Rebecca's Return by Jerry S. Eicher

placing her hand on his forehead.
    He knew the familiar gesture, but wished his mother would stop it. He was a grown man now.
    “You worried?” she asked.
    “She hasn’t written,” John said, thinking that was explanation enough. “Or called,” he added, just in case it wasn’t.
    “She’s fine, John,” his father told him, getting in on the conversation, the last of his cake heading toward his mouth. “Babies take time.”
    John figured now was the time to tell his parents his news.
    “I asked her a few weeks ago to marry me.”
    “Oh?” was all his mother said.
    “Said yes?” was Isaac’s response.
    John nodded.
    “It’s good you do have the eighty acres then.” Isaac pushed his plate away. “When will you start remodeling?”
    “This summer maybe…” His parents’ confidence was disconcerting to him, making him certain his present fears were best left unsaid.
    “She’s a nice girl,” Miriam added. “Always thought so. Good family too. Set a date yet?”
    “Next spring—maybe.” John said it easily enough, even with how he was feeling.
    “Our only boy,” Isaac commented, nostalgia in his voice. “Even they grow up.”
    “Makes us all old,” Miriam said. “Exercising holds it off…a little at least.”
    Isaac refused to take the bait. “So she’s not let you know when she’s coming back.”
    John shook his head, not trusting the sound of his own voice. It was embarrassing how this girl was getting to him, and he wished not to show it. He should be confident and not so worried.
    “It’s all the work,” Miriam said, as if reading his thoughts. “Rebecca had a lot of things to do. Women work hard when babies come.”
    Isaac pretended to glare at her. “We men do nothing?”
    “Scarce little— afterward. ” She squinted her eyes at him.
    “I did change a few diapers though,” he reminded her, unoffended.
    “I suppose so,” she allowed. “So what should John do?”
    “Ah. She’ll be around soon,” Isaac said, his voice reassuring.
    The comfort did little for John.
    Miriam must have noticed. “Have you thought of going over to her parents’ place?”
    “Now?” he asked, trying to keep the feeling out of his voice.
    “Well, why not?” She shrugged her shoulders. “They might know something.”
    “Maybe she’s already home,” Isaac said, adding his opinion.
    “How would that look?” John asked. “Home and not letting me know.”
    John waited for Miriam’s response, trusting his mother more when it came to these matters. His father was a good preacher, holding the congregation spellbound with one of his Sunday morning stem-winders, but here his mother was the knowledgeable one.
    “I think you should go and find out,” she said. “That is, if you have to know.”
    Isaac, noting his son’s face, said with a grin, “Glad my time of courting is over.”
    “Don’t want to do it again?” Miriam asked, pretending she wasn’t listening for his answer.
    “Nope. You’re staying with me till the end.”
    “ Da Hah told you that too?”
    “No,” he allowed, “I just need you.”
    Miriam smiled at that.
    John cleared his throat. “Maybe I’ll run over. It’s almost dark, but it’s still early.”
    “Whatever you think,” Miriam told him, getting up to clear the table.
    “I’ll go now,” John said and got up to leave.

     
    Well after John had left for the barn, Isaac asked, “What’d you think about that?”
    “I knew something had been bothering him. Wasn’t sure what.”
    “You think Rebecca’s good for him?”
    “You heard what I said. You were right here.”
    “I know. He was here too.”
    “I think she’s a nice girl.”
    “You ever hear anything about—before they moved here?”
    “No. They came from Milroy.”
    He said nothing, staring off into the distance.
    “You heard anything?” She was alarmed again.
    “No, but that’s strange too. There’s usually something.”
    “You should know. You’re a minister.”
    “Sometimes