She hesitated but finally nodded. “David started working part-time for his father, but he won’t go into the clinic until later this afternoon. Right now, he’s in the living room, watching TV.”
Elam followed her down the hall. When he entered the living room, he saw David lying on the couch. At first Elam thought he was sleeping, but as soon as he approached, David’s eyes snapped open and he sat up. “Elam, what are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you.” Elam glanced at David’s mother and was relieved when she left the room.
“How’s Priscilla?” David gestured for Elam to take a seat in one of the chairs.
“She’s doing better. Her burns are healing well, and I don’t think she’ll have any lasting scars.” Elam lowered himself into the rocking chair, figuring if he got the chair moving it might help him relax.
“I’m glad to hear it. I’ve been praying for her.”
“Same here.”
“So, how are things with you? You look like you have something serious on your mind.”
“Actually, I’m not doing so well,” Elam said truthfully.
“Oh? What’s wrong?”
“Priscilla and I broke up.”
David’s eyes widened. “Really? How come?”
“You need to know something important.”
“What’s that?”
Elam’s voice lowered. He hoped David’s mother couldn’t overhear their conversation. “You’re not the one responsible for Priscilla getting burned.”
David leaned forward. “What was that?”
“You’re not responsible for Priscilla’s burns.” Elam spoke a little louder.
David grabbed the throw pillow, hugging it to his chest. “What do you mean? I left the stove on. If I hadn’t…”
Elam shook his head determinedly. “I’m the one responsible.” Before David had a chance to say more, Elam blurted out everything that had happened that night.
David sat for several seconds, shaking his head, as though in disbelief. “Why did you let me believe I was the one responsible, Elam?”
“I was jealous of the attention you showed Priscilla. You hung around her a lot, and it seemed like you were trying to take her from me.” Elam swallowed hard. He wanted to run and hide, but he’d come here to set things right with David, and he wouldn’t take the coward’s way out. “I thought if you believed you were the guilty one, you’d leave Arthur for good.”
David rocked slowly back and forth, as though trying to take things in. “Well, you got your wish, so why’d you come here now and confess?”
“I had to, David. I’ve been struggling with guilt ever since Priscilla’s accident. I couldn’t live with the lie any longer.” Elam paused to take a breath. “I’ve asked God’s forgiveness. Now I’m asking yours. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
“Yes, I can.” David lifted his chin with an air of confidence. “I appreciate you coming all this way to tell me the truth. It’s been really hard dealing with the thought that I was the cause of Priscilla getting hurt. You’ve taken a burden of guilt off my shoulders.”
“Priscilla was upset when you left.”
“I’m sorry for that, but it was better that way.”
Elam drew in another quick breath. He’d have to say quickly what was on his mind, before he lost his nerve. “I believe Priscilla’s in love with you, and I realize now you’re the best person for her, not me. I destroyed any chance of Priscilla and me being together when I let you take the blame for what I had done. I’d understand if neither of you ever spoke to me again.”
David opened his mouth like he was going to say more when his mother stepped into the room. “You have another visitor, David.”
“Can it wait, Mom? Elam and I are having a discussion here.”
His mother pursed her lips. “I suppose, but she says it’s important.”
“Okay.” David turned to Elam. “Sit tight. I’ll be right back.”
Priscilla shifted nervously as she waited in the hall for David’s mother to return. The woman hadn’t greeted Priscilla any too cordially, but at least she hadn’t slammed the door in her face. When Priscilla asked if David was there, his mother had said he was and that Priscilla should wait in the hall. Lord, please give me the right words when I speak to David.
A short time later David stepped into the hallway. “Oh, Priscilla, it’s you? Did you come with Elam?”
She tipped her head. “Huh?”
“Elam’s here, too. I figured you must have come together.”
Priscilla’s knees nearly buckled, and she grasped the door frame for support. So that must have been Elam she’d seen on the interstate. But what was he doing here?
“Elam and I did not come here together. I left a message last night, telling you I was coming,” she said firmly. “We broke up yesterday when I found out he was the one who hadn’t turned the burner off on the stove.”
David nodded. “Elam told me about that. He came here to apologize for letting me take the blame.”
“What did you say?”
“I’ll admit, I was upset at first, but what’s done is done. There’s no reason for me to hold a grudge, so I’ve accepted his apology. I could barely live with myself, being the cause of what happened to you. Now Elam has lifted the burden from me, too.”
“Did you get my letter or phone messages, David?”
He nodded. “But most of the words in the letter were smudged. Maybe it got wet. Oh, and I didn’t get your phone message, either. My cell phone battery died soon after I returned home, and I haven’t bothered to replace it.” David thrust his hands into his jean pockets. “Guess I kinda got used to doing without it when I was trying to prepare for joining the Amish church. Course, I’ll admit, I did use the cell phone a few times when it was necessary—like the night you got burned.”
“The reason I wrote and tried to call is I wanted you to know I didn’t blame you for my accident,” Priscilla said. “Also, I had hoped to persuade you to come back to Arthur.”
David shook his head. “I’ll come back to visit Gram and Gramps from time to time, but I’ve decided not to join the Amish faith after all.”
“How come?”
“It’s just not for me. I realize now that Chicago is where I belong.” David crossed his arms. “I’m going back to school in the fall and will eventually become my dad’s partner at his veterinary clinic.”
Priscilla studied David’s face, unable to read his expression. Did he really think the Amish life wasn’t for him, or was there some other reason he’d decided to stay here and pursue a career he’d previously said he wasn’t interested in?
“Elam loves you,” David said. “He knows he messed up, and you oughta give him another chance.”
Priscilla bit down on her quivering lip. Knowing Elam had come here to apologize to David made her realize he truly was sorry for what he’d done and hadn’t just said so in order to win her back. Truthfully, Priscilla had to admit, she did still love him and had for a long time. It was suddenly clear to her that what she’d felt for David had only been infatuation, not love. Apparently, since he wasn’t returning to Arthur to join the Amish faith, he didn’t love her, either.
“Why don’t you go into the living room?” David suggested. “Elam is there, and I’ll leave you two alone so you can talk.”
“Okay.” Despite what David had said, Priscilla hoped it wasn’t too late for her and Elam. Since she’d rejected him yesterday, maybe he wouldn’t want anything to do with her now.
Priscilla stepped into the other room and saw Elam sitting in a chair, holding his straw hat with a downcast expression.
When she approached, he leaped to his feet. “Ach, Priscilla! I didn’t know you were here.”
“Came to tell David he wasn’t the one who left the stove on.”
“Jah, I told him that, too.”
“I know. David told me. He also said you apologized.”
Elam nodded. “I’ve never been sorr
ier for anything in my life, because my deceitfulness caused me to lose you.”
She stepped in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders. “You haven’t lost me, Elam. I forgive you, and if you still want me, I’d be honored to be your wife.”
Tears pooled in Elam’s eyes. “You mean it, Priscilla—after all I’ve done?”
Priscilla choked back a sob. “Matthew 6:14 says, ‘If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.’ I’ve done things in my life I’m ashamed of, too, and others have forgiven me.” She leaned her head against Elam’s chest. “I love you, Elam.”
“I love you, too.” Elam lifted Priscilla’s chin and sealed their love with a kiss sweeter than any he’d ever given her before. How thankful she was for the chance to begin again, and for the restoration of their relationship, because of God’s amazing grace.
EPILOGUE
Six months later
I can’t believe how much all of our lives have changed,” Priscilla commented to Elaine and Leah as they sat at her kitchen table, drinking tea and admiring the cookbook they had worked on together. It was nice to see it finally done and ready to sell to those who attended Elaine’s dinners.
Elaine smiled. “I’m still amazed at how God has worked things out for each one of us.”
Leah patted her baby Michael’s back. “I remember when we were girls and talked about our future—how we hoped God would reveal His will for our lives and help us to choose the right husbands.”
Priscilla nodded. “He’s done that, all right. Elam and I are married. Elaine and Jonah are married. And you, Leah, have a husband and four kinner to raise. The Lord has truly blessed us all with good mates.”
Leah reached over and touched Priscilla’s arm. “You were blessed when your burns healed so well, too. It’s good to see that you have no scars at all.”
“Jah, and I’m grateful.” Priscilla glanced at the letter she had received the other day. “By the way, Elam and I heard from David recently.”
“Oh, what’d he have to say?” Elaine asked.
“He met a young woman while attending college and thinks she may be the right one for him.”
“That’s good news. I’m pleased to say that Ben is now seeing someone new as well.”
Priscilla clasped her friends’ hands. “I thank the Lord daily for the friendship we share. I can’t imagine going through life without good friends. Your love and support has brought me through many difficult things I’ve had to face, and I hope we can all be friends for the rest of our lives.”
Elaine and Leah nodded in agreement.
“And now,” Priscilla announced, pushing away from the table, “it’s time to eat lunch. Today, I am serving my friendship salad.”
PRISCILLA’S FRIENDSHIP SALAD
INGREDIENTS:
1 head lettuce
3 slices swiss cheese
1 (10 ounce) box frozen peas
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
5 tablespoons mayonnaise
½ pound bacon, fried and crumbled
2 eggs, hard boiled and sliced or chopped
Tear lettuce into small pieces and layer in large serving bowl. Tear swiss cheese into pieces and layer over lettuce. Layer peas and onion. Sprinkle sugar over all then spread with mayonnaise. Cover and let stand in refrigerator two to three hours. Before serving, top with crumbled bacon and chopped egg. Toss and serve.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Priscilla was in a predicament falling for two men at the same time. To make matters worse, both Elam and David were vying for her attention. Have you or someone you know ever had two suitors at the same time? If so, how did you handle the situation?
2. Elam was worried about not having enough money to buy a home for him and Priscilla. Was he wrong in letting money hold him back from marrying her? Could they have lived with one of their parents until they had enough money saved to build a house? Should Elam have told Priscilla the reason he hadn’t proposed?
3. David cared for Priscilla, but was it right for him to pursue her, knowing Elam loved her, too? Should David have walked away from his feelings? Did he really want to be Amish, or was it simply so he could get close to Priscilla?
4. What challenges did David face after living the English life for twenty-four years and then deciding to become Amish? Would you be able to give up all the material things the English are used to having?
5. After twenty-five years, Cora finally found her son Adam. Should she have tried harder to explain how sorry she was for messing up his life, or should she have held back, for fear of pushing him further away? After years of separation, if you were to find your adult child, would you be able to hold back like Cora did, knowing Adam was in the same community? Did Cora give up too easily trying to locate her first husband and children? Would you have kept trying no matter how long it took?
6. If you were Adam and grew up knowing your mother or father abandoned you but crossed paths with that parent as an adult, would you be able to forgive your parent after hearing the reasons he or she left? Would your forgiveness have taken as long as Adam’s did, or could you forgive right away in order to build a relationship? Would you try to inflict emotional pain on your parent because it had been done to you?
7. There comes a time when parents have to show their children that they can be trusted, but they need to discern when to allow them to do certain things, such as letting them go places with friends. Should Cora have kept a tighter rein on her son Jared instead of giving him so much freedom in things he wanted to do? When should a parent step in and say no if their child wants to do something?
8. Was it right for Cora not to tell her second husband, who was English, about her earlier life in the Amish community? Was it the wrong time for her to blurt out that information when they were waiting for news about their son, Jared?
9. Should Elaine have let Jonah know sooner that she still loved him, even though he was still grieving for Sara? If not, how long should she have waited? If you were Jonah, having had three relationships that failed in different ways, would you give up on love and marriage or keep trying, hoping to find the right mate?
10. Was it right for Elaine to keep Ben waiting for an answer to his proposal, when deep down she’d never given up her feelings and hopes of getting back with Jonah? If you were Ben, would you have been able to immediately come face-to-face with your suspicions, knowing Elaine wasn’t sure about her feelings for you? Was he too patient about waiting, too complacent?
11. If someone hit you, would you be able to “turn the other cheek” like the Amish do? Would you be able not to strike back or retaliate in any way?
12. Several Bible verses were quoted at different times throughout this story. Were there any special verses in this book that spoke to your heart? If so, what were they, and how did they bolster your faith in God?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times bestselling, award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs. When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
To learn more about Wanda,
visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.
with friends
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