A Beautiful Arrangement
Page 24
Peter honked as he pulled into their driveway with Rebecca. Dawn and Liam, along with their daughter, followed in their car. Liam quickly retrieved ten-month-old Margaret Delila, whom they’d taken to calling Marge, from her car seat. “I hear it’s mandatory to teach the babies to swim since the river is nearby,” he said before he entered the pool with his daughter, joining the other daddies. Peter was wearing swim trunks too.
“Boys. I’m not sure they ever really grow up,” Beverly said as she carried a platter of cookies to the table. She rolled her eyes before she set the goodies down and then hugged Dawn and Rebecca.
Most Saturday afternoons, Levi and Mary showed up with their new baby, and so did Lydia’s parents. Samuel picked up his folks if his father was feeling well enough to come. And even Levi’s brother, Lucas, and his wife, Natalie, came with Mary and Levi sometimes. Natalie was also pregnant. Soon they would need a bigger pool to accommodate all the daddies and little ones.
Basically, she and Samuel had given everyone a standing invitation to meet at their house on weekends as soon as the pool appeared. Lydia suspected it was a tradition they would carry for years to come.
But at the end of the day, on the weekends Rebecca and her family were visiting and after everyone else had gone home, Samuel, Lydia, Joseph, and Beverly packed up their little ones and traveled to Margaret’s former home. Lydia always took a basket to fill with wildflowers, awash in the fields lining the road to the old house. She thought the gorgeous blooms might just be extremely tolerant during the hot months, even without much rain. But maybe God meant them to be a reminder that all things become beautiful under His hand.
Rebecca’s family loved the Lord, and today she led them in prayer as they all held hands and stood around Margaret’s apple tree. They’d planted it in her honor not long after she died. Even with the right conditions, it might be a while before it produced Margaret’s favorite fruit, but sometimes good things were worth waiting for. Until that day, they’d place freshly picked wildflowers around the tree.
Lydia smiled at her husband, then thanked God for His perfect timing.
Discussion Questions
Lydia and Samuel are both struggling within their marriage. Did you sympathize with one character more than the other? If so, why?
Beverly carries a big secret throughout much of the book. Did you agree with her way of thinking? Would things have turned out the same or differently if she’d told Joseph the truth from the beginning?
How did you feel when Joseph broke up with Beverly?
Margaret is loosely based on someone I don’t know, but I see her around town. I always wondered what her story was, and from what I’ve been told, members of our small town have tried to help this person. Do you know anyone who is homeless? How did they end up that way?
There are several tender moments in this story. Which scene was your favorite and why?
Samuel and Lydia love each other, but they aren’t in love at the beginning of the book. At what point did you notice them starting to fall in love with each other?
We don’t get to meet Delila in the story, only her daughter, Rebecca. Because of this, we can’t fully understand why Delila chose to run away with Rebecca. What might have been some determining factors as to why Delila left? Or is there no excuse for what Delila did?
Lydia feels called to help Margaret. How would the story have ended up if Lydia hadn’t followed her calling? What would have become of Margaret? Would Rebecca have ever found out the truth? What about Margaret; would she have been surrounded by loved ones when she passed?
Samuel and Lydia have a fight after their lavish date night. The timing was terrible since Margaret chose that as one of the nights to park at the end of Samuel and Lydia’s driveway—or was the timing spot-on? Did that need to happen so they would face some of the problems within their marriage?
Samuel seems to carry most of the burden about getting Lydia pregnant before they were married. Should he be the one to shoulder the load since he’s older? Or, as the saying goes, it takes two to tango?
If you could change any part of the story, what would it be, and why?
Which character could you relate to the most? Who did you feel sorry for, if anyone? Was there someone you rooted for the most?
Acknowledgments
Linda Crane, it is an honor to dedicate this book to you. I cherish the painting you did of me, capturing the first time I went fishing at our cabin. Southern Indiana has become a second home to me, and I think of you as part of my family there.
To Sharon and Sam Hanners, thank you for opening your home and hearts to me. I love and appreciate you both very much.
Natasha Kern, my fabulous agent, I hope we are on this journey together forever. xo
To all the folks at HarperCollins Christian Fiction, thank you for your dedication to each project. Special thanks to my editors on this novel, Kimberly Carlton and Jean Bloom.
Janet Murphy, my dear friend and assistant, you are totally irreplaceable professionally and personally. I love and appreciate you very much.
To Wiseman’s Warriors, you gals are the best street team a girl could have! Thank you for all you do to promote my books.
Friends and family—especially my husband, Patrick—thank you for supporting me on this amazing journey that has continued far longer than I could have ever dreamed. And there are still a lot of books bouncing around in my mind, characters shouting to be heard, lol.
And to God, my heavenly Father, thank you for blessing me with stories to tell.
Glossary
ab im kopp: crazy, off in the head
ach: oh
aenti: aunt
boppli: baby
bruder: brother
daed: dad
danki: thank you
Deutsch: Dutch
dochder: daughter
Englisch: those who are not Amish; the English language
fraa: wife
Gott: God
grossmudder: grandmother
gut: good
haus: house
kapp: prayer covering worn by Amish women
kinner: children
lieb: love
maedel/maeds: girl/girls
mamm: mom
mammi: grandmother
mei: my
mudder: mother
nee: no
rumschpringe: “running around”; the period of time when Amish youth experience life in the Englisch world before making the decision to be baptized and commit to Amish life
schweschder: sister
sohn: son
Wie bischt?: Hello; how are you?
ya: yes
About the Author
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, is a two-time Carol Award winner, and has won the Inspirational Reader’s 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
Acclaim for Beth Wiseman
A Beautiful Arrangement
“A Beautiful Arrangement has so much heart you won’t want to put it down until you’ve read the last page. I love second-chance love stories, and Lydia and Samuel’s story is heartbreaking and sweet with unexpected twists and turns that make their journey to love all the more satisfying. Beth’s fans will cherish this book.”
—Jennifer Beckstrand, author of The Petersheim Brothers series
Listening to Love
“Wiseman is at her best in this surprising tale of love and faith.”
—Publishers Weekly
“I always find Beth Wiseman's books to be both tenderly romantic and
thought provoking. She has a way of setting a scene that makes me feel like I'm part of an Amish community and visiting for supper. I loved the title of this book, the message about faith and God, and the heartfelt romance between Lucas and Natalie. Listening to Love has everything I love in a Beth Wiseman novel—a strong faith message, a touching romance, and a beautiful sense of place. Beth is such an incredibly gifted storyteller.”
—Shelley Shepard Gray, bestselling author of the Seasons of Sugarcreek series
“Listening to Love is vintage Beth Wiseman . . . Clear your calendar because you’re going to want to read this one in a single sitting.”
—Vannetta Chapman, author of the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series
Hearts in Harmony
“This is a sweet story, not only of romance, but of older generations and younger generations coming together in friendship. It’s a tear jerker as well as an uplifting story.”
—Parkersburg News & Sentinel
“Beth Wiseman has penned a poignant story of friendship, faith, and love that is sure to touch readers’ hearts.”
—Kathleen Fuller, author of the Middlefield Family novels
“Beth Wiseman’s Hearts in Harmony is a lyrical hymn. Mary and Levi are heartwarming, lovable characters who instantly feel like dear friends. Once readers open this book, they won’t put it down until they’ve reached the last page.”
—Amy Clipston, bestselling author of A Seat by the Hearth
Amish Celebrations
“Wiseman’s (Amish Secrets) collection of timeless stories of love and loss among the Plain People will delight fans of the author’s heartfelt story lines and flowing prose.”
—Library Journal
Home All Along
“Beth Wiseman’s novel will find a permanent home in every reader’s heart as she spins comfort and prose into a stellar read of grace.”
—Kelly Long, author of the Patch of Heaven series
Love Bears All Things
“Suggest to those seeking a more truthful, less saccharine portrayal of the trials of human life and the transformative growth and redemption that may occur as a result.”
—Library Journal
Her Brother’s Keeper
“Wiseman has created a series in which the readers have a chance to peel back all the layers of the Amish secrets.”
—RT Book Reviews, 41/2 stars and July 2015 Top Pick!
“Wiseman’s new launch is edgier, taking on the tough issues of mental illness and suicide. Amish fiction fans seeking something a bit more thought-provoking and challenging than the usual fare will find this series debut a solid choice.”
—Library Journal
The Land of Canaan Novels
“Wiseman’s voice is consistently compassionate, and her words flow smoothly.”
—Publishers Weekly on Seek Me with All Your Heart
“Wiseman’s third Land of Canaan novel overflows with romance, broken promises, a modern knight in shining armor, and hope at the end of the rainbow.”
—RT Book Reviews
“In Seek Me with All Your Heart, Beth Wiseman offers readers a heartwarming story filled with complex characters and deep emotion. I instantly loved Emily, and eagerly turned each page, anxious to learn more about her past—and what future the Lord had in store for her.”
—Shelley Shepard Gray, bestselling author of the Seasons of Sugarcreek series
“Wiseman has done it again! Beautifully compelling, Seek Me with All Your Heart is a heartwarming story of faith, family, and renewal. Her characters and descriptions are captivating, bringing the story to life with the turn of every page.”
—Amy Clipston, bestselling author of A Gift of Grace
The Daughters of the Promise Novels
“Well-defined characters and story make for an enjoyable read.”
—RT Book Reviews on Plain Pursuit
“A touching, heartwarming story. Wiseman does a particularly great job of dealing with shunning, a controversial Amish practice that seems cruel and unnecessary to outsiders . . . If you’re a fan of Amish fiction, don’t miss Plain Pursuit!”
—Kathleen Fuller, author of the Middlefield Family novels
Other Books by Beth Wiseman
The Amish Inn Novels
A Picture of Love (available November 2020)
The Amish Journey Novels
Hearts in Harmony
Listening to Love
The Amish Secrets Novels
Her Brother’s Keeper
Love Bears All Things
Home All Along
The Land of Canaan Novels
Seek Me with All Your Heart
The Wonder of Your Love
His Love Endures Forever
The Daughters of the Promise Novels
Plain Perfect
Plain Pursuit
Plain Promise
Plain Paradise
Plain Proposal
Plain Peace
Other Novels
Need You Now
The House that Love Built
The Promise
Story Collections
An Amish Year
Amish Celebrations
Stories
A Choice to Forgive included in An Amish Christmas
A Change of Heart included in An Amish Gathering
Healing Hearts included in An Amish Love
A Perfect Plan included in An Amish Wedding
A Recipe for Hope included in An Amish Kitchen
Always Beautiful included in An Amish Miracle
Rooted in Love included in An Amish Garden
When Christmas Comes Again included in An Amish Second Christmas
In His Father’s Arms included in An Amish Cradle
A Cup Half Full included in An Amish Home
The Cedar Chest included in An Amish Heirloom
When Love Returns included in An Amish Homecoming
A Reunion of Hearts included in An Amish Reunion
Loaves of Love included in An Amish Christmas Bakery
Copyright
ZONDERVAN
A Beautiful Arrangement
Copyright © 2020 by Elizabeth Wiseman Mackey
This title is also available as a Zondervan ebook.
This title is also available as a Zondervan audio book.
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Wiseman, Beth, 1962- author.
Title: A beautiful arrangement / Beth Wiseman.
Description: Grand Rapids, Michigan : Zondervan, [2020] | Series: An Amish journey ; vol 3 | Summary: "The third and final novel in the Amish Journeys series by bestselling author Beth Wiseman"-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019041241 (print) | LCCN 2019041242 (ebook) | ISBN 9780310357179 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9780310360926 (library binding) | ISBN 9780310357186 (epub) | ISBN 9780310357193 (downloadable audio)
Subjects: GSAFD: Love stories. | Christian fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3623.I83 B43 2020 (print) | LCC PS3623.I83 (ebook) | DDC 813/.6--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019041241
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019041242
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Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products
of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.
Printed in the United States of America
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