by Amy Clipston
“You shouldn’t go out now,” Janie protested. “You need some sleep. Wait until the morning.”
“No, I have to go now.” He peered out the kitchen window and saw his uncle’s driver’s van parked out there. “Warren is still here. I’m going to see if I can get a ride.” He started for the door with the basket and then turned back toward his cousins. “Will you stay with John?”
The sisters shared another incredulous expression before nodding in unison.
“Thanks.” Mike darted out the back door. His aunt and uncle were standing on the steps and talking to their driver. The rain had stopped and the air smelled like wet grass.
“Warren,” Mike said. “Would you please give me a ride to Bird-in-Hand?”
Warren nodded. “Sure. I can drop you off on my way to your uncle’s farm. Let’s go.”
Mike’s pulse quickened as he climbed into the van and set the basket on his lap. He hoped Rachel would talk to him, but more than anything, he hoped she would forgive him.
RACHEL CLOSED THE CHRISTIAN NOVEL SHE’D BEEN READING. She’d hoped reading would help clear her mind and ease some of the anguish that continued to swell inside of her. The book, however, didn’t provide the diversion she needed, and she knew she wouldn’t sleep tonight.
“Rachel!” Dat called from downstairs. “You have a visitor!”
Rachel turned toward the battery-operated digital clock on her nightstand and found it was nearly eight thirty. Who would visit at this time of the night?
She slipped on her robe, pushing her waist-length dark hair over her shoulder, and hurried down the stairs as her mind raced with questions.
“I’m sorry for coming this late,” a familiar voice said. “I promise I won’t keep her up long.”
“It’s fine,” Dat said.
Rachel’s heartbeat quickened when she realized the voice belonged to Mike. She clutched her robe tighter to her body as she entered the kitchen. Mike was holding her basket.
As his gaze met hers, he held out the basket.
“I wanted to bring you this,” he said. “I hadn’t realized you’d left it.”
Rachel searched his eyes. The icy anger she’d seen earlier was gone and replaced with grief and exhaustion.
“Danki,” she said softly, her body trembling with anxiety and regret. She took the basket from him and set it on the counter. “You didn’t need to bring it out here tonight. I was going to send a message home with John once he’s back at school, asking that he return it to me there.”
“It’s not a problem.” Mike stuffed his hands in his pocket and cleared his throat. “Could we possibly sit on the porch and talk for a few minutes?” His blue eyes pleaded with her to say yes.
Rachel turned to Dat, who nodded.
“Ya, but only for a few minutes,” Dat said. “You need to get to bed, Rachel.” Then he gave Mike a sympathetic expression. “You need your rest too, Mike. You look exhausted. Gut nacht.”
As Dat ambled toward his bedroom, Rachel grabbed a lantern from the mudroom and followed Mike out to the porch, where they sat next to each other on the glider. Rachel set the lantern on the floor so that it bathed the porch in a soft yellow glow.
She glanced toward the pasture and didn’t see a buggy. “How did you get here?”
“Mei onkel’s driver brought me here. He offered to wait, but I told him to give me thirty minutes.” Mike gave her a dark smile. “I took a chance that you’d talk to me.”
“Oh.” Rachel was thankful to see his smile again. She smoothed her hands over her pink robe, and when her leg brushed his, she jumped slightly.
They sat in strained silence for a few moments, and she wondered if she should say something. Instead, she listened to the cicadas and took in the stars sparkling above them. The rain clouds that had pressed down on them earlier were long gone and replaced by a gorgeous, clear sky.
“I’m sorry,” he finally said, his voice stricken. “I shouldn’t have been so cold and cruel to you earlier.”
“You don’t need to apologize,” she said quickly, angling her body toward him. “I was wrong. I should have asked you who—”
“Please,” Mike said, holding up a hand to shush her. “Let me finish.” He trained his eyes on the pasture. “I wasn’t thinking clearly earlier. I haven’t had a clear thought in days. I’ve just been so lost and distraught. I can’t believe my dat is gone, and—” His voice broke.
Rachel placed her hand on his. He met her gaze with tears pooling in his eyes.
“I need you,” he whispered.
“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.” His wounded expression shattered her heart.
Before she could react, Mike wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent—soap and musk combined with just a hint of the outdoors. She felt his body relax against her.
“I’ve wanted to hug you all week.” His voice croaked softly. “This is just what I needed.”
She closed her eyes and leaned in to him. “I feel the same way.”
He choked back a sob.
“It’s okay,” she whispered, her voice wobbly. “You don’t have to hold it in any longer.”
His breathing hitched, and then his body shook as he sobbed. His warm tears trickled through her hair and down her neck, leaving shivers in their wake. Her fingers traced the length of his muscular back. She cherished the comfort and intimacy of his embrace.
“I’m so sorry,” Mike finally whispered, pain creeping into his voice. “I was so hurt when you rejected me that I didn’t know what to do. I was afraid to let you back into my heart.”
She raked her fingers through his thick hair, enjoying the soft texture. “You don’t need to apologize.”
He released her and rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hands. “I looked at the scripture in the basket earlier, and everything made sense.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I met you, I only knew how to take care of mei dat and John,” he said, clasping her hand in his. “I didn’t know how to accept help from others, except for my cousins. You helped me realize it’s okay to accept help from people outside of my family. God puts special people in our lives for a reason, and he sent you to me and John when we needed you most.”
Rachel nodded as tears prickled her eyes. “The basket did just what I’d hoped it would do.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mei mamm told me mei dat brought her meals in that basket when they were going through a difficult time,” Rachel explained. “Mamm said the basket was sort of like a mediator and helped them work out their problems. Mei dat wrote that Scripture verse on the lid for mei mamm. I had hoped the basket would help us work out our problems too, and it did.”
“Ya, the basket did help us, but you helped me too. You taught me how to love. You reminded me that I am worthy of having someone special in my life.” He paused, and his lip trembled. “I can’t imagine losing you again. I need you by my side.”
“I need you too,” she whispered, her voice quavering with emotion. “I’m so sorry for doubting you. You taught me how to trust again, and you renewed my faith in love. I need you and John just as much as you need me.”
“I want to go to youth group meetings with you. I want to get to know you better.” He trailed the tip of his finger down her cheek. “John and I need you in our lives. Ich liebe dich, Rachel.”
A single tear escaped her eye, and Mike wiped it away with his thumb. “I love you too,” she whispered.
Mike leaned down and gently brushed his lips across hers, and heat thrummed through her veins. She closed her eyes and savored the feeling of his lips against hers, sending her stomach into a wild swirl.
As Mike pulled Rachel to him and wrapped her into a warm hug, she rested her head on his chest and opened her heart to him. The sound of his heartbeat filled her ears. Rachel’s smile deepened, and she silently thanked God for sending happiness to sit quietly on her shoulder.
; EPILOGUE
“MAMM,” RACHEL CALLED FROM THE KITCHEN. “HAVE YOU seen Mammi’s lace tablecloth?”
Mamm poked her head into the doorway. “I’m not sure. You should ask Emily. I think she used it one night when Veronica came over for supper.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Rachel stepped out to the porch, where Emily was hanging laundry. The hot July air hit Rachel like a wall as she walked over to her sister. “Have you seen Mammi’s lace tablecloth?”
Emily pinned a pair of their father’s trousers to the line. “I think I washed it and put it back in Mamm’s closet.” She fished another pair of trousers from the large wicker laundry basket. “What do you need it for?”
“Mike and John are coming over for supper tonight, and I want to make the kitchen look nice.”
Emily grinned. “Things are going well with Mike, ya?”
“Ya.” Rachel fingered her black apron as heat stained her cheeks. “It’s going really well. I’m so froh he started coming to youth group meetings. We’re getting to know each other better.”
“Gut.” Emily pinned the trousers to the line. “Check Mamm’s closet for the tablecloth. After I finish hanging out the clothes, we can talk to make sure we’ve planned everything we need for supper.”
“Danki.” Rachel gave a sigh of relief. Emily was a much better cook than she was. “I’ll need your help.”
Rachel walked back into the house and found her mother sweeping the family room. “Em said I should look in your closet for the tablecloth. Is it okay if look there?”
“Sure,” Mamm said, leaning the broom against the wall. “I’ll come with you.”
Once there, Rachel peeked in the closet but didn’t see the tablecloth stacked with the towels and sheets. “It’s not in here.” Rachel looked toward the far end of the room and saw the chest. “Could it possibly be in your hope chest?”
Mamm hesitated and then shrugged. “I don’t remember putting it back in there, but I might have another tablecloth in there that you can use.”
“That would be great.”
“I’ll check for you.” Mamm fished around in the top drawer of her dresser and then pulled out the brass key. She bent over the hope chest, turned the key, and the lock clicked.
Rachel stood by Mamm as she opened the chest, and she breathed in the sweet aroma of cedar. Mamm sifted through the linens, a quilt, and a few small boxes, then lifted a small wooden box at the bottom of the chest and placed it on the edge of a nearby chair. As she continued searching through the hope chest, the wooden box fell to the floor and a stack of envelopes spilled out.
Rachel picked up the envelopes and realized they were letters. They were addressed to her mother, and the slanted penmanship looked like her father’s handwriting.
She pulled out the top envelope, took out the letter, and unfolded it.
Dear Mattie,
I know you’re upset with me. It seems that no matter what I say, it’s the wrong thing. I hope you know I care about you.
Please come home. We’re married now, and we need to build a life together. We can’t work things out if you continue to stay at your parents’ haus.
“Here you go,” Mamm said. “This isn’t the tablecloth Emily used recently, but it did belong to your mammi.”
Rachel looked up and found Mamm standing in front of her, holding a white lace tablecloth. She held up the letter and envelope as questions and confusion crowded her mind. “What is this?”
Mamm tilted her head with question as she climbed over the boxes and moved toward her. “What are you reading?”
“It’s a letter Dat wrote to you a long time ago.” She held up the box. “This is a box of letters addressed to you from Dat. Why did Dat write to you and ask you to come home? Why were you living with Mammi and Daadi when you were already married to Dat? Does this have something to do with the rocky start you said you had with Dat when he sent you meals in the basket?”
“Please give me that.” Mamm took the letter and envelope out of Rachel’s hands. She folded the letter, placed it in the envelope, and looked around for the small box. When she found it, she put the letter inside and closed the lid. “It’s not important. That was a long time ago.” She set the box back in the hope chest and locked it.
As Rachel watched Mamm slip the key into her pocket, her mind still raced with questions about the letter she’d found. That letter didn’t make any sense. Her parents always seemed to enjoy a happy marriage, so why would Mamm move out and leave Dat alone?
“We’d better start cooking,” Mamm said, and she turned and walked out of the bedroom.
Rachel pushed the questions about the letter out of her mind as she followed her mother to the kitchen. Her heart felt as if it would burst with excitement as she thought about her special dinner tonight with Mike. The days of needing the basket to help them along in their courtship were over.
She was so thankful God had led her into Mike’s and John’s life, and she couldn’t wait to see what the future held for all of them.
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 that puts up with me when I’m stressed out on a book deadline. Special thanks to Matt, aka Mr. Thesaurus, for helping me find synonyms. I couldn’t ask for a more adorable wordsmith!
I’m more grateful than words can express to Janet Pecorella and my mother for proofreading for me. I truly appreciate the time you take out of your busy lives to help me polish my books. Special thanks to my Amish friends who patiently answer my endless stream of questions. Thank you also to Stacey Barbalace for her research assistance. Thank you also to Jessica Miller, RN, for her medical research in this book.
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—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 Philpott, for your friendship and guidance. Love you, girl!
I’m grateful to Jean Bloom, who helped me polish and refine the story. Thank you also for connecting the dots between my books. You’re a blessing! I also would like to thank Kristen Golden 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.
Thank you to the Bakery Bunch, my awesome Street Team! I appreciate your friendship, loyalty, and willingness to help promote my books. Special thanks to Jamie Mendoza! I’m so grateful for your expertise and guidance with marketing and promotion.
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 e-mail messages, Facebook notes, and letters.
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.
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—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 used to research information for this book:
C. Richard Beam, Revised Pennsylvania German Dictionary (Lancaster: Brookshire Publications, Inc., 1991).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Rachel is devastated when her boyfriend breaks up with her to date her best friend. Have you faced a difficult loss? What Bible verses helped you? Share this with the group.
Mike is af
raid of opening his heart to Rachel at the beginning of the book. By the end of the story, he realizes he’s ready to love her and also accept help from others outside of his family. What do you think caused him to change his point of view on love throughout the story?
The basket Rachel finds in the attic is inscribed with 2 Corinthians 1:7: “And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.” What does this verse mean to you?
Rachel pours herself into teaching as a way to deal with breaking up with her boyfriend and losing her best friend. Think of a time when you felt hurt or betrayed. Where did you find strength? What Bible verses would help with this?
Rachel misinterprets Mike’s conversation with his cousin at the shop, and she turns her back on Mike instead of having an honest conversation with him. In the end, it’s painful when Rachel learns the truth and tries to explain her behavior to Mike. Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? If so, how did it turn out? Share this with the group.
At the beginning of the book, Raymond is in kidney failure and on dialysis, but he is too weak to undergo a kidney transplant. What are your feelings about organ donation? Have you known someone who was an organ donor or recipient? Share this with the group.
Rachel feels God is giving her a second chance when she falls in love with Mike. Have you ever experienced a second chance? What was it?
Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seemed to carry the most emotional stake in the story? Was it Rachel, Mike, John, or someone else?
What role did the basket play in Rachel and Mike’s relationship? Can you relate the basket to an object that was pivotal in a relationship you’ve experienced in your life?
What did you know about the Amish before reading this book? What did you learn?