An Unlikely Proposal

by Toni Shiloh

  “And I promise to do the same.”

  He closed the gap between them and kissed her, so thankful that all was right between them. He didn’t know what tomorrow would hold, but as long as Trinity loved him, he knew they would get through anything life threw their way.

  He stepped back. “Let’s go home.”

  Epilogue

  June 7th, a year later

  “You look stunning.” Trinity’s mom squeezed her shoulders, standing beside her as they gazed into the full-length mirror.

  “I feel stunning.” She smiled at her reflection.

  The fit-and-flare gown was covered with beautiful, intricate lace, complete with an illusion neckline. The dress was everything she’d imagined and more. Best of all, the wedding gown made her as happy as the first day she’d tried it on.

  Trinity still couldn’t believe Omar had asked her to marry him. Again. The proposal at their swing had meant so much, and now, the tire swing had been cemented as their way of marking important events. Somehow, her parents had figured that out because they’d moved it from their tree to the one on the Young property for their anniversary gift.

  She looked at her mom. “This has been such a good year, Mama.”

  “I’m so happy for you two.” Her mom dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.

  “Thank you. Your support has been a huge blessing to us.”

  She thought her parents would have a rough time seeing Omar as a true husband versus her best friend. Turned out, she’d been wrong. Her parents had been praying for a love match since they’d said I do the first time.

  Omar and she were experiencing their sweet spot. Life with the girls was good. Rock had been visiting more and more. She was glad that the shadows around her honorary father-in-law’s eyes didn’t seem to be as dark as they’d been last year. She knew he still missed Nancy, but he’d found moments of joy since.

  Her mom sniffed, nodding as she tried to hold in her tears.

  Trinity smoothed a hand down her abdomen, turning to the left then to the right. The dress really was stunning. “You know it’s a good thing we’re having the ceremony on our anniversary.”

  “Why’s that, sweetie?”

  She paused. “Because in a couple of months, I won’t be able to fit into this dress anymore. That would have been a big waste of alteration money.” She met her mother’s gaze in the mirror, waiting for her to catch the clue.

  Her mom’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, Trinity. Really?”

  “Yes, ma’am. You’ll have a new grandbaby the beginning of February.” The pregnancy test she took yesterday had confirmed her belief, and already Trinity had been dreaming of holding a little boy.

  “Oh, Trinity.” Her mom covered her mouth, shoulders shaking as tears collected at the corners of her eyes.

  “Mama, you’re gonna ruin your makeup. Guess I should have waited until after the ceremony to tell you, huh?”

  “Oh you.” She dabbed at her eyes. “I’ll fix my makeup before your father comes in to walk you down the aisle.”

  “I’ll let you tell him.”

  “You know I will.” Her mama winked, a huge smile on her face.

  A knock sounded on the door and her father peeked his head around it.

  “Come on in, Daddy.”

  He smiled as he walked all the way into the room. “You look beautiful, baby girl.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You ready?” He held out his arm.

  “So ready.” She placed her hand in the crook of his elbow.

  The first time around, Trinity hadn’t missed having a wedding ceremony. Truthfully, she’d been too nervous and full of painful memories to enjoy the moment of marrying Omar. But now, after everything they’d been through and the love shared between them, well, she knew this ceremony would be absolutely perfect.

  Thank You, Lord.

  Trinity took a step through the church’s double doors and her breath caught. The naked adoration on Omar’s face had her holding back tears. This time, she couldn’t contain her smile as they said their vows. Standing before friends and family, especially the girls and Jalissa as her maid of honor, somehow made life all the sweeter. She knew this ceremony was only to cement the love they had and to recognize the power of vows said before God. They didn’t need it to continue honoring one another. Nevertheless, it felt like a brand-new start.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this book, pick up these other sweet romances from Love Inspired.

  Someone to Trust

  by Patricia Davids

  Her Forbidden Amish Love

  by Jocelyn McClay

  Choosing his Family

  by Jill Lynn

  His Dry Creek Inheritance

  by Janet Tronstad

  A Home for Her Baby

  by Gabrielle Meyer

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Someone to Trust by Patricia Davids.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you so much for reading Omar and Trinity’s story.

  Marriage of convenience stories happen to be my favorite trope. There’s something about a marriage of convenience story that tugs at my heartstrings. The uncertainty of what their future will look like—even if they’ve known their spouse for a long time, as Omar and Trinity had. Watching and waiting for them to find common ground and get to the happily-ever-after. Throw in two precious toddlers and you have a recipe for great story fodder.

  I loved bringing Omar and Trinity together as they healed from past wounds and learned to let promises of God steer them to happiness. I imagine they’ll have many years of happiness ahead of them.

  I would love to connect with you. You can find me on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/authortonishiloh or find me on my website, http://tonishiloh.com.

  Blessings,

  Toni

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  Someone to Trust

  by Patricia Davids

  Chapter One

  “I’m happy to tell you that your mother’s cousin Waneta is coming for a visit.”

  Gabe Fisher looked up from the glowing metal wheel rim he was heating in the forge as something in his father’s voice caught his attention. Ezekiel Fisher, or Zeke as everyone called him, wasn’t overly fond of Waneta, so why was he trying so hard to sound cheerful?

  Gabe glanced around the workshop. None of his three brothers seemed to have noticed anything unusual.

  Seth continued setting up the lathe to drill out a wheel hub. “That will be nice for Mamm. She has been missing her friends back home. I know she and Waneta are close.”

  Seth was Gabe’s younger brother by fifteen minutes. They might look identical, but Seth was the most tenderhearted of the brothers. He was twenty minutes older than no-nonsense Asher, the last Fisher triplet, who was readying wooden spokes to be inserted into the finished wheel hub. Asher bore only a passing resemblance to his two older brothers. Where Gabe and Seth were both blond with blue eyes, Asher was dark-haired with their mother’s brown eyes. All three men shared the same tall, muscular frame as their father.

  “Is she bringing her new husband to meet the rest of us?” Moses asked, greasing the axle of the buggy they were repairing. At twenty he was the baby brother by four years and the one that looked the most like their mother, with his soft brown curls and engaging grin. He was the only one who hadn’t yet joined their Amish church. He was still enjoying his rumspringa, the “running around” years most Amish youths were allowed before making their decision to be baptized.

  “Th
is isn’t the best time for a visit,” Asher said, expressing exactly what Gabe had been thinking.

  “Apparently your mother and Waneta have been planning this for ages, but she only told me last night. She wanted it to be a surprise for you boys.”

  Asher’s brow furrowed. “Why?”

  “You know Waneta. She likes to surprise folks. They should be here later today.”

  Gabe continued turning the rim in the fire. Both his parents had gone to the wedding, but he and his brothers had been busy keeping the new business running. A business that didn’t look like it would support the entire family through another winter. If things didn’t improve by the end of the summer, the family would have some hard choices to make.

  “They? Her new husband is coming with her, then?” Seth said.

  Gabe glanced at his father and saw him draw a deep breath. “He isn’t, but his children are.”

  Seth finally seemed to notice their father’s unease and stopped working. “How many children?”

  “Five.”

  “The house will be lively with that many kinder underfoot,” Moses said. “How old are they?”

  “The youngest is ten. The others are closer to your ages,” Daed said, keeping his eyes averted.

  Seth, Asher and Gabe exchanged knowing looks. They shared a close connection that didn’t always require words.

  Asher’s lips thinned as he pinned his gaze on his father. “Would they happen to be maydels close to our age?”

  Their father didn’t answer.

  “Daed?” the triplets said together. Moses stopped what he was doing and gave them a puzzled look.

  Their father cleared his throat. “I believe your mother said they are between twenty and twenty-five. Modest, dutiful daughters, as Waneta described them.”

  “Courting age,” Moses said with a grin.

  “Marriageable age.” Seth shook his head. “I don’t have any interest in courting until we are sure our business will survive.”

  Gabe crossed his arms over his chest. “Has Mamm taken to importing possible brides for us now?”

  There was a lack of unmarried Amish women in their new community in northern Maine, but that didn’t bother Gabe. Like Seth, his focus was on improving the family’s buggy-making and wheel-repair business while expanding the harness-making and leather goods shop he ran next door.

  “Tell Mamm we can find our own wives,” Asher said.

  “When we are ready,” Seth added.

  Daed scowled at all the brothers. “That kind of talk is exactly why your mother was worried about sharing this news. She wants you boys to be polite to Waneta’s new stepdaughters and nothing more. Show them a nice time while they are here. No one is talking about marriage.”

  * * *

  “Marriage is the point of this trip, girls. Do not make me tell your father he wasted his money paying for it. We should be there within the hour.”

  Esther Burkholder kept her eyes glued to her brother Jonah’s hands as the ten-year-old rapidly signed their stepmother’s conversation. Seated with Jonah in the back of the van their father had hired to drive them to Maine, Esther couldn’t lip-read what Waneta was saying or what her sisters were answering because all she could see was the back of their white Amish kapps. Waneta didn’t know sign language and showed little interest in learning. Julia, Pamela and Nancy could sign, but they often preferred to talk among themselves, leaving Esther out of the discussion.

  Unlike her Deaf friends, who found it isolating to be left out of conversations with hearing family members, Esther normally didn’t mind. Even before she lost her hearing, she had preferred to spend time alone. She enjoyed her silent world. All she had to do was close her eyes and nothing intruded on her solitude unless someone touched her. Today was different. She needed to know what Waneta had planned so she could avoid getting caught in the web her stepmother was weaving. Did the poor Fisher brothers know what was about to descend on them?

  “I’ve known these boys since they were babies. The three oldest sons are triplets. They are twenty-four, so a good age to be looking for a wife. Seth is the tenderhearted one who loves children. Pamela, I think you and he could make a match. You have a very caring nature. Asher is the practical one. Julia, I think he might be best suited for you. Your no-nonsense attitude should appeal to him. Nancy, you and Moses, the youngest son, are the same age and not yet baptized. I think the two of you will find you have a lot in common.”

  “How are we going to tell them apart if they all look alike?”

  Jonah rolled his eyes and signed, “Pamela has a good point for once.”

  “What did Waneta answer?” Esther signed, wishing Jonah would keep his thoughts out of the conversation.

  “She said only Gabriel and Seth look alike. Gabriel has a small scar in his right eyebrow. Seth looks like him but no scar. She says Asher and the younger brother are both dark.”

  He leaned forward over the seat to speak to his stepmother, frustrating Esther. She tugged on his suspender strap. “What are you saying?”

  Because she hadn’t completely lost her hearing until the age of ten, she spoke almost normally, although she had been told that ability might gradually leave her. She worked hard at practicing her speech so that she wouldn’t lose what she had.

  Jonah turned back to her. “I asked which brother Waneta thought would make a good match for you.”

  Waneta turned in her seat and gave Esther a knowing, sympathetic smile. “I believe the oldest son, Gabriel, would suit you. Sadly, he was jilted when he was twenty and of course was heartbroken. According to my cousin Talitha, he has been put off by the idea of marriage ever since, so I don’t hold out much hope for a match. Now I don’t want the rest of you to take an interest in only one son. Keep open minds.”

  Esther knew what Waneta was really saying. None of her cousin’s sons would be interested in a deaf woman for a wife. After a moment of self-pity, Esther sat up straight. She wasn’t shopping for a husband and certainly not a hearing one. She had a wonderful job working in their community’s school for children with disabilities. She and her three close friends who were also Deaf taught twenty hearing-impaired and deaf children in special classes along with assisting the other teachers when needed. She dearly missed her friends and the children already. This trip needed to end quickly.

  Jonah touched her shoulder to gain her attention before signing again. “Waneta talks too much. My hands are getting tired. Can I stop?”

  Esther smiled and nodded. It had been a long two-day trip from Millersburg, Ohio, and he was growing bored. “Watch out the window. I have read there are many moose and bears in this part of Maine. Perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse of one of them,” she said.

  He eagerly turned his attention outside, leaving Esther alone with her thoughts. This trip was such a waste of time. She sighed and opened the quilted satchel on the floor by her feet. The sketchbook or the sewing projects she’d brought along to occupy her time? She was making new kapps for her sisters. Because she enjoyed sewing, she made the clothes for everyone in the family, including her father. She withdrew her sewing kit as fond memories of learning to sew with her mother filled her mind.

  She glanced once more at the back of Waneta’s head. The woman wasn’t a replacement for her mother, but she was good for Esther’s father. He smiled more and seemed to enjoy life with her. Because of her father, Esther had tried hard to please Waneta, but she’d failed more often than not. Waneta was impatient with Esther’s lack of ability to understand her. So Esther simply stayed out of her way.

  Had it been up to her, she wouldn’t be on this trip at all. Her father had insisted Esther come along. He told the family he wanted them to see some new country and meet Waneta’s favorite cousin and her family. Privately he told Esther he hoped that the trip would bring her and her stepmother closer. He knew there was friction between them. Because sh
e loved her father, Esther had agreed, but two days in a van had certainly not strengthened the bond between her and Waneta.

  At least she had gotten to see the ocean that morning. It had been a stunning sight she would never forget. The highway they had traveled along skirted the beautiful rugged Maine coast from Portsmouth to Brunswick before turning inland. The views of the sparkling waves stretching to the horizon took her breath away. She could never reproduce such beauty with her limited talent for drawing, but she couldn’t wait to tell her friends back home about it. She would write as soon as she had the chance.

  They had been traveling for almost an hour when Esther felt a change in the vibration of the van and looked up from her sewing. Bessie, their van driver, was pulling off to the side of the road. Jonah began to sign. “I think something is wrong with the engine. Bessie says we should get out and stretch our legs while she takes a look. We are only about a mile from the Fisher farm.”

  Esther was happy to leave the confines of the van for even a little bit. Outside the afternoon air was fresh with a cool breeze that fluttered the ribbons of her kapp. She admired the farmland interspersed with wooded areas that lined either side of a broad valley. She could see a river sparkling in the distance, and closer to the road, a small pond reflected perfectly the clear summer sky and the trees that surrounded it.

  Her sister Nancy came to her side. “It’s pretty country,” she signed.

  Esther nodded. “It is. Has Bessie discovered what is wrong?”

  “It’s nothing she can fix.”

  Esther glanced up the road. “If it’s less than a mile, we can walk.”

  “Waneta has already sent Jonah ahead to tell the Fishers where we are and what has happened. They will send a buggy or wagon to fetch us and our things.”

  A car zipped past on the highway, startling Esther. Cars always frightened her if she didn’t see them coming first. She looked both ways. There wasn’t any other traffic in sight, but she stepped farther back from the roadway. She faced her sister. “Are you as eager to find a husband as Waneta is to find one for you?”