Page 23 of Unforgotten

Standing on the worn dirt path leading from the Hostetlers’ house into town, half listening to the cicadas buzzing in the distance, Jay continued to think over his conversation with Bethanne.

He grimaced.

It had gone from bad to worse. Truthfully, it had been a fiasco. Kicking a rock that had the misfortune of being in his path, Jay berated himself. He’d waited so long for Bethanne to finally see him. To realize that he was more than just a friend of Peter’s. That he’d grown into a man she could depend on and trust.

Why hadn’t he been able to wait a little longer before paying a formal call? He wanted her for the rest of his life. Put that way, why couldn’t he have bided his time at least a little while longer? Not pushed so hard?

It was time to do what he should have done from the beginning—rely on the Lord. He just hoped that His timeline didn’t involve more years of waiting.

He grimaced. There he went again, wishing and hoping for something to happen quickly. “God, please help me, if You see fit to do so. Please give me the strength to be patientand put Bethanne’s needs before mine.” After closing his eyes and adding a few prayers for his family, he opened them.

And found Seth Zimmerman walking toward him. He was wearing what Jay had come to think of as his usual attire. Jeans, a white T-shirt, and a pair of tennis shoes. Seth was also studying him with a concerned expression. And no wonder, because he’d been standing here with his eyes closed.

The sight of the man—his life intertwined so closely with Bethanne’s—nearly took his breath away. Seth was the one who’d discovered Peter Miller attempting to rape Bethanne. When he pulled Peter away, they fought, Seth hit him, and Peter went down. Hitting his head on a rock when he fell. When he died, Seth was arrested.

Because Seth had been young, scared to death, and had only an overworked public defender to speak for him, he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to five years. He was paroled after serving two, but that horrible night’s events had divided their community. Some folks had even gone so far as to doubt that Peter had assaulted Bethanne.

Jay knew better, of course. He owed so much to Seth. Without his intervention, Bethanne would have suffered even more than she had. “Hey,” he said as he stepped forward. “How are ya, Seth?”

“I’m gut.” Looking as if he was trying not to grin, he said, “I’ve been watching you for the last couple of minutes. I was kind of worried about you for a spell.”

“I was praying.”

“Mmm. Gotcha.” Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he nodded. “Well, I’ll let you get back to it.”

As Seth moved forward, Jay realized his advice would be welcome. “Hey, do you have a minute?”

Seth stopped and searched Jay’s face. “You all right?”

“Jah. Actually, it’s not exactly about me.”

“Ah. It’s Bethanne.”

He nodded. “How did you know?”

“A good guess.” Looking like he was thinking of more than a couple of secrets, Seth shrugged. “Plus, I’ve been there a time or two. With Tabitha.”

There was no reason to pretend he wasn’t in love with Bethanne. “Yeah ... so I think I just made a big mistake with her.”

“Mistakes happen. No one expects us to be perfect. Not even God.”

“No, you don’t understand. I went calling on Bethanne today.”

“That is a right and proper thing for you to do.” He paused. “What was the problem? Did her parents get upset at you being there?”

He shook his head. “Nee. Her mother invited me in and then went to get Bethanne.” He lowered his voice. “She had to coax her to come down to talk to me, though.”

“Why?”

“I ... I don’t even know anymore. I used to think it was all wrapped up in my friendship with Peter, but that can’t be the only thing. Plus, I felt something between us. Something important, Seth.”

“Ah.”

“Bethanne has even said she’s forgiven me for not realizing that Peter was capable of such violence.”

“That is a blessing.” Seth seemed to think about that for a moment. “But forgiving someone isn’t the same as accepting a suit, I suppose.”

Jay shrugged. “Right now, I’m thinking that they’re miles apart. Worlds apart.”

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