by Amy Clipston
6. Linda finds the courage to stand up to her uncle because of Aaron’s encouragement. Have you ever had to stand up to someone who hurt you? How did this situation turn out for you?
7. In A Hopeful Heart, A Mother’s Secret, and A Dream of Home, Lillian is convinced her mother is being selfish and is betraying her by leaving the Amish community. In this last book, we finally see Lillian forgive her mother. Do you agree with Lillian’s choice to forgive? Share this with the group.
8. Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seemed to carry the most emotional stake in the story? Was it Aaron, Solomon, Linda, or someone else?
9. Linda grows as a character throughout the book. What do you think caused her to change throughout the story?
10. What did you know about the Amish before reading this book? What did you learn?
Acknowledgments
As always, I’m thankful 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.
I’m more grateful than words can express to my patient friends who critique for me, including Janet Pecorella, Lauran Rodriguez, and, of course, my mother. I truly appreciate the time you take out of your busy lives to help me polish my books. Thank you to Stacey Barbalace for all your help with my research.
Special thanks to my Amish friends who patiently answer 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.
To my agent, Sue Brower—you are my own personal superhero! I can’t thank you enough for your guidance, advice, and friendship. I’m grateful that our paths have crossed and our partnership will continue long into the future. You are a tremendous blessing in my life.
Thank you to my amazing editor, Becky Philpott, for your friendship and guidance. I’m grateful to Jean Bloom, who helped me polish and refine the story. Jean, I hope we can work together again in the future. I also would like to thank Kerri Potts for tirelessly working to promote my books. I’m grateful to each and every person at HarperCollins Christian Publishing who helped make this book a reality.
To my readers—thank you for choosing my novels. My books are a blessing in my life for many reasons, including the special friendships I’ve formed with my readers. Thank you for your email messages, Facebook notes, and letters.
Thank you most of all to God—thank You for giving me the inspiration and the words to glorify You. I’m grateful and humbled You’ve chosen this path for me.
Special thanks to Cathy and Dennis Zimmermann for their hospitality and research assistance in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Cathy & Dennis Zimmermann, Innkeepers
The Creekside Inn
44 Leacock Road (or PO Box 435)
Paradise, PA 17562
Toll Free: (866) 604-2574
Local Phone: (717) 687-0333
The author and publisher gratefully acknowledge the following resource that was used to research information for this book:
C. Richard Beam, Revised Pennsylvania German Dictionary (Lancaster: Brooksire Publications, Inc., 1991).
An excerpt from The Forgotten Recipe
AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 2015
Prologue
Jason Huyard had to be dreaming. The whole scene playing out in front of him was surreal as he stood in the Lapp family’s kitchen doorway and peered into the large family room. People, mostly strangers from other church districts, paraded in and out of the house, seemingly in slow motion. They walked through the family room, where they shook hands with other visitors before expressing their condolences to his friend Seth’s mother, Margaret, and his younger sister, Ellie. Seth’s body lay motionless in the coffin behind his family. Jason’s stomach twisted and bile rose in his throat as he stared at his best friend.
This had to be a dream. No, it wasn’t a dream; it was a nightmare, his worst nightmare imaginable. It couldn’t be possible that only a few days ago Jason and Seth were talking while they built a shed together for the Lancaster Shed Company. Jason’s world came to a screeching halt when Seth slipped and fell from the rafters, breaking his neck when he plummeted to the concrete floor.
In an instant, Seth was gone.
If only I hadn’t walked away to grab that bottle of water . . .
Jason pushed the thought away and moved through the doorway leading to the family room. He turned his gaze toward Seth’s mother, who sobbed in the arms of an older woman with graying hair peeking out of her prayer covering. Ellie, standing nearby, wiped tears from her rosy cheeks. Jason had spoken to them at the hospital and again at their home, and he’d told them nearly a dozen times that he longed to go back in time and stop Seth from falling. He should’ve done something to stop his friend from hitting that concrete floor.
It’s my fault that Seth is gone and his family is devastated.
Watching them cry was too much for him. Their grief was palpable even from across the large room. Jason’s heart shredded, and he felt as if he couldn’t breathe. The heat in the room closed in on him, stealing the air from his lungs. He had to get out of there before he was sick or passed out.
He weaved through the knot of people on the way to the back door, excusing himself as he bumped into visitors moving through the room while shaking hands.
“Jay?” His younger brother, Stephen, asked as Jason pushed past him. “Jason. Where are you going?”
“I need some air,” Jason breathed, pushing on the old, wooden front door, which moaned in protest as it opened.
“Wait,” Stephen called after him.
Jason stepped out onto the porch and the cool April air hit his face like a wall.
Finally! I can breathe! He moved to the railing and leaned over it. While staring down at the wet grass below, he took long, gasping breaths in an attempt to calm his racing heart and settle his violent stomach.
“Jay?” Stephen’s light brown eyebrows furrowed with concern. “You’re as white as a sheet.”
Jason lifted his hat and raked his fingers through his hair. “I’ll be all right. Just give me a minute.”
“Okay.” Stephen pointed toward a group of people talking across the yard. “A couple of guys from work are out there. I’m going to talk to them. Did you want to come with me?”
“No, danki.” Jason shook his head. “I’m going to stay here for a few minutes and enjoy the quiet.”
“I’ll be back in a minute.” Stephen headed down the porch steps.
Jason leaned against the railing, and crossed his arms over his chest as the cool wind seeped in through his black jacket. He moved his gaze upward, taking in the sky above. Puffy gray clouds strangled the sky and the mist that had threatened all day had finally transformed into steady raindrops. The weather was a fitting complement to the hundreds of community members who had journeyed to the Lapp home to say goodbye to Seth.
The front door creaked open, and a choked sob followed. Two women stepped out onto the porch while supporting a third woman, who seemed to hold onto them with all of her strength. They all shared similar facial features and looked to be in their twenties. The woman in the center was the tallest, possibly close to five-foot-ten-inches. She was dressed in black with wisps of blonde hair escaping her prayer covering. Her beautiful face crumpled with anguish and her ice blue eyes, rimmed with dark circles, clouded with tears as she cried.
Her sobs became louder as her long legs buckled, causing the other two women to grasp her tighter. Jason started to move across the porch to help them steady her, but the two shorter women successfully steered the wailing woman toward a nearby bench and ordered her to sit. The woman obeyed and the other two young ladies sat on either side of her, cooing softly while holding her hands.
The door banged open, and a middle-aged couple rushed onto the porch and hovere
d over the three women.
“Veronica?” The older woman addressed the crying woman.
Jason’s heart skipped a beat as he whispered, “Veronica.” Seth’s fiancée! Seth had spoken of her so often that Jason felt as if he knew her.
“Veronica? Please take a deep breath. You need to calm down or you’re going to pass out again.” The woman bent down to meet her eyes. “Do you want to leave?”
Veronica shook her head and dabbed her wet eyes with a tissue. “No, I promised Margaret I would stay.”
“She would understand if you left,” the second tallest woman with light brown hair said. “You’ve been here all day.”
“Rachel is right,” the shorter blonde chimed. “You’ve been here since the crack of dawn, and I heard you pacing last night. You haven’t slept since . . .” Her voice trailed off and she cleared her throat. “Mamm’s right that you’re going to pass out again. You need to sleep.”
“I can’t sleep.” Veronica’s voice was gravelly. “I need to be here. I have to be here for him. I can’t leave him.” Her voice broke and sobs wracked her body anew.
The agony in her eyes shattered Jason’s heart once again. Why hadn’t he saved Seth? Why wasn’t he there when Seth fell? He could’ve caught him or warned him when the board started to give way.
The blonde rubbed Veronica’s back. Tears continued to stream from Veronica’s eyes, and Jason’s heart ached. He needed to apologize to her. He had to tell her that he was so sorry for her loss. He knew how much Seth had loved Veronica. Seth talked about her incessantly. Seth acted as if Veronica was all he thought about while they built sheds.
Stephen sidled up to him. “Do you know them?”
“No, but I feel like I do.”
“What do you mean?” Stephen asked.
“Stephen, Jason,” Mamm stepped out the door and onto the porch with Dat in tow. “I didn’t realize you were out here.”
“I needed some air,” Jason said.
“Are you ready to go?” Dat asked.
“Ya,” Stephen said. “Jason looks like he needs to go home and rest.” He patted Jason’s shoulder. “Let’s go.”
His parents walked toward the porch steps, but Jason lingered behind. His gaze moved back to Veronica, who was speaking softly with the women, whom he assumed were her mother and sisters. He couldn’t stop watching her. He longed to take away her pain. He felt responsible for her suffering and he needed to apologize.
“Jay?” Stephen asked. “It’s time to go. We’ve been here nearly all afternoon.”
Jason nodded. “I’m coming.”
“No, you’re not actually. You’re still standing here.” Stephen leaned closer. “Why are you staring at that maedel?”
“She was his fiancée. They were supposed to be married in the fall.”
“That’s Veronica?” Stephen blew out a breath. “Oh no.”
Veronica’s eyes met Jason’s for a quick moment, and his breath caught. He needed to talk to her and tell her how sorry he was. But he couldn’t do it now, not when their emotions were so raw. He was sure he’d fall apart if he tried to speak. He had to wait until he was stronger and ready to tell her that he felt responsible for Seth’s death and would never forgive himself.
“Jason?” Stephen nudged him. “Mamm and Dat are ready.”
He nodded and followed his younger brother down the squeaky porch steps. When he reached the bottom, he looked over his shoulder one last time and took in the sight of Seth’s beautiful fiancée crying. He was going to talk to her soon, and he would tell her just how sorry he was for not being able to save Seth and her future with him.