Chapter Three
It was finally Sunday and Hannah was as happy as she could be. She needed desperately to hear a word from God this morning.
She searched her closet for an appropriate outfit and chose a gray cotton dress. Hannah turned around, looked at herself in the mirror, pinched her waistline, and decided that she’d probably lost a couple of pounds. With all of the work she’d been doing around the farm, coupled with the lack of sleep and stress about the loan, she wasn’t surprised. In fact, she hadn’t had much of an appetite lately anyway.
Hannah slipped into her shoes, grabbed her black purse and was on her way. Once she reached downstairs, she ate a blueberry muffin and drank a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice before heading out the door. She got into her horse carriage and started out towards the road. She was so distracted by her own thoughts though, that she almost drove the horses right into a tree. Lord, help me, she pleaded before going down the road.
Benjamin, his aunt, and uncle all piled into his cousin’s horse wagon, which was already filled with John’s wife and two children. Luckily the wagon could hold all of them if they squeezed together.
“Thanks for picking us up this morning,” Benjamin said, feeling like a burden.
“Oh, it’s no problem at all.” John said, “We always pick up Mom and Dad on Sundays. Dad doesn’t ride much anymore and it keeps the family close, you know?”
“Yes, I know what you mean.” Benjamin remembered riding to the church service in his buggy with his wife and daughter. “Where is the community church service being held?”
“The Bielers family is hosting it today.”
Benjamin tried to recollect if he remembered them from the old days, but his mind drew a blank. “I guess I don’t know them.”
John patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, brother. I will make the introductions.”
For the rest of the ride Benjamin sat quietly reflecting on how nice it was to be around a loving family. Being here provided a warmth in his heart that he couldn’t quite describe, despite the nagging issues that were at the back of his mind.
As Benjamin walked in, the Bielers welcomed him warmly even though he was a stranger. John introduced Benjamin and made some small talk before they settled to one corner of the big hall.
Benjamin opened up his Bible and was about to read, but something in front caught his eye. He looked ahead and noticed a woman with red hair seated a couple of rows ahead. She looked hauntingly familiar. At first he couldn’t remember where he’d seen her before, but after a moment, he was able to identify her. It was his high school sweetheart, Hannah. He couldn’t believe that he’d actually forgotten about her, although it had been about twenty-two years. He watched her sit down next to a gentleman that he assumed was her husband.
Benjamin thought about their last meeting and how Hannah’s father had promised her hand in marriage to another, causing her to break up with him. He’d been broken hearted. In fact, that had been the main reason he left the village so abruptly. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to bear seeing her with another person.
After a while, other people filled up the rows and he could no longer see anything but a glimpse of the back of her head. She’d always had that long red hair covered in a prayer kapp.
After the completion of a lovely and fruitful service, once they were out of the hall, Benjamin excused himself from his family and walked up to Hannah. He stood in front of her and said, “So how’ve you been?”
Hannah’s eyes grew wide. She recognized him instantly but since she hadn’t seen him in over twenty years, she was shocked. “I’m blessed and how are you?”
“Doing just fine, thank you.” Benjamin smiled.
Hannah noticed that he revealed his still perfectly straight and white teeth. “Well, it’s so nice to see you again. What are you doing here?”
Benjamin put his hands into his pockets and shrugged as if he was a little boy. “I’m here just visiting my family for a little while,” he said.
“Oh, that’s so nice.” Hannah smiled and searched for the right words to say as her heart raced. Benjamin had been her first love and seeing him again brought back all of the emotions of that time.
Benjamin took in her soft smile and gentle voice, remembering what it used to be like talking to her for hours. “You are here today at the church service.”
“Yes, I am.” Hannah nodded. She wasn’t sure where the conversation was going.
“Then you must still live in the area?”
“Yes, actually I do.” Hannah’s cheeks turned bright red. She was embarrassed about her lack of travel experience. “I never moved far away. Been stuck in the same old village.”
Benjamin studied her smooth face. There wasn’t a line or blemish visible. “I wouldn’t say you’ve been stuck. Sometimes old villages can have the most beautiful things in them.”
“I suppose that’s true. What about you? I haven’t seen you around here in years.”
“I’ve been living in a town a few miles away. I got a job, got married, had a daughter and was doing pretty good for myself.”
Hannah nodded. “That’s good. I-”
At that moment a burly woman interrupted by pulling Hannah away, “Excuse me, but Hannah, you’ve got to see what I brought for you. It’s in the wagon.”
“It was good seeing you again,” Hannah added before disappearing into the crowd.
Benjamin watched Hannah being escorted away by her friend and wondered if he’d ever see her again.
“Oh well,” he told himself, “It’s probably for the best. I wouldn’t want to run into her husband anyway.”
Benjamin went back to join his family but he didn’t mention the chance meeting that had taken place.
That evening Hannah tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She wasn’t sure why seeing Benjamin again had upset her. Perhaps it was because she had unresolved feelings for him. In any case, she knew that she had to dispose of them.
“God, please give me strength,” she prayed. After she’d broken up with him, he had understandably gone on with his life, and he had a family now; he had his wife and daughter. And she had no one. Hannah read a few passages of scripture and cried herself to sleep that night.