and welcomed by his family after so long?
He’d gone into the outside world determined to leave his Amish past behind. Until he’d gone to Hope Springs, he didn’t realize what a hole leaving his faith made inside of him. Yes, he missed Rebecca, but he missed his family, too. He missed his father’s stern teachings and his mother’s warm-hearted kindness. He loved them, and he’d cut himself off out of false pride.
He missed feeling at one with God and his community. Yes, he’d become a successful man, but at what cost to his soul? He could go back. He could make amends for everything he’d done. If he didn’t go now, it might be too late.
It was a huge step. There would be no turning back if he took it. He had broken his vow once before. He wouldn’t do it again, but was he considering this only because of Rebecca? What if she wasn’t interested in sharing his life?
But what if she was?
He made up his mind and a weight lifted from his soul. He smiled at his secretary. “Roseanne, you’ve been a good friend as well as a good employee. When the insurance check comes in I want you to make sure Craig gets a good deal on a sound plane.”
“Sure, but where will you be?”
“I’m going back to Ohio.”
“For how long?”
“I’m going back for good.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “To the Amish? Why?”
“Because I made a mistake a long time ago. I feel I’ve been given a chance to make that right. When Craig is up and around, I’ll talk to him about buying out my half of the company. I know he can handle it. I’ve got to sell my car and get rid of the stuff at my apartment. You can have anything you like from the place.”
“Gideon, you can’t just leave us.”
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Keep the knucklehead in line.”
“Thank you for coming in today, Rebecca.” Dr. Harold White pulled his chair closer to her.
“I was surprised to get your message.” Rebecca, perched on an exam table in the Hope Springs medical clinic, couldn’t help wondering why she was here.
“I received a surprising call from my grandson yesterday evening.”
Dr. Philip White was completing his internship in genetic studies at the University of Cleveland. It had been Philip who mentioned Rebecca’s case to a visiting eye surgeon at the clinic. He had been instrumental in convincing the surgeon, Dr. Tuva Eriksson, to see Rebecca.
She said, “I hope Dr. Philip is well?”
“He’s fine. The reason he called has to do with you. It seems Dr. Eriksson’s clinic in New York has received a substantial donation of money toward your upcoming surgery. In fact, your procedure is now tentatively scheduled for the week before Christmas.”
“My surgery has been approved?” Rebecca couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Yes.”
Joy followed by abject terror poured through her body. “It’s all paid for?”
“The donation, along with the money that has been raised here, will cover the cost of your surgery and hospital stay. Dr. Eriksson has offered to waive her fee. You are all set.”
“Who has done this? Who
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