by Amy Clipston
“Excuse me,” Becky said from the doorway. “What’s going on? Jocelyn is here to see Ruth.”
Mamm patted Aaron’s arm. “D-danki.”
Aaron nodded. “I’ll be back soon.” He squeezed her hand. “I promise.”
Aaron followed his father and brother out of the bedroom as Jocelyn came in.
“Solomon,” Aaron said as his mind moved through the logistics of relocating, “I’ll let you explain everything to Becky. I have a lot of things to work out. I need to call Zac and discuss selling my half of the business to him. I need to go back to Missouri to get my things, and I’ll need a place to stay until I can find a haus.”
Dat placed his hand on Aaron’s arm. “You take it one step at a time. Just go call your friend and then figure out when you’re going to go back to Missouri. As for a place to stay, don’t you remember we’ve said you can stay here?”
“I have room too,” Solomon offered. “Also, we have plenty of land. You can build a haus right here.”
Aaron smiled at his brother. “Danki.”
“Gern gschehne, bruder.” Solomon smiled.
Aaron’s thoughts turned to Linda. “I need to take care of something more important first.”
TWENTY
Linda was cleaning up the breakfast dishes when she heard Hannah call her name. The urgency in Hannah’s voice caused Linda to drop the dish she was holding into the dish water and rush down the hallway.
“Hannah?” Linda burst into the suite and found Hannah leaning against a chair. “Was iss letz?”
“My water just broke.” Hannah puckered her lips and then blew out a deep breath. “Would you please find Trey? Dummle!”
“Ya!” Linda rushed out through the kitchen and raced outside to the barn. “Trey! Trey!”
“Yeah?” Trey appeared, wiping his hands on a shop rag. “What’s going on?”
“It’s time,” Linda said, gasping for her breath.
“It’s time? Oh! It’s time!” His eyes flew open and he tossed the shop rag on the ground outside the barn.
“You need to get Hannah to the hospital. Her water just broke. I’ll take care of everything here.” Linda followed Trey back into the house.
“Andrew is at a sleepover at a friend’s house,” he said. “His friend’s mother is supposed to bring him home later today. Would you please stay and take care of him? I don’t know when Amanda will be home.” He stopped. “Would you call her at work? The vet’s name is in the address book by the phone in our bedroom.”
“Ya, I’ll call Amanda, and I’ll stay for Andrew,” Linda said. “It’s no problem at all. I’ll let mei onkel know you need me to stay late. You just go.”
“Great.” Trey suddenly stopped and faced Linda. “Do me a favor. Call Lillian too. Her number is in the same place.”
Linda gave him a knowing smile. “I will.”
She helped Trey gather up Hannah’s things and then carried them to the car. Trey helped Hannah into the passenger seat before putting her suitcase in the trunk.
Linda leaned into the car and touched Hannah’s hand. “Don’t worry about anything here. We’ll be fine.”
“Danki,” Hannah said, sounding a bit breathless.
“Thank you, Linda,” Trey said as he moved to the driver’s seat. “I’ll call you.”
Linda waved as they drove off, then made her way back into the house and down the hallway to the family’s suite. She found the address book, called Amanda, then located the number for Lillian. She knew Lillian lived with her grandmother, Barbie Glick, who was Hannah’s former mother-in-law. Linda dialed the number and hoped someone would hear the phone ringing in their barn. After several rings someone picked up.
“Hello?” a masculine voice said.
“Hello, this is Linda Zook,” she began. “I need to speak with Lillian Glick, please.”
“Oh, Linda, hello. This is Eli,” the man said. “Let me see if Lillian is home. Hang on one moment.”
Linda sat down on the edge of the bed and waited until Lillian came to the phone.
“Hi, Linda. This is Lillian,” she said.
“Lillian, hi,” Linda said. “Trey asked me to tell you your mamm went into labor this morning. She’s on her way to the hospital now to have the boppli. He thought you would want to know.”
The other end of the line went silent.
“Lillian?” Linda asked. “Are you still there?”
“Ya,” Lillian’s voice was unsteady. “Do you know which hospital?”
Linda told her.
“Danki for calling,” Lillian said. “Good-bye.”
“Good-bye.” Linda hung up the phone, hoping Lillian would make this an even better day for Hannah.
Lillian hung up the phone and stared at it. Her mother was having the baby, and Lillian was going to have a baby brother or sister. She was nearly overwhelmed with the urge to go to the hospital and be with her mother. All the past hurt and disappointment that had plagued her since her mother had left the community suddenly evaporated. She was ready to go see her. Her mother needed her, and she wanted to be there with her and her siblings. Lillian needed her family back in her life.
She called her grandparents’ driver and asked him to come right away. Then she rushed to the house and found her grandmother in the kitchen.
“Lily?” Mammi regarded her with concern. “Is everything all right?”
“Ya,” Lillian said. “Linda Zook just called. Mei mamm went into labor. She’s having the boppli, and I want to go to the hospital to be with her. A ride is coming to get me.”
“Oh.” Mammi looked surprised.
“I have to go. I’m ready to see her again.” Lillian’s lower lip quivered. “I’m ready to forgive her. I hope you understand.”
Mammi crossed the kitchen and hugged her. “Of course I understand. Call me and let me know how everything goes.”
“I will. Danki.” Happiness engulfed Lillian. She couldn’t wait to meet her new brother or sister.
Hannah cuddled her newborn baby against her chest as tears blurred her vision. She couldn’t believe it. She was holding a brand-new baby.
“She’s beautiful,” Trey whispered in her ear. “She’s perfect, just like you.”
Hannah gazed up at her husband as pure elation overcame her. “I’m so happy.”
“I am too.” He kissed her head. “Have you decided on a name? I know you were considering both Heather and Melissa.”
Hannah was surprised. “You’re going to let me choose? I thought you wanted to name her Grace after your mother.”
Trey shook his head. “No, I want you to decide. I’m happy with whatever you choose.”
“How about Heather Grace?” Hannah asked. “I love the name Heather, and Grace will be for your mother. What do you think?”
“Heather Grace Peterson.” Trey nodded. “It’s perfect.”
A knock sounded on the door, and a nurse poked her head in. “Excuse me, Mrs. Peterson. You have visitors. Your daughters and your son are here.”
“Please send them in,” Trey said. “Thank you.”
“My daughters?” Hannah gasped. “Both of my daughters are here?” She looked up at Trey. “Did you call Lily?”
“I asked Linda to call her.” He touched her cheek. “I had a feeling she might come.”
The door opened, and Amanda and Andrew walked in, followed by Lillian, who had a tentative expression on her face.
“Hi, Mamm,” Amanda said. “Linda called me, and I went to get Andrew on my way to the hospital.”
“Thank you, Amanda,” Trey said.
Andrew rushed over to the bed. “Oh, let me see.”
“This is your baby sister,” Hannah held the baby out. “Heather Grace, this is your big brother, Andrew.”
“Oh, Heather,” Amanda grinned down at the baby. “Look at you.” She looked back at her twin, who was lingering by the door. “Get over here, Lily, and meet our sister.”
Lillian smiled as she walked over to her siblings
, who were studying the baby. “Hi, Heather.” She gazed at the baby and then looked at Hannah. “Congratulations, Mamm.”
Hannah swiped the back of her hand over her eyes as tears began to sprinkle down her cheeks. “Thank you. It’s gut to see you.”
“It’s gut to be here.” Lillian looked at the baby. “May I hold her, Mamm?”
“Of course you may.” Amanda gently took the baby from Hannah and then put the baby in Lillian’s arms. She smiled at her mother.
“Hi, Heather,” Lillian said. “I’m your big schweschder, Lily. I’m going to teach you Dietsch and tell you all about your Amish family.”
Hannah held Trey’s hand and smiled. She finally had her family back together. She closed her eyes and thanked God.
Linda was dusting the front room when the back door slammed. She rushed to the kitchen expecting to find Trey there. She stopped in the doorway when she saw Aaron instead. Her expression clouded as disappointment and regret coursed through her. She couldn’t stand looking at the man who had broken her heart.
“Hi.” He took a step toward her. “I was hoping you were still here.”
“Are you going to pack now?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest in an effort to protect her already fractured heart.
“I’ve already packed,” he said. “But I won’t be gone long. I do have to go to Missouri, but then I’ll be back.”
“I don’t understand.” She searched his expression for answers. Was he toying with her emotions?
“I’m going to need your help.” His lips twitched as he took another step toward her. “I’ll need a tutor to help me remember Dietsch when I get back from Missouri.”
She tilted her head and looked up at him. “Aaron, you’re not making sense.”
“I probably will need a refresher course on the language so I’ll be able to understand the bishop during the baptism classes.”
She gaped as he smiled. “Baptism classes?”
“That’s what I said.” He touched her cheek as affection overcame his eyes. “I’m going to go to Missouri to pack up my things and take care of some business. I need to call Zac and see if he wants to buy out my half of the company. Once all that is settled, I’ll be back. My parents said I can stay with them until I have my own place.”
“You’re moving here?” she asked, her voice trembling with excitement.
“I am. I worked things out with mei bruder. Mei mamm is going to be okay. Her nurse came to see her today, and she’s already doing better. I know now that my family needs me, and I want to be here. I want to be with them again.”
His expression softened. “I owe you an apology. I’m sorry for saying I was going to leave. I could never really leave you. God brought us together. You’ve been my best freind since I came back here. You were there for me when I needed someone to talk you. You’ve guided me through all these confusing emotions while I’ve been here, and you’ve given me wonderful advice. Your friendship has been a blessing to me.”
She nodded as tears inundated her eyes.
“I’ve learned so much from you, Linda. You taught me how to forgive mei bruder. You’ve shown me what’s really important in life. I can’t thank you enough.” He gazed down at her.
“I know I can’t officially ask you to be my girlfriend until I’m baptized, but I was wondering if you would take a rain check.” He smiled as he cupped his hand to her cheek. “Would you wait for me to be baptized and then be my girlfriend?”
She nodded as happiness swelled inside of her and her heart hammered. “I will on one condition.”
“What’s that condition?”
“You have to take your Dietsch lessons seriously,” she teased. “I can’t spend my time translating things for you.”
“Can you translate this?” he asked. “Ich liebe dich, Linda Zook.”
Before she could respond, he leaned down and brushed his lips over hers, sending her stomach into a wild swirl. She savored the feel of his lips on hers. When he broke the kiss, he left her breathless. He leaned his forehead on hers, and she stared into his warm eyes.
“So did you translate it?” he whispered.
“Ya,” she whispered in return, her voice trembling. “I love you too, Aaron Ebersol.”
She smiled then, silently thanking God for bringing happiness and love into her life. He’d heard every simple prayer.
EPILOGUE
Linda stepped out onto Saul’s front porch and shivered as the autumn breeze caught her cloak.
“Do you need my coat?” Aaron offered, taking her hand in his.
“No, no.” She shook her head. “I’m fine.” She smiled up at Aaron. “The wedding was schee, ya?”
“It was.” Aaron gave her hand a gentle squeeze and led her to the far corner of the porch.
“Madeleine and Saul looked so froh.” Linda sat on the swing. “Even Emma was beaming as they took their vows. I know they will have a happy life. It’s amazing how God brought them together.”
“You’re right.” Aaron sank down beside her and moved the swing.
Linda turned toward Aaron and found him staring toward the pasture. He seemed to have something on his mind, and she wondered what he was thinking. She admired how he looked in his plain shirt and suspenders. He had been baptized a week ago, along with Madeleine and the rest of the new members of the church. It seemed like only yesterday that he had come back to the community, and now he was an official church member. Time had moved so quickly.
Aaron had been able to sell his half of the construction business to his partner in Missouri, and he had enough funds to start a new construction business in Paradise. He called it Ebersol Family Construction, inviting Solomon and Manny to be his partners. “Mei bruder is finally going to realize his own dream of building houses,” Aaron had told her. He had also hired helpers for his father on the dairy farm.
“I want to ask you something,” Aaron finally said, looking nervous. “We had to wait until I joined the church to make things more official. Now that I’m baptized, I can ask you what I’ve wanted to ask you since last spring.”
Her heart thudded. She knew he was going to ask her to be his girlfriend, and she held her breath with anticipation.
“Linda, I’ve loved you since that day you calmed me down and fed me kichlin after that emotional conversation with my dat.” He chuckled. “I’ll never forget how you accused me of not knowing how to speak Dietsch.”
She grinned despite her swirling emotions. “Well, you did take your time using the language again.”
“You are mei best freind,” he continued as he held her hands in his. “You’re the most amazing, schee, loving maedel I’ve ever met, and I can’t imagine my life without you. Now that I have a haus and our construction business going, I can ask you the question I’ve been dreaming of asking you for months.” He paused, and her breath hitched. “Will you marry me, Linda?”
She gasped in surprise, and her eyes overflowed with tears. Happiness consumed her as she laughed, “Ya, I will. I will marry you, Aaron.”
“I’m the happiest man on the planet!” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “I have something else to tell you.”
“What?” Linda asked.
“I found some land for us, and I want you to help me design our haus.”
“Oh my goodness!” Linda cupped her hand to her mouth. She was certain her heart might burst with all of the excitement.
“What’s going on here?” Carolyn Glick’s voice sounded from behind her.
Linda and Aaron stood and found Carolyn, Joshua, Saul, and Madeleine crowded around the front door.
“Did you two sneak outside to have a private moment together?” Madeleine teased. “We were just looking for you.”
“Aaron just asked me to marry him,” Linda said as Aaron rested his arm around her shoulder.
Carolyn and Madeleine squealed and then ran over and hugged her.
“We have another wedding to plan,” Carolyn said. “That’s so wunderbaar!�
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“I’m so froh for you,” Madeleine said.
“Danki. I want to tell Hannah. Have you seen her?” Linda asked.
“Ya, I saw her talking with Amanda and Lillian in the kitchen,” Carolyn said. “Let’s go find her.”
Linda looked up at Aaron, who was being congratulated by Joshua and Saul. “I’m going to tell Hannah. I’ll be back.”
He stepped away from the men and smiled down at her.
“Take your time.”
“You’ve made me the happiest woman alive,” she whispered. “Danki.”
“No,” Aaron said. “I need to thank you for leading me home.”
As Linda walked into the house with Madeleine and Carolyn, she couldn’t stop smiling. How grateful she was to God for the gift of her community, her wonderful friends, and someone to love.
Discussion Questions
1. Aaron is stunned when Saul calls and tells him his mother had a stroke. He struggles with his decision to go home because he thinks his family has forgotten him. He has moved on with his life, but he feels he must go home and face his painful past. Have you ever had to face a difficult family situation? What Bible verses helped you with your choices? Share this with the group.
2. Aaron feels God is giving him a second chance with his family. Have you ever experienced a second chance? What was it?
3. Linda finds encouragement in Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” What does this verse mean to you?
4. Linda has always felt unworthy and unloved after losing her parents and having to live with her miserable uncle. Think of a time when you felt lost and alone. Where did you find your strength? What Bible verses would help?
5. Solomon believes he’s shielding his mother from hurt when he hides the letters Aaron sent her. In the end, it’s painful for everyone when they learn the truth. Do you think Solomon’s intentions were justified? Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? If so, how did it turn out? Share this with the group.