The Decision Read Online Free

before Elaine had suggested it, both friends had said the flowers would be planted in memory of Grandpa Schrock, an affectionate name they had called him by all these years.
    Elaine closed her eyes, and even with both doors tightly shut, she heard Grandma’s muffled crying from the room across the hall. As Elaine drifted fitfully to sleep, her last words of prayer were for Grandma to find the strength to go on.

    Elaine sat straight up in bed and glanced at the clock on her dresser. It was nearly midnight, and she’d only been asleep a few hours. A noise seemed to be coming from the kitchen. She tipped her head and listened, trying to make out what it was.
    Then Elaine caught a whiff of something cooking. But that was impossible; Grandma had gone to bed hours ago.
    Pushing her covers aside, Elaine crawled out of bed and put her robe and slippers on. Opening her bedroom door, she padded down the hall toward the kitchen.
    When she stepped into the room, she was surprised to see Grandma standing in front of the stove, flipping pancakes with an oversized spatula.
    “Grandma, what are you doing out of bed, and why are you making pancakes at this time of night?” Elaine asked, joining her at the stove.
    Grandma turned to look at Elaine. “I’m sorry, dear. Did I wake you?”
    “Well, I…”
    Grandma placed one hand on her stomach and gave it a pat. “I’m
hungerich
, and I had a craving for
pannekuche
. Would you like some, too?”
    Elaine shook her head. “I’m not hungry, and after the long day we’ve had, you should be tired, too.”
    “I couldn’t sleep, and I was thirsty.” Grandma’s mouth twisted grimly. “My bed seems empty without my dear husband to share it.”
    Elaine wanted to say that she understood, but having never been married, she couldn’t fully comprehend the scope of what Grandma must be feeling right now. “Would it help if you slept in one of the guest rooms upstairs?” she suggested.
    Grandma shook her head vigorously. “I am not leaving the bedroom your grandpa and I shared for so many years.” She sighed and turned off the propane-operated stove. “It’ll take me awhile to get used to sleeping alone, but I’ll manage somehow.”
    Grandma placed the pancakes on a plate, grabbed the syrup bottle from the cupboard, and sat at the table. “Even in my loss, I can give thanks for all that the Lord provides.” She bowed her head and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, Elaine took a seat beside her.
    “Are you sure you’re not hungerich?” Grandma asked, taking a drink of water from the glass she’d placed on the table. “I’d be happy to share some of these pannekuche with you.”
    “No. I’ll just sit here and watch you eat,” Elaine replied. She guessed it was good that Grandma was eating now, as she hadn’t had much to eat at the meal after Grandpa’s graveside service, and neither had Elaine.
    “As you like.” Grandma poured syrup over the pancakes and took her first bite. “Your grandpa loved pure maple syrup. He liked buttermilk pancakes the best, but I think he would have eaten any kind that was set before him.” Grandma chuckled. “As much as that man liked to eat, it was amazing that he didn’t have a problem with his weight.”
    “I guess it was because he always worked so hard,” Elaine commented.
    “Jah, and before he retired from farming, he labored in the fields, so it was no wonder he had such a hearty appetite.”
    Grandma went on to talk about how she and Grandpa had met at a young people’s singing many years ago—a story Elaine had heard several times. But she listened patiently, knowing it did Grandma good to reminisce like this, and it would no doubt help the healing process. Truthfully, Elaine never tired of hearing it. She was comforted by hearing about how things had been when Grandpa and Grandma were young.
    When the grandfather clock in the living room struck one, Elaine suggested that they both head back to bed.
    Grandma yawned.