An Amish Winter
Page 29
Grabbing some tissues from a box near her, she pressed them into Emma’s hands. Then she put her arms around the older woman. “He’s going to be okay. He’s got to be.”
“Rebecca!”
“Mamm! Daed!” She threw herself into their arms. “I’m so glad to see you.”
Amos turned to Emma. “How is he?”
“They’re doing tests. Samuel is back there with him.” She paused, her lips trembling. “They don’t think he’s in a coma, but he hasn’t woken up yet.”
They all looked up as a nurse came approached. “Would you come back with me?” she asked Emma.
Rebecca was able to wait until Emma had left the room, but then her tears started. “I can’t go back. I’m not family.”
Naomi urged her down into her chair and sank into the chair that Emma had vacated. “I know, liebschen. I know.”
“God wouldn’t take Ben, would He? It’s not fair! I lost Lizzie. I shouldn’t have to lose Ben too.”
She looked up to see her parents exchange a look.
“I know, I was so foolish. I should have told him how I felt. I was going to, today. He was coming to see me.” With tears hitching her breath, she told them what had happened.
“You were skating?” her daed asked, his voice sounding funny.
“Ya.” She watched the color drain from his face.
“Signs were posted on the pond last week. The ice is melting early. No one’s supposed to be skating on it.”
“There was no sign,” she whispered, staring at them in shock. “Someone must have taken it.” A strange feeling swept over her. So that was why Ben had been so upset, why he hadn’t watched out for his own safety. He was trying to warn her.
“I decided I didn’t want to be afraid anymore.” She swallowed hard. If not for Ben, her parents might at this moment be mourning the loss of a second daughter. “I was saying good-bye to Lizzie,” she said. The tears started again. “I can’t say good-bye to him too.”
Her mamm patted her back. “Don’t think that way. I’m sure he’ll be all right.”
The nurse came out again. “Rebecca? Would you come back with me?”
It had to be good news, she thought as she jumped to her feet. She glanced at her parents, and they gave her reassuring smiles.
“We’ll pray for him,” they promised.
He saw her skating like a graceful bird on the pond, and for a long moment, he just stood and enjoyed the sight of her gliding across the ice. He didn’t know anyone else who could do such twirls and turns and leaps on the ice. She was a beautiful bird that soared.
Then he saw the ice opening and Rebecca—no, it was Lizzie—no, it was Rebecca—screaming and falling into the icy water. He tried running to save her, but his feet were sliding on the snowy road and he couldn’t get to her. Something hit him, and he flew into the air, but not like a bird, for he fell hard and hit his head.
Everything was so mixed up. His head and his hip hurt and he was so cold. And there was a funny smell to the air. He told himself he needed to get up and make sure Rebecca was safe. He had to get up before she was lost forever.
“Rebecca!” he called urgently. “Rebecca!”
“Shh, I’m here. I’m here.”
He opened his eyes and saw Rebecca sitting beside his bed.
“I’m here,” she whispered. Tears were sliding down her cheeks. “You scared me to death.”
“You’re okay? I’m not dreaming?”
“I’m okay.”
“You scared me,” he told her. “No one was supposed to be skating on the pond.”
“I didn’t know.” She bit her lip and shook her head. “But you’re the one who got hurt.” Brushing at her tears, she got up.
“Don’t go!”
“I’m not. I promised the nurse and your parents that I’d let them know when you woke up. I’ll be right back.”
If he woke up had been on the minds of all of them, even though the doctor had assured them that while Ben had a concussion, he didn’t think he was in a coma.
Rebecca went just a few steps out of the room and caught the attention of a passing nurse.
“I’ll get the doctor,” the woman assured her.
“And his parents?”
The nurse nodded and rushed away.
Rebecca returned to Ben’s room and stood by the side of his bed. He held out his hand, and she took it. “I want to explain about Dr. Prato,” he said.
“Not now,” she told him, squeezing his hand. “It’s not important. I need to tell you something before everyone comes in.” She paused, took a deep breath. “Before I lose my nerve.”
Don’t be afraid!
“Ask me again, Ben Weaver. Ask me to marry you.”
His expression was a little wary. “You’re not feeling sorry for me?”
“No. If you don’t want me, I imagine that Mary Ann will be around very shortly.”
“Don’t you dare!” he said, some of the old sparkle showing in his eyes. He tried to sit up, but it felt like his head would fall off. “Come here.”
She moved closer.
“I fumbled when I asked if you’d marry me before,” he said quietly. “But I know how I feel. I love you, Rebecca. I should have told you that when I asked you to be mei fraa.”
Those were the best words, she thought, and her eyes filled. “And I love you!”
He pulled her toward him for a kiss.
The door opened. Rebecca jumped back guiltily and spun around to stare into the faces of both sets of parents.
“Uh, Ben’s awake,” she told them.
“Ya,” Samuel said dryly.
“She was attacking me,” Ben joked.
“Stop that!” she hissed and felt herself blushing.
“Does this mean what I think it means?” Emma asked, smiling as she walked toward them.
Grinning, Ben nodded. “Ya, Rebecca asked me to marry her.”
“Ben!”
His grin faded, and he looked at her with such love in his eyes. “I told her what I should have weeks ago. I love her.”
Rebecca was so relieved he was all right, so glad they had a life ahead of them, she bent and kissed him in front of all the parents and the doctor who’d come into the room.
“Congratulate us,” she said with a smile. “Ben and I are engaged.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Rebecca has felt for years that she isn’t as attractive or interesting as her twin. Do you have siblings to whom you feel you come in second in some way? Why?
2. As the oldest child in the family, Rebecca feels she has to be the caretaker. What role do you think birth order plays in a person’s development?
3. How do you personally know when something is God’s will for your life? When have you been right about this? When have you been wrong?
4. It takes a long time for Rebecca to make peace with her sister’s death. What would you say to someone who is having trouble coming to terms with the death of a loved one? What do you feel God wants us to learn from the death of someone we love?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
AMY CLIPSTON
As always, I’m thankful for my loving family. Special thanks to Janet Pecorella for your friendship and encouragement. I’m grateful for my special Amish friend who patiently answers my endless stream of questions. You’re a blessing in my life.
Thank you to Jamie Mendoza and the members of my awesome Bakery Bunch.
To my agent, Natasha Kern—I can’t thank you enough for your guidance, advice, and friendship. You are a tremendous blessing in my life.
Thank you to my amazing editor, Becky Monds, for your friendship and guidance. I’m grateful to each and every person at HarperCollins Christian Publishing who helped make this book a reality.
Thank you also to editor Julee Schwarzburg for her guidance with the story. I always learn quite a bit about writing and polishing when we work together. Thank you for pushing me to become a better writer. I hope we can work together again in the
future!
I’m grateful to editor Jean Bloom, who also helped me polish and refine the story. Jean, you are a master at connecting the dots and filling in the gaps. I’m so thankful that we can continue to work together!
Thank you most of all to God, for giving me the inspiration and the words to glorify You. I’m grateful and humbled You’ve chosen this path for me.
BARBARA CAMERON
I’m so grateful for my family and friends for their love and their support of my writing. Thanks to Linda Byler and Dr. Beth Graybill, agent Mary Sue Seymour, Natalie Hanemann, editor at Thomas Nelson, and to LB Norton, who along with Natalie helped make When Winter Comes a stronger story. And most of all, thank You, God. You heard the desire in my heart to write when I was a teenager and have blessed me with so many opportunities to write.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
AMY CLIPSTON
Amy Clipston is the award-winning and best-selling author of more than a dozen novels, including the Kauffman Amish Bakery series and the Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, North Carolina. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and three spoiled rotten cats.
Visit her website: amyclipston.com
Facebook: Amy Clipston
Twitter: @AmyClipston
KELLY IRVIN
Kelly Irvin is the author of the Amish of Bee County series, the Bliss Creek Amish series, and the New Hope Amish series. She has also penned two romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine. The Kansas native is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism. She has been writing nonfiction professionally for thirty years, including ten years as a newspaper reporter, mostly in Texas-Mexico border towns. She has worked in public relations for the City of San Antonio for twenty years. Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for twenty-seven years. They have two young adult children, two cats, and a tank full of fish. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories and read books by her favorite authors.
Follow her on Twitter: @Kelly_S_Irvin
Facebook: Kelly.Irvin.Author
BARBARA CAMERON
Barbara Cameron is the author of fifteen novels and three nationally televised movies (HBO), as well as a recipient of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart. Her Amish stories are inspired by her visits to Lancaster Co., PA.