The Ultimate Amish Romance Boxed Set Collection (1-8)

by Becca Fisher

  "She decided she didn't want to," Samuel answered.

  "You mean you decided you didn't want her to," Emma remarked.

  Samuel shot his wife a glare, but she didn't back down.

  "Maybe tomorrow Abigail will eat with us," Emma suggested.

  "Mother, how can you possibly take Abigail's side on this?" Allison asked, with surly outrage.

  "I'm taking the side of our family being reunited. Maybe when you're a mother one day you'll understand the pain in being apart from them," Emma insisted.

  "Abigail knows what needs to be done if she wants to be welcomed at this table," Samuel added.

  Emma looked at her husband in a new, unfavorable light. "Would you really let your pride keep you from your own daughter?" Emma asked.

  "This is not about my pride. It's about my faith," Samuel insisted.

  "You can keep saying that as much as you want, but that doesn't make it true," Emma insisted.

  Awkward silence made its way around the dinner table again.

  Miriam couldn't help but let her feelings be known though. "I miss Abi."

  ***

  "How can my father possibly be so stubborn?" Abigail ranted, pacing back and forth in her hotel room.

  Isaac had a different take on the situation though. "Why don't you just apologize to him?"

  "I don't make it a habit of apologizing for things I didn't do wrong. And if anything, my father should be saying sorry to me."

  "No argument here," Isaac insisted. "But you have to think about what's most important. Do you love your father?"

  "Of course," Abigail answered.

  "Then isn't reconciling with him more important than anything?" Isaac asked.

  "You don't understand. My father has it all wrong."

  "And by telling him that, you think things will be all right again?"

  "Isaac, who's side are you on?"

  "Abi, I love you more than I've ever loved anyone before. I'm not saying your father is right. I'm saying is it really worth burning a bridge to prove him wrong?" Isaac asked.

  "But why am I the one that has to make concessions?" Abi asked. "Why can't my father just love me for who I am?"

  "I don't know. But I do know that there's more to life than being right. There's being at peace with your family."

  "Oh God, why is everything so complicated?" Abi bemoaned.

  "I wish I knew. But one thing is clear--if there is to be happy homecoming, it will be of your doing."

  ***

  "I can honestly say that I did not expect you to be back," Samuel admitted, seeing Abi on his doorstep.

  While Samuel talked with his daughter, Abigail noticed Emma, Miriam, and Allison watching eagerly through the window. They weren't the only audience though. Isaac sat in the car and prayed for a happy ending.

  "It took some convincing by Isaac," Abigail replied.

  "Well, maybe that Englisher isn't without redemption. Are you?"

  "Father, I did not come here in search of a fight."

  "Did you come here to seek forgiveness then?"

  Abigail's patience quickly waned. She sighed out of frustration and abandoned her plan.

  "I know you look at me with disappointed eyes. But do you know that the Lord does not share your contempt? When I look around, I see God's heavenly blessings. In Isaac. In the men and women I volunteer with. And in service every Sunday. God knows that I live to honor him even in Philadelphia. So why can't you see that?"

  "You said you came here not seeking a fight, and yet you just challenged the tenets of my very faith. You know the Amish teachings. The belief in a plain and simple life. So how could you expect me to accept that my own daughter has turned her back on those beliefs?"

  "Because I'm your daughter. I'm your own flesh and blood. How could you not want me to be happy?"

  "I do. But I know there is a right way to do things. In accordance with the Lord. So you should ask yourself, if this man loves you so much, why doesn't he give you the Amish life you deserve back here with your family?" Samuel asked.

  "He has offered," Abigail admitted.

  Samuel was delightfully surprised by Abi's answer.

  "Then why do you look at me still with such doubt in your eyes?" Samuel asked.

  "Because that's not what I want," Abigail remarked. "Not anymore. I thought when I came back here I would fall in love with Lancaster all over again. That the prospect of bringing my love and my family together would be too intoxicating to resist. But your love is conditional. You want me to live life according to plan. And you haven't once taken into account what I want."

  "And what is that?" Samuel asked.

  "To live in a world where the only right answer isn't just yours. To go where happiness takes me. And to be loved for who I am. But I realize that will never happen. So I will return to Philadelphia. And if one day you are willing to welcome the real Abigail into your heart, my door will be open."

  ***

  Samuel never came. Even years later, Abigail still woke up with a sting in her soul. And although she never regretted her decision, she never stopped regretting the outcome. Abigail started to feel like a puzzle that would always be missing a crucial piece. Like a heart that would ever so often skip a crucial beat. Like her business would always be unfinished.

  When Abigail was down though, Isaac was there to lift her spirits. Isaac always knew just what to say to bring a smile to Abi's face. He was truly committed to loving, honoring, and cherishing Abigail. And their life was filled with joy and happiness.

  So when Abi's thoughts turned to all that she had lost, she tried to focus on what she had gained too. After all, Abigail had found the love of her life. And for that she was truly blessed.

  The End.

  Heavenly Temptation

  Allison Kaufman wondered if she'd ever find a man to capture her heart. Her sister and friends had all made their way down the altar. But Allison was not so lucky. She sometimes felt like love had skipped over her. That her day may never come. That marriage was a luxury the universe wouldn't afford her.

  Feelings of inadequacy were not new to Allison. As a second child, they came quite naturally in fact. She'd always felt like she was second best. The perpetual runner up. The spare sister. Never able to size up to her older sibling Abigail.

  Such complexity was an unwelcome addition to Allison's life. After all, she was Amish. She wanted nothing more than a life of modesty and humility in God's honor. But for a plain and simple girl like Allison, life had gotten mighty complicated in a hurry.

  Abigail's departure from Lancaster County was what set it all off. The Kaufman family was in turmoil. Allison's father had changed from a steadfast disciplinarian to a shell of his former self. The loss of his prized daughter Abigail to the outside world and the distractions of Philadelphia left Samuel Kaufman rudderless. But instead of focusing on what he still had, Samuel paid little attention to Allison or what she did with her life. Even in Abigail's absence, she still got more of Samuel's attention that Allison did.

  That was a recipe for unabridged insecurity. Allison turned to her greatest comfort, the Lord. Yet Allison's prayers didn't even seem to take top priority in God's eyes. So Allison was left to her days of quilting and nights of longing.

  Despite Allison's lonely heart, the last thing she wanted was to be second best in a man's heart. The idea of being a runner up love made Allison queasy. And yet that's all she would be to the men of Lancaster. Abigail had left an indelible mark on so many of the local boys hearts. They were still smitten, despite Abigail being married many miles away.

  Even still, Allison couldn't keep her heart from desiring a mate. She just wanted happiness in her life. A man to love her for who she was. And she was willing to hold out hope as long as it took. But as Allison found herself at a ripe marrying age, she couldn't help but wonder just how long she'd be made to wait.

  ***

  "How's your sister?" Jacob asked, at a church social.

  That was the last que
stion Allison wanted to be asked by a man that made her swoon. But Jacob Lapp sure did. All those years lending a hand in his fathers repair shop had sculpted Jacob's body quite firmly. And if Jacob wasn't hung up on Abigail, Allison could easily see herself falling in love with him. But the plain truth was that Jacob still had a fire burning in his heart, and it wasn't for Allison.

  "She's still married," Allison insisted, wanting no part of that conversation.

  "I didn't ask if she was married. I asked how she was doing," Jacob replied.

  "And it did not occur to you to ask how I was doing first?" Allison fired back.

  "You're right. How are you doing?"

  "Pretty poorly I'd say."

  "Why is that?" Jacob asked.

  "Because I'm not Abigail's message service. I have my own heart. My own feelings. My own desires. But you wouldn't have any interest in that, would you?"

  "I have no idea how I've run afoul of you so completely, but I'm very sorry," Jacob replied.

  "Let me make it as clear as possible for you. What if I made your heart aflutter, yet spent all my time talking longingly about your brother."

  "That would not be possible as you know I have no brother," Jacob remarked.

  "It was a metaphor Jacob. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to be anywhere else but here."

  Allison wanted nothing more than to climb into her buggy and dash away, but as she reached the church parking lot, a surprise awaited her.

  "You wouldn't believe what has happened," Hannah Holstrom said.

  Hannah was one of Allison's dearest friends. Happily married to a man that doted on her and treated her like the center of his universe. Normally Allison would have welcomed Hannah's shoulder to cry on. But in that parking lot, Hannah just represented the life Allison was sorely lacking.

  "Oh darling Hannah, can this wait?" Allison asked, not wanting to run into Jacob again.

  "I'm pregnant," Hannah admitted.

  Allison was filled with equal parts joy and shock. "Wow, that's amazing," Allison replied.

  "I know. It's truly a blessing. Matthew and I weren't even trying. It just kind of happened."

  "Well congratulations," Allison said, giving Hannah a big hug.

  "God has truly been smiling down on me lately," Hannah continued, completely aglow.

  Allison meanwhile couldn't keep the tears from steaming down her face.

  Hannah was taken aback. "Honey, what's the matter?"

  Allison didn't make a habit of lying. But she also didn't want to damper her best friends spirit. "I'm just so happy for you."

  ***

  Of course Allison was happy for Hannah. She wanted all the best for her dearest friend. But that didn't mean she wasn't interested in the same turn of events for herself.

  "Do you ever wonder why happiness comes to some all at once, and others not at all?" Allison asked.

  Emma Kaufman was not about to play hostess for her daughters pity party.

  "The Lord has his plan for each of us," Emma replied, quilting as she looked at the sun setting over the horizon just out her window.

  "Why couldn't the Lord's plan be a little more in step with mine?" Allison asked.

  "If you trust in God, you'll know that he has your best interest at heart. Happiness will come to you, but you do not get to dictate such matters."

  "Do you truly believe that? After all that happened with Abigail, do you not wonder what God has in store for you next?"

  "Darling, my faith has seen me through more than you can imagine. So although the future may appear murky through our eyes, that does not mean happiness isn't just right over the horizon."

  Allison wanted to believe just as her mother did. That happiness had not abandoned them. That with the promise of a new day contentment could find them. But her faith had been shaken. And she desperately needed reassurance.

  "Who's to say what's over that horizon?" Allison asked.

  "Do you really believe that God would smite you? That the Lord would bring joy to everyone else's life but yours? That you were brought into this world for the sake of misery?"

  The thoughts that had bounced around Allison's head sounded foolish when spoken aloud. Sometimes Allison just needed her mother's steady voice to reassure her. Deep down Allison knew her faith would not lead her astray. But even she needed reminding.

  "You're right. It's just that sometimes patience abandons me when I need it the most."

  "Of course you'll find happiness," Emma said. "You just have to keep looking."

  ***

  "And we thank you Lord for all you have given us. Amen," Samuel Kaufman said at the dinner table.

  Dinner had not been the same since Abigail had left for Philadelphia. Abigail was the spark plug that stimulated so much of the families conversation. And even as heated as the sibling rivalry got between Abi and Allison, there was still a fiery passion that permeated the house. But that flame had been extinguished.

  There was a sense of going through the motions when the entire family got together. Even Allison's younger sister Miriam felt it. Then again it was hard to ignore a party of four sitting at a table set for five. Emma couldn't bring herself to remove Abigail's old place setting.

  Instead of talking through the tension, the Kaufman's mostly just ate in silence. It was unnerving being at a table quiet enough to hear the sound of everyone chewing.

  Finally, Samuel broke the silence.

  "Nathan Jones is getting married to Charlene Yoder," Samuel said.

  Allison did not take the news well. She did not want to hear more people finding love before her. But Nathan wasn't just any man. He was the man Samuel intended Abigail to marry. Samuel had meticulously planned it all out. It was a match made in arranged marriage heaven. Only Abigail wanted to follow her heart. She wanted to find a true love instead of just an arranged one. And she did just that. Allison could still hear the sting in her fathers voice.

  "I guess congratulations are in order. Right?" Emma said. She wasn't sure. Perhaps her husband had just brought it up to finally talk about the festering open wound of Abi's departure.

  "Of course. Everyone's happiness deserves a toast," Samuel replied.

  But everyone at the table could tell that Samuel was anything but happy. They knew he was asking what if. That he was imagining Abigail agreeing to the marriage he had arranged, then living blissfully in Lancaster County instead of abandoning the Amish way of life.

  "If you'll excuse me, I need to step out for a moment," Samuel added.

  ***

  Quilting had a way of soothing the soul. It was the most calming of influences. And Allison desperately needed some peace in her life. For once, going to work at her families quilt shop was more than just a chore. It was a relief. But while Allison just wanted a reprieve from the drama that had plagued both her home and her heart, the universe had more on its mind.

  "Can I help you?" Allison asked, as Lucas made his way into the shop.

  "I sure hope so," Lucas replied.

  Lucas seemed like the least likely quilt shopper Allison had ever seen. But he was also the most welcome. Lucas was dashingly handsome. The kind of man that could bring instant joy to a woman's life with just his smile. But that wasn't all. There was a kindness in Lucas' eyes. And a warmth to his heart that radiated clear across the room. Allison was instantly smitten.

  It was almost as if she had stumbled into a dream. One that she could have never imagined. After all, Allison had never courted the love of an Englisher. If anything, she was more wary of outsiders after what happened with Abi. Allison believed as her father did. That the Amish way was the right way to live. That the outside world was full of nothing but distractions. But she never had the outside world come to her. Especially not in such an irresistible package.

  "I need some quilts," Lucas continued.

  "You come to the right place," Allison replied. "Any pattern that you're looking for in particular?"

  "I don't know if you can tell this, but I'm not exactl
y an expert quilt shopper."

  "Just what level quilt shopper would you say you are then?" Allison joked.

  "All right. You got me. I'm a complete novice. But I'm willing to learn the ropes of fine quilting--from the right teacher of course," Lucas said with a smile.

  Oh Lord. Was Lucas actually flirting with Allison, or was she just imagining things? What would Allison even do if Lucas was flirting? After all, Allison had prepared only to be courted by an Amish lover, not an Englisher.

  Then again, Allison's hormones could have just been running wild. Perhaps Lucas was just that nice to everyone. There was one way to find out though. Lucas had no wedding ring on, so obviously he wasn't married. A girlfriend however was a different matter entirely.

  "Let me guess. Your girlfriend sent you," Allison said.

  "That would be quite impossible, seeing as I have no girlfriend," Lucas answered.

  Oh my. Maybe Lucas truly was flirting with Allison after all. What a most exquisite turn of events. And Englisher or otherwise, Allison wasn't about to let such a hunk out of her sight so easy.

  "I find that quite hard to believe. Luckily, I can be of great assistance to you though," Allison replied.

  "In finding a girlfriend?" Lucas asked, quizzically.

  "Finding a quilt," Allison corrected. "Shall we?"

  ***

  "Wow, this one is really beautiful," Lucas said, looking at a quilt.

  "Why thank you. It's one of my best works," Allison replied.

  "Wait a minute. You quilted this?" Lucas asked.

  "Every last stitch," Allison answered.

  "Wow. Beautiful and talented. That is quite a rare combination," Lucas remarked.

  Allison couldn't help but blush. No one had ever called her beautiful. But Allison could get accustomed to such flattery. It was a rare, but intoxicating treat. One not easily discarded.

  "Your boyfriend must be very lucky indeed," Lucas added.

  "You're not the only one who's single," Allison replied.

  "How ever is that possible?" Lucas asked. "I can't understand how men aren't just desperate to be with you."