His Love Endures Forever

Eighteen




LEVI FINALLY CAME OUT OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM where Danielle was.

“She and the baby are going to be okay, but she’s going to have to be on bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy.”

Vera took a deep breath. “Thank the Lord. Should I call Martha?”

“No. I asked her, but it’s late, and Danielle said no. Plus, Martha is laid up with a broken foot.”

“That’s right,” Vera said. She touched Levi’s arm. “Sohn, what can I do? I’ll do anything I can to help.”

“Danielle’s going to need some help with everything since she needs to stay off her feet. I was thinking about asking Emily . . . and maybe Katie Ann and Lillian if they can help, and—”

“No! I will help Danielle. Emily is suffering from terrible morning sickness, Katie Ann has been helping Martha and has little Jonas. And Lillian has her two little ones. I’m sure that Betsy and I can take care of things at your house.” She rubbed his arms, her eyes pleading with him. “Please, Levi. I’d like to. It will give me a chance to get to know Danielle better.”

Levi shook his head. “I’m not sure I like that idea, Mamm. Danielle is sensitive, and you . . .” He shrugged, but then almost smiled. “You’re just you, Mamm. A big heart. And a big mouth sometimes.”

“Levi! You can’t talk to me that.” Vera put her hands on her hips. “No one can take better care of that girl than I can. You know that.”

Levi stroked his beard. “You’d be gut to her, no?”

Vera’s heart sank. “I can’t believe you’d even have to ask me that.”

Levi leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “I know you, Mamm. And when you get to know Danielle the way I do, you’ll love her too.”

Vera didn’t know about that, but she was going to do what she could to get back in her son’s good graces. And she was thankful that the baby was going to be all right, a child that Levi considered his own. Lord, help me. Vera just didn’t know if she could ever consider Danielle’s child as real family. But even if she couldn’t . . . she was still very thankful. She’d prayed all the way to the hospital that Danielle wouldn’t lose the baby.

But she would have done that for anyone.


DANIELLE LISTENED TO Levi’s prayers of thanks as he leaned over her hospital bed, and she thought back to when she first saw the blood in the bathroom. The first thing that she’d done was to ask God to help her. What did that mean?

She recalled her thoughts when she was in the chapel. What if she allowed God into her heart and He let her down again? Was the payoff worth the risk?

Touching her stomach, she realized that there was no risk too great to endure for her baby, which made her wonder if God had saved Joshua. She caught the end of Levi’s prayer when he squeezed her hand.

“Can I go home now?”

“Ya. The doctor said you’re going to have to take some medicines because you’re having some early contractions. And you have to mostly stay off your feet.”

“Okay.” Danielle was wondering how she was going to take care of things when Levi spoke up.

“Mamm will be coming over to cook, clean, and take care of you. Her and Betsy.”

Danielle’s jaw dropped as she raised her head from the pillow. It had been hard enough to endure one evening with Vera.

“It’ll be fine, and Mamm wants to do it. It’s a chance for you two to get to know each other better.” Levi kissed her on the forehead. “And that would make me happy.”

“Levi . . .” She bit her bottom lip. “Your mom is never going to accept me. Or like me. Her being around all the time is just going to make us both miserable.”

He pushed back a strand of hair that had fallen across her face. “She wants to do it, Danielle. You might be surprised.”

She thought about her options for a moment. Martha was in bed with a broken foot. She touched her stomach, knowing the most important thing in her world was Joshua. It’s gonna be a long few months. “Okay,” she finally said, forcing a smile.

TWO DAYS LATER, Vera showed up at Levi’s house at eight in the morning, carting cleaning supplies and food. She’d doubted Danielle kept much of either on hand, and at least while she was taking care of things, she could make sure that her son had decent meals and the house was clean. She pushed the door open. “Danielle, don’t get up. I’m here.”

Danielle met her in the doorway. “Vera, I feel bad that you have to—”

“You should be in bed.” Vera didn’t want Danielle losing that baby, on her shift or any other. It might not feel like her grandchild, but that life inside of Danielle was struggling. “Don’t worry about a thing. I’ve brought plenty to keep me busy.”

“Where’s Betsy?”

“I dropped her with Lillian to play with the girls. She’ll probably be with me tomorrow.” Vera set down her tote filled with cleansers and scrub brushes, then moved toward the kitchen. She stowed the groceries in the refrigerator and cabinet, turning to find Danielle standing in the doorway. “Are you hungry? I can make you something now, but you should do what the doctor said and keep off your feet.”

“I don’t eat breakfast. And I feel weird having you do all this.”

Vera frowned. “You must eat a healthy breakfast. It’s gut for the boppli.” She waved her off. “Shoo, now. You go lie down, and I will bring you something to eat.”

Danielle shuffled across the living room in a long pink robe. She was moving slowly, clearly unhappy about Vera being there, but just as clearly trying to hide it.

Ten minutes later, she took Danielle a bowl of oatmeal, fresh fruit, and a piece of toast with rhubarb jam. She carried it in on a tray and walked in to see Danielle sitting up in the bed, a dark expression on her face.

Vera set the tray on the table by the bed. “Do you feel bad?”

Danielle’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t feel the baby moving.”

Vera swallowed hard. Please, Lord, keep this baby safe. She pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat down. “Maybe he’s just . . . sleeping.” She held her breath for a few moments as Danielle swiped at her eyes.

Instinctively, Vera lowered her head.

“Are you praying?”

Vera raised her eyes to Danielle’s. “Ya, I am.”

“Will you pray out loud?”

“Of course.” Vera lowered her head again. “Dear heavenly Father, please keep baby Joshua strong so that he will be healthy when he comes into our world. Please put Your—”

Danielle gasped. “He kicked.”

Vera looked up, and the girl was smiling. Thank You, Lord. “Ach, gut. Wonderful, indeed.” She flinched slightly as Danielle grabbed her hand and placed it atop the pink robe on her belly.

“Feel him?” Danielle sniffled. “Do you feel him?”

It had been a long time since Vera had felt the miracle of a new life in the womb. Feeling another woman’s stomach wasn’t normally something she would do, but Danielle was grasping her hand so tightly, she had little choice. And feeling the movement sent a warm feeling through Vera. “Ya. I feel him,” she said with a smile. “A strong kick.”

Vera eased her hand away. “See. He was just sleeping.” She picked up the tray and offered it to Danielle. “Now let’s feed the little fellow so he’ll stay strong.”

Danielle took the tray, and Vera turned to leave. “I’m just going to clean things up a bit this morning.”

“Vera.”

She turned around at the doorway. “Ya? Do you need something else?”

Danielle shook her head. “No. I just wanted to say thank you.”

“You’re wel—”

“Not just for the food.” Danielle smiled. “But for calling him Joshua.”

Vera smiled, then left the room. As she walked through the living room, she noticed the Bible on a square box by one of the rocking chairs. Thank goodness for the Bible, but these kids need some furniture. She scanned her mind and remembered that she had some extra furniture stored in her basement at home. She’d have a look tonight.

The rest of the morning, she swept the wooden floors, cleaned the windows, scrubbed the bathroom, and occasionally sat down to chat with Danielle. It was idle chitchat, but gradually, Danielle seemed to welcome it. And Vera realized she did too.


DANIELLE WAITED UNTIL after Vera left before she called Martha.

“Well, how’d it go with Vera?”

“It went okay. It was kinda awkward sometimes, but I could tell she was trying.” Danielle laid her hand across her stomach when Joshua moved.

“Vera’s a good person. She really is. But she tries to control things, and your little family just wasn’t in her plans. She’ll come around. I’m glad you’re giving her a chance.”

“Well, I didn’t have much choice. I don’t want to do anything that would cause Joshua to come early. The doctor said I need to carry him at least until the end of October, preferably longer.” She paused. “And Levi seems to think it would be good for me and his mom to get to know each other better.”

“Levi is right.”

Danielle shifted her weight when the baby scrunched to her left side, the side he seemed to prefer. “How are you feeling?”

“Terrible. Just terrible. And I’m not taking the pain meds that the doctor gave me because they make me feel all loopy. So I just have to lie here and suffer.”

Danielle tried not to grin. “Can you get up and walk around on your crutches?”

“No. Absolutely not. Much too painful.”

“I’m sorry. I wish I was there to take care of you.”

“And I wish I was there to take care of you. What a mess we are!” Martha snorted. “But I’ll be around as soon as I can. Arnold and Katie Ann will make me bonkers with all their fussing.”

“Hey, my cell phone is almost dead, but I’ll send it with Levi tomorrow and see if he can find a place to charge it.”

“You know, they have solar chargers for phones. Maybe see if Levi can get you one.”

“Hmm . . . Good idea. I’ll mention it to him.” She paused, wondering why she hadn’t thought of that. “Anyway, I hope you feel better.”

“I won’t. But you take care of yourself and our little one. And give ol’ Vera a chance. The woman has a huge heart, but like I said . . . she’s often misdirected in her actions.”

After they hung up, Danielle looked at the clock on the nightstand. It was only two o’clock. Vera said she would be back around four to heat something up for supper. It sure seemed like a lot of work for Vera, but Danielle was thankful. She folded her arms across her stomach and yawned. The most important thing in her world right now was for Joshua to arrive safely. So maybe a nap was in order . . .


LEVI WALKED INTO the house just as his mother was packing up to leave. For the first time, the house smelled lemony fresh, like home, mixed with the aroma of something heavenly simmering on the stove.

“Smells gut in here.” Levi dropped his hat on the rack and moved toward the stove. Even though he wasn’t Amish anymore, he’d taken to wearing his hat again. He felt like something was missing without it. “Daed said to tell you that he was stopping by Katie Ann’s on the way home to drop off some pieces of cedar that Eli needs for a chest he’s working on. We picked up the wood on the way home for him.”

Mamm was carting her cleaning supplies in a carryall on her hip as she nodded. “There’s baked chicken in the oven, and mashed potatoes and green beans simmering. I left you two loaves of homemade bread and some whoopee pies.”

Levi hugged his mother. “You’re the best. Danki for everything you’re doing.”

Mamm’s cheeks flushed. “It wasn’t much. Tell Danielle I’ll see her tomorrow morning.”

Levi knew his mother had worked hard, but he was anxious to see his wife. “I’ll tell her. Good night.”

“Good night, Levi.”

He closed the door behind her—now swinging easily shut after a good sanding—and hurried to the bedroom.

“I feel bad lying in bed while your mom is doing everything.” Danielle eased up against her pillow and tucked her hair behind both ears as Levi entered. “And it feels weird.”

Levi sat down on the edge of the bed, kissed her, and placed a hand on her stomach. “Well, that’s what you have to do for now. For Joshua.”

“I know. And I will.” She leaned forward and kissed him again. “How was your day, dear?” She giggled. “That’s how everyone talks on those old TV reruns, so I thought I’d give it a try.”

Levi hadn’t ever watched much television, so he didn’t really get it, but he smiled because seeing her smile made him happy. “Mei day was gut.”

“You still sound Amish.” She reached up and gently scratched his short beard.

“You don’t like the beard, do you?” He closed his eyes for a moment, knowing he’d shave it off if she wanted him to. He’d just always figured that he would grow one after he got married.

“I love the beard. And I love you.” She grinned. “You look like a grown-up with it.”

“I am a grown-up.” Levi waited until she eased her hand away before he kissed her, remembering that she was only nineteen. Sometimes their four-year difference in age seemed huge. “And I’ll probably always sound a little Amish.” And be a little Amish.

“Your mom prayed with me today. I couldn’t feel the baby kick, and I got really scared.”

Levi swallowed hard. “Was everything okay?”

“Yep. Everything is fine.” She touched her stomach, then looked up at him with tender eyes. “You know, on the way to the hospital, I prayed. Do you think God saved Joshua, kept our baby from coming early?”

“I think God can do anything, and the power of prayer is an amazing thing.” Levi cupped her cheek.

“You know how I feel . . . about God.” She paused. “I’m so scared He will let me down. But even if God doesn’t like me all that much, I think it’s worth the prayers for Joshua. I think Joshua deserves that.”

“Sweet Ladybug.” Levi shook his head, grasping her hand. “God doesn’t just like you. He loves you. And once you open your heart up to Him, you’ll never be the same.”

“I know you say that, Levi. And I’m really trying.”

“I’m going to take a shower, then I’ll bring us both a tray of food in here, and we can eat together in bed. How’s that?”

“Perfect.”

Levi pulled off his work boots and headed for the bathroom. Once he was in the shower, he let the warm water run down his back, and he fought the urge to cry. He was a grown man, an adult, as Danielle pointed out. Yet everything weighed on his shoulders—worry about the baby, about Danielle . . . and the realization that he’d been called to minister to his wife. It wasn’t something his people did, and he was in new territory.

What if I fail, God? What if she never comes around to really know You?

He thought back to how all this started . . . the dreams . . . the pull to marry Danielle.

Levi loved her. And the baby. But was he really the right man for this job?


VERA WAS EXHAUSTED when she pulled into her driveway. She was used to hard work, so it wasn’t a physical drain, more of an emotional depletion. The entire situation was stressful, and even though she wanted to try and get to know her daughter-in-law, it was going to take its toll. And when Danielle had said the baby wasn’t moving, Vera’s heart had stopped for a couple of seconds.

As she gathered up her cleaning supplies, she heard horse hooves coming up the driveway, so she waited. Surprised to see Anna Marie—Matthew’s mother—she moved toward the woman’s buggy, knowing whatever she had to say, it was far too late. The damage was done, and they were all just going to have to make the best of it.

Anna Marie stepped out of the buggy. “Hello, Vera. I can’t stay long or I won’t get back to Alamosa by dark. But do you have a few minutes to talk?”

Vera motioned for Anna Marie to follow. “Of course.”

A few minutes later, both women were sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee. Vera glanced at the clock on the wall, knowing Lillian would be by any minute to drop Betsy off. The last thing Vera needed was for Betsy to burst through the door asking a lot of questions.

“I just wanted you to know that I’ve had several phone calls with Matthew.” Anna Marie took a sip from her coffee cup. “Both his daed and I have talked to him, and we’re trying very hatt to get him to come home and to do right by the child.”

Vera swallowed hard. If Matthew came back now, it would complicate things for her son, who now thought of Joshua as his own child. “I don’t see the point now. Danielle and Levi are married. When I didn’t hear from you, I assumed that Matthew was out of the picture for gut.”

“We are trying to make him see things clearly, that his son will be born soon, and that he needs to come home. He needs to be a part of the boppli’s life.”

Vera moved uneasily in her chair. How many times had she heard Levi refer to Joshua as his own son? “I suppose you can’t force him.”

“Nee, but we are praying.”

“The baby will be named Joshua.” Vera offered up a weak smile as her stomach churned.

Anna Marie brought a hand to her mouth for a moment. “A boy.” She blinked her eyes a few times. “A son named Joshua.” She smiled. “I will pass this news along to Matthew. Maybe it will make it seem real to him. Sometimes I think I am getting through to him. Other times he seems to be in his own world . . . searching for something his father and I don’t understand.”

Vera took a long sip of her coffee, then slowly put her cup on the table. “I will send word when the child is born.”

“Danki.” Anna Marie paused. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out like either of us hoped and prayed.”

Vera thought about how happy Levi was, and how he looked forward to the safe arrival of “his” baby. “We can’t ever know God’s plan.”

Anna Marie took a deep breath. “When Matthew comes back, we will need to set up custody and visitation like so many of the Englisch do.” She shook her head, and Vera frowned.

“If he comes back, don’t you mean?”

“Ya, I suppose that is what I mean.”

They were quiet for a few moments, and Vera found herself hoping that Matthew wouldn’t come back. For Levi’s sake.

Vera walked Anna Marie out, promising again to let her know when the baby arrived. She watched as Anna Marie’s buggy turned the corner and wondered how their lives had gotten so complicated. But one thing she knew for sure—if Matthew came back to Canaan, things would get even more problematic.