A Promise of Hope

by Amy Clipston

  Luke gave Mel a quick hug. “Danki.” He trotted toward the English driver. “I’ll call you!”

  26

  Luke drummed his fingers on the door of the taxicab as it rolled down Route 340 toward Kauffman & Yoder. The train ride had seemed longer than the last time, due to his excitement. Even though Eli didn’t mention a wedding in his letter, Luke prayed he wasn’t too late to tell Sarah he loved her and not to marry Norman.

  When the cab pulled into the furniture store lot, he tossed money to the driver, snatched his bag from the floor, and jogged into the showroom, finding Jake on the phone.

  Jake looked up and grinned. Ending his call, he rushed around the counter and smacked Luke on the shoulder. “Hey, man! I knew you’d be back. You just couldn’t stay away, huh?”

  “Ya.” Luke forced a smile, anticipation bubbling in his gut. “Is Eli around?”

  Jake shrugged. “Should be. Head on back. You know the way.”

  “Danki.” Luke hefted his bag on his shoulder and stepped into the shop. The familiar scents of wood and stain washed over him, and the booming sounds of tools rang through his head as he scanned the sea of men working on various projects. He missed the variety of building furniture.

  Nodding greetings to his former coworkers, he steered to the back of the shop and knocked on Eli’s office door.

  “Enter,” Eli called over the chorus of tools.

  Luke wrenched open the door, which squeaked its protest.

  When their gaze met, Eli’s eyes rounded, and he jumped from his chair. “Luke!” Grabbing his hand, he shook it. “It’s so gut to see you.”

  “I got your letter.” Luke’s voice trembled. “Danki.”

  The older man smiled. “I’m glad you came.”

  “How is she doing?” Luke’s stomach clenched.

  A knowing smile parted Eli’s lips. “I think she’ll be fine.” He shrugged into his coat. “Let’s call a driver and head to the house now. She’ll be glad to see you.”

  Sarah smiled and hugged her arms to her chest while she observed Jessica holding Rachel and Lindsay snuggling Seth. She was so glad Jessica had come to visit after finishing high school for the summer.

  “He’s so tiny,” Lindsay said, running her finger over his hand. “Check out those teensy fingers, Aunt Trisha.”

  Trisha leaned over the chair and smiled. “So beautiful. Hey, little buddy.”

  Jessica grinned down at the baby girl. Rachel scrunched her face and yawned in response.

  “You are just too cute.” Jessica glanced up at Sarah and then back at Rachel. “She definitely looks like you. She has your chin.”

  Sarah chuckled. “Danki.”

  “I see Peter in him,” Trisha said with a nod.

  “You know what’s weird?” Lindsay gave Sarah a serious look. “I see Luke in him. I guess it’s the family resemblance.”

  Sarah’s heart thumped at the sound of Luke’s name.

  “That’s not weird,” Trisha said, rubbing Seth’s cheek. “My husband is a dead ringer for his uncle Poochie.”

  “Uncle Poochie?” Lindsay guffawed, and the baby squirmed.

  “It’s a long story,” Trisha said. “I’ll have to tell you some other time.”

  “Have you seen Jake yet?” Sarah asked Jessica.

  Jessica shook her head and her face flushed. “Not yet. He thinks I have another week of classes. I’m going to surprise him at the shop.”

  “He’ll be excited to see you,” Lindsay said. “He always asks about you. He’s still crazy about you.”

  “Don’t rush it,” Trisha warned with a serious expression. “You’re young and have your whole life ahead of you.”

  “Ya. That’s right,” Sarah agreed with a nod.

  An engine rumbled outside, and Sarah peered out the window as Dat and another man climbed from the cab of Mike Gray’s pickup truck. “Dat’s home early.”

  Settling back in the chair, she took in the sight of the women cooing to her twins, who were almost six months old. It was hard to believe Peter had been gone nearly thirteen months.

  Life had changed so much since the Christmas morning they’d been born. She’d lost her friendship with Luke and turned down a marriage proposal from Norman. It seemed things were changing daily.

  She couldn’t help but wonder what tomorrow would bring. She hoped she’d soon find happiness for her and the twins.

  Luke glanced around the Kauffman’s kitchen, and his pulse pounded. He wondered if he’d made a mistake coming here.

  “She’s up in the nursery visiting with some out-of-town relatives.” Eli gestured toward the stairs. “Go on.”

  Luke gnawed his lip, facing her father. “What if she’s not happy to see me?”

  Eli gave a knowing smile. “She will be. Trust me.” Taking Luke’s arm, he steered him toward the stairs. “Go.”

  “But we argued the last time we spoke. I said some awful things to her.” Luke adjusted his hat on his head. “She probably hates me.”

  “She doesn’t hate you, Luke.” Eli made a sweeping gesture toward the stairs. “Go tell her how you feel and listen to her.”

  With a deep sigh, Luke climbed the steps to Sarah’s room. His heart was pounding so hard in his chest he was sure Sarah would hear it. Doubt mixed with worry swirled in his gut. What if she told him to leave?

  What if she said she loved Norman?

  Approaching her room, his palms trembled, and sweat beaded on his brow. The next few moments would change the rest of his life.

  Sarah had the nagging sensation of being watched. Glancing toward the doorway, her eyes focused on Luke. She gasped. “Luke?” she whispered, her voice quavering with a mix of shock, awe, and affection.

  His handsome face displayed a tentative smile. “May I come in?”

  “Please.” She gestured toward the twins. “Your niece and nephew have missed you.”

  Misty-eyed, he stepped over toward Jessica, who held out Rachel. “I’ve missed them too. Hello, mei liewe.”

  Sarah’s heart swelled when he called Rachel “my love.” He did love the children.

  But did he love Sarah too?

  “Would you like to hold her?” Jessica asked with a smile.

  He glanced at Sarah for permission, and she gave a quiet laugh. “Of course. You’re her onkel.”

  Jessica passed the tiny bundle to him. He held her as if she were the most precious little person in the world, and Sarah’s heart turned over at the sight. He looked so natural with Rachel in his arms. He looked like a father.

  She suppressed the thought. He didn’t love her.

  Lindsay rose and handed Seth to Sarah. “We’ll go downstairs and let you visit alone. We can run by the shop and see Jake.” She motioned to Jessica and Trisha. “Luke, this is my sister and my aunt Trisha.”

  “Nice to meet you.” He nodded as they exited the room. His eyes then met Sarah’s, and the intensity in them caused her pulse to double. “It’s so good to be back with you and the zwillingbopplin again.”

  “We’ve missed you.” Sarah’s mouth dried.

  “They’ve gotten bigger. Rachel still looks just like you.”

  “Lindsay says Seth looks like you.” She sidled up to him. He leaned over, and she inhaled his scent, so familiar, so warm.

  “No,” he said. “He’s still my brother, through and through.” He smiled at her, and her heart somersaulted.

  She resisted the urge to touch his sweet face.

  Questions swirled through her mind as she watched him with her baby. First and foremost, she wanted to know if he was back for good, but the answer scared her. She took a deep breath before she spoke.

  “Why are you here?” Her voice was thick as fear slithered through her—fear that he’d say he wouldn’t stay long.

  “Your dat wrote me.” He kept his eyes trained on the sleeping child snuggled in his large arms like a precious doll.

  “What?” She studied him. “Why?”

  “He asked me to come back a
nd see you because you’ve been unhappy.” He ran a large finger over Rachel’s chin, and she sighed in her sleep. A loving smile graced his lips. “And DeLana came to visit me at the shop.”

  “DeLana?” Sarah’s eyes popped wide open.

  “She also said you missed me, and I should come back.” He grinned. “She said I should ride back on my horse and sweep you off your feet like a fairy tale in some movie.”

  “Oh.” She studied his eyes, trying to discern if he was laughing at DeLana’s analogy or if he was saying he wanted to be with her. She had the sinking feeling that he was laughing, and he wasn’t going to stay after all. She feared he was only here to visit and see the twins.

  She needed to find out what his intentions were, but they couldn’t talk with the children sleeping. Since Seth was already asleep, she placed him in his cradle. She then removed Rachel from Luke’s arms, and placed her in the other cradle. Taking Luke’s warm hand in hers, she led him into the hallway, gently closing the door behind her.

  Still holding his hand, she guided him into her mother’s sewing room, closing the door behind them. Once there, she stood before him. She knew she had to apologize to him, and she wracked her brain for the right words.

  His eyes scanned her face, and she looked down, suddenly self-conscious.

  “Why are you staring at me?” she asked, running her hand over her prayer kapp to be sure it was straight.

  “I can’t believe I’d forgotten just how beautiful you are.” His face and eyes were serious.

  “Danki,” she whispered, her body trembling at his intense expression. Squeezing his hand, she cleared her throat. She had to apologize before she lost her nerve. “I’m sorry, Luke.” Her voice quaked. “I’m sorry for everything I said. You’re not a liar, and I never meant to compare you to Peter.”

  His expression softened, and he touched her face. “No, I’m sorry. I was wrong to say you regarded me as gum on your shoe. I know you don’t.”

  Tears began to drip down her cheeks. “You’re so much more than that to me, Luke. So much more. I’ve missed you.”

  “I’m glad you feel that way.” He swiped away a tear with his thumb. His touch was so gentle and so loving. “I didn’t arrive here on a horse like the fairy tale DeLana mentioned, but I would like to sweep you off your feet.”

  Her pulse quickened in her veins, and her breath caught in her throat. “I think you’ve definitely swept me off my feet.”

  He cupped her face in his hands. “I’m here to ask you not to marry Norman.” His eyes pleaded with her. “Please don’t marry him, Sarah Rose. Please.”

  Her voice failed her for a moment. “What are you talking about? I was never going to marry Norman.”

  Luke raised his eyebrows in shock. “You weren’t?”

  She searched his eyes. “Who told you I was going to marry him?”

  “Timothy said Norman was going to ask you when May arrived, and it was only natural for you to marry him since you’re such close friends.”

  She groaned. “It wasn’t true. There were no plans. Norman asked me to marry him the night I arrived back home after visiting DeLana, and I told him no. I said I only wanted to be friends.”

  She studied his brown eyes, drinking in the warmth she found there. “I told him I couldn’t marry him because I didn’t love him. When I looked into the eyes of my kinner I knew I couldn’t raise them in a loveless marriage. They need so much more, and I do too.”

  Taking her hands in his, he pulled her to him. Her pulse pounded like a horse trotting through town.

  “Sarah,” he began, his voice ragged. “I’m miserable without you. I think of you day and night.” Leaning down, he brushed his lips over her cheek, and her knees buckled. “Ich liebe dich, Sarah Rose. I want to come back here and stay. I already have a buyer for my land. He’s been asking me for years to sell so he can build an English housing development.” He released one of her hands and ran his thumb over where his kiss had fallen. “Will you marry me?”

  She blinked back tears. “Luke, I love you too,” she whispered, her voice quaking. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  A smile broke out on his lips. “I am the happiest man on earth.” He leaned down again. His lips brushed hers, sending her stomach into a wild swirl.

  He pulled her to him, and she buried her head in his chest, listening to the sound of his beating heart. She let the feel of his lips soak into her heart.

  “At first I thought being with you would be a sin,” he said.

  “You did?” she asked. “What made you change your mind?”

  A smile formed on his lips. “My best friend Mel. He reminded me of a verse in Romans.” He rubbed her back. “He made me realize my brother was your past, but I could be your future.”

  “Ya.” She buried her face in his chest again. “I’d like that, and so will the kinner.” Closing her eyes, she said a silent prayer, thanking God for her beautiful twins and for Luke.

  He held her close. “Your parents named you right. You’re my beautiful rose. My perfect, lovely, sweet rose.”

  Sand Tarts

  1 cup butter

  2 cups sugar

  4 eggs, separated

  1 cup flour

  1/2 cup cinnamon

  1/2 cup almonds

  Work in butter and sugar. Mix in 2 eggs. Use flour to make stiff dough. Roll thin, cut out small squares. Wet top with two beaten eggs, sprinkle with extra sugar, cinnamon, and chopped almonds. Bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

  27

  This is the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had,” Luke said, sitting across from Sarah at her parents’ supper table later that evening. “It’s so moist.”

  Sarah gave him a teasing glare. “I didn’t make it. You better say it’s not the best you’ve ever had or I’ll never make you another chocolate cake.”

  “Ack.” He feigned a serious frown. “It’s the second-best I’ve ever had.”

  “Well, that does it.” Beth Anne gave him a mock glare. “You’ll not have any more of my chocolate cake.”

  The rest of the Kauffman family laughed while a group of grandchildren raced through the kitchen on their way outside. Lindsay, Jessica, and Jake followed them out to the porch.

  “Slow down,” Robert called. “You don’t want to fall down the porch stairs!”

  “Luke,” Dat said, forking more cake. “How long do you plan to stay this time?”

  Luke gave Sarah a sideways glance. He was so handsome that her heart skipped in her chest.

  “I was wondering if your offer of a job was still open.” Luke wiped his napkin across his mouth and gave Dat a serious look. “Are you still looking for a carpenter?”

  Dat’s eyes rounded in surprise. “Are you here to stay?”

  “I’ll have to go home and take care of some things, but then I’ll be back to stay.” He met Sarah’s gaze. “For good.”

  Beth Anne and Kathryn gasped and gave Sarah a surprised expression. Sarah’s cheeks flamed.

  Dat stood and crossed the room to Luke. “That’s wunderbaar, son.” He patted his shoulder. “You have a job. You know that.”

  Mamm stood and began gathering the dirty dishes, and Sarah and the rest of the women followed suit. The men headed for the porch.

  Before stepping outside behind her brothers, Luke looked at her and gave her a loving smile. She mirrored his expression, and her heart warmed again.

  He mouthed the words “I love you” and then disappeared outside. Joy flamed in her soul.

  “It’s so gut to see you smile again, Sarah Rose,” Mamm said, wiping the counter.

  Sarah smiled.

  “She’s glowing,” Beth Anne chimed in.

  “When’s the wedding?” Kathryn asked with a grin as she filled the sink with soapy water.

  “Ya.” Beth Anne looped an arm around her shoulders. “We’ll have to get started on a dress.”

  “You’re marrying Luke?” Sadie asked, coming up to her. “I had no idea you were courtin
g.”

  “Slow down.” Sarah placed the dishes on the counter and then held out her arms. “We have no formal wedding plans.”

  “Not yet?” Sadie asked with a grin.

  Sarah met Mamm’s surprised expression. “We haven’t set a date yet, but I don’t see where there’s any hurry. We can wait until fall if we need to. It will be a real transition with the kinner.”

  “I’m so happy for you, Sarah Rose,” Mamm said, squeezing her hand. “I’m glad you listened to your heart.”

  Beth Anne, Sadie, and Mamm began to talk at once, commenting on Luke and their future. While they prattled on, Kathryn crossed the room to her.

  With a smile, Kathryn pulled Sarah into her arms. “I’m so glad for you,” she whispered. “You deserve happiness.”

  Cries erupted from upstairs, and Sarah pulled back. “I think the zwillingbopplin are hungry.”

  Kathryn chuckled. “Ya. I’d say so.”

  Sarah gestured toward the stairs. “Would you like to join me?”

  “I’d love it.” Kathryn looped her arm around Sarah.

  She smiled. “Before you know it, my kinner will be running through the kitchen and out the back porch with the rest of them.” Joy bubbled over in her heart at the realization of raising her children with her family, including Luke.

  Luke leaned on the porch railing and glanced over at Sarah’s father, brothers, and brothers-in-law. While the men chatted about the furniture store, Luke smiled to himself, imagining his future with his Sarah Rose. His heart swelled at the thought of spending time with her and the twins.

  Crossing his arms, his glance collided with Timothy’s, who was studying him intently.

  Timothy stepped over to Luke and nodded toward the stairs. “Can I talk with you for a moment? Alone.”

  “Ya. Why not?” Following Timothy down the steps toward the pasture fence, Luke dreaded Timothy giving him another lecture about how wrong it was to be back and spending time with Sarah.