Abiding Mercy

by Ruth Reid

  “It’s a bit nippy in here. I can see my breath,” Roslyn said, blowing into her hands.

  “I’ll get a fire started.” Faith went outside and picked a few smaller pieces of wood; later she would bring in the larger logs to burn throughout the night. She looked forward to sitting by the fire and listening to the crackling sounds. At least tonight, she could go to sleep under cold sheets and dream about being home.

  Brandon brought the suitcases inside, then went back to the car several times for the food, supplies, and presents.

  “Who wants hot cocoa?” Roslyn asked.

  Faith and Brandon both replied “me” at the same time, then laughed. Faith found spending the evening together delightful. She almost didn’t want to go to bed.

  On Christmas morning, Faith rose early and made breakfast. The fully equipped kitchen had all the pots and pans needed to make eggs, bacon, fried potatoes, and toast.

  “I thought I was dreaming of bacon,” Brandon teased, sniffing the air. He poured himself a mug of coffee and sat at the table. “You like to cook, don’t you?”

  “It’s one of my favorite things to do,” Faith said. “I would have baked bread this morning, but we didn’t bring any flour.” She shrugged. “So we eat store-bought toast this year.”

  Roslyn plodded out to the kitchen in a bathrobe and furry slippers. “You’re so sweet to make breakfast,” she said, going to the coffeepot first.

  “It was mei pleasure.” Faith loaded the plates and set them on the table. The conversation felt awkward. Roslyn hadn’t said much, as though she was on the verge of tears. Brandon went overboard to keep the conversation going. He talked about putting an addition on the cabin in the future, hunting on the eighty acres, and buying a boat in the spring to go fishing.

  “Gideon and I fished a lot together,” Faith said.

  “Gideon sounds like a special man.” Roslyn pushed her potatoes around on her plate.

  “He is.” Faith wished she could introduce them to him, but what would be the point? Their worlds were separate now. Gideon had made that clear.

  Roslyn sighed, then pushed away from the table. “I have something for you.” She disappeared into the bedroom, then came back a few minutes later with an envelope. “This arrived last month. Not long after you went up north.”

  Faith ran her hand over Gideon’s handwriting.

  “I hope you’ll forgive me. I was afraid you might run away again.” Roslyn sniffled. “I wanted you to be happy living with us, being part of our family, but when I hear you talk about your past, your face lights up . . . I know you’ll never be happy living outside your Amish district. I’d like to think Gideon has a lot to do with why you want to go back to Posen . . . and it’s not that you don’t like us.”

  Faith set the letter on the table and hugged Roslyn. “It isn’t you,” she said, crying. “You’ll always have a special place in mei heart.”

  “Even if you move back to Posen?”

  Faith nodded. She wanted to start preparing them for when she turned eighteen and was free to live where she wanted.

  Brandon stood and encased them both in a big hug. “I think it’s time to open gifts.”

  They sat down in the living room and exchanged presents. Faith had picked out things when she was shopping for them, but had also knitted them each a wool scarf.

  “I hope you like this,” Roslyn said, handing Faith a large package tied with a bright-red bow.

  Opening the box, Faith’s eyes watered. She reached in and removed the blue Amish dress. “It’s beautiful.”

  “I had a seamstress copy your dress to make a pattern.” Roslyn motioned to the box. “There’s more.”

  Faith counted a different colored dress for each day of the week. “Thank you. I love the dresses.” She especially loved that Roslyn had accepted her wearing the Amish clothing.

  “I’m glad you like them. Maybe you can pick out your favorite to wear tomorrow.”

  “I already know mei favorite. The blue one,” she said. The three of them talked most of the evening, and it was late when Faith was alone to read her letter from Gideon, which was a wonderful Christmas present by itself.

  Dear Faith,

  You might not have known that before you left I had been counting down the days to your baptism. I not only wanted to court you, as we spoke about, but I also wanted to ask you to be my wife once we were both committed to God and to the church.

  I guess what I wanted to say in this letter is, I haven’t stopped counting the days. Nor will I stop. I hope you understand why I refused to pray for you to adapt to your new life. I’m praying for you to come home—where you belong.

  Love,

  Gideon

  Chapter 43

  Posen, Michigan

  Present day

  Gideon wasn’t sure why he agreed to go to Second Christmas. Sure, there was plenty of food, but he’d done his best to avoid the restaurant since Faith had left town, and being here now only served to remind him of how much he missed her. He moved down the serving line and placed a spoonful of macaroni and cheese on his plate.

  Irma set another large bowl of broccoli salad on the table. “I’m going to tell the new owners about your seasonal fruits. Hopefully they will continue to buy your produce.”

  “Danki,” Gideon said. Irma was kind to think of him when her mind must be overloaded with so many other things. “Is the new owner taking over at the beginning of the year?”

  Irma shook her head. “I’ll turn the keys over tonight once the celebration has ended and everything is cleaned up.” Her voice frayed. “I see empty dishes.” She snatched a vegetable tray from the table and rushed it into the kitchen.

  The bell jingled above the door and the crowd parted like a polecat had been let inside. Gideon glanced toward the door at the person who had stirred the whispers. “Faith.” The word caught in his throat.

  Mordecai limped toward the door, the bishop with him.

  Gideon pressed forward. Perhaps if her father or the bishop couldn’t talk sense into her, he could. She would only bring more condemnation on the district showing up like this.

  Faith spoke first. “Merry Christmas, Daed. Bishop Zook.” As she scanned the room, her gaze landed briefly on him and she smiled. “Hello, Gideon.”

  “Merry Christmas, Faith,” he said.

  She continued to scan the crowd. “Where’s Mamm?”

  Irma bolted through the swinging doors. “Faith!” The two hugged for a long moment.

  “I am home, Mamm,” Faith muttered, buried in the embrace.

  Mordecai and the bishop shared the same sullen expression.

  Gideon hoped to have a few minutes with Faith, too, but he wouldn’t interrupt the attention she was getting from her parents.

  Several of the members gathered their children and put their coats and capes on as they headed to the door. The room thinned quickly, leaving Faith, her parents, the bishop, his wife, and Gideon.

  A gust of wind swept through the door, and as Gideon turned to make sure the door was closed completely, an Englisch man stepped into view.

  “Good evening,” the man said, removing his hat and shaking the snow off the brim. He stomped snow from his rubber boots, then shuddered, jowls flapping and red hair dropping over his eyes. “The temperature is dropping fast out there,” he said, combing his fingers through his damp hair.

  Gideon eyed the man. “By the looks of your wool overcoat, it must be snowing hard.”

  “It is indeed.” The man carefully removed his coat and draped it over his shoulder, then moved past Gideon and took a seat at one of the tables.

  Perhaps the man thought the restaurant was open. “Excuse me, sir, the restaurant is closed.” Gideon motioned to the long table of food. “If you’re hungry, please, help yourself.”

  The Englischer removed a thick envelope from an inside coat pocket. “I have business to discuss with the owner.”

  “I’ll let them know you’re here.” Gideon hoped the man’s
presence wouldn’t dampen the joyful mood. He approached Mordecai. “Excuse me. There’s someone here who asked to speak with you and Irma.”

  Irma glanced over her shoulder. “Faith, why don’t you share the news with Gideon while your father and I see what this is about.” Her mother drew a raspy breath, then tightened her hand around the dangling set of keys Gideon recognized as belonging to the restaurant.

  Gideon elbowed Faith’s arm. “Could we step outside?”

  “Jah.” She glanced over her shoulder briefly toward her parents, then went with him out the front door.

  “You didn’t write back,” Gideon said the moment they were outside.

  “I was just given your letter yesterday.” She hugged herself, her lips quivering in the icy weather.

  “I wrote you the day you found me in the orchard.”

  “You saw the pictures of me in that Englisch dress and wearing makeup . . . I thought you’d given up on me.”

  He looked down at the snowy sidewalk. “I thought finding out you were nett Amish had changed you and I assumed—”

  “You assumed wrong.” Faith sniffled. “These last few months have been hard. Mei whole life was turned upside down, but that didn’t change mei beliefs. I wasn’t born Amish, but I believe in the Amish way. I still want to be baptized and join the church.”

  His shoulders dropped under the weight of knowing it’d go against the Ordnung to be Amish living a worldly lifestyle. “Perhaps when you’re legally old enough to choose . . .”

  “You said in your letter you would wait for me. Is it still true?”

  “Jah, I’m still waiting. What about you?”

  “Nay, nett anymore.”

  He groaned under his breath and waited for the white fog around his mouth to clear. “You don’t have to sound so giddy.” She no longer wants to wait for me and now she’s smirking. “Look, I’m sorry I misjudged you.”

  “You misjudged Olivia too. She was so upset over being accused of stealing from the till that she called the tip hotline number. That’s how the Colepeppers found me.”

  It made sense now why Faith didn’t want to wait for him. “I’m sorry, Faith. I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me. I didn’t mean any harm to kumm, and I understand if that’s why you don’t want to wait for me.”

  “Gideon, I have already forgiven you.”

  “Danki.” He lowered his head. He’d made a mess of everything and now he’d lost the woman he loved.

  Faith reached for his hand. “I don’t want to wait any longer, because Bishop Zook has already agreed to baptize me as soon as I finish the remaining classes. I don’t have to wait for the next baptism in spring.”

  “I don’t understand. You live in Bloomfield Hills nau.”

  “Mei Englisch parents live there. But I’m moving back home— here—where I belong. The Colepeppers are letting me choose where I want to live. I choose mei Plain life—I choose you, Gideon. If you’ll still have me.”

  “You don’t have to ask.” He brought her into his arms and kissed her slowly, savoring everything about the moment. “I love you, Faith.”

  “I love you too.”

  Warmth spread to his core despite the wintery weather. He’d never experienced this much joy and he wanted to hold on to these feelings forever. “Faith,” he said, leaning back to look her in the eye, “we’ve been good friends for a long time. I already know I want to marry you.”

  She smiled. “Don’t you think we should court first?”

  He kissed her forehead. “I’m just telling you mei intentions are to never let you go.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  “We’ll probably have to wait until you’re eighteen, but that should give me time to build our haus. I hope you don’t mind the view of apple trees.”

  “Sounds perfect.” Her smile morphed into a frown. “But there’s something I have to tell you.”

  He cringed. “What’s that?”

  “Mei birthday is in March, nett October.”

  Gideon smiled. “That’s gut. It gives me time to make you something different for your birthday.”

  “Something different?”

  “I made shelves for the restaurant. Only . . .” He glanced over his shoulder at the window. The Pinkhams were still busy talking with the man.

  Faith tapped his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

  “Your parents are selling the restaurant. The man sitting with them has kumm with the documents.” He brushed the back of his hand over her moist cheeks. “I wish it wasn’t happening tonight.”

  “Me too.” Tears pooled in her eyes.

  Gideon reached for her hand. “We better get back inside. Icicles are going to form on your lashes.”

  She wiped her face and smiled. “It’s going to be strange nett baking bread every morning.”

  “Things will work out,” he said. “They did for you coming home.”

  She nodded. Once inside, she kicked the snow off her boots at the door. She looked at the floor and sighed. “I better get a mop and clean up this puddle so someone doesn’t fall.”

  The redheaded man approached. “I understand you are Adriana Colepepper?”

  Faith shot a look at Gideon that sent a shiver down his spine.

  “Jah, I am she.”

  “I was instructed to give this to you.” He handed her a card with her name scrawled on it and the set of keys Irma had been holding.

  Faith opened the card. Tears flowed freely by the time she finished reading it and handed it to Gideon.

  Dear Adriana,

  Your father and I were thrilled when we finally found you after so many years. There hadn’t been a day that I didn’t think of you or remember holding you in my arms. But you are no longer a baby, you’re a lovely young woman whom we are proud to call our daughter. I thank God that you were taken care of so well. As much as it pains me to say good-bye, I know your leaving is for the best. The restaurant is our gift to you. I look forward to eating potato pancakes and sampling your homemade bread when we come up to the cabin for visits.

  Please don’t stop praying for us.

  Love,

  Mom and Dad

  P.S. Don’t worry about your sister. I insisted Olivia keep the reward money, and I’ll see that she has everything she needs to go back to school.

  Gideon glanced up from the letter, but Faith was gone.

  “Is everything okay?” Irma asked.

  “I’ll find out,” he muttered. Gideon went into the kitchen and found Faith removing the mop from the utility closet. “Are you all right?”

  She sniffled.

  “Faith.” He stepped closer. “That was a wunderbaar thing your Englisch parents did for you.”

  She nodded.

  He swallowed hard. “Does it make you want to go back?”

  “Nay,” she replied. “Mei place is here—with you.”

  “Gut.” He rolled up his shirt sleeves. “I suppose you’re going to need a dishwasher, jah?”

  Faith chuckled. “You know I won’t turn down help.”

  Acknowledgments

  So many people have helped me, but I want to thank God first. To God be the glory, for He’s given me the words and storyline for another book! I pray that God speaks through the words in this book and that everyone who reads Abiding Mercy will feel God’s presence.

  Thank you to my husband, Dan. I REALLY appreciate everything you’ve given up to help me achieve this dream of writing. Thank you for understanding when the characters in my head steal my time. I love you.

  Thank you to Lexie, Danny, and Sarah for your love and support. I love you!

  I wish to thank some Facebook friends who helped name some of the characters seen in Abiding Mercy: Kay Bossard, Amy Champion, Emilie Clawson Hinton, Alicia Isreal, Shawna Jackson, Rhonda Moulton, Judy Rickman, Merry Sunshine, Mallory Fry Tompsett, and Jessie Powers Young. I wish I could personally thank each one of you for reading my books and showing support through kind words of encourag
ement and FB interactions.

  A special thank you to Adriana Miller who inspired the Englisch name. You’re beautiful, sweetie.

  Thank you to my editors: Becky Monds, Natalie Hanemann, Jodi Hughes, and Becky Philpott who believed in the story when I pitched it. I am so honored to have all of you in my life! Thank you, Kristen Golden! You have helped me out so much with marketing, and you do it so well! Thank you, Daisy Hutton, for allowing me to be part of the HarperCollins Christian Publishing family!

  I would also like to thank my agent, Natasha Kern. You are a godsend. Thank you for your valuable input on this book and for your ongoing career guidance. I am so blessed to have you as my agent!

  Thanks also to my scribes critique partners: Sarah Hamaker, Ginny Hamlin, Michele Morris, Colleen Scott, and Jennifer Uhlarik. I love our group and how it’s more than just critiquing each other’s work. Your prayers and support have seen me through—chapter by chapter.

  Discussion Questions

  1. Have you ever taken your child from the shopping cart and put him or her in the car before loading the groceries? Do you think after reading this book you’ll change your routine?

  2. After Adriana is abducted, Brandon and Leon work together to medicate Roslyn against her wishes. What was your reaction to this? Did they have her best interests at heart or was something else going on?

  3. Ecclesiastes 11:1 reads, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” Can you think of a time when a generous act you showed one person was repaid to you through another?

  4. Was Roslyn a character you had a hard time relating to? How did you react when she brought Adriana/Faith “home,” took her shopping for new clothes, and had her hair and nails done? If you’d been in Roslyn’s shoes, would you have transitioned your daughter so quickly? At this point in the story, was Roslyn thinking more about herself or of Faith/ Adriana? Were there elements of Roslyn’s situation that you empathized with?

  5. Gideon had his heart broken by Olivia when she decided to jump the fence. When he begins to have feelings for Faith, he asks her to confirm that she plans to commit to the Amish way of life. Imagine how Gideon felt when he saw Faith’s photo in the newspaper, wearing a fancy dress, her hair and face made up. His best laid plans didn’t account for the mystery that unravels about Faith. Think of a time in your life when you took out all possible obstacles and your plan was still thwarted. What did you learn about your own plans compared to the plans God has for you?