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Englisch on Purpose
(Prequel to Amish by Accident)
J.E.B. Spredemann
Mattie Riehl never expected her life to turn out this way. Raised Mennonite and amongst Amish friends in beautiful Lancaster County, she should be perfectly content, shouldn’t she? But something inside beckons her to another world, another life. Can she leave her roots and her friends behind for a world she knows little about? Will she abandon everything, including the God her parents have taught her to follow?
Englisch on Purpose is the prequel to J.E.B. Spredemann’s award-winning book, Amish by Accident, and is the story of Elisabeth Schrock’s best friend, Mattie.
Get it here: www.jebspredemann.com
Christmas in Paradise
(Sequel to Amish by Accident)
J.E.B. Spredemann
Chapter 1
Carson squinted as he turned into the country lane, the rays of the sun reflecting off his Volvo’s platinum hood. He moved his sunglasses from his head to his eyes, quickly putting an end to his momentary blindness. The second he spotted the farmhouse, a smile danced on his lips. Just as he’d thought, his beautiful wife, Elisabeth, had come out to greet him, their two oldest children stationed at each leg.
The minute he stepped out of the vehicle, their oldest son was tugging on his pant leg. “Daddy, Daddy!”
Carson shifted his gaze from his wife to his son. “What are you so excited about, Lincoln?”
“Mommy showed me how to spell my name today. L-i-n-c-o-” He paused momentarily, an unsure expression crossed his face, and he looked up at his mother. Elisabeth nodded in affirmation. “-l-n?”
“That’s right. Very good.” Carson tousled the boy’s hair and swept him up into his arms.
“That’s not all. Mommy said just three more weeks till Christmas!”
“Three weeks? Is that all?”
Lincoln nodded his head profusely. “And Dawdi Ben and Mammi Leah are coming to visit! And cousins too.”
Carson’s brow raised as he and Elisabeth met gazes. “I thought we were going to the city to visit Mattie and Richard.”
Elisabeth glanced at the children and raised a half-smile. “Change of plans. Let’s talk about it after supper.”
Carson understood her meaning. She didn’t wish to discuss the situation in the children’s presence. Hopefully everything was okay with Richard and Mattie.
He released Lincoln from his embrace once they were inside the house and instructed the children to go play in the living room. Carson followed Elisabeth into the kitchen. “Mm…smells good. What are you making?”
She peeked into the oven, then quickly shut the door. “Pizza.”
“Vegan pizza?” His lips twisted.
“Jah. I found a recipe online today and decided to try it out.” She placed a potholder on the counter.
“Sounds great.” Carson reached for her hand and drew her close. “So, what’s going on with Mattie and Richard?” He kissed her forehead.
He read something in Elisabeth’s expression. Was it sadness? Worry? “It’s not good, Carson.” Her bottom lip quivered. “I think they may be getting a divorce.”
Carson wiped the tear that slipped down her cheek. “A divorce? Why?”
She shrugged. “Mattie thinks Richard’s seeing someone else. She’s pretty certain.”
Carson shook his head in disbelief.
Elisabeth continued on. “She said they haven’t been going to church lately, and after she had little Matthew, life just got busy.”
“We should go see them.”
Elisabeth searched his eyes. “Promise me, Carson, that you won’t ever leave me.”
Carson held her close and allowed her to release as many tears as she needed. “I promised you that the day we married, and I don’t ever intend to break that promise.” He lifted her chin until he caught her eye. “Do you hear me?”
At her nod, he bent down and pressed his lips to hers. “I love you and I always will,” he whispered reassuringly. “Don’t ever doubt that.”
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Mattie glanced down at the envelope in her hand and wiped away the tears that cascaded down her cheeks. If only she’d heeded her father’s warnings years ago. Oh, how she missed home! The thought of returning both thrilled and frightened her. What would Dad say when he learned that she’d named his grandson after him? He’d be shocked, for sure and certain.
She’d been content in New York until…until when? She thought for a moment and tried to pinpoint exactly when she’d lost her joy. Had it been when Elisabeth and Carson moved to the country?
Mattie glanced over at the bookshelf and her cranberry-colored Bible caught her eye. How long had it been since she’d removed it from the shelf and meditated on the words inside? A dull ache tugged at her heart but she couldn’t drag herself over to the bookshelf. Not now, when she was angry at God. How could He allow Richard to leave her and their children? Why hadn’t He stopped him?
A vision flashed in her mind and her tears came rushing to the surface once again. How many times had she relived this scene in her mind? How many times did Richard’s guilt-ridden eyes meet hers as his fingers interlaced with his secretary’s?
“Mattie, I can explain,” he’d said.
But no explanation was needed. She’d known it in her heart for quite some time now. She and Richard had been drifting apart. He’d become distant. He’d been ‘working’ longer hours. Their relationship had begun a downward spiral and it seemed every time they spoke to each other it ended in an argument. Some days, he didn’t even come home.
Richard had pled with her to see their pastor for counseling, but she refused. Their pastor was a man, so naturally he’d side with Richard. She knew she’d be blamed for every problem they had. And surely Richard would blame their dearth of intimacy for his wandering eye. Had she been the perfect wife, they wouldn’t have any of these problems. Quarreling with her husband was bad enough. She wasn’t about to carry more guilt on her shoulders than she already had.
Mattie’s eyes drifted toward the window where a fresh dusting of snow lined the corners. Oh, to go back to the days when she and Richard were in love! She recalled the time they’d gone ice skating in Central Park and he caught her just before she landed on the ice. The young boy whizzing by her probably had no idea he’d knocked her off her feet. She’d been ice skating many times but not with so many other people. The private ponds where she’d ice skated in Paradise as a child and teen were never as crowded as the city ice skating rinks.
Another tug at her heart compelled Mattie to return home. She nodded and reached for a pen and blank notebook paper. If one of her parents responded to her letter, she would go. How would Mom and Dad react when meeting their grandchildren for the first time? What would her folks say when only she and the children returned home? There’s no doubt they’d ask about Richard. Should she bare her soul and spill the whole ugly truth? Perhaps it would be best to just say Richard stayed in the city and leave it at that. If they asked any more questions, she could tell them it was none of their business.
But that would be disrespectful, wouldn’t it? Mattie shook her head. Wow, she really had changed. Since when had she ever cared about respecting her parents? She owed much to God for her growth. And to Richard, she realized. Where on earth did they go wrong?
After addressing the envelope, she pondered how this Christmas would affect the children. They were still young, but celebrating the most wonderful time of the year without their father present would surely ring alarm in their fragile young minds. To them, their grandparents would be as strangers. She would be their only source of stability and security.
She wondered how long they would stay in Paradise. Would they leave after the holidays or would they stay longer? Of course, that all depended on how she and Da
d got along. Maybe she would end up not staying at all. It would be strange entering her childhood home with most of her siblings now gone.
Did Rebekah have any children? Before Elisabeth left the Amish, she’d informed Mattie that her sister Rebekah had a beau. Surely they would have married by now. And what of her other siblings? Were any of them married?
For better or worse, she’d probably find out soon.
Get it here: www.jebspredemann.com
Amish by Accident Page 15