An Amish Reunion

by Amy Clipston

  Rustling sounds emanated from the open window once again. “Stuffed pork chops. My favorite.”

  She leaned against the door and stared at the starlit night. What are you doing, Hannah?

  I’m standing at the fork in the road, trying to catch my breath.

  “How’s Evie?”

  “She got another tooth yesterday. She’s been in a foul mood, but now she’s better.”

  “She’s moody like her mother.”

  “I’m not moody.” Hannah slid down to sit, back against the door, on the porch floor. She wrapped her arms around her knees. “I was the easy one to get along with.”

  Or Thaddeus could always coax her from her moods by tickling her until she shrieked with laughter. Or by bringing her flowers he picked from his mother’s front yard. Or by telling her one of his grandpa’s silly jokes.

  “Do you remember when we snuck out of the house and went to Stockton Lake and I fell in the water and you laughed so hard you snorted?”

  The first time he kissed her. “A person doesn’t forget something like that.”

  Did he know how safe she felt in his arms, how happy she’d been, how certain she would be his wife and he would be her husband? Did he remember how they’d snuggled together, his clothes sopping wet and dripping all over her? They’d kissed and kissed until her face hurt and her bones melted and floated into the shimmering lake in front of them.

  “I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you.” He cleared his throat. “What we did, we did because we loved each other. Everyone thinks we committed a lustful act. And we did. But those feelings came from love. What we did was wrong, but not the feelings.”

  “That doesn’t change anything.”

  “I’m trying to say that I believe every part of us was in love. We loved. We love. There’s no separating any part of it. We should’ve waited. I should’ve been stronger. I never should have led you down that road. For that, I’m sorry. But I will never be sorry for loving you.”

  Blood beat like a drum in Hannah’s head. She couldn’t think. Swirling, vast emotion tugged her deeper and deeper until she had no breath.

  “Hannah, are you there?”

  “I dream about us all the time.” She dreamed they were husband and wife with flowers growing as far as the eye could see and children and the life she once thought they would have. “Then I wake up and I’m mad at you all over again.”

  For what they’d lost.

  Every time she was sure she’d forgiven him, she would overhear a snide comment at The Book Apothecary or catch a knowing look from a group of women at Sweet Notions, reminding her what they’d done and what he’d done. It was as if the wound was new again, the bandage needed changing, and she had to rip it off and start over.

  “If you could find it in your heart to truly forgive me, we could start over again. At the beginning. When I finish the bann, we could go for a ride—”

  “Can we just sit and be quiet?”

  “We can do that.”

  She leaned her head against the door and stared out at the dusk. A warm breeze—the precursor to a Missouri summer—washed over her. Leaves rustled in the trees. She inhaled and exhaled. It smelled like summer. Cardinals and blue jays argued over the best real estate in Burke’s two oak trees.

  The fork in the road reared up to meet her.

  “I love you.” She whispered the words. “I will always love you.”

  “Gut. Because I will always love you.”

  His words were filled with barely tethered emotion.

  She closed her eyes and let a future full of endless possibilities envelop her.

  “Will you marry me?”

  Longing for his touch welled up in Hannah. The hugs and kisses would wait. The sheer enormity of her love—their love—would bind them together far beyond any physical touch. The time for hugs and kisses would come soon enough, sweeter for the wait. She drew her knees closer and tightened her arms around them. “Jah, I will.”

  Love needed no more words.

  Feelings floated on the star-kissed breeze. They intermingled. The air became electric. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, yet lightning crackled and sparked against the velvety richness of night.

  “When?”

  Hannah laughed. She scrambled to her feet and blew a kiss through the open window. “As soon as possible. I’ll be waiting for you.”

  Thaddeus’s kisses floated on the air around her as she skipped down the steps and into a future filled with many more days and nights of love and laughter.

  EPILOGUE

  Seven weeks later

  The stares no longer held contempt or pity. Only delight. Hannah strolled through the throng of family members and friends wishing her and Thaddeus a long and happy life together.

  She couldn’t stop smiling. Under the circumstances a small wedding had been Ben’s decree, but his smile had softened the implied criticism. The past was behind them. They’d been forgiven and now they would live the life everyone had hoped and prayed for.

  The small crowd parted and slipped from the barn. Laura waited, her hands wrapped around the handles of Zechariah’s wheelchair. He had both arms around Evie, who crowed with delight at every person who passed by. Zechariah looked wizened, a frail ghost of his former self, but his smile radiated as brightly as the sun overhead.

  “Congratulations, my girl.” One arm flailed while the other remained firmly anchored around Evie’s waist. “Thaddeus, Godspeed.”

  Hannah ran ahead. She wrapped him in a hug. His skinny body was all pointy bones. “I’m so glad you could be here.”

  “I ain’t going nowhere, girl. Not yet anyhow.”

  “He’s too ornery.” Laura joined in on the hug. “The doctor says he’ll beat us all by ten years. Get over here, Thaddeus, I want to hug your neck.”

  Thaddeus obliged. “Danki for everything. Both of you.”

  “We didn’t do nothing.” Zechariah snorted. “You best take gut care of her now. And this bopli.”

  “Daed, daed!” Evie flung both chunky arms in the air. “Take me!”

  “She called me daed.” Thaddeus’s smile widened. He took her into his arms. “She knows me.”

  They’d spent every possible moment together over the past three weeks since his release from the bann. Evie had taken to following him around the house like a little puppy, sitting on his lap, and begging him to sing to her.

  “Take her in the house with you.” Laura patted his arm. “Have a seat at the eck. I’ll come get her as soon as I say hi to everyone.”

  Only a few people had come from out of town. Ben had made it clear that weddings under these circumstances were to be low-key, forgiveness or not.

  Nothing could mar Hannah’s happiness. Life would not be easy. Scripture contained no words that said it would be. But she and Thaddeus had overcome their sin and made it right through repentance and penitence. Their slates were clean.

  She squeezed Thaddeus’s free hand as they neared her parents’ house. He squeezed back and grinned.

  “Now?” He glanced around. That mischievous glint was back in his eyes. “Now can I kiss you?”

  She followed his gaze. People were everywhere. Friends, family, visitors.

  They were married after all.

  “Quick.” His grip tightened. He tugged her up the porch stairs.

  “Thaddeus!”

  Inside the front door, he pulled her along the hallway and into the bedroom that had once belonged to her. “Little one, let’s play hide and seek. You hide your eyes.” He freed his hand and slipped it over Evie’s eyes. He leaned into Hannah’s space. “Come here, fraa.”

  “I’m right here, mann.”

  Hannah wrapped her arms around the two most important people in the world as she kissed him back.

  The kiss was sweet, long, and filled with promise.

  Their lips parted. He straightened. “The first of many, many kisses.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.” />
  And then he made good on that promise.

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1.The Amish follow biblical Scripture that says sex is intended to be enjoyed within the confines of marriage. Premarital sex is a sin. Today’s culture says otherwise. How do you deal with the pressures to conform to the world? What do you say to those who call this attitude old-fashioned and out of step with the modern world?

  2.How do you feel about Thaddeus’s family shunning him when he refuses to repent and face punishment for his sin? Do you find the eight-week bann after his confession harsh or not harsh enough for what he did to Hannah?

  3.Phillip recognizes that he has sinned by not forgiving Thaddeus and he asks God to forgive him. Have you ever been in a situation where you were called to forgive, but found it impossible to do so? How did you resolve the situation?

  4.Hannah feels as if her family and friends have forgiven her, but they haven’t forgotten what she’s done. People often say they may forgive, but they’ll never forget. Is that a scripturally sound attitude? Why or why not? Have you experienced similar situations? How did it make you feel?

  5.Hannah chooses to forgive Thaddeus and forge a new life with him and their daughter. Do you think she did the right thing? Put yourself in Hannah’s shoes. Could you do the same?

  6.Do you think Hannah should’ve chosen Phillip? Why or why not?

  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

  AMY CLIPSTON

  Photo by Dan Davis Photography

  AMY CLIPSTON is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, and Amish Homestead series. She has sold more than one million books. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and three spoiled rotten cats.

  Visit her online at AmyClipston.com

  Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks

  Twitter: @AmyClipston

  Instagram: @amy_clipston

  BETH WISEMAN

  Photo by Emilie Hendryx

  Bestselling and award-winning author Beth Wiseman has sold over two million books. She is the recipient of the coveted Holt Medallion, a two-time Carol Award winner, and has won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award three times. Her books have been on various bestseller lists, including CBD, CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly. Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying country life in south central Texas.

  Visit her online at BethWiseman.com

  Facebook: AuthorBethWiseman

  Twitter: @BethWiseman

  Instagram: @bethwisemanauthor

  KATHLEEN FULLER

  With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield.

  Visit her online at KathleenFuller.com

  Instagram: kfstoryteller

  Facebook: WriterKathleenFuller

  Twitter: @TheKatJam

  KELLY IRVIN

  Photo by Tim Irvin

  Kelly Irvin is the bestselling author of the Every Amish Season and Amish of Bee County series. The Beekeeper’s Son received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, who called it a “beautifully woven masterpiece.” The two-time Carol Award finalist is a former newspaper reporter and retired public relations professional. Kelly lives in Texas with her husband, photographer Tim Irvin. They have two children, two grandchildren, and two cats. In her spare time, she likes to read books by her favorite authors.

  Visit her online at KellyIrvin.com

  Instagram: kelly_irvin

  Facebook: Kelly.Irvin.Author

  Twitter: @Kelly_S_Irvin