A Perfect Square

Epilogue


THE EARLY JULY SUN had finally begun to set when Samuel jumped out of the back of the farmer’s pickup truck. He waved, settled his hat, and stared at the farmer’s taillights as the man continued to drive down the two-lane road.

Then he began to walk.

Two miles. He would be there before dark.

How many times had he replayed this moment in his mind? But even Samuel’s imagination hadn’t been able to call up the way the sunset colored the western sky or the smell of the corn growing in the fields — nearing its time for picking. Or Reuben’s pond turning from light to dark to midnight blue.

Samuel stopped when he reached the edge of the pond, still a fair ways from the house. He stopped at the place where Katie had first seen the old farmhouse. Taking in a deep breath to steady his nerves, he pulled the oft-read letter from his pocket and smoothed it against his pant leg.

The six months after his hearing had almost been a blessing. He could see that now. He hadn’t been ready to face Timothy and Rachel — to tell them he couldn’t live on the farm where memories of Katie were so strong. And he didn’t want to live in the Englisch world. His work in the prison shops and good behavior had quickly reduced the nine months remaining on his sentence to six.

Six months to pray, to seek forgiveness, to try to find peace within himself and a way to continue life once he was released.

He looked down at the words he’d long ago memorized.

When I began courting the only girl I’ve ever loved, I didn’t know how to control my emotions. Always I loved her, but one moment I would be tender, the next angry about some minor thing. Before we could wed, she died from the sickness gripping our district. I wanted to die with her, but Gotte didn’t choose that path for me. Your mamm was my closest friend and helped me through that dark time, so long ago. Some days the ache is still fresh. Many wonder why I haven’t married another, but Gotte didn’t choose that path for me either. At least he hasn’t yet.



I don’t know by what design Gotte brought you and Katie to my house, or why things turned out the way they did. But I do know it isn’t our place to question Gotte’s wille. And so I extend to you Gotte’s mercy, my forgiveness, a place of work if you ever need it, and always the hand of friendship.

Samuel, you can’t turn back and choose a different path. Live the life you’ve been given.

Samuel folded Reuben’s letter, placed it back in his pocket, and began walking the final distance to the farmhouse. In the distance, he could see the woman, Esther, was standing on the porch, her hands resting atop a very large stomach — no doubt her time to have her child was near. The tall man, Reuben’s cousin, was unpinning laundry from the line. He looked like a poplar tree, he was so gangly. Reuben stood next to the barn, brushing a horse with sure, steady strokes. A young girl stood beside him, helping.

Pulling in a deep breath, Samuel walked toward his new life.


Questions for Group Discussion

At the end of Chapter Six, Tobias called Esther’s attention to the flowers growing at the edge of the field and along the road. He says, “It was Gotte’s wille that you look up and see the ones by the pond’s edge.” As Christians, do you believe we’re put in the midst of difficult situations for a reason? Or was it chance that Esther happened down to the pond that morning?

In Chapter Nine, Deborah’s twin boys were once again in trouble. This is a funny scene, but if they were our children we might not be laughing! Children often do make extra work. Did you think Deborah’s solution was too harsh or was it fair? There’s no doubt she loves the boys, so why does she saddle them with such chores at such a young age?

Ira Bontrager is introduced later in Chapter Nine. If you read the acknowledgement page that follows, you’ll see that the book is dedicated to my father-in-law, who has Alzheimer’s. Ira also suffers from a form of dementia. What was your reaction to this character? Do you have anyone in your life who has suffered from this disease or a similar disease?

In Chapter Eleven, we first see Reuben and Adalyn interact. They seem to be complete opposites, but they will have to find common ground in order to work together. Have you ever had to work with someone that you had nothing in common with? Why does God sometimes put us in situations with people who are nothing like us?

In Chapter Thirteen we are given another glimpse into Samuel and Katie’s past. What is Samuel’s biggest mistake so far? Does he really love Katie?

At the end of Chapter Sixteen, we learn the emotion Reuben is struggling with the most — regret. How can regret block our path? What does the Bible have to say about our past?

In Chapter Twenty-One, Ira tells Callie about the Palm Sunday Tornadoes. Forty-seven tornadoes actually did strike the Midwest on Palm Sunday in 1965, including the town of Shipshewana. What comfort does Scripture give us to help us through such horrific times?

In Chapter Twenty-Four, Callie has a dream. What do you think the dream means? Do dreams mean anything? What does the Bible say about dreams, and does it still apply today?

We finally have the reunion scene between Faith and Ira in Chapter Twenty-Nine. Do you believe such reunions are actually possible in this life? Or only in the next?

This story ends with an emphasis on grace: Katie’s father offers Samuel his hand in grace; Deborah doesn’t understand why the legal system can’t rule by the same grace the bishops would use to guide them; and Samuel pulls from his pocket Reuben’s letter, which offers mercy, forgiveness, and friendship. What place does grace have in our lives?