The man said:
This one, at last, is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
This one shall be called woman,
for out of man this one has been taken.
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.’”
Samuel continued. “Now for the vows. Newehockers, please come forward.” The barn fell silent. Rebekah Elnora Stoll and Joseph Lucas Graber, can you both confess and believe that God has ordained marriage to be a union between one man and one wife, and do you also have the confidence that you are approaching marriage in accordance with the way you have been taught?”
“Yes,” they answered in unison. Rebekah liked the way their voices sounded together. As though she had been waiting all its existence for this very day.
Samuel extended his hand over Joseph. “Do you also have confidence, brother, that the Lord has provided this, our sister, as a marriage partner for you?”
“Yes.” Joseph’s voice was strong. Commanding. Rebekah shivered.
Lucas extended his hand over Rebekah. “Do you also have the confidence, sister, that the Lord has provided this, our brother, as a marriage partner for you?”
“Yes, I do.” And she did, with all of her heart and soul.
Lucas then spoke to his son. “Do you also promise your wife that if she should in bodily weakness, sickness, or any similar circumstances need your help, that you will care for her as is fitting for a Christian husband?”
“Yes.” He sneaked a peek at Rebekah and winked.
Samuel spoke to Rebekah. “Do you promise your husband the same thing, that if he should in bodily weakness, sickness, or any similar circumstances need your help, that you will care for him as is fitting for a Christian wife?”
“Yes.”
Samuel’s voice rang out. “Do you both promise together that you will with love, forbearance, and patience live with each other, and not part from each other until God will separate you from death?”
Joseph looked at Rebekah, and she stared into his eyes. “Yes,” they answered together. “We do.”
Lucas continued. “Your hand please, Rebekah?”
She extended it. To her shock, it was not trembling, though every other part of her, both inside and out, seemed to be. Thankfully, the troublesome, bat-like butterflies had taken roost somewhere deep inside. Hopefully, they would never take flight again.
He placed Rebekah’s hand in Joseph’s. Lucas placed his hand beneath their clasped hands, and Samuel placed his over the top of all of them. “Then,” Lucas said, “may the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you and help you together and give his blessings richly unto you, and this through Jesus Christ, amen.”
Then, it was over. Rebekah was no longer Rebekah Stoll, she was Rebekah Graber, wife to Joseph Graber. A warmth unlike any she’d known before lit her cheeks.
This is it.
Joseph’s hand closed tightly around hers and he gazed into her eyes with an azure fire she’d never seen there before.
The first day of the rest of our life.
***
As everyone filed out of the church and into the winter sunshine, Thomas’s voice rose above all the other happy sounds. “Let’s eat! I’m starving!”
“Meow,” somebody answered.
“No cats at Sissy’s wedding,” Thomas admonished the faceless meow-er. “Or Katie will feed you dead mice.”
A good natured laugh rolled across the neighbors and friends.
“Rebekah,” Elnora called. “Come, seat your guests.”
Annie fell in step beside her. “Remember,” she whispered. “We have a plan.”
Rebekah nodded and strode immediately to Katie. “Hello, Katie Knepp,” she grinned. She looped her arm through one of Katie’s and Annie looped her arm through the other. “You can’t get away now,” Rebekah joked.
Annie kicked out a chair and the pair of them sat Katie down. “Your seat is here. And you can’t move from where the bride sits you, or it’s seen as disrespectful.”
“Rebekah St—” she began. Then, caught herself. “Rebekah Graber, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Annie, remind your sister about the Amish custom of matchmaking at wedding suppers while I go collect someone.”
Annie nodded at Katie and began to remind her that this is customary for unmarried people. When the bride sits you together, you’re considered matched.
Rebekah bounced off to find her brother. Thankfully, he was nearby. “Come on, Peter,” she demanded. She looped one arm through his, the same way she’d done Katie. “I’ll be back for you, Patty and Noah,” she called. “I have a bit of business to tend to first!”
“Rebekah, what are you—” he began, then stopped.
Annie had his chair, right next to Katie’s, pulled out and ready. “Sit,” she commanded.
He eased himself down in the chair. Like Lucas and Samuel had done, Rebekah joined their hands together atop the table. “It is finished!”
Joseph appeared beside her. “Come on,” he whispered into her ear. “Your job is done and we have gifts to tend to. Leave the rest to God.”
Rebekah consented to be pulled away, into the throng of well-wishers. “Up to God,” she repeated. “And Katie Knepp.”
***
Katie looked at Peter. Still, she felt so ashamed for her behavior. She’d apologized to Peter a thousand times a day, every day, but only in her mind. When she went to visit Peter, she spoke vaguely.
“Did you see Rebekah’s gift from Joseph?” Peter kept the conversation light, thankfully. “It was really something.”
“No, I didn’t. What was it?”
“He went all-out for it; it will hang in their bedroom. He had Mr. Williams help him fashion a shingle of sorts out of a chunk of a tulip tree.”
“Oh them and their tulip tree traditions,” Katie joshed. Inside, she almost smiled. Almost.
“On it,” Peter continued, “was carved: ‘The Grabers. Established December 3, 1889. Joseph and Rebekah. Because she said yes.’”
