A Legacy of Love
Page 8
“That’s exactly what I just said.” Dat squeezed Leon’s shoulder. “When are you going to deliver them to her?”
Leon rubbed the back of his head. “I suppose there’s no time like the present. I just hope she’ll talk to me. When she stormed out of here weeks ago, she was furious with me. What if she throws me off her porch and tells me to stay away from her?”
“I’m certain she’ll talk to you,” Dat said. “She’ll have cooled off by now, and you two have known each other a long time.”
“But will she forgive me?” Leon heard the thread of worry in his voice.
“She will.” Ben jammed his thumb toward the front of the store. “I’ll call our driver and then help you load the chairs.”
“Susie,” Dat called from the mudroom. “Someone is here to see you.”
Susie set a platter of lunchmeat on the table and then turned toward her mother. “Are you expecting someone for lunch?”
Mamm shook her head. “No, I’m not.”
Susie hurried to the mudroom, and her father smiled at her. “Who is it?”
“He’s on the back porch.” Dat touched her shoulder. “Hear him out. Don’t close the door in his face.”
She blinked, hoping it wasn’t Josh. “Okay.”
As Dat disappeared into the kitchen, she pulled on her coat and then pushed open the back door and stepped onto the porch.
Leon was standing behind her two rocking chairs. She cupped her hand to her mouth as sudden tears burned her eyes. The chairs looked brand new, and her grandfather’s rocker looked as though it had never been broken. Leon must have spent hours and hours finishing them for her.
Did that mean he might still care about her? After the awful things she’d said to him?
Her chest tightened as she looked into his eyes.
“Hi.” He gave her a sheepish smile.
“Hi,” she managed as she took in his handsome face. An invisible force seemed to pull her to him. She’d spent the past month trying to clear all thoughts of Leon from her mind, but she still cared for him.
“I brought you your chairs.” He gestured toward them as he took a step back. “Mei dat had antique wood that matched the spindles I destroyed, and I cut them to the right shape and sanded them before staining the chair. They were the right shade of hickory, so I don’t think you’ll notice any difference.”
“Oh, Leon.” She stepped closer and ran her finger over each chair. “They’re perfect. They’re better than perfect. They’re exquisite.” She looked up at him and smiled. “Danki so much. What do I owe you?”
“Nothing.” He blanched and shook his head. “Actually, that’s not true. You owe me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“A few minutes of your time.”
“Okay.”
He gestured toward the chairs again. “Would you sit with me?”
“Ya.” She sank down into her mammi’s chair and shivered as the late-October breeze seeped through her sweater. She moved the chair back and forth, and it rocked in a smooth motion. The chair was definitely perfect.
Leon moved her daadi’s chair in front of her and sat down, folding his hands as if he were pleading with her to listen. “I want to say I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything—for letting you go four years ago, for hurting you. You were my first and only love, and my biggest regret is not holding on to you. I know it’s too late now, but I have to tell you how I feel.”
His words hit square in her chest. “Leon, I’m not going to m—”
“Wait.” He held up his hands. “Please let me finish. I’ve spent the past month evaluating what went wrong between us, and I realized you were right. I did give up on us, and I was wrong. If I could go back in time, I’d still tell you I wasn’t ready to get married, but I’d also promise to marry you when the time was right.” He paused. “I never would’ve let you give up on us, because I would’ve given you my all.”
Her chin trembled as her heart swelled with a deep love for this man, and she had a feeling he could see that love in her eyes. Why hadn’t she realized she loved him all along?
He looked confused as he searched her face. “I am too late, right?”
She shook her head and smiled.
“I’m not too late?”
“I’m not going to marry Josh.”
“You’re not?” His eyes sparkled.
“I broke up with him the afternoon you and I argued. I realized I didn’t love him the way I should.”
“What do you mean?”
She looked down at her lap, choosing her words carefully. “I’d had doubts for a while because there was, well, no spark between us. Josh is a gut man, but I’m not in love with him. It wasn’t fair to hold on to him when he can find someone who’ll love him the way a fraa should love her husband. I had prayed about it, and the answer came to me while I was riding in the buggy with him on the way home that day.” She peeked up at Leon and found him watching her with an intensity that sent heat roaring through her veins.
“I told him I was sorry for letting him down, but I couldn’t marry him. He was really upset. We haven’t spoken much since that happened. He nods at me when I see him in church, but that’s it. I know I hurt him, but I couldn’t risk being stuck in a loveless marriage.”
Leon seemed to be processing this news as he sank back against the rocking chair. She understood and elected to give him a few moments. Finally, he took a deep breath and gestured toward the two chairs. “While I was restoring these chairs, I realized something. These chairs are like me. They’re flawed and imperfect, but they’re sturdy and reliable, like my love for you. I will make mistakes, but I’ll always be here if you’ll have me.”
He leaned forward and took her hands in his. “I hope you can find it in your heart to give me another chance. I believe God wants us together. I feel it to the very depths of my soul.”
A strangled noise came from her throat as happy tears flowed, her heart swelling with both excitement and love as she looked into his chocolaty-brown eyes. Am I dreaming? Is this really happening?
Leon moved closer. “I can’t let you slip through my fingers again, Suze. It’s almost as if your grandparents helped to bring us together through these chairs. I want to build a life with you.” His eyes shimmered with what looked like hope. “I’ll do my best to take care of you, and I won’t give up on us. I’ll follow this through. I’ll work hard and try to make you froh. I promise. Are you willing to give me that second chance?”
“Ya.” Her lungs seized as she fought back more tears. “Ya, I will.”
She waited for him to take her in his arms, but he hesitated as though he wanted to say more. Was something wrong?
“I know I just asked for another chance, but to be honest, that’s not enough for me. I don’t want to wait to start a life with you. Will you marry me?”
Her heart felt as though it could burst from the exhilaration swelling inside of her. “Ya, ya! I would be honored to be your fraa.”
Leon pulled her to her feet, and when his lips brushed hers, liquid heat sizzled through her veins. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his mouth against hers. When he drew back, she smiled up at him as a calm settled over her. Leon was the man God wanted her to marry. This was the path He had chosen for her, and she was certain of it down to her very core.
“Ich liebe dich, Suze,” he whispered in her ear, sending a shiver dancing up her spine.
“I love you too.”
As Leon pulled her close for a hug, Susie rested her cheek on his shoulder. God had used her grandparents’ chairs to return her one true love, and she couldn’t be more grateful.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.When Leon attends his friend’s funeral, he realizes life is fleeting and he wants to settle down and have a family. Have you ever been emotionally affected by an unexpected death or accident? What Bible verses would help?
2.When Susie is torn about her feelings for Josh, she turns to prayer for answers. Think of a t
ime when you found strength through prayer and share your story.
3.What significance do the antique chairs have in the story? What role do they play in Susie and Leon’s relationship?
4.Susie treasures the antique rocking chairs that belonged to her grandparents. Do you cherish a special family heirloom?
5.Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seems to carry the most emotional stake in the story? Is it Susie, Leon, Josh, or someone else?
6.While Susie struggles with her confusing feelings for Josh, she turns to her mother for advice. Does someone in your life help you through difficult times? How?
7.Susie is certain she’s not supposed to marry Josh, but she feels guilty about hurting him. Have you ever felt torn between telling the truth and hurting someone’s feelings? How did the situation turn out?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As always, I’m grateful for my loving family, including my mother, Lola Goebelbecker; my husband, Joe; and my sons, Zac and Matt. I’m blessed to have such an awesome and amazing family that tolerates my moods when I’m stressed out on a book deadline.
Special thanks to my mother and my dear friend Becky Biddy, who graciously proofread the draft and corrected my hilarious typos. Becky, thank you also for your daily notes of encouragement. Your friendship is a blessing!
I’m also grateful for my special Amish friend who patiently answers my endless stream of questions. You’re a blessing in my life.
Thank you to my wonderful church family at Morning Star Lutheran in Matthews, North Carolina, for your encouragement, prayers, love, and friendship. You all mean so much to my family and me.
Thank you to Zac Weikal and the fabulous members of my Bakery Bunch! I’m so grateful for your friendship and your excitement about my books. You all are awesome!
To my literary 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.
I’m grateful to editor Jean Bloom, who helped me polish and refine the story. Jean, you are a master at connecting the dots and filling in the gaps. I’m so happy 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.
Read more from the Amish Heirloom collection!
Available as an e-book
OTHER BOOKS BY AMY CLIPSTON
THE AMISH HOMESTEAD SERIES
A Place at Our Table
Room on the Porch Swing
(available April 2018)
THE AMISH HEIRLOOM SERIES
The Forgotten Recipe
The Courtship Basket
The Cherished Quilt
The Beloved Hope Chest
THE HEARTS OF THE LANCASTER
GRAND HOTEL SERIES
A Hopeful Heart
A Mother’s Secret
A Dream of Home
A Simple Prayer
THE KAUFFMAN AMISH
BAKERY SERIES
A Gift of Grace
A Promise of Hope
A Place of Peace
A Life of Joy
A Season of Love
YOUNG ADULT
Roadside Assistance
Reckless Heart
Destination Unknown
Miles from Nowhere
NOVELLAS
A Plain and Simple Christmas
Naomi’s Gift included in An
Amish Christmas Gift
A Spoonful of Love included
in An Amish Kitchen
A Son for Always included
in An Amish Cradle
Love Birds included in An Amish Market
Love and Buggy Rides included
in An Amish Harvest
Home Sweet Home included
in An Amish Home
Summer Storms included in
An Amish Summer
The Christmas Cat included in
An Amish Christmas Love
NON-FICTION
A Gift of Love
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Amish Heirloom series and the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. She has sold more than one million books. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, mom, two sons, and three spoiled-rotten cats.
Visit her online at amyclipston.com
Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks
Twitter: @AmyClipston
Instagram: amy_clipston