by Amy Clipston
“Everyone’s different, Mammi.”
Naomi’s grandmother began the hunt for a husband the day after they’d buried Naomi’s grandfather ten years ago, even checking the obituaries in other districts so she’d know when a man lost his wife. It was a process that irritated and embarrassed Naomi’s mother since Mammi didn’t try to hide her ambitious courting attempts, often sharing her intentions and the results of her efforts with members of the community.
Mammi pushed her chair away from the table and walked to the rack by the kitchen door. She put on her black cape and bonnet and reached for a black scarf and her gloves. “I’m going to go welcome our guests.”
Naomi’s mother walked into the kitchen with an armful of folded kitchen towels. “You’ll do no such thing.” Mamm set the stack of towels on the table and put her hands to her hips. Naomi braced herself for the argument that was sure to come.
Barbara reminded herself that Ruth was her elder, even though most days her mother-in-law had the maturity of a teenager. “Let our guests get settled. Then we can take them a basket of baked goods and some fresh fruit.” She glanced out the kitchen window. “Assuming we can make the trek to the daadi haus without sinking in snow or slipping on ice.”
“It seems even colder than usual for December,” Naomi said as she began putting the kitchen towels in the drawer.
Barbara didn’t respond to her daughter as she kept her eyes on Ruth, who had tied her bonnet and was now putting on her gloves. “Are you still planning to go over there right now? Can’t you wait?”
Ruth lifted her chin, a sour expression filling her features, exaggerating the spidery lines that connected across her face. “You might have been the boss of my sohn, but you are not the boss of me.”
“Ach, gut grief, Ruth. You sound like a child. It was just a suggestion that we wait until—”
Ruth walked out the door, slamming it behind her.
Barbara shook her head. “That woman is intolerable.”
Naomi walked to the kitchen window. Barbara sighed as she walked toward her daughter, stopping next to Naomi at the window. Barbara would watch Ruth all the way to the daadi haus and wouldn’t feel settled until her mother-in-law safely returned.
“Mammi took off her glasses and set them on the rocking chair on the porch.” Naomi leaned close to the windowpane. “She left her cane too.”
“Stubborn old woman. She’s blindly teetering across ice and snow to see if one of our guests would be a suitable husband for her.”
Naomi giggled. “Oh, she’s not just seeking a husband for herself. She’s already said that there’s an age-appropriate man for each of us too.”
Barbara rolled her eyes before she walked to the stove to stir a pot of chicken tortilla soup she was warming for lunch. “Only two men rented the daadi haus.” She shook her head as she clicked her tongue. “I’m grateful those two fellows don’t live nearby in case your mammi embarrasses us. Again.” She scratched her chin. “I wonder who the third man is and if he lives in this area. The two renters came from a district near Pittsburgh. A man named Wayne said they would be here for at least a month working on a construction project that they’d won the bid on.”
Naomi gasped loudly. “She fell! Mammi fell!”
Barbara rushed back to the window. Naomi was already putting on her heavy coat and winter hat. Barbara didn’t even take the time to do that. She burst out the door, hurried down the porch steps, and began trudging through the snow.
Ruth was on her side in the snow and not moving. Oh, dear Lord, please let her be all right.
Barbara was making slow progress and sinking in snow to her ankles. She slowed her pace when Naomi yelled at her. “Stop, Mamm! I have your boots and cape.”
She did as her daughter instructed and slipped on the warmer clothes, though she couldn’t take her eyes off her mother-in-law. Barbara felt sillier than Ruth for darting out the door without her cape and boots, but it had been an instinctive dash from the house.
I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to that crazy old woman.
Other Novels by Amy Clipston
THE AMISH HEIRLOOM SERIES
The Forgotten Recipe
The Courtship Basket
The Cherished Quilt
The Beloved Hope Chest
THE HEARTS OF THE LAN CASTER 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
A Plain and Simple Christmas Naomi’s Gift
NOVELLAS
Love Birds included in An Amish Market
Love and Buggy Rides included in An Amish Harvest
Home Sweet Home included in An Amish Home
A Spoonful of Love included in An Amish Kitchen
A Son for Always included in An Amish Cradle
Naomi’s Gift included in An Amish Christmas Gift
YOUNG ADULT
Roadside Assistance
Destination Unknown
Miles from Nowhere
Reckless Heart
NONFICTION
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 communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and three spoiled rotten cats.
Visit her online at amyclipston.com
Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks
Twitter: @AmyClipston